Notes on Infinity follows two college students as they start a biotech company with the goal of helping humans live forever. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and following their progress (and missteps). At times it got a bit confusing with some of the science details, but overall I enjoyed the book.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Genre: Literary Fiction

Zoe and Jack are both students at Harvard University enrolled in an organic chemistry class. They immediately catch each other's attention with a little bit of competitiveness. At one point, Jack refers Zoe to join him in a professor's lab and the two become more than just classmates, they become colleagues. And then one day they believe they've discovered, on paper, an anti-aging drug, something that could really get humans close to immortality. Zoe and Jack start exploring this idea and find some truth to their data. They excitedly bring this information to an investor, drop out of Harvard, and form a start-up called Manna. Life changes very quickly for them with the company gaining a lot of publicity and Zoe becoming more of the outward face of the company and Jack continuing to work in the lab. But struggles are revealed behind the scenes and all their success and their relationship begins to crumble.

I loved the first half of this book SO MUCH. This was a 5 star prediction for me. I loved the chemistry/biochemistry vibes. It brought so many memories back of studying organic chemistry and being in the lab during my time in undergraduate. Zoe and Jack were really complex characters with their own backstories and baggage as well as a messy relationship. And I really enjoyed the writing style - how the POV switched half way through the story and the almost stream-of-consciousness style at some points was done really well. I was also so grateful to have the opportunity to listen to the author speak tonight and I loved her message about how everyone makes mistakes, even big ones, but we don't know everyone's back stories or their reasons why and understanding that people are human and to show a little empathy. That was really what this book was about. That being said, why my rating wasn't higher, in the second half of the book I really started to get vibes of a real life start-up company and that the fictional one in this story was going to follow in its footsteps in some ways and I was right and I just didn't want that for these characters. I wanted a different story, even if the one that was told made sense.

Thank you Celadon Books for the gifted copy and Celadon Books and NetGalley for the eARC and the opportunity to be part of #CeladonReadsTogether. The above thoughts and honest review are my own.

I thought this was absolutely freaking incredible. Everything about it. The story, the characterization, the emotions. The Harvard setting was so beautiful and it makes you feel like you are there. Feeling the juxtaposition between Zoe and Jack's lives made their connection all the more sweet.

I also really enjoyed the perspective switch that happened in the second half of the book. I was surprised when it happened, but it unlocked something in my heart to see things from the other POV. It also sheds so much light and answers a lot of questions the reader may have had in the first part of the book, where we only see Zoe's side. While seeing Jack's perspective was a treat, it also shattered me.

I connected with this SO much more than Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I hope Austin Taylor is feeling the love and zoning out people saying it's too similar, bc it is NOT! I found it unique and I wanted to drown in the writing. I have seen a lot of reviews comparing the two, and I do not agree at all. This was its own thing, it was brilliant -- and Gabrielle Zevin does not have a monopoly on writing start-up stories about young, smart people. Also like, this has legit (fictitious) SCIENCE IN IT! It’s science-y!! Not gaming?!? How is it the same?!? Zoe and Jack were everything, I fell in love with Jack. Sadie and Sam from Tx3?!? I did not.

I also sobbed my face off for the last 15% which I didn’t see coming. It’s obv I read too many mainstream books these days that leave off with cushy endings. Was unprepared for the emotions. I’m wrecked.

Jack I love you.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an unbiased review.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

I wanted to love this book. I'm in the tech industry, and outside of the scifi genre, there aren't many novels written about women in tech. But this book was just not great.

First off: For those critics who say it's a ripoff of Zevin's fantastic 2022 "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," I roll my eyes. Just because 2 novels are both about a young man and a young woman starting a tech company, does not make one a ripoff of the other (with that logic, every annoying Colleen Hoover or Abby Jimenez romance novel is a ripoff of themselves). T&T&T was about 2 people creating a successful gaming company in the dawn of the 1990s startup age; "Notes on Infinity" is about 2 people starting a biotech company. If anything, this book is a cheap riff on the Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos drama.

IMO, the first problem with this book was that its characters were lifeless. I didn't believe the FMC's "brilliance" for a moment; she was written as a typical middle-class white 20-something girl who appears in just about every romance novel. The MMC had an interesting backstory, but we don't get to hear about it until halfway through the book, and then not enough about it (IMO again, his story should have been the book's focus).

The second problem is that this book is a boring slog for the first half. Literally nothing happens until past the 40% mark; then everything happens, but yet the book still manages to be about 100 pages underedited.

The third problem is the terrible, pseudo-highbrow ending. It's as if the author didn't know how to end it, so she wrote ALL the endings, and threw them together as "Part VI: The Raven" (yes, it's quite pretentious). It's too bad because the story had the potential to end so, SO much better.

And the overall pretentiousness of this book is yet another problem. Do you have that friend who begins every sentence with "When I was at Harvard..."? This is the book equivalent of that friend. The very young, first-time author does not seem to know much about the world outside of her Harvard bubble (did I mention she went to Harvard?) and it shows.

This was a valiant first-time effort, but it just lacks maturity.

This felt oddly bland and uninteresting, from start to finish. I really don’t have any thought on this, only that I feel as if this is nothing but a collection of bleak words and bleak interactions.

I enjoyed this book! Those who have read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow will draw many comparisons. It definitely feels like a book inspired by TTT and Elizabeth Holmes, but also touches on the stresses of college students and the pressure to succeed. It was not "too sciency."

It hooked me right away, im a huge science girl so the whole academic side really did it for me. I will say it kinda lags at some points and the plot becomes a little repetitive but i would overall recommend.

Unfortunately this one was not for me. I didn’t connect to the characters and found myself bored after reading a fourth of the book. I wish I connected with it more.

I did not love this book. I hate saying that, because I know that the concept was a good one. It just didn't work for me. I was bored for the majority of the book, and felt like overall it was just VERY slow moving for me. Maybe the storyline just wasn't for me, but I wish that there was more. More of what? I dont even know. But more of SOMETHING, as I just had zero desire to continue this once I was a couple of chapters in. I did trudge through, and it just wasn't a hit for me. You might like this if you are interested in college labs, and academics in that regard.

Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor is a beautifully cerebral and poetic exploration of love, loss, and the cosmic scale of emotion. Taylor’s spare, reflective prose allows each phrase to resonate long after you finish. A quietly stunning meditation on life’s mysteries.

This book follows two Harvard students, Zoe and Jack, who have discovered the cure for aging. The promise of immortality is at their fingertips. I thought the concept of this book was very interesting, but I rated it just three stars. I believe the execution of the plot and the writing itself was average. I wanted more interesting character development from Jack and Zoe. Overall the last 1/3 of the book felt very slow. However, I am interested to follow this author to see how their writing and books improve and develop over time.

The best part of this book starts at 60%. The mostly first half has a TomorrowX3 vibe, but that was such an outstanding book for me so it was hard not to judge this one against that read. At first, I just couldn’t connect to the characters as deeply. But then, the plot takes a major shift as well as changes voice. It was riveting and heartbreaking. As this was a debut, I look forward to what this author.

This book was so ambitious for a debut! The beginning of the story was a bit slow for me, and it felt like there should have been more show instead of tell details to help the reader learn about Zoe and Jack and their project. I felt that the structure of the book was very similar to Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff in how the perspective changed mid-novel, however I still didn't understand Jack's motivation by the end of the book. Was it love? Was it money? Security? Safety? Was he a fraud the entire time? Maybe the author intentionally left these as unanswered questions but I found myself frustrated with the lack of clarity around his motivations. I was also surprised there was no mention at all of his diabetes in his side of the story. Didn't that deeply affect his childhood as much as the rest of the trauma he endured? The writing was really good, and I'm excited to see what Taylor writes next! For me, I wish this had been edited to be shorter in word count/page number, but overall I thought the character development was stellar and the atmosphere of what it's like to be at Harvard and in start up culture felt visceral. The themes of social class and intellectual class were really interesting.

I loved this book, even if it was painful at times to watch the decisions a couple of young people make that will impact their lives for years to come before they’re really equipped mentally and emotionally to do so. I cant say much more without giving things away but will just say that I loved the book.

Notes on Infinity takes you deep into the world of a Harvard undergrad chasing a future in medical research. At first, the scientific jargon can feel a bit dense, but it adds an authentic layer to the story and you don’t need to fully grasp every detail to get swept up in the plot.

This one blends business drama, a tangled love triangle, and childhood trauma, all building toward a twist you won’t see coming. The balance between personal drama and romance is spot-on. Jack’s love for Zoey is so consuming, it clouds his ability to see the truth around him.

