What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
3 days and 22:13:31
50 copies available
U.S. only
Under Story
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26Win a free kindle copy of this book!
3 days and 22:13:31
50 copies available
U.S. only
The New York Times bestselling author of The Immortalists returns with an intimate yet epic love story—and a sweeping odyssey of scientific discovery. Under Story invites us to consider the promise of this life, what might lie beyond it, and how far we would go for more time with the people we love, cementing Chloe Benjamin’s place among our best, and most lasting, storytellers.
“We wake up to tomorrow, never yesterday.”
At the end of the world, biologist Laurel Salter is hiding from everything she’s ever known. For ten hours a day, six days per week, she works as a dishwasher at McMurdo Station, an isolated research base in Antarctica. She tells no one that before she arrived, she was a renowned young scientist with a promising career, a husband, and a family.
But even in this remote outpost, Laurel can’t outrun her past. When a strange light appears across the ice—and draws a group of physicists to McMurdo—her former husband, Eli, won't be far behind. Laurel is captivated by the its surreal glow; the way it seems almost alive. And though Eli is reluctant to test her wildest theory, Laurel is convinced that the Arc leads down a rabbit hole, and into a world, they can barely imagine. Can she persuade him to risk everything to fix the burden that hangs between them—to turn back the clock and live their story a second time?
A breathless page-turner and a love letter to our planet, Under Story grapples with the great questions of our human hubris, the precarity of the natural world, and the mysterious webs of consciousness that bind us. A modern epic of science and soul, of bravery and redemption, it offers a vision of the future that demands we reckon with what we owe to one another, and to the earth itself.
“We wake up to tomorrow, never yesterday.”
At the end of the world, biologist Laurel Salter is hiding from everything she’s ever known. For ten hours a day, six days per week, she works as a dishwasher at McMurdo Station, an isolated research base in Antarctica. She tells no one that before she arrived, she was a renowned young scientist with a promising career, a husband, and a family.
But even in this remote outpost, Laurel can’t outrun her past. When a strange light appears across the ice—and draws a group of physicists to McMurdo—her former husband, Eli, won't be far behind. Laurel is captivated by the its surreal glow; the way it seems almost alive. And though Eli is reluctant to test her wildest theory, Laurel is convinced that the Arc leads down a rabbit hole, and into a world, they can barely imagine. Can she persuade him to risk everything to fix the burden that hangs between them—to turn back the clock and live their story a second time?
A breathless page-turner and a love letter to our planet, Under Story grapples with the great questions of our human hubris, the precarity of the natural world, and the mysterious webs of consciousness that bind us. A modern epic of science and soul, of bravery and redemption, it offers a vision of the future that demands we reckon with what we owe to one another, and to the earth itself.
512 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Chloe Benjamin
4 books2,815 followersChloe Benjamin is the author of THE IMMORTALISTS, a New York Times Bestseller, and THE ANATOMY OF DREAMS. Her third novel, UNDER STORY, will be published in September 2026.
A Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, LibraryReads favorite, and #1 Indie Next pick, THE IMMORTALISTS was named a best book of 2018 by NPR, The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, and others. THE ANATOMY OF DREAMS received the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award and was long listed for the 2014 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.
Originally from San Francisco, CA, Benjamin is a graduate of Vassar College and the M.F.A. in fiction at the University of Wisconsin. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages. She lives with her husband and two Maine Coon cats in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, LibraryReads favorite, and #1 Indie Next pick, THE IMMORTALISTS was named a best book of 2018 by NPR, The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, and others. THE ANATOMY OF DREAMS received the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award and was long listed for the 2014 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.
Originally from San Francisco, CA, Benjamin is a graduate of Vassar College and the M.F.A. in fiction at the University of Wisconsin. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages. She lives with her husband and two Maine Coon cats in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 367 reviews
August 1, 2026
The most beautiful exploration of a what if I’ve read in a while.
Laurel, a brilliant scientist, Is hiding from everything and everyone in the furthest place she can think of - an isolated research station on Antarctica. We know she is escaping a reality she cant quite face, and we slowly realize exactly why. When a strange yet beautiful arc suddenly appears (also drawing her husband, Eli, to Antarctica) alongside a long shot that they could perhaps turn time and do things all over again, Lauren and Eli are confronted with the most heart aching and mind bending of “what ifs”.
I finished this one with full body chills, but it’s also kind of heart to talk about without spoiling some of it’s power. Here’s what I think you do need to know: you must read some science stuff…you don’t have to understand it all, but the first half holds a lot of it. Keep going. This is also an exploration of grief, time, connectivity, and consciousness in a wholly original way. Once I realized what was happening, I raced to finish this. I needed to see Lauren and Eli through in a way that felt like they were in someway…mine? This was a deeply personal reading experience, and I imagine that will be the case for anyone that knows a capital g Grief.
I wish I could say more, but that might spoil some for you when this publishes September 1. Thank you @tinder_press for this e-galley. I cannot wait to talk with fellow readers about this one, and I hope Chloe Benjamin continues exploring these “what ifs”, helping each of us savor the good a little more each time.
Laurel, a brilliant scientist, Is hiding from everything and everyone in the furthest place she can think of - an isolated research station on Antarctica. We know she is escaping a reality she cant quite face, and we slowly realize exactly why. When a strange yet beautiful arc suddenly appears (also drawing her husband, Eli, to Antarctica) alongside a long shot that they could perhaps turn time and do things all over again, Lauren and Eli are confronted with the most heart aching and mind bending of “what ifs”.
I finished this one with full body chills, but it’s also kind of heart to talk about without spoiling some of it’s power. Here’s what I think you do need to know: you must read some science stuff…you don’t have to understand it all, but the first half holds a lot of it. Keep going. This is also an exploration of grief, time, connectivity, and consciousness in a wholly original way. Once I realized what was happening, I raced to finish this. I needed to see Lauren and Eli through in a way that felt like they were in someway…mine? This was a deeply personal reading experience, and I imagine that will be the case for anyone that knows a capital g Grief.
I wish I could say more, but that might spoil some for you when this publishes September 1. Thank you @tinder_press for this e-galley. I cannot wait to talk with fellow readers about this one, and I hope Chloe Benjamin continues exploring these “what ifs”, helping each of us savor the good a little more each time.
January 23, 2026
I read Chloe Benjamin’s new book in a fever dream 24 hours where I simply could not put it down - this is a book that somehow manages to tackle big ideas - love, grief, rupture, the origin of life, time itself - in a vividly human story of two people who find themselves at the end of the earth, the end of so many things, and yet - on the cusp of discovery.
This book felt new, bold, and astonishing. It’s not so much a journey as a constant revelation.
The only question I’m left with as a reader is: Where will Chloe Benjamin take us next?
I, for one, can’t wait to find out.
This book felt new, bold, and astonishing. It’s not so much a journey as a constant revelation.
The only question I’m left with as a reader is: Where will Chloe Benjamin take us next?
I, for one, can’t wait to find out.
Want to Read
August 28, 2026BREAKING: the physical cover has beautiful little metallic stars on it.
that's enough to make me want to read it in and of itself.
that's enough to make me want to read it in and of itself.
Want to Read
August 17, 2026A much anticipated speculative/science fiction novel about Laurel, a biologist who is working in Antartica and catches a mysterious phenomenon called 'The Arc' that appears across the ice. This event pulls in a lot of scientists, including her ex husband. Laurel believes that The Arc is able to turn back their time and alter shared past. Why is Laurel truly in Antartica and what is she trying to correct?
This book is thick-over 500 pages, but the content? Superb.
Many thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons and the author, Chloe Benjamin for an early ARC.
Publication date: September 1, 2026
This book is thick-over 500 pages, but the content? Superb.
Many thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons and the author, Chloe Benjamin for an early ARC.
Publication date: September 1, 2026
Read
February 3, 2026A mind-bending, head-popping sci-fi love story full of intrigue and tenderness.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️ ARC Review from Netgalley
This book had a really intriguing premise, and there were a few moments I genuinely enjoyed, but overall the execution didn’t work for me.
The first 40% was weighed down by excessive backstory and unnecessary detail, which made the book drag. Some descriptions went far beyond what was needed which pulled me out of the story.
The worldbuilding raised more questions than it answered. Key concepts necessary for the story to make sense were either poorly explained or not explained at all. The rules of the world essentially didn't exist.
Late in the book, the timeline starts jumping back and forth between years, which only added to the confusion and was not necessary. It could have been told in order and it wouldn't have changed anything. It seemed like there were 15 different storylines happening at once, and half the time I didn't know which one I was as on.
If this hadn’t been an ARC, I likely would have DNF’d. There are good ideas here, and the premise itself is genuinely cool, but too much was either unexplained or poorly explained. It also couldve been easily half the length. For me, the confusion outweighed the intrigue.
This book had a really intriguing premise, and there were a few moments I genuinely enjoyed, but overall the execution didn’t work for me.
The first 40% was weighed down by excessive backstory and unnecessary detail, which made the book drag. Some descriptions went far beyond what was needed which pulled me out of the story.
The worldbuilding raised more questions than it answered. Key concepts necessary for the story to make sense were either poorly explained or not explained at all. The rules of the world essentially didn't exist.
Late in the book, the timeline starts jumping back and forth between years, which only added to the confusion and was not necessary. It could have been told in order and it wouldn't have changed anything. It seemed like there were 15 different storylines happening at once, and half the time I didn't know which one I was as on.
If this hadn’t been an ARC, I likely would have DNF’d. There are good ideas here, and the premise itself is genuinely cool, but too much was either unexplained or poorly explained. It also couldve been easily half the length. For me, the confusion outweighed the intrigue.
March 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Chloe Benjamin for the opportunity to review an ARC of Under Story!
Reading the synopsis, I was really interested in this unique sci-fi story about love, life and death, and the ultimate question of can we live our story a second time but in a different way. I liked the author’s authentic descriptions of grief, trauma, love, and loss. I felt gutted for the main characters throughout their journey. The story had good bones and a fascinating concept. Unfortunately, the first half was incredibly slow with an over abundance of backstory that didn’t feel central to the point. The author’s descriptions for some of the scientific processes were excessive when it wasn’t entirely part of the plot but rather filler.
I liked but didn’t love. Could have been condensed to a place where the concept was still there but you don’t get lost in the weeds of all the unneeded detail.
Reading the synopsis, I was really interested in this unique sci-fi story about love, life and death, and the ultimate question of can we live our story a second time but in a different way. I liked the author’s authentic descriptions of grief, trauma, love, and loss. I felt gutted for the main characters throughout their journey. The story had good bones and a fascinating concept. Unfortunately, the first half was incredibly slow with an over abundance of backstory that didn’t feel central to the point. The author’s descriptions for some of the scientific processes were excessive when it wasn’t entirely part of the plot but rather filler.
I liked but didn’t love. Could have been condensed to a place where the concept was still there but you don’t get lost in the weeds of all the unneeded detail.
August 26, 2026
The two halves of this book were so disjointed that giving it an overall rating is difficult, but I’m going to be generous and give it a 3.
This is definitely a story best entered blind, so I’m going to avoid much summary for those who may enjoy it. I feel like I read two entirely different stories, which isn’t inherently bad (Life of Pi, The Count of Monte Cristo, hello?), but it really didn’t work for me here for reasons I’m sure you’re excited for me to tell you. So I’m breaking this review into the Good Half (first 40%) and the Not-So-Good Half (the rest).
The Good Half: Good, good. This is literary fiction exploring grief, failed relationships, motherhood vs. personal ambition, and middle age, and I absolutely loved it. The geographic setting (Antarctica!) mirrors Laurel’s internal isolation so, so well. The writing is strong, with prose that never gets too highfalutin. The characters are endearing, particularly the side characters, and Laurel’s development showed so much promise. The dialogue and scenes could be a little corny or stiff at times, but it didn’t make me like them any less. The first 40% was easily 5 stars.
The Not-So-Good Half: Oh, boy. I don’t mind speculative SciFi at all. In fact, I often prefer it. I also don’t think an author needs a background in science to write good SciFi (Amal El-Mohtar and Taylor Jenkins Reid do a good job of this). However, I think Benjamin was just too ambitious here, and her inexperience with the subject matter bled through.
A significant part of scientific training is learning how to explain your science so other people can understand it. While I’m no authority, I do have a scientific background, and I didn’t know wtf was goin on. We have fictional scientists with fictional motivations conducting fictional experiments based on fictional hypotheses that completely challenge actual scientific laws, and things get very, very muddy. I am dying to know what actual physicists or mycologists would think of this, because I have a feeling it ain’t great.
The second-chance romance also had so much potential, but the chemistry was nowhere to be seen. Whatever emotional thread existed between them got lost among the 1,000 other things I was trying to keep track of. By the end, the second half felt like a confusing marathon I was just ready to have over. 2 stars.
I’m not sure I would recommend this book specifically, but I do think Benjamin shows a lot of promise as a more traditional literary fiction author. The quieter, character-driven parts of this were genuinely excellent. I just wish she’d shown more restraint with the scope, because the book I was reading at the beginning was one I absolutely loved.
Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is definitely a story best entered blind, so I’m going to avoid much summary for those who may enjoy it. I feel like I read two entirely different stories, which isn’t inherently bad (Life of Pi, The Count of Monte Cristo, hello?), but it really didn’t work for me here for reasons I’m sure you’re excited for me to tell you. So I’m breaking this review into the Good Half (first 40%) and the Not-So-Good Half (the rest).
The Good Half: Good, good. This is literary fiction exploring grief, failed relationships, motherhood vs. personal ambition, and middle age, and I absolutely loved it. The geographic setting (Antarctica!) mirrors Laurel’s internal isolation so, so well. The writing is strong, with prose that never gets too highfalutin. The characters are endearing, particularly the side characters, and Laurel’s development showed so much promise. The dialogue and scenes could be a little corny or stiff at times, but it didn’t make me like them any less. The first 40% was easily 5 stars.
The Not-So-Good Half: Oh, boy. I don’t mind speculative SciFi at all. In fact, I often prefer it. I also don’t think an author needs a background in science to write good SciFi (Amal El-Mohtar and Taylor Jenkins Reid do a good job of this). However, I think Benjamin was just too ambitious here, and her inexperience with the subject matter bled through.
A significant part of scientific training is learning how to explain your science so other people can understand it. While I’m no authority, I do have a scientific background, and I didn’t know wtf was goin on. We have fictional scientists with fictional motivations conducting fictional experiments based on fictional hypotheses that completely challenge actual scientific laws, and things get very, very muddy. I am dying to know what actual physicists or mycologists would think of this, because I have a feeling it ain’t great.
The second-chance romance also had so much potential, but the chemistry was nowhere to be seen. Whatever emotional thread existed between them got lost among the 1,000 other things I was trying to keep track of. By the end, the second half felt like a confusing marathon I was just ready to have over. 2 stars.
I’m not sure I would recommend this book specifically, but I do think Benjamin shows a lot of promise as a more traditional literary fiction author. The quieter, character-driven parts of this were genuinely excellent. I just wish she’d shown more restraint with the scope, because the book I was reading at the beginning was one I absolutely loved.
Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Want to Read
June 7, 2026I think it's been enough years since The Immortalists came out that I can safely proclaim: I don't think it was as good as everyone said. Truly, her debut novel, The Anatomy of Dreams was far more interesting. And this new one gives me the impression that Benjamin might be going back to her roots. I shall investigate. 🧐
Click here to hear more about this book and my other anticipated releases of the upcoming quarter over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Click here to hear more about this book and my other anticipated releases of the upcoming quarter over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Currently Reading
August 17, 2026SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE!!!!
I'm also hosting a giveaway to receive an EARLY finished copy! You can enter the giveaway on my Substack (book talk with lauren)
I'm also hosting a giveaway to receive an EARLY finished copy! You can enter the giveaway on my Substack (book talk with lauren)
August 21, 2026
‘Under Story’ is both a speculative science fiction novel and a moving literary story about grief and starting over again. Full of science and very ambitious, but luckily also an accessible read. I have to admit that I didn’t wholly believe in it, but I’m not a reader of sf novels, so other readers may well feel different.
Thank you PenguinRandom House US and Edelweiss for the ARC.
Thank you PenguinRandom House US and Edelweiss for the ARC.
April 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I just closed the book and Wow.
I am a Chloe Benjamin fan, she also knits, it is a long story but this shared hobby likely drew me closer to her. I saw her speak about her last book “The Immortalists” at a coffee shop, she spoke of knitting. I have knit with Chloe. Subsequently, I have observed her for years through social media building this novel. It has been nothing short of painstaking and a labor of love. I have been waiting for this. I am not sorry.
The story is so epic, bear with me, as I can’t do it justice. Eli and Laurel meet very late in high school. Each brilliant in their own right. They both become acclaimed in their field of science and eventually they find their way back to one another. They marry and have Silas. Tragedy strikes which changes the trajectory of their lives together. They separately end up at McMurdo Station, a science hub in Antarctica. There is an anomaly that may allow them a way back. Can they find their way back to one another? The premise is so wild but also wildly imaginative - could there be an under story? I will let you discover what that is. It is magnificent. It is very very ambitious. It is a little science-y and there is a story (an under story) that needs groundwork laid; be patient, I believe you will be rewarded.
As a novice reviewer, I am anxious, where to go from here. I do not like spoiler reviews, yet I want you to want to read this book. The book feels heavy and thoughtful. It’s a book you prepare to have time for, to ponder. Make time for this book, you will not regret it.
