This is one of those books that I have no idea how to explain, and usually when I feel that way about a book I don’t rate it too highly because I’m more confused than anything. Starting at the beginning of this book I was very confused because we were thrown into their futuristic science filled world and I wish the world had been set up better. I wish it was easier to understand the world, even at the end of the story there were still parts of the world I didn't quite understand. This book also had like 8 plot twists, and I just felt like that was way too many. I found the characters to be very unlikeable and I am not the type of reader that can get past that. If I don’t like the characters it is hard for me to enjoy the story. I felt like this story jumped around alot and was not very cohesive. Mind you, I did read an ARC so maybe the final copy will be put together a bit more. The ending was also very unsatisfying and there are so many unanswered questions.

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

I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this. I just knew it had a stunning cover and that I wanted to read something from that author (I do that a lot, read books without knowing anything about them…oops).
So, I was parts amazed and confused with the worldbuilding (not in a bad sense, it was just a bit of a whiplash to jump from the island to the rest of the world, even though there was tech in there too).
If you focus on the worldbuilding, you find yourself with a book that makes an amazing job at analyzing the effects of climate change while keeping in touch with the human side. It’s obvious to see the dedication poured both into the ins and outs of the society they live in, how they got there and what’s behind everything, and the actual world building, both the physical and online aspects of it.
The plot is, when stripped of all the science terminology, a fight between the rational and emotional, which the plot-twists only build onto. The desire to be less of one and how, at the end, there’s no truthful way of being a human but you can’t disregard the power of neither.
As for the characters, you’re presented with two completely different approaches to life. The combination of unreliable narrator and switching POVs makes for a remarkably interesting read in which you have an amnesic character trying to get back to the only thing she remembers and a character who I read as someone with autistic traits, trying to make sense of her emotions that she feels disconnected from everyone’s else while uncovering some secrets that give an output to the way we see the future described.
I absolutely adored the fact that this focused on the relationship between two sisters and, while there’re some other characters, theirs was the strongest connection. The fact that we were allowed to see how they saw themselves and how the other thought of them adds a layer of reflection to an already well-fleshed portrait about family.
While I enjoyed both sisters POVs, I think I found Kasey much more interesting until things in Celia’s one started to get more active, and we got to see a situation that was more nuanced than I expected at first.
This book doesn’t only invite us to reflect about climate change, privilege and consequences, it does so from a very science-oriented point of view, presenting solutions that can sound radical to us nowadays but that presents a future we’re approaching faster than we think.

Unfortunately I think I fall into the unpopular opinion category for this book which is a real shame. No real fault on the book's part, I just really didn't gel well with the overall writing style.
The sentences read a little too choppy and disjointed and the change from first person to 3rd person between chapter POVs was a little too jarring for me. I didn't feel too connected to either character so at times, especially the beginning, it felt difficult to tell who we were following.

I really did like a lot of the ideas that were aspects of the futuristic society, the author did seem to have a thorough idea of many details but unfortunately I found the writing of it on paper to be a little too much of "told not shown" so it felt a little info dumpy at times. There seemed to be a lot of jumping around from topic to topic with the worldbuilding details which made it feel like there wasn't a whole lot of depth given to one issue while at the same time reading as somewhat chaotic and "info dumpy". I think, for me, the descriptions of the world building suffered a little just because of what I previously stated about the writing style not being to my personal taste.

This is a little bit of a difficult one to rate, because while I don't think it was my cup of tea, I think many other people could and would enjoy this book. Something such as writing style is so subjective and I don't want to discourage anyone from reading just because it wasn't for me. I think the premise was really interesting and some of the world-building aspects were really intriguing to me. This could be enjoyed by readers who are also new to sci-fi, in my opinion. There is a melding of genres which makes it more accessible to a variety of readers.

Wonderful! This book is the sort of science fiction I love!
Set in a near future on an earth ravaged by climate disasters, pollution, megaquakes, how will humanity survive?
It starts out a story of two sisters, one (Cee or Celia) alone on an island trying to make a boat so she can find her sister, Kay(Kasey). Kasey lives on an ecocity, her family were involved in the establishment of these low impact cities and admission is strictly controlled to only people who have had a low impact on the planet including in their family history. That’s the bare bones of the story, and as the chapters alternate between the two settings and I realised what the author was setting up, all I could think was Brilliant!! So cleverly and beautifully written. So many great ideas. It asks the big questions, what does it mean to be human and does humanity deserve to be saved?
I don’t usually read YA but I don’t think this is YA. Yes, the main characters are young but the story is more than just teenage concerns.
Loved it!

