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Imperfect
They call it the Slump: a city of ruins where orphaned street kids struggle to survive.
But to fifteen-year-old Summer Greenwood, it’s home. Not a good home, but at least there she can find food and shelter for her sisters, Lily and Tory.
To the powerful Making Perfect corporation, however, the Slump is a gold mine, a source of unending test subjects. Once a month, squads of company officials invade the ruins to capture orphans for their facilities. What happens to the kids they take is unclear—none of them ever return.
Then Summer herself is taken.
Forced into a series of grueling experiments, she soon discovers that Making Perfect’s ultimate goal is far darker than anything she imagined. As she fights to get back to the Slump and her now-defenseless sisters, she begins to understand why once you enter Making Perfect, you never get out.
But to fifteen-year-old Summer Greenwood, it’s home. Not a good home, but at least there she can find food and shelter for her sisters, Lily and Tory.
To the powerful Making Perfect corporation, however, the Slump is a gold mine, a source of unending test subjects. Once a month, squads of company officials invade the ruins to capture orphans for their facilities. What happens to the kids they take is unclear—none of them ever return.
Then Summer herself is taken.
Forced into a series of grueling experiments, she soon discovers that Making Perfect’s ultimate goal is far darker than anything she imagined. As she fights to get back to the Slump and her now-defenseless sisters, she begins to understand why once you enter Making Perfect, you never get out.
344 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2015
About the author
Claire Fraise
8 books362 followersClaire Fraise is an award-winning author of paranormal thrillers about sinister spirits and the brave ghost hunters who bring them down. She won the Grand Prize at the 2023 Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards for They Stay, and published her debut novel Imperfect when she was still in high school. When Claire is not sitting behind her computer writing about murder, you can find her hiking in the mountains, on the back of a horse, or taking too many pictures of her dog. Even though it goes against every introverted bone in her body, she is on social media. Connect with her on YouTube at Write with Claire Fraise, Instagram at @clairefraiseauthor, or visit her website at clairefraise.com.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 12, 2015
I can review this book in three words – “Sequel. Now. Please.”
“Imperfect” surpassed every one of my expectations. It is original, technical, emotional, relatable, and descriptive. It’s a must read for all “Hunger Games” and “Insurgent” fans.
The year is 2441 and Summer Greenwood is 15. Her parents, once prominent sc ientists, are gone. She’s left to raise her two sisters within the ruins of a place called the Slump. Summer and her best friend Tyler (also raising siblings) scrounge daily for food and water. They must also guard against the ceaseless Making Perfect patrol. Making Perfect decided humans can no longer cut it in their existing form. But with just a few genetic tweaks here and there, they can be Perfect.
Eventually Summer is captured by Making Perfect and taken to their facility, where other teenagers are held, trained and “enhanced”. But Summer is special. She doesn’t need to be enhanced. Because she already is. And that’s a good thing, because if you’re captured and the enhancement doesn’t take, you’re dead.
This debut novel could have easily slipped into tried but true territory. Summer does find a companion in Making Perfect, Blayze, and the novel could easily have been a triangle that does nothing but waste time, patience, and pages. Or this could have been handled as an Origin Story – to understand how Summer’s world works, which will then eventually get destroyed and rebuilt in subsequent novels. But it does neither.
Instead, we get FOUR different points of view. Summer is the main narrator, but we also hear from Tyler, Kace (a 21 year old man who is in charge of Summer’s unit) and Ian Cooper, the 19 year old son of Making Perfect’s CEO). The multiple points of view do not function just to advance events, but also to explain character motivation, and provide exposition.
My favorite part of the book were the descriptions. People and places were so vividly described I could hear and see it all perfectly in my head. It’s as if the author chooses description and emotionality over action. How refreshing. Even tension is built gradually. The chapters are just the right length to have mini-cliffhangers. I ended up staying up until 4:00 am because I needed just “one more chapter”.
I also liked the fact that although “Imperfect” could go further, that doesn’t mean it’s necessary. The book does work as a stand-alone story, but the universe Ms. Fraise creates could always be expanded. The future rests in her extremely capable hands. It’s also nice to have someone writing in their own age bracket. We really don’t need more books written by middle-aged women in this genre. We need more books written by the teens themselves. They’re the ones with the direct knowledge; they should have the means, resources, and imaginations to publish.
