Shelf Control #94 – 15/08/2025
Dystopian fiction is the feature of today’s Shelf Control post. In today’s post, I’m sharing a book I added to my reading list just days after the book was published. However, over five years on I’ve yet to pick it up. That should change soon!
Before I share more, let’s take a look at what Shelf Control is about and then I’ll share why I want to read The Choice.
Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.
If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.
The Choice – Claire Wade
Genre: Dystopian
Pages: 368
Audience: Adult
Publisher: Orion
Publication Date: 26 Dec 2019
Imagine a world where…
Everything you ate was monitored by the government.
Every step you took was counted.
Your children were weighed every day at school.
Neighbours reported on neighbours and no one was safe from judgement.
Sugar was illegal, and baking was a crime.
Imagine if that world was here… What would you do?
Toe the line or fight for your freedom…
My Thoughts
The premise of this book is an interesting one. In modern society we are regularly told what we ‘should’ and ‘shouldn’t eat’ as part of our diet culture. The Choice takes this to the extreme, mandating what food can and cannot be eaten. Personally, I think I’ll like this book. It promises to explore an interesting topic. As someone who does not have the healthiest of relationships with food, I’ll likely feel more strongly about the narrative and the restrictions imposed. I am working on it, but I also don’t care to be perfect.
I would not do very well in this world 😂 I enjoy treats and I can’t lie! My love of cake would land me in the Perspex box on many an occasion!
I’m looking forward to reading this one as it’s a debut novel. New authors (and featuring new authors) is always a pleasure. If I can, I like to share new and/or less mainstream authors.
The reviews of this book on Goodreads are a little polarised. As to what I make of this book remains to be seen. In principal, I can always get behind an #eatcake campaign, so I’m optimistic.
If you’re still here, thanks for reading today’s Shelf Control post! Have you read The Choice… or anything like it?
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads | Patreon