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You Pierce My Soul
Packed with shocking plot twists,
You Pierce My Soul
is a romantic and thrilling queer dystopian YA novel from a writer to watch.
"Snappy banter and heartfelt sapphic romance, wrapped in the sleek mystery of a Black Mirror episode."—Natalie Naudus, award-winning audiobook narrator and author of Gay the Pray Away
In the utopian city of New Ionia, everyone gets a soulmate and Zada can’t wait for hers. Now that she’s eighteen, it’s her turn to meet her destiny with the help of Heartsong, an algorithm that chooses your perfect match for you.
Then Zada crashes into her soulmate, setting off their shared Heartsong, and the unthinkable She feels nothing for him. But the program doesn’t make mistakes, and by the end of the night, Zada is engaged to a man she doesn’t love.
Desperate, Zada turns to a surprising her daringly beautiful former best friend, Daphne. Despite their estrangement, Daphne may be the only person who can help Zada uncover the truth about Heartsong. But can she trust her after all this time? And if what they find upends everything, can Zada find the courage to choose what she believes—and who she loves?
"Snappy banter and heartfelt sapphic romance, wrapped in the sleek mystery of a Black Mirror episode."—Natalie Naudus, award-winning audiobook narrator and author of Gay the Pray Away
In the utopian city of New Ionia, everyone gets a soulmate and Zada can’t wait for hers. Now that she’s eighteen, it’s her turn to meet her destiny with the help of Heartsong, an algorithm that chooses your perfect match for you.
Then Zada crashes into her soulmate, setting off their shared Heartsong, and the unthinkable She feels nothing for him. But the program doesn’t make mistakes, and by the end of the night, Zada is engaged to a man she doesn’t love.
Desperate, Zada turns to a surprising her daringly beautiful former best friend, Daphne. Despite their estrangement, Daphne may be the only person who can help Zada uncover the truth about Heartsong. But can she trust her after all this time? And if what they find upends everything, can Zada find the courage to choose what she believes—and who she loves?
Audible Audio
First published May 5, 2026
About the author
Jessica Mary Best
3 books97 followersJessica Mary Best is a multi-award-winning freelance writer/editor, an amateur singer/songwriter and a well-intentioned ball of pure quivering anxiety. She is based out of Columbus, Ohio. Her previous projects include the scripted audio dramas THE STRANGE CASE OF STARSHIP IRIS and KEEP IT STEADY. She was also a staff writer on Hartlife NFP's critically acclaimed podcast UNWELL: A MIDWESTERN GOTHIC MYSTERY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
June 27, 2026
ʚɞ you pierce my soul by jessica mary best ⋆.˚
⋆.˚ 8/5/26 — 5/6/26
⊱ ۫ ׅ book no. 65 of 2026 ── .✦
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
𑣲 ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ/ᴘʀᴇ-ʀᴇᴀᴅ:
thank you so so much to quirk books, netgalley and the author for this e-ARC 🤭 i requested this AGES ago, not thinking i’d get it, and i finally got accepted (after the publishing date, but i’m sure it’s fine 🥲)!!
i have never read a sapphic dystopian book, so it’s time to change that 🙂↕️🫶🏻
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
╰› (⭐3)
❝ it was the wrong thing to feel, but zada had never been good at feeling the right thing. ❞
⋆.˚ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
this wasn’t bad at all — the whole heartsong/soulmate thing was actually a really interesting concept. i fear i just did not really feel a connection to it 😕
it was not hard to read, but i just often felt bored and like there was something missing. i read this like 2 weeks ago and i regret to say i haven’t really thought of it much since. 😬
daphne was a little irritating at times, but i did like her. she got shit DONE! 🙂↕️
zada, however… i just found myself sighing and holding my head in my hands. she was so oblivious and, dare i say brainwashed, she was just annoying to read about. like i know that’s the point, that it’s a dystopian society and she doesn’t know what’s wrong with it, but DAMN. were critical thinking skills outlawed too? 😭
i felt like the worldbuilding could’ve had more nuance, as i found myself confused with what on earth was happening 😭🙏
while i’ve mostly had negative things to say, i didn’t hate my time reading this! i just don’t think it impacted me much — its message was a little lacklustre, and i think it could’ve benefited from maybe a bit more exposition and fleshing out 🙂↕️💕
all that to say, i loved the epilogue/final chapters, that was really sweet! it did take away a bit of the dire nature of the dystopian world though, like did they just leave everyone else to suffer or…? 😭
・・・・・
𑣲 ᴅᴏ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ?
i’m… not quite sure. if you’re just here for a fun, sapphic time, then yeah! if you’re looking for a well thought out dystopian, then no.
⋆.˚ 8/5/26 — 5/6/26
⊱ ۫ ׅ book no. 65 of 2026 ── .✦
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
𑣲 ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ/ᴘʀᴇ-ʀᴇᴀᴅ:
thank you so so much to quirk books, netgalley and the author for this e-ARC 🤭 i requested this AGES ago, not thinking i’d get it, and i finally got accepted (after the publishing date, but i’m sure it’s fine 🥲)!!
i have never read a sapphic dystopian book, so it’s time to change that 🙂↕️🫶🏻
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
╰› (⭐3)
❝ it was the wrong thing to feel, but zada had never been good at feeling the right thing. ❞
⋆.˚ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
this wasn’t bad at all — the whole heartsong/soulmate thing was actually a really interesting concept. i fear i just did not really feel a connection to it 😕
it was not hard to read, but i just often felt bored and like there was something missing. i read this like 2 weeks ago and i regret to say i haven’t really thought of it much since. 😬
daphne was a little irritating at times, but i did like her. she got shit DONE! 🙂↕️
zada, however… i just found myself sighing and holding my head in my hands. she was so oblivious and, dare i say brainwashed, she was just annoying to read about. like i know that’s the point, that it’s a dystopian society and she doesn’t know what’s wrong with it, but DAMN. were critical thinking skills outlawed too? 😭
i felt like the worldbuilding could’ve had more nuance, as i found myself confused with what on earth was happening 😭🙏
while i’ve mostly had negative things to say, i didn’t hate my time reading this! i just don’t think it impacted me much — its message was a little lacklustre, and i think it could’ve benefited from maybe a bit more exposition and fleshing out 🙂↕️💕
all that to say, i loved the epilogue/final chapters, that was really sweet! it did take away a bit of the dire nature of the dystopian world though, like did they just leave everyone else to suffer or…? 😭
・・・・・
𑣲 ᴅᴏ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ?
i’m… not quite sure. if you’re just here for a fun, sapphic time, then yeah! if you’re looking for a well thought out dystopian, then no.
Read
September 11, 2025Excuse me THAT COVER????!
If you heard someone barking - it wasn’t me.
If you heard someone barking - it wasn’t me.
Want to Read
May 5, 2026I need this like I need air 😭
June 10, 2026
Oh! That was such a pleasant surprise! Zada and Daphne’s blossoming romance was such a good through line in the course of the book.
I did feel like the book was missing more of the digging into the politics and backdrop if the story, but I also understand that it’s YA and maybe not the target audience for waxing poetic about politics.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I did feel like the book was missing more of the digging into the politics and backdrop if the story, but I also understand that it’s YA and maybe not the target audience for waxing poetic about politics.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 17, 2025
Thank you Quirk Books & NetGalley for the chance to read the eARC!
---
Calling this a dystopia would be wrong, as wrong as calling it a utopia. However, this is what New Ionia is supposed to be: a promised land after a (presumed) climatic cataclysm, a beacon of hope among destroyed lands.
In New Ionia, rules are made and dictated by The Core, which comes to be defined better after the middle of the book so I won't insist on it. People live, study, work, and get married by the decisions of an algorithm that aggregates their info, and is allegedly never wrong.
And then we have Zada, who is in love with music and notes and song, until the day when she questions the one that should shape her future: her own Heartsong.
---
I must confess that the world-building got me hooked, while the characters were shaped nicely and interesting enough to keep me engaged. I will defo follow the author in the future, as I enjoyed the writing, and the topics approached were extensive and in line with my interests.
---
Calling this a dystopia would be wrong, as wrong as calling it a utopia. However, this is what New Ionia is supposed to be: a promised land after a (presumed) climatic cataclysm, a beacon of hope among destroyed lands.
In New Ionia, rules are made and dictated by The Core, which comes to be defined better after the middle of the book so I won't insist on it. People live, study, work, and get married by the decisions of an algorithm that aggregates their info, and is allegedly never wrong.
And then we have Zada, who is in love with music and notes and song, until the day when she questions the one that should shape her future: her own Heartsong.