“Imperfect” is the LAST way to describe this book. I look forward greatly to reading more from this new author.
“Imperfect” surpassed every one of my expectations. It is original, technical, emotional, relatable, and descriptive. It’s a must read for all “Hunger Games” and “Insurgent” fans.
The year is 2441 and Summer Greenwood is 15. Her parents, once prominent sc ientists, are gone. She’s left to raise her two sisters within the ruins of a place called the Slump. Summer and her best friend Tyler (also raising siblings) scrounge daily for food and water. They must also guard against the ceaseless Making Perfect patrol. Making Perfect decided humans can no longer cut it in their existing form. But with just a few genetic tweaks here and there, they can be Perfect.
Eventually Summer is captured by Making Perfect and taken to their facility, where other teenagers are held, trained and “enhanced”. But Summer is special. She doesn’t need to be enhanced. Because she already is. And that’s a good thing, because if you’re captured and the enhancement doesn’t take, you’re dead.
This debut novel could have easily slipped into tried but true territory. Summer does find a companion in Making Perfect, Blayze, and the novel could easily have been a triangle that does nothing but waste time, patience, and pages. Or this could have been handled as an Origin Story – to understand how Summer’s world works, which will then eventually get destroyed and rebuilt in subsequent novels. But it does neither.
Instead, we get FOUR different points of view. Summer is the main narrator, but we also hear from Tyler, Kace (a 21 year old man who is in charge of Summer’s unit) and Ian Cooper, the 19 year old son of Making Perfect’s CEO). The multiple points of view do not function just to advance events, but also to explain character motivation, and provide exposition.
My favorite part of the book were the descriptions. People and places were so vividly described I could hear and see it all perfectly in my head. It’s as if the author chooses description and emotionality over action. How refreshing. Even tension is built gradually. The chapters are just the right length to have mini-cliffhangers. I ended up staying up until 4:00 am because I needed just “one more chapter”.
I also liked the fact that although “Imperfect” could go further, that doesn’t mean it’s necessary. The book does work as a stand-alone story, but the universe Ms. Fraise creates could always be expanded. The future rests in her extremely capable hands. It’s also nice to have someone writing in their own age bracket. We really don’t need more books written by middle-aged women in this genre. We need more books written by the teens themselves. They’re the ones with the direct knowledge; they should have the means, resources, and imaginations to publish.
“Imperfect” is the LAST way to describe this book. I look forward greatly to reading more from this new author.
April 11, 2016
The absolute worst attempt at a dystopian book I've ever witnessed.
I'm going to back that statement up here with plenty of examples, basically taking it scene by scene, because this is the author's first book and she looks very young. My goal here is NOT to rip this young newbie author apart, but rather to stress just how nonsensical the plot points of this book are.
Dystopian stories are my guilty pleasure, but like a suspense or mystery, it's a niche that MUST be logical or it ends up being a hot mess.
Facts
• Former U.S. has been ravaged by civil war & disease before split into contained regions, each ruled by a corporation providing a resource - food, water, electricity, clothes, etc. Corps trade with each other, but inhabitants aren't allowed in/out.
• FMC & her friend, Tyler, live in the Making Perfect region responsible for genetic research.
• The Slump is the area between the rebuilt city of Making Perfect and the containment fence. It's basically a wasteland of what's left of pre war buildings. It's where the unemployed, orphans, elderly, and other outcasts flee or are dumped.
• MCs and their siblings were brought to the Slump four years ago.
• Civil war was 100+ years ago.
• Making Prefect comes through and collects kids every few months... Never to be seen again.
• The ONLY FOOD and Supply Sources are the limited ruins of the Slump and the garbage dumped there from the city.
• At the set of the story, the MCs haven't eaten in days.
• She has a dog.
• Red Pox, Yellow pox are threats and the MCs each have a sick sibling.
~ Lets Play Jeopardy~
Dystopian books for 1000, Alex.
The most vital and important element a dystopian world must contain for survival is?
What is a reliable, sustainable, obtainable, and believable food and water source, Alex?
