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The Q
Two teenagers from opposite worlds must fight their way through a vast walled quarantine zone in a dystopian America toward their only chance for survival.
Seventeen-year-old Maisie Rojas has spent her entire life in the Q—a post-pandemic quarantine zone that was once Austin, Texas. Born and raised behind the high security walls that sealed their fate, she's now a trusted lieutenant for one of the territory's controlling families.
Lennon Pierce, the charismatic son of a US presidential candidate, has just been kidnapped by his father's enemies and dropped out of a plane into the Q with nothing but a parachute strapped to his back. Lennon is given a temporary antidote to the disease and crucial intel for his father, but Maisie must get him out of the zone within forty-eight hours--or he will be permanently infected and forced to remain.
With unrest brewing both inside and outside the Q, reaching the exit is a daunting and dangerous task. But if Maisie and Lennon fail, it could mean disaster for the entire quarantine zone and its inhabitants—and could cost Lennon his life.
Seventeen-year-old Maisie Rojas has spent her entire life in the Q—a post-pandemic quarantine zone that was once Austin, Texas. Born and raised behind the high security walls that sealed their fate, she's now a trusted lieutenant for one of the territory's controlling families.
Lennon Pierce, the charismatic son of a US presidential candidate, has just been kidnapped by his father's enemies and dropped out of a plane into the Q with nothing but a parachute strapped to his back. Lennon is given a temporary antidote to the disease and crucial intel for his father, but Maisie must get him out of the zone within forty-eight hours--or he will be permanently infected and forced to remain.
With unrest brewing both inside and outside the Q, reaching the exit is a daunting and dangerous task. But if Maisie and Lennon fail, it could mean disaster for the entire quarantine zone and its inhabitants—and could cost Lennon his life.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2022
56 people are currently reading
2899 people want to read
About the author
Amy Tintera
15 books6,834 followersAmy Tintera started writing novels as a kid during her middle school science classes, which probably explains why she has always been very bad at science. She is now the author of several novels for young adults, including Reboot, a Kids Indie Next pick and YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, the Ruined series, The Q, and All These Monsters, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. Her novels have been translated into 16 languages and sold into more than 20 territories.
She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in media arts/screenwriting from Emerson College. She worked as a talent agency assistant in Hollywood before becoming an author. Raised in Austin, Texas, she frequently sets her novels in the Lone Star state, but she now lives in Los Angeles, where there's far less humidity, but not nearly enough Tex-Mex.
Her first novel for adults, Listen for the Lie, will be published March 5, 2024 by Celadon/Macmillan.
She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in media arts/screenwriting from Emerson College. She worked as a talent agency assistant in Hollywood before becoming an author. Raised in Austin, Texas, she frequently sets her novels in the Lone Star state, but she now lives in Los Angeles, where there's far less humidity, but not nearly enough Tex-Mex.
Her first novel for adults, Listen for the Lie, will be published March 5, 2024 by Celadon/Macmillan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
May 4, 2022
Fast-paced, bloody, and so entertaining. Also this made me miss Wren and Callum from Reboot SO MUCH because of the banter vibes, I will read every sci fi that Amy Tintera puts out and maybe I should go reread Reboot
July 31, 2022
Maisie Rojas was born and raised in the Q, a place that used to be Austin, Texas but is now a walled quarantine zone after a deadly international pandemic almost two decades ago. The Q is divided into two rival territories, and Maisie is a trusted lieutenant for the Southern Zone’s family. When an unexpected visitor to the Q lands at their doorstep, Maisie finds herself caught between doing what the Family wants and what she feels is right.
I will admit, I was a little leery of reading a work set post-pandemic after the last couple of years that we’ve had. But I absolutely loved this book! The pandemic was only used as a backdrop to create a somewhat dystopian setting, but it was not the focus of this work. The author did an excellent job at using this idea as a backdrop while creating a meaningful and entertaining story over it. The story was well told with quick pacing, making for a quick, easy, and enjoyable read.
The characters were so well written. Even the secondary characters had unique, vivid personalities that felt like real people – the entire cast was relatable and engaging. I loved Maisie and Lennon as protagonists as well as their interactions. Maisie is one of the best written female protagonists I’ve run across in a while, and the author did an amazing job with her. The author excelled at character creation, which made this a joy to read. I also thought the romance was excellently done, feeling realistic and not rushed (even though I’m pretty sure it occurred over only a few days).
There was nothing I disliked about this work and can’t recommend it enough! This was an excellent standalone work of YA dystopian fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Publishing for providing a review copy of this work, which will be published on November 8th, 2022. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I will admit, I was a little leery of reading a work set post-pandemic after the last couple of years that we’ve had. But I absolutely loved this book! The pandemic was only used as a backdrop to create a somewhat dystopian setting, but it was not the focus of this work. The author did an excellent job at using this idea as a backdrop while creating a meaningful and entertaining story over it. The story was well told with quick pacing, making for a quick, easy, and enjoyable read.
The characters were so well written. Even the secondary characters had unique, vivid personalities that felt like real people – the entire cast was relatable and engaging. I loved Maisie and Lennon as protagonists as well as their interactions. Maisie is one of the best written female protagonists I’ve run across in a while, and the author did an amazing job with her. The author excelled at character creation, which made this a joy to read. I also thought the romance was excellently done, feeling realistic and not rushed (even though I’m pretty sure it occurred over only a few days).
There was nothing I disliked about this work and can’t recommend it enough! This was an excellent standalone work of YA dystopian fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Publishing for providing a review copy of this work, which will be published on November 8th, 2022. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 29, 2023
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
“No one will ever respect you if they don’t fear you.”
It's a race against the clock in The Q as Maise, a young revolutionary who's lived her whole life in the Q compound, has to get the President's son, Lennon, over the wall that separates the Q from the rest of the U.S, before the vaccine he's been injected with is no longer effective. Keeping the stakes high, but the levity light, Amy Tintera delivers a solid YA action-thriller that was not over the top unbelievable, and still very enjoyable. 👍🏻👍🏻
I liked reading this - the characters and writing made me it a very pleasant and entertaining read. It was also scary to think that if a pandemic was only contained to a specific area - quarantined to one location to keep the virus from spreading - having a group of people sequestered and away from the rest of the world - resorting to their own political forces and regulations to maintain order and then to have someone from the outside world, unexpectedly dropped into their world - someone who is not affected by it - imagine the fear and the shock. 😨 That you only have four days to live before the virus can effect you - suddenly seeing that the people who you thought all this time were different, because they were only born in the Q - were just like the rest of them? It was a unique premise - executed in a very satisfactory way, that I think will work well for Young Adult book readers. 🌟🌟
The author kept the tempo going - the action scenes providing no respite, but still enough for strong character growth for both the leads. Alternating between Maise and Lennon's POV's was also very well-handled - swift and catchy, because they were very two different characters, but somehow, worked very well together. I empathized with both their situations, and I appreciated that we are even provided with enough details into their personalities and backgrounds, without it ever feeling it like it's an info-dump or unnecessary into the plot. 😊
“Thanks, Maisie.”
She wanted to know more, actually. Part of her wanted to say, No, keep going. Tell me everything about you because I think you’re the most interesting person I’ve ever met. She wasn’t sure when she’d become so deeply curious about him, but she was suddenly dying to know it all.”
Maise was a strong and confident female lead - she didn't resort to violence, despite being the daughter of the tyrannical leader of the Q's faction, but had very strong convictions and belief in doing what's right. She had a fun-loving side to her and never took that the life she had been given by staying in the Q was a burden. That positive outlook gave her a cheery disposition, even when she never wavered in the face of danger. I admired her resourcefulness and her commitment and determination to get Lennon to cross over the border, despite the harboring feelings she was developing so very suddenly for him. 🥺
“I think it will be helpful for me to tell the story when I get out of here,” he said. “People will be interested to know what it was like in here.”
“They’ll probably be more scared of us than ever.”
“I can always find the good parts of a story.”
She gave him an amused look. “I have no doubt.”
Lennon really grew on me; I mean, his father is running for president, and he's inexplicably kidnapped by an unknown party, thrown into a community that is riddled with a contagious virus that could kill him. That fear that first consumes him and then the determination to get out of the Q as fast as possible is overwhelming. He wasn't a model citizen in the outside world - perceived as a reckless sort that was a black mark on his father's campaign trail - but, when he ended up in the Q and saw how life was here - that people weren't all that different as he thought they were - he gained more perspective on life and on himself. 😟 He became a more considerate and kind person - even if it was within a short period of time, the lessons he learned, while he dodged raging bullets and evaded explosions, warred against further kidnapping attempts and even duked it out in car chases - he made a decision in the end that truly made him happy and prove his own worth. It was bittersweet, but somehow, very hopeful. 🥲🥲
The Q was a fun read - it wasn't spectacular in anyway, but the interactive dynamics and well-written story gave me an enjoyable time, for sure. 😌
“No one will ever respect you if they don’t fear you.”
It's a race against the clock in The Q as Maise, a young revolutionary who's lived her whole life in the Q compound, has to get the President's son, Lennon, over the wall that separates the Q from the rest of the U.S, before the vaccine he's been injected with is no longer effective. Keeping the stakes high, but the levity light, Amy Tintera delivers a solid YA action-thriller that was not over the top unbelievable, and still very enjoyable. 👍🏻👍🏻
I liked reading this - the characters and writing made me it a very pleasant and entertaining read. It was also scary to think that if a pandemic was only contained to a specific area - quarantined to one location to keep the virus from spreading - having a group of people sequestered and away from the rest of the world - resorting to their own political forces and regulations to maintain order and then to have someone from the outside world, unexpectedly dropped into their world - someone who is not affected by it - imagine the fear and the shock. 😨 That you only have four days to live before the virus can effect you - suddenly seeing that the people who you thought all this time were different, because they were only born in the Q - were just like the rest of them? It was a unique premise - executed in a very satisfactory way, that I think will work well for Young Adult book readers. 🌟🌟
The author kept the tempo going - the action scenes providing no respite, but still enough for strong character growth for both the leads. Alternating between Maise and Lennon's POV's was also very well-handled - swift and catchy, because they were very two different characters, but somehow, worked very well together. I empathized with both their situations, and I appreciated that we are even provided with enough details into their personalities and backgrounds, without it ever feeling it like it's an info-dump or unnecessary into the plot. 😊
“Thanks, Maisie.”
She wanted to know more, actually. Part of her wanted to say, No, keep going. Tell me everything about you because I think you’re the most interesting person I’ve ever met. She wasn’t sure when she’d become so deeply curious about him, but she was suddenly dying to know it all.”
Maise was a strong and confident female lead - she didn't resort to violence, despite being the daughter of the tyrannical leader of the Q's faction, but had very strong convictions and belief in doing what's right. She had a fun-loving side to her and never took that the life she had been given by staying in the Q was a burden. That positive outlook gave her a cheery disposition, even when she never wavered in the face of danger. I admired her resourcefulness and her commitment and determination to get Lennon to cross over the border, despite the harboring feelings she was developing so very suddenly for him. 🥺
“I think it will be helpful for me to tell the story when I get out of here,” he said. “People will be interested to know what it was like in here.”
“They’ll probably be more scared of us than ever.”
“I can always find the good parts of a story.”
She gave him an amused look. “I have no doubt.”
Lennon really grew on me; I mean, his father is running for president, and he's inexplicably kidnapped by an unknown party, thrown into a community that is riddled with a contagious virus that could kill him. That fear that first consumes him and then the determination to get out of the Q as fast as possible is overwhelming. He wasn't a model citizen in the outside world - perceived as a reckless sort that was a black mark on his father's campaign trail - but, when he ended up in the Q and saw how life was here - that people weren't all that different as he thought they were - he gained more perspective on life and on himself. 😟 He became a more considerate and kind person - even if it was within a short period of time, the lessons he learned, while he dodged raging bullets and evaded explosions, warred against further kidnapping attempts and even duked it out in car chases - he made a decision in the end that truly made him happy and prove his own worth. It was bittersweet, but somehow, very hopeful. 🥲🥲
The Q was a fun read - it wasn't spectacular in anyway, but the interactive dynamics and well-written story gave me an enjoyable time, for sure. 😌
March 29, 2024
Kind of corny and unserious but a fun fun time
December 10, 2022
Sometimes I read really good books and I end up disliking them because I’m not in the right mood for them. Sometimes, I read books that are okay but end up loving them because they are just right what I need. I think The Q was just that. And now, bear in mind I only picked this book up because many friends call me Q and the title made me chuckle.
So, as a summary: boom, boom, shoot, shoot, boom, kidnapping, car race, funny banter, more booms.
Action-packed and with fun characters. The story didn’t really make much sense and it could’ve been shorter, but oh well, I had a lot of fun reading it. Does it deserve 4 stars? I don't think so, but I'd give it 5 stars for the FUN.
So, as a summary: boom, boom, shoot, shoot, boom, kidnapping, car race, funny banter, more booms.
Action-packed and with fun characters. The story didn’t really make much sense and it could’ve been shorter, but oh well, I had a lot of fun reading it. Does it deserve 4 stars? I don't think so, but I'd give it 5 stars for the FUN.
Want to read
April 5, 2021In this near-future YA, a girl raised in a walled quarantine zone and the son of a Presidential candidate abducted and dropped into the zone by parachute must go on the run toward the only exit before they are hunted down by mercenaries.
Holy—this gives me All Our Yesterdays + Pandemonium vibes IM EXCITED
Holy—this gives me All Our Yesterdays + Pandemonium vibes IM EXCITED
May 26, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Q was so much fun to dive into. From the very beginning we get action, and it was pretty consistent throughout the entire book. I also really enjoyed getting to know the characters as well. Especially when it came to Maisie and Lennon. Now these two had some crazy chemistry and I completely shipped them from the get-go. Their bantering gave me life, but I also just liked how easy it was for them to understand one another.
Besides liking them, I still had some unanswered questions about the virus, vaccine, and Maisie herself. Since this is a standalone, I was secretly hoping for an epilogue to give me those juicy answers. Mostly because I'm incredibly nosy and can't stand the unknown. I wanted to know if there was improvement within the Q and I'm a little sad that we didn't get that.
In the end, I'm still really happy that I got the chance to jump into this. I don't think I've met a book I didn't like that Amy has written. Hoping to continue this trend since I still have so many of her books on my TBR list. Definitely can't wait to jump into another of her books and hope everyone really enjoys the adventure within this!
