actual rating: 3.5 stars
Joan He crafts a fascinating world throughout the course of this book, using it to build and strengthen the mystery of our main characters - Cee and Kacey. Despite the title and the cover (which scream YA contemporary), this is a science fiction story crafted around climate change and two sisters separated by more than just the ocean. I think Joan He tackles the themes of loneliness and sisterhood beautifully. They're both woven throughout the fabric of the book, all leading to the climax.
However, I found myself unable to fully connect to the characters. They constantly felt like they were at arms length from me and I was never fully invested in either storyline. The romance on both fronts felt shoveled in and were subplots I was even less interested in. Similarly, while I do think this book offers up interesting conversations about ethics, specifically their role in our changing society, I don't think He went far enough with any of them and overall, I left this book disappointed.
Upon writing this review, it's been several months since I read it and I had to go and look up summaries to adequately remember some of the finer details.
Joan He crafts a fascinating world throughout the course of this book, using it to build and strengthen the mystery of our main characters - Cee and Kacey. Despite the title and the cover (which scream YA contemporary), this is a science fiction story crafted around climate change and two sisters separated by more than just the ocean. I think Joan He tackles the themes of loneliness and sisterhood beautifully. They're both woven throughout the fabric of the book, all leading to the climax.
However, I found myself unable to fully connect to the characters. They constantly felt like they were at arms length from me and I was never fully invested in either storyline. The romance on both fronts felt shoveled in and were subplots I was even less interested in. Similarly, while I do think this book offers up interesting conversations about ethics, specifically their role in our changing society, I don't think He went far enough with any of them and overall, I left this book disappointed.
Upon writing this review, it's been several months since I read it and I had to go and look up summaries to adequately remember some of the finer details.