“Reading helps me imagine what it might be like to laugh harder, scream louder, love deeper. To live fully for myself, and no one else, at least in my dreams.”

This book offers a nostalgic return to the young adult dystopian genre of the 2010s. I really appreciate the dual points of view, which provide a deeper understanding of the characters. It's a strong debut with a refreshing cozy dystopian atmosphere. The story explores themes of living life fully and self-discovery, with beautifully crafted world-building and characters.

Watching the characters grow and make the right choices is also captivating. The found family theme was a wonderful aspect, though I wish it had been explored more. My main regret is that the romance develops too quickly, spanning just a week. Despite this, I enjoyed the writing style and the way the story unfolds. One of the moments I cherish most is when Adrian takes Liv's book with him everywhere, staying up late to read it and filling its pages with doodles that capture their shared memories, helping him feel connected to her. It’s such a touching and endearing scene, filled with warmth and tenderness. It reveals just how much he values her book as a piece of her soul. He clearly understands that the book symbolizes a deep part of who she is, and his actions beautifully reflect the emotional connection he feels towards her. If there is a sequel, I’m eager to explore more, and I’ll definitely pick up the next installment if available.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! The Dividing Sky was a fantastic debut novel that I'm sure will bring back the YA dystopian genre. It was so creative and so immersive. I'm really hoping for a sequel!

The Dividing Sky had everything I love about dystopian! It was a futuristic world that felt all too real and more plausible than I'd care to admit. I would follow these characters anywhere, in the Metro or to the Outerlands, just to spend more time with them. I truly hope The Dividing Sky is the start of the dystopian comeback we've all been waiting for. It is the perfect balance of dystopian nostalgia while feeling fresh and accessible to readers new to the genre.

The Dividing Sky brought me back to the Dystopian era of the 2010s, and I want to go back and never leave!

We are thrust into this world where everyone works to live and lives for Life Corp.

The world building *chefs kiss*, our characters, and all the challenges they face against the corporation played in my mind like a movie. This book really reflected on the hardships normal people face in a world where truly evil corporations have their way, but as human as we are we find a way to fight back and find that light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m telling you… the comeback for YA dystopian books starts right here.

THOUGHTS

This book feels classically YA dystopia in a really fun way. It might not be as poignant and impactful as the heavy-hitter dystopian books that launched that craze a decade ago, but it still strikes a good balance between social-critique and romantic-pining. It's fun. It's quick. It wasn't profound, but I really enjoyed it.


PROS
Classic: This book has a classic YA dystopia feel in the best way. It's got dual perspectives for each of the love interests. It's got stratified social classes and governmental roadblocks for clawing your way out of the poorest districts. It's got advanced tech and an untouched, "dangerous" natural world outside of the dystopian regime. In short, it has all of what made the initial dystopian boom so fun.

Rock-and-Hard-Place: What I love about this book is the fact that, since we get both perspectives, we can really see why these characters are making the (often rather bad) decisions they are. And even if I knew, as a reader, that this decision was bad... it also made sense. The decisions made make sense from a character perspective. We know more than the characters. We have less faith in the system than the characters. We can see how these choices are going to go horribly, terribly wrong... and yet we're hoping that they don't, because we can't really blame the characters when things do go predictably awry.

Found Family: Though I do wish some of these side characters had been given more time on the page, I absolutely adored the found-family element of this book. As much as it feels classically YA dystopia, this addition really elevates the story. Having that sort of kinship, those bonds and familiar banter, makes the central romance feel less isolating. In a genre that tends to be painfully individualistic (and consumed by a romantic "subplot"), this is definitely a refreshing twist.


CONS
Drug Usage: Hey, it's a dystopian world. Things are bleak. Life is hard. And the government may or may not be doing a bit of chemical-psychological warfare on the people. So casual drug usage to escape it all feels pretty par for the course, right? But that might mean this book isn't the best read for those on the younger end of the YA spectrum. This is more of a parental content warning than a real con, just because it can be hard to find the right YA book for those just moving up from MG.

