I was excited to find this book since I enjoyed the other books by this author. I think it’s important to go into this book understanding that it is written from the point of view of a teen and takes place in a future world where males were nearly wiped out 60 years previously, which greatly affects the opinions expressed by characters.

The book was split into 3 parts and was a quick read. I felt like not a whole lot happens in the first part. River, the teenage protagonist, has learned to associate males with many bad things that happened in the past - war, rape, murder, etc. This is part of the society in which she has grown. Only the older generation, who still remember a world that included males, are willing to accept the male, Mason. Mason is basically considered not even human by River, and she refers to him as “it” for half of the book. While I understand this mindset is part of the world in the book, it becomes very repetitive.

The story does pick up as we read on, especially in the last part. I think if the entire book moved at the pace of the 3rd part, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. We are able to see a lot of growth in both Mason and River by the end of the story. It did end a bit abruptly though, and I would have liked to see more about how things turned out in the end.

Overall, I didn’t love this book but I also didn’t hate it. It was an interesting premise and I do think the reactions of the characters throughout were authentic. ( )

I've read several post apocalyptic "what if a virus wiped out the men" stories before, but this one definitely takes the trope to a new level. I love the choices the author made -- setting it 2 generations in, creating a system that sounds utopian to an extent, but has a more challenging day-to-day reality, and crafting characters with real and complex emotions. Really enjoyed it.

Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss. ( )

Could not get trough this book. Boring, and the main character kept refering to the boy as it. ( )

I don't understand why so many people had such a strong adverse reaction to this book.l Is the thought of a female-run society really that disturbing? This idea isn't any more far fetched than all of the books with male dominated societies absent of a female presence, for instance Animal Farm and more recently the first book in the The Maze Runner series.

I like the premise of this book and albeit these females have a totally skewed perception of the male species but isn't that would really happen if males or females were totally wiped out and the survivors and future generations had to rely upon the memories, ideals, and perceptions of only a few?

Sure the writing and the plot could stand a bit more development but I genuinely enjoyed this book and River's strength and heart. ( )

From the author of The Rain, comes a very clever book that I would love teenage girls to read and give me some feedback. Set in a future where men are a precious commodity ( they have been all but wiped out by a virus that kills anyone who has an XY chromosome make-up, the book is set 40 years after the men have disappeared ( and those few that that are left are put in breeding colonies where they are cut off from the rest of the world to protect them from getting infected when they are baby boys.)
This is a world where girls can do anything and be anything. Where there are no wars and everything is discussed equally and democratically with even the youngest female having a say in the running of the towns and indeed the country. It's a world where technology still exists at high a level, but it is alongside a rural lifestyle where naturally grown ( not GM) food is prized.
River is out riding her horse when she stumbles across the unthinkable - an escaped XY ( boy) called Mason who initially thinks she too is a boy, but then goes crazy with fear when he learns she is a girl. Overcome by the fever, Mason collapses and then River does the unthinkable - she brings him home to be cared for.
Fascinating look at a different world. Highly recommended for Years 9 -10. ( )