Watch Me Deluxe Limited Edition: A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick (The Shatter Me Series: The New Republic, 1)

Tahereh Mafi is one of those rare authors who transforms language into emotion. Best known for her Shatter Me series, Mafi brings a unique and poetic voice to young adult literature. Her writing style is unmistakable—introspective, fragmented, and brimming with metaphors that either feel like whispers or screams, depending on the mood of the page. Diving back into the Shatter Me universe felt like slipping into an old pair of shoes—familiar and comforting after being away for a while. I tore through the original series last year, and it’s been living rent-free in my head ever since. So when this new book was announced, I was over the moon. And I’ve got to say, it really kicked things off with a bang.The characters in this world have carved out a permanent space in my heart. Every time one of the originals appeared, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling—and I was so happy to see how often they showed up in this book. I want to avoid too many spoilers, but there are two moments I have to talk about: Warner becoming officially a dad—my heart!—and the heart-wrenching news that Kenji and Nazeera have gone their separate ways. A full ten years have passed, and James, our once-little brother, is now grown. I adore him. He’s such a beautiful reflection of those who loved him, yet he’s clearly his own person. He’s torn—trying to be a protector while navigating his feelings for Rosabelle, the broken girl he’s now responsible for.Rosa really caught my attention—she’s a new character, but there’s something so layered and human about her already. She works for the Reestablishment, yet her loyalty is clearly shaken by the way her little sister Clara has been treated. It feels like her resistance is simmering just beneath the surface. We’ve only gotten a glimpse of her so far, but I can’t wait to go deeper into her story. She has the potential to carry so much emotional weight and make choices that truly matter. The dynamic between James and Rosa crackled with tension. I appreciate that their relationship leans into the slow burn—it makes the emotional payoff all the more rewarding. And when I say slow, I mean achingly so. Just as their interactions began to thaw and move away from pure hostility, everything unraveled. This is enemies-to-lovers done right: Rosa is a government mercenary who literally killed James at the start, and yet, he still approached her with care and tenderness, seeing the person beneath the mask. Their chemistry? Off the charts.The fantasy layer of this story really pulled me in. Mafi has such a unique way of structuring her worldbuilding—it’s never confusing, but there’s always just enough left in the shadows to make you lean in closer. I was burning with questions about the Reestablishment’s deeper intentions. The choice to make synthetic intelligence the antagonist was a bold move—and it paid off. I was utterly absorbed, and I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds from here. This book felt like Mafi was just vibing with her faves—she didn’t hold back on the banter, the jokes, or the sweet OG content. Plus, she turned up the heat with all that slow-burn emotional drama in the new romance. And you know what? She ate—and so did I. I was living for it.Absolutely cannot wait for the next one!😍😍

reading this book was like being teleported back to the first time i picked up shatter me. i LOVED the amount of time we got to spend with the og characters. seeing the development from all of them and also the development from james was so emotional. this book made me laugh, cry, and feel so nostalgic all at once. tahereh mafi never fails to write with exquisite detail and the most heart rendering story line. she is the queen of enemies to lovers. i am impatiently waiting for the next book. i devoured this one within a span of five hours.

Returning to the world of Shatter Me felt like coming home in the most chaotic, exhilarating way. Rosabelle is such a fascinating new protagonist — fierce, complex, and full of potential. I’m already so invested in her journey and can’t wait to see how her story unfolds.Seeing James all grown up was such a treat, and I loved the way his character has developed. But honestly? The highlight for me was getting to reunite with the OG crew — Kenji, Warner, and Juliette. Their dynamic still feels so real and comforting, and I forgot just how much I adore Kenji until he was back on the page. That friendship group? Always iconic.The last 50 pages had my head spinning — the tension, the twists, the final interaction (!!) — I was fully unprepared. My jaw dropped and I immediately started counting down the days until book 2.Spice count: None — this one leans more into tension and emotional build-up.If you're a longtime Shatter Me fan, Watch Me is a wild, emotional ride you don’t want to miss.

This book is spectacular!! I highly recommend the whole entire series. Tahereh Mafi is an amazing writer and always amazes me with her talent for writing.

I love James so much! He is a hilarious badass and I can’t wait to see his character development. Mafi does an amazing job of balancing hard and dark situations with light and heartwarming moments and characters. I need the next book!!

Everything’s great about the book, the quality and design… the thing is I ordered the deluxe version previous to the release, but I received just the hard cover one with none of the special stuff :(

How am I suppose to function after this book 😩. This had me in a chokehold, slammed against the wall, and held against my will. I inhaled this book like it was the oxygen I needed to breathe!! I loved this so so much 🖤We are transported 10 years into the future after the fall of the re-establishment. The original Shatter Me series was nothing but death and devastation, and in contrast this new spin off is ALL GOOD VIBES! I was giggling and laughing with joy. This was so much fun to read. The characters we loved so much from the series are all grown up now and living their best life.James is no longer the 10 year old little boy. He is now 21 and trying to prove himself as worthy as his big brother Warner. I FREAKING LOVED ADULT JAMES! He has the same sense of humor we get from Kenji with the ruthlessness we see from Warner 😍.We have a new FMC, Rosabelle, who is a child of the newly rebuilt re-establishment. She is a cold blooded assassin spy who will do anything to save her little sister Clara. She follows James to the New Republic on a secret mission to infiltrate and take it down.The tension we get from these two was EVERYTHING and I could not handle it- like I will self combust because I NEED THEM to be together and have their happy ending 😭.The author says you can read this as a standalone without reading the original series. They do briefly explain the world but I think it would have more emotional impact if you read the backstory first. The ending of the book sets up for the next book in the series and I cannot freaking wait because I was fully immersed and not ready to go!!