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Into the Churn #1
Into the Churn
Earth was tame. Belethea was not. Seventeen-year-old Ezren Hart interns in her mother's terraforming lab, studying Belethea's deadly storms with the dream of giving her backwater planet open teal skies. But when budget cuts threaten to shut down her mother's lab, Ezren enters Belethea's Race Royale, the system's deadliest and most lucrative race. To win, she'll have to run, drive, and fight her way across Belethea's barren landscape while navigating its savage and volatile storms. With her planet's future, and her family's, on the line, she can't afford to lose. But first, she'll have to convince her handsome royale partner that their planet is worth saving. Foster Sterling is a jaded ex-prodigy royaler still reeling from his partner's death in a training accident. When Ezren Hart comes charging into his life, her passion reminds him of what he once loved about racing and his dream of returning pride to their planet. Still, no matter how fast they go, they can't outrun the mysterious string of deadly accidents following them like a curse. As Foster falls harder for Ezren, he races to piece the clues together. But with time running out and their survival on the line, he'll have to decide if their dreams are worth their lives.
INTO THE CHURN races across a new planet of savage storms and dazzling tech. Fall in love with Ezren and Foster as they battle side-by-side to save their scrappy world on a ruthless interplanetary stage where appearances are everything, speed means survival, and the only thing deadlier than the storms are the other racers.
INTO THE CHURN races across a new planet of savage storms and dazzling tech. Fall in love with Ezren and Foster as they battle side-by-side to save their scrappy world on a ruthless interplanetary stage where appearances are everything, speed means survival, and the only thing deadlier than the storms are the other racers.
370 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2023
90 people are currently reading
1470 people want to read
About the author
Hayley Reese Chow
12 books135 followersHayley Reese Chow is the author of the Odriel's Heirs series (a dark YA epic fantasy) and the Into the Churn series (a romantic YA sci-fi adventure from Whimsical Publishing) with more YA adventures on the way. She’s also the winner of both the 2024 YA IndieReader Discovery Awards and the 2020 YA Florida Author Project.
When not writing, her hat collection includes mother, wife, engineer, USAF veteran, reservist, four-time All-American fencer, ex-ultramarathoner, avid traveler, book inhaler, and super nerd. Hayley currently lives in Florida with two small book dragons, her long-suffering husband, and her miniature ragehound.
To see what she's working on next, you can find her at hayleyreesechow.com or on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok @HayleyReeseChow. She's represented by Kristen Terrette of Martin Literary.
When not writing, her hat collection includes mother, wife, engineer, USAF veteran, reservist, four-time All-American fencer, ex-ultramarathoner, avid traveler, book inhaler, and super nerd. Hayley currently lives in Florida with two small book dragons, her long-suffering husband, and her miniature ragehound.
To see what she's working on next, you can find her at hayleyreesechow.com or on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok @HayleyReeseChow. She's represented by Kristen Terrette of Martin Literary.
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July 29, 2025Update!
*********
The Into the Churn series is available on Audible & Kindle Unlimited:
Reading Order:
Into the Churn (#1)
Into the Fire (#2)
A Churn in the Dark (#2.5 - contains key plot developments, highly recommended NOT to skip)
Into the Abyss (#3)
A Churn in the Virtual Society (#3.5 - final book, releases 16 Sep)
*********
Oh my gosh, you all, I'm so excited to share Into the Churn, it's completely unreal! I put so much of myself into this book and these characters, so it meant so much to me when Whimsical Publishing picked it up and loved it just as much as I did. 😍
In writing this story, I took my love for fast-paced action, fantastical worlds, and slow-burn romance and wove it into my experiences (the good, bad, & ugly) as a collegiate and international athlete. As an engineer, I wanted to give this book a STEM-flavor while dishing equal parts relationship angst and breathless danger. In the dual-POV, we were able to delve deeper into the character’s sweet, intense romance (read: ALL the mutual pining), and also to really see the backwater planet of Belethea from two very different pairs of eyes.
Basically, I wanted to toss in all of my favorite things (K-drama level romance, underdogs, deadly stakes, beautiful new lands… 😍), and shake them up into a brand new mix. What evolved was a story of two people coming together under extraordinary circumstances, leaning on each other against impossible odds, and growing together in a futuristic world both dazzling and familiar.
I usually pitch Into the Churn as the high-stakes competition of The Hunger Games meets the sweet dual-POV romance of The Scorpio Races in a futuristic world like that of Illuminae. But ultimately in writing this book, it took on a whole new unique mind of its own—a romantic sci-fi adventure of my heart—and I truly hope you enjoy it. 😊
As always, thank you so much for your support! 🙏
*********
The Into the Churn series is available on Audible & Kindle Unlimited:
Reading Order:
Into the Churn (#1)
Into the Fire (#2)
A Churn in the Dark (#2.5 - contains key plot developments, highly recommended NOT to skip)
Into the Abyss (#3)
A Churn in the Virtual Society (#3.5 - final book, releases 16 Sep)
*********
Oh my gosh, you all, I'm so excited to share Into the Churn, it's completely unreal! I put so much of myself into this book and these characters, so it meant so much to me when Whimsical Publishing picked it up and loved it just as much as I did. 😍
In writing this story, I took my love for fast-paced action, fantastical worlds, and slow-burn romance and wove it into my experiences (the good, bad, & ugly) as a collegiate and international athlete. As an engineer, I wanted to give this book a STEM-flavor while dishing equal parts relationship angst and breathless danger. In the dual-POV, we were able to delve deeper into the character’s sweet, intense romance (read: ALL the mutual pining), and also to really see the backwater planet of Belethea from two very different pairs of eyes.
Basically, I wanted to toss in all of my favorite things (K-drama level romance, underdogs, deadly stakes, beautiful new lands… 😍), and shake them up into a brand new mix. What evolved was a story of two people coming together under extraordinary circumstances, leaning on each other against impossible odds, and growing together in a futuristic world both dazzling and familiar.
I usually pitch Into the Churn as the high-stakes competition of The Hunger Games meets the sweet dual-POV romance of The Scorpio Races in a futuristic world like that of Illuminae. But ultimately in writing this book, it took on a whole new unique mind of its own—a romantic sci-fi adventure of my heart—and I truly hope you enjoy it. 😊
As always, thank you so much for your support! 🙏
October 29, 2024
2-ish stars ✨ (slightly generous, see comments of cussing 🙃)
Her and her friend talked like mid-2000s Disney Channel movie characters. 😬 So that’s how I viewed this book, kind of cheesy, space-y, with a romance. (If I can be frankly honest, halfway through reading it, I realized I was thinking about that old movie Zenon? What a throwback, I had completely forgotten about that movie for the last fifteen+ years until this book.)
Honestly, a lot of the tech and devices and action/fighting parts were kind of lost on me. I don’t know if it’s because my brain isn’t wired for this genre or because everything could have been explained more. 🤷🏻♀️ I wasn’t really here for those parts anyway so I guess it worked out?
