Review: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

 I was always interested in this book but never actually read it for some reason but I finally got around to reading it. Tally, the main character is about to turn sixteen and can't wait to get herself pretty. Her best friend Peris already got his operation done and now lives in Prettyville while Tally is left feeling lonely in Uglyville. She decides to see Peris and sneaks to Prettyville. While there she also meets another Ugly named Shay. The two become friends and coincidentally have the same birthday. Tally is joyed since one of them doesn't have to leave behind the other. A few days before their birthday Shay talks with Tally about running away to the Smoke. Tally refuses to go with her since she wanted to become pretty. The specials notice and gives Tally the option to stay ugly her whole life or betray her friend and bring her back. Of course Tally decides to go to the Smoke and the story picks up from there. 

The story itself was very predictable. I kept reading and waited for a big twist or surprise but sadly there was none. The characters were okay. I didn't love them but I didn't hate them either. They were just....there. At some parts they were really stupid and annoying to the point were I wanted to punch them. There is a bit of romance but I didn't really like it much either. It was very flat and didn't grow in my opinion. It does have a good message and theme. Overall I did like it enough to continue reading the series but I am in no rush to pick up the second book. I give this book a 3 out of 5.