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Red Star Rebels
It's 2067, and the Graves family has transformed Mars from a lifeless rock into a chaotic patch of settlements – equal parts national pride and corporate power grab.
Enter Hunter handsome, ambitious and with spectacularly bad timing. He shows up unannounced at the United Nations base just in time for a toxin alert to set off every alarm they've got. Then the evac pods leave without him.
Also Cleo, a sharp-tongued stowaway with no intention of dying today, and even less patience for overconfident trust-fund boys. But the enemy of your enemy is the jerk who might just help you survive.
There is no toxin. There is a team of invading mercenaries planning to blow up the base – and every trace of their crime – in eight hours.
Now, Hunter and Cleo have one shot to stop the explosion, escape alive, and deal with the inconvenient fact that they're falling for each other.
The clock is ticking.
Enter Hunter handsome, ambitious and with spectacularly bad timing. He shows up unannounced at the United Nations base just in time for a toxin alert to set off every alarm they've got. Then the evac pods leave without him.
Also Cleo, a sharp-tongued stowaway with no intention of dying today, and even less patience for overconfident trust-fund boys. But the enemy of your enemy is the jerk who might just help you survive.
There is no toxin. There is a team of invading mercenaries planning to blow up the base – and every trace of their crime – in eight hours.
Now, Hunter and Cleo have one shot to stop the explosion, escape alive, and deal with the inconvenient fact that they're falling for each other.
The clock is ticking.
Audible Audio
First published February 3, 2026
89 people are currently reading
1767 people want to read
About the author
Amie Kaufman
35 books13.4k followersAmie Kaufman is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of young adult fiction. Her multi-award winning work is slated for publication in over 30 countries, and is in development for film and TV. Raised in Australia and occasionally Ireland, Amie has degrees in history, literature, law and conflict resolution. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and daughter, their rescue dog, and an extremely large personal library. She is the host of the podcasts Amie Kaufman on Writing, and Pub Dates.
You can sign up for her newsletter to see what she's working on, hear when she releases a new book, and be automatically entered for giveaways: https://amiekaufman.substack.com/
You can sign up for her newsletter to see what she's working on, hear when she releases a new book, and be automatically entered for giveaways: https://amiekaufman.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Happy Release Day!!
3.25 stars
A really cool concept that just did not grab me like I was hoping for.
Amie has written some very cool space themed stories, so I waws excited to see another one was coming, but this just did not have the same gravitas as previous books.
This just ended up being OK. The characters were well written, but I don't think there was enough development for either of them. Plus, everything seemed kind of predictable. I was calling twists well before they were happening.
So overall I enjoyed it, but wasn't the best I've read from Amie.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
3.25 stars
A really cool concept that just did not grab me like I was hoping for.
Amie has written some very cool space themed stories, so I waws excited to see another one was coming, but this just did not have the same gravitas as previous books.
This just ended up being OK. The characters were well written, but I don't think there was enough development for either of them. Plus, everything seemed kind of predictable. I was calling twists well before they were happening.
So overall I enjoyed it, but wasn't the best I've read from Amie.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
August 3, 2025
Are we actually back in space?? I loved that era when YA was set in space. I miss it so much. And if this book is actually set in space and has just an ounce of the vibes Kaufman’s other space opera books as, then I am truly a happy gal!!!
February 10, 2026
Let it be known that I LOVED “These Broken Stars” by Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (2013). It’s a fantastic story, and the creepy factor combined with science fiction was just…*chef’s kiss*
The sequel to that was decent, but not as good. Kaufman’s “Illuminae” with Jay Kristoff was enjoyable, once I got past the off-putting format. Then I read “Unearthed” (another Kaufman/Spooner collaboration), and I quickly became bored—I even said so in my review of it.
The author is super talented, no doubts there. However, all of her works that I’ve read are rehashing the same plot, and it’s not hitting like it used to. I think her best (and first) work is “These Broken Stars”, and thus far, none of the other reworked plots have been as good.
“Red Star Rebels” is again Teen Who Is Rich/Not A Criminal meets Teen Who Is Poor/Perhaps Is A “Criminal”, a crisis happens in space or on a different planet where boy and girl are forced to work together, many sappy & cringy thoughts happen as the hours pass, and overarching question is: WILL THEY FALL IN LOVE??
Hunter is rich. Really, really rich. Cleo is not and understandably resents someone who has had everything handed to him. She’s barely getting by while hiding and stealing food at the United Nations space base.
Unfortunately for both, a surprise complete evacuation of the base results in them being stranded there. It quickly dawns on them that there are actually no toxins in the air, and they are outnumbered by mercenaries who will blow up the base in just eight hours. Remember that they have no way of leaving the base, and no one is going to realize anything’s amiss for weeks. Time to get creative.
In a high stakes situation like this, you would think that you wouldn’t have time for romance—but not these two! Commence the sappy thoughts and falling in love.
