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Book Summary and Reviews of Conform by Ariel Sullivan

Conform by Ariel Sullivan

Conform

A Novel (The Reform Series)

by Ariel Sullivan

  • Readers' Rating (2):
  • Published:
  • Oct 2025, 416 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

In the far future, one young woman finds herself torn between two loves—and two sides of a rebellion boiling under the surface—in the "luminous" (People) first novel of a sweeping dystopian romance series.

A lifelong outcast, twenty-seven-year-old Emeline spends her days alone, sorting ancient art for destruction. Centuries after a catastrophic war nearly decimated humanity, society is now ruled by an elusive and technologically advanced group called the Illum, who constantly monitor the population's health and mandate procreation contracts. But Emeline's bleak existence is shattered when, for the first time in decades, an Illum named Collin takes a Mate: Emeline.

Baffled as to why she was chosen, Emeline is swept into the dangerous game of the Courting, where one wrong move can mean elimination. Soon, she discovers a rebellion rising in secret, and that her Mate may be keeping secrets of his own. Collin is confusing, both cold and protective, and worse, she finds herself drawn to the very last person she should be falling for: Hal, one of the resistance leaders.

As she draws closer to both Collin and Hal, the Illum exercise their power in increasingly brutal ways, forcing Emeline to question everything—most of all whether she'll have to give up her heart and even her life to stop them.

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What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? (10/30/2025)
Jill you have me super intrigued about Reformatory now!!! I got side tracked with Mujumdar's A Guardian and a thief and Conform by Ariel Sullivan because they were due back at the library with people waiting so couldn't renew! Looking forward to Reformatory next!!
-Jo_S

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Sullivan's debut is a promising series start that will draw in fans of dystopian survival stories who enjoy a love triangle that spans class and caste boundaries between the haves and have-nots." —Library Journal

"Adults who loved dystopian YA series like Uglies, Selection, or Matched, with their heavily controlled societies and forbidden relationships, should check out this title." —Booklist

"An irresistible romantic debut with a love triangle that will have you picking sides, then changing sides, then changing sides again. I read it in one sitting." —Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent

"Ingeniously combining intricate dystopian worldbuilding with swoon-worthy romance, Ariel Sullivan's thrilling debut engages and entertains while weaving in timely and essential questions about women's bodily autonomy, ideological control, and the dangers of social and genetic engineering. Readers will dive headlong into the mesmerizing world of Conform, savor every stunning twist, and finish clamoring for the next installment. I couldn't put it down." —Jessamine Chan, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good Mothers

This information about Conform was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

Ariel Sullivan

Ariel Sullivan lives in Connecticut with her husband, two sons, and their two French bulldogs. Growing up a military brat, Ariel moved every two years as a perpetual new kid; Ariel often observed from the outskirts, where a deep love of reading was born. When she isn't writing, Ariel loves to read everything from poetry to psychology, bake with her sons, listen to live music, and travel. Conform is her first novel.

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