hay_elfkin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
interrowhimper's review against another edition
5.0
I started this novel on a Saturday morning and did nothing else until I finished it on Saturday evening. Was not disappointed in my Saturday.
quigleybeau's review against another edition
4.0
From acknowledgments: “Every time that I ask him to listen to a chapter that I’m working on and he sighs or plays video games instead of reading proof pages, I mentally cross his name off this list… He inspires me every day and whilst this book could probably have been written without him, I would not be the woman I am without him.”
wasteofspacey's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
grid's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to this as an audiobook. I would listen to a super cut of the reader (who has a British accent) just saying “body” over and over again.
The book was… okay. I debated 3 or 4 stars. It’s good, heartbreaking at times. Well written, for sure, but something about it left me annoyed. I guess I just wanted more ideas and less character idiocy. (Although the character flaws were all interesting and mostly explainable because… CHILDREN IN SPACE.)
Anyway, definitely worth reading.
The book was… okay. I debated 3 or 4 stars. It’s good, heartbreaking at times. Well written, for sure, but something about it left me annoyed. I guess I just wanted more ideas and less character idiocy. (Although the character flaws were all interesting and mostly explainable because… CHILDREN IN SPACE.)
Anyway, definitely worth reading.
bestknownfor's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alina_leonova's review against another edition
Unfortunately, this book turned out to be not for me.
I gave up at about 10%, after reading three chapters. Those chapters told the backstory of three different characters, and the fourth chapter was going to be about yet another character. As far as I understood from other reviews, there are six main characters and six points of view explored in the book.
I think it is really hard to make a book with that many POV characters work, especially if you start with their background. Even if you start with them doing something exciting, it's still tricky, as the reader doesn't have an emotional connection to any of them yet and doesn't have time to form it before switching to other characters.
As it was, the book was going into mundane and mildly interesting details about each character's life, but the plot wasn't moving along and nothing was happening. Because I didn't know those characters yet, I didn't really care about their previous lives or how they got into the program or what they were worried about. It could have worked for me (and that's just a personal preference) if I saw them in some action first, liked them and got attached to them, and those details were filled later on when I was already interested in them or wanted to understand them better.
Please take all of that with a grain of salt as I read only a small part of the book, and this is just my subjective perception that can be completely different from yours. There are lots of great reviews, so the book definitely works for some readers. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me, but it might for you.
Check out my blog about sci-fi by women and non-binary authors for book reviews, lists, interviews, short stories and more.
I gave up at about 10%, after reading three chapters. Those chapters told the backstory of three different characters, and the fourth chapter was going to be about yet another character. As far as I understood from other reviews, there are six main characters and six points of view explored in the book.
I think it is really hard to make a book with that many POV characters work, especially if you start with their background. Even if you start with them doing something exciting, it's still tricky, as the reader doesn't have an emotional connection to any of them yet and doesn't have time to form it before switching to other characters.
As it was, the book was going into mundane and mildly interesting details about each character's life, but the plot wasn't moving along and nothing was happening. Because I didn't know those characters yet, I didn't really care about their previous lives or how they got into the program or what they were worried about. It could have worked for me (and that's just a personal preference) if I saw them in some action first, liked them and got attached to them, and those details were filled later on when I was already interested in them or wanted to understand them better.
Please take all of that with a grain of salt as I read only a small part of the book, and this is just my subjective perception that can be completely different from yours. There are lots of great reviews, so the book definitely works for some readers. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me, but it might for you.
Check out my blog about sci-fi by women and non-binary authors for book reviews, lists, interviews, short stories and more.
georgina_bawden's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely more literary than sci fi IMO. Pretty entertaining. Quite well written though could do with chopping about 50% of the similes for being totally unnecessary, not adding anything, and at times being downright distracting. I felt like this just didn't quite land... Like it didn't have enough of a point of view. Or perhaps just a point? I expect it won't be very memorable but it was a decent enough read!
denlia's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Bullying, Grief, Eating disorder, Vomit, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts