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As You Wake, Break the Shell
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26Explore a universe of stubborn survival and found family, of persistent danger and quiet wonder in the first installment of a heartfelt new duology from Hugo Award–winning author Becky Chambers.
Life on the resource-poor planet of Fortune is challenging, but for its inhabitants, it’s home. For two of them, Signy and Cora, this home might no longer be enough.
Signy is a brilliant but reclusive botanist who bio-prints medicine from her small plant shop, often bending the rules to help those the system leaves behind. Her life is filled with the green of her store, the warmth of her one elderly friend, and the quiet determination to help others without putting herself in danger.
Cora is a rorqual pilot, one of the few with the unique ability to navigate the massive, living ships that connect the scattered settlements of their solar system. Her bond with her rorqual, Colibri, is profound—a connection that is both her greatest gift and a threat to her career.
It is that threat—the “mindbleed,” a dangerous side effect of her piloting—that brings her to Signy’s shop, and her appearance puts Signy in the danger she so fears. But it’s soon apparent it’s not just about losing her license—this delicate balance between risk and trust has the potential to change everything for them.
Told in an alternating timeline of their initial coming together and a not-so-distant future where they have found domestic bliss, this is a story harrowing and haunting, heartfelt and hopeful. Through a love story centered around survival, we are given a glimpse into the very best of what Becky Chambers does in her writing: explore what it means to be human, and what it means to come together.
Life on the resource-poor planet of Fortune is challenging, but for its inhabitants, it’s home. For two of them, Signy and Cora, this home might no longer be enough.
Signy is a brilliant but reclusive botanist who bio-prints medicine from her small plant shop, often bending the rules to help those the system leaves behind. Her life is filled with the green of her store, the warmth of her one elderly friend, and the quiet determination to help others without putting herself in danger.
Cora is a rorqual pilot, one of the few with the unique ability to navigate the massive, living ships that connect the scattered settlements of their solar system. Her bond with her rorqual, Colibri, is profound—a connection that is both her greatest gift and a threat to her career.
It is that threat—the “mindbleed,” a dangerous side effect of her piloting—that brings her to Signy’s shop, and her appearance puts Signy in the danger she so fears. But it’s soon apparent it’s not just about losing her license—this delicate balance between risk and trust has the potential to change everything for them.
Told in an alternating timeline of their initial coming together and a not-so-distant future where they have found domestic bliss, this is a story harrowing and haunting, heartfelt and hopeful. Through a love story centered around survival, we are given a glimpse into the very best of what Becky Chambers does in her writing: explore what it means to be human, and what it means to come together.
480 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Want to Read
February 23, 2026This is the best news I've heard this year!
Want to Read
April 20, 2026Not to be dramatic, but Becky Chambers returning in 2026 might heal planet Earth.
Want to Read
May 4, 20265/3: I GOT AN ARC AND I AM MAKING IT EVERYONE'S PROBLEM
4/23: WE HAVE A COVER FOLKS CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING
OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD. everyone shut up! NEW BECKY CHAMBERS
4/23: WE HAVE A COVER FOLKS CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING
OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD. everyone shut up! NEW BECKY CHAMBERS
Want to Read
January 6, 2026I AM SEATED. THE BOOKSTORE EMPLOYEES ARE ASKING ME TO LEAVE BECAUSE "IT'S NOT OCTOBER YET" BUT I'M SIMPLY TOO SEATED!!!!
Want to Read
April 20, 2026new becky chambers hallelujah
April 12, 2026
Full disclosure, I’ve read and enjoyed all of Becky Chambers’ published works. That being said, As You Wake, Break the Shell is tied for my new favourite, tucked neatly alongside To Be Taught if Fortunate.
The first book in this upcoming duology features lived-in communities, achingly realized characters be they human or alien, and interchanging ripples of hope and struggle, all of which readers can expect when they pick up a Becky Chambers work.
But above all, this book is steeped in love: how we open to it, how we tend it, how we grieve when we lose it, and what we’re willing to do to find it again.
This is such a special novel. I hope it finds its way into the hands of readers because it will make its way into their hearts as well.
Thanks Edelweiss for the ARC.
The first book in this upcoming duology features lived-in communities, achingly realized characters be they human or alien, and interchanging ripples of hope and struggle, all of which readers can expect when they pick up a Becky Chambers work.
But above all, this book is steeped in love: how we open to it, how we tend it, how we grieve when we lose it, and what we’re willing to do to find it again.
This is such a special novel. I hope it finds its way into the hands of readers because it will make its way into their hearts as well.
Thanks Edelweiss for the ARC.
Want to Read
January 7, 2026it’s only 10 months to October she said. it’ll be easy she said.
Want to Read
January 18, 2026what a thing to know i will be experiencing this kind of joy again in a few months 😭😭
Want to Read
May 15, 2026A new chonker from Becky Chambers AND she's coming to Berlin in July?! At the book shop 5 mins from my place? Yes, please!
Want to Read
April 27, 2026A new Becky Chambers is what we all deserve with the way 2026 is already going. And this cover!? Are you joking?? <3
Want to Read
February 23, 2026OMG FINALLY!!!! Did my pleading to TOR work? WE ARE BLESSED.
unreleased
March 6, 2026everybody shut up new becky chambers book in october !!!!! and it’s book 1 of 2 !!!
Want to Read
March 20, 2026shaking crying screaming
Want to Read
March 16, 2026I've just found out about this new Becky Chambers novel, and I couldn't get more excited!!!!! \o/
May 11, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
I want to start this review by saying that, like every other Becky Chambers book so far, this story felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket. It made me laugh and it made me cry, but the warm blanket it wrapped around me let me cherish this very personal story throughout all of its 400+ pages.
We follow Signy and Cora‘s intertwining story on the planet Fortune. A resource-scarce planet whose atmosphere is hostile and generally does not provide many comforts. There we get to meet Signy - who is independent, a bit anti-social and who likes plants and facts, and Cora - who seems to love life and who gets to experience the universe in such a unique way by being a rorqual pilot. They meet through necessity because Cora needs a medicine that Signy might just be able to provide. And as they meet and get to know each other, we in turn get to know and fall in love with them.
The story incorporates two different timelines, which I soon came to love because of the stability and reassurance that the future-POV provided me in knowing, roughly, what future awaited Signy and Cora. Becky Chambers is a genius at writing books revolving around very up-close and personal stories and the relationships she builds are beautiful. Like so many of her books, this story is not about action scenes and propelling the plot forward through drama, but instead focuses on building relationships, about understanding the characters, getting to know and falling in love with them and their life, and about cherishing the quiet and profound moments.
If you already know and love Chambers‘ other books: yes, this is definitely for you. And if you don‘t: don‘t expect an action packed story, expect an alien planet but furthermore, expect very human struggles, relationships and emotions, doubts and hopes and hurt and love, and the beautiful writing that wraps you in a nice, warm hug.
I want to start this review by saying that, like every other Becky Chambers book so far, this story felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket. It made me laugh and it made me cry, but the warm blanket it wrapped around me let me cherish this very personal story throughout all of its 400+ pages.
We follow Signy and Cora‘s intertwining story on the planet Fortune. A resource-scarce planet whose atmosphere is hostile and generally does not provide many comforts. There we get to meet Signy - who is independent, a bit anti-social and who likes plants and facts, and Cora - who seems to love life and who gets to experience the universe in such a unique way by being a rorqual pilot. They meet through necessity because Cora needs a medicine that Signy might just be able to provide. And as they meet and get to know each other, we in turn get to know and fall in love with them.
The story incorporates two different timelines, which I soon came to love because of the stability and reassurance that the future-POV provided me in knowing, roughly, what future awaited Signy and Cora. Becky Chambers is a genius at writing books revolving around very up-close and personal stories and the relationships she builds are beautiful. Like so many of her books, this story is not about action scenes and propelling the plot forward through drama, but instead focuses on building relationships, about understanding the characters, getting to know and falling in love with them and their life, and about cherishing the quiet and profound moments.
If you already know and love Chambers‘ other books: yes, this is definitely for you. And if you don‘t: don‘t expect an action packed story, expect an alien planet but furthermore, expect very human struggles, relationships and emotions, doubts and hopes and hurt and love, and the beautiful writing that wraps you in a nice, warm hug.
May 15, 2026
sadly this wasn’t for me but i do see the beauty in this that most other people would appreciate. it almost feels as if this book is litfic in space. it ticks off all the boxes: elevated prose, thematic depth, unconventional structure, subtext over plot, and an open ending. its definitely brilliantly written but it's far too quiet for me to be its target audience.
so it started off strong with her rorqual but there were far too few scenes and discussions on the rorquals. the rorquals became more of a plot device rather than a character and it left me wanting so much more. i was hoping that the book truly delved into the relationship between rorqual and human and how much she loved, and sacrificed for her rorqual similar to the way rosaria munda did in the aurelian cycle. in this case the reader was more often than not *told* there was love, rather than being shown.
the dual timeline structure was the most jarring to me i think, and it softened so much of what the book could’ve offered. yes i understand becky chambers writes cozy but too many times it would rev up the literary engine and fell short on follow through. so much so that the narrative was cut off far too abruptly for it to be enjoyable for me. the dual timeline really highlighted that so much was left unsaid between characters that i, as the reader had to fill in the gaps on the events and character development.
the setting and the world she's build really is the most interesting part of this book. and yet, to the very end i really just needed more. i was continuously being provided with aspects of world all the way to last page but it never really felt finished. im still left with questions i feel like i need answers to.
