A great parallel story of a woman and her niece, both trying to change the world in the best way that they know how. Timely and captivating, a great cli-fi story.

Powerfully poignant.

How do you stand up for something you believe in when the world exists in chaos and power is only held by those with deep pockets? Do you turn a blind eye and say, 'there's nothing I can do' or do you risk it all and say, 'I'll do whatever it takes'?

For Belka "Walli" Beckwith it's the risk because sometimes doing what is morally right doesn't line up with what is right by the rule book. She goes with her gut and that leads her fighting for those who have no voice .... and she does it from space.

The politics are heavy handed here, I learned a lot about the process and chain of commands within a space mission. There are times when this bogs down the story and it drags a bit, however, I feel like it was necessary. Leaving out the politics would have left out the very point of what is written between the lines here. Power.

One thing this expresses incredibly well is just how deep and powerful social media is; rooted into the very center fibers of our society; people now orbit around it.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for reaching out to me to review and to Netgalley.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.


When someone reached out to me from the publisher to ask if I wanted a chance to read this I was really excited about it because I dont read scifi that much to be honest. I was hoping that it would be a good book to get me into the genre but I dont think this book was it for me. I've been at the book for a few days now and I just cant get into for a a couple of reasons like it's way too political for me especially since I hate politics and the second is for some reason all characters that get introduced or even a name that gets mentioned get a too long backstory that always made the story feel like it was dragging on without any real movement of the plot. Which would cause me to get distracted by anything very quickly. I couldn't relate to any of the of the characters and the dialogue between characters just seem stilted and detached. As bad as I dont want to I'm probably gonna DNF this.

When Penguin Random House reached out to me directly to read this one, I immediately leaped at the chance. Strong female protagonist? Check. A genre I'm getting more accustomed to, much to the delight of my husband? Check. An intriguing premise and cover? Check. The opening of this book drew me in immediately, and I really liked the character of Walli, but it was the character of Sonia that stole my heart. Jeffrey Kluger paints a vivid scene that sprang forth immediately in my mind. The book seemed to draw inspiration from recent events, but the author made some creative decisions that I found difficult to believe. For example, there were several names of people/places/companies that were *almost the same, but not quite* (which he probably did for legal reasons, I just would have preferred a drastic name difference). This sci-fi/environmental novel had a super strong start, but then went in a direction I'm not sure I was ready for. If the reader is ready for environmental/humanitarian issues and wants to see space involved in solving them, this might be a book for them.

2.5/5 Stars (Rounded to 3 for Rating System)

So I kind of have mixed feelings about this book. I kind of got the impression the story was going to be kind of Sci-Fi Thriller. Even though it does have some thrilling elements I wouldn't actually consider this on the thriller side.

I do have to say one thing I love about this story is the strong female protagonist. I hate that she had to do what she had to in order to get people to actually listen, but it was a good way to get herself heard. It just sucks that even in reality (along with books) that people have to do something extreme in order to get help or to find a way to help others.

The downside of Holdout (for me) is that story is pretty political. Politics is something I try to avoid when it comes to books because we have to deal with a lot of it in real life. People are jerks about the whole thing which is why I sometimes try to avoid it on social media as well. It's just something I don't particularly care about and would rather not read about either.

Despite me not really caring for the political aspect of the story, Holdout is pretty well written and well thought out. On top of that, it keeps you guessing on whether or not the government will cave and how much trouble the main character is going to be in.

This book is full of space, politics and a strong female lead. I really enjoyed the development of the main character, I love reading books that represent strong women. I really enjoyed the plot of this book but at times it did seem to drag.

**thank you to Penguin Publishing for my ARC!**

3.5/5 🌟
HOLDOUT by Jeffrey Kluger was a surprisingly captivating read for me! I mean, when described as a cinematic science fiction book about a female astronaut helping save the world?? Yeah, count me in.

I really admired Walli, the main character, for what she represents; a badass woman, smart as hell, and passionate to the point of stubbornness. I also loved Sonia (and of course Olí), the other main perspective in this book and how the storylines soon link into one main narrative. One where both women, headstrong and passionate, work together (one from earth and one from space) to save both the environment and a people group from complete genocide.

Typically when I see a man writing female POV novels, I worry about overgeneralizations, stereotyping, and male-gaze type issues to arise. I was pleasantly surprised at the absence of these factors. Additionally, Kluger is clearly very knowledgeable about space programs and it shows in this novel. You can tell he has done extensive research on this topic

My biggest complaint with this novel is the lack of sci-fi elements. Yes, it's an astronaut, and yes it's in space, but that's pretty much all the sci-fi you get here. And maybe I misread the synopsis, but my expectation going into this book was much more ~astronaut saving the world from insidious aliens~ or something like that. I wished for more sci-fi like elements, exploration into the space side of things, and generally just more fleshed out time with the characters.

But overall, it was a book that I genuinely enjoyed and read quickly! Check this book out when it releases on August 3rd!

Holdout started out with a bang. Walli is an American astronaut onboard the International Space Station with two Russian astronauts. An accident occurs that forces the astronauts to head back to Earth, but Walli refuses. At first we don’t know why Walli wants to stay in space. I don’t want to spoil that here, because I enjoyed the not knowing and trying to figure out what she was doing.

We also follow Sonia who is a doctor working in the Amazon with the indigenous tribes. Once these two storylines meet up, we get to the meat of what the story is actually about.

I enjoyed the set up more than the actual story. Once we got into all of the political stuff, I lost a bit of interest. A little more space and a little less politics could have made this even better, but overall it was still an enjoyable read.

Each time the International Space Station passes over the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, astronaut and Naval Officer Belka “Walli” Beckwith looks out the window and sees her conscience and her honor going up in flames. The fires, so large they are visible from space, are part of the Brazilian government’s plan to oust indigenous people from their homes by literally smoking them out. On the ground, Dr. “Sonia Peanut” cares for the sick alongside other doctors international aid organizations while the forest burns down around them and the state-run media tells the world everything is just fine.

Walli feels powerless watching from the space station, until an emergency forces the crew to evacuate and Walli decides to stay behind and take a stand. She won’t leave until the American people see what is happening, and the Congress moves to intervene in the Amazon. But staying behind isn’t easy.

A series of crises unfold on the station that threaten Walli’s civil disobedience and her life, and officials on the ground make it clear that she won’t have a career to come home to, even if her scheme succeeds. All the while, Sonia Peanut’s patients continue to be forced into camps along the Brazilian border and she takes her own actions to build support from around the world for Walli’s cause.

It all comes down to a vote from a hands-off Congress as the crises in space and the forest escalate in an intense ride to the end of the story. I was glued to my Kindle for the last third of the book.

This compelling story reads like a really good feature article in a magazine or newspaper, with the additional characterization and interpretation that fiction allows. Author Jeffery Kluger expertly balances exposition, action, backstory, and character interiority. I found the facts and explanations interesting and most of the time they didn’t take me out of the story, but instead made me want to keep reading. It’s fiction that reads like good nonfiction, with plausible twists, turns, and outcomes.

I also enjoyed Walli’s blend of military mindset and compassion. She makes very intentional choices and puts the greater good in front of her own needs. Her two crew members, Vasily and Lebedev, are also interesting character studies, supported by the rest of the cast in the space administrations and the White House. The crew of doctors in the Amazon also held my interest. I cared about each character and was astonished by their realities and the difficult choices they had to make.

I’ll definitely be recommending this story to anyone who has an interest in space, including all my friends who grew up near Kennedy Space Center.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are situations in our world that are wrong. You become aware of them, but are unable to do much to make a change. This is the position Belka 'Walli' Beckwith finds herself in. Her niece, Sonia, is a doctor, with a group bringing aid to the tribes spread throughout the Amazon in Brazil. Through Sonia, Walli learns that fires are being deliberately set and the indigenous population is being harmed and displaced. All Walli can do is express that intervention is needed, but no one is listening.
Then Walli is given an opportunity that she couldn't have planned on. She is on the international space station, in a joint Russian and United States research mission, when an accident causes the order to come home early. In a moment of decision Walli makes her stand when she states, "I would prefer not to," With her new found media attention drawing all the world to listen to what she is advocating for, Walli is the eye in the sky, watching the developments in the Brasilian Amazon. Caught between the willful indifference of the political leaders of one nation and the greed of the leader of another, it is a race against time as things reach a critical level. Will the necessary vote be reached?
The Jeffrey Kluger's story telling is realistic and detailed. I found myself looking up (Googling) various aspects of the story and finding similar events that happened in real life. This was confirmed at the end f the story where the author explains that many events are closely base on real happenings. Very well done.
Thank you to Dutton for the invitation to read this thought provoking e-Arc through Netgalley.

This book in 3 words: Meticulous. Vivid. Fascinating.

Shout out to Netgalley and Dutton for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever caught yourself reading a book... thinking about how amazing it would be as a movie? The Holdout is a story where it felt like I was already sitting in the theatre, as it unfolded, buttery fingers and all.

This story is a slow-burn to start but then it picks up and never lets up. Holdout features a third person perspective, centered on two protagonists focused on humanity. The writing is solid and immaculate. The prose is technical but detailed enough for anyone to feel like they know enough about space, procedure, or the Amazon.

I'm someone who is a little creeped by space. I can make myself anxious just thinking about all those miles and light-years of nothing. This book did put me on edge a bit and I think it would be great for anyone interested in space.

Only thing I didn't love was the ending and some of the details. But, no spoilers here, so you'll have to pick this up and decide for yourself. I still recommend this book because it held my attention right to the end.

I received a review copy through Netgalley for my honest review.
This book follows two story lines. The first one we follow is from Walli's point of view. She is an astronaut and currently doing research on the space station along with a crew that consists of two other astronauts. Something happens that causes the crew to abort mission and they need to leave the space station. Walli refuses to board the capsule that will take them back to earth because, "I would prefer not to." That is how Walli takes over the space station.

The next story we are introduced to is Sonia's point of view. She is a doctor or nurse and is part of a volunteer organization where they place doctors/nurses to developing nations and natural disasters. She is placed in the Amazon Rainforest trying to help the tribes that reside there. They have twin epidemics and some tribes are being displaced due to fires that keep breaking out in the forest.

Both characters that we follow are doing what they think is right and trying to help/make a difference to the best of their abilities. The two stories do connect but I don't want to explain due to spoilers.

This book didn't involve Space as much as I was expecting and it gets very political, especially towards the end. The author does an amazing job at describing the politics and space stuff in an easy way. I had no problem following along with the story or what he was explaining. The author is very knowledgeable when it comes to NASA and he also writes in the acknowledgment that some things that happen in this book were inspired/based off of true events which I really enjoyed knowing that and that some of what he mentioned has happened. It helps with the "is this believable?" aspect.

I think those who enjoy Andy Weir's writing will like this as well. I really enjoyed this book and put in the right hands I can see this book becoming a huge hit!

Lastly, thank you to Penguin Random House for reaching out to me through Netgalley!

You've got space, politics, and something strange going on. I can tell you that this is intriguing and kept a good bit of my attention. However, I have had a hard time making myself read it. I feel as if there is a deep dive into every single character we're introduced to, complete with a review of their pasts. This isn't necessarily bad, it can just be irritating and a bit of a drag. I did like the characters and found a few to be compelling and it was highly interesting to see how the politics would have to play out if an astronaut 'stole' a space shuttle. It was out of my comfort zone and, again, has a few irritable things. It wasn't exactly a bad read though.

Wow. I gotta tell you- I really didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did or to be as caught up in it as I was. And, to be fair, I'm sure that there will be those who will argue about the implausibility of the plot and so on but still.... Walli Beckwith is a USNA graduate and a pilot. She has always done the right thing and now she's in the Space Station with two cosmonauts. On the ground, her niece Sonia is in the Amazon on a medical mission while the Brazilian president is slowly but surely pushing the indigenous people out using fire. When a crisis forces the space team to leave the Station, Walli decides to stay behind until the US agrees to intervene in Brazil. That's a sinplistic synopsis of a much more complicate line. I loved the small details of dealing with the space station. I know some of the characters are tropes but that didn't matter. I liked her Russian counterparts and the Houston team, appreciated the issues raised by the Attorney General, and had chuckle at the dinner party conversation that turned things around. And her parents are terrific. Then there's Sonia and young Oli. And the mice. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is a real page turner that kept me on tenterhooks until the last page.

3.5/5 stars

This was a great book! At times, it was a little dense and more intricate than I was interested in, but the plot made up for any of the density. I did get a little confused about who each Russian was at times. I could keep the two cosmonauts straight but all the administrators kept getting mixed up in my mind.

The plot of this book was so interesting and realistic, I found myself thinking "is this real?" about certain parts. It is a work of fiction but there are certainly parts that make you second guess that.

Overall, I would recommend this book to sci-fi lovers (especially people who enjoy Andy Weir's books).

Sci-fi isn't my normal genre and while I did get a bit bogged down by the science heavy elements, I really enjoyed this! It's an intriguing peek into the life of a kick-ass female astronaut in space intercutting with her life on Earth.

It's a fast paced, engrossing thriller that I'm grateful I went out of my comfort zone to read. I can already hear the film and TV industry clamoring to buy the rights and bring this story to the screen.

Sci-fi is not my usual genre but the plot intrigued me. I will say all the terminology and space/military lingo did get a little lost on me at times, but overall I enjoyed this book! I especially enjoyed the parts about the rainforest. It was a great tie in to the space portions of the novel and kept me interested.

Walli is an American astronaut onboard a space mission. Sonia is Walli’s niece and she is stationed in the rainforest in South America. After Walli hears terrible reports of devastating fires in South America, Walli is willing to do whatever it takes to make the world stand up and take action on the heinous crimes being committed in the jungle. She defies captain’s orders and becomes a national, political sensation.

Walli Beckwith is on the International Space Station when disaster strikes. While her Russian counterparts prepare to evacuate, Walli makes the decision to stay behind in an act of protest that no one understands. As she remains on the ISS, Walli works to help people in a part of the world that most everyone else has written off.

This was a great story! It takes a little bit to understand how everything ties together, but from there, the story just takes off like a wildfire. There is a solid cast of supporting characters that I loved - specifically the Russian cosmonauts and Connie Polk, the US Attorney General. The storyline is strong and you don't have to be a big sci-fi person to appreciate this book.


Available August 3, 2021.

I'm going to give this book 4 stars because Mr. Kluger made it possible for a librarian like me to understand the life of an astronaut a little bit more than any other book I've read before. It felt a little preachy at times, but I appreciated the reason Walli was a holdout. Sonia's story was just as fascinating to me and her humanitarian efforts at the camps seemed a little too brave at times, but I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree in this story.

First of all, I'd like to thank the author for choosing a female astronaut as a lead character. If the main character were to be a male, the story will be either all about a triumph or a total failure that male astronaut somehow redeem himself at the end. However, when it is a female astronaut, you see the both sides of the medallion. She can be the unstoppable force with female determination yet she can still be called the C word by a president of her own country. She can be vulnerable yet persistent. So again, thank you for giving story credibility by choosing your battles justly.

This story has the most unconventional take on how to save the planet. As much as there are elements that we see everyday in the news (that's going on on Earth itself), there are many elements enhanced the story by bringing international and "intergalactic" perspective. Can you imagine being in a space station and having a bird eye view on the tragedy unfolding under you? Walli both unfortunately and fortunately had that access. She against all odds broadcasted her message to the whole world and be the flag bearer from an orbit. She had qualities that could annoy and scare certain type of people all at once and I admired the character because of that.

There are so many components that need to be analyzed as part of the story: inter-government relationships between space loving countries, how those relationships differ between fellow colleagues and officials who knows nothing about what it means to be astronaut, and good old domestic politics. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would be interested in reading about fictionalized politics and policies and anyone who still has a little child in them that wants to go to space