Out of pure spite, I want to dislike a book by a young Harvard graduate about young Harvard students, but I could not put down Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor. The young people in question are Zoe and Jack, brilliant chemistry students vying for dominance in the competitive world of academic science. The novel follows them from a scientific breakthrough to business, with all of the angst and issues — expected and unexpected. Stylistically, Taylor makes interesting choices to shift POVs and writing patterns several times throughout the novel — some might find this disorienting, but I liked it. Readers of Lauren Groff, Charlotte McConaghy, and other literary fiction writers have a new author to add to their TBR list.

4.5 Stars rounded to five
Yes, this book has some similarities to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. But it has its share of differences. I do think that readers who enjoyed Tx3 will enjoy this one, too. Potentially setting this novel up to be a huge hit.

Zoe and Jack meet in a chemistry class early in their studies at Harvard. They quickly start work together in the lab of a renowned professor, and even more quickly ditch that work to embark on their own secret project. The project is pretty wild - “a cure to aging.” It starts as a theory and quickly pivots into work on a therapeutic drug. Venture Capitalists show up with bags full of money and quickly this propels Jack and Zoe into notoriety (especially Zoe.)

Both characters come to the table with a chip on their shoulders, which of course makes them more interesting characters. Zoe is the daughter of a physics professor (her brother steals more of the spotlight in her family.) Jack comes from a mysterious background, but it’s pretty obvious he has baggage.

Austin Taylor told a great story here - and I often had to remind myself that it is a STORY. A work of fiction. Because often, I asked myself “what the hell are these 20 year olds doing?! They’re making a DRUG? They are getting FDA approval? THEY ARE CHILDREN!” The one thing that I feel it lacked is that kids are still kids - even if they’re brilliant. They were pretty laser focused on their scientific project and didn’t really do anything else. Maybe I’m just too old now, I feel it’s super rare. But, the story is still really good.

Definitely read this one if you like Tx3 and/or have a science/nerd streak about you.

While it was a bit of a slow start, the pacing picked up especially in the second pov. I think jack’s part added a lot of depth and complexity. As well as emotions. The ending was heartbreaking. Pretty impressive for a debut.

DNF @ 41%

Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. It felt very science-y and I was constantly wondering how much I needed to absorb in order to enjoy the book. I kept waiting for their connection to feel real and in the 41% I read they didn't have much dialogue so I wasn't given much of a chance to feel their connection or understand it. The way it was written was a little confusing: sometimes it was written as if we were being told a story from the past and sometimes it was written in present tense. The timeline jumped around a lot, one paragraph it'd be the following week and the next we'd be two months down the road, then the next we'd be back in present time somewhere.

Thank you for sending me a copy of this to read and review!

(3.25 stars)
Notes on Infinity is a debut novel from Austin Taylor that is getting a lot of hype. If you don’t mind a lot of scientific jargon, this book may work better for you than it did for me. I wound up kind of breezing through the science stuff and letting it go over my head a bit, and that seemed to work out well, allowing me to focus more on the actual story. Having access to the audiobook version helped with that too, somehow. (Thank you, Celadon Books for both the hardcover, the ebook and the audiobook versions, as part of their Read Together program!)

Zoe and Jack meet as undergrads at Harvard; they are both gifted chemistry students. They wind up working together on an anti-aging drug as a secret project, ostensibly working under a mostly-retired professor, but really working on their own. They decide to drop out of Harvard to create a biotech startup, which gets a ton of interest from investors.

This is being compared to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, but I loved that book and didn’t love this one. On the surface, we have similar situations: two college students working together and forming a startup company, with a third student friend joining in. That book also highlights misogyny in the STEM field. But I think that’s really the only similarities. This story is extremely reminiscent of the Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos story and takes place at virtually the same time (mid-2010s).

There is SO much science and SO much Harvard. (I get it; the author went to Harvard!) I enjoyed the middle sections of the book the most. The beginning dragged for me (science talk!) and the end kind of felt rushed. And I never got really invested in any of the main characters (Zoe, Jack and Carter).

The audiobook narrators (Helen Laser and Shahjehan Khan) were quite good. We finally get some chapters from Jack’s POV near the end of the book and that’s when we hear Khan.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy and listen to an advance listeners copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

There was a lot that drew me into this book! The academic aspect, the venture capitalist-backed biotech start up setting, and curiosity about scientific views on immortality all interested me.

The writing style is a bit quirky, which I thought perfectly fit this story. Does it have Tomorrow x3 vibes? Sure, yes, but this is a completely unique story too.

