Gewoon geen bullshit

by Will McIntosh

Zes tieners en een leugendetector tegen de regering.
Amerika, de nabije toekomst. De president heeft alle macht, de politie heeft vrij spel en nepnieuws is overal. Sam en zijn vrienden willen rijk worden – behalve Theo, die wil de wereld beter maken. Ze ontwikkelen een handheld leugendetector, maar nog voor ze een werkend prototype hebben, wordt Theo vermoord. Iemand heeft het op hen gemunt, en de vrienden moeten alle zeilen bijzetten om in leven te blijven.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Teen, Fiction, Politics, School

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 24, 2018

About the author

Will McIntosh is a Hugo Award-winning science fiction author, and a winner or finalist of many other awards. His alien invasion novel Defenders, is currently optioned for a feature film, while his Middle Grades novel The Classmate has been optioned for a TV series by Disney/ABC.

Along with ten novels that have been translated into nine different languages, Will has published over sixty short stories in magazines such as Asimov's Science Fiction, Clarkesworld, and Lightspeed.

Will was a psychology professor before turning to writing full time. He lives in Williamsburg, Virginia, and is the father of twins. You can follow him on Twitter @willmcintoshSF.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, here I go again against the early masses only this time I’m the one that actually likes this book. So far it doesn’t seem that many really like it but to me The Future Will Be BS Free is a perfectly timed novel that leads to a lot of what ifs about politics and society. Considering I’m not a fan of politics and feel there is too much lying going on in our own world I was quite curious what Will McIntosh would do with his.

The story begins with Sam and his friends who are rather bright teenagers but still have no hope for their future because there just aren’t jobs to be had so the kids come up with a plan. Sam and his friends have been secretly working on building a portable lie detector, small enough that everyone will have one and the world will be free of lies. Of course most of the group isn’t in it to be noble but only for the riches they think it will bring with the exception of Theo whose dream it is to make a change in the world.

You see the world in which Sam and his friends live is controlled by one woman who has been president for multiple terms having done away with the term limit. But not only does she control the government but has a monopoly on most commerce too. The kids believe that the only way to help the world is to flesh out all the lies and let people see the truth for a change.

The book may seem to start a little slow and be a bit shaky on the character building but once it gets going it was really one that kept me quite engaged. The old saying Let he who is without sin cast the first stone really popped into mind as the story goes along because obviously most everyone has at least some little secret they’d prefer not to share which was true of Sam and his friends. There was some great character growth shown from the characters you meet at the beginning of the book and the ones after all the action has gone down. And yes, as you can imagine taking down a corrupt government brought about a lot of action so by the end I’d give this one 4.5 stars as it was a creative dystopian imagining that seems highly possible of actually happening.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Biz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I came out to have a good time right now and I honestly feel so attacked right now. Here I was, thinking this would be a deep, slightly parodied view on Putin-esque America, along the lines of Animal Farm, but, nope. This is a strong lesson in why I try to never get my hopes up when it comes to books, because what this book actually is is a bunch of annoying, cookie-cutter teenagers with a main character who makes me want to jump out a window.

The world-building was,,,,,, actually pretty good! I was reading it and thinking that this is what America may actually be like in a few years under a certain president who shall remain nameless. And the writing! Also pretty good! If this book had been all writing and world-building I probably a) would have finished it, and b) would have given it a solid three stars! Nothing special but all-around good.

Now it’s time to get messy. (trigger warning for eating disorder mention and sexual harassment)

The main character, Sam, drove. me. up. the. wall. I wasn’t a fan of him, and was therefore not a fan of the book. He was one of the most problematic MC's I've ever read, along the lines of the MC in Otherworld in terms of misogyny and grossness.

One sentence that stood out to me in particular went like this,

”Rebe was overweight, but in the right places."

a) get this fatphobic crap out of my face, b) this doesn’t even make sense. This is so gross. Why would you even say that? And can we talk about how the 1 (one) overweight character has an eating disorder? That’s so horrid and such a bad, bad stereotype that Rebe would be the one character who isn’t happy with the way her body looks. I have no idea how crap like this is still being published, but I’m honestly just so tired of it. Ugh. And what are the “right” places to be overweight?? Why is the MC sexualizing one of his platonic friend’s bodies, anyway? I want this book to please go away and never look at me again.

But, believe it or not, that gross statement was not the worst thing that happened. I probably would have kept reading if that had been the only problematic part, because, hey, maybe it’s all a part of the MC’s character arc!! But honestly there is another capital-H Horrible thing that the MC said and I just,,,,,,, what the hell.

So there’s this girl, Molly, that the main character likes, and they used to be best friends and one time when they were video-chatting she thought that she had hung up at the end of the conversation, but hadn’t. And Sam, the main character,,,,,, MUTED HIS END OF THE LINE AND WATCHED HER IN HER BEDROOM FOR TWO HOURS LIKE SOME CREEPY ASSHOLE AND I’M SORRY FOR SWEARING BUT WTF WTF WTF and not only that but she TOOK A SHOWER AND HE WATCHED HER AND DIDN’T EVEN HANG UP THE VIDEO MESSAGE LIKE SERIOUSLY WHAT KIND OF CREEP and he didn’t hang up. HE DIDN’T HANG UP. HE KNEW SHE WAS GETTING IN THE SHOWER AND DIDN'T HANG UP.

And supposedly *eye roll* he felt really bad about it after, but,,, he never told her,,, and never apologized for it,,,, and when he’s talking about it in the exposition he “had to cross his legs just thinking about it.” Awful and guilty, my eye. If he felt bad about it after he would have TOLD HER about it and APOLOGIZED PROFUSELY (and she would have, rightfully, dropped him as a friend and a human being) but noooooOOOOOoOooOoooo he just feels entirely justified in his creepiness. It’s just,,,, so out of line. And we’re supposed to feel bad for this chap??? Screw you, Sam. Take your 5’5”, only shaves twice a week frame and get out of my face. I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you.

In conclusion, I would skip this one. Hey, maybe the bad things will be changed in the finished copy (please,,,, let them be changed in the finished copy),,, and then it might be a worthwhile book to read, but for now, it’s, uh, not good. At all. Honestly, I would rather read a poorly written book with flat characters and no plot, just as long as it had stunning diversity and body positivity and no creepy characters who enjoy sexually harassing their friends.This was horse crap.

As a thank you to those who made it all the way through this review, despite all the gross stuff I had to call out, here is a cute picture of my dog to help purge your mind.

awwwwwww

--
Pre-review
uGH I should have stopped reading books this year with The Cruel Prince because there is no WAY this crap can be my last book of 2017, I refuse to believe it.

full rtc

[The Captain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this young adult sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

I have loved this author's work ever since I read love minus eighty and have now gobbled up seven of his novels.

Side note: Get me hands on unbreakable and watchdog and all four novellas!

While I liked this one in parts, it was overall just an okay read.  As usual, the concepts are very cool.  The basic premise of this one is there is a group of teens who invent a truth-telling machine.  But someone wants to stop the technology from getting out there.  As for the teens, they don't really understand the ramifications of "nothing but the truth" until it is too late.

So I have to admit that I like being honest.  I think lying is usually a waste of time and resources and I try not to do it.  But what if, for example, someone asks if their outfit looks okay and ye think it doesn't.  But they think they look hot.  So of course ye say that they look awesome because what ye think doesn't matter and ye don't want to hurt feelings.  Well with the truth-rings that would be impossible.  Me friends wouldn't care but an acquaintance?   It could get ugly.

Now the author raises a lot of difficult issues but doesn't address them in any satisfactory way.  Topics touched on - eating disorders, suicides, when someone thinks they be telling the truth but are mistaken, voyeurism, anxiety, cerebral palsy, vigilantism, greed, etc.  Most are used as plot points either as exposed secrets or unintended consequences for the teens to feel bad about.  But feeling bad about them was about as far as it went.  It didn't really seem to make the characters act any differently.

In fact pretty much all of the characters are extremely selfish and self-centered.  In the beginning most of them just wanted money.  I could sympathize.  But their idealism never really seemed to turn into true realism.  Plus unfortunately, the plot has some extreme plot holes and the ending was too convenient.  So the teens really didn't need to grow or change much based on those circumstances.

One of the good elements is that there were caring parents and teachers.  The teens do actually ask the parents for help.  That was a nice change for YA.  The bad parts were that almost all the adults that were involved were ex-military with PTSD or other issues.

Also the romance issues in this book were not to me taste.  The main narrator, Sam, has a crush that is so ridiculous it almost seems cringe-worthy.  The teens all seem to pair off with each other.  The dialogue and tension around the teen-lust was angsty and felt more like 5th graders then almost 18 year olds.  But perhaps I am just too much of a curmudgeon in me old age and can't sympathize with teenage hormones.  I was a very abnormal teen in that respect so me experience was not the mainstream one.

This book was a fast read and I did want to know how it ended.  I loved the concepts and will be pondering the ramifications for some time to come.  This is certainly not me favourite of his but I will continue to read anything he writes.

So lastly . . .

Thank you Random House Children's / Delacorte Press!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. This was a neat concept that fell flat. The story never really dove deep and just felt outlandish. Now the world-building was good. I just wish the story around it could've been entertaining. I found myself skimming out of the obligation to read and review since I won this in a goodreads giveaway. The love triangle left little to be desired and honestly got to the point where it annoyed me. And the body-shaming was frustrating. This is one where the execution was flawed, unfortunately.



I won this through goodreads in exchange for an honest review.

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this novel in exchange for a review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

"Be careful what you wish for, Gregorious the Great. Changing the world doesn't necessarily make it better."

Imagine a world where no one can tell lies and get away with it. Greedy politicians and business leaders caught red-handed. Criminals having no chance to get away with their crimes. Loved ones having to be honest with each other. For the teenagers in The Future Will Be BS-Free, this is their dream. It's a world where lies are stamped out and honesty leads the way.

Except this is only wishful thinking.

As the teenagers work on their Truth App, a device which can indicate when someone is lying and the degree in which he or she is lying, they soon discover that the world they dream isn't so simple. Rather than hold everyone accountable, the Truth App makes a chaotic post-apocalyptic world even more dangerous.

I am in love with the overall idea of this book. I think it is a brilliant commentary on how a utopian idea can easily turn disastrous. The idea of every person having to be truthful is fantastic. Imagine what life would be like if we were all completely honest with our intentions. Then again, think about what happens if we are all completely honest all of the time. Feelings hurt. Relationships ruined. Much like lying, the truth also weighs heavy on a person.

For me, I don't feel like this story went deep enough. It all felt very on the surface. The characters were distinguishable enough, but none of them were truly fleshed out. Some of them even seemed out of character. Hardened military veterans taking the advice of an inexperienced teenage boy just because he helped create the Truth App? I find it unlikely, to be honest. Especially someone like Beltrane, a warrior who takes no bull from anyone. I can't see her being okay with some of the orders given to her by Sam, our teenage protagonist.

The ending, to me, made little sense given the events throughout the entire novel. Without getting too spoiler-y, some aspects of it were far too convenient for the characters. Other parts just didn't seem to align with the world and society that was set up in the novel itself.

Overall, it was a quick read and it kept me interested. I only wish it had been a bit meatier when it came to delivering such a heavy and interesting plot.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re going to read The Future will be BS Free, it’s important to remember that our main character is a sexually frustrated teenage boy. He’s poor. His mother is disabled. The girl he loves (his best friend) doesn’t love him back. And the future seems to hold exactly nothing for him. You won’t always like the things Sam does (some of them are just awful), but you’ll eventually like *him* just fine.

Will McIntosh brings us a mix of near future SF and a coming of age story that resonates. Sam and his friends create something that will change the world. And, to be truthful, while some of Sam’s friends are thinking about the good of humanity, Sam is thinking about money. Money so they have heat and regular food. Money so they can live in place where the police won’t steal his money and bully him for being out after curfew. Money to get his mom new legs and maybe change their lives completely.

Their invention does change the world, but in ways maybe more horrible than wonderful. And suddenly, the consequences of their invention are deadly.

McIntosh forces the reader to confront their own secrets and to ask if truth is freeing or devastating. And the answer isn’t easy.

As for Sam, he finally grows up, but faces a lot of horrors doing so and he faces up to his past behavior.

I liked the book, but I’m not quite ready to confess all my secrets to the world…yet.

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

[Sean Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this, and it was just as good as I'd hoped. I got a Cory Doctorow, e c myers feel from it, and enjoyed it all the way through.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all have little white lies. In fact, in basic British/American culture, you are taught to tell them, to be polite. The baby is ugly, and you fawn over it. The dress is out of date, and doesnl’t flatter, and you find a nice thing to say about it. The hairstyle doesn’t suit the person who loves it, and you agree with them.

So, the basis of this book is to get rid of these lies, as well as the half-truths, the full on lies, and most importantly, the lies told by politicians. This is a dystopian future, where the US and the Russians have had a war, and lost a lot of cities and people. The current president has control of the news media, and the country is in ruins, not because of the war, but because of something the Russians did, after the war, taking over the backend of the banking system, and ruining the economy. So, Sam, and his friends, want to earn money, and decide to develop a device that will make people tell the truth.

It was a well written, believable story. I kept wondering where it was going to all end up, which is a good thing, a good sort of suspense to have. The tech was all beliebvable, as was the state of the country.

The teenagers seemed human, as did the adults. My only problem with the book, if it could be called a problem was how close we were to the type of politicians in this book, of the type of propaganda. Very chilling. I suppose the best dystopian stories are like that, believable, and too close to home.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam Gregarious and his friends Theo, Rebe, Boob (that's not a typo!), Basquiat, and Molly have created a lie detector from an old MRI machine in Rebe's garage. This lie detector is 100% accurate and all they have to do is figure out a way to build a portable prototype before someone else and reap the benefits in the failing economy.
The dystopian world Sam and his friends live in isn't too far-fetched: A war between the U.S. and Russia began after Russia led a cyberattack against American banks, causing another Great Depression. President Vitnik was re-elected to bring stability back to the devastated economy but all she's done is get Congress to lift the two-term presidential limit so she can remain in power and sell products with her name and face on them cheap and tax-free. Police exist to enforce a strict curfew but roam around more like gangs, taking what they want and looking the other way for the right bribe.
Sam is soon approached by the shady Xander Leaf about purchasing the lie detector for millions of dollars but the group decides against it. When a member of the group is found dead soon after, they have to figure out a way to stay alive and get their lie detector, known as the truth app, into the hands of as many people as possible.
On the run, Sam and his friends soon realize that the truth isn't as simple as they once thought. They want to bring down their corrupt government but their own lies threaten to divide them.
This YA dystopian novel moves at a fast pace and does a great job of making readers question our own morals and the impact of the lies that we tell.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

For more full reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com

[Vicky Again]

This wasn't too shabby, but there were definitely a few things I wish were executed a little better.

The concept is wild and whoever made the Phineas and Ferb episode comparison was honestly spot on.

The first part of the novel felt a lot like that--a group of really smart teens creating a lie-detector. But then it evolved into a little more chaotic, slightly darker sort of chaos than a regular P&F episode.

For me, it felt like this novel was divided into 3 parts: Phineas and Ferb episode of creating cool, somewhat outlandish technology; darker, on the run from the government who's trying to murder us; and the societal ramifications of a lie-detector becoming widely available.

This made it feel kind of segmented and I wish the overall storyline had a more arching plot. Like, because section 2 had so much action, the climax wasn't as climax-y as I wanted it to be. Overall, it makes sense how it fits together, but as I read the way the parts fit together felt a little clunky.

I loved the worldbuilding though, and it's quite eerie to think about the similarities between this futuristic world with a corrupt government and our own world. I think McIntosh did a really good job of working with that dystopian idea and how one small invention would change the world.

This whole concept is a lot of food for thought, and although McIntosh doesn't explore every single outlet for what might happen to America if everyone had lie-detectors, he does a decent job of showing us one possibility, as outrageous as it may seem when compared to today's society.

What I felt dragged this story down was frankly the characters. It's already kind of cliché with the whole group-of-genius-kids trope, but the characters felt too flat and two-dimensional for them to be anything except a cliché.

To illustrate my point: for around 90% of the book, I had no idea what the narrator's name was, and frankly didn't care. (After checking Goodreads, I learned that his name is Sam.)

Their whole group of genius friends just felt really flat and bland to me; I couldn't really relate to any of them and I felt like Sam was kind of a creeper with some of his actions?

(The one that I kind of liked was killed off so...)

I guess despite how much I enjoyed the book, it still felt a little outlandish and silly and I wish it took on more emotional weight rather than trying to make things less intense. I didn't really want a Phineas and Ferb episode from this book, I wanted something a little more serious and intense. It wasn't really a satire like Your Robot Dog Will Die by Arin Greenwood, but it still had some of that same atmosphere.

