The Merge is a thrilling page-turner dystopia with themes of Eco-fascism and psychological manipulation. In a near-future world that is suffering from the effects of climate change, a revolutionary new "solution" to overpopulation is discovered and rolled out in the UK: The Merge. The rationale is that by merging two consciousnesses into one body, fewer resources would need to be consumed and the sick could be made well again by merging with healthy people. The main character is Amelia, a stubborn former Anti-Merge activist who signs up for the Merge to save her mother, Laurie, from losing all her memories to Alzheimer's. Despite the friendly staff, inviting atmosphere, and support from fellow participants they meet on their journey, Laurie and Amelia slowly discover that the Merge is not exactly the miracle cure it was advertised as. The story builds tension brilliantly as the mystery unfolds, foreshadowing the eventual devastating twist. The depiction of Alzheimer's through Laurie's character was especially apt, allowing readers to share in her confusion and distress upon forgetting important events and people. I only wish that the book had been more intersectional in its exploration of these topics, such as by touching on how the Merge's societal impact would affect people of color, transgender and queer people, and disabled people much more than the middle class cisgender white people who make up most of the characters. I also felt that the ending left me a bit confused and could have wrapped things up in a more satisfying way. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Grace Walker's The Merge is a compelling and thought-provoking dive into the possibilities—and perils—of human-technology integration. Set in a not-so-distant future where mind-machine merging is becoming reality, the novel explores big ideas through a tightly woven narrative and richly developed characters.

Walker excels at world-building, crafting a society that feels disturbingly plausible. The ethical questions raised around identity, privacy, and autonomy are handled with nuance, and the pacing keeps you turning pages. The protagonist’s journey is both emotional and intellectually engaging, making you question what it truly means to be human in an age of rapid innovation.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Publishing for the ARC.

The Merge is available Nov. 11, 2025

4.5 🌟 An original and thought provoking read!
The Merge explores a futuristic clinic called Tower Group, where psychiatrist Eliza oversees a radical procedure that combines two people into one shared consciousness. Marketed to the masses as a cure for disease and a solution to overpopulation and climate issues. This process lures in Laurie, who has Alzheimer’s, and her daughter Amelia. But when they try to walk away, the story raises concern. What is really going on behind closed doors, and is any of it truly ethical?

Grace Walker’s The Merge presents a fascinating and unsettling premise: in a future effort to reduce the global population, society adopts a controversial solution—merging two consciousnesses into a single body, essentially discarding the "weaker" physical form. The idea alone is compelling, raising questions about identity, autonomy, and the ethics of technological evolution.

At the heart of the story are Laurie and Amelia, two individuals forced into this new reality. Their emotional and psychological struggles are the driving force of the novel. What makes their dynamic so engaging is their sincere attempts to understand and compromise with each other, despite the unnatural circumstances. Their relationship captures the reader’s empathy and adds a layer of human complexity to the broader sci-fi narrative.

While the book maintains intrigue throughout, the final chapters become increasingly abstract and difficult to follow. The pacing quickens, and the philosophical implications begin to overshadow the personal stakes that grounded the earlier parts of the novel. By the time the conclusion arrives, I was left uncertain—not just about what had happened, but about how I was meant to feel about it. The ending left me with more questions than answers, which may have been intentional, but it felt somewhat unsatisfying.

Overall, The Merge is a thought-provoking read with a unique concept and emotionally resonant characters, though it may leave some readers puzzled by its ambiguous conclusion.

4 stars

In the near future science will now all two consciousnesses (is that right? It doesn’t look right.) to exist in one body. Laurie, 65, has Alzheimer’s and Amelia, 23, her daughter, who was once an activist against the Merge, can’t bear to let her go, so they are preparing to be the first pair to undergo the merge where one of the two participants has Alzheimer’s (and things are reeeeeeally sketchy on how, exactly, they expect this to work so that, in the new version, neither has Alzheimer’s. I understand the cancer brothers, the addict family and the baby couple, but this one doesn’t make any sense from a purely medical standpoint. You know, if you’ve bought into the Merge.). Anyway, Laurie will be transferred into Amelia’s body.

They join other Merge participants; teenager Lucas who will merge with his brother Ben who has leukemia, Ben who will merge with pregnant fiancée, Aimee and Lara, an addict who will merge with her father, Jay, all are experimental, like Laurie and Amelia. The group prepares for the procedure and the move to the Village, (The Villages? Ha! That would explain a lot! I kid my southern Florida retirees!) a fancy rehab center for those who have undergone the Merge. However the group starts to wonder if everything is as it seems.

The POV shifts between Laurie and Amelia, and the book takes a Quick Look at economic realities in Western nations (this is in the UK) and class divides, but mainly examines the ethics of this whole thing. It’s very good, if a bit depressing, and the end is excellent. An easy 4 stars.