Ready Player One by Ernest Cline – Spoiler Free Book Review

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Sci-fi, YA

First published: 2011?

Author: Ernest Cline

Synopsis: In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the  OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

Book Depository | Goodreads

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This book was so much fun. I kept putting off for some reason. I felt like I wouldn’t enjoy it if I didn’t get all the references or that I simply wouldn’t enjoy it at all. I don’t know why, but I was so wrong. I torpedoed through this book. I think it took me 2 days to read even though I spent most of those two days travelling.

The story was so fun and action packed and engaging. It was really immersive as well, I loved it. I felt like I was actually in OASIS as I was reading it and wishing OASIS was real when I wasn’t. And I loved all the references, I didn’t get all of them to be fair, but that didn’t get in the way of enjoying the story, instead I just learnt more things about 80s pop culture. I loved the scavenger hunt/puzzle solving element to it, I really love puzzles and figuring things out and there aren’t that many books that feature riddles and puzzles, so I had so much fun.

The characters were great. Wade’s perspective was so fun to read because he was such a teenage boy. And I’ve never been a teenage boy, so it was a bit bemusing but really interesting and fun to read the thought processes behind the typical teenage boy behaviour. I also loved the friendship between Wade and Aech, which is an uncommon one for reasons I can’t say due to spoilers. And of course, I loved Wade and Art3mis, they’re so cute afglhskjfa.

Okay, I’m okay. Yeah, this book is awesome. I wish I could erase it from my brain and re-read it for the first time. Read it people, you will not be disappointed. It will sing to the geek in you and make you happy.