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In Real Life
In 2100, America has its own Internet, and Lin’s only companions are her AI assistant, Tobi, and the hosts of the Nothing but News podcast keeping her up to date on what's going on in the outside world. But when the Liberty party shuts down the Internet and arrests anyone with questionable social media activity, Lin moves back in with her parents to hide from the patrol officers. Hope is a far cry from her now.Until her ex-husband shows up.As a professional hacker, Don can delete Lin’s personal archive and wipe her slate clean, making her as good as dead. When she winds up in a place called the “Community,” Lin discovers that connection, and survival, are possible without the Internet.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2021
4 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Warner
5 books12 followersI'm a speculative fiction novelist, devotional blogger, and toddler mommy. The common thread among my writing is that God is our true source of hope. I'm a native Long Islander who lives in the suburbs with my husband Lenny and our little boy. I have a Christian dystopian series out called the Internet Shutdown Series. I'm also working on some biblical retellings!
In my spare time, I love being outside, trying new foods, and exercising. I don't love cleaning, but that does consume most of my spare time!
In my spare time, I love being outside, trying new foods, and exercising. I don't love cleaning, but that does consume most of my spare time!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 10, 2023
This book isn’t normally something I would go for, but I am glad I gave it a chance.
The story starts out slow, but really hooks a reader in once the drama begins to unfold. This book provokes a lot of deep reflection and asks many vital questions about our society as it is now and what it may look like in the future.
This book is set in the future, with the central focus about the advancements of technology. Whilst the author presents this in a realistic and thought provoking way, it feels some aspects of this developed world are left behind or like they haven’t been considered.
The characters all travel well planned arcs and develop throughout the story, but at times seem disagreeable and flat. They do have much potential to be great with just a little more fleshing out.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to other people who typically read and enjoy futuristic, Christian books but it certainly isn’t for everyone - which is perfectly fine for a book to be. The plot is consistent throughout with drama sustained, so makes for an enjoyable read.
The story starts out slow, but really hooks a reader in once the drama begins to unfold. This book provokes a lot of deep reflection and asks many vital questions about our society as it is now and what it may look like in the future.
This book is set in the future, with the central focus about the advancements of technology. Whilst the author presents this in a realistic and thought provoking way, it feels some aspects of this developed world are left behind or like they haven’t been considered.
The characters all travel well planned arcs and develop throughout the story, but at times seem disagreeable and flat. They do have much potential to be great with just a little more fleshing out.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to other people who typically read and enjoy futuristic, Christian books but it certainly isn’t for everyone - which is perfectly fine for a book to be. The plot is consistent throughout with drama sustained, so makes for an enjoyable read.
August 8, 2025
Loved it -couldn’t put it down ! Cant wait to read book2
Read
May 28, 2021I'm not going to give this a star rating because I was involved in critiquing this story, so that doesn't seem quite fair.
In Real Life is set in a near dystopian future - the United States of America has isolated itself and built its own Internet where they are safe from terrorists, religion, and the rest of the world. But then the Internet shuts down, USA is thrown into disarray, and Lin has to rediscover how to live life without her AI assistant, Tobi, handling everything from her household appliances and her schedules to her very life. When patrol officers take her mother away for questionable social media activity, she has to figure out if she can trust the one person she has raged against for the past five years: her ex-husband, Don.
In Real Life is very much about hope. Hope when things turn dark, when nothing in life seems to make sense. It's also about forgiveness, and faith, and finding Jesus. Yes, it's an explicitly Christian book, so there's some preaching involved - if you don't like come-to-Jesus moments, this probably isn't the right book for you, though it is relatively light, short, and 100% story/plot appropriate.
A strong theme is also about making connections - or re-making them in some cases - and about rebuilding your life from the shambles it has become. And how community helps you do that in many ways, whether it's being a sounding board when you're worried, helping you let go of the past, or supporting you despite your failures.
In Real Life is set in a near dystopian future - the United States of America has isolated itself and built its own Internet where they are safe from terrorists, religion, and the rest of the world. But then the Internet shuts down, USA is thrown into disarray, and Lin has to rediscover how to live life without her AI assistant, Tobi, handling everything from her household appliances and her schedules to her very life. When patrol officers take her mother away for questionable social media activity, she has to figure out if she can trust the one person she has raged against for the past five years: her ex-husband, Don.
In Real Life is very much about hope. Hope when things turn dark, when nothing in life seems to make sense. It's also about forgiveness, and faith, and finding Jesus. Yes, it's an explicitly Christian book, so there's some preaching involved - if you don't like come-to-Jesus moments, this probably isn't the right book for you, though it is relatively light, short, and 100% story/plot appropriate.
A strong theme is also about making connections - or re-making them in some cases - and about rebuilding your life from the shambles it has become. And how community helps you do that in many ways, whether it's being a sounding board when you're worried, helping you let go of the past, or supporting you despite your failures.
January 5, 2025
As someone who did not consider herself a reader, I could not put this book down after the first few chapters. Each chapter had me at the edge of my seat, with the answer in the following chapter. Some great twists at the end of the book. Also touched on tough issues such as a woman navigating life after loss.
Very engaging plot, great character development, and had me wanting to read book two right away.
Very engaging plot, great character development, and had me wanting to read book two right away.
September 7, 2025
In Real Life presents an interesting premise: What would it be like in the year 2100 to suddenly be cut off from technology and forced to reconnect with humanity? The story conveys these challenges through the eyes of Lin, a young, divorced woman who is wonderfully complex, insecure, and in many ways emotionally stunted due to her lack of real life experiences and human connection. The author also doesn't shy away from difficult topics which she weaves throughout her story. Because experiences like the loss of a parent, marriage, or pregnancy can be deeply personal, the story will likely resonate differently with readers. The religious element was also a unique aspect as I've never read a Christian dystopia before.
While there were some incredibly interesting details about this future, much of the world does feel the same – from surroundings and routines to dialogue and character names. I wish more focus had been given to world building, especially since the pieces that were there were so intriguing. Instead, most of the focus is spent on the MC's internal dialogue, trauma, eventual faith arc, and obsession with cleaning.
In Real Life leans into short chapters with many of them ending on a cliffhanger. Based on your reading preference, this will either prove a challenge or have you flying through the chapters. While I don't want to give away any spoilers about the ending, that pattern will likely motivate those who are invested in Lin's story to pick up the next book in the series.
While there were some incredibly interesting details about this future, much of the world does feel the same – from surroundings and routines to dialogue and character names. I wish more focus had been given to world building, especially since the pieces that were there were so intriguing. Instead, most of the focus is spent on the MC's internal dialogue, trauma, eventual faith arc, and obsession with cleaning.
In Real Life leans into short chapters with many of them ending on a cliffhanger. Based on your reading preference, this will either prove a challenge or have you flying through the chapters. While I don't want to give away any spoilers about the ending, that pattern will likely motivate those who are invested in Lin's story to pick up the next book in the series.
August 13, 2025
Good messages about relationships over isolation, facing pain rather than ignoring it, and being thankful no matter the circumstances. Nearly every chapter ended on a cliffhanger, keeping me intrigued. I liked the relationship Lin had with her father, that no matter what she did or didn’t do, he loved her. Ruthless aspects of this dystopian government were interesting to see, particularly how .
February 8, 2024
Exciting Christian Fiction!
I didn’t know what to expect coming into this book, but I really enjoyed it! The characters are dealing with life after an internet shutdown. I think Lin was a really relatable MC and the action with all its twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat. I feel like I’m pretty good at predicting book endings, but this one had me in suspense!
I haven’t read a ton of Christian Fiction recently, but the way the author brings Christ into the narrative was refreshing.
Looking forward to the next book!
I didn’t know what to expect coming into this book, but I really enjoyed it! The characters are dealing with life after an internet shutdown. I think Lin was a really relatable MC and the action with all its twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat. I feel like I’m pretty good at predicting book endings, but this one had me in suspense!
I haven’t read a ton of Christian Fiction recently, but the way the author brings Christ into the narrative was refreshing.
Looking forward to the next book!
May 21, 2024
Very enjoyable Christian fiction and I enjoyed the dystopian story. Looking forward to continue reading the series!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews