I really enjoyed her perspective. She doesn't see herself as a "real" person though she's good at imitating one. She's cold and calculating, logical and intelligent, but she doesn't understand all of the behaviors she emulates. And she has some very frank opinions on sex and misogyny.

I hate third person present more than first person present (this one is first person present), and this book didn't get five stars because I will never not be irritated to some degree by present tense in any form. (Edit: I say in the review I'm not irritated, but I am, just not at the money spent. LOL)

Present tense is very hard to do well. Any first person PT is an automatic NOPE for me, the only exception being "The Hate U Give". I can do some third person PT, depending on the author and how it's being used, but I'm with you there, it's always irritating to some degree. The only exception is Chuck Wendig. For some reason, it really fits his books.

And yes, I've been burned often enough that any book I'm interested in goes into a "maybe" queue, which I periodically go through and check all the preview samples, then will only add to TBR if it passes the first person PT litmus test.

I agree that some authors do present tense better than others. Angie Thomas is really good at it. So is Justina Ireland. I think Chuck Wendig is a really good storyteller, and that makes me a little sad, because I freaking hate his writing style which he has worked very hard to develop. XD

I suspect Wendig is like okra - people love it or hate it with very little in between.

Yep, I have experienced this. Lauren Beukes comes to mind. With both Moxyland and Zoo City it took me a bit to realize it was present tense, and I have no idea why my pedantic brain didn't catch on right away.

Oh, there's a book two? Intriguing! I have no idea where Stone could take it from where she left off.

Right now there is a planned (and already written) book 3. Book 2 is titled Problem Child and was released in March.

Yep, as soon as I read your first comment I found book two on Amazon. I'm both glad and disappointed that it's not another revenge fest. XD

I feel the same way, after listening to this. While another revenge plot would be redundant, I kind of missed it, or at least missed the completely satisfying ending that book #1 had. There is a little side of revenge...or sabotage, on a male co-worker.

Oooh! I'll eagerly await your review!