What do you think?
The Imperial Broadcasts #1
Love Galaxy
Are you ready to find the greatest love in the galaxy? A reality dating show goes intergalactic in this sci-fi romance novel for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Hannah Nicole Maehrer!
Tonight, on Love Galaxy, a hot new bombshell enters the cosmos!
Trash collector Temmi never expected to land a spot on Love Galaxy, the wildly popular dating show starring the brother and sister heirs to the galactic empire: twenty-four contestants. Two imperial heirs. One chance for Temmi to change her life.
Hang on – Temmi, babes, you’re supposed to be wooing the prince, not falling for his sister!
Temmi may have been hand-picked to date the quiet, bookish prince, but she can’t seem to keep away from Princess Spie. She’s entirely off limits, but their magnetic chemistry is undeniable.
OK, plot twist! But all’s fair in love and revolution, right?
When contestants start turning up dead and whispers of rebellion spread, Temmi and Spie find themselves in over their heads – romantically, politically and, possibly, fatally.
Deadly eliminations and an anti-Empire coup? Things on Love Galaxy are getting seriously off-script…
Sexy, snarky and full of heart, Love Galaxy is a rom-com with rocket fuel – perfect for anyone who lives for the drama!
Tonight, on Love Galaxy, a hot new bombshell enters the cosmos!
Trash collector Temmi never expected to land a spot on Love Galaxy, the wildly popular dating show starring the brother and sister heirs to the galactic empire: twenty-four contestants. Two imperial heirs. One chance for Temmi to change her life.
Hang on – Temmi, babes, you’re supposed to be wooing the prince, not falling for his sister!
Temmi may have been hand-picked to date the quiet, bookish prince, but she can’t seem to keep away from Princess Spie. She’s entirely off limits, but their magnetic chemistry is undeniable.
OK, plot twist! But all’s fair in love and revolution, right?
When contestants start turning up dead and whispers of rebellion spread, Temmi and Spie find themselves in over their heads – romantically, politically and, possibly, fatally.
Deadly eliminations and an anti-Empire coup? Things on Love Galaxy are getting seriously off-script…
Sexy, snarky and full of heart, Love Galaxy is a rom-com with rocket fuel – perfect for anyone who lives for the drama!
Paperback
First published April 21, 2026
About the author
Sierra Branham
5 books97 followersSierra Branham grew up around the mountains of Alaska but now calls the mountains of Utah home. She holds a license in clinical social work and could probably talk your ear off about therapeutic modalities. Her short fiction has been published in venues such as Apex Magazine and Small Wonders. When not spinning words into stories, she can be found hiking with her goats, skiing, or juggling kitchen knives. Love Galaxy is her debut novel. Sign up for her newsletter at www.sierrabranham.com or perceive her on Instagram at @authorsierrabranham.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 520 reviews
June 5, 2026
I just really love all things gay space
September 29, 2025
I had to pull myself together to write up this review because I think this one’s going to stick with me for a while.
Every time you thought you knew what was going to happen next was spun in a way you would have never guessed, there’s wasn’t a second I was bored and I was incredibly wrong with my guesses every time.
All of the characters were wrote brilliantly, and I became attached to Temmi and Spie to the point where I was nervous for them and the next chapters.
What the two had most in common was wanting to take care of their brothers, and it really made the connections in the book that much stronger.
Without giving too much away, I was getting a lot of Hunger Game vibes throughout when it came to the set up and purpose of the show, and it was quite an interesting twist that I enjoyed and have never experienced within a book before.
The politics within the story definitely can relate to some of the things in current society, and the way corruption can be deep within the system.
I seriously didn’t want this to end, and I hope that this isn’t the end because I desperately need more of Temmi and Spie.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy and to the author Sierra Branham, I kind of want to cuss you out and thank you at the same time for this book that has a death grip on my heart.
Every time you thought you knew what was going to happen next was spun in a way you would have never guessed, there’s wasn’t a second I was bored and I was incredibly wrong with my guesses every time.
All of the characters were wrote brilliantly, and I became attached to Temmi and Spie to the point where I was nervous for them and the next chapters.
What the two had most in common was wanting to take care of their brothers, and it really made the connections in the book that much stronger.
Without giving too much away, I was getting a lot of Hunger Game vibes throughout when it came to the set up and purpose of the show, and it was quite an interesting twist that I enjoyed and have never experienced within a book before.
The politics within the story definitely can relate to some of the things in current society, and the way corruption can be deep within the system.
I seriously didn’t want this to end, and I hope that this isn’t the end because I desperately need more of Temmi and Spie.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy and to the author Sierra Branham, I kind of want to cuss you out and thank you at the same time for this book that has a death grip on my heart.
May 18, 2026
☆☆☆☆.5
Love Galaxy by Sierra Branham is such an innovative book idea and I had a really great time reading it. I absolutely loved this book idea. Combining a sapphic love story with a reality TV competition felt so fresh and addictive to read. In my opinion, the reality TV aspect was handled very well and added so much tension, drama, and entertainment to the story.
What deducted the 0.5 stars for me was that some shorter parts felt very similar to The Hunger Games. I can very much see how the author was inspired by this series for their own book. While it did not ruin my enjoyment, the similarities were noticeable at times.
Overall, I had such a great time with this unique sapphic sci-fi romance and would definitely recommend it.
Love Galaxy by Sierra Branham is such an innovative book idea and I had a really great time reading it. I absolutely loved this book idea. Combining a sapphic love story with a reality TV competition felt so fresh and addictive to read. In my opinion, the reality TV aspect was handled very well and added so much tension, drama, and entertainment to the story.
What deducted the 0.5 stars for me was that some shorter parts felt very similar to The Hunger Games. I can very much see how the author was inspired by this series for their own book. While it did not ruin my enjoyment, the similarities were noticeable at times.
Overall, I had such a great time with this unique sapphic sci-fi romance and would definitely recommend it.
April 17, 2026
sapphic x bachelor in space x murder mystery🪐
with all those elements i included above, it would’ve been pretty hard to get me to not like this book or be entertained by it. in fact, i loved the princess (Spie) almost immediately. the idea of this intergalactic romance show, where 24 women are all competing to marry either the princess or the prince was a fun one.
“For years, she’d been labeled the rebellious daughter. It was time Spie truly lived up to the name.”
Nix, the prince is the more subdued and introverted sibling, while Spie is promiscuous and out spoken. the main character Temmi is dragged into becoming a contestant bc Spie offers her money that she needs for her family, and in return Temmi will be one of Nix’s prospects since he’s shown an interest in her specifically. of course once the contestants start dying, Temmi is beside herself and unsure who to trust.
