Book Review: Evolve by Hetty Waite

It is a pleasure to take part in the Reading Between The Lines, Book Blog Tour for Evolve, the second book in Hetty Waite’s Young Adult Dystopian series: The Chromosome Trilogy, published October 2025

#EVOLVE

BLURB

Having survived the attack led by her sister, Cara is ready to move on.

A new city means a fresh start and a chance for her and Brown to live together, as equals.

However, the perfect façade of the Amex community hides dark secrets.
With a nightly curfew and a mysterious scientist in charge, Cara is convinced all is not as it
seems.

As her doubts grow, so do the arguments with Brown. And with Myla still alive and
looking for revenge, it’s not only the danger from inside the city walls that threaten to
tear her world apart – forever.

Ultimately, she will need to make a choice: protect her family at all costs, or save
herself..

REVIEW

This is the second book in a three-part Young Adult dystopian series. Evolve follows on from Mutate. Set in the future, in the city of Galex, life evolves around genetics. People live with a virus that only affects the Y chromosome. Men (Ys) are at risk of death or mutation, and are considered dangerous, while women (Xs) rule the city.

The fictional world the characters live in is well depicted, and the Amex community easy to imagine. With themes of gender inequality, family and survival, this book is perfect for those who love a fast-paced dystopian read.

Cara and Brown arrive at the Amex community with their baby daughter, where men and women are regarded as equal. The characters are strong, each one standing out, and the baby a delightful addition. This is a well-written, page-turning read.

Although this is Cara’s story as she flees from her sister, Myla, it is told from differing perspectives. Brown has spent his life enslaved in the city of Galax, knowing he could mutate and become dangerous. The Amex community offers the chance for Cara, Brown and their daughter to live equally as a family. Betrayal, secrets and new research developments ratchet up the tension as they try to work out who they can trust.

Although this is the second book in the series, Evolve can be read as a standalone. The plot was compelling and kept me engaged. I read this in two sittings.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Hetty Waite lives in Derbyshire with her husband, daughter, and cavapoo.

A former teacher, she spent many years sharing her love of stories with teenagers in the classroom before turning her own ideas into fiction. It was during the pandemic, while on maternity leave, that she finally found the time to write her first novel.

After initially self-publishing, a chance meeting with a director from Spellbound Books Ltd at a writers’ school changed everything. Impressed by her debut, they offered Hetty a three-book deal for her Young Adult dystopian series, The Chromosome Trilogy. The first instalment, Mutate, was re-released in 2024, followed by Evolve in October 2025.

When she’s not writing, Hetty tutors English, marks exam papers, and enjoys life in Derbyshire with her family and their lively cavapoo.

LINKS TO BUY

KINDLE – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evolve-Chromosome-Trilogy-Book-2-ebook/dp/B0FSD813JK

PAPERBACK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0FWB7XCZG

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Hetty-Waite/author/B0BP7RSGRM

WEBSITE – https://hettywaite.co.uk

FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086494572838

INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/hettywaite

X – @HettyWaite

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