It's always a pity when you have high expectations of a book and they aren't fulfilled. I really liked her debut, THE DESCENDANT OF THE CRANE, and was expecting this to be a twisty book with a mystery that pulled me in and had me questioning everything, while a niggling unease settled deep in my bones.

Instead, I spent the entire time reading THE ONES WE'RE MEANT TO FIND deeply, deeply confused. I could not work out what was going on, to such a degree that it wasn't a "ooh, mystery I want to get to the bottom of" experience, but rather a "I cannot follow what is happening from one page to the next" experience. To be honest, if it wasn't a book on the shorter side and an eARC (and thus I felt the needed to read it fully to better review it), I would have DNF'd.<

One of the comps it was marketed with was <em>Black Mirror</em>, so I was expecting something twisty and sinister, and I suppose it does deliver on the "tech is being used in a not great way and nothing is as you think it is" premise of that property. The two POVs were happening in what was probably different timelines, so I was waiting for the explanation, the twist that went "oh" and explained what had happened.

However, when the first and biggest one came, I was just too lost to really care. It made sense, but that was about as much impact as it had on me, particularly as there was about 40% left, and that final section seemed to be dragging out a single idea in Cee's section and stuffing a load more twists that I didn't follow and didn't seem set up in Kasey's chapters.

The that that I was struggling to follow what was happening, lead to a disconnect between me and the characters. As I couldn't work out what was happening to and around them, I couldn't understand their actions - there was no framework to figure out what their options were so to work out their emotional and mental states triggering their choices. This further undermined some of the reveals that were supposed to shake their identities and get me empathising with them, but that didn't happen.

A stunningly written novel that I know I'm going to think about for years to come.

Where do I start with this book? First I think we should start with the quite frankly STUNNING cover that this book has before anything else. It's beautiful, but I wasn't just interested in the lovely cover. It was a case of I was drawn to the cover, but stayed for the synopsis. This book is a YA science fiction novel about Kacey and her sister Celia who went missing. It follows two perspectives, one in third person (Kacey's), and one in first person (Cee's). Kacey lives in a place called an eco city where your rank is determined by how much your ancestors have harmed the environment. It's a very end of the world situation, and there's a lot of typical sci-fi tropes in this one, like amnesia, robots, the apocalyptic and dystopian setting. Cee washes up on a desert island with no idea how she got there, only that she has a sister named Kay that she needs to find. Now this novel is definitely not as "typical" as it might sound by my very vague description - it's not all what it seems (without giving anything away).

I did really enjoy this book. For most of it I was just wondering what the heck is going on? which meant that my intrigue level for this book was SO HIGH oh my goodness. The writing is gorgeous, absolutely beautiful, so I definitely want to read something else by this author in the future, and I loved the relationship that the sisters had. There's quite a few twists and turns in this book, and it is sometimes quite confusing, but I don't mind that in books. The ending is pretty good, although it's quite open ended so I wouldn't mind if the author decided to write a sequel or another book set in this world. I know that this is something that's going to linger in my mind for a while, and I'll probably give this a re-read when I pick up a physical copy of this book as I want to re-live the action now that I know more about what happens.

While I did really enjoy this book, I did have a few criticisms of it. Sometimes the word building didn't feel always as clear as I wanted it to be (though it is very good compared to lots of other novels I've read), and there's a very slight romance plot that I didn't care for that much, although romance isn't my thing anyway.

So overall, I loved this book and I would really recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc! I really enjoyed “The Ones We’re Meant to Find” because the author really took the time to develop relationships. I also appreciate the inclusion of STEM and climate change because that’s so crucial to our world today! I did think the beginning was slow at first, but the book really started to pick up at the middle.

I don't even know where to start... This book was just stunning! So many twists and turns and I just could not put it down!

A Si-fi that follows two sisters, one Cee with little to no memories, marooned on a desert island, all she knows is that somewhere out there she has a sister, Kay. Kay is searching for answers surrounding the disappearance of her sister in a futuristic world ravaged with natural disasters as a result of climate change.
The book takes us on a journey of discovery and my goodness does is deliver.

Iv not given a 5 star rating in a while but I felt this was just so original and so detailed it will really stick with me for a long time to come and as a usual one time reader I can already tell you this will be one of the few books I re read.
The futuristic world building is incredible, I really enjoyed the concept of floating eco cities and the politics of this future world, there is so much to see in your minds eye and so much to think about.
I was a good way off guessing the outcome of this book with my theories coming up short very early on, the story shocking me and taking me in directions I hadn't envisaged.
The relationships and character development also feels very deep and rich, I followed both sisters with heart wrenching reality, willing them to reunite.

A stunning read, if your not hugely into Si-fi don't let that category put you off, this is also a story of family, of grief and of mystery but largely it will keep you entertained and asking yourself questions about humanity.

what i want to start my review with is that i have not read many science-fiction books in my life so i was not sure if this books is going to work for me. i do enjoy science-fiction films, but books - it was something entirely new for me. but this book, this story was so interesting, so captivating since the very beginning that it was almost impossible for me to put it down once i started reading. i saw people compering it to black mirror, which got me really excited and in combination with its stunning cover i simply could not wait to read it.

when reading a fantasy book, a pay a lot of attention to the world-building. i think it’s hard to create a whole universe on your own and present it in a way that will make a reader understand and imagine it. because of that, i always appreciate a well-done world-building. and joan he did a really great job at it. it was very interesting to read about and i was fascinated with discovering new things about it and creating its image in my head.

another amazingly-done aspect of this book was characters. our two main protagonists, cee and kasey, were very complex, complicated characters and reading about their experiences and struggles was nothing if not thrilling. they were very different from each other but yet their connection made them an amazing pair, even though their stories were happening in distinct places. i was riveted with them both, with reading about what was happenning with them and what was going on in their heads, who they were and how they acted.

to stop reading even for a moment was a hard thing to do. it’s a story full of interesting elements, unexpected events, plot twists and incredible characters. i enjoyed every page, every word that was written and i definitely recommend this book to whoever is interested in reading it.

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

If I'm being honest, it has taken me a while to wrap my head around this book.

Whilst being a survivalist and science fiction young adult book, The Ones We're Meant to Find discusses the themes of love, family and what it means to be human. The story is told in two voices, Celia's (Cee) and Kasey's (Kay). The first perspective follows Cee as she tries to make her way off the island that she found herself on 3 years ago and find her sister, Kay, the only person she remembers. Kay is still grappling with her sister's disappearance a long time ago but in an effort to feel more connected to Celia, Kay retraces her last steps. What she discovers will change her thoughts and opinions on the safety of the eco-city she lives in and the people in power who would do anything to reduce their ecological footprint.

What I thought was the highlight of this book definitely was the world building. Joan He creates an amazing world which is alike to the worlds made in Studio Ghilbi films. It kind of reminded me of Marie Lu's Warcross with the details and how you can easily imagine those floating e-cities and the island itself. World building was definitely outstanding in this book. If you are a world focused reader, as in, a well developed world is the most essential part of a book's enjoyment for you, then I would recommend you pick up

Me, on the other hand, I am a very character focused reader. If I can't find a connection or relate somewhat to a character, then the book will likely never reach a five star read for me. With this book, I liked some characters but disliked some others. Out of Cee's and Kay's stories I preferred Cee's tale of survival on the island and the day a boy washed up and tried to kill her, more than Kay's quest to uncover a conspiracy in her own e-city. Kay's chapters were extremely heavy with technical terms and elements which, although did show me that the author did her research on ecological degradation among other things, lost me at times. More than half the time I was completely uninterested in Kay's storyline and once things did pick up, I realised there were gaps in my understanding of the story just because I didn't pick up on those technical elements earlier on.

With Kay herself, I couldn't relate to her. She was described as very logical and STEM based which in itself isn't necessarily a critique however, she was so closed off that it was hard to empathise with her situation or care enough about her as a character. I wanted to understand her feelings more, not necessarily in dialogue to another character, but maybe just having a paragraph about her thoughts or maybe an internal soliloquy or dialogue would've emphasised her motivations and her character even more.

Cee's chapters I had no problems with. I thought she was a highly empathetic person and I could see how she interacted with the world and with others easily in the way her perspective was written. Obviously being a dual perspective story, threads of each storyline interweave with each other and so, nearing the end of the story, I got a little confused with the big revelations considering my lack of investment in Kay's tale. I somewhat recovered and worked it all out by the end but even now as I'm writing this review there are some bits I still need to wrap my head around.

All in all, I do think a lot of people would like this book with it's beautiful prose and story telling and it's mesmerising world building. Although I couldn't get into Kay's perspective and her story, I think readers would fall in love with Celia's tale of survival with a lot of heart embedded in her narrative.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.7 STARS

As a big fan of the author’s first novel, I went into this book with very high expectations that He has doubtlessly exceeded. This is a riveting tale of the love between sisters surpassing any challenge. With dual POVs and a dystopian setting where an elitist dome system is in place to protect its residents from a dying earth, TOWMTF tells the story of two sisters trying to find their way back to one another. As each sister faces her own trials and sacrifices to achieve their goal, the bonds of sisterhood are tested.

Being able to write such a complex, compelling and clever story as a standalone clearly showcases the author’s ingenuity and capability to immerse the reader into this world and it’s characters. However, I feel like the world and setting have so much potential that wasn’t quite realised, a deeper exploration of these aspects would have enhanced my reading experience.

Fantastically paced storytelling and surprising twists have amounted to a terrific narrative that truly highlights He’s talent as a writer. Her sophomore novel sets the scene to what promises to be a long career full of thrilling and captivating stories.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Good, enjoyable read. Would have lot a more well thought out plot! The cover art is unbelievably stunning.

4.5 stars

I would have read that book in two days if I hadn't been so busy.
The beginning of this book is very confusing but intriguing which makes you want to keep reading until you understand.
The chapters are short which makes it look like reading is flowing and makes reading fast.
There is a whole mystery around the story that unravels together with the characters and that leaves you totally stuck in the story.
The world created is very interesting and scary for thinking that it may be a future reality.
I liked how there are comments about how we are destroying the environment and destroying ourselves at the same time.
From the middle to the final of the book as we are discovering things I admit that I did not like all the revelations or how they were made but they all surprised me.
The story can be very confusing, with a lot of terms and information that I didn’t fully understand but that didn’t detract from the enjoyment of reading for me.
The ending I found half-open, what I don't particularly like, and along with some other things that happened that I didn't like it makes me give the book less than 5 stars.
But I highly recommend it's a story like you've never seen before that is unique, interesting, and captivating.

Honestly folks, this book is outstanding.

From start to finish I was entirely hooked by this story. I couldn't put it down.

The writing style really worked for me, and this is the most effective use of a dual narrative I've read in such a long time. As we hear from one sister, and then the other, the plot twists and plot reveals are just so beautifully paced to have maximum impact. This is a glorious heartfelt look at what it means to be a sibling. Sci-fi and dystopia, the perfect vehicle for this most beautiful of stories, of survival and hope, determination and bravery. One sister lost, one sister who will stop at nothing to get back to her sibling, and one heart-achingly good adventure along the way.

Read this book! Pre-order this book! This is one I need for my shelves.

If you can't tell already, I loved it. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I couldn't recommend this book more.

5 spectacular stars

They say “don’t judge a book by its cover” and unfortunately with this book, that literally is the case:( This book cover is absolutely STUNNING and I’m sad to say that the book didn’t live up to my expectations.

The chapters in this book flick between two POV- one being the Cee and the other being her sister Kasey. I gave it two stars because I actually really enjoyed Cee’s POV and her story but I just couldn’t connect with Kasey at all, I found her character to be too stereotyped and flat.

The main issue I had with this book and why I personally didn’t like it was because of how confusing it was. I know it’s Sci Fi but everything was SO complicated. Personally, I just think too much was left out:( The story would include a lot of world building and terms which were left unexplored and a lot of the time I had to go back to see if I had missed something?

However, there were things I did like, such as, the POV of Cee and her storyline and the cover is absolutely stunning. I will also say that I don’t want this review to put people of reading the book as I know a lot of people are excited for it! Therefore I do encourage people to maybe look at some more posting and higher rating reviews on goodreads as this is just my personal opinion and I know some people really liked the book!

I feel like my brain did this book a disservice. It wasn't made for such a complex and intricate story, no matter how amazingly written. I was confused for the majority of this novel and I loved it. Despite not knowing what was going on and, because of my idiocy, not fully understanding the world, there was something so compelling about the story that I couldn't put it down. And when the pieces of the puzzle finally stuck together it proved for a satisfying, emotional read that touches on some serious climate change related questions. Highly recommend!!

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

a great story about sisters with an Asian cast. The story is difficult to grasp as first but it's a mystery. that's what mysteries do. The suspense and thrill in this YA scifi is there. The characters are well defined and the writing is snappy. Plus there 's a cute rolling droid !!. I recommend

I was really looking forward to reading The Ones We’re Meant to Find for the longest time, ever since it was announced, and seeing the gorgeous cover I just knew this would be something special. And how right I was! I’m such a sucker for a story about the interesting relationship between siblings and Kasey and Celia are a prime example. I felt I was a bit confused in the beginning as I didn’t really have any idea what was going on, but I feel if I went back to reread knowing what I know now it would no doubt affect my reading experience. I loved He’s writing and the futuristic world she has created, and how every twist and turn kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Cee wakes up on an abandoned island and her only goal is to get away and find her sister, Kasey, because that's all she can remember. Meanwhile, Kasey has been missing her sister since she disappeared 3 years ago, and while she wants to believe she's alive somewhere, how could she be? Her eco-city is failing, but can the technology she has access to make a difference for her sister?

Told in alternating perspectives, this story captures the essence of what it means to choose someone and put them first. Though it's a story of sisters, the focus is on their bond, even while apart. This book also gives light to the concept of a right to life and freedom, and if that's still a right if it takes away from that of someone else.

I went into this book not really knowing what it was about and it blew my mind. The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a science fiction novel set in a world where climate change and polluting the Earth has caused people to adapt, living in eco-cities with a whole range of interesting world-building features. At the centre is a compulsive story of two sisters that didn’t immediately draw me in but once gripped I could not stop reading.

The story is told in two perspectives – sisters Celia and Kay. Cee has been trapped on an abandoned island for 3 years alone with few memories and the goal to find her sister Kay. Kasey lives in one of 8 eco-cities built for the people who tried to protect the planet. She’s a STEM prodigy and prefers time to herself than being around others. Kasey is determined to find out the truth behind what happened to her popular, fun-loving sister and that forms the basis of the plot.

The world-building is exceptional and thought-provoking. Eco-cities protect their residents from the natural disasters that plague Earth, but in return the humans living there spend a third of their time in stasis – conducting activities virtually through holos. I really enjoyed the details from the holos to the resident ranking system, and the examination of rank privilege.

There is a lot of mystery in this book, with the world revealed slowly to the reader through the eyes of the characters. This can make it difficult to follow in the beginning, and I was a bit confused at times. Both Celia and Kay were compelling protagonists and I enjoyed figuring out the mysteries throughout the plot. Overall, The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a unique science fiction novel with a lot of discussion points that would make it perfect for a book club read.

4.5 stars

That ending HURT ME

“The problem with oceans? They always seem smaller from the shore.”

I’m amazed by the sheer complexity this whole book is built on. I’m not talking about the world building only, but also the characters. Joan He was able to write a standalone that had on me the same impact a trilogy I love usually has. It was twisty and heart-wrenching, shocking but so wholesome. It would have been a five star if it wasn’t for the fact that things like the world, the technology and some plot points remained confusing for a little too long to be an enjoyable kind of confusing, you know? But everything else I just loved.

This book is like: you thought that plot twist 10 pages ago was the last and the biggest one? Hold my beer. I lost count of how many times the characters managed to surprise me with their actions, their well-rounded representation, their motivations and emotions. I love how this author makes them feel super realistic and for sure this won’t be the last book I read by her. I’m a fan of Celia and the way she’s so likable, but I’m also incredibly in love with Kasey and Actinium’s journeys. Their growth and that ending.....wow. I would have never seen it coming.
All of that was enhanced by the setting. I’m not a huge sci-fi reader, but I do really like when stories take place in cool worlds that function on technology that makes sense. This book had it all.

What drove me in at first, apart from the most beautiful cover I’ve ever seen in my entire life, was the part of the synopsis about Celia being stranded on an island. I love survival stories and this one delivered in a lot of ways. Celia’s chapters were definitely my favorite. I wasn’t expecting to fall for the romance as well though (honestly I didn’t even think there was going to be one). Celia’s melted my heart, Kasey’s had me on the edge of my seat. But in the end those two broke my heart and I’m still trying to put the pieces together. I can’t believe what this book did to me 😭

“Why is it that I can trust you one moment, and be hurt by you the next?”

This book was fascinating and engrossing, bittersweet and tragic. I can’t wait for it to hurt me again when I pick it up next time.

This book is undoubtedly one of the best books released this year so far. The ones we’re meant to find is a beautifully written tale about love and sisterhood. It takes place in a sci-fi futuristic world and it follows two povs, Kasey and her sister Celia.

I’ll start with saying that the plot is brilliant. The past is explained to us in tidbits, in memories that Cee is gaining and its presented to us readers precisely when the author wants us to know it, and that created a certain suspense, to know more, to know what led to this. And the plot twists SERVEd. IT REALLY DID.! One of the best aspects of the story was its world building and a lot of which was explored and explained really well!

However the best aspect of the book for me was the writing itself and the writing style. Im a reader who places a lot of value and importance in writing styles and prose and good descriptions and Joan He did not disappoint. It was everything i had expected from the buzz from my friends and twt oomfs and the book went beyond my expectations. It was simply gorgeous. And maybe that is why, Cee’s pov chapters had a stronger hold on me because her chapters felt like the author used writing techniques and the prose more freely (if that makes sense) than with Kasey. I was just in awe of her pov chapters. Every description, every line felt powerfully breathtaking. Im so in awe because the author has such a flawless command over the wordings and phrases and it rolls off the tongue so smoothly AAAAAAAAH THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A MFING STORY AUTHORS THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A DAMN STORY.

Okay apart from me freaking out every two seconds while reading this book, ill also highlight the themes explored within the book. Especially that of grief and how it was handled was in my opinion spectacular. Everyone deals with things differently and its not for us to decide how someone else copes through a certain situation and i think this book did a great job in raising this issue and handling it in a phenomenal way.

Right after i finished the book, i was convinced Cee was my favorite character. And yes I absolutely enjoyed reading her chapters a 100% more. It was atmospheric, sombre, melancholic. It was perfect. And whenever we shifted to Kasey i had the feeling of wanting to read Cee’s chapters so i kind of wanted to ignore kasey’s chapters. But as I read through i started to like and appreciate her chapters more, it definitely was shedding more light in terms of world building and im a sucker for that, but now half a month later i realize the author has done another phenomenal job and that is to make characters live beyond the pages.

As i read on, it kept bugging me that i didnt pay much attention to Kasey’s povs so i reread the book around a week after i finished it and holy sh*t that was an experience. I noticed so much more but the main point i want to say is that the author managed to write a character that AFTER reading the book, the character lived RENT FREE in my head for a LONG TIME (in terms of my book speed atleast). And holy ffff kasey is a phenomenal character, the more i think about her the more i keep loving her??? This is bizarre because I usually dont reread books and i get over character hypes really fast, but kasey is really sticking out to me as a character and im so here for it.

One other thing was i was REALLY confused at the beginning and it bugged me, because i was constantly asking the book for certain answers and well it obviously was not giving them to me whenever i wanted it. Which kind of again adds to the realism of the story in the sense it cements the notion that the story is happening to the characters as opposed to it being told to readers, so i was only getting the information the characters were and the author did a marvelous job in finding the perfect way to execute that aspect.

Im someone who can be really critical and harsh with ratings and even the smallest things that bug me, could ruin my entire reading experience and that is a struggle and i thought kasey’s chapters were doing that for me. But the book proved me wrong and i love it so much more for it. My initial rating was a 7.9/10 (3 ⭐️ )and after the reread it stands at 8.4/10 (4 ⭐️) and i can only imagine it going higher in the next reread which im sure i will get to soon.

Thank you to the publisher for granting me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley!

The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He is an amazing global warming science fiction, a very close narrative exploring feelings of loss, grief, and an incredible love between two sisters who are so very different.

The themes explored are wonderful, the plot twists are really really good, foreshadowing just enough to know something is not quite as it seems. There are all the hints about but in such a subtle way that you are not hit with the answers straightaway.

More than that, the emotional impact of this book is powerful. The ethical dilemmas are very interesting and thought provoking. The actual love between the two sisters is extremely touching. And this is what makes this novel truly unforgettable. I highly recommend it. If you like Blade Runner, the Matrix and want a similar experience, I really really recommend that you give a try to The Ones We're Meant to Find.