“She kissed her anyway. A communion of bodies form different solar systems, universes apart, trying to find something unattainable in each other.”
i think the whole “forbidden” aspect to Temmi & Spie’s interactions added to the excitement of it all. it was very clear from the start that they had romantic chemistry, which wasn’t entirely present between Temmi & Nix. the reveal of who was behind the murders didn’t surprise me, but the nature of why they were happening did. i think the direction this book headed towards the end set up the future of the series so well.
↠ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and DAW for the arc, all opinions are my own.
with all those elements i included above, it would’ve been pretty hard to get me to not like this book or be entertained by it. in fact, i loved the princess (Spie) almost immediately. the idea of this intergalactic romance show, where 24 women are all competing to marry either the princess or the prince was a fun one.
“For years, she’d been labeled the rebellious daughter. It was time Spie truly lived up to the name.”
Nix, the prince is the more subdued and introverted sibling, while Spie is promiscuous and out spoken. the main character Temmi is dragged into becoming a contestant bc Spie offers her money that she needs for her family, and in return Temmi will be one of Nix’s prospects since he’s shown an interest in her specifically. of course once the contestants start dying, Temmi is beside herself and unsure who to trust.
“She kissed her anyway. A communion of bodies form different solar systems, universes apart, trying to find something unattainable in each other.”
i think the whole “forbidden” aspect to Temmi & Spie’s interactions added to the excitement of it all. it was very clear from the start that they had romantic chemistry, which wasn’t entirely present between Temmi & Nix. the reveal of who was behind the murders didn’t surprise me, but the nature of why they were happening did. i think the direction this book headed towards the end set up the future of the series so well.
↠ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and DAW for the arc, all opinions are my own.
July 18, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🚀💖 Love Galaxy 💖🚀
Oh, I loved this book immediately! ✨🚀💜
I was hooked from the first chapter all the way through to the end. Between the messy reality TV drama, and intergalactic politics, I was completely invested in what was going to happen next. 👑🛸💫
I would highly recommend the audiobook right off the bat! 🎧⭐ The narration pulled me in from the very beginning and made it impossible to stop listening.
I NEED BOOK TWO ASAP!
✨ What to Expect
• Sapphic Romance
• Reality TV Competition
• Murder Mystery
• Forced Proximity
• Political Intrigue
• Disaster Siblings
• Queer Normative World
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
🚀💖 Love Galaxy 💖🚀
Oh, I loved this book immediately! ✨🚀💜
I was hooked from the first chapter all the way through to the end. Between the messy reality TV drama, and intergalactic politics, I was completely invested in what was going to happen next. 👑🛸💫
I would highly recommend the audiobook right off the bat! 🎧⭐ The narration pulled me in from the very beginning and made it impossible to stop listening.
I NEED BOOK TWO ASAP!
✨ What to Expect
• Sapphic Romance
• Reality TV Competition
• Murder Mystery
• Forced Proximity
• Political Intrigue
• Disaster Siblings
• Queer Normative World
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 20, 2026
I had an excellent time reading this book, a scifi mashup of The Bachelor and The Hunger Games. In a galaxy of planets divided up into Haves and Have Nots, tv shows give everyone a stake in a bit of distraction. A yearly series entitled the Love Galaxy gives chosen commoners from every planet a chance to compete to marry a wealthy heir for their individual benefit and also to help their planet. This year, the contenders are going to battle in cheesy, glam games to win the hand of one of the Royal twins. But then, people start dying and chaos ensues.
I’m a sucker for great characters and this book has plenty of them. Artemis “Temmi” Ialan is a garbage collector on a mining planet so toxic, wildlife is extinct and most people become sick and die by middle age. Temmi’s aim is to find a way out for herself, her disabled brother, and her very ill mother. Her one ace card is that she is a working class genius like Will from Good Will Hunting. But everywhere she turns, people are exploiting her. She decides to take a risk and accept the insanely out of the blue invitation for the Love Galaxy.
I could go on and on about Temmi because she is authentic. Her naivety and desperation coupled with her natural brilliance makes for a potent main character. She is also open hearted and wants to believe in people in spite of how she’s been treated in the past. Prince Nix and Princess Spie are also strong characters, a mix of arrogance and duty. Spie is gorgeous, Queer, and completely centered on herself, the perfect foil to Temmi. The actual Bachelor type stuff is hilarious, fish out of water scenarios for a foul mouthed, charismatic young woman from a poor X’er planet but viewers eat it up. The book is chock full of political intrigue because nothing is what it seems. I love the twists and turns. There is scifi gadgetry but not hardcore so I think everyone can enjoy this book. Some questions are answered but each chapter grows the story so there is a lot of world in this series to be explored in future books. Finally, the romance chemistry is hot and building nicely with plenty of angst. I certainly hope Book 2 is coming out soon.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
I’m a sucker for great characters and this book has plenty of them. Artemis “Temmi” Ialan is a garbage collector on a mining planet so toxic, wildlife is extinct and most people become sick and die by middle age. Temmi’s aim is to find a way out for herself, her disabled brother, and her very ill mother. Her one ace card is that she is a working class genius like Will from Good Will Hunting. But everywhere she turns, people are exploiting her. She decides to take a risk and accept the insanely out of the blue invitation for the Love Galaxy.
I could go on and on about Temmi because she is authentic. Her naivety and desperation coupled with her natural brilliance makes for a potent main character. She is also open hearted and wants to believe in people in spite of how she’s been treated in the past. Prince Nix and Princess Spie are also strong characters, a mix of arrogance and duty. Spie is gorgeous, Queer, and completely centered on herself, the perfect foil to Temmi. The actual Bachelor type stuff is hilarious, fish out of water scenarios for a foul mouthed, charismatic young woman from a poor X’er planet but viewers eat it up. The book is chock full of political intrigue because nothing is what it seems. I love the twists and turns. There is scifi gadgetry but not hardcore so I think everyone can enjoy this book. Some questions are answered but each chapter grows the story so there is a lot of world in this series to be explored in future books. Finally, the romance chemistry is hot and building nicely with plenty of angst. I certainly hope Book 2 is coming out soon.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
July 6, 2026
If something wild happens and I pass away before book two comes out my only request would be that someone come to read it at my grave. I AM OBSESSED.
I will be honest: dating show plots are a really hard sell for me. Normally I avoid them at all costs. However, if you’re in that boat too, I urge you to try this. I wouldn’t say this is a book you go into for the dating show. It’s there, but go into this more if you like dystopian novels, empire politics, and sapphic slow-burns. I’d highly recommend it to folks who loved The Hunger Games, due to similar themes they cover.
