I need more of this immediately.

I loved absolutely everything about this book! The characters, the plot, the romance...it was all perfection.

Temmi and Spie are such an awesome duo, I love them together and the developing romance they have. Their chemistry is intense and the connection between them builds slowly and believably, I was hooked on their every interaction from the get-go. I desperately want to see more of them together in a second book, and I think their story is far from finished.

I was also incredibly drawn in by the plot. This is so much more than a book about a sci-fi version of "The Bachelor". There is an entire world built in this book with several different storylines taking place at once from dating show, to murder, to politics, to potential inter-galactic war. Some twists are easy to guess but others not so much, and there's still so much to know. It's been about five minutes since I finished this, and I am so ready for a book two.

If you like queer enemies to lovers, messy plotlines, murder intrigue, sci-fi stories, and badass characters, you will love this book as much as I did. 5/5 stars!

Love Galaxy was an absolute delight to read. I seriously didn't want it to end!

This book has so much to enjoy: the unique characters, the rich world-building, the mystery (with a twist that got me SO good), and an addictive romance!!

I just adored Artemis and Spie, their banter and chemistry was refreshing.

[Thank you, DAW and Netgalley, for the arc!]

I love this book! Think The Bachelor, but set in space with queer characters, murder, corruption, and much more depth than I expected. It reminded me of Arkady Martine’s excellent Memory Called Empire (but as an easier, faster read) and even recalls The Hunger Games with its sharp look at power, corruption, rebellion, and ostentatious wealth in the face of abject poverty. This was impossible to put down; I’ll be buying a copy for myself and one for my students when it publishes in May.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the ARC! Also, DAW, thank you for publishing my favourite fantasy read of the year (The House of Dusk) in addition to this, my favourite sci/fi read of the year.

I had to pull myself together to write up this review because I think this one’s going to stick with me for a while.

Every time you thought you knew what was going to happen next was spun in a way you would have never guessed, there’s wasn’t a second I was bored and I was incredibly wrong with my guesses every time.

All of the characters were wrote brilliantly, and I became attached to Temmi and Spie to the point where I was nervous for them and the next chapters.

What the two had most in common was wanting to take care of their brothers, and it really made the connections in the book that much stronger.

Without giving too much away, I was getting a lot of Hunger Game vibes throughout when it came to the set up and purpose of the show, and it was quite an interesting twist that I enjoyed and have never experienced within a book before.

The politics within the story definitely can relate to some of the things in current society, and the way corruption can be deep within the system.

I seriously didn’t want this to end, and I hope that this isn’t the end because I desperately need more of Temmi and Spie.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy and to the author Sierra Branham, I kind of want to cuss you out and thank you at the same time for this book that has a death grip on my heart.

This book was soooo good. If you like reality tv, royalty, space, tortured love, divided loyalty, literal star-crossed lovers…I could go on. The author took the Bachelor and made it so much deeper- class, politics, family loyalty, love- she went there and then some. Just when I thought I knew what was coming, I didn’t. I was obsessively turning pages to the end and gosh I hope there’s more coming from Sierra Branham.

Short summary: Temmi is just doing what she can to get by and keep her family housed. She doesn’t have time for reality tv, let alone to watch the heir apparents- twin siblings- find their wives. Until she’s cast on Love Galaxy and her world tilts off its axis and spirals in more directions than she thought possible.

Thanks to Netgalley and DAW. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

The concept of The Bachelor x Love Island in deep space is so intriguing, and that’s what made this story so good for me. And if you think this is a normal “who is she gonna choose in the end?” story, you’re wrong. We have sci-fi, romance, drama, and a murder mystery. All in one story. This mostly reminded me of The Selection series, with multiple candidates. Adding so much sci-fi satisfied the itch in my brain. With the mention of jumpgates, underbelts, and aliens, the Halo fangirl within me is flaring.

Being torn between choosing two people for your sake is a scary trope, but with the stakes presented to the main character, Artemis, she has to survive for her family. My favorite part is when Temmi is trying to reclaim her truth. There are so many things to unpack, so many plot twists, and I hope there’s a sequel since it ended with a huge cliffhanger.

This story had me at the edge of my seat. I also like how the author lays out the behind-the-scenes part. Those parts were some of the ones I was looking forward to reading since you can see so much personality with the other characters. I also commend the author for using unique chapter titles. We just don’t get those a lot anymore!

I love a good space romance for a relaxing and fun read. The premise of a space bachelor- it sounded like a cozy fun read. It was that, but also included twisting politics, mystery, and a cliff hanger ending! The world building was good, but what I really loved was the character depth. We have a bit of a love triangle to start, with two heirs to the empire both interested in our fmc. The girl heir has a lot of more masculine romance character traits. That was refreshing and interesting to read. The male heir is more the quiet, introvert, nerdy type. You couldn't help but sympathize with him. These characters were mostly complex, deep, grey shaded people and not black and white caricatures. The ending of the book was not at all what I expected. All I can say is that hopefully there is a book 2!

This is so fun and chaotic and unique and exactly how I want all of my science fiction to be like. Seriously can not recommend enough.

This book drew me in from the very first page. While the opening chapters follow a somewhat familiar structure, this does little to diminish the overall enjoyment of the story. As the plot unfolds, it delivers moments of genuine surprise that keep the reader fully engaged. The characters are well-developed and their interactions feel authentic, making it easy to become emotionally invested. By the final chapters, I found the book impossible to put down.

At first glance, this might seem like a fun, silly book. It is very fun! And Temmi, our main protagonist, is pretty silly (I want to be her best friend). It starts off as an adult The Selection in space, with more social commentary and nuanced supporting characters. It’s fast-paced, romantic, and often quite funny.

If you’ve seen that one episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia where Dee and Charlie date a rich brother and sister and struggle to blend into high society….. that’s basically the vibe I got from Temmi (though she’s a much better person).

But it’s also so much more than that.

It’s hard to describe without spoiling, but there’s a bit of a tonal shift around the 75% mark that recontextualizes everything that came before. It’s VERY well-executed, and I suspect a reread would prove very rewarding.

I thought a lot about The Hunger Games while reading this. To my knowledge it’s not used as a comp titles for this book, but it could be. MOST books that use THG as a comp title do so because people fight to the death. There’s none of that here. What IS here, however, is the relentless propaganda of an oppressive system. So to me, this book is more in the spirit of THG than anything else I’ve read recently.

TLDR: A breezy read with an endearing MC and a gut-punch of a twist. Highly recommend!

I was a little skeptical coming into this, because oh hey, murder mystery played against a space royalty dating show a la The Bachelor seems a bit cliche, but Branham does an absolutely amazing job of taking the above, weaving in some really unexpected and well done politics, some amazing main characters, a bit of a conundrum (is it the sweet brother or the spicy sister I really like?!), along with a really great main character, and really well done plotting. It feels like this is a one shot, but if it's not, I'd be interested in hearing more from these characters and what might come next for them.

This was incredible. I was intrigued immediately from the premise and the world-building (The Bachelor/The Bachelorette but in SPACE?) and I was not disappointed. What an incredibly strong debut. Temmi really says it how it is and I appreciated how she vocalized the stuff I would be thinking in the insane situation she was in. I felt connected to both heirs and desperately wanted both of them to be happy (do NOT ask me to choose between Nix and Spie). There was a lot of bi panic while reading, which kept me super engaged. I thought Love Galaxy great already, but the last half of the book was a RIDE in the best way possible. I did not see any of it coming and there is so much material for a second book! So much happened and I am excited to see where the story goes from here. This was inventive, a joy to read and this world is so rich.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and DAW for the ARC. I LOVED READING IT! It was so much fun to jump into this world and I can't wait for everyone to be able to experience it.

