The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He is a super thought-provoking and emotional sci-fi novel that will totally make you question everything. The story follows two sisters, Cee and Kay, but it’s told from their separate points of view. Cee wakes up on an abandoned island with no memory of how she got there and is desperately trying to find her way home. Kay, on the other hand, is trying to figure out how to fix the broken world she’s left behind, full of environmental collapse and tech disasters.

What I really loved about this book is how it mixes a deep, emotional story with some cool futuristic tech. It’s not just about the adventure; it’s about the characters’ personal journeys and the relationships they’re trying to rebuild. Cee is strong and determined, and Kay has this quiet, kind of sad vibe to her, but you can really feel how much she cares about the world she’s trying to save.

The writing is beautiful, but it also can be kind of cryptic, which makes you think a lot about what’s going on. The world-building is so unique, especially with the environmental stuff and the way technology impacts everything.

The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He is a beautifully written, thought-provoking sci-fi novel blending mystery and environmental themes.

I read this book and absolutely adored it! Incredibly interesting plot and engaging that I read in two sittings!

I was entranced through most of my reading this. Joan He really knows how to pull the reader in and keep them there. I’m not a big fan of sci-fi so I did go in expecting not to understand stuff. I actually did understand so that’s good! I loved the writing so much. It flowed between the sisters’ chapters so well and that’s all due to the author.

The plot is not easily explainable or understandable but surprisingly that didn’t confuse me! A reason why I don’t often read sci-fi books is because the plots tend to be harder for me to understand than other books. It’s also a testament to He’s writing; because it could’ve easily been too confusing and I would’ve dnfed.

Kasey and Cee were both very interesting characters. I think I liked Cee more at the start and then Kasey later on. I liked their sibling relationship, even if they weren’t right by each other. I think I do prefer it when siblings aren’t together physically as it tests their relationship.

I thought the ecological theme was very interesting and well handled. It’s a constant topic in reality and something that should be looked at more. I think He brought it down to a YA level but didn’t look down on it so much.

wow.. i have no words
sometimes there is such a hype for books and when you pick them up it’s such a lacklustre experience
this isn’t one of them

The Ones is (inside and out) an expressive, beautiful, and heartrending science fiction book. Two complex and evolving characters with complementing voices that clash and bond over a shared desire to find the place (and the people with whom) they belong are placed in a world that is literally tearing itself apart: cataclysms chip away at what remains of the human race, claiming back the sea and sky that has been poisoned by humans for millennia. Cee and Kasey’s stories are told in alternating chapters (in first- or third-person) that crisscross between points in time that eventually converge to reveal the gravity of choice—and for whom we make those choices.

This is the first sci-fi book I read in a while—and I must admit that I was drawn in almost solely by the book’s cover: the soft sunrise, seafoam, and waves, soothing like the quiet solitude that begins the book. I am predisposed to classic and literary fiction, and I was most gripped by the intricacies of Kasey’s character in her third-person chapters and the way that the narrative unfolds, little piece of the puzzle by piece, gaps filling in as you read and connect two stories that happen at entirely different times and places. That the characters could spiral in and out of control created for me a profound humanity in this novel, which is so open about the raw nature of self-preservation and hope (“What if human nature is the last disease we have yet to eradicate?”). The twists and ambiguous ending leave a hole that I think could only be filled with the reader’s answer to the choice between love and logic, in a world where both are fighting to coexist.

I rate Joan He’s book 5 stars for reminding us to breathe, love the sea, and search unapologetically for the people and places we’re meant to find.

Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Ones We’re Meant To Find was high on my most anticipated list for 2021 and I was interested in exploring Joan He’s shift from YA fantasy to YA sci-fi thriller. It met expectation. I had an absolute pleasure reading this. I really enjoyed this book.

I was instantly drawn in by Joan He's writing style, which felt effortless evocative and I’m in awe of the emotional beauty this standalone story managed to capture between the sisters.

On a personal level, I connected with Kasey and liked her arc throughout the book (although I do think that there were a few things that required more development and deeper discourse with Kasey’s characterisation), and Cee’s survival nature and optimism were some of my favourite portions of the book. The tenacity, unwavering and fierce loyalty, and almost desperate love the sisters had were endearing, painful and tender. All of this aided in fleshing out the characters and immersing me in their journeys. There is some romance in this book, but it’s not central. However, when it’s on the page, I liked how it was done.

The creative aspects chosen in this story added an extra layer of enjoyment, from the POV choices, which added depth to the mood, the mystery and the subsequent revelations that came to light, to the POV transitions, to the way Cee’s chapter headings were noted by notches like the counting of days, which added its own personality (I valued these little details).

This is a book filled with riveting threads and unexpected revelations, and the way they’ve been woven kept me on the edge of my seat and the payoff that resulted hit the mark. The eco-politics felt relevant and were intriguing, and added an interesting aspect to the world and a unique and compelling vision of the future. There were a few things about the world that I would have liked more exploration of (particularly the political and societal systems, industry, culture) in order for the world to feel more fleshed out, but none of these things swayed my overall enjoyment of the sisters’ story.

The Ones We’re Meant To Find is a heartbreaking, complex, thought-provoking and tender book. It reeled me in and hooked me to the final line and beyond since I’m still thinking about it in different ways. It broke me and rebuilt me and broke me again, and I would let it do it all over again. It’s been a while since I’ve been so captivated by a story and The Ones We’re Meant To Find is so far one my favourites of the year. I can’t wait to re-read the finished copy.

I received an ARC through Netgalley all opinions are my own

DNF chapter 24

I did receive this arc a couple of years ago, and I've felt bad about not getting to it before now... But my tbr list is just sooo long and I'm a mood reader haha.

I originally wanted to read this book because of the cover. Like I didn't even read the synopsis which is honestly my own fault.

I've also realised that this is the second book I've tried to read from Joan He, and I must sadly say that I might just not be a fan of her, and her writing style..
Joan He does have some of the most beautiful book covers for all her books, which is why I'll probably still try reading her other works in the future.


Through the years I've come to realise that I don't like sci-fi books, so reading this book was a hard time for me.
I had a really hard time figuring out what was going on, and was pretty confused most of the time.

There wasn't anything distinct that marked a change in POV between the chapters, so that also really confused me.

And the reason I chose to DNF is because I reached chapter 24 and realised that I didn't care to find out what was going to happen, or what had happened. And I didn't care for any of the characters.

This is my second book from He, and unfortunately it will be my last. Simply, it felt like this book was missing so much. There were many things that could have been explored more, particularly with the characters, their relationships, and the specific workings of the world they were in. My biggest issue was that I felt no connection to either of the characters: I felt indifferent about Kasey and her chapters, which meant that I didn’t care for the relationship between Kasey and Cee, which in turn meant that I wasn’t invested in Cee’s story either since it was so focused on her love for Kasey. There are certainly positives to this book, namely its plot twists and the environmentalist themes it tackles, but they were not enough to save the entire book. Lastly—a minor thing—He’s prose is just not good. She can write well-woven and clever plot twists but not a simple transition.

The set-up here is a solid one. We get two perspectives. Cee is alone on a deserted island, her only companion a robot without conversational skills. She remembers little, only that she is searching for her sister. Kasey lives in a futuristic city in the sky, protected from the increasing dangers of climate change, coping with the isolation that comes with the disappearance of her older sister. As the book progresses the two narratives begin to approach one another and we get hints of the larger story that is going on in both places.

Putting in it frankly, this story is a bit strange. It's sci-fi to be certain. Characters use stasis pods, virtual presences, brain-computer interfaces, even gravity reversal fields. But that's challenging part, I think. It's the plot. Through most of the book we are headed in a pretty clear direction. There is some exploration of privilege, social stratification, and ecological responsibility. Then, without getting into any spoilers, at a point where I thought I could see how the book was going to end, the plot shifts significantly. And the final chapters focus on an entirely different message. It was a bit jarring and means I would hesitate before recommending this book to other readers.

As many others have said, the pacing is a bit slow and takes a while to get going, the exploration of a sisterly relationship is a captivating one at that.

A tricky one to fully grasp but an interesting read regardless!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to read this early. Review has been posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I would rate this book 2.5 out of 5 stars.

I was a little disappointed with this one. I found the world quite confusing and I didn't connect with any of the characters at all. I did enjoy the mid-way twist though.

The pacing of this book is very slow and took me ages to get through it. The reveal at the end was really good though.

Rating: 4.5 🌟 but leaning towards a 5 🌟

It's been more than a year since I promised a full review for this book, and I apologise.

But still, here are my full thoughts, as promised!
(I wrote notes in my physical reading journal, but never translated them into an online review)

I loved this book. A lot. I loved Cee and Kasey's sisterly relationship and the way it was portrayed, how they both knew that there was more out there - one because she knew what she'd lost, and one because she wanted to have it again.

The science aspects of this sometimes flew over my head - but that's probably because I'm just not very science-minded. I don't think it's an issue, but it's one of the few gripes I have with the book.

I loved how Joan He started (or continued?) a conversation on the climate crisis in an actually interesting way, showing how drastic human response may have to be to truly combat the damage we've been doing to the planet. I loved that she carried this conversation out through Asian main characters, and did so without much emphasis on a romantic relationship (as so many in these genres tend to do).

Rereading my notes has made me want to read this book again, to relive the fabulously done plot twists and reveals, to reconnect with Cee and Kasey, and remind myself that just because my life isn't impacted, I need to care for the world I live in.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book when I first read it - I went on to preorder three different editions of this story and talked a few friends into reading it too.

Looking forward to reading more of Joan He's writing!

I was granted a copy of this book by Netgalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m one of those people that chose the book by their cover, and it never disappointed me, this cover of it is so beautiful. This book intrigued me enough only by reading the sinopse. It was confusing for my to get into the book and the character’s story, liked the characters and I liked the storyline it was painful. The world building was very well made, a very clever plot, I cannot lie I started this boot 3 times, Joan He it’s way out of my league, I need to grab this book again later and try it with a fresh mindset, sometimes our mental state doesn’t let us enjoy book at their fullest.
The beautiful bond between the sisters, and the love that keeps hope alive.

After completely falling in love with Descendant of the Crane i knew i had to read everything she wrote and this did not disappoint! I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to see what Joan will write next.

Honestly I wanted to read this book because the cover of it is so unbelievably beautiful. I am not the biggest fan of sci-fi books but this one intrigued me enough that I thought I would give it a go, and whilst this book wasn't bad, it also wasn't one of my new favourite books. I thought this book was just fine. I liked the characters and I liked the storyline but I don't think this will be a book that will stick with me forever.

the worldbuilding was really convoluted, and the plot was extremely boring. i didn't care for kay or cee at all, and i found their voices interchangeable.