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kristinafh's review against another edition
5.0
I was having one of those nights...insomnia was ruling my world and so I decided to find something on audible to listen to. With luck, I’d nod off in an hour or so.
I came across this book and I was intrigued by the blurb. I had never heard of the author and despite owning over 1500 audible books...I had never heard of the narrator. I clicked on the sample to make sure that the narrator’s voice didn’t come off as nails on a chalkboard ;). Once confirmed, I purchased and hit play.
For the record, I didn’t fall asleep and although I’m a little more tired than usual this morning, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
The highest compliment I could ever give to a work of fiction is this...This book is everything that you ever hope to get out of a fictional story.
It was an experience that flowed like poetry in motion.
Although it’s only May, I already know that this will end up being my favorite book of 2021.
I came across this book and I was intrigued by the blurb. I had never heard of the author and despite owning over 1500 audible books...I had never heard of the narrator. I clicked on the sample to make sure that the narrator’s voice didn’t come off as nails on a chalkboard ;). Once confirmed, I purchased and hit play.
For the record, I didn’t fall asleep and although I’m a little more tired than usual this morning, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
The highest compliment I could ever give to a work of fiction is this...This book is everything that you ever hope to get out of a fictional story.
It was an experience that flowed like poetry in motion.
Although it’s only May, I already know that this will end up being my favorite book of 2021.
brittaniethekid's review against another edition
3.0
This is a really interesting premise but the pacing was a bit slow for me. It's only about 70 pages but felt way longer as I was reading it and I wanted things to pick up a bit more.
It's basically a day-in-the-life story of a very sardonic, lonely man set in a world where on every person's 30th birthday, they either live to see another day or... they don't. No one knows if their 30th is their last. The lore isn't explained, only that this is the way it's always been, and what actually happens to the people who "don't make it" is left very vague but it seems like the entire person just disappears at midnight. Disregard time zones and different cultural beliefs regarding age and birthdays.
Our MC rents a boyfriend for what he assumes is his last day - a common enough practice in this world that it's an entire business known as Ephemera - and they go out on a date. Meanwhile, he's ignoring texts from all his friends and acquaintances and kind of being a bit of a party pooper. Granted, he assumes he's not going to make it and is severely depressed after the loss of his father, boyfriend, and then his sister (who made it, but then died in a car accident).
For a very short story, it's very dense but in a way that it leaves more questions than answers.
Don't expect a HEA or even an ending. This is one of those stories that just ends without closure, leaving the reader frustrated and wanting to know more. Read it for the interesting AU, but be ready to want to throw it across the room at the last sentence.
It's basically a day-in-the-life story of a very sardonic, lonely man set in a world where on every person's 30th birthday, they either live to see another day or... they don't. No one knows if their 30th is their last. The lore isn't explained, only that this is the way it's always been, and what actually happens to the people who "don't make it" is left very vague but it seems like the entire person just disappears at midnight. Disregard time zones and different cultural beliefs regarding age and birthdays.
Our MC rents a boyfriend for what he assumes is his last day - a common enough practice in this world that it's an entire business known as Ephemera - and they go out on a date. Meanwhile, he's ignoring texts from all his friends and acquaintances and kind of being a bit of a party pooper. Granted, he assumes he's not going to make it and is severely depressed after the loss of his father, boyfriend, and then his sister (who made it, but then died in a car accident).
For a very short story, it's very dense but in a way that it leaves more questions than answers.
Don't expect a HEA or even an ending. This is one of those stories that just ends without closure, leaving the reader frustrated and wanting to know more. Read it for the interesting AU, but be ready to want to throw it across the room at the last sentence.
endemictoearth's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
When I tell you this made me weep . . . but in a quite cathartic way. It is a near future dystopian sci-fi novella, a day in the life (possibly the LAST day in the life) of Greg. He hires an escort of sorts to spend the day with, and through the course of the day, they maybe fall in love? Or Greg realizes his love for life? It’s a lot about reflecting on the past and philosophizing about what makes a life good or worthwhile and it ends kind of just how you think it might and how it really should. A diverting (and somewhat devastating) thought experiment.
wandering_turtle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
vrstal's review against another edition
4.0
4/5. Highlights may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.