My biggest gripe, if you will, was not being a fan of the fake cussing or real ones either. Listen, if I had to rank my most despised curse words, the two used frequently in this book would be in the top three and that affected my rating. I’m being generous marking this book as 2 stars, but I really should lower it more because of the cussing. Some won’t be bothered by it—or may not even consider “pissed” a curse but I hate the image it brings to mind and there was just way too much of another word too. 😫
He fell for her really quick which was kind of odd? I was expecting a way more slow-burn because of all the high stakes they’ve already dealing with. Another guy couldn’t even talk to her without him getting jealous and that was not cute. Also didn’t love that they share a bed at one point and cuddle and kiss. Little much there, you two. Big race happening tomorrow, you two. 🤨
The concept of these races are pretty brutal and it was even worse in my eyes when Ezren’s new teammates can also beat her to a pulp—literally—if they are playing solo races rather than doubles. There was one particular scene that had me wincing for her.
The ending was good, and interesting enough, though, it ends where you totally don’t have to read the sequel. I’m actually glad about that because I thought things wouldn’t be resolved in this book and I would be obligated to read the second book to get answers, but, no, you could view this as a stand-alone just fine. Which is what I'll be doing. :)
Main Content-
A traditional prayer is said before two different races and talks about having Casolla keep you safe and the planet protecting them (feels very “Mother Nature”-ish); A comment that if someone is the praying type, to start praying in a dangerous race; Ezren yells at the sky to cut her some chaffing slack; A man calls a planet “godly”; A mention of an “ungodly hour”; It’s said that Casolla (the plant?) is telling someone to do something (similar to the universe telling someone something); A comment on the “suns” punishing someone; Foster thinks the “universe” is working against him; Foster calls a day “from hell” and later Ezren calls a sea “hellish”.
Cursing: *ss or some form of it (including calling others one, x25), two forms of pissed (x4); Tons of fake cursing that are easily replacement for real curses (mother suns, motherfodding, motherfodder, mother-shafting, shafting, shaft off, shaft it, shaft it up, chaffing, chaff it, chaff, thank the suns, suns, for suns’ sake, asdef, fodding, fod it, fod off, what the fod, for fod’s sake, holy fod, why/what in Casolla); Mentions of other curses thought and said (but not written out); A few comments about people having the “stones” to do something; Eye rolling & sarcasm.
Lots of action including the deadly races & fighting, being injured, injuring others, extreme pain, & blood/bleeding (up to a few paragraphs & many mentions of brawls and such as well); There are machines that are able to heal broken bones and serious injuries which lightens the seriousness of said injuries and inflicting them on others; Pain, Injuries (including major ones like broken bones after someone steps on her hand), Passing out, Being burned, Blood/Bleeding, & lots of fighting (up to a handful of sentences); Ezren recalls seeing her brother injured in an accident (which caused many others to die and her brother to lose his hand and both legs).
Ezren tells her mom a lie about how she’s doing because “sometimes she had to tell her mom exactly what she wanted to hear”; Foster is completely rude and a brat to his mother (some of it feels justified for him because of her lack of caring in his upbringing, but there are more reasons than he knows).
Mentions of murders & murderers; Mentions of deaths & discovering the body (friend/teammate & how hard it’s been on Foster since then; up to a few sentences on her condition she was found in and the emotions of others); Mentions of dangerous and deadly races; Mentions of Ezren’s father who disappeared (including Ezren wondering if he started a new family); Mentions of bullies picking on Ezren’s little brother; Mentions of clubs & clubbers; Mentions of drinks & drinking (implied alcohol); Mentions of jealousy & hatred; Mentions of a close-call with a beloved pet eating something poisonous; A few mentions of races being suicide; A few mentions of vomiting.
7 hair/head kisses,
1 hand/wrist kiss,
1 almost kiss (lasting up to a couple paragraphs/multiple sentences),
2 kisses with no details,
11 kisses lasting a couple sentences/details,
5 kisses lasting a few sentences (one with his hands going under her shirt),
2 kiss lasting a handful of sentences (touchy-feely as well),
Remembering kisses & wanting to kiss (up to a few sentences).
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Warmth, Flutters, Electricity, Nearness, Smelling, & Noticing (up to a few sentences and a guy being shirtless as well); Blushes & Flirting; Talks about kisses & kissing; Ezren bumps into a shirtless Foster & later they have to cuddle together (him shirtless and her in a sports bra) for warmth; They also cuddle in his bed & share kisses before going to sleep (someone walks in on them in the morning and makes comments); Someone accuses Foster of “thinking with his pants” when it comes to Ezren.
Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of dating, exes, boyfriends/girlfriends, & flirting; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of touches & nearness; A few mentions of steamy fan-made artwork of a couple; A couple mentions of a couple being unable to keep their hands off of the other; A mention of bikinis; A mention of another planet’s culture to wear less clothing as to wear more clothing is to admit shame of your body.
Her and her friend talked like mid-2000s Disney Channel movie characters. 😬 So that’s how I viewed this book, kind of cheesy, space-y, with a romance. (If I can be frankly honest, halfway through reading it, I realized I was thinking about that old movie Zenon? What a throwback, I had completely forgotten about that movie for the last fifteen+ years until this book.)
Honestly, a lot of the tech and devices and action/fighting parts were kind of lost on me. I don’t know if it’s because my brain isn’t wired for this genre or because everything could have been explained more. 🤷🏻♀️ I wasn’t really here for those parts anyway so I guess it worked out?
My biggest gripe, if you will, was not being a fan of the fake cussing or real ones either. Listen, if I had to rank my most despised curse words, the two used frequently in this book would be in the top three and that affected my rating. I’m being generous marking this book as 2 stars, but I really should lower it more because of the cussing. Some won’t be bothered by it—or may not even consider “pissed” a curse but I hate the image it brings to mind and there was just way too much of another word too. 😫
He fell for her really quick which was kind of odd? I was expecting a way more slow-burn because of all the high stakes they’ve already dealing with. Another guy couldn’t even talk to her without him getting jealous and that was not cute. Also didn’t love that they share a bed at one point and cuddle and kiss. Little much there, you two. Big race happening tomorrow, you two. 🤨
The concept of these races are pretty brutal and it was even worse in my eyes when Ezren’s new teammates can also beat her to a pulp—literally—if they are playing solo races rather than doubles. There was one particular scene that had me wincing for her.
The ending was good, and interesting enough, though, it ends where you totally don’t have to read the sequel. I’m actually glad about that because I thought things wouldn’t be resolved in this book and I would be obligated to read the second book to get answers, but, no, you could view this as a stand-alone just fine. Which is what I'll be doing. :)
Main Content-
A traditional prayer is said before two different races and talks about having Casolla keep you safe and the planet protecting them (feels very “Mother Nature”-ish); A comment that if someone is the praying type, to start praying in a dangerous race; Ezren yells at the sky to cut her some chaffing slack; A man calls a planet “godly”; A mention of an “ungodly hour”; It’s said that Casolla (the plant?) is telling someone to do something (similar to the universe telling someone something); A comment on the “suns” punishing someone; Foster thinks the “universe” is working against him; Foster calls a day “from hell” and later Ezren calls a sea “hellish”.
Cursing: *ss or some form of it (including calling others one, x25), two forms of pissed (x4); Tons of fake cursing that are easily replacement for real curses (mother suns, motherfodding, motherfodder, mother-shafting, shafting, shaft off, shaft it, shaft it up, chaffing, chaff it, chaff, thank the suns, suns, for suns’ sake, asdef, fodding, fod it, fod off, what the fod, for fod’s sake, holy fod, why/what in Casolla); Mentions of other curses thought and said (but not written out); A few comments about people having the “stones” to do something; Eye rolling & sarcasm.
Lots of action including the deadly races & fighting, being injured, injuring others, extreme pain, & blood/bleeding (up to a few paragraphs & many mentions of brawls and such as well); There are machines that are able to heal broken bones and serious injuries which lightens the seriousness of said injuries and inflicting them on others; Pain, Injuries (including major ones like broken bones after someone steps on her hand), Passing out, Being burned, Blood/Bleeding, & lots of fighting (up to a handful of sentences); Ezren recalls seeing her brother injured in an accident (which caused many others to die and her brother to lose his hand and both legs).
Ezren tells her mom a lie about how she’s doing because “sometimes she had to tell her mom exactly what she wanted to hear”; Foster is completely rude and a brat to his mother (some of it feels justified for him because of her lack of caring in his upbringing, but there are more reasons than he knows).
Mentions of murders & murderers; Mentions of deaths & discovering the body (friend/teammate & how hard it’s been on Foster since then; up to a few sentences on her condition she was found in and the emotions of others); Mentions of dangerous and deadly races; Mentions of Ezren’s father who disappeared (including Ezren wondering if he started a new family); Mentions of bullies picking on Ezren’s little brother; Mentions of clubs & clubbers; Mentions of drinks & drinking (implied alcohol); Mentions of jealousy & hatred; Mentions of a close-call with a beloved pet eating something poisonous; A few mentions of races being suicide; A few mentions of vomiting.
7 hair/head kisses,
1 hand/wrist kiss,
1 almost kiss (lasting up to a couple paragraphs/multiple sentences),
2 kisses with no details,
11 kisses lasting a couple sentences/details,
5 kisses lasting a few sentences (one with his hands going under her shirt),
2 kiss lasting a handful of sentences (touchy-feely as well),
Remembering kisses & wanting to kiss (up to a few sentences).
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Warmth, Flutters, Electricity, Nearness, Smelling, & Noticing (up to a few sentences and a guy being shirtless as well); Blushes & Flirting; Talks about kisses & kissing; Ezren bumps into a shirtless Foster & later they have to cuddle together (him shirtless and her in a sports bra) for warmth; They also cuddle in his bed & share kisses before going to sleep (someone walks in on them in the morning and makes comments); Someone accuses Foster of “thinking with his pants” when it comes to Ezren.
Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of dating, exes, boyfriends/girlfriends, & flirting; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of touches & nearness; A few mentions of steamy fan-made artwork of a couple; A couple mentions of a couple being unable to keep their hands off of the other; A mention of bikinis; A mention of another planet’s culture to wear less clothing as to wear more clothing is to admit shame of your body.
March 20, 2024
Ignore me trying not to scream. I can't believe this sat unread on my TBR shelf for over a year. This is one of the most exciting sci-fi novels I've ever read. Heart pounding, brain screaming, fists clenching type of read. Between the characters, tension, and conflicts, there was never a dull moment. Hayley has such a talent for sci-fi. I can't wait to read book two.
September 19, 2024
I absolutely love sci fi, especially in the YA genre where books like Skyard and the Aurora Cycle hold a piece of my heart.
Into the Churn a mix of sci-fi, turbulent planetary storms, sweet romance and deadly racing. And i've got to say, it's all done really well. This book was exciting and endearing from page one and it didn't take long for these characters to win me over.
When underdog Ezren Hart finds herself thrown into the systems most deadly race she will have to push herself beyond her limitations to prove she's a threat. When she is paired with race prodigy Foster Sterling, they must race against not only the dangerous elements on the surface, and other racers, but a mysterious source that might be out for blood as well.
Ezren is a fantastic main character. I feel like her growth throughout the book is hard earned and her chemistry with Foster is absolutely believable and SO DANG SWEET. Every time they were on page together it felt natural and just plain old FUN because they brought out the best in one another.
The race elements were exciting, and the plot was fast paced. I loved how there was also a mystery element that kept me on my toes. The friendships and other relationships dynamics were portrayed in a mature and uplifting way.
If you love Twisters, Skyward, Tron....fast paced plots, sweet romance, and just good fun. Read this one asap. One of my favorite YA books this year and I will be grabbing a physical copy for my shelves.
**very light language and just kissing.
Into the Churn a mix of sci-fi, turbulent planetary storms, sweet romance and deadly racing. And i've got to say, it's all done really well. This book was exciting and endearing from page one and it didn't take long for these characters to win me over.
When underdog Ezren Hart finds herself thrown into the systems most deadly race she will have to push herself beyond her limitations to prove she's a threat. When she is paired with race prodigy Foster Sterling, they must race against not only the dangerous elements on the surface, and other racers, but a mysterious source that might be out for blood as well.
Ezren is a fantastic main character. I feel like her growth throughout the book is hard earned and her chemistry with Foster is absolutely believable and SO DANG SWEET. Every time they were on page together it felt natural and just plain old FUN because they brought out the best in one another.
The race elements were exciting, and the plot was fast paced. I loved how there was also a mystery element that kept me on my toes. The friendships and other relationships dynamics were portrayed in a mature and uplifting way.
If you love Twisters, Skyward, Tron....fast paced plots, sweet romance, and just good fun. Read this one asap. One of my favorite YA books this year and I will be grabbing a physical copy for my shelves.
**very light language and just kissing.
July 30, 2025
You know those books, the ones you can’t put down, and when you’re forced to do so, all you can think about is getting back to it as soon as possible? Well, that’s exactly what INTO THE CHURN is like!
Even if sci-fi isn’t your go-to genre, you will still love this YA, action romance––the pining, the kisses, the slow burn––OH MY HEART! And the action too! The Race Royale takes place in the heart of Belethea’s churn belt, a portion of the planet where temperatures are unliveable, lightning rages, and tornados tear the planet apart. This is a life threatening triathlon of epic tech proportions where neighbouring planets compete for resource rights and interplanetary glory. The thing is, our heroes, Ezren and Foster, are the underdogs, and not only will you melt over their romance, you’ll be biting your nails and praying for their safety until the very end.
