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I think this could have used a few adjustments but if this turned into a series I would definitely read it.

I like the tone, it feels a little bit Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel but also a little bit Frankenstein.

I have to wonder if, at some point, a jarbrain is not going to be who they are. If Martim could still be alive. I live Isa and Kob both trying to save each other and hope we get more of that dynamic.

I love everything about this except for the size of the experience gap between the characters. Not a problem for the story as a whole, I just personally don't find it romantic when one character is taking on the mentor role, it feels parental in a way that is not hot. I think it would help if Sadie had some other advantage to kind of balance them out.

Rich or no, Mal's money management is concerning. Otherwise, love her. Sadie's whole deal could get annoying soon but isn't yet. All the side characters are really well written. Also, Sadie's sister is an asshole.

The worldbuilding is excellent so far and I like the character. I don't feel emotionally invested at this point but Fonda Lee is good at building that up slowly so I have some faith.

This isn't connecting at all. The writing is good, beautiful even, but nothing feels real or memorable. I am thinking I should probably drop it before it puts me in a reading slump but I actually paid for this one so I keep trying to make it work.

Claire North has always been good at thinking up interesting concepts, but honestly, the execution is a little boring so far

I thought this would be more darkly comedic but instead I am just watching someone's depressing psychotic break. That's what it is right? Those questions at the beginning felt vaguely psychiatric.

I just want romcoms to stop using cutesy nicknames and can the MMC stop being so paternalisitic? He is constantly telling Paige what she does and doesn't want and I think he needs to be called out on it more. Otherwise, pretty good. I like the focus on Paige's friendships and the flashbacks work pretty well.

I think Bhaer is the first character I have found less interesting in the book than in the adaptations.

I think Bhaer is the first character I have found less interesting in the book than in the adaptations.

The setup is ridiculous but it works within the context of these characters. The chemistry is good but it's always a little cringe reading song lyrics in a book so I feel like that may be a distraction for me on this one.

This world building is terrible, I think it should have been written as a Young Adult book. The only thing keeping me from DNFing is that I already quit a book this week.

I respect Kate Quinn for trying something different but I wish she would still play to her strengths. A fantastical element is fine (though the world building is clumsy) but her talent is writing about friendships and if she isn't doing that, it falls a little flat. Also, having had to do 'poverty math' in my life, though not to the same degree as Alix, this stresses me out.

Yeah this is not worth reading.

I can see why so much of the second part always gets cut from adaptations. It slows the story down a lot.

I am already considering a DNF. This writing is terrible. She has described a man wearing a backwards ball cap as having 'licks of hair' sticking out from it twice in the span of like 30 pages. The FMC already has a nickname that is being used way too often and has referred to her birkenstocks as 'Birkies'.

Nina and Richie are the only characters I care about at this point. Maybe Adam? Also Sasha really is the worst one, I am glad she is having a terrible party and I hope that Richie spills the beans and Theo leaves her.

Lev is awful and it makes Mia look dumb for dating him. Really all these people are terrible except for Adam, who needs therapy but also needs to escape his shitty friends

I feel like this should be peak nostalgia for me because these people are my age but it's hard to focus on anything other than how annoying they all are. Unless Richie is in rehab after the next time jump, it seems like he is the one who dies. Sasha and Theo are for sure getting a divorce.

I had wondered if the aliens were even real, if it wasn't somehow Earth communicating with its past self through some sort of time distortion but the newest message makes that seem less likely. I hadn't thought about how this would basically create Scientology on steroids.

Just as charming as ever. I know she wrote it for the money but I'd like to think that at least the first half of the story felt like something authentic to her.

Using the aliens as a framing device for what would otherwise be a pretty basic family drama is such a fun choice. The writing is great, I haven't been able to put it down despite really not liking most of the characters (especially the mom), so that's saying a lot.

The timeline aspect is interesting, I wish we had gotten here sooner. Though the redemption of Kyr is still unearned, the author found a way to at least have it make sense.

I feel like there is no momentum to the story now. Days are passing while she is in a simulation learning that aliens are people too?

So many books over 500 pages don't need to be over 500 pages. This feels so boring.

Juggling three timelines is a hard thing to do and I am not sure this author is up to it. Antoine is also not enough of a character, I need to understand why Sebastian falls for him. The vibes and world building are excellent though.

The main character is so insufferable. I get that she is brainwashed but I need her to get a freaking clue.

This character is going to be very hard to redeem. She is basically full Nazi youth, and not even begrudgingly. It's hard to feel bad for her and I am not sure even 400 pages is enough time to give her a redemption arc.