This is already up there for best book of the year. I've recommended it to everyone. I've spoiled it for those who I knew wouldn't pick it up because I had to talk about this book. It was a need, rather than a want. And that, readers, is for the simple fact that this book surprised me. I tried to guess what was happening and was wrong on so many levels. All the twists caught me off guard, all the turns blindsided me.

However, it's one I'm not sure how to review; like so many of the things I want to talk about would entirely spoil the book which is something I point blank refuse to do unless it's for a content warning. So I'm going to give it my best, and I'll put the synopsis below for the main plot elements.

The writing style was captivating. Everything about this book was captivating. We're following two sisters, one analytical (Kasey) and the other emotional (Cee). Cee is missing, and Kasey is trying to figure out where she is. As the reader though, we know that Cee is on a mysterious island, stranded for 3 years now, by her count. It was so unique to immediately know where Kasey was, to have the mystery unravel from both perspectives simultaneously - but in a way that gave more questions than answers. Until the end, where everything ties together perfectly.

The setting was believable and fascinating. Floating cities above the earth - fantastic. It's something we've seen before; Alita, Laputa; but the idea of them being high-rise, rightly packed cities split by the ecological footprint of your ancestors was magical. Fresh, original. Interesting. The idea of sections of the Earth that refused to change, refused to give up their fossil fuels until it was too late - believable. The holo-socializing was reminiscent of the Matrix but also again, made sense. The whole book made sense. Often - and yes, I'm thinking of Wool, of Hunger Games, of Divergent - I look at an 'apocalyptic' setting and wonder who on earth would put the world in say...silos. Or divisions split by what they offer. Or divisions split by bloody emotions. But this just made sense. It made sense that we'd consider other worlds only to find it's not possible. It made sense that some areas would cling to their easy, normal lives and others would progress forwards.

I love the hints that Kasey is Neuro-divergent, though didn't quite understand why that's not explored in this intelligent future world. There's an element of scientific control of emotions within the book, so I wondered whether that has resulted in this uncertainty that Kasey has had around her way of processing everything that's happening.

There's not much more I can say without spoiling the plot, because this book is entirely plot. Which I know sounds daft, but there truly isn't a section of this book that's not progressing the plot forwards, but none of it is done in a way that feels forced or rushed. It's an incredible book that needs more of a spotlight. Deserves all the spotlight in the world. If you ever purchase a book based on one of my reviews, make it this one.

The Ones We're Meant To Find is such a surprising read set in a world in the brink of destruction and the bond between two sisters. This book is futuristic, intriguing and pretty intense. For me, I just didn't know what to expect and you'll have no choice but to read until the very end.

At first, I couldn't really understand and get what this book is all about. It's confusing and a bit all over the place. I wasn't sure if it's the uncorrected proof copy format that I got from Netgally UK or the story is just build that way. But as the story progresses everything starts to unravel and the pieces fit to the entire story.

I like that this story is about sisterhood and the mystery of the world building. I'm usually not the biggest science fiction but this book is definitely bearable. As for the romance, I find it was just okay, it wasn't my favourite aspect about this book. This is just so unlike any other book I've read before and it really is so captivating.

I was hoping for my questions to be answered and so I had no choice but to continue reading until the very last page where in the last few chapters, everything is finally revealed. I honestly don't know what to say for this book, just that it seriously isn't like anything I was expecting it to be and I'm still trying to process everything that happened in this story. Even now.

This is the kind of story that will make you think and question. It's not the easiest read and it feels very lyrical like a prose as I keep trying to decipher the meaning behind this story. But overall, it's a really unique and interesting read and I would recommend to anyone who likes science fiction with mystery and the unbreakable bond between two sisters who are bound to achieve great things in their lives.