Zoe and Jack’s relationship was so complicated yet so simple? There was a lot to unpack between those two. I was rooting for them, both career-wise and relationship-wise.

I felt invested through the whole book. In fact, this was supposed to be stretched out to be a 3-week buddy read but I flew through it and finished pretty early. The last ~15% of the book I just had to keep going! I lot happened at the end and I teared up.

I did mostly audio and the narration was well done. 🎧

Definitely recommend if you’re looking for:
🧬 academic setting
🧬 STEM
🧬 “Can humans really live forever?”
🧬 a unique love story
🧬 an ending that leaves you with tears in your eyes

♾️ “I don’t want to live forever. I just don’t want to die.”

Zoe and Jack, two students at Harvard University, meet while interning in biotech and collaborate on a groundbreaking discovery that could increase the lifespan of living organisms. They leave college, set up a start-up to research this concept further, and make rapid progress toward drug development, becoming wealthy in the process.

Overall a good character study, shows excellent handling of trauma, how difficult life is, and how complicated relationships ships can be. There was a lull at the 70% mark for me, maybe 100 pages or so that felt redundant. The shift in perspective from Zoe to Jack in the novel's second half adds complexity and depth, despite a slight decrease in pace. This novel is a literary romance, not a science fiction novel.

I switched between the book and listening to the audiobook version, primarily narrated by Helen Laser with a small contribution from Shahjehan Khan. The audiobook version was well-executed and enhanced the experience.

This book is a powerhouse debut. I received my physical and audiobook copies from The Celadon Books team as part of their Read Together Program, and despite wanting to pace myself for group discussions, I devoured this book in about two days.
The plot follows two Harvard students, Zoe and Jack, whose interest into chemistry and biology lead them to develop a theory that could potentially reverse the effects of aging. From dorm room study sessions and all-night lab experiments, these two friends are swept up in a whirlwind of bio-tech investment firms and end up dropping out of Harvard to pursue their vision. Will the science work? Will investors’ demands ruin their love for the field? Will their relationship change due to the influx of *millions*?
Taylor is a brilliant scientist herself who makes this book incredibly technically sound yet incredibly accessible to non-Science minded readers. Her strength in writing and deep characterization really cemented this book for me as a five star experience. There is so much emotion packed into this coming-of-age story with insecurities, friendship, first loves, familial expectations, jealousy, competition, patriarchal barriers and how fame and notoriety change one’s life. Even the secondary characters (roommates, siblings, lovers) were fully fleshed, and while I’ve read multiple reviews critiquing the book’s ending, I argue it is the book’s culmination that makes the story more compelling and powerful. I also cannot see how it could have ended in any different way!
Readers who enjoy contemporary fiction books with academic settings, flawed characters, descriptive/emotional prose, and plots that warrant discussions with friends absolutely need to pick up Notes on Infinity!

I was lucky enough to get to read this one as part of Celadon’s read along initiative for its publication. What a fun experience that was!

Ultimately, I gave this one four stars. It was closer to three than five and the reason was singular. The ending was terrible. But let’s start with what was good. The plot itself was really interesting, two Harvard classmates from two totally different walks of life become friends when they discover the secret to aging. The book than follows their rise and fall from success.

The characters were really well done. I loved Zoe, Jack, Carter, Alex, and even both families. Everything felt really flushed out and well done and the backstories provided depth and color and basis for the storyline. I was really excited to see where this was going and for the first 70% I was not able to put it down. The book was a solid five stars… and then out of the blue, the perspective changed from Zoe’s narrative to Jack’s and everything went to pieces.

What kind of ending was that? Not only was it rushed and out of nowhere, it didn’t make any sense. The actions of the characters went against everything the author had built them up to be before that point. It felt completely unfinished. I was severely disappointed and so I had to deduct a star for that reason.


Thanks to Celadon for the read along oppotunity and I look forward to reading more from this author as she mature’s a bit more.

This upcoming novel brims with potential and, for the most part, delivers on it. The story is rich, the characters pulse with life, and the dual points of view are confident and compelling. From the very first page, I found myself swept up in its momentum, eager to see where the story would go. There are passages that shimmer with insight and scenes that left a real emotional impact.

However, while the journey is often breathtaking, the destination is a bit less satisfying. The final act feels rushed and slightly undercooked, as if the author ran out of room or time to fully land the themes they’d been exploring. Key threads are either tied off too neatly or left dangling in ways that don’t feel intentional.

