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Tethered North
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Expected 22 Sep 26604 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 9, 2026Impeccable.
This is a heart wrenching dystopian romance which will rip you apart and put you back together.
The author’s writing style is emotive and will pull you right into the story, absolutely anchoring you to the characters and leaving you wanting more. To say this is a debut novel, I am astounded at how good this is.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series - now pls!!!
Zac & Emilia have my heart 💓
This is a heart wrenching dystopian romance which will rip you apart and put you back together.
The author’s writing style is emotive and will pull you right into the story, absolutely anchoring you to the characters and leaving you wanting more. To say this is a debut novel, I am astounded at how good this is.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series - now pls!!!
Zac & Emilia have my heart 💓
September 10, 2026
FIVE FREAKING STARS. This book was one heck of a roller coaster ride for me. I was OBSESSED from chapter 1. Even the prologue was perfect. It was hard for me to put this book down. When I first started it, I stayed up late until almost 3am and read over half of the book in one sitting. I loved this concept and the characters and I definitely would love to see this story on the big screen one day. This first book isn’t even published yet and I already can’t wait for book two. It was giving all of the dystopian, slow burn romance vibes I was needing back in my life! Dystopian is so back! Thank you Jessa Lourose for the gift of reading this book early. It was PHENOMENAL. I can’t wait for more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 10, 2026In a world where war destroyed everything, the North has focused on repopulating their area, therefore, pairing up young individuals for marriage. When Emilia is assigned her match Zac, their world is never the same.
Oh my god.
What an absolute surprise of a book. I was hooked from the first chapter. The lore of the characters and war were expertly placed to keep you wanting more. I could feel the pain and heartbreak from every character that experienced it. The characters were interesting and diverse in personalities. Now for the MCs, whew. Emilia is a strong willed FMC but also still shows what it’s like to be a female in a war torn state. Zac? Zac is a wonderfully broody MMC that gives:
-touch her and you die
-I would burn the world for you
-who did this to you?
tropes left and right. The pining of the MCs was also sooooo good.
I am SUPER excited to read more. Thank you to the author for the ARC copy!
Oh my god.
What an absolute surprise of a book. I was hooked from the first chapter. The lore of the characters and war were expertly placed to keep you wanting more. I could feel the pain and heartbreak from every character that experienced it. The characters were interesting and diverse in personalities. Now for the MCs, whew. Emilia is a strong willed FMC but also still shows what it’s like to be a female in a war torn state. Zac? Zac is a wonderfully broody MMC that gives:
-touch her and you die
-I would burn the world for you
-who did this to you?
tropes left and right. The pining of the MCs was also sooooo good.
I am SUPER excited to read more. Thank you to the author for the ARC copy!
September 14, 2026
I can’t even remember the last time I read a dystopian book and honestly it’s not really a top pic for me. I’ve never been so torn with a book because as much as I loved reading this, I am annoyed that I have to wait for the next book to get answers.
I typically get annoyed very easily by an FMC. Especially one who won’t admit her feelings but Emilia hit different and I truly thing it’s because she always communicated. Sure she refused to admit her true feelings but she would call someone out of their bullshit so fast and that was SO refreshing.
I look forward to continuing this series and really hope that it comes in audio format because I feel like a full cast audio would make this book even better.
I typically get annoyed very easily by an FMC. Especially one who won’t admit her feelings but Emilia hit different and I truly thing it’s because she always communicated. Sure she refused to admit her true feelings but she would call someone out of their bullshit so fast and that was SO refreshing.
I look forward to continuing this series and really hope that it comes in audio format because I feel like a full cast audio would make this book even better.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨Arc Review
I really enjoyed this book!
I honestly couldn't put it down and finished it in a day! The writing was so good and flowed well. There were depth of emotions throughout the book.
The story is about Emilia and Zac and set in a post war, dystopian setting.
War has hit Emilia's hometown and at a young age experiences loss and tragedy.
The government has come in post war to help regain population and creates rules and regulations that the residents must follow.
Emilia is feisty and doesn't back down on what she wants. I like how she'd do anything for her friends and family.
Zac is hiding secrets that Emilia wants to find out but he doesn't want to get her involved and tries to keep her far away from him.
He ends up getting protective of Emilia and doesn't want any harm to come to her.
There is a slow burn, and their relationship felt genuine and not rushed.
Hoping there's a book 2, to continue on reading about Emilia and Zac, along with their friend's journey!
I really enjoyed this book!
I honestly couldn't put it down and finished it in a day! The writing was so good and flowed well. There were depth of emotions throughout the book.
The story is about Emilia and Zac and set in a post war, dystopian setting.
War has hit Emilia's hometown and at a young age experiences loss and tragedy.
The government has come in post war to help regain population and creates rules and regulations that the residents must follow.
Emilia is feisty and doesn't back down on what she wants. I like how she'd do anything for her friends and family.
Zac is hiding secrets that Emilia wants to find out but he doesn't want to get her involved and tries to keep her far away from him.
He ends up getting protective of Emilia and doesn't want any harm to come to her.
There is a slow burn, and their relationship felt genuine and not rushed.