I am quite honestly lost for words. That ending, my god Joan He how dare you!
“Logic ended where love began”

“My real home waits for me across the sea.”

ARC provided by the publisher Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A haunting story about the bond shared by two sisters that spans through time as they try to reunite crossing the ocean of memories, diving deep into the depths humanity, whilst discovering one’s purpose and meaning in life.

First and foremost I would like to thank Xpresso Book Tours for choosing me as one of the many amazing book bloggers for The Ones We’re Meant to Find tour from May 3rd to May 7th. Thank you as well to the author and publisher Roaring Brook Press for providing an ARC (Advance Readers Copy) as part of this blog tour. For those who are interested in getting their hands on a copy there is a tour wide giveaway for everyone to join near the end of this review.

“Before, I was both. Incomplete and still searching. But now— Tears, hot in my eyes. They blur my vision. Still, I see her. I see her as clearly as I do in my dreams. Clearer. Because this isn’t a dream.”

The Ones We’re Meant to Find is the second published book by one of YA’s leading voices Joan He. Following up the monumental success of Descendant of the Crane, Joan He is back with a sci-fi fantasy story marketed as a combination of We We’re Liars and Black Mirror, this book truly lived up and even exceeds my expectations as one of the most terrifyingly beautiful YA books I’ve read this year. Don’t let the visuals fool you by thinking it’s gonna be pretty tame for a young adult book because it’s not. Before I read this book, I’ve seen a couple of my friends on Twitter raving about it. The cover itself is gorgeous beyond measure with Kasey and Celia in the ocean waves done by the talented Aykut Aydoğdu. I can just look at the cover forever because it’s so damn stunning. If you joined the preorder campaign you can feast your eyes on more art of the book done by Paulina Klime and Eduardo Vargas. After finishing the book, I looked up the preorder campaign art and I was reeling. The story seems much more haunting with the illustrations. Who knew as someone that doesn’t flinch from reading bloody battle scenes can shiver from seeing art of characters from this book.

The story takes place on the dying earth as humans are driven to live in eco cities escaping from the inhabitable lands and oceans. As the last sanctuary for humans on earth these eco cities are only accessible for a few chosen individuals of privilege. A caste system is established to simplify the process of picking who can live there, the smaller the number the higher their placement in society. Joan He adopted a Black Mirror-esque vibe to reflect the imminent dread and desperation as humans clung to their last chance in survival. With astounding descriptive writing He transports readers to a world full of convenience, tech, and stream lined efficiency. Though the world itself seems advance but it created a trench of void that disconnects any human relationship.

“The sea was a trillion strands of hair, infinitely tangled on the surface and infinitely dense beneath. It distorted time: Minutes passed like hours and hours passed like minutes out there. It distorted space, made the horizon seem within reach. And it was the perfect place for hiding secrets.”

In all honesty, I had a hard time immersing myself into the world because it took a while for me to familiarize with the jargon used in the story describing the scientific notions of the world He has created. I’ll say it early on that dystopian sci-fi isn’t a genre adherent to my taste in stories. Alas this did not hinder me from enjoying the thrilling aspect of an impending doom for humanity. Joan He created the perfect world for the story as the world became the very thing that takes intensity and stakes even higher for the characters to ponder upon. The amount of research He has done is evident within the pages as seen in the well detailed descriptions of the world and in the data reports Kasey receives in the story. What makes this story so haunting is how realistic and near to true life the world is, I seriously can see a possibility the world He created becoming a reality. He didn’t guide us into understanding the world at all, readers are thrusted into a world full of orderly chaos and dread, similar to being thrown into the ocean with no life vest. He also did a masterful job at layering the symbolisms adding further depth into story the closer you get to the truth. I can’t say it enough that the closer I got to the ending the more haunted and shell shocked I became. (And I am still haunted btw.)

“I can’t stop the pain, but I can stop myself from bending to its will.”