D.I. N. G. D. I. N. G. D. I. N. G. D. I. N. G
Sadly, a lack of food source is just the beginning of the f'ups.
Bullshit
When your details don't match the broad scope of your dystopian setup, you end up with a huge steaming pile of bullshit. This entire story can be picked apart page by page, piece by piece as making ZERO SENSE. .....
Resources
"Competition for resources in the Slump is no joke. "
"It's rare that you find anything edible. That's why everyone is so desperate."
Garbage bags are dumped and the Slump inhabitants await like rats. Yet, the FMC gets herself a bag and calmly goes through it without incident.
Is this fair play, calm scene suppose to represent that desperation the author was telling me about?
Why is no one fighting over this garbage?
Am I suppose to believe that the entire Slump population has survived on a food supply where people eat something like a banana peel and granola bar every two or three days for FOUR FUCKING YEARS?
Babe, the emaciation seen in concentration camp victims couldn't rival that type of food supply set up.
It's not just nonsensical, it's medically impossible.
And, sprinting and running all over the place damn sure wouldn't be an option for that kind of prolonged starvation.
Weapons
No one survives in a dystopian world without food .... and ?!?!? _____
.Weapon.
FMC has a pocket knife as her weapon. Laughable, but okay since apparently the other starving Slump'ers present no danger whatsoever.
She casually loses her knife digging through a garbage bag. She's a short distance away when she realizes it, but basically shrugs and goes on about her business of finding food.
Limited resources, huh? So knives grow on trees? No bad guys? No threats? No fear? Wtf kind of dystopian world is this?!?
OOOOOOH, wait FOOD does exist and survived 100 plus years.
" Rebuilt it, that is, except for the Slump."
"Making Perfect, Inc: Improving the human race since 2341. One hundred years."
She goes to an old dilapidated store that still has food and water FROM 100 YEARS AGO .
The Slump is the area that was NOT rebuilt and the buildings and contents are at LEAST 100 YEARS OLD.
Yet, there's food there?
Now, not only do you have to believe that^^^, you're asked to believe...
None of these other starving mofos have had enough sense to find it or get to it except our FMC?
Oh, and if you can buy that it even exists and that no one else has found it for 100 years, you have to believe that the FMC would just leave such a treasure there and take a can or two and bottle of water or two at a time.
Hey, if food can survive 100 years, I guess antibiotics can, too?!
Tyler's sister is sick; so, he traveled 2 hrs south (no food in days mind you) to get her seven antibiotic pills he found in an "old drug store."
Shocker... The 100 year old antibiotics are "helping."
Again, medically impossible.
Survivor Mode
Is the FMC...
NOT even close.
Not a chance in hell.
Sorry, this chick can't even hang with lameduck Tris.
Close...
This girl half-hazzardly falls through a window (same window all the other dumb fucks can't find leading to FOOD) and cuts her leg "down to the bone." Icing her survivor skills, she knocks the rubble down and traps herself.
I'm 10% in and she's lost her only weapon, cut her leg to the bone, and trapped herself; and you want me to believe this 15-year-old girl has survived the last four years?
Perform or Die
She returns home to her nagging sisters and sick sister to give them the single granola bar she managed to find laying on the ground.
"What's going on? You look like you're going to pass out?"
Well, this chick has been running and leaping into garbage bags and falling through windows after not having eaten for days and only to return with a single granola bar she feeds THEM.
What was she supposed to look like?
Why ain't their asses out gathering?
NO ONE GETS A FREE RIDE IN A DYSTOPIAN BOOK!
Say What?
"I need coffee."
It's rare that I'm able to find intact packets of coffee, but when I do, it's all I drink for days.
You ain't ate in days. You digging through garbage & coming out empty handed. You trying to sell me a bleak existence of starvation, desperation, disease, etc etc.
Yet, you talking about coffee.
I love my coffee, but that'd be the last thing on my mind if I hadn't ate a real meal in four years.
Guess what else is still working 100 years after a civil war left the area "in ruins" never to be rebuilt?
"There's only one bed, a couch, and a small bathroom right off the kitchen. If it weren't for the running water and good insulation, it would be a pretty dismal place to live. It doesn't have windows but at least we're not freezing to death.
