Title: Disruption
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Series: Disruption Series
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: October 4th, 2016 (US pub date)
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5 out of 5)

Quick Look:

The concept behind this book is a good one, and completely believable. A future where people rely on technology for everything, including telling them who they are compatible with for friendship and romance. Maggie fights against the system because she knows it’s flawed. She’s a take-no-prisoners kind of person, determined to see her mission through until the end. I had a few issues with some things, but overall, the book was really interesting and captivating.The summary of Disruptionn from Goodreads:

The Mercer Corporation might rule the world through the control of pheromones. But nothing, and no one, is going to stand in Maggie’s way. Especially Quentin Mercer. Ever since the development of M-chips which tap into human pheromones, M-Corp has become the new superpower. Why trust your heart when all you have to do is get within a two-metre radius of someone to record a compatibility rating? Ratings range from the rare ‘perfect match’ to the dreaded ‘negative’ and everything in between. Three years ago Maggie’s father mysteriously rated as a ‘neg’ and was taken away from them. For the last two years, eighteen-year-old Maggie has had only one goal: to uncover the truth and bring him home. But even though she’s discovered the government’s secret underground prison network and the fact that negs aren’t going to rehab farms (not even close), she’s still no closer to finding her father. Her last hope is Quentin Mercer, her classmate at the elite Kingly Academy – and the heir to the Mercer Corporation. By tricking Quentin into believing he’s a ‘neg’, Maggie quickly gains access to all things M-Corp. But Quentin isn’t the person she thought he was… And while she can easily betray her morals in the quest to save her father, can she betray her heart?

What I Liked:

I thought the development of the book’s premise was interesting. People willingly look for matches, using the M-chips and M-bands to discover the people they’d work well with. There’s no more guessing when it comes to whether or not you’d be friends with someone, or whether or not someone would be a good long-term relationship. No one has to go through the process of growing a relationship.

Maggie, although I found it difficult to connect with her at times, is a unique character. She’s determine to find her dad, knowing that whatever happened to him after he registered as a “neg” was awful. She knows the truth behind the neg rating; anyone rating neg is taken to secret locations, hidden away from society and mistreated. Her only goal in life is to find her dad and discover the truth.

I respected her determination. She wasn’t going to sit back and accept what she had been told about her father. She doesn’t let the M-bands control her actions and future. She understands that people are more than just a pheromone signal. The fact that she manages to blend into society while fighting against it is impressive.

Quentin was not my favorite male lead character, but I did grow to like him enough. He starts out as the typically rich boy who never has to work for anything. I started to like him when he started to understand just where his wealth came from, the truth about what his father’s corporation does.

What I Didn’t Like:

It was a little difficult to connect with Maggie at times. While I respected her determination, I felt like she treated the people around her poorly. She doesn’t like the M-bands because she thinks people are too controlled by them. At the same time, she doesn’t allow anyone to get too close to her for fear of finding a connection with someone else, friendship or a relationship. In her quest for her father, she doesn’t consider the repercussions for everyone she works with if they get caught. It’s not only her life she stands to ruin, but many others.

I’d Recommend To:

This is a good book for people who like a little bit of science fiction. It’s not to heavy on the science fiction aspects, but it’s enough to make you think and envision a future where this is a reality.

You Can Purchase Disruption Here:

Amazon
Audible
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.