Radio Silence

by Alice Oseman

The second novel by the phenomenally talented author of Solitaire, Alice Oseman - the most talked-about YA writer right now.

What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong?

Frances has always been a study machine with one goal, elite university. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret - not even the person she is on the inside.

But when Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favourite podcast, she discovers a new freedom. He unlocks the door to Real Frances and for the first time she experiences true friendship, unafraid to be herself. Then the podcast goes viral and the fragile trust between them is broken.

Caught between who she was and who she longs to be, Frances' dreams come crashing down. Suffocating with guilt, she knows that she has to confront her past...
She has to confess why Carys disappeared...

Meanwhile at uni, Aled is alone, fighting even darker secrets.

It's only by facing up to your fears that you can overcome them. And it's only by being your true self that you can find happiness.

Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has.

A YA coming of age read that tackles issues of identity, the pressure to succeed, diversity and freedom to choose, Radio Silence is a tour de force by the most exciting writer of her generation.

• ISBN10: 0062335723
• ISBN13: 9780062335722
• Publish Date: 26 December 2023 (first published 25 February 2016)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 480
• Language: English

Reviews

[chrssym]

4.5/5

I think this book started out really strong, but somewhere in the middle I completely lost interest in this book. The ending felt not realistic at all. I feel like it would have been better if it was from Aled’s point of view instead of someone fangirling.

[alindstadtcorbeax]

Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars ❤️

Brilliant. Raw. Beautiful. Real... so, so, so amazing.

RTC

[Jyc]

★★ // interesting when it deals with the relationship between the characters, but not so much as individuals. often felt preachy and a 101 on the current social media climate of this generation and sexuality. any trace of history (e.g. experience of abuse) of each character felt like a plot device more than a part of their personhood. maybe it’s just not my cup of tea or i’m simply not its target audience.

[bookperson]

I know everybody and their mother was hyping this book at some point, but it just wasn't for me. Still love Alice Oseman's other work, Heartstopper is one of my all time favorite comics!

[Mercy]

4.5/5

This was like the most stressful book I've read in my life. It was also beautiful and oh my gosh, I loved it so much and the first half made me SO happy. Then, all of sudden it started to crush my heart and it touched me in such a personal level and I think it's the first time I've felt really sad reading a book because some of the situations the characters went through were so relatable and it really made me feel things I didn't want to.

I have so many more things to say about this book but it's all weird in my head so I'll try to think more about it and then write a proper review and I promise I will do. I feel like I must do it for real and not only say I will and then completely forget.

[bestmessever]

I only started to cry after I finished the book and I just wow. Just like Aled I almost didn't make it... it wasn't in real life friends that saved me it was fictional characters. But I still feel such a kinship to these characters especially Frances and Aled. I wish I could better articulate my feelings but basically I love this book with my entire soul and I think everyone should read it.

[liz089]

DNF. 51%

I really liked this one when I got started.. but the further I got, the less interesting it became for me... I got a bit bored and not much seemed to be happening.
Also the main character is kind of weird (mostly in a good way), but also not much seems to be happening.. or her friends.. I just have no idea where this plot/book is going and I also don't care.

I liked the part with the podcast and stuff, but apart from there is not enough happening to keep me interested and I'm only half way !! I tried to pick it up again, but I cannot motivate myself. Sooo.. I'm giving up..

[Stephanie]

This book was so cute and adorable and made me feel things. But it also has a glimpse into the terrifying dark side of Tumblr/fandom culture. Semi-appropriate reading for my conference weekend.

[Bianca]

In the end I’m still only ever looking where you’ve looked, I’m only ever walking where you’ve walked, I’m in your dark blue shadow and you never seem to turn around to find me there.

I wonder sometimes whether you’ve exploded already, like a star, and what I’m seeing is you three million years into the past, and you’re not here any more. How can we be together here, now, when you are so far away? When you are so far ago? I’m shouting so loudly, but you never turn around to see me. Perhaps it is I who have already exploded.

Either way, we are going to bring beautiful things into the universe.