But Cleo is a stowaway! And Hunter hates stowaways! WHAT WILL HE DO ONCE HE FINDS OUT??!
So, yeah. There you have it. Same plot, with a change of names, setting, and manufactured crisis. And I’m tired of that sameness.
Kaufman is capable of great stories. And I get it—if this format has been wildly successful before, why change it up? However, she *really* needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with something entirely new. As it stands, I don’t think I’ll be jumping at the chance to read her next book, and that makes me sad.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
The sequel to that was decent, but not as good. Kaufman’s “Illuminae” with Jay Kristoff was enjoyable, once I got past the off-putting format. Then I read “Unearthed” (another Kaufman/Spooner collaboration), and I quickly became bored—I even said so in my review of it.
The author is super talented, no doubts there. However, all of her works that I’ve read are rehashing the same plot, and it’s not hitting like it used to. I think her best (and first) work is “These Broken Stars”, and thus far, none of the other reworked plots have been as good.
“Red Star Rebels” is again Teen Who Is Rich/Not A Criminal meets Teen Who Is Poor/Perhaps Is A “Criminal”, a crisis happens in space or on a different planet where boy and girl are forced to work together, many sappy & cringy thoughts happen as the hours pass, and overarching question is: WILL THEY FALL IN LOVE??
Hunter is rich. Really, really rich. Cleo is not and understandably resents someone who has had everything handed to him. She’s barely getting by while hiding and stealing food at the United Nations space base.
Unfortunately for both, a surprise complete evacuation of the base results in them being stranded there. It quickly dawns on them that there are actually no toxins in the air, and they are outnumbered by mercenaries who will blow up the base in just eight hours. Remember that they have no way of leaving the base, and no one is going to realize anything’s amiss for weeks. Time to get creative.
In a high stakes situation like this, you would think that you wouldn’t have time for romance—but not these two! Commence the sappy thoughts and falling in love.
But Cleo is a stowaway! And Hunter hates stowaways! WHAT WILL HE DO ONCE HE FINDS OUT??!
So, yeah. There you have it. Same plot, with a change of names, setting, and manufactured crisis. And I’m tired of that sameness.
Kaufman is capable of great stories. And I get it—if this format has been wildly successful before, why change it up? However, she *really* needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with something entirely new. As it stands, I don’t think I’ll be jumping at the chance to read her next book, and that makes me sad.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
February 18, 2026
The queen of YA Sci-Fi is back with a new thriller-like story that had me at the edge of my seat! ❤️
It’s been many years since I read These Broken Stars which I love, and this book reminded me a lot of that one in the best way. Amie Kaufman always writes a perfect mix of sci-fi and swoony romance that I really enjoy.
The pacing was perfect, alternating between action-packed scenes and more quiet parts where Hunter and Cleo get a chance to know each other and bond.
The tone also oscillates from lighthearted to deep, since in addition to the action and romance we learn about the sociopolitical background of the world where the story takes place.
I loved how crafty and smart our main characters are. Hunter is good with software and Cleo with hardware so they’re perfectly matched to problem-solve their way out of their situation.
Some of the traps they set for the mercenaries reminded me of Home Alone, and afterwards I read the author herself mentioning that movie as one of her references 🤣
I really enjoyed the way the romance evolved. There’s insta-attraction but we also see Cleo and Hunter slowly get to trust and know each other throughout the story.
A bit of suspension of disbelief is needed if we stop and think the book takes place in a span of a few hours, but I promise the author makes it work. It’s an intense few hours for our characters 😆
I had a great time reading this one. I'm not sure if this is a standalone but I wish we'll read more stories in this world!
Thanks to Hot Key Books via NetGalley for providing an eARC
It’s been many years since I read These Broken Stars which I love, and this book reminded me a lot of that one in the best way. Amie Kaufman always writes a perfect mix of sci-fi and swoony romance that I really enjoy.
The pacing was perfect, alternating between action-packed scenes and more quiet parts where Hunter and Cleo get a chance to know each other and bond.
The tone also oscillates from lighthearted to deep, since in addition to the action and romance we learn about the sociopolitical background of the world where the story takes place.
I loved how crafty and smart our main characters are. Hunter is good with software and Cleo with hardware so they’re perfectly matched to problem-solve their way out of their situation.
Some of the traps they set for the mercenaries reminded me of Home Alone, and afterwards I read the author herself mentioning that movie as one of her references 🤣
I really enjoyed the way the romance evolved. There’s insta-attraction but we also see Cleo and Hunter slowly get to trust and know each other throughout the story.
A bit of suspension of disbelief is needed if we stop and think the book takes place in a span of a few hours, but I promise the author makes it work. It’s an intense few hours for our characters 😆
I had a great time reading this one. I'm not sure if this is a standalone but I wish we'll read more stories in this world!
Thanks to Hot Key Books via NetGalley for providing an eARC
February 13, 2026
Amie Kaufman is back with a space book and cementing why she’s the queen of Sci-Fi!!! I devoured this book in one sitting because how was I supposed to continue functioning when there was a countdown for our heroes lives!? This book is action packed, hilarious, and with the most likable and thirsty little shits as main characters (in the most endearing way possible). And the audiobook? Well Amie is also the queen of audios because it’s EPIC! It brought me back to the illuminae file days which I’ve always said are the best audiobooks in existence, and Red Star Rebels has now joined them at the top.
If you like scifi, high stakes, funny interactions, and flawed but lovable idiots, you must read this book. I read someone describing it as the Martian meets home alone and you know what? I see the vision.
If you like scifi, high stakes, funny interactions, and flawed but lovable idiots, you must read this book. I read someone describing it as the Martian meets home alone and you know what? I see the vision.
February 10, 2026
Pop sugar challenge #5 Książka o kobiecie astronautce
Książka jest young adult scifi i może nie było to tak odczuwalne gdyby autorka nie wymyśliła
trochę kosmicznych (tak żart) treści w jej środku
np : główny bohater w wieku 14 lat przejął władze nad rodzinną firmom i decydował o wszystkim xd
w tekście nie wygląda jakby grzeszył on inteligencją ale może to tylko moje odczucia
Fabuła była ciekawa do czasu, bohaterowie płascy i nie wyróżniający się a po 8 godzinach
byli w sobie obłędnie zakochoani jakby znali się nie wiadomo jak długo xd
w ogóle nie mogłam uwierzyć w te relacje i ich uczucia do siebie.
Końcówka wydawała się zakończona na szybko byleby skończyć książkę
a szkoda bo koncept naprawdę wydawał się fajny.
Książka jest young adult scifi i może nie było to tak odczuwalne gdyby autorka nie wymyśliła
trochę kosmicznych (tak żart) treści w jej środku
np : główny bohater w wieku 14 lat przejął władze nad rodzinną firmom i decydował o wszystkim xd
w tekście nie wygląda jakby grzeszył on inteligencją ale może to tylko moje odczucia
Fabuła była ciekawa do czasu, bohaterowie płascy i nie wyróżniający się a po 8 godzinach
byli w sobie obłędnie zakochoani jakby znali się nie wiadomo jak długo xd
w ogóle nie mogłam uwierzyć w te relacje i ich uczucia do siebie.
Końcówka wydawała się zakończona na szybko byleby skończyć książkę
a szkoda bo koncept naprawdę wydawał się fajny.
January 30, 2026
I've heard people describe this as Die Hard meet Home Alone and being a massive Die Hard fan, it is definitely that, without the yipee ki-aye.
This short read was hilarious, witty and meaningful.
I thought it was a great concept; I was on the edge of my seat in anticipation waiting to see what would happen next.
I was worried about how Amie would pack it all into 272 pages, but the pacing was great, I felt the connection between the characters, and it didn't feel rushed or unnatural.
My only issue was it felt like it just ended and generally I don't need everything tied up in a bow, but I felt like I needed just a little bit more with an extra chapter or epilogue or something.
Maybe I was just having such a great time I was greedy for more? You will have to let me know your thoughts if you have read this one.
I still definitely highly recommend, it was such a great read, and it will be living rent free in my head for a while.
This short read was hilarious, witty and meaningful.
I thought it was a great concept; I was on the edge of my seat in anticipation waiting to see what would happen next.
I was worried about how Amie would pack it all into 272 pages, but the pacing was great, I felt the connection between the characters, and it didn't feel rushed or unnatural.
My only issue was it felt like it just ended and generally I don't need everything tied up in a bow, but I felt like I needed just a little bit more with an extra chapter or epilogue or something.
Maybe I was just having such a great time I was greedy for more? You will have to let me know your thoughts if you have read this one.
I still definitely highly recommend, it was such a great read, and it will be living rent free in my head for a while.
January 26, 2026
I will read anything Amie puts out, but especially when it's in space.
I loved Cleo and Hunter. She's street smart and badass. He's tech smart and charming. Together they have instant chemistry, banter for days, and need to not be alone any longer. I loved reading them slowly fall in to Like while trying to not get blown up.
Plot wise, it's starts off with a bang and doesn't let go. The alternating POVs really made it fun and I just couldn't get enough of these two together.
Overall, I definitely could have read another 100 pages and I can't wait to get my eyeballs on whatever Amie does next.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Cleo and Hunter. She's street smart and badass. He's tech smart and charming. Together they have instant chemistry, banter for days, and need to not be alone any longer. I loved reading them slowly fall in to Like while trying to not get blown up.
Plot wise, it's starts off with a bang and doesn't let go. The alternating POVs really made it fun and I just couldn't get enough of these two together.
Overall, I definitely could have read another 100 pages and I can't wait to get my eyeballs on whatever Amie does next.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
July 7, 2025
I absolutely love everything by Amie Kaufman and I'm so excited to see we're returning to space!!!
