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Deleted
Three things happen when technophobe Lucy learns to mindhack.
1. Her brilliant crush becomes her boyfriend
2. Together they solve small crimes.
3. She’s deleted from his memory-and everyone else’s
Now the only person looking for the college freshman is a mysterious young hacker who erases memories for profit. If he finds her, he will wipe out her memories-or worse. If Lucy doesn’t find him and stop him, no one will know that minds can be hacked and lives rewritten.
1. Her brilliant crush becomes her boyfriend
2. Together they solve small crimes.
3. She’s deleted from his memory-and everyone else’s
Now the only person looking for the college freshman is a mysterious young hacker who erases memories for profit. If he finds her, he will wipe out her memories-or worse. If Lucy doesn’t find him and stop him, no one will know that minds can be hacked and lives rewritten.
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2020
43 people are currently reading
2001 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Mitchell
5 books201 followersRuth Mitchell strongly believes the world needs more happy endings. She aims to write “hospital waiting room” books, stories that cheer and distract readers when their world is crumbling, make them laugh and sigh, and finish with a little more hope. All of her books are love stories with plenty of banter, and sizzling chemistry, but no spice. (Just kissing.)
Ruth and her husband live in San Diego, where their four mostly-grown children visit often. She loves long rambling conversations, baking (she makes the best pie), hiking, and running (slowly) along the coasts and canyons of Southern California.
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Ruth and her husband live in San Diego, where their four mostly-grown children visit often. She loves long rambling conversations, baking (she makes the best pie), hiking, and running (slowly) along the coasts and canyons of Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
December 28, 2019
This book is brilliantly creative and fascinating! I found myself thinking of it often throughout the day and how these technological dangers could one day be a reality. The themes are so powerful and thought-provoking. I loved the chemistry between the main characters, particularly Lucy and Marco, and the thrilling adventures they share as they fight to save their memories. The ending caught me by surprise in a very satisfying way. One recurring thought I had as I read this book was how awesome it would be as a movie!
Read
June 5, 2020I did the final proofread on this book. It's kind of hard for me to rate books that I read while in Editor Mode rather than Reader Mode.
May 5, 2020
THIS BOOK. It's like it was made for me because I love anything that has to do with the concept of memory and how to impacts our personhood and DELETED is alllll about it (and even has epic quotes from Paradise Lost!! I die. And come back to die again).
Ruth Mitchell's writing style is immersive with a literary feel yet doesn't get in the way of the fast-moving plot, which is my fave because hello short attention span. This is a great read for all levels of readers and will keep you thinking all the way through. You'll *remember it was long after you close the cover.
**as long as said memory doesn't get hacked
Ruth Mitchell's writing style is immersive with a literary feel yet doesn't get in the way of the fast-moving plot, which is my fave because hello short attention span. This is a great read for all levels of readers and will keep you thinking all the way through. You'll *remember it was long after you close the cover.
**as long as said memory doesn't get hacked
May 12, 2022
4.5 stars- I’ll know in a month or two whether this is a 4 or 5 star read.
*Edit: After reading this book for a second time I am pleased to report that it remains a solid 5 stars! And I really want to know why the rest of the world isn’t obsessed with this book yet- because yes, it is that good!
So... why is this book so good, you ask?
1. The characters are amazingly believable- and no one is “the chosen one” or has any special powers. The characters are all smart people solving problems with their brains!
2. The romance, though a large aspect of the book, goes at a very normal pace compared to a lot of YA books out there- no instalove here! (Ok, kind of, but I promise it’s not annoying at all.) Plus, it’s clean, which makes it recommendable to lots of people.
3. The book talks a lot about the science behind memory, which I thought was super fascinating. (Fact: I feel smarter every time I read Deleted)
4. Its conflict revolves around advanced technology, but it is not dystopian (it’s set in the year 2044). I find this very refreshing.
5. The quotes before each chapter were perfect and made me stop and think every time, even when the previous chapter had left me on a crazy cliffhanger!
Warning: the editing is not fantastic. But the rest is just so fun to read! The premise alone is so memorable I doubt I’ll forget about this book for a long time yet.
Unless my memories are deleted... ;)
*Edit: After reading this book for a second time I am pleased to report that it remains a solid 5 stars! And I really want to know why the rest of the world isn’t obsessed with this book yet- because yes, it is that good!
So... why is this book so good, you ask?
1. The characters are amazingly believable- and no one is “the chosen one” or has any special powers. The characters are all smart people solving problems with their brains!
2. The romance, though a large aspect of the book, goes at a very normal pace compared to a lot of YA books out there- no instalove here! (Ok, kind of, but I promise it’s not annoying at all.) Plus, it’s clean, which makes it recommendable to lots of people.
3. The book talks a lot about the science behind memory, which I thought was super fascinating. (Fact: I feel smarter every time I read Deleted)
4. Its conflict revolves around advanced technology, but it is not dystopian (it’s set in the year 2044). I find this very refreshing.
5. The quotes before each chapter were perfect and made me stop and think every time, even when the previous chapter had left me on a crazy cliffhanger!
Warning: the editing is not fantastic. But the rest is just so fun to read! The premise alone is so memorable I doubt I’ll forget about this book for a long time yet.
Unless my memories are deleted... ;)
December 8, 2022
12/7/22: Enjoyed this even more the 2nd time! Love the idea of memories shaping our identity and the truth that you can't avoid pain in life.
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Loved this fast-paced, twisty story! The idea of devices that let you view and erase people's memories was really clever. This story kept me guessing the whole time. And it's a squeaky clean YA story, so even better.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author. Thoughts and review are my own.*
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Loved this fast-paced, twisty story! The idea of devices that let you view and erase people's memories was really clever. This story kept me guessing the whole time. And it's a squeaky clean YA story, so even better.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author. Thoughts and review are my own.*
December 20, 2019
Ruth Mitchell is a stunning new voice who knows how to pull you into her world from the very beginning. DELETED is packed with dangerous tension, authentic characters, and a sensational romance that kept me up till two in the morning reading. An absolute thrill from beginning to end.
December 27, 2019
I loved this book! It was intriguing and kept my attention. The characters are multilayer and just genuinely well written. I would highly recommend.
July 17, 2020
Lucy is a philosopher, and the only one of her friends who isn’t in love with the technological revolution of the “Specs.” She believes that it could be dangerous to have people that close to your thoughts. What if someone hacked it? Everyone laughs her off, until it turns out Lucy is right. When Lucy is erased from everyone’s memory, she goes on the run in an attempt to save her own memories, and potentially herself, from oblivion.
This was an absolute rollercoaster. Lucy was a fantastic MC. Easy to root for from start to finish. I thought she had a very unique voice, and the bit of her personality based around philosophy was refreshing from similar books in the genre.
My only qualm is that I feel as if Marco and Nick had more of a history than what was discussed in the book. The very first time we meet Nick, we see him lamenting over why people admire Marco, and it felt as if they had a deeper relationship than simple jealousy. Maybe I’m overanalyzing.
This book though was amazing. Different from anything I’ve read in a while. While it has all the suspense of an action-packed thriller, the addition of the Specs gave it a fantastic technothriller feel.
Not to mention the bits of philosophy give you plenty to think about. The entire idea that who are is based on our memories is deep because if those memories are erased, are we really us or are we someone else. Will we make the same mistakes over and over to find our true selves or become someone else entirely? It’s amazing food for thought.
Narration was perfect.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
This was an absolute rollercoaster. Lucy was a fantastic MC. Easy to root for from start to finish. I thought she had a very unique voice, and the bit of her personality based around philosophy was refreshing from similar books in the genre.
My only qualm is that I feel as if Marco and Nick had more of a history than what was discussed in the book. The very first time we meet Nick, we see him lamenting over why people admire Marco, and it felt as if they had a deeper relationship than simple jealousy. Maybe I’m overanalyzing.
This book though was amazing. Different from anything I’ve read in a while. While it has all the suspense of an action-packed thriller, the addition of the Specs gave it a fantastic technothriller feel.
Not to mention the bits of philosophy give you plenty to think about. The entire idea that who are is based on our memories is deep because if those memories are erased, are we really us or are we someone else. Will we make the same mistakes over and over to find our true selves or become someone else entirely? It’s amazing food for thought.
Narration was perfect.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
August 7, 2020
3.5/4⭐️!! This was a cute read. I would recommend to anyone 12+. If you’re an adult that still enjoys juvenile reads then you’d enjoy this one!