More of a slow burn than thriller pacing, but I had a great time with this one. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Temmi, and the world building was very well done.

Only note is that I wish I'd realized this does not read like a standalone. Not sure if sequels are to follow, but the ending definitely set up for one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

The Memory Called Empire comp is pretty bang-on here--this book is an incredibly fun, fluffy outer layer wrapped around a smart, sharp critique of a broken system with a twist that I didn't see coming but, once it was there, thought was completely obvious and inevitable. Really smart, great characters, just an overall excellent read.

I absolutely loved this!!

If you loved Winter's Orbit, you want to read Love Galaxy. 
Alternatively, if you like smart, incredibly fun books simmering with (highly reluctant) tension and the absolute best twists, you want to read Love Galaxy.

Basically, you want to read Love Galaxy. It's really, *really* good.

this was incredibly fun! i've always said that i wish there was more sf romance and this definitely delivers. intriguing worldbuilding, a compelling mystery, and large-scale repercussions with an excellent sequel hook. while i knew which character was supposed to be the actual love interest (according to the blurb) the interpersonal relationships and dynamics had me rooting for both at the same time.

my only gripe is that sometimes temmi's narration feels almost /too/ colloquial ("excessive much?" comes to mind) which i tend not to enjoy even in my first person limited pov books, but i do have to admit that it's in character for her.

definitely hope to see more of temmi's engineering abilities in subsequent books as well as actual aliens

thanks to netgalley and daw for the e-arc!

“Diplomacy was the art of saying shitty things in a way that kept a smile on others' faces, right? She could do that.”

A queer bachelor/bachelorette murder mystery set in space, what more could I ask for? The premise had me hooked from the start!

This book was beautifully written, the longing and intimacy was palpable through the pages. The setting was well laid out, with snippets of the history of the world sprinkled throughout, giving us just enough information about the Empire.

Temmi is a lovable little felon from the fringe planets who gets thrust into a world of diplomacy and politics as well as love and connection that she never thought she’d find again. She’s un-apologetically her loud mouthed, clumsy self and I love her for it. The murder mystery element kept me guessing, even though when it was finally revealed there was a “duh” moment. I’m usually quite good at guessing the villain but with the motive left a mystery I was stumped right up until the reveal.

This book is definitely set up to be a series and I will be sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next!

Thank you so much DAW! This was amazing. I very much love sci-fi and this was right up my alley. The romance fueled me and kept me going 🥺

This was EVERYTHING. This book made me feel so many emotions!! I was laughing from page one then anxious by the end. I don’t read a lot of sci fi but I was still able to get into the world fairly easily through connecting with the characters. Thank you NetGalley for this arc. Pick this up if you want a book that will keep you on your toes!!

Right off the bat I really loved this one!! Although the main premise is an intergalactic dating show, there are deeper themes of classism, resistance, and toxic family dynamics. The two main characters had great chemistry, and I really enjoyed the sibling relationship, too. An engaging book that ends in a cliffhanger - I’m SO excited to read the next one!

Queer rep: Bi female main character, lesbian main character. FF main relationship. Secondary FF relationships, male gay character, gender fluid character (all pronouns), nonbinary character.

A sapphic, sci-fi, romance with humour, and a little murder? Secrets, politics, and twin heirs to the Expanese empire? A reality dating show!? So much yes for this.
Think Miss Congeniality meets Hunger Games, in an intergalactic dating reality show, with sapphic love, bisexual panic, secrets, and a lot more at stake than you first thought..
THAT ENDING!? En serio? Amazing. Not at all what I expected, and definitely big emotions evoked over the last 20% of the book. Laughter, fun, real world issues cloaked in sci fi politics, shock, and tears. I absolutely loved every page. It’s going to take a while to get over this! I NEED more of Artemis and Spie.

