The Dividing Sky was a gem of a surprise for me. The world building was so immersive I felt as if I was standing next to our main characters. It's a book that could easily be adapted to the screen and have it done justice.

The story has a wonderfully diverse cast with so many plot twists that kept the story moving and the reader entertained. There is action throughout the story but also feels almost like when reading a cozy fantasy as there isn't extremely violent scenes throughout. It is a book that anyone would be able to enjoy and I hope brings back a renaissance of dystopian books in the world.

Thank you NetGalley and Jill Tew for the ARC!

THE DIVIDING SKY is the hopepunk future we need.

Jill Tew's debut follows the story of Liv Newman, a merchant of memories, in futuristic Boston pursued by the rookie cop Adrian Rao who is tasked with ending her illegal dealings. But the cat and mouse game falls apart when Liv forgets her own memories, and Adrian questions the morality of arresting a criminal who doesn't remember what she's done.

Tew pokes at social mores of a too-close-to-home future, the definition of justice, and what it means to be good in a world where even happy memories are criminalized. It also explores one of my favorite themes in science fiction: that happiness and love can be a radical and revolutionary choice, and that it can save us all.

Keep a close eye on Jill Tew. She's got more where this came from.

Absolutely impeccable world-building here—especially in such a relatively small page count. Someone adapt this post-haste! Cannot wait to read everything Jill Tew writes from here on out. A star!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Dividing Sky" by Jill Tew marks an impressive debut in the world of dystopian fiction, offering an emotionally resonant and thought-provoking journey through a captivating dystopian world. This is a book that has made me excited for the return and future of dystopian YA books. The worldbuilding established in this book is well-developed and captivating.

Tew's story brings together elements of action, humanity, and social commentary. The vivid portrayal of the world and its diverse cast of characters, including women and people of color, adds depth and richness to the story, making it both relatable and inspiring. The worldbuilding as well as the characterization shown throughout the book are definitely the highlights of the story for me. I absolutely loved the world that Tew created, and I was engaged the entire time I was reading.

Despite the grim backdrop of a violent and oppressive society, the book is imbued with moments of warmth, humor, and human connection. Tew's skillful handling of emotional intelligence and interpersonal dynamics elevates the story, creating a cozy dystopian atmosphere that feels both familiar and compelling. I found myself drawn into the immersive world-building and deeply invested in the lives of characters like Liv and Adrian. The blend of banter, romance, and tension keeps the story engaging from start to finish. The romance felt realistic, and the different characters, especially our main ones, actually felt like teenagers. They brought a breath of fresh air to the dystopian story, and I would love to read more about them and this world.

Overall, "The Dividing Sky" is a beautifully written dystopian tale that has left me eagerly waiting for more from Tew. If you have been waiting for the return of the dystopian YA genre, then I think this book signals that return, and I can’t wait for more.

🌃 REVIEW 🌃

Title: The Dividing Sky
Author: Jill Tew
Rating: 4.75/5

**Thankyou so much to the wonderful, brilliant Jill Tew for sending me an e-arc!**

This was one of those books that I already knew I would love. Jill is absolutely lovely, so to see her words coming to life as a book was such a delight!

Liv was such a badass, and she felt so human amidst all of the chaos taking place around her, and she experienced such a great personal growth throughout the book! I can't sing her praises loud enough.

Adrian was hilarious. The poor guy was trying so hard. He's so angsty and clumsy and heartfelt in a world where he's supposed to be none of those things. And his dynamic with Liv was.. well, angsty and clumsy and heartfelt. This was such a great YA dystopian romance!

Nevertheless, I can't recommend this book enough, and ask that everyone please add it on GoodReads. I'm so proud of you Jill!

The Dividing Sky is one of the most emotionally intelligent books I have read in a while. There’s surprisingly little violence in the actual story for being such a violent world and it works really well. The author holds her reader through the story in such a mindful way.

Full of banter and relatable moments, I’d dare say that this book borders on cozy dystopia, if such a genre exists. There is definitely action peppered throughout, but the core of the story is in the humanity and connection of its characters. References to literature and an emphasis on the emotional human experience created such a delightful atmosphere.

The whole story is full of diverse characters, unexpected plot twists, and wholesome moments of human kindness and connection. It’s challenging to truly explain the things I adored most without spoiling some of the most delightful moments so I will simply leave you with this: please just read it.

