Review: Need

Need by Joelle Charbonneau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Closer to a 3.5.

I'm sometimes surprised that techno-thrillers don't get front and center for the YA set. Need, I suppose, isn't fully a techno-thriller, but it does have social networking as a central issue in the book and results in an exciting story that creates some interesting ideas even if the execution is shaky.

In a small town, a new social network has popped up, NEED, which purports to grant the user any wish they want in exchange for a chore or task. What starts out as "sign up your friends" quickly becomes more sinister, and the death toll rises as people become more and more set on receiving what they ask for.

As a fast-paced thriller of sorts, it works. The pacing is a little off, but that's okay. The story does rely on some pretty standard tropes - dumb police officers and parents, gullible teens, seemingly only one smart/noble character. With that said, it is a fun and fast ride, and that should amount to something as well, too.

I loved The Testing series and I hesitate to call this a step back because it's a different genre that requires different ideas, but those expecting for a similar read will probably be disappointed. Those looking for a fast movie-style thriller, though, will find a lot to like.

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