That said, the novel's ambition and craft are undeniable. Even with its flaws, it's a book worth reading and talking about. With a stronger ending, it might have been a modern classic. As it stands, it’s a powerful debut (or next step) that signals great things ahead for this author.

Big thanks to Celadon Books for the ARC and for letting me participate in the read together program! Wow! This book was absolutely gripping from start to finish. I typically read contemporary romance, so this was definitely a departure for me, but from the very first page, I could not put this down! The book has a lot of technical terms and chemistry details that were somewhat over my head but I felt like the book was still very easy to understand for anyone.
The book follows Zoe and Jack, students at Harvard who think they have the potential to create drug that could delay aging. Their personal relationship and the details of them creating a startup at a super young age with Venture Capital firms and all the details that go along with that were incredibly interesting. Zoe and Jack definitely come from different backgrounds and that definitely comes into play as well. The book definitely felt inspired by Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes, but the storyline has differences as well. I honestly can't recommend this one enough! Five Stars!

I read this as part of Celadons Read Together program. At first I was a little nervous about reading it because I kept seeing it was very similar to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow… however, after finishing it. It def was not.

The amazing author Austin Taylor is a brilliant Jane of all trades! You can definitely tell she has a STEM background while reading her writing. While I enjoy the FMC Zoe, I was super disappointed that Taylor did not write her as more of a powerful badass! I get that women in STEM have not been respected, but all the more reason to not make her take the backseat on her brilliant ideas and project.

This story was great! I loooved the concept of the Anti-Aging and always wonder if we as a society will ever get there??

I am not sure I loved the author writing a POV of Jack. I feel like it was good and it was emotional but then I also feel like it was just there.

My frustration with the book is it did read a bit YA for me… I didn’t love that. AND most importantly, I was frustrated on the ending. I felt like it was rushed and would have loved to have read more on the aftermath.

I def think a lot of people will love this one and overall I did enjoy it. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you Celadon for the gifted copy!

A thrilling literary debut by author Austin Taylor who delves deep into the lives of Zoe and Jack and their journey as Harvard sophomores to scientist dropouts to owners of Manna, and ultimately, their fall. For a debut, Austin Taylor's writing is really exceptional and impressive, and I can see that she really added her own scientific background as a Harvard science student.
While I was interested in Zoe and Jack as individuals, it was their relationship together that really shined through. I appreciated the greek and Gilgamesh input into the story, reflecting the rise and fall of Manna and Zoe/Jack.
This is perfect for fans of Gabrielle Zevin and I can't wait to see what Taylor writes next.

Thanks to Celadon Books for the gifted copy!

After days of lab work and nights discussing scientific ideas, two Harvard students, Zoe and Jack, announce that they're on the edge of having a cure for aging. They decide to drop out of college and pursue their research, turning their work into a full-fledged biotech startup complete with (a LOT of) investor money as their positive results come in.

As someone who is a biomedical engineer / woman in STEM, HOLY COW THIS BOOK WAS RELATABLE. From Zoe being mistaken as Jack's girlfriend instead of his research partner, to working in a male-dominated field, this was absolutely spot-on from that perspective. As someone who was also obsessed with the Elizabeth Holmes / Theranos case, I also couldn't put this book down. Accusations that might destroy the company they built?! Early success maybe not being all it says it is?! Totally, 100% in. I loved reading this book with the Celadon Readalong crew!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Harvard students Zoe and Jack make a huge 'discovery' -- a potential cure for aging. 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘖𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 details their journey as they dive into the high-stakes world of biotech and startup culture. The narrative follows quite a bit of their scientific path, but at it's core, the story really is about their personal journeys, love, and coming-of-age in a setting that is so distorted by ego, fame and fortune.

I have quite a bit of mixed emotions about this book. There were points in the narrative where I felt very disengaged (almost teetering to the point of boredom), and there were points where I thought the storytelling was genius.

About halfway through the book, the point of view shifts from Zoe's to Jack's, and Jack's point of view was difficult for me to get through. There was almost a stream of consciousness type element to it that just was a struggle for me. HOWEVER, there is a big bombshell that really made it come together and I think the narrative device was very effective if not completely enjoyable.

Although the ending is very emotional and somewhat dark, I appreciated it and felt it was a fitting ending to the story.

Overall, a bit of a mixed bag, but if you enjoy scientific reads, reads about startups/biotech with an emotional bent to them, I would recommend.

