Notes on Infinity is a debut novel from Austin Taylor. It is a fictionalized story that was in the news the last couple of years.

"Zoe and Jack are two undergraduate students at Harvard. They hope to follow the normal career track of all students...until they believe they've stumbled on a process to reverse aging. They drop out to form a startup to commercialize the idea. Venture Capitalists are happy to give them money - lots of money - billions of dollars. But sometimes data is from outliers. What now?"

You will recognize this story. I won't mention it by name because then you won't be able to see it through any other lens. The characters were hard to relate to and to pull for. I wanted to pull for Jack because he was a scholarship kid that didn't come from much. But greed took over any moral compass he might have. This story is mostly about greed - everyone wants to get rich and be known for something amazing - no matter what they have to do to get there. There is a lot of Harvard, Harvard, Harvard in these pages. It gets to be a bit much.

If you want a story about 20-year-olds running a startup and controlling billions you may enjoy this one.

Zoe and Jack meet as Harvard undergrads and begin working in a research lab together. Based on a theory of Zoe's they begin work on an antiaging drug that Jack thinks he can perfect. With this idea they are able to begin a start-up and overnight become famous and wealthy. I really liked this story and enjoyed reading it, some of the science stuff was a little beyond me but the writer did a good job of keeping it simple. The characters were well written and I definitely felt a connection to both of the main characters, this isn't the usual book I would read and I'm glad I tried something a little different. All in all a good story rating this 3..5/4 stars. I want to thank NetGalley and Celadon Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I went into Notes on Infinity completely blind. There was a bookstagrammer who brought this one to my attention. The plot truly was fascinating throughout the whole book, I am shocked this is a debut book! This one really had my emotions all over the place.

Notes on Infinity follows two brilliant Harvard students through their meeting to tumultuous business and personal relationships as they drop out to pursue a novel theory on reverse aging. Similar to some real-life situations, they quickly become media and venture capital darlings, and face increasing pressure to deliver results on top of figuring out how to be adults, run a business, and navigate relationships. The science, personal, backstories, and business elements all come together well to help explain how people can get in so deep by trying to please people and tell the right story while hoping the data can match up. It's very entertaining and also exposes pretty large cracks in the system that incentivizes hype and how people can fall for the story when they don't understand or look for the facts.

Thank you to Celadon for the opportunity to participate in a group read-along for Notes to Infinity. This was a truly unique and thought-provoking read—unlike anything I’ve picked up before—and I’m so glad I had the chance to experience it.

Zoe grows up in a household where science is valued, but it’s her brother who’s pushed toward a future in it. Her father, a university professor at MIT, fosters his son’s scientific path, while Zoe, equally passionate about science, has to forge her own. Determined to follow her interests, she sets her sights on Harvard and charts her own course.

In her first year, she meets Jack in one of her classes. They’re both top students, and what starts as academic rivalry slowly evolves into friendship and collaboration as they begin working together in a professor’s lab.

The structure of the novel is especially compelling—the first half is told from Zoe’s point of view, while the second half shifts to Jack’s. Jack’s sections often revisit earlier events from his perspective, adding depth to the story—though the shift in time and narration can occasionally feel disorienting.
I appreciated the integration of theoretical science inspired by real research—it added authenticity and richness to the story. And it’s always refreshing to see a bright, determined female protagonist in STEM. We need more books like this!

I thoroughly enjoyed Notes on Infinity and loved being part of a group read—it made the experience even more meaningful. This is one of my favorite reads of the year, and I highly recommend picking it up if you have the chance. I’ve kept the details light on purpose—this is a journey best experienced firsthand.

Austin Taylor’s portrayal of Zoe—a bright, determined young woman pursuing her passion in a male-dominated field—is both inspiring and necessary.

Thank you to Celadon books for a copy of Note on Infinity and for providing me with the opportunity to participate in the Read Together Initiative!

Zoe and Jack meet at Harvard University. Jack immediately catches Zoe’s eye, and soon they are working together on a potential anti-aging drug. Soon, investors are interested, and Zoe and Jack take on their own startup with their discovery. But the path is a little more complicated and filled with very challenging decisions for both.

