Version Zero

by David Yoon
Version Zero cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Thriller/Suspense
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Waterstones
Paperback • £8.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 9687
  • Added: 2026-01-01
  • Updated: 2026-01-05
  • ISBN: 9780593190357
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2021-05-25
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Max, a data whiz at the social media company Wren, is fired after questioning the company's data practices and subsequently blackballed across Silicon Valley. With time on his hands and a thirst for revenge, Max teams up with his longtime friend and secret love, Akiko, to reboot the internet. Their plan involves joining forces with a reclusive tech baron, but they soon discover that breaking things can have unintended and devastating consequences./n/nAs Max and Akiko delve deeper into their scheme, they uncover the dark side of big tech and the potential dangers of a virtual world. Their actions set off a chain of events that could have far-reaching implications, not just for them, but for society as a whole. The story explores themes of technology, revenge, and the ethical implications of data collection and manipulation.

Reviews
The Young Folks · 2021-05-25
addictive 4.00

The book is compared to Dave Eggers' The Circle, highlighting its fast pace and humor. It is described as stressful and addictive, offering a unique look at the tech world.

The reviewer draws parallels between this book and Dave Eggers' The Circle, noting its fast pace and humor. They found it stressful and addictive, which suggests they were really drawn into the story. The reviewer appreciated the unique perspective on the tech world, making it a standout read.

Quick quotes

    Version Zero is more like Dave Eggers' The Circle than a YA romantic comedy—although it's still lightning-fast and laugh-out-loud funny.

    It's a stressful, addictive look at the world of tech.

    The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging.

Goodreads · 2021-05-25
underwhelming 2.50

The writing style is criticized for being strained, trying to be both sarcastic and deep simultaneously. The reviewer found it underwhelming and messy.

The reviewer felt the writing style was strained, trying to balance sarcasm and depth without quite succeeding. They found the story messy and underwhelming, which suggests they were disappointed with the execution. Despite the eventful plot, the reviewer felt it didn't live up to its potential.

Quick quotes

    The writing style feels strained between trying to be different things - sarcastic and hip, but then deep and thought provoking at the same time.

    The story didn't work for me.

    Despite what appears to be an eventful plot from the synopsis, the story was messy and underwhelming.

AdeelReads · 2021-05-23
spectacular 4.50

The novel is praised for its thrilling and funny moments, with a suggestion that it would make a great TV series. The reviewer found it spectacular overall.

The reviewer was really taken with this book, finding it a spectacular novel full of thrilling and funny moments. They thought it would make a great TV series, which suggests they really enjoyed the pacing and the characters. The reviewer also appreciated the blend of humor and excitement, making it a memorable read.

Quick quotes

    Overall, this was a spectacular novel full of thrilling and funny moments.

    I think this would definitely make a really great TV series.

    The characters were well-developed and the plot was engaging.

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