An Ocean Apart

by Jill Tew

An electrifying dystopian novel packed with a tantalizing love triangle, gripping political intrigue, and a Bachelor-style competition from the critically acclaimed author of The Dividing Sky, Jill Tew.

Eden Lowell has plenty to be frustrated about. In the flooded Marshes of former Miami, each day is about survival. Even her feelings for her best friend Henry are more complicated than they should be. Luckily, Eden knows exactly who to blame: the Cruisers, corporate elite who sail the world on massive ships instead of facing the environmental crimes they’ve committed on land.

When Eden learns that a Cruiser family is hosting a dating competition for their heir, Theo Desjardins, she seizes an opportunity. Aided by a political agitator known as the Ringmaster, she’ll infiltrate the competition, break Theo’s heart, and then steal his money for the Marshes. A perfect plan…

Until she gets to know Theo, who’s not only handsome but surprisingly kind…

As Eden drifts deeper down into the Cruisers’ world, the line separating truth and lies becomes murky. Torn between two identities, two loves, and two futures, will she choose the mission, or her heart?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Dystopia, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Enemies To Lovers

Unknown Binding

First published October 14, 2025

About the author

Jill Tew is the critically-acclaimed author of dystopian romance and middle grade novels that imagine Black girls in exciting new worlds. Her debut novel The Dividing Sky (2024) was a Top 10 Kids Indie Next Pick, and was selected by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Bookshop.org, and Reactor Magazine as one of the Best Young Adult Books of the Year. Her middle grade debut Kaya Morgan’s Crowning Achievement will be available in April 2025.

A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Jill lives in Atlanta with her family. She is also a co-host of the Afronauts Podcast, which provides writing tips and community for Black aspiring speculative fiction writers. When not writing, she can be found stress baking, gardening, or belting showtunes in the carpool line.

Reviews

[Esta · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Ocean Apart is a dystopian YA romance where billionaires are evil & the ocean has risen (so pretty much almost real life), and it's somewhat terrifying and also adorable. It will melt your heart into a puddle of goo while simultaneously giving you climate change anxiety. But before I hear any of you telling me you won’t read dystopia because the world is already depressing enough (and trust me, I feel that in my bones), hear me out.

If you think dystopian + happily ever afters are mutually exclusive, think again.

I was in a squishy happy bubble of joy by the end of this book. Given the current state of the world right now, Jill Tew seems to understand that most of us might just need a bit of catharsis and comfort. So while the premise and worldbuilding in An Ocean Apart may seem like a grim non fiction news documentary about the not too distant future, it’s also hopeful and serotonin inducing and rebellious and delightful, and it was exactly what I/(we) needed.

The premise is a climate-ravaged dystopia where the sea level has risen and the ultra-wealthy now live on floating cruise liners. The wealthy gatekeep food, water and natural resources (where’s the fictional part am I right lol). FMC Eden Lowell partners with a vigilante activist, known as ‘The Ringmaster’ to infiltrate a The Bachelor-adjacent reality dating show, with shades of Mean Girls energy, full of people who could’ve been airlifted straight from the Capitol in The Hunger Games. These are the book comps from the marketing pretty much, and they're bang on, except I added the Mean Girls part.

But Eden doesn’t want to win the dating competition for love. Her goal is to humiliate Theo and do away with the prize money.

The book has some satirical elements and they’re amusingly astute. Influencers, capitalism, class disparity and media propaganda are all there and I’m obsessed with how self-aware it is. Eden, our protagonist, calls out the cringe celebrity worship, complicity and privilege of the reality show contestants chasing fame & clout points while the world literally burns around them.

On top of that, there’s a pelican named Blackbeard who steals shiny things, fashion moments that would make Cinna and Effie Trinket proud, plus slang like “He’s so hydro,” which is both a compliment and a statement about class. (“Stop trying to make hydro happen!” Not a line in the book, but maybe it should be.)

Now yes, there is a love triangle. A balanced, equilateral love triangle. For most of the book, I was rooting for both sides at once, which was confusing but narratively delicious. However, I was SO satisfied with how things turned out, that’s all I can say.

