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!

Too often books like this -- with fantastic concepts -- fail to live up to the premise. Not the case here! The execution of this fascinating idea far surpassed my expectations. Not only was it thought-provoking with mind-boggling developments every hundred pages or so; it was populated by entertaining, sympathetic characters and truly hilarious banter. Already a likely contender for "favorite book of the year."

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory from Saga Press via NetGalley. It should be published April 1, 2025. How appropriate!

When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory explores one of my favorite theories, what if this is all a simulation? Would it change how you approached life? Is it that different from believing in a god that created everything and let it just play out? Or would you go on a cross-country bus tour to see the oddities the programmers created? That's what this eclectic group does. What happens next is not what anyone could have predicted. Things get crazy! Even crazier than learning that life is a simulation, and you are nothing more than computer code. I didn't really want to put this book down, partly because I wanted to know what happened next and partly because I liked noodling over the questions this brings up about life in general. Also, there is a good bit of humor so don't worry that it will be too serious.

Seven years ago it was announced that our world is merely a digital stimulation. That same day, physics defying glitches “the Impossibles” appeared. A group is now together going on a tour of the Impossibles.

I loved the concept of this and all the Impossibles. It was so creative. I enjoyed reading about each one and wish that was even more heavily weighed on. At first I was put off by all the characters, but I quickly got to know them and they were all different; a few very hateable. It was slightly longer than it needed to be but it was a fun read.

“Why was anyone shocked that the world was not in our control, and that nothing we did mattered? The simulators could hit reset at any time, or climate change would kill ya. Same difference.”

When We Were Real comes out 4/1.

This book pretty much checked all the boxes for me! It is a great speculative story with fun sci-fi elements. This story picks up seven years after humanity was told that they have been living in a simulation. Getting that answered spurs way more questions than answers and the characters of this book all grapple with this information differently.

The variety of characters are brought together on a bus tour that’s traveling cross country, visiting the newly appeared “Impossibles,” which are geographic miracles that defy physics that are sprinkled across the country. And each one is stranger than the last.

One of the passengers is a professor with quite the backstory that is revealed as the story unfolds. She’s embedded herself on this bus tour to hide from a group of young men who believe the Matrix is real and that’s the simulation they’re inside. I loved the references to the film franchise in this book and adds a ton of entertainment value - and great context of a simulation if you’re familiar with the films.

Other characters include a young pregnant social media influencer, a couple of nuns, a rabbi (no I am not setting up a joke,) a pair of middle aged men BFFs (the story is mainly centered around these two guys) and octogenarians who always want to get it on.

Overall all the characters are strong and the plot is great. There are some crazy theoretical sci-fi parts that center mostly around sim theory and computer science. But full grasp of these isn’t essential to following the book and they’re kind of fun, if you ask me!

Thanks to Saga Press, Netgalley and Daryl Gregory for the complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest feedback.

Are you looking for an adventure? Well then, hop on the bus for the North American Impossibles Tour, an eight day ride through the physics puzzles of the land—you’ll see the Frozen Tornado, the Hollow Flock, the Zipper, and Ghost City! It’s the tour guide’s first day on the job but don’t worry, she’s got anxiety and a binder to guide you. It’s been seven years since the Announcement that we’re all actually living in a simulation, and the simulation has started to, well, glitch. But now that everyone’s done freaking out about it, we can monetize that, right? Right. On board is a cast of vibrant characters—narratively referred to by their archetypes, like THE INFLUENCER, THE RABBI, and THE HONEYMOONERS—that are either going to band together or do severe psychic damage to each other. Daryl Gregory’s latest is an absolute riot and a joy from the jump. As the characters wrestle with reality (and each other), we’re taken on a whirlwind tour of weirdness. And I, for one, could not be more ready to go.

Who's up for a scifi road trip? A Hitchhiker's Guide-style romp through The Matrix? Or maybe a futuristic retooling of Canterbury Tales?

Sound like fun? Sign me up!

"Begin again! Yesterday is just information to help you decide how you want to live today!"

(The Reader is my favorite character. 🤫)

Highly recommend this one! Just enough weird mixed with just enough sentiment! And a little Wonderland for the icing on the cake!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
If you love dystopian style books, this is it.
The detail of the characters is so well written, descriptive and the adventures really make yoy wonder if this is where society is headed in the future.
This book will definitely keep your attention.