Don’t miss this, just don’t.
Even if sci-fi isn’t your go-to genre, you will still love this YA, action romance––the pining, the kisses, the slow burn––OH MY HEART! And the action too! The Race Royale takes place in the heart of Belethea’s churn belt, a portion of the planet where temperatures are unliveable, lightning rages, and tornados tear the planet apart. This is a life threatening triathlon of epic tech proportions where neighbouring planets compete for resource rights and interplanetary glory. The thing is, our heroes, Ezren and Foster, are the underdogs, and not only will you melt over their romance, you’ll be biting your nails and praying for their safety until the very end.
Don’t miss this, just don’t.
December 26, 2022
My endorsement: “Hayley Reese Chow has done more than write a story about two underdogs, she’s created an entire world for them to fight for. Transport yourself into the vibrant, dangerous planet of Belethea with its unpredictable storms, dicey politics, and mind-blowing technology. By the end, you’ll be chanting “Into the Churn!” alongside the characters you’ve fallen in love with as they barrel through tornadoes, rumors, romance, and lies all the way to the finish line.”
Content Warnings: A bit of mild language. The world also has its own made up swear words. There’s also some kissing.
Content Warnings: A bit of mild language. The world also has its own made up swear words. There’s also some kissing.
June 15, 2023
Prooooobably more like a 4.5 stars but I’ll give it the full 5 simply because I enjoyed it SO much. I loved the romance and the characters and the stakes and the DOG and ahhhhhh. So so good.
April 8, 2024
✧˖*°࿐ 5 stars
°•*⁀➷ Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review
╰┈➤ ❝
Review to come
°•*⁀➷ Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review
╰┈➤ ❝
Review to come
April 12, 2024
Upon reread: Even better than the first time. Literally obsessed with this book. I want everyone to read it.
I adore this book. Foster and Ezren are OTP, I love spec fic sports books, Belethea is wild and beautiful, we love a good underdog story, there’s a bit of fake dating in there (and also a take on the one bed trope except it’s one security blanket in the emergency shelter). Ezren is a feisty, tenacious little firecracker who never gives up and I admire her. Foster is a lovable grump and I just want to hug him even though he’d cringe away from me. Bex, Grady, Micah, and Sylvia are also great. I didn’t guess the resolution to the mystery, and the ending was satisfying. It’s just such a great book!!!
There needs to be more speculative fiction books with made up sports. It’s such a great niche.
I adore this book. Foster and Ezren are OTP, I love spec fic sports books, Belethea is wild and beautiful, we love a good underdog story, there’s a bit of fake dating in there (and also a take on the one bed trope except it’s one security blanket in the emergency shelter). Ezren is a feisty, tenacious little firecracker who never gives up and I admire her. Foster is a lovable grump and I just want to hug him even though he’d cringe away from me. Bex, Grady, Micah, and Sylvia are also great. I didn’t guess the resolution to the mystery, and the ending was satisfying. It’s just such a great book!!!
There needs to be more speculative fiction books with made up sports. It’s such a great niche.
August 5, 2024
This was unexpectedly fantastic!!
I read it in tandem on Kindle Unlimited and a physical copy for a book club I'm in, and I'm so excited to review it with all the gals in the group!
THOUGHTS:
- Fun world-building (quite literally world-building - some fun sci-fi elements with terraforming new planets)
The idea of the different planets that work together, etc., is really fun. However, there aren't any aliens, which I've also found interesting. It's all human-based, and I'm wondering if some of that will come in.
- Lighter/ fresher Star Trek vibes?
Romance: As this is a young adult/New adult - I think there was an appropriate level of romance, including hand-holding/light kissing. (no heavy petting or open door s3x scenes. Didn't even allude to s3xual situations happening. Just lots of flirting and a sweet romance developing!
Will be grabbing the next one on Kindle Unlimited ASAP!
I read it in tandem on Kindle Unlimited and a physical copy for a book club I'm in, and I'm so excited to review it with all the gals in the group!
THOUGHTS:
- Fun world-building (quite literally world-building - some fun sci-fi elements with terraforming new planets)
The idea of the different planets that work together, etc., is really fun. However, there aren't any aliens, which I've also found interesting. It's all human-based, and I'm wondering if some of that will come in.
- Lighter/ fresher Star Trek vibes?
Romance: As this is a young adult/New adult - I think there was an appropriate level of romance, including hand-holding/light kissing. (no heavy petting or open door s3x scenes. Didn't even allude to s3xual situations happening. Just lots of flirting and a sweet romance developing!
Will be grabbing the next one on Kindle Unlimited ASAP!
March 21, 2024
I love the worldbuilding in this in this science fiction tale. There’s intrigue, romance, danger, hope and more. You definitely will root for the underdogs! I could really picture the wild and stormy wilderness of the planet Belethea. You will come to care about both Ezren and Foster as they scrap and fight their way to the finish line. The race is insane….miles upon miles of treacherous terrain and storms that change course in mere seconds—oh yeah, and other racers who are constantly trying to take you out of the running, literally. I know I’d be out in the first five minutes! The story is a pulse-pounding thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat!
Look for this very soon, on April 4th! Also, you won’t have to wait long for book 2–that’s publishing on May 21st. Win-win!
Thank you to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are mine alone.
Look for this very soon, on April 4th! Also, you won’t have to wait long for book 2–that’s publishing on May 21st. Win-win!
Thank you to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are mine alone.
April 16, 2024
This is a fast-paced Sci-fromance novel. We follow two professional athletes that are partners in a high-danger race/fighting ring. It's YA in an accessible but not annoying way, and I would easily recommend it broadly.
What this book does best is in its setting. It really sets the mood with its planet full of deadly storms, and every scene where the characters were out there had real gravitas. I felt the danger and the excitement. This book also nails the pacing in the competition plot. I was very invested in how our protagonists would place in every round, and it kept me enthusiastically reading.
I also especially loved our protagonist Ezren, who was passionate about the race and the planet, and was given really strong motivations that helped me cheer for her.
It's a little disappointing that this book that is marketed as "slow burn" takes very little time to explore the yearning of the characters, and has the first kiss before even halfway through the book. It's a fine romance, but not quite one that will sweep you off your feet.
Thanks to Netgalley and Whimsical Publishing for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
What this book does best is in its setting. It really sets the mood with its planet full of deadly storms, and every scene where the characters were out there had real gravitas. I felt the danger and the excitement. This book also nails the pacing in the competition plot. I was very invested in how our protagonists would place in every round, and it kept me enthusiastically reading.
I also especially loved our protagonist Ezren, who was passionate about the race and the planet, and was given really strong motivations that helped me cheer for her.
It's a little disappointing that this book that is marketed as "slow burn" takes very little time to explore the yearning of the characters, and has the first kiss before even halfway through the book. It's a fine romance, but not quite one that will sweep you off your feet.
Thanks to Netgalley and Whimsical Publishing for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 3, 2023
I hardly even read sci-fi but MY WORD. THIS BOOK. I nicknamed it “the Space Race book” because it features a dangerous race across a deadly planet. I was utterly enthralled by the heart-pounding story of feisty Ezren and enigmatic Foster and how their fates intertwined in this death-defying challenge filled with memorable characters who steal the spotlight. Just a stunningly satisfying tale!
(Note: I was a copyeditor for this, and the story absolutely stealing my heart was a bonus.)
(Note: I was a copyeditor for this, and the story absolutely stealing my heart was a bonus.)
April 24, 2023
Read it in less than a day; it was JUST THAT GOOD.
I like stories where romance is balanced well with action and internal growth (and a good amount of humor). This checked all those boxes, with enough tension to keep me turning pages, enough romance too make me really root for the characters, and the internal growth to keep me invested in each of them. Plus, SCIENCE. I am absolutely a science nerd, and the integration of believable science into the world building made this a super enjoyable sci-fi experience.
I like stories where romance is balanced well with action and internal growth (and a good amount of humor). This checked all those boxes, with enough tension to keep me turning pages, enough romance too make me really root for the characters, and the internal growth to keep me invested in each of them. Plus, SCIENCE. I am absolutely a science nerd, and the integration of believable science into the world building made this a super enjoyable sci-fi experience.
April 7, 2023
Into the Churn by Hayley Reese Chow is honestly one of the BEST books I have EVER read. Seriously. I've read a couple other books by her so I knew going into this there was a pretty good chance I'd enjoy it. That divine cover (for real, what a beauty!) promised even more, but I don't think I was ready for just how amazing this book would be.
Let's start with the plot. This is a sci-fi and though I don't read too many books in that genre, I was excited for this one. It has some serious Hunger Game vibes, but it's futuristic and techy and took a completely new direction. But there are levels to this story even I didn't expect. The race and the preparation leading up to the final race was all super exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance was swoon-worthy and sweet and gave me all the feels. BUT, there was more that I didn't expect! Not everything in the Belthea Racing Royale is as straight-forward and honest as it seems and I was shocked my the twist at the end! The plot really was marvelous and I loved every second of it.
Characters, however, are always my favorite thing about books and Into the Churn has awesome characters in droves. It's is a dual POV and we get to see things from both Ezren and Foster's POV. I'm thrilled to say I loved them both. I was rooting for them and shipped them right from the beginning. For real, I loved their romance and it was so cool seeing how they worked together in the various challenges. There were lots of fantastic side characters as well. My favorite being Sylvia, who gave me some Effie (from Hunger Games) vibes. I also liked Waffle lol
It's so hard to write about everything I loved without giving spoilers away so I'll wrap this up. But for real, if you're a fan of action-packed adventures with a sweet romance beautifully threaded within the narrative, Into the Churn is just what you need!! A MILLION STARS!
Let's start with the plot. This is a sci-fi and though I don't read too many books in that genre, I was excited for this one. It has some serious Hunger Game vibes, but it's futuristic and techy and took a completely new direction. But there are levels to this story even I didn't expect. The race and the preparation leading up to the final race was all super exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance was swoon-worthy and sweet and gave me all the feels. BUT, there was more that I didn't expect! Not everything in the Belthea Racing Royale is as straight-forward and honest as it seems and I was shocked my the twist at the end! The plot really was marvelous and I loved every second of it.
Characters, however, are always my favorite thing about books and Into the Churn has awesome characters in droves. It's is a dual POV and we get to see things from both Ezren and Foster's POV. I'm thrilled to say I loved them both. I was rooting for them and shipped them right from the beginning. For real, I loved their romance and it was so cool seeing how they worked together in the various challenges. There were lots of fantastic side characters as well. My favorite being Sylvia, who gave me some Effie (from Hunger Games) vibes. I also liked Waffle lol
It's so hard to write about everything I loved without giving spoilers away so I'll wrap this up. But for real, if you're a fan of action-packed adventures with a sweet romance beautifully threaded within the narrative, Into the Churn is just what you need!! A MILLION STARS!
June 16, 2023
This was SUCH AN AWESOME BOOK! Absolutely loved it. Ezren and Foster were fantastic MCs, the setting / worldbuilding mind-blowing, and the high stakes race thoroughly thrilling. The slang was also super fun. Really, the entire thing was utterly blime and I’m chaffing HERE FOR IT. Looking forward to book 2!
March 31, 2024
3.5 ★
“Be strong. Be swift. By legs, wheels and fists, we go into the churn. We race, we fight, and we live to do it all over again. For ourselves, for Belethea, and for each other.”
i requested this arc on a whim since the cover immediately grabbed my attention. if you’re looking for a fast paced sci-fi with a sweet romance, i’d say give Into the Churn a try. i liked the story and characters overall, but i honestly never fully connected to anyone for some reason and it took me a while to get a grip on all the tech names and the use of these made up words. but i usually tend to find most YA books fun and quick to read and that’s still the case here.
“Winning or losing or doing nothing at all. I want to be with you.”
the plot follows Ezren and Foster, who train to compete in a death defying race on their planet of Belethea. there’s a lot of preparation that goes into doing this and most of the participants are encouraged to compete in pairs. Foster and Ezren are paired together and through the course of all their time spent together, a romance develops between the two. i found both Ezren and Foster very likable and the romance was cute lol. Ezren is passionate and realistic, while Foster is dedicated but more misunderstood. i enjoyed the whole side plot of who might be tampering with their suits and i’m a sucker for a good underdog story.
↳ thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for the arc, all opinions are my own.
“Be strong. Be swift. By legs, wheels and fists, we go into the churn. We race, we fight, and we live to do it all over again. For ourselves, for Belethea, and for each other.”
i requested this arc on a whim since the cover immediately grabbed my attention. if you’re looking for a fast paced sci-fi with a sweet romance, i’d say give Into the Churn a try. i liked the story and characters overall, but i honestly never fully connected to anyone for some reason and it took me a while to get a grip on all the tech names and the use of these made up words. but i usually tend to find most YA books fun and quick to read and that’s still the case here.
“Winning or losing or doing nothing at all. I want to be with you.”
the plot follows Ezren and Foster, who train to compete in a death defying race on their planet of Belethea. there’s a lot of preparation that goes into doing this and most of the participants are encouraged to compete in pairs. Foster and Ezren are paired together and through the course of all their time spent together, a romance develops between the two. i found both Ezren and Foster very likable and the romance was cute lol. Ezren is passionate and realistic, while Foster is dedicated but more misunderstood. i enjoyed the whole side plot of who might be tampering with their suits and i’m a sucker for a good underdog story.
↳ thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for the arc, all opinions are my own.
March 24, 2024
I love the worldbuilding in this science fiction tale. There’s intrigue, romance, danger, hope and more. You definitely will root for the underdogs! I could really picture the wild and stormy wilderness of the planet Belethea. You will come to care about both Ezren and Foster as they scrap and fight their way to the finish line. The race is insane….miles upon miles of treacherous terrain and storms that change course in mere seconds—oh yeah, and other racers who are constantly trying to take you out of the running, literally. I know I’d be out in the first five minutes! The story is a pulse-pounding thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat!
Look for this very soon, on April 4th! Also, you won’t have to wait long for book 2–that’s publishing on May 21st. Win-win!
Thank you to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are mine alone.
Look for this very soon, on April 4th! Also, you won’t have to wait long for book 2–that’s publishing on May 21st. Win-win!
Thank you to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are mine alone.
February 24, 2025
4 stars
Edit 03/06/24 LOOK AT THIS COVER!!!! I LOVE THEM!!!
----
First of all I want to thank Hayley R. Chow and Whimsical Publishing for the amazing opportunity to get my hands on this ARC!!<3
And with that I have to keep in mind this is an ARC and I can’t go crazy with this review because I guess I can’t spoil anything *lol* but anyways. I love my space Sci-Fi romance with sunshine/grumpy vibes, amazing tech and a race to the death to add some needed drama –because who doesn’t like almost-to-the-death moments for the main characters? xD- I saw this book had all of that and I was immediately in.
This book is an endless roller-coaster, as you know from the synopsis, Ezren –one of our MC- is forced to enter a deadly race where she expects to get the money to help her mother sustain her family and save the planet she loves. Not only that, she has to navigate the MESSED UP society that surrounds the race, her planet and this pocket of space, because man, the fan-base and VSoc –social media in the book- can get really sick and harmful, not only that, besides surviving the killer conditions Belethea has, she has to keep an eye out for CRAZY AS HELL competitors from other planets/stations that are trying to kill her while she races AND survive a mysterious killer that wants to end the chances her planet has to win. So yeah, a lot of tension –and I looooove it- of course, not everything is bad, let’s not forget the grumpy guy we can all love and care for. Foster is one of those characters you instantly like and love and his relationship with Ezren is the cutest there is. Even though the time line in the book expands months, the writer found a way to make it easy to follow and like, so thank God, the main characters had months to really fall for each other and I loved that.
Ezren glanced at him, but confidence radiated from his posture, his stare, and his every step. She still doubted his response time, but at least he thought he knew what he was doing.
Here, she showed none of the confidence and daring she had on the surface. In the light of the afternoon, she seemed small, and, well… kind of cute
“Forget about all that fake stuff, Ezren. I want us to be real.”
Also, I loooove Ezren’s little brother Sam –I need more of him please Hayley- and her crazy and amazing best friend Micah, her mom was amazing and easy to love as well, her relationship with her boss was cute, kind of like a grandpa/granddaughter vibe. And then we have the team members Simon and Bex, I didn’t know how to feel about them but I ended up liking and loving them as well. Of course, we have our villains, which I won’t say who they are but yeah, hated them please throw them in the sun’s direction, thank you
I want to say more but I’ll add those spoilers after the book is released. Also, I have to admit the first few chapters were difficult to follow because there is a lot of information to take in, a lot of new words I didn’t know the meaning of and even some history lessons to get why mankind is here on this planet –and other planets and space stations- this world has its own curse words and even though it was somewhat difficult to relate to them, after a while I got to love them and appreciate the cleverness Hayley put into them. But, even though those first few chapters were somewhat difficult to follow it is normal because this book is introducing us to a new world, that being said, it is not difficult to remember and understand everything once you get the hang of it. The only other thing that bother me while reading was the naiveté Ezren showed at moments, after seeing her bravery and awesomeness it was difficult to reconcile that strong person with a shy-don’t-know-what-to-do-person BUT I had to keep in mind she’s only seventeen and she had never been exposed to the kind of life the royale racers –famous status- have, so yeah, that helped me a bit.
Overall, this book is amazing and I can’t wait to get to know more of the rest of the planets because there are some unanswered questions at the end of this book that I need answers to please, give this book a chance, it’s an easy and fast-pace read and I would dare say, impossible not to like.
Edit 03/06/24 LOOK AT THIS COVER!!!! I LOVE THEM!!!
----
First of all I want to thank Hayley R. Chow and Whimsical Publishing for the amazing opportunity to get my hands on this ARC!!<3
And with that I have to keep in mind this is an ARC and I can’t go crazy with this review because I guess I can’t spoil anything *lol* but anyways. I love my space Sci-Fi romance with sunshine/grumpy vibes, amazing tech and a race to the death to add some needed drama –because who doesn’t like almost-to-the-death moments for the main characters? xD- I saw this book had all of that and I was immediately in.
This book is an endless roller-coaster, as you know from the synopsis, Ezren –one of our MC- is forced to enter a deadly race where she expects to get the money to help her mother sustain her family and save the planet she loves. Not only that, she has to navigate the MESSED UP society that surrounds the race, her planet and this pocket of space, because man, the fan-base and VSoc –social media in the book- can get really sick and harmful, not only that, besides surviving the killer conditions Belethea has, she has to keep an eye out for CRAZY AS HELL competitors from other planets/stations that are trying to kill her while she races AND survive a mysterious killer that wants to end the chances her planet has to win. So yeah, a lot of tension –and I looooove it- of course, not everything is bad, let’s not forget the grumpy guy we can all love and care for. Foster is one of those characters you instantly like and love and his relationship with Ezren is the cutest there is. Even though the time line in the book expands months, the writer found a way to make it easy to follow and like, so thank God, the main characters had months to really fall for each other and I loved that.
Ezren glanced at him, but confidence radiated from his posture, his stare, and his every step. She still doubted his response time, but at least he thought he knew what he was doing.
Here, she showed none of the confidence and daring she had on the surface. In the light of the afternoon, she seemed small, and, well… kind of cute
“Forget about all that fake stuff, Ezren. I want us to be real.”
Also, I loooove Ezren’s little brother Sam –I need more of him please Hayley- and her crazy and amazing best friend Micah, her mom was amazing and easy to love as well, her relationship with her boss was cute, kind of like a grandpa/granddaughter vibe. And then we have the team members Simon and Bex, I didn’t know how to feel about them but I ended up liking and loving them as well. Of course, we have our villains, which I won’t say who they are but yeah, hated them
I want to say more but I’ll add those spoilers after the book is released. Also, I have to admit the first few chapters were difficult to follow because there is a lot of information to take in, a lot of new words I didn’t know the meaning of and even some history lessons to get why mankind is here on this planet –and other planets and space stations- this world has its own curse words and even though it was somewhat difficult to relate to them, after a while I got to love them and appreciate the cleverness Hayley put into them. But, even though those first few chapters were somewhat difficult to follow it is normal because this book is introducing us to a new world, that being said, it is not difficult to remember and understand everything once you get the hang of it. The only other thing that bother me while reading was the naiveté Ezren showed at moments, after seeing her bravery and awesomeness it was difficult to reconcile that strong person with a shy-don’t-know-what-to-do-person BUT I had to keep in mind she’s only seventeen and she had never been exposed to the kind of life the royale racers –famous status- have, so yeah, that helped me a bit.