---
I must confess that the world-building got me hooked, while the characters were shaped nicely and interesting enough to keep me engaged. I will defo follow the author in the future, as I enjoyed the writing, and the topics approached were extensive and in line with my interests.
May 8, 2026
There’s something deeply unsettling about a dystopian story that doesn’t begin with obvious violence. The world of New Ionia starts with comfort, structure, and the promise of certainty. Everyone receives a soulmate chosen through Heartsong, an algorithm designed to pair people with their perfect match. Under the protection of the Iron Dome, society markets itself as safe, orderly, and emotionally fulfilled. Nobody has to question where they belong because the system already decided for them.
That illusion cracks the moment Zada meets the man she’s supposedly destined to love and feels absolutely nothing.
What pulled me into You Pierce My Soul was how quickly the story shifts from romantic intrigue into a critique of authoritarian control. The soulmate premise feels familiar at first, but the novel twists it into something darker. Heartsong is not about love. It’s about compliance. The ruling class manipulates the coding behind people’s “heart songs” to preserve power structures, shape social order, and maintain control over who matters and who doesn’t. Love becomes political currency. Intimacy becomes surveillance.
The book understands something important about fascism. Oppression rarely introduces itself as oppression. It often arrives disguised as stability, safety, tradition, or protection from chaos. New Ionia thrives because people believe the system exists for their benefit. The Iron Dome functions both literally and symbolically. It shields the city from the outside world while trapping its citizens inside an engineered reality where questioning authority threatens the entire foundation of society.
Zada works well as a protagonist because her rebellion begins emotionally before it becomes political. Her refusal to feel what she is told she should feel creates the first fracture in the system. I appreciated that the story allowed her confusion, grief, and uncertainty to exist alongside her anger. She doesn’t transform overnight into a revolutionary figure. She spends much of the novel wrestling with the terror of realizing her entire understanding of love, destiny, and identity was manufactured.
The emotional core of the book sits in Zada’s relationship with Daphne. Their history adds tension long before the larger conspiracy unfolds. Daphne is sharp, guarded, and difficult to fully trust, which makes every interaction between them feel loaded. The story understands the intimacy of reconnecting with someone who once knew you deeply before distance, hurt, and time reshaped both of you. Their chemistry feels messy in the best way. Not polished. Not idealized. Human.
I also appreciated how the queer romance exists naturally inside the narrative instead of functioning as token representation. The story centers queer love while directly interrogating systems that attempt to regulate desire and force people into socially acceptable relationships. That thematic connection gives the romance weight beyond attraction alone.
The pacing moves quickly, especially once the mystery behind Heartsong begins unraveling. Some twists genuinely caught me off guard, particularly the revelations surrounding who benefits from the algorithm and how deeply the manipulation extends. The novel balances political tension with emotional stakes well, which kept me invested even during exposition-heavy moments.
What stayed with me most after finishing the book was the question underneath all of it: Who are you when every part of your identity has been shaped by systems designed to control you? The novel argues that autonomy requires risk. Real love requires choice. And any society demanding unquestioning obedience in exchange for safety eventually rots from the inside out.
You Pierce My Soul feels like a blend of queer romance, political dystopia, and coming-of-age reckoning. If you enjoy stories about manufactured perfection collapsing under the weight of truth, morally compromised systems hiding behind beauty, and sapphic relationships built through tension and vulnerability, this book delivers.
That illusion cracks the moment Zada meets the man she’s supposedly destined to love and feels absolutely nothing.
What pulled me into You Pierce My Soul was how quickly the story shifts from romantic intrigue into a critique of authoritarian control. The soulmate premise feels familiar at first, but the novel twists it into something darker. Heartsong is not about love. It’s about compliance. The ruling class manipulates the coding behind people’s “heart songs” to preserve power structures, shape social order, and maintain control over who matters and who doesn’t. Love becomes political currency. Intimacy becomes surveillance.
The book understands something important about fascism. Oppression rarely introduces itself as oppression. It often arrives disguised as stability, safety, tradition, or protection from chaos. New Ionia thrives because people believe the system exists for their benefit. The Iron Dome functions both literally and symbolically. It shields the city from the outside world while trapping its citizens inside an engineered reality where questioning authority threatens the entire foundation of society.
Zada works well as a protagonist because her rebellion begins emotionally before it becomes political. Her refusal to feel what she is told she should feel creates the first fracture in the system. I appreciated that the story allowed her confusion, grief, and uncertainty to exist alongside her anger. She doesn’t transform overnight into a revolutionary figure. She spends much of the novel wrestling with the terror of realizing her entire understanding of love, destiny, and identity was manufactured.
