Young World by Soman Chainani

America is on the brink of collapse, and the youth have lost all faith in their leaders. As a pivotal election approaches, Benton Young, a high school senior trying to impress a girl, impulsively uploads a video, daring everyone to interfere with the vote and write him in for President. The video explodes online, igniting election chaos and a national revolt, until the Supreme Court intervenes to put Benton in the White House. Galvanized by Benton’s rise, more global youth take to the streets, and more governments fall, until eight of the world's most powerful nations are led by teenagers.

When these young leaders convene at their first summit in Sweden, they face the monumental task of setting a new course for history. But the first night, their unity is shattered when a leader is murdered in cold blood . . . and Benton is the only suspect. Hunted by enemies young and old, he must untangle a deadly web of secrets, betrayal, and power plays—while the future of the world hangs in the balance.

With globe-spanning action, stunning twists, and an electric new brand of storytelling, Young World is a heart-stopping thriller that asks: What happens when the future really does belong to the young?

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What if the people forced to live with the future actually got to run it - and immediately proved why that’s both brilliant and terrifying?

Pre-Reading Thoughts
Between the premise and the sheer amount of hype, this felt like it was aiming big - global stakes, political upheaval, and a very pointed “the kids are not alright… so they’re taking over.” I was expecting something high-concept and fast-paced, maybe a little messy, but in a way that keeps you hooked.

Post-Reading
As I thought…
This is such a clever concept, and it really leans into that central idea: if young people are the ones inheriting the world, why aren’t they the ones shaping it? The pacing absolutely commits - you barely have time to question anything before you’re swept into the next twist. And the format is a standout: Benton’s journal mixed with clippings, rankings, and ephemera makes it feel immediate and immersive, like you’re watching the chaos unfold in real time.

It surprised me by…
How much the presentation adds to the experience. Even in an eARC, you can tell this is going to be a physical book people notice - bright, bold, a bit in-your-face, which suits the story perfectly. There are definitely moments where you have to go with it rather than interrogate the logistics too hard, but the speed and scale make that easy to forgive. It even sent me down a rabbit hole of whether something like this could happen here in Ireland - sadly not without a major rewrite of the system, since the Taoiseach has to be a member of Dáil Éireann, and you have to be at least 21 to get that far. Still - give it time. I can absolutely see this being one teachers pick up for the classroom; there’s so much here to argue over.

🎵 Music Pairing
Featured Song: “Another Brick in the Wall” – Pink Floyd
🎶 Vibe Album: American Idiot – Green Day
🎧 Artist Recommendation: YUNGBLUD (youth rebellion, political frustration, a bit chaotic - on theme)

Vibe Check
Colour Palette: neon orange, black, electric blue, warning-sign red
Soundtrack: protest chants layered over breaking news alerts
Season: high summer heatwave - everything tense, everything ready to snap
Mood: restless, rebellious, slightly reckless
Scent: hot tarmac and something burning in the distance

Tarot Pull
The Fool – bold beginnings, reckless leaps, and the kind of optimism that doesn’t always consider the landing. Perfect for a story about stepping into power before you fully understand what it costs.

For fans of

• The Tribe tv series
• Gone novel series

Young World publishes on the 4th of June, 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.