Rite of Rejection (Acceptance Book 1)

An interesting twist on a dystopian that left me wanting more. I totally found that this was a young woman who found herself dreaming of a wonderful future to have those hopes dashed and in a situation that was not of her making. Instead she has to fight for her freedom and maybe with some help, make society better and free from the machine that is the Cardinal.

Rebecca seems like any teenager who is looking forward to becoming a member of society. She dreams of having everything that can be possible by being accepted. Her family seems relatively nice and supportive. Everything is going well. When her friends ask her about the Cardinal and the machine, she makes a comment that doesn’t sit well. This will be something that comes back to haunt her later. I also liked that we got to see some of what her life is like during the first chapter. We get to see why Rebecca is the way that she is.

At the Acceptance ceremony, everything changes. In one instant, her whole life changes. She is rejected, not accepted for anything in society. This means she goes to a place that is called the Pit, where the rejects and criminals go. Rebecca doesn’t understand why this is happening to her. She can’t believe this is where she will go. Rebecca thinks this is a mistake and can’t do anything to fix this.

The Pit is a scary place. They are forced to do all kinds of labor and not all of it’s glamourous. The meals are horrible. I mean you feel like this place is going to break her. Instead she makes friends. These friends help her understand that this is where she is. Plus they are trying to escape. She also finds out that when your body exhibits any change above normal during your routine exams, you are already marked as a criminal. This changes her outlook on society.

This book takes some dark and scary moments. I totally enjoyed the twists. The romance was okay. I felt that at times it was just like she needed someone. Plus Daniel was there. It was okay to read, but I didn’t like some of the characters attitude towards Rebecca, but I guess it’s understandable. Plus the way it ended leaves it open for a sequel. I’m kind of curious to see what happens after that ending.

Rating: Four Hearts

Rebecca along with her classmates are waiting Acceptance day where they are accepted into society. However, if you are not accepted, your sent to the PIT because you could potentially be a criminal. This is the fate Rebecca is given even though she would never hurt a fly. So why is she in the PIT?
“In the PIT, no one is safe and every day is a fight for survival.” — Sarah Negovetich, Rite of Rejection
I really enjoyed this world, it did remind me of some other ones I’ve read and loved. Although, I didn’t feel any attachment to any of the characters. Rebecca at first came off to me as whiny, but as the story progressed, her character really started to develop and I started liking her more. I did like the side characters, Molly probably being my favorite of them. I wasn’t a big fan of the love triangle that developed, and thankfully that didn’t last long. I did like the romance that did blossom by the end of the book though. Though, at the beginning of the book I was rooting for the other guy and by about half way, completely changed my mind!
I’m hoping that in the sequel we will get to see more of the world. I’m curious to see the world outside the PIT as there wasn’t many scenes outside from the PIT. I felt this is where the book for me was lacking the most, was world development and back stories to better understand this world. The characters and romance definitely were developing, but as the story progressed, the world was left behind. I want to know more about the Cardinal and why he is like this and all things that come with it. I felt the back story that was given was a little rushed and I didn’t get to truly understand the world.
I also really liked the machine that would tell you whether your an acceptable citizen or a criminal. I found it very interesting how the machine told you whether you were or not. I also liked the concept of the Acceptance day and what went about that day- finding your potential husband and the dances.
I’m really hoping there is a sequel, mostly because of the cliffhanger at the end, but also because I want more to this world. This definitely could have been an easy 5 star read if I would have gotten more explanation to the world and connected more with the characters. I would still definitely recommend this to friends who are fans of dystopian.

**I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review**

4 ½ stars!

Book description:

Straight-laced, sixteen-year-old Rebecca can’t wait for her Acceptance. A fancy ball, eligible bachelors, and her debut as an official member of society. Instead, the Machine rejects Rebecca. Labeled as a future criminal, she’s shipped off to a life sentence in a lawless penal colony.

A life behind barbed wire fences with the world’s most dangerous people terrifies Rebecca. She reluctantly joins a band of misfit teens in a risky escape plan, complete with an accidental fiancé she’s almost certain she can learn to love.

But freedom comes with a price. To escape a doomed future and prove her innocence Rebecca must embrace the criminal within.

Pros: Rebecca is a survivor. Even without her family and friends that she grew up with, she knows that if she wants to live, she has to be smart, flexible, and sharp. I really liked that even though she was in prison, she stays strong and retains her wit – even when she feels like her will is going to be broken, she knows she is meant for greatness – even if it looks hopeless. She wants to be the change – is determined to be the change. Along with the romantic notes that are throughout the story, Rebecca always tries to stay true to who she is. And when that means being the change her world needs to stop innocent people from being unjustly imprisoned, even if it could and very well could spell the end of her, Rebecca shows the world, and those she loves, just who she really is.

Cons: Ultimately, I didn’t really feel there were many negative aspects, just parts of the story I wasn’t super excited about – like how one’s family could just give up on them, just because a machine says they could POSSIBLY, one day become a criminal. When really they are just too smart to become the cattle that the rest of the world – believing the words of the leader above the knowledge that their loved ones are still the same people they have raised and loved their whole lives. So really, not an issue with Ms. Negovetich’s writing or story, but with humanity itself.

Overall impression: Really enjoyed the story and am very much looking forward to seeing what happens next for Rebecca and her unlikely crew.

Full review and more available at:http://oneguysguidetogoodreads.blogspot.com/2014/12/rite-of-rejection-by-sarah-negovetich_31.html

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My Thoughts

Sarah first approached me back in October about reviewing her upcoming novel. I read the synopsis and thought it sounded pretty awesome. I responded back to Sarah, and an awesome partnership was born. While it took me quite a bit longer than I anticipated to get this novel read and reviewed, every second was worth the wait. Holy smokes, what a phenomenal way to end 2014! This book actually ended up being one of my favorite reads!

In true One Guy's Guide to Good Reads, allow me to get the negatives out of the way first. While I ended up truly loving this novel, it didn't start out that way. For some reason, it really took me a bit to get into this story. I'm not sure if it was my mindset or what, but I really couldn't get into it. I have to say that the dystopian genre is getting to be pretty bloated, so it takes something pretty amazing to grab my attention. There is only so many times I can read about a futuristic War-torn United States before I am going to lose my mind. Hunger Games, Divergent, Matched... Need I go on? This novel really reminded me a lot of some of the other extremely popular dystopian series out there. It really wasn't until we got passed the introductory stage of the book that I became interested. It wasn't due to any bad writing or anything negative on Sarah's part, I was just looking for what made Rite of Rejection different. And then I found it. That's where any and all comparisons stopped.

My only other complaint about Rite of Rejection is kind of a moot point, but bear with me here. So in RoR there were more than a few moments that were.... cringe worthy. Moments where I was like "is this really about to happen...?" or "Oh no, I hope that doesn't...." and then they actually don't. Sarah is tricky. Seriously several times in this novel I thought the book was going to take one direction, then at the last moment something came out of left field and 'rightened' out the plot. I dig it. I like being kept on my toes, but those few moments of hesitation were almost more than I could handle!

Complaints over. Let's rave.

So the characters in Rite of Rejection were phenomenal. I loved each and every one. As you guys all know, I have a soft spot for villains and as it turns out, this time was no exception. My favorite character in RoR was actually the villain. I can't say who or why because it would be a huge spoiler in the plot line, but seriously. It happened. Sarah's character development in this novel was spot on. The way I felt about these characters was genuine. Every triumph had me cheering, while every pitfall gave me the blues. We all know how important characters can be to a storyline, and Sarah did a great job incorporating phenomenal ones into hers. I also loved how the characters did a really great job of representing society in different facets. Unlike other dystopians, in RoR, it is through the characters in which we learn about the surrounding world and life, not the plot. That was very unique to me. It's amazing how much Sarah was able to say with so few words.

The originality of this read is what really made it stand out for me. Dystopians are everywhere these days so you really have to do something special for me to take this much interest. Sarah did. Never before have I ever seen such an idea implemented in a novel. This was absolutely fantastic. Sarah is on top of her A-game and Rite of Rejection is a work that definitely stands on its' own. I have mad respect for that. There is no need for any comparisons here, in fact, others should be trying to live up to this standard. If every dystopian author put half as much work into their novels as Sarah clearly did here, we would have such an over-inflated sub-genre.

The last big thing I want to bring up is the setting in RoR. So if you guys read the synopsis and have heard about the book, you've heard of the PIT. The PIT is where the "outcasts" of society are sent to live after their Acceptance 'Rejection". The world that Sarah creates inside the pit is amazing. It was truly like I was there. Imagine the worst post-apocalyptic city you can, covered in trash, filth, crawling with rapists, and never knowing what may lurk around the corner. Yes. That. Seriously. The mood that Sarah set for the settling was perfect. I seriously think that was my favorite part of this novel.

I don't know about you guys, but I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series. Fair warning, book one ends on a rather abrupt note with a massive cliffhanger. Don't say I didn't warn ya. I was so upset to see it end there!

In the end, Rite of Rejection proved to not be just an amazing book, it proved to be one of my favorite reads of 2014. Seriously. I saved one of the bests for last in this instance because I wouldn't have changed a thing. Loved. This. Book. It should be no surprise then, that I am granting Rite of Rejection an extremely well-deserved 5-star review! You guys have got to check out this debut novel from Sarah Negovetich, you will not be disappointed!
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The Good

The concept of this story is fantastic. In the beginning, I was wondering how it would really feel to go to a ball with dance cards and attempt to meet your future mate, or be assigned someone at a certain age if you couldn't find one. It reminds me a bit of Mulan. For the modern woman, that is mind-boggling enough, but then trying to imagine what life would be like if you were stripped away from your family and thrown into a prison for crimes you've yet committed, is definitely something that had me contemplating how I would feel in the same situation.

Becca as a main character in this one makes sense to me. She's grown up in this world that molds women to be a wife and she's quite mild-mannered and follows the rules. She grows as a character the way that you would expect and is really the one that you come to know and can connect with the most as a reader. Do you get frustrated with her at times? Sure, but I get frustrated with myself for my own choices sometimes too.

The writing doesn't gloss over hard issues and circumstances and parts of it were hard to read, but that's why it felt more real.

I loved that everything was not as it seemed. When an author can surprise me in any way, it's great.

The Bad

I was left wanting more information. I also really wanted a more in-depth look at the world and The Cardinal.

I love secondary characters in stories, and Rite of Rejection didn't have those well cultivated sidekicks that I enjoy so much.

Also, as a mother, I had the HARDEST time accepting that these parents just let the government steal their children away from them without wanting to rise up and do something about it. You don't mess with my child! However, this is a dystopian (I've had this problem with other reads before) and I have to remind myself that the way the characters work and the world they live in is supposed to be different than today's.

The Romance

There is romance. At one point it had me clenching my teeth because I thought I had a love-rectangle on my hands. It starts with very tiny things that I noticed in the writing hinting at different characters that build up, but things ended up being handled there nicely.

Conclusion

A very enjoyable story. I'm writing this immediately after finishing so I'm not sure how I feel about that ending. I also appreciate that Negovetich does surprise me. I would read a follow-up book. Recommended.

Originally given 3 1/2 stars on <A href="http://jcbookhaven.blogspot.com/2014/12/blog-tour-review-rite-of-rejection-by.html">JC's Book Haven</A>.

http://functioninginsanity.blogspot.com/2014/12/rite-of-rejection-by-sarah-negovetich.html
I admit I was pulled into the concept and wanted to see what method is taken to make the world “perfect” because there are so many views on this and reading a different one is always makes me wonder if it could work. In Rite of Rejection there is a machine that was created that filtered all those with criminal tendencies. A punishment before you commit the crime kind of thing, it gave me a feeling of Minority Report in that respect. Already you wonder if you could ever agree with this. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? So you’re of age, all of 16 and you get all dolled up to go to your Acceptance, where are either accepted and continue on into a ball and try to find possible suitors or you are rejected and sent to live in a hell hole full of criminals.

There are a few things you see that you expect, the corrupt person in power. Let’s face it, it never gets old because I don’t think one person should have so much power, ever, it corrupts them. Like Frodo and the ring. There is also a romance. Even in hell you can still have feelings even if it seems foolish. I liked that our main character Rebecca admits how silly her little romantic problems seem in the grand scheme of things. Yes, I mentioned romantic drama. At first I was a bit leery of it. But I gave it a chance and I really liked how it played out. I don’t want to say much more and risk giving it away.

Some things I think could have been a bit more flushed out. The machine itself was briefly discussed enough to get a sense for the overall story but I found myself wondering how it took effect, how they made the decisions to change the world into this brand of perfect. Not needed again but I would have liked a bit more to satisfy my curiosity. That’s it.

Now the next part is going to go into depth on a few things that might be slightly spoiler-ish so be warned. Really be warned.

So this “perfect” world is not one I could ever see myself in. Women are pretty much reverted back to the days of being good for little more than taking care of home, husband, and kids. My hackles rose when I read that. I am clearly a modern woman and not into that concept. Women are taught to read because they need to read recipes and notes from their husbands…clearly not my idea of perfection. Moving on though I love that not only are the characters struggling to come to terms with their rejection and the life they now have to look forward to but how do they react when faced with criminals. Sometimes you have to let your inner criminal out in order to survive, but does that make the machine right? Or are you just adapting to your environment.

Back to the two love interests, with a bit more slightly spoiler-ish content. The first guy seems perfect but our MC decides she kinda likes the “taken” one as well. As she grows to realize she doesn’t love the one she has but the one she can’t have, things seem a bit complicated. I was a bit skeptical about this plot line as I started to see it coming to light. Something added for no reason but to add drama. My first thought but then as it played out I realized how happy I was that I gave it a chance. Rebecca could have loved the one she has, back before her life changed, but in this new world she is a new person. She clung to him, the familiar in a scary and new world, what she had been dreaming of. Then as she starts to adapt to her new world she starts to change as a character, thus changing what she is looking for. The drama played to be a larger aspect of showing just how much our MC changed from the start and what she is willing to do to survive.

That's all the spoilers I have. I give Rite of Rejection a solid 4 stars. It kept me interested and made me want to know what would happen next. I was concerned for the outcome of the characters. This book came out on December 4th so check it out. Also tell me what you thought below. What do you think would have to change for the world to function "perfectly" ?

I loved this book! Rite of Rejection is Sarah Negovetich's debut novel, and she certainly starts her writing career on a high note with this book. Rite of Rejection was so well-written, engaging and fast-paced.

I love the premise of Rite of Rejection. The Acceptance ceremony has a unique feel to it. On one hand, Acceptance reminded me of a 19th century debut ball. On the other hand, it made me think of other dystopian novels, in that when teens come of age their place in society is determined. But in this world, the determination comes from a machine. The Machine, in fact, reads biomarkers from the teen's hands and flashes green for Acceptance, and red for Rejection. People can be rejected on the basis that there is something inside of them that will make them future criminals or discontents. That made me think of the precogs from Minority Report: how people are arrested for a crime before the crime even happens. The premise in Rite of Rejection is that people are removed from society before they can hurt anyone. It's a really neat concept and I loved that Negovetich focused the story on the Machine and how the Cardinal uses it to control the entire country.

Negovetich has an excellent writing style. Sometimes authors can write action really well, but lack in emotional intensity. Or their books are full of emotion but the pace is so slow and the plot lacks depth. This is not the case for Rite of Rejection. This book had it all: a great premise, perfect pace, a super-sweet (and clean!) love story, and a thrilling plot that left me on the proverbial edge of my seat. The story had such a great flow to it. There were no slow parts or sections where I felt like putting the book down for a break. Every chapter was as good as or better than the last.

I love the way that Negovetich writes emotions. Her characters' emotions just jumped off of the page, and into my heart. I grew to love the characters and felt so invested in their stories. This is not always the case, so when it happens, I really enjoy the feeling.

There were some great surprises as I read. I found one part of the conflict resolution to be predictable, but overall, I was happy with the twists the plot took and how the book ended. Speaking of the ending, Negovetich gives some closure but leaves plenty of room for a sequel. And that's a sequel I will eagerly await!

I've read so many dystopian novels---and I've loved so many of them---that books in this genre can start to feel predictable. I really felt like Rite of Rejection stood out from others in the genre. I highly recommend this novel, and cannot wait for book two!

Rebecca has been the model daughter and can't wait for her Acceptance and the ball that follows. She thrills at the idea of finally being accepted into society and having all the rewards that come with it, but little does she know that she isn't destined for that life!

The day of her Acceptance dawns and Rebecca puts on her finery. She is nervous because she already has a boys name in her dance card and cant wait to dance with Eric. She goes to the ceremony to see that it's different this year because it's being televised. Her best friend steps up to the machine and it turns green to indicate she was Accepted. Now it's Rebeccas turn, she steps up and puts her hand on the machince, waiting for it to turn green, but it doesn't. It turns red and she is immediately whipped away from the ceremony to the PIT.

She has always been told that the pit is a lawless place for hardened criminals. Why was she sent here? Can she survive? When she meets Eric in the pit she is equally stunned, just what is going on here?

While I loved Rite of Rejection, there was two little things I didn't like that made it less enjoyable. For this review, I'm going to list my likes and dislikes. Let's get the negative out of the way first.

My biggest problem with the book was it was lacking. It was lacking information and it was lacking action at parts. I wanted to know a little more about the mechanics behind the machine and more about the world Rebecca lives in. We don't really get any background information on why the world is like it is and why the machine was introduced. We also never get a clear reason why Rebecca was sent to the pit. Also what's with the Cardinal? Who is he? Why is he like he is? As I said, it lacked information.

Parts of the story was also quite slow. I thought when she went to the Pit the action may pick up, but it didn't. Most of the Pit was spent talking about leaving but it did pick up towards the end.

Now onto what I loved.

I really enjoyed the concept of Rite of Rejection. The idea of a machine that can tell if you are a criminal or not is awesome. I also liked the idea of the Pit. Its like a separate society and even though the criminals are sent there, you can still have a decent life (if you don't mind horrible food, guards, and all the bad stuff you can think of).

I loved the characters. While Rebecca is quite shallow at the start, she does grow during the book and becomes stronger. Eric is handsome and comes across as sincere in his feelings for Rebecca. Daniel is my favourite, he is strong, nice and smart. He is an all round nice guy. While Elizabeth is grouchy at the start, her true self shines through. I loved finding out their stories and seeing them grow throughout the book.

I loved how the author put so much into the Pit. It's not a nice place to be and she really puts across that point. Physical abuse is rampant in there and the guards don't care, they even take part sometimes. It's a harsh and dangerous place and the author nailed it!!

Anyway, overall I enjoyed Rite of Rejection. It's a unique and interesting book and I look forward to the next installment (if there is one). The ending left it open for a sequel and I really hope there will be one because I would like to see what happens. Despite the problems I had with the book, which were only minor, I still think it's well worth the read. It would of been a definite 5 star if there was a bit more information.

This book is Matched by Ally Condie crossed with Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Rite of Rejection has renewed my faith in self-published novels. Generally, I avoid them because they are not normally submitted to the same amount of editing and revising that books published by a big publishing company are. In this case, I'm wrong. It's a dark dystopian novel where all the teens have to go through the ceremony of Acceptance before they are officially a member of society, except that the ceremony is corrupt and it's not just the criminals and low-lifes that end up in the Pit. It's a pretty dark book but it has an interesting plot and is well-written. The ending--although unique--is a bit unsatisfying but I read on the author's blog that there might be a sequel (big might) so my fingers are crossed.

Full Review: http://brittanysbookrambles.blogspot.com/2014/12/rite-of-rejection-by-sarah-negovetich.html

Not only is this good "for a self published novel", it's just plain good.

Thank you, Netgalley and Sarah Negovetich, for this free book to review!

Seriously. If I had known this was self published when I saw it on Netgalley, I probably wouldn't have requested it. I've been burned too often to be comfortable in that area. I am so glad I got this though. Rite of Rejection was so well written, I highlighted a few quotes on my kindle.

I never really understood why the machine Rejected Rebecca (because she was good in English?), but I really liked her. She was so naive, even to the point of defending the cardinal after she got in the PIT, and kept thinking, "What would a lady do in this situation?" Then she turned into a determined criminal who wanted to take a stand. Fabulousness.

And then there's the guys. Daniel was friendly and adorable, but their crush felt way too rushed at first. I was pretty impressed with Eric, through and through. He must have been just as confused by everything as Rebecca was, considering they were both Rejected in the same day.

My main problem is with the ending. It was abrupt to the point where it felt like the final paragraph wasn't even finished. Also, their country was so evolved, while still looking just like America, I wanted more of their history! After Rebecca was thrown into the PIT, I didn't get much.

Would I read other books by Sarah Negovetich? Absolutely! Check out her author bio and blog; she's hilarious.

Rebecca is 16 years old and excited for Acceptance day when she will become an official member of society. However, when she steps up to The Machine, she is rejected and sent to the PIT. The Machine is able to predict those who will become criminals and rejects those members of society. Becca immediately boards the bus to the PIT and her life takes a complete turn for the worse.

Becca meets and makes new friends in the PIT, as well as discovering some interesting things about The Machine, and the Cardinal, the leader of their society. There are several twists and turns in the book, as well as a cliff hanger ending, which is a great setup for the next book.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked Becca's character and how she grows through the many trials she endures in the book. It will be interesting to see what happens in the 2nd book.

A few things I was a little confused about. This society talks about having dance cards, and that women aren't taught any skills for work because they are expected to only cook and raise children. So as a society, did the Cardinal want them to go back to earlier social expectations? That was kind of an interesting thought and not one I agree with as a woman, but maybe that was the point - to have the Cardinal using old, outdated ideas. I hope this is something that will be addressed later in the series.

This book definitely held my interest and I even stayed up late a few nights reading it.

Negovetich has created a completely new and unique world in which to set her dystopian story. Her descriptions are so realistic that I could not only picture everything, but feel it as well. It was as if I was standing in the middle of her world. The inviting writing style ties this all together, allowing you to immerse yourself in the action of the tale. This well and creatively written novel was a fantastic debut novel for Negovetich.

The characters that we come to know in this story were fantastic. Negovetich’s multifaceted character development ensures that you not only get to know the main characters very well, but all of the major characters become more than mere acquaintances. The multiple personalities really allow you to identify with some and ally yourself against others. It was fantastic. Not only that, but the plight in which the main character finds herself is not only unique, but it endears you to her. I found myself wondering what I would have done in that situation and if I’d have had the strength to do what she did.

Overall, this was a fantastically unique novel that deserves a place in the ever-growing world of YA dystopian works.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of the book for an honest review. This does not affect my honest review.

Rite of Rejection reflected an interesting twist on the Dystopian novel. Rebecca lives in a society where the Machine accepts teens into society or if rejected the teens will go into the PIT, where those with the potential for being criminals are sent.

Rebecca, who followed all the rules doesn't understand her fate but must place her focus on transitioning from that of a pampered socialite to one more savvy about society. She is faced with seeing the faults of the system she grew up in, and realizing that change will start with those like her, those cast aside.

A well written adventure, interesting, fresh premise I look forward to the next in the series, I have a desire to learn more of Rebecca's world. Awesome read!

RofR is a great addition to the dystopian scene! As I started out reading and the technology immediately came into play, I'll admit I was a bit 'this feels familiar' as in many dystopians right off the bat there are mentions of computer gadgets and screens and thingamajigs. But then Mrs. Negovetich took and gave it all a 50's-60's era feel (to me), with dances and dresses and girls needing to behave properly so as not to embarrass their family. Which was intriguing!

Our main girl, Rebecca, gets everything ripped away from her and has to learn how to become someone who she thought she wasn't. If you've read the synopsis, your're probably thinking, 'criminal' here. But I'm just thinking 'strong'. The PIT is no joke-- there's no sympathy from the people who run it, and the things the inhabitants do to each other? Not good! The writing is very, very good, and Sarah's descriptive talents really brought the misery and drabness of the PIT to life. I'll admit the ending might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I tend to like those kind that let you sort of wonder a bit, and use your own imagination to take it where you will.

Rite of Rejection. …to say that I was disappointed would be putting it mildly. I read the synopsis on Netgalley and thought that it sounded amazing. After all, it was a dystopian novel, but it sounded unique in the sense that the main character, Rebecca, was labeled a potential criminal and sent to a penal colony. I assumed that the streets would be crime ridden and there would be a decent amount of action scenes. But no, not at all. I do think that the author did a good job of describing the PIT, but to be honest, I wasn’t scared of the PIT. Sure, there were a couple of frightening scenes, but not many.