The emotional core of the book sits in Zada’s relationship with Daphne. Their history adds tension long before the larger conspiracy unfolds. Daphne is sharp, guarded, and difficult to fully trust, which makes every interaction between them feel loaded. The story understands the intimacy of reconnecting with someone who once knew you deeply before distance, hurt, and time reshaped both of you. Their chemistry feels messy in the best way. Not polished. Not idealized. Human.
I also appreciated how the queer romance exists naturally inside the narrative instead of functioning as token representation. The story centers queer love while directly interrogating systems that attempt to regulate desire and force people into socially acceptable relationships. That thematic connection gives the romance weight beyond attraction alone.
The pacing moves quickly, especially once the mystery behind Heartsong begins unraveling. Some twists genuinely caught me off guard, particularly the revelations surrounding who benefits from the algorithm and how deeply the manipulation extends. The novel balances political tension with emotional stakes well, which kept me invested even during exposition-heavy moments.
What stayed with me most after finishing the book was the question underneath all of it: Who are you when every part of your identity has been shaped by systems designed to control you? The novel argues that autonomy requires risk. Real love requires choice. And any society demanding unquestioning obedience in exchange for safety eventually rots from the inside out.
You Pierce My Soul feels like a blend of queer romance, political dystopia, and coming-of-age reckoning. If you enjoy stories about manufactured perfection collapsing under the weight of truth, morally compromised systems hiding behind beauty, and sapphic relationships built through tension and vulnerability, this book delivers.
November 21, 2025
3.5/5 stars
one of the few dystopians lately that actually delivered on uncovering the rotten oligarchic government system and i live for that! the execution could've been done better, and the romance, while cute, wasn't moving me as much. But this was still a solid read and it served its purpose well
one of the few dystopians lately that actually delivered on uncovering the rotten oligarchic government system and i live for that! the execution could've been done better, and the romance, while cute, wasn't moving me as much. But this was still a solid read and it served its purpose well
May 9, 2026
Gonna start off with how stunning this cover is, omg I immediately requested it when I saw it and fortunately the story lives up to the beauty.
This was a really fun story to read, I liked the dystopian concept the author created. I wish it would have been more expansive of the eugenics aspect because it came off as surface level but it was well enough for what the story was trying to do. I loved Zada so much, as someone who was heavily religious and is queer I understood her devotion and fear of realizing everything she'd known was a lie. It was so palpable reading her arc.
The relationship between Zada and Daphne was unfortunately not something I could connect with. I liked them and I appreciate the romance for what it is but it just wasn't working for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Quirk books for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I really liked the writing here and will be looking forward to the author's next work.
This was a really fun story to read, I liked the dystopian concept the author created. I wish it would have been more expansive of the eugenics aspect because it came off as surface level but it was well enough for what the story was trying to do. I loved Zada so much, as someone who was heavily religious and is queer I understood her devotion and fear of realizing everything she'd known was a lie. It was so palpable reading her arc.
The relationship between Zada and Daphne was unfortunately not something I could connect with. I liked them and I appreciate the romance for what it is but it just wasn't working for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Quirk books for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I really liked the writing here and will be looking forward to the author's next work.
August 17, 2026
well... considering i picked this up solely for the (gorgeous) cover and overall vibes, i didn't have especially high expectations going in. and yet, it still somehow managed to disappoint me pretty spectacularly.
this story's biggest downfall was its execution. it squandered what could've been a genuinely compelling premise. i never once bought into the setting, and the worldbuilding ended up being neither here nor there. if you're not going to make it elaborate — or even remotely convincing — it should at least be captivating enough to make up for it, no? unfortunately, the plot doesn't fare much better, and neither does the supposed romance subplot. as ambitious as it all tried to be, the story ultimately felt childish in its execution and inorganic in its development. i was left with far too many unanswered questions and more nitpicks than i could count. the only compliment i can give it is that it was never actively grating, and for a while there i was actually having a good time.
this story's biggest downfall was its execution. it squandered what could've been a genuinely compelling premise. i never once bought into the setting, and the worldbuilding ended up being neither here nor there. if you're not going to make it elaborate — or even remotely convincing — it should at least be captivating enough to make up for it, no? unfortunately, the plot doesn't fare much better, and neither does the supposed romance subplot. as ambitious as it all tried to be, the story ultimately felt childish in its execution and inorganic in its development. i was left with far too many unanswered questions and more nitpicks than i could count. the only compliment i can give it is that it was never actively grating, and for a while there i was actually having a good time.
