What do you think?
Rate this book
The Beauty of the End
In this provocative work of speculative fiction, two sisters navigate the complex moral terrain of reproductive ethics, individual freedoms, and society’s duty to a future facing imminent extinction.
Charlie Tannehill and her twin sister, Maggie, are just eight years old when an unfortunate scientific discovery upends their world—and the world order. The revelation? Extinction, encoded in every creature’s DNA. The expiration date for humans? Only four generations away.
A decade later, unsure of what tomorrow holds, Charlie and Maggie enroll as counselors in a government-run human-husbandry program. By offering cash rewards for reproduction, they hope to forestall humanity’s decline and discover a genetic mutation that might defeat it. While Charlie struggles with the ethical implications of the work, Maggie makes unspeakable sacrifices to improve her odds of success—but such unchecked ambition could come at a greater cost than even she realizes.
Torn between her own morality, her love for her sister, and the pressures of a vanishing civilization, Charlie must search deep within to decide what she’s willing to sacrifice—for herself, for Maggie, and for society—to salvage hope for the whole of humankind.
Charlie Tannehill and her twin sister, Maggie, are just eight years old when an unfortunate scientific discovery upends their world—and the world order. The revelation? Extinction, encoded in every creature’s DNA. The expiration date for humans? Only four generations away.
A decade later, unsure of what tomorrow holds, Charlie and Maggie enroll as counselors in a government-run human-husbandry program. By offering cash rewards for reproduction, they hope to forestall humanity’s decline and discover a genetic mutation that might defeat it. While Charlie struggles with the ethical implications of the work, Maggie makes unspeakable sacrifices to improve her odds of success—but such unchecked ambition could come at a greater cost than even she realizes.
Torn between her own morality, her love for her sister, and the pressures of a vanishing civilization, Charlie must search deep within to decide what she’s willing to sacrifice—for herself, for Maggie, and for society—to salvage hope for the whole of humankind.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
1568 people are currently reading
5378 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Stienstra
1 book55 followersLauren Stienstra’s professional life in government has been instrumental in shaping her literary voice. From the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response to addressing the critical issue of climate change, Stienstra’s lived experiences and deep-rooted commitment to public service have informed and inspired her prose. She holds degrees in physiology and crisis management, has studied creative writing at UCLA Extension, and is currently completing her doctorate in public health at Johns Hopkins University. These endeavors have not only broadened her understanding of the world’s most pressing challenges but also fueled her passion for resonant stories that weave together the complexities of the world she knows so intimately. Based in Washington, DC, Stienstra is the mother of two children and two cats, both of which challenge her equally.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews
March 3, 2025
I don't feel like this book actually explored the things it wanted to explore, it talked about these topics, sure, but there wasn't much depth to it. The adoption aspect was perhaps the only one that was given actual depth in my opinion.
The writing style was oddly both dry and juvenile in many ways, for a good part of the book it made sense since the characters were children but by the end I was kind of annoyed with it.
The way the Mendelia (the government agency Charlie and her sister ended up working for) worked made little sense to me as did people's reaction to an eventual extinction scenario and that did no good for my suspension of disbelief and neither did the way people just went along with what Charlie and Maggie wanted to do as if they had no agency and really just existed as a support cast for Charlie's journey. None of the characters really felt fully realized.
Ultimately this book read like a first draft of a pretty generic YA near-dystopia scenario.
I received a digital review copy of this book through NetGalley, many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The writing style was oddly both dry and juvenile in many ways, for a good part of the book it made sense since the characters were children but by the end I was kind of annoyed with it.
The way the Mendelia (the government agency Charlie and her sister ended up working for) worked made little sense to me as did people's reaction to an eventual extinction scenario and that did no good for my suspension of disbelief and neither did the way people just went along with what Charlie and Maggie wanted to do as if they had no agency and really just existed as a support cast for Charlie's journey. None of the characters really felt fully realized.
Ultimately this book read like a first draft of a pretty generic YA near-dystopia scenario.
I received a digital review copy of this book through NetGalley, many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 30, 2025
This book really tried to be something unique but it really just fell short for me. I was really interested in the first half of the book, but it really fell apart for me in the second half. The motivations of the characters were so different from the first half that it just felt so disjointed. I’m frustrated with a few things that occurred plot wise that didn’t make any sense to me. Having a science and nursing background, some things really annoyed me because they were highly improbable (specifically getting cancer in 3 years because of “x-ray and other radiation exposure”). I really liked the initial idea of this book, and exploring the moral and ethical implications of humanity ending via reaching a “reproductive limit” should have been so much more fascinating than it was. The author swung hard but ultimately missed many opportunities for moral and ethical discussions. I didn’t mind our MC Charlie but I have to say I absolutely LOATHE when women who are firm on not wanting children change their minds (this is a minor spoiler but to be honest this enrages me so much, so I’m sharing it for those who might want to know). These narratives serve to invalidate woman who want to be child free and present a situation in which they fully change their minds and now want to be mothers.