Plot summary
Artemis, trash collector on planet X72 (very low income, lung disease ridden forgotten planet) accidentally runs into the prince and princess to the Expanese empire, and runs her mouth because they’re in her trash collecting way. The heirs rather enjoy the interaction and cast her on their upcoming reality dating show for the chance to win one of their hands in marriage. However, power and politics run deep. Scheming from different angles behind the scenes and an unhealthy dose of murder being swept under the galactic carpet make this a very dangerous game..

Things I loved
- Artemis. Every second. From swallowing her pride for her family, to actually having hope for influencing change, and obviously her attitude!
- Princess Spielen for obvious reasons, and the depth you get to discover.
- The reality dating show humour and orchestration
- Murder mystery
- Portrayal of poverty and privilege
- THE TWIST!!
- Not guessing who the murderer is
- Some disability, chronic illness, and pain representation
- I hate that I love the ending. I always enjoy being surprised, even if I have mixed feelings.

Overall, a fun yet deep, sapphic sci fi romance with some humour and snarky sass, stakes much higher than you might think, and some casual murder!

Oh man, I devoured this book! With “Love Galaxy” we get a galaxy wide dating show, which is more of a political publicity stunt, where true love seems far fetched until we meet our FMC, who comes from a forgotten corner of the universe complete with a no filter and a criminal record. With a real love connection on the table, and a lot on the line, our question becomes not only IF love is possible but with whom? Oh and then contestants start mysteriously dying and the stakes get higher! A delightful LGBTQ+ romance with enough punchy plot points to keep you reading all night long!

I was very intrigued by the premise of this book and I was not let down. The idea of a bachelor type show in the future is very exciting. I loved how Temmi stayed true to herself the whole time, even if she had pression to change and to conform. She is thrust in a world she doesn’t understand. This book had such high stakes for all the characters. There were many plot twists and betrayals I did not see coming which was enjoyable. Temmi’s and Spie’s attraction is off the charts. The politics were complex. The pace was fast so it kept the story engaging. Honestly, I want more as soon as possible ! It’s definitely a great book for readers of sci-fi that also love romance!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC for my read and review.

Maybe you’re like me and thought that a Bachelor-esque marriage contest in a futuristic space setting sounded light a fun and romantic romp.

Well, I was wrong.

I mean, not completely wrong as this book is a LOT of fun and also very romantic but it’s also filled with intergalactic politics and a murder mystery. I loved it.

Our protagonist, Artemis, is our less-cooperative and more foul-mouthed Eliza Doolittle. Swept up in to the Love Galaxy tv show, she’s drawn to both siblings and increasingly complex goals for her future. She makes (some) friends but murder does seem to get in the way.

I had an inkling about the identity of the murderer but not until pretty late in the story and - it’s definitely not the end either.

It’s not the story I expected but it was fun and interesting and so much better.

This was such a fun read. A sci-fi interplanetary spin on a dating show?? The premise alone was unique and strange enough to snag my attention, and every page kept me going. This felt like watching a tv show in my mind. I wouldn’t call it a perfect book and the romance was a little lacking for me in certain areas but I still enjoyed the ride the entire way through. I found the characters to be pretty well founded in realism despite the fantastical circumstances they’re in. There is a bit of insta-lust here with one of the couples which took away from that romance for me, so I found myself rooting for relationships elsewhere. I originally thought this was a standalone but by the end realized it seems this will actually be a series. I really liked the side characters as well and hope there will be more of them going forward. Looking forward to see what this author puts out next, I’ll be tuning in

this book was a journey that culminated in me whispering to my cat, “what do you *mean* though?” as i coped with running out of pages to read.

a spectacular, wild ride with a genuinely unexpected ending that sets us up for even more emotional and political chaos. i had an absolute blast reading this. it’s a surprisingly layered book that touches on issues of family loyalty, obligation and duty, public perception and sense of self, manifestations and consequences of imperialism, and of course, the reality of love.

