Reviews with content warning for Vomit - The Calculating Stars

when i came across this book at my university’s bookstore, i had some high expectations and was really excited to read this book. now that i think about it, i would say i have some mixed feelings. the book started off very exciting, but once it got to the middle, i wasn’t exactly sure if it was worth reading due to the lack of action. the ending wrapped it up pretty well and i guess the next book continues with what actually happens in space, so maybe i’ll read that out of curiosity. i did find the main character somewhat lovable but i wasn’t entirely on board with how she chose to be so compliant and reserved in times where it was better to be resistant and brave. this frustrated me, but i also did need to take in the historical context at that time. i wasn’t a fan of the tense change in that last chapter—especially since first person present tense is my least favorite…but other than that, this book was exciting, inspirational, and fun to read. i still enjoyed the science jargon and the intense moments of liftoff at various parts :) 3.75/5 stars

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I really wanted to like this book more than I did, and I put a large part of that down to the blurb. The blurb implied, at least to me, that MORE of the story would take place in space. In actuality, the blurb gives away the whole book,

and the final line of it makes up about 10 pages of actual space adventure

so I wasn't very excited to learn that I was done with the book when I felt like the story I had been waiting for was just getting started.

Some of the conflict feels a little forced, but overall I liked Elma as a lead. I agree with other reviews that say Nathaniel is too "perfect" as a partner, it feels like a bit more conflict between them would have made for more tension.

It's a very easy read, even the maths and science doesn't feel too heavy. If you're looking for something that you can get through without much difficulty, this fits that bill. But it's definitely more of an emotional "character battles the system" story than a "women goes into space" story, so if you're looking for something more adventurous there are probably better fits out there.

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