Hoping there's a book 2, to continue on reading about Emilia and Zac, along with their friend's journey!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was provided an ARC for this title and am providing an honest review.
That said.....this book made me never want to be an ARC reader again! Why......because I now have to wait even longer for the 2nd book. I got through reading this book in a day and a half because I could not put it down. I found myself cursing that I had to go to work and fell asleep with my Kindle 2 nights in a row because I refused to put it down. The drama is gripping from the very beginning. I loved the multiple POVs because it gave me an emotional connection to almost every single character, whether I was seeing them through the FMC or MMC or through their own eyes. I want to be careful not to give anything away, but I audibly gasped at certain things, cried, laughed, and was left with even more questions. For example:
FMC- You get introduced to her as this pretty popular girl and get to see how events shaped her current self but she also surprises you with her feistiness and fierceness.
MMC- Strong, stubborn, broody, hot but doesn't flaunt it, and super protective.
Other prominent characters- they all add to the story in different but meaningful ways. They added a nice mix of history and current relevance.
Tropes: Forced proximity, forced marriage, dystopian/post-war, enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, touch her and die, possessiveness.
TW- read them- however, as a dark romance reader, the themes in this book were pretty light in comparison to what I generally read.
Last thoughts: I absolutely hate Jessa Lourose for giving me this ARC and leaving me seething for more. I am angry I loved this book so much and it hasn't even been released and I will be waiting for what feels like an eternity for book 2. I feel like I started to care about people I am not going to see again for a long time. Do not be misled; this book is not a romance story. It is a relationship story focused on the strong bonds of friendship in difficult times, banding together when the system is against you, and maybe finding love along the way. So if you like a gripping story with likeable characters that explores corrupt governments and leaves you in the best kind of emotional turmoil when you are done reading it, then this is the book for you!
That said.....this book made me never want to be an ARC reader again! Why......because I now have to wait even longer for the 2nd book. I got through reading this book in a day and a half because I could not put it down. I found myself cursing that I had to go to work and fell asleep with my Kindle 2 nights in a row because I refused to put it down. The drama is gripping from the very beginning. I loved the multiple POVs because it gave me an emotional connection to almost every single character, whether I was seeing them through the FMC or MMC or through their own eyes. I want to be careful not to give anything away, but I audibly gasped at certain things, cried, laughed, and was left with even more questions. For example:
FMC- You get introduced to her as this pretty popular girl and get to see how events shaped her current self but she also surprises you with her feistiness and fierceness.
MMC- Strong, stubborn, broody, hot but doesn't flaunt it, and super protective.
Other prominent characters- they all add to the story in different but meaningful ways. They added a nice mix of history and current relevance.
Tropes: Forced proximity, forced marriage, dystopian/post-war, enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, touch her and die, possessiveness.
TW- read them- however, as a dark romance reader, the themes in this book were pretty light in comparison to what I generally read.
Last thoughts: I absolutely hate Jessa Lourose for giving me this ARC and leaving me seething for more. I am angry I loved this book so much and it hasn't even been released and I will be waiting for what feels like an eternity for book 2. I feel like I started to care about people I am not going to see again for a long time. Do not be misled; this book is not a romance story. It is a relationship story focused on the strong bonds of friendship in difficult times, banding together when the system is against you, and maybe finding love along the way. So if you like a gripping story with likeable characters that explores corrupt governments and leaves you in the best kind of emotional turmoil when you are done reading it, then this is the book for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC of Tethered North.
I loved this book.
Six years after a world war wipes out roughly 90% of the world’s population England is under the control of a new government determined to rebuild society on its own terms. For Emilia and the few friends she has left, that means living completely at the State’s mercy. In the State, at nineteen, marriage becomes mandatory. The State chooses your spouse for you, pairing people specifically to replace the population and preserve the regime. No choice in spouse or opting out. No control over your future.
One of my favorite things about this world is how recent the collapse is. This isn’t a society generations removed from ours. These characters remember the world before. Emilia still hums Lana Del Rey. They grew up with the same music, culture and freedoms we have and now they are young adults trying to survive in a system that has stripped all of that away while coping with the trauma of surviving the war and losing friends and relatives.That grounded the dystopian elements for me so much.
These aren’t hardened people who were born knowing nothing else. They remember choice. They know exactly what they’ve lost, which makes everything the State is doing feel even more oppressive.
And then there are Zac and Emilia. GRUMPY and GRUMPIER. My babies. They are smart, brave, quick-witted, stubborn, vulnerable and perfectly matched. Neither one rolls over for the other and their chemistry is insane, the banter feels like two equally sharp people constantly testing each other. They drove each other crazy in precisely the way I wanted them to.
The supporting characters are also genuinely fleshed out and I became invested in the entire friend group instead of treating everyone outside the central romance like background decoration. The multiple POVs work incredibly well here because they expand the world without slowing the story down. And this book MOVES.
The world building is strong without becoming an information dump, the pacing kept me completely hooked, the stakes continue to escalate and by the time I reached the final stretch I was basically just along for the ride.
AND THAT ENDING?!?!!? I need the next book immediately.
I loved this book.
Six years after a world war wipes out roughly 90% of the world’s population England is under the control of a new government determined to rebuild society on its own terms. For Emilia and the few friends she has left, that means living completely at the State’s mercy. In the State, at nineteen, marriage becomes mandatory. The State chooses your spouse for you, pairing people specifically to replace the population and preserve the regime. No choice in spouse or opting out. No control over your future.
One of my favorite things about this world is how recent the collapse is. This isn’t a society generations removed from ours. These characters remember the world before. Emilia still hums Lana Del Rey. They grew up with the same music, culture and freedoms we have and now they are young adults trying to survive in a system that has stripped all of that away while coping with the trauma of surviving the war and losing friends and relatives.That grounded the dystopian elements for me so much.
These aren’t hardened people who were born knowing nothing else. They remember choice. They know exactly what they’ve lost, which makes everything the State is doing feel even more oppressive.
And then there are Zac and Emilia. GRUMPY and GRUMPIER. My babies. They are smart, brave, quick-witted, stubborn, vulnerable and perfectly matched. Neither one rolls over for the other and their chemistry is insane, the banter feels like two equally sharp people constantly testing each other. They drove each other crazy in precisely the way I wanted them to.
The supporting characters are also genuinely fleshed out and I became invested in the entire friend group instead of treating everyone outside the central romance like background decoration. The multiple POVs work incredibly well here because they expand the world without slowing the story down. And this book MOVES.
The world building is strong without becoming an information dump, the pacing kept me completely hooked, the stakes continue to escalate and by the time I reached the final stretch I was basically just along for the ride.
AND THAT ENDING?!?!!? I need the next book immediately.
Review of advance copy
Emilia solo era una adolescente disfrutando de su día junto a su mejor amigo, Sam, cuando la guerra se desató. Gran parte de la población murió y nadie salió victorioso. Seis años después, nada es como antes. Solo quedan cuatro ciudades en Inglaterra, cada una con su propio gobierno y están separadas por muros electrificados que impiden que sus habitantes puedan pasar de un territorio a otro.
Emilia se quedó en el segmento Norte, donde la principal prioridad del gobierno es aumentar la población. Por eso, cada año se celebra el Emparejamiento, un evento en el que chicos y chicas de entre 19 y 24 años son seleccionados para casarse con su supuesta "alma gemela" y formar una familia. Un vez seleccionado tiene que irse a vivir juntos y seguir una serie de reglas y tienen 2 años para poder procrear o de lo contrario el gobierno intervendrá, los forzara a tener hijos.
Ese año, Emilia es seleccionada y debe casarse con Zach o de lo contrario, será asesinada. Ella intenta mantener una relación cordial con él, pero Zach no se lo pone fácil y los dos pasan la mayor parte del tiempo peleando. Lo que Emilia no sabe es que Zach forma parte de un grupo de rebeldes que intenta acabar con el gobierno y cambiar el sistema que controla sus vidas.
__
Como introducción está bien. Hasta el momento no hay ninguna respuesta a nada, solo preguntas. Espero que el siguiente libro se centre más en el contexto del colapso de la civilización y como es que una maestra llego a ser gobernante. También espero conocer por lo menos otro segmento y que es lo que tienen que hacer. Además de que haya un avance con lo de las desapariciones.
Siendo objetiva, se desperdicio la oportunidad de sacarle más provecho a la historia y se centro más en la atracción sexual ente E y Z.
Ejemplo: Al inicio se retrata a una Emilia rebelde, luchadora que no se doblega y no está de acuerdo con lo que hace el gobierno, pero al primer problema se vuelve miedosa, no piensa antes de actuar. Cuando se enfrenta a Zach, esperaba que de verdad le diera batalla, pero no. Nada más verlo se sintió atraída y se acabo cualquier pensamiento que no fuera sobre como le gustaba.
Gracias Ever After por el ARC.
Emilia se quedó en el segmento Norte, donde la principal prioridad del gobierno es aumentar la población. Por eso, cada año se celebra el Emparejamiento, un evento en el que chicos y chicas de entre 19 y 24 años son seleccionados para casarse con su supuesta "alma gemela" y formar una familia. Un vez seleccionado tiene que irse a vivir juntos y seguir una serie de reglas y tienen 2 años para poder procrear o de lo contrario el gobierno intervendrá, los forzara a tener hijos.
Ese año, Emilia es seleccionada y debe casarse con Zach o de lo contrario, será asesinada. Ella intenta mantener una relación cordial con él, pero Zach no se lo pone fácil y los dos pasan la mayor parte del tiempo peleando. Lo que Emilia no sabe es que Zach forma parte de un grupo de rebeldes que intenta acabar con el gobierno y cambiar el sistema que controla sus vidas.
__
Como introducción está bien. Hasta el momento no hay ninguna respuesta a nada, solo preguntas. Espero que el siguiente libro se centre más en el contexto del colapso de la civilización y como es que una maestra llego a ser gobernante. También espero conocer por lo menos otro segmento y que es lo que tienen que hacer. Además de que haya un avance con lo de las desapariciones.
Siendo objetiva, se desperdicio la oportunidad de sacarle más provecho a la historia y se centro más en la atracción sexual ente E y Z.