August 30, 2026
This was so fucking cute!!!
A queer YA dystopian(light on this part) book following Zada and Daphne-long time friends reuniting when the world they live in is not all that it seems.
The yearning between the two was so freaking cute. I felt like a teenager again having a crush on my friend, but I didn’t want them to know nor did I know what to do with it.
The world building could have been better and it did end a bit too quickly for me.
I just gobbled this up and loved it.
A queer YA dystopian(light on this part) book following Zada and Daphne-long time friends reuniting when the world they live in is not all that it seems.
The yearning between the two was so freaking cute. I felt like a teenager again having a crush on my friend, but I didn’t want them to know nor did I know what to do with it.
The world building could have been better and it did end a bit too quickly for me.
I just gobbled this up and loved it.
June 19, 2026
2026: 3.5
So I went into this 100% blind and I totally looked at the cover and though "Regency romance" but I didn't examine closely (definitely didn't notice the earrings in the image) and so when it turned out to be a YA Dystopian, I was definitely caught off guard
Interesting ideas presented, but I think it could have been better developed
So I went into this 100% blind and I totally looked at the cover and though "Regency romance" but I didn't examine closely (definitely didn't notice the earrings in the image) and so when it turned out to be a YA Dystopian, I was definitely caught off guard
Interesting ideas presented, but I think it could have been better developed
May 26, 2026
Thank you Quirk Books and Netgalley for offering me the chance to read this book !
It was so fun and cute!
I am not too much into YA but it was actually fun, I liked the dystopian aspect of having your soulmate being chosen for you by a system, it seems amazing, someone is destined for you! But when said system is corrupted and flawed and you may be a tiny bit in love with your ex best friend then things start getting complicated.
Daphne was such a treat! I really loved her, she was funny and charming and PINNING AND YEARNING, I really love that...
Zada was a cure character, who is shy but very passionate and I loved that she started getting herself better and doing things she thought she would never do, like going against a system, being brave and fierce for what she believes in.
And the ending was really (guess the word I am going to use) cute (right), maybe a bit rushed but who cares????
I love women loving women
It was so fun and cute!
I am not too much into YA but it was actually fun, I liked the dystopian aspect of having your soulmate being chosen for you by a system, it seems amazing, someone is destined for you! But when said system is corrupted and flawed and you may be a tiny bit in love with your ex best friend then things start getting complicated.
Daphne was such a treat! I really loved her, she was funny and charming and PINNING AND YEARNING, I really love that...
Zada was a cure character, who is shy but very passionate and I loved that she started getting herself better and doing things she thought she would never do, like going against a system, being brave and fierce for what she believes in.
And the ending was really (guess the word I am going to use) cute (right), maybe a bit rushed but who cares????
I love women loving women
April 29, 2026
Thank you to Quirk Books and Goodreads for the giveaway copy of this book!
3.5/5
This was fun and cute. Loved the yearning between our 2 characters. You could tell from the start these 2 were trying so hard to hide their feelings but literally everyone could tell what they felt.
This also had a lot of potential to be an epic dystopian but it fell a little flat. I feel like we weren’t given enough world building or context on the technology or history of how New Ionia came to be. Some things also felt a little too convenient.
I enjoyed the romance a lot and I enjoyed on how it talk about real world topics like purity culture and how the rich do things for only themselves. I wish this was a little longer or would have a sequel.
Overall I had a fun time but I did want more from it
3.5/5
This was fun and cute. Loved the yearning between our 2 characters. You could tell from the start these 2 were trying so hard to hide their feelings but literally everyone could tell what they felt.
This also had a lot of potential to be an epic dystopian but it fell a little flat. I feel like we weren’t given enough world building or context on the technology or history of how New Ionia came to be. Some things also felt a little too convenient.
I enjoyed the romance a lot and I enjoyed on how it talk about real world topics like purity culture and how the rich do things for only themselves. I wish this was a little longer or would have a sequel.
Overall I had a fun time but I did want more from it
April 10, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the e-ARC for this new release.
