I’ve been pondering this book for a couple weeks now trying to put my finger on my exact feelings. I think overall I enjoyed it. The fact that I’m still thinking about it means it definitely had some meat. I think my main hesitation is that I think it tried to do too much. There were so many hot button topics that it didn’t quite give justice to any of them. Climate change, feminism, racism, transgendered women, female empowerment, greed, eugenics, forced pregnancy, “utopia”, and more. Add to this the timespan of decades and it felt like too much was trying to get a message across but not quite there.

Old white feminist blind to her racism, arrogance, and TERF-ism was a compelling “villain” but came across as a caricature of “sticking it to the man”. But maybe this was the point? Definitely a despicable character but no real insight as to why she felt her way was correct, nor why she had not previously pursued having a child through other means previously. I understand craving a “mini-me” to carry on her legacy, but crafting the Inside society was more opportunistic than the culmination of a lifetime of planning.

Tthe creation of the Inside societies was an interesting concept, but there were several of these enclosed cities around the globe. It seems unlikely that nobody would have noticed a crazy woman using one of these limited resources as her own little experimental fiefdom. Brief mentions were made of the unrest and problems in these other cities, but there was no follow-up of comparison/contrast. Increased sexual assaults were mentioned in passing, but why? Also, a big deal was made of the hand selection of intelligent women for the New York Inside, but nobody questioned anything about how the city functioned? The administration? The selection dichotomy? And the founder was so focused on female power so why were the mothers given so much better benefits rather than the scholars?

And all the main characters were such stereotypes it became annoying. The rich powerful b****, the super smart Black doctor, the butch who was rugged/handy/strong/silent, the quiet transwoman, the nurturing cis-woman. They were all stereotypes but not stereotypes. Maybe this was the point?

From the beginning, you know Sydney exposes everything, but you never really get a sense of how she got all the information. Yes, you can see glimpses of it but it just mostly just is taken as fact. She is on the space station, gets accused of causing a bedbug infestation. Because she is poor, of course she is the source, but there were other poor people (the assistants) on board. Obviously this was meant to elicit sympathy and serve as a catalyst for the expose, but there were other methods by which an awakening to the realities could have grown organically. And she was on board for decades and we don’t see much growth or change.

The pregnancy was also puzzling to me. Did she start to make peace with it because of the drugs or did she really start to embrace motherhood. If it was due to the drugs, this was never explored as to the effect on free will. If it was embracing motherhood as a natural course, this was problematic. Is the text then supposed to imply that regardless of whether you wanted to become pregnant, motherhood is the natural way of things, so it will change you and you will be happier if you just become a mother?

Overall, I just cannot pinpoint whether the characters and story beats were over the top on purpose to serve as almost a satire or whether everything was orchestrated to try make multiple points. I did enjoy the dystopian elements but feel they could have been further explored. And none of the characters really have a happy ending. Hopeful, maybe, but not guaranteed. But maybe this is all any of us can have - hope.

I received a copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

DNF at 12%. I was really intrigued by the concept and it sounded like this book would cover a lot of topics that are really interesting to me. However pretty quickly I started to realize this might not be for me so I looked at some reviews. I saw a spoiler for something that’s coming that I know would make me mad and not in an intentional way so I decided to stop reading this one here. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Despite an interesting premise resonant with current-day issues of climate change and personal autonomy, Yours For the Taking was lacking for me. While I enjoyed the indictment of corporate feminism and how its lack of intersectionality plays out as well as the trans and queer cast, flat characters and erratic pacing made this one a miss for me.

In 2050, climate change is wreaking havoc on the world, to the point where The Inside Project takes off. Jacqueline Millender, ultra-rich women’s rights advocate, donates enough money to build and manage her own climate-proof bubble in Manhattan. As the novel’s protagonists—Ava, Olympia, and Shelby—enter the Inside and their journeys intertwine, they build towards the frightening realization that Jacqueline’s plans are unhinged and beyond control.

Yours For the Taking did have a lot to say politically and, in my opinion, said it mostly well, though some parts could have stood a little more finesse or fleshing out, like discussions on gender identity and how it fits into the ‘all women’ bubble (that also ends up including nonbinary people, which is a personal pet peeve I won’t get into in yet another review). With the ideology of trans-exclusionary radical feminism on the rise and a lot of Jacqueline’s dystopian views aligning with that rhetoric, it’s surprisingly relevant to today’s political situation. Climate change forms the impetus of the conflict, and the fallout from it affects the events of the novel.

Overall, this novel felt disjointed. The characters seemed to serve more as vehicles for the conceptual elements of the plot rather than characters in their own rights. Everyone had an allegorical role to play, and while it got the philosophical points across, it made the storytelling suffer. This novel also tried to cover a lot of interwoven side plots and character arcs but didn’t quite give them enough space to breathe, resulting in an overall underbaked, told-not-shown feel. The disjointed pacing only worsened this; huge chunks of years would pass in a sentence, leaving me not only disoriented but the characters undeveloped. Despite how much the characters go through, both in trauma and time, they all feel vaguely in their 20s through the end.

If you enjoy queer, dystopian climate fiction, you may still enjoy this. My lackluster reading experience with Yours For the Taking means I don’t personally recommend it.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

This book was so interesting! I love dystopian novels, and this one included a lot of queer and trans perspectives, which I haven't seen before. The plot was very black-mirror-esque, with a focus on an experimental society made up of all women, cloistered in a safe zone called the Inside, as the climate crisis destroys the world outside. Lots of rumination on what makes a woman, and how black and trans perspectives fit into the definition of "woman". This book switches between 3-4 different characters and settings and spans 20-30 years. I loved seeing everything come together at the end and getting justice for the wrongs that have happened!

I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator! Their pacing and dictation were excellent.

🌈Queer rep: main characters were a white lesbian/queer woman, a black lesbian/queer woman, and a trans woman. Main relationships were FF, and F/NB. Secondary characters included lots of lesbian/queer women, nonbinary people, and a trans man. Secondary relationships included FF and F/NB.

Yours for the taking was one of my most impactful novels I read in 2023. It captivated me in its pointed and articulate take down of corporate feminism, a critique that feels particularly useful and acute as DEI loses steam in corporate America and power is shifting once again.

There were charachters I loved and characters I absolutely hated in this, which helped pull me through the events even when I hated the choices that were being made. I also adored the complicated instances and perspectives on love and especially motherhood in this book. As a trans woman, a queer woman and a new mother, it was a fascinating playground to explore some of my own feelings and the political beliefs I have that grow from them.

I was impressed with this novel's scope - what an undertaking! While I enjoyed the commentary on what is now considered Corporate Feminism, I found some of the elements a little heavy-handed. There were areas I wanted more detail on - including how the children born Inside dealt with their growing mental illnesses (a mere mention of a rise of OCD but nothing else??). I loved the premise, and it felt appropriately dystopian. Some lines made me laugh out loud - I loved how Korn portrayed aging Millenials in this novel - "we used to want to eat the rich!"

So much potential wasted here — 2.5 stars rounded down.

In theory, this is everything I love: CliFi, gayness, breaking down Big Issues. In reality, it skimmed over the surface of so many of these things that it became nonsensical and kinda pointless. Parts of this book made no sense. It's as if the author came up with certain plot points and then filled in some text around them to fit them in, not thinking of how they'd logically flow. The timeline in the 336 pages spanned literally about 23 years, with little attention paid to years 3-22 whatsoever. We were just thrust forward a couple of decades and expected to go with it.

I get what Korn was trying to do here - breaking down the age-old misandrist fantasy of an all-female world (which other authors have done with a bit more nuance and consideration), discussing motherhood in context of new-wave feminism, yada yada. But these were covered in such flippant ways, without any actual exploration or consideration that they just felt like cheap throwaways. I feel like Korn thought she was making Big Statements here but her fixation on doing so completely negated any meaning you could have really taken from the story here.

Because pretty much every element of this story was a mere tease rather than a considered, complex deep-dive, it was impossible to connect with any of the characters. It didn't help that the very notions Korn seemed to be trying to expel, she actually ended up cementing. Ava [spoiler]being utterly transformed by motherhood and realizing — despite being vehemently against/not wanting kids — that it was her life's purpose was really gross, for one[/spoiler], and July and Brook were caricatures at best, and that's being kind.

As others have mentioned in their reviews, this read VERY YA, but not the good kind. Instead, it felt like a vehicle for Korn to dance around a few edgy topics/ideas (that are actually kinda tired at this point, especially when you have nothing interesting to add to them), and I'm actually shocked this one went to print in this state. Where's the editor here?

I realize I've eviscerated this book, and I actually feel guilty about that — as a writer (who actually hasn't sat down to complete a full novel, so I'm behind in that regard), I realize how hard it is to please everyone and how terrible it must be to read reviews like this on something you put your heart and soul into. However, I can't lie and say I wasn't really disappointed by this one and wished it wasn't a very different book in the end.

I was really looking forward for this one, but it just didn't catch my attention and convinced me. It was a fine read, sometimes pretty tough and had to force myself to keep going. Love the Idea and the dystopian theme but overall not as good as I anticipated.

3.75/5 ⭐️

Thank you @stmartinspress & @netgalley for the eARC of Yours for the Taking which is out NOW!

Yours for the taking was a really interesting exploration of the climate crisis and cis feminism. I found the plot fascinating. Set in a dystopian world (though given our current climate crisis a possible eventual reality), ravaged by the climate crisis - Korn explores how society tries to survive following the implementation of cis feminism governing.

What worked for me:
The plot. I found the entire premise of Yours for the Taking so intriguing though increasingly disturbing.

What didn’t work for me:
This book is marketed as LGBTQ literature about love, betrayal, and feminism - which it is - but I kept thinking the book was YA. This may have been because of the somewhat superficial exploration and commentary on cis feminism, wealth distribution, and the climate crisis. But Yours for the Taking left me wanting more. I wanted a deeper, more nuanced exploration of these topics as the backdrop to the exploration was so engaging and these topics are so relevant and important.

Overall, I enjoyed Yours for the Taking. It was fine.

LIKES:
🌈 LGBTQ+ rep
🌿 Climate crisis
☄️ Dystopian
🔍 Exploration of cis feminism
❤️ Sapphic romance

Yours for the Taking is a thought-provoking entry into the rapidly expanding catalog of climate fiction. I liked the focus on young people and relationships and was caught up in many of their stories. I also appreciated the feminist focus. However, there were also issues that kept me from being fully immersed in the story. One of these was the writing, which I felt was a bit clunky, especially in the dialogue. I think the author did better with sections of exposition. I also think the characters could have been a bit better developed and that some of the "message" had been presented with a bit more subtlety. But, all in all, a good read.

Give me all the end of the world books! This novel was outstanding. We follow several women who are trying to survive after climate change has made the world inhabitable. Why did Earth suffer so badly? Why weren’t American citizens able to combat the effects of climate change and maintain what was theirs? Men were the problem, of course.

Jacqueline Millender’s response to the issue of toxic masculinity is to create Inside, a weather-safe, exclusive community in New York that only the best of the best women will be accepted. Inside was like a crazy episode of Black Mirror. I repeat, crazy!!! Can Jacqueline create a new and improved America in which women will rule?

Jacqueline was an evil, vindictive woman. Every time she appeared, I braced myself for whatever cruelties were going to come out of her mouth. Our other main characters, however, were entirely lovable. Rather than being angry at the ambiguity in the book’s ending, Korn’s writing filled me with hope for each of the characters (except Jacqueline… kick rocks, bitch). 🙏 An amazing story of perseverance and standing up for what is just.

WOW, this one got me thinking! I love how much this one pushed the idea of the perfect society. It pushed me to wonder what I knew and to wonder what I'd want.

How to make the perfect society. As the climate ravages the world, the elite few begin to plan above-ground dome-type societies and decide they are hand picking their survivors. So who gets to live in there? And why, what is your criteria?

You get this from many perspectives. You get it from Shelby and Olympia - two different right-hand type assistants to Jacqueline, the elite rich person who created their dome-society, their Inside. You also get Ava, a random person who was accepted into the Inside and is learning the new society (while still remembering the old).

But as they all get settled and started creating the next generation, it becomes clear as they grow from toddlers to kids to teens, that there are maybe some flaws in the thinking. I love how it got me wondering - what was okay? What wasn't. What would really make it different than how we live now - this 'better' society.

And I really appreciated the conclusion to this one. I highly recommend this one, it was a unique and fascinating read!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

"Yours for the Taking" by Gabrielle Korn is an interesting read. Korn brings a unique perspective to the narrative, exploring themes of self-discovery and empowerment. While the characters are relatable and the story has its moments, it didn't quite resonate with me as much as I expected. The writing style is solid, and there's a mix of humor and heart, making it worth a read for those seeking a different take on self-empowerment. Overall, it's a decent book, but it didn't leave a lasting impression on me.

Feminist, queer, dystopian story about the effects of climate change and a world free from men?! SIGN. ME. THE. FUCK. UP!!!! And wow did this book deliver. I heard about Yours for the Taking on a whim from another author I follow who read a very early copy and that single bit of praise was enough for me to take the chance on this book. I devoured Yours for the Taking in two days; I couldn't put it down.

I wish I had read this book for a book club, it would make the perfect discussion book as there is so much to reflect on. Between how we view and identify gender, to what feminism actually is, power dynamics, ethical and moral considerations. There is so much in these pages!

I loved the world building of the Inside, the (not so distant) look at what the world could become if don't take better care of mother earth, and that all of our characters were women (this one passes the Bechdel test for sure). I'll be thinking about this book for a long time to come. Five RAVING stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press for an early copy of this book.

3.5 rounded up. i tend to enjoy more literary oriented scifi a lot more than my friends so i guess i just have to sit on this one by myself

This transported me back to when The Hunger Games and Divergent were running the dystopian fiction genre back when I was 12 years old. Such a captivating book with a unique premise. I felt allllll the emotions reading this - especially the ending. I could absolutely see this book having a continuation given how it left off, but it does leave off at a complete place to simply leave the reader to wonder. There are a lot of characters and perspectives in this book, and my only complaint is that it jumped around a bit for me, but I was still able to follow the plot.

I found the writing the most interesting when exposition is just being doled out. The dialogue was mediocre and it's biggest issue is that many of the characters seemed very similar so I had a hard time differentiating between them.

LThis is a book that is very hard to pin down my feelings about. I wasn’t sure how much I liked it as I was reading it, but the more that it sinks in, the more that I appreciate its message. It also felt completely plausible that in a near future with extreme effects from global warming that Inside could seem like an attractive solution to the ills caused by men.

I would love to see this translated into a television series to give the story more room to grow. It felt like the long time span and multiple main characters could benefit with more time to really focus on each of them. I especially would have loved to have seen more of the adolescent years of the children of Inside.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately I cannot post this right now on my social media as i am in solidarity with the reads for accountability.