A review by serendipitysbooks
Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis

adventurous emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0

 Amber and Kevin are drifting through life in Vancouver, mostly dissatisfied with their jobs and making a little extra money growing marijuana and selling to their friends. Then Amber decides to enter a reality tv show competing for the chance to be a Marsonaut, travelling to Mars and establishing a human colony there.The programme and mission are funded by an eccentric billionaire looking at Mars as a sanctuary from climate crisis devastated Earth. This book explores issues like “reality” tv, social media, the climate crisis, capitalism, the role of billionaires in our society, evangelical religion, injury ending an elite sporting career, human relationships, the difficulty of finding and sustaining hope and purpose in our current world and more. While neither Kevin nor Amber were the most likeable characters I did appreciate the story being told from their two contrasting perspectives. Not the most positive of endings but overall an interesting story which touched on several crucial contemporary issues. 
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