Ejemplo: Al inicio se retrata a una Emilia rebelde, luchadora que no se doblega y no está de acuerdo con lo que hace el gobierno, pero al primer problema se vuelve miedosa, no piensa antes de actuar. Cuando se enfrenta a Zach, esperaba que de verdad le diera batalla, pero no. Nada más verlo se sintió atraída y se acabo cualquier pensamiento que no fuera sobre como le gustaba.
Gracias Ever After por el ARC.
Read
September 15, 2026a dark dystopian romance that blends forced marriage, enemies-to-lovers tension, rebellion, and a true slow-burn romance in a world where freedom and personal choice are extremely limited.
The story follows Emilia, who lives in the North after war completely reshaped England. The State controls nearly every aspect of people’s lives, including where they work, how they live, and even who they marry.
When Emilia is forced into a marriage with Zac, the tension between them begins almost immediately.
One of the strongest parts of the story is Emilia and Zac’s dynamic. They’re both stubborn, complicated, and carrying their own emotional baggage, which gives their relationship plenty of layers. Their back-and-forth, reluctant moments of kindness, jealousy, attraction, and that whole “I definitely don’t care about you” energy make the slow burn so much fun.
I also really liked that the romance isn’t the only focus. The dystopian world plays a huge part in the story, with constant control, fear, restrictions, and uncertainty surrounding the characters. There’s a much bigger story unfolding around them, which adds higher stakes and keeps the book from feeling like just another romance.
And when I say slow burn, I mean slow burn. 😂 The tension builds little by little, which makes the relationship feel more developed instead of rushed.
Overall, Tethered North is a great mix of dystopian fiction and romance with complicated characters, forced proximity, political tension, rebellion, and plenty of chemistry. If you enjoy darker dystopian worlds with romance woven into a larger story, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
Thank you so much to Ever After PR and Jessa Lourose for providing me with an e-ARC of Tethered North. I truly appreciate the opportunity and am grateful to have been selected to receive a review copy.
As always, make sure to check the content warnings before reading, as the book does deal with heavier themes.
The story follows Emilia, who lives in the North after war completely reshaped England. The State controls nearly every aspect of people’s lives, including where they work, how they live, and even who they marry.
When Emilia is forced into a marriage with Zac, the tension between them begins almost immediately.
One of the strongest parts of the story is Emilia and Zac’s dynamic. They’re both stubborn, complicated, and carrying their own emotional baggage, which gives their relationship plenty of layers. Their back-and-forth, reluctant moments of kindness, jealousy, attraction, and that whole “I definitely don’t care about you” energy make the slow burn so much fun.
I also really liked that the romance isn’t the only focus. The dystopian world plays a huge part in the story, with constant control, fear, restrictions, and uncertainty surrounding the characters. There’s a much bigger story unfolding around them, which adds higher stakes and keeps the book from feeling like just another romance.
And when I say slow burn, I mean slow burn. 😂 The tension builds little by little, which makes the relationship feel more developed instead of rushed.
Overall, Tethered North is a great mix of dystopian fiction and romance with complicated characters, forced proximity, political tension, rebellion, and plenty of chemistry. If you enjoy darker dystopian worlds with romance woven into a larger story, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
Thank you so much to Ever After PR and Jessa Lourose for providing me with an e-ARC of Tethered North. I truly appreciate the opportunity and am grateful to have been selected to receive a review copy.
As always, make sure to check the content warnings before reading, as the book does deal with heavier themes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I AM OBSESSED. And I am also extremely mad that this is only book one because I need the rest of this series immediately.
This gave me everything I loved about 2010s YA dystopian books—oppressive governments, rebellion, forced circumstances, secrets, betrayals, insane plot twists, and characters who are absolutely willing to throw themselves into danger for the people they love—but with characters that feel much more grown up. It was exciting, action-packed, and kept throwing twists at me when I thought I had things figured out. I flew through this one and was completely invested by the end.
Zac was EXACTLY the kind of self-sacrificing, borderline martyr MMC that dystopian-book-loving teenage me would have lost her mind over, and apparently adult me is no different. 😂 And Emilia is the exact kind of “don’t fucking tell me what to do” FMC that I need more of. Watching her navigate a world where basically every choice has been made for her while refusing to quietly accept it was one of my favorite parts.
I also really loved the relationship development. The forced proximity and arranged marriage gave them plenty of opportunities to clash, but watching their relationship evolve while everything around them was falling apart made it so much more compelling. Add in the found-family elements, the constant danger, and the multiple POVs, and this had pretty much everything I wanted.
The emotional turmoil, the guilt, the fear, the sacrifices, the rebellion—I ate ALL of it up. And then there is Chapter 67. I cannot say anything about it without spoiling the book, but OH MY GOD. That chapter is an absolute masterpiece. I have it saved and highlighted because I already know I'm going back to it later. UHHHGGGGG.
I am so ready for the next book to come out, and I am so grateful I got to be part of the ARC team for this one because WOW. This was phenomenal, and if the rest of the series keeps this energy, I am going to be completely feral waiting for every release.
