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Brazen Who Wants to Live Forever.
What happens to loving each other forever when your soulmate decides living forever is more important?
Yuki and Sam are soulmates.
They are destined to spend the rest of their lives together.
They are supposed to love one another, forever.
But when a miracle drug is created which can extend a human's life, indefinitely, Sam decides to live forever, rather than love Yuki forever.
What comes next is a time-bending, decades-long, world-building epic set across the globe and narrated by an intersecting cast of characters. Who Wants to Live Forever is the greatest romance you will ever read without the happily ever after.
Yuki and Sam are soulmates.
They are destined to spend the rest of their lives together.
They are supposed to love one another, forever.
But when a miracle drug is created which can extend a human's life, indefinitely, Sam decides to live forever, rather than love Yuki forever.
What comes next is a time-bending, decades-long, world-building epic set across the globe and narrated by an intersecting cast of characters. Who Wants to Live Forever is the greatest romance you will ever read without the happily ever after.
Paperback
First published March 27, 2025
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4089 people want to read
About the author
Hanna Thomas Uose
1 book30 followersHanna Thomas Uose was born in Tokyo and grew up in Essex, Birmingham and Oxford. She attended the University of East Anglia and received an MA in Prose Fiction. Prior to that, she worked in campaigns and advocacy.
Who Wants to Live Forever, her first book, was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick, a Good Housekeeping Good Books Spring Collection pick, and won the Morley Prize for Unpublished Writers of Colour. She lives in London.
Who Wants to Live Forever, her first book, was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick, a Good Housekeeping Good Books Spring Collection pick, and won the Morley Prize for Unpublished Writers of Colour. She lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
March 27, 2025
In a Nutshell: A literary speculative-fiction novel coming from multiple characters and timelines. Innovative concept, thought-provoking exploration, excellent character-driven writing, slow pace. Can’t believe this is a debut! Much recommended but not to all. Don’t read the GR blurb.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
PSA: The GR blurb calls this a romance. It is not! A love story, yes, to some extent; a romance, definitely no. Also, the blurb contains a major spoiler about the ending.
The primary tag on Goodreads is Science Fiction, but this is more literary fiction with a dash of speculative.
Bookish Yays:
💊 The concept: believable and unbelievable at once. I still can't believe how true-to-life it all sounded even when the premise was so farfetched. Loved it!
💊 So thought-provoking in its exploration of the moral, ethical, political, corporate, societal, racial, and financial aspects of such an event! And all this without being melodramatic or hyperbolic. Wow!
💊 I love books that make me wonder what I would have done in that character’s place. And this book made me ask this question from many points of view.
💊 The plot doesn’t take an outright side on the debate, offering both sides of the picture convincingly. We hear from characters who've taken the drug and those who haven't. How their lives changed or didn't change, improved, worsened, or stayed the same. All character actions and reactions feel convincing, though we may not support all of them.
💊 The characters are diverse in various ways: racial background, sexual orientation, wealth, age. All of them act their age – a huge bonus. One character is of Indian origin, and I love how the story incorporated her ethnic background without making it the be-all-and-end-all of her personality.
💊 The story comes from three locations: London, Tokyo, and California. The varying thought process and attitude of the citizens reflects the places.
💊 A debut novel that doesn’t succumb to commercial constraints and handles plot, prose, and philosophy with equal prowess deserves acclaim.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🧬 The complicated back-and-forth in the timeline. It is extremely well-written, with neat markers for all timeline changes. But keeping track is a bit tricky, especially as I had only the audio version.
🧬 While a slower pacing is anyway to be expected in a literary fiction work, a part of the final quarter seems a bit too dragged.
Bookish Nays:
💉 The ending. Can’t go into spoilers so all I’ll say is, 😥😣😒😤😳🤔😑😯🤯.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 33 minutes, is narrated by Lydia Wilson. Technically, I found no flaws in Wilson’s narration or accents, but her voice took some time to grow on me as it was a bit too soft and subtle to keep me hooked. As it is, the plot has minimal dramatics, so an understated narrative voice made it sound even blander. Thankfully, the plotline was compelling enough for me to stick with the book.
That said, this was one complex book to follow on audio! Coming in third-person POVs from various characters, places and timelines (and the timelines being not just in years but with specific dates, and also shifting at regular intervals with phrases such as “Seven days later” or “Earlier that evening.”) This is definitely not a viable option for audio newbies. I’d recommend the audio only to the most experienced of listeners. While I am quite attuned to audiobooks by now, I feel that I might have appreciated this story even better if I had actually read it.
All in all, despite my dissatisfaction with the ending (not with “what happened” but with “how it was written”), I am quite impressed with this debut novel. Even with a speculative concept, the narrative stays firmly rooted in reality, never making us feel like this would never happen in the near future. (A scary thought, come to think about it!)
Much recommended to literary fiction readers who also enjoy speculative fiction. Not for readers who don’t like character-driven storylines or jumpy timelines or #&*$%#* endings.
What would you do if a life-extending drug is available to you? Think about your answer before you pick up this work.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Octopus Audio and Brazen Books for providing the ALC of “Who Wants to Live Forever” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
2025, London. Yuki and Sam, both in their mid-to-late thirties, are just another ordinary married couple. Happy with each other, a bit bored with their routines, desperate to have kids but not successful yet. Yuki is an enthusiastic member of the local MP’s team and is passionate about causes. Sam is a slightly frustrated work-from-home graphic designer with ambitions of becoming a musician.
An American pharma company plans to introduce Yareta in the UK market. Yareta is a drug that can extend human life by at least 200 years and already successful in the USA. Yuki immediately joins the protest team. Sam thinks otherwise and considers taking the drug. Over this, their paths diverge.
The story comes to us from multiple decades – past, present, and near future going up to 2039 – and third-person perspectives from several diverse characters.
PSA: The GR blurb calls this a romance. It is not! A love story, yes, to some extent; a romance, definitely no. Also, the blurb contains a major spoiler about the ending.
The primary tag on Goodreads is Science Fiction, but this is more literary fiction with a dash of speculative.
Bookish Yays:
💊 The concept: believable and unbelievable at once. I still can't believe how true-to-life it all sounded even when the premise was so farfetched. Loved it!
💊 So thought-provoking in its exploration of the moral, ethical, political, corporate, societal, racial, and financial aspects of such an event! And all this without being melodramatic or hyperbolic. Wow!
💊 I love books that make me wonder what I would have done in that character’s place. And this book made me ask this question from many points of view.
💊 The plot doesn’t take an outright side on the debate, offering both sides of the picture convincingly. We hear from characters who've taken the drug and those who haven't. How their lives changed or didn't change, improved, worsened, or stayed the same. All character actions and reactions feel convincing, though we may not support all of them.
