Daryl Gregory is one of those few writers who seem to have an almost supernatural insight into the human condition, and in WHEN WE WERE REAL, those powers come out in full force. What, on the surface, reads like an "okay, but WHAT IF" sci-fi romp with a cast of borderline caricatures becomes a sharp finger, poking the back of your brain. It is definitely the type of book that Xing-Xing would reread, a flexible narrative that bends and twists with every visit. An Impossible all its own. Highly recommended.

All aboard a cross country trip to see the "Impossibles" of North America as we follow a really random group of individuals (a nun, a novice, a rabbi, father/son duo, honeymooners, a prego influencer and many more!)

Each Impossible is a glitch in the matrix. You heard that right. We are all in a simulation and now there's some errors in the code causing some very unique and fun site seeing events to venture to. As we jump to different POVs throughout the novel we learn how each characters is connected to this trip and the simulation. This novel really gets your gears grinding..... what if we are currently in a matrix of our own? What's your thoughts on our creators? One of our characters is faced with a crucial choice..... how do we get out.

Thank you Daryl for such a love fun humor's book especially during such scary times. Maybe we are just living in a different version of a simulation. Time to break the system.

Thank you, Saga Press for the ARC! #SagaSaysCrew

I loved the premise of this book – a tour bus full of characters on a cross country trip, stopping to see all of the “impossibles”. Seven years prior, the Announcement revealed that all of existence is actually a simulation (I love that this wasn’t a reveal, the characters already knew which was unique!). The “Impossibles” are glitches in the simulation and of course double as tourist hot spots. Sound confusing? It is a little at first. There’s a fun seating chart at the beginning of the book and I thought that was such a cool addition.

Each person on the bus has a distinct voice and personality (and there’s a bunch of people!). At times, it was a little hard to keep up with but once you get into the story you start to get the hang of each character! Some of them I didn’t care for, but that’s to be expected when you have a cast this large. It got a little long and slow in the middle of the story, but picked up for the ending!

I had fun with this, and it was equally thought-provoking, which I loved. If you’re interested in the concept and you enjoy reading about characters and their motivations/wants/loves, I think you should read this! It publishes 4/1/25!

Daryl Gregory’s When We Were Real is a wild, funny, and surprisingly emotional ride through a world where reality is just a simulation. JP and Dulin’s last big adventure, a cross-country bus tour of “Impossibles,” bizarre physics-breaking glitches, sets the stage for a story that’s part sci-fi road trip, part existential crisis. The world-building is clever, the humor is sharp, and the concept itself is fascinating, making for a book that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.

The heart of the novel lies in its characters, from JP and Dulin’s touching friendship to the quirky mix of fellow travelers. Some perspectives are more engaging than others, and a few characters feel a little over-the-top, but the core emotional arc lands beautifully. The ending packs a punch, tying things together in a way that lingers.

Thanks to Saga Press for sharing this advance reader's copy with me!

What would you do if, tomorrow, it was announced that we were living in a simulation? That everything around you wasn’t actually real, but just code—made up of zeros and ones…

This story picks up seven years after a similar announcement. We meet a group of quirky individuals grappling with life in the aftermath, who decide to embark on a cross-country bus tour to witness glitches and geographic wonders known as “Impossibles.” Tour bus drama unfolds, along with plenty of introspection on the meaning of life.

This book was such a delightful surprise. I can’t remember the last time I read a true sci-fi novel, and this one did not disappoint. It was everything I hoped a book on this topic would be—thought-provoking, humorous, and full of heart. Each character was so well-developed—flaws and all. I loved how their individual journeys intertwined seamlessly with the overall story. The ending to me, was a bit bittersweet. I would have loved more details on a few things, but I can’t say much without spoiling it. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. A solid four-star read.

On a side note, I also loved how the author compared a woman’s period to a 40-year home loan. I’ve never read a truer, more brilliant comparison.