This gave me everything I loved about 2010s YA dystopian books—oppressive governments, rebellion, forced circumstances, secrets, betrayals, insane plot twists, and characters who are absolutely willing to throw themselves into danger for the people they love—but with characters that feel much more grown up. It was exciting, action-packed, and kept throwing twists at me when I thought I had things figured out. I flew through this one and was completely invested by the end.
Zac was EXACTLY the kind of self-sacrificing, borderline martyr MMC that dystopian-book-loving teenage me would have lost her mind over, and apparently adult me is no different. 😂 And Emilia is the exact kind of “don’t fucking tell me what to do” FMC that I need more of. Watching her navigate a world where basically every choice has been made for her while refusing to quietly accept it was one of my favorite parts.
I also really loved the relationship development. The forced proximity and arranged marriage gave them plenty of opportunities to clash, but watching their relationship evolve while everything around them was falling apart made it so much more compelling. Add in the found-family elements, the constant danger, and the multiple POVs, and this had pretty much everything I wanted.
The emotional turmoil, the guilt, the fear, the sacrifices, the rebellion—I ate ALL of it up. And then there is Chapter 67. I cannot say anything about it without spoiling the book, but OH MY GOD. That chapter is an absolute masterpiece. I have it saved and highlighted because I already know I'm going back to it later. UHHHGGGGG.
I am so ready for the next book to come out, and I am so grateful I got to be part of the ARC team for this one because WOW. This was phenomenal, and if the rest of the series keeps this energy, I am going to be completely feral waiting for every release.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Amazing debut novel. It deserves all the stars. I didn't want to stop reading every time I picked it up.
This is a dark dystopian novel where you will find yourself entangled in all their lives and wondering whether they will be able to survive this brutal world.
As a reader who struggles to see clear imagery in my mind, the world building is chef's kiss.
The emotion that has been woven in to the story had me sobbing. gasping and cheering. And let me make this clear, not just for the MCs, Emilia and Zac but also all of the side characters too. I am so emotionally invested in them all. This isn't something that is easy to do, especially for a debut novel! I even found myself giving a small smile to Anna's character development (you will understand).
The characters find themselves in a post-war wasteland which is policed by the State. They are forced in to arranged marriages to help populate this world where so many lives have been lost. Where citizens know very little of why the war started or what ended it and I believe this will be an important element within the next novel.
Emilia and Zac are one of the couples forced in to the marriage arrangement. They fight against the State and each other every step of the way. You will find yourself frustrated at them, I wanted to bang their heads together at times. They give a true enemies to lovers vibe and the slow burn, my god.
There are restrict laws and rules that they must abide by or they face imprisonment, or even worse, executed if charged with treason. Your heart will be wrenched out at times and you will hold your breath to see what happens next. I don't think the State knew that in enforcing this dictatorship, they have created people who are fiercely loyal to each other and would do anything for those they care about.
I can't wait for the next book. My thanks to the author
This is a dark dystopian novel where you will find yourself entangled in all their lives and wondering whether they will be able to survive this brutal world.
As a reader who struggles to see clear imagery in my mind, the world building is chef's kiss.
The emotion that has been woven in to the story had me sobbing. gasping and cheering. And let me make this clear, not just for the MCs, Emilia and Zac but also all of the side characters too. I am so emotionally invested in them all. This isn't something that is easy to do, especially for a debut novel! I even found myself giving a small smile to Anna's character development (you will understand).
The characters find themselves in a post-war wasteland which is policed by the State. They are forced in to arranged marriages to help populate this world where so many lives have been lost. Where citizens know very little of why the war started or what ended it and I believe this will be an important element within the next novel.
Emilia and Zac are one of the couples forced in to the marriage arrangement. They fight against the State and each other every step of the way. You will find yourself frustrated at them, I wanted to bang their heads together at times. They give a true enemies to lovers vibe and the slow burn, my god.
There are restrict laws and rules that they must abide by or they face imprisonment, or even worse, executed if charged with treason. Your heart will be wrenched out at times and you will hold your breath to see what happens next. I don't think the State knew that in enforcing this dictatorship, they have created people who are fiercely loyal to each other and would do anything for those they care about.
I can't wait for the next book. My thanks to the author
September 16, 2026
I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS.
WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?
Tethered North was one of my most highly anticipated ARCs and Jessa...YOU DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I ATE THIS BOOK UP.
My first ever dystopian romance and apparently I've been missing OUT because I DEVOURED this. I was hooked almost immediately and genuinely did not want to put it down.
WHAT A DEBUT.
I feel genuinely honoured that I got to read this before release because this book deserves to be shouted about.
Jessa has such a way with words that completely pulled me into the story. The world-building, the atmosphere, the tension, the emotions... I was INVESTED.
The pacing was perfect, the characters felt so well developed, and somehow I ended up feeling connected to basically everyone. And the multiple POVs?! LOVED. Getting to experience the story from different perspectives made me even more emotionally attached to these characters.
And the found family vibes? IMMACULATE.
Now let's talk about the romances because OH MY GOD...
Emilia & Zac.
These two had me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD.
THE YEARNING.
The tension simmering throughout the entire book had me begging for more, and that last chapter??? HELLO????
I was SCREAMING.
THIS is how you do a slow burn.
