Yours for the Taking

What an absolutely phenomenal book. Review to come as soon as I get my thoughts together. Definitely a must-read!

DRC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Devastatingly beautiful, Yours for the Taking is a novel that makes you think and reflect. Loved it.

Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn is a powerful and thought-provoking novel set in a dystopian future. As the effects of climate change worsen, the only way to survive is to be accepted into The Inside Project, a series of weather-safe structures around the world. The story follows Ava and her girlfriend as they navigate the challenges of their world, while trying to find happiness.

The novel's main focus is on the character of Jacqueline Millender, a billionaire and women's rights advocate who has become the director of the Inside being built on the bones of Manhattan. She promises power and impact to those who work for her, and Shelby, a business major from a working-class family, is drawn to her promises of empowerment. Olympia, a medical student, is also recruited by Jacqueline to run the health department Inside. However, as they start to notice the cracks in Jacqueline's system, they realize there is something much larger at play, and she becomes increasingly unhinged and dangerous in what she is willing to do to keep her dream alive.

Yours for the Taking is a mesmerizing story of queer love, betrayal, and chosen family. It is an unflinching indictment of cis, corporate feminism, and holds a mirror to our own world, in all its beauty and horror. The author weaves a powerful tale that forces readers to question the true meaning of empowerment, and the price that must be paid for it. The characters are well-developed, and the storyline is both engaging and heart-wrenching.

Overall, Yours for the Taking is a powerful and poignant novel that is both timely and relevant. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to explore the intersection of politics, feminism, and the environment. Gabrielle Korn has written a masterful novel that will leave readers thinking long after they have finished reading it.

this was a really unique take on scifi genre, I enjoyed the concept overall and thought it was something different. The characters felt like real people and the situation was a great scifi concept. I was invested in the story and enjoyed how good everything worked. I enjoyed how good Gabrielle Korn wrote this and can't wait for more from the author.

"Ira looked dumbstruck. “I’d never let myself be brainwashed,” they insisted. “You would probably feel differently if it were happening to you,” Ava said, looking at Ira as though she was seeing them for the first time. She had truly thought they had a connection. But now she knew that Ira didn’t care about her at all. Not even as a friend."

Remember that period of time when we luxuriated in excellent, thought-provoking dystopias all the time? THE CITY OF EMBER was the absolute best and that was before we had all the technology we have today, which in turn allows us to imagine even more otherwordly nothingness. And I devoured those books.

This took me back to those days--a juicy dystopia with a fascinating experimental power structure, complicated morals around how those in power implemented control, and the boundaries between where you can want the best for a group of people without listening to what they actually want.

The entire concept of the Inside was a strong enough premise to carry the book, but it also had fascinating relationships, characters to root for, and commentary on what makes us human, how we become successful, and how we see the world.

An absolute delight of a read! I managed to pace myself and savour how delicious it was.

Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn is an outstanding read.
I knew once I read the description I had to get this one.

I love dystopian type stories and Yours for the Taking sucked into the year of 2050 and held me captive.

There are slight bits of romance here and there, tons of intriguing suspense, adrenaline-pumping action all throughout the story, and lots of character development spread throughout the story. All those things I listed are perfectly divided throughout the story, making for a superior way of story-telling.
Well written characters, an incredibly thought-out plot line with an amazing thought-provoking story. Her world building and storytelling was just phenomenal.
This dystopian novel got me read for hours.
A creative, unique story that was truly an unputdownable book.

I only hope Gabrielle Korn continues to create such stories to keep me entertained for years to come.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Yours for the Taking is an exilirating ride throughout the entire book. It begins in the future in the year 2050. As the result of climate change, life on Earth is almost unlivable. There is overbearing heat, coastal erosion, flooding, and the constant threat of tornados, hurricanes and other destructive weather conditions. It centers around an all-female utopian experiment that the protagonist, Jacqueline Millender envisioned. But unfortunately, she has her own warped agenda. This is the perfect read for anyone who likes plot driven sci-fi. The characters are interesting and believable, racially and socioeconomically diverse, with plenty of LGBTQ representation. I loved it and I highly recomment theis book. I was fortunate to receive this novel from Netgalley as an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was truly a wild ride! I’m always down for a good thought provoking dystopian novel! I won’t say the story is post apocalyptic bc as the book says multiple times - the world never truly ends, just changes and people adapt- but it is definitely post (what we know as) civilization.

The story spans a 30+ year time line with multiple characters and starts at the end of the world as we know it, where people are being forced to consider alternate forms of survival due to increasing temperatures and instances of natural disasters.

The solution comes in the form of closing off parts of major cities and turning them into “Inside”. Most of the story takes place inside the walls of the North American Inside, a closed off and fortified Manhattan. It seems like a dream to be accepted into Inside and have been chosen for survival in this human made Utopia, but things aren’t quite as they seem. Their main investor, a self proclaimed ultra feminist, has her own ideas of what makes the perfect place to live and what makes up the perfect population.

As the story unfolds, the project becomes more and more unethical, dangerous, and - for the reader - increasingly thought provoking. I will think about this book and these characters often. I read this book via an eARC from NetGalley, which did not influence my opinion at all! I will absolutely be purchasing it upon its release date later this year!

Thank you netgalley for the arc of this novel!

This book has such a perfect formula. Maybe I’m bias, I find queer rep in sci-fi/fantasy, something I still want to hoot and holler about! I just hope for this novel to reach the masses

Listen, this was so good that I wanted to just eat my Kindle after I finished it. "Yours For The Taking" has definitely earned a place as one of my favorite distopian sci-fi novels, ever. It was friggin delicious.

The story starts is off in the year 2050. Earth has started to become inhabitable due to severe climate change. One of the main protagonists, Jaqueline Millander, is in charge of creating one of the self sustaining "Inside" communities where humanity can survive...or at least the ones who have been selected to be able to.

"Inside" is as large as a city, and to everyone's surprise, all female. Because frankly, it's because of men that the world even got to this point. War, ruining the environment and the patriarchy are all things that Jaqueline wants to breed out in her "experiment". So she watches and tries to control how it all plays out from her space shuttle where she lives with the other most wealthy and elite.

There was not a single dull moment in this book for me. I connected with or at least totally understood every main character and where they were coming from. This novel was so well planned out, written and goddamn perfect I can't even stand it. The fact that this is the author's first novel is just bonkers to me. I will RUSH to be at the front of the line for any future releases for her now.

I cannot give enough thanks to NetGalley and St. Marten's Press for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Before I begin my review, I will strongly urge you to go into this reading experience blindly. When I received the eARC, I instantly started reading it without looking up the summary or any pre-reviews and I am so glad I did. So, go read the book and then come back, read my review, and discuss your thoughts with me because I really loved this book.

In 2050, the planet is in a state of crisis. Climate change has wrecked the environment beyond repair and people are beginning to look elsewhere for living arrangements and a way out. And so, The Inside Project is born. Inside is an elite, weather-safe city structure set on all the major continents, in which you are only allowed entry upon having your application selected. Each continent is running their Inside differently and North America’s has flaws from the get-go. This mesmerizing story follows three main characters, Ava, Olympia, and Shelby, and how their paths cross in the Inside. Once they begin to see the cracks in the system, there is no going back.

With the introduction of each of the main characters, I was instantly drawn into them, connecting with their strife or cheering them on. The way in which Gabrielle chose these characters from three very different walks of life and converged their storylines together throughout the plot was unmatched. I understood their sorrow, their confusion, and their hope for the future so easily. Their growth and development built so smoothly that it couldn’t be anything but sincere.

This book was not only an incredibly enjoyable read, it was also thought-provoking. It took a mirror to the way we view the patriarchy in our society. I was completely enthralled from page one of this book and the pacing and structure was phenomenal. I would love to hear Gabrielle’s planning process because the plot felt so genuine and fluid throughout the book, I would imagine she had to plan extensively. Props to her! I am still in awe that this is her first book, and you better believe I will be a life-long reader now!

Big thank you again to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Gabrielle Korn for sending me an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

My one-liner description: Cli-fi feminist dystopian where the world has been basically destroyed and people apply to be selected to live in sealed domes that are meant to carry on humanity and everyone else is left to fend for themselves with the understanding that they will all likely die.

I highly suggest going into this one as blindly as possible.

Y’all, I FLEW through this book. I couldn’t put it down. The story is told from multiple viewpoints and they were all interesting, all different.

I feel like giving much more info kind of gives some of the story away. But what I will say is that this is a book of found family, grief, joy, examining the choices we make, an exploration of corporate cis feminism, and explores whether good intentions excuse the ignoring of consent and the manipulation of entire populations.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this advance copy of Yours For The Taking.

I have so many thoughts about this book, that I don’t know where to start. So, let’s start with the bottom line – This book is a masterpiece, go read it now.

Like other great dystopian novels (ie. 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale and Parable of the Sower), it takes the issues of today and fast forwards to the catastrophic future we’ll face if we keep going in the direction we’re headed.

Yours for the Taking starts in 2050, when climate change has made surviving on earth almost impossible. To ensure their own survival, billionaires have funded small, self-contained cities across the globe, known as “Insides” for the working-class to live in while they monitor and control the cities from space.

Most of the story is set in an Inside in what was formerly Manhattan and is primarily told from the point of view of the women who live in this Inside and the woman who founded it. While the characters are all women, they’re also incredibly diverse, with lots of LGBTIQA+ and racial representation.

The themes explored are timely and relevant. The author weaves commentary about wealth distribution, our reliance on corporations, feminism and climate change throughout the story so seamlessly, it’s nothing short of genius.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the most original futuristic, sci fi, apocalyptic, all female character driven stories. Set in 2050, the world is being ravaged by climate change and the select few are chosen to go on “the inside” as the only survivors. Families are separated as those members are chosen (or not) & selected to be part of this new community. Ava, our main character is selected & is brought into this all female haven, or so it initially seems. The leader”Jackie” has some crazy ideas for the future, her own offspring and the future of the women on her version of the inside. Interesting look at gender roles, apocalyptic themes and the long term impact of climate change. The concept of the inside, the crazy outcome of what it became and the strong relationships that developed throughout the book had me hooked from the first page. This book was given 5 stars for it originality. Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press & the author, Gabriella Korn for the opportunity to preview this unique gem in exchange for my honest review.

This book was incredible, I could not put it down, if I didn't have to sleep I would have finished it in a day. The writing style made me feel like I was there every step of the way with each and every character, feeling their feelings, and going about their lives. I especially loved the multiple view points, connecting everyone's stories.

This book takes place over a span of almost 40 years starting as the world starts to shut down due to the massive destruction of climate change. I suggest going in mostly blind and experiencing everything first hand, bc its a wild ride!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Yours For the Taking!

One of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I loved every second of it and didn’t want it to end. Please pick this up if you wish to do something insightful, meaningful, and overall excellent.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is going to be a modern classic. It is incredibly relevant to current world events while containing cautions and lessons relevant for any generation.

There is a decent sized cast of characters, all of which felt perfectly represented in regards to the amount of page time given. They are well rounded with motivations and fears. Since the book spans multiple decades, the reader gets to follow along as the characters age and change.

If you're looking for a book with commentary on white feminism, intersectionality, queerness, climate change, misogyny, and capitalism, you have to check this book out. I am blown away by Korn's writing and her ability to weave such important topics into a novel.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Imagine a future where climate change ravages the world making it unlivable. The governments dissolve and a single government united the world in a common goal, to combat climate change. They devise a plan to create a city Inside, where select people will help to keep civilization alive.

The year is 2050 and Jacqueline Millender founder of Yours!, requests to not only fund Americas Inside but to direct it… from space. The wealthy and elite flee to space as they are unsure if Inside will succeed.

The story follows Ava, Olympia, and Shelby as the main characters with more added in as it spans 30+ years. The characters are all relatable, even though each come from different walks of life.

I was intrigued as soon as I picked this novel up and was bummed to have to put it down to read a book club book. I couldn’t wait to get back to it. This book dives into the problems of white cis gendered feminism, by creating a story you don’t want put down. My only qualm with the story was I wanted to know more about what was happening with the weather and climate outside as the story progressed. We got a little bit of what was going on but I wanted a little more.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Gabrielle Korn for the eARC copy! I can’t wait to get my hands on a hard copy!

What an incredible story of love, found family, and feminism with excellent queer representation. The book is set in the near future where climate change has ravaged the planet. the solution is to move to the “Inside.” I could not put this book down - the story was so well thought out and flowed perfectly. I felt a connection with each character and I loved to see their stories intertwine.

I recommend going into this book blind, as there were many aspects that gave me goosebumps as I dove into the world Korn created.

This book may be the best book I read all year. I will 100% be purchasing a copy when it is published in December.

I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a twisty and epic adventure that I loved reading every page. Female driven and amazing I could not put it down. I can not wait for more from this author!

This book sucked me in from the very first sentence and had me in a chokehold until I finished it 24 hours later. I was texting with another friend who was reading it at the same time and we both couldn’t get over how absolutely wild and yet terrifyingly realistic it all was. Every chapter felt like a surprise and every time I felt like I knew what was going to happen next I was wrong.

This book is one that really makes you think in addition to being utterly binge-able. By far one of the best books I’ve read this year!

Extremely intriguing conceit that put LGBTQIAP+ characters at the forefront.

Great sci-fi choice form my Pride Reading time. Climate change is not to be ignored. This story is almost like a Black Mirror episode which are now too close for comfort.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.

Coming out in December of this year is a dystopian epic! A timely commentary on how humanity will react to the climate crisis. If we seize the opportunity to be better, will we ACTUALLY be better?

Multi generational, multiple POV, queer voices and powerful women.

WOW what a tale!

It's 2050 and as the world is slowly dying, Jacqueline Millender, a very powerful mogul is trying to same society via "The Inside Project" Millender has a very specific idea of how to save the world and that includes who is worth saving. Surrounding Jacqueline are various characters including her trans personal assistant and her strong willed doctor-director of the program. Alternatively, Ava, is a young scavenger living in Brooklyn is granted a ticket to the program. Through her eyes we are able to experience the project as it grows.

This story is a thriller but also a treatise on feminism and reproduction. Jacqueline is very much the contemporary old white liberal who truly believes she knows what is best for all of us. Korn has chosen excellent characters to illustrate a story that isn't too far from reality. I was engrossed from the start and you will be too. If you love dystopia, have a healthy fear of billionaires, or just want to read the next great feminist thriller, Yours For The Taking is for you!
#StMartinsPress #YourForTheTaking #GabrielleKorn

This is a book that I will be thinking about for a long time to come, the idea was so out of this world and yet so believable at the same time, I can see how every single character made the decision that they do and how they justified it to themselves and others. I thought the characters were really well written and fleshed out, I enjoyed this novel a lot and look forward to reading more by Gabrielle.

Absolutely loved this -- a dystopian, sapphic love story with tons of emotion. One of my new favorites I think!

4.5 stars
This book was a very thought-provoking look at what happens when one person pushes their version of utopia on a population (in this case an unsuspecting population). The book grappled with issues of consent, gender and class identity, transparency, free will, and what it means to be a feminist. It’s a lot to cover in one work of fiction, but Korn does it well.

Climate change has fully wreaked havoc on the planet and to save humanity (or a small fraction of it), closed communities (called Inside) are being set up around the world - these are full societies sealed away to protect inhabitants from the brutal heat, constant severe storms, and food and water shortages. There are also really rich people living on spaceships orbiting the planet (a la Wall-E).

The book is told through the experiences of several protagonists, all associated with the NYC Inside. Jacqueline Millender is a billionaire who has created one of the “waves” of feminism and has strong ideas on what is wrong with society and how to fix it. Shelby is a trans woman and Jacqueline’s assistant. Olympia was hand picked by Jacqueline to run the medical program, and effectively be the director, of the NYC Inside and takes the job in part because she was doxed by men’s rights groups online for an opinion piece she wrote and subsequently had her other offers rescinded. Ava is a woman who gets into the NY Inside, but her girlfriend Orchid doesn’t make the cut. The story told through the viewpoints of these characters, and some other side characters, is compelling, interesting, and disturbing. The end is not neatly tied up, nor should it be, but it feels complete.

I feel like there have been several of these kinds of “thought experiment “ books about what society would look like if women were in charge and Yours for the Taking has something new and interesting to offer to the genre. I appreciated the clear-eyed critique of the White cis-het feminist worldview if put on all of society. I also really liked the points that were made on consent, particularly by the new generation of kids who were born Inside. Overall I really enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it. Also, can we please please combat climate change so we can avoid a version of this future?

4.5 ⭐ OMG. This book. So much good stuff in here. Do yourself a favor. Go into this one blind. (I literally saw lesbians and climate change and jumped in with both feet, and so glad I did!) Brilliantly written, the characters are so real, the plot. This book has all the makings of a huge hit.

It's the year 2050, climate change is ravaging the world, and billionaire / women's rights advocate Jacqueline Millender is funding the North American survival structure built to house a few million people, but she has her own agenda.

Ava gets accepted to live Inside, but her girlfriend doesn't, and so Ava must go alone. This book follows Ava's journey and a half dozen other women (including trans + non binary) in this epic scientific experiment. Mostly female cast, all super strong characters, and an amazing story that is a scathing commentary on the world we live in today.

Heart wrenching. Frightening. Beautiful. Loved it! ❤️

[Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Brilliant, and thought-provoking piece of feminist speculative fiction. Definitely a story that will stick with me for years to come.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the early review copy. This is a book that I'm going to need all the special and signed editions for my shelves.

Reading this book just as smoke was pouring in from Canadian wildfires blocking out the sun for days and causing air quality warnings couldn’t have been more timely. It gave an eerie sense of foreboding to the story while reading. The book is very thought provoking and I enjoyed the discussions on gender, sex and reproduction and who should be allowed to live on “The Inside”. I thought this was a really interesting take on dystopian lit from a feminist perspective and enjoyed reading this book a lot. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre and think it would be a great book for book groups as well. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, this was one of the most engaging, thought-provoking, and relevant books I’ve read in a long time. If you like dystopian fiction novels, especially with queer representation, you need to read this one. Yours for the Taking follows the stories of three young queer women in the not-so-distant future when the global climate change crisis is so severe that around the world, selective, climate-resistant communities known as “The Inside” are created. The Inside that is built where Manhattan used to be is run by an elitist power-hungry billionaire feminist who has extreme ideas on how to select and curate the “perfect” community in the Inside - starting not accepting any men.

I found myself hooked in this story. It moved very fast, although I felt connected to all of the characters. This novel covers a very wide range of topics, including but not limited to toxic (and non-toxic) feminism, capitalism, transphobia, gender norms, eugenics, queer belonging and family, consent, and motherhood.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s press, and Gabrielle Korn for allowing me to read this ARC - do yourself a favor and read this one.

BIG thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Publishing Group for letting me get my hands on this book early!

Yours For The Taking is a story of feminism, gender structures, climate change, family, and queerness. It challenges readers to think about what equality truly is The characters hooked me and I fell in love with almost all of them (except you, Jacqueline…).

This is a book that will hook you FAST and force you to just keep reading one more chapter. My advice? Pre-order it. Read it. Get your hands on it. You won’t regret it!

Also, a big shoutout to the queer representation in this book. So well done.

Whoooo, what a ride. I love me a good dystopian novel and this seriously took me for a ride. And a good one at that! I loved the world that Gabrielle created and it had me from start to finish. You find yourself rooting for Ava, developing a growing resentment of Jacqueline, and pity for Olympia as you take this journey with them. I loved this and those of you who love dystopian societies where the good triumphs will love this too!

This is one of the more innovative works of fiction I've read recently. Korn is able to weave multiple perspectives seamlessly into an important and gripping dystopian and slightly sci-fi novel that also digs deep into identity and privilege issues that are some of the leading social issues of today.

Separate from the social and climate issues that are central to the story, the story alone could stand as a gripping post-apocalytic-esque novel. Korn's writing is deep, and literary where it needs to be, yet accessible and engaging when the story requires it. Seeing the story and the struggles from multiple perspectives is necessary to understand the impact that each character's decisions have on each other and on their immediate and more distant environments.

This will definitely be a high-demand book club worthy title when it publishes in December because of Gabrielle Korn's skillful balancing act between the fast-paced story and the surgical precision with which she dissects what it means to be a feminist, the effects of privilege in gender, race, status, and economy, the tension between capitalism and environmentalism, and the importance of finding the humanity within ourselves and within those around us.

This novel is truly engrossing. From the time I picked this book up I honestly did not want to put it down. I was shook! Of course, the setting of the book being in a very near future Earth, particularly NYC did not help at all. Gabrielle built a world and created an atmosphere of urgency that reflects the current state of our planet and showed a glimpse of what could potentially be our future.
The characters created have distinct qualities and although there were more than a few characters introduced, it was not hard to follow each ones narrative. This story does have a clear villain as far as moving the plot along but Korn definitely aptly includes the nuance of the human situation in the weaving of this story.
This book definitely hits all of the points for being a classic dystopian novel, but it is also very unique.
I cannot wait for book two!

I LOVE Dystopian stories and am always hesitant that I will be absorbed in the way that I always hope to be when I begin reading them. I am so happy to say that this book absolutely drew me in and surpassed all of my expectations! It is such an engaging read! The characters are interesting and seem SO real. I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience as the storytelling was superb and the plot was incredible. I believe this story will be a huge hit and I can only hope that there will be much more to come from this incredible storyteller! Absolutely recommend...

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this eBook! This is a really good look into the problems that will occur from climate change and the possibilities that might arise from one person having way too much power. It is an amazing read for someone that likes dystopia but doesn't like violence and is more focused on how humanity would react to the impending end of the world.

This dystopian sci-fi masterpiece is one of my new favourite books of all time.

It’s 2055, and the climate crisis has reached a breaking point. The weather is vicious and unpredictable, and soon the Earth will be uninhabitable. Over the past five years, billionaire Jacqueline Millender has been funding the North American division of a project called Inside, resulting in what’s left of the city of New York being enclosed in climate-proof structures, with only a few windows throughout. Only 3 million people will fit in each Inside, but Jacqueline has a bit of a different plan for hers.

We have three main characters:
Ava, who applied for Inside with her girlfriend Orchid five years ago, and they’re about to find out if they got in;
Shelby, who applies for an internship with Jacqueline Millender’s company and ends up being offered a position as her personal assistant instead;
And Olympia, a med student with several job offers on the table, all of which disappear after her controversial opinion piece goes viral. Except the one from Jacqueline, to be the medical director of Inside.

Despite being on a space shuttle, Jacqueline still has a terrifying level of control over Inside. Life is different than what was promised, but Ava, Shelby, and Olympia settle into their new lives relatively well. Until the cracks in the foundation of Inside get too deep for them to ignore.

This book had everything. The slow burn dystopia really worked for me, even though the events take place over 20+ years; I was happy to either read more about day-to-day life Inside or find out quickly what went wrong and explore the ramifications of that. Most of the characters were LGBTQIA+, and all of them were complex and interesting—especially our villain, the perfect example of what conservatives think a feminist is.

YOURS FOR THE TAKING is a compelling commentary on feminism in our patriarchal society, corporate greed, and last and surprisingly least relevant to the story, climate change. And we’re getting a sequel! Five stars, Gabrielle Korn added to auto-buy authors list.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A really inventive and new way of looking at a post-apocalyptic world. The perfect mix of the horror of world-building gone right and wrong, and a true look at what happens with power. Prescient, feminist, queer, and very readable. Korn puts the conversations of today into a not-so-distant future and makes it fun.

Wow, this book... I don't even know where to start. I didn't know I needed a queer dystopian book so badly until I was approved to read this book.

I appreciate that the world was already "built" and you could get right into the story. This feels like something that may happen in this fucked up world we're in, which is the best kind of book.

I loved the characters! I feel I would have made similar decisions to Orchid, because she feel she did not have a choice.

This is a well written, well thought out book about a what appears to be a utopian society for women. It is set in the future, when climate change has made the world virtually unliveable. It is also a love story, love that survives separation, love for our children and for what is true equality, despite what is being told Lots to think about and lots to feel about

For her fiction debut, Gabrielle Korn teleports into the alarming future with a queer climate fiction novel that opens in the year 2050. A resident of a now-sinking Brooklyn, Ava has the chance to escape the inevitable when she’s admitted to the refuge that is The Inside Project, created by girlboss par excellence Jacqueline Millender. But, as you might imagine, this supposed feminist utopia is not all that it seems. Korn manages to grapple with weighty topics while also delivering a compelling read, rife with twists—and a sequel is already in the works.

https://www.elle.com/culture/books/g42156598/best-books-of-2023/

I'm a dystopian gal. I love an end-of-times, the world is collapsing novel. Yours for the Taking has made the list of my favorites in this genre. The world-building was great; the descriptions of Inside and the outside world painted a vivid picture of where humanity was heading. I felt like I could see Inside with its cookie cutter apartments, multi-level gardening structures, and clandestine "bars" with alcohol-free wine. I could feel the smog outside and empathize with the people doomed to remain there.

While I didn't love all the characters (who ever does), I felt like I actually got to know the major players in the plot. Most of the characters had some depth, and I was able to connect with them in a way that made me care for their futures. I was rooting for Ava and Olympia while worrying for Shelby. That's not something I find myself doing very often, but Gabrielle's writing got me there. Oh! And the queer representation! I find many authors awkwardly shoehorn queer characters into stories as a pandering tactic, but Gabrielle managed to show that representation can be done and be done very well.

All in all, this was a pretty good book. Better dialogue would've bumped this one up to five stars for me.

Thanks a million to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

I'm trying to figure out where to start with talking about this book, but at the very least, I can safely say that this one had such a chokehold on me and I'm going to be screaming at people to read it when it comes out in December. This is my favorite kind of sci fi - one that is terrifying because it feels so close to being a reality.

This book asks a lot of questions - are men the biggest issue with society, and therefore the cause of climate change? Would life be better in a society with all women? What would that look like for trans women, trans men, and nonbinary people? How does this proposed society treat women of different wealth classes and educational backgrounds? What happens when we let a billionaire have control over the future of humankind?

None of these questions have simple or easy answers, and while the future of Gabrielle Korn's world has some ideas, it doesn't claim to solve for them. Instead, it challenges the reader to answer these for themselves while seeing how this might unfold through the eyes of a handful of characters. It all sounds very daunting, but it ends up being a very fast paced, accessible story.

I don't think it's perfect - the book spans years, and there are many times that I wish we could have spent more in or learned about more characters in them. I also found the ending a little too neatly wrapped up, but it still had me begging for a sequel. It still manages to be a 5 star read for me, though, because my experience reading it was just so good. I found this alternate future (or not alternate? Like I said, it feels so close to what might actually happen) endlessly fascinating and impressive. I want more of these characters and more from Gabrielle Korn!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC!