It's not often I start a review by saying a book is gorgeous. I'm not talking about the cover (which is also gorgeous), but the story within that gave me the air of watching a Christopher Nolan film. When they said it had a touch of Black Mirror, they weren't wrong. This book is twisty like the episodes, Shut Up and Dance, but beautiful in that San Junipero/Be Right Back way.
I took a chance when I read an arc of Descendant of the Crane; it wasn't my normal type of book, but I nosedived into it anyway and came out screaming about how fantastic it was. THE ONES WE'RE MEANT TO FIND is no different. You're going to immerse yourself into a world unlike your own, but still familiar because despite the dystopian setting, the raw emotions of Celia and Kasey will resonate and ground you.
NOTE: it may take you a little bit to plant your feet in this world, but once you do, it's going to be worth it. There were times when I had to go back and read sections so I understood them better and didn't feel like a dolt. I think I came out of this book understanding 98% of it so, kudos to me.
This book is told in two POV's: Celia's, which is told in the first person, and Kasey's, which is told in third. I believe the third-person perspective of Kasey caused me to be a little distant from her plight; I connected better with Celia (was it because of her name? probably :D) But I loved the author's stylistic choices nonetheless.
Joan He's writing is nothing short of perfect. Every sentence, every word, is meant to immerse you and make you feel things you didn't could about a book. I can tell she painstakingly went through this book with a fine-toothed comb and said, "This is going to blow your mind not once, but twice and maybe a third or fourth time as well." I appreciate that. I like to be mind-blown.
Overall, this book was everything I expected and more. I cannot wait to hold a copy in my hands, and I will advocate this book every chance I get until then.
I took a chance when I read an arc of Descendant of the Crane; it wasn't my normal type of book, but I nosedived into it anyway and came out screaming about how fantastic it was. THE ONES WE'RE MEANT TO FIND is no different. You're going to immerse yourself into a world unlike your own, but still familiar because despite the dystopian setting, the raw emotions of Celia and Kasey will resonate and ground you.
NOTE: it may take you a little bit to plant your feet in this world, but once you do, it's going to be worth it. There were times when I had to go back and read sections so I understood them better and didn't feel like a dolt. I think I came out of this book understanding 98% of it so, kudos to me.
This book is told in two POV's: Celia's, which is told in the first person, and Kasey's, which is told in third. I believe the third-person perspective of Kasey caused me to be a little distant from her plight; I connected better with Celia (was it because of her name? probably :D) But I loved the author's stylistic choices nonetheless.
Joan He's writing is nothing short of perfect. Every sentence, every word, is meant to immerse you and make you feel things you didn't could about a book. I can tell she painstakingly went through this book with a fine-toothed comb and said, "This is going to blow your mind not once, but twice and maybe a third or fourth time as well." I appreciate that. I like to be mind-blown.
Overall, this book was everything I expected and more. I cannot wait to hold a copy in my hands, and I will advocate this book every chance I get until then.