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Ameritocracy #2

Off Message

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The two-party system was broken, so Mia Rhodes created an alternative.

Welcome to Ameritocracy, the new political series readers are calling "The West Wing meets Survivor" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington for the social media age." ---------------
After a lifetime of political disillusionment, Mia Rhodes created an alternative to the two-party system: Ameritocracy. Part American Idol, part Iowa Caucus, her online political competition will find the most popular independent candidate in America and give them a genuine shot to win the presidency.
Anyone can run...
The American people vote online...
The winner receives instant fame and a campaign warchest to battle the Democrats and Republicans in 2020.

BOOK 2: OFF MESSAGE

Mia Rhodes was on the verge of transforming American politics. But when you take on the establishment, the establishment pushes back.

Six months ago, Mia Rhodes was a Seattle office manager, toiling away from nine to five and spending her weekends managing her online political competition, Ameritocracy. Now, that competition is spreading across the American political landscape, making Mia a celebrity and giving Ameritocracy a real shot at upending the two-party system in the 2020 election.

But as the final voting draws near, Mia is betrayed by one of the people she trusts most, throwing Ameritocracy into disarray, and possibly ending her dream of changing American politics forever.

Series List--Designed to Be Read in Order:
Book 1: OPEN PRIMARY
Book 2: OFF MESSAGE
Book 3: ECHO CHAMBER

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2018

43 people are currently reading
29 people want to read

About the author

A.C. Fuller

29 books141 followers
Once a journalist in New York, A.C. Fuller now writes stories at the intersection of media, politics, and technology. Before he began writing full time, he was an adjunct professor of journalism at NYU and an English teacher at Northwest Indian College.

He lives with his wife, two children, and two dogs near Seattle. For a free copy of one of A.C.'s books, check out: http://www.acfuller.com/readerclub/

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5 stars
51 (51%)
4 stars
33 (33%)
3 stars
14 (14%)
2 stars
1 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Tulay.
1,202 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2018
Political thriller.

This one wasn't as thrilling as the book one. Mia's idea of Ameritocracy was to shake up the two party system. All the top ten candidates have their own agenda. Fake news, raising money for the campaign. Mia has to educate herself about the politics and how internet can be hacked.
Profile Image for Clemens Schoonderwoert.
1,365 reviews130 followers
December 29, 2018
This delightful novel is the 2nd part of the "Ameritocracy" trilogy from the author A.C. Fuller.
Story-telling is once more of a very good quality, the storyline is absolutely well worked out, and all the characters within this book come splendidly to life.
It's a very entertaining continuation of "Open Primary" where "Ameritocracy" was introduced, and which is now amazingly developing in "Off Message" into an interesting stage towards the Presidential Elections of 2020, with all it's ups and downs.
This novel is divided, just like it's predecessor, into 3 parts, and once again there's a lot of interaction between the characters and certain thrilling and dangerous situations.
The inventor of this site "Ameritocracy" is our main character, Mia Rhodes, and she with the financial help from tech billionaire Peter Colton, her best friend Stephanie Blackmon as well as the tech help from Benjamin Singh, will bring about an interesting top ten of candidates, until a certain David Benson, big movie star, enters the stage, and a whole new development will occur when "Off Message" begins.
This book, "Off Message", really starts off again when the leading contender, this same David Benson, is confronted with a sex video from his college past, accidental or most probably deliberately done by someone close to him, and subsequently he will take his own life, and that is followed with a lot more time full of distress and awkwardness for Mia, Steph and their site "Ameritocracy".
What will definitely follow is a truly interesting and intriguing story where politics remain the main ingredient, but at the same time on a personal, business and political level this sinister tech billionaire Peter Colton is playing a most devious part towards Mia and her site "Ameritocracy".
Very much recommended, for this book is a wonderful and thrilling continuation of "Ameritocracy", and that's why I would like to call it: An Exciting Intriguing Political Sequel"!
Profile Image for Bonnie Dale Keck.
4,677 reviews58 followers
March 5, 2018
Kindle Unlimited...this was a good story, but nothing stuck out at me as much as the previous one where, when forced to make a choice between vanilla or chocolate, the not supposed to be a politician asked if he could choose neopolitan, which is pretty much what politics is most times.

Mia Rhodes was on the verge of transforming American politics. But when you take on the establishment, the establishment pushes back.

Six months ago, Mia Rhodes was a Seattle office manager, toiling away from nine to five and spending her weekends managing her online political competition, Ameritocracy. Now, that competition is spreading across the American political landscape, making Mia a celebrity and giving Ameritocracy a real shot at upending the two-party system in the 2020 election.

