How We Rise

How We Rise #1

by Brooke Riley

When the truth gets you killed… will you still Rise?

Raegan MacArthur is content with her simple life. But lately, her life hasn’t been all that simple. She can’t drown out the screams in the night coming from the military base up the road. And she can’t ignore the truth behind them.

Peter Daniels thought moving back to Texas with his mom for senior year was a good thing. A chance to reconnect with old friends and finally feel at home again. But his life now can never be the same as it was six years ago.

Signs of government overreach are everywhere, and an unknown- yet familiar- enemy lurks in the shadows, watching their every move. The government is clamping down tighter and tighter on anyone who resists their ways. Raegan and Peter have to make the hardest decision they've ever faced: will they go quietly to save their lives… or will they rise?

Genres: Dystopia, Contemporary, Young Adult, Mystery, Clean Romance

352 pages, Hardcover

Published July 15, 2020

About the author

Informal Introduction
Hello, lovely reader! You might like my books if you love character-driven books written by an author who deals with anxiety and puts all her trauma into her characters. I write because I love it. There's really no other reason.

My books will range from YA to Adult but while the topics get dark, there will always be something hopeful.

I've written a dystopian YA to Upper YA trilogy and am working on a Magical Realism Romance. You can learn more on my website or by checking out my social media.


Formal Introduction
Brooke Riley found her love of writing in High School. Her love of words developed much earlier in her life. She was reading books as soon as she learned how, and her love of literature never stopped. When she isn’t writing, she’s most likely making Spotify playlists for future writing projects or putting together Pinterest boards for said writing projects. She can also be found reading or playing Fortnite in her free time.

You can find her on:

• TikTok: @thebrookeriley
• Substack: brookeriley. substack.com

Reviews

[Brooke Riley]

This is my child so I will not rate it.

I have worked on this book for six years. It has become a part of my very soul. It has been with me through so many trials in my life.

I have a lot to say in this content review, so stick with me. If you want to know what's inside (no spoilers,of course!) before you open the book, this review is for you.

Some characters in this book swear. The words used in this book are smartass, hell, and ass. That's it. I don't go above that in my writing at this time. I will never use the F-bomb or make mention of the F-bomb out of personal preference.

But I don't make my characters perfect. There is no one perfect on this Earth. So my characters... they slip up. They make mistakes. They get angry. They do things and they learn from them. Because that is what we, as humans, do.

There is no hot romance in this book. In fact, there is no kissing (yet) for the characters. This book is dystopian without a love triangle, without a huge romantic subplot, and it isn't like other dystopians that I know of.

I hope everyone keeps it respectful here. Thank you so much for reading this and giving in a chance.

<3 <3 <3

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so I have read about...oh, how many, maybe four different versions of this book? And easily one of my favorite things about it is watching how very, very far it's come. Brooke's love for this story pours into every sentence--these characters are SO real and the story is so compelling. (Full disclosure: i am the alpha reader. These children are my children. I have adopted them all.)

So with that aside: some really REALLy awesome things to love about this story!
>RAEGAN MACARTHUR and how precious she is.
>PETER FREAKIN DANIELS who is the definition of hot and I know Lila has claimed him but I LOVE HIM AND HE IS MY SON.
>Spencer, aka my other son
>Jackson, aka possibly the love of my life (if I didn't ship him with someone else, that is)
>A tortured villain
>Very realistic resistance
>Shady side characters
>VERY real stakes
>HOMESCHOOLING OH MY WORD
>Girl friendships
>tOtAlLy pLaTonIc boy and girl friendship
>A pastor's kid who isn't a freak!
>KIDS WHO ACT THEIR AGE
>SHIPS that I absolutely love
>honestly it's miraculous
>everything about this is just too good okay
>And it isn't too long either!!!!! It's actually the perfect length!
>Realistic hopes and dreams from the characters eep
>Just so much good stuff

As a warning, there is a smattering of language in here--nothing too extreme, and it didn't bother me at all. But for more sensitive readers, I thought I might mention that ;)

This one is a 5-star from me (If you know me, you know how sparingly I give those out) so GO READ IT FRENS!

[M Shen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a debut author, Brooke Riley did not disappoint.

Dystopian is one of my favorite genres-- but primarily because I love the genre and what it represents, not necessarily because I love many dystopian books. The truth is, I don't; at least not any recent ones! Sure, you can't really compare modern books to classic gems like The Giver or Animal Farm, but you'd expect a little more from the genre overall, right? Dystopian is supposed to be a look into the future by ways of reflecting the present and in turn bringing some of the darkest societies from the past to light. And yet so many of YA dystopians get turned into teen drama. Come on, we can do a little better than that! We can do a lot better!

Dystopian rant over. Anyway, the point is, literature NEEDS the dystopian genre, and it needs it done well; and if this book isn't an example of dystopian fiction done well then I don't know what is. And with all that being said... yeah, the dystopian aspect and themes were spot-on.

But of course, as everybody knows, the best and most fabulous themes and settings wouldn't be much at all without a cast of deep, fabulous characters! I have some mixed feelings on these, but overall I felt that each one was well-written and believable. And if the other reviews haven't raved about this enough... the way Brooke does antiheroes/antagonists is pretty freaking awesome!

I liked the writing style okay, but there were just a few word choices and such that could have been done better... There were also several mild swears: a**, d**n, and h**l were used a few times, but I believe that's about it. Wasn't a fan of that, but it wasn't excessive and at least the placement made sense. :)

The plot has some really good push and pulls that still provide room for a breather now and then, but don't let your guard down ;) I'm excited for book two! And of course, this book is recommended to anyone in need of a good fresh dystopian story-- and even to those who don't.

Always be a happy camper!

