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asc1006's review
4.0
4.5 stars just because of that cliffhanger at the end. I needed to know what was gonna happen to them because I love them and I don't want them to die in an apocalypse. Apart from that the book was amazing, I loved the plot and the writing and above all I loved the characters, although I've got to say, sometimes I would have kicked them in the ass! :)
vicky30312's review against another edition
5.0
Wow... This.. I... I was a little weary at first based on the seemingly silly synopsis but maaaaaaan did I love this book... So much so that half way through I had already looked up the author and ordered his other books at my library. The writing was so..so.. captivating. I just had to keep reading. The sarcastic remarks and hundreds of metaphors make this book amazing. The fact that the author touched on such dark subject matter but all the while keeping the book light just amazed me. He delivered A LOT of hard messages that many people need to hear in such an amazing way that you don't even realize how much it has impacted you until you stop to think about it. The characters were lovable as well; even the ones we don't like make us have feelings for them (Ahem.. Marcus... Ahem) So Yeah.. Over all I loved this book and the cover is so pretty as well.
rocketdea's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Drug abuse, Self harm, and Miscarriage
asiever's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review
5.0
We remember the past, live in the present, and write the future.
The last time I read a book with this tone was Please ignore Vera Dietz, and in a world of young adult contemporaries with fluffy romance where that one special person changes the depressed MC's outlook on life, it was so nice to return with this.
I saw the word aliens in the synopsis and rolled my eyes, but this is more magical realism than sci-fi, which I adore. The short chapters describing how the world could end complement the present, and all the science stuff didn't completely go over my head.
A cynical yet nuanced story like We are the ants doesn't come often. Many of the characters are morally grey, or even more leaning to the 'bad' side.
Thanks to the well-executed and realistic situations, you can understand why Henry is sick of it all and thinks there's nothing good in the world. You are completely invested in his troubled life, and even if you have never thought about this deep subject before, We are the ants will make you question things. The world will end some day anyway, what does it matter if it's tomorrow or not?
Henry Denton's life sucks. His ex-boyfriend killed himself last year without explanation, his grandmother has Alzheimer's and he's severely bullied at school. The aliens couldn't have picked a worse person to decide the future of the world. But they did, and now Henry has to decide in 144 days whether he will press the button that saves the world or not, because in his opinion there is nothing to save.
In the middle of all this, he meets Diego Vega, a boy who is missing the word past in his vocabulary. I love how Diego doesn't magically change Henry, instead Henry's character development is fuelled by the different characters all whogive their input on the question: If the world was ending and you had a chance to stop it, would you?
Hutchinson somehow balances this heavy backstory with humor and brutal honesty. My favorite characters besides Henry must be the rich popular boy Marcus, who only wants Henry for sex and humiliates him in public. But like everyone else, he too has a story and his reasons.
I really appreciate the portrayal of especially 2 of the stigmatized topics here: mental illness and homosexuality. It doesn't look down on therapy and getting help, but almost normalizes it.
Also the book doesn't end in a predictable way
Henry is gay, but it's not the main point of his character. He doesn't play into any stereotypes and I'm glad to see more books with LGBTQ+ characters whose sexuality isn't constantly at the forefront. I like this normalizing of queer characters. We are humans just like everyone else (although maybe a little more glittery)
Suicide and death are also big themes in the book, and handled with great sensitivity in my opinion (cough cough unlike what I've heard of that show and the shitty book). Henry's quest to find out why his boyfriend killed himself is an internal struggle that too many can relate to.
Loved it, loved it. Can't wait to see what this author next puts out. I'll even be okay with something even 'weirder' than aliens as long as the characters are this amazing and fleshed out. Maybe dragons next?
The last time I read a book with this tone was Please ignore Vera Dietz, and in a world of young adult contemporaries with fluffy romance where that one special person changes the depressed MC's outlook on life, it was so nice to return with this.
I saw the word aliens in the synopsis and rolled my eyes, but this is more magical realism than sci-fi, which I adore. The short chapters describing how the world could end complement the present, and all the science stuff didn't completely go over my head.
A cynical yet nuanced story like We are the ants doesn't come often. Many of the characters are morally grey, or even more leaning to the 'bad' side.
Thanks to the well-executed and realistic situations, you can understand why Henry is sick of it all and thinks there's nothing good in the world. You are completely invested in his troubled life, and even if you have never thought about this deep subject before, We are the ants will make you question things. The world will end some day anyway, what does it matter if it's tomorrow or not?
Henry Denton's life sucks. His ex-boyfriend killed himself last year without explanation, his grandmother has Alzheimer's and he's severely bullied at school. The aliens couldn't have picked a worse person to decide the future of the world. But they did, and now Henry has to decide in 144 days whether he will press the button that saves the world or not, because in his opinion there is nothing to save.
In the middle of all this, he meets Diego Vega, a boy who is missing the word past in his vocabulary. I love how Diego doesn't magically change Henry, instead Henry's character development is fuelled by the different characters all whogive their input on the question: If the world was ending and you had a chance to stop it, would you?
Hutchinson somehow balances this heavy backstory with humor and brutal honesty. My favorite characters besides Henry must be the rich popular boy Marcus, who only wants Henry for sex and humiliates him in public. But like everyone else, he too has a story and his reasons.
I really appreciate the portrayal of especially 2 of the stigmatized topics here: mental illness and homosexuality. It doesn't look down on therapy and getting help, but almost normalizes it.
Also the book doesn't end in a predictable way
Spoiler
with Henry getting help and leaving us wondering. How often do you see that?Henry is gay, but it's not the main point of his character. He doesn't play into any stereotypes and I'm glad to see more books with LGBTQ+ characters whose sexuality isn't constantly at the forefront. I like this normalizing of queer characters. We are humans just like everyone else (although maybe a little more glittery)
Suicide and death are also big themes in the book, and handled with great sensitivity in my opinion (cough cough unlike what I've heard of that show and the shitty book). Henry's quest to find out why his boyfriend killed himself is an internal struggle that too many can relate to.
Loved it, loved it. Can't wait to see what this author next puts out. I'll even be okay with something even 'weirder' than aliens as long as the characters are this amazing and fleshed out. Maybe dragons next?
picketfences's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the message was good in the end but, the grief to get there was too heavy for me me. i was hoping for more alien/sci-if stuff
crow43's review
5.0
I buddy read this with a friend of mine ^-^ First time buddy-read! ^o^
I honestly love this book, the writing was so detailed, I hung on every sentences.
My friend and I made alot of theories when discussing the book as we read each chunk.
I will say that there was abit of annoyance with Henry because of his perspective on the world always thinking the world isn't worth saving. Sure "life is bullshit" but there was some positives he could've looked for but it got better in the end. Honestly amazing book. I'd love to get a copy in the future :D
I'd give it a 4.85 because the ending, was not exactly how I pictured. I thought it could use another chapter, give what Henry would've done but I like how it ended regardless.
I honestly love this book, the writing was so detailed, I hung on every sentences.
My friend and I made alot of theories when discussing the book as we read each chunk.
I will say that there was abit of annoyance with Henry because of his perspective on the world always thinking the world isn't worth saving. Sure "life is bullshit" but there was some positives he could've looked for but it got better in the end. Honestly amazing book. I'd love to get a copy in the future :D
I'd give it a 4.85 because the ending, was not exactly how I pictured. I thought it could use another chapter, give what Henry would've done but I like how it ended regardless.
miss_manda_maguire's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cpociask's review
5.0
It’s more of a 4.5/5. Hilarious, tragic, and hopeful all at the same time. The devastation in the last 1/4 is insurmountable, yet leaves you remembering the small victories in the world.
lilyaulait's review
5.0
i always end up crying when this is such a fantastic book that's technically sci-fi, but really isn't about that, and is more about the characters' relationships.