Overall, I think the idea and the plot is really great, but some of the execution just didn't do it for me. If you're looking for some dystopian food for thought feat. lie detectors, I'd say check it out, but otherwise, you might want to look for another read.

[Lindsi (Do You Dog-ear?) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

First of all, the synopsis is a little misleading. It did not feel like a "Putin-esque near-future", but they did mention Russia and cyberattacks a few times. If this was supposed to be satirical, it needed more oomph. For example, the president is super shady and tortures teens by bursting their eardrums with excessively loud music. She also asks civilians to take up arms and hunt down innocent people on their own. Those people felt empowered and easily justified their actions with no evidence. Oh, and she rhymes everything she says to the public, but I have absolutely no idea why. I don't even know if the characters noticed.

After about seventy percent, I started skimming through to the end. It just became a tad too ridiculous and unbelievable for me. The previously mentioned ear drums, the lack of adulting from parents and teachers (they just went along with teenage shenanigans and barely questioned anything), and the way everything just sort of fell into place made me lose interest in the story. I also have no idea how the president managed to stay in power.

I liked the concept for the story, and I was curious how their portable lie detector would work. However, even that is only vaguely explained. The reader is supposed to believe something is possible just because someone says it is, but I want the facts to back it up. If you want me to believe something, make me believe it with the writing. They somehow ended up with two rings and used facial recognition, but I have no idea how it worked. It's set in the future, so some of the technology they were using and referencing wasn't familiar to me.

I would have enjoyed more details about their initial escape, but that was over way too quickly. The characters body-shame themselves quite often, and even one of the adults makes fun of a girl for being overweight. The author mentions her being carried multiple times, and not because she's weak or tired. It's implied that she's slowing them down because she's too heavy and slow to keep up.

Some of the characters formed instant attachments to people, and in the end I just couldn't do it anymore. It's hard to explain exactly how I felt... there was just something off about the entire story. It didn't flow together or hold my attention, and I can't get lost in a book that I don't believe in.

[Heather Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a slow start, I really enjoyed this book. The message is very Fahrenheit 451/Animal Farm/1984 and seems terrifyingly possible as a near-future dystopia. The president controls everything, the gifted school is closed, the police act with impunity, and fake news reinforces it all. Sam and his friends just want to get rich - except for Theo, who wants to fix the world. So they invent a hand-held lie detector they call the Truth App, but before they can even produce more than a working prototype, Theo is murdered, and the rest of them are being watched and harassed. These teens grow from selfish kids into the leaders of a rebellion.

[Teenreadsdotcom · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a country where freedom of all kind is obliterated, and the head of state controls all aspects of every citizen’s lives, truth is hard to find. What if this could change, though?

In this dystopian vision of the American future, a group of teenagers band together to fight against unfair treatment from their government. This group, under the initial guidance of Theo, a child prodigy leading his group of childhood friends on a project, takes it upon themselves to create a machine that could end their repressive regime’s constant spewing of lies. To fight against this, they create a Truth App --- a machine that can instantly and successfully detect whether someone is being truthful.

Will McIntosh’s THE FUTURE WILL BE BS FREE, narrated by Sam, one of Theo’s friends and a co-creator of the Truth App, stunned me with its ingenuity both in its premise and storytelling. I never felt a dull or stagnant moment throughout this book, as there were constant developments both with the characters’ friendships and in the actual release of the revolutionary Truth App.

The world-building was impressive, highlighted by in-depth descriptions of the repressive government’s inner-workings and the characters’ interaction with their physical environment. One scene in particular where one of the main characters is caught breaking curfew marked me very early on as its shocking nature revealed much about the intolerance and rigidness of this dystopian future. Through the way in which people of authority treat regular citizens, readers will get a very clear idea of the dire conditions in which Sam and the rest of his community are forced to live in.

The character dynamics between the group of friends behind the Truth App was strange to get used to; at first, I wasn’t even sure why they were all even friends in the first place. After it was revealed that only the creator of the project, Theo, had an interest in creating a better world and that the others just wanted to earn some cash, their cold interactions began to make more sense. However, following a tragedy in their hometown, the creators of the Truth App find themselves without a choice but release their product as quickly as possible.

Battling pressure from big-money investors and government officials wanting to shut the project down, Sam finds a ragtag group of supporters from his community to help escort the Truth App outside his town, where he’s being pursued for his product, to get it mass-produced. It’s a thrill to read about how Sam manages to bring people together in the struggle to produce and distribute the machine to as many people as possible.

McIntosh’s skillful writing leads me to dwell on the way our government’s policies are impacting our lives and if it our current state will eventually deteriorate to the extent depicted in his novel. The most important takeaway from this book, though, is that people work better when they come together for the greater good and that people, no matter their age or origin, will always have a voice.

If you’re interested in a fast-paced, thought-provoking read, THE WORLD WILL BE BS FREE will likely be your fix.

Reviewed by Rachel D., Teen Board Member

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to take a chance on this book, the title alone gave me a reason to pause, as did the cover. I wasn't sure what I was in for when I requested it off of Netgalley, but I'm so glad that I did.

However, the main character, Sam is problematic, there are a few things he does that are perceived to be because he's "an angsty teenage boy" .
He is fatphobic:
"Rebe was overweight, but in the right places."

There are a couple of times where Rebe's weight is mentioned, and it's not exactly with the best of intentions. He overly sexualizes his friends, which was very weird to read about since, you know, they are his friends.
He also went on video chat with his friend, Molly, and watched her shower when she thought she had hung up the phone. He watched the entire thing, without any remorse at the time and he never told her about it. I feel like Sam could easily be one of those teens who believes himself to be entitled to women, just because he has been "a nice guy" to them.
I'm really hoping this is changed before the novel is published, but I doubt it will be changed.

Regardless of Sam, the novel overall was pretty good. I liked the concept, creating a truth app but perhaps, not seeing the consequences of it further down the line. The writing made it so that you were really drawn in and engaged with the world. I honestly would have given this novel a much higher rating, if it wasn't for Sam's problematic character.

I also appreciated the diversity in the novel, with Theo and the disabled veterans as characters.

I was given this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for letting me read this novel!

[drowningmermaid · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the concept of this book, but it felt very rough-drafty.

I thought the world-building was a little slip-shod, the scrapes they get into and out of very convenient, and the characterization . . . largely non-existent.

A lot of these YA thrillers start off strong for me then lose all steam by supplementing with ridiculousness at about the 40% mark. The part where I put this book down for-- let's see-- a year and a half was when they escape detection from the Evil Masterminds of Dystopia BYYY sneaking out the back door. That's right. The meddling kids escaped into . . . the back yard.

This book brushes up against some REALLY profound ideas about the nature of truth, the necessity of honesty, the potential benefits of lies as part of complex human societal organization, the nature of what constitutes honesty . . . and then proceeds to go absolutely nowhere with them. (ETA: I recant this. It fails to explore fully the nature of honesty and deception but the later part of the book has an apocalyptic vision of truth-telling so I was wrong.) All the good characters are good. All the bad characters are bad (or misguided!) All the obstacles are easily, cheaply, and immediately overcome -- including but not limited to-- attending a presidential rally while on the FBI's Most Wanted list, escaping multiple manhunts, contacting felons to crowdfund free lie-detection. Exactly none of this results in any plot twists, surprises, or losses, or really any emotions at all.

It revolves solidly around contemporary events-- Russia! Elections! Lying Politicians!-- which is both it's main selling point and its fatal flaw. It’s hard not to to see this lie detector as a metaphor for Facebook and social media, and it’s hard not to point out that a certain Orange Menace would probably get a pass from this device surprisingly often— what does it do if someone genuinely is too stupid not to realize they are incompetent?

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more, but it felt disjointed and disorganized to me. The main character wants to be unlikable, but there's so much about him that's trying too hard and hoping for approval that he just comes off as an annoying pain in the neck. The plot seemed really intriguing, but the climax and resolution tied up way too quickly and neatly, and the trouble that the characters had to go through (running for their lives--which didn't seem to bring much hardship--and the death of one of the characters) either wasn't described well enough to sound difficult, or they were incredibly lucky and didn't have many consequences for their actions. This felt like a story that was written as an homage to the current moment in our culture, but it mostly felt like pandering to me. It did bring up some interesting questions about trust, honesty, and loyalty, but it just wasn't for me.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.

I liked this book. A lot. As it sort of lines up with the current climate of the world, I thought it was an interesting read.

The story follows Sam and his friends as they work on a Truth App, a device used to. well, see if someone is lying. But they soon learn that the truth isn't so simple and sets off a turn of events that they never imagined. I think that is what I really loved about it, that we see them make these disastrous mistakes and suffer the consequences. This book was raw and touched about subjects like suicides and eating disorders, subjects more shy away from..

I did wish I liked the characters a bit more. They did seem a tad selfish and didn't really change much so it's a good thing that had adults there to aid them. I wasn't a fan of the ending, but overall the book was fast paced and interesting. I look forward to what else Will has to offer in the future.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Netgalley book.
This book was just okay for me. The character I liked the best was killed off early in the book. Sam is 17 and seems to be the leader of the group. He does and says some things that are offensive, however he is quite immature at the start of the book. The setting is a future where the economy has collapsed. The government and most law officials are corrupt, it really isn't totally unrealistic. Sam and his group of friends come up with an idea for a portable lie detector and with each of them being super smart and having there own skill to pull it off, they manage to do it. The government finds out and tries to buy them out. The group declines and that's why Theo was killed, he was a warning to the kids that they needed to sell.
This book is about a boy coming of age. A community coming together to take down a corrupt government. Making a new life.
The story was okay, as soon as I was done with this one it was forgotten.

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should have ended about 100 pages sooner.

[Exan Gutierrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally I was going to write this as a comment, to Rachael, because of her strong dislike of the book when getting to the part of the MC creepely stalking his crush take a shower. This happened after a videocall was (accidentally) not hung up, he muted himself, and kept watching as his crush went on with her day including taking a shower.

This is one of those things men and women handle really differently. But I'll talk about it as something that could happen to my mom, sister or daughter, instead of a simple "boyz will be boyz" ridiculous defense.

There is this other book where you are in the head of an assholish main character with some serious mental issues. You don't have to like him, or how he thinks. But the book is great. (Prince Of Thorns, if you are wondering).

Maybe you have a personal reason to have a strong dislike for any character who does something like what Sam did here, but it's kind of important further ahead when they realize what they are unleashing unto the world and can't even use it themselves precisely because of the secrets they keep. Secrets that shouldn't have to exist.

Maybe you wouldn't like the ending either, taking in account your strong reaction to Sam oggling his crush. But that behavior is exactly what goes through the head of an hormone filled teenage boy. I'm not defending the reaction; I'm saying it exists. And at least in this book, is portrayed as something that shouldn't be done.

It would take some amazing maturity and strenght of character to avoid watching your crush getting nude. It would require someone like Theo. But the book is not about the character who would have done the right thing. It's about the ones who keep secrets.

So please, unless the voyeurism is a specific trigger for you, as it seems it was for this reviewer, give the book a chance. And if you can think of a better way to handle the relationship betwee MC and his crush... then write about it. That's how you fix problems. Providing solutions. But don't diss the book only because you don't like the way the MC handles his crush. It's badly handled, I accept that. But it's something that does happen in the real world, and is part of the problems that, in this book's universe, can be fixed with their little lie detector.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Future Will Be BS Free by Will McIntosh, 332 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House Children’s Books), 2018. $18.

Language: R (107 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Seventeen-year-old Sam and his buddies have a product that’s going to make them all rich, as soon they can get a prototype together. Their portable, infallible lie detector is going to change the world. They aren’t wrong, but it comes at a greater price than they expected.

I enjoyed reading this story set in a futuristic America for a few reasons. First of all, Sam’s story includes a lot of action as he and his friends are forced to flee several times before facing the main antagonist, and the excitement of it all makes it easy to stay engaged. But another reason was more alluring: pondering the repercussions of everyone knowing the truth all the time. Sam and his friends run into several unintended consequences of their invention, and the thought experiment it gives to readers was my favorite part. I wonder which of Sam’s friends I most relate to and why; I wonder what this invention might do to our modern-day America. Do you want a world where everyone has to be honest? The mature content rating is for nudity and a peeping tom incident, innuendo, and mentions of sex; the violence rating is for theft, torture, gun violence, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...

[chelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit boek had een zeer sterk verhaal en een goede opbouw van spanning. Een ding is zeker, wanneer je dit boek uit hebt wil je meteen verder in deel 2. Ik gaf dit boek dan ook 4 sterren.
Recensie 27 maart op Leesmeemetmij

[Allen Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/the...

If you’re looking to read some YA genre fiction, you’ve got plenty of options. You can’t swing a cat in a bookstore without hitting half-a-dozen sci-fi/fantasy/whatever books aimed at younger readers. If you’re looking to read some GOOD YA genre fiction, well … you’re going to need to put the cat down.

The point is that there’s a glut of content out there, so don’t be afraid to shape your expectations accordingly. Look for something that speaks to you - whether it’s an author or a plot or a theme or an idea - and take a swing.

Will McIntosh’s “The Future Will Be BS Free” promises something that feels a little different. It’s the story of a near-future America under the sway of a despotic and corrupt President, one in which the truth has become so malleable and subjective as to be almost meaningless as a concept. Into this America, a group of gifted teens attempts to bring a beacon – an unfailingly accurate and foolproof lie detector. But their initial dreams of societal (not to mention financial) gain soon fall by the wayside as they discover that there are plenty of people out there with little interest in the truth.

The local gifted and talented program has just been eliminated, leaving 17-year-old Sam and his friends with plenty of time on their hands. They decide to undertake an independent project – a lie detector. Under the guidance of Theo – the true genius of the group – the device slowly begins to materialize. The others - Boob and Basquiat, Molly and Rebe – all bring their own talents to the table, but it’s Sam who’s more or less the leader.

It doesn’t take long for things to get out of control, however. When the group develops a working prototype, they decide to test it out on themselves. They quickly discover that a veneer of gentle dishonesty has long been a significant contributor to functioning interpersonal dynamics. Some dark and sad secrets are dragged into the light. Plus, some shady character has popped out of the woodwork with a not-insubstantial offer to buy their work … along with some thinly-veiled threats with regards to what happens if they refuse.

Suddenly, Sam and his friends are swept up into intrigue that reaches all the way to the White House. The world isn’t ready for the repercussions of total honesty; their lie detector threatens the very fabric of their society as it is constructed. The consequences are potentially dire, leaving the group struggling to save themselves from the many forces mustering against them.

“The Future Will Be BS Free” succeeds on the strengths of its ideas. It’s a hell of a notion for a story – particularly during a time when our understanding of truth appears to be evolving. The thought of a world in which no one can lie does seem appealing on its surface, but McIntosh digs a little deeper and illustrates the unanticipated issues that might arise from such a device. It’s a paradigm that isn’t just shifted, but shattered.

And the world into which this lie detector is born is a fascinating one; McIntosh has given us a portrait of a society that has been broken down by the manipulation of truth and unfettered corruption. There’s a heft to the circumstances – both general and specific – in which these kids find themselves.

The book is not without its flaws, however. The characterizations are a bit thin and the motivations that drive them can be a little murky. Our protagonist Sam is the most fully fleshed-out of the bunch, but even he sometimes feels more like the concept of a teenage boy rather than an actual person. The rest of the kids are largely defined through their relationship with Sam, which is OK – he is the main character, after all – but I found myself wanting just a bit more of a sense of agency from the supporting cast. The resulting flatness slightly undermines the narrative’s overall impact.

Minor issues aside, the book’s successes far outstrip its relatively few missteps. “The Future Will Be BS Free” offers readers a look at a compelling world and an exploration of what might happen if we were to be granted something that we think we want. McIntosh allows his adventure to unspool with a delicious deliberateness, packing each page with details that make for a rich world that is both relatable and repulsive. There’s a challenge at its core that many readers will likely find quite engaging; it’s a smart and thoughtful book in many ways.

You know what they say: the truth hurts.

[Leelynn (Sometimes Leelynn Reads) ❤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Powerful people aren’t smarter or more capable than the rest of us; they’re just more willing to lie, cheat, steal, even kill.”

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

One of the scariest things about this book is that it doesn't feel too far off from what I think America will be like, but that's besides the point.

McIntosh brings a version of the United States to life in this book, where the country is so devastated financially that even high schools are shut down because they lack funding. Once the funding is gone, the students aren't allowed to come back, and the teachers are quickly displaced. People are homeless in the hundreds, trying to survive in a place where there is barely anything to work for. It's a nightmare, and it seems like it's thanks to their current President. For one, President Vitnik had no political experience prior to being elected (sound familiar?) and has convinced the Legislature to get rid of the two term limit enforced after FDR held a record four-term Presidency. Now the county is in the hands of this president that has monopolized on the country's lack of resources by being one of its main suppliers - literally everything has her face and name - while the country continues to suffer.

In comes Sam Gregorious - lovely name - and his five friends that now have a lot more free time on their hands to invent a lie detector that doesn't rely on someone's heart rate, but is 100% more reliable than anything we have ever seen before. Dubbed the "Truth App", Sam and his team started off their journey to create the truth app to make a boat load of money and get their families out of poverty, while Theo wants to create a "bullshit-free world" where corruption will fall and the honest will rise. Theo was the only one that saw their invention as something more than an instant cash cow, and of course he was the one that was murdered by those that sought to shut their invention down. FYI, that's not a spoiler since it's in the synopsis, but it still sucks.

Throughout the entire journey, the book moved way too fast for me. Not one that made me want to find out what happened next, but one where I was always wondering why a chapter ended the way it did, or started the way it did. It didn't seem cohesive, but I could at least follow what was happening. Scenes jumped so quickly that you were left wondering what happened in the middle - or why it seems like those specific scenes were deemed important.

It was also difficult to sympathize with Sam, or wonder why he was the one that was "in charge" of this whole thing. Theo truly was the brains, and throughout the book I didn't see what made Sam the leader, if he ever was one. He was the scapegoat, the one that the others chose to blame when "shit hit the fan" and all other disastrous events took place, but did they really show him respect at all? Not really. Was it just because Theo was murdered and they had nobody else to fall behind? He didn't seem like the type that his friends really rallied behind at all. Not to mention he seemed completely obsessed with Molly, his crush since forever that didn't like him back, and that seemed to have gotten in the way of a good storytelling. There was a love triangle for no reason, and the only reason why it had any merit was because it fractured the dynamic of the group for such a ridiculous reason. It was not needed, but teen boys seem to be girl-centric when the world is going up in flames.

I think this would have probably made an interesting TV movie, or movie in general, and while I liked the concept of the story, I felt like it could have been explored more. The ending was nice, and I'm glad things will hopefully start to work out again for the United States, but maybe having more of what happened before, and why Vitnik did what she did could be some bonus content for us to feel better about this story.

[Seth Wegner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book. I wanted a bit of downtime, something to take my mind off of the current fuckery that is happening in this once great nation, so what better than a horrid dystopian future of America!

Yeah, so my distraction is different than yours, whatever. We all gotta grab at whatever we can, right?

That is really what this book is about, trying to grab onto what you can and make it yours. Try to create a safe space for yourself, your family and your friends. This time, instead of working against other people, you are working against an authoritarian government that is just waiting for any and all excuses to punish the people who stand out in any way.

It was the little things that really got to me, that resonated because I've had my own strange changes that have happened with this new Trump regime, sorry, real life keeps intruding.

But that is why this book is so impressive. I have had a really hard time reading anything but news. It's a new experience for me. Reading has been my hobby and my refuge. I read when my dear grandma was overcome with Alzheimers, when I struggled with post partum anxiety and when I have migraines that keep me awake for days at a time.

But since Trump was elected I have read just ten books!

So, anyway, back to this book. Like I said it's the little bits of life that have changed that is so disturbing, like the curfew and the homeless camps, for the main characters this is as normal as farmer's markets and taco trucks are to me. Just normal things to see and deal with.

The little infights between the members of the team were hella real to me too. I've had a lot more tension with friends, the ones who seem okay with ignoring how much things are changing.

Of course the real flaw with this book is that in the real world our elected officials lie with impunity. Even after being caught in a lie, others are ready to step up and deny the lies, claim the lie doesn't matter and then end with they can lie if they want, deal with it, snowflakes.

Anyways, this book is a little more upbeat than Little Brother by Doctorow, but it points out just as many problems with a society that has surrendered to whoever yells the loudest and claims legitimacy.

[Kimberley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced eGalley of "The Future Will Be BS Free" by Will McIntosh.

New City is under the watchful eye of a corrupt government, after a Russian cyber attack crashes its economic system. In the wake of this disaster, six friends, with a gift for the technological, decide to use their free time to develop a "truth app": a fool-proof lie-detector that will hopefully make them millionaires.

After a test run reveals how accurate the truth app is, the group is surprised to discover some very important people want it for themselves. However, the group is keen on cashing in on their hard work, and ignore what they consider a paltry "offer" to sell.

It's not until one of them is killed, and the group is forced to run for their collective lives, that they're able to come to grips with the real truth: they're created something someone is willing to kill them over.

This wasn't a tough world to imagine, honestly. If anything, it felt frighteningly close to reality--not unlike the "Handmaid's Tale"--and I was able to drop right into the environment McIntosh created with no trouble at all. 

That said, Sam (the main protagonist) was problematic as a main character because he was either being a complete pig, or a mindless idiot, and he wasn't very likable in general. 

Even so, the supporting cast is what keeps you vested in the outcome of the story. My personal fave was Mr. Chambliss (the group's former teacher).  His presence, as a stabilizing figure for the group--particularly once they were on the run--held the story together nicely. 

I was less enthused by the need to include the love triangle. Sam's best friend, Basquiat, is dating the girl Sam loves (Molly). Sam still loves Molly, and both Molly and Basquiat are aware of those feelings. However, Sam is forced to witness their coupling in the most painful of ways, at times. 

That said, with some of the ways Sam acts, you can't even feel sorry for him (see: "problematic"). 

Either way, the triangle could've been omitted completely. No one would miss it. 

Honestly, there were quite a few chapters where it felt like McIntosh needed filler, so he made sure to expand upon mundane, and that was a bit aggravating; but, on the whole, it was a decent read with a message I could understand and relate to quite easily.

[Alexander Highfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Future Will Be B-S Free was a largely enjoyable read: well-paced and genuinely thrilling at times. Its parallels with contemporary start-up culture, social media and populist politics feel apt and not patronisingly obvious. Despite these strengths, however, the novel clings to the worn-out trope of the ‘friend-zoned’ teenage boy to provide its romantic story arc. This not only turned me off the whole story but felt strangely out of place in a novel which, otherwise, felt relatively in tune with progressive youth culture.

The story follows a group of seventeen year olds living in a dystopian United States who produce a lie detector which is both portable and completely accurate. After they refuse to sell the rights to a mysterious buyer things begin to turn violent and the group becomes more determined than ever to bring their invention to the world. As they’re running for their lives, they soon realise that a truthful society isn’t necessarily utopian and are forced to confront the question: can a lie be more helpful than the truth?

The plot, though outlandish, felt believable in the dystopian world which McIntosh has deftly created. The main characters were, by and large, interesting and likeable. They also had a believable teenage energy which I think would be appealing to a YA audience: a scene in which the group, on realising the magnitude of their invention, use it instead to determine who out of them have lost their virginity was very funny. The chapters were short and punchy – I can imagine people getting through this novel very quickly.

While it felt refreshing in many aspects - plenty of strong female and racially diverse characters - this made the romantic arc in which the narrator, Sam, pines over his best friend Molly all the more frustrating. This romantic subplot felt tired and unnecessary and was, frankly, quite creepy at times – Sam essentially spies on Molly showering via video-call, with very little retribution. I notice that this element of the novel has been unpopular with other goodreads users.

There were really enjoyable elements to the novel but, for me, it's not worth the banal 'friend-zone' subplot.

[Lizz Axnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not really a big fan of sci fi dystopian novels, but I was intrigued by the premise of this book. What if you had a BS-proof way to tell if someone is lying to you? Would this be such a good thing? Obviously the subject matter makes a direct jab at our current political situation, which makes this book something to ponder (I personally found this scary).

I agree with another reviewer about the plot holes. I too wondered how these kids could make off with an MRI machine and store it in someone's garage. The author sort of gives a short explanation but there are other things to consider... such as MRI machines are huge, they usually require removal of a wall to install because they are huge and they are very dangerous to mess with if you don't know what you're doing. The one in particular at a clinic where I worked used to make this incredibly obnoxious chirping sound you could hear all over the building, even when it wasn't being used. We were told if that chirping sound ever stopped we would have to evacuate the building. Since sci fi is about expending disbelief, I suppose I shouldn't think too much about it.

I really liked this book, it kept the pages turning. I wanted to know what happened. Truth can be a good thing and a bad thing and I like that the author explored this. One of my biggest problems, which is a really small part of the book, but it is bugging me is where Molly is on the beach and two stray dogs approach looking for food. She feeds them raisins and they go on their merry way. Raisins are bad for dogs. Grapes are very bad for dogs, raisins are dried grapes, therefore raisins are bad for dogs. I wish they would take that part out or change the raisins to something dogs can eat.

All in all, I hope this is not a bleak picture of what the future holds for the world.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a future that might be a lot closer than we think, Sam Gregorious and his gifted friends have too much time on their hands now that their gifted and talented high school no longer exists. They've been working on a special project for the best five months--a portable lie detector that could spell financial success and soft lives for the teens. As they get closer to finishing it, Sam is approached by a shady character who wants to buy the rights to the plans. But he and his friends are fearful that the lie detector will simply be destroyed or misused, a concern that is heightened after his friend, Theo, the brains behind the project, is killed. Along with his mother, a veteran who has lost both legs, and some other surprising allies, the teens must outrun government officials, the military, and the President of the United States to save their own lives and to keep their invention from disappearing. The book's pace is fast and furious even while it explores questions of honesty and how powerful individuals often manipulate the truth to get what they want. But as Sam and the others come to realize, some truths are harmful and some lies might actually be kind. I loved the first two thirds of the book, but became slightly bored once Sam and his friends had managed to make several copies of the lie detector, and everything in the government started falling apart. I'd have enjoyed the book more with more back story for what led to the nation's current conditions as depicted in the story line. That aspect of this story seemed quite promising to me, but the author didn't deliver what I hoped he would in that respect.

[Bunny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This author had a really badass idea. In a not-so-distant future, the world is in a fairly dreadful place. Russia has committed an act of cyber terrorism, plunging America's economy into serious Depression. Funding for education and roadways has ceased, police are corrupt, the government is run by a President whose personal brand is plastered all over everything.

Thank god nothing like that could ever possibly happen.

In the midst all of this, a group of extremely smart teenagers figure out how to build a fool-proof lie detector. Big Brother catches wind of this, and all hell breaks loose.

Please note, all of this happens within the first 20% of this book. Seems like a lot of information to cram into that much of the book, doesn't it?

Because it is.

We fall into this story right in the middle, then someone hits the 2x button so that we're watching everything so quickly, we can't be bothered for exposition. We're told what's happening and questioning it is unnecessary, because we're just led through as quickly as possible.

This is such a cool idea, but the execution is fairly terrible. Sam, our main character, is kind of a dick. The rest of his friends aren't too bad, his mother is essentially a badass cyborg soldier and the bad guys are black hat wearing, mustache twirling, no gray area having villains.

Such a good idea. Needed a lot more rough drafts.