Zada and Daphne live in the utopian city of New Ionia where their every thought and feeling is fed into an algorithm. This program determines everything for them including their soulmate. Daphne has always been a rule-breaker and questioning of the system even though she is a part of the elite. Zada has been happy living the life that has been chosen for her so far until she receives her soulmate assignment from a program called “Heartsong”. As she starts to research “Heartsong” she realizes that everything is not what it seems and goes on an adventure with Daphne to discover the truth for once and for all.
I really enjoyed my readthrough of this novel. Daphne and Zada are such interesting and lovable characters that you can’t help but want the best for them. I think the world-building in this novel is also intriguing and has you wanting to know more about how things really work. Looking from the outside in you can see issues that can arise from this sort of utopic living and you just want to scream at Daphne and Zada to get the heck out of there.
The part of the novel I enjoyed the most is definitely the epilogue. Without spoilers, I really liked how this story came to a close.
A bit of criticism I have is that I don’t believe the twists are honestly that “twisty”. I think the author does a good job at gradually working up to twists that I don’t think they are all that surprising. If you look at this novel as an exploration of a couple of young people living in a controlled utopia and how they manage to find out the truth, I feel like that is a better way of describing the novel rather than a mystery/thriller with a lot of shocking revelations.
Overall, I recommend this novel if you like the description. The writing is well done, the characters are lovable and the world-building is interesting and unique.
Zada and Daphne live in the utopian city of New Ionia where their every thought and feeling is fed into an algorithm. This program determines everything for them including their soulmate. Daphne has always been a rule-breaker and questioning of the system even though she is a part of the elite. Zada has been happy living the life that has been chosen for her so far until she receives her soulmate assignment from a program called “Heartsong”. As she starts to research “Heartsong” she realizes that everything is not what it seems and goes on an adventure with Daphne to discover the truth for once and for all.
I really enjoyed my readthrough of this novel. Daphne and Zada are such interesting and lovable characters that you can’t help but want the best for them. I think the world-building in this novel is also intriguing and has you wanting to know more about how things really work. Looking from the outside in you can see issues that can arise from this sort of utopic living and you just want to scream at Daphne and Zada to get the heck out of there.
The part of the novel I enjoyed the most is definitely the epilogue. Without spoilers, I really liked how this story came to a close.
A bit of criticism I have is that I don’t believe the twists are honestly that “twisty”. I think the author does a good job at gradually working up to twists that I don’t think they are all that surprising. If you look at this novel as an exploration of a couple of young people living in a controlled utopia and how they manage to find out the truth, I feel like that is a better way of describing the novel rather than a mystery/thriller with a lot of shocking revelations.
Overall, I recommend this novel if you like the description. The writing is well done, the characters are lovable and the world-building is interesting and unique.
Want to Read
September 24, 2025such a stunning cover like woww
August 9, 2026
Is Jessica Mary Best an ex-Adventist? Because damn
August 29, 2026
3.5 ⭐ You had me at sapphics and the beautiful cover, I literally knew nothing about it but assumed from the cover it would be a romantasy but was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be a dystopian! This was a solid story with a good plot and a good relationship between Zada&Daphne, I just wish it was a little longer and the ending wasn’t so rushed but other than that I had fun!
Review of advance copy
I really liked it! I was able to read it early and really enjoyed it! It conveyed love realistically, with a nice slowburn, and it had queer characters that weren’t made into a gag or a joke. The utopian/dystopian trope was really interesting! It’s believable and it shows perfectly how dystopian societies work in real life. And there were a lot of plot twists that I wasn’t expecting, many of them made me gasp out loud and throw myself off a building from shock :0. I also liked how the lesbians were shown as for their love, and not “intimacy” because a lot of books often sexualize and fetishize lesbians, making them seem more like a sexy thing for men, more like an identity for women (And enbies, non-men, etc…) and the nonbinary representation? Boomshakalaka, they/them pronouns were used, and their birth gender wasn’t made extremely obvious, but more mysterious; as a way to say “If you’re nonbinary, your old gender doesn’t matter anymore”. But yeah, I really REALLY REEEAAAALLLLYYYYY loved the book, please make more books, don’t go bald, don’t go homeless, and keep making queer characters! Also sorry I forgot when I started reading it and when I ended it because I got distracted with life and stuff and homework. But GOOD BOOK, if i haven’t said it before; don’t go bald please you’re so cool
June 5, 2026
“Do we really think they filed their illegal pamphlets?” Daphne pointed out. “What, under T for treason?”