And Zachary Hastings...
THE MAN YOU ARE. - Grumpy. Protective.
That whole touch her and die energy.
PLEASE BE MY HUSBAND.
And Emilia... MY HEART.
I felt for her so much. She's strong, feisty and absolutely does not hold back. Her resilience throughout everything she faces made me adore her even more.
And Jace & Kayla... no spoilers, obviously, but WHY?! My heart genuinely cannot take it.
This book put me through the EMOTIONAL ringer... | laughed. I cried. I gasped. I stressed. I screamed. I became emotionally attached to fictional people and now I'm supposed to casually carry on with my life knowing I have to WAIT FOR BOOK TWO?!
I need it immediately.
WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?
Tethered North was one of my most highly anticipated ARCs and Jessa...YOU DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I ATE THIS BOOK UP.
My first ever dystopian romance and apparently I've been missing OUT because I DEVOURED this. I was hooked almost immediately and genuinely did not want to put it down.
WHAT A DEBUT.
I feel genuinely honoured that I got to read this before release because this book deserves to be shouted about.
Jessa has such a way with words that completely pulled me into the story. The world-building, the atmosphere, the tension, the emotions... I was INVESTED.
The pacing was perfect, the characters felt so well developed, and somehow I ended up feeling connected to basically everyone. And the multiple POVs?! LOVED. Getting to experience the story from different perspectives made me even more emotionally attached to these characters.
And the found family vibes? IMMACULATE.
Now let's talk about the romances because OH MY GOD...
Emilia & Zac.
These two had me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD.
THE YEARNING.
The tension simmering throughout the entire book had me begging for more, and that last chapter??? HELLO????
I was SCREAMING.
THIS is how you do a slow burn.
And Zachary Hastings...
THE MAN YOU ARE. - Grumpy. Protective.
That whole touch her and die energy.
PLEASE BE MY HUSBAND.
And Emilia... MY HEART.
I felt for her so much. She's strong, feisty and absolutely does not hold back. Her resilience throughout everything she faces made me adore her even more.
And Jace & Kayla... no spoilers, obviously, but WHY?! My heart genuinely cannot take it.
This book put me through the EMOTIONAL ringer... | laughed. I cried. I gasped. I stressed. I screamed. I became emotionally attached to fictional people and now I'm supposed to casually carry on with my life knowing I have to WAIT FOR BOOK TWO?!
I need it immediately.
September 14, 2026
🌶️🌶️🌶️ | 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 | ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
I was SCREAMING over this book. Tethered North was everything I’ve wanted from a dystopian romance. The pacing, the angst, the chemistry, the HEAT??? And the world itself was SO fucking unique. I was completely hooked from start to finish, and every time I thought I had a handle on where things were going, this book found another way to pull me back in.
The chemistry was absolutely everything. The tension, the angst, the slow build, the payoff - I ate ALL of it up. And genuinely, I never felt like there was a wasted moment. There wasn’t a scene where I thought “this could’ve been cut” or a subplot that felt like filler. Everything felt intentional, which made the story feel so immersive and kept me invested the entire way through.
My only real critique is that the last quarter felt like Jessa suddenly realized she had 47 things left to happen and went “okay, everybody move!” 😂 So much happened so quickly that the ending felt rushed. I don’t think the answer was cutting more - I think some of the breathing room in the first half could’ve been maneuvered throughout the rest of the story. ALL THAT TO SAY: I fucking loved this book. This was everything I needed and I think I’ll SCREAM if there isn’t more in this world!!!
I was SCREAMING over this book. Tethered North was everything I’ve wanted from a dystopian romance. The pacing, the angst, the chemistry, the HEAT??? And the world itself was SO fucking unique. I was completely hooked from start to finish, and every time I thought I had a handle on where things were going, this book found another way to pull me back in.
The chemistry was absolutely everything. The tension, the angst, the slow build, the payoff - I ate ALL of it up. And genuinely, I never felt like there was a wasted moment. There wasn’t a scene where I thought “this could’ve been cut” or a subplot that felt like filler. Everything felt intentional, which made the story feel so immersive and kept me invested the entire way through.
My only real critique is that the last quarter felt like Jessa suddenly realized she had 47 things left to happen and went “okay, everybody move!” 😂 So much happened so quickly that the ending felt rushed. I don’t think the answer was cutting more - I think some of the breathing room in the first half could’ve been maneuvered throughout the rest of the story. ALL THAT TO SAY: I fucking loved this book. This was everything I needed and I think I’ll SCREAM if there isn’t more in this world!!!
September 15, 2026
Wow is honestly all I can say! What a book. I absolutely could not put it down. It took me three days to read, but if I wasn’t working, I’m convinced I would have devoured it within 24 hours!
A dystopian world, an oppressive government, found family, and forced proximity… honestly, what more could I ask for?!
I loved everything about this book — the story, the characters, the world-building and Jessa’s writing style. I was completely hooked from the very beginning and never once found myself bored.
I’ve read books by some very well-established authors that haven’t been anywhere near as good as this, which makes it even more incredible that this is Jessa’s FIRST book. I genuinely can’t believe how good it is. She has absolutely smashed it!
I loved all of the characters and became so attached to them. But Zac and Emilia?! I could have read another 1,000 pages of their story and still wanted more. Their enemies-to-lovers journey had me completely invested.
This book has everything I love in a dystopian romance, and I’m already desperate for more. If this is what Jessa’s first book is like, I cannot WAIT to see what she writes next!
A dystopian world, an oppressive government, found family, and forced proximity… honestly, what more could I ask for?!
I loved everything about this book — the story, the characters, the world-building and Jessa’s writing style. I was completely hooked from the very beginning and never once found myself bored.
I’ve read books by some very well-established authors that haven’t been anywhere near as good as this, which makes it even more incredible that this is Jessa’s FIRST book. I genuinely can’t believe how good it is. She has absolutely smashed it!
I loved all of the characters and became so attached to them. But Zac and Emilia?! I could have read another 1,000 pages of their story and still wanted more. Their enemies-to-lovers journey had me completely invested.
This book has everything I love in a dystopian romance, and I’m already desperate for more. If this is what Jessa’s first book is like, I cannot WAIT to see what she writes next!
Review of advance copy received from Autre
What a debut !!! Seriously WHAT A DEBUT !! 😍
This is her first book, and this was honestly exceptional ! I started it last night and literally couldn’t put it down. Needless to say, I did absolutely nothing all day today 😂
This is a dystopian where people are forced into arranged marriages to create “perfect” families, and I was hooked from the start !
The pacing is sooooo good. At no point did I feel bored or like the story was dragging, from the beginning to the end, I was completely invested !
The writing, the world, the main characters everything was so well done.
The found family aspect was also one of my favorite parts. They’re all so lovable, and you go through every emotion while reading. You’re sad, you’re stressed, you wanna scream I felt EVERYTHING 🥹
And the fact that dystopian isn’t even really my usual genre has me questioning things because I genuinely have nothing bad to say about this book !
Emilia and Zac have my heart and I can’t wait to see what will happen to them in book 2 💕
This is her first book, and this was honestly exceptional ! I started it last night and literally couldn’t put it down. Needless to say, I did absolutely nothing all day today 😂
This is a dystopian where people are forced into arranged marriages to create “perfect” families, and I was hooked from the start !
The pacing is sooooo good. At no point did I feel bored or like the story was dragging, from the beginning to the end, I was completely invested !
The writing, the world, the main characters everything was so well done.
The found family aspect was also one of my favorite parts. They’re all so lovable, and you go through every emotion while reading. You’re sad, you’re stressed, you wanna scream I felt EVERYTHING 🥹
And the fact that dystopian isn’t even really my usual genre has me questioning things because I genuinely have nothing bad to say about this book !
Emilia and Zac have my heart and I can’t wait to see what will happen to them in book 2 💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
One of the best books I have read all year!
I was so excited to read this book and it exceeded all of my expectations. The writing, the characters, the plot... I can’t actually describe how much I enjoyed this. And for a debut novel?! Wow. I am seriously impressed. I have read books from many well established authors that don’t even come close to this.
I always enjoy a dystopian book, but so often I find that books in this genre tend to rip off other books in the same category. This book was a completely original take and I was hooked from the first paragraph. The pacing was also perfect.
I absolutely loved that it was set in the UK. The characters were described with such depth and detail that I feel like I know them personally. The chemistry between Emilia and Zac! 🤯 A perfect example of a true slow burn relationship. The way the ‘side characters’ are written with such love that you care deeply for them too and root for them throughout! 🤯 I am desperate to keep reading and need the next book as soon as possible!
A very easy 5 star rating! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was so excited to read this book and it exceeded all of my expectations. The writing, the characters, the plot... I can’t actually describe how much I enjoyed this. And for a debut novel?! Wow. I am seriously impressed. I have read books from many well established authors that don’t even come close to this.
I always enjoy a dystopian book, but so often I find that books in this genre tend to rip off other books in the same category. This book was a completely original take and I was hooked from the first paragraph. The pacing was also perfect.
I absolutely loved that it was set in the UK. The characters were described with such depth and detail that I feel like I know them personally. The chemistry between Emilia and Zac! 🤯 A perfect example of a true slow burn relationship. The way the ‘side characters’ are written with such love that you care deeply for them too and root for them throughout! 🤯 I am desperate to keep reading and need the next book as soon as possible!
A very easy 5 star rating! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
One of my fave reads of the year. I loved the dystopian UK setting. The pacing was perfect, jumped into action right of the bat & everything played out in a way I could truly imagine happening which really pulled me into the story. Even as far as how Emilia, our FMC, initially tried to rebel against the regime - I would’ve so done that as a teen?!
Now for the romance…As a slow burn girlie, I loved the reluctance to fall for eachother from our main characters, especially when it was so valid why. No part of it felt gimmicky. It’s a perfectly executed touch her & die too - Zac is SUCH an attractive MMC with the perfect amount of unresolved trauma & broodiness.
Also without spoilers, the ending had me SHOOK.
Now for the romance…As a slow burn girlie, I loved the reluctance to fall for eachother from our main characters, especially when it was so valid why. No part of it felt gimmicky. It’s a perfectly executed touch her & die too - Zac is SUCH an attractive MMC with the perfect amount of unresolved trauma & broodiness.
