The Other Side of Gravity

Oxygen #1

by Shelly Crane

My name is Maxton and I’m a trader.

I live on a soulless planet where gravity, oxygen, and everything else are sold to the highest bidder on the black market. People are sold on the black market, too. You have to work really hard not to become one of those people. Pay your taxes, keep your friends and family close, and more than anything else—don’t get caught by the Militia. But all the rules changed for me the day I found her.

My name is Sophelia and I’m a stowaway.

I’ve been a slave for almost as long as I can remember. Waiting for the one day, one second, for my proprietor to turn his head so I could run and never look back. Now I'm on the run. And on a planet where no one is on your side and people would turn you in for a good meal or a piece of a silver, being on the run on Landu is the last place you want to be. Until he found me.

I won't survive without him.

I can't breathe without her.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Dystopia, Paranormal, Fiction

249 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Shelly is a NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author from a small town and loves everything about the south. She hoards paperbacks, devours sweet tea, searches year-round for candy corn, loves to site-see in the new areas they travel to with her husband's job, and adores reading but doesn’t have much time to these days with all the characters filling her head begging to come out.

Her own books happen by accident and she revels in the writing and imagination process. She doesn't go anywhere without her notepad for fear of an idea creeping up and not being able to write it down immediately, even in the middle of the night, where her best ideas are born.

Reviews

[Shelly Crane]

“There is no gravity. The only thing holding me to this planet is you.”

You guys!!

I'm am dying to tell you about my new Sci-Fi book. Maxton is...*sigh*. I had to put this book off several times because of books that were already promised and it called to me while I wrote Altered and then Undeniably Chosen. Now that I have those done, I can FINALLY get to this book. I used to write more than one book at a time when I first started writing and publishing. At one point I had 3 series going at once! :) It was so fun. It keeps me from feeling burnt out and overwhelmed by writing in the same world over and over, which I've never really done. I've always alternated series. So yes, I'm still working on the next Significance book, Undeniably Fated, but I'm working on this one, too. This book will release first and then UF and then the next book in the Oxygen series and then the next Significance book more than likely.

I'm so excited about this book, you can't even understand! Maxton is probably one of the most confusing book boys I've ever written and Sophelia is one of the tartest. And writing them being on the run on a planet where you can only breathe or walk with gravity for days at a time without getting something to help you with it is a fun challenge. Can't wait for you guys to read it!!

March 15th!!

Pre-order now!

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[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Available on NetGalley for review - > HERE

5 Defying Gravity Stars

It’s been some time since I read a Shelley Crane book. She writes wonderful YA books. I was instantly intrigued with The Other Side of Gravity because of the 1.) Cover 2.) Summary and 3.) Author. Not to my surprise, I gobbled this sucker up. I devoured this book, it was fantastic, wonderful and it definitely took me on a journey to a different world.

The thing that I love about YA fantasy books is that you never know what kind of world you will be taken. This world is not world, but a different planet. It doesn’t have oxygen or gravity and you have to take pills in order to survive. Only the rich live to the fullest and if you can’t afford the high taxes, you will become a slave.

I would skip the prologue of the book because I am not fond of foreshadowing. It showed a bit of the ending of the book, but it didn’t give anything away. I just prefer to read the book in order. That’s just my personal reading preference and opinion. Other than that, the book was perfect.

Sophelia has been a slave since she was ten. Something happened to lead to her this point in her life and as each day comes, she is just working on survival. She has been beaten, called names and barely has enough to eat, but she is alive and that is all that matters.

When you start the book it will grip your heart because you soon realized why Sophelia is a slave. I love these kinds of beginnings, it really sets the tone of the read and it shows you what kind of character you are working with. Sophelia is the strong Heroine I LOVE to read in YA books. She’s a fighter and has sass.

Maxton is a trader. He’s not rich, not middle class, but not poor, he’s just barely making it. He works hard and when he runs into the runaway slave Sophelia he realizes her bounty could save him. I love love love Maxton. I wanted a cute, smart and brave Hero. However, something happens and Maxton and Soph find themselves on the run.

“Soph, you’re an angel, a goddess, and a hero, and that’s just the first three worlds I could think of to describe you- that’s not even scratching the surface of the truth.”

Isn’t that a cute plot? I love the runaway storyline and on top of that, I love the underlying connection and attraction Soph and Maxton have towards each other. This is why I love YA books, it’s because of the young innocence and the crazy tension. The other Side of Gravity is a pure romance book. Yes, there is the plot of Soph and Maxton on the run, yes you have people chasing after them, yes they run into obstacles, etc. BUT you also get the background romance. The cute glances, touches and subtle conversations they have to each other about feelings. It’s REALLY cute and that is what had my glued to the pages.

“Give me the breath in your lungs, all the steps you took to get here, the only heart you’ve got, your very soul. I want all there is, Soph”

“You’ve everything bright in this world for me, Soph. When you look away, it’s like someone turned out the lights.”

This shouldn’t surprise me, Shelly Crane is always a hit. Overall the book was action packed, filled with romance and completely entertaining. I would happily read it again again and again.

An Arc was Provided.

AMAZON

[Sofii♡ (A Book. A Thought.) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.


This book caught my attention from the beginning mainly for its beautiful cover and the plot was to me the most original.


I would not say that is a book I would not recommend, just that I think has not been for me.


What I liked : No doubt the building area of the world where the story unfolds is very interesting and has left me quite pleased . It bothers me not being able to connect with a story that unfolds in such an incredible world, but it happened.


What I didn't liked: The romance been my main problem and you know how I get when romance does not like me, I just don't believe anything about , I have had many problems with the character of Maxton, at first I gave him a chance because I believed that truth he will be amazing but I have cast difficult since I have not noticed any growth in his character , has to be the typical perfect guy to which we are accustomed.


the book has a dual POV and this is usually a good thing, I don't think so in this case , as it has seemed to me be reading the same thing twice throughout the book


I found the end so weird. I don't consider it a good closure at all


I can tell you for sure that maybe you can give it a try without fear, because the world who Shelly has created is amazing , maybe the plot catches you more than me

[Amanda Minnock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Red Coat PR & Shelly Crane for my copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly the front cover is amazing, it is the whole reason I wanted to read the book! it captivated me as soon as I was browsing through titles to hopefully review.

Sophelia is a slave seven hundred years in the future on a planet on the other side of the sun, for some reason I'm still not quite sure of humans evacuated Earth to leave for this place. Only there isn't any oxygen or gravity pull which means people have to adapt by taking tablets to sustain these which makes these tablets very desirable indeed, a luxury if you like. This then means the poor are struggling just to get by trying to keep a hold of their breath... and keep their feet safely on the ground.

So from the start of the book I was gripped, I couldn't get enough and I just wanted more. Soph completely melted my heart and I just wanted to scoop her up into a bear hug. The book was told in two POV's of the main characters which I honestly loved but it was choppy, sometimes I didn't know who was talking and I was getting really confused. I tried to reread these parts but I just couldn't get it at all so gave up and read on. There were some dodgy sentences I also felt were completely out of place but I could look past that because hey we are all different!

I really liked our characters at the start of the book, Maxton our hot black market dealer who has some fiercely intense moments with Soph that literally made me want to scream at them GET TOGETHER NOW I SHIP USE!!! but the overuse of words like "gasped" started to really frustrate me, I get it Soph I really do but please for the love of god stop gasping or I really hope your gravity tab wears off and you float away.
The twins were pretty funny they totally bounced off each other, really cheeky with confidence yet there was also a childlike sense to them also, I liked it! The characters could have been built on a little more they were pretty vague.

So in the middle of the book, I got a little bit bored, I was finding it hard to picture where the book was meant to be set because it never built much of the surroundings, so my mind kept changing during the book on what it would look like. Sometimes I would picture Game of Thrones Kings Landing and others I was thinking of The Divergent series Allegiant but the film, lots of red sand and red rain. Then with the whole music thing it made me think of The Hunger Games, then I realized The Other Side of Gravity did make me think of Divergent series & Hunger Games a lot. Once I thought of this I had to keep it in my head to not compare it to these as I did enjoy the story it's just needing a few weak links sorted!

I do believe the book was more about romance nearly every page was full of it. Don't get me wrong I love a romance and these two are perfect but come on guys use are getting chased, you are wanted by the space police! Please for the love of my sanity stop stopping each other in your tracks to kiss and gasp at one another, yet it wasn't pushed at the start of the book where usually in a YA they are in love by the second chapter, so I wasn't cringing waiting for my mind to erase what I just read I actually enjoyed the chase. I am excited to see where it goes I won't lie, during the book while I started to lose interest I got to about 80% and it picked back up I was like DAMN GIRL DON'T YOU FREEZE ON ME!

I would recommend the book if you like a romance with a tad of sci-fi because I genuinely feel that's what it is. I for one will be reading on because I ship Soph & Maxton... my Saxton!

Please check out my blog www.amandaminnockx.tumblr.com thanks.

"That look on your face will star in my dreams for the rest of my life."

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books}]

***ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

"He used to say that life would be a big, awesome journey or it would be nothing at all. Live like you're made of stone or like you're made of glass, but pick one. Have what you want, go after them, but want the things you've got. Bet with the whole pot or walk away with a smile. Don't ever regret as you look back. And always tell the truth because you can't ever run faster than a lie."

700 years after humanity had to flee the Earth, their new home planet, Landu, is reigned by a new kind of government, The Congress. In order to keep peace, everything and everyone is being monitored - even people's vocabulary. Society is divided into three classes, rich, poor and slaves; taxes are basically unpayable, and even things people once took for granted (oxygen, gravity, water) are now rare and expensive commodities.
This book follows Sophelia, a former slave on the run, and Maxton, a black market trader, who are forced to become unwitting allies when he saves her from a terrible fate.

Okay, so the idea of this book was pretty good. I did see a few parallels to some other popular YA dystopian/sci-fi novels out there, but I guess it isn't easy to come up with a completely original concept nowadays that has never been touched before. The world building was creative and intriguing, albeit confusing at times. There were quite a few inconsistencies, character-wise and plot-wise, that just didn't add up to me, but for the most part, I was able to overlook them.

Our society thought that cutting out our foul language, drugs, physical relations - unless you paid a fee to the government of course - and pretty much everything else unless you paid taxes with the threat of confinement or the mines over your head at all times - that this would somehow make our society better, more civilized, more organized, less disease-ridden. Better than the Earth that we'd destroyed.

While this story kept me entertained and enthralled throughout and I liked the characters well enough, I can't say I really clicked with them.
I'm easily frustrated by too much push-and-pull behavior when it isn't done well, and I'm afraid it wasn't here. The constant self-pitying and "I'm not good enough for you, I don't deserve you" on both parts was exhausting to say the least, and I couldn't help the occasional eye-roll.
Saving grace: Roddy and Fletch, the two goofy twin brothers. Why, you ask? Because goofy twin brothers always work!

This is one of those books that I'm sure teenagers will eat up like nothing.
I, on the other hand, am probably too old to fully appreciate the simple writing, cutesy romance and rather cheesy humor.

Still, I'm giving this 3 "well done" stars.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Shayne Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak at Shelly Crane's brand new star-crossed love story early on, and I have to say, she got me! The Other Side of Gravity is enthralling--an instant thrill ride of danger and romance, with a deep and winding future world that Crane sucks you into like a black hole in a far off galaxy! Sophelia and Maxton have a chemistry that is sweet and deep. The minute he finds her as a stowaway, I was hooked and invested. Maxton stops at nothing to keep her safe and make her feel like a princess after years of her being a slave. (Am I getting too far ahead of you?) Seriously, The Other Side of Gravity is smart, immersive, political, and exciting. It is the first installment of Crane's new Oxygen saga, and I think fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games are going to be hypnotized!

My thoughts? This is the beginning of the world's next favorite science fiction romance with a danger that is eerily possible...and a love that is difficult to forget.

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Do I smell Romance? Yes I do.

The Other Side Of Gravity is a romance in its truest form. Rescuer turned boyfriend and Damsel in distress *Cue Disney music*

The one thing that stood out and really made me like this book was the uniqueness of the setting.

Maxon and Sophelia are in a new world behind the Sun, in this world you have to pay for everything, Air, Gravity pills to keep you attached to the Earth. Nearly everyone works in the mines, mining for metals as all other materials burn given the planets proximity to the Sun.

I pictured the planet to look a little like Mars with a giant silver structure and slums everywhere. The ocean is Red, the dirt is Red, the sky is Red, the rain is Red.

Soph is a slave after she lost both her parents and has finally decided 10 years is enough and that she needs to escape or die trying.
Maxon works the black market pedaling air and gravity tabs.

Combine the two and you get instlovelike. I liked these characters more when they were separate. Soph is a strong and independent character by herself but constantly breaks down and leans on Maxon when he's there. Maxon is headstrong and not afraid to break the law but stupidly spends money they need to live on cookies and petting puppies just to make Soph happy.

Maxon! The girl loves you and needs air more then candy I don't care how pretty her smile is *epic eye roll*

The POV switches really irked me, I would have preferred this to be all in Maxon's POV as Soph was annoying and would burst the picture Maxon had built of her in my head. We constantly hear how he loves that she's a smart ass and strong and then we get into Sophs mind and she's paranoid and weak.

Soph is special and can help over throw the government that is controlling who lives or dies but doesn't know why she's special and neither do we...

THE ENDING WAS A CRAPPY THING TO DO. I hate books that end on a ridiculous cliff hanger. Yes give me some angst and make me want the next book but you can't just end it in a way that makes me think you did it so I'd have to pick up the next book. To be honest I would have read the next book anyway without that ending but now I kind of don't want to because it pissed me off that much.

All in all it was very cringy but I also enjoyed how cringy the romance was? I think I may have been laugh AT the characters more the with, but I may still read the next book and see how everything turns out.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Other Side Of Gravity takes place on a planet where gravity, oxygen, and everything else are sold to the highest bidder on the black market, including people and the rules are highly enforced by the militia.

When Sophelia was a young girl her mother gave her a doll to celebrate her birthday, unfortunately this activity was illegal. Sophelia's mother was caught and taken away leaving Sophelia on her own and with no way to pay the taxes required of the citizens so she was sent to become a slave.

After years of being captive Sophelia finally finds a way to free herself and goes on the run. She escapes to a ship and stows away only to be discovered. Fortunately for Sophelia a young man by the name of Maxton comes to her rescue and helps her flee again.

The Other Side of Gravity is one of those books that I was left just wanting so much more when I finished reading. While the world building was somewhat acceptable there were just so many things I'd like to have been expanded upon or given more life to in the story.

The biggest portion of the read focused on the relationship building between Sophelia and Maxton who were a likable enough duo and I was somewhat excited for them to get to know each other. But with so much focused on them and with such an unique environment I found myself wanting more out of the read than the teenage romance.

Along with numerous little things mentioned all through the read that there was no further explanation the overall plot of Sophelia being on the run and her family's past seemed somewhat ignored. The last section of the book gave it a bit of attention but it felt a bit rushed and then ended rather suddenly. However, my curiosity was peaked a bit so I probably still would pick up the next in the series and hope the author expands on the world a bit more.

Overall, three stars, an OK start to the series that seemed to focus mainly on the relationship building. Would read the second book to see if the world and plot get more attention as it did seem like an interesting place.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Dannii Elle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. Thank you to the author, Shelly Crane, and the publisher, Kiss Me Publications, for this opportunity.

This beautiful cover is what stimulated my interest in this book. If I was giving ratings on covers alone, this would easily score a six out of five stars! But don't be fooled: this cover is a trap. The title was an intriguing one (trap) and the synopsis sounded unique and complex (another trap).

I feel I am being unnecessarily harsh but this book had everything going for it to make this an utterly stellar read. Unfortunately, for me, it failed on several fronts.

The Other Side of Gravity is set some seven hundred years in the future. The human civilization has had to abandon the planet earth and travel to a fairly hospitable planet that has been discovered on the other side of the sun. The only catch is that this planet is missing both oxygen and any sort of gravitational pull, leaving both of these to become sold luxuries instead of necessities for living. This, of course, means that the weak and the poor literally have to earn every breath they take.

The tale is told from a split first-person perspective, from the viewpoint of the dual protagonists, Sophelia and Maxton. Sophelia has been a slave since she was eight years old and I immediately empathized with her and her position in this harsh society. She had a feisty attitude, a quick tongue and a fire inside her that compelled her to keep living and fighting. This lasted for no more than the first quarter of the book. Then, I felt, she transformed into a cowed version of her former self. Most of her spark was gone upon meeting Maxton. I felt she played the role of the wilting female and I found her quickly an irritating protagonist and bad role-model for younger readers. I understood that her past sparked major trust issues, but in the space of 100 pages there are roughly four instances where she believe Maxton wants to leave her and would be better off without her. This leads Maxton to believe she wants to leave him and his quick temper flares. Sophelia gets upset. Maxton feels bad. They reunite. Rinse, and repeat.

The reality of this book is that it was basically an angsty teen romance shrouded in a little science fiction. Maybe it was the marketing and my own preconceived expectations but this was not what the synopsis or cover suggested to me. I found the love to be of the 'hey, I just met you, and this is crazy...' type where the characters sacrifice theirs and their entire family's happiness the moment they lay eyes on each other. It felt like this instantaneous love was based on nothing more than looks. And that is the sort of romance that does not cut it for me.

I felt the world building was particularly weak. I was continuously lost and unable to formulate an image of the place in my imagination. Initially, and in small quarters, the characters and the setting shone and I could see the book's potential. When the characters ventured outdoors or when larger spaces were attempted to be described, I felt it lacking any sort of real foundation. Brief overviews don't do it for me. Maybe this is because of my preference for bulky fantasy novels, but I needed to formulate an image in my mind of this place to bring this world to life and, at best, all I got was a half-formed rough sketch, fading out at the edges.

I am, I admit, a science geek. I understand that this relatively short YA was not going to give me the scientific particulars concerning just how oxygen was sold and administered, but I was expecting...something. It felt like a strong concept but there was no explanation given to back it up.

I hate to give this book such a low rating as the premise was so interesting and the beginning was quite a strong one. Unfortunately the rest of the book did nothing for me. If you like contemporary romance, passive reading and quick, Summer reads then this book is for you. If it was the fantastical setting that appealed to you, then I would suggest you look else where for your science fiction fix.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read everything by Shelly Crane. More than a few times. It's come to the point, where I don't even both reading the synopsis anymore. Why bother? I know I'm going to like it. I say this about every book of hers, and not once has it been a let down.



The Other Side of Gravity was so much more.



Sophelia has been through a lot for being young. The world they live in, isn't like ours. Sophelia used to live in the stacks as it's called. A place where the poor live. It's gritty and not a very pleasant place to live, but as a child, she did okay there. Until something happens that sets into events that change her life. Suddenly, the slums don't seem so bad. Where she goes is much worse.



Fast forward about ten years, and she's finally breaking free. She's on the run to-hopefully-a better place. But then she runs into Maxton.



The one thing I love about Shelly Crane, is that the male characters she writes about, are amazing! You can't help but swoon and drool every time one is introduced (unless they're the bad guys!) Maxton was no different. I loved him immediately-even if he does begin on the wrong side of things. Once he meets Sopehlia, he knows she's different. And the second it clicked for him that he wanted her, and would do anything to be with her, he wasn't going to stop until he trusted her and believed her worth. He just wants her to feel free and whole. Here is a scene between them, which stuck with me:



"I've got you, Soph," I assure her, "I promise."

And then my hands slid to the backs of her legs as I picked her up, feeling smug knowing that the gasp she let loose wasn't for show but all too real, and then pressed her to the wall with my hips as I held her there tightly against me. In her eyes, I could see she didn't care that the Militia were on the way to us or that she could be about to float away into the atmosphere. No, there was only her and me, the wall against her back and the non-existent space between us."



Swoon.



The world is set up in such a way that fascinates me. I haven't read something like it before. A world where you have to pay for oxygen, fight to keep your home and work harder than ever before to stay alive. It's interesting to read about a world like this, how it's so different from the Earth they learned about in their one day of school.



It was nice that we got to meet Maxton's family. They're a good bunch, and I hope to see them again in the next book.



There isn't a lot of stable side characters in this one. It isn't until toward the end when we finally meet two guys who will hopefully stick around for a while. They're pretty amusing to read, as twins who speak at the same time and have a good sense of humor. Here is a part I couldn't stop laughing at (Sophelia's POV):



"Let me at her, Rod!" Fletch fought against his brother's arms around his shoulder. "I'll teach her to dis the Snoop."

"I can't even with you guys!" I yelled in a huff.

Maxton finally came to my rescue. "Come on, guys, we've got to get serious.z'

"Snoop Dog is serious!" he yelled back. "He's a legend!"

"Elvis is a legend," Maxton argued back.

"Who?" both the twins said at the same time.

I smacked my hands over my face. "I give," I said through my fingers.

Maxton took a breath to calm himself from laughing and asked, "You two are freaking hopeless. How do you know who Snoop Dog is and not Elvis?"

Roddy once again answered, "Mom only allowed the classics in our home."



As you can see, the humor is great. It adds a lighter tone, especially when needed.



The bad guys are bad, eliciting a shiver of fear and disgust whenever I hear him talk. I'm excited to see how everything will play out in book two!



This is told from both Maxton's and Sophelia's POV. It does end with a cliffhanger of sorts, and you'll be dying for the next one!

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

Full Review:
*I received a free ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

To put it simply, this book might be for some people, but it just really wasn’t for me.

See, the blurb alludes to all these dark things—slavery, black markets, human trafficking, poverty, a dystopian society—and, of course, romance. So I thought it was going to be a nice semi-dark, gritty, sci-fi romance.

Unfortunately, there was nothing gritty about it.

All the heavy issues I mentioned above were glossed over, and the story was just a light and fluffy romance with lots of swoony inner monologues and speeches and lots of angst that honestly didn’t feel very genuine or real to me because, again, all the heavy stuff was kind of nowhere to be found. It was mentioned a lot, but it was just there as backstory, and I never actually felt any emotion from it. Even when Sophelia was given seven lashes with a belt in the beginning, I could’ve been reading about someone eating dinner for all that I felt.

And kind of going along with the light romance thing, both characters were too perfectly imperfect for my taste, the kind that have “flaws” but not real flaws. Sophelia also wasn’t as tough as I would have expected after going through the hardships she apparently went through.

Then there was the ending. And by ending, I mean the story cut off suddenly with no resolution to anything at all. And that is pretty much the one thing almost guaranteed to make me angry about a book. I don’t even mind cliffhangers as long as, before the cliffhanger, there’s a climax and some sort of wrap up to the goal/questions raised in that individual book. But this had no resolution, and, to tell you the truth, I’m actually not even sure what the goal was.

There were also a few minor things, the kind that don’t ruin a story and you overlook if you love the book but that irk you if you don’t:

– I lost count of how many time Maxton used his fingers to lift Sophelia’s chin and make her look at him. It didn’t come across as sweet to me. It came across as him manhandling her.
– The prologue was entirely unnecessary and turned me off right away. It was just a scene from later in the book copied and pasted into the beginning.
– I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to like Sophelia’s mother or not because I actually agreed with the militia man. If she loved Sophelia so much, why would she purposely do something unnecessary when she knew it would cause her daughter to end up becoming an orphan and made into a slave? Maybe there’s more to the story, but, as I said, the book cut off before anything was explained.

But, though the writing could use bit of tightening up, it seemed about on par with the other fluffy romances I’ve read. So if you like swoony [clean] romance with perfectly imperfect characters and don’t like graphic, dark stuff that will bring you down, you might like it. But if you’re looking for something gritty with truly flawed characters, this won’t be for you.

Recommended For:
Readers who like fairly light and fluffy, clean romances and don't mind cliffhanger/serial-type endings.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the description for this book I immediately knew I had to read it. The cover is beautiful and I'm definitely a cover buy kind of girl. So great description, great artwork what could go wrong? Well unfortunately, a few things. The first few chapters I was pretty drawn in. There was a lot of action to keep me focused and the world created here is any Sci-Fi lovers dream. Earth as we know it does not exist and people live on another planet where oxygen and gravity pills are not free. It reminded me a little of the movie In Time and anyone who has seen that movie and read this book will see why. So, we have our two main characters Sophelia and Maxton. Sophelia has been a slave for 10 years until she finds a way to escape, and meets Maxton along the way. Now, it's not that I don't like Sophelia and Maxton it's that I have NO idea who they are as a person! I was begging for a more detailed summary of these two so their personalities would show more. Each chapter switches POV and if the words "he/she" weren't changed I wouldn't have had any idea which character I was reading since it all seemed so similar. Also, I found myself getting annoyed because they would not stop apologizing to each other, almost every other page they were sorry for this, sorry for that, and it became too much. Don't get me wrong, I understand Sophelia was a slave and she's not used to anyone but her Mother caring for her, and Maxton is afraid to upset her because of that but I didn't need an apology with every conversation. Also, the instalove wasn't too believable, I found it very cheesy and I rolled my eyes more than a few times while reading. The story ends on a cliffhanger and definitely sets it up for the next book. I just felt that there was SO much potential here so I'm a bit disappointed. The description is everything I want in my books, I went into this thinking it would be an instant favorite but I'm sad to say it's not. However, I still plan to finish reading this series once they are released. I was drawn in enough where I'd like to see how it all ends and I'm very much intriguing with this world so I'd also like to learn more about that. Hopefully the next book will fix all these issues for me because like I said I see a huge deal of potential.

[Empress Reece (Hooked on Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the Run on Landu...

I've never read any books by Shelly Crane before but when I saw the cover and read the blurb I knew I was jumping on this one head first regardless. I'm glad I did too because it was even better then I expected. The writing style, the plot and the characters were all really nicely done but the world building was brilliant. It was original and creative and I could tell that a lot of thought went into it, by all the little details that were accounted for.
 
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because about midway through the story started getting bogged down with hot & heavy make out sessions and back & forth relationship angst issues between two of the main characters Sophelia and Maxton. Now I don't mind a little romance in a sci-fi/dystopian story if its done well but in this case I thought it was just way too much and it distracted from and overshadowed an otherwise really fantastic story line. Plus the characters are only 17 year old virgin teenagers so the whole hot and heavy, draw you a picture, make out sessions just weirded me out especially since I have a teenage son. I think those scenes should be reserved for more mature adult character roles and toned down a notch in a ya series. 
 
All-in-all, I enjoyed the story, I think the series has a lot of potential and I'm definitely going to read the next book. I just hope though, that in book two, the author will let the incredible world and plot shine through and ditch the excessive romance. 
 
*I received this ARC from NetGalley & Red Coat PR in exchange for an honest review.
 
 

[Tayla Potayta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ebook copy for an honest review

This book was really good.
There were a couple things I had problems with. One being the flash forwards. I wish those weren't in there. It kindof ruined some of the key moments for me. I kept searching and waiting for the twins to show up and I knew that they obviously kiss and end up together. It was just annoying to know all that when I would have rather just let it happen

Secondly some scenes seemed a little too rushed and easy. It seems they got let off easy a bunch or just the situation was way too unrealistic.

However, other than that I really enjoyed the plot and the characters.

[Shealea · Rating 1 out of 5]

And yet another Shelly Crane novel that greatly disappointed me. My first Crane novel was Significance (no book review for that one yet), which I found to be outrightly terribly written with an exceedingly toxic romance between the main characters. However, I didn't want to close the door on the author just yet.

The Other Side of Gravity seemed like the perfect read for author redemption. The book's cover is undeniably gorgeous, the idea pitched in the premise seemed like a strong foundation for a good plot, and the setting introduced was admittedly fascinating. However, the delivery fell flat in just about every aspect and ultimately, the storytelling was utterly mediocre and nearly reduced me to bored tears.

The introductory chapters were all right. I was given a glimpse of how Sophelia was orphaned at an extremely young age and was forced into slavery. I also learned that the Earth eventually became so uninhabitable that people had to resort to taking oxygen and gravity pills in order to survive, and even then, the word 'survive' was used quite loosely. In terms of worldbuilding, The Other Side of Gravity was pretty impressive. It was not perfectly executed, but I will commend it for employing a distinctly unique concept.

Unfortunately, after the novel's strong and promising beginning, everything quickly sloped downhill. Sophelia was first presented as a sassy, independent and perfectly adept heroine clamoring for her freedom and unafraid to fight for it. However, once she and Maxton were thrown together, everything admirable about her character was immediately thrown out of the window. She became needy, embarrassingly helpless, and overly dependent. Think the antithesis of Arya Stark from Game of Thrones. Basically, her strength and backbone were totally macerated for the sake of an attractive male - an absurd concept that is, sad to say, still common in most fiction. To add to that, Maxton had a habit of mentioning her physical appearance whenever he thought about her (context: the story is written in the dual perspectives of Sophelia and Maxton). It seemed to me that he was blatantly objectifying her, which did not sit well with my ideals at all.

The elements that constituted a promising dystopian novel were completely overshadowed by the romance between the two leading characters. To make matters worse, the romance aspect was not even well-developed! I'm pretty sure their attraction towards one another was largely based on physical appearances. Their 'love' was instantaneous, unrealistic and unhealthy to a ridiculous proportion. I cringed on more than one occasion, I swear.

Moreover, the story had little to no plot. The mentions of an oppressive government and a rising rebellion ceased quickly, were placed completely on the backburner for most of the story, and only resurfaced in the latter chapters. Even then, crucial details were ignored, if not disregarded entirely. Also, the sudden savior complex towards the end was frustrating to read about. By that point, it was too late to redeem anything.

In summary, The Other Side of Gravity was a waste of time. I mourn for the trees that died in order to produce physical copies of this atrocity.

[Allison Mickey · Rating 1 out of 5]

"A diamond doesn't know how much it's worth; it's just beautiful because it exists."
Stars (Out of 10): 2
Overall Thoughts: I tried. I tried so hard. Perhaps it was my fault. I went into this expecting a beautiful Sci-Fi book with aspects of romance, preferably with a hate that turns to love over a reasonable period of time. Instead I got a book that could be confused with a lowkey young adult porn novel with an insta-love and very little plot. In fact, there was plot for chapter 1, but the rest of the plot didn't start until I was 160 pages in, which is impressive because my copy only has 229 pages in it.

Caution: Spoilers Ahead

The Good: The cover is beautiful, with it's unique upside down font. Some of the quotes are amazing and can be made into inspirational posters or be captioned under pretty, filtered hipster photos.
The Bad: I have read better fanfiction than this book. I did not like the writing. While there was some beautiful quotes, some of the writing was borderline cringey. For example, at one point, Maxton said he wanted Sophelia to giggle when they make out, thinking it would be hot. I assure you, that would be the opposite of hot. Furthermore, I can actually say that the following is a quote from the book, "Hitler happens." Likewise, the characters were not my favorite. Mostly because they could not decide what their personalities were. Similarly, the romance made me want to die. It's always great to read how one would die for another when they knew each other for a week. Last, but not least, the plot only matters at the end. Speaking of the end, why is a guy who knew her for one day ready to end her life in a circle of revenge? Why does he care?
The Characters: As I said previously, I do not like the characters. It says a lot that the only character that I like is the talking doll.
The Plot: The plot is as elusive as the wind. We know there is a rebellion. We know Sophelia's mom is involved. We know that Sophelia is the "savior." But where is this important in the book? And why does the government want Sophelia so much? What did she do? Also, if she was such a public enemy, why isn't it that important until the end.
The World Building: The world building is there and then not at best. While we learn much about the planet they live on and the oppressive government, we learn very little about the rebellion. We also learn details about life on their planet is confusing at best. All characters seem to wish for the good old Earth days, but it sounds like there hasn't been Earth for a very long time. Likewise, they all have to avoid cursing, but if they grew up in a culture that couldn't curse, surely the characters would not have that big of a deal with it.
The Stereotypical Tropes: Insta-Love, Special Girl, the Savior
The Favorite Character: Betty Ross
Buy it, Borrow it, Or Bin it: Bin It

This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress....

[Mandy Reads Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE OTHER SIDE OF GRAVITY is a delicious mix of that amazing movie ON TIME starting Justin Timberlake and bit of THE HUNGER GAMES. From the very beginning I was swept up in this wonderful story and gladly let Crane take me on a whirlwind journey as our heroine escapes her slave past after 10 years of captivity. Along the way, Sophelia learns of all that was taken from her since she was a little girl: trust, life and love.

I may have mentioned this before, but I am not one of those huge sci-fi lovers. I have a handful of sci-fi reads I have loved over time, but I don't geek out of the genre. But I can now add this wonderful read to my list of loves. I just adored all that Crane thought of for this planet and what the people had to adapt to just to live there. Genius! I may finally have a reason to geek out now.

I am so excited for everyone to read this one and cannot wait to see what you all think of Maxton. He is another fabulous guy that Crane has conjured up in that beautiful mind of hers. He may do some untrustworthy acts at first, but give the guy some time to redeem himself. I promise he really is amazing. And romantic. And sweet. *sigh*

Brilliant. Romantic. Enthralling. Compelling. Gripping. I could go on and on. And I was excited to see at the end of the story that it isn't just a one book deal. More of Maxton and Soph to come! 5 Out of This World Stars!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Source: I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for a honest review, from the publisher, via Netgalley, with thanks to both!
Cost: Free

Title: The Other Side of Gravity
Series: Oxygen #1
Author: Shelly Crane
Overall Rating: 3 stars

I was so into this book at the start, the world and the idea of it drew me in. I didn't even mind the characters at first.

At first.

After a while, little things began to grate on me...There wasn't enough world building to sustain my interest and I feel like the characters became a bit mute for me. I didn't care about their romance after a while because it became the main focus of the book, rather than taking over the far left government. Give me a book on that, I'd be happier now than I am.

I wanted so much more from this book than a half baked world and flat lining characters.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW: The Other Side of Gravity by Shelly Crane



I really don’t know what to say and how to start this but one thing’s for sure, I NEED MORE.

“One day you’ll get to fly, Soph, just like Pan and Wendy. Fly away home to a better place where everything is brighter, boys are never lost, and mothers don’t ever leave.”

The story starts so dramatic and heart breaking. It had set my expectations very high and now I am just looking forward to read the other books in this series. Oxygen series is a series I will definitely read 'till the end. I can't wait for the next books to come!

Over seven hundred years ago when the Exodus happened, the humanity needed to leave and live in a planet - behind the sun, on the warmest side, thousand miles away from it, opposite of the Earth - called Landu.

“Landu is our saving grace. Or our prison. I’ve heard mommy says.”

Planet Landu is definitely not the kind of place everyone would dream of. It’s way horrible than Earth. It is covered with gray and red. And the kind of government Landu has is much worse than Earth could ever have.

It is a place where being incapable of paying your taxes means you’re dead. Where everything means money. Where you’ll need to pay for the oxygen you breathe and the gravity that keeps you from floating. It is a place where the Congress will always be at the top and the rest will always be at the bottom.

The world building is so deep and strong. I love the techies. It’s just like I’m time travelling. It feels like I’m seeing the world hundred years from now. And it made me see what may happen if people continued to act this way. - if we continued to destroy our God’s creation.

The idea of planet Landu is quite similar to Red Queen’s Norta, or The Selection’s Illea - where people’s worth were being determined by the castes the government thinks they belong. Landu, unlike Norta or Illea doesn’t have an official caste system. There’s no label. It’s either you’re with the higher ones, or the lower ones. There is no in between. Either you work your ass off to pay your taxes until you die, or you will just live luxuriously.

I love these kinds of settings – I love to see humans push through their limits and revolt.

The story is told on alternating POV’s, on Sophelia T8’s and Maxton Q1’s. A slave and a black market trader.

Sophelia T8 is a slave. Sophelia’s parents were already dead. Her father died when she’s very young, while her mother died when she’s just 10 years old - which made her being incapable of paying her taxes - that brought her to being a slave. Her life is miserable – or should I say being a slave is miserable. The world had been really tough on her. And that what made her so much stronger.

Sophelia is very tough, independent, and has trust issues. She thinks that everyone will betray or hurt her. She’s afraid of getting close and attached to anyone. She grew up serving other person which made her think she doesn’t belong to herself anymore. She’s just a girl whose childhood was stolen from her 10 years ago because she cannot pay her taxes. And now she doesn’t even know what pancakes or cheese is all about.

Maxton Q1 is a black market trader. Maxton has a secret, and that’s the main reason why he is working on the black market.

Maxton is independent, persuasive, strong, protective and a man any woman would ask for. He is also a sweet-talker. Everything that comes from his mouth makes me giggle almost all the time! He’s making me feel so giddy. If you just didn’t know that he’s aloof of girls, you will really think that he is a playboy. But he’s not. He never laid his eyes on any other girls but except for Sophelia.

And what I really love about them aside from their personalities is the fact that while Maxton is trying to be in good terms with Sophelia, Sophelia is always trying to make the walls she built around herself to protect her even stronger. I love when Sophelia is pushing him away. It’s just like while Maxton is trying to destroy the walls, Sophelia is rebuilding it. Always.

“Are you okay now that you’ve got your gravity in you?” I joked softly.

She lifted her head and said just as softly, shyly, like she was just realizing something herself and didn’t know what to make of it. “There is no gravity. The only thing holding me to this planet is you.”

Honestly? THIS IS ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE SCENES!!

Another good thing about this book is the alternating of point of views. That really has a great effect on readers. Knowing Sophelia’s side and then Maxton’s. Usually, this way of telling a story is not the best way to do because it may lessen the excitement and the curiosity that a reader has. But this book is an exemption. It did great. It really makes me swooning. It’s excellent. And it made the book even more entertaining.

“Your scars are beautiful because of who you are and what you did to earn them. As for you being a plague? If that’s so then please, please infect me. Because I want everything you’ve got to give me.”

The idea of this book is so fresh and enthralling. And I can’t really wait to see how Sophelia and Maxton - together with The Patriots - will start a revolution. I need to see what Sophelia T8 and Maxton Q1’s characters can give. I need to see them grow stronger. I need to see them push through their limits.

The story is soooo great. Not to mention that the book’s title, cover, and description are already catchy. I’m glad I picked this one.

If you are finding a book that is set on a different world, very entertaining, has a very interesting characters and doesn’t have a cliché plot, this is perfect for you. I definitely recommend this to all YA Fantasy and Dystopia fans out there!

“I AM NOT A WONDERING STAR.”

[Oana D. L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating:3.5/5.

“Because your soul, on this soulless planet, sticks out like one star in a starless sky. And it’s beautiful.”

Being a huge fan of Shelly's i wanted to read this book soo bad and once i saw it on Netgalley i hoped that my request will be approved.And it was!Right now i'm a little speechless,because the end of this book was .. *sigh* . I can't even think about what happened!Seriously.
This book was interesting , and once i started it i wanted to know more and more.About Sophelia and Maxton,about everything.But i have to admit something..I expected more.All the books written by Shelly were mindblowing and amazing,but this one?I don't know how to explain,but all i can say is that i expected more.
Don't get me wrong,this book had an interesting story and pretty good characters,but there were a few things that i didn't like and it made me a little sad the fact that i didn't enjoy it too much.

Sophelia's life turned upside down after she became a slave,because she couldn't pay her taxes anymore.But after ten years of slavery,Sophelia does the unthinkable and escapes.Escaping her proprietor isn't easy at all,but what Sophelia never thought was that she would find someone who was willing to help her,someone who will show her that not everyone was the same.Someone who will change her life forever.
Maxton had a plan.A plan to save those who he loved the most ,even if he knew that he couldn't be with them.But one night everything changes completely.After finding a slave in his room,Maxton has a decision to take:Save her or give her up,especially after he finds out about the bounty on her head.A bounty that was high enough for him to save his family.But what if everything changes for him too?What if he wants to help her?What if...

“The fact that you can't see how much you're worth makes you worth so much more." She opened her mouth once, her brow bunched, but nothing came out. She didn't know the words to ask. I continued. "A diamond doesn't know how much it's worth; it's just beautiful because it exists.”

I remember my reaction when i first read about this book.I was soo excited and happy ,and i knew that i wanted to read this book soo bad,but now?I'm a little dissapointed,because there were a few things that i disliked,things that made this book too easy to read and it didn't have those amazing and mindblowing scenes that i'm used to when it comes to Shelly's books.Well,despite that,i have to admit that the whole idea was interesting and the characteres were okay.It pains me to say that those characters were just okay,but i have to do it!I know you can do better,Shelly,and i love you for that.
From the beginning until the end ,step by step, i started to understand the story and the characters,but there were soo many things that confused me,especially a lot of things about the planet and the reasons why so many things happened there.

Despite my dissapointment ,i have to admit that reading about Maxton and Sophelia was a little fun,because let me just tell you:true love,guys!True love.Yeah ,at first it was like they were one step away from runnig from each other,but step by step everything changed between them.
Sophelia was the type of characters that takes you by surprise.You never know what to expect from her,but from the beginning until the end you will learn something from her:she expects the worst from anyone and thinks that she'll never be anything more than a slave.Smart,beautiful and strong,Sophelia isn't just a simple girl and that makes her more interesting.
Maxton?Well,i will start with this:I wanted to shake some sense in that guy!Seriously,mood swing much?The guy was strange,but i admit that i liked him ,especially after he starts helping Sophelia.


“There is no gravity. The only thing holding me to this planet is you.”

Well,i love when a story is original and new,when it is about a topic i didn't read until now.
The Other Side Of Gravity is the type of book that makes you want to know more,but at the same time it makes you wonder a lot of things.With an idea like this one?It could blow your mind or it confuses you like hell.
Despite the fact that i was mostly confused the whole time,it was fun to read about Sophelia and Maxton.The way they acted when they were together and how they were trying so hard to escape the Militia.But some scenes were a little annoying,mainly the fact that they sometimes acted too weird and that they couldn't cuss or say bad words.


Well,a little dissapointed,but i hope that the next book will be better ,because let me say this:I am shocked!That end?Speechless.

[Kris Mauna · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Other Side of Gravity has a beautiful cover, a strong idea for a plot, an interesting world, but unfortunately falls flat in telling a good story.

Our main characters, Sophelia and Maxton, live on another planet that is on the opposite side of where Earth is from the sun. Set in the future, as it has been a long time since civilization has existed on Earth, there are many things that have changed since then. The people on this planet have to pay for both oxygen and gravity pills in order to survive. All of this sounds interesting, right? It really was.

The beginning of this book started off strong. I was pulled into Sophelia's story. I sympathized with her because she had been through a lot as a child and had to become a slave at such a young age.. It was hard not to feel something for her. I also loved the young woman we met as she grew up because she was both intelligent and brave.

Next, we meet our other main character - Maxton. He's a black market trader, who survives by being a conman. When we meet him you can tell there's more to him than just his charm because he has a secret, and you can tell that his secret holds why he lives the way he does.

After meeting both of our strong characters, the book takes a turn for the worst when Sophelia and Maxton meet. I'm not a huge fan of instalove, but most cases I can look past it if it feels a bit natural or if the characters share some kind of history together.. but this book took instalove to a whole new level. Seriously.. I didn't even know this kind of love existed.

Maxton, when he first sees Sophelia:
"She was a slave, she obviously belonged to someone, but she was so... freaking striking."



This story completely lost me when Maxton said that line.. Look, I love romance. I read romance novels because I'm in love with love.. but this love story felt forced on me and I just couldn't root for these two teenagers who were ready to say 'I love you' within 1 day of meeting each other. It just wasn't believable to me. It didn't work well for the characters I met when this story begun.

The Sophelia I thought I met seemed like she should be this badass girl due to her circumstances, and yet she was being dumbed down because some guy smiled at her.. What? Why isn't she using him for her advantage when this world is all about surviving?! Then there was Maxton, who became too perfect. I just feel like these characters started off strong, but then became less complex by the end of the book, and almost felt like the same person at times.

It was just too much.. It was 80% of Sophelia saying how much Maxton took her breath away, or how Maxton thought Sophelia was the most beautiful, perfect, human, creature, goddess (yes, he said goddess) on this planet. . . WE GET IT.

These lines were a paragraph away from each other:
"For a peek into that gorgeous creature's head"
"That redhead, who's so gorgeous inside"



I just wanted less romance and more of the sci-fi part to this story.. There were a lot of things that were never really explained. I needed more descriptions to fully understand this world that they lived in.. Which Shelly Crane did an okay job with, and she had a brilliant idea when creating this book, but the romance seemed to take over all of that great story-telling.

All things were not bad though.. I thought the side characters added much needed humor and brought something out of both Maxton and Sophelia that they both desperately needed to make them interesting. It wrapped up great, and kept me intrigued at the end. The story leaves off on a cliffhanger, but I don't think I'll continue with the series because this book just wasn't for me.

I hate giving bad reviews, but for me personally, I wouldn't recommend this book to any of my friends. I think a younger audience, such as middle school, would enjoy Sophelia and Maxton's love story, which would make this book enjoyable for them.

[Candace · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I were rating this book on the cover, I would give it a 5. Unfortunately, the cover and the title both lead the reader to believe there will be science fiction in this book. Instead, it is romance, bad romance, set in a dystopian world. (ok, there is a modicum of science fiction)

The science fiction part is the world-building part and that is the best part of the book. Because the Earth is no longer inhabitable, people now live on another planet where one has to take pills for gravity and oxygen. The people are divided into two classes of people: the poor live in the stacks, shipping containers stacked on top of one another, and the rich, the Elites. Congress decides everything about how the stacks will live; they decide what foods they eat, where they will work and live, what happens when someone can't pay their taxes. I wish the author would have continued with a good story in this world.

However, what happens is the romance is such a poor romance that I can't recommend it. I see that a lot of readers love this author and her romances including this one. This one is my first and only one. I don't like to read about women who need a strong man to protect them. Especially in YA books. Sophie is 8 years old when she is orphaned by her parents. Unable to pay her taxes she is forced to be a slave for 10 years before she is able to escape. She stows away on a ship to be found by Maxton, a boy who is the right hand man to a mafia-like figure. I am disgusted by how Sophie almost falls into Maxton's arms because she liked the protectiveness. She liked the feeling of being rescued. And he's strong here and he's also so strong in this area. I get it, Sophie likes her men strong and yes, they are instantly crushing on each other until Maxton talks to his boss and he finds out that this girl has a bounty of $400,000 and then he cannot get into his room fast enough to turn Sophie over for the money. However, Maxton soon sees how wrong it would be to turn Sophie over, so he's willing to run away and leave his job and everyone he knows for her. And Sophie once again trusts him just as if he had never turned her over to his boss for money.

The chapters change from Sophie's view point to Maxton's. But it is just as disgusting when Maxton is talking about Sophie. He loved how this girl played the martyr so well.

I prefer my damsels in distress to kick ass and take names and recite those names every night before they go to bed...

I think I've spent too much time on this already.

This arc was provided by NetGalley and the Publisher and in no way affected this review.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The loudest voices are often the ones that don't even know they're screaming."

I'm so torn over what to say about this book. I'm going to be totally honest in saying that the main two reasons I wanted to read it were because of the cover and the description. I really did like this book, the concept was what really got me hooked but I feel like I could've loved it if some things were different.

For instance, the constant apologizing and damsel-in-distress behavior from the lead female, Sophelia got old pretty quickly. In the end it was hard to buy her as a "savior" when her counterpart Maxton was having to rescue and console her almost constantly it seemed. Plus, I disliked the fact that even after their relationship deepened, the two main characters still seemed to be unable to trust each other and their personalities would flip flop every few chapters. Also, a lot of the things these two say to each other is super cheesy as well, so be forewarned...for instance...

"I'm not...gasping, Maxton. You're...taking my breath away."

It's not to say that some of these quotes aren't awww inducing and I'll admit that even I was swooning sometimes, but I did feel like the author might have overplayed her hand with the overly dramatic love language here.

This book did have a problem with being long-winded as well. There were parts where I kept wishing the characters would just get to the point and stop rattling on for pages and pages. Several things were restated when I didn't think they needed to be and it started to feel like I was in a really long episode of Dawson's Creek or something.

There were things that I really did enjoy about this book, like the secondary characters, the twins being my favorite! All of their pop culture references were too funny (I almost died when they started talking about Snoop Dog) and Maxton's family was just adorable. I also really liked the framework of the world that the author created, the ideas of gravity boots, the stacks and censors on the language and behaviors; she was able to weave all of that together really well so that it seemed realistic and enthralling.

Overall this book was an enjoyable read. The author's language and style is interesting and my hope is that the next book in this series will be as much worth the read as this one.

*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley from Read Coat PR in exchange for an honest review.*

[diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

These days I'm always on the lookout for a good sci-fi and/or fantasy and as I was browsing through Goodreads I saw this. And with that pretty amazing cover and intriguing blurb I thought why not? I have never read anything by Shelly Crane though so I didn't know what to expect. But rest assured I had my fingers crossed that the inside would be just as badass as the outside.

Two things I love the most about The Other Side of Gravity are the originality and the writing.
"I live on a soulless planet where gravity, oxygen, and everything else are sold to the highest bidder on the black market." - That line alone would have made me buy this book immediately no questions asked. It sounded so sinister and intriguing. And damn was I intrigued. The world building was done so well. Shelly Crane gave this world so much life. I love how her writing just pulls you in from the start. I felt like I was right there with the characters.

What I didn't like however was the romance. It just irks me when the two main characters fall in love just like that. No build-up, no depth, no basis, no nothing. It bothers the heck out of me! Yes there were definitely some swoon moments but I think I would have liked it more if the romance took its time to develop. And the constant doubt about who is and isn't good enough for who was a little bit frustrating. Make up your minds already!

I give this 3.5 of 5 stars for an original plot, great writing and well.. Roddy and Fletch (because Roddy + Fletch = laughs). Hoping to see more action and character development in the next installment!

I received an e-arc to read and review.

[Melinda Howard · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was provided to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

DNF @ 70%

I just couldn't finish this book. I really tried but when I was faced with the decision of reading this book or doing homework I chose to do homework. I was so excited about reading this book but I was thoroughly disappointed. First up I didn't like the prologue. I had no idea what was going on and was completely confused. Then we jump back in time to when Sophelia was a slave. When she gave attitude to her master I was so excited that she was going to be a kick-ass heroine however by 25% I really didn't like her. One minute she was brave and outgoing and the next she was cowering in fear. It was like at different points in the book she had two different personalities. Also I didn't like the romance aspect of the book and the way Sophelia was described as having "walls" that needed to be stripped away to reach her true self. Yes I know that many people build defense mechanisms but constantly referring to her psychological issues as walls that can be knocked down doesn't seem the right way about it. Now supporting her until she's ready or encouraging her are a different story....

Overall I really didn't enjoy this book and was disappointed after Crane's other good books.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am giving 3 stars for this book might be for others though it wasn't for me. What I loved was the political commentary about the dangers of the far left, communism, and big government. What I liked was the sci Fi descriptions. What I disliked was the lack of connection between Maxton and Sophelia or the reader to any of the characters.

[Saralynn Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Such a good book made me laugh every good at a few spots (snoop Snouzer omg lol)

Love all this author's books and now I'm going to go re-read another of her series :)

[irie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 "Sweet" Stars!

Shelly Crane never dissapoints. I loved it!! Can't wait for the next one. :)

[K.S. Marsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a distant world, Sophelia has spent more than half her life as a slave. She decides that she has paid her debt to society and that she deserves her freedom. Fighting to escape, she runs into Maxton, the boy that would turn her in to officials twice. The boy that would teach her to be happy.

I received a copy from Netgalley, after being drawn in by that gorgeous cover, and it's also been a while since I read anything Sci-Fi.

I'm still in two minds about this one. It's somewhere between 3-4 stars.
I really did enjoy the world that Crane has created. Generations ago, humans travelled from Old Earth and colonised a new home. To try and learn from the mistakes that Earth history teaches them, there are many rules enforced. Swearing and uncouth language is prohibited and automatically fined; anyone that wants a carnal relationship has to have a license; everyone has to pay a tax and if they can't, they go into slavery to pay their dues to society.
I liked the details that were sown into the narrative, allowing you to explore this new world. The scientific advancements and the alterations they make to account for the low gravity and oxygen. I found it fascinating, and I really liked how Crane builds this world with a sense of realness.

There is a good dystopian feel to it, as the system that is supposed to make them morally superior actually divides the world into a minority Elite and the majority poor.
I felt sorry for every person in the system, as most of them are simply trying to help their families and to stop their children falling into the pit of slavery. You get the sense that everyone is in some pain or other, but are silent so as not to invite punishment.

The part I wasn't so keen on was the romance. It is overwhelming, pushing all the above into the background. Don't get me wrong, if you like romance, you will love this. I just don't have a romantic bone in my body.
So my problem is that the narrative jumps between the two main characters, providing their first-person point of view. This allows them to take turns in gushing over the other and admiring the other's many wonderful traits; and constantly thinking that they are not worthy of the other's affection because "she is an angel"/"he is a free man".
There is nothing particularly distinct about their voices, they blurred into one and if it wasn't for the chapter heading telling me whose head we were in, I was going to be lost (I was still lost in some cases).

The plot was good, with some interesting twists. I just felt that it played only a supporting part to the lovey-doveyness.
There were a few... not so much plot-holes, as parts where I questioned the logic.
They all have chips in their arms which identify them and can make snazzy credit payments. If they can automatically fine you for swearing, why can't they track you?
Also, ((mild spoiler)) when Maxton fools the official into giving him Sophelia's reward money, why couldn't they trace that it was transferred to his account?
How come Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum (the idiot twins who I actually quite like) could find Sophelia when the rest of Landu couldn't?
Yes, I know that I'm nit-picking, it just struck me that the "enemy" with all their snazzy technology, are just a bit thick.

So yeah, I really liked the bits I liked, and I would recommend this to anyone that wants a YA romance tied up in a neat Sci-Fi bow.