✨
Things I loved: I really loved this futuristic concept of erasing memories and the little adventure Lucy went on. There were a couple times I didn’t know what would happen next which is always a plus! The writing was also excellent and flowed so well.
✨
Things I felt meh about: I kinda wish there had been a little more world building for this futuristic world set in the 2040s. Like what other cool inventions could we have seen?! I wanted to see more uniqueness as well. The lower rating is because the book didn’t blow me away. I didn’t have all the feels at the end. It was just an overall pretty enjoyable story,. It’s a nice clean adventure!
So if the description appeals to you and you’re interested in a more juvenile YA read you’d definitely enjoy this book. It’s short, fun, and an easy read!
✨
Things I loved: I really loved this futuristic concept of erasing memories and the little adventure Lucy went on. There were a couple times I didn’t know what would happen next which is always a plus! The writing was also excellent and flowed so well.
✨
Things I felt meh about: I kinda wish there had been a little more world building for this futuristic world set in the 2040s. Like what other cool inventions could we have seen?! I wanted to see more uniqueness as well. The lower rating is because the book didn’t blow me away. I didn’t have all the feels at the end. It was just an overall pretty enjoyable story,. It’s a nice clean adventure!
So if the description appeals to you and you’re interested in a more juvenile YA read you’d definitely enjoy this book. It’s short, fun, and an easy read!
April 12, 2021
Lucy and Marco! Swoon city. I loved their love story and how bound together they were throughout this twisty, fast-paced, future-set novel. This book postulates what would happen if future technology could allow our minds to be hacked and memories erased. From erasing the bad joke your husband tells at every dinner party from his memory to blackmailing government officials and then erasing their memories so they don’t remember you, their blackmailer, what is ok and what isn’t? Is erasing memories ok on any level? Aren’t all our memories what make us....us? There are big ideas here and they’re explored with compassion and intelligence. The story was propulsive and addicting. I highly recommend.
November 28, 2019
I don't even know what to say about this book, without revealing everything, so I'll focus on what won't give the story away! The book was well written, I found myself thinking about it throughout the day. At first, the way the point of view kept switching had me perplexed. but as I continued reading I really started to like it. Kept me on my toes!
There were so many times I thought I knew what was going to happen next, but was totally surprised. I love it when that happens! Read it friends, and then let's talk!! :)
There were so many times I thought I knew what was going to happen next, but was totally surprised. I love it when that happens! Read it friends, and then let's talk!! :)
January 3, 2020
This is an exceptional story mixing fascinating originality with realistic everyday happenings. Set in the year 2040, Deleted by Ruth Mitchell explores both the importance and purpose of memory and the invasiveness of expanding technology in this intriguing and complex story. The reader develops empathy for the unique characters as they embark on this adventure taking place on the San Diego coast. Ruth Mitchell provides both gentle scenes and tense moments as these young people in the process of finding purpose in their lives discover that good and evil are not static. There is plenty to ponder in this book whether with your adult book club or your teenagers. Thank you, Ruth, for a thought-provoking and delightful adventure.
January 3, 2020
Deleted is suspenseful and adventurous, but also filled with complex characters and thought-provoking questions about the role of memories in our lives as well as the benefits and dangers of technology. The fact that the “futuristic” technology that this book is based on doesn’t seem all that far-fetched of a possibility in the near future, makes the book even more riveting.
Great read from cover to cover with lots of unexpected plot twists. I ended up reading the whole book in just two days.
Great read from cover to cover with lots of unexpected plot twists. I ended up reading the whole book in just two days.
August 6, 2022
Every chapter began with a quote that related to the chapter which was one of my favorite parts of the book. Although it felt a bit disjointed in the beginning this was a fun read with good plot flow.
December 21, 2022
I have no other word other than blah…..
September 11, 2020
I had to add this to a variety of shelves, as it has many elements of many genres. Enough romance for m6 chick-lit shelf, future technology for sci-fi, its officially YA, it has elements of a dystopia--if memories can be altered (okay, not so much a dystopia, I guess, but some of the feel), and then I read it before hand, but we did do it for book group and there was plenty to discuss.
My Amazon review:
Thought-Provoking Premise and Conflict, Excellent Characters, Vivid Sense of Location
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2020
I read this soon after it was released, but then waited to review it until I could sit down and find all the great quotes that could back up what I think of this fantastic novel. The quote that I'm going to use is long, and is pulled from a diary entry of the main character, Lucy, so it is not indicative of the movement and action of the story, but rather, of the thought-provoking premises of memory and what it means to us as humans.
"No one can really see the past, can they? Which is strange because everyone has experienced it. But for the most part the past disappears just as fast as the fog erased the trail behind me this morning. Sometimes that feels like a loss; but if a person doesn't forget some things, if I could recall every moment of my life with equal clarity, the past would overcrowd the present. In a way, forgetting propels us forward. But if I were to forget everything or if I couldn't make new memories, the present would have no context, it would become meaningless, like a one-note song. Who would I be if this guy erased my memories?"
So many good book group discussion topics in this book! The ones I contemplated the most as I read were:
What is the place that technology occupies in our lives and what are it's pros and cons?
What use do memories serve? Would the world be a better place if we could erase certain memories?
What is the place of memories in relationships, in societies?
Lucy was a very likeable character for me. As a matter of fact, sitting in book group, as each different character was mentioned I found myself thinking back on each and realizing that I really liked each of them individually for different reasons. They all seem like people I could know, or more like that they were written in a way that they felt like they could be real.
And lastly, I recently moved to San Diego, and it was so enjoyable to read the descriptions of places I have already come to love: the beach, ocean, cliffs, and caves. The hills and canyons. I could feel the fog or smell the dry desert canyon ravine trails.
My teen daughter recently read this and every time she set it down she would have plenty to say about the characters and what they were doing and what was upsetting her or worrying her about the action going on. That is just what I want in a book for my not-a-huge-reading-fan teen: something that keeps her reading to the end, that is engaging enough for her to want to talk to me about it!.
My Amazon review:
Thought-Provoking Premise and Conflict, Excellent Characters, Vivid Sense of Location
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2020
I read this soon after it was released, but then waited to review it until I could sit down and find all the great quotes that could back up what I think of this fantastic novel. The quote that I'm going to use is long, and is pulled from a diary entry of the main character, Lucy, so it is not indicative of the movement and action of the story, but rather, of the thought-provoking premises of memory and what it means to us as humans.
"No one can really see the past, can they? Which is strange because everyone has experienced it. But for the most part the past disappears just as fast as the fog erased the trail behind me this morning. Sometimes that feels like a loss; but if a person doesn't forget some things, if I could recall every moment of my life with equal clarity, the past would overcrowd the present. In a way, forgetting propels us forward. But if I were to forget everything or if I couldn't make new memories, the present would have no context, it would become meaningless, like a one-note song. Who would I be if this guy erased my memories?"
So many good book group discussion topics in this book! The ones I contemplated the most as I read were:
What is the place that technology occupies in our lives and what are it's pros and cons?
What use do memories serve? Would the world be a better place if we could erase certain memories?
What is the place of memories in relationships, in societies?
Lucy was a very likeable character for me. As a matter of fact, sitting in book group, as each different character was mentioned I found myself thinking back on each and realizing that I really liked each of them individually for different reasons. They all seem like people I could know, or more like that they were written in a way that they felt like they could be real.
And lastly, I recently moved to San Diego, and it was so enjoyable to read the descriptions of places I have already come to love: the beach, ocean, cliffs, and caves. The hills and canyons. I could feel the fog or smell the dry desert canyon ravine trails.
My teen daughter recently read this and every time she set it down she would have plenty to say about the characters and what they were doing and what was upsetting her or worrying her about the action going on. That is just what I want in a book for my not-a-huge-reading-fan teen: something that keeps her reading to the end, that is engaging enough for her to want to talk to me about it!.
June 30, 2020
Imagine if you lived in a world where it is possible to delete someone else's memory. A world where you can wear special glasses to help you navigate the world: calendar, remind you of what peoples names are or facts about them etc Computer access just by wearing these special glasses. Truly it is a world with so many more convenient ways to live. However, convenience comes with a price when someone can unknowingly delete your memory and change what you think you know with a snap of a finger.
Main character Lucy lives in such a world in the future and she finds herself running from and for her life from an unknown, yet very handsome and charming man with a goatee. Her crush becomes her boyfriend, they solve some crimes together and then she is suddenly deleted from his memory and anyone else's outside of her immediate family and her best friend. The only person truly looking for her is the hacker with the goatee and he is after the one thing he can't yet reach: her own memories.