Also without spoilers, the ending had me SHOOK.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The perfect new age dystopian novel I didn’t know I needed to get me out of a reading slump. Absolutely fantastic!!! I didn’t know too much about this novel going in and it was a fantastic surprise, it bought me back to dystopian writing in a way I haven’t enjoyed since the days of the hunger games and divergent ect. The plot grabs you and pulls you in with strong protagonists and well thought out supporting characters, would definitely recommend and already want to read book 2!
This is a new age dystopian slow burn romance where the plot is just as important as the characters and this is balanced very well. Set in the UK Emelia and Zac must overcome their differences and find a fraught alliance in a world of new rules, no autonomy and danger to all those who oppose.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved this book. The tension, the chemistry, the atmosphere and that delicious possessive MMC energy had me completely hooked. Even with the darker setting and everything these characters are up against, the story never lost that sense of excitement and emotional payoff that makes a book impossible to put down.
Tethered North is intense, addictive and full of the kind of character dynamics I live for. I already know it’s going to be one of those books I keep thinking about after finishing.
If Silver Elite, Daggermouth, or Conform gave you that particular book hangover feeling, I would absolutely recommend adding Tethered North to your TBR. An easy 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tethered North is intense, addictive and full of the kind of character dynamics I live for. I already know it’s going to be one of those books I keep thinking about after finishing.
If Silver Elite, Daggermouth, or Conform gave you that particular book hangover feeling, I would absolutely recommend adding Tethered North to your TBR. An easy 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was locked in on this book! Finished it within 2 days!
Set in a dystopian post war UK, where the oppressive State rule all with an iron fist and do not take disobedience lightly. This book is dark, brutal and gritty. Check trigger warnings.
Our main characters Emilia and Zac are so perfectly written, flawed in their own ways, but so strong and resilient and the chemistry between them is just so damn electric - they are both such fiery people and often I was wondering wether they were going to fight or f*ck 🤣
I love as we get further into the story their softness and vulnerability emerge and you really learn more about them and get to witness their walls coming down.
Set in a dystopian post war UK, where the oppressive State rule all with an iron fist and do not take disobedience lightly. This book is dark, brutal and gritty. Check trigger warnings.
Our main characters Emilia and Zac are so perfectly written, flawed in their own ways, but so strong and resilient and the chemistry between them is just so damn electric - they are both such fiery people and often I was wondering wether they were going to fight or f*ck 🤣
I love as we get further into the story their softness and vulnerability emerge and you really learn more about them and get to witness their walls coming down.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from the author.
Where should I start? This dystopian romance had me hooked from chapter 1 and without revealing any spoilers for other readers, I gut wrenchingly rode all the highs and lows between Zac and Emilia on their enemies to lovers path.
Beautifully written, the characters were so real and I warmed to them immediately and the plot was exceptional. Being from the UK, I wanted to read this book so badly and it didn’t disappoint and I give it a shining 5 stars.
Thank you Jessa Lourose for the opportunity of reading your ARC of this book. I am going to be waiting with bated breath for the next one.
Where should I start? This dystopian romance had me hooked from chapter 1 and without revealing any spoilers for other readers, I gut wrenchingly rode all the highs and lows between Zac and Emilia on their enemies to lovers path.
Beautifully written, the characters were so real and I warmed to them immediately and the plot was exceptional. Being from the UK, I wanted to read this book so badly and it didn’t disappoint and I give it a shining 5 stars.
Thank you Jessa Lourose for the opportunity of reading your ARC of this book. I am going to be waiting with bated breath for the next one.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Tethered North is a beautifully written story that pulls you in from the very first chapter. The characters feel authentic, the emotional depth is compelling, and the author's storytelling keeps the pages turning. The balance between suspense, heart, and thought-provoking moments makes this a memorable read. If you enjoy character-driven stories with meaningful themes and an engaging plot, this book is well worth your time. I can't wait to see what Jessa writes next.
September 13, 2026
This book is enemies-to-lovers and the right amount of slow burn. The banter is fantastic, and the MMC delivers so many unforgettable lines “She’s a nightmare. A Liability. I don’t like her. And yet, in this moment, none of that matters.” It is a fantastic read, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
September 16, 2026
Just wow! This book is utterly captivating!! I literally could not put it down. It’s dystopian done right. The book had all of my favorite tropes - found family, fiesty FMC, possessive MMC - and an underlying mystery. This book did not disappoint. I will be obsessing over it until book 2 comes out!! Five solid stars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review:
I’m loving that dystopian is coming back and the fact that this was a debut novel is insane. I can’t wait to continue this series moving toward. The back and forth between Emilia and Zac was perfect and I LOVED the found family. The last 15% had me DIALED IN
I’m loving that dystopian is coming back and the fact that this was a debut novel is insane. I can’t wait to continue this series moving toward. The back and forth between Emilia and Zac was perfect and I LOVED the found family. The last 15% had me DIALED IN
September 17, 2026
That was crazy and I’m bizarrely obsessed despite well everything
RTC
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