Flawed is Cecelia Ahern’s bold and thought-provoking dive into the world of YA dystopia and it totally pulled me in! Set in a society obsessed with perfection, the story follows Celestine, a model citizen who suddenly finds herself labeled as "Flawed" after making one compassionate decision. From there, everything spirals.

What I loved most is how Ahern explores the gray areas of morality how doing the right thing isn’t always what society says is correct! Celestine’s journey is emotional and frustrating in the best way; you really feel her confusion, anger, and growing strength. It’s a powerful look at what it means to speak up, even when your voice shakes.

Flawed
By Cecelia Ahern
Published by HarperCollins Publishers

This YA debut from international bestselling author Cecelia Ahern, had me from the offset! Full of twists, uncomfortable moments but above all strength.
What is flawed to you?
What is perfect to you?

This unusual adventure, set in a different time explores power, loyalty, but above all trust. Who would you trust if your life and possibly many more was in danger?

In Celestine North’s world, perfection is everything and mistakes are punished.
Punished by The Guild, a powerful law abiding committee who rule.
But at what cost?
In the beginning, Celestine lives a perfect life, as a model daughter, student and girlfriend. But she breaks a rule, and her act of humanity sends her on a sequence of life-changing acts with repercussions.
She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She will be found FLAWED.

Celestine is an ordinary young woman full of self doubt thanks to the guild. Everyone is afraid. But she changes into a young woman who decides to take a stand. A decision that could cost her everything, her family, her friends, the ability to love, her life!
This thrilling new novel touches your heart and soul from the very beginning.

“I cannot fathom how I can be here. I can’t be Flawed. I am perfect.”

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgallery

I have read Cecelia's work growing up and was elated to five into her dystopian world in this one. While this is for YAz I absolutely loved this one.

The concept of perfection and a world without empathy is very well done. The branding of flawed, the punishment and the creation of the society are integral elements that are brought out well. Loved the lead character and storyline.

Thank you HarperCollins UK, Children's and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

I liked this book the first time I read it but on the second time, I loved it. The sorrow and desperation you feel for the MC is so real, what she goes through in this story makes you really think at times. It’s a really compelling and well done dystopian.

A compelling and thought-provoking YA dystopian novel that explores morality, conformity, and courage. Cecelia Ahern’s Flawed presents a chilling society where imperfection is punished, and one girl dares to stand against the system. Fast-paced and emotionally resonant, this is a powerful story about integrity and personal rebellion.

This is Ahern's YA debut and it is fantastic! It's a dystopian setting and it drew me right in and didn't let go. Absolutely wonderful read!

Wow! Having read a few of Cecelia Ahern’s adult books and found them a bit wishy washy, this YA future based novel really hit the mark. Can’t wait to get stuck into the second instalment right awayv

“Flawed” is set in a dystopian world where the punishment for crime and any act deemed unethical is carried out with branding of your body. Crimes such as helping another “Flawed” person, making a bad business decision or murder are all punishable by The Guild.
17 year old Celestine always follows the rules, does well in school and is even dating the son of one of the top Judges of The Guild. But one day she makes a life-changing decision, and finds her perfect life unravelling.
As a life-long fan of Cecelia Ahern, I downloaded this book for my daughter, only to find myself devouring every chapter. I read it in 2 sittings, and imagine the delight when I found out there was a sequel (downloaded and reading it right now!)
I found the story easy to follow, even with a way of life that is completely different to ours. The characters are detailed enough that you love/hate them, and I really found it fascinating just thinking that a person could be imprisoned and branded just for showing empathy to another human being or making one decision deemed wrong by The Guild.
My 12 year old is currently half way through and loving it!
Thank you to Netgalley.UK for the free download. “Flawed” is re-released on May.8th 2025.

A brilliantly written story, both myself and my granddaughter loved this book. She is the intended demographic so it hit just the right spot. I am a tad older and still loved it . We will immediately read the next installment.

Cecelia Ahern’s Flawed is a gripping, dystopian page-turner that’s totally different from her usual style—and it works brilliantly. Set in a world obsessed with moral perfection, it follows Celestine North, a model citizen whose life unravels after one act of compassion brands her as “Flawed.”

The concept is thought-provoking, the twists are unpredictable, and the pace never lets up. Celestine is a character you can really get behind, and her transformation from rule-follower to rebel is both believable and inspiring.

Although it’s marketed as YA, the mature themes and ethical questions make it more suited for teens than upper KS2. Ahern’s shift into dystopia is bold and successful—I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to read the sequel.

Pre-reading: This originally came out in 2016, part of the post-Hunger Games wave where one teenage girl is suddenly the key to toppling a dystopian government - just as soon as she chooses between two boys. I'm not sure I finished reading it, and I'm certain I didn't read the second one. I think she gets in trouble for helping an old man who'd fallen over? Maybe?

Post reading: Ok, it's an interesting read, though I feel the world building could be a little better. The basic idea is that, along with criminals, there are now also Flawed, people who have committed moral crimes and are branded in various spots to show it. Flawed people live under strict restrictions and no one associates with them - aiding a Flawed is a sign of being Flawed yourself. Celestine, our heroine, believes completely in the system - until the day she sees a Flawed man about to die, and the people around him do nothing. Helping him is enough to put her in the crosshairs of some very dangerous people, as every side of the conflict attempts to use her to their own ends.

So. I enjoyed the story - I thought it was clever - but I did wish for a bit more world-building detail. The Flawed system only operates in this one country, but it might be going global - which is partly why Celestine's under so much pressure. Parts of it are explained well, but not others, although it's possible I missed something.

Things seemed to happen very quickly and sweep Celestine along. There's a rebellion, whose members happily identify themselves to her, and a reporter who was completely on the government's side until one conversation with Celestine sways her. There's a mysterious boy who exchanges half a dozen words with her during the book, but she's completely smitten with. Her relationship with her sister goes back and forth several times during the book.

It's not terrible, I enjoyed it and I'll definitely read the second one, but it's not my favourite of this genre either.


TV Recommendation: The 1980s Twilight Zone had an episode entitled "To See the Invisible Man." In that episode, the main character was sentenced to a year of social invisibility and given a visible implant so others could avoid him. While at first he was elated, the loneliness and isolation eventually drove him to near madness.

Book Recommendation: Matched by Ally Condle. Another in the post-Hunger Games wave, this book features a society where everything is decided for citizens, right down to who they'll marry. Like Celestine, Cassia trusts the Society utterly, until she doesn't.


Tarot Card: Ace of Swords



Celestine is battling her way to the truth, carving away lies to try and find not only the truth, but what feels right to her. The Ace of Swords is the card of clarity, honesty and truth, which makes it a great match here!

I have read a number of Cecelia Ahern's contemporary novels, so was intrigued by the idea of YA dystopian fiction written by her. I am so pleased I found Flawed - I truly loved it. It is beautifully written, emotive and thought provoking, and contains a genuinely shocking scene that I think will remain in my head forever. The premise is that of a young girl , Celestine, who has always been told she is perfect suddenly being told she is the most flawed person simply for doing what is right - a terrifying thought. Such a wonderful piece of fiction, I moved straight on to the sequel, Perfect.

I loved Flawed, I couldn't put it down and went straight on to read Perfect after! It was such an interesting concept, highly recommend and not just for YA!

I liked the story and characters and it entertained me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

This is an interesting YA book about a society obsessed and functioning on their definitions of perfection and the main character becomes flawed by an act of flawedness by definitions of that society.
Then when she is wrongly treated, she meets the rebellion.
The plot and the characterisation were 3 stars for me.
The writing and the premise, although not very original, but dealt from an authentic angle as described in the blurb, were more of a 4 stars.
I would recommend this to YA readers and younger adults.
I will not review this publicly because I do not wish the steer away the book’s target audience from it.
Plus, I am looking forward to the second book as the world has now been established, the potential plot of it will appeal to me more and Celestine will likely have a more complex arc.

Flawed is one of those books that sticks with you long after you’ve finished the last page. Cecelia Ahern, known for her contemporary novels, takes a step into YA dystopian fiction, and she does it incredibly well.

The story follows Celestine North, a girl who has always followed the rules in a society that demands absolute perfection. But when she makes a split-second decision to help someone society deems “Flawed,” her world is turned upside down. Suddenly, she’s facing consequences she never imagined—consequences that force her to question everything she once believed in.

Celestine is a fascinating protagonist. She’s not the typical fearless rebel we often see in dystopian fiction. Instead, she’s a mix of strong and uncertain, brave and naive, which makes her feel incredibly real. Her journey isn’t just about fighting injustice—it’s about learning to think for herself in a world that discourages independent thought.

Ahern’s writing is gripping, and there are moments in this book that are genuinely hard to read—not because they’re bad, but because they’re so powerful. There’s one scene in particular that left me feeling shaken, angry, and completely absorbed in the story. The idea of branding people as “Flawed” is disturbing, and the way society justifies its cruelty feels eerily relevant to real-world issues.

If I had one minor complaint, it would be that the first half takes a little time to pick up, and some elements feel familiar if you’ve read other dystopian books. But once the story gains momentum, it’s impossible to put down. And while there’s a hint of romance, it never overshadows the bigger themes of justice, identity, and the cost of standing up for what’s right.

The ending leaves you on edge, making it clear that Celestine’s story is far from over. If you’re looking for a compelling, thought-provoking dystopian novel with real emotional weight, Flawed is definitely worth reading.

Don’t you just want to grab this, switch off the phone and curl up on the sofa
By far one of my favourite books I've read this month… I loved every minute…

I read (devoured) this book and its sequel when they first came out and loved them. Weirdly, they are now more relevant to our real world than before. Love these books so much.

I first read this book when it was initially released, so I was excited to re-read it and its sequel via Netgalley.

The story follows Celestine North, a 17-year-old girl living a perfect life in a perfect world, until one incident causes her life to become flawed. It is a compelling story of social differences, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time I read it.

My personal favorite character is actually her mother, who, despite being a perfect model, is definitely a perfect mother, flaws and all