When We Were Real
By Daryl Gregory

This is a very bizarre book. You will either love it or hate it – or maybe lose your way in it. While the story is not always easy to follow, the messaging leaves you with much to ponder.

The world, seven years ago, received a profound Announcement – it is not "real" but actually a simulation! Chaos ensues, societal norms crash, and life as we know it becomes a giant question.

The story revolves around a tour bus trip to visit the Impossibles – a series of wonders, totally inexplicable, which have suddenly appeared in the world. The tourists are a motley crew. A cancer-stricken engineer and his best friend; a nun, a novice, and a rabbi; a Taiwanese who does not interact but reads quietly in the background; a Podcast wannabe, his son and a very pregnant Influencer; an old woman in constant pain and her daughter a nurse; and four Octogenarian friends from Oregon. Aneeta, the new tour guide and Agnes, the driver, round out the tour bus cast. Then there is Gillian (a/k/a Margaret) who crashes the tour bus one step ahead of her would be murderers.

There are other characters who appear during the tour – various government agents; terrorists; and people who seem to be able to travel among various simulations to help the people caught up in this one.

While the plotting makes you feel like whiplash, there are several ideas for the reader to explore. Does God exist? Or only the controllers of the "sim"? Is it better to be very sure of what we believe or to be open to a variety of ideas? What is our purpose?

I was left with one question at the end of this book: is the unfinished quality at the end intentional – or is there perhaps a sequel to come? Either way, this book is well worth reading.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Can AI become self-aware? This is the question that kept rolling through my head as I read this story.

WHEN WE WERE REAL gives us a large cast of characters with a lot going on. It’s difficult to keep up at first, but soon everything comes together. The story is meant to make us question reality and what it means to be human, and it excels in this mission.

I alternated between reading and listening. Ari Fliakos does a fantastic job with the narration, bringing the characters to life.

*Thanks to Saga Press for the free hardcover copy, and to Simon Audio for the free audiobook download!*

Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, & NetGalley for the free book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

When I say I have never read a book like this, I mean it. The cast of characters is overwhelming, yet the chaos adds to the charm of the story. Reading this book is like knowing how it’ll end but not knowing how it’ll all fit together and it was fun to figure it out. Nothing happened in the way I thought it would but I loved it. I think I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time, especially with how it makes me feel about life and living.

Be mindful of TW; this book contains a mass shooting scene and features gun violence.

“Eadem mutata resurgo. Although changed, I arise the same.”

3.75 - Thank you so much to Saga Press for the complimentary copy of this book!

This book is out now!

I am trying to broaden my reading this year and being a part of the Saga Says Crew is going to ensure that I do just that. I thought this book sounded interesting and enough for my wittle brain to handled. And well I was able to follow for the most part but towards the end I was a little confused as things started to unravel towards the end.

This book had a cast of characters! You meet a whole slew of folks who are on this cross country trip to see all these "Impossibles" which essentially were glitches in this simulated world that appeared 7 years ago. I would compare the Impossibles to the 7 wonders of the world except that they are all in the US. The characters were all so different and yet they are forced to be together on this long journey across the US.

I do wish I tracked who was who when I was reading just because I was not listening consistently and I kept forgetting who was doing what with whom. But when I would do bigger chunks, I didn't have any issues with following. I thought the whole idea of living in a simulation was fascinating! Especially with the way technology is vastly approaching to take over everyday life.

I read this one primarily via audiobook which occasionally I would read the physical copy that I had. The narrator was a new name to me, Ari Fliakos, who did an absolutely phenomenal job! I wish he could narrate all the books I read that has multiple point of views. He really nailed the voices and I especially loved his voice for Dulin. Highly recommend listening if you read this!

This is only my 2nd Sci Fi book and I enjoyed it way more than the other book that I have read. I am happy that I read it and I would read this author again.

If you are looking to go outside your comfort zone or enjoy Sci Fi books, give this one a try!

The plot of the book was decent and it was a unique spin on simulation theory. I am having a hard time explaining why I didn’t love it.

It was hard to pick up. I guess I was kind of bored with the story. It had so much potential, the characters were all really interesting… maybe it was just poorly written? Poorly executed? I dk. It just left me feeling meh.

Wonderful story! Very clever and well written. Not something I expected to like so much. I don't usually love this genre, but I really liked how this one played out.

This was a creative book that was a little out of my element but I really enjoyed it. It was told in multiple povs, some of which I liked better than other but overall it was good. There was a lot of chaos, emotional moments and real world moments throughout this! I was a little overwhelmed in the beginning with all of the characters being introduced right away but it quickly worked itself out. Overall I would recommend!

Thank you Saga press, imprint of Simon & Schuster , for the free copy for review!

Almost as if The Sims were a novel. This story was so interesting. Definitely enjoyed this book in all its weirdness. Some points were a little weighed down but overall kept my interest. Will recommend.

Daryl Gregory’s When We Were Real is a mind-bending journey through the boundaries of identity, memory, and the human experience, blending hard science fiction with deeply philosophical themes. Gregory crafts a world that challenges our perception of self and reality.

The novel follows the story of human clones struggling to define their individuality in a society where the lines between human and machine blur dangerously. Gregory blends scientific curiosity with emotional depth, making the reader question what it truly means to be “real.” The characters are complex and the plot is driven by both psychological tension and fast-paced action.

One of the standout aspects of the novel is its exploration of consciousness and personal identity. Gregory masterfully raises questions about the nature of the soul and the cost of technological advancement without ever feeling preachy. The world-building is equally impressive, filled with plausible yet imaginative technological advances that ground the speculative elements in a chillingly believable reality.

However, the novel’s intensity and philosophical depth might feel overwhelming at times, making it a challenging read for those looking for lighter fare. Yet, for fans of literary science fiction and those who appreciate stories that stretch the boundaries of the human mind, When We Were Real is a gripping, thought-provoking masterpiece.

A must-read for sci-fi enthusiasts who appreciate stories that blend cutting-edge science with profound human questions. I would recommend When We Were Real to my sci-fi loving friends.

# NetGalley #WhenWeWereReal #DarylGregory

🐑🚌🌪When We Were🌪🚌🐑

R🌎 E🌏 A 🌍L

Buckle up and get your tickets ready because we are going in a cross-country ride!🚌💨

Do you ever wonder if we are in a simulation? Or about the multiverse? Have you ever played the Sims and just watched them live their little virtual lives and thought 🤔💭 I wonder what all the other Sims are doing when I don't control them... Well, this might be the book for you!

This is Sims x Monty Python, and this is the best way I can put it. We follow multiple POV and what seems to be a joke (a Rabbi, a Nun, and some Cult members walk into a bar..) with a plot and a message. We follow a group of characters that are on a bus tour to see the glitches and meet the Avatar, without their knowledge that things are gonna go south.

This was a riot of a book, had me cackling while simultaneously contemplating my own existence.

What makes us HUMAN?

What makes us REAL?

I loved the cheekyness and how every character had their own mini arc and introduction, and the tunnel scenes were magnificent for each of them. This was such an awesome read that I couldn't stop talking about it to anyone who would hear!

This was my first read of this author, and it certainly will not be my last!

Thank you so much to Saga Press for the free gift book and an opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.

Well. I'm not even sure how to talk about this book.

Ok, so the world was revealed to be a simulation some seven years before the setting of this story. Of course it set people off with wildly different reactions, but it also caused impossible phenomenons to occur, and of course capitalism is capitalizing.

The story centers around a group of people on a tour bus visiting on these impossibles from the east coast to the west. We get to know each in their struggles, hopes, fears, doubts, etc.

And of course things fall apart in chaos.

But then there's also other timelines? And visitors from those.

So if you're into intertwining lives and scifi and a lot happening this might be right up your alley. For me it was interesting, but not a fav, I'd say a 3.5.

Ah!!!!!!!! I loved this so much. I was truly cackling so hard at parts and then sobbing uncontrollably at parts. It made me feel so much... and I loved every second of it!


Links to come.

Really enjoyed this. Bit of a slow start while the plot is laid out for the reader but once it gets going the story takes off quickly. Funny references and interesting characters. Satisfying ending.

Wow Absolutely phenomenal. I meandered my way through this book much like the cast of characters meandered their way through the Impossibles. It took me a while to finish not but it wasn't because it was boring or slow. Life has been crazy lately (whose hasn't) and I kept having to pause in my reading because this story kept making me think about life and all the questions it posed about it. Cannot recommend this title enough to fans of reality-bending sci-fi. (And this is a wild rec but--if you've ever played and adored the video game Star Ocean: Til The End Of Time? You're going to love this too.)

I enjoyed the concept of this book, but it wasn’t the style for me. The perspectives were unique, but it was tough for me to feel invested and overall felt like it was dragging.

Well written, but not for me.

One of my favorite books I've read for my podcast Strong Sense of Place is 'Spoonbenders' by Daryl Gregory. I recommended it in our Chicago episode. It's a mischievous novel about a very unusual family with superhuman powers — one is psychic, another is a human lie detector, that kind of thing. Reading that, you're probably thinking sci-fi — and you're not wrong — but the superhero-y aspects are an action-packed trick to lure you into a heartwarming and very funny family story. Daryl Gregory's imagination is super fun, and he writes characters that nestle right into your heart.

All this time, I've kind of thought of this book and its author as unsung heroes. But I went poking around his website. Turns out, lots of people are aware of his writerly skills. He's been nominated for all the big sci-fi awards, he won the Shirley Jackson award, and his books have appeared on best fiction lists from NPR, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and The Washington Post.

His new one seems to be headed in that direction, too. It's 'When We Were Real,' a quirky road trip novel set in an alternate United States. In the world of the book, seven years ago, we were all informed that we were living in a simulation. Now, two long-time friends are reeling from a cancer diagnosis and decide to take one last road trip. They're going on a bus tour called 'North America's Impossibles' — it's a week-long romp through glitches, anomalies, and miracles that appeared on that fateful Announcement Day. And because this is Daryl Gregory, it's not just a riff on the classic road trip novel, it's also a fresh take on the Canterbury Tales. The other passengers are a motley crew that includes two nuns and a rabbi, a professor who ran from a murder scene, a pregnant influencer on a quest to make her child famous, and someone referred to in the first chapter as THE READER.

I read the first chapter and was immediately hooked — then cleared my schedule for a day to read this book in one go. Daryl Gregory took me on a big adventure, then kicked me in the teeth with feelings — just like he did in 'Spoonbenders' — and I loved it. Highly recommended.

I recommended this book in the April 4 episode of my podcast 'The Library of Lost Time' - https://strongsenseofplace.com/lolts/lolt-2025-04-04/

I’ve long thought of award-winning author Daryl Gregory as a writer’s writer. He’s not only hilarious, inventive and a hugely talented prose writer, but a master of craft. Lift the hood on any of Gregory’s books and you’ll learn a lot about how the engine of a novel should run.

Gregory’s latest novel is no different. When We Were Real (Saga Press, 2025) follows an unlikely group of travelers on a bus tour of America’s glitches—the anomalies that prove they’re living in a simulation. It’s been seven years since the Announcement (and ensuing Freakout) revealed their world is nothing but binary code. What can’t be fabricated, however, is the friendship between JP and Dulin. When JP learns his cancer has returned, Dulin takes him on this week-long tour. Among the modern-day pilgrims on the Canterbury Trails Tours (get it?) are a pregnant influencer determined to make her child so famous he’ll never be deleted, a conspiracy theorist, a nun questioning the existence of God, and a professor on the run from a cult that takes The Matrix as gospel.

As the diverse cast of nineteen travelers barrels from glitch to glitch, Gregory dives deep into what makes each of these simulated humans tick. Even in this virtual world, these characters and their most basic human needs—connection, meaning, love—shine through, making this novel a delightful and heartwarming success. [Interview follows.]

Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for the advance reader’s copy.

This was FASCINATING. I love a good scifi/dystopian novel and this really hit the spot. I recommend going in a little blind and letting this book take you on its own wild ride!

Seven years after The Announcement that the world they are living in is a simulation, best friends JP and Duelin take a week-long bus tour to see all of North America's Impossibles. The Impossibles are a mix of physics-defying glitches and geographic anomalies that started showing up after The Announcement. JP and Duelin set off on The Canterbury Trails tour with their fellow passengers, a mix of 21st century pilgrims. All of them have their own reasons for joining the tour and they will have to face their own struggles along the way, as well as survive the threat of a group of sociopaths that take The Matrix as scripture, as they travel to their final destination, Ghost City.

When We Were Real is definitely an intriguing sci-fi story, with a variety of quirky, weird characters, and I loved it! Gregory explores the questions of science, faith, and messy human relationships. There is also a great level of suspense in the book, with The Professor's character, and the work she has been a part of and how she is trying to make things better for the future.

I found that I enjoyed the different stories, for each of the characters, the most. It was interesting to see all of their different personalities and individual struggles, and how they navigated relationships with their fellow passengers. The Impossibles were also a fun element in the story, as a kind of parallel to the Seven Wonders of the World. My favorite Impossible stop on the tour, was definitely the Hollow Flock.

The book also deals with heavy topics such as free will, the future of AI, the meaning of life, and creation. There is definitely a lot of thought-provoking questions and scenarios throughout the story.

I did find some parts or references in the story to be a bit confusing. And I also found myself wishing for a bit more information/resolution for all of the characters at the end of the book. After spending so much time with each of them, I was looking for a bit more of a conclusion to some of their storylines.

Overall, When We Were Real is a fascinating sci-fi story, that I definitely recommend if you love quirky characters, humor mixed with heavy hitting moments, and what it means to be human.

A funny, heartwarming, feel good story of friends, old and new! I enjoyed the different POVs and being able to see the world through each character’s eyes. I loved the mixture of contemporary fiction with the sci-fi element of everything we thought we knew being a simulation. An interesting concept that was executed well! This wouldn’t normally be on my radar so I’m extremely grateful that Saga Press sent me a copy to indulge in.