I come from a science background and am currently working on my MSc in Microbiology and Molecular Biology. So, this book was right up my alley, combining my love of genomics with my love of reading. Most of the science was written very well, which I appreciated. My only qualm is that patents and getting money for the kind of research Jack and Zoe were doing is incredibly difficult. And the tests they would be running are pricy, so it’s a little unrealistic for two 20-year-olds to take on this venture.

But let’s put realism aside. I enjoyed seeing the path through both scientist’s lenses because suddenly we were seeing that each one was hiding some things from the reading audience. It was a creative way to show how people act in the professional world. When it comes to science and research, some things are best hidden.

The novel reminds me of Theranos in some ways, which I followed in the news so that intrigued me! I listened to the audiobook for some of this while I was waiting for my book to arrive, and Helen Laser and Shahjehan Khan did a great job! In my opinion, Helen Laser can do wrong. This was my first listen from Shahjehan and I found his voice was quite soothing and matched Jack’s more relaxed attitude but adjusted perfectly to the more tense scenes!

So happy to have read this one and I can’t wait to talk to my book group about it!

I had heard this book was akin to Tomorrowx3 and was anxious to read. The first 3/4 of the book was definitely reminiscent of said book but wasn't as strong. However, in reviewing the book without the comparison, I still enjoyed the story of two college sophomores who start working in a lab trying to perfect a new idea for an anti-aging therapy and become multi-millionaires during the startup process. The last quarter of the book felt rushed. I had hoped for a more solid ending. Still a good story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-Arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

Notes on Infinity was very similar to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow — I loved reading the partnership and romance between Zoe and Jack but quite honestly, the sections of alternating timelines was a little bit jarring and I feel like the plot of discovering a novel anti-ageing drug was more complex and inaccessible compared to the plot point of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.

Still, this was an excellent debut novel entry and I'm looking forward to reading more of Austin Taylor's works in the future.

Zoe and Jack meet as undergrads at Harvard. When Jack thinks he has found a path to stop people from aging, Zoe joins him in a rogue lab. What follows is their story of finding funding and possibly changing the world. The concept of the book was interesting, but the Harvard setting made it feel a lot like Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I didn't love Zoe and Jack's back stories or the ending. This solidly new adult book should appeal to older teens and people in their 20s

Ok, this book. I get all the praise and I (somewhat) get the criticism. This book is basically a creative retelling of the Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos story except Elizabeth Holmes is basically split into our two protagonists, Jack and Zoe, who are falling in and out of a partnership and romance. The book moves very quickly and is just fun to read. It hits the beats, and hits them well. About 2/3 of the way through, the perspective shifts from Zoe to Jack, which I enjoyed. I appreciated seeing the different aspects of the story from his perspective and finally learning about his past and motivations. The ending was not my favorite but it by no means ruined the book for me. This is a great book and I think the comparisons to Tomorrow x3 are apt (I didn’t love that book like others did, I actually think I prefer this one.)
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for an advanced copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. This book follows the story of Jack and Zoe, two bright, young Harvard students who set out to better understand the scientific process of aging and ultimately develop an anti-aging therapy. The book explores what happens from their time at Harvard to the world of startups and biotech with some major revelations identified throughout the book.

The comps of this book to Tomorrow x3 are very real; I was reminded of it without even reading that it was considered a comp from other reviewers. This book definitely leans more into the niche of the scientific background but, I actually liked this. I do think the subject matter is a bit more inaccessible than the video game concepts of Tomorrow X3 but, again I found it to be engaging, smart, and exciting as it the characters were clearly so passionate about their work. I also found the dynamic between our two characters to work so well— they both display an outright passion for their research and you can sense the tension and harbored feelings between them personally. The layers in this story of the covering the research at hand, the role females in STEM, the pressure of academia and biotech culture, the feeling when you’re on top of the world and about to achieve it all… this book has something for everyone and was so enjoyable to read. The plot was propulsive, while still feeling substantial and multi-faceted.

I’m so impressed by this novel, especially for a debut. The ending of this book solidified it as five stars for me and I was moved by it. Overall, this book was a huge win for me. I was so invested in the characters, found them to be very endearing, and was captivated by the plot— the scientific element, the research, the academic setting— it was perfect for me. I can see how this may not be everyone’s cup of tea but, I hope this book finds its readership and I can’t wait to see what else the author puts out!

The comparisons to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow are justified; however, this new novel lacks some of the heart and warmth of its predecessor.

The story about developing an anti-aging drug is compelling, and the relationships among the main characters are interesting, at times. While we get a fair amount of insight into Jack and Zoe’s backgrounds, I didn’t have a strong emotional connection to the characters.

There are numerous references, especially at the beginning, of biology and organic chemistry which will go right over the average person’s head, but I quickly realized that understanding the details was unimportant.

The timeframe for the story jumps at times, especially when we’re getting the backstory of one of the characters. These sections were a bit jarring, as it wasn’t always obvious where or when I was reading about. The final several chapters felt almost rushed and incomplete. As the final version hasn’t been published yet - Who knows?

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this as part of Celadon's buddy read. I will say this is outside of my typical genre, I usually go towards romance or fantasy... but sometimes I do enjoy a good litfic. I had a tough time with this. I felt like it was really hard to connect and like any of the characters. At times I was confused at how much time had passed from the beginning of the story... That being said I was invested enough to finish.

Links to come.

Thanks to @celadonbooks for providing me with an #advancedreaderscopy of this book! I had to keep slowing myself down so I didn’t devour this book in one sitting. The story just drew me along with it. Good wring, good plot, believable setting. I hope you guys grab this book and enjoy it as much as I did! #notesoninfinity @austintaylorwrites

“It was just that Zoe, in addition to being smart, also had to be inoffensive.”

Notes on Infinity is a debut novel by Austin Taylor, which follows two Harvard students who endeavor to find a cure for aging. They have big brains, big ideas, and big resources to get themselves off the ground. While results of experiments are initially promising, their start up ultimately grows too big and things spiral out of control.

I was initially drawn to this book as I felt a personal connection to the story. I am a woman in science, an alumna of an Ivy League university, and I have spent a fair amount of time in research labs. Given these facts, it was easy for me to fall into step with Zoe as she embarked on this journey with Jack.

What struck me in the first half of the book was how well Taylor portrayed the experience of being a woman growing up and finding her way in science. The “mortification” of trying to find a place at the big boys table as a teen. The constant stress over appearances and politeness all while male colleagues go to conferences in hawaiian shirts and flip flops. The core question of if each accomplishment was truly earned, or if was partly gender-based affirmative action at play. The complicated mother-daughter relationship, particularly when your mother is a homemaker with far different expectations than your own.

The latter half of the book was a peek behind the curtain into the unfortunate truth of many of these elite institutions. They offer wonderful opportunities for students from all walks of life, however the pressure is crushing, and so many students crash and burn (even if it’s not quite as spectacularly as Jack). While it’s easy to write him off as a fraud from the outside, I think anyone that has been in these environments has known a Jack, and I think Taylor does a fantastic job at showing the complexity of his character and the desperation of his situation.

While I mostly read fantasy and science fiction, this book was an absolute delight. It was so real and well written. Additionally, I loved the citations given in the acknowledgements, it was very fun to see which actual papers had been alluded to throughout. I am incredibly appreciative to @celadonbooks @austintaylorwrites and @netgalley for the eARC and the chance to read this one early. I cannot wait to buy a hard copy after it releases on June 3rd - hopefully a signed one!

#NotesOnInfinity #arcreview #AustinTaylor #CeladonBooks #netgalley

NOTES ON INFINITY by Austin Taylor
Out June 3rd
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow meets The Dropout
Harvard students Zoe and Jack find themselves propelled into the intoxicating biotech startup world when they announce they’ve discovered the cure for ageing.

This book got under my skin in ways I wasn't expecting.

Zoe and Jack are Harvard students who stumble onto what could be the cure for aging. As one does, they drop out and build a startup around science they can barely prove. You can guess how well that goes.

The whole thing has this heavy, inevitable feel. Taylor builds the tension so well that even when you know disaster is coming, it still hits hard.
Jack's the one who really got to me. He's charming and smart, but there's something off about him from the start. When you finally understand his background, it makes everything he does both worse and more tragic. Zoe's easier to read but just as flawed. Watching her abandon the science she loves for the business side felt realistic and infuriating.

The biotech elements are…a lot, but it’s the kind of science writing you can spend time with or skim over to get back to the story. I did the latter. Yes, there are echoes of Theranos. But this isn't really about corporate fraud. It's about what happens when ambition becomes your whole identity and then crumbles.