Wow. Just wow. This is one of the most twisty, mind-bending books I've read in a long time. I'm stunned at Joan He's ability to craft a story. So poignant and jaw-dropping. It was so compelling that I literally couldn't put it down, devouring it in just two sittings. The portrayal of the deep bond between the two sisters was so beautifully done, as well as giving them distinct individual voices and nuances. The depiction of a world in environmental ruin, and the clear divide of those in the 'utopia' and those not created an overarching sinister atmosphere, really adding to the plots progression. Fascinating commentary on human nature, morality and our responsibility to the planet.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster and by the end of it I was left in shock.

I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this before. It has been compared to We Were Liars and while there is some similarities this book is still completely unique. Especially with the fact that it's sci-fi.

I honestly think it's best to go into this book blind. All you have to know is that it follows two sisters and their journey of trying to get back to each other.

The writing style was spectacular and had me hooked from the beginning. The plot was intriguing and just when you think you're starting to figure it out, a plot twist comes out of nowhere. The characters were complex and they force you to think about the meaning behind their actions.

The ending of the book made me cry. This is definitely a story that I will continue to think about.

<i>I received this ARC thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.</i>

<b>"CEE, Pronounced like the sea outside that window."</b>
Diving into this book I didn't know what I'm getting myself into - haven't read <i>We were liars</i> myself, I could say my approach was with a clear mind.
And in spite of all - the story turned out to be nothing I expected it to be: in a good, and in a bad way.
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<b>"What if human nature is the last disease we have yet to eradicate?"</b>
Tagging this book as confusing one would be an understatement. But that's the whole magic behind it - the mystery and the path to solving it. But I was feeling too confused, as if the world was too complicated to get into with barely stepping into it. We follow a tragedy of two sisters - Celia and Kasey, first one going missing few weeks prior the plot. With their life already being a pretty unfortunate one I can't even imagine what was going on inside Kasey's head. And even with getting her POV described in third person I still think her character could've been more developed. Actually, everyone fell pretty shallow. But I think it all comes back to the universe, that we got just a glimpse of.
<img src="https://i.gifer.com/O0OT.gif" width="500" height="281" alt="description"/>
<b>"Have I ever been alive?"</b>
We also get a second POV in first person from Cee - a girl trying to survive for 3 years so far on an abandoned island with no memories at all, except that somewhere out there is her sister, Kay, waiting to be found. When Kasey's plot confused me with the world building, Cee confused me herself - her companions on unchosen banishment took me a while to recognise from the way she called them, and all her actions seemed... pointless and unthoughtful? When a setting changes, there's something going on between her and a newcomer to the island - and them having any kind of a relationship seemed just too fake to be true. I wish we got to see different path for her story to occure.

<b>"I'm just not who you want me to be."</b>
I think I can call it a fast read with middle part in mind. This book kept me reading without longer breaks and that's a good thing - ther're many times I need to put a read down every chapter because I couldn't <i>feel</i> the story. Here as I said my problem is that the story had a big potential that got kinda screwed by few parts. But overall I think the plottwists on their own were great, nothing I could guess myself. Because I was thinking a lot reading it, trying to solve every mystery on my own which gave me a lot of fun. I just wish that the story could introduce us a little bit more to the futuristic world sisters are coming from, and explore more of themselves, not side characters that sometimes felt just useless for introducing. If the flaws I've menti0ned don't push you away grab this book and experience it on your own. I think even if you'd end up as lost as I was you're gonna enjoy this read.

This story took me by surprise. Not because I thought I might not like it, the blurb had me at go and that cover – who wouldn’t be drawn to it? No, it took me by surprise because it became something so much more than I was expecting.

Blurb

Cee has been marooned, alone on an island for three years, with just one memory: she has a sister and Cee needs to find her. STEM prodigy Kasey could save the world but does she want to help humanity when they failed the people who mattered most?

Science-fiction, mystery, thriller, horror, romance, dystopia. This story brings genres crashing together but at its heart it’s a tale of love and how far two sisters will go for each other.

The Brilliant Bits

He’s storytelling has a magical quality to it. There was a real sense of mystery shrouding much of the story. As the mysteries unravelled and we discovered the, rather sinister, truths I was at once unnerved and slapping my forehead, wondering how I hadn’t worked it out before. Because He didn’t trick her readers, everything was there for you to piece together but I was so wrapped up in the characters and their wants and their hopes that I overlooked what made sense and reached instead for a scenario which would leave them happy.

It was definitely a character-driven story. Whilst the worldbuilding was impressive and the twisty plot was exciting, it was the characters I cared about. Particularly Cee. Cee who was full of love and wonder and hope for a world that was falling apart. Cee carried the story and I would have happily spent another few hundred pages with her.

Not So Brilliant Bits

Whilst Cee’s perspective was so vibrant and exciting to read, I found Kasey’s rather slow in comparison. I wish this wasn’t a negative for me because, considering revelations that come to light late in the story, I think it’s actually very clever storytelling from He. But no matter how clever it was, I still found some of Kasey’s sections lacking.

Read this book if you liked

Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
The Dreamers – Karen Thompson Walker
The Girl With All the Gifts – M.R. Carey
Everything I Never Told You – Celeste Ng

This book honestly broke my heart and slowly put it back together again. I love Joan's work and her writing is beautiful and this book was no exception. I was left guessing all the way through and I love books where I honestly don't know what's coming next. I had theories but none of them were completely right and usually with books like this I can kinda guess what's coming, even if its just before it happens, but this one blindsided me and that made it even more interesting.

WoW wow wow ! I wasn’t excepting something like that : a story about sisters, with good morals but also between what’s wrong and right. I pretty much loved the plot and loved Celia so much compare to kasey who calculated every move she mades !

If you love dis to pian, environnement and SF i.’m sure you will love it ! Highly recommended

*Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I am in between 3.5-4 stars for this read, I can’t really choose.

The Ones We’re Meant To Find is perfect for fans of sci-fi/dystopian novels full of twists! It also gave me a lot of ‘we were liars’ vibes in the first half!

In The Ones We’re Meant To Find we follow Cee who lives in an abandoned island, having no idea how she got there. She doesn’t remember anything but only the fact that she has a sister and that she has to escape to find her.

On the other hand there is there is Kasey living in an eco-city flowing above Earth, now decimated by natural disasters of climate change. Kasey is sure that Cee is dead after 3 years and she tries to find out what happened to her.
The Ones We’re Meant To Find is full of twists and dark secrets, and it’s the mystery that makes this book so special!

-writing- The book is written from two POVs. One is in first person from Cee’s POV which I loved and found so easy to follow, and the second is from Kasey’s POV in third person. Cee’s POV were definitely more interesting and fun than Kasey’s which I found very confusing due to the ‘advanced technology’ language that was used. To be honest half of the book I was confused on what was happening in Kasey’s story because of the vocabulary used. Despite that I really enjoyed the writing of this book and I found it captivating.

-characters- I found Cee’s character very likeable and relatable. In contrast, Kasey’s character is more socially awkward and blunt and ‘different’ than the others who don’t understand her, who I couldn’t relate to. My favourite character is probably Hero, he is a sweetheart and I feel for him a lot. In addition I feel like in Kasey’s POV there were so many characters present which confused me a bit and I don’t think they were all necessary.

-plot- This is one of the most quick-paced books I’ve read in a while with twists that will blow your mind and leave you there sitting like what just happened? Especially after the ‘big’ twist the book is unputdownable as every chapter ends in a cliff-hanger that makes you not want to put it down.

-what I didn’t like- Since I’ve written almost everything I adored of this book, here are some things I didn’t like and why I wouldn’t give it more than 4 stars. First of all half of the book had me confused and full of unanswered questions. I was confused by lots of words and those ‘technology’ stuff that I mentioned before (probably just me because I’m dumb lol). Also another thing is that some plot twists had me disappointed.. not that I didn’t enjoyed them but I felt like I was expecting something more? Or different? Finally by finishing the book I still have some questions unanswered and feel weird.

Should you read this book? Absolutely yes! I feel like this is something everyone should give a read and many readers would enjoy!!!!