This book is absolutely fascinating, creative and one thing that had my mind buzzing even when I put it down. I love science fiction reads that get me hooked with the possibilities it presents. Add onto the fact it is not far fetched at all to think one day in the future such a thing could be reality. Through the whole book it kept me guessing, as it really leaves you unable to fully guess what is to come next. Also I loved the cat and mouse chase between Lucy and the mystery hacker.
Mitchell's book is well written, fast moving, twisty and a clever story that will easily wiggle itself into your own psyche looking for the answers to,"What if?"
I rated this 4.5, but rounded it up to 5⭐
Thank you again to the author for both allowing me to read her book, as well as to review it. It was a pleasure!
Main character Lucy lives in such a world in the future and she finds herself running from and for her life from an unknown, yet very handsome and charming man with a goatee. Her crush becomes her boyfriend, they solve some crimes together and then she is suddenly deleted from his memory and anyone else's outside of her immediate family and her best friend. The only person truly looking for her is the hacker with the goatee and he is after the one thing he can't yet reach: her own memories.
This book is absolutely fascinating, creative and one thing that had my mind buzzing even when I put it down. I love science fiction reads that get me hooked with the possibilities it presents. Add onto the fact it is not far fetched at all to think one day in the future such a thing could be reality. Through the whole book it kept me guessing, as it really leaves you unable to fully guess what is to come next. Also I loved the cat and mouse chase between Lucy and the mystery hacker.
Mitchell's book is well written, fast moving, twisty and a clever story that will easily wiggle itself into your own psyche looking for the answers to,"What if?"
I rated this 4.5, but rounded it up to 5⭐
Thank you again to the author for both allowing me to read her book, as well as to review it. It was a pleasure!
December 12, 2019
I just finished reading Deleted a few minutes ago and have so much to mull over. There was a lot to love about this book. It was a fresh story with intense action, sweet romance, super cool science, and great themes.
The characters were unique and interesting. I loved Lucy and her good girl going-to-the-beat-of-her-own-drum vibes. I love that Marco, the male love interest, was a nerd with a passion for computers. Nick had depth and motive and individuality.
The book is told in third person present tense, third person past, and first person past as well. Because third person present is so unique and such a risk (but so great for the story), the other tenses can take some getting used to. But because of the unique story line, I can't think of a way around them, so they seem necessary. And you can still follow the story just fine.
The story pacing is great. The beginning hooks you in. The middle doesn't get muddy--it's all interesting. There's some really dark moments and really tender moments too. Things end in a way that you wouldn't expect, but that is really satisfying.
Most especially, the themes were incredible. I felt like I walked away from the book with something valuable. There were themes regarding the importance of memories and how they can impact our lives. It's so unusual to walk away from a book feeling uplifted these days. And Mitchell manages while entertaining throughout. There was an element of wholesomeness about her book that we need more of in the modern world.
The characters were unique and interesting. I loved Lucy and her good girl going-to-the-beat-of-her-own-drum vibes. I love that Marco, the male love interest, was a nerd with a passion for computers. Nick had depth and motive and individuality.
The book is told in third person present tense, third person past, and first person past as well. Because third person present is so unique and such a risk (but so great for the story), the other tenses can take some getting used to. But because of the unique story line, I can't think of a way around them, so they seem necessary. And you can still follow the story just fine.
The story pacing is great. The beginning hooks you in. The middle doesn't get muddy--it's all interesting. There's some really dark moments and really tender moments too. Things end in a way that you wouldn't expect, but that is really satisfying.
Most especially, the themes were incredible. I felt like I walked away from the book with something valuable. There were themes regarding the importance of memories and how they can impact our lives. It's so unusual to walk away from a book feeling uplifted these days. And Mitchell manages while entertaining throughout. There was an element of wholesomeness about her book that we need more of in the modern world.
March 20, 2021
Deleted by Ruth Mitchell was a dystopian chase that kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing as to what was going to happen.
4/5 stars
In the new future, everyone is equipped with a pair of glasses named Spex. These are essentially glasses that act like your phone only better. When you come in contact with someone the Spex will tell you all the information you need to know about them, record memories, send messages for you, and send out reminders. Lucy doesn’t believe in wearing Spex and relies solely on journal entries for her memories. It may just cost her everything..