Fair warning: this will mess with your emotions. I found myself thinking about these characters for days after finishing. Not many debuts stick with you like that.

Austin Taylor knows how to write broken people doing broken things, and somehow makes you care about them anyway.
A great piece of lit fic. Poetic writing. Great debut!

I participated in the Celedon Buddy Read. Thank you to @Celadonbooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

For a debut book, this was well written. The main characters, Zoe and Jack are a little tough to connect with at first, but once you uncover their deeper emotions as you get further into the book, they are very relatable. The beginning of the plot is science heavy, but you do not need to retain any of the science or completely understand it to enjoy this book. The beginning of the book is a bit slow paced, but I completely binged the middle and end. I was NOT prepared for the emotional plot-twists in this story. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more work by Austin Taylor in the future.

In relations to some other reviews, this book has SIMILAR aspects to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, but it is NOT exactly like it or a "rip off" of it. The writing style, characters and further deep plot line are VERY DIFFERENT.

This one left me with a lot of mixed feelings. The science-heavy beginning felt like gibberish at times, but I stuck with it. I really enjoyed Zoe’s POV and the middle section, especially the relationship dynamics and beginnings of a plot twist.

But once Jack’s POV took over, I was lost. The constant timeline jumps and scattered thoughts were hard to follow, and the ending felt abrupt and unsatisfying. Definitely check for trigger warnings before diving in.
The writing is very different from Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, but the comparison makes sense - both tap into that college-age/startup chaos as things spiral.

If you loved Tomorrow x3 or have a passion for science/startups, it might be worth a try, but this one wasn’t quite for me.

I want to thank Celadon books for providing me with a copy of this ARC. Unfortunately, I have to give this two stars.

Reading this book was an absolute boring-turned depressing chore. I could get past some of the scientific terms I didn’t understand, but the constant “I WENT TO HARVARD” “AT HARVARD, WE HAVE THIS” “LET ME DESCRIBE THIS BENCH AND STREET INTERSECTION ON THE CAMPUS OF HARVARD”….I could not get past.

For 80% of this book, I felt like I knew nothing about the characters themselves. I did not care for them or the FMC’s privileged life “only” disrupted by the misogyny in the lab (which she only faced for a tad bit as a “true” scientist).

Then when we finally got a backstory for Jack, it all went to shit anyway. Even then, his backstory was just trauma (and not well-written).

This book had a great idea but it needs some harsh editing and gosh…can we have at least have a happy ending after all this damn torture?

This a compelling debut novel that delves into the intersection of ambition, scientific discovery, and the complexities of human relationships. Set against the backdrop of Harvard’s academic environment, the story follows Zoe and Jack, two brilliant students who develop an anti-aging drug and launch a biotech startup, Manna. Their journey explores themes of ethical dilemmas, the allure of immortality, and the personal costs of unchecked ambition.

The positives: It’s an insightful portrayal of startup culture and the pressures within elite academic settings.

Taylor has taken inspiration from some inspiring people, aiming to humanize individuals behind sensational headlines and examine the gendered narratives often present in media coverage.

It blends scientific intrigue with emotional depth and stands out as a thought-provoking exploration of the costs of ambition and the human desire to transcend mortality.

I enjoyed the alternating POV from Zoe to Jack. I feel like Jack’s POV elevated the story and made it more intriguing.

The negative:
The POV was not cohesive enough for me. It’s a jolting shift 2/3 in from Zoe to Jack the rest of the novel and then back to Zoe in the last few pages. I feel like the POV should’ve been more even. I felt like I was reading two different stories with how the vibes shifted from one to the other. Jack’s POV was more for his backstory than Zoe’s. The character depth could’ve been better for Zoe. Maybe even Jack but I feel like we got to know a lot more about him by the end. And I struggled with the time frame trying to figure out how much time had passed. I enjoyed the writing style for the first 60% but I think I enjoyed the story more in the last 40%, maybe.

Overall, if you’re interested in a story that combines scientific innovation with emotional complexity, it’s a good debut. Taylor tried to handle a lot, I just don’t think it fleshed out like it should’ve for a more cohesive story. Fantastic concept though.

3.5 stars