Now, before you read my huge rant, let me tell you a little something about me. I like reading books where the main characters are adding and willing to stand up for what they believe in. I despise characters who are extremely whiny and don’t want to put in effort to achieve a goal. Sometimes stories with Cinderella and Prince Charming characters can be cute, but only if the Cinderella character has a backbone and doesn’t depend on the Prince for everything. Unfortunately, Rebecca was one of those dependent characters. She was a crybaby who whined and could never make up her mind. She always needed Eric or Daniel, no matter what the problem was.

This leads me to my next issue with Rite of Rejection: the romance, or should I call it the insta-love that aggravated me to pieces. The romance just didn’t work in this book, not at all for me. First of all, there were a lot of moments where I just stared at the ebook, cringed, and thought, “really?” If you haven’t noticed from my reviews, I normally don’t mind love triangles. They don’t really bother me, as long as something is unique about them. But there is one thing that does aggravate me with romance, and that is insta love that doesn’t make sense. How is it that Rebecca felt extremely attracted to Eric and was thinking about their wedding plans in the beginning, yet she was also attracted to Daniel? No, if you’re going to have a love triangle, have a love triangle. If you’re going to have insta love, have insta love. But please don’t combine both and try to make it work. It doesn’t work!

Okay, rant over. I definitely think that there will be some readers who love this book, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. If you don’t mind Cinderella characters and insta love, you will probably like this book!

So many emotions hit me while reading this one. I found it at Netgalley, where I got a copy for free in exchange for an honest review. I didn't read the blurb, had no idea what the story was about - saw the cover and it listed in YA, and jumped in. Read the whole thing from cover to cover in one day. During the first chapter, I was like, cool...so it's a steampunk? Nope. Then I began to realize it was dystopian. There are only two factions - the haves and the havenots in this one, and a machine chooses where each belongs. So then it started to feel a little cliche, but please, read on! The book is full of emotional twists and turns. I would have liked if the author stayed away from the slightly religious element (negative on religion in a Phillip Pullman kind of way) but it did not deter from the great read. This easily would have been my favorite read of 2014, had it not been for the ending that made me flip back and forth and ask, that was the end? FOR REAL?

This was a refreshingly original dystopian. At first it seemed similar to others (in the beginning it reminded me of The Selection, Delirium, and Matched), but it quickly diverged and took its own path. I've gotten pretty good at figuring out the plots of YA novels, but this one had me guessing. Not that the plot was shocking, but it was relatively original. Rebecca is looking forward to her Acceptance ceremony and the ball that follows after she's been accepted into society. At the Acceptance ceremony, everyone goes through the Machine, which tells who will become criminals. Those people are removed from society and put in a prison camp. Of course Rebecca unexpectedly is deemed by the Machine to be a criminal. She's sent to the PIT, where the real story starts.

There's some romance, but it's not quite the focus of the book the way I expected it would be. And the ending!! Ugh! Such a cliffhanger! I wanted to read the next book anyway, but now I can't wait!

~I received a copy for review~

I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review. 3.5 rating

While I started to enjoy this book I felt as though some parts reminded me of another book I just finished a while back. So because of that I did have to drop my rating.

Rebecca or Becca as she is called at times, is a normal teenage girl who is waiting to attend the Acceptance ball. Now I know you are wondering what the heck is this Acceptance ball? Well it is a group of guys and girls who have reached a certain age go in front of a machine and it picks if they are going to the Pit or will be accepted into society. Pretty much it picks if you are going to be a criminal, even if you have never committed a crime before.

Rebecca is with her best friend trying on dresses having a good time, kind of nervous of course. When she ends up meeting this nice guy name Eric. And then we fast forward to where Rebecca is standing inside the machine and that is where her fate lies.

Well the story wouldn't be a good story if Rebecca ends up being accepted right? So we all know she goes to the Pit. And it is not a fun place to be, they are secluded from the world and it is full of so called criminals.
While in the Pit Rebecca ends up finding a group of people she can later on call her friends and someone she has met before. Now the question sets will they ever escape? Do they have any plans to end the terror of the Pits? Who will Rebecca end up with?

Now in the Pit of course there is going to have to be some kind of romance and there was nothing major but it was a big ole' I like him, but he is with her and someone else likes me and how do I tell him without hurting his feelings. And that bothered me with Becca. I just wanted her to tell this guy I DO NOT WANT TO BE WITH YOU.

I could see this being a good and decent Dystopian story that the YA will for sure enjoy. I do find myself wanting to read book two if there is going to be one. As after the ending I want to know what is going to happen next. Will whatever Rebecca has planned work or will it backfire?And how exactly does the machine pick who is good and who is labeled bad, by this I know how it is done, but exactly how. I know they put their hands on this umm I want to say ball or something to that effect. I hope these questions are answered in book two.

REVIEW. RITE OF REJECTION

In the totalitarian dystopia in which Rebecca grew up, lives, careers, and roles are of course prearranged for the benefit of society, not individuals. Now 16, she is ready for the ceremony of Acceptance at which she will find an appropriate suitor. Boys receive Assignment to career positions. But Rebecca's hopes are in vain, and instead of Acceptance, she is granted Rejection, and must leave her community, branded a criminal and outcast. Readers of Dystopian YA will surely devour this well-designed story.

I reviewed a digital ARC generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of my fair and honest review. No fees were exchanged.