*I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required; all views and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

disclaimer: this book was written by one of my best friends and I might be slightly biased. I read it more critically than I would a book by a stranger, and I also enjoyed myself far too much (almost feeling as if these characters were my own) so my review isn't impartial.

part i. the characters.
It's been quite a while since I've seen a supporting case as strong as the one in How We Rise. the protagonists, Raegan and Peter, are certainly characters who deserve love and support and all the hugs, but for me, the true shining stars were the side characters. there's something about their quirks, and emphasized traits, and humor that calls to me. they actually remind me - slightly - of the side characters in K. A. Emmons's trilogy. they're colorful; they're sympathetic; they're round. (almost too sympathetic, if you ask me; I certainly was too fond of someone I shouldn't have been fond of.)

anyone who doesn't ship Peter and Raegan is blind to the obvious truth - the two were meant to be together. and I don't mean this in a story-line sense. I mean that the author obviously wants us to ship them, and wrote them like that. whatever she plans to do with the ship, heaven knows. but what does she want us to do with them - SHIP THEM, OF COURSE. and I do. who can't? (if you don't I know some people who'll fight you.) but whatever the standing of their feelings, these two are awfully lovable individually, and I'm sure you'll be cheering them on their adventures too.

part ii. the plot.
I was extremely invested. to be fair, it wasn't as fast paced as I would expect a dystopian to be, but then, that's where the contemporary vibe comes in. see, this book is dystopian in its storyline and the current set up of the world - but it's a contemporary in the sense that its set in a contemporary time where the technology and the make up of society is very similar to what we currently have. nevertheless, I was quite hooked. there was this delicious mystery element that kept me on my toes, trying to guess the identity of a certain someone - and that also that kept the characters busy trying to sort things out.

there was definitely a predominant mood of danger and doom in this book - something I appreciate. it /felt/ like a solid dystopian in this sense. and I liked how I could kinda see where the plot was going, but not really - it made sense to me and yet surprised me all at the same time. I'd also like to say that I have the brain of a five year old when it comes to comprehending strange and complicated political intrigues and plots - but I understood everything going on in here. the author did a great job explaining things simply yet soundly.

part iii. world building.
I've already touched upon this a little, but I like how I got a sense of what was happening all over the country instead of just this little corner of the world that the character's inhabit. I do still have some unanswered questions on the "how" part of some past events that happened in this dystopian world, but other than that, the author did a wonderful job laying out the land and showing us what was going on. I also really appreciated her descriptions - concise yet precise.

part iv. somethings you should look forward to reading in here
- friends who obviously should be lovers but keep denying it
- very complex troubled conflicted bois
- someone cocky, someone broody, someone sunny, someone vicious.
- hinted-at-ships that could go any direction but I'm here cheering for them
- an evil president
- a very very scary sort of school
- a very very interesting/exciting rebel institute
- R E L A T I O N S H I P S
- a very dark mood
- kidnapping
- shooting
- some punching and running
- some scheming
- blackmail
- a very neatly and beautifully woven in theme that's apparent but doesn't slap you in the face with its apparent-ness
- some happiness, some sadness, a lot of in the between of the two
- the audience screaming over a lot of things

part v. thoughts summed up
I'm so proud of Brooke. YOU SHOULD READ HER BOOK. it's really lovely. it's quite exciting. it's quite BrUtAL, too. 4.5 stars/5 stars (rounded to 5 for the goodreads rating). I think you'll enjoy it. and I for one can't wait for book 2 (hurry up, B.).

recommended for everyone, especially those who love books full of amazing relationships, a touch of futuristic, and a struggle against tyrants.

[Nicole Dust · Rating 5 out of 5]

(before we get started: I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Although Brooke is my friend, I did my best to provide the most honest rating possible. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

(I also tried to make this professional, but I just failed halfway through. Whoops. XD)

Where to begin?

I must be honest, I was a little skeptical going into this book. Dystopia is not my preferred genre, to say the least - I usually walk away feeling disappointed or just indifferent. I’d heard some reviewers say that this book was unlike any dystopian they’d ever read before, but I didn’t believe them.

Let me state it now: I was SO wrong. And I am so glad I was wrong.

How We Rise is a dystopian, but it almost reads more like a contemporary. I really liked this difference - it wasn’t nearly as depressing as most other dystopian novels I’ve read or heard about.

Don’t get me wrong, though, this book DEFINITELY has its dark moments - right from the first chapter, you know you’re getting into some pretty intense stuff. There are knife fights and beatings, death threats and screams, traitors and executions and death. However, I never got the overwhelming feeling of doom and gloom that I get from other dystopians. I always had a sense that there was still hope.

And that was portrayed amazingly through the characters.

Let me take a second (well, more than a second) to flail over the characters. We have Raegan, our MC, who is incredibly brave and also very oblivious to the fact that she has PRIME RELATIONSHIP MATERIAL right in front of her. That Prime Relationship Material, aka Peter Daniels, is just about the nicest boy EVER. His character arc, especially towards the end, was epic, and I can’t wait to see what he does next! Meanwhile, Spencer is the OG Raeter shipper and you cannot convince me otherwise. XD

And then there’s Evan. Aka Agent Specter. He deserves his own paragraph. Even is such a complex, hurting character - he joins the Evil President because he wants to keep his family safe, but is inadvertently destroying all his family relationships in the process. And his character arc??? AMAZING. This might sound weird, but Evan is hands-down my favorite character, and I’m SUPER excited to see him in book two.

Speaking of the Evil President - at first, I thought the way Raegan reacted to his mandate of "no private schooling" was overdramatic. But seeing how I’ve reacted to the #virus, this is totally warranted. Anyways, the government was very scary in How We Rise, and I am quite concerned for the fates of all the characters now.

Two final things I want to cover: the ending and the pep talks.

The ending DESTROYED me. I thought I knew what was going to happen. I was so, so, so wrong. And that was why I practically yelled "NO NO NO NO NO" after reading the last page. I’ve never experienced "last-page syndrome" so acutely. (Last-page syndrome is the feeling that there should be more pages at the end because NO WAY did the author leave it there. :D)

One minor squabble I did have with this book were the sheer amount of pep talks. Peter seemed to be giving them every other chapter. While I do think pep talks can be helpful, I don’t think it’s very realistic to include so many.

However, this was overshadowed by the characters, the intensity, and the feeling of prevailing even in dark times. I would heartily recommend this book to my friends, and I can’t wait for book 2!

[Katrina Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! (Brooke is a very close friend of mine, so there might be a sliiiight bias here, but I did my best to read and review fairly, as with any other book :D *)

How We Rise is probably the most unique dystopian I've ever read. There are a lot of brilliant dystopian concepts out there, but many of them are super bizarre and it's hard to imagine our society actually reaching that point. This book is different. Its society is scary, just like all the others, but it's a realistic kind of scary - and that, in a sense, makes it even more frightening than the others.

A common remark in reviews I've already read for this book is that it has contemporary vibes. You don't usually pick up contemporary vibes when you read a dystopian, but again, How We Rise breaks out of its genre's typical mold. Those vibes come from this book being set only a handful of years from now, which is a little strange to think about because it obviously isn't an accurate prediction (unless the coming years are gonna be as crazily unexpected and nation-transforming as this year has been), but I find it adds to the story's refreshing uniqueness.

The writing style is SOLID. Very simplistic, but it provides all the details necessary to vividly paint every scene and character in your mind's eye. The characters are the highlight of this book, which is always what I like to hear about a story. After all, the characters are the driving force - the heart - of fiction, and Brooke Riley's characters...

Well, let's talk about them.

Raegan - This girrrrrl. She is so strong and inspiring. She's not dramatic, she's complex (as opposed to the exaggerated inflation of one primary trait that I see probably way too often in female protagonists), and she's an awesome blend of passionate and chill.

Peter - MY HUSBAND. Seriously, though, you can't have him. He's mine. I could gush about him incoherently for hours, but lemme just mention one of the top aspects of his character that made me fall SO deeply in love with him: his loyalty. He's the truest friend you could ever ask for. Also his depth! Peter is one of those rare, openly deep dudes. If for nothing else, read this book for him. <3

Nicole - She's all right, but she's very much a side character. Hopefully we get a POV for her in book 2. XD I did feel like she WAY overreacted to one situation in particular (which I won't name for fear of spoilers), but her light, bubbly personality provided a much-needed contrast to some of the other characters.

Spencer - I relate to this dude. He hides in the corner away from other people, on his computer, listening to music. SAME BRO. I also appreciate him calling out/shipping Raeter. The more people acknowledging #Raeter's existence, the better. PROGRESS. And Spencer is just really smart and an all-around cool guy.

Evan - Here come conflicting emotions. Evan's complexity is MIND-BLOWING, and it freaks me out (in the best way XD) because I hate him and like him at the same time. I couldn't be further from supportive of most, if not all, of the choices he makes in this book, but almost every single one of those choices still makes sense and garners sympathy toward him. It's pretty wow. O_O

Jackson - This is another character I kind of have a love/hate relationship with. Brooke Riley certainly knows how to develop morally gray characters in such a way that you have to like them in spite of it all. (It's a really important skill to have as a writer, and Brooke has it down!) Jackson's sense of humor is equal parts endearing and frustrating, and the layers of his soul peel back in unpredictable ways throughout the story.

President Morgan - THE VILLAIN MERP. Not the most memorable antagonist I've ever encountered, but then again he isn't on the scene much in this installment. More like lurking in the background. His corruption and manipulation are terrifying, though, and he throws some serious curveballs that make for some seriously heart-wrenching plot twists. In short, he doesn't disappoint.

Speaking of the plot, it moves a bit slower than you might expect, but I wasn't bored at any point in the story. This is one of those super readable books in which every sentence is important and flows so smoothly into the next that you cannot stop reading - nor do you want to. XD The small-town setting is perfect because it's got all the regular small-town vibes, but they're mixed with some unusual creepy vibes (the distant screams at night and all *shudders*).

My complaints are few. I feel like a copycat of other reviewers when I mention this, but there is a LOT of motivational talk, almost to the point of unrealistic. Peter does a lot of it, though, and I adore every word that comes out of his mouth. So. XD Some of the dialogue in general is a little bit clunky, but that didn't take away from my immersion in the story very much.

Another thing to love is that there are basically zero filler aspects. Everything and everyone plays an important role in the plot. Believe me, this book is 100% worth your time. It will add years to your life. It will break your heart into a million pieces. It will inspire you to fight for what is right. It will have you screaming for book 2. It's clear that Brooke poured her whole heart and soul into this novel, and the result is a masterpiece.

*I received a free, digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. Wow.

This is Brooke Riley's debut novel??? To say I'm impressed is an understatement. It was so> good. So so good

Brooke's writing style is solid. She definitely knows how to tell a story. Even though How We Rise is dystopian, it reads very much like a contemporary. And I really liked that.

The plot, if I'm being honest...was slightly clichè. However, I can easily brush that aside because what made this story really shine for me was the CHARACTERS. They were ALL so well done.

-We have RAEGAN, who is brave and strong and so relatable.
-We have PETER, who is just an absolute gem. His strength and passion to fight for what he believes in is inspiring. And I love how protective he is of Raegan.
-We have SPENCER, who is just straight up amazing. He needs to be protected at all costs.
-We have EVAN, who is hurting and broken and totally in need of a hug. Can I just give the guy a hug? Please? He's a super complex character and HE JUST MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE, OKAY?
-We have JACKSON, who is a sassy sweetheart.
-We have SAMANTHA, who I kind of disliked at first, but she grew on me. Her story is so sad and heartbreaking. She needs a happy ending, please and thank you.

And the ships. The ships are PRECIOUS. Spencer dropping his not-so-subtle hints about Raegan and Peter being more than just friends will always be my favorite thing XD

THAT ENDING THOUGH...that ending broke me. I'm still holding out hope...😭😭😭 It's a good thing the second book just came out. I will be starting that ASAP.

The only complaint that I really have is that there were several typos throughout the book (which really isn't THAT big of a deal to me).

Nothing too bad to report content wise: a couple uses of the words a*s and hell. Some very mild violence.

Y'all, I read this in a span of one day...which says a LOT. If you don't mind a little bit of language, I DEFINITELY recommend How We Rise!!!!

[Miranda Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I'm back from crying! XD

I thought I should actually write a review for this book now cause (1) it deserves more reviews and maybe I can help with that by writing one, (2) in honour of the sequel coming out this September, and (3) the best way to show how much I appreciate this author and her awesome debut story. I'm so grateful she published this. I needed this story.

I don't know where to start, so I'll start with characters because *squeals* I love them so much. My favourite character is Evan (brain is like "Ian"). I just want to give him a hug. He doesn't make sense for ages, but then suddenly he does and my heart breaks for him. I just want the best for him, is that too much to ask??? I also love Reagan. Her insecurities and fears are relatable and understandable, and her courage despite them is so admirable and inspiring. On a personal level, I get her the most. And Peter. *fails coherent words for a moment* He is the one of the best guy best friends I've read (I would be lying if I said he was the best because I just love guy best friends to bits and I can't chose ahhhh). He is so supportive, thoughtful and protective. He always tries to be there for Reagan, to be her rock in her hardships, while also struggling to care for a broken world and pursue his passion. He's just everything I love about guy best friends, so I'm filled with such happiness, but also he and Reagan are just *incoherent words again* SO CUTE together and I just. can't. handle. it. *fangirls*

Jackson is also so intriguing. Most people dislike him in the book, but he is hurting and no one sees it. I didn't like Samantha at first, but oh boy, did the ending changed that and I like her so much. I even hurt for her. I didn't think I would say that when I first met her. Spencer warmed up to me, since he first started as a standoffish sort of person to being the supportive friend for Peter. it wasn't like Reagan didn't support Peter, she did 100%, it was just different sort of support that you don't get with certain friends. I'm probably not making sense. XD Nicole was a lot more complicated than I thought she would be and even though what she did was technically so frustrating, it makes sense to her character. So I really enjoyed the conflict this character caused, which I felt could have easily been just there for more drama. Sawyer was great too. The role he played in the story was brief but important. Plus he's important person for Nicole to have in her life. I'm really looking forward to more scenes and depth for all of these characters I mentioned in this section. Cause they are awesome and I want to see them shine again.

While I would love to talk about every single character in this story, I will probably run out of room. So I just want to have a moment here to show appreciate for all of the side characters. There were so many of them, and yet, I remember most of them, if not all. Each one felt like a stranger you saw a glimpse of their personalities. I'm not sure which ones will show up again or have more time or moments, but if I don't see them again, I will still think they are just as brilliant characters as the main ones. Though there are definitely a few I'm secretly want more of. It will be such an awesome bonus if I do in book 2. :D

The plot is fantastic. *chef's kiss* I was constantly dreading, on the edge of my seat, and having happy feels (because certain characters are so cute). I gasped at the terrible revelations and got excited at character appearances (because I knew some of their names before I read this) and the sweet sweet moments (I may be a little sad that I didn't get you know what if you have read this). I just really enjoyed how I felt at home with these characters EVEN THOUGH THEIR WORLD IS STINKING AWFUL. It has strong contemporary vibes, which always makes me feel relax, cozy, peaceful, all good #feels and at home, because it's my reality but a fiction version so it's better. I don't know how exactly to describe it, just that it makes me feel like I'm at a quiet café with a glass of coke and everything feels so calm, like there's no time or expectations or struggles. Just you and the beauty of life that is so often buried under the hustle and bustle. But also at the same time this book is a dystopian, so it's also dark and scary and horrible. Dread, fear and the reflection of how reality sometimes isn't so far off from this. And honestly, from the few of dystopian books I've read so far, this feels the most real to me and that's slightly terrifying. But also so cool. I enjoyed every minute, the upside and downs of emotions, exploring this world and seeing how the plot so seamlessly tied in with the main character arcs. I have the belief that plot and character should be inseparable and this book did this so well.

The themes in this are SO GOOD. They feel like they are tied up, as in answered, by the end but also at the same time feel incomplete. Security vs. justice. Love and brokenness. Redemption. Light and darkness. Other ones I've forgotten about or didn't pick up on (so much depth). There was just so much explored, and it all feels so satisfying. Yet there is so much more to be discussed and explored. I'm so excited to see what themes will be in book 2 and if they connect to book 1.

Honestly this whole book feels like it ends but doesn't at the same time. It has a cliffhanger but the cliffhanger doesn't leave everything unanswered or hopeless. It isn't a hollow ending, one aimed to just catch you to read the next book. It was the perfect balance of getting enough, but also not enough.

I also cried. Which isn't easy for me, especially with books. I had to stop reading at one point to just cry. My soul was so crushed by the ending. *wipes tears away while clutching book tightly* And I still haven't recovered fully. I got a book hangover from it and reading something else is just so hard right now. It probably doesn't help that the book before this one also gave me a book hangover so I got it twofold in a short space of time. Fun.

I love this book so much and you guys NEED to read it. 10/10 recommended.

[Kara Linaburg]

So.
First off.
I will note rate this book.
I don't think I could give it a proper rating....explaining below...........

Things I adored....

The writing style is freaking solid -- I saw nothing wrong and Brooke's writing style shone. She's incredibley talented creating a storyworld we can believe in. All the shiny stars to her style!!! I was a bit confused why the time of this book takes place in only a few years from now if it's supposed to be futuristic but as the story went on it really didn't bother me at all.

THE COVER. 'Nuff said.

Homeschool was mentioned??? YES MY WORD YES.

Things I wasn't a fan of...
Ok. Brooke is a sweet writing friend. I hate to say anything bad about her book baby. It breaks my heart but *deep breath*
A lot of the plot itself was cliche and predictible and not overly complicated, so not feeling as realistic. I felt that I wanted to see more of the characters' every day lives. Some of the scenes felt rushed. How We Rise was a very good length but I wanted to be able to get to know the characters. Instead we focused a lot on the rebellion (as well as a host of encouraging talks), which was good, but I think it left the characters less time to develop in this case.

So overall, I can't rate this book.
Some of it I would have for sure given four stars and others not. I think the hype of this book is well deserved, and all of this was just my own opinon -- don't keep this from checking out How We Rise!

[Catherine Hawthorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I finally got my hands on this book after hearing so much about it from Brooke and my blogging buddies....

It...was everything that I was expecting. Awesome characters, awesome plot, awesome everything. The only reason I gave it four stars is because the ending KILLED MY SHIP. *glares* (sorry Brooke, my true rating is 4 1/2 stars!)

(Actually, not gonna lie, the government control thing is kinda feeling more and more relevant as time goes on....)


RW Reviews:
Langauage: 4 stars. Mentions of "h---", "a--", mostly with a couple of euphemisms for stronger ones. I know Brooke's policy of using swear words is for characterization only, and I believe it was justified in this case.
Abuse: 4 stars. There is a lot of references to torture, emotional abuse, family betrayal and violence. Mostly done by the villians.
Lust: 5 stars. Perfectly squeaky clean.

[Kate Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels like being told a story by your best friend. A little long, a little rambly in parts, maybe a little repetitive, but you hang on every word because you love the characters so much and can't wait to see what happens to them.

My favorite things, besides the real and heart-stealing characters of course, were how real everyone's motivations felt and how realistically dynamic the resistance was. Very uncliche.

I read this faster than I've read a book this long in a while, and there were a few nights I lost sleep gobbling up the pages. I can't say much without spoiling, but I did not see that ending coming. 👀👏

Read this if you love indie debuts with big ideas and big heart.

Also, that cover!! 👏😍

[allison riera :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

/ disclaimer - i was given an ARC by the author, but was not compelled to give a favorable review. all opinions expressed are my own :) /

ok. this book broke me. last-page syndrome, y'all. as soon i finished it, i wanted to read it again.

all the way up till the last few chapters, i was enjoying it but not loving it. but then Certain Things happened, and i couldn't read the last part of the book fast enough. all in all, an enjoyable read and BROOKE THAT ENDING. *sobs*

some minor quibbles i had:
- some of the dialogue felt stilted. lots of "I will..." and stuff like that - no contractions. it may be just me, but i felt like some of the dialogue wasn't really natural, if that makes sense.
- it's a little cliche? idk if that's the right word, but things seemed to be too coincidental? idk how to express it, but the stakes didn't seem high enough? the president flat-out admitted that he knew where the rebellion headquarters were located, so why didn't he just go + bomb it? and is the rebellion all over the country, or just in texas? idk just some things i found confusing
- peter gives a lotttt of pep talks. not to say that his character is perfect, but he doesn't seem to have any flaws? i want a peter in my life, lol.


all in all, i enjoyed How We Rise , and i can't wait to read the sequel. BECAUSE RAEGAN BETTER NOT BE DEAD OR ELSE, BROOKE *glares at brooke*

[Libby May]

Sweet! This book was so well done as a debut! I appreciated the ideas and the plot! I had several small issues with it, but just personal preferences.
I have a very hard time reading present tense books, and that was in me through the whole story. But it was a good story. I’m super curious to read the second one!
Let freedom reign.

[Bree Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically binged like 80% of this in one day because I needed to know what happened.

I did really enjoy this book, but I did notice some issues with it (Peter and Raegan's POV voices felt the same at times, I figured out who Agent Spector was rather quickly, there were some small typos/sentence structure problems). This is why I rated it 3 stars. It was a solid and fun read, but it didn't blow my mind in the same way that I thought it would.

P.S. I love you, Brookie! 💕 And I cannot wait for book two!!

[mads]

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow.

I've been looking forward to reading this book for a veerrryyyyy long time!!
This is ridiculously exciting...

Dystopian book/novels aren't really my thing. I haven't read a whole bunch of them, but the ones I have, I only nominally enjoyed. HOWEVER. This book, Brooke (xD), is FANTASTIC. EPIC.

What I liked:
- Raegan + Peter. I mean... the whole 'best friends' to 'more-than-friends' is literally one of my favourite book themes EVER. They are the most adorable best friends and Brooke captured the dynamic of the changing yet ever-the-same relationship SO WELL.

- Spencer. Such an awesome friend! Such a smart person! This guy was literally SO COOL.

- The fitness + exercise. As someone who (wishes they could) stay healthy and fit, this just made the book more fun and likeable.

What I didn't like:
- The language. There was some language in here, and as someone who doesn't use language or appreciate it being used, this definitely caused a damper on my overall delight.

- The cliffhanger. UGH WHY BROOKE!?!?!?

Overall: 4.5 stars!!!! I ADORED it. Hurry up and give me the next one, Brooke! :D

[Eliza Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What an exciting book!!! Definitely recommending it to my brother cuz I think he'll LOVE it!

Ok, so my one warning is that there is a little bit of language (but I already knew that cuz the author posted a warning). There wasn't anything too extreme and I think the book is acceptable for teens. Some violent and disturbing stuff. Basically the government is evil and a buncha people (including a lot of teens) are part of a rebellion. Peter was adorable and I absolutely love him and how protective he is! I also really truly like Reagan. I love how their friendship they've had for years is reaching that semi-awkward point where they're kinda wondering if they like each other. Wow! That ending!!! I need the next book. Getting to know what motivated the 'bad guys' was definitely one of my fave parts too. Oh! And when Raegan was forced to go to public school for her first time. So interesting seeing that situation through her eyes!!!

Well done, Brooke!

[Snaps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to begin??

Oh yes.

With me fangirling.

*does that and is still doing that*

So there were several things that stood out to me with this book. First of all, the S T Y L E. Brooke's style is simple and yet so vivid. But it's more than just seeing what's happening. You can feel what the character's feel. Her writing makes everything tangible and I. Love. It.

The characters: This, imo, is one of the best aspects of the book. Raegan is sweet and honest and real and caring and must be protected at all costs. And Peterrrrr. Peter's kindness combined with his drive to bring justice to the world is infectious. Her characters, though, are very human, which I appreciate. Perfect can be flat. These characters aren't perfect. They get angry, upset, scared. But still. They rise. There were quite a lot of side characters, though, and sometimes I couldn't remember who was who (that also could be because I read this in one day) . XD

Still tho, Brooke did such an amazing job with these characters. They're real. They have their likes and dislikes, yes, but they also have their passions, their deep secrets, their needs.