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC! This is distinctly YA, so not my usual fare, and although it’s set in a ~dystopian society, I think it pulls off the ‘sweet teen sapphic romance’ side more thoroughly than the ‘uncovering a rotten society’ epic dystopian side, though it definitely tries to do both! More focus on the latter would have probably made me love it more, because although there were lots of interesting worldbuilding threads set up and definitely plot potential there, it was working in the constraints of a crisp 300 pages, where I think the plot arc might have been better served by a series setup, giving the plot more space to breathe and making it feel more ~society big, rather than more a coming-of-age story for the main character.
But there was a lot I liked! Our MC, Zada, especially; I felt like she was quiet and sensible and charming and cute, well-drawn all round, and she did remind me of Persuasion’s Anne Elliot in some ways in her evolution, from trusting society to trusting herself <3 The title is a Persuasion reference, and the setting of this is what in fanfic terms you would call a soulmate AU, where people are matched and married to their ‘soulmates’ by an algorithm... And naturally this is about tearing down that concept, which it executes well, but I also liked the Regency inspiration that the soulmate-at-first-touch concept creates: an excellent in-world reason for taking a hyper-modern society back to formalised balls and gender separation, stability and repression and classism at the same time. Where this /really/ got me was Zada’s (and definitely the author’s trademark) love of music, quietly showcasing the power of song to move and liberate and yes, lol, to radicalise. Zada’s moment at the underground rock concert felt super authentic to me??
So a solid 3.5, and I would probably recommend as a young YA romance if I, uh, actually knew any teens.
June 26, 2026
Rating: 3 ⭐️
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Format: Ebook + Audio
Pages: 304
Spice: - 🌶️
POV: Single Third POV
S/S: standalone
Check trigger warnings for any book.
I wish this book was longer!
I really enjoyed the world the author built into this story. The Core, the Heartsong, the entire system behind it. It was quite intriguing and then the plot accompanying this world worked well!
My only problem: I wanted to know more. And unfortunately, that is the one thing the other did not do, give us more.
We skimmed the surface of this corrupted entity that is this city. Went over the surface of the rebuilding relationship between Zada and Daphnee.
This was such a great start to a longer book! I don’t usually say this, but I think it should have had easily 100-200 more pages.
As of now, it seems this is a standalone. The ending is an open ending, which is fine by itself but could lead to more. I highly encourage the author to dive more into this world and maybe tell the story of other characters that were mentioned to really appreciate all the lore that was introduced.
The romance aspect was truly secondary to the plot, which was refreshing! But still, would have loved to see more as well.
Leena - Leena.reader review - @leena.reader on tiktok / instagram / fable / storygraph
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Format: Ebook + Audio
Pages: 304
Spice: - 🌶️
POV: Single Third POV
S/S: standalone
Check trigger warnings for any book.
I wish this book was longer!
I really enjoyed the world the author built into this story. The Core, the Heartsong, the entire system behind it. It was quite intriguing and then the plot accompanying this world worked well!
My only problem: I wanted to know more. And unfortunately, that is the one thing the other did not do, give us more.
We skimmed the surface of this corrupted entity that is this city. Went over the surface of the rebuilding relationship between Zada and Daphnee.
This was such a great start to a longer book! I don’t usually say this, but I think it should have had easily 100-200 more pages.
As of now, it seems this is a standalone. The ending is an open ending, which is fine by itself but could lead to more. I highly encourage the author to dive more into this world and maybe tell the story of other characters that were mentioned to really appreciate all the lore that was introduced.
The romance aspect was truly secondary to the plot, which was refreshing! But still, would have loved to see more as well.
Leena - Leena.reader review - @leena.reader on tiktok / instagram / fable / storygraph
May 29, 2026
You Pierce My Soul caught my eye right at the beginning of the year. It was one of the releases I was waiting for, and I loved everything about it.
The worldbuilding was perfect for me. It wasn’t too complicated, and it was easy to understand the politics and the inner workings of the city. I also enjoyed the utopian/dystopian vibes very much.
I was interested in the characters’ story right away. Zada shines with her shyness, her curious mind, and her brightness. Daphne charmed me with her broodiness, her mischief, and her vulnerability. The romance is sweet, and I loved getting to see them reconnect.
Some might consider that, for a dystopian story, You Pierce My Soul’s denunciation of an oligarchy, its exploration of eugenics, and its overall critique of a political system is surface-level, but honestly, I enjoyed it.