💊 The characters are diverse in various ways: racial background, sexual orientation, wealth, age. All of them act their age – a huge bonus. One character is of Indian origin, and I love how the story incorporated her ethnic background without making it the be-all-and-end-all of her personality.
💊 The story comes from three locations: London, Tokyo, and California. The varying thought process and attitude of the citizens reflects the places.
💊 A debut novel that doesn’t succumb to commercial constraints and handles plot, prose, and philosophy with equal prowess deserves acclaim.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🧬 The complicated back-and-forth in the timeline. It is extremely well-written, with neat markers for all timeline changes. But keeping track is a bit tricky, especially as I had only the audio version.
🧬 While a slower pacing is anyway to be expected in a literary fiction work, a part of the final quarter seems a bit too dragged.
Bookish Nays:
💉 The ending. Can’t go into spoilers so all I’ll say is, 😥😣😒😤😳🤔😑😯🤯.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 33 minutes, is narrated by Lydia Wilson. Technically, I found no flaws in Wilson’s narration or accents, but her voice took some time to grow on me as it was a bit too soft and subtle to keep me hooked. As it is, the plot has minimal dramatics, so an understated narrative voice made it sound even blander. Thankfully, the plotline was compelling enough for me to stick with the book.
That said, this was one complex book to follow on audio! Coming in third-person POVs from various characters, places and timelines (and the timelines being not just in years but with specific dates, and also shifting at regular intervals with phrases such as “Seven days later” or “Earlier that evening.”) This is definitely not a viable option for audio newbies. I’d recommend the audio only to the most experienced of listeners. While I am quite attuned to audiobooks by now, I feel that I might have appreciated this story even better if I had actually read it.
All in all, despite my dissatisfaction with the ending (not with “what happened” but with “how it was written”), I am quite impressed with this debut novel. Even with a speculative concept, the narrative stays firmly rooted in reality, never making us feel like this would never happen in the near future. (A scary thought, come to think about it!)
Much recommended to literary fiction readers who also enjoy speculative fiction. Not for readers who don’t like character-driven storylines or jumpy timelines or #&*$%#* endings.
What would you do if a life-extending drug is available to you? Think about your answer before you pick up this work.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Octopus Audio and Brazen Books for providing the ALC of “Who Wants to Live Forever” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
September 17, 2025
thoughts and feelings and stuff. idk. idc. i did enjoy it and it reads very nicely but i also thought about giving it only three stars and then the ending happened i just love an ending that will upset 90% of the goodreads community.
also other than that, it IS a good book, i wish i had finished it in one sitting though instead of taking a month and a half cause that definitely took me out. i just both think that there’s much to consider about the subject at hand and also that i will never think about this book ever again? though, last book i said this about i literally still think of weekly so clearly i’m full of shit.
bottom line: i think this could have hurt more but because i actively avoided being hurt by not engaging fully and taking too long to read the short term impact was minimal; we will see about the long term effects. what the fuck is this review.
also other than that, it IS a good book, i wish i had finished it in one sitting though instead of taking a month and a half cause that definitely took me out. i just both think that there’s much to consider about the subject at hand and also that i will never think about this book ever again? though, last book i said this about i literally still think of weekly so clearly i’m full of shit.
bottom line: i think this could have hurt more but because i actively avoided being hurt by not engaging fully and taking too long to read the short term impact was minimal; we will see about the long term effects. what the fuck is this review.
March 27, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧
A powerful and compelling debut novel, that’ll keep you thinking long after you’ve closed the book.
Uose cleverly poses the question would you want immortality? If you could buy a drug that preserved you at the same age for eternity would you take it? At what cost?
Sam and Yuki are a young married couple, soulmates, destined to grow old together. Sam is an aspiring musician. Yuki campaigns against the introduction of Yareta, the drug that promises eternal youth. Sam decides to take the drug and essentially leave Yuki behind. As the story unfolds we are introduced to a diverse cast of characters the world over, but the world is changing and seems divided between those on Yareta and those who are ageing.
It’s big business. It’s political. It’s believable, fascinating and a little bit terrifying, yet tender and beautiful.
The writing is stunning, I didn’t want the story to end. I predict big things for this book! Don’t miss it.
I really enjoyed Lydia Wilson’s audio narration on the title🎧
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Huge thanks to Octopus Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
A powerful and compelling debut novel, that’ll keep you thinking long after you’ve closed the book.
Uose cleverly poses the question would you want immortality? If you could buy a drug that preserved you at the same age for eternity would you take it? At what cost?
Sam and Yuki are a young married couple, soulmates, destined to grow old together. Sam is an aspiring musician. Yuki campaigns against the introduction of Yareta, the drug that promises eternal youth. Sam decides to take the drug and essentially leave Yuki behind. As the story unfolds we are introduced to a diverse cast of characters the world over, but the world is changing and seems divided between those on Yareta and those who are ageing.
It’s big business. It’s political. It’s believable, fascinating and a little bit terrifying, yet tender and beautiful.
The writing is stunning, I didn’t want the story to end. I predict big things for this book! Don’t miss it.
I really enjoyed Lydia Wilson’s audio narration on the title🎧
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Huge thanks to Octopus Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
March 15, 2025
Who Wants to Live Forever by Hanna Thomas Uose is a compelling mix of near-future sci-fi and deeply human storytelling, making you question how you would react if faced with the same choices as the characters.
The Book Blends speculative fiction with significant emotional depth and explores a world where immortality is attainable—but at what cost? Written with emotional impact, it doesn't just ask whether we can live forever, but whether we should. It makes you ponder profound questions: What would you sacrifice for a longer life or immortality? How would that change the way you feel about time? How would it reshape society as a whole?
What truly makes this book stand out is how real the characters' actions and motivations feel. Their struggles, hopes, and fears are so believable that I genuinely cared for them, which made their choices all the more compelling. Uose's writing is immersive, balancing philosophical questions with engaging storytelling. The book perfectly captures the tension between technological advancement and personal consequence, making it both thought-provoking and gripping.
I was immediately hooked from the first few chapters and knew it was a five-star read. I immediately wanted to purchase a physical copy for my shelf. The narration is perfect, bringing the story's emotional depth to life and enhancing the experience.
I love books and media that address the possible future use of technology, like John Marrs' books and Black Mirror, and Who Wants to Live Forever fits perfectly within that category. The world-building is subtle yet impactful, with each small technological detail adding to the more significant questions the book raises. The characters are not just facing a decision about immortality—they are grappling with what it means to truly live, to find purpose in a world where time is no longer a limitation. The author's ability to weave such intimate human emotions into a speculative scenario is remarkable.
If you enjoyed the emotional complexity of Normal People by Sally Rooney mixed with the innovative storytelling of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, this is a must-read. It's a perfect blend of heart and high-concept sci-fi that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.