In conclusion, if you want a YA dystopian romance that lets you rage against the machine, laugh at influencer culture + the irony of how fake reality TV is, and still believe in love amid the apocalypse, this one’s the one and it’s incisive and endearing. It’s definitely not as dark as The Hunger Games (I mean, there is no killing children on live-stream broadcast), but it is still all too relevant and critically reflective of very real hopes and fears. Highly highly recommend to everyone, except climate change deniers.

Thanks so much to NetGalley & the publishers for the ARC.

﹏﹏﹏﹏

What would happen if the Capitol from the Hunger Games met The Bachelor, on a cruise ship? About to find out.

[Hades ( Disney's version ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to give the BIGGEST thank you to Netgalley & Random House Children's Books/ Joy Revolution for an advanced copy of this book!!


Well, tickle me pink & call me Wilbur because this book had me squealing like a piglet lol


Books such as this literally save lives. I should know, because rediscovering reading once pulled me out of a postpartum I was sure was going to claim me body & soul.. And stories as beautiful as this are what really helped save me.. Having a hard time in the real world? Just need to forget reality completely for a little while? A book like this is where u go to make that happen. I am not even a fan of this genre but the synopsis was just so intriguing, I had never read anything like it in my life. 


This book is for everyone! If you're looking for a mindless good time this if for you. If you're looking for a book that's deep & has more layers than an onion, this book is also for you. 


On the surface this book presents as a fun dystopian read, with the classic battle between the haves and the have-nots. We have games and trials, think The Bachelor with levels. 


But if you actually listen to what you are reading this goes so much deeper than you can imagine and mirrors our countries deplorable history eerily well, IMO.


I really, REALLY hope Jill Tew knows how truly talented she is! May her career be long and prosperous, because her talent & imagination are so beautiful. This was one of the most original concepts I have ever read & I devoured every second of it. You will definitely be seeing this book on my Top 10 for 2025. And OBVIOUSLY, I will be getting a book trophy!!!!

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you get if you take— the climate change ravaged world, massive floating cities (in cruise ships form) and fresh water as the rarest commodity— aspects of Waterworld. Add in a Bachelor-style competition to win the hand of the heir to the corporation-government-frankenstein, that controls all water. Plus, a love triangle for those of us heartbroken about Gale. And a rebellion led by a political agitator know only as the Ringmaster?

A dystopian romance masterpiece aka An Ocean Apart.

Here are some things you should know about me.
1. I’ve never left my dystopian era. You can catch me rereading my 2010s favorites on the regular — so this resurgence of dystopian romance? I’m sat ! (Did I use that right?)
2. Waterworld played on repeat in my house in the 90s.
3. I’m from Florida, previously studied Environmental Science, and am probably a little too excited about what happens when our sea levels rise (bc it’s going to happen).

Essentially I’m telling you this was the perfect book for me.

What’s to love…
- gorgeous setting & stunning prose
- WATERWORLD vibes
- Bachelor-style dating competition
- a love triangle, that will have you unable to pick a team!
- political intrigue
- TWISTY, binge-able, on the edge of your seat plot
- Grade A banter
- Realistic, yet hopeful portrayal of capitalism, greed, and corruption that mirrors our society with tummy aching accuracy.
- BIPOC cast of characters

What’s not to love…
- I actually can’t remember anything I didn’t love, I’m kind of obsessed.

5⭐️ | IG | TikTok |

Thank you NetGalley and Joy Revolution for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Azanta (azantareads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! fantastic dystopian with such an engaging plot. this was so creative with so much important commentary while being so entertaining with the reality TV plot. Jill is becoming an autobuy author for me!

[♡Molly♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⛧☾༺Rating༻☽⛧
4.5/5 Stars
(Rounding up!)