To top it all of there are reoccurring themes explored in The Ones We’re Meant to Find such as : grief, family, connection, and humanity. How ones grief can either destroy their connection to their humanity drowning them in an ocean of anger and sadness. How one can find meaning in surviving, living, and being human against the circumstances and ones already defined purpose in life. I liked that Joan He uses the ocean as a tool for foreshadowing the whole narrative. He’s prose is magnetic, calm, and efficient in delivering hauntingly breathtaking moments to the point I was rendered empty as I unbox the emotions in each chapter. The complexity of emotion in the story is as strong as the tide, as wave after wave slowly drown and pull you under into the darkest depths of human emotion. It is rare for a book to ruin me this bad by consistently jabbing on my feelings. What makes it even more astounding is that it is condensed within 384 pages, making The Ones We’re to Find as a book that packs a smashing emotional punch. To sell this book even further is the consistent and concise writing. This book has single handedly set the standard for future books to come because the level of quality Joan He presents is beyond excellent.

“Some secrets were best left at sea, between sisters.”

The anchor for The Ones We’re Meant to Find is it’s characters. There isn’t a big cast of characters for readers to follow as the story is more focused on two paralleling perspectives. First is Cee, a girl stranded on an abandoned island with only fragments of her memories. For three years she has been stuck on the island with U-Me, a robot that recites the dictionary. As Cee grows weary of living on the island that is slowly becoming a prison, she manages to construct a boat that will be her one way ticket in escaping it’s clutches. After Cee’s desperate first attempt an unlikely person washed ashore that might turn the tides in her plans. For Cee’s perspective Joan He gives us first hand accounts of Cee’s experiences by writing in first person. The writing in Cee’s chapters can be described as full of longing, confusion, and desperation. Without spoiling anything the dread is prominent mostly in Cee’s chapters as it bleeds through the page pulling readers into the depths of her desperation to flee the island and find her sister. Cee’s arc is my favorite arc in the whole story more than Kacey’s. There is simplicity in the plot yet it evokes complex feelings that doesn’t happen often in the YA books I’ve read.

“Between them, they shared an ocean of loss. It was under their chins, threatening to drown them the moment they sank. And Kasey chose to sink. The world was ending. People were dying. But how many others were consuming more than their fair share when Celia could taste no more?”

Second, we follow Kasey Mizuhara, youngest daughter of the Mizuhara family and science prodigy. Kasey is mourning the lost of her sister, Celia, after their sudden disappearance. All the while the world is facing a massive crisis as the humans have stretched the earth’s resources thin to the point of imminent natural catastrophe. Knowing this, it is up to Kasey to help humanity by using her gift to secure a better future for the world by finding a solution, one that the people might not want to hear. Kasey as a character seems detached from the reality that she is living in since the lost of Celia. The grief of losing her sister is felt through the page as Kasey slowly comes to terms with her feelings by confronting them to find closure. As Kasey traces Celia’s steps to the moments before she disappeared she stumbles upon a boy that can help her find her answers. Kasey’s perspective is interestingly written in second person which made me think for a good chunk of the story. I later understood the implications of why He decided to write her perspective in second person is to add another layer of important nuance to an already brain heavy story.

Besides these two sisters there are two other supporting characters that also fuels the plot and became important figures in the story. This character’s revelation and corruption didn’t translate well to me. Personally for me I had a hard time connecting their motivation and their intent. Which left me feeling scatter brained trying to understand this character. Joan He laid the foundations well for them to carry out their intent to become a tremendous plot twist, but I ended up feeling overwhelmed. On the other hand, the other character carried the ending of the story and amplified the impact of the emotion for readers nearing the end. I can’t say which scene but when you read the book you’ll know. Because what this character did became the catalyst to trigger the final reaction so that the main character can finally make their decision. And oh wow! I was shivering when I read it. Joan He executed it beautifully!

“I don’t think either of us came here by choice.”
“And I think we have even less choice over the ones we’re meant to find.”

Final thoughts, The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a thrilling sci-fi dystopian ride. Presented with an aesthetically beautiful cover that can temp any reader; complete with Joan He’s captivating world building, emotion heavy prose, detailed and consistent symbolism, and haunting foreshadowing it solidifies this book as stand out amongst the young adult releases of 2021. If you’re looking for a short stand alone young adult book that packs complex story telling about reuniting and closure set in a dying world with emotions as deep as the ocean, high quality writing, and soul-stirring twists; this book is for you.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Such a beautiful sci-fi/cli-fi novel about the bond between sisters, grief and self-discovery. The novel follows two storylines: Kasey fighting to save the planet for future generations whilst grieving her sister's passing, and Cee suffering from amnesia on a deserted island and discovering her life's purpose. Joan He's writing is vivid, tender and intense; I read the majority in one sitting because the plot was that gripping with so many twists. I would love to read more from this author and more YA fiction that surprised and delighted me like The Ones We're Meant to Find did.

This story summed up: good for her.

Joan He's writing was simply spectacular. It was just the right amount of poetic to elevate this story and make it so much more than expected. The relationships and the characters were written in such a beautiful way.

This story kind of feels like a war against time. There are endless possibilities and only time can tell which one will prevail in the end. This book will make you think about what it truly means to be human, what is our purpose and what do we owe ourselves in the end. Even at the end of humanity as we know it and it a futuristic setting, hope still manages to find itself it the characters' lives. This story seems like the journey of two sisters in their quest to find each other once more, but it's so much more than that. Through twists and turns you'll find yourself with so many questions floating in your head.

I'm very glad I have this book a chance!

'The Ones We’re Meant to Find’ is an exceptionally clever science fiction dystopia. The first half is shrouded in mystery, many elements strange and confusing, but the payoff is spectacular.

Cee has been trapped on an island for three years, with no knowledge of how she arrived or concrete detail of her previous life. All she knows is she has a sister, Kay. Determined to find her, Cee spends her days scavenging parts, trying to build a boat to take her away from the island. Meanwhile, 16-year-old science prodigy Kasey is grappling with the sudden disappearance of her sister Celia. Kasey lives a life of isolation, preferring logic to people. Her eco-city’s lifestyle – spending as much time as possible indoors, socialising using holos and regularly using stasis pods – suits her in a way it never suited Celia. However, the more she thinks about Celia’s disappearance, the less sits right with her – and she decides to retrace her sister’s last steps, solving the mystery once and for all.

Of the two protagonists, Kasey is the more initially interesting, although Cee does her best to equal her at the end. Intensely logical, Kasey doesn’t understand people. She looks at life through a lens of science and numbers, analysing situations to determine the most sensible course of action – and not understanding why everyone else doesn’t do the same. Kasey cares deeply about her sister – they’re extremely different, but Celia is important in a way that defies Kasey’s otherwise logical life. Practical but un-streetwise, Kasey can concoct a solution to any problem – but possibly not a solution that anyone else would accept.

Cee is also practical, but her emotions are bright and all-encompassing where Kasey’s are a mere inconvenience. Alone on an island – apart from her robot companion, U-Me – Cee’s only concern is to get to her sister. She’s smart and practical, but throws caution to the wind in her desperation to find Kay. Cee is easy to empathise with, and her desperation is striking. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear there’s far more to her than initially meets the eye – and it’s this complexity that really makes her character compelling.

Joan He’s worldbuilding is intricately detailed. Earth is facing ecological disaster, with pollution and climate change threatening humanity with extinction. The privileged have fled to eight eco-cities – floating cities where people live in the smallest possible amount of space, minimising their carbon footprint by leading predominantly virtual lives. Science has advanced to almost eradicate disease, and each citizen is fitted with an implant that functions as both a health monitor and a miniature computer. He makes all the advances seem believable, and whilst the complexity of the setting takes some time to fully understand, the way the reader is left to figure everything out for themselves fits in what is a generally tricky and mysterious novel.

While this is definitely a science fiction novel, its also a story about moral ambiguity and what it means to be human. Joan He is constantly exploring humans and their differences. Kasey, as a prodigy, is working towards saving humanity, despite not fully understanding humanity herself. Cee, alone on an island, is trying desperately to remember and figure out who she is. The juxtaposition between Kasey’s life in an eco-city and Cee’s on an abandoned island highlights the differences between Kasey and Cee themselves. The struggles with identity and humanity are beautifully written, making the denouement even more powerful.

