Play Book Tag discussion

Welp, I'm into the story, I LOVE the music from the musical adaptation (have never seen the musical)- but this book was a stinker.

Written inside the head of a misogynistic teenage boy, whose sole focus in live is to be "cool". I guess I should tell myself "What did you expect?". The 'exciting and new' thing is a sci-fi element of a SQUIP- a little computer you ingest, then a voice inside your head tells you everything you need to do to become cool. Add a crush to impress, a giant teenage party, a best friend to ditch when you get cool- and bam this book is complete.

The problem is, the main character is unlikable. Not just because he makes bad decisions, because he has no regard for anyone else. All the female characters are treated as objects, something to be played with, and used for personal gain. Every character is one level. The girls are either "slutty" "goth" or "the theater kid". The boys are "the jock that gets the girl" and "the loser". The SQUIP concept is a fun one, but isn't delved out well enough- it's history, it's usage, how its only used within teenagers. The "triggers" and the conclusion isn't satisfying.

The musical plot and the book seemed pretty similar. The ending definitely veers off in a different direction. Not sure if I just LIKE the musical version better, but I feel like the musical just took this book and made it 123290 times better.

Ugh! What we avid readers don't need right now is STINKERS~

Hope your next read is better Joi