Nostalgia

by Iris Lake

Twenty-eight-year-old Anya lives in a utopian nostalgia-land called the Inside, where all information is prearranged and humanity is relieved from the overstimulation of rapidly increasing technologies. But as Anya comes to realize the importance of the information she’s missing, she starts to question not only her identity but also the very foundations upon which the Inside was built. Desperate for comfort and connection, she nurtures a relationship with her mysterious and handsome colleague Kai, who encourages her to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of the Inside. And yet the more the two of them become connected, the more disconnected Anya seems to become from the world around her until the line between reality and fantasy starts to blur.

Nostalgia is an immersive and heartrending tale of love, connection, and the increasing need to remain human in a world that pushes you not to.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

260 pages, Paperback

Published December 27, 2025

About the author

Iris Lake is the pen name of a girl lost in daydreams. She loves art, poetry, and writing stories full of stardust, magic, and unapologetically romantic characters.

Reviews

[Sara Vallely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iris will write a book. I will read it immediately. My heart will swell so full it might burst. I will rate it 5 stars. I don’t make the rules!!! 😭

[Jinane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This has easily become one of my all time favorite books. The concept of the story is brilliant and incredibly thought-provoking. I absolutely loved it. The themes and the protagonists' thoughts resonated with me so deeply. Anya felt incredibly real and relatable, even with all her messy thoughts (or perhaps because of them), and Kai? What can I say, men written by Iris Lake always hit 🙂‍↕️🤌🏼
I also truly admire how she managed to weave a romance into the story in a way that felt organic and meaningful within the whole. And her ability to express the most complex thoughts in the simplest words always gets me. I highlighted countless passages that I know I’ll return to again and again.
This unique story has incredible depth, and I already feel the urge to read it again right away 🥹 An absolute masterpiece. (Also, I’d like to see this as a Black Mirror episode or something, please)

[Breanne ~ The Literary Life of Beans · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I can't believe this book isn't more popular! so much of it is exactly what we need right now. it was a beautiful mix of sci-fi and romance and existential crisis. great talk about depression and technology as well! an almost perfect book. the author is really able to transport you with her writing as well. beautiful work

I skipped the spicy scenes and there are a few random spicy thoughts but quite skippable overall. I would have loved the book even more without those parts.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dare to say this was the most unique book I read this year. I was expecting a cute little love story but I've got myself a sci-fi mirror in some way.

[aaliyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟 This book actually deserves an endless amount of stars. It left me with so many feelings at once, but most of all, gratitude for having been able to experience such awe-inspiring story telling.

[Ali Vasquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay now I have actually finished it lol idk why this book made me sooo sleepy every time. Interesting concept. She def gives young author who uses the thesaurus for every word to make the writing more interesting?

[Samia | Bookaroundandfindout · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a spectacular first book of 2026. I will do my best to review this without spoiling anything because the journey of this book warrants full and utter ignorance.

What I can say is that Iris Lake has done it yet again and FLOORED me in the amazingness of her writing and her in depth understanding of the human condition and social issues all encapsulated into a captivating and eerie novel.

This is a love story, but not in the way you would think. This isn't just love between two people, but the love we carry for ourselves and how far we may be willing to go in a world that is moving too quickly for us to get that love and feelings of contentment and peace. This book discusses the fine balance between showing up for yourself and showing up for others, as well as redefining what happiness can mean and the desperation in which we seek in even when we think we have it all.

If you're a dystopian/scifi book lover like me that is looking for a book that explores the social repercussions of society through this lens with a devastating love story with a maybe/maybe-not happy ending I highly recommend this book. It's new and different and very thought provoking where I have been sitting for days being like what did I read and wanting to re-read it so see all the hidden nuggets of the truth carefully placed into the novel.

[Halle Dobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

That 3 week situationship will change your lifeeee

[mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW REPORT
setting: ★★★★★
plot: ★★★★
themes: ★★★★★
emotional impact: ★★★★
personal enjoyment: ★★★★
writing style: ★★★★★
REPORT ROUNDUP: ★★★★

i always adore how iris lake puts together a story. this was no exception ! this was one of the most in depth stories yet !!

without giving anything away, i completely recommend going into this story blind !

as always, i endlessly highlighted throughout this entire story. the themes are IMMACULATE. the main character is relatable and the questions she has about the world she lives in are so real. there is such detail to this world and what it means ! there is such a depth to the main characters living inside of it !

everything about this is so thought provoking and the twist that comes with it made me question my own world. in a place where things pass by too fast and you’re just trying to reach out and hold onto something that proves that you were there. in a place where we endlessly strive to be “happy” and learning what it means to be content while trying to achieve it. love and ambition connects and feeds the world as we know it, and this story really examines that for me.

there are more thoughts i have that i truly can’t put into words at the moment ! i am still thinking on things days later about purpose and placement and people. so many questions about the world and the lens of wonder i see it through. i don’t know if i am meant to find out the answers.

i absolutely loved this story !!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this is one sitting and let me tell you it is by far the best book I’ve read in a LONG time. Never thought I’d say this for an indie romance novel but this to me is like a modern classic. The message of the book echoes so well our times that I can imagine rereading it in ten years and thinking how well it captured the feeling of being alive in a world that values progress over human connection.
Anya’s letter to Kai was one of my favorite pieces of writing ever. It actually brought me to tears. And the ending left me with so much hope about humanity and the future. I also appreciate that we got Kai’s pov at the end and realize how much he was also struggling because obviously Anya is an unreliable narrator because of her personal suffering.

[Calyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars:

This book is extremely topical in the way it explores connection, isolation, memory, and how technology shapes who we are, but it also felt very personal while reading it. Iris Lake asks uncomfortable questions about identity and loneliness without forcing answers, which made the story feel thoughtful rather than preachy.

So many moments made me stop and reflect, not because they were dramatic, but because they felt real. The characters feel human in their contradictions and desires, and the emotional beats land naturally.

And the spice absolutely delivered. It was intentional, emotional, and tied directly to character growth instead of being there just to shock. It added depth rather than distraction.

An official Iris Lake fan girl 💕

[Ruth Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just wow!! Love all her books and Nostalgia was amazing!! The ending was so good! I really enjoyed it! Her style makes you really escape into the world she is writing about. I have read all her books and am so excited for more!!

“I was the sparrow, and he was the moon” -page 121

“I wondered if this was what we represented to each other; the colors each of us couldn’t see” -page 123

My favourite page was 106

Ahhh so many I wrote down, those are a few that stuck out to me that I loved.

[Christine Alibutud · Rating 3 out of 5]

“For there was nothing I dreaded more than the idea of going through this life u affected.”

To my core, I am unable to escape nostalgia. I already miss things I still have. My curse is remembrance, as they would say. But at the same time, nostalgia is my fuel to move forward, in a sense. This line above from the book perfectly encapsulates that for me.

Giving this 3 stars! While I love the concept and uniqueness of the story, I felt a bit detached to the story during the middle. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed.

[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The details. The love story. The plot twist. The message behind it all. It was perfect. One of the greatest books I've ever read. I don't know how to describe it without giving anything away. It's better to go in completely blind and let Lake's beautiful words fill you with hope, perspective, gratitude and of course nostalgia.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Came for the smut stayed for the meaning of life. Infinite stars for me.

[Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible, touching story. I loved Kai and Anya and I kinda wished we had a book all from Kai's perspective becasue that epilogue was everything.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

She really said go out and touch some grass and I think I might actually do just that.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most unique book of 2025 by far!

[Amanda Guzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD. Gave severance x black mirror episode x romance love story. Wow.

[k etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love love and i love iris and i love this book

[Sinem Gürsoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5🌟

[Nicole Haywood · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.9/5

[Camille Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️ it was so touching and thought-provoking. Loved how unique it was

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most beautifully written book I’ve ever read I wish I could give it a million stars

[Jeniffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then you read a book that reminds you why you love reading books. This was it for me. The story was so unique, well written and to the point that I kept turning the pages wanting to find out what was really happening with the Inside and Anya. But also the romance. It is so rare we get to read a good romance these days. Tender, intimate, and most importantly meaningful. Like you actually understood how and why these two people fell in love, it wasn't just mindless attraction. The ending was bittersweet, especially after we came to understand what was actually happening (no spoilers but it was a SHOCK) but then Kai's pov came as an epilogue and everything tied perfectly together. Honestly I would give this book an award if I could. It was that good, that deep, that captivating.

Fair warning though it is very different from Lake's previous works so don't go in expecting fluffy, whimsy, magic etc. This is brutal, eye-opening and it will make you feel all the feels. But in the best way possible.

[Marya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was highly anticipating this and for a good reason. Ms Lake you did it again.