Why Would You Do That???: I do stand by the fact that the dual POVs are done so well here we can really understand why these characters are making the poor choices they do... with one notable exception. This is a mild spoiler that happens fairly early on, but do skip to the next con if you want to pick this book up without any preconceptions! SPOILER: Liv decides, once she has escaped the city, to store her memories away and give herself a day of peace. Which, on the one hand, makes sense since she is going through a rough patch, internally. But she's also outside of the city for the first time in her life. She has heard stories of deadly raiders, and she doesn't know how to live off the grid. So why, why, why would she erase any of her knowledge in this case? That's just such a strange decision to make when you're in a strange and unfamiliar place. This is the only thing that didn't make sense to me. Not at all.

Globalization: I don't like to nitpick too much when a book isn't meant to be particularly serious. This book has a message, sure, but it isn't really meant to be strictly realist fiction, right? But... you can't tell me that these off-the-grid raider communities have all the amenities that they do. In the contemporary age, we really have forgotten how much we have simply due to the global network underpinning our society. Once that collapses--or once you have to leave that behind--you're not out here with cayenne pepper and fresh cream cheese in a commune community in New England. That's just silly in a de-globalized world


Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7/10

Fans of Marie Lu's Legend will like this dive into a twisty sort of dystopian city. Those who loved Under This Forgetful Sky by Lauren Yero will like escaping the city confines to live under the stars.

This was fantastic. I cannot wait to read more from Jill Tew. This story brought me back to the earlier 2010s book era with popular and fun sci fi titles with lovable casts like The Lunar Chronicles, but The Dividing Sky is importantly written with a sharper eye to staying in your own lane and including diversity without being problematic. Besides the incredible representation, the romance was fun, the writing sharp, the story beyond engaging. I think this is going to be a big hit.

A fine read! Jill Tew's debut novel is amazing, and I absolutely cannot wait for more from this author. I have not read much sci-fi, and very very few sci-fi romances, and I'm glad that specific genre is growing, even though I' not much of a sci-fi or romance reader. The characters felt very layered and thought-out, and their relationships were very complex. The world building, on the other hand, definitely should have been expanded upon further! This world was such an interesting part of this novel and it was never explored as far as I wanted it to. Another hundred pages of just straight world building and exploring the dystopian future this book suggests would have definitely made this a five star. If you're a fan of Winter's Orbit and the Blood Like Magic duology, The Dividing Sky might be for you.

This book helped me out of my reading slump. I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoy scifi/fantasy books that throw in a little romance. LifeCorp made me think of Amazon and what could happen if Amazon were to bailout cities. So many concepts of this book felt very close to home, like the productivity scores and getting thing delivered as fast as possible. Characters were refreshing, storyline well thought out and pit together. I would have loved more on Reem and Arthur and more world building of the Metro. I’m ready for a book 2. I just want more in general. Overall an excellent read, loved Liv and Adrian

YA dystopian is making a comeback and THE DIVIDING SKY needs to be on your tbr!

THE DIVIDING SKY takes place in a hyper-capitalist world where productivity controls everything and everyone. everyone is too busy being productive to enjoy anything— even the food is streamlined (and gross).

liv is a proxy who uses a neurochip in her brain to transmit memories and feelings to others. when she starts transmitting extra memories on the side for some more money, the government needs to immediately put an end to it and sends their handsome rookie to stop her.

THIS BOOK YALL. it had all the dystopian vibes we know and love (aka the world hitting a little too close to home) plus a super cute slow-burn subplot. i loved tew’s commentary on hyper-productivity, the use of short-form content as a dopamine boost to keep going, and how everything is not always as it seems in two-sided conflicts.

the world is fully fleshed out, and the idea of proxies, those who do the *actually important* things in life for others so they can continue to work themselves to death is unique and innovative (b*zos and el*n pls don’t get any ideas).

i was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t turn my pages fast enough, there is a countdown element which is something i love in books because the lead up to disaster is *chefs kiss*

the dual pov consists of liv, our empathetic reader FMC and adrian, our boy who is so down bad for her (but doesn’t want to admit it)

ALSO, a micro-trope i never knew i needed: HE ANNOTATES HER BOOK SO THAT HE CAN FEEL CLOSER TO HER 😭 — like ?!!??!

if you’re excited for the YA dystopian renaissance be sure to pick this one up in october — i’ve already pre-ordered my copy and i’m excited for what tew releases next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

thank you to @netgalley, @joyrevbooks, @jtewwrites for a free ARC in exchange for a review. all opinions are my own.