I believe this is a debut which I’m still wrapping my brain around. This was a book I didn’t want to put down, and now I’ve finished I’m simply craving more. I loved the authors writing style, and my only issues at times was that the writing sometimes lent towards tell not show, however I would also agree that also makes it accessible to an audience newer to sci-fi. Branham has a way of making characters so vivid you feel drawn to their stories soon after they’re introduced, and I adored Temmi & Spie.
Rep// bisexual woman MC, lesbian woman MC, trans SCs, sapphic SCs, SC with limb difference.
CWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
CW// class/wealth divide, poverty, food scarcity and risk of homelessness, mentions of self harm (off page), death, empires/ruling class, blood, bodies, lack of access to medical care, brief sex scene, panic attack.
I will be honest: dating show plots are a really hard sell for me. Normally I avoid them at all costs. However, if you’re in that boat too, I urge you to try this. I wouldn’t say this is a book you go into for the dating show. It’s there, but go into this more if you like dystopian novels, empire politics, and sapphic slow-burns. I’d highly recommend it to folks who loved The Hunger Games, due to similar themes they cover.
I believe this is a debut which I’m still wrapping my brain around. This was a book I didn’t want to put down, and now I’ve finished I’m simply craving more. I loved the authors writing style, and my only issues at times was that the writing sometimes lent towards tell not show, however I would also agree that also makes it accessible to an audience newer to sci-fi. Branham has a way of making characters so vivid you feel drawn to their stories soon after they’re introduced, and I adored Temmi & Spie.
Rep// bisexual woman MC, lesbian woman MC, trans SCs, sapphic SCs, SC with limb difference.
CWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
CW// class/wealth divide, poverty, food scarcity and risk of homelessness, mentions of self harm (off page), death, empires/ruling class, blood, bodies, lack of access to medical care, brief sex scene, panic attack.
April 14, 2026
Love Galaxy by Sierra Branham
Book Blurb: A romantic science fiction thriller in which a young woman from a dead-end planet gets cast on a reality TV show to compete for the hand of the prince—or princess. But not everyone is there for the right reasons…
Rating: ****
Feels: Amusement, Excitement, Mystery, Entertained
Style: Romance, Science Fiction, LGBT, Fiction
First published April 21, 2026: 416pages
Take a struggling trash collector gal and put her on a game show in space, reminiscent of the bachelor/ the selection and you have this fun tongue in cheek read which turns surprisingly endearing and bold at the end. Temmi is our trash collector, and yes that is a term of endearment !! She is dragged onto the game show and I do love the whole set up as well as the side characters. Temmi is such a strong solid type !!! My favorite kinda FMC. As is expected not all is what it seems on this game show and I totally enjoyed this ride !!!
This book has:
Royal Romance
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Love
Murder Mystery
Opposites Attract
Queer normative
Political Intrigue
Book Blurb: A romantic science fiction thriller in which a young woman from a dead-end planet gets cast on a reality TV show to compete for the hand of the prince—or princess. But not everyone is there for the right reasons…
Rating: ****
Feels: Amusement, Excitement, Mystery, Entertained
Style: Romance, Science Fiction, LGBT, Fiction
First published April 21, 2026: 416pages
Take a struggling trash collector gal and put her on a game show in space, reminiscent of the bachelor/ the selection and you have this fun tongue in cheek read which turns surprisingly endearing and bold at the end. Temmi is our trash collector, and yes that is a term of endearment !! She is dragged onto the game show and I do love the whole set up as well as the side characters. Temmi is such a strong solid type !!! My favorite kinda FMC. As is expected not all is what it seems on this game show and I totally enjoyed this ride !!!
This book has:
Royal Romance
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Love
Murder Mystery
Opposites Attract
Queer normative
Political Intrigue
April 10, 2026
4.5*
think the bachelor, but in space, but also gay, oh and also contestants dying mysteriously 👀
add this to your tbrs everyone
think the bachelor, but in space, but also gay, oh and also contestants dying mysteriously 👀
add this to your tbrs everyone
May 14, 2026
I got this book from Aardvark Book Club and went in blind! I wound up having SO MUCH FUN with it! We have a reality dating show...in space! Temmi, desperate for a fresh start, joins the wildly popular dating program Love Galaxy expecting manufactured drama and awkward romance. What Temmi did not expect was political conspiracies and murder. And least of all, a genuine emotional connection. As the competition unfolds aboard a luxurious space station, the cracks beneath the empire's crafted image begin to show, forcing Temmi to confront difficult truths about power, privilege, and who she can truly trust. The cast is messy, full of colorful personalities. There is a balance of social commentary and an entertaining story. This is an intergalactic story with political intrigue, sapphic romance, a little bit of murder mystery sprinkled in, and of course, all the drama of reality television! Beneath all the glamorous chaos and romantic tension, the novel explores identity, resistance, and the loneliness of trying to figure out who you are in a world determined to script your life for you. I just thoroughly enjoyed this one and was highly entertained. It was a good, lighter read, but I have a feeling the next installment may not feel as light.
April 26, 2026
(rounded down from 3.25)
I expected this to be better than it was. A fun idea, but I think it suffers from trying to do too much and resulting in a bit of a mishmash of cool ideas.
This book is trying to cram both a romance (dating show, hot twins, attraction to the wrong one) and a class commentary about imperial politics across a galaxy AND also somehow a shoehorned plot point about an evil cannibal people waging war on everyone. There's too much going on, and the tone is all over the place as a result because we keep flipping from a romance-heavy part of the story to suddenly classism, and then to a murder mystery. As a result, it doesn't quite commit to/do justice to any of them, I felt.
The main character is also a bit of a weird one, and I had a hard time reconciling the standard "not like other girls" tropes with how intelligent and scrappy she's meant to be. She's had to survive by her uneducated but genius mathematical skills, so I'd expect Temmi to be analytical enough to adapt her personality to be on an imperial dating show. The inner monologue is literally "do not swear on air during interviews," and then she immediately swears, which comes across as unintentionally comedic because it's really immature and silly. She has zero filter, so I have a hard time understanding how she would have managed a life of crime and invention to keep her family afloat on her poverty-stricken planet. I had a hard time empathising with her or rooting for he as a result.
TL;DR: This is trying to do too much all at once to set up a big epic fantasy series and love story and I think it would have done better with picking one type of story and deepening the approach to it instead.
I expected this to be better than it was. A fun idea, but I think it suffers from trying to do too much and resulting in a bit of a mishmash of cool ideas.