I am a Chloe Benjamin fan, she also knits, it is a long story but this shared hobby likely drew me closer to her. I saw her speak about her last book “The Immortalists” at a coffee shop, she spoke of knitting. I have knit with Chloe. Subsequently, I have observed her for years through social media building this novel. It has been nothing short of painstaking and a labor of love. I have been waiting for this. I am not sorry.
The story is so epic, bear with me, as I can’t do it justice. Eli and Laurel meet very late in high school. Each brilliant in their own right. They both become acclaimed in their field of science and eventually they find their way back to one another. They marry and have Silas. Tragedy strikes which changes the trajectory of their lives together. They separately end up at McMurdo Station, a science hub in Antarctica. There is an anomaly that may allow them a way back. Can they find their way back to one another? The premise is so wild but also wildly imaginative - could there be an under story? I will let you discover what that is. It is magnificent. It is very very ambitious. It is a little science-y and there is a story (an under story) that needs groundwork laid; be patient, I believe you will be rewarded.
As a novice reviewer, I am anxious, where to go from here. I do not like spoiler reviews, yet I want you to want to read this book. The book feels heavy and thoughtful. It’s a book you prepare to have time for, to ponder. Make time for this book, you will not regret it.
May 8, 2026
I really wanted to love this one. It’s beautifully written, with vivid, immersive descriptions of the natural world, especially in the Antarctica sections, which were my favorite. The book explores themes of grief, love, and our relationship to the planet in a way that felt sincere and thoughtful.
The first part completely pulled me in. Laurel is a compelling character, and the beauty and isolation of Antarctica creates such an atmospheric backdrop for the story.
For me, the novel lost some momentum in the second half as it leans more heavily into its speculative elements. I found those sections a bit harder to follow, and the logic didn’t always seem to make sense. While I could appreciate the ambition behind it, I had trouble staying fully immersed.
That said, I loved the character work throughout the novel, and there’s no denying Benjamin’s talent as an author. Even when it didn’t fully land for me, it was still an engaging and thought-provoking read.
In the end, while I didn’t love this book, I can definitely see it resonating with other readers, especially those drawn to science fiction with a speculative edge.
The first part completely pulled me in. Laurel is a compelling character, and the beauty and isolation of Antarctica creates such an atmospheric backdrop for the story.
For me, the novel lost some momentum in the second half as it leans more heavily into its speculative elements. I found those sections a bit harder to follow, and the logic didn’t always seem to make sense. While I could appreciate the ambition behind it, I had trouble staying fully immersed.
That said, I loved the character work throughout the novel, and there’s no denying Benjamin’s talent as an author. Even when it didn’t fully land for me, it was still an engaging and thought-provoking read.
In the end, while I didn’t love this book, I can definitely see it resonating with other readers, especially those drawn to science fiction with a speculative edge.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an incredibly ambitious book, unlike anything I've read before, that feels both intimate and cosmic. Under Story covers Antarctica, mycology and quantum physics, but also aging, love, memory, forgiveness and the ways our lives echo across time and space. It's heartbreaking, mind-bending and left me wanting to travel to McCurdo Station and across the duoverse. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book as much as this one, or the last time I stayed up until 2am reading because I couldn't put it down.
Highly recommend for fans of Nathan Hill's Wellness, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone's This Is How You Lose the Time War and the A24 film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for this eARC
Highly recommend for fans of Nathan Hill's Wellness, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone's This Is How You Lose the Time War and the A24 film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for this eARC
Read
March 1, 2026This book FUUuuCkkED with me!!!!!!!!!! I honestly feel like I went back in time I'm thirteen and just finished house of leaves. I gotta SIT on this but please read it when it comes out I will need 2 discuss with all
August 16, 2026
This book had me so intrigued. There was a lot of science words and concepts that truly hurt my brain to consider, both proven and theoretical, but man did it have me staring off into space thinking about the ideas it brought forth. It’s not my favorite book I’ve ever read but I am really glad that I picked it up. I am both frustrated by and love the ending. Laurel and Eli’s sheer force of will to fight for their family across timelines was powerful and yet this book also served as a reminder that innovation is not always improvement. This would make a great discussion book!
August 7, 2026
I’ve never read anything like this. I loveddd Under Story from start to finish. I can’t wait until everyone’s talking about this one!
Under Story follows the journey of mycologist, Laurel, as she copes with her recent divorce and devastating family circumstances.
When an opportunity arises for Laurel to leave her field and work in a kitchen on Antarctica, Laurel takes the position, only to come face to face with her ex-husband.
Thus begins a wild journey the two must decide whether or not to embark upon in an attempt to change their fate.
I couldn't put this one down and can't stop thinking about it! A must-read.
Under Story follows the journey of mycologist, Laurel, as she copes with her recent divorce and devastating family circumstances.
When an opportunity arises for Laurel to leave her field and work in a kitchen on Antarctica, Laurel takes the position, only to come face to face with her ex-husband.
Thus begins a wild journey the two must decide whether or not to embark upon in an attempt to change their fate.
I couldn't put this one down and can't stop thinking about it! A must-read.
August 28, 2026
I really, really wanted to love Under Story, which is billed as a kind of time travel-esque "second chance at love" love story but I felt underwhelmed.
Lauren and Eli discover the Arc, where they believe another universe might exist where they can travel for a second chance of life and love.
There were parts I liked (Lauren and Eli worked particularly well together, despite their problems in their relationship) and the writing flows well, even when I lost track of what was happening in the last 100 pages or so. However, the way the other universe worked really didn’t work for me and there were elements of it that felt odd and uncomfortable. It’s very difficult to be more elaborate without spoiling the story. I also didn't really feel the love story and romance in it either.
It's a shame as I absolutely loved The Immortalists and was really looking forward to this. I wouldn't put people off buying it because it's getting great reviews elsewhere and you have to form your own opinion but it missed the mark for me.
Lauren and Eli discover the Arc, where they believe another universe might exist where they can travel for a second chance of life and love.