the characters felt grounded in their story— the royals weren’t the only ones whose actions and relationships were tangibly affected by the wider politics. even characters’ contradicting choices were still understandable to me. i’m interested to see how this shakes out for our characters moving forward, especially since one person in particular has set themself up for a shaky (and in my opinion, unobtainable) new mission.

i think our main relationship blossomed beautifully. they share increasingly authentic moments with each other that make their bond believable. and even when their love is finally being realized, they hold onto the personal motivations established in the beginning, creating realistic and compelling conflicts.

i also really enjoyed our side characters, but especially arbora. even when we don’t see her for a while, she leaves an impression that lingers. i’m looking forward to seeing her role expand as this drama unfolds.

one thing i wished for more of was temmi’s time with nix during the dating show. i think a few more scenes directly exploring their relationship would have helped temmi’s feelings about him later on hit harder.

overall, this was an incredible read and i can’t wait to experience more from this author. what a debut!!

many thanks to sierra branham, daw, and netgalley for sharing this arc with me <3

This was wonderfully written! I enjoyed the world building quite a lot and it combined several genres that I've read before (the reality show aspect as well as the mystery building up as the plot progresses) very well - it's all taken for a fresh spin with fleshed-out characters that I'd love to read more about, as there's a hook for a second book. Would definitely revisit this universe!

I enjoyed this book because the romance and world building was really good and intriguing. Ive never read a scifi novel with reality TV before.

When I picked this up I thought it was just going to be lighthearted bachelor in space but I was surprised when it was so much more. I loved the enemies to lovers yearning tension and witty banter. Some of the pacing got a little slow in the middle but once it picked up it was action packed until the end. I liked the universe and the world building. Temmi was a bit annoying to start with her not like other girls attitude but once I realized she was ND coded I appreciated her a lot more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this, it had that element that I was looking for and thought worked as a great scifi thriller concept. Sierra Branham has a strong writing style and was a great debut from them. I was invested in what happened and am excited for more from the author. Everything worked well in the world and that the characters were everything that I wanted from this type of book.

I received a free copy from DAW Publishing via Netgalley, and I cannot even begin to express my gratitude. This book was exactly what I felt like reading and it is definitely one that will stay with me. I am definitely going to be at the front of the line for anything else Sierra Branham writes.

The description of the book got me hooked instantly, and it did not disappoint. It absolutely delivers on the expectations set and then expands even further from there. What I expected was a fun, playful romance in an unconventional setting, and I got that as well as deep feelings, philosophical questions and a second half that was un-put-downable. I am in awe of Sierra Branham for having such a well-written and compelling debut.

The romance and game show aspect is handled incredibly well; it is believable in its pageantry and scheming. Despite juggling a large group of characters, the author does an expert job of selecting a handful of characters to highlight, making it easy to follow. However, this is just the setting for a far bigger story. At the forefront of this novel is the question of agency and power. Who has the ability to act on their desires and how class, politics and inequality impact individual life choices. The book was far deeper than I anticipated, but unfurled gradually and beautifully, using the characters as mechanisms to explore the greater themes in a way that feels grounded and sincere. I think the dual POV was used deftly to not just build the romantic tension, but to explore these ideas really well too. If you like political machinations mixing with romance (think high fantasy more than other sci fi actually), this will hit the spot.

A note for other LGBT readers, none of the tension or drama is due to sexual preference, which somehow in the year 2025 is still refreshing. As someone who tends to jump on anything sapphic, I was so filled with warmth reading a quality relationship that felt this deep and beautiful. We are shown how the chemistry develops between the two characters through actual connection and communication rather than just relying on superficial attraction - an impressive achievement given the pacing and limited interactions between the characters.

Overall, if the book sounds like something you will enjoy, I strongly recommend picking it up. There is definitely some loose ends left with a clear direction for the next entry (okay, maybe a bit of a cliffhanger), but the conclusion was satisfying and well-considered. Sierra Branham knows how to write a great story.