This book is trying to cram both a romance (dating show, hot twins, attraction to the wrong one) and a class commentary about imperial politics across a galaxy AND also somehow a shoehorned plot point about an evil cannibal people waging war on everyone. There's too much going on, and the tone is all over the place as a result because we keep flipping from a romance-heavy part of the story to suddenly classism, and then to a murder mystery. As a result, it doesn't quite commit to/do justice to any of them, I felt.
The main character is also a bit of a weird one, and I had a hard time reconciling the standard "not like other girls" tropes with how intelligent and scrappy she's meant to be. She's had to survive by her uneducated but genius mathematical skills, so I'd expect Temmi to be analytical enough to adapt her personality to be on an imperial dating show. The inner monologue is literally "do not swear on air during interviews," and then she immediately swears, which comes across as unintentionally comedic because it's really immature and silly. She has zero filter, so I have a hard time understanding how she would have managed a life of crime and invention to keep her family afloat on her poverty-stricken planet. I had a hard time empathising with her or rooting for he as a result.
TL;DR: This is trying to do too much all at once to set up a big epic fantasy series and love story and I think it would have done better with picking one type of story and deepening the approach to it instead.
December 11, 2025
book two now please🤲
gay bachelor in space? for fans of everina maxwell and arkady martine?? say less omg
gay bachelor in space? for fans of everina maxwell and arkady martine?? say less omg
October 31, 2025
A sci-fi murder mystery taking place on a reality dating show where contestants are completing to win the hand of the prince or a princess of the galaxy to win favor for their home planet, is a book plot I never thought would I would ever say lol. It’s a big mishmash of a bunch of genres, tied together in a sci-fi genre. It’s very sci-fi Hunger Games meets The Selection.
Temmi lives on planet X72, called the “trash bin” of the Expan Empire. Life is tough and each year, the empire distracts people from the reality of their shitty lives by doing Love Galaxy, a glorified dating show. And of hundreds of eligible territories, somehow, planet X72 was chosen by lottery to be the one to send a contestant this year. On top of that, this year’s season happens to be a once in a generation year, where rather than some lesser royal, the twin imperial heirs are the ones up for grabs. Both will be dating the same pool of women at the same time, which I can see the sibling rivalry drama already.
The highest point of this book is the worldbuilding. It’s exceptionally visual, starting on a trash planet with dense gray fog covering crumbling buildings as toxins are shot into the air. Nearly everyone on planet X72 eventually dies of some sort of pulmonary disease and the planet no longer has wildlife. This is all due to the greed of Expan Empire who discovered the planet was rich in a toxic rock called orrist basalt that could be purified to protect ships. So of course, the reason why the planet is the way that it is and why so many are dying from orrist basalt poisoning is due to capitalist greed in order to mine this toxic rock. Reality is bleak on this planet, and it’s kind of giving district 12, sci-fi edition.
The biggest drawback is, this book just doesn’t have the readability factor. With a concept like that, I thought this would be a tense, unputdownable murder mystery. Instead, I was bored for most of it and it took me forever to finish, because I just didn’t want to pick it back up. I’ve read murder mysteries executed far better than this. It just wasn’t interesting or readable enough for me to want to pick it back up. An author who does this well is Frieda McFadden and I think that’s why she’s so popular. I don’t know how she does it but her books, even the not as great ones, are always compulsively readable. Every single one. I don’t even know what about them makes it that way, but they always are quick and easy reads. This book just didn’t have that. The reading process was not enjoyable and I kind of just wanted to finish it already.
3/5 because the worldbuilding was fantastic. The writing was great. But it was just not engaging enough, nor entertaining enough for me to say I enjoyed reading it until I got to the last 80%.
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Temmi lives on planet X72, called the “trash bin” of the Expan Empire. Life is tough and each year, the empire distracts people from the reality of their shitty lives by doing Love Galaxy, a glorified dating show. And of hundreds of eligible territories, somehow, planet X72 was chosen by lottery to be the one to send a contestant this year. On top of that, this year’s season happens to be a once in a generation year, where rather than some lesser royal, the twin imperial heirs are the ones up for grabs. Both will be dating the same pool of women at the same time, which I can see the sibling rivalry drama already.
The highest point of this book is the worldbuilding. It’s exceptionally visual, starting on a trash planet with dense gray fog covering crumbling buildings as toxins are shot into the air. Nearly everyone on planet X72 eventually dies of some sort of pulmonary disease and the planet no longer has wildlife. This is all due to the greed of Expan Empire who discovered the planet was rich in a toxic rock called orrist basalt that could be purified to protect ships. So of course, the reason why the planet is the way that it is and why so many are dying from orrist basalt poisoning is due to capitalist greed in order to mine this toxic rock. Reality is bleak on this planet, and it’s kind of giving district 12, sci-fi edition.
The biggest drawback is, this book just doesn’t have the readability factor. With a concept like that, I thought this would be a tense, unputdownable murder mystery. Instead, I was bored for most of it and it took me forever to finish, because I just didn’t want to pick it back up. I’ve read murder mysteries executed far better than this. It just wasn’t interesting or readable enough for me to want to pick it back up. An author who does this well is Frieda McFadden and I think that’s why she’s so popular. I don’t know how she does it but her books, even the not as great ones, are always compulsively readable. Every single one. I don’t even know what about them makes it that way, but they always are quick and easy reads. This book just didn’t have that. The reading process was not enjoyable and I kind of just wanted to finish it already.
3/5 because the worldbuilding was fantastic. The writing was great. But it was just not engaging enough, nor entertaining enough for me to say I enjoyed reading it until I got to the last 80%.
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
June 30, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up.
What starts as a Sci-Fi version of Love Island (but make it gay) ends up being so much more! It's a little bit of the Selection, a little bit of Hunger Games and a little bit Love Island. Except there's political corruption, back room secrets and an ending that will have you begging for book 2!
Watch the vlog with my live thoughts! - https://youtu.be/ovdLz4Trpus
What starts as a Sci-Fi version of Love Island (but make it gay) ends up being so much more! It's a little bit of the Selection, a little bit of Hunger Games and a little bit Love Island. Except there's political corruption, back room secrets and an ending that will have you begging for book 2!
Watch the vlog with my live thoughts! - https://youtu.be/ovdLz4Trpus
February 14, 2026
Half-way through the synopsis, Love Galaxy already sounds like a fun read: an underdog MC, a dating show in space, a crush on the wrong person. Easy, fun.
And it is definitely a fun read, but it delivers so much more.
First of all, the most important thing to mention for someone like me for whom character is king: it features a cast of excellent characters, that grab your attention and make you want to keep reading about them incessantly. Seriously, the moment I met them the book was impossible to put down, period. Especially Temmy: intelligent, outspoken, with an interesting and somewhat tragic backstory and an incorrigible potty mouth, she just jumps off of the page and grabs you by the collar and demands your attention. Spie, Nicky, and everyone else complement her so well, and the story just flows, with you happily along for the ride.