★ ✮Tropes ✮★
💦 Love Triangle
💸 Friends to Lovers (Henry)
💦 ​Enemieish to Lovers (Theo)
💸 Competition for rich boy’s heart…(a.k.a. The selection on the ✨sea✨)
💦 Found Family

ᝰ🪶Notes and Highlights-

⋆˚✿˖° 𐙚 ₊ ⊹ ♡For, the girls who never got ball gowns. This one’s for us.⋆˚✿˖° 𐙚 ₊ ⊹ ♡

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡I Love you♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧I can’t show you where I go to dream.
I frown. ‘Why not?
Because it’s not in the Marshes. It’s not even one single place,’ she says.
‘Together we look out at the horizon. My favorite place to dream can be anywhere, as long as I’m with you✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

💭 Thoughts-

-ˋˏ✄┈┈I mean it’s a love triangle and I clearly loved one more than the other so need I say anything else?

-ˋˏ✄┈┈Honestly though this book was so cute, fun, and just such a wonderful experience! I loved reading it and experiencing the fun dystopian world that it built (that in my opinion was unique from what I’ve read) and just overall being able to go on this adventure with Eden!!

-I will say the love interest Henry was as bland as Peeta Malark most of the time so didn’t love that. But all in all an amazing book, and if you love the selection, you have to read this!!

Now Playing:

⊹ ࣪ ˖Complicated By Avril Lavigne˖࣪ ⊹
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[brittany:)]

🛸🛸🛸

[𑣲 ezra ೀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐ Thank you NetGalley, the Ballgowns and Betrayal Street Team, and Jill herself for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Where do I even begin?! This book was everything to me -- a breath of fresh air. Jill really knows how to write YA Dystopian Romance and she does it so well. As someone who has also read her debut The Dividing Sky, I can tell she's grown even more as an author after reading An Ocean Apart!

Firstly, I love the way Jill writes setting/nature. Every time I read a book of hers, I feel immediately immersed in whatever setting the book takes place in. Her flowery and picturesque language does not go unnoticed. My mind leaves reality and easily dives into her fictional world.

I ate the plot of this book RIGHT up. If you love reality TV (especially dating competitions) but want to add the element of a dystopian world to it with high-tech innovations, then this book is ABSOLUTELY for you. I love the way Jill weaves her stories with many issues we face today in a capitalist society: greed, consumerism, lack of empathy, turning a blind eye, classism. It's always an interesting backdrop to the romance and I think it highlights how these are very real issues we face in the present day, even if the story is fictional.

Speaking of romance, I love the way Jill wrote this love triangle! I'm usually not fond of love triangles, but I think it really works for this book. Both Henry and Theo are very likeable love interests with characteristics and dynamics that make them likeable for different reasons. I was 80% finished with this book and still didn't know who Eden would choose and I LOVED that I couldn't really predict her choice that far into the story! Even when I did find out her choice, it made sense to me. I didn't find myself screaming at my eReader for what Jill decided to do. Brava!

The ending didn't feel rushed to me. It felt concise, but not rushed. I really think the conclusion for an Ocean Apart shows an aspect of Jill's growth in the two years from her debut.

Overall, I had a blast reading this book! An Ocean Apart is exhilarating, dazzling, and swoon-worthy. From the descriptive beauty of the Florida marshes to the infiltration of a dating competition to the high-tech ballgowns to the Easter eggs from her debut novel, you are destined to have fun on the Desdemona. I think people of all ages can enjoy this book. I am so glad I could read an advance copy and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Y'all are not ready for the release of this story in October. Get ready. Maybe it'll even capture your heart the way it did mine 🩵🌊🫧💧

[angelpompom]

This sounds like the next bestselling YA book

[Demi Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun and unique read! It was almost like a mashup of Waterworld and The Bachelor...if the contestant was trying to take down the bachelor, that is. The characters were fun, the setting so memorable, and I loved the unfolding layers between the two sides as everything progressed.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

This is a book that repeatedly pulls it's punches, and that made me so sad. Where's the social critique? Where's the character development? Where's the nuanced plot, the intricate worldbuilding? Definitely not here. It's a concept I could have gotten behind except that we don't embrace it like we should. Dystopia needs bite, and this book is too soft for all that.