Overall, this book is amazing and I can’t wait to get to know more of the rest of the planets
April 4, 2023
Thank you to Whimsical Publishing for the eARC.
CAPTIVATING.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I just wholeheartedly enjoyed this book. It was a fantastic young adult read and as a standalone I thought it encompassed everything needed to close off story lines and feel satisfied by the book as a whole.
The romance was SO DANG SWEET. A super low angst, unlikely partners to friends to lovers. I loved all of the tender forehead and temple kisses. The encouragement Foster and Ezren gave each other to keep going and the way they took care of each other. They were a partnership you wanted to cheer for and cheer for them I did!
And it was absolutely filled will ALL the action. Brutal storms and intense physical matches that sped the pace and my heartrate. I kind of love race themed books because you never know quite who’s going to actually win and how that plays into the story itself. I liked the mystery aspects within the sub-plots that brought this entire book together. Everything was well balanced and I continually wanted to pick this up and see what happened next.
Easily recommend. Fits perfectly into the YA category as well (i.e. appropriate for the actual age group). Wonderful characters, high action, adorable romance and an all around great read.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Sci-Fi
- Language: a little, light
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: med-high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: near death experiences, loss of life, physical altercations, blood depiction, major weather systems
CAPTIVATING.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I just wholeheartedly enjoyed this book. It was a fantastic young adult read and as a standalone I thought it encompassed everything needed to close off story lines and feel satisfied by the book as a whole.
The romance was SO DANG SWEET. A super low angst, unlikely partners to friends to lovers. I loved all of the tender forehead and temple kisses. The encouragement Foster and Ezren gave each other to keep going and the way they took care of each other. They were a partnership you wanted to cheer for and cheer for them I did!
And it was absolutely filled will ALL the action. Brutal storms and intense physical matches that sped the pace and my heartrate. I kind of love race themed books because you never know quite who’s going to actually win and how that plays into the story itself. I liked the mystery aspects within the sub-plots that brought this entire book together. Everything was well balanced and I continually wanted to pick this up and see what happened next.
Easily recommend. Fits perfectly into the YA category as well (i.e. appropriate for the actual age group). Wonderful characters, high action, adorable romance and an all around great read.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Sci-Fi
- Language: a little, light
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: med-high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: near death experiences, loss of life, physical altercations, blood depiction, major weather systems
May 16, 2023
I absolutely adored this book. I’ll admit, it took me a while to get through, but that was because of college finals. So, I finally finished, and I loved it!
Major points:
- Ezren. Delightful, bubbly, and believable.
- Foster. Brooding & precious in all the right areas.
- I was worried it would be instalove, but the romance was well written & didn’t feel forced at all. I’m not a rereader, but I will be reading through my fav scenes again!
- the world building. Oh. My. Wow. I’m jealous I didn’t come up with it first, ahaha! But this natural disaster, tornado-swooning lover just ADORED. I can’t wait to see what else Hayley does with this universe!
A few things I didn’t like:
- the swearing. There were only minor swears, but they felt unnecessary at some points. Plus the made-up ones clearly pointed to the real ones. So. Just wasn’t a fan.
- the ending honestly dragged a bit for me, which is part of why it took so long to finish. Also, the plot twist at the end didn’t have enough foreshadowing & it felt a bit rushed and thrown together, so I struggled with believability.
AHHH! I’m so excited for book 2! Well done, Hayley!
Major points:
- Ezren. Delightful, bubbly, and believable.
- Foster. Brooding & precious in all the right areas.
- I was worried it would be instalove, but the romance was well written & didn’t feel forced at all. I’m not a rereader, but I will be reading through my fav scenes again!
- the world building. Oh. My. Wow. I’m jealous I didn’t come up with it first, ahaha! But this natural disaster, tornado-swooning lover just ADORED. I can’t wait to see what else Hayley does with this universe!
A few things I didn’t like:
- the swearing. There were only minor swears, but they felt unnecessary at some points. Plus the made-up ones clearly pointed to the real ones. So. Just wasn’t a fan.
- the ending honestly dragged a bit for me, which is part of why it took so long to finish. Also, the plot twist at the end didn’t have enough foreshadowing & it felt a bit rushed and thrown together, so I struggled with believability.
AHHH! I’m so excited for book 2! Well done, Hayley!
April 26, 2024
I'm sorry, but this is just so creative and brutal and character-focused and unique and the characters have to work for things and they're clever without being superheroes and the romance is really cute and the planet is beautiful and wild and AHHHHHHHH. Basically, just read it. <3
CW: fake swearing including a few minor real words, brutal violence, romance including allusions to things going further and some cuddling while sleeping.
CW: fake swearing including a few minor real words, brutal violence, romance including allusions to things going further and some cuddling while sleeping.
March 28, 2024
3.5 stars ☆
Featuring :
⋆ Race Royal
⋆ 3rd person POV
⋆ different planet
⋆ teammates to lovers
⋆ fast burn
This is probably my first time reading high (?) sci-fi and I absolutely love this. And greater than that I LOVE Ezren and Foster's chemistry !! BUT they became lovers too soon like really I would have loved a slow burn SO MUCH. The book is based on the sports which has race across a planet with pretty PRETTY bad weather. This reminded me of the short " All Summer in a day" which I read in school last year, like story based on different planet is ALWAYS fascinating for me.
Featuring :
⋆ Race Royal
⋆ 3rd person POV
⋆ different planet
⋆ teammates to lovers
⋆ fast burn
This is probably my first time reading high (?) sci-fi and I absolutely love this. And greater than that I LOVE Ezren and Foster's chemistry !! BUT they became lovers too soon like really I would have loved a slow burn SO MUCH. The book is based on the sports which has race across a planet with pretty PRETTY bad weather. This reminded me of the short " All Summer in a day" which I read in school last year, like story based on different planet is ALWAYS fascinating for me.
December 21, 2022
This was a solid book! It left me wondering what would happen next at every turn and I had a hard time putting it down (even though I have a mass of homework waiting for me 😅).
Is it the most original story I've ever read? No, but I thought it was a nice quick read and the author did their job as a storyteller--it kept my interest and I would definitely read more if ever there was more to come.
I quite enjoyed the Who-Done-It of the whole thing!
Is it the most original story I've ever read? No, but I thought it was a nice quick read and the author did their job as a storyteller--it kept my interest and I would definitely read more if ever there was more to come.
I quite enjoyed the Who-Done-It of the whole thing!
April 12, 2023
This was another pre-order buy. Hardback pre-order with SWAG because this book is just so beautiful. When I finally get an adequate number of bookshelves, this baby is getting displayed.