Another remarkable aspect of the book is that the world and its political and cultural background come together really smoothly, without any instance of info-dumping; it takes shape gradually, solidifying the characters more and more and giving more dimension and more context to their dynamics, which are key to the story.
The book manages to be funny, clever, and poignant in turns, seamlessly blending subtle social commentary with a romance and a murder mystery — and somehow we as readers find ourselves absolutely swept up and committed to it all. I felt every turn, every reveal, every decision and sharp response so keenly, I truly felt like I was a participant, more than a spectator.
One thing I should mention is that I was not aware that this was the first in a series when I requested it, and when I realized that was the case, about 3/4 in, I was a bit disappointed that the story wouldn’t be completed in this book; but having now read the ending I can honestly say that I really want to hear more about this world and these characters, and I can’t wait to see how the story continues!
I only have a few minor qualms so this for me is fully deserving of 4 1/2 STARS and I already have a few friends in mind that I’m going to recommend this to.
Notes:
Representation:
- queer-normative world
- neurodivergence
Potential triggers:
- poverty and threat of homelessness
- parental abandonment
- chronic and terminal illness
- loss of limb (past event)
- death
- imprisonment
- police brutality
I was granted access to an e-ARC of this book by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
And it is definitely a fun read, but it delivers so much more.
First of all, the most important thing to mention for someone like me for whom character is king: it features a cast of excellent characters, that grab your attention and make you want to keep reading about them incessantly. Seriously, the moment I met them the book was impossible to put down, period. Especially Temmy: intelligent, outspoken, with an interesting and somewhat tragic backstory and an incorrigible potty mouth, she just jumps off of the page and grabs you by the collar and demands your attention. Spie, Nicky, and everyone else complement her so well, and the story just flows, with you happily along for the ride.
Another remarkable aspect of the book is that the world and its political and cultural background come together really smoothly, without any instance of info-dumping; it takes shape gradually, solidifying the characters more and more and giving more dimension and more context to their dynamics, which are key to the story.
The book manages to be funny, clever, and poignant in turns, seamlessly blending subtle social commentary with a romance and a murder mystery — and somehow we as readers find ourselves absolutely swept up and committed to it all. I felt every turn, every reveal, every decision and sharp response so keenly, I truly felt like I was a participant, more than a spectator.
One thing I should mention is that I was not aware that this was the first in a series when I requested it, and when I realized that was the case, about 3/4 in, I was a bit disappointed that the story wouldn’t be completed in this book; but having now read the ending I can honestly say that I really want to hear more about this world and these characters, and I can’t wait to see how the story continues!
I only have a few minor qualms so this for me is fully deserving of 4 1/2 STARS and I already have a few friends in mind that I’m going to recommend this to.
Notes:
Representation:
- queer-normative world
- neurodivergence
Potential triggers:
- poverty and threat of homelessness
- parental abandonment
- chronic and terminal illness
- loss of limb (past event)
- death
- imprisonment
- police brutality
I was granted access to an e-ARC of this book by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2026
4.25 ⭐️ Who knew that a scifi/romance/thriller such as this had such heart?! A seemingly fun and flirtatious story centered around a dating show called Love Galaxy in which the heirs to an empire (brother and sister) date a group of women. Our protagonist Temmi is a strange pick for this dating show, a lowly trash collector from a backwater planet that’s slowly dying (ppl included) of noxious air - a byproduct of mining a precious resource on X72. As the show progresses, a murder mystery ensues, adding chaos into the mix. I was surprised by how much depth this had!! Sierra Branham handles some heavy topics beautifully in this one. Oh, and it’s sapphic (space is gay btw) ✨ the ending had me yearning for more. This is the perfect book for someone who likes romance and wants to try scifi or someone who likes scifi and wants to try a romance. Inspirations I noticed and enjoyed: The Bachelor, The Hunger Games.
Thank you DAW for this advanced reader copy 🖤
Thank you DAW for this advanced reader copy 🖤
July 22, 2026
An impressive debut!
The author's writing is incredibly immersive, making it easy to get completely absorbed in the story. One of my favorite aspects was how naturally queer identities and relationships were woven into the world—they simply existed without needing to be explained or justified.
I also really appreciated the realistic and nuanced portrayal of mental health. Rather than relying on unnecessary drama or exaggeration, the story treats these topics with authenticity and care.
It didn't take long for the main characters to feel vividly real, and Spie and Temmi's dry sense of humor had me laughing more than once.
Can't wait for Part II!
The author's writing is incredibly immersive, making it easy to get completely absorbed in the story. One of my favorite aspects was how naturally queer identities and relationships were woven into the world—they simply existed without needing to be explained or justified.
I also really appreciated the realistic and nuanced portrayal of mental health. Rather than relying on unnecessary drama or exaggeration, the story treats these topics with authenticity and care.
It didn't take long for the main characters to feel vividly real, and Spie and Temmi's dry sense of humor had me laughing more than once.
Can't wait for Part II!
June 13, 2026
Wow, what a fantastic book! This has become one of my favourites. I read this on my Kindle but I loved it so much I'm going to buy the paperback.
The characters were great, the world building was great, the plot twists were great. I went into this thinking it was a standalone (silly, I know) and imagine my happiness when I realised there's going to be more!
I loved both Temmi and Spie. I really enjoyed the gravity between them, how they kept orbiting each other until they fell in, despite how 'forbidden' it was. I can't wait to read more of them!
There was only one thing I had an issue with, but it would require me to spoil big things, so I'm not going to mention it.
I'm definitely going to be rereading this in the near future!
The characters were great, the world building was great, the plot twists were great. I went into this thinking it was a standalone (silly, I know) and imagine my happiness when I realised there's going to be more!
I loved both Temmi and Spie. I really enjoyed the gravity between them, how they kept orbiting each other until they fell in, despite how 'forbidden' it was. I can't wait to read more of them!
There was only one thing I had an issue with, but it would require me to spoil big things, so I'm not going to mention it.
I'm definitely going to be rereading this in the near future!
April 29, 2026
I wasn't sure how I felt about Love Galaxy initially. And then (fairly early on, in fact), I found myself just fully into it, could not put it down. I am not even sure at what point, I was just reading along, and lost track of time. Which, as my fellow readers likely know, is a great sign about any book! Obviously "intergalactic dating show with a side of murder" is a very cool premise to any story, but it was the characters that really made me fall in love.