The second that I saw the description of this book, I knew I needed to read it. And I have to say, I do not regret a single second.

The plot immediately drew me in to reading this book. A futuristic reality TV show with murder and drama was too good to resist. And the cover art certainly didn't hurt. The book followed through perfectly with everything it promised and more. It got so dramatic and full of tension at points in the book that I couldn't look away no matter how hard I tried.

The plot was also amazingly well-done and unpredictable. Every time I thought I had figured out a twist, I was quickly proved wrong in such a wonderful way. Everything was intertwined perfectly and was captivating to read. I loved the foreshadowing that in retrospect was staring me directly in the face.

Artemis' relationships between the two heirs, Spie and Nicky was golden. It caused so many moments where I was on the edge of my seat, and moment where I was close to crying in public. While I normally read a book in a week or two, I loved this one so much that I stayed up reading this all night and day so I knew what happened next. My sleep schedule? Ruined. My emotional wellness? Also ruined.

I desperately need a sequel as soon as possible so we can continue exploring this universe and the doomed romance Temmi is in.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and DAW for the ARC! I loved it!

If The Bachelor was a thinly-veiled alien imperialist scheme, limned in treachery, half-truths and the dark promise of rebellion, it would be something like Love Galaxy. But even that description doesn't do this book justice. I am not a reality TV person, but I was intrigued as soon as I read about this book. And I'm thrilled to say it exceeded my expectations to the point that I'm craving more of this intricate, expansive universe Sierra Banham has created.

Temmi is a trash collector on X25, a fringe planet in the great Expani Empire. Even at 22, her luck has just about run out. Her ex stole her invention to get into an off-planet university, the mining conditions of her brother's work lost him an arm, and her mother's health is steadily deteriorating without the funds to get her proper treatment. On top of that, Temmi's family has just been handed yet another eviction notice, and there's no possibility of getting an extension. When she's off to make up for her absent coworker's trash route, Temmi runs into two clearly oblivious and wealthy idiots blocking her way. It's not until after Temmi screams at them that she realizes there are cameras everywhere... and that the two lurkers are none other than the twin heirs to the Empire itself. But what comes next is the biggest surprise: Temmi is invited to come onto the reality dating show the twins are about to star on as one of the contestants. And with a guarantee that she and her family will receive necessary funds to take care of themselves if she gets to the finale, there's no way Temmi could refuse such an opportunity. After all, she doesn't have to actually marry either the prince or princess. Love is a myth, after all. Isn't it?

I truly did not expect this story to go all-in on the complexities of love vs. family vs. duty, nor did I expect it to be a well-crafted takedown of imperialism, xenophobia, and class division. Yet, here I am, reeling from a story that tackles moral ambiguity and what it truly means to be oneself expertly disguised as a lighthearted reality competition. It's brilliant. The focus on the nuances of personas in the public eye contrasting (or failing to compete, in the case of Temmi, especially) with one's deepest, perhaps selfish desires is wonderfully laid out. I think anyone could relate to both Temmi and Spie's internal conflicts. I certainly saw bits of myself in both women, and in their self-doubt cracking the facades they created to protect themselves as well as their foundational beliefs of who they are. It's all done deftly and with care, anchored by a real humanity that comes through in the writing that never feels forced.

While I did see two (relatively minor, in the grand scheme of things) twists coming, the other revelations took me completely by surprise. I honestly don't know if there will be a sequel. I'm absolutely aching for one, but it also could be so bittersweetly perfect if it concludes in this single installment. Either way, this story and its ideas will be on my mind for a long time.

SO many thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

🫑

Final rating: 4.75 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph on January 7, 2026 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/0cc3be2a-e260-4e60-946b-40621b13a234)
Review posted to Instagram: PENDING

Came for the underdog sci-fi romance, stayed for the intergalactic drama.

Temmi, a trash collector on a dead-end planet, has just sold her life’s work to afford her family a measly two months’ worth of rent. Safe to say when two people are blocking her overtime garbage route, she is thoroughly upset and, perhaps, a little confrontational. But, what she doesn’t know is that she has just called the prince and princess of the human galaxy a narcissist and jackass. Temmi’s day goes from terrible to dreadful as she is forced to choose between staying a public humiliation or entering the limelight for a chance to redeem herself and save her family. Oh, and she must compete with contestants for the hand of the prince or princess, but they might be harboring malicious intentions…

First of all, I can relate to Temmi’s disinterest in reality television. When I do turn on the television, enduring the televised drama of a set of obnoxious individuals that are pitted to bring out the worst in each other is not how I would like to spend my time.

However, as Temmi was encouraged to watch the previous season of Love Galaxy and found it impossible to look away, so was my experience of reading this novel. I could not tear myself away from the slow-moving car crash of unresolved drama boiling over.

The delivery of this novel reminded me of the joy of reading Throne of Glass for the first time all those years ago. It is clear Branham intends to continue this series, as there is so much tension that is about to burst forth.

But, while other novels struggle to balance world-building (or, in this case, entire galaxy-building) while staying engaging, Branham beautifully delivered hidden morsels of politics and hidden motives.

And the characters! Each character, no matter how small their role, was oozing with personality! This led to such vivid interactions between a large set of cast members. And, since the characters are so memorable, small tells were visible to the keen eye.

I thoroughly enjoyed (read: devoured) this book, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment!

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️(2️/5)

Thank you, NetGalley and DAW Books, for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this novel for an honest review. Also, thanks to Sierra Branham for crafting this wonderful adventure.

This book has been living rent-free in my head even weeks after I finished it. It's a masterfully written intergalactic version of the bachelor show. The world-building, characters, and plot are fantastic and so much fun to read. I can't help but compare it to Sweep of the Heart, another intergalactic spouse hunt story by Ilona Andrews, and it compares favorably. I really hope Sierra Branham continues these characters' stories because I desperately want to know what happens next. Fans of Ilona Andrews, Jessie Mihalik, and John Scalzi will devour this book.

This book was a great read that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let you go. Branham has such a strong command over character, voice and narrative distance that at times it felt like I was standing right next to the characters as the novel progressed. The dual POV in love galaxy was excellent, and allowed a reader to understand the complexity of the interstellar dating show from multiple angles. Though I loved both characters, Temmi was a stand out for me as she transitions from garbage girl to “it girl” in front of the cameras. Her discomfort was at times reminiscent of Katniss, Everdeen, and I loved some of those throwbacks. Characters forced to undergo a glow up always get me in their corner. Also, bisexual panic.


There’s so many things about this book that I liked that would fall under the spoiler category, so I will say this: structurally, this is one of the strongest and most well conceived books that I’ve read in recent memory. Everything falls into place with a sense of inevitability, and yet it doesn’t feel predictable. I also liked how this novel explores themes of identity, trust, love, and the devastating realities of imperialism on both groups of people, and individuals

I loved this book, and can't wait for the next part. I think it was an interesting combination of dystopian sci fi about an oppressive empire and a reality romance show aka the Bachelor. A somehwat similar concept to the Selection, but while the Selection didn't really know if it wanted to be dystopian or not, this books leans fully into the dystopian aspect of the world building.

Temmi grew up on an exploited planet where a rare mineral is mined that is necessary for long distance space travel. As a result, the planet is heavily polluted to the point people become sick from breathing its air, poverty is rampant, many become disabled from the hard work and then can't support themselves. People here hate the empire, but don't really have any ability to oppose them. The setting at the start was vivid, and it reminded me of Zaun from Arcane.