The Book Blends speculative fiction with significant emotional depth and explores a world where immortality is attainable—but at what cost? Written with emotional impact, it doesn't just ask whether we can live forever, but whether we should. It makes you ponder profound questions: What would you sacrifice for a longer life or immortality? How would that change the way you feel about time? How would it reshape society as a whole?
What truly makes this book stand out is how real the characters' actions and motivations feel. Their struggles, hopes, and fears are so believable that I genuinely cared for them, which made their choices all the more compelling. Uose's writing is immersive, balancing philosophical questions with engaging storytelling. The book perfectly captures the tension between technological advancement and personal consequence, making it both thought-provoking and gripping.
I was immediately hooked from the first few chapters and knew it was a five-star read. I immediately wanted to purchase a physical copy for my shelf. The narration is perfect, bringing the story's emotional depth to life and enhancing the experience.
I love books and media that address the possible future use of technology, like John Marrs' books and Black Mirror, and Who Wants to Live Forever fits perfectly within that category. The world-building is subtle yet impactful, with each small technological detail adding to the more significant questions the book raises. The characters are not just facing a decision about immortality—they are grappling with what it means to truly live, to find purpose in a world where time is no longer a limitation. The author's ability to weave such intimate human emotions into a speculative scenario is remarkable.
If you enjoyed the emotional complexity of Normal People by Sally Rooney mixed with the innovative storytelling of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, this is a must-read. It's a perfect blend of heart and high-concept sci-fi that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.
Read
August 12, 2025Conceptually intriguing read on the premise of 'what if you could take a pill and stop ageing', playing out the personal repercussions for a couple, and only really touching on the wider social implications. I rather regretted this as honestly, Sam is the worst kind of pointless man and I couldn't invest in Yuki's interest in him at all, whereas the social implications are fascinating (eg the increased voting power of people on Yareta, laws around having children, whether anyone would really commit to a relationship when there's no time pressure, why the rich aren't suddenly a lot more interested in stopping climate change, etc).
Nul points for the suggestion that certain countries aren't interested in the drug because they're too mature and sophisticated and know how to value age and the passage of the seasons: if you guessed France and Japan, give yourself a clap. It's always France and Japan. I'm pretty sure France and Japan have plenty of rich people who don't want to get old either, and also, don't tell me a country with a massive ageing-population crisis wouldn't be all over a drug that extended the working lives of 20-40somethings indefinitely.
Basically a brilliant idea and I thought about it a great deal, but the book itself opens rather than explores all the stuff I found most interesting.
Nul points for the suggestion that certain countries aren't interested in the drug because they're too mature and sophisticated and know how to value age and the passage of the seasons: if you guessed France and Japan, give yourself a clap. It's always France and Japan. I'm pretty sure France and Japan have plenty of rich people who don't want to get old either, and also, don't tell me a country with a massive ageing-population crisis wouldn't be all over a drug that extended the working lives of 20-40somethings indefinitely.
Basically a brilliant idea and I thought about it a great deal, but the book itself opens rather than explores all the stuff I found most interesting.
December 14, 2025
Loved it! What a fun intriguing book. Thanks to Aardvark book club for always introducing me to a quirky find.
I get a bit lost in true SciFi, but this is more LitFic and speculative fiction. I found it very readable, well written and thought provoking.
If you’re in the mood for something different, add this to your Aardvark box!
I get a bit lost in true SciFi, but this is more LitFic and speculative fiction. I found it very readable, well written and thought provoking.
If you’re in the mood for something different, add this to your Aardvark box!
April 10, 2025
Thought-provoking in the best way possible!! It feels ordinary yet extraordinary at the same time. I forgot this was a sci-fi book because it felt so real as it explores what the world looks and feels like today- but also how the possible future ahead us might look like. The issues connected to the drug Yereta could be compared to the normalization of Ozempic and plastic surgery today. The beginning of this story, Yereta is seen as this exotic drug for basically the upper class and maybe specifically the 10% of the world. As it gets approved in more countries other than the US, people are immediately intrigued to try the drug. It later on becomes this normal thing that most people either are thinking about trying or start taking. Aging becomes this exotic thing, even for those who are fundamentally against Yereta and whom feel comfortable with aging. The people who chooses to age naturally start to feel like outsiders and become self-conscious of their aging. I feel like this book explores consumers as victims to capitalist ideas on what makes life meaningful. The media sells us the idea that you NEED to look a certain way, in order to find happiness and live a certain lifestyle.
What we also get to see is how the people on Yereta realize that escaping aging might not bring more happiness or less stress. Generally it seems like men who takes Yereta wants to gain more time to go on adventures and avoid adulting- essentially stop aging mentally. And the women on it are more interested in pausing the biological clock and stop aging physically.
I can’t leave a review on this book without commenting on the love story. ❤️Sam and Yuki❤️I just couldn’t understand how Sam did Yuki like that. Like is it that easy for men to give up everything for an impulse decision? It was a true reminder of how people change. The thought of it is always heartbreaking of course, but people do really change their opinions and what feels like a 100% today might change tomorrow. Shout out to Yuki for staying true to herself tho!! And the Ending??? I had to re-read that ending several times and I still can’t get over it. It really broke my heart.
What we also get to see is how the people on Yereta realize that escaping aging might not bring more happiness or less stress. Generally it seems like men who takes Yereta wants to gain more time to go on adventures and avoid adulting- essentially stop aging mentally. And the women on it are more interested in pausing the biological clock and stop aging physically.
I can’t leave a review on this book without commenting on the love story. ❤️Sam and Yuki❤️I just couldn’t understand how Sam did Yuki like that. Like is it that easy for men to give up everything for an impulse decision? It was a true reminder of how people change. The thought of it is always heartbreaking of course, but people do really change their opinions and what feels like a 100% today might change tomorrow. Shout out to Yuki for staying true to herself tho!! And the Ending??? I had to re-read that ending several times and I still can’t get over it. It really broke my heart.
February 21, 2025
I want to extend a huge thank you to Octopus Audio and NetGalley for giving me the chance to listen to an audio ARC of Who Wants To Live Forever by Hanna Thomas Uose. I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to dive into this book ahead of its official release.
This novel offers a profound exploration of love, mortality, and the desire for eternal life, weaving together elements of dystopian fiction, speculative science, and philosophical reflection. It follows characters whose aspirations lead them to challenge the boundaries of human existence, raising ethical questions, personal conflicts, and the timeless inquiry—if you had the option, would you choose to live forever? With a narrative that spans decades and various locations, this book delves into the cost of immortality and the emotional burden it entails.