3.5 ⭐️ This was an interesting read heavily focused on science and lab research at Harvard.
Zoe is a bright student interested in the anti-aging field. She befriends Jack an equally brilliant science major. Their working relationship develops into much more.

They find themselves working long hours in a professors lab trying to develop a breakthrough anti-aging drug. They quickly form their startup, Manna. After all the investors, publicity, and hype around their drug, things come under question.

I enjoyed the plot and the characters of Zoe, Jack, friend Carter, and Zoe’s brother Alex. I was a little lost in the telling of the science research parts, but the story was engaging and kept my interest.
The last chapters were very emotional and sad.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A book combining future medical advances, the demands of surviving and thriving in that world, and young adults still trying to learn how to navigate friendships. This book gives good insight into the demands and stresses of the startup world and how your life can change overnight. A cautionary tale of if you aren’t ready for it, you may lose yourself, and others, along the way.

Thank you Celedon for my gifted copy!

“A moment is as long as you feel it.”

Look, I knew that when Chris Whitaker blurbed that it “stole [his] breath and [his] heart,” that this would be an emotional ride, but I did not expect to be doubled over with anguish at the end of this book. GOD. I want to rage and cry, and hug it tightly to my chest.

When Celadon approached me about participating in a group read for Notes on Infinity, I was skeptical this would be the genre for me. I struggle with literary fiction, and am not intelligent enough to understand organic chemistry and how it relates to biology, and thus editing things like the “aging gene” that is mentioned in this book. What the what? But Austin Taylor has this absolutely incredible way of writing that makes this subject matter accessible. And honestly, the science is secondary to what happens when young adults encounter millions of dollars and fame.

Our group had three weeks to read this book. One of our members quickly came up with a clever chart with a reading schedule to keep us all pleasurably on track.

And.

I finished it in less than 24 hours. Sorry guys. I was on day 13 on day 1.

This book is THAT good. This book tortured me. I knew the trajectory it was going, because it’s a tale as old as time, but that didn’t mean it didn’t bring me to my knees, because it did. I was so in love with these characters, that any tribulations they faced were my own.

I cannot encourage you enough to read this book, even if you think it might not be for you. This is going to be one of the buzziest books for the remainder of the year, promise. All the freaking stars and hearts.

I am absolutely too old for this book. When we explore tech you almost instantly lose me but I’ve enjoyed a few like Hum and Dead Money that hinge on strong plots, Notes on Infinity is relevantly themed but I just had the hardest time connecting to the story and characters.

This is very much a me problem. I think the under 35 crowd will love this one.

I barely passed chemistry in high school and was so happy to never have to take it again so you can’t blame me when I say that some of the scientific jargon in Notes on Infinity went over my head a bit. Jack and Zoe, two twenty year olds in college, leave their lab jobs to work on an experiment that Zoe has developed that would potentially stop aging. In a world obsessed with age and one where we could see our great great grandchildren grow up, venture capitalists and media jump on the opportunity to be part of this new research. Zoe, wants her professor father to be proud of her and to stand out from her brother. Jack has a history that remains hidden for much of the novel, the reader only knowing that he does not come from a wealthy background. When their fame is tested we get to see how the cards fall.

This novel wasn’t quite what I was expecting after first reading the synopsis. I thought it would be more of the rise and fall of fame in the spotlight. While it was partly that, it was also a kind of love story, both between persons and with an idea.

I did a combined book/audio read of this selection. The audio narration was good. In parts where the author is writing a conversation between two people with lots of back and forth, I did get kind of tired of the he said, then she said, then he said, then she said etc. Keeping in mind that the arc I received has not been finalized, I am interested to see how they handle some of the names in the story. The name of one scientist on the audio was different from the book and Jack at one point works at JAX which sounds strange in multiple sentences when read aloud.

At about the 60% mark the POV changes. There was quite a bit of repetition of scenes to capture it from the other character but the moments felt like it was done and complete and didn’t need to be rehashed. I’m not sure they brought anything new. There was an interesting little plot point late in the book but it wasn’t developed much before the book wrapped up rather neatly.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and its’ emphasis on women in science but wonder if it would have appealed to me more if I had read the physical version on its own. I read it as part of the #CeladonReadsTogether initiative and we will be discussing the book soon. I think readers who enjoy a bit of will they, won’t they romance, light contemporary fiction, and Bookclubs might enjoy this book.

Notes on Infinity was kindly provided by Celadon Books in exchange for my honest opinions.