The Q was so much fun to dive into. From the very beginning we get action, and it was pretty consistent throughout the entire book. I also really enjoyed getting to know the characters as well. Especially when it came to Maisie and Lennon. Now these two had some crazy chemistry and I completely shipped them from the get-go. Their bantering gave me life, but I also just liked how easy it was for them to understand one another.
Besides liking them, I still had some unanswered questions about the virus, vaccine, and Maisie herself. Since this is a standalone, I was secretly hoping for an epilogue to give me those juicy answers. Mostly because I'm incredibly nosy and can't stand the unknown. I wanted to know if there was improvement within the Q and I'm a little sad that we didn't get that.
In the end, I'm still really happy that I got the chance to jump into this. I don't think I've met a book I didn't like that Amy has written. Hoping to continue this trend since I still have so many of her books on my TBR list. Definitely can't wait to jump into another of her books and hope everyone really enjoys the adventure within this!
May 23, 2022
This is pretty much nonstop action the whole way through and the story flew by. We drop right into this future where a group of people have been quarantined off from the rest of the county and are now stuck in a mostly lawless land and struggling to survive. There's a running clock of 72 hours to get one of the main characters out and I couldn't stop flipping the page. I needed to know how it would all end!
I like the premise a lot, especially since it doesn't seem that farfetched after the real pandemic the world has been though. The story is exciting, fast paced, and kept me wondering if Lennon would ever make it to the gate. I liked Maisie and Lennon and how different they were, but also somehow understood each other and were able to make a connection so quickly. Maisie is pretty awesome and knows how to throw a punch, yet she's kind to people and forms friendships instead of ruling by fear. Lennon is funny and has some surprises up his sleeve and really just wants to help others.
I did think the worldbuilding was lacking and skimmed over things. I wanted to know about these organ transplants and how they're managed. If the virus is mutating too quickly for a vaccine but not really killing people any more, is it still just living in each person forever? I also thought the ending gave us almost no answers and left a lot of loose ends. What happened to certain characters? Are they still working on a vaccine? I need answers people.
This is fun and exciting and I'm happy I got to check out an early copy. If you're a fan of virus dystopian books, put this on your list.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Crown Books and NetGalley for the copy
I like the premise a lot, especially since it doesn't seem that farfetched after the real pandemic the world has been though. The story is exciting, fast paced, and kept me wondering if Lennon would ever make it to the gate. I liked Maisie and Lennon and how different they were, but also somehow understood each other and were able to make a connection so quickly. Maisie is pretty awesome and knows how to throw a punch, yet she's kind to people and forms friendships instead of ruling by fear. Lennon is funny and has some surprises up his sleeve and really just wants to help others.
I did think the worldbuilding was lacking and skimmed over things. I wanted to know about these organ transplants and how they're managed. If the virus is mutating too quickly for a vaccine but not really killing people any more, is it still just living in each person forever? I also thought the ending gave us almost no answers and left a lot of loose ends. What happened to certain characters? Are they still working on a vaccine? I need answers people.
This is fun and exciting and I'm happy I got to check out an early copy. If you're a fan of virus dystopian books, put this on your list.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Crown Books and NetGalley for the copy
May 27, 2023
I'm sorry but I don't think Amy Tintera is for me.
This is the second book of hers that I've read and DNFed. I don't know why, but so many things about her books just rub me off.
For this book specifically, it started off great. I read 60% in two days straight. But then the problems started to show.
One major critique I usually have about her books is that the characters are too immature. These characters are supposedly 17 and 21, yet they act and talk in a way that does not make sense given their circumstance and age. The female main character is supposed to be the pragmatic and logical daughter of a dead gangster, but in many important moments she ends up being useless. The main male character is even worse, as he is too selfless and naiive for his own good. He simps over the fmc so much that even with less than 24 hours of his immunity to the disease left, he is still thinking about how he wished he could touch her hair. My man, do you have no concept of survival whatsoever? No sense of urgency at all?? Furthermore, the way the romance was written just felt incredibly juvenile and was too damn cringe for my taste.
Oh, but forget the juvenile romance, these teens could kill a man without blinking an eye. I'm serious. None of them have ANY feelings after killing people during battle scenes, even Lennon, who's the privileged senator's son. I find that very hard to believe.
(Lastly, a side note: I find it funny that the adults in this book actually let their kids run around and do whatever they want. Even rival adults that are supposed to be from other factions are incredibly lenient towards our main characters for absolutely no reason. It's too much of a coincidence, too good to be true.)
This is the second book of hers that I've read and DNFed. I don't know why, but so many things about her books just rub me off.
For this book specifically, it started off great. I read 60% in two days straight. But then the problems started to show.
One major critique I usually have about her books is that the characters are too immature. These characters are supposedly 17 and 21, yet they act and talk in a way that does not make sense given their circumstance and age. The female main character is supposed to be the pragmatic and logical daughter of a dead gangster, but in many important moments she ends up being useless. The main male character is even worse, as he is too selfless and naiive for his own good. He simps over the fmc so much that even with less than 24 hours of his immunity to the disease left, he is still thinking about how he wished he could touch her hair. My man, do you have no concept of survival whatsoever? No sense of urgency at all?? Furthermore, the way the romance was written just felt incredibly juvenile and was too damn cringe for my taste.
Oh, but forget the juvenile romance, these teens could kill a man without blinking an eye. I'm serious. None of them have ANY feelings after killing people during battle scenes, even Lennon, who's the privileged senator's son. I find that very hard to believe.
(Lastly, a side note: I find it funny that the adults in this book actually let their kids run around and do whatever they want. Even rival adults that are supposed to be from other factions are incredibly lenient towards our main characters for absolutely no reason. It's too much of a coincidence, too good to be true.)
December 24, 2022
3,5
The Good:
✘ This book was fun, fast-paced and easy to read!
✘ I appreciate that it is a standalone! Also, a dystopia! I feel like we haven’t gotten many of those in the past decade, so it’s good to see some new dystopian YA books!
✘ The characters were fun! I liked their banter and their personalities.
The Meh:
✘ For some reason, I kind of lost interest at some point?? Idk why… 😕
✘ The romance between Maisie and Lennon developed too quickly for me. Sure, it was still a slow-burn, since they only get together at the end of the book, but I couldn’t forget the fact that they only knew each other for like 1 day lol.
✘ The ending????
✘ Found a couple of typos.
The Good:
✘ This book was fun, fast-paced and easy to read!
✘ I appreciate that it is a standalone! Also, a dystopia! I feel like we haven’t gotten many of those in the past decade, so it’s good to see some new dystopian YA books!
✘ The characters were fun! I liked their banter and their personalities.
The Meh:
✘ For some reason, I kind of lost interest at some point?? Idk why… 😕
✘ The romance between Maisie and Lennon developed too quickly for me. Sure, it was still a slow-burn, since they only get together at the end of the book, but I couldn’t forget the fact that they only knew each other for like 1 day lol.
✘ The ending????
✘ Found a couple of typos.
May 13, 2022
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Teens & YA
Publication Date: November 8, 2022
Format/Length: Kindle, 352 pages
Rating: 5 infectious stars!
Favorite Quote: “Maisie, let me give you a tip. You will never be old enough for them. You will always be too young, or too inexperienced, or too much of a woman. You can either let them keep pushing you aside, or you can take this opportunity and tell them all to deal with it.”
What I liked about the book:
1. I loved the realistic worldbuilding and how the events of this book could really happen!
Here's the deal:
The virus, much like the pandemic we have experienced for the last 2 years, was bad...It started in Austin, Texas and quickly began to spread, having a 40% mortality rate. As a result of this, the US Government built a wall around Austin, where they put all the sick people and labeled it "The Q", or "The Quarantine Zone". Unfortunately, like in most great government schemes, there were a lot of people who weren't sick, but just couldn't get out of Austin before the wall was erected (read that as people of limited means, because isn't that always what happens???).
One small problem: the virus did not provide long-term immunity to people who got infected with it. So basically, all these people in the quarantine zone kept repetitively getting sick. And of course, no vaccine could be effective because the virus kept mutating. Feeling eerie about this yet?
When people started seeing the light and trying to escape from the zone, the non-infected on the outside said, "Nope" and built another wall containing the life of sickness for these unfortunate souls. What the f*ck is it with these walls? Why is that always the "solution"?
Anyways, I digress.
Of course, everyone on the inside became jaded AF. Laws went to the wayside, cops and military gave up, no one could be controlled. Eventually the zone seceded from the US and built their own rules, being governed by two gang families: the Spencer family in the north and the Lopez family in the south. Obviously, these fools hated each other to the point of there was even a "neutral zone" between the north and south.
Further to the political drama, the north was split between 4 siblings in the Spencer family, with very different ideas on how to run factions. Oh, and did I mention that the only way food, medical supplies, etc. came into the zone was through a small gate in the north? So, you know, that's great for the south, especially when products stopped showing up at the beginning of the story.
That's a lot of set up and political intrigue that definitely kept me hooked on their journey from one end of the zone to the other!
2. I loved the grungy feel of the settings and the high-action sequences. I would love to see this spun off into a graphic novel!
I also really loved the sarcastic and witty writing style. This coupled with the short chapters really made the book fly by so fast, I was legitimately a little bummed when it ended.
3. I loved all the strong female characters. Especially Val, (basically Queen of the North!). She had a badass gang of female warriors and she was a BOSS. The fact that she was only willing to help if Maisie was allowed, and willing, to take over the South was such a great instance of women helping women.
Speaking of that, Maisie had such incredible support not just from Val and her ladies, but from her friends Hadley and Elise. They were willing to break so many rules and were prepared to respect any decisions that Maisie made without judgment or guilt. The female comradery in this book definitely reminded me of one of my favorite quotes:
"Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women, who have her back." LOVE IT!
4. Speaking of characters, our MCs were fun to follow. They were so different, yet such a good team that I loved watching them interact and get through so many troublesome situations.
Lennon was hilarious! He had great internal monologue, was always thinking strategically from many angles, and was definitely ok letting Maisie save him. I especially loved every time Lennon proved all the stereotypes of being a stuffy, Congressman's son wrong and when we found out about his street racing tendencies.
Maisie was fantastic to watch because she had so much character development! She went from just wanting to prove herself scary enough to be in charge to legitimately being a great leader because she was able to make alliances and help people instead of rule with an iron fist like leaders of the past. She genuinely cared about her people, so once she got through her "I need to be the biggest badass in the room" complex, she was able to initiate real change. I really hope we get to see more of this in the future!
4. I loved the mystery around the beloved Queso and I really hope there is a second book to follow him and Hadley!!! It would just be so damn perfect!
5. As a former college radio DJ, I appreciated all of the broadcasts, especially the "You can't say that on air" moments. Too damn accurate!
What didn’t do it for me:
1. The ONLY thing I can say, and I'm really grasping for straws here, is I wish we had more interaction with Ethan once we "met" him. I have this intense need for us to see him and Hadley interact and have the Romeo + Juliet love affair (with a less disastrous ending) we deserve!
I received a copy of this ARC from NetGalley, Random House Children's, Crown Books for Young Readers, and Amy Tintera. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily. Check it out later this year!
Publication Date: November 8, 2022
Format/Length: Kindle, 352 pages
Rating: 5 infectious stars!
Favorite Quote: “Maisie, let me give you a tip. You will never be old enough for them. You will always be too young, or too inexperienced, or too much of a woman. You can either let them keep pushing you aside, or you can take this opportunity and tell them all to deal with it.”
What I liked about the book:
1. I loved the realistic worldbuilding and how the events of this book could really happen!
Here's the deal:
The virus, much like the pandemic we have experienced for the last 2 years, was bad...It started in Austin, Texas and quickly began to spread, having a 40% mortality rate. As a result of this, the US Government built a wall around Austin, where they put all the sick people and labeled it "The Q", or "The Quarantine Zone". Unfortunately, like in most great government schemes, there were a lot of people who weren't sick, but just couldn't get out of Austin before the wall was erected (read that as people of limited means, because isn't that always what happens???).
One small problem: the virus did not provide long-term immunity to people who got infected with it. So basically, all these people in the quarantine zone kept repetitively getting sick. And of course, no vaccine could be effective because the virus kept mutating. Feeling eerie about this yet?
When people started seeing the light and trying to escape from the zone, the non-infected on the outside said, "Nope" and built another wall containing the life of sickness for these unfortunate souls. What the f*ck is it with these walls? Why is that always the "solution"?
Anyways, I digress.
Of course, everyone on the inside became jaded AF. Laws went to the wayside, cops and military gave up, no one could be controlled. Eventually the zone seceded from the US and built their own rules, being governed by two gang families: the Spencer family in the north and the Lopez family in the south. Obviously, these fools hated each other to the point of there was even a "neutral zone" between the north and south.
Further to the political drama, the north was split between 4 siblings in the Spencer family, with very different ideas on how to run factions. Oh, and did I mention that the only way food, medical supplies, etc. came into the zone was through a small gate in the north? So, you know, that's great for the south, especially when products stopped showing up at the beginning of the story.
That's a lot of set up and political intrigue that definitely kept me hooked on their journey from one end of the zone to the other!
2. I loved the grungy feel of the settings and the high-action sequences. I would love to see this spun off into a graphic novel!
I also really loved the sarcastic and witty writing style. This coupled with the short chapters really made the book fly by so fast, I was legitimately a little bummed when it ended.
3. I loved all the strong female characters. Especially Val, (basically Queen of the North!). She had a badass gang of female warriors and she was a BOSS. The fact that she was only willing to help if Maisie was allowed, and willing, to take over the South was such a great instance of women helping women.
Speaking of that, Maisie had such incredible support not just from Val and her ladies, but from her friends Hadley and Elise. They were willing to break so many rules and were prepared to respect any decisions that Maisie made without judgment or guilt. The female comradery in this book definitely reminded me of one of my favorite quotes:
"Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women, who have her back." LOVE IT!
4. Speaking of characters, our MCs were fun to follow. They were so different, yet such a good team that I loved watching them interact and get through so many troublesome situations.
Lennon was hilarious! He had great internal monologue, was always thinking strategically from many angles, and was definitely ok letting Maisie save him. I especially loved every time Lennon proved all the stereotypes of being a stuffy, Congressman's son wrong and when we found out about his street racing tendencies.
Maisie was fantastic to watch because she had so much character development! She went from just wanting to prove herself scary enough to be in charge to legitimately being a great leader because she was able to make alliances and help people instead of rule with an iron fist like leaders of the past. She genuinely cared about her people, so once she got through her "I need to be the biggest badass in the room" complex, she was able to initiate real change. I really hope we get to see more of this in the future!
