Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Genre:  YA Dystopian Romance

Article 5 Series, Book 1

Kristen Simmons' website

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Description (taken from Kristen Simmons' website):

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials and maybe worse. People who get arrested don’t usually come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. That life in the United States used to be different.

In the three years since the war ended, Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs—like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes—and how to pass the random home inspections by the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And what’s worse, one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

I feel so conflicted with this book.  Was it a good read?  Did it keep me captivated?  Absolutely!  Was it what I expected?  Heck no.  Let me tell you now, this book is a romance novel set in a dystopian setting.  So if you're not looking for romance, don't pick up this book...

We follow Ember after her mother is arrested.  And let me tell you, the story is interesting and has many turns.  But what about this war that happened three years ago?  We don't really learn anything about it other than cities were destroyed.  So, if you're looking for a good dystopian explanation to go with why things are the way they are, you're not going to find it in this book.

But the romance?  There's a lot of it.  We see flashbacks of the way Ember and Chase used to be.  You sort of get a feel for what tore them apart.  But I felt like I wanted to slap them both upside the head because of their ignorance for the other person's feelings.

And the last fifty pages?  Yes, I predicted one part of the plot.  But then everything twisted and turned until I didn't know what was going on.  I'd have to say the last part of the book definitely made it worth it for me.

Will I read the next one?  Maybe.  I want more of a dystopian background for this story though.  Do I recommend it?  If you're ready for a romance, then pick it up...

Challenges:  Debut Author Challenge and Young Adult Reading Challenge