Please let this book bring Dystopian back. I adored it so much!

I read a ton of Dystopian growing up and have been removed from the genre long enough that everything about this felt fresh. I think a new wave of challenging thought systems and authority is excellent for teens. Plus there's a great romance as the cherry on top.

I had so much fun reading this and am looking forward to more from this author. Plus, I haven't met a Joy Revolution book I didn't like so far. Way to go for this imprint.

Recommended for teachers looking for a fun read for high schoolers, while also able to tie some great lessons in. I hope a resource comes open to teachers for this book. It would have an excellent educators guide along with it.

I already had very high expectations for The Dividing Sky, but this book absolutely shattered them! I devoured it in one day, but I had to wait a full day to write my review because I'm genuinely struggling to process it—in a good way.

Jill Tew's debut is a cozy dystopian story (yes, please!) that also introduced me to an incredibly imaginative world, which somehow also managed to terrified me about the future. The world-building is conceptually superb. In fact, the world Tew has created just POPS the moment you open the book. Even with all the care put into the world, the characters were also fantastic, making The Dividing Sky one of those rare dystopians that focuses on both the concept and the world, without forgetting about the people who have to live and interact within it.

The Dividing Sky is dystopia done to absolute perfection. So, if you're a fan of the genre and/or if you are looking for a story with incredible world-building, amazing characters, very fun mechanics, a great romance story that also manages to be action-packed, and a tale that is simultaneously cozy and makes you hope that our world will take a different path, Jill Tew's debut is going to blow your mind!

A cozy dystopian sci-fi??? I know, I know, I didn’t believe those words could make sense together either. But somehow Tew has created a totally realistic dystopian future and a totally cozy plot within it. Like… I wanted to stay inside this book forever and I have no idea how she made that happen.

Please someone greenlight a sequel because I need more of Liv and Adrian!!

I absolutely devoured this YA dystopian romance/adventure! It brought all the feels--excitement, intrigue, swoons, action, twists. I really enjoyed Tew's imagined future, though I sincerely hope that's not where we're headed! I read this a few months ago, and I think about it often. The characters were lovable, vivid, and sympathetic, and I found myself rooting for them so hard! This book is so well written, I've recommended it already to several people. If you enjoy dystopian sci fi and a perfect blend of action and romance, you will love this book, too.

Dystopian is official BACK! And this time, it's cozy! I truly couldn't love this book more. I can't wait for the booktokers to get their hands on this one. Poignant and thoughtful but also whip smart. I usually feel ridiculous saying things like "a modern classic," but if the shoe fits...

Gosh this book, it's so incredible. The world building is so vivid and so well thought out. The characters are beautifully crafted, complex, and thoughtful. They will have you rooting for them from the very beginning, and the story line is packed with action, romance, and more. This is such an incredible dystopian novel and I can't recommend it enough. Buy this book. Seriously. It’s so fritzing good.

GOD I MISSED DYSTOPIA. In this fascinating world, where a culture of constant productivity has a very human cost, where the rich experience life through human proxies, where people trade scraps of memories to get by, where food has become blocks of nutrients that keep a body alive but never satisfied, Tew has woven a poignant and tender enemies to lovers romance that is ultimately a story of human connection. Packed with action, clever worldbuilding, and heartfelt emotion, we're reminded of what makes us human and that joy is a form of resistance. 5/5 WOULD RECOMMEND.

You heard it here first -- the return of YA dystopian starts with this book. It's so incredibly well-done on multiple levels -- the slow-burn, poignant romance; the unique and fascinating world-building; the deep sororal and platonic bonds of our two MCs; the clever critique of a capitalist society which prioritizes wealth over individualism, to the detriment of all its citizens; the beautiful prose and dryly funny dialogue. It's an absolute masterpiece, and I'm so thrilled to have been given the privilege of reading an early copy. Mark this one as a must-have because you do NOT want to miss out on this read!!!!

The Dividing Sky is the fresh breath of dystopian air I’ve been waiting for. This unforgettable sci-fi romance has it all; genius world building, beautifully crafted characters, a surprisingly cozy atmosphere, twists I never saw coming, and a romance that is so sweet and swoonworthy, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.