TW: terminal illness, suicide, violence (including choking), death, death of parent, vomiting, natural disasters and mass casualties, some gore

This book blew my mind a bit, I had no idea what was really going on and I loved the different turns this took. I had a couple theories, but was definitely surprised when I found out what was actually happening. This was intriguing from the beginning and the back and forth between Kasey and Cee kept me engaged and wanting more.

Cee and Kasey may be sisters, but they're very different people. Cee is popular, makes friends everywhere she goes, and advocates for people living a natural life. Kasey is all about tech and doesn't mind that she lives in a high up eco city if it helps slow carbon emissions to save the planet. She's solitary and struggling with her sister's disappearance. Their juxtaposition was well done and the parallels between their stories were fun.

This was a cool story and something that seems pretty realistic, which is a bit terrifying. I couldn't get enough and with the quick pacing, I flew through this. If you like sci-fi/dystopian books with fun twists, you should definitely give this a try.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the copy.

I would say it actually is like a 4,5 stars.
This book was so different and unexpected! Such a great story that I was not prepared for.
I picked this book expecting a fantasy about a girl looking for her sister, but it was so much more. In an intricate narration between two points of view Joan He creates a not so unlikely future world, highlighting the climate crisis, which I though was such a smart and new idea. This book debates so much topics of lost, inventions the limits of science,life and meaning, artificial intelligence and the view of human destroying the world has parasites. There were pointed great points of view and problems that are so sci-fi yet so close to our present.
Kay was such a good protagonist without being a person that shows much, and says she doesn't feel much, we get to see so much from her pov, and that not feeling is a way of feeling of sorts.
Celia or cee point of view was also fantastic, in her personality and in all the mystery of her stay in this Island.
The way the pov's connect just made my brain twist, I was so confused and intrigued in the begging and couldn't put the book down. The plot twists and revelations in this book! They make so much sense and at the same time are so mind blowing. I think it is an amazing work. The main problem I had was just the use of some technical language that I didn't get and just sort of scanned through, but it wasn't problematic.
I normally read romances or at least books with romance, this one lacks in that department, there is some but I didn't felt for them, but I don't think I is necessary or missing in that sense. The plot flourishes without it.
That ending was all sorts of torture! It was so good and at the same time left me wanting more. Although I do think it was a smart decision to end it there and with that.
I really recommend this book, and will be buying it when it comes out to add to my shelf!

The Ones We’re Meant to Find is one of my most anticipated books of 2021. I read Joan He’s debut Descendant of the Crane last year and fell in love. I can happily say this book is just as amazing as He’s first novel.
We follow sisters Cee and Kasey who are separated from each other in this beautiful sci-fi mystery blend that will keep you reading all night long. Filled with environmental commentary, unconditional sisterly love, twists and turns (and a dash of romance) I guarantee you will feel ALL the emotions. This book broke my heart (in the best way) and I hope you all pick it up when it is released!

Do I have to write a coherent review here? Or can I just insert a bajillion lines of screaming? Because AHHHHHHHHHHH! *clears throat.* AHHHHHHHHHH!

I've always said that my favorite element of a book, no matter the genre or age category, is YEARNING. And friends, Joan He has written the embodiment of yearning in THE ONES WE'RE MEANT TO FIND. You know that intangible feeling of loss and calm that comes from staring at the ocean, the ache and the pull and the loneliness? How you feel small and alive at the same time? Yeah. That's this book. It's a beautifully written exploration of sisterhood, as well as a fascinating, prophetic glimpse into a future wrecked by climate change. While Cee tries to puzzle out why she's alone on an island without any memories - except those involving her sister - that very same sister, Kasey, is struggling with the reality of living in an 'eco-city' in the sky, where your rank is determined by the environmental clout of your ancestors.

It's difficult to put a label on this book, but 'sci-fi thriller' probably gets closest. And in the vein of all great thrillers, there is a brilliant twist nestled in this one - so I won't go too in-depth into the plot, in case I accidentally give something away. All I will say is that Joan He is a master of small, heartfelt emotions and gigantic, impossible questions. This is the kind of book I need to keep on hand whenever anyone criticizes young adult literature for being derivative. It's just ... *clenches fists* ... AHHHH!!!

