Synopsis:
When Mae is hired to work for the Circle, the world’s most powerful internet company, she feels she’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime. Run out of a sprawling California campus, the Circle links users’ personal emails, social media, and finances with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of transparency. Mae can’t believe her great fortune to work for them – even as life beyond the campus grows distant, even as a strange encounter with a colleague leaves her shaken, even as her role at the Circle becomes increasingly public …
Review:
I gave The Circle a 4/5 because I really enjoyed the thought-provoking premise and the way it explored the intersection of technology and personal privacy. The concept of a company controlling every aspect of people’s lives through a single online identity was interesting, close to home and unsettling. Mae’s journey into the Circle, from her initial excitement to her growing unease, felt authentic and relatable.
However, I did feel that the ending didn’t quite sit right with me. It felt a bit rushed and left some questions unanswered, leaving me wanting more depth and resolution. While the story builds up a lot of tension, the payoff didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by the rest of the novel. Despite this, I still highly recommend it and hope the rest of the series puts these feelings to bed…
