A review by eliseraine
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

What an unexpected ending 😭🤧

I read this book after reading Matt Haig's The Humans to satisfy my thirst for more comedic yet heartwrenching sci-fi novels. And apparently, Jack Edwards, my absolute favorite booktuber, gave this one 5 stars.
 
After a swift week of reading PHM and listening to the audiobook, I have decided to also give this one 5 stars (very very very very good! (Insert jazz hands here.)
 
I don't like comparing books to movies, but the initial premise of this one is very similar to Passengers (with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence), with a lone character waking up in a spaceship and trying to survive, maybe except that everyone in this book besides the main character is dead. 

And with a very unexpected twist, Grace meets an out of this world character (literally!) and their buddy-buddy wholesome story, with a bit of sudden breakdowns, jazz hands, and engine failures, begins.

 
I was very confused at first with all the technical science-y terms and mathematics. But I must admit, I felt quite smart after finishing the book. Not because I am actually smart, but because the author wrote and described the science part of the novel in a way that a normal person would understand. The book also tackles real world environmental and political problems that are still relevant to this day.
 
I love how PHM explained that although alien life forms are always expected to be scientifically advanced extraterrestrial creatures with gray skin, big heads, and long legs, they can also be dumb (and deadly) tiny alien microorganisms. And speaking of intelligent life forms, the curious friendship between Grace and Rocky is just too adorable. They are a great example of an unexpected bond that transcends beyond galaxies.

 
I love love love the ending but would also like to see an alternate one where Ryland goes back to Earth. But still, I am very glad that he chose my boy/girl, Rocky. ♥︎♥︎♥︎

 
I was hoping that this would be a movie someday just like The Martian!