The Underachiever is a funny near-future YA science fiction adventure by David. A. Price. Released 15th Oct 2025, it's 254 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
A surfer bro, wealthy but lazy, and a smart Luddite (anti-tech) girl who sees AI for the existential threat it is have to team up to save humanity from sentient machines. The vibe is modern with some surprisingly wholesome and heartwarming nods to gentle satirists of yesteryear including Wodehouse. It's not derivative at all, and it is fun and humorous.
There's some romance, but it doesn't dominate the plot and the balance (especially with the sharp humor) is very finely tuned and works really well.
Four stars. It would be an excellent, timely, book club selection, a solid public library choice, or a buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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