First of all, the world building was FANTASTIC. I haven't read a sci-fi book in forever, but this definitely took me to a completely new solar system and taught me the ways of new worlds. The lingo and technology was so FUN. It was really immersive, like I was truly there, and I love that.
The characters were also great, and I loved all their chemistry with each other. The stakes were high, and there were definitely some deep, dark secrets to uncover. It felt like a (thankfully) tamer Hunger Games in space, with the teen competitors and high social media importance. The fake relationship dynamic didn't play as big of a part between the hero and heroine as I thought it would, but their romance was just too cute, watching their friendship build and then flourish. So sweet.
Note to more sensitive readers: there is mostly made-up bad words, but there are some "real" crass words. There is also violence against teenagers. There was also one romantic scene that made me kind of nervous (but I think was ok? Not 100% sure, but I hope it was all innocent).
This book is perfect YA and adult readers of sci-fi romance.
First of all, the world building was FANTASTIC. I haven't read a sci-fi book in forever, but this definitely took me to a completely new solar system and taught me the ways of new worlds. The lingo and technology was so FUN. It was really immersive, like I was truly there, and I love that.
The characters were also great, and I loved all their chemistry with each other. The stakes were high, and there were definitely some deep, dark secrets to uncover. It felt like a (thankfully) tamer Hunger Games in space, with the teen competitors and high social media importance. The fake relationship dynamic didn't play as big of a part between the hero and heroine as I thought it would, but their romance was just too cute, watching their friendship build and then flourish. So sweet.
Note to more sensitive readers: there is mostly made-up bad words, but there are some "real" crass words. There is also violence against teenagers. There was also one romantic scene that made me kind of nervous (but I think was ok? Not 100% sure, but I hope it was all innocent).
This book is perfect YA and adult readers of sci-fi romance.
August 13, 2024
4.5 stars!
The characters were lovable and fun. The romance was freaking adorable. The high action setting and Iron Man vibes were wonderful and kept me wanting to binge it.
THOUGHTS:
I wanted clearer world building. Also, the bad guy was taken out a bit too conveniently but it's YA so that's bound to happen.
OVERALL:
A fantastic time!! I'd absolutely recommend it to YA readers and those who love Sci fi books.
The characters were lovable and fun. The romance was freaking adorable. The high action setting and Iron Man vibes were wonderful and kept me wanting to binge it.
THOUGHTS:
I wanted clearer world building. Also, the bad guy was taken out a bit too conveniently but it's YA so that's bound to happen.
OVERALL:
A fantastic time!! I'd absolutely recommend it to YA readers and those who love Sci fi books.
June 17, 2023
Buckle up, bookworms - this is such an incredible read! Fans of The Lunar Chronicles, The Hunger Games, The Aurora Cycle, and/or Ender’s Game will love this high-stakes scifi adventure! It’s a gorgeous blend of space competitions, romance, and plot twists of epic proportions.
Ezren is relatable, inspiring, and funny; she’s such an amazing heroine! I loved her development and her courage. She’s officially on my top favorite fierce female character list! Foster is a great character too, he’s so sweet and truly cares for Ezren. He also has wonderful character development. They’re the perfect mix of grumpy/sunshine!
I can’t recommend this book enough! Please add it to your TBRs!
Ezren is relatable, inspiring, and funny; she’s such an amazing heroine! I loved her development and her courage. She’s officially on my top favorite fierce female character list! Foster is a great character too, he’s so sweet and truly cares for Ezren. He also has wonderful character development. They’re the perfect mix of grumpy/sunshine!
I can’t recommend this book enough! Please add it to your TBRs!
April 9, 2024
4.5 stars ⭐
“Be strong. Be swift. By legs, wheels and fists, we go into the churn. We race, we fight, and we live to do it all over again. For ourselves, for Belethea, and for each other.”
You know those books you just can't tear yourself away from? This is exactly that kind of read!
I usually stick to fantasy or romance, but I decided to give this sci-fi a shot. And boy, am I glad I did! I was totally sucked in. The world-building was spot-on, doling out just enough info to keep me in the loop without overwhelming me. And can we talk about Ezren and Foster? Those two were adorable together and their romance had me grinning like a fool the whole way through.
Now, don't get me wrong, I loved it, but there were a few too many training scenes for my liking. It felt a tad repetitive at times, which made me remove half a star.
But overall? "INTO THE CHURN" is a total winner. It proves that sci-fi can be a blast, even for us non-regulars.
Huge thank you to Hayley Reese Chow, Whimsical Publishing, and NetGalley for sending me this ARC!
“Be strong. Be swift. By legs, wheels and fists, we go into the churn. We race, we fight, and we live to do it all over again. For ourselves, for Belethea, and for each other.”
You know those books you just can't tear yourself away from? This is exactly that kind of read!
I usually stick to fantasy or romance, but I decided to give this sci-fi a shot. And boy, am I glad I did! I was totally sucked in. The world-building was spot-on, doling out just enough info to keep me in the loop without overwhelming me. And can we talk about Ezren and Foster? Those two were adorable together and their romance had me grinning like a fool the whole way through.
Now, don't get me wrong, I loved it, but there were a few too many training scenes for my liking. It felt a tad repetitive at times, which made me remove half a star.
But overall? "INTO THE CHURN" is a total winner. It proves that sci-fi can be a blast, even for us non-regulars.
Huge thank you to Hayley Reese Chow, Whimsical Publishing, and NetGalley for sending me this ARC!
April 15, 2024
Ezren and Foster make the perfect “reluctant allies to lovers” in this romantic adventure! Such a unique premise with twists and turns that kept me saying “just one more chapter”
January 5, 2023
This is by far the best YA sci fi I've read. I feel like Ezren the main character is extremely relatable and realistic and her relationship with Foster is a surprisingly healthy one, rare in books these days.
The first two chapters i felt a little overwhelmed by place and people names and terms but quickly after i felt like i understood it all and never felt like i wasnt keeping up. Overall i would say it was a really fun and moderately easy read.
There is romance but no spice in this one so i would for sure say YA but its certainly not missed because this plot is action packed. There is a good amount of pretty intense conflict that really prevents you from putting this book down.
I really appreciated the worldbuilding here, multiple planets as well as made up terms the characters used that made it just feel real. The ending was slightly predictable as to what happens but not how it happens so i didn't feel let down at all. I recommend this one for all ages as long as you're a sci fi fan.
The first two chapters i felt a little overwhelmed by place and people names and terms but quickly after i felt like i understood it all and never felt like i wasnt keeping up. Overall i would say it was a really fun and moderately easy read.
There is romance but no spice in this one so i would for sure say YA but its certainly not missed because this plot is action packed. There is a good amount of pretty intense conflict that really prevents you from putting this book down.
I really appreciated the worldbuilding here, multiple planets as well as made up terms the characters used that made it just feel real. The ending was slightly predictable as to what happens but not how it happens so i didn't feel let down at all. I recommend this one for all ages as long as you're a sci fi fan.
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