Great book that touched a lot of my interests. By virtue of coming in midstory, there was both a lot of exposition in the first chapter, but not enough (the author makes a conscious choice not to tell us everything about the simulation right away, which is a choice I respected). As a result, it took me a little bit to get into the story and to feel for the characters. Once that was underway though, I was fully invested and eager to read what happened next.
There were times where I wished I could sit more in this world, but the story moved me on before I was ready, so there were often things left unfulfilled. The relationship with the two nuns and the rabbi for example (or even the rabbi and the "sheep") felt abandoned at the end. I thought the older nun would be a bigger character than she ended up being.
Still, I greatly enjoyed it.

I have been granted an advanced copy of when we were real by Gregory Doyle at no cost for review by net gallery. All opinions and thoughts written here are my own. I was not compensated in any way for this review.
I have just finished reading when we were real by Gregory Doyle. As an avid science fiction reader I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Without giving anything away this book feels as if it was created using things out of The matrix and Terminator with a little bit of hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy thrown in just to smooth out the rough edges and darker patches of what might have seemed to be a little too out there. So it created enough cushion for the reader to just bounce along on this literary field trip. Gregory Doyle also threw in enough of today's jargon and text chatter that today's readers will thoroughly enjoy this book I believe, and maybe after reading this review, harken back to the previously mentioned works by other people. Thank you Gregory Doyle for allowing me to be one of the first passengers. Ann, a field trip like this one. I hope that you write other books like this and I would love to be on the passenger list of those tours as well.

The center of When We Were Real—the characters, mystery, and world-building—is thrilling, thought-provoking, and sharply written. Unfortunately, some of the side plots, mainly due to the characters involved, aren’t nearly as interesting.

It’s a smart decision to start with the characters already knowing they’re in a simulation. The novel can skip the reveals so common in this type of story and get right to the existential angst and moral questions associated with living in and being a part of virtual reality. Plus, part drama but also part thriller-mystery, the story still has a whole series of unique and clever reveals.

Each character on the tour gets some point-of-view time (though it isn’t equal), and, broadly speaking, the closer the characters are to the novel’s central moral questions and mystery, the stronger it is. ‘Gillian’, intelligent, fierce and already on the run at the start of the novel, is at the twisty mystery’s center. Her speculation on virtual reality and artificial intelligence is always intelligent and seemingly thoroughly researched. JP, the heart of the novel, and Dulin, his best friend, become the closest to ‘Gillian’ and are wonderfully realized characters. Their friendship is one of the most touching relationships I’ve read recently.

Beyond this, I didn’t find myself as engaged. Some characters are still interesting, but not as fully realized (4 stars instead of 5). I put the religious speculations of the rabbi and the nuns into this category. They’re more easily reduced to a few traits and their religious explorations don’t feel quite as well thought-out. The biggest issues are characters that are aggravating without seeming to offer any real insight (2.5 to 3 stars instead of 5). Lisa Marie Montello, narcissistic social media influencer, is the most prominent in this category. She often feels like a caricature and, at times, like a younger person being written by an older person.

Still, When We Were Real’s strengths thoroughly outweigh its weaknesses, and, if you’re intrigued by the concept, you should read it. The ending brings everything together with a surprisingly emotional impact, which I hope is setting up a sequel to delve even more into the world’s deep potential.

Daryl Gregory is my favorite author, but this wasn’t my favorite book of his; however, it was still pretty great. . The characters and their motivations were all very fleshed out, as was the world they inhabit. That being said, I wish the book had focused more on the “why” of the sims; what was the purpose of letting everyone know they were in a sim? Why was Utnapishtim given the chance he was given? What is Adaku’s overall importance? I know that the book was meant to be a small set of stories taking place in this large premise, but I would have liked more explanations. Maybe, like the book says, I just crave the solvable.

"When We Were Real" simultaneously bewilders and captivates. As someone who doesn't typically gravitate towards science fiction, I found myself irresistibly drawn to this tale of two friends embarking on a cross-country bus tour. The world-building is a masterful blend of the familiar and the fantastical; while rooted in recognizable elements, its fictional aspects initially challenged my comprehension. However, as I read more, the uniqueness of this imagined world began to unfold, revealing a landscape unlike anything I've encountered in literature before.

