Prepped by Bethany Mangle

Dec 13, 2020 Emer (A Little Haze) rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, reviewed, 2stars, read2020, netgalley, contemporary

Prepped is certainly a unique read thematically. It follows the story of Becca Aldaine whose family are doomsday preppers. But Becca wants nothing to do with them. She feels trapped. All she wants is a normal existence away from her family and their dangerous trials that they subject her to. They have her future mapped out for her including what boy she should marry, fellow teenage doomsday prepper Roy, and what job she should have. But Becca’s dream is to go to university and live life on her t ...more

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Jan 20, 2021 CW (The Quiet Pond) ✨ rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, humour-comedy, arc, diverse-shelf, contemporary, 2021, year-of-the-asian-reading-2021, realistic-fiction

This is probably the most unique book I've ever read - doomsday community, where family shouldn't always come first, a teen trying to escape the ludicrousy of her life.

- Follows Becca, a white-American teen whose family is part of a doomsday community, and desperately wants to escape, especially when things start to get serious when tragedy strikes.
- This book explores doomsday communities. I have to admit, I don't know much about them, but it was interesting to imagine how they may function, t ...more

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Jan 17, 2021 Evelina | AvalinahsBooks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-or-review-copies, young-adult, fiction, family, hardship, books-of-2021, human-relationships

How I read this: Free ebook copy received from publicist

This book was so good!!! I don’t even know where to start. I wish I could write a better review for Prepped – cause it was amazing and it deserves it. But all I have is this bundle of emotion in my heart after finishing it, and I can’t translate it into words! It was so MUCH, and it was about so many things – abusive households, fanaticism, people not caring – but also love, caring for your close ones, fighting for your future, belief in th ...more

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Jan 27, 2021 Jess rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021

PREPPED is an intense book that stuck with me long after I turned the last page. Thank you to Books Forward PR and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you’re looking for a fast-paced contemporary YA book that has you on the edge of your seat, I’d highly recommend this. It’s also a satisfying and unexpected book with moral dilemmas within.

Our main character Becca Aldridge has grown up in a doomsday prepper community. She attends your average suburban high school, but ...more

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Jan 13, 2021 Maureen rated it really liked it

This was a great YA book! Funny at times, but also quite heartbreaking.

Becca and Roy are about to graduate from high school, they've got their whole lives ahead of them. But they've grown up in a community of doomsday preppers and they have no say in their future. So what do they do? Plan to run away, of course! I really liked these two characters and their relationship. Their lives were anything but ordinary, and yet they still had very ordinary teenage feelings and emotions. It was fun to see ...more

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Nov 28, 2020 Thindbooks rated it really liked it · review of another edition

*this earc was given to me by the author to give an honest review in return*

I enjoyed reading this book. It’s about Becca who is stuck with her parents that are doomsday preppers meaning they do different drills everyday for the future. Becca is sick of it and wants to leave her home until her father has an accident which means she can’t leave her little sister alone at home. This was a very interesting book and I haven’t read anything like this. The author’s writing was well done and of course ...more

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Nov 29, 2020 Jill Williamson rated it it was amazing

Prepped by Bethany Mangle tells the story of a girl named Becca who has grown up in a community of doomsday preppers. Her father, her mother, and their entire neighborhood pride themselves on prioritizing survivalist training over anything else. They’ve even arranged Becca’s marriage to her neighbor Roy Kang. The thing is, Becca wants out. She wants to go to college and study physics. When Roy suggests they run away together, Becca wants to leave, but she can't leave her sister behind to be brai ...more

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Jan 28, 2021 Samantha (WLABB) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, read2021, arcs, diverse, romance, ya, ntm2021

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Becca was a third generation doomsday prepper, who was determined to escape this life. She had a plan and all the pieces were falling into place, but after tragedy strikes, would she be able to leave her little sister behind?

This book was wild! That's the best way I can think to describe it. If I wasn't laughing, I was shaking my head in disbelief or trying to calm my racing heart. I found myself throughly entertained and engrossed in this story from beginning to end as I exper Rating: 4.5 Stars

Becca was a third generation doomsday prepper, who was determined to escape this life. She had a plan and all the pieces were falling into place, but after tragedy strikes, would she be able to leave her little sister behind?

This book was wild! That's the best way I can think to describe it. If I wasn't laughing, I was shaking my head in disbelief or trying to calm my racing heart. I found myself throughly entertained and engrossed in this story from beginning to end as I experienced Becca's life.

I am well aware that people actually live like this, but I never really took the time to learn much about the doomsday lifestyle. Mangle did an incredible job bringing me into their world. I watched drills, learned about their daily routines, and had a lot of the hows and whys explained throughout the story. I felt fully immersed in the world, and I thanked my lucky stars that I was not raised by preppers.

It was somewhat surprising how gentle and loving Becca could be given her upbringing. She was not raised in a warm and fuzzy home, but I suppose her mixing with the outside world via public school gave her a peek at how the other half lived. She had a wonderful relationship with her younger sister, but a very complicated one with her parents. Her struggle, especially with the love she had for her father, was explored as Becca tried to come to terms with walking away from her family and her community.

Mangle deftly balanced the heavy and the light in this story. There was tragedy, pitfalls, punishments, and dire straits, but it was infused with a bit of romance, fun moments, and humor. I appreciated how well she meshed all these elements together without diluting the story.

Prepped wasn't what expected. It was better! It was amusing and touching, while also being heartbreaking and appalling. I found Becca to be such a compelling character, and I was rooting so hard for her as she attempted to blaze her own trail and escape this life that was chosen for her. I think you will love rooting for her too.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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Nov 15, 2020 Lillie Lainoff rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

*ARC Review*
It's been a long, long time since I've read a book in one sitting... but I devoured Prepped over the course of one late morning/early afternoon! The story moves at a quick pace, the voice is strong, and, above all, I absolutely adored the depiction of the lengths a sister will go to for her younger sibling. ...more

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Jan 25, 2021 USOM rated it really liked it

(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

I need to read more survivalist stories because not only is it intriguing for me, but I find the conflict between preparation and life fascinating. The ways it tries to prepare for all outcomes, to teach skills we might need, and, in some aspects, the fears it stokes. The ways we see danger and risk in daily situations, fear in the 'simple' things. Where Prepped excels is creating th ...more

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Jan 27, 2021 Reading Our Shelves rated it it was amazing

Shelves: angie-s-shelf

Full review at: https://readingourshelves.com/2021/01...

I was not prepared for how poignant, tense, and frustrating this novel was going to be! The kids in this community literally exist to keep the species going, and calling the parents “detached” would be an understatement.

Thankfully, this story is fictional. But, like any good piece of fiction, the emotions it brings up are very real.

The heroine here is Becca Adlaine, whose parents run the aforementioned prepper community. She is a high schoo Full review at: https://readingourshelves.com/2021/01...

I was not prepared for how poignant, tense, and frustrating this novel was going to be! The kids in this community literally exist to keep the species going, and calling the parents “detached” would be an understatement.

Thankfully, this story is fictional. But, like any good piece of fiction, the emotions it brings up are very real.

The heroine here is Becca Adlaine, whose parents run the aforementioned prepper community. She is a high school senior, and has every intention of leaving as soon as she can… but, she also has a younger sister. A lot of the story focuses on this relationship, and Becca worrying about whether she can leave her sister behind or try to save her.

There are also logistical issues with running away – like how to get away, how to make money to live on, etc.

The Adlaines picked out Becca’s future husband for her already – a boy in her grade named Roy Kang. His family is newer to the community, and they are Korean American, so this will diversify the gene pool. Becca is less than enthused, for obvious reasons. It also irks her that Roy seems to go along with all the training drills and such with no complaints. While she may not like Roy romantically, she is comfortable with him – he’s one of the only people who understands her upbringing, and they have a long history of shared experiences.

All that changes when Roy reveals that he doesn’t believe in this prepper stuff, either. He just goes along to get along with his parents. Now, with two of them, there’s a better chance that they can make a plan that will work.

Becca (and Roy) have a few other allies: one is another student in their grade, Sydney, who is not a part of the prepper community. Another is one of Becca’s teachers, Mrs. Garcia. While these two characters do not know all of what Becca is going through, she confides bits and parts to them as needed, and they both protect her secrets and help when they can.

The book is being released on February 23rd, 2021. I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy through the Books Forward program and NetGalley. ...more

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Feb 25, 2021 E.J. Dawson rated it it was amazing

There’s being prepared for the end of the world, and then there’s being prepared for the end of your world.
Becca’s cynical resistance to her parents brainwashing doomsday philosophy strolls right past parental resentment into a full blown secret plan to flee to college on a scholarship and leave it all behind. But she can’t. Not when her Dad has an accident that leaves him in a coma, her mother doesn’t seem to care, and her little sister Katie starts to believe in the fear.
Becca’s plans for the There’s being prepared for the end of the world, and then there’s being prepared for the end of your world.
Becca’s cynical resistance to her parents brainwashing doomsday philosophy strolls right past parental resentment into a full blown secret plan to flee to college on a scholarship and leave it all behind. But she can’t. Not when her Dad has an accident that leaves him in a coma, her mother doesn’t seem to care, and her little sister Katie starts to believe in the fear.
Becca’s plans for the future wither away all alongside Roy, a boy she’s been genetically matched to marry and continue the line of preppers. But a part of Becca’s assumption comes completely undone when the dopey boy next door turns out he doesn’t believe, and he truly loves her.
Discovering allies in each other, they’ll fight not only for their freedom, but each other’s happiness. But when the doomsday prepper community already has their lives planned out, how on earth will they escape?
I loved Becca’s constant pragmatism and resourcefulness, and not because it was how she was raised, but who she was as a person. Evading core beliefs around family is hard and this story felt very much like Becca was in a cult, but they didn’t have a conventional god, their god is fear. It doesn’t stop her grit, determination, or power to do what must be done.
Sling along side it Roy, the guy Becca’s pretending to love, except not only is he lying to everyone about his disbelief, including Becca, he’s not lying when he says he loves her. When the two start to realize neither of them want to be doomsdayers, its tainted by the fact that Roy loves Becca, but she doesn’t love him back.
This story tugged on my heart strings, as much as we want to say we’re prepared for the future sometimes we just aren’t. Sometimes it takes ingenuity, resourcefulness, and determination just to get through a day, let alone the struggles that life can bring. I thoroughly admired these characters and the small window into their constricted lives, Mangle makes their journey emotional, touching, and laugh out loud funny, even when things are looking at their grimmest.
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Dec 15, 2020 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it it was amazing

The cover of this book is what initially caught my eye. It looks like the cover of an old instruction training manual. The bright orange colour will certainly make it stand out on a book store shelf.

This book is about preppers, but not in an actual catastrophic situation. This is a group of people who believe the end is coming and they are preparing for any and every eventuality. Their motto is "Always be ready for the worst day of your life". The leader of the prepping community that all live i The cover of this book is what initially caught my eye. It looks like the cover of an old instruction training manual. The bright orange colour will certainly make it stand out on a book store shelf.

This book is about preppers, but not in an actual catastrophic situation. This is a group of people who believe the end is coming and they are preparing for any and every eventuality. Their motto is "Always be ready for the worst day of your life". The leader of the prepping community that all live in the same small neighbourhood is George Aldaine. The group is a mixture of families and adults. The adults concoct all different disaster scenarios, they then set them up and practice dealing and overcoming these situations. It is during one of these set up problems that we are introduced to the main character Becca, who is the eldest daughter of George Aldaine. Katie or Katie Cat as Becca calls her younger sister is just ten years old. Karen Aldaine is their mother and works as a nurse, so she brings her knowledge for the first aid parts of the prepping activities.

The book is centred around Becca Aldaine and Roy Kang, the boy her parents have chosen to be her future husband. They have chosen Roy as the choice is rather limited within their community, or “cult” as outsiders see it. Becca is viewed as odd because she doesn’t have the freedoms or thing the other kids at school have. In her own community she is considered odd for going to normal school, as some of the prepping community insist on home schooling their children. A match between Roy and Becca will also keep a good, diverse genetic pool. Becca and Roy have very little to do with decision, though Roy seems keen on Becca. Becca just accepts this marriage will happen, though wonders which Bunker they will live in once married. These preppers are so prepared they have a set of bunkers for their communities.
Some of the preppers are more hardcore than others. Becca and Roy are the youngest children to be allowed to take part in the act out disaster scenarios. Some of the other families want the age to be lowered to allow their younger children to take part.

Becca is a good, hard working student at school and one of her teachers helps her fill in a form to apply for a scholarship. The only thing worrying Becca is who will protect her sister Katie from the harsher prepper practices. Becca thinks she alone in her need to leave this life behind, but Roy confesses he is tired of all the trials and drills they have to take part in. Becca and Roy work out a plan and though she doesn’t want to leave Katie behind, she knows she cannot legally take her with them, so she sets about making a plan to bring the unusual practices and lifestyle of the preppers to the attention of social service. Becca even lines someone up who will step in to care for her sister Katie until she is old enough to make up her own mind about what to do in life.

My favourite character was Becca, she goes along with the scenarios her parents set up for her to be part of despite many of them being very dangerous and making her feel pain as well as embarrassment. Becca has been forced to be grown up so soon, she takes care of her sister and basically does the majority of the chores and house running whilst her mum goes to work, then comes home and slumps into bed. I adored how caring Becca was, so protective of her younger sister, sheltering her from the harsh realities of the prepping community. Even when she has an escape plan in place for herself, she still holds back until she has something in place for her sister.

The characters that irritated me a lot were George and Karen Aldaine, they seem oblivious to their eldest daughters, discomfort and at times even her existence. They had no qualms at piling more household duties on her, not allowing her to do her homework. There is one incident where Becca has to spend the night in her family bunker. It’s not a one off, occurrence either as she has a system in place for her sister to drop her school work and supplies out of her bedroom window so she can at least do her homework. To do her homework in the bunker, Becca has to use a cycle to build up enough energy to power the light in the bunker so she can do her homework! When the family is struck by a tragic accident, Karen Aldaine sinks deeper and deeper into the prepping way of life whilst working her job at the hospital and piling even more work on the shoulders of her elder daughter. Karen keeps important information from Becca and deprives her of a last goodbye.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing this book were that the insight into the world of fanatical doomsday preppers and their children. Interesting, pulls on the heart strings, so believable.

Summing up I really enjoyed reading this book, it felt different, a refreshing idea and view point on a prepping community, as well as being a coming-of-age story too. The book was really interesting and had great attention to detail about the prepping lifestyle and the bunkers featured in the story too. I know this book is aimed at the teen age group but I have to say as an adult I really did appreciate and enjoy this well written story.
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Feb 23, 2021 Jessica rated it really liked it

Always be ready for the worst day of your life is the mantra that Becca Aldaine has grown up with. Her family are the leaders of a community of doomsday preppers in an exclusive neighborhood that prioritizes survivalist training over the norms of everyday school life, like class trips and senior prom. They’ve gone so far as to arrange Becca’s future marriage with Roy Kang, the only eligible boy in their community. Becca doesn’t have the heart to tell Roy or anyone around her that she can’t stay Always be ready for the worst day of your life is the mantra that Becca Aldaine has grown up with. Her family are the leaders of a community of doomsday preppers in an exclusive neighborhood that prioritizes survivalist training over the norms of everyday school life, like class trips and senior prom. They’ve gone so far as to arrange Becca’s future marriage with Roy Kang, the only eligible boy in their community. Becca doesn’t have the heart to tell Roy or anyone around her that she can’t stay here. She’s planning to leave as soon as she can earn a full ride to college. A devastating accident rocks Becca’s family and muddies her chances of escape. Can she still have the future she’s dreamed of or will she be stuck here forever?

I used to be obsessed with watching the doomsday prepper shows on TV and when I heard about the concept of PREPPED I immediately had my curiosity peaked! Last year I started reading more YA, but I’m still new to the genre and not sure what to pick up, so I figured this would be a great fit given my interest in the subject. What I found was so much more than I was expecting!

Mangle has delicately crafted Becca’s community of preppers with an interesting founding story and a power struggle that leaves Becca in a precarious position. I loved getting to know Becca, but it was my introduction to the other community members that really made this story check all of the boxes for me. Through Becca’s interactions with those around her the reader gets to truly understand what motivates her. Easily, Becca’s relationship with Roy steals the show! I loved watching these two interact and experience a multitude of situations that kept both of them on their toes.

PREPPED may be categorized as a YA story, but there are a huge number of relatable topics and events that allow this book to work for any reader. I absolutely loved this funny and heartfelt debut from Mangle and can’t wait to check out what she comes up with next!

A huge thank you to Books Forward PR for my gifted copy! ...more

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Jan 09, 2021 Britney rated it really liked it

Prepped was a really interesting book to me. I thought that the synopsis says that Becca and Roy leave their community right away, but I was surprised when it didn’t happen at the beginning.

Sometimes I don’t really like the will they, won’t they trope, but in this case it worked. I think it was because it wasn’t for the romantic relationship, but for whether or not they were going to leave the community. I really like the relationship between Becca and her little sister. Their relationship kind ...more

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Jan 20, 2021 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, realistic-fiction, humor, contemporary

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

When I added this to my Goodreads shelves, I realized I didn't really know how to categorize it. Yes, it's realistic fiction, but it is also about the reality of being a doomsday prepper, which doesn't really fit with all of my other "realistic fiction" stories. But I didn't want to add a "fanatics" shelf, so here we are.

This was a funny, moving story that had moments of brill ...more

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Feb 23, 2021 Candi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Interesting tale of a teenage girl named Becca brought up to be a doomsday survivalist. Her parents, especially father, are strict diehard doomsday preppers. They live in a community of isolationists. The children live in a existence in which their daily lives and activities are not the usual as everyone else. Becca is anxious to get away from this life by anticipating going to college which is her only escape.

This is a different storyline through the perspective of a young girl. One can only i ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Ellie Risinger rated it liked it

This book was more interesting than I expected and I was pretty into the storyline. I could NOT get invested in the characters, however. Just when I would be getting attached, the personality of the character would abruptly change. At one point, the sweet, trusting, innocent litttle sister turned into a full-fledged doomsday prepper herself. Just about every other character had a similar personality replacement as well. That and other things (the main character’s dad died without her knowing for ...more

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Aug 21, 2020 Fanna marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021-releases

August 21, 2020: I don't know what to say except that this book sounds really cool. I mean, thrillers that are funny? YES ...more

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Feb 16, 2021 Brianna Bourne rated it it was amazing

A pacy and surprisingly emotional novel about a girl who lives in a small doomsday prepping community. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse inside the world of Prepping - I was fascinated with every detail. The main character's interactions with her parents are full of juicy tension, and the romantic element that surfaced and bloomed was sweet. This was a great read! ...more

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Feb 06, 2021 Sydney rated it liked it

Shelves: bff-reviews

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. With a unique premise and a compelling narrative, Bethany Mangle’s debut novel Prepped fulfills its goal of presenting an ultimately-hopeful tale of escape, freedom, and autonomy. Along the way, Mangle supplies the narrative with a dynamic cast and a host of complications that make the climax particularly gripping. And while the nature of this novel, at times, hinges too much on teenage attitudes of naivete and arrogance, it is all around an enjoyable read that would appeal to a youthful audienc With a unique premise and a compelling narrative, Bethany Mangle’s debut novel Prepped fulfills its goal of presenting an ultimately-hopeful tale of escape, freedom, and autonomy. Along the way, Mangle supplies the narrative with a dynamic cast and a host of complications that make the climax particularly gripping. And while the nature of this novel, at times, hinges too much on teenage attitudes of naivete and arrogance, it is all around an enjoyable read that would appeal to a youthful audience in search of a story that is at once rooted in reality and, for most of us, a far cry from the everyday.

In Prepped, Becca Aldaine is a legacy child, born into a family that has taken doomsday preparedness seriously for two consecutive generations. The neighborhood has expanded over time, and while they haven’t walled themselves in, they are relatively secular. With two underground bunkers on their collective property, a private greenhouse, and a surplus of live ammunition, the community devotes much of their money and energy to preparing for the worst possibility: the end of the world. Betrothed to Roy Kang, the only eligible boy her age, Becca has become disillusioned with the guiding philosophies of the community and dreams of escape, imagining a future where she can study physics at her favorite teacher’s alma mater: Carnegie Mellon University. Beyond the simple issue that this future would never be approved by her community, the other main issue with this plan is Becca’s younger sister, Katie, who Becca does not want to abandon. Still, Becca entertains thoughts of an independent future, working hard to keep her grades up, aiming to earn the salutatorian title, and applying to CMU in spite of the many obstacles in her way.

Of course, Becca’s family doesn’t know about any of this, and for most of her life, she’s been led to believe that Roy buys into the neighborhood’s ideology. By the time Becca’s 18th birthday rolls around, however, she learns that, for years, Roy has been playing the part of the dedicated, indoctrinated son when, in reality, he has been saving lunch money for years to prepare for escape. She learns, too, that Roy has no intention of leaving her behind; he loves her, has no expectations of reciprocation, and wants her to leave, too.

Throughout the novel, Mangle highlights the toxic nature of this community, honing in on the physical, financial, and emotional abuse as well as the cruel ideological beliefs. She routinely references the question of what is essential to survival; the community, including Becca’s parents (and especially her mother, Karen, whose name is fitting) believe that accounting for physical needs, such as food and shelter, are all that can be considered essential, but Becca has her doubts, considering the possibility that love, support, and kinship are also required. Becca’s attitudes toward the community’s beliefs and practices—from the arrogance that arises among individuals who believe they will outlast everyone else to the cruel and abusive training tactics that force children into dangerous situations (with lessons including “how to survive submersion in icy waters” and “how to escape a car wreck” that are taught through immersion)—drive her to desire something greater than what is designed for her.

At times, Becca is not a particularly likeable character, but you can’t help but root for her even when her sardonic tone and dark humor feels overbearing. What this novel does best is appropriately vilifying abusive behavior without attempting to justify it from a narrative perspective; though Karen Aldaine routinely makes an effort to defend her behavior and parenting choices, Becca consistently rejects this, holding fast to her stance. There are moments when Becca struggles with her feelings toward her parents, but it is this complicated attitude that makes Becca particularly sympathetic.

One area in which Mangle particularly excels in this novel is with characterization. As much as Becca can wallow in teen angst (enhanced by her unique, trauma-based circumstances), she has a strong, distinct voice that carries the story. Beyond Becca, the other characters are incredible. At the beginning, Roy’s obedience and over-enthusiastic act makes way for a considerate, detail-oriented, and empathetic character after he reveals his true nature. We can’t ignore his eagerness to participate in the neighborhood’s rituals (including his tendency to play up the romance between Becca and himself, even without her consent), but his true nature is sincere and shows the scars incurred by a lifetime of trauma and abuse. Roy is patient where Becca is anxious, but Becca is energetic where Roy might be content to lay low. They complement one another nicely.

The side characters especially shine. Personally, I rarely enjoy sharing my first name with a fictional character, and I can’t recall a character with my namesake that I didn’t hate—until now, actually. Sydney is spunky, unique, witty, and kind. She comes from the neighborhood across the street from the doomsday folks and befriends Becca and Roy with relative ease. In spite of her social standing, she doesn’t look down on Becca and Roy, and she doesn’t hold grudges (seeing as Becca elbowed her in the face and broke her eye socket during a critical event in the first half of the book). Her energy was utterly compelling, and her role—giving Roy and Becca a means of connecting with kids outside their families, encouraging them to pursue their dreams, taking on responsibility to help them survive—was delightfully well-done. On the other hand, the quirky Ms. Garcia, Becca’s favorite teacher, was pleasantly smart, compassionate, playful, and sincere. She was maternal in Karen’s absence, and her presence goes to show just how much impact a kind, dedicated adult can have on a child’s life.

Was this novel perfect? No, but what is? Becca’s musings bordered on irritating if only due to her tendency to ooze bitter quips at every opportunity, but through the narration and dialogue, Mangle provided a thorough look at the way Becca views the world and how her humor and attitude reflect that. Some of the characterization shifts throughout (such as Karen’s decent into bitchdom and Roy’s rapid change from obedient doomsday son-in-law-to-be to quiet, anarchist rebel) felt sudden and lacked an appropriate amount of foreshadowing; with Karen, for instance, Becca initially believed that, as a nurse, she was compassionate and caring and simply bought into the doomsday ideology for the sake of her parents and husband, and we saw very little to challenge that save for a preference for the professional over emotional during the cold water training.

But as with all books, there is very little point reflecting on what could have been. Instead, I try to choose to focus on what is. And with Prepped, what we have is an optimistic novel about breaking abuse cycles, pursuing independent paths and goals that have meaning, and the importance of love and compassion as a necessity for life.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publishers to provide an honest review. ...more

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Feb 27, 2021 Sunsette Skye rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A great book that's more than the sum of its parts.

Prepped! follows the story of Rebecca "Becca" Aldaine, the salutatorian at her High School, big sister to Katie-Cat, and arranged-engaged to Roy Kang. Most importantly, she's a survivor, in more ways than one: Becca's entire life revolves around the doomsday preparation community she's been locked into since birth.

Mangle's writing style is strong and full of effective characterization, and this is perhaps her greatest point as an author: she's e A great book that's more than the sum of its parts.

Prepped! follows the story of Rebecca "Becca" Aldaine, the salutatorian at her High School, big sister to Katie-Cat, and arranged-engaged to Roy Kang. Most importantly, she's a survivor, in more ways than one: Becca's entire life revolves around the doomsday preparation community she's been locked into since birth.

Mangle's writing style is strong and full of effective characterization, and this is perhaps her greatest point as an author: she's easy to read. The book is peppered also with these unique physics problems that reframe Becca's various conundrums and show her wit and intelligence. The love and concern she has for her little sister is deeply endearing and brought me to tears at points, as someone who is able to relate very strongly to both Becca and Katie.

What especially moved me was the perspective Mangle brought to this book -- it would have been very easy, very standard to go with either a moral of family conquering all or individual triumph. But Becca's life is not that simple, and neither is the moral of this tale. You can love someone with all your heart and it still not be enough... but that doesn't make it unimportant. I think other people who have complicated feelings about their own families will be able to relate.

I think that you can effectively launch criticism at Roy, who ends up being an extremely convenient character that one might argue deserves more independent exploration -- Becca is a classic childhood survivor of her kind of abuse with classic coping techniques. I've never met anyone quite like Roy, and it might be a bit of a pity that we don't get more into what makes him tick -- he's just everything Becca needs at the moment she needs it.

But what I've also lived long enough to know is that there are, occasionally, those people who are just everything you need at the moment you need them. In the end I'd argue that Becca's allowed a miracle, because so much else goes so realistically wrong, and he doesn't exist in a void -- Sydney, the minor character rounding out Becca's last-minute trio for senior year is a much more grounded and earthly savior and her existence helps balance out Roy's.

You should read Prepped! if:
- You want a lovable, complex main character who's got more than a touch of wit about her
- You are interested in the caring dynamic of an unconventionally abusive family
- You want to know more about doomsday preppers

You should probably not read Prepped! if:
- You want a detailed, nuanced examination of any character beyond the main; the other characters feel real but generally need to be contemplated rather than having their nuances spelled out. ...more

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Feb 04, 2021 Story Circle Book Reviews rated it it was amazing

What if you were a teen growing up in a family prepping for doomsday? How would their lifestyle cramp your own chances to figure out your preferences and find your talents? In Bethany Mangle’s debut novel Prepped, you’ll discover how one competent young woman with ideas of her own copes with the oppression of a family obsessed with the end of the world.

When we first meet Becca Aldaine she is struggling through a cold-water survival exercise with three other teens, including the boy her parents h What if you were a teen growing up in a family prepping for doomsday? How would their lifestyle cramp your own chances to figure out your preferences and find your talents? In Bethany Mangle’s debut novel Prepped, you’ll discover how one competent young woman with ideas of her own copes with the oppression of a family obsessed with the end of the world.

When we first meet Becca Aldaine she is struggling through a cold-water survival exercise with three other teens, including the boy her parents have picked to be her life partner. Her performance is not a success, so her father sends her to the bunker to spend the night, a place where she is “…buried alive. Grounded.” Becca is bright, competent, and in love with physics. Rather than marrying Roy Kang, she wants to study physics at Carnegie Mellon University. While her physics teacher agrees with her choice, her parents want her to carry on the family legacy, living their survivalist lifestyle. As it turns out, she’s not the only one who wants to leave the madness behind and carve out her own life, free of disaster drills.

When a drunk driver slams into her domineering father’s truck, a scenario they had never planned for, the Aldaine family’s world twists and turns. Becca’s mother is the new head of this doomsday cult and her younger sister Katie is training for survival. Becca’s hopes of a life at Carnegie Mellon evaporate, since she wants to protect her little sister from this cult of obsessive maniacs prepping for an end that may never come in their lifetimes.

Becca’s life is full of contradictions, which makes sense since the prepper’s code states, “Always be ready for the worst day of your life.” It takes her clever mind and Roy’s unexpected support to find a way out.

Like any good YA, Prepped has teenage characters that people of all ages will identify with. Mangle’s story thrusts them into unexpected, atypical situations and gives them the tools to resolve the issues they face without adult help. Mangle writes with grit, beauty and an admirable sense of ease. Her words will draw you into Becca’s world, which is filled with humor unless you’re living in it. Whether you are a teen or an adult, she might just have you examining ways to escape whatever eats away at your soul. Becca’s experiences will motivate you to become or stay strong, whole, and happy. Like her, you might make some new plans to become the person you were meant to be.

Story Circle Book Reviews thanks B. Lynn Goodwin for this review. ...more

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Nov 12, 2020 Beary Into Books rated it it was amazing

Rating 4.5

The book "Prepped" by Bethany Mangle takes your emotions on a rollercoaster. Certain characters, situations, or interactions, will make you want to laugh, gasp, scream, cry, or throw the book in anger. You won't be mad at the author but instead of what the main character Becca is being put through by supposed friends and family. The author did such a great job of creating a main character who is confused and questions what to do with her life due to being raised as a prepper. Becca doe Rating 4.5

The book "Prepped" by Bethany Mangle takes your emotions on a rollercoaster. Certain characters, situations, or interactions, will make you want to laugh, gasp, scream, cry, or throw the book in anger. You won't be mad at the author but instead of what the main character Becca is being put through by supposed friends and family. The author did such a great job of creating a main character who is confused and questions what to do with her life due to being raised as a prepper. Becca doesn't want to continue being a prepper but she also feels an obligation to stay behind and care for her younger sister who is being brainwashed. But if she stayed behind that would mean giving up her one chance for true happiness. Roy, Becca's boyfriend and fellow forced prepper was an interesting character. I liked that he had his own personality and how he also struggled with being alone and feeling isolated. Since just like Becca he despised being raised as a prepper and wants more for his life. Their relationship starts off weird because they were arranged in their early teens and nothing on Becca's end was real. She was only going through the motions trying to keep up an appearance for their parents. It isn't until Becca and Roy are honest with one another that she finally starts to develop real feelings for him and the reader notices a shift in their relationship. I liked that because it made their relationship feel authentic and not forced. Katie, Becca's younger sister acted just like any other kid would in that situation. Even though her character made me so mad at times it makes sense that she would just want to please her parents. She is way too young to fully understand that what their family and neighbors do is not normal and she deserves a better life. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I read it in two days. I was fighting for Becca and Roy and I had to know what would happen. My only complaint is with how the book ended. While I love the last line, I do wish we had an epilogue but that is just my personal opinion.

Should you read "Prepped"?
YES! If you want a book to make you feel again this book is for you. Not only is this book full of emotion, it has like-able characters, hate-able villains, family drama, and wild prepper training. It is a fantastically unique coming of age story.

**Received an advanced copy through NetGalley in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ** ...more

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Mar 04, 2021 Liralen rated it liked it

Shelves: 2021, fiction, ya, reviewed

Fun. The last year has seen a bunch of YA prepper fiction, and for some reason I find it deeply compelling (...never having met a prepper myself, and without having any desire to do so...). Here, Becca is a third-gen doomsday prepper: her parents were born into it, she was born into it, and the expectation is that she'll marry her prepper boyfriend (chosen by her parents to ensure continued diversity of gene pool) and pop out a couple of prepper kids and take on a prepper-approved career that wi ...more

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Feb 11, 2021 Olivia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: other-reviews

PREPPED is a really captivating YA contemporary fiction. Becca is 17 years old and dreams of going away to college to study physics. She has applied and needs a good financial aid package to make it. Becca lives with her parents and younger sister in a unique community in Ohio - a community of preppers. This means that Becca's life is dictated by preparing for the end of the world, including horrible (life-threatening) prepper exercises designed to prepare her for apocalyptic scenarios, like tre PREPPED is a really captivating YA contemporary fiction. Becca is 17 years old and dreams of going away to college to study physics. She has applied and needs a good financial aid package to make it. Becca lives with her parents and younger sister in a unique community in Ohio - a community of preppers. This means that Becca's life is dictated by preparing for the end of the world, including horrible (life-threatening) prepper exercises designed to prepare her for apocalyptic scenarios, like treading water in a frozen pond for 10 minutes.

Becca's dreams are changed after an accident that leaves her father in the hospital and her cruel mother in charge of the settlement. Though Becca thought things could not get any worse, her mother and her new policies seem determined to prove her wrong. Now, Becca must consider her fourth grade sister and her future in the same breath. When she learns that the boy to which she has been engaged, Roy, may not be the faithful disciple of prepping he appears to be, Becca's plans begin to evolve.

What I loved: This was a really fascinating look at prepping and the challenges that being in such a community can create. Becca is also dealing with neglect, as her mother will not provide the small necessities she and her sister need nor do any caregiving. Between the challenges/training and the other issues Becca faces, there are definite child abuse problems that become a major theme of the book. In such abusive situations, it can be impossible to leave, and the book does a great job of showing the challenges on all sides of that decision.

The romance was a smaller part of the book, but I really enjoyed the dynamics between Becca and Roy. Although it starts off a bit rough, as they have been basically told they will marry without any choice, their relationship does grow from their shared experience, and I loved it. I also really loved Katie, Sydney, and Becca's teacher who helps to make things possible. There are some really great characters in this book. A running theme through the book is hope, and the tone remains hopeful throughout.

Final verdict: PREPPED is a compelling read about hope, love, and plans. Ultimately a moving story of surviving and escaping abuse, this was a thought-provoking book that kept me captivated throughout.

Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own. ...more

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Feb 24, 2021 Shannon (It Starts At Midnight) rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-for-review, february-2021, 2021

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

Prepped was definitely unlike anything I have read before! We meet Becca, who is living with her "parents" (I use quotations because they are evil and shouldn't be allowed to call themselves that) and little sister in a doomsday prepper neighborhood. I had no idea those were a thing. Are they? I don't know, it seems like it could be, because sometimes people are extra. Anyway, because sh You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

Prepped was definitely unlike anything I have read before! We meet Becca, who is living with her "parents" (I use quotations because they are evil and shouldn't be allowed to call themselves that) and little sister in a doomsday prepper neighborhood. I had no idea those were a thing. Are they? I don't know, it seems like it could be, because sometimes people are extra. Anyway, because she's still under eighteen, and because she is worried sick about what will happen to her sister if she's left there alone, Becca must participate in these training exercises and absurd rules. Only, she knows she needs to get out.... but how will she ensure Katie's safety?

Let me say here that it cannot be overstated how vile the parents are in this book. Becca has already been arranged in marriage to Roy, a fellow Doomsdayer (is that a word? Let's have it be a word) by her and Roy's parents. She's forced into some very unsafe "training" exercises. Punishments for even the most minor (or, to most people, nonexistent) infraction are extreme. And that doesn't bring into play the mental abuse Becca and Katie are enduring. Katie has been, at best neglected, until Becca's parents begin to attempt to indoctrinate Katie into their web of absurdity. And just as any child would, Katie wants to please her parents, and doesn't realize how wrong this all is.

I want to leave the plot for you to read yourself, and not give anything "big" away. But you will undoubtedly cheer for Becca the entire way, basically yelling at your copy of the book for her to break free of this nightmare. There will be some very pleasant character surprises, and of course a few disappointments. You'll certainly be shocked at how when one of Becca's parents is awful at the start, the other is like "hold my beer", because wow you didn't think they could get worse. And because you'll want to know if Becca (and Katie) end up okay, you'll be flying through the pages!

Bottom Line: It's a unique, fast-paced, readable story that was definitely worth the ride! ...more

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Feb 19, 2021 Dedra ~ A Book Wanderer rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, own, popsugar-challenge-2021, young-adult, most-anticipated-2021

3.25 stars. When I was invited to read Prepped by Bethany Mangle through BooksForward, I was excited by the premise. It sounded applicable to the current times and unlike anything I'd read before. Not only did I read this young adult novel about doomsday preppers during a pandemic, but I was also stuck at home in Texas during an apocalyptic snowstorm unlike anything I'd ever experienced before.

While Prepped didn't quite go in the direction I thought it would, I was still entertained. It's a soli ...more

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Nov 18, 2020 Amanda Cresse rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ok_consideration, netgalley

I haven't read any other YA book about "doomsday preppers" --And, what perfect timing as we are in the midst of the 2020 toilet paper scare! Prepped is a unique look at an extreme (AKA: ~CRAZY~) prepping community and its effects on teenage normalcy.
Becca can't wait to escape her prepping community and all their craziness. They push the training too far and have forgotten that relationships are what make life worth living. If the end of the world happens, they may be prepared, but I wouldn't wa ...more

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Mar 03, 2021 Maddie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: tbr-2021

✰✰✰✰
[4 stars]

R E V I E W ↴
Prepped has such an interesting premise and was incredibly enjoyable to read! The writing style was very digestible and snappy, and there were a TON of hilarious lines and bits of humor that helped lighten up the heavy themes. I got so pissed off at the parents who were part of the doomsday prepper community so many times throughout this book, but tbh I don't doubt that there are people like that out there and while this situation was definitely on the extreme end, the ...more

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