3.5 ⭐️

Thanks to Atria Books for the copy of this ARC!

Camp Zero is a BIPOC debut centered around a settlement in northern Canada in 2050, a year when climate change has made a severe impact and technology is literally ingrained into everyday life. Told from the POV of Rose (sex worker and child of a Korean immigrant), Grant (professor from entitled family), and White Alice (group of women soldiers living in a research station), this book delves into themes of climate change, male entitlement, female empowerment, and classism.

While I was intrigued by this book, I wasn’t quite sure where the storyline was going. The Korean immigration piece mentioned in the synopsis was a minor past detail, and the climate migration was also more of a fact than a process shown in the book. In the end, we center on the mystery of the camp’s purpose and future, which is revealed as the characters also decide what they want their futures to look like. We get some flashbacks to better understand their decision-making process. I was definitely compelled to finish this one and liked it, but thought the twists were predictable and also found it to be just kind of weird. If the premise looks interesting, I’d suggest trying it out, but I could honestly take or leave it!

Read if you:
- care about the impact of climate change
- like dystopian novels
- like the dynamic of women finally overpowering entitled men

This wasn’t for me - I should’ve DNFed but had FOMO.

It’s for you if you love SNL and want to know all the behind-the-scenes details, are interested in Colin Jost and Pete Davidson’s relationships, like Sally Rooney books, and are fine with a woman who thinks she isn’t good enough repeating how unattractive and unworthy she is over and over. This wasn’t really a romance until over halfway through, and I didn’t think it was funny.

DNF

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to Berkley for this ARC!

Ali Brady did it again! After loving The Beach Trap, I knew The Comeback Summer was going on my TBR. Alison and Bradeigh write dual POV romance stories with fantastic plot SO WELL. Even if you’re not typically a romance reader, their books could totally work for you.

The Comeback Summer takes place in Chicago and focuses on two sisters struggling to keep their Gigi’s business and legacy afloat. They’re approached by a popular self-help guru and challenged to get out of their comfort zones. As they navigate anxiety, health/exercise goals, career paths, and sisterhood, each experiences a romance - one second chance and one insta love on a dating app.

This is such an enjoyable read. While the page count is high for a romance read, it’s necessary to build two solid storylines (one for each sister) heavy on plot and you’ll barely notice you’re reading 480 pages. I was really impressed by the representation in this book, two seriously swoony storylines, and lots of very realistic life situations that these sisters go through.

Read if you:
- like romance with lots of great plot
- want Jewish, curvy, ADHD, and anxiety rep
- enjoy books set in Chicago
- love dual POV books
- like discussions around family & legacies