book review: ready player one

This book is absolutely brilliant. I'm still hungover so i'll post a more proper review later :)
My rating: 4.8 stars!!!!

--updated a week later--
If you're too lazy to read this review you can check out my review on booktube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxHHKJvp5I0

OKAY SO LETS TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK. OMG I FREAKING LOVE LOVE IT.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the  OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

Plot
Fantastic. I love the whole premise of the hunt. Although the plot gets slow sometimes, i still really enjoyed the slower parts because it still felt relevant and important especially in developing the characters. Of course, the best parts were when the characters found the keys and had to use all their mad gaming skills to pass the gates. I also thought the whole plot with IOI was really good and pretty intense. The way that the book also stresses on how the hunt revolves around the real world outside of OASIS was so interesting.

Characters
I really love Wade as the MC! He's so funny and smart and also naive that i find him very honest and real. Seeing that he has weaknesses and doubts as well as all his genius ways was so gripping to read about. I also loved Art3mis and Aech <3 and="" as="" awesome="" gunters="" japanese="" p="" the="" two="" well.="" were="">
 Writing
Obviously, i don't get 90% of the pop culture references mentioned but i still enjoyed reading about them and even feel like exploring some of the movies and games. The references definitely made the book unique and different to anything i've ever read before. The style of writing wasn't really that special but idk, maybe it was the cool way Ernest Cline described the scenes or his mad descriptions of OASIS, but his writing made me want to keep turning the pages. I honestly was already hooked after the first chapter! However i did feel like the book is a bit heavy and there's a lot of weight in the world-building. This might be one of the things that might make it hard for some people to get into the book. Personally i loved the weight of the writing and story.

The only thing i wish we got more of is the ending, and i wish we had gotten to know a little bit more about the side characters. We never really found out about how they grew up and their journey before the first key was found. I mean, i genuinely enjoyed what we did get and in a way it did feel like it was enough, but at the same time i'm not sure if i could ever get enough of this book. The whole concept is so infinite with possibilities. And what's incredible is that it's actually possible to happen in real life.

I recommend this to EVERYONE. Even if you end up not liking it, it's definitely worth trying at least.