House of Obscure Reviews
Edited: 5/17
I came back to edit because now I don't have a cry headache and can actually think words.
A friend recommended this to me because it was thought-provoking for them, and I was intrigued. I knew it had a romantic subplot (in general, I read only MM romance), and I was intrigued by the concept and admittedly, it's length.
Waters' writing is really well done. Not only do they know how to excellent pace a novella and use the pages they've put down, but they also have evocative writing. Through the first half I didn't feel like I was touching on emotional beats, but as we got along further, suddenly all the emotions came! There is also some sci-fi worldbuilding in here that was woven within the narrative, so nothing felt like an infodump. Despite it's futuristic and fictional premise, there was a lot of that rang true to life now: thoughts about technology, memories, and grief.
I cried a lot in this story. Having known the pain of loss, personally, and also the way that desiring death during those dark moments, and how complex that can be too. The mixture Greg had with thinking of taking his own life, or relief there might be should he not actually make it -- well. It felt close to home.
I was also reminded of a song, Try to Remember, Forget, that I felt resonated with this novella.
Overall, I highly recommend this book! Bring tissues and some tylenol.
House of Obscure Reviews
Edited: 5/17
I came back to edit because now I don't have a cry headache and can actually think words.
A friend recommended this to me because it was thought-provoking for them, and I was intrigued. I knew it had a romantic subplot (in general, I read only MM romance), and I was intrigued by the concept and admittedly, it's length.
Waters' writing is really well done. Not only do they know how to excellent pace a novella and use the pages they've put down, but they also have evocative writing. Through the first half I didn't feel like I was touching on emotional beats, but as we got along further, suddenly all the emotions came! There is also some sci-fi worldbuilding in here that was woven within the narrative, so nothing felt like an infodump. Despite it's futuristic and fictional premise, there was a lot of that rang true to life now: thoughts about technology, memories, and grief.
I cried a lot in this story. Having known the pain of loss, personally, and also the way that desiring death during those dark moments, and how complex that can be too. The mixture Greg had with thinking of taking his own life, or relief there might be should he not actually make it -- well. It felt close to home.
I was also reminded of a song, Try to Remember, Forget, that I felt resonated with this novella.
Overall, I highly recommend this book! Bring tissues and some tylenol.
danihays's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really cool novella!
It's such an interesting concept, and I think it was executed very well. The last little bit, leading up to midnight, was really tense and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was really nicely done, and I highly recommend the audiobook to anyone who might want to read this! It was a wonderful audiobook-- the narrator was great.
I would have liked to get to know Joe and Greg a little bit more, but on the whole I don't have complaints about this! I would love to read more in this futuristic world-- it's a really cool setting that I bet could lend itself to many interesting stories.
It's such an interesting concept, and I think it was executed very well. The last little bit, leading up to midnight, was really tense and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was really nicely done, and I highly recommend the audiobook to anyone who might want to read this! It was a wonderful audiobook-- the narrator was great.
I would have liked to get to know Joe and Greg a little bit more, but on the whole I don't have complaints about this! I would love to read more in this futuristic world-- it's a really cool setting that I bet could lend itself to many interesting stories.
unrulyheart's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really cool novella!
It's such an interesting concept, and I think it was executed very well. The last little bit, leading up to midnight, was really tense and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was really nicely done, and I highly recommend the audiobook to anyone who might want to read this! It was a wonderful audiobook-- the narrator was great.
I would have liked to get to know Joe and Greg a little bit more, but on the whole I don't have complaints about this! I would love to read more in this futuristic world-- it's a really cool setting that I bet could lend itself to many interesting stories.
It's such an interesting concept, and I think it was executed very well. The last little bit, leading up to midnight, was really tense and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was really nicely done, and I highly recommend the audiobook to anyone who might want to read this! It was a wonderful audiobook-- the narrator was great.
I would have liked to get to know Joe and Greg a little bit more, but on the whole I don't have complaints about this! I would love to read more in this futuristic world-- it's a really cool setting that I bet could lend itself to many interesting stories.
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