Perfect for fans of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Very Bad Company, and The One That Got Away.

Thank you Celadon for the #gifted physical book as part of the Celadon Reads Together Initiative!

This one has a bold setup—a coming-of-age story set in the high-stakes world of STEM and elite academia, centered around the discovery of an anti-aging drug. It explores identity, power, and what we reveal (or hide) from the people closest to us.

I was all in on the themes, but the execution didn’t quite land for me. The pacing dragged for most of the book, and Zoe and Jack felt hard to connect with. The story finally picked up near the end, but by then, I was already worn out from all the science-heavy detail. I just needed more emotional pull earlier on to really care when it mattered most.

Deeply introspective and character-driven, this book seemed to slow time for me, even as the characters dove head-first into the exhilarating and fast-paced world of tech.
I enjoyed the technical aspects of their research and marketing, even as it snowballed into something out of their control as they relentlessly worked to create a pill that would reverse aging.

I felt like the last third of the book was rushed compared to the rest of it, but I still came away with a deep appreciation for Zoe and Jack’s characters and the conclusion of the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly, I'm not sure how to review this book, so instead of a more review-focused post, we'll discuss the reading experience.

At around 50%, I shared that I was bored.

Zoe and Jack, two Harvard students equally matched in intelligence and ambition, are working to develop a drug that almost stops the aging process. Not quite immortality, but a much longer life is promised to investors who are helping them grow a billion-dollar startup.

There’s a near manic, mad scientist feel to the story, and I quite honestly wasn’t sure where it was going.

Several readers encouraged me to hang on; a shift was on the way.

And that’s where this review gets tricky. How long do you stick out a mostly mediocre story for a fantastic ending?

The ending makes this book. But, truthfully, the ending needs the setup it receives.

When a shocking accusation is made about the research, the story shifts from a balance of character and plot to one that leans heavily on characters and their motivations. This is where it shines. The why behind all we’ve experienced suddenly left the story feeling emotional and complex.

There are definitely heavy themes of immortality, ambition, friendship, and love, but I also walked away with an equally heavy feeling about what it means to be known and to belong, a need for family, and a brutal reminder of the power of hopelessness.

I am about to make quite a stretch in comparing two vastly different books here, but Broken Country left me with similar feelings as Notes on Infinity. Most agree on the morality of the issues presented here. It feels clearly right versus wrong, and that the characters are to blame for all that befalls them. However, when an author can make me understand and sympathize with why (not necessarily agree with, but understand), I will always have big feelings.

And ultimately, Notes on Infinity left me feeling big feelings for days after finishing. Ultimately, I am calling this a win.

This was such an emotional book. I enjoyed that were given both points of views. It was something I wasn't expecting and it really helped me understand the decisions that were made in the book. I have been recommending this book for anyone in a book club, because there is so much to unpack and discuss. While I didn't always understand the science-y parts, I was able to read through them and it didn't take away from the book. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

NOTES ON INFINITY, Austin Taylor’s much-anticipated debut, was a great read for the Celadon Reads Together Initiative, prompting lively discussions within our buddy-read group as we were reading through the novel. I can’t compare it to the big one many are, as I have not read it, so I don’t have that frame of reference, nor am I science or STEM-oriented, which, I think, was a bit of a disadvantage for me with this novel. For me the premises were interesting, including the start-up aspect, but the execution was a little spotty. Zoe had a lot to live up to with her family, and the whole Harvard have-to-get-something-published-as-soon-as-possible is foreign to me. Some of Zoe’s early choices were disappointing, and, if Jack hadn’t had the coveted lab position so young, I don’t think she would have given him a second thought. I could also see how her involvement in the lab changed as things got bigger, but it was disappointing. There was also a big plot point early on that was part of a turning point, but once it was moved past, we never heard of it again, and that bugged me because it doesn’t just go away.
I can see why there are so many who love this, and Taylor has a bright future as a writer. I am giving this 3.5 stars rounded up, because, while I don’t feel like I am the best audience for this one, I know it is perfect for many, and I encourage you to pick it up and enjoy it.
Thanks to Celadon for the opportunity to read this in the Celadon Reads Together Initiative. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#CeladonReadsTogether #NotesOnInfinity