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Shalini Boland

Outside: An absolutely gripping YA dystopian fiction novel Kindle Edition

by Shalini Boland (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

(1,846)

Book 1 of 3: Outside

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‘WOW!! Where to even start?!?... I started reading this morning and finished it in a few hours…Completely blind-sided by THAT ending!!...Every single time I told myself I'd finish the chapter and then put it down and every single time I was left with a cliff hanger refusing to allow me to put it down…Absolutely mind blown!!!’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sixteen years ago, Britain was ripped apart by riots. Now the country is splintered and there are only small pockets of civilisation. I’ve never set foot past the high-security walls built by my father and my only knowledge of what exists beyond are rumours of wild landscapes and violent people… Until now.

When a stranger from the outside manages to find a way into our compound, and my little sister Skye is found dead. Then and there, I make a vow to do anything to catch her killer. My best friend, daring and smart Luc, promises to help me and together we race into the pitch-black night, leaving everything we knew behind.

Following the dirt track road, we’re faced with danger at every turn and savage outsiders try to take our supplies, our vehicle, our lives. But I know I can rely on Luc, and with only each other, my feelings for him grow stronger.

Just when we think we’re close to finding out what happened to my sister, we’re captured by figures wearing dark, hooded cloaks and taken to a fortress where children have been brainwashed by their terrifying leader James Grey. We’re completely trapped.

But then I realise something that changes everything: this place is connected to my sister’s killer. And other children are in danger too. This quest is bigger than I could have ever imagined, and I know now that if we don’t stop James Grey, it won’t just be my life on the line, but the future of the whole world as we know it…

From USA Today bestselling author Shalini Boland comes a completely unputdownable, irresistible dystopian fiction novel of love and survival that will keep you flipping the pages until the end. Perfect for fans of Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games and Kiera Cass.

What readers are saying about the Outside series:

‘I LOVED this book… Terrific… Non-stop twists and turns…Such a fun, exciting and fast paced read that it's hard to put down!’@book_brilliance_xo,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Just WOW!!... Extremely gripping...I would have never in a million years suspected that ending!!! An absolute page-turner… Had me hooked throughout and there wasn't a chance I was going to put it down!!! I ended up devouring it in a several hour sitting…Clear your schedules and get ready to lose several hours of your day getting hooked on this absolutely explosive start to an epic series!!!... Absolutely fantastic… Amazing!!’Bookworm86,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow. Just wow… Oh. my gawd… An epic story of love, life, survival and family… you will be glued to the pages reading…A proper dystopian read of five-star proportions! One I won't be forgetting anytime soon. I absolutely love it!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘WOW… fantastic… I couldn’t put it down and I certainly didn’t want it to end… Had me sitting on the edge of my seat.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘AMAZING!!… I just couldn't put it down… Fast paced from the very beginning… I would read late at night desperate to know what was going to happen… Brilliant!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book 1 of 3

Outside
Print length

338 pages
Language

English
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Publication date

August 22, 2023
File size

1.8 MB
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The Birthday Party
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The Clearing: Completely unputdownable dystopian science fiction (Outside Book 2)
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The Perimeter: A totally addictive dystopian romance (Outside Book 3)
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The School Reunion
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EUR4.26
The Silent Bride
Shalini Boland

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EUR4.26
One of Us Is Lying: A totally gripping psychological thriller with a brilliant twist
Shalini Boland

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EUR3.41

Editorial Reviews

Review

'I was completely shocked at how all the events unfolded at the end. I really did not see it coming ... If you like post-apocalyptic books, this story is for you.' - Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews

'Outside is written in a way that kept me flipping through the pages, biting my fingernails and that good old 'one more chapter' feeling was ever-present.' - The Aussie Zombie

'Personally I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good YA post-apocalyptic book, anyone who likes compelling plots, and gripping moments that keep you turning that page over and over again.' - A Daydreamer's Thoughts

'A post-apocalyptic road trip thriller with the accelerator firmly on the floor.' - Faye Meredith, author of Becoming Edward

About the Author

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two children and their dog, Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing dark adventures (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Be the first to hear about new releases here: eepurl.com/xx65f

Now available:
The OUTSIDE Series - an action-packed dystopian adventure
The MARCHWOOD VAMPIRE Series - an epic romantic paranormal adventure
THE GIRL FROM THE SEA - a gripping psychological thriller with a dark twistTHE BEST FRIEND - a chilling psychological thrillerTHE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE - a twisty suspense thrillerTHE SECRET MOTHER - a gripping psychological thrillerTHE CHILD NEXT DOORTHE SILENT SISTERTHE PERFECT FAMILYTHE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL
A SHIRTFUL OF FROGS - a WWII timeslip drama

Coming Soon:
THE OTHER DAUGHTER

facebook.com/ShaliniBolandAuthor
shaliniboland.co.uk

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C9DQ82BW
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Second Sky
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 22, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 338 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1837900176
Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Outside
Best Sellers Rank: #365,149 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #3,129 in Dystopian Science Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #3,244 in Dystopian Fiction (Books)
- #3,808 in Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction (Kindle Store)
Customer Reviews:
(1,846)

About the author

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Shalini Boland

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Shalini Boland is the USA-Today bestselling author of twenty psychological thrillers. With three million copies sold, her titles have been translated into thirteen languages for publication around the world.

Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her family and their increasingly demanding dog, Queen Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing (in between re-stocking the fridge and dealing with endless baskets of laundry).

She is also the author of two bestselling SFF series as well as a WWII evacuee novel with a time-travel twist.

Thrillers:

The Birthday Party

The Honeymoon

The School Reunion

The Silent Bride,

The Daughter-in-Law,

The Family Holiday,

A Perfect Stranger,

The Couple Upstairs,

My Little Girl,

The Wife,

One of Us Is Lying,

The Other Daughter,

The Marriage Betrayal,

The Perfect Family,

The Silent Sister,

The Child Next Door,

The Secret Mother,

The Millionaire's Wife,

The Best Friend,

The Girl from the Sea,

The Vampires of Marchwood series,

The Outside series.

Instagram - @shaboland

Bluesky - @shaliniboland

Twitter - @ShaliniBoland

TikTok - @shaliniboland

Facebook - Shalini Boland Author

Customer reviews

1,846 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this post-apocalyptic novel exciting and suspenseful, with a well-thought-out plot that moves at a good clip and features two storylines told from different perspectives. The book receives positive feedback for its writing style and character development, with customers noting how they felt what the characters experienced. Customers appreciate the surprising mystery that develops throughout the book, though opinions about the pacing are mixed, with some finding it fast-paced while others say it's too slow.

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150 customers mention readability, 130 positive, 20 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fantastically exciting and suspenseful adventure that kept their interest throughout.

Good read, rather immature concepts. Hard to belIeve situations and escapes. STill, after all is said and done it was interesting and entertaining.Read more

...$2.99 and so was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be a great read. From the first page I could not put it down....Read more

...Secondly, the ending didn't work for me. It has an interesting, pretty unique twist and the story has some nice, untypical surprises, but after...Read more

...It was thrilling, dangerous and exciting all at the same time, mixed in with a touch of love....Read more

124 customers mention story, 102 positive, 22 negative

Customers enjoy the well-thought-out plot of this post-apocalyptic novel, particularly noting how it draws readers in and moves at a steady pace. They appreciate the dual narrative structure, and one customer mentions an unexpected twist at the end.

Good story but I think books 2 or 3 were even better. The story appeals to some adults but it is aimed at teenage girls....Read more

All I can say is "WOW". This is a great story that is set in Britain years after the apocalypse....Read more

This is a most enjoyable read. Good plot. Lots of adventure. Adequate closure at the end. solid Character development....Read more

...I loved the characters from the start. Good premise, great plot....Read more

112 customers mention content, 95 positive, 17 negative

Customers find the book fantastic, particularly appreciating its post-apocalyptic setting, with one customer noting its blend of history and present-day elements.

This was a great book. I love taking chances on authors I have never read and this was certainly worth it! On to book two in the series now.Read more

Very good book. Very good story. Very good writing. Very British. (takes place in England) Basically Survivalist Fiction genre....Read more

This was a good book. The story line was different thought it would be more zombie with the title,but was a nice surprise for a change. Thank you.Read more

Loved this book! It was just wonderful and I can't wait for a sequel. It was very exciting and I couldn't put it down.Read more

62 customers mention writing style, 51 positive, 11 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting that the author built the story well and is talented. One customer specifically mentions how the author painted the world, while another appreciates the first-person past-tense narrative.

Well written and thus easy to read. Kept the tension up. Looking forward to the rest of the series.Definitely better than most apocalyptic stories....Read more

...It begins brilliantly, the first half of the book is very well written. Maybe I am just a bit too old for it, (I am 21) but I wanted more from it....Read more

This book was actually quite fun. It was written for a younger audience, as most apocalyptic books seem to be these days, so what sexual content...Read more

...The writing was good and I was enjoying the story enough that I would have given it 4 stars, but the last chapter which SPOILER ALERT completely...Read more

47 customers mention character development, 38 positive, 9 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters are well developed and that they felt what the characters felt. One customer specifically mentions the dual storylines of the main characters.

...The characters were well developed and you really felt like you knew them. It all came together in the end which was nice....Read more

...Lots of adventure. Adequate closure at the end. solid Character development. Suitable for adolescents and adults.Read more

...The characters were believable and the story sucked me in. I look forward to reading more by this author.Read more

Well developed characters highlight this futuristic adventure/mystery/romance....Read more

27 customers mention plot twist, 23 positive, 4 negative

Customers enjoy the unexpected plot twists in the book, particularly noting the surprising mystery that develops throughout the story.

It was very entertaining I enjoyed the twists I have already told some friends to read it I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I didRead more

I enjoyed reading this book. It had some interesting twists and surprises....Read more

A great original story with a lot of action and great twists. Hopefully the next book is as good and exciting.Read more

...Looking forward to more of this series. Enjoyed the twist at the end....Read more

18 customers mention premise, 16 positive, 2 negative

Customers appreciate the premise of the book, which is told from two different perspectives and features an interesting post-apocalyptic concept.

Interesting concept...Read more

...The book had a good premise and the story line of the mother was the only cohesive thing in this book. Will not be reading any more of this series.Read more

A post-apocalyptic book that never is short on surprises! And an unexpected ending that shocked me and gave a spot for a 2nd book!Read more

It was an exciting ride. I loved the characters from the start. Good premise, great plot....Read more

21 customers mention pacing, 9 positive, 12 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it fast-paced while others say it's too slow and takes a while to get going.

The book started off slow. Wasn't a fan of the 2 storylines at first. As you would get excited in one story...the other one would cut in....Read more

A fast paced book written in the near future in England about how society falls and rebuilds, from the perspective of a gal going thru it and...Read more

...When it did finally come together, it seemed rushed, because it lacked any buildup of tension or, frankly, much emotion....Read more

...This is a fast paced story with lots of action. It also contained a number of plot twists that were pleasant surprises to me....Read more

Top reviews from the United States

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Amazon Customer
"Outside" was a wonderful surprise!
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2011
Verified Purchase

This book was such a wonderful surprise. I purchased this Kindle ebook edition off Amazon recently for only $2.99 and so was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be a great read. From the first page I could not put it down. The book was tagged as a "post-apocalyptic romance thriller," but it is so much more than that. This truly believable future world is divided by Perimeters: high-security gated communities for the privileged, where life goes on as normal. The strong female lead Riley, is a seventeen year old girl who was lucky enough to be born on the right side of the fence. But when someone breaks through the Perimeter and murders her younger sister Skye, she talks her seventeen-year-old neighbour Luc into helping her go in search of the killer. I was intrigued with Shalini Boland's unique writing style as she weaved a mysterious secondary storyline throughout Riley's first person account of the main story. There were lots of twists and turns and nonstop action and this book will keep you guessing right up to the last page. Finally mixed in with all the mystery and action is a wonderful tender young romance. This book ranks right up there with my all time favourite books. I give 'Outside' five big stars.*****

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B Donnelly
Great read; very enjoyable; interesting; entertaining; recommended
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
Very good book. Very good story. Very good writing.
Very British. (takes place in England)
Basically Survivalist Fiction genre. ('light' post-apocalyptic; semi-dystopian;
partial societal collapse after world-wide terrorist bomb attacks)

It is self-described as "A post-apocalyptic romance thriller."
I think that does it an injustice. (I would remove that from the description)

Got free via BookBub special. Almost wish I had paid money for it.
I will be purchasing book #2 in the series.

Found a few minor editing issues. Notifying the author and telling her
what they are free gratis. Hopefully she will correct them.
(other than that, many of the British English words were spelled incorrectly ;o)

No graphic violence, sex, or wordage. Nice action, and good flow.
Does require some suspension of disbelief, but not overly so.
Interesting use of past and present two-viewpoint alternating storytelling
that merges into 'real-time' at the end. Nicely done.
Compared to some of the Kindle e-books I've read recently, it was far above in most ways.

As for one-star and other low reviews by others:
Relegating this book to the status of, and dismissing it as, a "romance novel" does it a great injustice.
Although the story has young people (older teens) in it as primary characters, it is NOT a Young Adult novel.
People who found it "tedious" and the like must suffer from ADD, and/or today's 5-second sound bite reality,
and/or today's seeming "do it all for me so I don't have to think or contribute anything myself" TV-like mentality.

It's not High Art, but it's not anywhere near as bad as too many claim.
FTR, I haven't read "The Hunger Games" yet, however, I have read a great many
books of this genre. I do tend to cut them some slack because I really like
the genre. But this one was *at the very least* pretty good and very readable.

