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Charisma
An edge-of-your-seat thriller from the bestselling author of, Nerve , the book behind 2016's hottest YA film, starring Emma Roberts, Dave Franco & Juliette Lewis.
A chance at the ultimate makeover means deadly consequences... Aislyn suffers from crippling shyness - that is, until she’s offered a dose of Charisma, an underground gene therapy drug guaranteed to make her shine. The effects are instant. She’s charming, vivacious, and popular. But strangely, so are some other kids she knows. The media goes into a frenzy when the disease turns contagious, and then deadly, and the doctor who gave it to them disappears. Aislyn must find a way to stop it, before it's too late.
Praise for Charisma
'...this fast-paced and edgy novel has enough thrills, romance, and family drama to please a wide audience. This Robin Cook – like thriller zips along at breakneck speed to a satisfying conclusion.' Booklist
'Ryan ( Nerve ) offers a cautionary tale about the perils of designer genetics and what happens when scientists' aspirations get ahead of ethics. Her take on the topic is fresh and intriguing.' Publishers Weekly
'Suspense balances with discussions of bioethics for a provocative and entertaining read. A sympathetic protagonist combines with intriguing medical possibility for a solid thriller.' Kirkus Reviews
' Charisma by Jeanne Ryan is at its best when it gets technical. Considering Ryan has a PHD and has worked with youth development programs and social workers, it’s obvious she knows what she talking about.' Hypable
'Not a far step from Ned Vizzini’s Be More Chill ...The science is explained well enough for non-scientist readers to understand, and gives teens much to think about regarding medical ethics and experimentation.' School Library Journal
'The science is both sharp and accessible here, and readers will get a sense of the nuances and messiness of genetic alterations while staying in Aislyn’s world.' BCCB
A chance at the ultimate makeover means deadly consequences... Aislyn suffers from crippling shyness - that is, until she’s offered a dose of Charisma, an underground gene therapy drug guaranteed to make her shine. The effects are instant. She’s charming, vivacious, and popular. But strangely, so are some other kids she knows. The media goes into a frenzy when the disease turns contagious, and then deadly, and the doctor who gave it to them disappears. Aislyn must find a way to stop it, before it's too late.
Praise for Charisma
'...this fast-paced and edgy novel has enough thrills, romance, and family drama to please a wide audience. This Robin Cook – like thriller zips along at breakneck speed to a satisfying conclusion.' Booklist
'Ryan ( Nerve ) offers a cautionary tale about the perils of designer genetics and what happens when scientists' aspirations get ahead of ethics. Her take on the topic is fresh and intriguing.' Publishers Weekly
'Suspense balances with discussions of bioethics for a provocative and entertaining read. A sympathetic protagonist combines with intriguing medical possibility for a solid thriller.' Kirkus Reviews
' Charisma by Jeanne Ryan is at its best when it gets technical. Considering Ryan has a PHD and has worked with youth development programs and social workers, it’s obvious she knows what she talking about.' Hypable
'Not a far step from Ned Vizzini’s Be More Chill ...The science is explained well enough for non-scientist readers to understand, and gives teens much to think about regarding medical ethics and experimentation.' School Library Journal
'The science is both sharp and accessible here, and readers will get a sense of the nuances and messiness of genetic alterations while staying in Aislyn’s world.' BCCB
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2015
55 people are currently reading
3202 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne Ryan
4 books480 followersI’ve lived all over the world, raised in a family with eleven brothers and sisters. I spent my early childhood in Hawaii and the rest of my growing-up years trying to figure out a way to get back there, with stops in South Korea, Michigan and Germany along the way. Before writing fiction, I tried my hand at many things, including war game simulation and youth development research. But I decided it was much more fun to work on stories than statistics.
These days, I still love Hawaii, but have found my home under the moody skies of the Pacific Northwest.
Note, I post news on Twitter @Jeanne_Ryan and on my FB page: www.facebook.com/JeanneRyanAuthor
These days, I still love Hawaii, but have found my home under the moody skies of the Pacific Northwest.
Note, I post news on Twitter @Jeanne_Ryan and on my FB page: www.facebook.com/JeanneRyanAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
July 19, 2015
Charisma took a while to get going. It didn't really engage me until about a third of the way through. I think the main reason for this was that a bit too much time was spent on Aislyn's crippling shyness. Now, this shyness is integral to the story the book is telling, however, I think the point would have been made quite adequately in fewer scenes. It's never easy to read chapter after chapter from the point of view of a person who is constantly down on herself and failing (in her eyes) in everything.However, after that, it came into its stride and the story was an entertaining and thought-provoking one. Cases are presented both for and against gene therapy, with a clear message of 'make sure it's done correctly if you're going to introduce it' coming through. I liked the issues it raised, and also that the characters were realistic ones. No one was perfect, not by a long shot, but I empathised with Aislyn and enjoyed following her journey.
May 12, 2017
I initially picked this book up after my absolute adoration for Nerve and the intriguing-sounding synopsis.
Aislyn's crippling shyness plagues every day of her existence. But this pales in comparison when she thinks of her brother, Sammy's, everyday struggle of living with severe cystic fibrosis. But when Aislyn is given a chance at mutating the genes that directly cause her inhibitions it seems like a miracle cure for all her problems. Sammy's struggle is still very real but perhaps, with her own finally locked away, she can focus on searching for a solution that will rectify all her family's complications.
The protagonist, having undergone a problematic transformation, remained both our eyes into this world and dually the antagonist to the norm. Whilst not as compelling to read as Nerve was, I really enjoyed pondering over the ethical and moral questions this raised. The concerns over disease gene mutation and personality gene mutation marked much of this book and it made for very intriguing reading seeing where I, the reader, stood on this issue.
Seeing a character's growth, over the course of the book, and yet it not being due to an authentic cause also added in making this an intriguing read. I was constantly battling with my own feelings over the actions the characters had taken and struggling to define how I really felt about them.
Ultimately, I really enjoyed this book, probably mostly because of the multitude of questions it raised. I felt, in areas, the pace dragged and I found the plot twist towards the end to be an obvious one but this was still, for the most part, a fun and interesting, fast-paced read.
Aislyn's crippling shyness plagues every day of her existence. But this pales in comparison when she thinks of her brother, Sammy's, everyday struggle of living with severe cystic fibrosis. But when Aislyn is given a chance at mutating the genes that directly cause her inhibitions it seems like a miracle cure for all her problems. Sammy's struggle is still very real but perhaps, with her own finally locked away, she can focus on searching for a solution that will rectify all her family's complications.
The protagonist, having undergone a problematic transformation, remained both our eyes into this world and dually the antagonist to the norm. Whilst not as compelling to read as Nerve was, I really enjoyed pondering over the ethical and moral questions this raised. The concerns over disease gene mutation and personality gene mutation marked much of this book and it made for very intriguing reading seeing where I, the reader, stood on this issue.
Seeing a character's growth, over the course of the book, and yet it not being due to an authentic cause also added in making this an intriguing read. I was constantly battling with my own feelings over the actions the characters had taken and struggling to define how I really felt about them.
Ultimately, I really enjoyed this book, probably mostly because of the multitude of questions it raised. I felt, in areas, the pace dragged and I found the plot twist towards the end to be an obvious one but this was still, for the most part, a fun and interesting, fast-paced read.
August 26, 2016
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One of the most offensive things someone that I’m close to has ever told me is that because I’m an introvert I will never get anywhere in life and I must make myself an extrovert. This person (an extrovert) very obviously put his foot in his mouth and I still haven’t quite forgave him for that particular excrement that came from his mouth but I kept thinking of that horrible remark when I read Charisma. And all I wanted to do was kick his extrovert ass, so I had to make do with this book instead.
Full disclosure, book was picked out by my sister who picked it out solely because of its cover. We both have a thing for cute animals, so it sat on my shelf for like a year before I read it. I was actually watching Limitless the other night and thought the plot sort of looked similar—a drug or in this case gene therapy that causes a person to become “better” with some unfortunate consequences. Unfortunately, even though this book had an interesting premises its one of those cases where the execution was sort of hideous.
Yeah, I know seems to be a recurring theme this month. I think even though it seems like I’ve read a prodigious amount of books I’ve DNF’d quite a few of them. This is in part because I’m no longer forcing myself to struggle through something I know isn’t either interesting me or I’m not liking. I think in the case with Charisma was that the book had horrible pacing, and honestly I didn’t think Aisyln’s woes were worthy of taking a miracle pill over.
Ryan spent a good seventy or so pages discussing Aisyln’s life before she took Charisma and honestly while it was bad it wasn’t that ad. In books like this, you need to make the character reach a pivotal low point so the drug reaches more miraculous results. It didn’t. Her life was bad, but I’d say I seen worse cases of social anxiety in YA.
Also, a side note, maybe I didn’t understand why the social anxiety medicine she was on would give her palpitations. I have a high pulse rate/high blood pressure and take a beta-blocker every day, it’s the same sort of drug that’s used for people who suffer anxiety since it lowers the heart rate—a symptom of anxiety disorder. I don’t understand why taking a stimulant would be given to someone suffering from anxiety?
That being said I’m not a doctor and I guess we needed a cure for Aislyn being shy…
Okay.
Other than that, what really bothered me was how much shyness and introvertedness were looked down upon in this book. I’m sure later on, there’s a come to Jesus moment where Aislyn learns that being shy isn’t the end of the world but with how everyone is treating her like its some sort of defect and how she lost a science fair over it when she clearly had the better project…I don’t know it just bothered me.
I really wish the scientist lady who invented the drug or someone would be you can be successful in life without being loud. Because there are a lot of loud people out there that make asses of themselves like the current GOP presidential candidate who can’t seem to shut his big fat orange trap. You know, that would’ve been a nice little life lesson rather than if you can’t flap your trap you must be defective.
But obviously what do I know…
Nothing since I’m an introvert.
So yeah, this didn’t work for me. Maybe later on that little life lesson I wanted to see would make an appearance. But as it stands, it didn’t and I didn’t have an emotional attachment to any of the characters to really bother sticking around.
One of the most offensive things someone that I’m close to has ever told me is that because I’m an introvert I will never get anywhere in life and I must make myself an extrovert. This person (an extrovert) very obviously put his foot in his mouth and I still haven’t quite forgave him for that particular excrement that came from his mouth but I kept thinking of that horrible remark when I read Charisma. And all I wanted to do was kick his extrovert ass, so I had to make do with this book instead.
Full disclosure, book was picked out by my sister who picked it out solely because of its cover. We both have a thing for cute animals, so it sat on my shelf for like a year before I read it. I was actually watching Limitless the other night and thought the plot sort of looked similar—a drug or in this case gene therapy that causes a person to become “better” with some unfortunate consequences. Unfortunately, even though this book had an interesting premises its one of those cases where the execution was sort of hideous.
Yeah, I know seems to be a recurring theme this month. I think even though it seems like I’ve read a prodigious amount of books I’ve DNF’d quite a few of them. This is in part because I’m no longer forcing myself to struggle through something I know isn’t either interesting me or I’m not liking. I think in the case with Charisma was that the book had horrible pacing, and honestly I didn’t think Aisyln’s woes were worthy of taking a miracle pill over.
Ryan spent a good seventy or so pages discussing Aisyln’s life before she took Charisma and honestly while it was bad it wasn’t that ad. In books like this, you need to make the character reach a pivotal low point so the drug reaches more miraculous results. It didn’t. Her life was bad, but I’d say I seen worse cases of social anxiety in YA.
Also, a side note, maybe I didn’t understand why the social anxiety medicine she was on would give her palpitations. I have a high pulse rate/high blood pressure and take a beta-blocker every day, it’s the same sort of drug that’s used for people who suffer anxiety since it lowers the heart rate—a symptom of anxiety disorder. I don’t understand why taking a stimulant would be given to someone suffering from anxiety?
That being said I’m not a doctor and I guess we needed a cure for Aislyn being shy…
Okay.
Other than that, what really bothered me was how much shyness and introvertedness were looked down upon in this book. I’m sure later on, there’s a come to Jesus moment where Aislyn learns that being shy isn’t the end of the world but with how everyone is treating her like its some sort of defect and how she lost a science fair over it when she clearly had the better project…I don’t know it just bothered me.
I really wish the scientist lady who invented the drug or someone would be you can be successful in life without being loud. Because there are a lot of loud people out there that make asses of themselves like the current GOP presidential candidate who can’t seem to shut his big fat orange trap. You know, that would’ve been a nice little life lesson rather than if you can’t flap your trap you must be defective.
But obviously what do I know…
Nothing since I’m an introvert.
So yeah, this didn’t work for me. Maybe later on that little life lesson I wanted to see would make an appearance. But as it stands, it didn’t and I didn’t have an emotional attachment to any of the characters to really bother sticking around.
May 6, 2015
No no no noooo. shane.. no. ffuuuuu
September 3, 2017
Everyone remembers the obsession with Nerve. The release of the movie had a large chunk of the book loving population grabbing at the novel, interested to see where the movie came from. I was part of that population. The advertisements for the movie seemed wonderful, and before I decided to watch, I wanted to read the book. Upon finishing the book, I realised it was not at all what I had expected it to be. In fact, I was extremely disappointed in it. I gave it a three star rating and have yet to watch the movie. Despite this, I’m the kind of person who tries to give authors a second chance. Thus, when I saw Charisma in an offer, I decide to pick it up. Charisma would be the second chance I like to give.
Sadly, I liked Charisma even less than I liked Nerve. There were some elements of Nerve that interested me, whereas I was wading my way through the entirety of Charisma. I was constantly waiting for something to grab me with this one, for something to pull me completely into the story, yet that moment never came. The the potential there, but it never quite reached said potential. In other words, I was disappointed by this one: I wanted so much more than I was given.
Whilst Charisma is a young adult novel, a part of me was holding out hope that it would be a medical thriller. A medical thriller with teens, but a medical thriller nonetheless. With genetics involved and problems associated with a drug, there was the chance for many amazing things. Sadly, the parts of the story that should have earned this book the title of ‘thriller’ never gave any thrills. At no point was my heart pumping and at no point was I on the edge of my seat. Things happened, yes, but there was no real emotion attached to anything.
I think my biggest issue with this novel is that I never became invested in the characters. Without interesting characters, a book can flop. When you like characters, you want to know more about them, you participate in the story. When you dislike characters, even the greatest of stories can seem a bit on the dull side. From the very start, I didn’t really care at all for our main character. It seemed as though she was sending the message: ‘being an introvert is wrong’. Well thanks, but no thanks. I’m perfectly content with my introverted ways. Not everyone needs to be front and centre to enjoy life. Not everyone needs to be the centre of attention, the universe revolving around him or her. I’m not saying being an extrovert involves these things – yet such is the message I received from this book. I felt as though this book was telling you there are two opinions in life: you can be ignored or you can be it all. Not the greatest of messages. Moreover, there were points where I felt as though the message was being sent that being an introvert is so bad because our main character is attractive – surely attractive people are supposed to be extroverts. Honestly, I could rant on and on about this, but I know it will soon start boring people. I completely understand the skewed views of teenagers – hell, I’ve been there myself – but this book felt as though it was sending all the wrong kinds of messages.
Pushing aside the building rant, back to the other elements of the story.
Even had I enjoyed the characters, I wasn’t overly interested in the events of the book either. The things that played out never really had any feeling behind them. It was a collection of typical teenage moments, intercepted by the negative outcome of bad choices. With Nerve there were some interesting moments, moments where something happened, but even when details of Charisma were moving the story forward, I did not feel as though there was much interest to be found. The story could have played out completely differently and I wouldn’t have cared all that much – it is very much one of those stories I can say I have read, yet I cannot really tell you all I read. For the first third of the book, not much happened. For the last two thirds of the book things appeared to happen, but I couldn’t give you the specifics.
Overall, this wasn’t at all what I had hoped it would be.
Sadly, I liked Charisma even less than I liked Nerve. There were some elements of Nerve that interested me, whereas I was wading my way through the entirety of Charisma. I was constantly waiting for something to grab me with this one, for something to pull me completely into the story, yet that moment never came. The the potential there, but it never quite reached said potential. In other words, I was disappointed by this one: I wanted so much more than I was given.
Whilst Charisma is a young adult novel, a part of me was holding out hope that it would be a medical thriller. A medical thriller with teens, but a medical thriller nonetheless. With genetics involved and problems associated with a drug, there was the chance for many amazing things. Sadly, the parts of the story that should have earned this book the title of ‘thriller’ never gave any thrills. At no point was my heart pumping and at no point was I on the edge of my seat. Things happened, yes, but there was no real emotion attached to anything.
I think my biggest issue with this novel is that I never became invested in the characters. Without interesting characters, a book can flop. When you like characters, you want to know more about them, you participate in the story. When you dislike characters, even the greatest of stories can seem a bit on the dull side. From the very start, I didn’t really care at all for our main character. It seemed as though she was sending the message: ‘being an introvert is wrong’. Well thanks, but no thanks. I’m perfectly content with my introverted ways. Not everyone needs to be front and centre to enjoy life. Not everyone needs to be the centre of attention, the universe revolving around him or her. I’m not saying being an extrovert involves these things – yet such is the message I received from this book. I felt as though this book was telling you there are two opinions in life: you can be ignored or you can be it all. Not the greatest of messages. Moreover, there were points where I felt as though the message was being sent that being an introvert is so bad because our main character is attractive – surely attractive people are supposed to be extroverts. Honestly, I could rant on and on about this, but I know it will soon start boring people. I completely understand the skewed views of teenagers – hell, I’ve been there myself – but this book felt as though it was sending all the wrong kinds of messages.
Pushing aside the building rant, back to the other elements of the story.
Even had I enjoyed the characters, I wasn’t overly interested in the events of the book either. The things that played out never really had any feeling behind them. It was a collection of typical teenage moments, intercepted by the negative outcome of bad choices. With Nerve there were some interesting moments, moments where something happened, but even when details of Charisma were moving the story forward, I did not feel as though there was much interest to be found. The story could have played out completely differently and I wouldn’t have cared all that much – it is very much one of those stories I can say I have read, yet I cannot really tell you all I read. For the first third of the book, not much happened. For the last two thirds of the book things appeared to happen, but I couldn’t give you the specifics.
Overall, this wasn’t at all what I had hoped it would be.
February 7, 2017
I tried so hard to finish this book but I lost it half way through. It's really not for me. I found it was incredibly slow, none of the characters were at all memorable and the overall plot was lacking something. I wasn't a fan of the writing much either, it didn't grip me as much as I'd hoped. I do think the idea of the story is good, but maybe if it was executed in a more exciting way, I would have enjoyed it more.
Very disappointed. I was really looking forward to this one as well.
Give it a try if this intrigues you, but it just wasn't my cup of tea,
Very disappointed. I was really looking forward to this one as well.
Give it a try if this intrigues you, but it just wasn't my cup of tea,
April 26, 2016
Ik kwam niet erg makkelijk door dit boek heen, maar al met al is het toch een fijn boek voor tussendoor! Het verhaal kwam moeilijk op gang en ik werd telkens afgeleid door andere dingen. Toch is dit boek 4 sterren waard, want ik vond het verhaal erg origineel.
En ik hou van de cover, zo mooi!
En ik hou van de cover, zo mooi!
July 12, 2015
I have no idea how this has almost 4 stars, I barely was able to finish it. I love the cover and the idea is interesting but the execution fell short. Unless you like obnoxiously annoying characters and a plot line with more holes than a sponge, don't waste your time.
August 10, 2017
As a person who struggles with social anxiety, I was eager to pick this up. The story was interesting and had me thinking about the moral and ethical issues that arise when it comes to controversial medical procedures (gene therapy, in particular). This book is a good example of what can happen when things are taken too far. A great, thought provoking read!
May 5, 2016
Ik geef niet gauw een boek maar 2 sterren, maar dit verdient gewoon niet beter... Check mijn volledige recensie op http://leesendroom.jouwweb.nl/charisma
August 20, 2018
4 stars.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I’ve always thought it sounded interesting, and I’ve wanted to read Ryan’s other book, ‘Nerve’, forever, but the mixed reviews and relatively low rating on Goodreads made me hesitant to pick up ‘Charisma’, fearing disappointment.
The story is narrated by Aislyn, a 16-year-old student with social anxiety that makes almost everything and everyone terrifying. Only a handful of people allow Aislyn to be herself, including her younger brother, Sammy, who has severe Cystic Fibrosis. Aislyn is desperate to help him by spreading awareness and support for promising gene therapy, as well as speak her mind to the guy she likes (and the guy she doesn’t). So when a gene therapy researcher offers her Charisma - an experimental gene therapy which promises to make her the girl she wants to be - she takes the chance and swears to secrecy. It’s only when Aislyn and others begin suffering from scary side effects that they realise they’ve made a mistake that might never be corrected. A mistake that could cost them their lives.
I enjoyed Aislyn’s narration. She seemes real, and although I’ve never suffered from her level of social anxiety, I imagine that her thoughts are accurate and realistic - you can tell that Ryan wanted to really highlight why Charisma was so appealing to her protagonist despite the risks.
I also appreciate Ryan’s in depth research into gene therapy which is understandably a HUGE element of this book, and one which unavoidably needed to be explored. Granted, I didn’t completely understand all the terms, but it impressed me for sure. The narrative was also an interesting platform for exploring the potential benefits and dangers of gene therapy, and I always love a book which makes me think.
Predictability in ‘Charisma’ was...wobbly. I don’t mind cliche, but one of the biggest ‘revelations’ in the story was so obvious I wanted to scream at Aislyn for never even considering it. On the other hand, the ending was surprising and unexpectedly satisfying.
Finally, I must mention the other characters in this book, whom I liked very much. At first I rolled my eyes many of Aislyn’s friends and family, finding them exhausting and two dimensional. But as the story went on, I came to appreciate their consistency and my ability to connect with their individuality which Ryan kindly allowed through careful writing. So by the end, I read fondly about the whole cast.
Finishing this (fairly quickly by my standards, might I add) has me itching to get my hands on ‘Nerve’ all over again. Ryan entertained me, and for that I look forward to her future work and would recommend picking up ‘Charisma’.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I’ve always thought it sounded interesting, and I’ve wanted to read Ryan’s other book, ‘Nerve’, forever, but the mixed reviews and relatively low rating on Goodreads made me hesitant to pick up ‘Charisma’, fearing disappointment.
The story is narrated by Aislyn, a 16-year-old student with social anxiety that makes almost everything and everyone terrifying. Only a handful of people allow Aislyn to be herself, including her younger brother, Sammy, who has severe Cystic Fibrosis. Aislyn is desperate to help him by spreading awareness and support for promising gene therapy, as well as speak her mind to the guy she likes (and the guy she doesn’t). So when a gene therapy researcher offers her Charisma - an experimental gene therapy which promises to make her the girl she wants to be - she takes the chance and swears to secrecy. It’s only when Aislyn and others begin suffering from scary side effects that they realise they’ve made a mistake that might never be corrected. A mistake that could cost them their lives.
I enjoyed Aislyn’s narration. She seemes real, and although I’ve never suffered from her level of social anxiety, I imagine that her thoughts are accurate and realistic - you can tell that Ryan wanted to really highlight why Charisma was so appealing to her protagonist despite the risks.
I also appreciate Ryan’s in depth research into gene therapy which is understandably a HUGE element of this book, and one which unavoidably needed to be explored. Granted, I didn’t completely understand all the terms, but it impressed me for sure. The narrative was also an interesting platform for exploring the potential benefits and dangers of gene therapy, and I always love a book which makes me think.
Predictability in ‘Charisma’ was...wobbly. I don’t mind cliche, but one of the biggest ‘revelations’ in the story was so obvious I wanted to scream at Aislyn for never even considering it. On the other hand, the ending was surprising and unexpectedly satisfying.
Finally, I must mention the other characters in this book, whom I liked very much. At first I rolled my eyes many of Aislyn’s friends and family, finding them exhausting and two dimensional. But as the story went on, I came to appreciate their consistency and my ability to connect with their individuality which Ryan kindly allowed through careful writing. So by the end, I read fondly about the whole cast.
Finishing this (fairly quickly by my standards, might I add) has me itching to get my hands on ‘Nerve’ all over again. Ryan entertained me, and for that I look forward to her future work and would recommend picking up ‘Charisma’.
April 20, 2017
Wat zou jij doen als je éxtreem verlegen bent en er een oplossing met gentherapie geboden wordt? Aislyn overkomt dit en ondanks dat haar leven vanaf het moment van de injectie de goede kant op gaat, heeft het toch een duistere zijde...
Ik moet zeggen dat ik best wel heb genoten van het boek. Verwacht er niet teveel van en laat je gewoon meeslepen, dat is denk ik het beste advies. Het is namelijk een YA met behoorlijk wat fantasie, maar het is op een leuke manier geschreven. Op zo'n manier dat je toch door wil blijven lezen, ondanks dat je eigenlijk al weet hoe het af zal lopen.
Met die insteek heb ik dit boek ook gelezen en hierdoor was het een leuk boek. Maar verwacht je diepgang en meer informatie met betrekking tot gentherapie, dan ga je teleurgesteld worden. Het is absoluut geen topper, maar zeker leuk voor een aantal uurtjes vermaak. Denk dat vooral de wat jongere lezers hier echt heel veel plezier aan kunnen beleven.
3*.
Ik moet zeggen dat ik best wel heb genoten van het boek. Verwacht er niet teveel van en laat je gewoon meeslepen, dat is denk ik het beste advies. Het is namelijk een YA met behoorlijk wat fantasie, maar het is op een leuke manier geschreven. Op zo'n manier dat je toch door wil blijven lezen, ondanks dat je eigenlijk al weet hoe het af zal lopen.
Met die insteek heb ik dit boek ook gelezen en hierdoor was het een leuk boek. Maar verwacht je diepgang en meer informatie met betrekking tot gentherapie, dan ga je teleurgesteld worden. Het is absoluut geen topper, maar zeker leuk voor een aantal uurtjes vermaak. Denk dat vooral de wat jongere lezers hier echt heel veel plezier aan kunnen beleven.
3*.
January 22, 2022
Interessant concept en veel relevanter dan vroeger, maar dit verhaal wist mij niet volledig te trekken. Lees hier mijn recensie: https://nerdygeekyfanboy.com/recensie...
March 25, 2015
CHARISMA is a fascinating, chilling and immensely entertaining story that invites readers into a world where an untested gene therapy drug promises amazing results but unbeknownst to its recipients comes at a deadly price. It’s a story that reveals a likely and not-so-far-off future where one’s personality can be radically altered with a single injection. It’s a thought-provoking and gripping and utterly compelling read that will have readers debating the pros and cons of the scientific advancement.
When Aislyn Hollings is offered the opportunity to be a test subject for Charisma, a gene enhancement drug that is guaranteed to be life-changing, she is eager to accept. Her debilitating shyness has kept her from living the life she wants and she’s desperate to be someone who is not afraid of everything and everyone all of the time.
But when she starts to suspect that she’s not the only one to have been given the dose, or even the first one, her enthusiasm begins to wane. That is, until she finds herself becoming more confident, taking more risks, being more social, feeling more normal.
However, when some of the people she believes had their personalities altered by Charisma start getting sick and falling into comas, and the doctor who administered the dose stops responding to her texts and calls, Aislyn decides to break her silence, find out who else might be at risk, and begin a frantic search for a way to reverse the effects before the same thing that happened to them happens to her.
Jeanne Ryan penned an absolutely thrilling and heartbreaking and riveting story with a heroine who is incredibly sympathetic and smart and – with the help of Charisma – determined. Her story offers food for thought about the merits of gene therapy, about the risks, about the potential for its use in non-essential treatments, about its potential for use in life-saving situations. And it does so in a way that is engaging and interesting and hugely exciting.
CHARISMA is filled with twists and turns, frightening and tragic outcomes, captivating and likable characters, and appealing between-the-chapter tidbits. It is a suspenseful page-turner that combines science that is not entirely fictional, mystery and romance into a story that is positively enthralling.
It is a provocative read that will prompt discussion and debate and will keep readers thinking about it long after the story’s end.
When Aislyn Hollings is offered the opportunity to be a test subject for Charisma, a gene enhancement drug that is guaranteed to be life-changing, she is eager to accept. Her debilitating shyness has kept her from living the life she wants and she’s desperate to be someone who is not afraid of everything and everyone all of the time.
But when she starts to suspect that she’s not the only one to have been given the dose, or even the first one, her enthusiasm begins to wane. That is, until she finds herself becoming more confident, taking more risks, being more social, feeling more normal.
However, when some of the people she believes had their personalities altered by Charisma start getting sick and falling into comas, and the doctor who administered the dose stops responding to her texts and calls, Aislyn decides to break her silence, find out who else might be at risk, and begin a frantic search for a way to reverse the effects before the same thing that happened to them happens to her.
Jeanne Ryan penned an absolutely thrilling and heartbreaking and riveting story with a heroine who is incredibly sympathetic and smart and – with the help of Charisma – determined. Her story offers food for thought about the merits of gene therapy, about the risks, about the potential for its use in non-essential treatments, about its potential for use in life-saving situations. And it does so in a way that is engaging and interesting and hugely exciting.
CHARISMA is filled with twists and turns, frightening and tragic outcomes, captivating and likable characters, and appealing between-the-chapter tidbits. It is a suspenseful page-turner that combines science that is not entirely fictional, mystery and romance into a story that is positively enthralling.
It is a provocative read that will prompt discussion and debate and will keep readers thinking about it long after the story’s end.
November 10, 2017
When Nerve was first released, it was all everyone could talk about and the hype was too real. I wanted nothing more than to watch the movie asap and that I did. I couldn't stop talking about it for a week because the world in the movie was so enchanting I found myself captivated by it. Then I saw this book on the shelf in the Ernest Librairie in Luxembourg and just the fact that this was the very same author who wrote Nerve was enough for me to want to get my hands on it.
Long story short, you can obviously see that it didn't meet my expectations at all. I found the plot to be very similar to that of Nerve and I was completely okay with it because that was what I was looking for as well: teen lives with a twist in them. And I think the plot had very high potential but the author missed this amazing chance of creating a world that would amaze its readers.
First and I think the most important of all, there was a serious lacking in depth in the characters department. The characters were not easy to relate with and only one personality trait of theirs shone out. This made it very hard for me to like them. It wasn't that they were spoiled brats who couldn't do anything on their own (even though some of them were), it was just the fact that they showed no development or change at all. Characters are what make a story significant, in my opinion, so them being so shallow affected my opinion of the book very largely.
Everything happened too fast in the book, almost as if some parts of the plot were skipped over on purpose. Normally, I'm not too hung up on details but in a plot like this, details are very important and what make the reader become immersed in the book.
What I'm trying to say is Charisma did not mean anything to me nor did it spark some emotions in me. No difference would have been made if I had not read the book, and I do not recommend it to anyone either.
Long story short, you can obviously see that it didn't meet my expectations at all. I found the plot to be very similar to that of Nerve and I was completely okay with it because that was what I was looking for as well: teen lives with a twist in them. And I think the plot had very high potential but the author missed this amazing chance of creating a world that would amaze its readers.
First and I think the most important of all, there was a serious lacking in depth in the characters department. The characters were not easy to relate with and only one personality trait of theirs shone out. This made it very hard for me to like them. It wasn't that they were spoiled brats who couldn't do anything on their own (even though some of them were), it was just the fact that they showed no development or change at all. Characters are what make a story significant, in my opinion, so them being so shallow affected my opinion of the book very largely.
Everything happened too fast in the book, almost as if some parts of the plot were skipped over on purpose. Normally, I'm not too hung up on details but in a plot like this, details are very important and what make the reader become immersed in the book.
What I'm trying to say is Charisma did not mean anything to me nor did it spark some emotions in me. No difference would have been made if I had not read the book, and I do not recommend it to anyone either.
February 10, 2017
I must start off by explaining that I struggled what to award this book between a four star and three star, that is because my assumption of what would happen in this book turned out to be correct and that spoilt it for me as I already knew! Secondly, I had high expectations after reading and loving Nerve by this author but personally this was no where near as good as Nerve and I felt let down. Lastly, it took me a while to get into this book and I found from chapter 11 on wards it did pick up but dragged until it got going good!
HOWEVER, aside from all that it is a good story! One the author has obviously had to research a lot into. Charisma is written well, contains short chapters and is the ideal young adult book. It is meant to be classed as a thriller but personally it did not feel like a thriller to me. I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did but this is MY honest review of the book and others may love it!
HOWEVER, aside from all that it is a good story! One the author has obviously had to research a lot into. Charisma is written well, contains short chapters and is the ideal young adult book. It is meant to be classed as a thriller but personally it did not feel like a thriller to me. I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did but this is MY honest review of the book and others may love it!
October 18, 2014
Aislyn is cripplingly shy: she's very smart and could have won the state science fair with her research on gene therapies, if only she'd been able to bring herself to talk to the judges about it. She'd love to talk to people and advocate for gene therapies as a treatment for various illnesses, like her brother's cystic fibrosis, but she freezes up and can't get words out. So when a researcher offers her a chance to overcome her social anxieties with an experimental gene therapy, Aislyn jumps at the chance. Her new gregarious self isn't afraid to talk to the boy she's been crushing on, or go to parties, or be a normal teenager. But some other teens have been given the treatment, too, and some of them have collapsed. Then the symptoms start appearing in people who haven't had the therapy. Charisma may not be the answer Aislyn was hoping for.
In its way, Charisma isn't a far step from Ned Vizzini's Be More Chill, though with a more current, realistic medical technology. The science is explained well enough for non-scientist readers to understand, and gives teens much to think about regarding medical ethics and experimentation. Aislyn's relationship with her boyfriend is chaste by necessity (so she doesn't spread the virus), but there are some mild suggestions of more. Not an essential purchase, but not a bad choice for medium to larger collections.
In its way, Charisma isn't a far step from Ned Vizzini's Be More Chill, though with a more current, realistic medical technology. The science is explained well enough for non-scientist readers to understand, and gives teens much to think about regarding medical ethics and experimentation. Aislyn's relationship with her boyfriend is chaste by necessity (so she doesn't spread the virus), but there are some mild suggestions of more. Not an essential purchase, but not a bad choice for medium to larger collections.
April 22, 2015
3.5/5
OVERALL IMPRESSION: This was a fun read. First of all, I could totally relate to Aislyn's social phobia. I don't have it quite as bad as her, and lately I'm starting to come out of my shell as I get older and realize that we're all just people, but I can definitely relate to her. There were some things that I predicted about the story, but that didn't really take away from my experience reading. I felt that the ending was pretty well done. There was a good amount of closure while still leaving some things open.
CHARACTERS: I wish there was more information about the side characters. I feel like I almost got to know them, but not enough to feel connected to any of them. Aislyn was a good main characters. I could feel what she was feeling. I thought that she made some unwise decisions, but I also felt like she acted in a way that many teens would if faced with her situation.
COVER: I love the cover, but I'm not entirely sure how it ties in with the story. It would make more sense if it were monkeys or something, but the color scheme is cute.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: This was a fun read. First of all, I could totally relate to Aislyn's social phobia. I don't have it quite as bad as her, and lately I'm starting to come out of my shell as I get older and realize that we're all just people, but I can definitely relate to her. There were some things that I predicted about the story, but that didn't really take away from my experience reading. I felt that the ending was pretty well done. There was a good amount of closure while still leaving some things open.
CHARACTERS: I wish there was more information about the side characters. I feel like I almost got to know them, but not enough to feel connected to any of them. Aislyn was a good main characters. I could feel what she was feeling. I thought that she made some unwise decisions, but I also felt like she acted in a way that many teens would if faced with her situation.
COVER: I love the cover, but I'm not entirely sure how it ties in with the story. It would make more sense if it were monkeys or something, but the color scheme is cute.
April 6, 2019
This is a well written story of what may happen in the near future if unscrupulous scientists start to use genetics for purposes other than for the cure of disease. For all we know some (mad scientist may at the moment be doing just that).
The main subject of the book is Aislyn’s overwhelming desire to cure her crippling shyness but at the same time she is seeking a cure for her younger brother who has cystic fibrosis. It seem that her dreams have come true when a scientist, Dr. Sternfield, who she knows and trusts offers her help with both of her problems, that is when the nightmare starts for Aislyn.
The story is so near to the type of genetic research that is taking place at the moment that it makes it totally credible and I found it really interesting and a little chilling.
The main subject of the book is Aislyn’s overwhelming desire to cure her crippling shyness but at the same time she is seeking a cure for her younger brother who has cystic fibrosis. It seem that her dreams have come true when a scientist, Dr. Sternfield, who she knows and trusts offers her help with both of her problems, that is when the nightmare starts for Aislyn.
The story is so near to the type of genetic research that is taking place at the moment that it makes it totally credible and I found it really interesting and a little chilling.
February 7, 2015
Great YA thriller. Fast-paced and exciting. It poses great medical ethics questions, and could definitely be used for education. Not a dull moment.
November 9, 2014
Brainy girl goes viral in more ways than one.
This book made me all kinds of nerd-happy.
This book made me all kinds of nerd-happy.
March 10, 2015
The book was entertaining enough but I was quite bored most of the time and did not connect with the characters this book was nothing special unfortunately I really like the cover though
March 11, 2015
Wasn't my favorite book in the world, but it was okay. The ending was sad!
September 4, 2017
I have feelings about this book and I am not sure about them yet - full review to come
June 24, 2018
This book was so action packed and it was just amazing
May 30, 2021
Ik vind het lastig dit boek te beoordelen.
Allereerst is het erg ironisch iets te lezen over een onbekend virus dat zich snel verspreidt tijdens deze bestaande pandemie. Daardoor herkende ik ook wel enkele dingen, zoals de mensen die hun haat doorvoeren naar de “eerste besmette” of uit gebrek aan kennis over het virus of die gevoed worden met kennis uit het nieuws (waarvan we nu onderhand wel weten dat die niet altijd een volledig beeld geeft van de wat er is gebeurd) zich heel paniekerig of bozig gaan opstellen naar degenen die besmet zijn. Dus dat gedeelte vond ik goed neergezet.
Waar ik meer moeite mee had was de snelheid van dit verhaal. Ik kan mijn vinger er niet precies op leggen, maar het hele verhaal leek enorm snel te gaan. Hierdoor voelde ik vrijwel op geen enkel moment écht mee met Aislyn en besefte ik soms amper wat er nu gebeurde.
Zo’n vijftig pagina’s lang gaat het over Aislyn en haar enorme verlegenheid. Dit was een stuk waar ik heel veel moeite mee had, maar niet per direct aan het boek lag. Ik ben namelijk helemaal niet zo introvert als zij. Ik vind nieuwe dingen soms ook eng en dingen doen waarbij ik weet dat er veel mensen zijn die ik (nog) niet ken, maar in zijn verst niet op de manier zoals Aislyn heeft. En hierdoor - waarschijnlijk is dit ook enorm kortzichtig van me - kreeg ik het gevoel dat ze enorm overdreef. Ik zat maar te denken “zijn er mensen die echt bij alle soorten interactie zulke paniek hebben en is daar dan echt niks voor?”. Maar dat schoof (en schuif ik nog steeds) meer op het feit dat het voor mij niet herkenbaar is dan dat het echt overdreven is. Ik geloof namelijk best dat er mensen zijn die wel interacties met mensen heel moeilijk vinden.
A la, ik kon dus wel begrijpen waarom ze de keuze maakte het Charisma te kiezen. De combinatie van die continue angst, zien dat je toch vaak momenten voor jouw beste vriendin (en jezelf) erdoor verpest of tegenhoudt, continu horen dat je mooi bent maar helaas zo stil en het feit dat iemand pusht die je vertrouwt en een goed voorbeeld laat zien, maakt dat ik en goed kan voorstellen dat ik gewoon iets wil waardoor dat allemaal verbeterd en wel direct. Maar binnen - volgens mij - nog geen drie dagen komen al de heftige bijwerkingen, weet ze wie het nog meer heeft gehad en hun bijwerkingen daarvan. Volgens mij zijn ze dan ook binnen een week na het spuitje in het lab met de wetenschappers die er nu vanaf weten.
Binnen een week.
Je krijgt dus amper iets mee van Aislyn in haar hernieuwde vorm voordat het alweer fout gaat. En ja, ze maakt in die dagen veel goeie dingen mee, maar het is zo kort. En ook de andere zaken zoals de quarantaine (goeie ouwe tijd), maar buiten mogen, zij die de zaak oplost... ik weet niet, het gaat allemaal gewoon zo snel en soepel (soepel in de breedste zin van het woord hier) en daardoor ging het verhaal gewoon een beetje aan mij voorbij. Begrijp me niet verkeerd, ik vond het verhaal en het idee tof, maar het bleef gewoon een beetje vlak.
Wat ik echter niet zo goed neergezet vond waren haar vriendin en vriendje. Ik kan me voorstellen dat het heel lastig is je in te leven in iemand die iets heeft wat jij niet hebt en waarschijnlijk ook nooit voor zou kiezen, maar halleluja zeg. Soms waren ze wel heel erg gemeen om niks hoor. Nu zijn ze ook een stuk jonger dan ik, maar toch. Gaan we in zulke tijden nu echt problemen maken van vrijwel helemaal niks? Ze is ziek en dan gaan zij zeuren om... ugh, iets stoms vond ik.
Het andere wat mij irriteerde was de soort van driehoeksverhouding waar naar gehint werd. Daar kan ik gewoon heel kort over zijn: voegde niks toe aan het verhaal en was daardoor dus niet nodig. WIJ VROUWEN LEZEN NIET ALLEEN MAAR BOEKEN OMDAT ER ROMANTIEK IN VOORKOMT, GELOOF DAT NOU EENS.
Maar goed. Verhaal was lekker geschreven, het idee was erg tof, plottwist niet echt een plottwist want je zag hem wel van mijlenver aankomen maar toch wel prima, Aislyn was een personage waarin ik mezelf zeker niet herkende maar toch wel tof vond, het Charisma is goed beschreven en de paniek omtrent een nieuw virus ook en ik vind de cover lekker simpel maar sterk. Oo, en ik vind het einde heel sterk. Ik weet niet waarom, maar dat was een perfect einde eigenlijk. Niet teveel eind goed al goed, maar ook niet té dramatisch. Gewoon precies goed dus.
Allereerst is het erg ironisch iets te lezen over een onbekend virus dat zich snel verspreidt tijdens deze bestaande pandemie. Daardoor herkende ik ook wel enkele dingen, zoals de mensen die hun haat doorvoeren naar de “eerste besmette” of uit gebrek aan kennis over het virus of die gevoed worden met kennis uit het nieuws (waarvan we nu onderhand wel weten dat die niet altijd een volledig beeld geeft van de wat er is gebeurd) zich heel paniekerig of bozig gaan opstellen naar degenen die besmet zijn. Dus dat gedeelte vond ik goed neergezet.
Waar ik meer moeite mee had was de snelheid van dit verhaal. Ik kan mijn vinger er niet precies op leggen, maar het hele verhaal leek enorm snel te gaan. Hierdoor voelde ik vrijwel op geen enkel moment écht mee met Aislyn en besefte ik soms amper wat er nu gebeurde.
Zo’n vijftig pagina’s lang gaat het over Aislyn en haar enorme verlegenheid. Dit was een stuk waar ik heel veel moeite mee had, maar niet per direct aan het boek lag. Ik ben namelijk helemaal niet zo introvert als zij. Ik vind nieuwe dingen soms ook eng en dingen doen waarbij ik weet dat er veel mensen zijn die ik (nog) niet ken, maar in zijn verst niet op de manier zoals Aislyn heeft. En hierdoor - waarschijnlijk is dit ook enorm kortzichtig van me - kreeg ik het gevoel dat ze enorm overdreef. Ik zat maar te denken “zijn er mensen die echt bij alle soorten interactie zulke paniek hebben en is daar dan echt niks voor?”. Maar dat schoof (en schuif ik nog steeds) meer op het feit dat het voor mij niet herkenbaar is dan dat het echt overdreven is. Ik geloof namelijk best dat er mensen zijn die wel interacties met mensen heel moeilijk vinden.
A la, ik kon dus wel begrijpen waarom ze de keuze maakte het Charisma te kiezen. De combinatie van die continue angst, zien dat je toch vaak momenten voor jouw beste vriendin (en jezelf) erdoor verpest of tegenhoudt, continu horen dat je mooi bent maar helaas zo stil en het feit dat iemand pusht die je vertrouwt en een goed voorbeeld laat zien, maakt dat ik en goed kan voorstellen dat ik gewoon iets wil waardoor dat allemaal verbeterd en wel direct. Maar binnen - volgens mij - nog geen drie dagen komen al de heftige bijwerkingen, weet ze wie het nog meer heeft gehad en hun bijwerkingen daarvan. Volgens mij zijn ze dan ook binnen een week na het spuitje in het lab met de wetenschappers die er nu vanaf weten.
Binnen een week.
Je krijgt dus amper iets mee van Aislyn in haar hernieuwde vorm voordat het alweer fout gaat. En ja, ze maakt in die dagen veel goeie dingen mee, maar het is zo kort. En ook de andere zaken zoals de quarantaine (goeie ouwe tijd), maar buiten mogen, zij die de zaak oplost... ik weet niet, het gaat allemaal gewoon zo snel en soepel (soepel in de breedste zin van het woord hier) en daardoor ging het verhaal gewoon een beetje aan mij voorbij. Begrijp me niet verkeerd, ik vond het verhaal en het idee tof, maar het bleef gewoon een beetje vlak.
Wat ik echter niet zo goed neergezet vond waren haar vriendin en vriendje. Ik kan me voorstellen dat het heel lastig is je in te leven in iemand die iets heeft wat jij niet hebt en waarschijnlijk ook nooit voor zou kiezen, maar halleluja zeg. Soms waren ze wel heel erg gemeen om niks hoor. Nu zijn ze ook een stuk jonger dan ik, maar toch. Gaan we in zulke tijden nu echt problemen maken van vrijwel helemaal niks? Ze is ziek en dan gaan zij zeuren om... ugh, iets stoms vond ik.
Het andere wat mij irriteerde was de soort van driehoeksverhouding waar naar gehint werd. Daar kan ik gewoon heel kort over zijn: voegde niks toe aan het verhaal en was daardoor dus niet nodig. WIJ VROUWEN LEZEN NIET ALLEEN MAAR BOEKEN OMDAT ER ROMANTIEK IN VOORKOMT, GELOOF DAT NOU EENS.
Maar goed. Verhaal was lekker geschreven, het idee was erg tof, plottwist niet echt een plottwist want je zag hem wel van mijlenver aankomen maar toch wel prima, Aislyn was een personage waarin ik mezelf zeker niet herkende maar toch wel tof vond, het Charisma is goed beschreven en de paniek omtrent een nieuw virus ook en ik vind de cover lekker simpel maar sterk. Oo, en ik vind het einde heel sterk. Ik weet niet waarom, maar dat was een perfect einde eigenlijk. Niet teveel eind goed al goed, maar ook niet té dramatisch. Gewoon precies goed dus.
May 1, 2019
Having read Nerve already, I was excited about this new book by Jeanne Ryan. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
What an interesting concept, to use gene therapy to conquer social anxiety issues. I know that there are a lot of people who would be tempted to partake in a study like this. Imagine the desperation some must feel to not be able to speak out for themselves or others due to a crippling fear of social situations.
There are parts in this book that left me reeling. I was not happy with some consequences of the Charisma drug. I definitely was shell shocked at points and wanted to cry at others. It's unnerving to imagine this happening to your own child or a friend.
I think people who enjoyed Nerve will enjoy Charisma as well. Ryan knows how to captivate her readers.
What an interesting concept, to use gene therapy to conquer social anxiety issues. I know that there are a lot of people who would be tempted to partake in a study like this. Imagine the desperation some must feel to not be able to speak out for themselves or others due to a crippling fear of social situations.
There are parts in this book that left me reeling. I was not happy with some consequences of the Charisma drug. I definitely was shell shocked at points and wanted to cry at others. It's unnerving to imagine this happening to your own child or a friend.
I think people who enjoyed Nerve will enjoy Charisma as well. Ryan knows how to captivate her readers.
September 13, 2018
Charisma est une belle surprise pour moi. Je ne l’ai pas lâché jusqu’à la fin. Le message véhiculé à l’intérieur par son autrice est positif dans le sens où il est encourageant. Ce, malgré ce que vivent les personnages. C’est un bon thriller – SF au style plutôt léger (malgré les thèmes abordés) qui parlera à tout le monde. La plume de Jeanne Ryan est souple, prenante, on entre vite dans l’histoire et on suit Aislyn, simples lecteurs que nous sommes, avec grand plaisir et beaucoup de crainte pour ce qui va lui arriver. Ma chronique sur Songe d'une nuit d'été : https://songedunenuitdete.com/2018/09...
March 5, 2015
4.5 Stars
'Charisma' is a thought-provoking YA thriller that revolves around gene therapy, which is always a hot topic in our society - and will probably become even more relevant in the near future. The story focuses on our main character, Aislyn, who is extremely shy and suffers panic attacks due to social anxiety and the stress it causes her. She's incredibly smart, pretty, a loving and devoted daughter who helps to care for her younger brother, who suffers from cystic fibrosis. She should have everything in the world going for her - but her extreme social anxiety prevents her from saying things she wants to, doing things she's dreamed of - even small things like going to a party with her classmates. When Aislyn is offered a chance to change that part of herself - to make her shyness and anxiety disappear - by taking an underground gene therapy drug called "Charisma," she takes it. The effects of Charisma are almost immediate, and Aislyn feels herself becoming more sociable, sure of herself, and self confident. For once, she's popular and tons of fun to be around. It's everything she wished for and more. Aislyn starts noticing the same type of differences happening in some of the other teens she knows from the lab's family days and wonders if they secretly took the drug too. Soon there's an epidemic, with the effects turning into a disease, becoming contagious - and then it starts killing people. When nobody can find the doctor who created the drug, Aislyn knows that she has to do something to make this disease stop before it kills even more people. Even if it means giving up everything she's always wanted for herself.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book - the description was vague and didn't really tell me what direction the book was going to take. I was immediately sucked into the world the author created and didn't come back out until I finished the last sentence. Our heroine, Aislyn, is incredibly easy to identify with - maybe more so for me because I actually suffer from extreme social anxiety and panic attacks. I think it was so easy for me to connect with Aislyn is due to her problems, as well as the familiar inner dialogue - it was like we shared the same thoughts. The story is told in first person point of view from Aislyn's viewpoint, which I always find to be the best way to experience a book. Getting to know every little detail about the narrator - from their fears, hopes, and dreams to their inner thoughts and emotions - really lets us connect with the character on a deeper level than any other writing style. I think that the author made a fantastic decision to tell the story from Aislyn's point of view - it felt all the more realistic and thrilling, because it felt like it was happening to us or to our best friend who is telling us the story. The other characters in the book were all well rounded, especially the secondary characters like Evie, Sammy, Aislyn's mom, Chloe, and the others. They all had distinct personalities and quirks that made them stand out as individuals and not just standard stereotypes.
The plot was deep with several layers within. The main story line about the Charisma, the outbreak, and how they were going to stop it was fascinating and definitely had me on the edge of my seat. It was a typical thriller where a character is being stalked or someone's trying to kill them, but it was chilling because of the drug and the events that followed from it being taken. It was effective as a suspenseful plot because of the real possibility of it happening in our society - and soon. It's not hard to read the book and picture this sort of thing actually happening in our world today, which is definitely a scary thought. That brings about the varying levels of the book. There's the story that you read for entertainment, but then it branches out into all these other possibilities and thought provoking questions, like I just mentioned. There's also the differing stances on gene therapy - those who are against it and those who argue for it. Both have their reasons - and both have valid arguments. It's another level of the novel that makes you seriously sit back and think about these things. It's probably not something you normally think about on a daily basis, so when it's brought up in the story, you're automatically going to wonder what it would be like if it happened in today's world - the good it could do, the benefits, the costs, and also the bad things that could occur. The author's writing was nothing short of phenomenal. The characters and the entire story felt so authentic that I could shut my eyes and practically feel like I was beside Aislyn while everything was happening. The story is told in a conversational tone, but there are also parts that felt like scientific data - the small articles at the end of each chapter, for example. This was a magnificent blend of both fantasy and reality - where the events that happen in the story could actually happen in our world. That connection - the possibilities the story revealed - gave the novel a great depth that it wouldn't have had if it wasn't so realistic. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy suspense, science fiction, and thrillers - along with readers who enjoy thought-provoking novels that make you really sit back and think about the subject matter.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
'Charisma' is a thought-provoking YA thriller that revolves around gene therapy, which is always a hot topic in our society - and will probably become even more relevant in the near future. The story focuses on our main character, Aislyn, who is extremely shy and suffers panic attacks due to social anxiety and the stress it causes her. She's incredibly smart, pretty, a loving and devoted daughter who helps to care for her younger brother, who suffers from cystic fibrosis. She should have everything in the world going for her - but her extreme social anxiety prevents her from saying things she wants to, doing things she's dreamed of - even small things like going to a party with her classmates. When Aislyn is offered a chance to change that part of herself - to make her shyness and anxiety disappear - by taking an underground gene therapy drug called "Charisma," she takes it. The effects of Charisma are almost immediate, and Aislyn feels herself becoming more sociable, sure of herself, and self confident. For once, she's popular and tons of fun to be around. It's everything she wished for and more. Aislyn starts noticing the same type of differences happening in some of the other teens she knows from the lab's family days and wonders if they secretly took the drug too. Soon there's an epidemic, with the effects turning into a disease, becoming contagious - and then it starts killing people. When nobody can find the doctor who created the drug, Aislyn knows that she has to do something to make this disease stop before it kills even more people. Even if it means giving up everything she's always wanted for herself.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book - the description was vague and didn't really tell me what direction the book was going to take. I was immediately sucked into the world the author created and didn't come back out until I finished the last sentence. Our heroine, Aislyn, is incredibly easy to identify with - maybe more so for me because I actually suffer from extreme social anxiety and panic attacks. I think it was so easy for me to connect with Aislyn is due to her problems, as well as the familiar inner dialogue - it was like we shared the same thoughts. The story is told in first person point of view from Aislyn's viewpoint, which I always find to be the best way to experience a book. Getting to know every little detail about the narrator - from their fears, hopes, and dreams to their inner thoughts and emotions - really lets us connect with the character on a deeper level than any other writing style. I think that the author made a fantastic decision to tell the story from Aislyn's point of view - it felt all the more realistic and thrilling, because it felt like it was happening to us or to our best friend who is telling us the story. The other characters in the book were all well rounded, especially the secondary characters like Evie, Sammy, Aislyn's mom, Chloe, and the others. They all had distinct personalities and quirks that made them stand out as individuals and not just standard stereotypes.
The plot was deep with several layers within. The main story line about the Charisma, the outbreak, and how they were going to stop it was fascinating and definitely had me on the edge of my seat. It was a typical thriller where a character is being stalked or someone's trying to kill them, but it was chilling because of the drug and the events that followed from it being taken. It was effective as a suspenseful plot because of the real possibility of it happening in our society - and soon. It's not hard to read the book and picture this sort of thing actually happening in our world today, which is definitely a scary thought. That brings about the varying levels of the book. There's the story that you read for entertainment, but then it branches out into all these other possibilities and thought provoking questions, like I just mentioned. There's also the differing stances on gene therapy - those who are against it and those who argue for it. Both have their reasons - and both have valid arguments. It's another level of the novel that makes you seriously sit back and think about these things. It's probably not something you normally think about on a daily basis, so when it's brought up in the story, you're automatically going to wonder what it would be like if it happened in today's world - the good it could do, the benefits, the costs, and also the bad things that could occur. The author's writing was nothing short of phenomenal. The characters and the entire story felt so authentic that I could shut my eyes and practically feel like I was beside Aislyn while everything was happening. The story is told in a conversational tone, but there are also parts that felt like scientific data - the small articles at the end of each chapter, for example. This was a magnificent blend of both fantasy and reality - where the events that happen in the story could actually happen in our world. That connection - the possibilities the story revealed - gave the novel a great depth that it wouldn't have had if it wasn't so realistic. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy suspense, science fiction, and thrillers - along with readers who enjoy thought-provoking novels that make you really sit back and think about the subject matter.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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