There were parts I liked (Lauren and Eli worked particularly well together, despite their problems in their relationship) and the writing flows well, even when I lost track of what was happening in the last 100 pages or so. However, the way the other universe worked really didn’t work for me and there were elements of it that felt odd and uncomfortable. It’s very difficult to be more elaborate without spoiling the story. I also didn't really feel the love story and romance in it either.
It's a shame as I absolutely loved The Immortalists and was really looking forward to this. I wouldn't put people off buying it because it's getting great reviews elsewhere and you have to form your own opinion but it missed the mark for me.
May 26, 2026
I was desperate to read this after loving the Immortalists so much and it didn’t disappoint. It was a wild ride of all kinds of science, parenthood, grief, time travel, and more. I could’ve done with slightly less science but would recommend for a super unique read.
February 17, 2026
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and Putnam.
I really loved this book. I loved the science, I loved that I had to rethink how things might work, and I loved that I was constantly having to shift how I thought about the characters, their situations, and their reasons behind why they acted.
The story asks you to suspend a few beliefs, but gives you plausible reasons as to why you should do so. It's science fiction at its best because it makes you believe that maybe it really could be possible... while being grounded in fiction.
It's a story of loss, mistakes, regret, and love...and finding ourselves in the midst of all those things.
I really loved this book. I loved the science, I loved that I had to rethink how things might work, and I loved that I was constantly having to shift how I thought about the characters, their situations, and their reasons behind why they acted.
The story asks you to suspend a few beliefs, but gives you plausible reasons as to why you should do so. It's science fiction at its best because it makes you believe that maybe it really could be possible... while being grounded in fiction.
It's a story of loss, mistakes, regret, and love...and finding ourselves in the midst of all those things.
February 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Under Story by Chloe Benjamin
This was my first novel by Chloe Benjamin, and it won’t be my last. Under Story is an ambitious, layered work that weaves together climate science, family legacy and the quiet awe of the natural world.
Much of the novel centres on the research station in Antarctica, where scientists are studying fragile ecosystems at the edge of collapse. The depictions of fieldwork, ecological monitoring and the day-to-day realities of life at a remote research base feel authentic and immersive. As a biologist, I particularly valued the careful, well-embedded references to flora and fauna, evolutionary adaptation and environmental fragility. The science never feels superficial, it is integral to the emotional and thematic core of the story.
Running alongside the Antarctic research is the mystery of the “Arc” a strange, almost mythic phenomenon that hovers between scientific discovery and existential question. The characters are complex and quietly compelling, particularly those working on the research station, whose professional dedication sits in contrast to their personal uncertainties. The isolation of Antarctica sharpens their relationships and exposes their vulnerabilities, giving the novel both intellectual heft and emotional resonance.
The pacing is deliberate, but the atmosphere with stark landscapes, scientific inquiry and the slow unravelling of the Arc’s significance kept me fully engaged. It’s a novel that invites reflection rather than racing toward resolution.
A thoughtful, beautifully constructed exploration of science, climate and human connection. A very strong four-star read.
This was my first novel by Chloe Benjamin, and it won’t be my last. Under Story is an ambitious, layered work that weaves together climate science, family legacy and the quiet awe of the natural world.
Much of the novel centres on the research station in Antarctica, where scientists are studying fragile ecosystems at the edge of collapse. The depictions of fieldwork, ecological monitoring and the day-to-day realities of life at a remote research base feel authentic and immersive. As a biologist, I particularly valued the careful, well-embedded references to flora and fauna, evolutionary adaptation and environmental fragility. The science never feels superficial, it is integral to the emotional and thematic core of the story.
Running alongside the Antarctic research is the mystery of the “Arc” a strange, almost mythic phenomenon that hovers between scientific discovery and existential question. The characters are complex and quietly compelling, particularly those working on the research station, whose professional dedication sits in contrast to their personal uncertainties. The isolation of Antarctica sharpens their relationships and exposes their vulnerabilities, giving the novel both intellectual heft and emotional resonance.
The pacing is deliberate, but the atmosphere with stark landscapes, scientific inquiry and the slow unravelling of the Arc’s significance kept me fully engaged. It’s a novel that invites reflection rather than racing toward resolution.
A thoughtful, beautifully constructed exploration of science, climate and human connection. A very strong four-star read.
June 5, 2026
I really loved the science fiction concept of this novel, to the point where I am still thinking about it to this day. Unfortunately, I felt like the execution fell flat for me.
After a divorce and a tragic event, Laurel, a scientist who specializes in fungi, moves to Antarctica to work in the kitchen and escape her life. During her time, she observes and is fascinated by a light streaming across the sky, called the Arc. To investigate the Arc, a group of physicists come, and *gasp* one of them is her ex-husband Eli. The rest of the story goes from there.
There are two halves of the story. The first half focuses on introducing the characters and learning about the science of the Arc and what it is. The first half of the book is extremely heavy on the scientific explanations and includes a lot of scientific jargon. I got a bit lost in all the science and I feel like it took away from the story. In the end of the first part, Eli and Laurel learn what the Arc is and embrace the consequences of it.
The second half of the story was a lot more enjoyable for me. You really get to see the relationship building between characters and also the growth of the characters throughout time. The complexities and emotions are beautifully shown through Chloe Benjamin's writing. The consequences of the Arc were super fascinating to me and I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen in my world if I went through something like this.
Overall, really cool and interesting story, I just got lost in the science and the length of the book. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book!
After a divorce and a tragic event, Laurel, a scientist who specializes in fungi, moves to Antarctica to work in the kitchen and escape her life. During her time, she observes and is fascinated by a light streaming across the sky, called the Arc. To investigate the Arc, a group of physicists come, and *gasp* one of them is her ex-husband Eli. The rest of the story goes from there.
There are two halves of the story. The first half focuses on introducing the characters and learning about the science of the Arc and what it is. The first half of the book is extremely heavy on the scientific explanations and includes a lot of scientific jargon. I got a bit lost in all the science and I feel like it took away from the story. In the end of the first part, Eli and Laurel learn what the Arc is and embrace the consequences of it.
The second half of the story was a lot more enjoyable for me. You really get to see the relationship building between characters and also the growth of the characters throughout time. The complexities and emotions are beautifully shown through Chloe Benjamin's writing. The consequences of the Arc were super fascinating to me and I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen in my world if I went through something like this.
Overall, really cool and interesting story, I just got lost in the science and the length of the book. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I agree with other reviewers that it's best to go into this book blind, so I won't give too much of a synopsis!
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, and I found the concept fascinating and truly mind-bending. Unfortunately, I think the switch-up about halfway through made the second half of the book really drag for me, and certain parts stretched the limits of my imagination (but maybe this is a me problem). I would probably give the first third 5 stars, the second or so third 3 stars, and the last third 2 stars. Ultimately giving it 2.5 stars rounded up to a 3!
This is clearly a very well-researched book with ambitious ideas; unfortunately, I think the author wrote herself into a corner which made the second half feel slow and stilted for me. I also felt the ending didn't deliver, although the set-up did give the author room to explore some philosophical concepts. Still, I really admire the scope and scale of what she tried to do, and I applaud that she was able to write such complex and interesting characters in such interesting settings.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, and I found the concept fascinating and truly mind-bending. Unfortunately, I think the switch-up about halfway through made the second half of the book really drag for me, and certain parts stretched the limits of my imagination (but maybe this is a me problem). I would probably give the first third 5 stars, the second or so third 3 stars, and the last third 2 stars. Ultimately giving it 2.5 stars rounded up to a 3!
This is clearly a very well-researched book with ambitious ideas; unfortunately, I think the author wrote herself into a corner which made the second half feel slow and stilted for me. I also felt the ending didn't deliver, although the set-up did give the author room to explore some philosophical concepts. Still, I really admire the scope and scale of what she tried to do, and I applaud that she was able to write such complex and interesting characters in such interesting settings.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
March 23, 2026
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC electronic copy.
I was more than half way through this book
but I just couldn’t finish it. The premise of the book caught my attention, an alternative life found through a mysterious portal near the research camp at the South Pole. When the alternate life was a “backwards” world in which time reversed and “old” people were born to their children I gave up. Just not for me. Although I was fascinated by the study of the female scientist in this world - the study of fungus that learned from its previous “life” , whether this was true or not it was interesting. Maybe others will enjoy but just too far out there for me.
I was more than half way through this book
but I just couldn’t finish it. The premise of the book caught my attention, an alternative life found through a mysterious portal near the research camp at the South Pole. When the alternate life was a “backwards” world in which time reversed and “old” people were born to their children I gave up. Just not for me. Although I was fascinated by the study of the female scientist in this world - the study of fungus that learned from its previous “life” , whether this was true or not it was interesting. Maybe others will enjoy but just too far out there for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2026
I can usually write my reviews on my phone or ipad, but for this one I had to pull out big internet (my laptop) because this might be simultaneously the hardest and easiest review to write.
I can think of fewer than 10 books in my entire 41 years of life that I knew for a fact I was going to love before I even got halfway through. This one flew straight to the top for me. I even pre-ordered it at 46%. I thought The Immortalists was as good as it got, but this is the easiest 5 star review of my life, and here's why.
Chloe Benjamin is a legitimately masterful storyteller. I don't even think that phrase embodies how I feel about this book, but we move. I loved every single character - literally all of them. Benjamin builds them with such nuance and compassion that (as cliche as this sounds) it felt like I was watching a movie or sitting in the room while the events of the story unfolded. It was so crystal clear who these people were, and every choice they made fit them. On top of that, the novel was so smartly written - in more ways than one. Benjamin had to know about such diverse topics like mycology, biology (human AND marine), and physics - to name a few. I know zero things about all of those topics, but the way they're folded into the story made me curious while not alienating me with scientific jargon. All of it made sense, not just because there's an academic aspect to the book but also because it matters to the characters and how they move through the world(s).
I am not going to say anything about what this book is about because I knew nothing outside of the blurb, and it was so much better (in my opinion). But let me just tell you: you are going to feel every emotion that exists in your body. I cried thrice (and teared up several times outside of that). I laughed. I got mad. My heart broke and mended and re-broke and re-mended. I literally felt like these were real people, and I CARED about them. It was one of those books I delayed finishing because I just didn't want it to end. I feel like that's such a deep compliment to Chloe Benjamin. You can see abundantly how much she put into this novel, and the reward is exponential. I will be thinking about this book for awhile. What am I supposed to do with my life now?
*Thanks to NetGalley, Putnam, and Chloe Benjamin for this eARC. This review contains my honest, authentic thoughts and opinions.*
I can think of fewer than 10 books in my entire 41 years of life that I knew for a fact I was going to love before I even got halfway through. This one flew straight to the top for me. I even pre-ordered it at 46%. I thought The Immortalists was as good as it got, but this is the easiest 5 star review of my life, and here's why.
Chloe Benjamin is a legitimately masterful storyteller. I don't even think that phrase embodies how I feel about this book, but we move. I loved every single character - literally all of them. Benjamin builds them with such nuance and compassion that (as cliche as this sounds) it felt like I was watching a movie or sitting in the room while the events of the story unfolded. It was so crystal clear who these people were, and every choice they made fit them. On top of that, the novel was so smartly written - in more ways than one. Benjamin had to know about such diverse topics like mycology, biology (human AND marine), and physics - to name a few. I know zero things about all of those topics, but the way they're folded into the story made me curious while not alienating me with scientific jargon. All of it made sense, not just because there's an academic aspect to the book but also because it matters to the characters and how they move through the world(s).
I am not going to say anything about what this book is about because I knew nothing outside of the blurb, and it was so much better (in my opinion). But let me just tell you: you are going to feel every emotion that exists in your body. I cried thrice (and teared up several times outside of that). I laughed. I got mad. My heart broke and mended and re-broke and re-mended. I literally felt like these were real people, and I CARED about them. It was one of those books I delayed finishing because I just didn't want it to end. I feel like that's such a deep compliment to Chloe Benjamin. You can see abundantly how much she put into this novel, and the reward is exponential. I will be thinking about this book for awhile. What am I supposed to do with my life now?