So, the ruins of the old world still has running water? Interesting.
Do they have electricity, too, in this wasteland since there's no window for light? Maybe a Yankee Candle survived and has miraculously burned for four years?
Author, you can't describe a windowless room, date everything around the characters 100 years in the ruin, & limit their new resources to *almost* useless trash. This is called painting yourself in a corner.
The Dog
They can't feed themselves... How the hell are they feeding a dog?
None of these other starving mofos are trying to eat the only animal mentioned in the book?
The dog isn't even trained for survival....
When the corporation arrives to round up all these loose youngsters, this is how the BARKING dog is hidden:
"I tie a hand towel around his nose to muffle his sounds and push him into a closet, locking it behind him.
It's okay... She has super powers
Shes trapped by the corporation official bad guys...
"When one of them raises his gun, I leap over him and push through the ones blocking my way. Seven foot jumps have never been a problem for me." "The hole in its ceiling is where I expect it to be, and I jump up into the opening."
A starving; 'oh, so, very, very tired;' clumsy chick that can leap tall buildings. Great ~
I thought there was water?
Her captors tell her to take a shower.
I feel so ... Clean. I haven't washed in a couple weeks.
Why? I thought you fing have ruining water?
Scooby Villains need not apply
Bad Guys: "You are under constant observation--any effort to escape will be quickly reported and will result in unpleasant consequences."
Unpleasant, huh? I'm terrified.
This is the point where the author 100% quits even trying to make the dystopian sound authentic.
The FMC and her captors have convos that make kindergarten classes look like university.
You're a liar.
No, you.
Unnnhuh, you.
Maybe, but at least I admit it.
Good, were on the same page.
Unhuh, you're a killer.
Yea, you too.
No I'm not.
Yes, you just don't know it.
Okay, maybe; oh God, he has a perfect nose.
Did I mention they are eating frosted cookies as they have the liar, liar : killer, killer convo? Yep.
Everyone is young. Everyone is handsome. Half of these bad guys have soft smiles and/or kind voices.
She's 'oh so innocently' flirting & hasn't had a SINGLE thought of escape & evade.
Meanwhile, one of the now many MMCs, Tyler, feels guilty he didn't stop to thank a young pretty nurse for having shoved some unknown IV fluid in his arm.
And when I say many MMCs ... I do mean many. Cooper, Blaze, Kace, Tyler. Hell, I can't even count how many there are.
Calling It Quits
Not one page of this book met an ounce of logic.
I read 30% just to try to get to the main plot line... I never did. Potential readers only have to read 8-10% to determine this is a bullshit dystopian with nonsensical world building. Can't attest to IF an actual plot ever develops.
November 25, 2015
Wow! This was one great read. And to think a 16 year old wrote. The only word I can think is Wow! A must read for fans of Hunger Games and Divergent. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads
October 7, 2015
I won this book on goodreads first reads. I found it to be a very enjoyable story and the ending left me anxious for the next book.
December 12, 2015
I love YA dystopian novels and this was an excellent debut novel by a very talented author.
November 26, 2015
Absolutely Phenomenal!
I could read this book over and over again. While I was reading it, it really reminded me of Divergent as far as dystopian novels go. But this one was 10x more intriguing! Fraise does a fantastic job at showing us character development throughout the novel. The plot is extraordinarily entertaining. I am so ready for book #2! I don't know how much longer I can wait! I'm a sucker for romance and would love to see more of Summer, Tyler, and Blayze interact with each other. I don't think it would take away from the novels purpose as well. It's a thrilling dystopian novel. I found that I could not put this book down.
Fraise, don't keep us waiting! Please make a second novel to this series.
*Won this novel from a Goodreads Giveaway*
I could read this book over and over again. While I was reading it, it really reminded me of Divergent as far as dystopian novels go. But this one was 10x more intriguing! Fraise does a fantastic job at showing us character development throughout the novel. The plot is extraordinarily entertaining. I am so ready for book #2! I don't know how much longer I can wait! I'm a sucker for romance and would love to see more of Summer, Tyler, and Blayze interact with each other. I don't think it would take away from the novels purpose as well. It's a thrilling dystopian novel. I found that I could not put this book down.
Fraise, don't keep us waiting! Please make a second novel to this series.
*Won this novel from a Goodreads Giveaway*
April 25, 2016
Amazing! One engrossing story. Summer and her sister's exist with other orphans at the edge of their society in The Slump. They forage for whatever they cab find to survive, while avoiding Making Perfect, the genetics corporation that owns their district. During a raid, Summer is caught and discovers all those caught are expendable test subjects. There are friends who can help and enemies who can make things worse. First the subjects have to find a way out, then they must try to find a way to stop Making Perfect. A well thought out plot with great world building and fully developed characters.
October 9, 2015
I loved this book. It contained all the parts of dystopian novels that I have liked in the past, but added its own unique flair. Based on the first novels of the Hunger Games and Divergent, this comes in third but I do like it more than the Maze Runner.
Reads like Maze Runner met up with Hunger Games and a pinch of Divergent (referring to the first novels in series only).
Reads like Maze Runner met up with Hunger Games and a pinch of Divergent (referring to the first novels in series only).
December 7, 2016
I had to suspend my disbelief in this book many times, but I thought the world was quite interesting. Despite the flaws, it was a page-turner, and I wanted to find out what happened. I read it in two days during my beach vacation. For a debut effort by a 16 year-old, I think this novel is quite an accomplishment. I fully expect Fraise to learn from her mistakes and write a more mature sequel.
December 4, 2017
This is a phenomenal book! It shows the importance of society today. Only picking healthy, fit, and attractive people. What happens to the rest of us? Well, read and see! This book is fun, thrilling, and filled with plot twists. I LOVED this book, and have read it twice. Haters back off! This is an AMAZING book! Claire Fraise is an outstanding author! Great job!
December 23, 2015
OMG! I need more!
I loved this book! Please hurry with the next one! I could not put this down once I started to read it!
I loved this book! Please hurry with the next one! I could not put this down once I started to read it!
January 22, 2016
DNF at 19%
May 19, 2016
Poorly thought out and written, dialogue is stiff, characters unbelievable. DNF 10%
March 29, 2021
2.5 rounded up to 3 to be kind. I understand this book was written by a younger author but it just had so many flaws...
The plot was insanely hard to follow. I get it, end of the world, some kind of virus or viruses after a war, survival of the fittest. But it feels as if the author was slapping together so so many different aspects/ideas, that didn't quite work together.
Not to mention the ending left me with more questions than answers, and didn't wrap up a single part of this book. It's also an open ending beckoning for a sequel or to be part of a much longer series...
Unfortunately it appears the author lost ambition with following through and never published the continuation. Major thumbs down for that. You invest all that time into reading the story and getting to know the characters, without an ending?
The plot was insanely hard to follow. I get it, end of the world, some kind of virus or viruses after a war, survival of the fittest. But it feels as if the author was slapping together so so many different aspects/ideas, that didn't quite work together.
Not to mention the ending left me with more questions than answers, and didn't wrap up a single part of this book. It's also an open ending beckoning for a sequel or to be part of a much longer series...
Unfortunately it appears the author lost ambition with following through and never published the continuation. Major thumbs down for that. You invest all that time into reading the story and getting to know the characters, without an ending?
July 13, 2022
Is there a sequel?
This book is filled with twists and turns as it drags you through a dystopic world ruled by corporations. However, it feels like the story doesn't end at the end of Imperfect. I'd be curious to see what happens next for Summer.
This book is filled with twists and turns as it drags you through a dystopic world ruled by corporations. However, it feels like the story doesn't end at the end of Imperfect. I'd be curious to see what happens next for Summer.
March 24, 2025
Dnf after the first chapter. I could already tell that I would dislike this book. Just in the first few pages, the grammar was bad, and the dialogue seemed cringe and unrealistic, as did the plot in general. It just didn't make any sense.
October 1, 2016
I loved the style of this book. It was exciting and an absolute page turner. I couldn't put it down. I think it should be turned into a movie and I can't believe it had a bad review. I can't stand people who troll authors. This book was refreshing and different and I highly recommend it.
October 23, 2015
FTC Disclosure: I received this book free from Goodreads hoping I would review it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews