In J.L. Witterick’s young adult novel, set in a dystopian near future, a powerful drug known as The Truth has become everyone’s favorite addiction, but suicide rates are spiralling dangerously.

When 17-year-old Flo’s mother commits suicide, Flo is sent to live with family in Orlando, Florida, near the home of Manchester Gurut, known as The Man—the inventor of The Truth and CEO of Dura. Dura produces a drug that offers people the chance to experience wonderful, fulfilling dreams where their greatest desires come true. The downside? It’s only a dream. Reality feels intolerable as a result.

In Orlando, Flo meets Dey Wintergreen, the son of one of her teachers. They share the same view that The Truth is dangerous to society, and Dey is passionate about the need to sabotage the drug’s production. Flo is unsure, but she’s falling in love and agrees to enlist her cousin Wyatt to the cause. As the story unfolds, the narrative offers a series of dramatic events—including a kidnapping, an attempt to sabotage a factory, a murder, and a miscarriage of justice— as the teens try to find a way to disrupt the work of The Man.

This is a well-paced novel with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged. Characters are well-rounded, and Flo, the narrator, is sensitively drawn and relatable. She’s talented and strong, but also self-deprecating, and she’s damaged, but not defeated, by the loss of her parents. The gentle love story between Flo and Dey is complicated by secrets from the past, and there’s also humor provided in the cast of secondary characters, including Flo’s mean-girl cousin, Helen, and her cold-hearted Aunt Sherry.

A few lapses into flowery language and hyperbole are minor distractions in this otherwise page-turning read. With an interesting premise and engaging characters, readers will hope for a sequel where Flo and Dey can continue their battle against The Truth.

Also available as an ebook.