Book Review – Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong?

Frances is been a study machine with one goal. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret – not even the person she is on the inside. Then Frances meets Aled, and for the first time she’s unafraid to be herself.

So when the fragile trust between them is broken, Frances is caught between who she was and who she longs to be. Now Frances knows that she has to confront her past. To confess why Carys disappeared…

Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has.

Engaging with themes of identity, diversity and the freedom to choose, Radio Silence is a tor de force by the most exciting writer of her generation.

My rating:

Honestly, while i like the concept of this, it just didn’t work for me. I found Frances sort of annoying, and Aled is basically a dick the entire book. But it’s okay, because he has a reason! (Hint, it’s still not okay).

Right. Frances having such a strong split between school her and who she really is sort of got to me, because it’s sad. But I do get it. And I’m glad we get to see that break down a little through the book. And I obviously get her love for Universe City. Even if it all ends up being a little too coincidental.

The parts about the radio show, from the concept to the fans to being outed as who you are online, I really did like. The whole show does sound like a great concept that would really appeal to people.

I just hated how Aled treated Frances. Especially as the book moves on. And double especially when she ends up taking the blame for something he was part of too and was not her fault. She sort of tries to explain a bit, but later she’s accepting that she did something wrong, and she definitely didn’t! Not as far as I’m concerned anyway. Argh. I get that he has a situation that utterly sucks, and particularly the part over Christmas made me so angry for him, but he is just taking it out on others so much of the time and then not listening when they try to explain that or when they try to support him. And everyone around him is trying to be supportive which is great, but it definitely felt over line into enabling his behaviour a few times.

So yeah, my feelings are complicated. The story is good, and I do like the concept and the way it does showcase Aled’s situation, but I hated him so much that it really skewed the read for me. 2.5 stars.

Buy Radio Silence from Amazon UK.