January 11, 2026
Amie Kaufman writes some of my favorite sci fi books and I’m so glad I got to read her newest release early! I really enjoyed it.
I enjoyed Hunter and Cleo as characters. They have very different backgrounds so it was interesting to see what brought them to Mars and how both of them dealt with the situation.
The plot is counting down until eminent destruction so of course that added a sense of urgency to the story. The plot was very fast paced and also had some humorous moments as well (very reminiscent of The Illuminae Files, cowritten by this author). There were some interesting twists and turns to the plot; some I suspected and some I did not. Since this takes place over a single day (8 hours to be exact) the romance was quite instalovey and also attraction based (Cleo drooled over Hunter’s body constantly) but it made sense for the story and didn’t bother me.
Overall I’d definitely recommend this one. If you’ve read and enjoyed this author’s other sci fi books, you will likely enjoy this one as well.
I enjoyed Hunter and Cleo as characters. They have very different backgrounds so it was interesting to see what brought them to Mars and how both of them dealt with the situation.
The plot is counting down until eminent destruction so of course that added a sense of urgency to the story. The plot was very fast paced and also had some humorous moments as well (very reminiscent of The Illuminae Files, cowritten by this author). There were some interesting twists and turns to the plot; some I suspected and some I did not. Since this takes place over a single day (8 hours to be exact) the romance was quite instalovey and also attraction based (Cleo drooled over Hunter’s body constantly) but it made sense for the story and didn’t bother me.
Overall I’d definitely recommend this one. If you’ve read and enjoyed this author’s other sci fi books, you will likely enjoy this one as well.
February 10, 2026
3.5 stars
This book started with an absolute bang of an opening few chapters. It reeled me in quickly and it helped to get to know the characters. These two young adults from different sides of the tracks were immersed in constant peril on Mars. The atmosphere, the habitation and some nasty characters were their enemies.
While this was a fast-paced read, it was light and fun. The two main characters had constant banter and a little chemistry that grew. I liked how their different backgrounds and some secrets were a background in this plot. It shaped their dynamic well.
I was kept guessing till the end about what the final outcome would be. It was a quick wrap up and I'd have loved a bit more of life after.
This wasn't full-on sci-fi love for me. I think, because of the lightness and fun, it took away some of the depth I was hoping for, as a lover of Kaufman's previous books.
Thank you Hot Key Books for the review copy.
This book started with an absolute bang of an opening few chapters. It reeled me in quickly and it helped to get to know the characters. These two young adults from different sides of the tracks were immersed in constant peril on Mars. The atmosphere, the habitation and some nasty characters were their enemies.
While this was a fast-paced read, it was light and fun. The two main characters had constant banter and a little chemistry that grew. I liked how their different backgrounds and some secrets were a background in this plot. It shaped their dynamic well.
I was kept guessing till the end about what the final outcome would be. It was a quick wrap up and I'd have loved a bit more of life after.
This wasn't full-on sci-fi love for me. I think, because of the lightness and fun, it took away some of the depth I was hoping for, as a lover of Kaufman's previous books.
Thank you Hot Key Books for the review copy.
November 9, 2025
8.5/10
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
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Want to read
October 24, 2025we're finally dropping kristoff? let's GO
February 15, 2026
Content warnings: explosions, death, fire, xenophobia, death of a parent (in the past), classism
At her Melbourne launch, Kaufman described this book as Speed meets Home Alone set on Mars and, like, absolutely. Does what it says on the tin. It's action-packed, I really liked the two protagonists and the romance that develops between them, and the fact that the entire story plays out over eight hours was fantastic.
Personally, I would have liked it to be another 30-50 pages to a) build up the details around some of the traps they set (because at times they felt a tad blink-and-you'll-miss-it), and b) allow Hunter to really work through some of his classism and xenophobia around who's allowed to even think about setting foot on Mars.
I still think the Illuminae series will reign supreme at the top of my Kaufman ranking, but I'll definitely reread this in the future because it was a lot of fun.
At her Melbourne launch, Kaufman described this book as Speed meets Home Alone set on Mars and, like, absolutely. Does what it says on the tin. It's action-packed, I really liked the two protagonists and the romance that develops between them, and the fact that the entire story plays out over eight hours was fantastic.
Personally, I would have liked it to be another 30-50 pages to a) build up the details around some of the traps they set (because at times they felt a tad blink-and-you'll-miss-it), and b) allow Hunter to really work through some of his classism and xenophobia around who's allowed to even think about setting foot on Mars.
I still think the Illuminae series will reign supreme at the top of my Kaufman ranking, but I'll definitely reread this in the future because it was a lot of fun.
February 17, 2026
This was.... okay.