Temmi was delightful as a character. She swears a lot, and takes no shit, and is not in the least bit diplomatic, which makes for a fun contrast with all the other Love Galaxy contestant. Technically, Temmi wasn't even supposed to be here, but an alternation with the empire's prince and princess while they visit her planet leads to her being chosen as the contestant to represent her planet.
I really liked Temmi's determination to protect her family, as well as her anger and her interest in science. I thought it was pretty cool that she was developing a mechanic lung transplant for the sick people on her planet with next to no resources. I also loved that she calls the project "Have a lung, bitch"

Spie, the imperial princess, took me a moment to warm up to. When the first taste of the book is this horrible living situation Temmi and countless others are stuck in, it makes it difficult to be sympathetic to the princess of the empire who caused all of this, and Spie came across as quite rude early on. But she warmed up to me quickly enough, and I think she was an interesting character who has her opinions about her empire and rebelled by not doing what her mother wants, but none of that rebellion has been actually meaningful so far. I loved Spie having to face herself and the complicity of her position, and actually having to change.

The romance in this was really good, and I could feel the sexual tension early on. The problem is, Temmi was chosen as a contestant for Spie's brother Nicky. While both siblings are attracted to women, and there's 24 contestants for the two of them, some are exlusively for one sibling, and Temmi was for Nicky. And Nicky actually likes Temmi, and Spie loves her brother. Meaning there's plenty of drama keeping the romance from happening.

At the same time, there's also a murder investigation happening. Several contestants turn up dead, and Temmi finds them. Then people around her try to convince her nothing's actually happening and these women were just eliminated, not dead, and Temmi's left alone to find out what happened.
The twist to this was really good, and really not something I expected, and it really shifts the tone of the book.

The build up, eventually, is more towards rebellion against this empire, and I can't wait to say what book 2 does with this, while I'm also rooting for Spie and Temmi to get together against all odds.

Would recommend this to fans of Arcane and people who wanted the Selection to be more dystopian

Thank you to NetGalley and Sierra Branham for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was excited about this book—reality TV dating show, sci-fi setting, snarky queer female protagonist—and it sure did not disappoint.

Temmi is a trash collector on a planet that's dead or dying. Her family is struggling to make ends meet. But when she's swept into a dating show starring the twin heirs to the empire, everything changes. Suddenly Temmi is competing to win the hand of Nix, the bookish but sweet prince, while fighting her attraction for the strictly off-limits princess, Spie. And something's off about the show. When contestants start turning up dead, Temmi realizes that the stakes are much, much higher than she could've ever known.

This book was like Hunger Games had an affair with The Selection and then married The Ones We Burn and this is the bastard child. The plot was exciting, twisty, and alluring; I couldn't put the book down. The writing kept pace with the plot and I loved Temmi's voice, although she did sometimes fall into a cliched sci-fi and/or romance protagonist who is the only "real" one that shows the sheltered royalty what's wrong with the world. I didn't mind the tropes, though, because they worked in this book. Also, the fact that the romance was sapphic helped a lot, and I definitely was rooting for Spie and Temmi. I am super excited for the rest of this series and am definitely feeling some <spoilers> imperial overthrow and galactic revolutionary war <spoilers> in our future.

I loved this. It started so light and fluffy, then a little mystery was added, then suddenly it was deep in politics and the flaws of systems of power. The ending is a little wistful, but very realistic to the scenario in a way that happily ever after would not have been.

This book wrecked me. I spent the last 15% of it bawling my eyes out. I went into this expecting a fun sapphic sci-fi adventure, not a story that would rip my heart out and stomp on it. Repeatedly. 6 out of 5 stars. Best book I’ve ever read.

This is 'The Selection' but sapphic and good, and also the politics and societal dynamics weren't an afterthought but are an integral and well done part of the story. I don't know how or why but obviously it hit me like a ton of bricks. Like it actually hurt to read because I loved Temmi and Spie so much and past a certain point I knew this wasn't gonna have a 'happy' end and it fcking hurt. I don't know why my brain is like this.