*Thanks to NetGalley, Putnam, and Chloe Benjamin for this eARC. This review contains my honest, authentic thoughts and opinions.*
August 23, 2026
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
Laurel is a troubled, brilliant scientist. But instead of continuing her study of fungi, she’s washing dishes at the bottom of the world. It’s in Antarctica where she is escaping something dark from her past.
Among a ragtag group of friends she’s made in this new life, she sees something beautiful and surprising. It’s called the Arc - similar to the northern lights but in a half circle. She’s seen it before - in a drawing of the Duoverse made by her ex-husband, Eli.
And it’s not long before Eli himself appears on the ice continent, surprising Laurel, and changing the trajectory of their lives forever.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
Stefon: This book has EVERYTHING! Mushrooms - the good and the better (wink wink), motherhood, grief, the Multiverse, science and SCIENCE, guilt, physics, regrets, tears, apple orchards, explorations of time, and consequences.
It is also dense - in pages and content - and features many pieces left open to interpretation.
And while I do not feel I fully understood it (despite rereading, pausing often, and googling) I enjoyed it immensely. It is a story rooted deeply in what if?
If you choose to read it, I encourage you to enjoy the mind bending science while digging deep into the implications of difficult choices and how each sends ripples through the immediacy of your life as well as the long haul.
I was fully invested early on and desperate to know what would happen to Laurel and Eli. Additionally, the last two thirds of the novel? Incredibly interesting and WILD and I found myself constantly stopping to connect and reflect.
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
Wild Dark Shore is comparable but it also felt like there was some Annie Jacobson mixed in.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
It takes some big balls to recommend a 500+ page speculative fiction with an open end, but if anything I said interests you, absolutely pick this one up.
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
Grateful to @putnam for the eARC of this one which is out September 1.
Laurel is a troubled, brilliant scientist. But instead of continuing her study of fungi, she’s washing dishes at the bottom of the world. It’s in Antarctica where she is escaping something dark from her past.
Among a ragtag group of friends she’s made in this new life, she sees something beautiful and surprising. It’s called the Arc - similar to the northern lights but in a half circle. She’s seen it before - in a drawing of the Duoverse made by her ex-husband, Eli.
And it’s not long before Eli himself appears on the ice continent, surprising Laurel, and changing the trajectory of their lives forever.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
Stefon: This book has EVERYTHING! Mushrooms - the good and the better (wink wink), motherhood, grief, the Multiverse, science and SCIENCE, guilt, physics, regrets, tears, apple orchards, explorations of time, and consequences.
It is also dense - in pages and content - and features many pieces left open to interpretation.
And while I do not feel I fully understood it (despite rereading, pausing often, and googling) I enjoyed it immensely. It is a story rooted deeply in what if?
If you choose to read it, I encourage you to enjoy the mind bending science while digging deep into the implications of difficult choices and how each sends ripples through the immediacy of your life as well as the long haul.
I was fully invested early on and desperate to know what would happen to Laurel and Eli. Additionally, the last two thirds of the novel? Incredibly interesting and WILD and I found myself constantly stopping to connect and reflect.
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
Wild Dark Shore is comparable but it also felt like there was some Annie Jacobson mixed in.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
It takes some big balls to recommend a 500+ page speculative fiction with an open end, but if anything I said interests you, absolutely pick this one up.
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
Grateful to @putnam for the eARC of this one which is out September 1.
June 15, 2026
This book holds a story unlike any other I have ever read, and I was utterly captivated by each and every single page.
At its heart, it’s a story which explores how far you will go to reconnect with a loved one who you thought you’d lost forever…but not in any traditional sense. This story is incredible, mind-blowing, emotional, surreal and uniquely unconventional. It’s one I didn’t want to finish, but I was desperate to know how it would end.
The narrative follows the story of Laurel and Eli who are now divorced, but meet up again while working at the McMurdo research station in Antarctica. Laurel has noticed a pink glow in the sky - the Arc - and is convinced it can help them turn back the clock.
It’s a deep, intense, thought-provoking read which begins by delving into what has happened in Laurel and Eli’s past, and what has brought them to the coldest and windiest continent on earth. Laurel studies botany and plant ecology, while Eli is a physicist, and their colleagues play an important part in the story too.
I loved the wealth of knowledge this book contains - particularly what it’s like living at the base in Antarctica, and the wildlife there. It gives us a poignant look at the state our world is in, and explores how we can look after it better. It examines our own mortality, and the scientific world around us. We also read about Laurel and Eli’s studies in great detail.
While the first half of the book sets the scene, and reels us in, the second half takes us to an alternative reality. I don’t think a book has ever prompted me to stop and think about what I’m reading as much as this one did. It’s bold, it’s ingenious and I absolutely loved it!
I was sent a proof copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
At its heart, it’s a story which explores how far you will go to reconnect with a loved one who you thought you’d lost forever…but not in any traditional sense. This story is incredible, mind-blowing, emotional, surreal and uniquely unconventional. It’s one I didn’t want to finish, but I was desperate to know how it would end.
The narrative follows the story of Laurel and Eli who are now divorced, but meet up again while working at the McMurdo research station in Antarctica. Laurel has noticed a pink glow in the sky - the Arc - and is convinced it can help them turn back the clock.
It’s a deep, intense, thought-provoking read which begins by delving into what has happened in Laurel and Eli’s past, and what has brought them to the coldest and windiest continent on earth. Laurel studies botany and plant ecology, while Eli is a physicist, and their colleagues play an important part in the story too.
I loved the wealth of knowledge this book contains - particularly what it’s like living at the base in Antarctica, and the wildlife there. It gives us a poignant look at the state our world is in, and explores how we can look after it better. It examines our own mortality, and the scientific world around us. We also read about Laurel and Eli’s studies in great detail.
While the first half of the book sets the scene, and reels us in, the second half takes us to an alternative reality. I don’t think a book has ever prompted me to stop and think about what I’m reading as much as this one did. It’s bold, it’s ingenious and I absolutely loved it!
I was sent a proof copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 1, 2026
Ooh this is so good
This is a unique and interesting novel which tells the story of Laurel and Eli who are a divorced couple it starts in a very naturalistic way when Laurel takes a job in an Antarctic research post in an attempt to get away from an unhappy marriage. The setting is immediately interesting and the claustrophobia of spending a winter with no sunlight down in Antarctica. Is a good place to start a book.
It Soon becomes clear that there is an additional element to this Story as not far from the base camp. There is a strange light which appears to be emanating on in an unworldly fashion from deep in the Earth. her ex’s husband is a physicist and has been developing a theory of parallel universes and when he unexpectedly appears in the same place drawn by the same weird physical occurrence it seems natural that they would want to investigate without giving too much the plot away this investigation leads them to a parallel universe one in which time moves backwards in a mirror image of our own universe
There’s some very sad parts of this novel. The family have lost a small child to a drowning accident and this is described beautifully and very poignantly in a very heart breaking section
Of course this is a sci-fi novel but the author manages to mix sci-fi and reality perfectly at all feels like it makes sense and you can suspend your disbelief just enough to thoroughly enjoy the book
I Loved the ending
The authors writing style is clear, precise and flowing and it’s a very enjoyable Read. I’ve very much enjoyed the time.I spent
Immersed in the novel.
I’m aware of this author‘s previous novels, but I’ve not read them myself
I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy an intelligent cerebral sci-fi novel with added emotional undertones. if you enjoyed to paradise by Hannah, Yanagihara for example then you will enjoy those novels
I originally copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an honest review. The book is published in the UK. i’m the 1st of September 2026 by Headline books.
This review will appear in NetGalley UK, StoryGraph, Goodreads and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.Wordpress.com
After publication will also appear on Amazon UK and Waterstones
This is a unique and interesting novel which tells the story of Laurel and Eli who are a divorced couple it starts in a very naturalistic way when Laurel takes a job in an Antarctic research post in an attempt to get away from an unhappy marriage. The setting is immediately interesting and the claustrophobia of spending a winter with no sunlight down in Antarctica. Is a good place to start a book.
It Soon becomes clear that there is an additional element to this Story as not far from the base camp. There is a strange light which appears to be emanating on in an unworldly fashion from deep in the Earth. her ex’s husband is a physicist and has been developing a theory of parallel universes and when he unexpectedly appears in the same place drawn by the same weird physical occurrence it seems natural that they would want to investigate without giving too much the plot away this investigation leads them to a parallel universe one in which time moves backwards in a mirror image of our own universe
There’s some very sad parts of this novel. The family have lost a small child to a drowning accident and this is described beautifully and very poignantly in a very heart breaking section
Of course this is a sci-fi novel but the author manages to mix sci-fi and reality perfectly at all feels like it makes sense and you can suspend your disbelief just enough to thoroughly enjoy the book
I Loved the ending
The authors writing style is clear, precise and flowing and it’s a very enjoyable Read. I’ve very much enjoyed the time.I spent
Immersed in the novel.
I’m aware of this author‘s previous novels, but I’ve not read them myself
I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy an intelligent cerebral sci-fi novel with added emotional undertones. if you enjoyed to paradise by Hannah, Yanagihara for example then you will enjoy those novels
I originally copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an honest review. The book is published in the UK. i’m the 1st of September 2026 by Headline books.
This review will appear in NetGalley UK, StoryGraph, Goodreads and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.Wordpress.com
After publication will also appear on Amazon UK and Waterstones
August 21, 2026
What a fascinating book! I truly went in blind and so glad I did! This is considered “soft sci-fi” sub (sub?) genre. That makes sense but also don’t let that deter you, this isn’t my usual genre by any means and this is one of the best books I’ve read this year!
I was engaged through the whole book despite its length. Although there was a lot of life to live I felt like the characters were always on to the next item and honestly there was a lot going on and to think about the entire story.
If you’re seeking a book unlike something you’ve never read, need to get out of your comfort zone or need a book to talk about in book club, this is it! I felt my jaw drop a few times, I don’t want to spoil anything but this author has a great imagination! The descriptions were immersive and despite all the different settings and flashbacks it was easy to follow and put myself there. This is my first book by this author but I’ll be adding more by her to my TBR list!
Thank you NetGalley, Putnam and Chloe Benjamin for an advanced copy of this book.
I was engaged through the whole book despite its length. Although there was a lot of life to live I felt like the characters were always on to the next item and honestly there was a lot going on and to think about the entire story.
If you’re seeking a book unlike something you’ve never read, need to get out of your comfort zone or need a book to talk about in book club, this is it! I felt my jaw drop a few times, I don’t want to spoil anything but this author has a great imagination! The descriptions were immersive and despite all the different settings and flashbacks it was easy to follow and put myself there. This is my first book by this author but I’ll be adding more by her to my TBR list!
Thank you NetGalley, Putnam and Chloe Benjamin for an advanced copy of this book.
June 29, 2026
Under Story was phenomenal. I went into this a little unsure but the Antarctica bit grabbed me. An unexplainable glowing arc forms near McMurdo station and has the scientists stumped. Laurel is pretty newly divorced and unsure of what to do next when she takes a job at McMurdo. A few months after arriving, her exhusband, Eli, a physicist, shows up to study the arc. The two puts their heads together and start discussing a theory Eli always had of a duoverse. Could the arc be a portal?
At times, the duoverse concept/life was a bit confusing, but I think it’s because it’s not what we are used to in our universe. The story itself was great. Well written, loved the characters, the plot, all of it. It wrapped up nicely but I was sad that it ended. Really a great read.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for access to this ARC.
At times, the duoverse concept/life was a bit confusing, but I think it’s because it’s not what we are used to in our universe. The story itself was great. Well written, loved the characters, the plot, all of it. It wrapped up nicely but I was sad that it ended. Really a great read.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for access to this ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 367 reviews