I liked the plot, for the most part and the characters, for the most part. The main issues I had were that 1. these two kids were so LUSTY the ENTIRE TIME. They're literally about to explode and they're all over one another at any given time. It's so.... ugghhhhh. I hated it. And 2. ultimately, for a book about a space station hijacking.... this wasn't that exciting and the ending was anti-climactic. It was just.... there.
I can't say I hated it, but I didn't really like it either. It was just.... there.
Also, fair warning, this audiobook has SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC and it is very annoying because there are times when I want to hear the words but the sound effects are so LOUD that I can't.
I liked the plot, for the most part and the characters, for the most part. The main issues I had were that 1. these two kids were so LUSTY the ENTIRE TIME. They're literally about to explode and they're all over one another at any given time. It's so.... ugghhhhh. I hated it. And 2. ultimately, for a book about a space station hijacking.... this wasn't that exciting and the ending was anti-climactic. It was just.... there.
I can't say I hated it, but I didn't really like it either. It was just.... there.
Also, fair warning, this audiobook has SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC and it is very annoying because there are times when I want to hear the words but the sound effects are so LOUD that I can't.
February 17, 2026
I really enjoyed this! No surprises there, Amie Kaufman + space = a fun ride. Kaufman describes this book as Die Hard meets Home Alone set on Mars, and that’s exactly what this is. A fast paced plot and excellent character work, I just wish this had been about 50 pages longer and slightly more fleshed out in parts.
December 4, 2025
Red Star Rebels follows Hunter Graves, the richest boy in the galaxy, and Cleo, a stowaway, as they’re left stranded on a UN base on Mars when an evacuation sends everyone fleeing. But the evacuation was just a cover for mercenaries to take over the base. Hunter and Cleo have eight hours to stop them before they’re blown up.
This was SUCH a fun read. It’s the perfect little sci-fi romp with so much humour. I loved the writing style. Especially Cleo’s chapters. She was really amusing and fun to read from her perspective. I also really enjoyed Hunter. He had a very traumatic upbringing and getting to see him work through that was fun. Him and Cleo were great together. They have such good chemistry and all the flirting and banter was top notch.
As fun as the book is, it’s also SO tense. They have such a short window to stop everything and so the pacing was really well done. The book reminded me of Gemina a lot in terms of their station being taken over by mercenaries. That’s one of my all time favourites so this was really fun to read another book in a similar vein. I really love Amie Kaufman’s sci-fi and just had the best time reading this!
If you love Amie Kaufman or sci-fi romances with tension and banter, I’d highly recommend this one!
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen CA for the arc!!
This was SUCH a fun read. It’s the perfect little sci-fi romp with so much humour. I loved the writing style. Especially Cleo’s chapters. She was really amusing and fun to read from her perspective. I also really enjoyed Hunter. He had a very traumatic upbringing and getting to see him work through that was fun. Him and Cleo were great together. They have such good chemistry and all the flirting and banter was top notch.
As fun as the book is, it’s also SO tense. They have such a short window to stop everything and so the pacing was really well done. The book reminded me of Gemina a lot in terms of their station being taken over by mercenaries. That’s one of my all time favourites so this was really fun to read another book in a similar vein. I really love Amie Kaufman’s sci-fi and just had the best time reading this!
If you love Amie Kaufman or sci-fi romances with tension and banter, I’d highly recommend this one!
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen CA for the arc!!
February 6, 2026
Home alone in space!
Two teens, one the richest and one who just might be the poorest, find themselves trapped on Mars after their station is evacuated. Oh yeah and someone is trying to blow the whole place up.
This was honestly a perfect quick YA Sci-fi Romance! It's over the course of 8 hours so there's obviously gonna be a bit of instalove going on but honestly it wasn't that bad since they had solid chemistry from the start!
Two teens, one the richest and one who just might be the poorest, find themselves trapped on Mars after their station is evacuated. Oh yeah and someone is trying to blow the whole place up.
This was honestly a perfect quick YA Sci-fi Romance! It's over the course of 8 hours so there's obviously gonna be a bit of instalove going on but honestly it wasn't that bad since they had solid chemistry from the start!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of this amazing book. I loved it! Another cracking Sci Fi was Amie Kaufman. It was snappy and clever. Very home alone style pranks and the count down each chapter kept the anticipation high. I'm glad to add this to my shelf alongside The Illuminae Files and Aurora Cycle.
February 15, 2026
this was kinda disappointing. it wasn't bad, just not something to make me go wow.
i think my main problem with the book was the fact that it was a bit too short and that forced the author to go at a much faster pace. everything happened too fast and that meant a lot of things were not developed enough for my taste.
for example, the relationship between the two main characters, hunter and chloe, was insta-love. there's no other way to deacribe. the whole plot of this book spans over 10 hours i believe if not less which to me should have been a sign from the beginning that i will not like the romance. the moment the two characters meet, you can see them already being in love or very much physically attracted to the other person, which without the development needed for that to happen, to me that is just bad writing.
another thing i didn't like, was how this book had a lot of tell instead of show. one instance of this i noticed was when we found out about hunter's backstory. his backstory was introduced through an internal monologue that he had which made it feel like an info-dump. there was so many ways it could have been added to the story and the worst way was chosen.
things i didn't like aside, i did like the two main characters. both of them had qualities i like seeing in characters and were quite well developed and with how short the book is, you can still see them changing.
the audiobook is also incredibly good. it was a full cast and because of it, it's easy to get immerse into the story. that definitely added a lot to my enjoyment of the story.
while this won't be a favourite of the year, i still believe it's a book that is worth a shot, especially for people who are in a reading slump. you will finish it in no time!
thank you libro.fm for the alc of this book! all opinions are my own.
i think my main problem with the book was the fact that it was a bit too short and that forced the author to go at a much faster pace. everything happened too fast and that meant a lot of things were not developed enough for my taste.
for example, the relationship between the two main characters, hunter and chloe, was insta-love. there's no other way to deacribe. the whole plot of this book spans over 10 hours i believe if not less which to me should have been a sign from the beginning that i will not like the romance. the moment the two characters meet, you can see them already being in love or very much physically attracted to the other person, which without the development needed for that to happen, to me that is just bad writing.
another thing i didn't like, was how this book had a lot of tell instead of show. one instance of this i noticed was when we found out about hunter's backstory. his backstory was introduced through an internal monologue that he had which made it feel like an info-dump. there was so many ways it could have been added to the story and the worst way was chosen.
things i didn't like aside, i did like the two main characters. both of them had qualities i like seeing in characters and were quite well developed and with how short the book is, you can still see them changing.
the audiobook is also incredibly good. it was a full cast and because of it, it's easy to get immerse into the story. that definitely added a lot to my enjoyment of the story.
while this won't be a favourite of the year, i still believe it's a book that is worth a shot, especially for people who are in a reading slump. you will finish it in no time!
thank you libro.fm for the alc of this book! all opinions are my own.
January 27, 2026
This was such a fast paced, fun read. Although this book is perfect for a younger audience, I didn’t find it to be particularly juvenile or boring. The plot moved quickly, the danger was imminent, there was longing gazes between the two main characters and maybe a little smooch, but nothing that would stop me recommending it to both adults and teens alike.
The entire book takes place over an 8hr period at the United Nations base on Mars, with an updated countdown featured on each chapter header. Cleo (FMC) and Hunter (MMC) are our two main characters - Cleo a sharp-tongued stowaway running from her past, and Hunter, a trust fund kid whose family basically run Mars. Both end up being left behind after a mass evacuation and have to team up to survive.
I saw another reader compare the antics in this book to Home Alone, and I agree that some of the escape methods and traps definitely gave me that feeling as well. Cleo and Hunter try and foil the plans of the mercenaries who have taken over the base, but in a way that slows the bad guys down without using violence.
My only sci-fi reads have been written by Amie, and I’m keen to read more of this genre. Amie writes YA sci-fi books that are filled with banter, found family and a “misfits save the day” kind of vibe. I’m yet to read The Illuminae Files, but I’ve heard great things 👀
Thank you A&U for sending me an early copy to review!
The entire book takes place over an 8hr period at the United Nations base on Mars, with an updated countdown featured on each chapter header. Cleo (FMC) and Hunter (MMC) are our two main characters - Cleo a sharp-tongued stowaway running from her past, and Hunter, a trust fund kid whose family basically run Mars. Both end up being left behind after a mass evacuation and have to team up to survive.
I saw another reader compare the antics in this book to Home Alone, and I agree that some of the escape methods and traps definitely gave me that feeling as well. Cleo and Hunter try and foil the plans of the mercenaries who have taken over the base, but in a way that slows the bad guys down without using violence.
My only sci-fi reads have been written by Amie, and I’m keen to read more of this genre. Amie writes YA sci-fi books that are filled with banter, found family and a “misfits save the day” kind of vibe. I’m yet to read The Illuminae Files, but I’ve heard great things 👀
Thank you A&U for sending me an early copy to review!
February 12, 2026
Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman is a new YA sci-fi romp set on an evacuated Mars base. Hunter, the son of the family that led the colonisation of the Mars, finds himself stranded alongside stowaway Cleo, the two having to work together to stop a group of mercenaries who enter the base looking for information and preparing to blow the base up when they’re done. They’ve got 8 hours to find a way to stop it.
There are many things I love in books, but space settings and countdowns are pretty high up there on the list of ways to immediately hook me into a book. Kaufman is no strange to writing epic YA space dramas and I’m always down to read a new one. This one feels particularly relevant, with an heir to a billionaire empire teaming up with someone deeply affected by the inequality of Earth resources, but also does the work of building the relationship between Hunter and Cleo to the point that when all their truths are revealed, there’s a solid relationship underpinning the initial ‘betrayal’ that makes the third act compelling. There’s plenty of action, lots of interesting world questions raised and the countdown really makes it a page turner. I had a great time with Red Star Rebels.
Thanks to the publisher @AllenandUnwin for the review copy.
There are many things I love in books, but space settings and countdowns are pretty high up there on the list of ways to immediately hook me into a book. Kaufman is no strange to writing epic YA space dramas and I’m always down to read a new one. This one feels particularly relevant, with an heir to a billionaire empire teaming up with someone deeply affected by the inequality of Earth resources, but also does the work of building the relationship between Hunter and Cleo to the point that when all their truths are revealed, there’s a solid relationship underpinning the initial ‘betrayal’ that makes the third act compelling. There’s plenty of action, lots of interesting world questions raised and the countdown really makes it a page turner. I had a great time with Red Star Rebels.
Thanks to the publisher @AllenandUnwin for the review copy.
February 10, 2026
Red Star Rebels is a delightful blend of Die Hard and The Martian, offering a fresh take on my favourite subgenre: sci-fi romance.
The book is incredibly fast-paced, entertaining and easy to read. I finished it all in one day thoroughly enjoying every moment.
Hunter is a captivating character. Despite his wealth, fame and good looks he’s much more than that. I admire his intelligence and his willingness to learn and admit his mistakes.
Cleo is another fantastic protagonist. She’s entertaining and a skilled problem solver. A strong female character, she’s truly remarkable.
Kaufman’s writing is sharp and fast-paced. The sci-fi setting is seamlessly woven into the story grounding it without slowing it down. The dialogue is witty and the tension builds steadily to a truly explosive finale.
This book is perfect for readers who love smart sci-fi with a heart. It features morally grey decisions and the quiet thrill of watching ordinary people rise to greatness. Bold and impossible to put down, it’s a must read.
The book is incredibly fast-paced, entertaining and easy to read. I finished it all in one day thoroughly enjoying every moment.
Hunter is a captivating character. Despite his wealth, fame and good looks he’s much more than that. I admire his intelligence and his willingness to learn and admit his mistakes.
Cleo is another fantastic protagonist. She’s entertaining and a skilled problem solver. A strong female character, she’s truly remarkable.
Kaufman’s writing is sharp and fast-paced. The sci-fi setting is seamlessly woven into the story grounding it without slowing it down. The dialogue is witty and the tension builds steadily to a truly explosive finale.
This book is perfect for readers who love smart sci-fi with a heart. It features morally grey decisions and the quiet thrill of watching ordinary people rise to greatness. Bold and impossible to put down, it’s a must read.
February 13, 2026
Let me ask you a question… Did you ever consume the Aurora Cycle or the Illuminae files? Did you love the spunk and sass that the characters gave off when you read them? Yeah… although they were delivered as an author duet I can sooooo confirm that if you pick up Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman you will be thrusted back into that feeling you got when you read those series!!
This was high stakes, sassy and so well written. I love me a sci-fi YA and this book gave me just that! Hunter and Cleo are not alike at all and yes, there is a romance sub plot, but it’s not the overarching plot, it just helps you unfold our main characters backstories!
I’d also like to give a bit of a shout out to the audio as I had to give it a go!! It’s cracking and I would really recommend - think back to previous audios of Kaufman’s Sci-Fi books and you won’t be disappointed!
It’s no secret I’ve been a Amie Kaufman fan for a long while but if YA sci-fi with some sass and high stakes is your bag, give it a go!
This was high stakes, sassy and so well written. I love me a sci-fi YA and this book gave me just that! Hunter and Cleo are not alike at all and yes, there is a romance sub plot, but it’s not the overarching plot, it just helps you unfold our main characters backstories!
I’d also like to give a bit of a shout out to the audio as I had to give it a go!! It’s cracking and I would really recommend - think back to previous audios of Kaufman’s Sci-Fi books and you won’t be disappointed!
It’s no secret I’ve been a Amie Kaufman fan for a long while but if YA sci-fi with some sass and high stakes is your bag, give it a go!
February 5, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc 🧡
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Space is back baby! I loved this bite-sized YA adventure in space (think Die Hard mixed with Home Alone, with a sprinkle of Murderbot scheming).
I loved the depth Amie was able to add to these two characters, despite this being under 300 pages, and I am definitely wanting more from these two. Do I admire Cleo, or want to BE her? And who doesn’t love a billionaire with a heart of gold? The dynamic these two characters had was so fun to read about, and I felt myself relating to both of them throughout.
Despite this story taking place over 8 hours, a lot was packed into it. It didn’t feel rushed, but it added to the sense of urgency that propelled the story along. The humour added to this without detracting too much, endearing you to the characters other such a short space of time!
Overall, this has solidified Amie Kaufman as an auto-buy author for me, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! (More space adventures please!)
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Space is back baby! I loved this bite-sized YA adventure in space (think Die Hard mixed with Home Alone, with a sprinkle of Murderbot scheming).