I love how much Jill makes sci-fi accessible in this well crafted YA dystopian romance. Building a world is no easy task, and the scenes we’re in for The Metro and Outerlands are distinct and immersive. The technology and operations make you ponder over the future of society and who the real enemies are. Nothing is black and white and I enjoyed that complexity!

Thank you Jill, NetGalley,and Random House Children's for the e-ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Back in my dystopian era! I read so much dystopian in high school that I stepped away from the genre for the most part and only pick up a few here and there. Boy am I glad this was one of the chosen! I was intrigued the whole time. The world building was well done. In my opinion the best dystopians are the ones where you can see how the world got to that point and there were definitely elements where I could see reflections of how our society views productivity, efficiency and class structures. I also loved how the terrible things about the corporation was revealed as the characters discovered them and you realize they aren’t just overbearing they are bad.

I was a little confused on the timeline of when the corporation took over but that might just be me missing dates/years and such a minor detail that it doesn’t take away from the story.

The romance isn’t the main plot, but it’s also not really a side plot since it drives several big elements. This was my one issue with the book because I wasn’t totally sold on the romance until maybe half way/three-fouths through the book. It started off very “we met once and now I can’t get you out of my head even though I know nothing about you”, which isn’t normally my favorite but once I got into the meat of the story I was more invested and it wasn’t something that bothered me enough to take away from the other plot points.

Lastly, I liked that it didn’t end with the teenagers overthrowing the government in the span of one book (I’ve read too many that solve everything so fast), but it set up how they are working with other groups to break free of the society they are in.

Overall I would recommend to all YA dystopian readers! And I think even non-dystopian readers would enjoy this one!

If you're ready for a dystopian revival, make sure to preorder this! It's a YA dystopian romance, set in a future where productivity is everything and people are exploited to spend their lives working themselves to the bone. Which just goes to show how dystopian has a way of showing the world for what it is by adding some sci-fi twists to something that's very much already a reality.

But this is part of the Joy Revolution imprint, and very much a YA romance, so it's also a fun, fast-paced read. These elements worked very well together to create a touching story with interesting worldbuilding that never became top heavy. I especially thought the element of "proxies", workers who take over what actually matters in life so the other people can focus on work, like childcare, relationships, and making memories, was so interesting.

In a dystopian megalopolis spanning the eastern seaboard, the government has succeeded control to a massive corporation where people employees rather than citizens. Under company rule, the haves outsource everything but working—even having emotional experiences—to the have nots. Liv has lived the company life since she was six months old when most parents give up their children to avoid a hit to their productivity credits. By day she works as a proxy, providing emotional experiences for the rich, and by night she uses the horrific memories of her abandonment to manipulate people for a crime boss to secure her own found family’s safety. Are you crying yet?!? I was! When a dying man offers Liv an outrageous sum to go beyond the company limits to see the stars for him one last time, she decides to risk everything one last chance at freedom for everyone she loves. And Adrian, a rookie cop with a complicated past and a jaded droid partner, is on her tail as Liv heads to the Outerlands. Only once he catches her, Liv doesn’t remember anything of her past and Adrian soon founds himself going from her captor to her protector to her true love. This book represents the best of science fiction—using the unimaginable to cast into question the choices and values we live in the present. Here it is how do we measure the worth of our fellow human beings—is it in what they can provide to us, how our lives can be improved through their labor and suffering, or are we all entitled to safety, protection, health, and hope by the very fact of our existence? Brilliantly done and all wrapped up in a lovely enemies to first love story.

The Dividing Sky is a wonderful leap back into the dystopian genre. The set up of life focused on joy vs productivity is relevant and engaging, providing a great message to young people.

The humor and banter is definitely a highlight that will draw teens in, as is the romance. If readers are looking for a light step into sci-fi that doesn’t get too technical and a book that centers falling in love unexpectedly, this is a fantastic pick!

Joy Revolution is such an apt name, and I’m excited to see what comes next!

I love a fiod dsytopian world especially with a Black fmc and this book gave me everything I needed, it read bwautifully and flowed amazingly. I loved the twist and turns and can't wait to read more by this author.

I’m a character and vibes person and this book was perfect on both. The twists surprised me, and i love when I think i can predict where it’s going but the author comes at me with something unexpected! Live Liv and Adrian!

I loveedddddd it. DYSTOPIAN IS FINALLY BACK

I can’t wait to see what else she writes

5/5 stars and I’m going to recommend The Doviding Sky to everyone

I love, love, LOVED this story! I had been craving a futuristic romance with a Black female character for months, and then I discovered *The Dividing Sky*. It's a cozy dystopian novel that truly stands out.

I loved the world building in this book. The concept of Proxies and the contrast between life inside and outside the Metro was brilliantly executed. Despite the dystopian setting, the author managed to infuse the story with light hearted banter that made it thoroughly enjoyable.

If you love dystopian fiction with angst, cozy moments, amazing world building, and a book with a beautiful cover, then you’ll love this novel.

Thank you, Jill Tew, for letting me read this ARC so early on. Your book is amazing!

AHHHH!!! Screaming because I LOVE this book!!! The Dividing Sky is an INCREDIBLE debut by the talented Jill Tew. I’ve been a fan of YA Sci-Fi since the Uglies Series and the Hunger Games, and there were so many moments in TDS that brought back that same buzzy excitement from those early reads. YA Dystopian is back! I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on this one!

From the jump, the world came to life on the page. The dystopian society Tew has created is complex, yet easy to envision with crisp details and vivid descriptions. The novel balances some of the bleak realities of this futuristic world with cozy moments of warmth, hope, community, and love. And speaking of love…

I absolutely ADORE the two POV characters, Liv and Adrian! Liv is smart, snarky, and so easy to root for. And Adrian is sweeter than a slice of carrot cake and a swoon worthy love interest. It was so much fun seeing their romance and this story unfold. Plus there are plenty of fun and sassy side characters that I couldn’t get enough of.

I highly recommend this book! And I can’t wait to read more from this author!

The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew is a dual-POV, cozy dystopian novel following Liv Newman and Adrian Rao in their struggle to find love and connection in spite of the Metro, a society that values productivity above all else. Liv is an EmoProxy, an enhanced individual designed to record emotions and memories then transmit them to the Metro’s wealthy for credits, sometimes illegally. Adrian Rao is a new Forceman tasked with hunting down the Proxy who is dealing illegal happy memories and bring her to justice. Adrian tracks Liv to the Outerlands, the wilderness outside the Metro, where they quickly learn that not only is there more to life than a productivity score and compliance through sedatives, but also that there is more to one another than meets the eye.

I had no idea cozy dystopian was a genre until I read The Dividing Sky. The very idea seemed incompatible; how do you combine a subgenre that is supposed to feel like a warm hug with another subgenre whose hallmark is making readers uncomfortable? But after reading Tew’s debut, cozy dystopian just might be my new favorite crossover genre. The constant pressure to be productive, even taking drugs to do so, is startingly reminiscent of corporate America, but the innocent romance between the two protagonists, along with the strong themes of finding freedom in nature, is intensely hopeful. In other words, Tew masterfully portrays the bleak despair characteristic of dystopian novels as well as the fluffy, adorable antics of a contemporary romance.

Ultimately, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was new and refreshing, yet retained aspects of both genres it claims. The language and themes were also appropriate for a YA audience; in other words, the novel explored themes and concepts, such as the constant need to produce and consume, in a sophisticated manner without being overly dark or graphic. I would highly recommend this novel to both YA and adult audiences, as well as anyone else who enjoys well-written science fiction.

If this book gets a sequel, I will be preordering as soon as possible.