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akcvtt's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
drakoulis's review against another edition
5.0
An intriguing background and a sweet romance!
Is knowing your future a good or a bad thing? Would you do it if you had the choice?
This is the background of Christopher Hartland's debut novel: an excellent blend of contemporary romance with big questions which have no easy answers.
The Glimpse, a 44 seconds sneak peak into your future, redefined the world - because what you see will happen, with no change possible. Thus when you see you will pass your exams, you will. When you see yourself with a new wife and kids, it will happen. And when you see nothing, you will die.
Elliot sees himself being intimate with Seb, and his already confused feelings about his own sexuality get a bit more clear. But Seb hates Glimpses, blaming them for the state of him family, and believing they deprive people of having control of their own lives.
Elliot and Seb come from different worlds: Seb has to be the adult of the house because his mother is struggling and his father is absent. Elliot feels pressured by his parents expectations and standards they expect him to live up to. Sometimes their worlds clash, sometimes they complement each other.
Through all the twists and turns, you can see how much the boys care for each other and the growing trust to be vulnerable around each other. The plot deals with some pretty heavy issues (on Seb's side) which alternate and blend organically with the YA romance and are also tied with the big questions regarding the Glimpse technology, because is there a point in the journey if you know the destination?
Is knowing your future a good or a bad thing? Would you do it if you had the choice?
This is the background of Christopher Hartland's debut novel: an excellent blend of contemporary romance with big questions which have no easy answers.
The Glimpse, a 44 seconds sneak peak into your future, redefined the world - because what you see will happen, with no change possible. Thus when you see you will pass your exams, you will. When you see yourself with a new wife and kids, it will happen. And when you see nothing, you will die.
Elliot sees himself being intimate with Seb, and his already confused feelings about his own sexuality get a bit more clear. But Seb hates Glimpses, blaming them for the state of him family, and believing they deprive people of having control of their own lives.
Elliot and Seb come from different worlds: Seb has to be the adult of the house because his mother is struggling and his father is absent. Elliot feels pressured by his parents expectations and standards they expect him to live up to. Sometimes their worlds clash, sometimes they complement each other.
Through all the twists and turns, you can see how much the boys care for each other and the growing trust to be vulnerable around each other. The plot deals with some pretty heavy issues (on Seb's side) which alternate and blend organically with the YA romance and are also tied with the big questions regarding the Glimpse technology, because is there a point in the journey if you know the destination?
netslummer's review
5.0
After a poorly timed attempt to kiss his best friend while drunk at a post-prom party, Elliot Dove decides to finally get his Glimpse. GlimpseTech offers you one forty-four second Glimpse into the future. When Elliot's Glimpse shows him in an intimate situation with that "gay kid" Sebastian Glass, Elliot is left only more confused.
Seb hates Glimpses. He blames them for the dissolution of his parent's marriage and so much more. Suddenly that Elliot Dove kid keeps cropping up in his life and the two circle each other and finally collide.
While the tension in the outside world surrounding the so-called "Last Day" (the date after which no one has ever had a Glimpse) and the discussion between fate/destiny and free will, this book manages to cram a pretty adorable romance into the space of a couple of weeks leading up to the assumed end of the world.
I really loved this. At first I was worried it would be TOO much like "They Both Die At the End" (I hate Adam Silvera, whoops) but it was prefect. The romance is sweet, the strife between the characters feels like there are definite stakes and Hartland makes you deeply care about not just Elliot and Seb but Aym and Callum and Nikita. I loved these characters. My one big downside is that, even in a weird world where people can see the future there is still is rampant homophobia and transphobia.
I would have liked a bit more from the perspective of Agent Sigma. It felt like that whole counter-movement against GlimpseTech wasn't as fleshed out as I would've liked.
All-in-all this book was a banger and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Tiny Ghost Press who gave me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Seb hates Glimpses. He blames them for the dissolution of his parent's marriage and so much more. Suddenly that Elliot Dove kid keeps cropping up in his life and the two circle each other and finally collide.
While the tension in the outside world surrounding the so-called "Last Day" (the date after which no one has ever had a Glimpse) and the discussion between fate/destiny and free will, this book manages to cram a pretty adorable romance into the space of a couple of weeks leading up to the assumed end of the world.
I really loved this. At first I was worried it would be TOO much like "They Both Die At the End" (I hate Adam Silvera, whoops) but it was prefect. The romance is sweet, the strife between the characters feels like there are definite stakes and Hartland makes you deeply care about not just Elliot and Seb but Aym and Callum and Nikita. I loved these characters. My one big downside is that, even in a weird world where people can see the future there is still is rampant homophobia and transphobia.
I would have liked a bit more from the perspective of Agent Sigma. It felt like that whole counter-movement against GlimpseTech wasn't as fleshed out as I would've liked.
All-in-all this book was a banger and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Tiny Ghost Press who gave me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
ravenk28's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
4.75
It was a nice, easy read about an original sci-fi world where you get to see a 44 second glimpse into your future.
The hopeful coming of age story talk about topics like coming out, homophobia and dealing with a parent with mental illness. These topics were discussed beautifully and blended in well with the main story of Seb and Elliot’s love story.
The hopeful coming of age story talk about topics like coming out, homophobia and dealing with a parent with mental illness. These topics were discussed beautifully and blended in well with the main story of Seb and Elliot’s love story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcohol and Violence
fynndodo's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
peter_dawson's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
yuuto's review
5.0
This was such a good read, it warmed my heart, broke it a little, and nearly ended me completely a couple chapters from the end.
kevinscorner's review
4.5
Against The Stars is a contemporary gay YA romance with a scifi twist. In a world where people can get Glimpses—a viewing of 44 seconds at some random point in their future, we follow two young teen boys living different lives as they meet and fall in love. But just as their budding relationship blossoms, real life gets in the was as the Last Day (the final day where no Glimpse has seen past) approaches.
I loved both Elliot and Seb. Elliot is trying to live up to his perfect brother’s example when his Glimpse shows him in a relationship with a classmate—Seb. The problem, though, is that Elliot isn’t gay. His struggle with his schoolwork and family expectations is complicated by his realization about his sexuality—that he is bisexual.
Meanwhile, Seb is struggling to survive with his mentally ill mother and absent father, and he blames his parents’ Glimpses for making certain he will have a terrible life. His is a heart-wrenching story of a life that contrasts so greatly with the privilege and resultant ignorance Elliot has, and this divide may be too great to bridge.
If you have loved Adam Silvera’s books, you will certainly enjoy this too. It is a story of young queer love between teenage boys whose lives are affect by a controversial technology for better or worse. The story is sweet and touching, but also has heartbreaking moments. There’s serious questions about morality and predestination, but never drifts too far from the central romance which is tender and intimate.
Against The Stars is a tender queer romance that delivers on its premise.
*I received an eARC from Tiny Ghost Press in exchange for an honest review.
I loved both Elliot and Seb. Elliot is trying to live up to his perfect brother’s example when his Glimpse shows him in a relationship with a classmate—Seb. The problem, though, is that Elliot isn’t gay. His struggle with his schoolwork and family expectations is complicated by his realization about his sexuality—that he is bisexual.
Meanwhile, Seb is struggling to survive with his mentally ill mother and absent father, and he blames his parents’ Glimpses for making certain he will have a terrible life. His is a heart-wrenching story of a life that contrasts so greatly with the privilege and resultant ignorance Elliot has, and this divide may be too great to bridge.
If you have loved Adam Silvera’s books, you will certainly enjoy this too. It is a story of young queer love between teenage boys whose lives are affect by a controversial technology for better or worse. The story is sweet and touching, but also has heartbreaking moments. There’s serious questions about morality and predestination, but never drifts too far from the central romance which is tender and intimate.
Against The Stars is a tender queer romance that delivers on its premise.
*I received an eARC from Tiny Ghost Press in exchange for an honest review.
sailormoonreads's review
5.0
I was so lucky to get an ARC copy of this book, and I'm completely honest when I say that it's one of the best queer books I've read, I loved the setting and the plot, it's a refreshing story and I instantly fell in love with the main characters.
emilyrpf's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
4.25