A User's Guide to Make-Believe

by Jane Alexander
A User's Guide to Make-Believe cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)
Buy online
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 545
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9780749024246
  • Publisher: Allison & Busby Ltd
  • Published: 2020-01-23
  • Reviews: 3

A User's Guide to Make-Believe plunges readers into a chilling near-future where the cutting-edge virtual reality experience, Make-Believe™, offers an escape from reality—but at a dangerous cost. Cassie, once an insider at Imagen, the tech giant behind this immersive fantasy, finds herself trapped and legally silenced, unable to break free from the very world she helped create. As Imagen tightens its grip, the novel explores themes of personal and public freedom in a society increasingly dominated by technology that controls perception and thought. With a tone reminiscent of Black Mirror and Vox, this story offers a plausible and unsettling vision of how virtual reality could manipulate human minds and challenge the boundaries between reality and fantasy in our connected era.

Reviews
The Wallflower Digest · 2024-06-22
good 4.00

This is a solid piece of speculative fiction that works well as an audiobook. The reviewer enjoyed the immersive experience and found it engaging.

The reviewer found this book to be a compelling piece of speculative fiction. They particularly enjoyed the audiobook format, noting that it enhanced the immersive experience. The story's premise and execution kept them engaged throughout. While not groundbreaking, it was a satisfying read that they would recommend to fans of the genre. The reviewer also appreciated the well-developed characters and the believable world-building that made the near-future setting feel plausible.

Quick quotes

    A solid bit of speculative fiction and well read audiobook.

    I picked this up at random after trawling what was available for ...

    A well-developed story that kept me engaged throughout.

Substack · 2022-01-01
great 4.50

The fast-paced chapters make this a page-turner with plenty of twists and shocking revelations. The reviewer found it highly engaging and enjoyable.

The reviewer was captivated by the fast-paced nature of this book, which is told in short, quick chapters. They found it to be a proper page-turner, filled with twists, turns, and shocking revelations that kept them on the edge of their seat. The story's pacing and structure made it an enjoyable read from start to finish. The reviewer appreciated the way the author managed to keep the tension high throughout, making it a thrilling experience. They would recommend this book to anyone looking for a gripping and entertaining read.

Quick quotes

    Told in short, fast-paced chapters it is a proper page-turner with all the twists, turns and shocking revelations you could reasonably demand.

    A highly engaging and enjoyable read.

    The story's pacing and structure made it an enjoyable read from start to finish.

Orlando Books Blog · 2020-01-24
good 4.00

The reviewer found the book to be a compelling read with an engaging but flawed heroine. The near-future setting and exploration of relationships were particularly noteworthy.

The reviewer found this book to be a compelling read, largely due to its engaging protagonist and intriguing near-future setting. They appreciated the exploration of relationships and the way the story delved into the complexities of human connections in a speculative context. While the heroine was engaging, the reviewer noted that she was somewhat flawed, which added depth to her character. The setting was well-crafted and believable, making the story feel both familiar and innovative. The reviewer enjoyed the overall experience and found the book to be a thought-provoking and enjoyable read.

Quick quotes

    A compelling read with an engaging but flawed heroine, exploring a near future ...

    The near-future setting and exploration of relationships were particularly noteworthy.

    The story delved into the complexities of human connections in a speculative context.

Appears in Lists