Rebecca looks forward to her Acceptance ceremony where she'll join the rest of society as a full citizen and become a wife and mother. The society here is a juicy throwback to American in the 1950s, complete with structured and controlled gender roles. When crime became out of control, society found a way to fix it by banishing all the criminals and all future ones.

Imagine Rebecca's surprised when the girl who never breaks a rule is sent to the penitentiary colony called the PIT. Here she must learn to survive among true criminals and those deemed unworthy. And of course, there's a guy or two along the way.

I really liked Becca's character when she grew and began to stand up for herself. The transition between scared crybaby to assured girl was handled brilliantly! Becca evolved very naturally and believable.

The mood of the PIT was well set up with enough scenes to show the horrors of the place, but not too much to bog down the pacing. Plot and character development all moved along swiftly with no room for a reader to get bored or fidgety.

The world building was superb. So many little details really sell the reader.

I'm not a huge fan of love triangles but I couldn't really count this as one. The competition for Becca had barely gotten started before the author resolved it. I do however want to know more about the ending. Rite of Rejection cleverly leaves the reader wanting more!

Elizabeth was my favorite character and I hope a sequel includes her.

I received my copy from Net Galley for an honest review.

I really, really loved this book even though it made me cry. I felt so bad for Rebecca and all the all the people at the PIT. This story starts with Rebecca and her friend anxiously waiting to go to the Rite of Acceptance while little did they know that the world of one of the two would come crashing down. I am not going into too many details but this YA book is worth reading. I can wait to read the second in this series to find out what happened.

The beginning of this book with the Acceptance ceremony reminded me a lot of Allie Condie's Matched and a bit of The Hunger Games. Where the story really started flowing and getting interesting was the setting of PIT. A bit reminiscent of Kat Zhang's institution in What's Left of Me, Negovetich manages to expand the environment into something more unique (and dark).

The pacing of the book was pretty even and kept me reading. However, I could predict how Rebecca's relationships with the boys would go. I did take off a star because I really wanted Rebecca to be a stronger character. I know she comes from a particular background with cultural constraints, but I wanted to see her as more independent. She does exhibit some character growth, but I wanted even further transformation.

I had trouble with the ending, too. (It was easy to predict where the story was going, in terms of Elizabeth's role.) My major issue, though, came with Daniel's ability to pull things together so well. Also, although I know there's a sequel coming, I really wanted things more wrapped up in this first novel. Overall, though, it's an interesting read in its depiction of a different world.

4.25 stars!

Amazing writing. Evolving characters. Engaging plot twists. This is how I summarize Sarah Negovetich’s debut novel, Rite of Rejection.

First, I loved the premise of the book–a future society uses a machine to predict a person’s tendencies while still a teen, to weed out people who will harm the society in the future. I’d not seen such an idea explored and it’s pretty scary if you really think about it...read my full review on my blog at blog dot lrwlee dot com

Rite of Rejection is similar in style to The Selection by Kiera Cass and Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki. We have a dystopian US set in the future. Presumably after an event similar to a World War.

Rite of Rejection introduces us to Rebecca. A 16-year-old girl about to undergo Acceptance. In this futuristic society, things are quote old-fashioned. The women get married, have children and are essentially housewives while it is the men’s duty to go to work and provide for their families. Every year, anyone who is turning sixteen must undergo Acceptance. Acceptance is similar to a debutante ball, but every participant must go through the Machine’s test first. The test is simple: place your hands on two readers, and the Machine will decide if you are worthy of living in the territories. If you show any signs of being or becoming criminal, you’re no longer accepted in society and will be carted off into the PIT (Permanent Isolation Territory.) Rebecca comes from a good family and does everything right. She’s excited for the ball after acceptance, and already has a suitors name on her dance card. However, everything soon changes for Rebecca when the Machine flashes red instead of green at the reading of her hands.

Rebecca acts in very believable ways throughout the story, and while growing accustomed to living in the PIT, she becomes braver and discovers her true self. She’s a very likeable character, but unfortunately I was unable to connect with her or any of the other characters for that matter. Upon arrival to the PIT, Rebecca is surprised to see that Eric (previously a potential suitor) has also been sent there. Eric already has a group of people to call his family, and Rebecca soon becomes apart of that family.

While I found Eric, Elizabeth, Molly and Daniel to be well-rounded characters, I wish we knew more about Molly and Elizabeth – they just didn’t feel real for the majority of the novel.

The romance between Eric and Rebecca was hard to believe, and it was clear that something wasn’t right between the two of them. Later on, the romance between Rebecca and Daniel was believeable, but I wish there was a little more focus on that aspect of the novel. Although I do understand why there wasn’t.

The storyline is very similar to Branded. Rebecca and her PIT family go about their lives as happily as they can, going to their jobs and staying out of trouble, although they do have an ulterior motive that was interesting to read about. Negovetich’s writing was enjoyable and easily understood. While I wasn’t able to connect with the characters, I think quite a lot of people would easily be able to.