Thank you Netgalley and Little A for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. “The Beauty at the End” will be published April 1, 2025.
Thank you Netgalley and Little A for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. “The Beauty at the End” will be published April 1, 2025.
September 1, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for providing me a free advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a big fan of speculative and science fiction, so I was very excited by the description of this book. I’m happy to say it absolutely met my expectations!
The story follows adopted twin sisters Maggie and Charlie through their childhood and young adulthood as the world around them is completely upended by the discovery that humans have a genetic “expiration date” of approximately four generations away.
To start, I think the premise of this book lands in the perfect sweet spot of plausible speculative fiction. It touches on topics relevant to current events (reproductive choice, medical ethics, “unprecedented times,” etc.) but without tying itself too closely to actual real-life events like the pandemic or climate change. This allows the book to still be thought-provoking but not so on-the-nose that it feels unoriginal or loses the sense of escapism you want in a book. I was not at all surprised to read that Lauren Stienstra has a background working in public health during the height of the pandemic; it definitely informs the storyline of the book. I can really see parallels between COVID and the Limit in terms of their effect on society. Both completely threw the world into a tailspin, but then after a while you have to just keep living life—and that can feel like an absolutely insurmountable task. It’s the panic you feel when you realize nothing actually matters—7 million have died from COVID yet I still have to do laundry and answer emails and go to work and act like our sense of life as we know it hasn’t been utterly destroyed—in competition with the freedom you feel when you realize nothing actually matters—day-to-day worries that normally control your life like project deadlines and the vacuuming you need to do couldn’t be more inconsequential than when you’re staring in the face of a species-wide existential threat. I think the book did a good job of capturing that feeling.
I think I would have liked the book to spend a little more time exploring the global effect of the Limit societally. The pandemic was a threat to human existence biologically, but also a threat to the very structure of society, and I think the Limit would have been even more so. I imagine if the Limit were real there would be people burning buildings because they think it’s a government hoax and people trying to hold researchers hostage because they think extinction is preordained and shouldn’t be stopped and countries threatening to nuke other countries if they don’t share what they’ve learned. That’s part of what makes things like that so terrifying—they threaten to unravel the very fabric of our society and expose the ugliest parts of humanity. We saw small glimpses of that in places (telling the girls they shouldn’t be out by themselves, Aunt Frankie’s friend, etc.), but I think having a bit more of that global context throughout the book could have upped the underlying tension.
Overall, I really liked this book. I enjoyed the writing and found the premise to be a unique take on dystopian fiction. Lauren Stienstra is absolutely a new author to watch, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future!!
I’m a big fan of speculative and science fiction, so I was very excited by the description of this book. I’m happy to say it absolutely met my expectations!
The story follows adopted twin sisters Maggie and Charlie through their childhood and young adulthood as the world around them is completely upended by the discovery that humans have a genetic “expiration date” of approximately four generations away.
To start, I think the premise of this book lands in the perfect sweet spot of plausible speculative fiction. It touches on topics relevant to current events (reproductive choice, medical ethics, “unprecedented times,” etc.) but without tying itself too closely to actual real-life events like the pandemic or climate change. This allows the book to still be thought-provoking but not so on-the-nose that it feels unoriginal or loses the sense of escapism you want in a book. I was not at all surprised to read that Lauren Stienstra has a background working in public health during the height of the pandemic; it definitely informs the storyline of the book. I can really see parallels between COVID and the Limit in terms of their effect on society. Both completely threw the world into a tailspin, but then after a while you have to just keep living life—and that can feel like an absolutely insurmountable task. It’s the panic you feel when you realize nothing actually matters—7 million have died from COVID yet I still have to do laundry and answer emails and go to work and act like our sense of life as we know it hasn’t been utterly destroyed—in competition with the freedom you feel when you realize nothing actually matters—day-to-day worries that normally control your life like project deadlines and the vacuuming you need to do couldn’t be more inconsequential than when you’re staring in the face of a species-wide existential threat. I think the book did a good job of capturing that feeling.