I loved Lucy. Lucy was a spitfire of a main character who didn’t take crap from anyone, and I really appreciated that about her. Marco was a great love interest and one of the smarter people of the group. I can’t go into too much details about the characters without giving the plot away, but every character was very complex and well thought out.
This book felt like a dystopian thriller, which I thought was a new take of such a huge genre. It was interesting to read one where you were constantly looking over your shoulder. The writing was very easy to follow, the pages and formatting were beautiful.
I really liked this book. If you like dystopians, this is definitely one to pick up. It’s different from everything I’ve read in the past.
4/5 stars
In the new future, everyone is equipped with a pair of glasses named Spex. These are essentially glasses that act like your phone only better. When you come in contact with someone the Spex will tell you all the information you need to know about them, record memories, send messages for you, and send out reminders. Lucy doesn’t believe in wearing Spex and relies solely on journal entries for her memories. It may just cost her everything..
I loved Lucy. Lucy was a spitfire of a main character who didn’t take crap from anyone, and I really appreciated that about her. Marco was a great love interest and one of the smarter people of the group. I can’t go into too much details about the characters without giving the plot away, but every character was very complex and well thought out.
This book felt like a dystopian thriller, which I thought was a new take of such a huge genre. It was interesting to read one where you were constantly looking over your shoulder. The writing was very easy to follow, the pages and formatting were beautiful.
I really liked this book. If you like dystopians, this is definitely one to pick up. It’s different from everything I’ve read in the past.
October 22, 2020
I LOVED it!
Futuristic technothriller meets suspense, meets action-packed YA science fiction!
Fast paced, entertaining, full of fun! I laughed out loud throughout this super enchanting debut novel. I LOVED it!
Female Protagonist Lucy Campbell isn’t your typical college freshman. Why? Because it’s 2040 and she’s a technophobe! One who still uses a very old smartphone, instead of wearing Spex – the latest communication device that everyone is wearing.
There is mind hacking, memory erasing… and murder! And the two guys who are after Lucy’s heart, Marco and Nick, will stop at nothing to win her love. What’s more, there are bits of thought-provoking philosophy that give you plenty to ponder.
I recommend this book to all lovers of science fiction.
Futuristic technothriller meets suspense, meets action-packed YA science fiction!
Fast paced, entertaining, full of fun! I laughed out loud throughout this super enchanting debut novel. I LOVED it!
Female Protagonist Lucy Campbell isn’t your typical college freshman. Why? Because it’s 2040 and she’s a technophobe! One who still uses a very old smartphone, instead of wearing Spex – the latest communication device that everyone is wearing.
There is mind hacking, memory erasing… and murder! And the two guys who are after Lucy’s heart, Marco and Nick, will stop at nothing to win her love. What’s more, there are bits of thought-provoking philosophy that give you plenty to ponder.
I recommend this book to all lovers of science fiction.
January 10, 2020
I really love this book! The dialogue is witty and the characters are relatable. The scenes are descriptive and the imagery is vivid. While reading it, I was so immersed in the story that I almost felt like I was there watching it unfold first hand. From the beginning, the story drew me in. Like a true and great adventure story, it was hard to put down, and it kept popping into my mind even when I wasn't reading it. I found myself wanting more from the characters after I finished the book and hoping that a sequel is in the works. I'm looking forward to seeing more books from the author!
January 5, 2020
I loved this book! It’s the perfect mix of entertaining and thought provoking. I was captivated by the action as well as the interpersonal dynamics up until the very end. This book is cool because I found it enjoyable but it also left me pondering the themes of memory and identity. It’s YA, but I think it would be appropriate for a very broad age range, it would be a quick read for adults but not too immature at all.
February 4, 2020
I received a copy from the author for an unbiased review. I will be doing a podcast episode on this book because I loved this so much!! This is YA book set in a future society (with cool technology, of course!). It’s Ruth Mitchell’s first book and it was a page turner. It’s got love, philosophy (brimming with quotes by Henry David Thoreau), and an analysis of what makes up memories. I would have finished this book sooner but I had to take care of my kids at some point. 😉
December 9, 2020
This book was very intriguing. Strong story line. Strong world building. Clean. Unique. great writing. I enjoyed it. My only negative was I wanted to connect with the characters but I found it a bit hard. Still, I recommend it.
November 27, 2019
This is a fun book about memory and the ability to erase memories. Are all your memories real? And a little adventure too.
February 16, 2020
Super enjoyed this book! I love the premise and can’t wait to see if the story continues!!
June 23, 2020
This book was sent to me by the author in exchange of an honest review. This is a YA novel, set around 2040 in a world where - almost – everybody uses “Spex”, a gadget that is like Google x 10 and will get to even know your thoughts, does it sound scary? Well, it was for me! I imagined myself in 2040 and I can see people not finding it weird – and invasive- that a machine “reads” your mind/ knows your thoughts (paranoia much?). This was good, and guess what? “Deleted” is Ruth Mitchell's first novel. We follow Lucy, a pretty and sweet girl who refuses to wear a Spex, and her crush Marco whose memories have been messed around by Nick, a young hacker. This is pretty much a race against time and against Nick, when Lucy is forgotten by everybody who surrounds her; is the hacker obsessed with her? Or does he want to kill her? Wait... who's Nick again? I won’t say much ‘cause this is definitely one of those books you have to go in not knowing much, except that it’s worthy of your time. First of all, you can notice the author did her research and has a very easy way to make complicated things sound easy. With sentences such as “Memories are tainted by feelings”, you will stop several times while reading the book to think about your own experiences and say “wait, yeah, that’s true!” (I’m guilty as charged of doing this several times throughout the book). I liked the use of language, because even though this is a YA novel, we have smart sentences and I appreciated them (I have a new favorite word: “deliberately”), and a good number of light philosophical questions (I even had a note on my kindle: “I hope there’s more thoughts like this!”). It makes you think, it makes you reflect on your life and how you want to be remembered and it makes you put things in perspective: “Some believe that an individual only truly dies when the last living person forgets about them”. Now, the details I thought could be improved: There’s a character in the book that is Latin, and she keeps saying things like “Verdad, si?”, the issue here with me was that, as Latins, we don’t really talk like that, we would say “verdad que si?” rather than the other way, but for a non-spanish speaker this might not be an issue. Same with the name of other traditional dishes (It’s pozole, not poSole). I would’ve liked to see more research there. Another detail that stopped me from giving this book a higher rate was the pace. I was very intrigued at the beginning, but then I felt it got lazy/slow at the middle, and at one point I was speed-reading (this is a short book so...); fortunately it picks up around ¾ of the book, and excitement comes back. I wasn’t expecting that ending at all, and I’m not sure I’m 100% on board with it, but this might grow on me later, as - I think -this is book one. Character wise, I didn’t like Lucy; I know she’s supposed to be sweet, but I just didn’t connect with her and she bored me. I was mildly interested in Nick, but his background story was enough for me, I didn't feel like I needed or wanted to know more, and Marco was the typical good boy. Apart from them, there were other characters that I really liked – The Poet, Abuelita, etc- so maybe it’s just me and my lack of empathy with protagonist in general. For some reason, I would recommend this book to fans of The Illuminae Files and the movie Memento. I give this book a rating of 3.75 stars, rounding it up to 4, I want to know what happens next!!!
January 16, 2020
A WISHING SHELF BOOK REVIEW
13th Jan 2020
TITLE: Deleted
Author: Ruth Mitchell
Star Rating: 5 stars
‘A wonderfully engaging thriller for YA. Cleverly plotted and totally unique, I’d highly recommend it.’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
REVIEW
This is a gem of a YA novel. Set in the future where it’s possible to delete another person’s memory, this is a complex thriller and a cleverly plotted game of hide and seek. There’s a long list of things I love with this book, but it’s uniqueness is top of the list. It’s very difficult to find a YA novel that’s different. But this is! And in a good way too.
So, let’s talk writing style. The author, Ruth Mitchell, is very talented. There’s a good flow to the writing, interspersed with a well-balanced mix of speech and descriptive prose. The author seems to understand that a book of this sort (techno-thriller) for this readership (YA) needs a lot of pace. Things needs to happen! There’s also a sprinkling of humor – the author has good comic timing – and a complexity to the characters perfectly matching the complexity of the plot.
Finally, this is a rather thought-provoking story. In a world where everybody - particularly teenagers - are becoming addicted to tech, this might make them stop and think. Is it clever to store everything – EVERYTHING! – on a phone or, in this case, Spex? There’s no dumbing down in this novel; a novel that works hard to explore this controversial subject, and it is the better for it.