TL;DR: Please purchase this book. For yourself, for your school, for your library, for your bookish friends/family. Purchase this book and come scream with me. 5/5.

“It hurts like a wound, even though I’m used to being alone. Except I’m not alone. Alone is an island. It’s an uncrossable sea, being too far from another soul, whereas lonely is being to close, in the same house yet separated by walls because we choose to be.”

This book was one of my most-anticipated releases of 2021 and I’m stunned. Everything in The Ones We’re Meant to Find was perfectly crafted. The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a page-turning dazzling sci-fi that will stay in your mind forever.

Joan He created a story that is just… astonishing. A book that has 180° turns and very big twists that will take you by complete surprise. An amazing book that proves He’s brilliant storytelling.

In The Ones We’re Meant to Find we find Cee, a girl who has been trapped in a desert island for three years. She doesn’t know how she got there and neither how to get out. Actually, she doesn’t remember a single thing about her life. The only thing she remembers is that, somewhere, she has a sister named Kay, and that she needs to find her.

On the other hand, we find Kacey, a STEM prodigy who lives in one of the eight floating cities around the world (Called eco-cities). Her sister, Celia, has been disappeared for more than three months¬ and Kacey will start finding a lot of secrets about her sister, while she finds something that will, maybe, save her world from devastation.

The characters in The Ones We’re Meant to Find are just beautiful. The sisters, Cee and Kacey are so well-developed that you get to know them in a very intimate and realistic way. Hero and Actinium are PERFECT. Everything about them made me, literally, slobber for their cuteness and perfection.

My favorite character, you ask? Definitely Hero. He’s the cutest thing ever and ANYONE deserves him. I just hope (BECAUSE THIS IS A F*KING OPEN ENDING AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AAHHH) he’s happy.

Joan He’s writing style is unique. Her prose is amazing, making the book just beautiful. I can’t wait for my copy to arrive so I can reread this book and really appreciate it and to mark the million quotes I liked.

The Ones We’re Meant to Find is and unmatchable book. Combines the classic essence of sci-fi with a fresh twist of Joan’s unique style. A book that will keep you addicted from page one, and will leave you, for sure, with your mouth open. Joan He develops a story with unexpected twists and an apparently simple story that quickly becomes a lot more.

And talking about the plot twist. From the middle of the book and until the mind my mind was plotting theories like a decomposed machine. Through the book I had only four moods:

-Confused.
-Mind-blowing.
-Anxious.
-Depressed.


Everything is so well-crafted and thought out that it was… perfect.

This is a very melancholic book. Is the vibe the whole plot gives me and when you go through it the story becomes more powerful and deep. I loved *everything* about The Ones We’re Meant to Find and I hope it gains the recognition it deserves.

If you liked We Were Liars o the Netflix series Black Mirror this should be in your preorder list. I really really hope the advanced reviews help this book get the appreciation and respect it deserves. If you want to get more into sci-fi, as a person who’s not really into sci-fi, I reaaally recommend The Ones We’re Meant to Find. If you’re looking for a book you can literally read in one day (As I did), read this.


When I got the ARC of this book, I decided to read Descendant of the Crane, Joan He’s debut novel before getting into The Ones We’re Meant to Find, and the tremendous evolution in He’s storytelling, crafting and development is impeccable. If I’m allowed to say this, I’m really proud of her growth as an author, because the difference from DOTC to TOWMTF is just astonishing. I cannot wait to keep reading her, because with The Ones We’re Meant to Find, Joan He became one of my favorite authors for sure.

With a dazzling prose, a breath-taking story and a jaw-dropping twists, The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a fresh and page-turning novel that makes a difference from other 2021 books, and will definitely fascinate readers from now on.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to Text Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.

This was a wild ride and one of the most unique stories I've read in a long time.

The book follows two perspectives: Cee, who is stranded on an island and trying to fight her way back to her sister, and Kacey, who lives in an eco-city as humanity tries to save the earth from destructive climate change.

While the story starts with a slow build, the last half was so intense that I couldn't put the book down. The twists kept coming, and every time I thought I knew what would happen, the author threw something new at us. I don't want to spoil anything, but I definitely recommend this book to people looking for a twisty YA sci-fi!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

No doubt, this book is now one of my favourite all time reads.

Read the first sentence of the summary again, because that’s exactly what this book is — twisty and page-turning. Reading it was one hell of an experience, my mind is still reeling from that ending.

At its heart, this book is about sisterhood. We have the outgoing Cee, stuck on an abandoned island and Kasey the science girl, trying to decide if she’ll save the world she struggles to understand. Both of them connected by their will to find each other.

These sisters who now have my heart, drew me in from the beginning chapters with their contrasts and dynamics. Joan He’s storytelling power is truly a marvel, for the small details in their narratives and the metaphors she wove into their thoughts and dialogues wrecked me. I kept questioning how/if they would finally unite — the answer was delivered in a completely different way than what I expected.

While people who’ve read this debate over which sister they like more, I found parts of myself in both Cee and Kasey—which, I think, is the main reason why I was so invested in their story. Cee’s emotions and Kasey’s logic felt personal to me.

But The Ones We’re Meant to Find is also so much more. It’s a story of the meaning of humanity, of love, of the bonds we have and the bonds we develop. It’s about what we are willing to do to survive. Unknowingly it compels us to think of the impact our actions, intentional or not, have on our surroundings. With its take on environmental changes and privilege, awfully relevant to current times, the book is also thought-provoking.

Another aspect I really enjoyed was the worldbuilding. It took a while to grasp the techy terms but a couple chapters in I was able to visualise it well. The eco-city, the bots, the island, the sea; all combined by Joan to create the perfect sci-fi backdrop for the emotions and twists to follow. Can we appreciate how creative Joan got with the ranks? The atmosphere truly read like a Studio Ghibli film. And as someone who adores nature imageries, it was a delight to read the parts set on the island.

The twists!!! They were so cleverly woven into the plot that I was glued to the pages, eager to know more. I definitely paused reading to stare into the void at some point. There were times when a plot twist clicked and immediately went “ohhhh” after connecting it to an event that happened previously. Each of the characters made their decisions because of their own experiences or because of who they’ve become. And it made sense, why the characters did what they did which only made the revelations more effective. Also, A+ for foreshadowing (Joan how dare you).

The Ones We’re Meant to Find has climbed up to being one of my all time favourite books. If you want to read (and totally SHOULD) a book that blends sci-fi and dystopian elements along with an engaging prose and characters that are likely to stay with you, this should be on your immediate TBR.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I was blown away by how good this book is.

First off, the world itself is absolutely fascinating. The earth has been polluted so badly that it's no longer suitable for living. Natural disasters have caused people to migrate to eco-cities in the skies, where most of their time are spent in a virtual world within a pod to cut down on their carbon footprints. Only those with a high enough rank--based on how much they did to protect the earth--are allowed to live in these cities. Those people whose families were the worst offenders have to stay on earth and suffer the consequences. This setup smacks of poetic justice, and I was here for it.

The story follows two different POVs. On one hand we have Cee, who is stuck on an island. She doesn't remember much about her life, but she knows she has a sister, Kay, and she knows she needs to get back to her. On the other hand we have Kasey, living in an eco-city. Her sister disappeared three months ago, but while the authorities have given up hope, Kasey still thinks she can find her somehow. The author did an amazing job sprinkling both POVs with hints so that I was constantly trying to figure out how they connected. Sometimes I thought I had it figured out, but then Kasey or Cee would reveal something that would throw a rock at my nicely thought out and wrapped up notions of where this would go. I was completely engrossed in the story. The excellent writing definitely helped, as did the characters. I found it easy to care about what happened to them, which isn't always the case and can negatively impact a book for me.

I can honestly say I didn't prefer one of the characters over the other. Both storylines were compelling in their own way. Cee's parts felt more quiet and peaceful, despite the events that happen to her. Maybe it has something to do with her being alone on an island (except for the robot, which was a great addition and I want one for myself).

Highly recommend this book if you're in the mood for a mystery with science fiction elements.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This has become my favourite book of 2021 and it has not even released yet. It is so amazing and the storyline has so many twists and turns at every moment.

Despite not typically being a Sci-fi lover, this book was entertaining and easy to understand even the technical words that might be considered difficult to some. The characters were developed so perfectly and i was in love with every single moment of this book.

The ending was such a surprise and it had me on the edge of my seat so much that I finished this book in less than three days; I definitely needed a moment to think about it afterwards though.

So many things in this book were thought provoking and made me think about my impact on the world but it also helped me see things from other point of views that I wouldn’t have considered before.

I literally cannot fault anything in this book, it broke me from my reading slump and I cannot wait to actually buy it from the shelves, it’s definitely in my top 5

Sadly, this was a bit of a letdown. I was so so excited to read it, and I was simply in love with the cover. But the actual book.... eh, not so much.

Okay, so first things first. I thought the plot was incredible. It was very well thought-out, had enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes, and a wonderful - and terrifying - futuristic setting. All comparisons to Black Mirror are 100% right; this could have easily been one of the episodes of the series. The plot, and the possibilities it allowed for, were definitely the strongest aspect of the book.

I think my main problem with this, was the writing itself. I just couldn't get into it. I thought it was a bit too monotone, and while, every now and then, it had a phrase so beautifully written it could have come straight out of a poem, the majority of it just fell a bit flat. It may just work wonderfully for some people, but it didn't do the trick for me. As a result, I couldn't really care for the characters that much either, as the writing style rendered them a bit flat as well. Especially in terms of morals, I was just left a bit confused. I get that this was probably the author's intention, but I just couldn't get behind most things said, done, or attempted by the characters. I understand the whole "desperate times call for desperate measures", but still.

I will say however that, as the book went on, both the characters and the writing itself improved a fair bit, but it still left me feeling unsatisfied, probably because of my really high expectations.

It is, by no means, a bad book. I just thought it was going to be great, but it turned out to be just fine. I think it just tried to do too much in very few pages, and if it was just, say 70 pages longer, both the character and world-building would have massively benefitted. I do think, however, that this would make an excellent movie.

** An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. **

“ The ocean does not come poisoned.
People poisoned it.”
A beautiful and painful read, where you will experience love, sadness, wrath.. You will think about the way you treat the world, in if you are truly living the fullest your life... Literally you will feel everything while you get into the story.

Well, what is this book about?
Two sisters...
Cee, three years ago she wake up in a deserted island with no memories and just the company of a bot named U-me. After a week Cee finally get a memory back, and is that she have a sister and she needs to find her.

Kasey, lives in the safety of a skydome, the earth is slowly dying after all the damage humans caused, so the people dedicated to protect the planet got the chance to live in this “floating islands”. Her sister been missing for years and most of the people around her already accepted that Cee is dead. But Kasey can’t believe it yet.
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You will get the sisters POV, and is something I loved. The way how hard they work to find each other. There’s also some romance but in my opinion was not even needed. What traps you is the way each sister sees the world. The way one believes in freedom, in how we live once and we have the right to choose what do, where we go or even how we leave the world behind. While the other try’s to avoid what was about to come, run form death, get a solution for everything.

The unexpected twist got me screaming... once you get into that part cancel your plans, there’s no way to stop yourself from reading the rest of the book.

My favorite character was Cee, I can say she became my new comfort character, even after she discovers her real identity the way she stills fighting for herself and how she want to live... she give me so much courage.

And something I want to remark is the way Joan writes, the way she gave the reader two POV that felt so different one from another but also getting such a great connection . She have a beautiful and warm way to express emotions that you will get attach to story easily. I’m already pre-ordering my own copy and I’m definitely recommending this.
Read it, is really worth it!