Synopses & Reviews
Lexicon
Rory Vaughn: a brainy, introverted sixteen-year-old who has always felt like an outsider, although she can't put her finger on a reason why. When she is accepted into her dream school, Theden, she is shocked to find out that her mother, who died when she was born, also went there and dropped out just before graduation. This is a secret her father has kept for sixteen years.
Theden Academy: the only high school of its kind, Theden is an intense two-year liberal arts program for the strong willed and highly gifted. Students are designated by seven Greek numerical prefixes (the Hepta being the best). Rory is a Hepta.
North Pascal: a handsome, tattooed, coffee barista townie who can quote Milton and knows as much about philosophy as Rory's classmates. He was banned from Theden's campus for breaking and entering. This isn't North's only secret.Lux: the decision-making app that everyone uses. No longer caught up in the details of their everyday lives—all those endless decisions!—people are free to just enjoy themselves.
Akratic Personality Disorder (APD): a mental illness whose name comes from the Greek word akrasia, the term Plato used for those who act against their better judgment. See also the Doubt.
The Doubt: the colloquial name for the "whisper within" that children hear but adults are taught to ignore.
Review
Praise for PARALLEL: “A fun, twisty novel about the paths you choose and the paths you dont…to follow your hearts desire. Deeply romantic and entertaining!” Melissa de la Cruz, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of BLUE BLOODS and WITCHES OF EAST END
Review
“Penetrating, jawdropping, and so real, PARALLEL had me turning pages at warp speed, hoping for the best tomorrow. Read this book.” Huntley Fitzpatrick, author of MY LIFE NEXT DOOR
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“Best. Debut. Novel. Ever.” Lauren Barnholdt, author of TWO & #150;WAY STREET
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“PARALLEL beautifully tackles the universal themes of fate, destiny, and the search for a soulmate, proving that there are no wrong turns. Your heart will soar and youll be cheering at the end.” Jordanna Fraiberg, author of IN YOUR ROOM
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“Wildly inventive and wonderfully romantic, PARALLEL takes readers on a journey that will open their minds and their hearts.” Jennifer E. Smith, author of THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
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“Thoughtprovoking, romantic, and so, so smart, PARALLEL is an absolute mustread for anyone and everyone who has ever wondered, What if?” Anna Jarzab, author of ALL UNQUIET THINGS
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“An intricatelywoven story about free will, parallel universes, and cute boys. Miller nails the inner snark of the high school senior, as well as the confusion of figuring out just where your life is supposed to be headed.” Kat Zhang, author of WHAT & #8217;S LEFT OF ME
Review
Miller (Parallel) offers an intricately plotted, intellectually rich thriller that will please a range of readers, from those searching for a page-turner to those wishing to thoroughly engage the mind. Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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Engaging and thought-provoking, Free to Fall should appeal to a variety of readers with its blend of action, secrecy, and romance, and it provides excellent discussion opportunities. School Library Journal (starred review)
Review
Miller smartly doesnt exchange strong, involving characters for nonstopactiontheres plenty of both. Booklist
Synopsis
From the author of Parallel comes a high-stakes romantic puzzler set in a near-future where everyone's life is seamlessly orchestrated by personal electronic devices, perfect for fans of Black Mirror.
Fast-forward to a time when Apple and Google have been replaced by Gnosis, a monolith corporation that has developed the most life-changing technology to ever hit the market: Lux, an app that flawlessly optimizes decision-making for the best personal results.
Just like everyone else, sixteen-year-old Rory Vaughn knows the key to a happy, healthy life is to follow what Lux recommends. When she's accepted to the elite boarding school Theden Academy, her future happiness seems all the more assured.
But once on campus, something feels wrong beneath the polished surface of her prestigious dream school. Then she meets North, a handsome townie who doesn't use Lux, and begins to fall for him and his outsider way of life.
Soon Rory is going against Lux's recommendations, listening instead to the inner voice that everyone has been taught to ignore--a choice that leads her to uncover a truth neither she nor the world ever saw coming.
Imaginative and thrilling, this fast-paced story with two starred reviews is not to be missed
"Miller offers an intricately plotted, intellectually rich thriller that will please a range of readers, from those searching for a page-turner to those wishing to thoroughly engage the mind." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Engaging and thought-provoking, Free to Fall should appeal to a variety of readers with its blend of action, secrecy, and romance, and it provides excellent discussion opportunities." --School Library Journal (starred review)
Synopsis
From the author of
Parallel comes a high-stakes romantic puzzler set in a near-future where everyone's life is seamlessly orchestrated by personal electronic devices. Imaginative and thrilling, this fast-paced story with two starred reviews is not to be missed.
Fast-forward to a time when Apple and Google have been replaced by Gnosis, a monolith corporation that has developed the most life-changing technology to ever hit the market: Lux, an app that flawlessly optimizes decision-making for the best personal results. Just like everyone else, sixteen-year-old Rory Vaughn knows the key to a happy, healthy life is to follow what Lux recommends. When she's accepted to the elite boarding school Theden Academy, her future happiness seems all the more assured. But once on campus, something feels wrong beneath the polished surface of her prestigious dream school. Then she meets North, a handsome townie who doesn't use Lux, and begins to fall for him and his outsider way of life. Soon, Rory is going against Lux's recommendations, listening instead to the inner voice that everyone has been taught to ignore—a choice that leads her to uncover a truth neither she nor the world ever saw coming.
About the Author
Lauren Miller is an entertainment lawyer and television writer. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two kids.