I’m so happy that Jennette got to tell her story.

Please read all the trigger warnings for this book, it was definitely a really hard read.

Jennette did a wonderful job with the audiobook, and her writing was well done but easy to understand. I think she did a great job recounting her childhood, and showing her thought process and emotions in each stage of her life so far. You really understand how her feelings slowly change and develop, whether it be her feelings towards her mother, herself, her acting career, ect.

This was a really interesting and disturbing read. The next paragraph contains minor spoilers.

I’ve seen a lot of reviews about how it didn’t feel natural that the government had turned to human meat so fast, and that the virus wasn’t well explained. Although not confirmed, the book dropped hints that the virus wasn’t real and that they moved to human meat to deal with overpopulation and other similar issues.

Also, complaints about the main character Marco. I felt like his character progression made sense. After the death of his son, he loses his feelings and empathy. Refusing to eat meat, looking down on those that do and the industry that he himself works in, he is able to try to convince himself that he is still capable of feeling. Through his dry and apathetic pov and the progression of his character arc, we see the truth.

The ending had me rethinking the whole last half of the book. Definitely would recommend.

My rating of 4 stars is based purely on enjoyment. The audiobook was fantastic and I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed it nearly as much had I read it physically. Bahni Turpin did such a wonderful job! Her performance had me loving the characters and their relationships when otherwise I don’t think I would have it enjoyed as much.

Although the plot is pretty basic for a YA fantasy, I couldn’t help but love it. The writing style wasn’t anything special and there was definitely some standard overused YA lines, but the narrators performance made me ignore all of that. 

I feel like the ending was pretty rushed, and there were some character interactions/relationships that I liked the thought of, but I felt like was forced in too soon to build more intrigue. One character in particular had me really frustrated because they kept doing 180s every other chapter. The book was definitely a little bit too long, I listened to the audiobook at 2X speed and it still felt like it took too long lol.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I’m so happy I read it in audiobook format cause that’s what truly made the book special for me.

I was really looking forward to this book but unfortunately, it didn’t deliver.

The book was super slow. The premise of the book is great, but I think it would’ve been better as a novella. The 320 page book felt like it took me a lifetime to read. The first 75 pages BEFORE she is sent to the school is what had me actually invested, but one she goes to the school it becomes boring and forgettable.

There a few side characters which were put in the program unfairly, one being a black woman. I think it would’ve been more interesting had we followed the pov of a mother who was being blamed for something that wasn’t her fault, and through her interactions with other women in the school the mc gains empathy towards some of the other “bad mothers” and how they are being treated.

The book dragged and came to an unsatisfactory ending. I liked the first 75 pages, and there was a part towards the end that had me a bit emotional. I think the book had a great message, but bad execution.

While reading the metamorphosis I thought it was good but just that. Once I got halfway through I started to feel the emotions and began to like it more and more. Once I finished the book I immediately wanted to hear other people’s opinions and then seeing everyone be able to relate their own story to this book and it’s meaning is really beautiful. 

I started to think more and more on this book and I already want to read it again so that I can really deep dive into it.

An ok read but pretty standard. It felt a little bit too juvenile for me but after the first hour of the audiobook it became more enjoyable. I was really shocked to find out this book is adult.

Although I always expect it from retellings, the book was definitely cheesy at times. The world building didn’t really make any sense and wasn’t very well thought out. The characters were all sweet but I felt no emotional attachment to them or the story.

Definitely would’ve enjoyed it a lot more if it had been longer and written for a more mature audience. 

I know it sounds like a harsh review but I would definitely recommend it if you’re just looking for a simple YA fantasy to pass the time. Also I loved how unapologetically sapphic this book was!!

This book was amazing and made me cry multiple times.

The main character Leonard is written to be unlikable but as you continue to read and unpack the story you start to hope that he’ll be able to find hope and heal.

It’s a really challenging book, and one that hit too close to home a few times. It tackles really heavy subjects such as suicide and SA and the main character has an almost obsession with nazis and the holocaust. PLEASE be careful if you want to read this book!

This was a fantastic novella.

Not a word in this tiny novel was wasted. The writing felt relaxed and I loved how he wrote the characters accents. The author managed to put so much history mixed in with the sci-fi elements and it all blended together so well.

Excited to read more from this author.

Really beautiful story and writing. 

The audiobook was great (2x speed) but the time jumps and chapter changes could be a bit confusing.

The beginning set in 1800s Cuba was definitely my favorite part of the story.