Space Brooms! was a fast-paced, fun, and exciting read! I loved the vivid world-building—it was immersive without feeling like an info dump, and the writing style was super easy to read.

The characters were vibrant, complementary, and full of personality, truly coming alive off the page. I also really appreciated that the plot wasn’t predictable like so many books have been lately. Even though it’s on the shorter side, it never felt rushed.

A solid, enjoyable read that kept me engaged the whole way through!

Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot Books for my eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

A fast paced, highly readable, found family adventure, featuring a likable, hard luck space janitor who gets caught up in doings well outside his normal expertise. The book’s cast of companions, villains, and minor characters are well drawn and kept me engaged. Really doesn’t cover any new ground but put a smile on my face for a few hours, which is what I hoped for. Recommended. I would read a sequel or another book by new-to-me author Rodriguez.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.

“All my life I wanted adventure.”

Space Brooms! By A, G. Rodriguez is a wild sci-fi adventure that follows Johnny Gomez a space broom – term for a custodian- as he teams up with a captivating cast of characters. After Johnny happens upon a data chit containing information worth millions, his boring life becomes much more entertaining and filled with the new and exciting people he meets along the way.

Space Brooms! is an easy to read book that quickly becomes immersive and enjoyable. The characters, starting with Johnny, are delightful even if they don’t all have Johnny’s best interests at heart. They’re likeable and well written so you aren’t reading about characters that just seem to be copy and pasted to only fill the pages. The new terminology that exists in this new futuristic space world is introduced and understood easily. There is no need for a glossary to help keep track of everything Rodriguez has included in the book. The beauty and wonder of space and the wreckage of Earth – or Terra – was mostly abandoned in are both described wonderfully. Reading sci-fi that discusses Earth’s future is always an experience whether good or bad and no matter who gets blamed; Rodriguez’s telling is no different. While Space Brooms! is a story of adventure and survival, it is also the story of found family. Johnny goes from having one friend to finding a few more. Even if they originally just became involved in his life in order to make money from the data chit. There was a hint of romance that I’m kind of glad didn’t come to fruition. A person you daydream about from afar without knowing anything about them is not going to miraculously become your life partner. Since they met each other and have gotten to know each other, maybe a romance could be in the future.

Overall, I enjoyed Space Brooms! very much, It is an easy read that I could see rereading in the future. I found A. G. Rodriguez’s writing style and world building enjoyable and entertaining. Once the sequel promised at the end of the book comes out, I will definitely be buying it. If you’re a fan or sci-fi and found family and if you won’t mind reading a bit of violence, then I recommend Space Brooms!

Wasn’t impressed with the writing or the plot. While I’m grateful that I received this book as an ARC, I think the author needs to take some courses on writing. There’s a good idea in this book but it was world building (but barely) and then all the tropes of middling sci-fi. The antagonists were poor sketches of a villain and the belief that multiple crime lords could get away with crimes “cuz governments are corrupt” is poor writing.

Also, the fact that the main character gets the shit kicked out of him and always winds up as a damsel in distress and then happens to always wiggle his way out of a jam is unbelievable.

A great sci-fi adventure comedy featuring a captivating plot, excellent pacing, and rich world-building, along with lovable, diverse characters navigating a perilous journey through our fascinating futuristic universe. The story highlights themes of found family and second chances, with strong female characters, and kindhearted male characters, all packed into a fast-paced read. I highly recommend Space Brooms! if you enjoy sci-fi filled with laughter and adventure.

Thank you to the publisher, Angry Robot, who provided me with an eARC of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

NO SPOILERS

Space Brooms! is a delightful space adventure in a richly-built world that is reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop and Firefly. The author is excellent at describing and and painting this world for the reader, with each detail clearly lovingly imagined. The physical world around the characters is so thoroughly described I had no issues immersing myself in the setting.

The book stumbles a bit early on, particularly with the writing of the character dialog, until just before the halfway mark. While I found the dialog and banter a bit awkward, it’s also possible I was just not the target audience for the humor, which was a bit bro-y at times.

I loved that the protagonist was in their late 30s rather than 20 years old, particularly as the creeping dread of “have I wasted my life/is this all there is” makes a LOT more sense when the character is nearing 40 rather than just freshly out of puberty.

I loved the family dynamic between the protagonist and his tia and tio, as well. There is so much nuance to how Latine families handle grief, loyalty, and love that spoke to me directly and reminded me of my own family. I think I enjoyed those parts of the book the most.

I liked this book enough that I think I’d like to check out the sequel, whenever it comes out. I think the author hit their stride with the story and characters by the end, and any further books will pick up on a much higher note. I look forward to seeing more!

A.G. Rodriguez's SPACE BROOMS! is a fast-paced, pulpy sci-fi comedy with plenty of action and a core group of likeable, well-rounded characters.

Our narrator is Johnny Gomez, a 37-year-old janitor for Astro-Suds on the space station Kilgore. He is a guy who gave up on his dream of directing films (holofilms, this is a sci-fi book after all) and moved penniless to this space station to find work and hopefully one day adventure. All he's found, though, is a miserable job for a miserable boss and a whole lot of disappointment. He does have a helpful and friendly roommate, Rygar, who continues to surprise throughout the novel. This augmented fellow might know more about the sort of adventure Johnny is looking for than he has ever let on.

One day Johnny finds a data chip while cleaning a zero gravity restroom and, on his way back from the job, is jumped by two thugs looking for the chip. He's saved by cousins Hooper and Leilani, smugglers who seem at first to be helping him just for fun. When Johnny is again attacked by a different criminal cartel while trying to turn the chip into the space station's security force, Hooper chimes in unexpectedly on Johnny's communication system to once more help him out of the jam. This time they meet up and head to the station's underbelly (where Rygar, the roommate, seems to hold some away) and introduce Johnny to Lisette, a fence who can help sell this mysterious data chip. And while Johnny hasn't previously met Lisette, he has seen her around the station many times and incorporates her into his adventurous, film-like daydreams. So this is the adventure Johnny has been waiting for.

The group of four, aided at times from afar by Rygar, now have to get to Luna (our moon) to sell the chip, the seemingly unimportant contents of which kind of blows Johnny's mind. On the way to Luna they'll run into multiple criminal syndicates, pirates, and police forces, and have all the galactic fights, chases, and potential romances one should expect in a good pulpy sci-fi novel.

A.G. Rodriguez is a strong writer who keeps the action clear and moving at a brisk pace, and I had a truly great time getting acquainted with this janitor with big aspirations. As a 30-something guy that has personally abandoned the dreams of my youth for the monotony of the modern work force, it's easy to relate to a character like Johnny. My only real complaint about the book is that it reaches a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion, with some running threads either not being resolved fully or closed in ways that are a little less upbeat than the rest of the book, which is witty and light-hearted even in stressful story beats, would have you expect.

But, hey. I think we'll get to see Johnny, the space cowboy Hooper, the fierce mechanic Leilani, and the fence Lisette again in the future. I look forward to it.

4/5

My thanks to NetGalley, A.G. Rodriguez, and Angry Robot for this ARC.

Space Brooms! by A.G. Rodriguez

Johnny Gomez is a dreamer, just like everyone else. He has his goals and passions, but in a galaxy far away, Mr. Gomez finds himself settling in Kilgore Station. Unfortunately, his life is far from glorious. Feeling like a failure, he adapts to a monotonous routine as a janitor. Dirt and grime build up in Johnny’s mind, and it sweeps away any sense of happiness. Fortunately or unfortunately, conveniently up for debate, he stumbles upon a chit. A chip of sorts containing some top-secret information. Data that could change the landscape of the gaming community and one that garners a whole handful of trouble. Will he be able to withstand the barrage of various bounty hunter types who want to steal what he has discovered?

Fun. Simple in approach, yet effectively written. The witty banter among the group translates perfectly. I felt among the crew. With a childlike similarity to finding the golden ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, rabid wolves circle their prey, and vultures swoop down to pick at the corpse and retrieve the prize. Johnny is still alive, thwarting attacks with the help of three others: Hooper, Leilani, and Lisette. Their mission is absurd: to sell the “chit” for an unbelievable sum of money, which would give each of them the foundation for a lifestyle they never thought was possible. However, they must evade both the authorities and rival gangs. A.G. Rodriguez’s story oozes action and yet manages to stay on course throughout. Its strength relies upon the reader’s relatability to the dull drums of working an endless nine to five, our dreams conveniently thrown to the waste side like a piece of trash, waiting for pickup from our friend Johnny Gomez, who also experiences the same issues in his life. The book’s simplistic nature fooled me, for I felt strong emotions in my readthrough. Regret, hope, and family bonds come to mind.

