"Rtc"

"�� ‧₊˚ �� 3 "you-were-good-i-was-waiting-for-you-to-be-great" stars

'watch me' is actually about Rosabelle and James staring at each other half the time. that’s why it’s called 'watch me' �� because of the constant staring at each other ��

kenji and aaron literally carried the book from the halfway point to the end—my strong kings, ugh 😌💅🏻🎀

this book can be easily divided into two parts. my rating for the first half would be 4 stars. that part is funny (thanks to james), with high stakes, tension, new discoveries on every page, and, of course—escape.

the second half though? yawn. i'm handing it a solid 2 stars. it’s slow, it’s repetitive, and it drags on with nothing new happening. by that point, we already know what's coming, and it's just like, okay, cool, i guess we’re just waiting for the inevitable? where’s the fun in that?

this isn't a bad book per se, but i also feel like it doesn't have that particular 'shatter me' feel that made reading the original series so much fun. i only felt excited about what james might do in the first half. other than that, my only interest was in the original characters, or when they were mentioned or their interactions.

which brings me to my point: if the whole point of this book is to cash in on the love for the original characters, then why the heck are we being introduced to a whole new cast? we’re supposed to care about them, love them, feel things for them, right?

but i didn’t (or at least not as much as i hoped to) 😬


˗ˏˋ �� the main characters �� ˎˊ˗

�� James Anderson:

listen - i really liked james in the first half. more than i expected to. he was funny and acted so much like kenji but also possesed qualities specific to aaron; a perfect combination. it was fun and exciting to read his pov but god did he annoy me in the second half. people around him kept calling him naive and that's what it felt like - he was being so freaking naive.

and the ending? bruh, he pissed me off (view spoiler)[when he tells aaron that there have been 'recent developments' STOP THIS MADNESS 😭🤡 WE had access to rosabella's inner thoughts. WE knew what she was thinking. HE didn't. for all he knew, she could snap his neck in that second. it was IRRITATING ME sm. bff be real, the both of them did NOT have any type of soulmate connection with each other or sth like that for james to trust her ughhhh 😭

"rosabella do you trust me?" JAMES SHUT UP WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, let me ask you a better question WHY DO YOU TRUST HER? 🤡☝�� he was willing to trust her EVEN AFTER SHE TRIED TO ATTACK EVERYONE babe tf? 😭 he had been trained his entire life against such stuff but STILL somehow he kept falling for the same facade 😭😭😭 (hide spoiler)]

+ i loved his relationship and respect for Kenji, Warner and Adam. that was so wholesome.


�� Rosabelle Wolff:

i sympathized with her, but i didn't end up loving her as much as i wished i did. she is okay enough, but her pov is so boringggg 😭🤡 maybe that's the entire point since she needs to appear as "dead" and "devoid of feelings" to everyone around her, but rosabelle babe, we are inside your mind, give us some crumbs to your personality atleast. 🤡😭 i did like her thoughts about synthetic intelligence and government though.

also, homegirl said james looks better than aaron 🤡🤡🤡😭😭😭☝🏻☝🏻☝�� girlie i'll pay for the eye surgery.


�� James + Rosabelle

i didn't feel any chemistry between them. it was too insta-attraction, too 'she's/he's the prettiest thing i've ever seen, so brain functions are gone and imma start to forgo everything i've learnt in my life.' give me SOMETHING 😭🤸🏻‍♀��, some actual tension beyond just googly eyes at each other's faces.

maybe this is my major critique of the second half. had i felt more for the characters and their romance, i wouldn't have found it so dull.

half the time they're just staring at each other, jesus 🤡


˗ˏˋ �� the plot/world building/writing �� ˎˊ˗

the plot is so fun in the first half, ngl, and james was funny as heck. the world-building is interesting, and we get to see the original world expand. it was nice seeing it through someone else’s lens + klaus is such an interesting character, damn. probably one of my favorite things from this book. the writing is also quite nice—simple and easy to read 😌 no critiques there.


˗ˏˋ �� the og gang �� ˎˊ˗

the main reason we all read this, let's be real. i was screaming when they came up - my beloved family 😭💕💞


�� Aaron Warner

aaron warner being a loving husband and the SHEER AURA of my man. damn, preach. the way everyone started quaking every time he entered the room—i'm over here having a spiritual experience—akjdshsajfdsjbshgjds—but HE'S STILL AS SOFT FOR JULIETTE AS HE WAS 10 YEARS AGO 😭😭😭 the only couple ever.

the crumbs we got of kenji and aaron being besties—brb crying 😭 AND KENJI TELLING AARON THAT (view spoiler)[that kid is not going to grow up without a father. (hide spoiler)] i was about to cry—they are best friends, i'm crying, i'm tears.

aaron outmaneuvering (view spoiler)[rosabelle at the end (hide spoiler)] was SO HOT OF HIM, my intelligent maaaaan.

also, people saying that aaron was being cruel at the end—babe, what? no, he wasn't. everyone protects things they love, and we've seen time and again that aaron would do anything for people he cares about. y'all acting like he isn’t responsible for an entire fucking REPUBLIC��(view spoiler)[did y'all want him to braid rosabelle’s hair? if anyone knows how the reestablishment acts, it's HIM. his actions were 100% justified and REAL. he does not know rosabelle and has no reason to sympathize with her. for all he knows, she came here for intel (which she fucking did, my man mapped out all her moves to the T)—so like, what’s the issue? 🤡 (hide spoiler)] should he stop doing his freaking job? smh, nonsense, y’all trippin��.


�� Kenjiiiiiii

MY MAN, PLS. he's as perfect as ever. HE STILL HAS THE SAME HEART OF GOLD, PLS, and not him saying "jello," "daddy anderson"—HELP, THE HUMOR I'VE MISSED 😭💕

and wtf was that about (view spoiler)[naz and him breaking up? (hide spoiler)] PLEASE, MY MAN HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH!!!! HE DESERVES BETTER (i volunteer as tribute). he better have the entire world at his feet in book 2, idc.


�� Adam:

i was kinda surprised seeing adam as a passive member, but good for him, i guess. ngl, we've clowned that man enough. i may never care about him, but i'm still happy he got a good family and his character wasn't completely screwed up because of his mistakes (cough tamlin from acotar cough).


�� Juliette:

my girlllll 😭 i wish we got to see her in action, but she's pregnant, so i guess that was out of the question. but i SOOOOO wanted to see her be a girlboss and take charge as THE SUPREME COMMANDER in this book. i was robbed, idk.

and her friendship with kenji 😭💕💕 they're watching movies—dsbbhjkjlsadj, brb crying. my favorite friendship, now and forever.


�� Warnette

still the greatest couple ever. the crumbs we got were good ngl 😌 do i wish we got to see more? ofc. but i understand that this book wasn't about them.


˗ˏˋ �� fav quotes/parts �� ˎˊ˗

�� “Hey, don’t make fun of my husband,�� Juliette says playfully, and pinches him. “He works hard.��
Kenji yelps. Popcorn forgotten, he turns to look at her with wide eyes. “Did you just, like, zap me with your killing power?��
She laughs. “Only a little bit.��
“Only a little bit?�� His eyes go wider. “J, you can literally murder people with only a little bit—��
“She can murder whoever she wants,�� Warner says flatly. “Don’t stifle her.��

everything, EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PART—their dynamic, Aaron saying she can murder anyone she wants—BYEEEE, Kenji & Juliette, my girl finally feeling comfortable enough in her skin to PLAY with her power, ohhh 😭💗


�� "My own half-brother is basically running the world with his wife"

yessir. yessir. yessir.


�� “For what it’s worth, Jeff, I fucking love lasagna.��

that was so funny 😭


�� His eyes seem to shimmer, as if laughter comes to him freely—and yet he single-handedly slaughtered a dozen soldiers. He was unarmed.

HE LEARNT THAT FROM AARON—BYE. THROWBACK TO THE MACHETE SCENE.


�� "Minds and organs sacrificed at the altar of artificial learning."

what a line.


�� If we believe our choices are our own—if we do not know we are being bent into obeisance—we will not be tempted to revolt. The ultimate goal of synthetic intelligence, then, is the obliteration of organic intelligence. The eradication of resistance.

oh, I loved the critique of AI here.


�� “The thing is, I’d tell you what we’re going to do, except�� You’re recording me right now, aren’t you, you little trash panda? And I’m not going to tell you shitheads exactly what I have planned.��

SO KENJI CODED.


�� “They’re for my wife,�� Warner says sharply.
“What? You have a wife?�� Kenji throws his arm around Warner and squeezes. “You’re married? Congrats, man. I had no idea. You literally never mention it.��

STOP, THEY'RE STILL THE SAME—MY BELOVEDS 😭😭😭.


�� “I think it’s a great idea,�� says Juliette, smiling at Warner the way she always does. Like he can do nothing wrong.

sobbing, that's my husband and his wife.


�� “—and she nearly killed all of us just because Daddy Anderson asked her to.��
“Jesus.�� I drag my hands down my face. “Don’t call him Daddy.��

THIS WAS HILARIOUS—DADDY ANDERSON 🤸🏻‍♀️��.


�� “Don’t exaggerate because you’re jealous,�� says Kenji. “If you want popcorn, all you have to do is ask.��
“I shouldn’t have to ask,�� Warner counters icily. “You’re supposed to offer.��

best duo, idc, idc, idc.


�� “I just gasped,�� says Kenji, not gasping.
“Me too,�� says Juliette, also not gasping.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER 😭😭😭


�� “Sweetheart,�� Juliette says softly, and Warner immediately stills, his body tensing.

hsdbajdfbdjbgkudshkjkehshdsbfhsbjdfb the greatest love of our time

(there aren't any James or Rosabelle quotes because I couldn't care enough, I'm sorry 😭)


˗ˏˋ �� bottom line �� ˎˊ˗

this is an extremely subjective take on this book because if i liked james/rosa more that i did, i would have given it a higher rating. i always say that tahereh's strength is her characters; the more you like her characters, the more you love her books.

so, if you're all about james and rosa, and their simping for each other, you’ll probably love this one.


˗ˏˋ �� pre-read �� ˎˊ˗

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i'm excited only for the sake of warnette because even though james would be older, i would still feel like i'm reading about a 10 y/0 kid whom i cannot simp over 😭��"