'Risk' by Fleur Ferris might actually be one of the more important books published this year. It is one of those novels that I could see being added to high school reading lists. It deals with the sort of topics that need to be discussed openly and honestly with teens and young adults in particular, because its message is so very critical and so very heartbreaking. In this age of social media domination and lack of privacy Ferris has written a disconcerting cautionary tale as a reminder to readers that you can't always trust online appearances. It is easy to become desensitised or simply be unconscious to the risk internet access and technology presents to our lives, but it reaches far wider than simply targeted advertising, trolling and hackers. It can be much more personal and much more deadly. Unfortunately, not everyone who uses the internet is trustworthy, though it is easy to forget that fact and accept everything at face value. 
 This novel follows best friends Taylor and Sierra. As many people do, the girls spend a fair bit of time online in chat rooms talking with strangers. After talking to a guy who calls himself Jacob Jones, Sierra feels like she has met her soul mate and agrees to meet him face-to-face after school. Taylor isn't sure this is such a good idea but she doesn't put up much of a fight to stop it and agrees to cover for Sierra with her parents. Everything seems fine until Sierra decides to stay the night with Jacob and then doesn't check in or arrive home the next morning. With Sierra missing, everything quickly spirals out of control and Taylor is stuck right in the centre, unsure what she should have done or if she could have prevented this from happening and burdened by guilt and grief. 
 Now, let's be clear, this is not a book with a happy ending. This novel doesn't pull any punches and the characters go through an incredibly realistic and heartbreaking journey dealing with the consequences of one simple decision. The aftermath of Sierra's disappearance tears a massive hole in a huge number of people's lives. This story is simultaneously a cautionary tale in being internet aware as well as an exploration of the journey towards acceptance and healing following tragedy. I felt like Ferris did a particularly good job of toeing that line of making her point but not preaching or talking down to her audience and she doesn't try and say that the internet or social media is inherently bad, just that it needs to be treated with respect and the risks need to be understood by users. 
 On the whole, this is a compelling story and a quick and easy read that will be very accessible to younger as well as older readers. The mystery and tragedy elements are well done, creating a powerful sense of tension and unease, and the emotional fall-out experienced by the characters is heartbreakingly realistic. It is clear Ferris' experience in the police force and as a paramedic bring a huge amount of realism, seriousness and grit to the novel. There are some disturbing and heavy-hitting elements in this book, but given the subject matter this is unsurprising and I think it was a much more powerful novel for not trying to sugar-coat these aspects. It openly discusses how predators search out, target and groom vulnerable individuals. It is eye-opening and chilling. 
 I do agree with other reviewers who have mentioned some issues with body image and negative self-talk from the main character. This was a bit of a problem for me and I think could have been handled with more finesse to really highlight how teens and young adults in particular can be quite vulnerable in both the real and online worlds and how this vulnerability can play a massive role in the undertaking of certain risky behaviours. There was also a slight immaturity to some of the characters that irritated me, but I don't think this was significant enough to detract from the overall experience and will probably be quite relatable to younger readers. 
 This book gets 4 stars from me for its gripping storytelling, solid execution, emotional rollercoaster ride and massively important concepts.