Temmi is feisty and the underdog you cannot help but root for, and Prince Nix and Princess Spie work in perfect contrast to each other. I also loved the pool of contestants- some we get to know more than others, but they're all enjoyable (even the ones you end up loving to hate!) and it makes the story that much more fun. The book has all the dramatic hallmarks of an Earthbound dating show, with the added fun of intergalactic travel and a murder mystery! There's also a lot of political shenanigans happening behind the scenes that Temmi isn't exactly used to, and it makes it very hard for her to tell who to trust. Honestly, I could not put the book down, and I absolutely need the sequel.
Bottom Line: Another five star read, another book I had to pre-order. Not sorry.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
June 25, 2026
With vibes of the bachelor in space, with a murder mystery thrown in for good measure, this was just as much fun as I was hoping it would be. I really hope we get a book two.
what to expect:
• the bachelor but in space
• twin royals
• suspicious contestant deaths
• chronic illness rep (both fmc’s brothers)
• political intrigue
• a (sort of but not really) love triangle
• f/f romance
• queer normative world
• one of the fmc’s is called spie, which is objectively very cool
what to expect:
• the bachelor but in space
• twin royals
• suspicious contestant deaths
• chronic illness rep (both fmc’s brothers)
• political intrigue
• a (sort of but not really) love triangle
• f/f romance
• queer normative world
• one of the fmc’s is called spie, which is objectively very cool
May 13, 2026
Absolutely one of my most surprising reads so far this year:
I couldn’t quit it! You have to be down for some kitsch and drama but also it pulled at my heartstrings and I loved how unique the premise and trajectory was. I was beyond thrilled to find out at 95% that there will be a book 2 - I’ll arc read for ya, Sienna ✨✨
🪐 interstellar setting
🤭 yearning
📺 matchmaker reality tv show
👀 super bingeable
🔎 mystery to work out
⚔️ political intrigue
💥 revelations I didn’t see coming
Somewhere 4-5 stars for me!
I couldn’t quit it! You have to be down for some kitsch and drama but also it pulled at my heartstrings and I loved how unique the premise and trajectory was. I was beyond thrilled to find out at 95% that there will be a book 2 - I’ll arc read for ya, Sienna ✨✨
🪐 interstellar setting
🤭 yearning
📺 matchmaker reality tv show
👀 super bingeable
🔎 mystery to work out
⚔️ political intrigue
💥 revelations I didn’t see coming
Somewhere 4-5 stars for me!
May 27, 2026
Just trust me, read this. Go in blind, read this and thank me later.
--
3 months later and here are some additional thoughts:
Overall Thoughts:
“Love galaxy wasnt just a dating game. It was a game in power and politics”
Mark my words, Sci-fi Romance is going to be the new romantasy. At least if this book is any indication.
Plot:
The story takes place within the Expani empire, which encompasses the entire galaxy. And the galaxy, just like us, loves it’s dating reality television show. It’s like the bachelor but used as a political tool to forge important connections.
This year, things are done a little differently. For one, the prince and princess, are co-hosting to find their matches at the same time. For another, they’re including contestants from the outermost system, which happens to be our fmc, Temmie’s, home planet, oh, and there are these little murders. Contestants are being killed, and its all being thrown under the rug.
When it’s revealed who the murdered actually is, and the REASON for those murders, I was absolutely shocked. I truly did not see it coming.
Characters:
Temmi- Our fmc is very likable. Her backstory is tragic and she’s clearly resilient.
Spie- the ‘trouble-maker’ twin, she has a deep love for her brother and feels conflicted about her feelings towards one of ‘his’ contestants. She’s snarky and I loved the banter between her and Temmi. Personally, I’m always going to prefer the love interest that would burn the world down for her, and Spie delivered that.
Worldbuilding:
The worldbuilding is easy to understand, and leaves room for growth with more to be uncovered in book 2.
Complexity: 🤷♀️/5
Tropes:
✨Sapphic
✨Forbidden Romance
✨Forced Proximity
✨Reality Dating
✨Class Disparity
--
3 months later and here are some additional thoughts:
Overall Thoughts:
“Love galaxy wasnt just a dating game. It was a game in power and politics”
Mark my words, Sci-fi Romance is going to be the new romantasy. At least if this book is any indication.
Plot:
The story takes place within the Expani empire, which encompasses the entire galaxy. And the galaxy, just like us, loves it’s dating reality television show. It’s like the bachelor but used as a political tool to forge important connections.
This year, things are done a little differently. For one, the prince and princess, are co-hosting to find their matches at the same time. For another, they’re including contestants from the outermost system, which happens to be our fmc, Temmie’s, home planet, oh, and there are these little murders. Contestants are being killed, and its all being thrown under the rug.
When it’s revealed who the murdered actually is, and the REASON for those murders, I was absolutely shocked. I truly did not see it coming.
Characters:
Temmi- Our fmc is very likable. Her backstory is tragic and she’s clearly resilient.
Spie- the ‘trouble-maker’ twin, she has a deep love for her brother and feels conflicted about her feelings towards one of ‘his’ contestants. She’s snarky and I loved the banter between her and Temmi. Personally, I’m always going to prefer the love interest that would burn the world down for her, and Spie delivered that.
Worldbuilding:
The worldbuilding is easy to understand, and leaves room for growth with more to be uncovered in book 2.
Complexity: 🤷♀️/5
Tropes:
✨Sapphic
✨Forbidden Romance
✨Forced Proximity
✨Reality Dating
✨Class Disparity
August 12, 2025
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of Love Galaxy and it was everything I’ve ever wanted and more. It was beautifully written, it had so much intrigue, and top notch world-building, I couldn’t set it down. The two main characters Temmi and Spie were absolutely the best. Their chemistry, their banter, they had me rooting for them from the moment they met. But the main characters weren’t the only ones I loved. Branham creates characters that feel real, nuanced, and makes you care for each and every one of them. But that’s not all, Branham’s storyline was SO good. A sci-fi murder mystery on a dating show? Yes please. Branham is a masterful storyteller, from her perfect pacing to plot twists you never saw coming, I was glued to the pages. I could go on and on about how much I love this book but suffice it to say, Love Galaxy is amazing and you should be racing to order your copy. It’s an absolute must read.
January 31, 2026
This book wrecked me. I spent the last 15% of it bawling my eyes out. I went into this expecting a fun sapphic sci-fi adventure, not a story that would rip my heart out and stomp on it. Repeatedly. 6 out of 5 stars. Best book I’ve ever read.
This is 'The Selection' but sapphic and good, and also the politics and societal dynamics weren't an afterthought but are an integral and well done part of the story. I don't know how or why but obviously it hit me like a ton of bricks. Like it actually hurt to read because I loved Temmi and Spie so much and past a certain point I knew this wasn't gonna have a 'happy' end and it fcking hurt. I don't know why my brain is like this.
----
Many, many thanks to DAW for the ARC!!
This is 'The Selection' but sapphic and good, and also the politics and societal dynamics weren't an afterthought but are an integral and well done part of the story. I don't know how or why but obviously it hit me like a ton of bricks. Like it actually hurt to read because I loved Temmi and Spie so much and past a certain point I knew this wasn't gonna have a 'happy' end and it fcking hurt. I don't know why my brain is like this.
----
Many, many thanks to DAW for the ARC!!
August 11, 2025
I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of this and when I say the plot twists in it were jaw dropping - I mean set it down and stare into the abyss jaw dropping. SUCH a fun premise & romance, overall a wonderful wonderful read!
November 19, 2025
I like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for allowing me this interesting book.
I like how this book combines sci-fi / fantasy / romance / murder mystery, and sets up for a sequel (conclusion or part two in a series).
You have our brash, trash picker Artemis who lives in the slums of a planet not known for being high on the desirable list. Her brother is handicapped, her mother requires new lungs, and she is just scrimping by on her job. Her previous and only boyfriend stole her invention and now has access to a university path that should have been hers. Lets say she is not ever having a good day.
Our prince and princess are twins, and their mother is the ruler of the galaxy. Because the sister is a rebel (and eldest), she has been demoted from taking the mother's place when she retires. So, they are put in tv-show bachelor game. 24 contestants, two winners, all female. It's Artemis' planet that is last. However, Artemis gets into a thrown down with the princess and out of spite (and because her brother develops feelings) she enlists Artemis into the dating game.
For a while, the book was following the path of a simple dating game, until the murders start happening. Artemis isn't dumb, she sees this going on and wants to do something - alert people. Yet it is hard when you're labeled as a trouble maker and the least liked.
At first I wanted Artemis with the prince, but as the story progressed I wanted her with the princess. The last 20% of the book threw me for a loop because that's when the story absolutely deviated from the dating game and I had no idea where the story was headed and how it ends. The book does set up part two and the paths all three of the characters are on. We also meet some new characters who may be friends or foe.
All in all, a creative debut that totally kicks the rug out from under you and makes you excited to see where it heads next.
I like how this book combines sci-fi / fantasy / romance / murder mystery, and sets up for a sequel (conclusion or part two in a series).
You have our brash, trash picker Artemis who lives in the slums of a planet not known for being high on the desirable list. Her brother is handicapped, her mother requires new lungs, and she is just scrimping by on her job. Her previous and only boyfriend stole her invention and now has access to a university path that should have been hers. Lets say she is not ever having a good day.
Our prince and princess are twins, and their mother is the ruler of the galaxy. Because the sister is a rebel (and eldest), she has been demoted from taking the mother's place when she retires. So, they are put in tv-show bachelor game. 24 contestants, two winners, all female. It's Artemis' planet that is last. However, Artemis gets into a thrown down with the princess and out of spite (and because her brother develops feelings) she enlists Artemis into the dating game.
For a while, the book was following the path of a simple dating game, until the murders start happening. Artemis isn't dumb, she sees this going on and wants to do something - alert people. Yet it is hard when you're labeled as a trouble maker and the least liked.
At first I wanted Artemis with the prince, but as the story progressed I wanted her with the princess. The last 20% of the book threw me for a loop because that's when the story absolutely deviated from the dating game and I had no idea where the story was headed and how it ends. The book does set up part two and the paths all three of the characters are on. We also meet some new characters who may be friends or foe.
All in all, a creative debut that totally kicks the rug out from under you and makes you excited to see where it heads next.
April 20, 2026
Love Galaxy was my first sapphic romance, and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I expected.
While I’m normally not a fan of love triangles, I really liked the dynamic between the characters. The relationships and interactions felt natural, and I was emotionally attached to all of them.
I also really enjoyed the writing style. We get both Temmi and Spie’s POV which were distinctly written so that I could hear the characters voices in my head.
My main issue was with the murder mystery element. It clearly had a purpose in the story, but I wish it had been more present. I found myself forgetting about it at times because of that. Given Temmi’s personality, particularly how stubborn and strong-willed she is, I expected her to care more about it. I wanted more of her inner turmoil dealing with her emotions about wanting to uncover the mystery vs protecting herself and her family.
That said, I still had a really great time reading this. It was super engaging and the MCs really carried the story well. Also the ending genuinely caught me off guard and I immediately texted my friend who read it before me like WAIT WHAT?!
I would absolutely read a sequel because I need to know what happens next.
Overall I give this book 4.75 stars. It has me wanting to read more sapphic romances for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and Daw for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
While I’m normally not a fan of love triangles, I really liked the dynamic between the characters. The relationships and interactions felt natural, and I was emotionally attached to all of them.
I also really enjoyed the writing style. We get both Temmi and Spie’s POV which were distinctly written so that I could hear the characters voices in my head.
My main issue was with the murder mystery element. It clearly had a purpose in the story, but I wish it had been more present. I found myself forgetting about it at times because of that. Given Temmi’s personality, particularly how stubborn and strong-willed she is, I expected her to care more about it. I wanted more of her inner turmoil dealing with her emotions about wanting to uncover the mystery vs protecting herself and her family.
That said, I still had a really great time reading this. It was super engaging and the MCs really carried the story well. Also the ending genuinely caught me off guard and I immediately texted my friend who read it before me like WAIT WHAT?!
I would absolutely read a sequel because I need to know what happens next.
Overall I give this book 4.75 stars. It has me wanting to read more sapphic romances for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and Daw for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 7, 2026
3.5⭐️
🌌🪐 Set in outer space, which is my current personality, the set up is a reality dating show competition with royal twins 👯♂️
A love triangle emerges between underdog contestant Temmi (Artemis), who goes on to pursue the brother but ends up catching feelings for the bratty sister.
There is also an interplanetary conflict with an alien race in the background, a potential uprising from oppressed outer rim planets, and then contestants start going down like flies (unalived during the filming).
💖 I would recommend this to romance readers who want to dip a toe into science fiction. I felt this leaned mostly YA romance (spice level 🫑), with a fun murder mystery subplot.
The parts more core to scifi: the ruling empire, revolution, politics, etc got less depth. I do think this is because the book was trying to tackle so many genres in one.
The ending was completely a cliffhanger. I didn’t realize this was a series until that ending! I am curious to see where this will go next.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYCecBDlpkI/
July 16, 2026
4.75 ⭐️ This was so entertaining! I had a great time. I need the second book NOW!
June 29, 2026
I would have loved it if the book had tried to do even one of these themes (murdery mystery, space fantasy, or reality tv show drama / romance)... better. And i really, REALLY wanted to love this, ya'll.
Jesus christ. So the novel never even attempts to build any sort of emotional connection between characters. I would have loved even a moment of thinking something could happen between Temmi & Nix, but the closest we come to that is being told, nauseatingly, that they "get to know each other by sitting together in the library each morning for a couple weeks". Oh cool, so we're not going to attempt to show ANY sort of relationship forming? Friendship? No? We are just supposed to think they vibe bc they're "smart"??
And then Spie. Ofc there's a romance here because they we are force-fed information about how much they notice each other - despite their boring and flat "personalities" (and I AM a Poor bitch with a love of cursing, I should have LOVED Temmi - she just. Sucked).
World building? Lets spend 100 pages using every single character introduction to write a short dissertation about that person's home world, while revealing literally NOTHING interesting about this godforsaken universe somehow. And still, THREE HUNDRED PAGES in (200 pages of painful exposition), and I am somehow just learning that even being accused of not "liking" the empire could result in execution? WTF?? WHY HOW WHY do we still not know anything **important** about this fucking universe, or empire or its fucking politics??
Let's talk a moment about some uncomfy choices here; despite attempting to be a diverse novel, I found the mentions of different cultures to be.. icky. May's of the names just sounded like, slightly racist made-up names that seem to mimic real Earth cultures. First chapter mocks character "Blessing Stone" for having a "stupid name", but then later mentions another character with a similar name, and informs you that these names are actually culturally significant to these characters; ie, Spie was openly mocking someone's culture for being "dumb and weird". And the names, Blessing Stone, *something* Willow... I'm not Native American, so I dont want to speak on how Native people might feel about it, but I can't help but feel like this is an uncomfortable mockery of some traditional Native names.
A Black character is also described as having, I believe the word was "muddled" skin color? What? How is this even worse than over-compensating with "deep caramel latte" type descriptions? Jesus H. Christ what is happening here? You can't just walk the line between not naming any real cultures or specific races/ and skin colors (god forbid we just say Black or Brown), and then use very coded language to refer to obviously real-inspired races and cultures. I would have honestly preferred if everyone was purple and green, please. (Also worth mentioning here, I am white, so again I cannot speak on how anyone except I, myself, feel about this. But it did not feel... right).
You know, I'm not even gonna start with the murder mystery. That couldnt have been less interesting if it tried. The best, most dramatic scene in the whole novel ends on a chapter break - and we skip forward several weeks. Bye tension. How brief our affair was in the end. 😭
And lastly, how many contestants were there? A talkive "girl" (why were all these adult women called girls?? Ew), the real veteran, the "fake" veteran, and the bitchy princess. A single dinner conversation does not a friendship make, and the princess is not an interesting antagonist if all she does is sneer and call you a poor every 150 pages. Aside from that, we get told there are occasional confessionals, that sometimes group dates happen, and that sometimes people go home. But we literally never get to experience an ounce of drama, of interesting relationships, hell we dont even learn anything interesting about ANY of the cast members. We get told 2 times that Temmi is being marketed as the villain and that viewers dont like her. That's it. That's the drama.
I beg of you, all I wanted was even a single, SINGLE interesting thing to happen in this whole damn novel. 😭
In the end, the "plot twists" couldnt even stop me from skimming whole chapters.
Jesus christ. So the novel never even attempts to build any sort of emotional connection between characters. I would have loved even a moment of thinking something could happen between Temmi & Nix, but the closest we come to that is being told, nauseatingly, that they "get to know each other by sitting together in the library each morning for a couple weeks". Oh cool, so we're not going to attempt to show ANY sort of relationship forming? Friendship? No? We are just supposed to think they vibe bc they're "smart"??
And then Spie. Ofc there's a romance here because they we are force-fed information about how much they notice each other - despite their boring and flat "personalities" (and I AM a Poor bitch with a love of cursing, I should have LOVED Temmi - she just. Sucked).
World building? Lets spend 100 pages using every single character introduction to write a short dissertation about that person's home world, while revealing literally NOTHING interesting about this godforsaken universe somehow. And still, THREE HUNDRED PAGES in (200 pages of painful exposition), and I am somehow just learning that even being accused of not "liking" the empire could result in execution? WTF?? WHY HOW WHY do we still not know anything **important** about this fucking universe, or empire or its fucking politics??
Let's talk a moment about some uncomfy choices here; despite attempting to be a diverse novel, I found the mentions of different cultures to be.. icky. May's of the names just sounded like, slightly racist made-up names that seem to mimic real Earth cultures. First chapter mocks character "Blessing Stone" for having a "stupid name", but then later mentions another character with a similar name, and informs you that these names are actually culturally significant to these characters; ie, Spie was openly mocking someone's culture for being "dumb and weird". And the names, Blessing Stone, *something* Willow... I'm not Native American, so I dont want to speak on how Native people might feel about it, but I can't help but feel like this is an uncomfortable mockery of some traditional Native names.
A Black character is also described as having, I believe the word was "muddled" skin color? What? How is this even worse than over-compensating with "deep caramel latte" type descriptions? Jesus H. Christ what is happening here? You can't just walk the line between not naming any real cultures or specific races/ and skin colors (god forbid we just say Black or Brown), and then use very coded language to refer to obviously real-inspired races and cultures. I would have honestly preferred if everyone was purple and green, please. (Also worth mentioning here, I am white, so again I cannot speak on how anyone except I, myself, feel about this. But it did not feel... right).
You know, I'm not even gonna start with the murder mystery. That couldnt have been less interesting if it tried. The best, most dramatic scene in the whole novel ends on a chapter break - and we skip forward several weeks. Bye tension. How brief our affair was in the end. 😭
And lastly, how many contestants were there? A talkive "girl" (why were all these adult women called girls?? Ew), the real veteran, the "fake" veteran, and the bitchy princess. A single dinner conversation does not a friendship make, and the princess is not an interesting antagonist if all she does is sneer and call you a poor every 150 pages. Aside from that, we get told there are occasional confessionals, that sometimes group dates happen, and that sometimes people go home. But we literally never get to experience an ounce of drama, of interesting relationships, hell we dont even learn anything interesting about ANY of the cast members. We get told 2 times that Temmi is being marketed as the villain and that viewers dont like her. That's it. That's the drama.
I beg of you, all I wanted was even a single, SINGLE interesting thing to happen in this whole damn novel. 😭
In the end, the "plot twists" couldnt even stop me from skimming whole chapters.
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