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jballin47's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
A great novella, short and fast-paced to get anyone out of reading slump. The dystopian Ikea multiverse setting has real Aperture Science vibes which makes for a fun and sometimes terrifying backdrop for a queer couple dealing with the fallout of their break-up amidst saving a grandmother. Like many good novellas, this one wastes no time over-explaining its lore and focuses heavily on its loveable protagonists.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Transphobia
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is a deeply fun sci-fi novella. The queerness present throughout the story was a delight, and I really appreciated the anti-capitalist tones throughout the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Cannibalism
alyxinthestars's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia and Violence
Minor: Death
huntress's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Mental illness
Moderate: Transphobia and Death
jpitts's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
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
February 2024:
The only thing I have resembling a complaint about this book is that I wanted more of it. (Yes, I am gonna read the sequel.)
Not only is this book fun and inventive and wild, its emotional core is incredibly strong. The portrayals of neurodivergence and mental illness in this book resonated with me deeply at a time when I really needed it. The characters are two recent exes whose struggles with mental health clashed with one another in a way that made their relationship unsustainable. Their flaws and the ways they've screwed up are clearly displayed without painting either of them as bad or wrong. Basically, I think it gives them a level of grace that, in my experience, a lot of people dealing with these same issues (*cough* me) struggle to give themselves. That aspect of it struck a chord with me personally.
Plus you get some fantastic corporate workplace satire (I eat that shit up every time), and some wacky interdimensional IKEA hijinks. It's just so good.
March 2023:
Queer recent-exes working at an IKEA(ish) and being forced to search for an elderly customer who wandered into a wormhole in the store, traveling through fucked up alternate dimension IKEAs and coming to terms with the end of their relationship in the process? Hell yeah dude are you kidding?? This rules.
Edit: Bumping this to 5 stars because I simply cannot stop telling people to read it.
The only thing I have resembling a complaint about this book is that I wanted more of it. (Yes, I am gonna read the sequel.)
Not only is this book fun and inventive and wild, its emotional core is incredibly strong. The portrayals of neurodivergence and mental illness in this book resonated with me deeply at a time when I really needed it. The characters are two recent exes whose struggles with mental health clashed with one another in a way that made their relationship unsustainable. Their flaws and the ways they've screwed up are clearly displayed without painting either of them as bad or wrong. Basically, I think it gives them a level of grace that, in my experience, a lot of people dealing with these same issues (*cough* me) struggle to give themselves. That aspect of it struck a chord with me personally.
Plus you get some fantastic corporate workplace satire (I eat that shit up every time), and some wacky interdimensional IKEA hijinks. It's just so good.
March 2023:
Queer recent-exes working at an IKEA(ish) and being forced to search for an elderly customer who wandered into a wormhole in the store, traveling through fucked up alternate dimension IKEAs and coming to terms with the end of their relationship in the process? Hell yeah dude are you kidding?? This rules.
Edit: Bumping this to 5 stars because I simply cannot stop telling people to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Transphobia
shadowspinner's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Minor: Racism
moonlitemuseum's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
4.75
This book shocked me out of a reading AND writing drought. Brisk and concise, with a pleasantly wretched POV character and plenty of fun dimensional antics, it was like a shot of caffeine after months of stumbling through grey fog.
The two central characters are exes and their journey through a nightmare not-IKEA only exacerbates their irreconcilable differences, but the wit and charm with which Cipri paints their dreary late-capitalist lot has you rooting for the two of them anyway. A treat, and one I thoroughly recommend.
The two central characters are exes and their journey through a nightmare not-IKEA only exacerbates their irreconcilable differences, but the wit and charm with which Cipri paints their dreary late-capitalist lot has you rooting for the two of them anyway. A treat, and one I thoroughly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Murder
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
this was rly fun! finna is an adventurous romp thru the multiverse and im so glad there's finally a sf book that doesnt bore me. this one also has an emotional core w/ relatable - albeit sometimes annoying - characters. the satire on corporate culture and the harsh grind under capitalism are hilarious yet sobering, and cipri rlu takes advantage of the endless possibilities of settings here, filling it w/ murderous furnitures, corporate zombies, and badass old captains. i'll def be reading the sequel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
elsebeok's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Deadnaming, Death, and Blood
swaanderer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Transphobia