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tatyanavogt's review against another edition
5.0
I know a lot of people didn't like this, but I really enjoyed it. I would say it has its problems but I was invested the whole time and I liked the twists that it had because it went in a direction that I was like "Oh it would be cool if it did something like..." and It did.
This is a sci-fi set in a world that humans have pretty much destroyed and is on the brink of inhabitability (is that an actual word!? its about to be inhabitable is what I'm trying to say). We're focused on two sisters and two time lines, one is the sister in the city dealing with the aftermath of her sisters disappearance and the severity of the state of the world, and the other takes place on an island where our girl has lost her memory but knows that she just needs to get back to her sister.
I really enjoyed it.
This is a sci-fi set in a world that humans have pretty much destroyed and is on the brink of inhabitability (is that an actual word!? its about to be inhabitable is what I'm trying to say). We're focused on two sisters and two time lines, one is the sister in the city dealing with the aftermath of her sisters disappearance and the severity of the state of the world, and the other takes place on an island where our girl has lost her memory but knows that she just needs to get back to her sister.
I really enjoyed it.
moonlit_dewdrops's review against another edition
2.0
The world building in this book was absolutely incredible and very well-written. The characters were pretty ok as well but I had a hard time connecting with them.
I also enjoyed the themes in this book and how much it addressed global warming and environmental issues.
Unfortunately the writing style and plot just wasn’t it for me. I might have to reread some parts and come back to edit this at another time bc it took me so long to figure out the changing perspectives which kept me confused for more than half the book
I also enjoyed the themes in this book and how much it addressed global warming and environmental issues.
Unfortunately the writing style and plot just wasn’t it for me. I might have to reread some parts and come back to edit this at another time bc it took me so long to figure out the changing perspectives which kept me confused for more than half the book
laelyn's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
Wow is the one word that comes to mind when I think about this book and my experience with it.
This is my first Joan He novel and it made me immediately order her debut and vow to read anything she ever writes. It's that good.
I went into "The Ones We're Meant to Find" with basically no expectations at all. The blurp sounded intriguing and the cover is simply gorgeous, and those are honestly the only reasons I need to want a book. And then, well, then He proceeded to blow me away.
"The Ones We're Meant to Find" is a dystopic science fiction novel that takes place on Earth in a future marked by climate change. Humanity has kept destroying our planet. While a large percentage of humanity still lives in various territories on Earth, a smaller percentage is allowed to live in eco-cities in the sky, living most of their lives in holographic form in order to save what's left of the planet. This is where Kasey, one of our two protagonists live. Cee on the other hand, the second protagonist, wakes up on a deserted island without any memory of who she is and how she came to be here. This is really all I want to say about the plot, the rest of it has to be experienced.
This is a painful novel, a deeply emotional journey that asks important questions while still offering an exciting plot full of twists and unexpected turns. It is never, not once, boring. The world building is spectacular, sucking you in from the very first page, making the world come to life. It's gut wrenching at times, especially when it really shows what humanity did to this beautiful planet. The writing is simply spectacular and the plot so well constructed that I'd genuinely call it a small literary masterpiece. The characters are intriguing, deeply complex and caused me to shed a tear or two more than once. He's choice to use different perspectives to tell the story and stylistically differentiate them as well - Cee's story is told in first person, Kasey's in third person - provides even more layers to an already layered story with layered characters. The sister relationship is incredible and still makes me emotional just thinking about it, and the romance was cute, too, and never too much of a focus of the plot.
This is a more than solid 4,5 stars for me, with my only very minor complaint being that the beginning is a little confusing, but I gladly round it up to 5 stars because it leaves a lasting impression. I won't forget this book and my time with it.
Many many many thanks to Text Publishing and Netgalley for this amazing arc!
Wow is the one word that comes to mind when I think about this book and my experience with it.
This is my first Joan He novel and it made me immediately order her debut and vow to read anything she ever writes. It's that good.
I went into "The Ones We're Meant to Find" with basically no expectations at all. The blurp sounded intriguing and the cover is simply gorgeous, and those are honestly the only reasons I need to want a book. And then, well, then He proceeded to blow me away.
"The Ones We're Meant to Find" is a dystopic science fiction novel that takes place on Earth in a future marked by climate change. Humanity has kept destroying our planet. While a large percentage of humanity still lives in various territories on Earth, a smaller percentage is allowed to live in eco-cities in the sky, living most of their lives in holographic form in order to save what's left of the planet. This is where Kasey, one of our two protagonists live. Cee on the other hand, the second protagonist, wakes up on a deserted island without any memory of who she is and how she came to be here. This is really all I want to say about the plot, the rest of it has to be experienced.
This is a painful novel, a deeply emotional journey that asks important questions while still offering an exciting plot full of twists and unexpected turns. It is never, not once, boring. The world building is spectacular, sucking you in from the very first page, making the world come to life. It's gut wrenching at times, especially when it really shows what humanity did to this beautiful planet. The writing is simply spectacular and the plot so well constructed that I'd genuinely call it a small literary masterpiece. The characters are intriguing, deeply complex and caused me to shed a tear or two more than once. He's choice to use different perspectives to tell the story and stylistically differentiate them as well - Cee's story is told in first person, Kasey's in third person - provides even more layers to an already layered story with layered characters. The sister relationship is incredible and still makes me emotional just thinking about it, and the romance was cute, too, and never too much of a focus of the plot.
This is a more than solid 4,5 stars for me, with my only very minor complaint being that the beginning is a little confusing, but I gladly round it up to 5 stars because it leaves a lasting impression. I won't forget this book and my time with it.
Many many many thanks to Text Publishing and Netgalley for this amazing arc!
misfitmoxie's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
This book was crazy. I enjoyed going back and forth between perspectives, but with that came the struggle of trying to keep the story straight and having to keep up with parts that were more confusing then others. The plot twist caught me off guard and was refreshing for the story but it added to the confusion as well that to me, didn’t seem to get answered.
This book was crazy. I enjoyed going back and forth between perspectives, but with that came the struggle of trying to keep the story straight and having to keep up with parts that were more confusing then others. The plot twist caught me off guard and was refreshing for the story but it added to the confusion as well that to me, didn’t seem to get answered.
neelima1998's review against another edition
2.0
I am not the targeted audience for this book. Put me in a reading slump.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
4.0
After reading and enjoying Joan He's debut, I had to check this one out even though sci-fi is not my go-to genre. This one is emotionally impacting onto of the twisty-twists that I was expecting.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
iz_is_reading123's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
I had mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I like what it was trying to do, but I found some of the execution lacking. It raised interesting questions about human rights, climate change, and AI rights. I don't necessarily need a story to give me all the answers, and I like when the reader is able to draw their own conclusions. However, I felt some of the commentary was a little lacking. It felt like the story got bogged down in all the plot twists (some were more impactful than others) and less attention was spent exploring the themes.
I also thought some characterization was lacking. The book is split between two perspectives. Cee's perspective was more of a survival story. I enjoyed being in this character's head as she tried figure out where she was and how to survive. I liked Kasey's perspective a little less. All of the characters in her world (Kasey included) seemed very alienated from each other and the outside world. While this made sense in the context of the world, it made it harder for me to understand some of their choices made and become invested in them.
I also thought some characterization was lacking. The book is split between two perspectives. Cee's perspective was more of a survival story. I enjoyed being in this character's head as she tried figure out where she was and how to survive. I liked Kasey's perspective a little less. All of the characters in her world (Kasey included) seemed very alienated from each other and the outside world. While this made sense in the context of the world, it made it harder for me to understand some of their choices made and become invested in them.
ohclaire's review against another edition
3.0
I just didn't vibe with the characters. The worldbuilding was interesting but I felt like I was missing something.
annamickreads's review
5.0
WOW.
JOAN HE DOES NOT MISS!!!
I was already beyond impressed when I read "Descendant of the Crane" but "The Ones We're Meant to Find" is beautiful in every way.
Every twist and turn was a punch in the gut. The symbiotic relationship of sisters and how sometimes caring for someone else means making choices that hurt. Science fiction that feels like we're just a decade or two shy of, detailing climate crises that we already see as the tip of the iceberg.
I really appreciate the conversations happening in this book, especially in regard to the climate crisis and how it should be dealt with, a conversation that's come up a lot in recent months about humanity's impact and whether we're actually worth saving. I love Actinium and Kasey's internal battle, and the fact that Joan somehow manages to fit in a plot twist ten pages before the end. Every time I thought I was done being in pain or surprised, I was presented with a new perspective and a new gut-wrenchingly painful twist.
The book's setting is exquisite, detailed down to the nth degree, beautifully described for an environment that can be so unforgiving. This is such a unique tale, and while the stylistic choice to tell the story from not only dual perspectives but in different time frames threw me initially for a loop, but I loved it all the same.
Just really incredible work, I cannot wait to re-read and unpack again.
JOAN HE DOES NOT MISS!!!
I was already beyond impressed when I read "Descendant of the Crane" but "The Ones We're Meant to Find" is beautiful in every way.
Every twist and turn was a punch in the gut. The symbiotic relationship of sisters and how sometimes caring for someone else means making choices that hurt. Science fiction that feels like we're just a decade or two shy of, detailing climate crises that we already see as the tip of the iceberg.
I really appreciate the conversations happening in this book, especially in regard to the climate crisis and how it should be dealt with, a conversation that's come up a lot in recent months about humanity's impact and whether we're actually worth saving. I love Actinium and Kasey's internal battle, and the fact that Joan somehow manages to fit in a plot twist ten pages before the end. Every time I thought I was done being in pain or surprised, I was presented with a new perspective and a new gut-wrenchingly painful twist.
The book's setting is exquisite, detailed down to the nth degree, beautifully described for an environment that can be so unforgiving. This is such a unique tale, and while the stylistic choice to tell the story from not only dual perspectives but in different time frames threw me initially for a loop, but I loved it all the same.
Just really incredible work, I cannot wait to re-read and unpack again.