All in all, this is a fab story for teenagers. I suspect adults might enjoy I too. Although it’s not dystopian, I suspect readers who liked The Hunger Games will like this too. I’m 49 and I loved it!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
13th Jan 2020
TITLE: Deleted
Author: Ruth Mitchell
Star Rating: 5 stars
‘A wonderfully engaging thriller for YA. Cleverly plotted and totally unique, I’d highly recommend it.’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
REVIEW
This is a gem of a YA novel. Set in the future where it’s possible to delete another person’s memory, this is a complex thriller and a cleverly plotted game of hide and seek. There’s a long list of things I love with this book, but it’s uniqueness is top of the list. It’s very difficult to find a YA novel that’s different. But this is! And in a good way too.
So, let’s talk writing style. The author, Ruth Mitchell, is very talented. There’s a good flow to the writing, interspersed with a well-balanced mix of speech and descriptive prose. The author seems to understand that a book of this sort (techno-thriller) for this readership (YA) needs a lot of pace. Things needs to happen! There’s also a sprinkling of humor – the author has good comic timing – and a complexity to the characters perfectly matching the complexity of the plot.
Finally, this is a rather thought-provoking story. In a world where everybody - particularly teenagers - are becoming addicted to tech, this might make them stop and think. Is it clever to store everything – EVERYTHING! – on a phone or, in this case, Spex? There’s no dumbing down in this novel; a novel that works hard to explore this controversial subject, and it is the better for it.
All in all, this is a fab story for teenagers. I suspect adults might enjoy I too. Although it’s not dystopian, I suspect readers who liked The Hunger Games will like this too. I’m 49 and I loved it!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
June 19, 2020
"Deleted" by Ruth Mitchell is a YA thriller that is part love story, part sci-fi adventure and part philosophical journey. There is a ton of action and a lot to absorb in this world where most people wear a device called a Mindseye along with glasses called Spex which together make it essentially like having a smart phone in your head. It turns out that these devices can be hacked and used in nefarious ways, making it so your memory can be taken from you at any time.
The characters in this story are not only diverse, but they have depth, and the tale tackles philosophical questions that we would all be better off contemplating more often. Ruth Mitchell has created a thoughtful and imaginative world, which one can easily get lost in. This was both a pro and a con for me while reading this book, because while it was easy to get lost in, I also found myself actually a bit lost at points after several memory deletions and plot twists. Some people love a lot of plot twists, but I personally feel they sometimes take away from the strengths of a book. That being said, I believe this is a unique story with an important message, one that young readers can definitely benefit from.
The characters in this story are not only diverse, but they have depth, and the tale tackles philosophical questions that we would all be better off contemplating more often. Ruth Mitchell has created a thoughtful and imaginative world, which one can easily get lost in. This was both a pro and a con for me while reading this book, because while it was easy to get lost in, I also found myself actually a bit lost at points after several memory deletions and plot twists. Some people love a lot of plot twists, but I personally feel they sometimes take away from the strengths of a book. That being said, I believe this is a unique story with an important message, one that young readers can definitely benefit from.
February 11, 2020
The February prompt for #theunreadshelfproject2020 was a book that was gifted to you. @literally.ruth.mitchell was kind enough to send me a copy of her book! One thing I’ve been nervous about with bookstagram is getting gifted books or ARCs and then not liking the book. Because more than anything I want this page to be 1) filled with books that I genuinely love and 2) filled with my honest opinions about books. I don’t want anything to change that.
So let me be clear when I say that I genuinely liked this book! I loved how thought provoking and imaginative it was. It kept me guessing! If you like thinking about the role technology and memories play in our lives, or if you enjoy a thrilling adventure with a love story, this book is for you.
Ruth, thanks for writing a really cool book and then sending it to me. It was a great experience all around :)
#deleted #deletedbook #debutnovel #ya #youngadultfiction #giftedbook
So let me be clear when I say that I genuinely liked this book! I loved how thought provoking and imaginative it was. It kept me guessing! If you like thinking about the role technology and memories play in our lives, or if you enjoy a thrilling adventure with a love story, this book is for you.
Ruth, thanks for writing a really cool book and then sending it to me. It was a great experience all around :)
#deleted #deletedbook #debutnovel #ya #youngadultfiction #giftedbook
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