3.75 stars 

I enjoyed this book, it very much gave me hunger games vibes. The only reason I’m not at 4 stars is because much of the foreshadowing here is subtle like a freight train. Lots of what happens can be guessed from the very beginning… but it is still good!

This book is very very good. It is the first time I ever felt like an author truly captured the complexity of friendships that continue into adulthood. While there’s an insane amount of love, there is also jealousy and resentment in some cases. She did such a good job with that, I really enjoyed it. 

I also think the way that the way the characters discuss creating utopias in fake worlds was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. Obviously this led to the pivotal point with Marx and what happened, but I think it’s such a strong argument in this book. 

It’s clear Richards is good writer, with the ability to become great even. I think he tells an entertaining and interesting enough story ONLY because he is a strong writer. 

The plot of this books reads as the worst episode of criminal minds ever conjured. Every trope and twist you’d expect, happens. Evil twin? Yep. Small town love story? Yep. Female in traditionally male space trying to prove herself? Yep. Twin telepathy or whatever you’d call it? Yep. 

I think Richards clearly has talent, but maybe lacks a bit in imagination in the plot department. 

Would recommend this book to people into murder books and true crime, but not to anyone looking for just a good book suggestion. 

I’ve seen a decent amount of criticism about this book but I enjoyed it. I think it was a wonderful example of the power of women. I enjoyed the small backstory related to the mystery of Calvin’s parentage, it added a small mystery to the book. And I particularly enjoyed the ending where Elizabeth invites Parker over for dinner with the “family,” and in that family includes not only her and Mad, but Walter, Harriet, Amanda, and her doctor. 

I think this book is beautifully written. I think it shares important messages about imperialism, colonialism, and revolution. I don’t however like that that suspension of belief with silver had to exist in this book? It seems as though the author is a strong enough writer to simply write a historical fiction book making all these points while also remaining in the realm of reality. In my heart that would make this book 10x more valuable. The silver really throws me for a loop when it’s brought up, it seems so unnecessary to tell this story. The world she creates here, the England built on imperialism and empire building is real, and there is little to no stretch if the story was still about translators taken from their homes as an English resource for simply trade purposes and so on. She could’ve done so much with that and it would be more REAL, more authentic to the truth of the evils of colonialism and capitalism. But the silver, while it was clearly an analogy for many many things (guns, technology, etc.) just didn’t aid me personally in caring for this story. There are real actual resources that could’ve stood in for silver to make this story that much more impactful, and the use of the fantastical, the magic; made it far less appealing to me in the end. 

really enjoyed this book. I do think it was maybe a slight bit too long because of unnecessary descriptions/science stuff. But altogether was very good. I really enjoyed the relationship development of Ryland and Rocky, and loved the ending of staying with Rocky and becoming a teacher again.

I will say there’s a large amount of like suspended belief here. Not because of aliens, but because of how Weir writes the world coming together to solve this problem. I think Covid, and climate change prove we just simply never would do that for each other. 

I want to give Jeanette McCurdy a hug, Jesus Christ that was awful. Im so glad she’s doing better and in a good place now.

I think this book was interesting but lots of it didn’t feel totally necessary?? The trip to Chrissy, the weird relationship with the police officer that saved her life? Idk it wasn’t bad but felt weird. 

In a weird way I think this story is better suited flit movie form!

Startlingly honest and thoughtful account of his life 

Every book gets worse and worse. Arya’s story was so good and now I hate it. Jon’s betrayal is like the only thing I care about at this point.