The true heart of the narrative lies in its vibrant cast of characters. Dulin and JP, our protagonists, are joined by an eclectic group of fellow tourists, each harboring their own motivations for this peculiar journey. Their interactions and escapades oscillate between hilarious and absurd, painting a rich tapestry of human (and perhaps not-so-human) experiences.

Gregory employs an intriguing narrative technique, breaking the fourth wall with an omniscient narrator who directly addresses the reader. This unconventional approach adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already compelling story.

The conclusion leaves me in a state of contemplative ambivalence, its implications still percolating in my mind. While "When We Were Real" may not conform to traditional sci-fi tropes, it offers an undeniably entertaining and thought-provoking journey through a world both strange and strangely familiar.

Thank you, Saga Press and NetGalley, for my free book.

I was not expecting to be sobbing at the end of this one yet here we are. What a fascinating read?!

When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory is a road trip novel following a group of people on a cross country bus tour that takes them to see Impossibles—unthinkable sights you wouldn’t believe to exist such as a frozen tornado—in a world where they have received earth shattering news that they are living in a simulation. This sci-fi novel deals with larger themes including grief, family, friendship, love, ethics in artificial intelligence, existentialism, and identity.

Review:

Like a few other readers, the writing style and point of view took some time to get used to and made the story a tad hard to follow in the beginning. After a small chunk, though, I was fully immersed and engaged in the story.

One of my favorite things about this book is the character work. I loved that the book switches between a fascinating set of characters who made me feel almost every emotion it’s possible to feel: anger, joy, happiness, sadness, elation. One character in particular made me want to scream and shout every time the POV shifted back to them.

As we get to know each character, though, we see that this book is a book that provokes discussions around existentialism and meaning—which is another element I loved because it forces readers to almost situate themselves in the story. What would you do if you were just told you were in a simulation? This is truly a reflective read—another positive.

After being told they are in a simulation, each character has reckoned with this earth shattering news in their own way. These characters with their own distinct personalities and journeys felt authentic to follow, which is of course due to Gregory’s character work.

Overall, I highly recommend this novel. It’s fun, entertaining, and very wild.

Thanks to Saga Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. This review will also be posted on my social media account (instagram.com/mediaonmedia) around publication day. I can’t wait to share this with everyone!!

This cross country tour bus is full of wacky characters, confusing architecture, and the occasional heart-felt moment. Also super weird, indestructible sheep. We follow a variety of characters: a man with cancer, a pregnant influencer, a truth-busting podcaster, a rabbi and two nuns, a tour guide on her first day at work. The best part of this is watching everybody grow into (mostly) better versions of themselves, interspersed with absolutely absurd attractions.

Things I liked:
The weird amalgamation of characters, the cool simulated experiences (simperiences?) and the character growth.

Issues I had:
It got a liiiiitle long, but that's my only complaint.

When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory was such an interesting story. I found myself completely engrossed in it for the most part.

The concept overall was really fascinating. Finding these strange glitches that exist in the world while learning more and more about the characters keeps the story intriguing.

I think the third person writing style did make me feel a little distant from the characters and it feels like a long book when you are reading it but the end really ties everything together.

I can definitely see this being a popular book and one I would recommend to people that like lighter scifi that feels more literary. While it wasn’t a perfect book for me, I know the audience I would recommend this to!

When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory is a highly recommended road trip novel melded with a science fiction tome and a buddy adventure. This is a highly entertaining, exciting, and frustrating read.

Seven years earlier came the Announcement which revealed our world is a digital simulation. After that, the Impossibles, the physics-defying glitches and geographic miracles started cropping up. The North American Impossibilities Tour through the Canterbury Trails Tour Company takes customers on a bus to sites caused by glitches in the code. The sites include in part a frozen tornado, anti-gravity geysers, a flock of sheep made of clouds, a tunnel that runs outside of time, a rectangular canyon where gravity reorients and Ghost City.