But tragedy strikes Ameritocracy when one of her leading candidates commits suicide, shaking up the competition and forcing Mia to confront the possibility that her project may be doing more harm than good.

And to make matters worse, as the final voting draws near, Mia is betrayed by one of the people she trusts mosts, throwing Ameritocracy into disarray, and possibly ending her dream of changing the American politics forever.

Series List:
Book 1: OPEN PRIMARY (Available Now)
Book 2: OFF MESSAGE (February 15, 2018)
Book 3: ECHO CHAMBER (Spring, 2018)
Profile Image for Kay.
1,406 reviews
March 7, 2018
Brave and determined, Mia Rhodes sets up a truly democratic, online, open presidential primary and then the sparks fly. Hooking up with a Silicon Valley billionaire who invests in her Ameritocracy project, Mia moves from Seattle to California and the high life. Tension builds as the bullies at the RNC and DNC come after Ameritocracy, as dead bodies appear, and as Mia works the two stages: with her 10-candidate leaderboard and with her main squeeze. I especially like, and re-read, the reflective thoughts and insights on the political process in America now—they’re dead-on! Gwen Winters, the journalist who hosts the first candidate debate for TV, also interviews Mia and is her main voice to the public. Gwen is an ace; it is so satisfying to see her work—with the truth. Though the pace in the book slows down from time to time, new crises do pop up to rescue the reader and keep the pages turning. The surprise ending leaves us with a rough cliffhanger and I can’t wait for Echo Chamber in May!
372 reviews3 followers
July 3, 2018
A fresh concept of two party politics that you will wish was real.

Open Primary, the first book in this series grabbed me and wouldn’t let go, even after I finished reading it. The “Ameritocracy” concept was so brilliant that I could not shake the thought that it just had to be implemented, not just in the US, but also in my tri-party experience in Canada.
Reading this without first having read “Open Primary” should compel you to read that one next, in spite of it being the first in the series, and finish off with “Echo Chamber”.
A.C. Fuller continues to develop the Ameritocracy concept, but I found Off Message to be less satisfying that its predecessor. Main character, Mia, and her friend and co-worker Steph, continue to provide a solid anchor point to the storyline, but other characters seemed to flip and flop as the plot progressed, and the read was not as smooth as I had hoped.
That didn’t change the fact that I have Echo Chamber on my Kindle, and look forward to reading it with great anticipation.
973 reviews4 followers
February 6, 2020
The second book of this series leaves me in a similar place as the first one, except this book feels even less like it wraps a story up than the first.

Both are enjoyable reads, but I question the decision to publish them separately. It feels like there is a story here that will take all three books to be told. The first one felt like it told a story, even if I disliked the final-chapter “hook.” This time, I’m not sure a story got wrapped up properly. It feels like one book, chopped somewhat arbitrarily into three.

I’m slightly less fond of some of the events in this book, but the 2020 Iowa caucus debacle (going on as I read this book) may be more to blame than the author and this book.

But, I will definitely continue on, in a few days, to read the next book...and really, I’d recommend the book, but only if you’re planning to read all three. These don’t really work as stand-alone books, in my opinion.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,455 reviews
March 14, 2018
Off Message is the second book in the Ameritocracy series. This should not be read as a standalone as it starts where the previous book ended. I enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. Beware this is a politically themed book so it could make you mad. No matter what your political affiliation, I think you will enjoy this book.

The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat that all info here. The author did a great job of explaining what is going on and describing the setting of the story. There are a lot of clues in the storyline that keep you guessing what twists and turns will be revealed next. It definitely kept me riveted all the way to the end. I look forward to reading more of the series.
3,994 reviews14 followers
March 9, 2018
"Some other game."
The first conference introducing the top candidates in the Ameritocracy on line game to become President had gone surprisingly well, given the start up troubles and it had brought new interest from press, public and political representatives alike. Not all of it good as attacks are focused on leading participants, arcane legal aspects of Ameritocracy itself and of it's creator, Mia Rhodes.

This seriously thoughtfully written and thought provoking book takes the reader even deeper into the murky world of politics and financial dealings, yet remains excitingly thrilling and plausible. One not to be missed.
Profile Image for Luc.
44 reviews
March 9, 2018
After doing much better than expected with her Ameritocracy project Mia is in for quite a few surprises. Most of them are rather unpleasant, rocking Mia and her team to the core. For starters one of her leading candidates commits suicide after some unsavoury details become public. The major parties also realise that the project could be damaging to their chances and they try to destroy Ameritocracy in various ways.

A.C. Fuller keeps you on your toes all the way through with this book with plenty of twists and turns. The intensity never lets of, with another massive shock at the very end.
Profile Image for Paula.
1,323 reviews48 followers
March 7, 2018
Just wow!! This book is breathtaking. An excellent read and relevant to today's political climate. AC Fuller has once again outdone himself with Off Message. This book has a superb storyline with well, fleshed-out character development. There is intense action in parts that, at times, I had to set my Kindle down to catch my breath. There are many intriguing twist and turns. Please hurry with Book 3!!
1,296 reviews6 followers
March 9, 2018
The second book in the Ameritocracy series shows the growing pains and struggles to survive against the status quo. And what lengths some people will go to to subvert an idea to their own benefit. As the plot twists and turns some of the ploys were familiar to me and some took me by surprise, especially the end. Definitely an interesting read.
Profile Image for Bev.
3,275 reviews98 followers
March 9, 2018
This story continues where Open Primary left off. This is about politics, something I avoid like the plague. Having said that, Off Message has some thriller aspects to it with the complex story line. There is another book after this one, but I am not sure if I will read it. Politics just isn't my thing. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. The review is my own opinion.
Profile Image for Jay Williams.
1,718 reviews33 followers
March 10, 2018
This book continues the imaginative take on a solution to modern politics. The same characters from Open Primary keep pretty much doing the same things. The story had only one big surprise. Several moments of excitement helped to keep up interest, but the plot dragged. Maybe it is the problem of being the middle book in a trilogy, worth reading, but temporizing before the finale.
1,296 reviews6 followers
March 13, 2018
The second book in the Ameritocracy series shows the growing pains and struggles to survive against the status quo. And what lengths some people will go to to subvert an idea to their own benefit. As the plot twists and turns some of the ploys were familiar to me and some took me by surprise, especially the end.
Profile Image for Deni.
3 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2018
Strange and rather left leaning

Not as good as the first book in this trilogy.
Mia struggles to keep everything in her life balanced but it really is next to impossible. From the candidates running for President to her personal life, so many challenges. Top candidates may not be following the rules, her boyfriend may be cheating or is there something more?
Profile Image for Gerald Guy.
Author 48 books7 followers
September 8, 2018
Romance, unexpected upheaval and tragedy are the backdrop of Off Message, where the candidates take center stage and some find solid ground. Author A.C. Fuller doesn't let the reader relax, though. There are surprises with every chapter. By the end of book two, the reader wonders if Ameritocracy will survive the turmoil. The answer will be in book three, Echo Chamber.
678 reviews11 followers
May 25, 2020
Book 2 continues the Ameritocracy series and it is on par with the first book. Excellent writing and wonderful plot that moves right along. If you are interested in Politics then you really need to read this starting with the first book. You will correlate it with our present Government and how it fits right in with this book. It is a great read.
Profile Image for Bob Ely.
398 reviews3 followers
December 3, 2018
This is the second in this series and continues with the Web Company launching a 3rd candidate for the Presidential election. A lot of the trials and tribulations they go through reflect on our current political state. Reading the 3rd in the series.
Profile Image for Bernie.
42 reviews4 followers
October 4, 2019
This was a good read. It's a continuation of the Ameritocarcy series, that you need to read in order.

Mia was sure given a handful and a half in this one, just to see her dream for better democracy alive.

Can't wait to see how it all wraps up in the next book.
10 reviews
March 10, 2018
I am enjoying this series. I'm looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Sammye.
4,441 reviews30 followers
March 22, 2018
I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. This is a very exciting political series. The characters are well developed and the storyline is soooo interesting. Kept my interest throughout.
345 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2018
A different series!

I enjoyed reading this book and you shall also. Well written with deep thoughts about our election system and it's many problems.
Profile Image for Angie Quantrell.
1,652 reviews13 followers
October 30, 2019
Well written and an enjoyable read. Rats that I started in the middle! But even without either end, it was still a great story. Makes one think...
Profile Image for Bob.
1,984 reviews20 followers
August 22, 2018
Continuing with the Ameritocracy series Mia's plans seem to be progressing well until information surfaces about the top candidate that cause him to drop out of the race. Possible financing irregularities of another top runner cause Mia to look fora a way to get him to drop out and her relationship with friend Peter take a sudden turn. A good political series with a few unexpected twists.
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