Review of "The First Twenty" by Jennifer Lavoie

Page Count: 264 Pages

Publish Date: May 5th, 2015

Genre: YA/Dystopian/LGBT

Synopsis: Humanity was nearly wiped out when a series of global disasters struck, but pockets of survivors have managed to thrive and are starting to rebuild society. Peyton lives with others in what used to be a factory. When her adopted father is murdered by Scavengers, she is determined to bring justice to those who took him away from her. She didn't count on meeting Nixie.

Nixie is one of the few people born with the ability to dowse for water with her body. In a world where safe water is hard to come by, she's a valuable tool to her people. When she's taken by Peyton, they'll do anything to get her back. As the tensions between the groups reach critical max, Peyton is forced to make a decision: give up the girl she's learned to love or risk the lives of those she's responsible for.

Review: I'd like to start off by saying that I really liked this book! It falls into a lot of categories that I like - lesbian, YA, and dystopian. That doesn't mean I'll overlook every little flaw, but it means I'm more willing to forgive them.














The survival focus of The First Twenty was a refreshing take on dystopian where it seems like all books involve some elaborate death game. This straight up survival and attempting to reconnect made it a lot more believable. However, I would have liked more explanation  of what happened to the old world. Simply called the Before it is mentioned only briefly because Nixie and Peyton, the main characters, were not alive during the Before. Still, I want to know more about those mysterious "series of global disasters" mentioned in the summary.

I enjoyed the characters a lot and it was wonderful to read some LGBT YA where there was absolutely no angst about being attracted to someone of the same sex. It's hard enough to find LGBT YA much less angst-free.

That brings me to Nixie and Peyton's relationship. It's cute. They are so cute. I love it. But they are such U-Haul lesbians. They know each other for less than a month and Peyton asks Nixie to move in with her. The whole relationship moves so fast. Being eternally single, I'm not the best person to judge relationships but this seemed fast.



They were so cute, though!

This absolutely, 110% needs to have a sequel. I know that it only just came out, but I want news on when the next one is coming out. I need to know what happens with the other settlements and if Peyton and Nixie stay together.

Rating: 4 STARS

*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*