I really thought we had moved beyond dystopia as aesthetic, but apparently not. Anyway, I didn't love it. And I've got more to say about that over at Gateway Reviews. Swing by if you feel like it!

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, The Selection, you would’ve loved An Ocean Apart. I liked this! It was twisty and fun. The world was interesting, but the story lost its point when it focused on the romance. I really wish it hadn’t been a love triangle, and instead, the first guy had been just a friend. I still think the FMC would have had real conflict without the romance being involved. I didn’t like this as much as Tew’s first book, but also the audiobook narrator’s voice acting was too old for the FMC, so I think that affected my enjoyment. Not a new fav, but fun, & I’ll read more from Tew!

[Anne Krucinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the ending of hunger games but with a thin line of the bachelor with a sprinkle of the movie saw. Would use this as a quick read while waiting for other books.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this down. This is the dystopian version of The Bachelor with a lot of shades of Hunger Games (Cinna, Effie, Caesar and Peeta v. Gale)! Here Eden becomes Skye, to make Theo fall in love with her during a matchmaking competition. At its root, this is a haves v. have nots with exploitation of resources and to address people's humanity. This is a total stand alone book but there are so many easter eggs for those who read Dividing Sky (I'm sure I missed most of them, but it was still fun catching some.)

I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.

[Courtney Dziadul · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

First off, I met Jill last year and she is such a lovely person! I had read The Dividing Sky, and it felt just like the dystopian books I read in middle school in the BEST way. When she mentioned this book, I immediately added it to my TBR.

It didn’t disappoint! I loved the characters and the world. But let’s be honest, I’ve been looking for a book like The Selection, and this was it! Such a good read, and I can’t wait to read more from Jill!

[Bella and the Bookstack · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What an incredible new book in the dystopian genre! I loved the originality within this story, and yet it still held familiar dystopian tropes and themes.

This book was the perfect, face-paced story. From the very beginning, I was drawn into the storyline. An Ocean Apart begins in what was formerly known as Miami. Much of the land has been completely destroyed by floods. Left behind is a place called "The Marshes," where our main character Eden lives.

Something that I loved about this book was its ability to combine a fun, compelling story with deeper topics such as capitalism. Certain themes felt all too familiar to our own reality.

I absolutely flew through this book, and I had an extremely hard time saying goodbye at the end. (I just wasn't ready for it to be over.) This was my first book by Jill Tew, but it will certainly not be my last. I am very excited to read The Dividing Sky (and to see all the little Easter eggs that the author mentioned.)

[Victoria's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
An Ocean Apart was just the book I needed! As a fan of trashy reality tv, I knew seeing a book about a dystopian bachelor set on a boat - I was sold. The execution was perfect.

I loved Eden’s character so much. She has so much heart and drive. I enjoyed both love interests in our love triangle, Theo and Henry. I did personally have my favorite from the start and I could kind of call how the relationships would develop, but I still had a great time along the ride!

This book also covers such important topics like global warming (like hello let’s take care of our world so it doesn’t turn into this) and the divide between the rich and the poor and how to show compassion.

Thank you to the author and to Joy Revolution for the ARC! ✨

[Kimmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a total sucker for dystopian stories, and An Ocean Apart was such a fun read. The way it tackles global warming and the growing divide between the rich and poor hits close to home, it paints a chilling picture of what could happen if we don’t take care of our world.

I was immediately sold on the Bachelor-style competition, scheming, and young love. The world-building was solid, and while the love triangle was decent, I wish there had been a bit more time spent developing both male characters so I had someone to really root for. Theo’s part felt a little rushed, but I still enjoyed the ride.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, Joy Revolution, and PenguinTeenCA for the eARC!

[Aaliyah Shabazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first dystopian novel since reading Divergent back in middle school and what a ride it was. At first it was a little hard to get into. Eden was very vocal about her dislike of cruisers (the elite class) as any dystopian main character should be. It just felt like no one else shared her sentiments as much as she did. The world was falling apart and it made sense that many people would be resigned but it seemed like literally no one cared as much as Eden. It also didn’t feel like the Ringmaster had any supporters other than Remy and Ramon despite having such public protests.

Now for what I liked about the book: I really enjoyed Eden’s character growth. Theo and the other contestants really helped her to see the that the world isn’t black and white. I thought the progression from Cruisers being this unfeeling class to Eden seeing them as people with a variety of views and feelings really made the story feel realistic. Plus I really liked the romance between Eden and Theo even though Eden had assumed a different identity. They had plenty of moments that made the progression of their feelings believable. Finally, the message behind the book is really important. I think it came across very strong and I love the hope we see in the epilogue.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I always love a good Bachelor-inspired story, as well as secret identities, so I was really excited for this one. The climate change commentary through the dystopian setting is a really compelling angle, and I loved the idea of the elite living on lavish ships, a world away from the impacts of climate change on land. While the concept of a girl infiltrating their world to compete in a dating competition is a lot of fun, I had a few struggles. I didn't find some of the world building very convincing, and I would have appreciated a little more history. I also believe that the story is set in the year 2190, but while it is so far in the future, some of the dialogue and the humour feel so contemporary that it takes away from the immersion at times. Also, while there are aspects of this book that are unique, I found that much of it is a little too similar to The Selection (especially the way the love triangle plays out). This made the story feel a bit tired to me. That said, this is still an engaging read with great commentary on capitalism and greed that I would recommend.

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited when I got the E-galley for this book because I LOVED her first book! The premise for this one was super intriguing and I couldn’t wait to read it.

There are a lot of wonderful things about this book. The characters are so well written; each and every one of them I connected with deeply and they felt incredibly real. The world building was phenomenal. I could so clearly envision exactly what our world looks like in this future. The plot was also excellent! I was drawn in from the start and kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. The twist at the end of so great too!

While it had so many great things going for it, there was also a lot that felt like it was missing. I wish it would’ve been longer or split up into a series so that we could have delved deeper and got into more specifics in each scene. A lot of them felt too short or rushed and I kept wanting to have more of whatever was going on.

Along the same lines, the relationship development between Skye and the other contestants and Skye and Theo felt too fast. It seemed like we skipped over important moments and suddenly they were best friends/in love. I wish the author would have taken more time and given us more moments to really see those relationships grow so that they would have felt more believable.

I also felt like the competition aspect was a little glossed over. The challenges felt like after thoughts and didn’t feel like they added much to the story.

This book could have easily been 5 stars for me, but unfortunately I had to give it 3 because of what I said above. I still very much enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who liked “The Hunger Games” series or “The Selection” series.

I received a a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Ocean Apart follows Eden Lowell, a teenager struggling in the flooded Marshes of former Miami. Her entire existence centers around survival. And there’s only one group to blame: the Cruisers, corporate elite who thrive on their yachts and ignore the suffering on land at their hand. When a dating competition is announced to marry a Cruiser heir, Eden falsifies her identity and enters. But her situation becomes vastly more complicated when she realizes Theo isn’t a horrible person and she might just have feelings for him.

This was such a fun dystopian romance that reminded me a lot of The Selection. I loved the setting and the gorgeous descriptions. It was a really interesting world the author imagined, and I’d love to read more stories set this in this fictional future. The worldbuilding was really straight-forward and the entire book was really gripping and easy to fly through. There’s also a lot of political intrigue that makes things interesting.

Eden was a great main character. I loved how fiercely she loved her home and family and how she’d do anything to protect them. She’s so strong and clever. I really enjoyed reading from her perspective and seeing her growth throughout the novel. There is a love triangle between Eden’s childhood best friend and the heir. While I enjoyed Henry’s character, I did prefer Theo and the romance between Eden and Theo was really sweet. There’s a lot of humorous side characters too!

If you love dystopians, The Selection, or The Bachelor I’d definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc!

[Melissa ~ Missy (FrayedBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Ocean Apart gives 2010's YA dystopian vibes in the best way possible!

The pacing was non-stop, which kept me wanting more. There are two types of people in this world - the very rich, who don't give a second thought about fresh water, and the very poor, who have to spend everything they earn to get clean water. The very rich abandoned the flooded land to live on cruise ships, while the rest of humanity had to learn to survive in a wasteland.

Eden wants better for the family that adopted her, and herself, so when she learns a Cruiser family is hosting a dating competition for their heir, she knows she has to sneak her way in and win his heart. Eden knows what she wants and isn't afraid to take it and I love that about her!

This is part reality tv show, part dating game, and part survival story and you don't know who you can really trust.

[TatumReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Hunger Games meets The Selection type book feel but with a mix of futuristic environmentalism. The blueprint of the book leaned a little too similar to Hunger Games at times, but the world of the Marshes and the Cruisers is so unique and nothing I have ever read before I can look past that.

I loveeee that the water theme is so pronounced throughout the book. That the rich use it as a status symbol with wet hair, fountains, etc. The lingo where something is cool makes it “hydro” and when something sucks it is “dusted” is great and used throughout the book. 

I didn’t love how easy things were for Eden (like how easily she got in touch with the Ringmaster, how easily she got into the dating competition, the list goes on and on really). The ending was also kind of a cop out to me. I wish the book was longer and the chapters more fleshed out. Even her falling for Theo seemed to happen way too quickly.

But because the concept was so interesting and the story was such a quick, fun read I give it a 3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books/Joy Revolution for the ARC! All opinions are my own. #NetGalley #AnOceanApart

[Keshe Chow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swoony, fast-paced, and full of heart, An Ocean Apart pits resourceful Marsher Eden against privileged Cruiser Theo in this whip-smart dystopian romance. Tew paints a vivid picture of a world where water has become the most precious commodity. Entertaining and evocative, with the sweetest romance at its core, this was a ride from start to finish!

[Rebecca Danzenbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fresh, and full of heart! Loved every minute of this fast-paced, twisty, and imaginative story. The audiobook was absolutely phenomenal. I went in excited about Jordan Fisher, who was fantastic, but now I’m a huge Jade Wheeler fan, too!!
Okay, Jill, what else ya got planned???? 🥰

[snazzy pen ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Current rating: can't decide on 3.75 or just 4 stars ngl

Firstly, I loved the premise. The way the dating-show-on-a-cruise plot was interwoven with important issues such as capitalism, greed, and classism was well done, and I liked how the book explored the layers of it in this dystopian world. The writing style also made it easy to get invested into the book, especially with the setting and nature descriptions. Though there weren't enough pages for the side characters to get more fleshed out, I was fine with the little we knew of them and generally thought that they did feel like real people.

Romance section has some spoilers so quick overview: I knew who she would choose but there was one part where I was a little unsure! I'm happy with who she ended up with since that was also the connection I preferred.
The romance/love triangle reminded me a lot of the one from The Selection. It's been forever since I read that series, but I do remember not rlly caring for the first love, and the same goes here (sorry), despite me understanding where Henry was coming from. Fortunately, I did like the sweet romance that grew between Eden and Theo, even as Eden started out pretending to be someone else. It was just so cute and I loved them together.

While reading, I was a little worried that the ending would be super rushed, but I would say I was satisfied with how it concluded! That epilogue will rlly hit different if you've read The Dividing Sky. No spoilers, but after reading, I rushed to grab my copy of TDS and just sat with the realization that I had become aware of. I already do this on the daily, but this book made me think (even more) about the state of our world and how scary + real the effects of climate change and capitalism are.

Thank you to Jill Tew, the publisher, and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

AN OCEAN APART is Tew’s follow-up to The Dividing Sky. Both are dystopian romances with strong critiques of our current society. Both stories take place in the same world but AN OCEAN APART, while still in our future, is set within a much earlier timeline. The books are standalones and can be read in either order. In fact, I learned that AN OCEAN APART was not originally intended to be connected to The Dividing Sky at all!

The very simplified pitch for AN OCEAN APART is “The Bachelor on a cruise ship.” Except instead of looking for love, the heroine is plotting to humiliate the bachelor, take his money, and run.

Despite its extreme hardships, Eden loves her home in the ‘glades and resents the wealthy who abused the land, then escaped to cruise ships when it was no longer hospitable. Her risk-taking and determination make Eden an exciting character to follow, but Tew also gives her a very relatable ambivalence. While the people of the ‘glades are always at the front of her mind, it’s not as easy as she thought it would be to sabotage the other contestants.

And Theo, the bachelor whose heart she’s after, is pampered and naive but also has goals to help the citizens who remain on land. To her horror, Eden actually likes him.

But then there’s Henry, her lifelong friend. Eden and Henry declared their mutual romantic feelings to each other right before she left for the ship. Tew handles this classic love triangle so deftly, that for most of the book, I had no idea who Eden was going to choose!

The multi-dimentional character development also extends to the supporting characters. Too often, the other competitors in similar stories mostly serve as props. But all the women vying for Theo’s hand have their own distinct personalities, and some are even given their own small subplots.

I’m also a fan of Tew’s world building, which is smartly woven into the storytelling. We learn about Eden’s life as a “marsher” in the ‘glades as she stands in line to purchase fresh water and vents her frustrations to the seller. Her reactions to the “cruisers’” extravagance and waste on board the ship tell as much about the ‘glades as the wealthy who have escaped the land.

It’s easy to not only picture the contrasting settings, but also understand the socioeconomic and political structures of this society.

While AN OCEAN APART is a standalone, there’s a bit at the very end just for readers of The Dividing Sky. And it left my jaw on the floor! I’ve now made it my mission to get Jill to write one more book that bridges the timeline between AOA and TDS.

Thank you to Joy Revolution for this eARC!

[Kelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC and PRH Children’s Books for the eARC!

I will always love a good dystopian. And throw in a dating competition? I’m sold. This book was on my radar for months, and I’m so happy to have gotten a chance to read it. From the very start I was intrigued by the world and fell in love with the FMC. I was so hooked I finished it in two sittings. Would have been one if I hadn’t started it so late 😂.

I loved the way this book portrayed capitalism, corruption, and greed in a way that seems so unnervingly close to where I can see society going. It really set itself apart from other dystopians I’ve read because I can actually SEE that reality unfolding in a possible future. It’s unnerving, but the author also balances it so well with a message of hope by the end.

Also that love triangle was so well written?! It feels so rare to be rooting for both sides, but for most of the book I felt like I was swapping back and forth and didn’t know who I wanted to root for 🫣. But I love how things turned out in the end.

The plot of this book was just to die for, and I ate it up! A dating competition/reality tv set in a dystopian world, full of high tech innovations and a story that’s a critique on capitalist society? Absolutely yes. And the narrator of this audiobook DELIVERED this performance. The writing already had me hooked, but the narration of the audio absolutely kept me going. I loved the way the narrator portrayed different characters in such a distinct tone. I highly recommend this read!

[Carolyn Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Ocean Apart is a YA dystopian romance which follows Eden Lowell as she enters a farce of a dating competition to take down the elite. As she navigates her sudden luxury, she must be brutal to claim her prize, even to someone she starts to fall for.

As usual, Jill Tew's commentary on capitalism and environmentalism is observant and moving, whilst still delivering a large dose of joy and hope. An Ocean Apart has the added aspect of social media and discusses how it is used to create political discourse for profit, pitting the wealthy and the oppressed against each other so that the ultra powerful can be a puppet master to both.

It is an easy read with straightforward themes, and great for younger audiences. The characters are loveable (and also hateable when they need to be), with stakes that are high for the characters but don't make for a stressful read.

As much as I loved the ending, having read The Dividing Sky prior made it feel rather sinister and less hopeful which was an amazing twist on the author's part. Whilst you don't need to read TDS to enjoy this, it is set in the same universe, and makes the cameos all the more fun!