The concept of this book is truly brilliant—a blend of science, dreams, love, romance, ambition, potential, and politics. I was eager to embrace it as a lifelong favorite. However, I felt something was missing. I yearned for more—more emotion, more drama, more intense challenges. I wanted the story to resonate more deeply on a personal level, to pull me further into the characters’ struggles. That said, I’m not suggesting the book is bad—far from it! It just didn’t connect with me as strongly as I had anticipated. But trust me, this is a brutally realistic tale, and if you enjoy authentic science fiction that tackles themes of love, loss, and the pursuit of possibility, you might find yourself captivated by this book in a way that I couldn’t.
On a brighter note, I absolutely adored the narrator's style, which enriched the experience for me. I also have a deep respect for the author's vision, and while this book wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I would love to explore more of Hanna Thomas Uose’s works in the future. This is a story that will surely resonate with its ideal audience, and I truly believe that many readers will be touched by its depth and realism.
This novel offers a profound exploration of love, mortality, and the desire for eternal life, weaving together elements of dystopian fiction, speculative science, and philosophical reflection. It follows characters whose aspirations lead them to challenge the boundaries of human existence, raising ethical questions, personal conflicts, and the timeless inquiry—if you had the option, would you choose to live forever? With a narrative that spans decades and various locations, this book delves into the cost of immortality and the emotional burden it entails.
The concept of this book is truly brilliant—a blend of science, dreams, love, romance, ambition, potential, and politics. I was eager to embrace it as a lifelong favorite. However, I felt something was missing. I yearned for more—more emotion, more drama, more intense challenges. I wanted the story to resonate more deeply on a personal level, to pull me further into the characters’ struggles. That said, I’m not suggesting the book is bad—far from it! It just didn’t connect with me as strongly as I had anticipated. But trust me, this is a brutally realistic tale, and if you enjoy authentic science fiction that tackles themes of love, loss, and the pursuit of possibility, you might find yourself captivated by this book in a way that I couldn’t.
On a brighter note, I absolutely adored the narrator's style, which enriched the experience for me. I also have a deep respect for the author's vision, and while this book wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I would love to explore more of Hanna Thomas Uose’s works in the future. This is a story that will surely resonate with its ideal audience, and I truly believe that many readers will be touched by its depth and realism.
August 15, 2025
haha what the fuck
November 2, 2024
It isn’t often you read a book that genuinely really stays with you, but Who What’s to Live Forever prompted me to think about it long after I had put it down. This is about a world where there is a simple drug you can take - Yareta - which will stop the ageing process entirely for over a century (that is, if you can keep yourself accident free). The drug is extremely controversial. It costs a lot to take, and not everyone is thrilled at the prospect of staying young forever, or what that means for society. Sam and Yuki are in their early 30s, and Yareta has just been legalised in the UK after a tight referendum. Yuki is extremely against the drug, and believes that her and her partner Sam will grow old together, enjoying all that life has to offer at the different ages. However, Sam has other plans and the draw of being able to give yourself extra time is just too strong to resist.
This is such an interesting plot and concept. I loved the way the book intelligently brings up big philosophical questions while being a joy to read and not too heavy. It delves into what having a drug that makes you freeze the aging process means - what that means for work, what that means for privilege and accessibility and why people may choose to take the drug. Telling the story through Sam and Yuki’s relationship makes the story incredibly interesting, seeing how this drug and society’s reaction to the possibility of freezing age impacts their relationship and own interpersonal relationships is so excellently written, and all the other characters are fully fleshed out and all add something to the story.
A special mention for Sam’s character. He thinks that Yareta may give him more time to release music and be successful - something that he has not been able to do while experiencing the normal aging process. This belief really stuck with me, and Sam’s willingness to extent his life for a great expense while believing that the issue isn’t with him and his procrastination, but actually with the external force of time.
Guys, you haveeeeee to read this!
This is such an interesting plot and concept. I loved the way the book intelligently brings up big philosophical questions while being a joy to read and not too heavy. It delves into what having a drug that makes you freeze the aging process means - what that means for work, what that means for privilege and accessibility and why people may choose to take the drug. Telling the story through Sam and Yuki’s relationship makes the story incredibly interesting, seeing how this drug and society’s reaction to the possibility of freezing age impacts their relationship and own interpersonal relationships is so excellently written, and all the other characters are fully fleshed out and all add something to the story.
A special mention for Sam’s character. He thinks that Yareta may give him more time to release music and be successful - something that he has not been able to do while experiencing the normal aging process. This belief really stuck with me, and Sam’s willingness to extent his life for a great expense while believing that the issue isn’t with him and his procrastination, but actually with the external force of time.
Guys, you haveeeeee to read this!
January 21, 2025
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Octopus Publishing for letting me read an ARC of this audiobook! 🎧 📖
Chef’s kiss! This was absolutely excellent. As someone whose career is focused on public health research and messaging, I was hooked from the very first chapter. The whole book was a little uncanny as the possibility of this drug feels not too far fetched, and I loved that aspect of the story. What I loved even more was how thought provoking it was, and I found each character’s experiences so interesting and moving. I’ll think about this one for a while, I reckon. Yuki was such a wonderful character especially. And the ending, in my opinion, was absolutely immaculate. The message packed such a punch. 100% recommend!
Chef’s kiss! This was absolutely excellent. As someone whose career is focused on public health research and messaging, I was hooked from the very first chapter. The whole book was a little uncanny as the possibility of this drug feels not too far fetched, and I loved that aspect of the story. What I loved even more was how thought provoking it was, and I found each character’s experiences so interesting and moving. I’ll think about this one for a while, I reckon. Yuki was such a wonderful character especially. And the ending, in my opinion, was absolutely immaculate. The message packed such a punch. 100% recommend!
May 31, 2025
(rounded down from 3.25)
The premise of this book sounded right up my alley. There is a new product on the market that is expensive, but if you can get it, it extends the average lifespan to 170+ years beyond the normal human lifespan. Beyond the usual questions, what happens if within one married couple, the wife is deeply involved in campaigning against the miracle drug, and the husband wants to start taking it? Yuki and Sam are reasonably happy together but one fateful night Yuki learns that in addition to her campaign to restrict the miracle drug, Yureta, from being made legal in England losing a referendum by a slim margin, her husband Sam is about to sign a second mortgage on their house to finance Yareta for himself, ideally for both of them.
We skip back and forth in time and across a series of connected perspectives, from Frank, the man who developed Yureta and started taking it himself, to Maya, an ambitious woman of color who wants to make her mark in her career via taking Yureta, Sam himself, as he struggles to find a partner after Yuki leaves him, and Yuki, as she works through a new world that is suddenly strange and to be faced alone.