Overall, ‘The Ones We’re Meant to Find’ is a novel worth persevering with. The start can seem slow and confusing, but by the end the depth and cleverness is staggering. Recommended for all fans of dystopia, ethics, and complex science fiction.

Trigger warnings for grief, suicide, violence, natural disaster, vomiting, death of a parent (off page), terminal illness

Thank you Text Publishing for the advanced e-copy. I think this might become a five stars when I reread a finished physical copy. My e-copy had a lot of unexpected repeats and jumps (like for example the footer text suddenly in the middle of a chapter and the end chapters being repeated) that disconnected me from the story.

Nonetheless, this SHOOK me. The start was slow and I was fearing that this book would not be for me, but the twists and sensitive writing kept me reading. About 50% in I was getting really invested and my emotions have been thoroughly played with. Shock, warmth, anger, betrayal, sadness, homesickness. All the things I felt while reading.

I have a preference for Cee’s POV because Kay’s POV tends to become very scientifically technical, which made me reread it a few times to understand (and I still don’t fully understand but I’m thinking it’s because English isn’t my mothertongue).

Honestly, a very beautiful book with an equally beautiful cover and I’m very happy to have read this. I hadn’t read anything like this before and it definitely surprised me.

Wow. With deep characters, explorations of love and purpose and loyalty, danger and adventure at every turn, and several high-quality and genuinely surprising plot twists, The Ones We're Meant to Find has all the makings of a truly top-tier story. The creative, would building, and depth of emotion and conflict are extremely impressive. This novel really blew me away.

Cee is stranded on a deserted island, and has been for three years, but she is determined to somehow find her way off and reunite with her sister, Kay. She can sense her presence out there in the world, and will do whatever it takes to find her, including rebuilding wrecked ships washed up on the shore. She remembers almost nothing about her past or who she is, and is extremely cognizant (and more than a little distressed) that she seems to have lost her color vision. But she will not be deterred, even when the ship that she has so painstakingly assembled is torn apart in a storm. She feels herself getting comfortable, and knows she has to shake that feeling off in order to survive. When a boy washes up on the shore with the same amnesia she has been experiencing, she knows his mysterious appearance and existence holds a key purpose in her quest to find her sister, but she doesn't know if she can trust him enough to find out what it is.

Out there in the world somewhere, Kasey is grieving the loss of Celia, who sailed out into the sea and never returned. But she is grieving in her own way, and finds herself a bit put off by her inability to feel the depth of grief for her sister that Celia's friends seem to be feeling. Kasey is numb, hardened, and focused on her priority: saving humanity from extinction. The earth is already so deeply in the thralls of a climate crisis that humans are having to spend the bulk of their days in stasis pods, living out their work and social lives by holo-ing around, only engaging in the physical world in order to eat, sleep, and exercise. Scientists are now taking refuge in a city floating above the earth, allowing them to be free of the natural disasters and extreme pollution below, while dedicating their time and energy to save the planet. There are 8 of these eco-cities, but down in the 12 territories below, major natural disasters and persistent pollution are posing an extraordinary lethal threat to human life. From megaquakes to oceans of water poisonous to the touch, Kasey is up against stakes that could not be higher, and she seems to be the only one with the combination of analytical skills, engineering power, and stoicism in the face of life-or-death decisions to make the necessary decisions to save humanity.

Again, this book is incredible. It's also incredibly confusing. But not in a bad way, I actually kind of love it for that. There are no long info-dumps and no constant reminders of some critical piece of the plot/world that you may have missed ten pages ago if you weren't paying attention. Key developments aren't presented with a drumroll and fanfare, they just show up in a natural progression, and are sometimes subtle enough that it takes a few pages to realize the gravity of what you just read. That is such a difficult skill in writing style and I'm in love with it.

The depth of the characters, especially Cee and Kasey, is superb. Even the side characters are very well-developed for the scope of their roles. They really showcase the complexity of human emotion, from grief and loss, to independence and purpose, to bravery and fear. You feel right along with these characters, and even when Kasey isn't feeling much at all besides pressure, you feel her tension and isolation that stems from that.

At the same time, there were a couple minor things that I didn't love. The staccato bursts of chapters in the middle and toward the end were very jarring to me personally, but I can appreciate the technique behind them. The perspectives line up in the oddest of ways in those moments, and they do a great job of building suspense in two of the novel's biggest moments. I really could not put the book down once I got there. I also finished the book still with quite a few lingering questions, even though I feel like it did wrap up very well. I think I'll have to give this one another read to catch all that I missed.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Brook for the eARC in exchange for the review.

This book goes slowly from 0 to 100. We start on a small scale: two sisters, one of them is missing, both of them trying to find each other. And then, the deeper we go into the book, the more obvious it is that this book is not just a story about sisterly love and that the stakes here are of the tallest order. Suddenly, the scale goes from tiny to global. I loved slowly discovering the real story, it was like a very emotional puzzle, because you get all the pieces together and it's exciting and, sometimes, shocking, but at the same time, you realise what it means for the characters and it breaks your heart. Captivating, emotional and surprising read, definitely would recommend it for everyone!

The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a futuristic thriller by Joan He. The world-building is amazing and the pace of the story is excellent. The narrative unfolds gently in a world that has passed the brink of climate crisis. So be prepared to be swept up into a world that is achingly familiar in its unfamiliarity. The characters in the novel are so intricately crafted, no detail has been spared. Joan He is a master of illusions, so expect the unexpected! This is a story that lingers long after the final page has been turned.

The Ones We're Meant to Find is a compelling, creative and lush gem of a novel which I sped through over the course of a couple of days. Having read Joan He's other novel Descendant of The Crane and loving it, I was so excited when I first heard about this book and seeing how much of a departure this was from that. Versatility? Range? Legendary status? Joan has it all.

I'll say from the get go that I think this book won't be everyones cup of tea, some of the choices in this novel are unique in a sense - and it does get kind of confusing at times. I did find myself having to re-read certain parts, especially when it came to the world building and how the eco cities / eco aspects operate. Once I got my head around it all though, I was super into it. The pacing is also a tad slow in the first half, so do keep this in mind if slow paced books are usually not your thing.

On the surface this is a story about two sisters separated by unforeseen circumstances, Cee is desperately trying to find her way back to Kasey, after she wakes up on an abandoned island with slivers of memory of her sister, while Kasey is trying to come to terms with Cee's disappearance. The dual perspectives work so well here and I really enjoyed how different these two characters were, not only in the way they move through the world but their physical setting too captured my interest. While Kasey navigates the different rungs of the eco city she calls home, Cee is on an island, with only a trusted bot for company. I really liked the island setting and how it just adds to the mystery and sense of Cee being utterly alone.

There was something incredibly beautiful about the island but also that sense of listlessness and foreboding as each and every time Cee tries to leave, she somehow finds herself back on its shores. I LOVED how the island tied in to the wider story and the explanation as to why and how she came to be there in the first place. I had so many theories whilst reading but I have to say, Joan He surprised me again and again with all the different threads she wove so deftly in this book. One overwhelming one being the impact of grief and loss too.

The whole concept of an eco city and the ways that humanity has had to move forward in the novel, in a sense is all down to climate change. There's a strong message here about responsibility to yourself, others and the planet and I quite liked this thread and think it's definitely an important one to note. I think it's especially fascinating and sad in a sense as the concept of eco-cities and having to leave a degraded land doesn't seem implausible given the current climate crisis we're facing. There's many levels on which this consciousness of the environment and preserving life works, just trust me when you read the book you'll see how integral this is to the core of the story.

I really enjoyed the direction the story took in the latter parts of the novel, there was such weight to it all and I genuinely didn't know what the characters would decide to do. It was very much a crossroads moment for them all so it was interesting to read as they forge their own paths. I know that's really vague but I really don't want to spoil this book for anyone - it needs to be experienced without any hints or spoilers.

I truly loved this book beyond words and I could honestly go on for ages so I'll conclude here, but trust me - read this book! I would especially recommend this to readers who enjoy mysteries, sci fi / fantasy entwined with a contemporary or real world feel.

I'm finding it difficult to review this book in a way that doesn't spoil the experience of reading it. It's confusing and fascinating and I suspect that it will end up being very polarizing. Even on a personal level, I hovered over that four star rating for a while, because Joan He's novel didn't quite capture me the way I wanted and expected it to. In part, this was because of wrong expectations on my part. I thought this was a different novel from what it ended up to be and as such could not judge it on its own merits. I also read it during a period of great stress.
I will be revisiting in the future because despite all of my shortcomings as a potential reader for it it managed to grab and hold my attention, and i found myself warming to the characters almost despite myself. Definitely recommend it, if only so that I have more people to discuss it with and try to work out its meaning.

** A big thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC**

The cover for this book is gorgeous and it was definitely a factor into my wanting to read it. Going into this book I had no idea what to expect, I most certainly was not expecting it to be so "futuristic/sci-fi" as it was, You are thrown into the deep end of the world of Celia and Kasey, jumping between their pov's with no real context of what is going on at the start which is slightly confusing but I can see that maybe the more you get into this book the better it will get, but unfortunately for me I have put this book down 20% in - it is more of its me not the book situation as I do struggle with books that tend to be heavy sci-fi based.

However I will definitely pick this up as an audiobook when it comes out as I tend to enjoy sci-fi books in audio format and will update my review at that time.

The Ones We're Meant to Find is the story of two sisters. One, Kay, a STEM prodigy, and the other Cee who has been trapped on an island with no memories of how she wound up there, just a need to find and get back to her sister.

First off, this cover is stunning. I initially wanted this one just for the cover. I know we shouldn't judge books by their covers as the cliche goes, but you've seen this one. Tell me it doesn't call out to you.

The Ones We're Meant to Find is an amalgamation of genres. It's part sci-fi, part mystery, part fantasy and all kinds of weird. I found myself struggling through the first half, but mainly only Kay's chapters. I couldn't get enough of Cee's chapters. I love survival stories and so that aspect of it really sold me, but the STEM stuff wasn't so much what I was into, and so Kay's chapters felt a little slower for me. That being said, about halfway thorough it really picked up, and although I still much prefers Cee's chapters, I flew through Kay's too.

I actually found myself not seeing this twist and it blew me away. I loved it. I adored it. It was everything. I loved how the two perspectives came together and the story unfolded. Joan He is definitely a master of story weaving.

The thing I loved most about this book was how Joan He told this story. Each character is written in a different perspective. I felt personally that having Cee's chapters in first person really helped to connect with the character, and having Kay's in third made me feel removed from her. I think this was genius, especially with everything that unfolded. It was just so clever, and I cannot wait to read more from Joan He because she is obviously amazing at what she does.

It was not my usual genre, and had it been, it possibly would've been a five star review, but it was a wonderful story, the only downside for me was the Kay chapters. In no way were they bad, I just felt so much more invested in Cee's so my excitement wasn't matched the whole way thorough the book.

This was a beautiful story about family love set in a dystopia world caused by climate change/disaster. The prose was so graceful and engaging with the two sisters having separate, distinctive voices whilst still exploring their separated losses and identities.

It was a very well crafted plot that kept twisting and turning to the point you couldn’t believe what you read because it would just change again seconds later! I just loved the development of it. The clear focus on what it means to be human, how to deal with loss, and how to be free in a world constructed solely for survival was so enthralling. I did at times find it a bit confusing as there were a lot of elements to keep up with, but it was a provoking narrative that I greatly enjoyed and would definitely recommend. I also still can’t get over how stunning the cover is!

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for kindly providing me with an eArc!

This is such a touching and heartbreaking story. I truly don’t think I can give it justice in explaining how great this was. Please give this a go!

Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for providing this arc.

Trigger warnings: Violence, suicide, death, grief, and illness.

This book was one of my most anticipated books to be released this year. And I’m so grateful to Text Publishing for allowing me to read it before its release date

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked this up. But this book is simply fantastic. A stunning and immersive tale with so much to offer. Joan He combines elements of fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery/thriller to create a unique story. I loved every single page and couldn’t stop reading. The writing was stunning and made me fall in love with the world and its characters.

The worldbuilding is incredible; so interesting, special, and like non-other. There’s so much attention to detail and it made the reading experience so unique. With that said, I do feel like it became a little too technical sometimes. Kind of messed up the flow for me a bit

The characters, oh the characters. I loved them. The sisters, Kacey and Celia were so well-developed. The unique and intimate writing style made them so realistic and easy to love. But I did enjoy Celia’s chapters more than I did Kacey’s