If you’re looking for a sweet romance while uncovering the secrets of a utopian city, You Pierce My Soul might be for you.
The worldbuilding was perfect for me. It wasn’t too complicated, and it was easy to understand the politics and the inner workings of the city. I also enjoyed the utopian/dystopian vibes very much.
I was interested in the characters’ story right away. Zada shines with her shyness, her curious mind, and her brightness. Daphne charmed me with her broodiness, her mischief, and her vulnerability. The romance is sweet, and I loved getting to see them reconnect.
Some might consider that, for a dystopian story, You Pierce My Soul’s denunciation of an oligarchy, its exploration of eugenics, and its overall critique of a political system is surface-level, but honestly, I enjoyed it.
If you’re looking for a sweet romance while uncovering the secrets of a utopian city, You Pierce My Soul might be for you.
August 24, 2026
I absolutely devoured this book although I will admit Zada, did in fact annoy me a little bit but overall this book was amazing. Daphne was my favourite character. She’s probably one of my favourite FMC now of all time this was such a nice Sapphic romance novel, I absolutely loved it. Definitely want to buy my own coffee now since this was a library copy.
Although the one thing that did bother me was is the end was very quick like the end solution was very fast. I still loved the ending. I just wish we got a bit more drama.
I also wish we got more time with Buford, but I’m not complaining about this fuck overall amazing definitely one of my favourite lesbian couples now.
I highly recommend reading this one.
Although the one thing that did bother me was is the end was very quick like the end solution was very fast. I still loved the ending. I just wish we got a bit more drama.
I also wish we got more time with Buford, but I’m not complaining about this fuck overall amazing definitely one of my favourite lesbian couples now.
I highly recommend reading this one.
June 29, 2026
I really enjoyed this book!
I thought the overall concept was so unique and I loved the use and symbolism of music throughout the story. I really liked the characters and I felt they had really good chemistry.
The one slightly negative thing I have to say about this book is that the ending felt a bit rushed and I would liked a little more to happen just before and during the wedding scene, but I did really enjoy the epilogue!
Would highly recommend this book to those who love sapphic fantasy books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for proving me with a free arc in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the overall concept was so unique and I loved the use and symbolism of music throughout the story. I really liked the characters and I felt they had really good chemistry.
The one slightly negative thing I have to say about this book is that the ending felt a bit rushed and I would liked a little more to happen just before and during the wedding scene, but I did really enjoy the epilogue!
Would highly recommend this book to those who love sapphic fantasy books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for proving me with a free arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2025
LOVEEEE LOVEEE LOVEEE
This was so damn good, easily one of the best YA novels I've read in ages! I'm not a huge dystopia fan but worked so well and the romance was such a good addition.
The only real criticism I have is the ending was wrapped up much too quickly In my opinion, it moved at a really good pace but then the last few chapters felt sooo rushed and it really limited the impact of the ending which was a shame. I think some of the dystopia aspects could have been tightened up a bit but this wasn't a huge issue.
Will definitely be grabbing a copy of this once it's published!
Thanks to Netgalley and QuickBooks for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This was so damn good, easily one of the best YA novels I've read in ages! I'm not a huge dystopia fan but worked so well and the romance was such a good addition.
The only real criticism I have is the ending was wrapped up much too quickly In my opinion, it moved at a really good pace but then the last few chapters felt sooo rushed and it really limited the impact of the ending which was a shame. I think some of the dystopia aspects could have been tightened up a bit but this wasn't a huge issue.
Will definitely be grabbing a copy of this once it's published!
Thanks to Netgalley and QuickBooks for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to Read
October 8, 2025obsessed with this cover, paint it on my eyelids
December 12, 2025
Very good book <3
Got it from my English teacher and it was very cute and lesbian :D
Got it from my English teacher and it was very cute and lesbian :D
June 10, 2026
Good book, reminds me a lot of religious cults. So imagine that set into the future where technology is heavily used to shield the general populace from reality. A very interesting concepts, will keep an eye put for any follow-ups. Overall: 7/10.
September 16, 2025
Bridgerton meets Black Mirror. A sapphic post-apocalyptic world where a secretly corrupt algorithm determines your soulmate. Incredible world building and packed full of chest-aching moments of yearning. I loved this, thank you NetGalley and Quirk Books for this ARC!!
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