Now this is generally exactly the sort of sci-fi I enjoy: examinations of how technology that significantly impacts society and what people of various types do with it. Unfortunately, the characterisation here was weak enough not to really give me much emotional investment in the primary "soulmates" (Sam and Yuki) or the other characters. Additionally, despite the miracle drug letting people live hundreds of years, we barely scratch decades in the timelines so the changes feel much more cosmetic, and the long-term effects of the drug on society remain mostly unknown. Even the end comes abruptly, and I imagine the intended gut punch never really lands for me because of the lack of emotional investment in these people as they waste all the time they have, whether that's measured in centuries or a few years.
A decent book but not quite the impact I had hoped, either for my brain in considering the consequences of being able to live essentially for centuries or about the quality of that life.
The premise of this book sounded right up my alley. There is a new product on the market that is expensive, but if you can get it, it extends the average lifespan to 170+ years beyond the normal human lifespan. Beyond the usual questions, what happens if within one married couple, the wife is deeply involved in campaigning against the miracle drug, and the husband wants to start taking it? Yuki and Sam are reasonably happy together but one fateful night Yuki learns that in addition to her campaign to restrict the miracle drug, Yureta, from being made legal in England losing a referendum by a slim margin, her husband Sam is about to sign a second mortgage on their house to finance Yareta for himself, ideally for both of them.
We skip back and forth in time and across a series of connected perspectives, from Frank, the man who developed Yureta and started taking it himself, to Maya, an ambitious woman of color who wants to make her mark in her career via taking Yureta, Sam himself, as he struggles to find a partner after Yuki leaves him, and Yuki, as she works through a new world that is suddenly strange and to be faced alone.
Now this is generally exactly the sort of sci-fi I enjoy: examinations of how technology that significantly impacts society and what people of various types do with it. Unfortunately, the characterisation here was weak enough not to really give me much emotional investment in the primary "soulmates" (Sam and Yuki) or the other characters. Additionally, despite the miracle drug letting people live hundreds of years, we barely scratch decades in the timelines so the changes feel much more cosmetic, and the long-term effects of the drug on society remain mostly unknown. Even the end comes abruptly, and I imagine the intended gut punch never really lands for me because of the lack of emotional investment in these people as they waste all the time they have, whether that's measured in centuries or a few years.
A decent book but not quite the impact I had hoped, either for my brain in considering the consequences of being able to live essentially for centuries or about the quality of that life.
June 16, 2025
This book was SO GOOOOOOD. Often speculative fiction falls short because it comes up with a really interesting concept and then manages to explore the most boring parts of it (cough Ministry Of Time cough). But this does the opposite - it takes a fascinating concept which is closely linked to reality (trying to live forever, Bryan Johnson, “wellness” influence type vibes) and fleshes it out, rooting it to practicalities such as referendums and patents and the awful corporate side of it, as well as the emotional side. Because of the former, the latter flourishes; everything is so lifelike. Every bit of drama, every conversation feels natural and unhurried. Admittedly, the pace flags off towards the end but even this felt so realistic: with big changes in society comes acceptance and return to the status quo, taking something monumental in your stride and just getting on with it. This book got on with it and I read it throughout the night. I gasped. I giggled. I went ‘NOOOOOOOOO’. And it excited me: it sparked so much conversation. I rambled about it to my boyfriend. I’ve texted friends about it. And throughout it all, it offered such a tantalising question: would you? I would like to say I wouldn’t.
July 29, 2025
I don’t want to spoil anything whatsoever so all I want to say is, go read this book and re-read the first page once you’ve finished it.
March 28, 2025
Thank you to Octopus Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.25 stars.
I wanted to love this book. The concept was really interesting. An expensive drug is released that helps massively extend peoples' lives, having huge implications for relationships and family dynamics.
We follow a couple, Yuki and Sam, where one of them is vehemently against this drug, and one is willing to remortgage their house to take it.
It was well written, however I struggled to care. I felt like all the characters were unlikeable and self-obsessed, and not in an interesting way. I think I'm one of the few to feel like this though, judging by the reviews!
3.25 stars.
I wanted to love this book. The concept was really interesting. An expensive drug is released that helps massively extend peoples' lives, having huge implications for relationships and family dynamics.
We follow a couple, Yuki and Sam, where one of them is vehemently against this drug, and one is willing to remortgage their house to take it.
It was well written, however I struggled to care. I felt like all the characters were unlikeable and self-obsessed, and not in an interesting way. I think I'm one of the few to feel like this though, judging by the reviews!
February 21, 2025
What would you do if you could live forever?
Who wants to live forever is a powerful, compelling and thought provoking debut novel which I could not stop reading!
It starts off in London where we meet a married couple Yuki and Sam at a time where a new drug called Yareta is coming to market which allows the average human lifespan to be extended for at least 170 years (and potentially forever).
Yuki is firmly against the expansion of this drug, having strong morals and thoughts about its impact on the social order. However Sam, who is 34 and has not yet reached his musical ambitions, starts to think about what he could achieve with some extra years.. this divide fractures their relationship when Sam decides to take Yareta and effectively leaves Yuki behind.
The novel explores the impacts of Yareta on Yuki and Sam’s lives but also delves into the wider societal issues that come with it.
I’m sure I will be thinking about this book for a while to come. I had a week off work this week and I’m so glad I did so I could spend a lot of time reading with no distractions!
Thanks so much to Brazen Books for the advanced copy!
It’s out 27th March!
Who wants to live forever is a powerful, compelling and thought provoking debut novel which I could not stop reading!
It starts off in London where we meet a married couple Yuki and Sam at a time where a new drug called Yareta is coming to market which allows the average human lifespan to be extended for at least 170 years (and potentially forever).
Yuki is firmly against the expansion of this drug, having strong morals and thoughts about its impact on the social order. However Sam, who is 34 and has not yet reached his musical ambitions, starts to think about what he could achieve with some extra years.. this divide fractures their relationship when Sam decides to take Yareta and effectively leaves Yuki behind.
The novel explores the impacts of Yareta on Yuki and Sam’s lives but also delves into the wider societal issues that come with it.
I’m sure I will be thinking about this book for a while to come. I had a week off work this week and I’m so glad I did so I could spend a lot of time reading with no distractions!
Thanks so much to Brazen Books for the advanced copy!
It’s out 27th March!
March 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
This is a book that lingers in your mind long after you've finished. It's sharp, thought-provoking, and emotionally compelling, balancing big philosophical questions with deeply human storytelling.
I loved how it explored not just the idea of living longer but who actually gets that choice. The themes of privilege and morality are woven in seamlessly, making for some fascinating (and at times, unsettling) reflections. The characters felt incredibly real, and while I didn't always agree with them, I was completely invested in their journeys.
If you love books that challenge your perspective while keeping you utterly engrossed, this is a must-read.
Smart, gripping, and impossible to stop thinking about.
I'm OBSESSED.
This is a book that lingers in your mind long after you've finished. It's sharp, thought-provoking, and emotionally compelling, balancing big philosophical questions with deeply human storytelling.
