Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
(CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE SHATTER ME SERIES. This book is a spin off and can be read as a standalone as it provides backstory throughout, however the original story and characters are referenced and present in this book).
“I’ve been fooling people all my life. You’re the only one paying attention.”
This is the perfect romantasy for readers who love a YA enemies to lovers plot with tension - taking place in a magical futuristic dystopian world.
Set a decade after the events of the original Shatter Me series, this story brings us back to a world forever changed by Juliette Ferrars and Aaron Warner Anderson’s rebellion. With the fall of The Reestablishment, the New Republic of the West rose from the ashes. Despite their victory, one final stronghold of the old regime still remains: Ark Island. It's a heavily fortified, tech-guarded refuge off the coast of North America, untouched and impenetrable. That is, until James Anderson, Aaron’s younger brother, does the unthinkable: he infiltrates the island… and ends up imprisoned.
This book was everything I hoped for and so much more! It felt like a warm, thrilling reunion with beloved characters, their personalities as vivid and lovable as ever. I found myself giggling and grinning as I read, overwhelmed with nostalgia watching them all grown up. James is a standout—crafted with the best traits of both Aaron and Kenji, the two men who helped raise him. His humour, charm, and complexity did not disappoint, and I cannot wait to see his character grow through the series.
Main Tropes:
Dystopian
Enemies to Lovers
Duel POV
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Romance
No spice (tension/yearning)
This fast paced story follows James Anderson, as he infiltrates Ark Island- the last refuge of The Reestablishment. Despite the island’s intense surveillance and high-tech security, James manages to make it inside. But his mission takes a turn when he’s captured and thrown into a prison cell—where he comes face to face with Rosabelle, a ruthless assassin assigned to kill him.
Rosabelle has spent most of her life on Art Island, with only one goal - protect and provide for her younger sister Clara. So when The Reestablishment assigns her to James, she doesn’t hesitate. But she soon realises this won’t be a simple assassination. Thrust into a world of deceit, hidden agendas, and the paranoia of constant surveillance, Rosabelle begins to realize she’s just another pawn in a much larger game. And against her better judgment, she begins to feel something for James—something real.
In world where loyalty means everything- what happens when you find yourself wanting to be loyal to the one you're forced to betray?