Beattz

This is going to sound harsher than I intend it to, but it really is the best way I can describe what I read.

This book reads like a third grader wrote it for a creative writing assignment in English class, and when she got a similar assignment in the 8th grade, she decided to just, expand on it a bit, and turn it back in for credit. And then did the same thing in college. It's cute. I mean, baby dragons, am I right? What's not to love. But everything aside from the adult content feels incredibly juvenile. The writing is repetitive and clunky. About halfway through the book, after the MMC has been having *dreams* about the FMC for stated weeks, he then takes a moment to ask himself, "Do I like her?" For real? The tension has been building since the first chapter, and it takes 130 pages to ask yourself if you LiKe the person? It tries to use several of the classic romance tropes (grumpy sunshine, fake relationship, there's only one bed, billionaire) all in one story and it just feels far too crowded.

All in all, I did like the story, I swear! Just, not enough to pick up the next book in the series, I don't think.

I picked this up bc it was Colbert's first (and last, I'm assuming) sci-fi/fantasy book club pick.
This book being the 2024 Booker Prize winner felt exactly like when a super arty and daring movie wins the Oscar for best picture. Is it objectively good? Yes. Did anyone enjoy it? Eh.
Most of the writing rolled right off me. You get to know precisely one thing about each of the characters, and anytime you interact with them, it's just more about that thing. There's no plot to speak of, and certainly no climax or resolution. I'm not even sure what the timeframe of the book is. Sixteen orbits, which they made clear is not the same as days, so even that left me feeling at a loss.
I understand that's all probably a big part of the point. We get a slice of life in a space station, where, truly, nothing happens. Their days are the same over and over. The people sharing the space aren't friends, and don't know anything about one another. Time is meaningless because the sun rises multiple times in the awake period.
So I'm left with this work of fiction in my hands, and I don't know what to do with it. Or say about it. Or even feel about it. It's like I'm in zero gravity and all the parts just floated past me, having zero impact on my trajectory.

So good! A little upset with myself for it having sat om my shelf for so long!

2nd book in a series i love, with a main character that i hate. What are you gonna do?

I still really like this book. Just read it for the second time, hoping to hurry the third into publication I think lol. Kip is my hero :-)