When I heard this debut novel was being compared to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin I knew I needed to read it. However, it’s very much its own novel. This is a very creative novel. I loved the premise. There is definitely an addictive quality to the authors writing that I loved. I’ve never read anything like it is quite the genre bender.

I loved the campus setting and the characters. The author made very astute observations on race, class, ambition, and wealth. I loved that there was romance in it, but it was a different kind of love story. It was fascinating to see a start up story like this. Some aspects of the book may seem unbelievable but I truly enjoyed the ride. I will be thinking about Zoe and Jack as characters for a long time because they were so well written.

My only criticisms keeping this from being a five star read is that it is really science heavy. I had to google lots of terms. In addition, I think some of it would have been very confusing to me if my husband was not a bio PHD who worked in academia turned biotech employee. However, that could just be a me problem. The author clearly knows her stuff and even more so in reading the acknowledgments. It is truly one of the smartest novels I’ve ever read and the author truly did her research. Some of the end of the book was confusing with timelines. In addition, a lot of the Gilgamesh/Greek tragedy stuff was confusing for me. I will definitely be looking out for more of Austin Taylor’s books in the future.

A huge thank you to Celadon for granting my wish! I’m still shocked and honored my wish was granted. Thank you so very much! As always a thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to be an early reader. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

There are multiple parallels in this novel between the fictional life of the protagonist and the real life of a publicly disgraced female biotech entrepreneur recently convicted of fraud. The storyline makes for an interesting and tragic expose of the relationships between academia, research, and venture capitalism. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the brilliance of youth going astray without the tempering influence of maturity and perspective.

Zoe and Jack, two undergraduate students at Harvard University, both have promising futures in scientific research. They join forces to explore an exciting theory that holds the promise of increasing human longevity. Lured by the heady combination of power and money, they drop out of school to establish their own start-up branded “Manna.” Complex connections between friends, family and romantic partners are woven into the storyline as the trajectory of the company unfolds.

Overall, the novel kept me engaged, but it was not necessarily an enjoyable or satisfying experience. Neither Zoe or Jack were particularly likable or sympathetic characters, although the inclusion of Jack’s backstory in the latter portion of the book added dimension and understanding of his behavior. While I have a science background (health care), I suspect that technical jargon related to the theories and experiments may prove to be challenging for many readers. The end notes include many published references substantiating the premise of the book.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

A rollercoaster thriller debut, Notes on Infinity blends the high-stakes world of biotech with the vulnerabilities of early love and first jobs. Set against the backdrop of Harvard’s labs and Cambridge proper, the novel follows Zoe and Jack—two brilliant young minds who stumble upon a discovery that could change the direction of human life forever.

It's a touching and thrilling story! While Zoe hasn't had the difficult life that Jack faces, the glass ceiling still exists and her tenacity adds a personal layer that I loved. What was most touching however, was their connection—emotional and cerebral and it is the engine of the story. It's a thriller, it's a romance, it's a coming of age story.

This is not your average romance. It’s smarter, colder at times. The science is fascinating as is the trajectory of the biotech experience. If you like your fiction with ethical quandaries, scientific intrigue, and a dash of romantic ruin, this one’s for you.

#notesoninfinity #austintaylor #macmillan

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Celadon books for the ARC of this novel. I am emotional. Truly. This is the best thing I've read in a long time. I literally physically never wanted to stop reading it. I walked around with my Kindle while feeding my dogs, cooking dinner, ignored more text messages than usual to curl up in a chair and devour it. I loved this book. I am so sad it is over. I am having a hard time digesting it.

I have seen this novel compared to Tomorrow Tomorrow and Tomorrow which is a Top 5 best book of all time for me - and they are very much within the same vein. Which is an excellent thing. Notes on Infinity is its own unique novel though, and really hurt my heart but in a brilliant way.

I live and grew up (mostly) in Maine. It was interesting to see it in this novel and the picture the author paints of certain more impoverished, conservative parts of the state. You really can see the stars here .

This book is re readable, propulsive, and genuinely so special. I am gifting it, recommending it, and buying a physical copy of my own on release date.

DNF - I had high expectations for this book, but after starting it, my attention was not grabbed in the way I prefer. This is not necessarily a bad book, but I'm not interested in finishing it at this time.

I had some mixed feelings about this book. There were some things I really loved about this book and other things that made me a bit mad to be honest.

The writing in this book was incredibly captivating. You could kind of see it might be a train wreck I but it's one you don't want to look away from.

I liked the romance, I loved watching the relationships between the characters unfold. The story was super interesting, and I honestly was really sucked in for a while, it was just the end that didn't its do or me.

Loved, loved, loved this. The second half especially was even stronger than the first. But overall, just a really fantastic debut. I loved the setting, the science, the glamour and the intrigue, and then the final parts of the book...heartbreaking. Thoroughly enjoyed and will recommend widely.

Enthralling, ingenious; great at zigging when at first look it might feel like it will zag. Without wanting to spoil the experience of diving into this work, I'll say the latter half of this novel so elevated it for me, with some echoes of "Gone Girl" and "Rashomon" even. It swung high and delivered. I couldn't stop turning the page because of how practically each turn deepened characterization by reframing what had been told before.

"Notes on Infinity" has potent commentaries on how pop culture treats a lot of science nowadays (most especially the promise of breakthroughs), on hustle culture, on the diversification of science/academia (and lack thereof), on messy human relationships, on youthful/blissful ignorance, on that feeling of falling short through no fault of our own — and sometimes through fault of our own as well.
This is one I'd recommend widely to fellow readers.

Being "young and rich and brilliant and beautiful and together, infinitely [...] There was no more potent drug than the one they had".

After hearing so much about this new book/author, I am so happy I requested the ARC. This was an amazing first novel by Austin Taylor... I literally could not put the book down. Although some of the science was a little bit over my head, it was very well-written and engaging. I am looking forward to reading more by Austin Taylor in the future. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

4 stars!

I need to lie down. This is the rare novel in which you know exactly how it's going to go fairly early on but you know you'll stick around to see it out because the journey is as beautiful as it is tragic.

Zoe has never had someone like Jack, someone who complements her perfectly and someone with whom she can discover the path towards medicated immortality. Two ambitious, obsessive, genius young people...when has that ever gone wrong? Notes on Infinity originally caught my eye on some 2024 releases list because I will always cave for a story about ambition, obsession, and soulmates (platonic or otherwise). Right off the bat, I really liked the writing style and already know I'll be looking out for Austin Taylor's next novel, because this is just an incredible start. Having grown up in Silicon Valley with two parents who started in chemistry academia and eventually transitioned to tech, I feel this story in my roots. Zoe and Jack's paths don't run straight and yet they run exactly in the ways that they should as characters. I love a sad book, but the ending had even me staring at the wall a bit. My only criticism was that a significant portion of the second half of the book skips around time-wise and I had some trouble arranging events. I still am not sure I followed all of it, but it was stunning nonetheless.

This book gave me exactly what I wanted, and I will definitely keep an eye out for this author. I think it will strike a chord for a lot of readers.

Thank you to Austin Taylor and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

Happy reading!