I think I would have liked the book to spend a little more time exploring the global effect of the Limit societally. The pandemic was a threat to human existence biologically, but also a threat to the very structure of society, and I think the Limit would have been even more so. I imagine if the Limit were real there would be people burning buildings because they think it’s a government hoax and people trying to hold researchers hostage because they think extinction is preordained and shouldn’t be stopped and countries threatening to nuke other countries if they don’t share what they’ve learned. That’s part of what makes things like that so terrifying—they threaten to unravel the very fabric of our society and expose the ugliest parts of humanity. We saw small glimpses of that in places (telling the girls they shouldn’t be out by themselves, Aunt Frankie’s friend, etc.), but I think having a bit more of that global context throughout the book could have upped the underlying tension.
Overall, I really liked this book. I enjoyed the writing and found the premise to be a unique take on dystopian fiction. Lauren Stienstra is absolutely a new author to watch, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future!!
May 7, 2025
The beginning of this book was incredibly intriguing but after about 25% in, the depth disappeared. Some of the most interesting themes were totally dropped. At the end when Charlie decides to go against one of her core values, I simply shook my head with disappointment. This book had a lot of potential but in the end, it gave nothing.
December 1, 2024
3.5/3.75 stars
Initially drawn to the front cover, I put in the application to read this ARC due to my love for dystopia and new concepts. I wasn't disappointed - this novel had rounded character development, unrequited love, tragedy, sibling rivalry and revelry, governmental mistrust, yet none felt particularly cliché which is remarkable.
The novel follows the perspective of Charlie from when she is a young girl playing with her twin sister Maggie and friends to joining the government in their scientific research to break the "limit" - a limit embedded in the DNA of all humans resulting in the end of the line for the species. Charlie, never keen on the idea of children, and Maggie, dedicated to her education and the possibility of finding the breakthrough cure commit to each other that they will both endeavour on the journey together and never grow apart. Then, as aforementioned, much turmoil, tragedy, unrequited love, chaos and secrecy develops into an interesting and thought-provoking novel. Providing you have the moral understanding of the character's predicaments.
I found myself falling off somewhere around the middle but I think this is because it was on my kindle (I'm definitely a physical book kinda person). When I jumped back in, the second half of the book was outstanding and had the pace which I felt the first half didn't have. This can be expected of Dystopia - where the idea of the world is trying to be conveyed. So I recommend sticking to it.
Spoilers below:
A few inconsistencies were a bit jarring for me - primarily the interactions of young Charlie and Maggie made me unable to establish how old they were. Their language well, well above their years (and somehow when they're older they speak much more simply). I get that they are essentially child prodigies but even so, 6 year olds do not speak the way they did. The other inconsistency was a line saying they "spread ashes" at the pier but as far as I could make out, they hadn't found a body (as Charlie kept repeating that she thought she could still be alive).
Initially drawn to the front cover, I put in the application to read this ARC due to my love for dystopia and new concepts. I wasn't disappointed - this novel had rounded character development, unrequited love, tragedy, sibling rivalry and revelry, governmental mistrust, yet none felt particularly cliché which is remarkable.
The novel follows the perspective of Charlie from when she is a young girl playing with her twin sister Maggie and friends to joining the government in their scientific research to break the "limit" - a limit embedded in the DNA of all humans resulting in the end of the line for the species. Charlie, never keen on the idea of children, and Maggie, dedicated to her education and the possibility of finding the breakthrough cure commit to each other that they will both endeavour on the journey together and never grow apart. Then, as aforementioned, much turmoil, tragedy, unrequited love, chaos and secrecy develops into an interesting and thought-provoking novel. Providing you have the moral understanding of the character's predicaments.
I found myself falling off somewhere around the middle but I think this is because it was on my kindle (I'm definitely a physical book kinda person). When I jumped back in, the second half of the book was outstanding and had the pace which I felt the first half didn't have. This can be expected of Dystopia - where the idea of the world is trying to be conveyed. So I recommend sticking to it.
Spoilers below:
A few inconsistencies were a bit jarring for me - primarily the interactions of young Charlie and Maggie made me unable to establish how old they were. Their language well, well above their years (and somehow when they're older they speak much more simply). I get that they are essentially child prodigies but even so, 6 year olds do not speak the way they did. The other inconsistency was a line saying they "spread ashes" at the pier but as far as I could make out, they hadn't found a body (as Charlie kept repeating that she thought she could still be alive).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2024
Thanks to net galley for providing an ARC copy of this book !
I enjoyed reading this book, and really wanted to know the end, but after reflecting on it, I feel that this book doesn't go in-depth enough, I liked the story and I liked the theme but I feel like there was so much more to explore and to say. Especially when it comes to the way the Mendelia functions.
I really believe the story has much more potential and could develop into a deeper analysis of our world, politics and healthcare.
It was still a very enjoyable read but I wished for a little bit more.
