Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

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Divergent by Veronica Roth

I know, I know – I am very late to the Divergent party. This was my first time reading it, despite the fact that it’s been out forever and there are movies and everything. The boys and I decided to read the series together, which honestly made the experience way more fun than I expected.

The premise pulled me in immediately. A society divided into factions based on personality traits is fascinating and also wildly flawed, which makes for great storytelling. Being forced to choose one defining trait and live inside it forever was obviously never going to work, and watching those cracks start to form made the world feel believable even while suspending reality.

I really liked Tris. I was rooting for her from the beginning. Watching her step outside of Abnegation and figure out who she is when she’s no longer defined by “selflessness” felt familiar in a quiet, coming-of-age way. She’s tested over and over, and instead of breaking, she grows grit and confidence. That transition from home, safety, and certainty into a harsher, bigger world felt very real.

The Dauntless initiation genuinely shocked me. The idea that not everyone makes it into a faction – and that once you leave your faction, you essentially lose your family – hit harder than I expected.

I also enjoyed getting to know the supporting characters as the story unfolded. Four was an interesting slow reveal, and I appreciated Tris’s cautious friendship with Christina. The romance felt inevitable, but it never overtook the story. It actually worked in service of the plot rather than distracting from it, which I appreciated.

This one was a true page-turner. There were several nights where it was hard to stop reading with the boys, but I didn’t cheat and read ahead. Major mom points. I stayed curious the whole way through and liked watching the side characters become more layered as the story progressed.

There weren’t huge shock twists for me, but that didn’t take away from the experience. The ending wraps up this part of the story while clearly pulling you toward the next book. You could stop here… but you won’t want to.

Overall, this was a fun, engaging read. A little predictable at times, but still high-stakes, emotional, and thoughtful. Definitely YA, but it held my attention as a forty-something reader too. If you enjoy dystopian stories and coming-of-age journeys about identity and belonging, this one is worth picking up.

And yes – I’m very ready for book two.