I loved how it explored not just the idea of living longer but who actually gets that choice. The themes of privilege and morality are woven in seamlessly, making for some fascinating (and at times, unsettling) reflections. The characters felt incredibly real, and while I didn't always agree with them, I was completely invested in their journeys.
If you love books that challenge your perspective while keeping you utterly engrossed, this is a must-read.
Smart, gripping, and impossible to stop thinking about.
I'm OBSESSED.
July 27, 2025
Was a super interesting concept. Chapters were short so was easy to gain momentum. Normally hate shifting timelines and perspectives but I found it really easy to follow and made sense for the plot. LUVED IT!
February 23, 2025
Brilliant concept so well executed. I loved it and will be thinking about this for a while
June 24, 2025
rounded from 4.5⭐️
July 20, 2025
absolutely devoured this, i could have read it forever ;)
a dystopian which feels so real and topical, with such a real and enticing cast of characters
a dystopian which feels so real and topical, with such a real and enticing cast of characters
July 25, 2025
Floored. What a spectacular read.
April 30, 2025
A speculative book, where people decide if they want to take an injection every day that will make them live forever. With all those repercussions, it makes for a fascinating read.
April 30, 2025
Who Wants to Live Forever, the debut novel by Hanna Thomas Uose, is a great, timely piece of speculative fiction - a dystopian story perfect for fans of John Marrs and Black Mirror, which takes society's obsession with youth and beauty and poses the question, what would you do if you could extend your life indefinitely?
The story centres around a couple, Sam and Yuki, and it follows them back and forth through time from their first meeting in their twenties and through the ensuing decades. When we meet them, staunchly principled Yuki is working for her local MP and campaigning against the legalisation of the life-prolonging drug Yareta, while artist/musician Sam spends most of his time brooding over the fact that the world has yet to recognise him for the genius he is. The typical man who never let go of his boyhood dream of being a rock star, Sam has idly wondered what he could achieve if he only had more time. When Yareta suddenly becomes a viable option, he knows that Yuki's inevitable horror and dismay will not be enough to dissuade him.
What follows is a fascinating look at what the world could look like if this kind of drug really did become available, as the reader sees how life pans out for Sam, who chose to take Yareta, and Yuki, who chose not to, as well as picking up several other characters whose lives are affected by it one way or another along the way. Uose makes a strong case for why Yareta could be so popular (particularly among millennials who came of age in the hustle culture era), explores the often bizarre side effects of taking it, and does not shy away from the reasons why Yuki and her fellow activists are so opposed to it. I enjoyed the way the narrative switches between different POVs, a mixture of people who take Yareta and don't, allowing the reader an insight into their choices (if they had the choice) and how their lives were changed by the drug - for better or worse.
Eternal youth is a concept which has intrigued society for hundreds of years; it is the basis for all the vampire stories that have captured our imaginations for generations and is arguably the driving force behind billion dollar cosmetics, wellness and beauty industries. Uose cleverly blends these preoccupations with the fears that haunt many of us as we move through adulthood, seemingly at an ever more frenetic pace: what do I need to achieve in my life in order for it to have meaning? And when do I need to have achieved it by?
The blurb bills Who Wants to Live Forever as a romance, and certainly it is framed around Yuki and Sam's relationship, but it is a far more ambitious, thoughtful book than this label suggests. I was riveted by the myriad directions in which Uose took the story - all the 'what ifs' that are at once wild and utterly plausible - and especially by the potential implications for a society fractured into haves and have nots in perhaps a more tangible way than ever before. It has always been true that age comes for us all, no matter how wealthy, beautiful or powerful, so to imagine a world in which this was no longer true is frankly terrifying. Some of the likely outcomes of this are explicitly pointed out, but the text contains many more dark hints for the reader to grimly ponder as we watch billionaire tech bros grab more and more global power.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated capably by Lydia Wilson, and I did find it tricky to keep track of the frequent leaps in time and space; it was relatively easy to miss the line which indicated when, where and from whose perspective a chapter was taking place.
Thank you to NetGalley, Octopus Audio and Brazen for the opportunity to listen to an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story centres around a couple, Sam and Yuki, and it follows them back and forth through time from their first meeting in their twenties and through the ensuing decades. When we meet them, staunchly principled Yuki is working for her local MP and campaigning against the legalisation of the life-prolonging drug Yareta, while artist/musician Sam spends most of his time brooding over the fact that the world has yet to recognise him for the genius he is. The typical man who never let go of his boyhood dream of being a rock star, Sam has idly wondered what he could achieve if he only had more time. When Yareta suddenly becomes a viable option, he knows that Yuki's inevitable horror and dismay will not be enough to dissuade him.
What follows is a fascinating look at what the world could look like if this kind of drug really did become available, as the reader sees how life pans out for Sam, who chose to take Yareta, and Yuki, who chose not to, as well as picking up several other characters whose lives are affected by it one way or another along the way. Uose makes a strong case for why Yareta could be so popular (particularly among millennials who came of age in the hustle culture era), explores the often bizarre side effects of taking it, and does not shy away from the reasons why Yuki and her fellow activists are so opposed to it. I enjoyed the way the narrative switches between different POVs, a mixture of people who take Yareta and don't, allowing the reader an insight into their choices (if they had the choice) and how their lives were changed by the drug - for better or worse.
Eternal youth is a concept which has intrigued society for hundreds of years; it is the basis for all the vampire stories that have captured our imaginations for generations and is arguably the driving force behind billion dollar cosmetics, wellness and beauty industries. Uose cleverly blends these preoccupations with the fears that haunt many of us as we move through adulthood, seemingly at an ever more frenetic pace: what do I need to achieve in my life in order for it to have meaning? And when do I need to have achieved it by?
The blurb bills Who Wants to Live Forever as a romance, and certainly it is framed around Yuki and Sam's relationship, but it is a far more ambitious, thoughtful book than this label suggests. I was riveted by the myriad directions in which Uose took the story - all the 'what ifs' that are at once wild and utterly plausible - and especially by the potential implications for a society fractured into haves and have nots in perhaps a more tangible way than ever before. It has always been true that age comes for us all, no matter how wealthy, beautiful or powerful, so to imagine a world in which this was no longer true is frankly terrifying. Some of the likely outcomes of this are explicitly pointed out, but the text contains many more dark hints for the reader to grimly ponder as we watch billionaire tech bros grab more and more global power.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated capably by Lydia Wilson, and I did find it tricky to keep track of the frequent leaps in time and space; it was relatively easy to miss the line which indicated when, where and from whose perspective a chapter was taking place.
Thank you to NetGalley, Octopus Audio and Brazen for the opportunity to listen to an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2025
Would you want to live forever?