The plot: spoilers but MEEP. I read this book in one day (which generally doesn't happen XD). Once I was in the plot, there was no escape. At first, I thought it began a smol bit slowly, but once it was going I T > W A S> G O I N G> and it TOOK ME WITH IT. All through the wonderful ride of How We Rise.

So yes. YES. This is How We Rise.

*Disclaimer: I mighttt be slightly biased 'cause Brooke's my fren, but it won't change the fact that this book is beautiful and I cannot wait until it's on my shelf. <333*

[lewisian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5 stars, PG13
Content: Some violence, mild romance, government control

First of all, I went into this book a little hesitantly because the last indie book I read in a similar genre was just...well, I guess I'll let you fill in the rest.
But I am so glad I got around to reading this book, and let me tell you why below.


1. Theme--There's certainly a wide range of themes to choose from, all of them relevant in the world we are living in right now. One thing that spoke to me the most, however, is that of family. Yes, this is dystopian and yes, it contains an evil government but the family and friend dynamic in this story is much more prominent, and TBH, that was one of the one things that really stood out to me.
2. Prose--If you have read my other reviews, you know this is where I get nitty-gritty and...well, a little snobbish. (I do apologise about that.) But I think I can say safely that Brooke's prose holds up to the barometre and although it felt a little off at the start, really drove into the style and stayed consistently comfortable. There was one or two typos but that's about it!
3. Characters--This is where the book really shines. Although most of the characters were not like me and I don't think I'd be friends with them IRL, each character drew me into their story...And yes, Evan is my favourite. (No one asked, but hey, that's what book reviews are for!) Interestingly enough, I also like Jackson despite him being described as a 'jerk' on several occasions. I can't wait to see where the story leads to and how each of the characters continues on their paths!
4. Plot--The second thing I note after the prose is the plot. What's really interesting about this book is that although it's dystopian, it's slower-paced and takes time to shift through each characters' responses at this drastically changed look of America rather than plough through as most YA dystopia I've read. That being said, I think the plot was somewhat predictable, although I didn't dislike it because even when I thought I knew where the story was going, there were multiple scenarios that could have played out and I was honestly surprised at the ending response.
5. Execution--As Nicole Dust said in her review, this book is a dystopia that reads like a contemporary. I don't think I've encountered that portrayed as meaningfully as How We Rise did and hope to see more of it!


Overall, this is a neatly written dystopia (that reads like contemporary), so if you are:
a) A fan of clean YA
b) Unsure about dystopia but would still be interested
c) Like contemporary

This book is for you!

[Chloe the MovieCritic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I got a free copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

Sometimes when I finish reading a book I'm not sure what I think of it and want to wait a few months before reviewing it. Or, I just review it and am kind of vague because I don't know how I feel about it. The moment I finished How We Rise I wanted to write down all of my thoughts! Eeep! That's exciting for me to be so motivated!
Dislikes:
-2023 is really close. It's so close that I have plans for that year and the like. If this was set a little farther away I'd be more comfortable. Maybe 2033? That being said, I know that Brooke was going for a more contemporary feel with this one unlike other dystopian novels.
-There were some parts that seemed to repeat. The same characters telling each other the same thing without any new information. A few times I thought, "Didn't we already see this?" My motto with writing is "short and snappy" so I feel like there were a few unnecessary scenes. Which, you know, you could fill with more of Spencer because he was one of my favorites...

Likes:
-THE CHARACTERS! They are the true heart of this story. I get tired of plot driven stories, but this is truly character driven and it is so refreshing!
-The stakes. Everything matters to the characters and the risks are high.
-All the hydration. This is just a weird quirk of mine, but sometimes it seems like characters never drink water and go through all the adventures bam, bam, bam and I am sure that they should've died of thirst by then. These characters stay hydrated and I was so proud of them!
-Homeschool! What the government did made me hate them so much. Outrageous!
-This is written in first person present tense, WHICH IS MY FAVORITE. It feels like you are with the characters while they do everything, not that your just reading about it afterwards.
-The ending. The whole book I was considering giving it a lower ranking because of the inconsistent times, repeated actions, and the writing being a tad hard to read, but then the ending happened. OH MY WORD. I'm so impressed.

4 stars!

Read full review here:
https://moviesmeetmatch.blogspot.com/...

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars ~

I’m honestly really disappointed and confused.

The plot was so slow and predictable. The entire story is dragged out and dependent on your love of the characters.

I didn’t connect with any of the POV characters. They all felt two dimensional. Shallow backgrounds and lame excuses for acting the way they did. It wasn’t realistic.

Beyond this every conversation was forced emotionally. The humor/snarky comments were just cringey. The “intimidation, fearful respect, or awe” I was suppose to feel about the government and Evan was ruined by the shallow backstory. Everything was “told” instead of “shown” . . .

The Dystopian genre is not my favorite, but I had heard good reviews. I’m tempted to believe them biased now based off their review system.

The writing style rubbed me the wrong way and I skimmed 60% of the book. Most of it was a repeat of certain conversations or thoughts just in different scenes. It got old fast. :p

Content : Minor cuss words. Some violence. Revolution.

I appreciated the author’s imagination and idea. I just feel it wasn’t executed well. ( This isn’t a jab at the author. I really like her as a person. 🙃 )

**If you want specific details plz message me. Don’t comment asking**

[Emily Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a story that will break you, this is it.

How We Rise is about Raegan MacArthur and Peter Daniels, two teenagers who live in a controlling government where you're not even supposed to look out your window at night. If you overstep, you might just end up as one of the screams lost in the dark.

But they're not lost on Raegan's and Peter's ears. They hear them, and they want to help.

I basically loved every second of this book. I read it in three or four days and that's faster than I've read a book in a while. It could have been because reading it in e-book form made it easier to carry with me, buuut I think it was really just because it's one of those books that makes you NEED to know what happens next. Because the characters are precious and YOU JUST WANT THEM TO BE OKAY.

Allow me to elaborate: YOU'RE GOING TO CARE ABOUT THESE CHARACTERS A WHOLE LOT. Raegan's and Peter's friendship was absolutely adorable and beautiful. Raegan and Peter themselves were fantastic. They care so much about what's happening around them and they're willing to put their lives on the line to change it. Some might say the plot was cliche, but honestly, even if I had thought that, the characters alone would have carried it for me. My heart broke for them and everything they went through.

I know multiple people have mentioned this already, but I loved that Raegan was homeschooled! #homeschoolersunite I wish there were more examples of this in books, where it doesn't play a huge part in the story (although you could argue it is kind of important in this case), but it's just a normal part of life.

The antagonist was great. I really didn't know if I hated him or sympathized with him. I think there was a healthy amount of both (with the hate part outweighing the sympathy, maybe). But he wasn't JUST a villain and the situation is COMPLICATED OKAY.

ALSO GET READY BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO BUCKLE UP FOR THAT ENDING. EXCUSE ME WHILE I AGGRESSIVELY NEED BOOK 2.

No content cautions, except the mild language scattered throughout. I didn't like it, but it wasn't excessive and didn't make me overly uncomfortable.
Overall, I loved How We Rise and would definitely recommend it! Just, you know, prepare to have your heart broken. XD

[Ryan Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh my, that ending though.
This is going to be a bit difficult to gather my thoughts just minutes after finishing, but I want to try.
- I LOVE THIS AUTHOR. Brooke pours her heart into everything she does, and this story is no exception. It's a rare thing to find a book that has so obviously been a heart story for the creator that hits home with so many readers.
- The plot and themes were spot on. Really, I'm not sure if there's any way to make it better! Well...maybe except for *that ending* ;) I did think it was a bit too quick, but knowing that it's a duology helps!
- The characters were very sympathetic and real...I pretty much loved them all, but I thought that some of them lacked their own voice. There were a few times I had to remind myself whose POV we were in.
- My biggest compliant (which really isn't bit at all XD) was the swearing. It felt out of place and really didn't serve a purpose since it wasn't like a character's "thing" if that makes sense...I wouldn't say anything about it otherwise (it's really minor), but it honestly felt like it was just stuck in to be present and that confused me.

but ackkk THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. You guys need to go read it. Now. Book 2 comes out in a week.

CW: mild swearing, violence

[Phoenixwhirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before I go into detail about this book and the rating I gave it, I would like to recognize that the author put in a lot of effort. Writing and publishing a story is no easy feat, so regardless of this review, please keep writing because I believe your stories are unique and have something to offer!

That being said, I will move on to the review of this book, How We Rise. To be honest, I was utterly disappointed. At the time, I was looking for a story to read with truth hidden in its depths and stumbled across this book. It has a gorgeous cover, and the reviews were pretty good, so I was very excited to take the plunge and buy the book. Unfortunately, upon reading the book, I felt betrayed. The reviews were wrong. Perhaps they were written by friends or by people who overlooked some of the glaring issues of this story, but either way, having spent money on this story, I was quite upset.

So let's dive into the problems I had with this story. First off, the grammar. I understand that many books will not be perfect when it comes to grammar, and in all fairness, it's impossible to find every grammar mistake. But a grammar mistake in the very first sentence of the story? Unfortunately, it was not just that one mistake. The entire book was littered with grammar mistakes, and I could generally find one or two on every page if I looked for it (or didn't, depending on the mistake). The sad thing is, this could very easily be fixed if this book was sent for a round or two of editing with professional editors.

The second problem was a technical issue. The time frames didn't make sense and often didn't match up. For example, a character had been a traitor for two years. All good? Later, the story changes and says this character has only been a traitor for four months. Wait. What? Which one is it? The worst part is this inconsistency was typical for this story. For another example, the eye color of one of the characters should be extremely basic and stay the same two pages later! A character was said to have copper-brown eyes like his father, but two pages later, he had green eyes. Mind you, these two references were the only time this character's eye color was even mentioned. Now it's possible he had hazel eyes that would change color, but if that were the case, it should be far more apparent.

The third major problem I had was with the characters; to me, this is the biggest problem. To love a story is to love the characters, their struggles, trials, and triumphs. But I felt nothing of the sort for these main characters. And here is why - they were unnatural. They didn't feel or react like normal human beings would. I have two examples (both of which may contain spoilers) that perfectly exhibit the main character's unnatural reactions. The main character is a girl named Reagan who lives in a futuristic dystopian U.S.A. where the government watches every move you make and will punish those who don't fall in line. This is important to understand because the government monitors cell phones. So when a friend moves back into town after being gone for six years, she is incredibly excited because she hasn't had a proper conversation with him on the phone (because the government is listening in) for six years! But when she sees him and realizes how different he looks because, just like her, he's now a teenager, all awkwardness immediately goes away, and things go back to how they were six years ago. Perhaps I'm underestimating the power of friendship, but if you haven't seen someone in 6 years when there's been a lot of growth and development, things would be pretty awkward. Yes, you'd be excited, but you would feel uneasy, and it would be super weird to see the kid before you suddenly as a teenager. Especially considering they haven't had a real conversation in 6 years, they are, in some ways, trying to start over and rebuild a friendship. However, in the book, this scene is unnaturally portrayed, and everything goes right back to the way it had been, with only a few odd moments when he says something weird that doesn't make sense to her anymore (because essentially, she no longer knows him).

This second scene is even more unnatural, however. (Major spoilers ahead!!!) At some point, she finds out her parents have been hiding a major secret from her... for all of her life. The moment she finds out, she is surprised and perhaps a little upset. But she walks to her room to think it over, and in the morning, even though she doesn't 100% agree with them, she decides everything is A-Ok. Does that even make sense? Where is the hurt? The betrayal? The anger at being lied to! But instead, she just accepts it and moves on. I'm not saying that can't happen, but realistically, most people would still feel a sense of hurt and betrayal even if they agreed with the person who had lied to them.

Sadly, these unrealistic actions and reactions continued throughout the who book and at the end when I was supposed to feel something for the characters... I felt nothing but disappointment.

Now, there were some elements I liked about the book. I liked the general idea behind it and how the government in the U.S.A. had taken over. This book to me felt like it was a future possibility, and I loved that bit of reality and truth in it. I also loved how the government took away homeschooling. By attacking the family, the home, and private education, the government was suddenly in charge of teaching kids not how to think but what to think, and that was a bit of truth I loved in this story. I also enjoyed the family aspects and small-town feel of this story. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to change my overall view of the story.