4. I loved the mystery around the beloved Queso and I really hope there is a second book to follow him and Hadley!!! It would just be so damn perfect!
5. As a former college radio DJ, I appreciated all of the broadcasts, especially the "You can't say that on air" moments. Too damn accurate!
What didn’t do it for me:
1. The ONLY thing I can say, and I'm really grasping for straws here, is I wish we had more interaction with Ethan once we "met" him. I have this intense need for us to see him and Hadley interact and have the Romeo + Juliet love affair (with a less disastrous ending) we deserve!
I received a copy of this ARC from NetGalley, Random House Children's, Crown Books for Young Readers, and Amy Tintera. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily. Check it out later this year!
November 17, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
The Q, by author Amy Tintera, is a story that the author created because of the pandemic. Texas is a quarantine zone after a deadly international pandemic almost two decades ago. The virus, which had a 40% mortality rate, caused the government to build a massive quarantine zone around Austin and stuck all the sick people within the walls. Some people who were not sick, tried to escape, so, the government build walls around Austin. The virus did not provide long-term immunity to people who got infected with it.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/202...
*Genre* Young Adult / Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
The Q, by author Amy Tintera, is a story that the author created because of the pandemic. Texas is a quarantine zone after a deadly international pandemic almost two decades ago. The virus, which had a 40% mortality rate, caused the government to build a massive quarantine zone around Austin and stuck all the sick people within the walls. Some people who were not sick, tried to escape, so, the government build walls around Austin. The virus did not provide long-term immunity to people who got infected with it.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/202...
March 27, 2023
WHY ALL THE F-BOMBS!!!! PLEEEEEZE STOP WRITING BOOKS ASSUMING EVERYONE IS UNINTELLIGENT AND FOUL MOUTHED.
14 minutes into this "youth" audiobook, and I turned it off with frustration.
14 minutes into this "youth" audiobook, and I turned it off with frustration.
January 30, 2024
2⭐️
You know, for a book about a city in quarantine because of some deadly illness, there was not one single sick person in this entire book. Zip. Nada. Zilch.
No one even sneezed.
You know, for a book about a city in quarantine because of some deadly illness, there was not one single sick person in this entire book. Zip. Nada. Zilch.
No one even sneezed.
March 19, 2023
A serious epidemic broke out 20 years ago in the Austin, TX area and no one allowed to leave or enter. Due to the high 40% death rate and the fact that surviving the virus did not ensure future immunity, a wall was built around the city to keep those infected away from the rest of the US population. The quarantined area, known as The Q, seceded from the US and became ruled by two warring gangs. In present day, the new US Presidential candidate is running on a platform that is attempting to aid those in The Q when the candidate’s son, Lennon, is kidnapped and dropped from an airplane into The Q. He is quickly “rescued” by one of the gangs—the one led by the Lopez family—given an experimental temporary vaccine, and finds himself soon depending on Maisie, one of Lopez’s bullies, to keep him safe.
This is another extreme world created by Amy Tintera in which her characters are trying their best to survive despite dangerous situations. It was a creatively imagined spin on how governments might deal with epidemics. I could actually envision the world of this novel being sadly plausible. The characters and their social environments felt authentic. And I found myself captured by the story of this boy from the outside and the girl who was trying to help him return despite their growing feelings for each other. I will say that I rolled my eyes a bit that Lennon happened to have just the specific skills which were needed a couple times but Tintera wrote it in such a way that I was able to keep enjoying the ride. As a young adult book, the message that the young generations can improve their own future hit home.
The two audiobook narrators were Kyla Garcia and Robbie Daymond. They both did a fine job. I’ve heard Garcia narrate 3 books before—two for which I gave her an A and one which I could not even listen to for 30 minutes because of her terrible trend of emphasizing the last word in every sentence. In The Q, she was mostly great but she still put too much emphasis on the word “said” whenever she was reading “she said”/”he said” at the end of the sentence. It reminded me so much of the annoying way she had read that third novel that I looked it up to verify she was *that* narrator. Garcia can be robotic when not acting as a character but, thankfully, her performance in this audiobook was mostly good. I’ll give her a B+. Daymond was marvelous. He nailed his character and had a nice repertoire of voices. I give him an A. I only wish that the two of them could have agreed about the accents of a few characters (where he gave them Latino accents and she did not). I blame that on the producers.
This is another extreme world created by Amy Tintera in which her characters are trying their best to survive despite dangerous situations. It was a creatively imagined spin on how governments might deal with epidemics. I could actually envision the world of this novel being sadly plausible. The characters and their social environments felt authentic. And I found myself captured by the story of this boy from the outside and the girl who was trying to help him return despite their growing feelings for each other. I will say that I rolled my eyes a bit that Lennon happened to have just the specific skills which were needed a couple times but Tintera wrote it in such a way that I was able to keep enjoying the ride. As a young adult book, the message that the young generations can improve their own future hit home.
The two audiobook narrators were Kyla Garcia and Robbie Daymond. They both did a fine job. I’ve heard Garcia narrate 3 books before—two for which I gave her an A and one which I could not even listen to for 30 minutes because of her terrible trend of emphasizing the last word in every sentence. In The Q, she was mostly great but she still put too much emphasis on the word “said” whenever she was reading “she said”/”he said” at the end of the sentence. It reminded me so much of the annoying way she had read that third novel that I looked it up to verify she was *that* narrator. Garcia can be robotic when not acting as a character but, thankfully, her performance in this audiobook was mostly good. I’ll give her a B+. Daymond was marvelous. He nailed his character and had a nice repertoire of voices. I give him an A. I only wish that the two of them could have agreed about the accents of a few characters (where he gave them Latino accents and she did not). I blame that on the producers.
May 23, 2022
Other people: "Amy Tintera has a new book coming out."
Me: "What? I'm going to request and buy-"
Other people: "You don't even know what it's about!"
Me: "I. Do. Not. Care."
I don't have many auto-buy authors, but ever since All These Monsters I have been fangirling over Amy Tintera. I mean, has she written anything bad, like ever? She has a way of reeling you in and keeping you hooked until the very last page. This is an action-packed book with high stakes and a little bit of romance sprinkled in for good measure.
When this book was announced I got Escape From LA vibes, but this book holds its own. After a pandemic hits, the government quarantines Texas to keep the rest of the country safe. Masie has spent her whole life in the Q and knows nothing else. When a kidnapped son of a presidential candidate falls into the quarantine zone, she must get to him to safety in 72 hours. Lennon gets a rude awakening when he experiences life in the Q and a new understanding of what the government has done to its own people.
I loved:
1. the 2 POVs
2. the short chapters
3. the constant action
Publishers, give Amy Tintera ALL THE 3-BOOK DEALS. While you're at it, let's get another book in the Monsters series, yea? Well, I tried.
Me: "What? I'm going to request and buy-"
Other people: "You don't even know what it's about!"
Me: "I. Do. Not. Care."
I don't have many auto-buy authors, but ever since All These Monsters I have been fangirling over Amy Tintera. I mean, has she written anything bad, like ever? She has a way of reeling you in and keeping you hooked until the very last page. This is an action-packed book with high stakes and a little bit of romance sprinkled in for good measure.
When this book was announced I got Escape From LA vibes, but this book holds its own. After a pandemic hits, the government quarantines Texas to keep the rest of the country safe. Masie has spent her whole life in the Q and knows nothing else. When a kidnapped son of a presidential candidate falls into the quarantine zone, she must get to him to safety in 72 hours. Lennon gets a rude awakening when he experiences life in the Q and a new understanding of what the government has done to its own people.
I loved:
1. the 2 POVs
2. the short chapters
3. the constant action
Publishers, give Amy Tintera ALL THE 3-BOOK DEALS. While you're at it, let's get another book in the Monsters series, yea? Well, I tried.
December 19, 2022
The Kidnapping
A dystopian story about a quarantine zone called the Q. This quarantine area is in what was Austin, Texas which is now just called the Q. It is divided into sections ran by different criminal families. The virus attacks organs in people living in the Q and they must replace the organs to live with manufactured organs. These organs and medical supplies have to come from the U.S.
Lennon Pierce the son of a U.S. presidential candidate is kidnapped and dropped into the Quarantine zone. He is found and saved from cannibals by Maisie Rojas a lieutenant for Franco Lopez who runs the southern section of the Q. He is given a temporary antidote but must be gotten out of the Quarantine zone within forty eight hours or he will be infected and forced to stay in the Q.
The story is of their journey across the sectors of the Q to return Lennon to his family on the other side of the wall in the U.S.
It was a good story, I was surprised. I need a book that started with Q for a book challenge. This is the one I found and although not the genre I usually read it was a good read and I actually enjoyed reading it. The characters were interesting and it was something that potentially could happen.
I think that the YA group would really like this book. I would recommend it to that group especially.
Thanks to Amy Tintera for writing an interesting story, to Random House Children's for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
A dystopian story about a quarantine zone called the Q. This quarantine area is in what was Austin, Texas which is now just called the Q. It is divided into sections ran by different criminal families. The virus attacks organs in people living in the Q and they must replace the organs to live with manufactured organs. These organs and medical supplies have to come from the U.S.
Lennon Pierce the son of a U.S. presidential candidate is kidnapped and dropped into the Quarantine zone. He is found and saved from cannibals by Maisie Rojas a lieutenant for Franco Lopez who runs the southern section of the Q. He is given a temporary antidote but must be gotten out of the Quarantine zone within forty eight hours or he will be infected and forced to stay in the Q.
The story is of their journey across the sectors of the Q to return Lennon to his family on the other side of the wall in the U.S.
It was a good story, I was surprised. I need a book that started with Q for a book challenge. This is the one I found and although not the genre I usually read it was a good read and I actually enjoyed reading it. The characters were interesting and it was something that potentially could happen.
I think that the YA group would really like this book. I would recommend it to that group especially.
Thanks to Amy Tintera for writing an interesting story, to Random House Children's for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
December 12, 2022
3.5 Stars
Hey, maybe we should have a resurgence of YA dystopia. This book might be a sign that we're ready for it. I found this book fun, in a classic sort of YA way--it feels like it would fit in the original cohort very well. It's action and violence and hard consequences in a world that is too big for the teenagers wrapped up in it, all in the best way possible. And it's a fun extrapolation of our current predicament--which all good dystopia should be. Oh, to be stuck in a world of perpetual quarantine...
My full review is available at Gateway Reviews.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
Hey, maybe we should have a resurgence of YA dystopia. This book might be a sign that we're ready for it. I found this book fun, in a classic sort of YA way--it feels like it would fit in the original cohort very well. It's action and violence and hard consequences in a world that is too big for the teenagers wrapped up in it, all in the best way possible. And it's a fun extrapolation of our current predicament--which all good dystopia should be. Oh, to be stuck in a world of perpetual quarantine...
My full review is available at Gateway Reviews.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
November 30, 2022
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review to come...
Review to come...
Read
January 21, 2023very mid. i don't know what else to say. robbie daymond just made it okay. these kids literally knew each other for like 3 days but i guess that's all it takes in the world of ya romance. don't get me wrong, it wasn't horrendous or anything. just forgettable.
january 14, 2023
january 14, 2023
October 31, 2022
This book was awesome! It featured a new world that was eerily familiar and had too many loveable characters to count.
First, this book was so funny. Right off the bat, I was hit with clever humor that made me want to laugh out loud. Tintera had a way of delivering jokes and sarcasm at the perfect moments. Several of the characters had sarcastic personalities that pushed the comedy bits of this along as well, which I loved.
Speaking of characters, there were so many great ones that I don't even know where to start. Maisie, one of the main characters, was so cool. She fought guys off twice her size like a baddie and still managed to deliver to a joke. I seriously wish I was her. And then we had Hadley who has the perfect wing woman (and who I could definitely see a book 2 being centered around. Just saying...). She knew how to support Maisie while also bringing her own flair to things. And Lennon, our other main character, was an absolute dream. He was so nice and kind and made everyone around him comfortable. I wanted to be his best friend or older sister or something.
This book had a sweet romance. Obviously, romance wasn't the center of attention, but things still progressed with our two lovely main characters. And, since this book was dual pov, I got to see what both Maisie and Lennon thought of each other. I loved that!
The ending was a bit unresolved and open-ended. Like all the main parts wrapped up, sorta, but there were still quite a few questions that left me wondering if Tintera might return to this world one day. I hope she does.
Overall, this was a great book. I really hope we get to see these characters again, but if not, I'm glad I got to know them for a short time. Definitely check this one out if you enjoy dystopian-esque novels!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blog • Instagram • Twitter • TikTok
First, this book was so funny. Right off the bat, I was hit with clever humor that made me want to laugh out loud. Tintera had a way of delivering jokes and sarcasm at the perfect moments. Several of the characters had sarcastic personalities that pushed the comedy bits of this along as well, which I loved.
Speaking of characters, there were so many great ones that I don't even know where to start. Maisie, one of the main characters, was so cool. She fought guys off twice her size like a baddie and still managed to deliver to a joke. I seriously wish I was her. And then we had Hadley who has the perfect wing woman (and who I could definitely see a book 2 being centered around. Just saying...). She knew how to support Maisie while also bringing her own flair to things. And Lennon, our other main character, was an absolute dream. He was so nice and kind and made everyone around him comfortable. I wanted to be his best friend or older sister or something.
This book had a sweet romance. Obviously, romance wasn't the center of attention, but things still progressed with our two lovely main characters. And, since this book was dual pov, I got to see what both Maisie and Lennon thought of each other. I loved that!
The ending was a bit unresolved and open-ended. Like all the main parts wrapped up, sorta, but there were still quite a few questions that left me wondering if Tintera might return to this world one day. I hope she does.
Overall, this was a great book. I really hope we get to see these characters again, but if not, I'm glad I got to know them for a short time. Definitely check this one out if you enjoy dystopian-esque novels!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blog • Instagram • Twitter • TikTok
August 5, 2023
Enjoyed reading this book so much
Specially the 2 main characters, the gull was a badass and the boy - sun of the US president- was PERFECTION
He reminded me of Nicolay in king of scars and that made me love him more
But, BUT the ending was soooooo cheesy like I wish I didn’t read that chapter everything else was great but the last chapters were a huge disappointment
3.5~3.75 ⭐️
Specially the 2 main characters, the gull was a badass and the boy - sun of the US president- was PERFECTION
He reminded me of Nicolay in king of scars and that made me love him more
But, BUT the ending was soooooo cheesy like I wish I didn’t read that chapter everything else was great but the last chapters were a huge disappointment
3.5~3.75 ⭐️
November 24, 2022
**Thank you to NetGalley, Libro.fm, and Crown Books for the eARC in exchange for this review. This in no way changed my rating**
Amy Tintera is quickly climbing my list of favorite authors. I really loved the All These Monsters duology, so I was really excited to get to read her newest book, which also didn't disappoint.
The Q imagines a situation where the city of Austin has been quarantined from the rest of the US following a pandemic (which sounds increasingly plausible post-2019). A wall has been erected around the city, effectively keeping anyone who was in the city previous to the outbreak inside. No one leaves. That is, until Lennon Pierce, the son of a candidate for president, is kidnapped and dropped into the quarantine zone, or "The Q". Once inside, Lennon is given 72 hours by the CDC to get to the gate at the other end of the Q and be released from it. To do so, he needs the help of Maisie Rojas, the daughter of a ruthless man who was helping run the South section of the Q. As they journey, Maisie and Lennon discover they has severe misconceptions about the other's respective side of the wall anyhow society has been affected since the split. They each have individual situations they need to work through, as well as larger scale issues as there is a power grab made while Lennon is inside the Q.
One of Tintera's strengths is her characterization. The reader gets a good understanding of both POV characters through the writing. I really liked learning new little surprises about both characters and felt that the characters were fun and relatable. I also really liked the audiobook for this reason because the narrators switch depending on whose chapter it is, which adds to Tintera's writing. The plot is fast-paced and the ticking clock keeps things from ever feeling slow or unevenly paced.
I'm sure there are some people for whom a quarantine novel is too soon to the COVID pandemic and I understand that reservation. However, if you are in a place where you think that won't be a factor for you, I would recommend this book. The characters are great, the plot is well executed, and I'm of the opinion that Tintera's books are worth picking up.
Amy Tintera is quickly climbing my list of favorite authors. I really loved the All These Monsters duology, so I was really excited to get to read her newest book, which also didn't disappoint.
The Q imagines a situation where the city of Austin has been quarantined from the rest of the US following a pandemic (which sounds increasingly plausible post-2019). A wall has been erected around the city, effectively keeping anyone who was in the city previous to the outbreak inside. No one leaves. That is, until Lennon Pierce, the son of a candidate for president, is kidnapped and dropped into the quarantine zone, or "The Q". Once inside, Lennon is given 72 hours by the CDC to get to the gate at the other end of the Q and be released from it. To do so, he needs the help of Maisie Rojas, the daughter of a ruthless man who was helping run the South section of the Q. As they journey, Maisie and Lennon discover they has severe misconceptions about the other's respective side of the wall anyhow society has been affected since the split. They each have individual situations they need to work through, as well as larger scale issues as there is a power grab made while Lennon is inside the Q.
One of Tintera's strengths is her characterization. The reader gets a good understanding of both POV characters through the writing. I really liked learning new little surprises about both characters and felt that the characters were fun and relatable. I also really liked the audiobook for this reason because the narrators switch depending on whose chapter it is, which adds to Tintera's writing. The plot is fast-paced and the ticking clock keeps things from ever feeling slow or unevenly paced.
I'm sure there are some people for whom a quarantine novel is too soon to the COVID pandemic and I understand that reservation. However, if you are in a place where you think that won't be a factor for you, I would recommend this book. The characters are great, the plot is well executed, and I'm of the opinion that Tintera's books are worth picking up.
January 1, 2023
3.75
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so pleasantly surprised by this book! I've never read a book my this author and had no idea what to expect doing into this. Going in blind was great! The pacing was great and there were never any boring parts of the narrative. I also really liked the two main characters. They were funny and felt like real, flawed people. It was absolutely refreshing. Though the world was confined to The Q, it didn't feel overly small or isolated. I got a good feel for the world outside of the zone and the worldbuilding worked for me. I think a standalone for this book was a fantastic choice, because I think a series would have ended up killing everything I enjoyed about the story. It was short, fast-paced, and entertaining for what it was. Exactly what it needed to be for the story to work. Surprisingly, the romance didn't feel too rushed to me. They weren't proclaiming their love for one another after, like, three days (which seems to be a tough ask in novels these days). I understood why they got close so quickly.
The only things that are knocking my rating down a bit are the POV switches and the ending. I think, since the chapters were pretty short at times, I kept getting confused as to whose head I was supposed to be in, despite the character headers given at the beginning of each chapter. It was a bit jarring. Lennon's choice at the end felt a bit unbelievable as well. I understand why he made the choice that he did, but it seems like a bit of a stretch.
I'm interested in picking up some of Amy Tintera's other books in the future since I liked her characters so much. I'm super happy that I decided to take the jump with this one. Also, the cover is pretty great, which never hurts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so pleasantly surprised by this book! I've never read a book my this author and had no idea what to expect doing into this. Going in blind was great! The pacing was great and there were never any boring parts of the narrative. I also really liked the two main characters. They were funny and felt like real, flawed people. It was absolutely refreshing. Though the world was confined to The Q, it didn't feel overly small or isolated. I got a good feel for the world outside of the zone and the worldbuilding worked for me. I think a standalone for this book was a fantastic choice, because I think a series would have ended up killing everything I enjoyed about the story. It was short, fast-paced, and entertaining for what it was. Exactly what it needed to be for the story to work. Surprisingly, the romance didn't feel too rushed to me. They weren't proclaiming their love for one another after, like, three days (which seems to be a tough ask in novels these days). I understood why they got close so quickly.
The only things that are knocking my rating down a bit are the POV switches and the ending. I think, since the chapters were pretty short at times, I kept getting confused as to whose head I was supposed to be in, despite the character headers given at the beginning of each chapter. It was a bit jarring. Lennon's choice at the end felt a bit unbelievable as well. I understand why he made the choice that he did, but it seems like a bit of a stretch.
I'm interested in picking up some of Amy Tintera's other books in the future since I liked her characters so much. I'm super happy that I decided to take the jump with this one. Also, the cover is pretty great, which never hurts.
November 21, 2022
The Q is a dystopian type novel about a group of Texans cut off from the rest of the country in a walled in compound to keep a deadly virus from spreading.
Lennon Pierce is the son of a U.S. senator running for President when he is kidnapped and dropped via parachute into a walled-in and quarantined section of Texas. These U.S. citizens have been living outside the government of the rest of the county and are ruled by two factions. Lennon is dropped into the Lopez controlled south run by Dr. Franco Lopez and his family. A team from Dr. Lopez’s quickly grab Lennon and give him a very short acting vaccine that protects him against the virus that ravages their bodies and forces most of them to rely on transplants of artificial organs. In order to return Lennon back to his family before the vaccine stops working he will need to be transported across the state into the Spencer family controlled territory where the doors to the outside world are. In charge of Lennon’s safety is Maisie Rojas who has to fight off opposition within her own family plus the Spencers to get Lennon to the border.
The Q is fast paced and has a lot of action. Amy Tintera creates a smart and savvy group of young people that are navigating this difficult situation yet still somehow keep their sense of humor. There are a lot of funny quips and camaraderie along with with a splash of romance amongst the danger and outbreaks of violence. I recommend The Q to young adult dystopian fans that enjoy a lot of action and some snappy dialogue.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lennon Pierce is the son of a U.S. senator running for President when he is kidnapped and dropped via parachute into a walled-in and quarantined section of Texas. These U.S. citizens have been living outside the government of the rest of the county and are ruled by two factions. Lennon is dropped into the Lopez controlled south run by Dr. Franco Lopez and his family. A team from Dr. Lopez’s quickly grab Lennon and give him a very short acting vaccine that protects him against the virus that ravages their bodies and forces most of them to rely on transplants of artificial organs. In order to return Lennon back to his family before the vaccine stops working he will need to be transported across the state into the Spencer family controlled territory where the doors to the outside world are. In charge of Lennon’s safety is Maisie Rojas who has to fight off opposition within her own family plus the Spencers to get Lennon to the border.
The Q is fast paced and has a lot of action. Amy Tintera creates a smart and savvy group of young people that are navigating this difficult situation yet still somehow keep their sense of humor. There are a lot of funny quips and camaraderie along with with a splash of romance amongst the danger and outbreaks of violence. I recommend The Q to young adult dystopian fans that enjoy a lot of action and some snappy dialogue.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 1, 2025
If you're looking for an action movie in book form, look no further. From start to finish, this book is filled with fight scenes, wild car chases, shootouts etc. While it may not be that "deep" it's exactly what it promises to be - an exciting "on the run" type of story that gives you badass characters and a wild plot.
Despite this being a fast-paced standalone, there's still some major character development and there are even multiple side characters that I absolutely loved. Despite them having less "page-time," they were so fleshed out, and I genuinely wanted to learn more about them.
When it comes to the main characters, they are polar opposites in the best way. He's a slightly pampered politician's son who can charm anyone, and she's this badass fighter, daughter of an ex-convict slash gang leader. They are both very smart people and care a lot about others so despite being different when it comes to their upbringing, they had very similar views on how things should be done.
The ending surprised me a lil bit and I'm happy with how it turned out. There were 3 possible outcomes and I'm glad the author chose this one - it's not an over-the-top HEA but it's also not depressing. 😂
Despite this being a fast-paced standalone, there's still some major character development and there are even multiple side characters that I absolutely loved. Despite them having less "page-time," they were so fleshed out, and I genuinely wanted to learn more about them.
When it comes to the main characters, they are polar opposites in the best way. He's a slightly pampered politician's son who can charm anyone, and she's this badass fighter, daughter of an ex-convict slash gang leader. They are both very smart people and care a lot about others so despite being different when it comes to their upbringing, they had very similar views on how things should be done.
The ending surprised me a lil bit and I'm happy with how it turned out. There were 3 possible outcomes and I'm glad the author chose this one - it's not an over-the-top HEA but it's also not depressing. 😂
May 1, 2022
First and foremost, if there is ever a sci-fi/dystopian book, you will most definitely catch me requesting it. Why? Because they are fun and cool and always get me out of my reading slump. And that is exactly what this book did, it got me out of my long-overdue reading slump! And I'm forever grateful.
If you love small chapters, a quick read, and a super-fast-paced standalone, then this is the book for you! Personally, the only fault I had with the book was how cringey it was at parts - one example being the love interests talking to each other, despite meeting three days ago, as if they have the right to say how the other person is. To make it rather simple, I disliked how unreal the romance was -- too underdeveloped, with the characters being a little too black and white.
Overall, it was quite enjoyable but not my favorite, unfortunately. I absolutely adored the idea of a pandemic based society, and it had extremely high potential but it did not live up to the standards I wished for.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you love small chapters, a quick read, and a super-fast-paced standalone, then this is the book for you! Personally, the only fault I had with the book was how cringey it was at parts - one example being the love interests talking to each other, despite meeting three days ago, as if they have the right to say how the other person is. To make it rather simple, I disliked how unreal the romance was -- too underdeveloped, with the characters being a little too black and white.
Overall, it was quite enjoyable but not my favorite, unfortunately. I absolutely adored the idea of a pandemic based society, and it had extremely high potential but it did not live up to the standards I wished for.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2022
I really liked this one! And honestly, I wasn't sure I would. After the hell all of us went through with COVID, stories revolving around a quarantine are always a bit risky. But this one did it so well.
I never felt depressed or sad while reading. Tintera did an amazing job of incorporating humor, it kept the entire book light. It also added a really nice depth to the characters. All of them were charming, and all of them had me laughing at points. All of their interactions were so much fun!
I am slightly disappointed that we didn't get a more definitive ending. I'm happy with where it left all of our characters, but I wanted to see the virus conflict resolved. Still an amazing book, but slightly unsatisfactory in that regard
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I never felt depressed or sad while reading. Tintera did an amazing job of incorporating humor, it kept the entire book light. It also added a really nice depth to the characters. All of them were charming, and all of them had me laughing at points. All of their interactions were so much fun!
I am slightly disappointed that we didn't get a more definitive ending. I'm happy with where it left all of our characters, but I wanted to see the virus conflict resolved. Still an amazing book, but slightly unsatisfactory in that regard
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
November 4, 2022
4.5 rounded up
I loved this story so much... the tension between the two lead characters? The world-building? The pacing? Fantastic. There are so many characters that are all given the right amount of screen time and depth, and I am in awe of this well-crafted book. I was a bit worried that this would focus too much on the pandemic aspects of the book, since we are currently post-pandemic, but it wasn't overdone and all references to it were needed and interesting. I only wish we got more development for Lennon, since we got a ton for Maisie. There were some amazing (minor) plot twists with him that made me smile so hard though. I highly recommend this book if you want to read something action-packed.
I loved this story so much... the tension between the two lead characters? The world-building? The pacing? Fantastic. There are so many characters that are all given the right amount of screen time and depth, and I am in awe of this well-crafted book. I was a bit worried that this would focus too much on the pandemic aspects of the book, since we are currently post-pandemic, but it wasn't overdone and all references to it were needed and interesting. I only wish we got more development for Lennon, since we got a ton for Maisie. There were some amazing (minor) plot twists with him that made me smile so hard though. I highly recommend this book if you want to read something action-packed.
June 28, 2024
I loved Amy Tintera’s adult debut, Listen for the Lie, so I looked for some of her earlier YA books. I found The Q.
“Lennon, whose father is running for president, is kidnapped by his father’s enemies and thrown into the Q. This is the quarantine zone that has been walled off from the rest of America. Lennon is given a vaccine that gives him temporary immunity. Now he has four days to get to the gate. But no one has ever left the Q.”
Lennon has the help of Maisie - our YA heroine who acts tough but is full of insecurity. There are betrayals and lots of action as Lennon tries to get out with Maisie’s help. Some surprising allies and a different ending than you expect.
Lots of Escape from NY vibes.
“Lennon, whose father is running for president, is kidnapped by his father’s enemies and thrown into the Q. This is the quarantine zone that has been walled off from the rest of America. Lennon is given a vaccine that gives him temporary immunity. Now he has four days to get to the gate. But no one has ever left the Q.”
Lennon has the help of Maisie - our YA heroine who acts tough but is full of insecurity. There are betrayals and lots of action as Lennon tries to get out with Maisie’s help. Some surprising allies and a different ending than you expect.
Lots of Escape from NY vibes.
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