JP “The Engineer,” who has a brain tumor, and Dulin, “The Comic Book Writer,” have been the best friends for decades and sign up for the tour. Other participants who initially are introduced by nicknames, include: Janet and Patrice, “The Nuns,” Gregory "the Rabbi," Beth-Anne, “The Nurse,” Lisa Marie the pregnant "influencer," the proud grandmother, the reader, the Octos, the realist and son, the honeymooners, the tour guide, and the professor.

A seating chart for the bus is included at the opening of the novel and readers will learn the names of the participants, with the exception of the Octos. It may be a bit confusing at first, but everyone is given a distinct voice and personality. It becomes clear that they all have their own motives for taking the tour. The narrative unfolds through the point-of-view of multiple individual characters.

The premise that everyone is living in a simulation and they know it is intriguing and begs the questions who is in charge, can you change trajectories, and is it possible to delete things. Adding the glitches the Impossibles represent to the world makes it even more interesting. All the participants on the tour have their own reasons to take the tour and their discussions and experiences on the tour are in the forefront while they grapple with existential questions.

The action and personal journeys of each character expands beyond the road trip to confront even larger issues. This along with some of the discussions and actions along the way made this a frustrating novel. It is also, as I mentioned, highly entertaining.

When We Were Real is ultimately a literary novel that covers several different genres. This could provide lively discussions for a book club, assuming you could get it on the agenda. Thanks to Saga Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This was honestly such a fun retelling of the Canterbury Tales. I laughed quite a bit while reading this because the characters were just funny to me. I love how the son was embarrassed of his conspiracy theorist dad, that was honestly my favorite relationship I think. This makes me want to read more from this author. I also adore this cover.

Thank you to Saga Press for the early review copy!

First of all, thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free e-copy of When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory for review. I really enjoyed reading this quirky novel. Even though the premise ventures into the absurdly weird with fantastical elements, it never loses sight of the grounded beating heart of the plot. At the center is a loving tribute to how friendship and human connection can be the ultimate navigator in life.

Im sure this is a great book, and there's lots of great feedback, but I couldn't stand the constant switching of POV and third person perspective.

***Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this upcoming book***
This is the 3rd Daryl Gregory book that I've read and while I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other 2, it was still a very fun if confusing read.

The story centers on a tour bus full of colorful characters that are going across the country and stopping to see all of the "impossibles"....you see, it was announced that all of existence is in fact a simulation and these impossibles are glitches in the simulation that double as tourist traps. Yeah, this is a weird book.

This was 3 stars for me originally but it gets bumped up to 4 because of the really fun cast of characters and the sheer originality of it. The ending left me more confused than I was at the beginning of the book, but I just stopped overthinking about it and enjoyed the ride. Give it a read!

I've loved Daryl Gregory's work all the way back to The Devil's Alphabet. He's been one of my favorite authors ever since. I don't know anyone else who can make me think, make me laugh, and make me obsess over a story the way he can. So believe me when I say that I was incredibly excited to get the chance to read it. If you want the quick summary: This book is brilliant.

I loved the characters. I loved the Canterbury Tales references. I loved the twists and turns. I loved the humor, the mind-bending-ness of where the story goes, and I loved the ending. I don't know how Gregory pulls it off, but I'm now deeply obsessed by this book. I'm pretty likely to turn around now and re-read it all over again--that's how much I love this novel.

The idea behind this plot might seem a little depressing to you at first glance, but give it a chance, please. I think that it's ultimately an incredibly hopeful, incredibly joyous read, and you would be doing yourself a grave disservice to skip this one.

I was a little hesitant when I first started this book but once I got into it I loved it! I loved the concept it is so creative!! Sometimes keeping up with all the different characters is a little hard but that’s just me. I loved this book it checked all the boxes for me as someone who loves conspiracies!