Yuki works as the Communications Officer for her local MP. Recently her focus has been on the Stop Yareta campaign. Yareta is a drug that promises to increase people's lifespans to two or even three hundred years. But it is eye-wateringly expensive, meaning only the rich will be able to benefit from it. Yuki and her friends have serious reservations about what that means for society, inequality and democracy.
Sam is Yuki's husband. He dreams of becoming a musician, and works as an illustrator to get by. He's a terrible procrastinator, endlessly roaming the internet or noodling with his guitar rather than buckling down to work. He frequently compares himself to his friends and finds his achievements, his life even, falling way short. If only he had more time to pursue his ambitions, perhaps he could be someone. Then one day, while Yuki is out campaigning, he starts researching this new wonder drug.
And so Yuki and Sam end up on opposing sides of the Yareta debate. The novel hops about in time a lot, starting in 2025 with the referendum and its immediate aftermath. It bounces around between 2018 and 2024 piecing together Yuki and Sam's history and between 2032 and 2039 in their future. You do have to concentrate to keep up with the constantly changing timeframes.
It's an interesting and thoughtful novel. For me however, it suffered a little from the fact that I've very recently read another book with exactly the same premise, and frankly, I simply enjoyed that one more. Yuki and Sam are both likeable characters, although Sam is such a perpetual manchild you wonder how long they would have lasted even without Yareta getting between them. Interspersed occasionally between the chapters, there are some beautifully written vignettes imagining time from the perspective of the natural world, the wind or a cherry blossom petal. While they are unrelated to the main story, they add to the overarching theme of time and how we spend what we have.
Yuki works as the Communications Officer for her local MP. Recently her focus has been on the Stop Yareta campaign. Yareta is a drug that promises to increase people's lifespans to two or even three hundred years. But it is eye-wateringly expensive, meaning only the rich will be able to benefit from it. Yuki and her friends have serious reservations about what that means for society, inequality and democracy.
Sam is Yuki's husband. He dreams of becoming a musician, and works as an illustrator to get by. He's a terrible procrastinator, endlessly roaming the internet or noodling with his guitar rather than buckling down to work. He frequently compares himself to his friends and finds his achievements, his life even, falling way short. If only he had more time to pursue his ambitions, perhaps he could be someone. Then one day, while Yuki is out campaigning, he starts researching this new wonder drug.
And so Yuki and Sam end up on opposing sides of the Yareta debate. The novel hops about in time a lot, starting in 2025 with the referendum and its immediate aftermath. It bounces around between 2018 and 2024 piecing together Yuki and Sam's history and between 2032 and 2039 in their future. You do have to concentrate to keep up with the constantly changing timeframes.
It's an interesting and thoughtful novel. For me however, it suffered a little from the fact that I've very recently read another book with exactly the same premise, and frankly, I simply enjoyed that one more. Yuki and Sam are both likeable characters, although Sam is such a perpetual manchild you wonder how long they would have lasted even without Yareta getting between them. Interspersed occasionally between the chapters, there are some beautifully written vignettes imagining time from the perspective of the natural world, the wind or a cherry blossom petal. While they are unrelated to the main story, they add to the overarching theme of time and how we spend what we have.
October 25, 2024
Thank you to Hanna Thomas Uose and Brazen Books for my advance reader copy!
Who Wants to Live Forever is a powerful debut that tackles the concept of “everlasting life” in a way that goes beyond just the dazzling splendour of youth.
Uose has an innate ability to take a fantastical concept and ground it in reality. Whereas immortality/lengthened life is usually a cautionary tale, this book feels so much more like a curious delve into the depths of not necessarily immortality as a concept, but rather how it would be embedded in society and into the lives of its diverse cast of characters. Yareta, the plant that provides lengthened life, brings with it questions of profitability, class division and the societal perception of the drug. The sensationalisation of it amongst the pharmaceutical and wellness markets and how immortality is monopolised by the rich was an unexpected but deeply interesting part of this story. It really made me think of how far a capitalist society would try to take control of even the most seemingly untouchable things.
But beyond the societal impact, Uose brings us closer, showing us how it could impact love, relationships and identity. Sam and Yuki are a married couple that are so deeply in love, Sam an artist with unfulfilled dreams and Yuki a fierce campaigner against Yareta. And yet, Sam decides to begin taking the drug. Uose really forces us to ask the question; If someone was the love of your life and yet they would voluntarily choose to live a life without you in it, do they cease to be the love of your life?
But ultimately what I want you to take from this review is READ THIS INCREDIBLE BOOK! I can already feel it in my bones that this book will be a smash hit and I am so grateful to have been able to read it early!
Who Wants to Live Forever is a powerful debut that tackles the concept of “everlasting life” in a way that goes beyond just the dazzling splendour of youth.
Uose has an innate ability to take a fantastical concept and ground it in reality. Whereas immortality/lengthened life is usually a cautionary tale, this book feels so much more like a curious delve into the depths of not necessarily immortality as a concept, but rather how it would be embedded in society and into the lives of its diverse cast of characters. Yareta, the plant that provides lengthened life, brings with it questions of profitability, class division and the societal perception of the drug. The sensationalisation of it amongst the pharmaceutical and wellness markets and how immortality is monopolised by the rich was an unexpected but deeply interesting part of this story. It really made me think of how far a capitalist society would try to take control of even the most seemingly untouchable things.
But beyond the societal impact, Uose brings us closer, showing us how it could impact love, relationships and identity. Sam and Yuki are a married couple that are so deeply in love, Sam an artist with unfulfilled dreams and Yuki a fierce campaigner against Yareta. And yet, Sam decides to begin taking the drug. Uose really forces us to ask the question; If someone was the love of your life and yet they would voluntarily choose to live a life without you in it, do they cease to be the love of your life?
But ultimately what I want you to take from this review is READ THIS INCREDIBLE BOOK! I can already feel it in my bones that this book will be a smash hit and I am so grateful to have been able to read it early!
February 18, 2025
TITLE: Who Wants to Live Forever?
AUTHOR: Hannah Thomas Uose
PUB DATE: March 2025
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。
WHAT I LIKED:
☆ Thought-provoking premise
☆ Beautiful, immersive writing
☆ SO many feelings!
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
☆ Absolutely nothing, I LOVED IT
☆ -
☆ -
SYNOPSIS:
☆
Sam and Yuki are soulmates, dreaming of a lifetime together, that is, until Yareta comes along. A revolutionary drug that halts ageing, it divides the world into two camps: those who embrace eternal youth and those who refuse to stop time. Yuki is firmly against it. Sam, however, can’t resist. And just like that, their future together is shattered.
☆
As the story unfolds, we meet a whole host of characters dealing with the emotional, political, and ethical consequences of immortality. Love, loss, power- everything changes when death is no longer a certainty. But in a world where time stands still, what does it mean to truly live?
☆
THOUGHTS:
☆
I LOVED this book. It’s the kind of story that lodges itself in your brain and refuses to budge. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, achingly human, tender yet somewhat upsetting, full of quiet heartbreak. It made me question EVERYTHING: love, mortality, even the meaning of existence. Would I take Yareta? Would you?
☆
The exploration of different values, the fear associated with death, the very idea of immortality and what that does to our perception of time, is incorporated fully into this wonderful novel. Heavily philosophical and entirely thought-provoking but never dull or boring.
Honestly, I’ll be thinking about this book forever (ironic, really). An easy five stars…read it immediately!
☆
Huge thanks to Netgallery and Octopus Audio for and advanced copy of this. Simply gorgeous!
☆
RATING: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。
AUTHOR: Hannah Thomas Uose
PUB DATE: March 2025
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。
WHAT I LIKED:
☆ Thought-provoking premise
☆ Beautiful, immersive writing
☆ SO many feelings!
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
☆ Absolutely nothing, I LOVED IT
☆ -
☆ -
SYNOPSIS:
☆
Sam and Yuki are soulmates, dreaming of a lifetime together, that is, until Yareta comes along. A revolutionary drug that halts ageing, it divides the world into two camps: those who embrace eternal youth and those who refuse to stop time. Yuki is firmly against it. Sam, however, can’t resist. And just like that, their future together is shattered.
☆
As the story unfolds, we meet a whole host of characters dealing with the emotional, political, and ethical consequences of immortality. Love, loss, power- everything changes when death is no longer a certainty. But in a world where time stands still, what does it mean to truly live?
☆
THOUGHTS:
☆
I LOVED this book. It’s the kind of story that lodges itself in your brain and refuses to budge. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, achingly human, tender yet somewhat upsetting, full of quiet heartbreak. It made me question EVERYTHING: love, mortality, even the meaning of existence. Would I take Yareta? Would you?
☆
The exploration of different values, the fear associated with death, the very idea of immortality and what that does to our perception of time, is incorporated fully into this wonderful novel. Heavily philosophical and entirely thought-provoking but never dull or boring.
Honestly, I’ll be thinking about this book forever (ironic, really). An easy five stars…read it immediately!
☆
Huge thanks to Netgallery and Octopus Audio for and advanced copy of this. Simply gorgeous!
☆
RATING: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。
June 2, 2025
Yuki and Sam are soulmates who are in their mid-to-late thirties, happily married and they've always worked through the challenges that life has thrown at them. That is until Yareta, a miracle drug which can extend your life by an indefinite period of time, becomes more available to those who can afford its hefty price tag, and sounds particularly appealing to those who simply desire more time to do and achieve things.
When Sam decides that he wants to live forever, his marriage to Yuki becomes the ultimate sacrifice as she wants to age naturally and doesn't agree with the ethics of using the drug. The novel follows decades of their lives together and apart, set in the UK, the USA and Japan, whilst continuing to bring it back to the question of whether Yuki and Sam's life decisions were worth it in the end.
I really loved this book and would recommend it to those who are interested in reading about a different kind of love story. The novel poses a really interesting and thought-provoking dilemma that made me wonder what I would do if I was in the same situation that the characters faced. I thought that this was a strong debut from Hanna Thomas Uose and I was fascinated by the world that she had built in this novel.
I enjoyed the format of reading from both Yuki and Sam's perspectives, as well as a few other interlinking characters, and jumping across decades (which initially took a bit of getting used to but ultimately, it worked well).
Throughout the book, I willed for Yuki and Sam to reunite, despite their flaws, which to me, made them more realistic as characters. Dealing with privilege and modern issues, it was a really moving and sometimes heart-breaking story which ironically, I wanted to last forever in the world that Hanna had built.
When Sam decides that he wants to live forever, his marriage to Yuki becomes the ultimate sacrifice as she wants to age naturally and doesn't agree with the ethics of using the drug. The novel follows decades of their lives together and apart, set in the UK, the USA and Japan, whilst continuing to bring it back to the question of whether Yuki and Sam's life decisions were worth it in the end.
I really loved this book and would recommend it to those who are interested in reading about a different kind of love story. The novel poses a really interesting and thought-provoking dilemma that made me wonder what I would do if I was in the same situation that the characters faced. I thought that this was a strong debut from Hanna Thomas Uose and I was fascinated by the world that she had built in this novel.
I enjoyed the format of reading from both Yuki and Sam's perspectives, as well as a few other interlinking characters, and jumping across decades (which initially took a bit of getting used to but ultimately, it worked well).
Throughout the book, I willed for Yuki and Sam to reunite, despite their flaws, which to me, made them more realistic as characters. Dealing with privilege and modern issues, it was a really moving and sometimes heart-breaking story which ironically, I wanted to last forever in the world that Hanna had built.
July 7, 2025
Who Wants to Live Forever by Hanna Thomas Uose is a work of speculative fiction. It follows five people over 21 years as their lives change with the introduction of a miracle drug that can extend human life indefinitely. But the drug comes at a cost, both literal and emotional. It questions whether love is real or important in the face of immortality.
I loved this book, especially the writing. There was no urgency to it. It was like looking at nature unfold in a timelapse - beautiful and mesmerising. We get glimpses of these people’s lives in an uneven timeline, so you know what’s coming, but the way it unfolds still leaves you gasping.
In the beginning, I felt like I was waiting for the shoe to drop. For people to realise that this miracle drug didn’t really work, that it’s not the holy grail they were hoping for. But it’s not that kind of book. It’s not a science fiction with things gone wrong trope. It is an exploration of human emotions and their greed. I loved how it depicts human fear. And how with a longer life, the only thing they could think about was death and their fear of it.
I can go on but suffice it to say that I am enamoured with this book and it’s easily one of my favourite reads of the year so far. If you love books which dive into human emotions and serve the most unfiltered ones on a platter, this one is for you.
I loved this book, especially the writing. There was no urgency to it. It was like looking at nature unfold in a timelapse - beautiful and mesmerising. We get glimpses of these people’s lives in an uneven timeline, so you know what’s coming, but the way it unfolds still leaves you gasping.
In the beginning, I felt like I was waiting for the shoe to drop. For people to realise that this miracle drug didn’t really work, that it’s not the holy grail they were hoping for. But it’s not that kind of book. It’s not a science fiction with things gone wrong trope. It is an exploration of human emotions and their greed. I loved how it depicts human fear. And how with a longer life, the only thing they could think about was death and their fear of it.
I can go on but suffice it to say that I am enamoured with this book and it’s easily one of my favourite reads of the year so far. If you love books which dive into human emotions and serve the most unfiltered ones on a platter, this one is for you.
October 24, 2025
Loved loved loved this - interesting and compelling
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