An underlying message circulated through my veins. It’s never too late to pursue what we love. Believe in yourself and stick to your principles in times of peril, and for heaven’s sake, have fun. I am giving this 4 out of 5 stars. Recommended reading!

Many thanks to Angry Robot for the ARC through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

DNF @30%. The book is not badly written per se, but it hasn't convinced me after reading a third that it's worth spending my time reading it. The main issues are an accumulation of coincidences that reflect bad planning for the novel, overly simplistic depiction of the sci-fi element (almost comes across as "under-educated"), a protagonist that is so lukewarm that you neither love nor hate him and struggle to care for him overall, and a tone of hilarity and lightheartedness that the author struggles to deliver on (vs, e.g., Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett).

Space Brooms is definitely a great read for Star Wars fans. I think it hits a lot of the same story beats. Unfortunately, I'm not a huge Star Wars fan, and a lot of this book fell flat for me. I think there's a lot here, but maybe just too much. The side characters don't really make a lot of sense, I'm not really sold on their motivations or personalities. The romance especially feels stiff, I don't think there was enough build up or chemistry. The first 50 pages also have a random subplot that's never mentioned again.
However, it does move very quickly, and I think it's best when things are happening. There's a lot of confrontations which really help to build up tension. The humor isn't really my type, very self-deprecating, but that mostly comes down to personal preference. There's definitely an audience for this book, but I'm not sure it's me.

Just as Star Trek: Lower Decks reminded us that not all space adventures happen to the officers on the bridge, Space Brooms! centers on one of Kilgore Station’s janitors, Johnny Gomez, whose spiteful boss has him cleaning zero-g toilets — imagine the mess! But when Johnny finds an illicit data chit in the alien excrement, he’s off on adventure with some unusual companions to try to change his fortunes. Can he sell the data and escape his humble life, or will the assassins and mobsters get the better of him? This space romp is not to be missed by those seeking lighter sci-fi fare.

This sci-fi adventure follows Johnny Gomez, a lowly space station janitor whose life takes a dramatic turn when he accidentally stumbles upon a valuable data chip. Suddenly thrust into a dangerous world of mercenaries and smugglers, Johnny must rely on his wits and a newfound found family to survive. i enjoyed the fast-paced plot, engaging action sequences, and the unique premise of a "space broom" protagonist and the lighthearted tone and the humor, comparing it to a fun space romp, while others found the humor to be juvenile or the lightheartedness inappropriate for some of the heavier scenes.

The book's world-building is appreciated the creative descriptions of space stations, alien species, and the overall galactic setting. The development of Johnny's relationships with his ragtag crew was another highlight, with many reviewers enjoying the found family trope and the supportive friendships depicted. The author's ability to balance the sci-fi elements with the character-driven narrative was also noted, creating a world that felt both immersive and accessible.

I felt the pacing was rushed, particularly towards the ending, and that the story could have benefited from more depth. As mentioned previously, the humor was divisive, with sometimes finding it entertaining and other cringeworthy. Despite these criticisms, many reviewers expressed a desire for more adventures in this universe, highlighting the overall enjoyment and potential of the story.

With thanks to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the ARC!

I requested this book because I am a huge sci-fi fan. I love anything to do with space, including space opera. This book caught my eye because I loved the cover and the description, and I was ready to dive into this new world!

I loved the world-building. I loved learning about the different space stations, the different aliens, the ships, the different cultures and people. I was so interested in all of it, and I thought this was smartly presented to the reader. All that information wasn't info-dumped so it was easy to keep up with it all. I also really enjoyed learning about the characters backstories, and I think the author really excelled at the found family trope here.

However, there were a few points where this book fell short for me. The first is how short the book is. Normally this wouldn't necessarily be an issue but I feel like it was very rushed a times, including the ending. The second is the humour. It definitely fell a bit flat, and at times I was rolling my eyes. And the third point is our main character himself. We are told he is in his thirties, yet some of his interactions around certain characters are so incredibly juvenile. I think this is where the author tried to play up the humour but I'm afraid all I did was cringe instead of laugh.

I do recommend this for people who want a short romp through space, or are interested in galactic world-building.

A very light hearted space adventure. I found it a bit too lighthearted at times in it's reactions to some quite heavy scenes which made the plot and characters feel a bit flat. The humour wasn't really for me and the insta found family a bit rushed and unbelievable. However I really enjoyed the galactic world building and the space dog! A quick read that could work well as a palette cleanser.
Thanks to Netgalley and Angry Robot for the arc, all thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

I enjoyed this book. Aside from the great, well-paced story, its strong points included good character development, ensemble cast, and world-building. The book is light-hearted and I was expecting a certain amount of silliness, but was surprised by the books’ thoughtfulness. Certain passages were so well-written that I would read them over and over. Overall this is a great read and I look forward to more adventures of this crew. Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for the advance reader copy.

What a fun romp through space this was! I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This was a wildly entertaining story of a janitor or ‘space broom’ on a space station who is feeling a bit disillusioned with his life and his job. He’s been on this station for ten years and things haven’t panned out as he hoped. I loved having a character in his mid to late thirties. His motivations and life experience just felt so perfect for the choices he makes throughout the book. When he’s cleaning he finds a data chit and suddenly he’s being attacked by mercenaries before finding some smugglers to help him escape his predicament.

We have found family elements here which I love and I am always here for! A sweet romantic interest, however it’s the best friendship that was the absolute winner! What a wonderful, supportive and loving friendship that added a wholesomeness to this book to contrast with all the violence.

The author did such a great job with the sci-fi setting with this book. There was no overly complex descriptions, a perfect balance between creating the sci-fi world without derailing the story and giving enough detail that you could envision the world. I thought the space stations were really well done. It reminded me of playing games like Starfield and I really enjoyed it.

I would recommend this book for the unique and fascinating main character. He’s an unusual choice as he’s not a fighter, but that means he has to be creative to get out of scrapes sometimes. He’s got a fine attention to detail and listens to people around him. I really enjoyed the found family here.

Great fun!

Review: A Sci-Fi adventure that may have been titled "The space life of Walter Mitty". Johnny is a great MC and while this is a frenetic space romp, it is also about the pain of self-discovery.

A fun read with good characters and plot progression. I had a good time and I think you will too.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

4.7/5

It was entertaining from the start with an action sequence worthy of a sci-fi pulp fiction. Until Johnny finds the data chip and the action begins, we follow him in his daily routine and it could have been boring but I was surprised to casually follow his story with all his funny daydreaming adventures.Then these daydreams appear from time to time throughout the story and I kept looking for them, they were fun and entertaining.

The worldbuilding was excellent but the best part for me was the development of his relationship with the team of characters he ends up with. The humor, the ragtag crew, the impossible situations Johnny finds himself in, made me feel like I was watching an episode of Firefly.

I laughed, I stressed and I cried, because behind every humorous adventure there are always moving moments.
I really hope this is the first in a series. I want more adventures from the crew of the Mentirosa, and I want to know more about this world we only have a glimpse of, especially Rygar's backstory.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the eARC

Meet Johnny Gomez, a space broom, the space station’s most hopeless janitor. His life is pathetic, until he picks up a piece of forgotten trash during a particularly nasty job, which dangerously puts him in the way of all sorts of baddies who want it. Aided by a pair of smugglers, Johnny goes on the ride of his life…will he survive, or become space trash himself?

I thought the premise of this was promising and did think the world building was interesting, but the overall execution fell flat for me. The humour wasn’t really to my taste, in that guy-writing-scifi-for-guys way, and some of the conversations or plot points made me roll my eyes. While the world building and characters were descriptive, they lacked depth, though this novel is quite short so I wasn’t expecting anything more beyond a space adventure. And in that it delivered: if you want a sardonic romp across another universe then this is for you. If you’re looking for compelling prose, then perhaps look elsewhere.

Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this was a good book! I liked how it was lighthearted and entertaining!! It was fun and it kept me engaged while reading. I liked the way htis book flowed, and it was just good!


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!