If the author happens to read this, I want her to know that I really hope she continues to write! Please don't let my critique ruin your resolve. In writing this review, I hope it can help make your writing and future stories stronger and more well-rounded. The easiest fix for every problem I mentioned really is some editing, too. An editor would be able to point out these issues and help them be fixed before the book is ever published.

At any rate, to bring this review to a close. I gave it a 2 star due to all the problems I saw with the story. But because I loved the general concept and ideas behind the story and felt like it had a lot of potential, I wanted to take the time to review the whole story.

[Abigail Hawthorne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book amazed me. For a more objective rating, yes, I gave it three stars. But somehow it still ended up on my favorites' shelf.
And that about sums up my general feelings on this book.
I love the characters. The world and the characters and their relationships had me hooked from the beginning. When my copy arrived in the mail, I opened it up just to read a bit of it, and ended up getting sucked in. It was a rollercoaster ride that didn't slow, didn't stop, and didn't end. In fact, the only way I even got any closure (let's be honest, Brooke, I didn't know what on earth you'd done at the end, and I was kinda scared about book 2) was by reading book 2 months later.
There were some things that made it imperfect. The writing felt rough at times, the plot wasn't amazing. But, you know what? That's fine. Because the good things in this book more than made up for the bad, and it earned its place among my favorite five-star reads.

Warning - This book does some cursing in it, so I would only read if you're comfortable with PG-13 level cursing (for this book, it's just a few words repeated throughout the story).

[Oceane McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's only taken five months, but guys, I finished it!

First of all, Samantha is amazing, Spencer is amazing, and Evan is amazing. That is all.

Characters

So, to start, characters. I thought Raegan and Peter were both well-rounded characters and loved how their friendship was written. Very realistic. I wasn't the biggest fan of Peter's character overall, but I think that has more to do with personal preference. The same with Raegan. Surprisingly, it was the side characters that I found most interesting. I really loved Samantha (especially in the last chapters!) and Spencer (bless his precious heart). Also, Evan... *glances at Brooke shamefully* Yes, I did end up loving him. It's not my fault though! Those last chapters KILLED ME.

Plot

I really liked the pacing. Everything went smoothly and made sense. It felt a little slow at times, but it is a series, so that makes sense. I'm a sucker for any kind of dystopian, so obviously I enjoyed this. Also, that ENDING! Phew! Peter, you know you shouldn't have dodged the comment, and that's the TRUTH.

Enjoyment

Okay, so I know it took me forever to read this, but I did genuinely enjoy it! There were a few typos and errors, but nothing that was too major. Some of the conversations also felt a little awkward or too convenient, but again, nothing that detracted from my overall enjoyment. Brooke left it on a major cliffhanger, and now I'll just be over here pining for book two.

3.5/5 stars

[Helena George · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Brooke is a long-time blogging and instagram buddy, and somehow it's taken me this long to read her book?? (I blame the fact that it's not my main genre.) But I did finally read it (yay me).

First off, I just need to compliment Brooke's writing style. It was easy to read, and the descriptions were well done. I only caught one typo (a missing period), which is very commendable (hey, even trad. published books have mistakes, mate). She did a very good job guiding me through the narrative and holding my attention. Well done!! <3

My chief complaint is that I really didn't like Raegan at all. She had no character. What were her interests and hobbies? What did she do in her life? I don't know. She spends a lot of time "being afraid" and stressing over the nighttime shootings....and then she's all "I'm holding my head high as I pass the officers" and "I get captured but I'm not gonna cry." And then Peter's like "oh, she can escape from a closet" and I'm like...can she?? I had no idea that she'd become a NINJA. She just never felt real to me.

Peter was okay, he had a little more character. I really did appreciate the growing romance between Peter and Raegan though. Like how everyone is totally "oh, they're a thing" and they both deny it. But yeah, they're totally a thing. Spencer was great, though. He really was.

Very clean read, though. An occasional bad word, but otherwise, super squeaky clean, and I would totally recommend it to anyone who reads the genre. I look forward to the next book to see what happens!!!

[Juliette Caron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a talented young writer! The author said that much of the book was written in her teen years and being a writer myself I didn't write ANYWHERE close to this well when I was her age, let alone have the courage to write an entire book until much later.

The main characters, Reagan and Peter, were likeable and their friendship was very sweet. I would have liked to see a little more character development and more of their everyday lives.

I love dystopians and loved her idea for the plot of government overreach and our country losing our treasured freedoms. At first the story seemed a little predictable--I thought I knew exactly how everything was going to unfold--but I was surprised by a couple of unexpected twists.

Lastly, I love the title and mood the book cover creates.

[Daphne Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐
I really enjoyed reading this! How We Rise is a fast-paced, action-packed Dystopian tale about a resistance in a small town. It follows Reagan and Peter who have been friends since childhood as they train to help the resistance, while also realizing that there may be more between them than just friendship. The world Riley has created is harsh and gritty, and I can just picture the soldiers patrolling, eavesdropping, and waiting at stations all over the town...
As with most switching POV books, I usually prefer one POV over the others, but in this book I EQUALLY enjoyed them all! Super excited I already have the sequel 😍

[Rachel]

‘How We Rise’ is a solid debut!
To be honest, I don’t read a lot of dystopian or YA. From what I have read, this book seems to fit in well!
What I liked:
The characters acted and spoke their age.
I liked the inner struggle between right and wrong that villain had.
The POV switches were very well marked out and it was easy to follow along.
There were some plot twists that I did not expect! Especially the ending.
What I didn’t like:
1st person POV, present tense is not one that I read often. The first half of the book had a lot of sentences that started with “I”, that could have been cut or rewarded to avoid that. Personally, it drew me out of the story a bit.
I would’ve like more interactions between some characters. Reagan, her parents, and Nichole for example.

Overall, this is a great book for those who enjoy Christian dystopian YA fiction! I would give it 3.5 stars, a lot of this is personal preference.