I enjoyed reading this book, and really wanted to know the end, but after reflecting on it, I feel that this book doesn't go in-depth enough, I liked the story and I liked the theme but I feel like there was so much more to explore and to say. Especially when it comes to the way the Mendelia functions.
I really believe the story has much more potential and could develop into a deeper analysis of our world, politics and healthcare.
It was still a very enjoyable read but I wished for a little bit more.
August 21, 2024
What would society do if they knew the human species would go extinct? What would society allow? What lengths would people go to, to have a child? This work of speculative (arguably dystopia) fiction delves into these questions while followings sisters on their life journey.
The story is shocking with many themes and ties to the world today. This is not a light book/read,(see trigger warnings) but one that will sick with you. I couldn’t put it down and it lead to many conversations with people in my life. I enjoyed the pacing, the main characters and themes. There were a few times things felt a bit rushed or eased over (the legal/political parts later in the book), I also didn’t like the use of a prominent political name (even though yes this is a fictional story), it took me out of the story. However I cannot say express how much I enjoyed this books and just devoured it.
I go back and forth between a 4.5 start and 5 star. Since this is not the final edit, and the way this books provokes thought and emotions I’m landing on 5 stars.
Trigger warnings:
Human trafficking
Human rights
Mental health (depression, suicidal ideation)
Murder
Suicide
Medical and reproductive ethics
Racisim
Grief
Death
Infertility
Consent
Sexual abuse
Addiction
The story is shocking with many themes and ties to the world today. This is not a light book/read,(see trigger warnings) but one that will sick with you. I couldn’t put it down and it lead to many conversations with people in my life. I enjoyed the pacing, the main characters and themes. There were a few times things felt a bit rushed or eased over (the legal/political parts later in the book), I also didn’t like the use of a prominent political name (even though yes this is a fictional story), it took me out of the story. However I cannot say express how much I enjoyed this books and just devoured it.
I go back and forth between a 4.5 start and 5 star. Since this is not the final edit, and the way this books provokes thought and emotions I’m landing on 5 stars.
Trigger warnings:
Human trafficking
Human rights
Mental health (depression, suicidal ideation)
Murder
Suicide
Medical and reproductive ethics
Racisim
Grief
Death
Infertility
Consent
Sexual abuse
Addiction
December 30, 2024
No estaba muy segura respecto al rating, siento que fue un 5 estrellas gran parte del libro pero hacia el 70% se precepicitan una serie de eventos que hicieron al libro más lento.
Hay una serie de detalles que son inconsistentes o no logran ser resueltos hacia el final del libro y definitivamente el cierre no sentí que le haya hecho justicia al personaje principal que desde muy temprana edad se caracterizó por tener muy claro que la maternidad no era su deseo. En pos de honrar la memoria de los muertos, se sacrificó una creencia fundacional.
Igualmente léanlo, es increíble fantasear con la idea de que nos extinguimos. Muy buen libro.
Hay una serie de detalles que son inconsistentes o no logran ser resueltos hacia el final del libro y definitivamente el cierre no sentí que le haya hecho justicia al personaje principal que desde muy temprana edad se caracterizó por tener muy claro que la maternidad no era su deseo. En pos de honrar la memoria de los muertos, se sacrificó una creencia fundacional.
Igualmente léanlo, es increíble fantasear con la idea de que nos extinguimos. Muy buen libro.
September 14, 2024
If you loved Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, go read this book immediately. The book delivers on humanity at its worst and at its best in the face of extinction. The voice and authenticity of the MC pulled me right in and kept me reading late.
April 28, 2025
I am wary of speculative fiction in general but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's mostly character driven (and I loved Charlie's character). It focuses on ethics, genealogy, research and genetic mutations. How far would you go to save humans from extinction? There is much to ponder with the beauty of the end of this aptly named novel.
June 9, 2025
genuinely this book was so interesting and proposed a lot of thought provoking situations when humanity is faced with a timed extinction. the light this shined on sex trafficking and mass breeding was extremely powerful and disturbing in a way that i feel was intentional. even the way it brought up different genetic mutations and the differences in genomes was beautiful and made them positive and unique. who knows maybe these defects are the key to saving man kind.
July 30, 2025
Rounding up from 4.5/5
April 8, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this title.
This dystopian/sci-fi book follows twin girls as they navigate life knowing that the human race is coming to extension. Maggie and Charlie start working for the Mendelia, an organization working to harvest embryos in hopes of extending our lifetime here on earth. Through many ethical battles, the girls come to very different fates.