The pacing did feel rushed in some areas, but it wasn’t a major problem. While I think the timeline from 60% on rushed to the ending, the ending itself wasn’t rushed. THAT ENDING THOUGH. That’s a mean ending…it’s a good ending, but it’s mean. If there as going to be a sequel, it would be okay…but there’s not.

Overall, Rite of Rejection was an interesting read, but the story itself is not drastically unique.

Unlike most modern dystopian novels, I immediately felt hooked, emotionally and story-wise. Good concepts, clearly written with no phony plot filler to get in the way of the story. Well written, good characters and solid world building. The best novel of it’s kind I’ve read in many years.

I really liked this book until I realized that it's awfully similar to The Hunger Games. Rebecca is basically Katniss, Eric is Gale, and Daniel is Peeta. I may read the second one if it is on Kindle Unlimited, but won't buy it otherwise. I still, give it 4 stars because I love dystopian stories and there were no glaring grammatical and spelling errors.

Rebecca, 16, is preparing for Acceptance, a major step in becoming part of this new world order. Rebecca holds sentiment to the old things, but embraces the new. When Acceptance comes, things do not quite go as planned. Rebecca has a response that is fitting for her character, but she handles the situation the way I would expect she would. Granted I did not see all of the twists planned in Rebecca's story, but she behaved true to her character. All of Sara's characters have unique personalities and perspectives. The plot keeps the reader engaged.

As her debut novel, I can't wait to see what else she will do. Sara has written an amazing story that will keep you reading until the end. My only negative is the cliffhanger. Hopefully, this will allow Sara to write a follow-up novel. I'd be one of the first to read it.

Sarah Negovetich’s Rite of Rejection is a YA novel set in an imaginary society ruled by a leader named “Cardinal” with absolute power. The author masterfully depicts a country with a totalitarian regime (reminiscent of Stalin’s Russia and Hitler’s Germany) where its citizens are so brainwashed that they follow their leader unconsciously, like sheep. Not because they don’t have a mind of their own, but because they’re so enamored by Cardinal’s personality and his ideas that they wholeheartedly trust his “wisdom” and his supposed “devotion” to the well-being of the nation. Here’s a classic example of the personality cult for you. When, in an attempt to cleanse the country of criminals, the government designs a machine capable of sorting out the “good” citizens from the “bad” and sending the latter to a penal colony called the PIT for the rest of their lives, no one has any doubt in the faultlessness of the Machine. Even those “rejects” who have never done anything wrong sincerely believe that they might have a propensity for committing a crime, just like the Machine has “predicted.”
That’s how sixteen-year-old Rebecca Collins feels when she, a good girl, is ripped from her family and home and exiled to the PIT, a place of no return. It happens right before the Acceptance ceremony, the biggest event in her life, when she’s about to be welcomed into the society as an adult. After she goes through the Machine (which is just a routine procedure in her mind), she will attend a celebratory ball, where she will dance with eligible bachelors, and, hopefully, with her future husband. (In this country, a woman’s role is limited to being a wife and mother.)
But Rebecca’s high expectations are crushed when the Machine rejects her. She’s in the PIT now, living in wretched conditions, among “criminals” like herself and actual hardcore criminals. She is confused and scared. How will she survive? Will she survive? Fortunately, she meets other teens who become her friends and who reveal the truth about the Cardinal’s “just” and indisputable policies.
There’s yet another test for Rebecca to go through, this time in order to prove her worthiness and loyalty to her new friends; there’s a love triangle; there’s an attempt to escape; there’s a vital-for-survival friendship and there’s an unfathomable betrayal... And there’s nail-biting tension all throughout the novel.
Will Rebecca and her friends free themselves of the abject existence in this hellhole? And if they do, where will they go? After all, they can’t go back to their home.
I loved Rite of Rejection and read it in one setting. I was disappointed with it ending on a cliffhanger, but I assumed Sarah Negovetich would write a sequel. I do hope that she will.

What a WONDERFUL book! And, so insightful, given our current times. You have a "perfect" society full of sheep, and then the PIT for those who are deemed (or show the propensity to be in the future) criminals. The juxtaposition is extreme. The characters are well developed and the plot is detailed and intense.

I loved the premise and the beginning was promising, however, I agree with other reviews here that the characters with the exception of Becca and Eric weren't developed. When her second love interest was clear, I was dumbfounded because there was no real signs of attraction between them, no tension, no chemistry. Becca herself is too immature and fearful to turn into a heroine. I hope the second book is better.

Initially this book felt a bit too much like every other YA dystopian on the market, but I'm glad I persisted. There are a lot of standard tropes here, but the author smashes them up and puts them together in interesting and surprising ways. Worth a read if you enjoy dystopian settings but you're looking for something a little different in plot and character development.

As a Dystopian addict I was excited by the premise of this book, unfortunately I was left disappointed The main character was extremely childish and naive. Now at first I thought this was on purpose, however she never changed from that personality. Her character growth came in the form of supposedly stronger muscles but no strength of mind.

My other issue with this story was that nothing felt real, the characters were two dimensional, essentially lifeless and the plot felt underdeveloped and flat. Overall, interesting concept but the execution failed.

Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Bin

Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.