I loved the depth Amie was able to add to these two characters, despite this being under 300 pages, and I am definitely wanting more from these two. Do I admire Cleo, or want to BE her? And who doesn’t love a billionaire with a heart of gold? The dynamic these two characters had was so fun to read about, and I felt myself relating to both of them throughout.
Despite this story taking place over 8 hours, a lot was packed into it. It didn’t feel rushed, but it added to the sense of urgency that propelled the story along. The humour added to this without detracting too much, endearing you to the characters other such a short space of time!
Overall, this has solidified Amie Kaufman as an auto-buy author for me, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! (More space adventures please!)
February 16, 2026
Loved it!
This book was so much fun to read.
From the start, the reader is thrown into the action with an 8 hour countdown to destruction. The book alternates between the points of view of Cleo and Hunter. Both come from very different backgrounds grounds, but with equally bad luck, they end up on this wild ride to save their skins and more. The plot is solid and unfolds with excellent pacing given the tight timeframe. The character development is truly something, given that we spend less than 300 pages with them and they are only together for 8 hours. How does Amie make you care some much with so few words. The chemistry between Cleo and Hunter is as natural as peanut butter and jam and the banter, which if you’ve read work by Amie before, is as delightfully pleasing as I like - top tier! I could feel the rush and the heightened emotions and I just want more of it.
If you’re looking for your next high octane read, then pick this one up!
Many thanks to Random House Children’s Books / Knopf for Young Readers and NetGalley for a digital early reader copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.
This book was so much fun to read.
From the start, the reader is thrown into the action with an 8 hour countdown to destruction. The book alternates between the points of view of Cleo and Hunter. Both come from very different backgrounds grounds, but with equally bad luck, they end up on this wild ride to save their skins and more. The plot is solid and unfolds with excellent pacing given the tight timeframe. The character development is truly something, given that we spend less than 300 pages with them and they are only together for 8 hours. How does Amie make you care some much with so few words. The chemistry between Cleo and Hunter is as natural as peanut butter and jam and the banter, which if you’ve read work by Amie before, is as delightfully pleasing as I like - top tier! I could feel the rush and the heightened emotions and I just want more of it.
If you’re looking for your next high octane read, then pick this one up!
Many thanks to Random House Children’s Books / Knopf for Young Readers and NetGalley for a digital early reader copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In 2067 on a colonised Mars, it's a race against time as a billioner and a hitchhiker try to escape. Both from different worlds and they have to work together if they want to survive. They also can't get too distracted by abs and vine tattoos...
"The idea for Red Star Rebels was sparked during a behind-the-scenes visit to NASA. That experience helped shape the book’s grounded, lived-in vision of space travel — with NASA staff later acting as fact-checkers to ensure the science stayed sharp beneath the romance and adventure."
The idea is fun and witty. It's a great place to start if you want to get into the sci-fi genre. Everything makes sense and you can really live in this world that doesn't even feel that far away from ours.
"The idea for Red Star Rebels was sparked during a behind-the-scenes visit to NASA. That experience helped shape the book’s grounded, lived-in vision of space travel — with NASA staff later acting as fact-checkers to ensure the science stayed sharp beneath the romance and adventure."
The idea is fun and witty. It's a great place to start if you want to get into the sci-fi genre. Everything makes sense and you can really live in this world that doesn't even feel that far away from ours.
February 14, 2026
Red Star Rebel by Amie Kaufman
For some reason I love YA Space stories, and this does not disappoint.
Set in not too distant future times - Hunter sets out to Mars to confront his estranged mother and twin sister.
Unfortunately, he shows up as the base is evacuated and in the chaos is left behind with stowaway Cleo.
However, the evacuation is not as it seems. With Cleo’s street smarts and Hunter’s tech skills they work together against the mercenaries.
Fast paced, good guys, bad guys, space, dust storms, opposite side of the track, moral dilemmas, high stakes, YA romance feels.
For some reason I love YA Space stories, and this does not disappoint.
Set in not too distant future times - Hunter sets out to Mars to confront his estranged mother and twin sister.
Unfortunately, he shows up as the base is evacuated and in the chaos is left behind with stowaway Cleo.
However, the evacuation is not as it seems. With Cleo’s street smarts and Hunter’s tech skills they work together against the mercenaries.
Fast paced, good guys, bad guys, space, dust storms, opposite side of the track, moral dilemmas, high stakes, YA romance feels.
February 6, 2026
I knew going into this that this book was only going to last eh duration of the 8 hours, but how I want more anyway! Amie Kaufman did such an amazing job with these characters and this world that I didn’t want to leave it behind. Cleo and Hunter complement each other so well throughout the book. I also loved that there’s a character with my name which I don’t come across very often!
Thank you Penguin and netgalley for my early copy!
Thank you Penguin and netgalley for my early copy!
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