I would have enjoyed more depth in the characters. I just didn't feel connected to any of them. The overall plot was very intriguing though. 3.5 stars
This dystopian/sci-fi book follows twin girls as they navigate life knowing that the human race is coming to extension. Maggie and Charlie start working for the Mendelia, an organization working to harvest embryos in hopes of extending our lifetime here on earth. Through many ethical battles, the girls come to very different fates.
I would have enjoyed more depth in the characters. I just didn't feel connected to any of them. The overall plot was very intriguing though. 3.5 stars
September 28, 2024
As my first more sci-fi/dystopian read, I'd give this a 3.5! We start by being introduced to adopted twins, Charlie and Maggie, and are quickly informed of the "Limit" which states the human race will end within the next four generations. As you follow the twins, you learn that people are tested to see who will be more fertile and this government agency called the Mendelia, basically does IVF for people to try to break the limit. People are not forced to use the Mendelia, but if you do, you do not have the ability to choose the DNA used for the procedure.
As the twins grow up, we learn that Maggie is much more outgoing, and a huge risk-taker, while Charlie is the complete opposite. Maggie ends up REALLY wanting to break the limit, but at what cost?
This book was very interesting and captivating in the beginning. however, at some point during the middle, the pace really slowed down, it felt like the book was never going to end. And then when it did finally end, it left me with a weird feeling. Charlie did something that just seemed very much not like her . All in all, I really enjoyed the story, I just wish it kept the same pace from the beginning throughout the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to this book for a review!
As the twins grow up, we learn that Maggie is much more outgoing, and a huge risk-taker, while Charlie is the complete opposite. Maggie ends up REALLY wanting to break the limit, but at what cost?
This book was very interesting and captivating in the beginning. however, at some point during the middle, the pace really slowed down, it felt like the book was never going to end. And then when it did finally end, it left me with a weird feeling. Charlie did something that just seemed very much not like her . All in all, I really enjoyed the story, I just wish it kept the same pace from the beginning throughout the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to this book for a review!
October 3, 2024
[NetGalley Read #14]
4.5 ⭐
Good concept. Great execution. Contrasting twin characters. Easy to read.
Charlie's feelings are articulated pretty well. Really well. Wanting normalcy and peace in a world that's ending. The author does an excellent job of weaving together melancholia and a bit of hope to create a sort of mystery. Will they find the cure? Would the Limit ever be broken? I find myself asking these questions halfway through the book. But, like some of the characters, I'm happy to just read the story of the twins and how they grapple with life in this dystopian world. The mystery is an added bonus.
This is a work of literary fiction disguised in a dystopian story. Characters go through personal and professional hell, make hard choices, and some of them do not come out the other side unscathed.
The plot is good but the story is very much character driven (which is a good thing). Sometimes, some of the characters leave you flummoxed with the choices they make. But that, I would say, is one of the strengths of this book. It makes you question what you would do in similar circumstances. Whether you'll be reckless/bold/daring like Maggie or be careful/calculating like Charlie.
And the ending justifies the title of the book.
Highly recommended. 👍
4.5 ⭐
Good concept. Great execution. Contrasting twin characters. Easy to read.
Charlie's feelings are articulated pretty well. Really well. Wanting normalcy and peace in a world that's ending. The author does an excellent job of weaving together melancholia and a bit of hope to create a sort of mystery. Will they find the cure? Would the Limit ever be broken? I find myself asking these questions halfway through the book. But, like some of the characters, I'm happy to just read the story of the twins and how they grapple with life in this dystopian world. The mystery is an added bonus.
This is a work of literary fiction disguised in a dystopian story. Characters go through personal and professional hell, make hard choices, and some of them do not come out the other side unscathed.
The plot is good but the story is very much character driven (which is a good thing). Sometimes, some of the characters leave you flummoxed with the choices they make. But that, I would say, is one of the strengths of this book. It makes you question what you would do in similar circumstances. Whether you'll be reckless/bold/daring like Maggie or be careful/calculating like Charlie.
And the ending justifies the title of the book.
Highly recommended. 👍
March 14, 2025
If you like Speculative Fiction you’ll probably like this. The third half of the story slowed down a bit, but I still couldn’t put this down. Think Children of Men and the Handmaids Tale, but not as gory or bleak.
July 6, 2025
3.75 ⭐️ The Beauty of the End surprised me. Set in an alternate timeline where humanity faces a looming reproductive crisis, the story focuses on twin sisters Charlie and Maggie as they grow up in a world full of uncertainty—one where individual freedoms are increasingly restricted, and the survival of the species takes precedence over personal autonomy. After a scientific discovery reveals that extinction is encoded in our DNA—with only a few generations left—society scrambles for solutions, and the girls are drawn into a government-run reproductive program designed to encourage fertility and hunt for genetic mutations that might delay the end.
What makes this perspective so interesting is that while the twins don't fully grasp what they’re sacrificing—their choices, freedoms, and futures—the reader does. That dissonance creates a tension that’s more thought-provoking than lecturing.
The novel explores complex themes reproductive ethics, eugenics, women’s autonomy, utilitarianism, and the conflict between individual agency and duty to society. It handles these topics sensibly and importantly quite factually with respect to science. The inclusion of the Marshall Islands was a great touch—both a compelling narrative choice and one that makes scientific and historical sense.
As society deteriorates, the novel becomes a sharp cautionary tale. Desperation breeds unethical practices and moral compromises. At one point, Charlie says: *“The species needs a future more than it needs morality,”* which pushes forward one of the key questions of the story (and many other sci fi works): does the continuation of the species justify abandoning moral frameworks? Are some actions inherently wrong—even if they ensure survival?
All of this made the book powerful for me. However, I did struggle with the ending. It felt abrupt, and Charlie’s motivations became erratic and inconsistent. I wasn’t sure if this was meant to reflect personal growth or unresolved grief. I also kept expecting Maggie to return—her story was left so open-ended. I would have loved more focus on her character, rather than the love triangle subplot.
Overall, I appreciated being challenged to imagine myself in the twins’ position. I learned about the tragic legacy of the Marshall Islands, and I loved that the story kept me guessing. It’s a thoughtful take on a reproductive dystopia. I’m very much looking forward to Lauren’s next book.
What makes this perspective so interesting is that while the twins don't fully grasp what they’re sacrificing—their choices, freedoms, and futures—the reader does. That dissonance creates a tension that’s more thought-provoking than lecturing.
The novel explores complex themes reproductive ethics, eugenics, women’s autonomy, utilitarianism, and the conflict between individual agency and duty to society. It handles these topics sensibly and importantly quite factually with respect to science. The inclusion of the Marshall Islands was a great touch—both a compelling narrative choice and one that makes scientific and historical sense.
As society deteriorates, the novel becomes a sharp cautionary tale. Desperation breeds unethical practices and moral compromises. At one point, Charlie says: *“The species needs a future more than it needs morality,”* which pushes forward one of the key questions of the story (and many other sci fi works): does the continuation of the species justify abandoning moral frameworks? Are some actions inherently wrong—even if they ensure survival?
All of this made the book powerful for me. However, I did struggle with the ending. It felt abrupt, and Charlie’s motivations became erratic and inconsistent. I wasn’t sure if this was meant to reflect personal growth or unresolved grief. I also kept expecting Maggie to return—her story was left so open-ended. I would have loved more focus on her character, rather than the love triangle subplot.
Overall, I appreciated being challenged to imagine myself in the twins’ position. I learned about the tragic legacy of the Marshall Islands, and I loved that the story kept me guessing. It’s a thoughtful take on a reproductive dystopia. I’m very much looking forward to Lauren’s next book.
March 22, 2025
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.
3.5 stars rounded up.
This is a speculative story with a really unique premise! Scientists have discovered coding in DNA that indicates all humans and animals will go extinct within several generations. A government agency called Mendelia arises with the goal of buying the human race more time to figure out a cure. We follow two twin sisters from childhood to adulthood, seeing them grow up with this knowledge and their journey to becoming Mendels – doctors who are also genetic/fertility counselors of sorts (20 year old full-fledged doctors…this part is so dystopian YA lol)
This book started off awesome. I was really invested in the worldbuilding and our main characters. Interesting topics are explored, such as ethics in medicine and research. The science is explained in a way that is understandable. The reading experience in the first half reminded me a lot of The Measure, one of my favorite books of recent memory.
Around 50%, the direction of the book shifts more toward Charlie and Maggie’s personal experiences as Mendels and what Mendelia is trying to accomplish. I enjoyed the middle section of the story, but was not a big fan of the last storyline that occurs from 75% to the end. It dragged on and could have been wrapped up more concisely. I also really wish the second half had expanded on the global implications of the extinction event.
One critique I have is that some of the commentary about other cultures, countries, and disabilities was a little uncomfy at times. I get that eugenics is a big theme here, but this story could benefit from some different wording choices, or maybe having a character challenge ignorant comments?
Overall, I do recommend this one if you like light sci-fi!
3.5 stars rounded up.
This is a speculative story with a really unique premise! Scientists have discovered coding in DNA that indicates all humans and animals will go extinct within several generations. A government agency called Mendelia arises with the goal of buying the human race more time to figure out a cure. We follow two twin sisters from childhood to adulthood, seeing them grow up with this knowledge and their journey to becoming Mendels – doctors who are also genetic/fertility counselors of sorts (20 year old full-fledged doctors…this part is so dystopian YA lol)
This book started off awesome. I was really invested in the worldbuilding and our main characters. Interesting topics are explored, such as ethics in medicine and research. The science is explained in a way that is understandable. The reading experience in the first half reminded me a lot of The Measure, one of my favorite books of recent memory.
Around 50%, the direction of the book shifts more toward Charlie and Maggie’s personal experiences as Mendels and what Mendelia is trying to accomplish. I enjoyed the middle section of the story, but was not a big fan of the last storyline that occurs from 75% to the end. It dragged on and could have been wrapped up more concisely. I also really wish the second half had expanded on the global implications of the extinction event.
One critique I have is that some of the commentary about other cultures, countries, and disabilities was a little uncomfy at times. I get that eugenics is a big theme here, but this story could benefit from some different wording choices, or maybe having a character challenge ignorant comments?
Overall, I do recommend this one if you like light sci-fi!
April 25, 2025
Thank you to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows two adopted twin sisters, Charlie and Maggie, of Marshallese descent living in the US. The future of the human race is suddenly uncertain, as more and more people are born with a gene that means they cannot produce offspring.
We follow this story from Charlie's point of view as both twins enroll in a government initiative to try and find the genetic mutation that could save humanity.
This was a thought provoking book, looking at the moral implications of such a reproductive program, and whether society as a whole should be responsible for preserving mankind.
I would have appreciated more character work, but I thought the ideas were very interesting. A good read.
This book follows two adopted twin sisters, Charlie and Maggie, of Marshallese descent living in the US. The future of the human race is suddenly uncertain, as more and more people are born with a gene that means they cannot produce offspring.
We follow this story from Charlie's point of view as both twins enroll in a government initiative to try and find the genetic mutation that could save humanity.
This was a thought provoking book, looking at the moral implications of such a reproductive program, and whether society as a whole should be responsible for preserving mankind.
I would have appreciated more character work, but I thought the ideas were very interesting. A good read.
August 12, 2025
I wanted more..something different. It had the potential to be a feminist dystopian tale, but for some reason just didn't go that route. I got to the end, still not really knowing what the author was trying to say. I never really cared about any of the characters. And, on top of all that, it seemed like the book was ran through a thesaurus right before it was published. The $10 words just never flowed...they were even used in dialogue between 8 year olds. It just didn't work.
April 4, 2025
Man, imagine if humans found out we had an extinction date. Y’all already know, I’d be sent into a spiral! I was intrigued by the premise of this speculative fiction story, but ultimately, I think it needed to be rounded out a bit more. The timeline of this book is vast, and there was almost too much ground to cover from Charlie and Maggie’s childhood to adulthood, especially when there was so much focus on their career developments and success. Not to mention, the narration was childish since the girls started in elementary school, but somehow the dialogue still felt immature by the time they were fully grown. There are some huge conversations to be had surrounding the topics mentioned in this book, but the topic of adoption appeared most developed and pressing. I was surprised by Charlie’s decision in the end, but understood how the power of sisterhood brought her to that place.
June 19, 2025
Complex and Riveting
This is among the best speculative fiction books I have ever read. I can't recommend it highly enough. The title doesn't do it justice.
This heroic quest is complete with hope, despair, and the drive to contribute to a cause bigger than ourselves. I closed the book wondering what I would do if I were in their shoes. It's the best question a book can give me. Five out of five stars .
This is among the best speculative fiction books I have ever read. I can't recommend it highly enough. The title doesn't do it justice.
This heroic quest is complete with hope, despair, and the drive to contribute to a cause bigger than ourselves. I closed the book wondering what I would do if I were in their shoes. It's the best question a book can give me. Five out of five stars .
March 10, 2025
Too complicated for non science readers
March 24, 2025
This was a gripping speculative fiction novel. What happens if scientists are in charge of human population decline? Instead of religious zealots, as in HMT. You get this beautiful novel. I stayed up way too late, on a work night, to read this. Really looking forward to what Stienstra writes next!
April 18, 2025
An excellent book overall, and a thought-provoking one as well. She just lost me a little close to the end, before ultimately bringing it all back together.
June 25, 2025
I had to let this sit a while after I finished it... the concept was both thought provoking and entertaining.
April 23, 2025
What a compelling story, one that is especially relevant in the current climate. I especially enjoyed the aspects of science that were woven into the narrative. Fantastic read from start to finish.
Lauren, I'm so proud of the wonderful person you have become. I have been recommending your book to my friends, family, and coworkers. I hope you can add "Best Selling Author" to your many accomplishments!
Lauren, I'm so proud of the wonderful person you have become. I have been recommending your book to my friends, family, and coworkers. I hope you can add "Best Selling Author" to your many accomplishments!
August 30, 2024
Charlie was five when she knew she didn’t want to have children.
How daunting it had been for Charlie when at the age of eight it was broadcasted that humanity hangs on a balance. Babies were hard to conceive, the human extinction is near
and the only way to forestall such tragedy is to encourage compatible women to have children.
The Limit it was called, a scientific discovery that reveals the number of generations a species can
bring forth before they exist no more. And the Limit for humanity was discovered to go into an extinct in about four generations.
To ensure hope and the survival of humanity the government embarks on a project named the Mendelia to manage the human reproduction in the United States.
For children to have a better chance at beating the Limit they are to provide council and help parents in the decision making providing two choices, make many children
as possible or postpone childbearing to extend their generation. Mainly after you are screened with a high chance of potentially breaking the limit, men
and women are either advise to donate their eggs / sperm in exchange of a seizable income or advised to havemany children with another high compatible men/ women for the same reward.
Charlie and her sister Maggie screened 5* ( meaning they have a potential expand to a fifth generation) when they were children. Ten years later, when the government encouraged Young Women and Men who displays high intelligence to join the Mendelia with requirement of donating their ovaries and the Men are obligated to
quarterly sperm donations, in return for a regular income and permanentposition in the program at the end of their training, This became a blessing for Charlie.
It was a way out of their town and she has no ambition to save the world, she prefers an ordinary life but quickly she realises she could not achieved such with a vivacious, tenacious and passionate sister like hers. They have always been together, Maggie has always been her safety blanket. She wasn’t going to leave her sister now.
But as far as plans goes Charlie is left to make the most important decisions of all when Maggie makes unfathomable sacrifices in the name of improving the
odds of humanity, what is she willing to sacrifice?
*******
A stimulating and intimidating world with scientific discoveries woven into the plot. I enjoyed they way the world was not solely about the science and hapless doom that had covered the world but the author imbued snippets of mundane life.
The heat of a tropical island and how life is lived there, the taste of French toast that is made sweeter by family and a drink shared by sisters with a bond so strong that nothing could break it. A silly Christmas carols between strangers at back of the truck like the world wasn’t prophesied to end.
From Charlie’s Narrative about her twin Sister Maggie, I knew she was daring and audacious with unchecked ability and lack of taking responsibility for her actions the complete opposite to Charlie’s character but I never imagine the wings of her ambitions would fly her far and high. It was unbelievably stupid for Maggie and Nolan to do what they did. Love makes fools of us I guess but Maggie not taking responsibility for her actions, again was another notch on her belt. I was aghast by her actions she quiet plumed head first and there was nothing left of her.
But it was not hate that festered in me, I only felt pity for her. I figured out the second plot twist but I was quite still shocked by Charlie’s actions but at the end I thought, good for her.
Thank you so much Netgalley for a copy of this ARC for an honest review.
September 4, 2024
3.5 stars. Charlie and Maggie are twin girls who are young when the world discovers that the human race is going extinct within four generations. At first, their parents try to hide this news from the girls, but they inevitably find out because it has worldwide implications. Through the years as Charlie and Maggie reach adulthood, they have to decide how involved they want to be in solving this crisis for humanity. Charlie and Maggie have to decide how much of themselves they need to give to the cause.
This book brings up many conversations about how humanity could possibly react to such devastating news. It explores how there are those who help, those who take advantage of the situation for personal gain, but also how one could think they’re “only trying to help”, but might be doing more harm than they realize. Some of the topics might be triggering to some. There’s some concerns over consent, and what people will try to get away with under the disguise of helping humanity.
This book started off paced pretty well, but it slowed down drastically in the middle. Towards the last third of the book it picked back up but by the time it did, I had already lost interest. This book has a great concept and morally gray characters which I liked. Overall, I did like the book and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in the topics.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early for an honest review.
This book brings up many conversations about how humanity could possibly react to such devastating news. It explores how there are those who help, those who take advantage of the situation for personal gain, but also how one could think they’re “only trying to help”, but might be doing more harm than they realize. Some of the topics might be triggering to some. There’s some concerns over consent, and what people will try to get away with under the disguise of helping humanity.
This book started off paced pretty well, but it slowed down drastically in the middle. Towards the last third of the book it picked back up but by the time it did, I had already lost interest. This book has a great concept and morally gray characters which I liked. Overall, I did like the book and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in the topics.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 344 reviews