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Janyaa
It was okay.
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2012
Verified Purchase
This was a decent book, I'd rate it 3 1/2 stars. It's one of those books that you blow through in one sitting and enjoy the ride while you're on it, but it doesn't necessarily stick with you afterwards.

Although I liked the characters, they didn't feel fully realized or fleshed out to me. Riley seemed inconsistent in her mannerisms. First she's strong and wants to go pursue her sister's killer, she manages to keep her wits about her and save herself and Luc from certain danger, and then she's breaking down and crying and feeling too overwhelmed.

Luc was a guy of few words, so it was hard to get a good read on him. He loves Riley enough to leave the perimeter with her, but then seems to get easily irritated with her and chooses to be cold and distant. Not only that, but it was very convenient that both of them were highly trained in weaponry and combat. While it makes sense that all kids would have that type of training, it doesn't get mentioned until they actually need the skills. Plus, it goes directly against the image that these kids have grown up in a pampered, privileged existence up until this point. If the author had found a way to incorporate that into the story before it was needed, it would have felt more authentic.

I did like how there were two storylines running from chapter to chapter, although at first I didn't catch on that it was two different perspectives because the tones were so similar. Yet, even with the backstory of Eleanor, I found that I couldn't have a lot of sympathty for what she'd done in the end. After all those years of being loved and building a life, I would have thought her choices would have been different. Or, at the very least, harder to make. She seemed to throw herself into her misdeeds so completely as to not feel any compunction about the pain she would be causing. It made me not like her very much, and I don't think that's entirely the reaction the author was trying to make.

The other thing I liked about this book was the world construction. I think things would probably happen very similarly to how the author envisioned them, especially at the beginning, during the transition period.

Overall, it's not a bad book and worthy of keeping you company on a rainy Sunday afternoon. I'll probably end up reading the sequels, but I don't have that eager, grinding anticipation in my gut waiting for the release date like so many other trilogies I've picked up recently.

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30 people found this helpful

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Bally 1001
A future not entirely unforeseeable
Reviewed in Spain on September 6, 2020
Verified Purchase

Although not my favoured genre, on the basis that I have thoroughly enjoyed other books by this author, I thought I’d try it. Set in the not too distant future, and not entirely detached from today’s troubled world, the accident?/murder? of a young sibling starts a rather dangerous journey around southern England...I’m afraid I found that part rather tedious, but, as I say, my purchase was outside the norm for me. It is well written in my view and no doubt would be enjoyed by those who like an apocalyptic setting. My reaction should not put anyone off. Hence my 5 star response.

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IPSG101
Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on December 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
Good one....

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Korkycat
Disappointed
Reviewed in Australia on September 16, 2018
Verified Purchase
I am a fan on Shalini Boland, however, I found this book slow, boring and difficult to follow, and only got halfway through before going onto something else.

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Thomas A. Long
A Great Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2012
Verified Purchase
As the title suggests this is a post apocalyptic story. But perhaps the better term would be "apocalypse light". For even though the population has been decimated and no central government remains this is not a tale of a scorched wasteland. The world of our protagonist is a developed urban society with agriculture and limited industrial capabilities.

The story is told from the perspective of two characters. For both it is a tale of discovery and change for one character it is the discovery of how the world has changed for the other the discovery of just how different the world is outside her own comfortable little bubble is and just how much the outside will change her.

The story is well written, the author manages to describe the setting well without drowning the reader in details allowing the readers own imagination to do its work. The apocalypse itself is not the result of monsters or aliens but rather events which are familiar to us all, only the scale is new. What I liked was that whilst unlikely the events causing the apocalypse are believable as is the way people react to them. It's a great touch that the author included details about how the world changed and how people reacted to that change. Despite being told from the perspective of the two narrators all the characters of the story are fleshed out and likable. If I were feeling less generous I could perhaps point out some areas were things seem unlikely even given the setting of the story or the odd technical mistake. But ultimately the story was believable well written and exciting. The author has created a wonderful, if at times depressing, rich world and characters and I hope we see more of it in the future.

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נוד מדבר בודד
outside
Reviewed in Germany on October 16, 2018
Verified Purchase
Sehr interessante und spannende Geschichte. Ich kann sie nur empfehlen
Very interesting and exciting story. I can just recommend it

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5.0 out of 5 stars "Outside" was a wonderful surprise!

4.0 out of 5 stars Great read; very enjoyable; interesting; entertaining; recommended

3.0 out of 5 stars It was okay.

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars A future not entirely unforeseeable

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read

5.0 out of 5 stars outside

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"Outside" was a wonderful surprise!

Great read; very enjoyable; interesting; entertaining; recommended

It was okay.

A future not entirely unforeseeable

Five Stars

Disappointed

A Great Read

outside