mostly, this book was an exploration on the relationship between two people who i never felt connected to. sadly i wasn’t engaged in their story or either of the characters as individuals and it ended up with me feeling very bored. again this is not for me but im sure other people will appreciate this, especially if they enjoy litfic elements in their books.
so it started off strong with her rorqual but there were far too few scenes and discussions on the rorquals. the rorquals became more of a plot device rather than a character and it left me wanting so much more. i was hoping that the book truly delved into the relationship between rorqual and human and how much she loved, and sacrificed for her rorqual similar to the way rosaria munda did in the aurelian cycle. in this case the reader was more often than not *told* there was love, rather than being shown.
the dual timeline structure was the most jarring to me i think, and it softened so much of what the book could’ve offered. yes i understand becky chambers writes cozy but too many times it would rev up the literary engine and fell short on follow through. so much so that the narrative was cut off far too abruptly for it to be enjoyable for me. the dual timeline really highlighted that so much was left unsaid between characters that i, as the reader had to fill in the gaps on the events and character development.
the setting and the world she's build really is the most interesting part of this book. and yet, to the very end i really just needed more. i was continuously being provided with aspects of world all the way to last page but it never really felt finished. im still left with questions i feel like i need answers to.
mostly, this book was an exploration on the relationship between two people who i never felt connected to. sadly i wasn’t engaged in their story or either of the characters as individuals and it ended up with me feeling very bored. again this is not for me but im sure other people will appreciate this, especially if they enjoy litfic elements in their books.
Want to Read
April 20, 2026I NEED IT GUYS
May 25, 2026
that was fantastic. i’ll have more to say tomorrow i think
Want to Read
April 30, 2026Best news this year. So very much looking forward to this.
x-new
April 27, 2026Squee!
Want to Read
April 27, 2026I have never wanted to win a giveaway so much.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Becky Chambers, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of As You Wake, Break the Shell in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book. I loved it so, so much.
I’ve read everything Becky Chambers has written, and As You Wake, Break the Shell is easily up there with my favorites. Maybe my favorite. It has so many of the things I already love about her work: deeply human emotions explored through alien contexts, prose that is beautiful without ever feeling inaccessible, and characters who feel real even when their lives are completely unlike anything I will ever experience. But this one hit me especially hard.
At its core, this is a book about love and grief. Not in a melodramatic way, and not in a “here is the moral of the story” kind of way. It is about the enormous emotional experiences that shape a life: falling in love, losing someone, surviving, wanting more than survival, trying to understand yourself through your connection to another being. It takes place in a far-future colony on a planet that is hostile to human life, with people who are generations removed from Earth and living in a world that is almost entirely unfamiliar. And somehow none of that distance matters. Chambers uses all of that alienness to get closer to the most recognizable parts of being human.
That is one of the things she does better than almost anyone. She can write a setting that is strange, distant, and biologically or culturally alien, and instead of making the story feel cold or abstract, it makes everything feel more intimate. The alien creature at the center of this book is truly alien. Not “basically a person with a funny body” alien, but something whose experience of the world is fundamentally different from ours. And yet the connection between human and non-human life in this book made the human emotions feel even clearer. It gave me a new angle on feelings I already understood, or thought I understood.
This is also a quiet book, and I mean that as the highest compliment. There are no big action set pieces here. No shootouts, no grand space battles, no thriller pacing. Becky Chambers writes the kind of “boring” books that I cannot put down. It is slice of life, but executed with such care and precision that every small moment matters. She knows exactly how much worldbuilding to give you. She is not dumping lore on the page just to prove the world is complex; she gives you the exact amount of context you need to understand the emotional shape of the story. And yet the world still feels deep. You can sense whole histories, systems, customs, and lives existing beyond the edges of the scene.
One of the things I loved most about this book is the structure. I do not want to spoil anything specific, but the story plays with time in a way that feels incredibly intentional. It opens by introducing the idea that certain beings experience time in a way that is not quite linear, and then the book itself gradually starts to feel shaped by that idea. The narrative does not simply move from event to event in a straight line. Instead, it gathers around emotionally significant moments. Scenes speak to each other across time. A future moment can deepen your understanding of a past feeling. A memory can reshape what you thought you understood. It is not confusing; it is more like the book is organized by emotional logic rather than chronology.
There are also interstitial pieces between chapters: bits of in-world writing, side notes, messages, recipes, academic fragments, and other forms of storytelling. At first glance, they might seem like little palate cleansers between chapters, but they are so much more than that. They add texture, context, humor, ache, and meaning. The book would not feel complete without them. I love when a book experiments with form in a way that does not feel like a gimmick, and this absolutely worked for me.
And the prose. God, the prose. Reading a new Becky Chambers book often feels like wrapping yourself in something soft and warm from the dryer while holding a hot drink. It is comforting, but not shallow. Gentle, but not simple. This book contains some of the most beautiful writing about love that I have read in a long time, and also some painfully accurate writing about grief, loneliness, and mental health. The highs are luminous. The lows are crushing. It feels like it was written by someone who feels things deeply and is generous enough to put that feeling on the page.
I finished this book crying and smiling at the same time. I felt emotionally wrung out in the best way. I was sad it was over, grateful that I got to read it, and already aware that it was going to stay with me.
This is the first part of a duology, which may matter to readers who prefer to wait until a series is complete. But for me, this told a satisfying story on its own. It reminded me a little of the structure of the Monk and Robot books in that way: there is clearly room for more, and I absolutely want more, but the first book still feels whole enough to stand on its own.
I would recommend this to Becky Chambers fans, obviously, but also to anyone who likes quiet, character-driven science fiction; stories about alien biology and human emotion; books about love and grief; slice-of-life storytelling; and speculative fiction that uses the unfamiliar to say something deeply familiar. Honestly, I want to recommend it to all humans.
If I could give it more than five stars, I would.
I loved this book. I loved it so, so much.
I’ve read everything Becky Chambers has written, and As You Wake, Break the Shell is easily up there with my favorites. Maybe my favorite. It has so many of the things I already love about her work: deeply human emotions explored through alien contexts, prose that is beautiful without ever feeling inaccessible, and characters who feel real even when their lives are completely unlike anything I will ever experience. But this one hit me especially hard.
At its core, this is a book about love and grief. Not in a melodramatic way, and not in a “here is the moral of the story” kind of way. It is about the enormous emotional experiences that shape a life: falling in love, losing someone, surviving, wanting more than survival, trying to understand yourself through your connection to another being. It takes place in a far-future colony on a planet that is hostile to human life, with people who are generations removed from Earth and living in a world that is almost entirely unfamiliar. And somehow none of that distance matters. Chambers uses all of that alienness to get closer to the most recognizable parts of being human.
That is one of the things she does better than almost anyone. She can write a setting that is strange, distant, and biologically or culturally alien, and instead of making the story feel cold or abstract, it makes everything feel more intimate. The alien creature at the center of this book is truly alien. Not “basically a person with a funny body” alien, but something whose experience of the world is fundamentally different from ours. And yet the connection between human and non-human life in this book made the human emotions feel even clearer. It gave me a new angle on feelings I already understood, or thought I understood.
This is also a quiet book, and I mean that as the highest compliment. There are no big action set pieces here. No shootouts, no grand space battles, no thriller pacing. Becky Chambers writes the kind of “boring” books that I cannot put down. It is slice of life, but executed with such care and precision that every small moment matters. She knows exactly how much worldbuilding to give you. She is not dumping lore on the page just to prove the world is complex; she gives you the exact amount of context you need to understand the emotional shape of the story. And yet the world still feels deep. You can sense whole histories, systems, customs, and lives existing beyond the edges of the scene.
One of the things I loved most about this book is the structure. I do not want to spoil anything specific, but the story plays with time in a way that feels incredibly intentional. It opens by introducing the idea that certain beings experience time in a way that is not quite linear, and then the book itself gradually starts to feel shaped by that idea. The narrative does not simply move from event to event in a straight line. Instead, it gathers around emotionally significant moments. Scenes speak to each other across time. A future moment can deepen your understanding of a past feeling. A memory can reshape what you thought you understood. It is not confusing; it is more like the book is organized by emotional logic rather than chronology.
There are also interstitial pieces between chapters: bits of in-world writing, side notes, messages, recipes, academic fragments, and other forms of storytelling. At first glance, they might seem like little palate cleansers between chapters, but they are so much more than that. They add texture, context, humor, ache, and meaning. The book would not feel complete without them. I love when a book experiments with form in a way that does not feel like a gimmick, and this absolutely worked for me.
And the prose. God, the prose. Reading a new Becky Chambers book often feels like wrapping yourself in something soft and warm from the dryer while holding a hot drink. It is comforting, but not shallow. Gentle, but not simple. This book contains some of the most beautiful writing about love that I have read in a long time, and also some painfully accurate writing about grief, loneliness, and mental health. The highs are luminous. The lows are crushing. It feels like it was written by someone who feels things deeply and is generous enough to put that feeling on the page.
I finished this book crying and smiling at the same time. I felt emotionally wrung out in the best way. I was sad it was over, grateful that I got to read it, and already aware that it was going to stay with me.
This is the first part of a duology, which may matter to readers who prefer to wait until a series is complete. But for me, this told a satisfying story on its own. It reminded me a little of the structure of the Monk and Robot books in that way: there is clearly room for more, and I absolutely want more, but the first book still feels whole enough to stand on its own.
I would recommend this to Becky Chambers fans, obviously, but also to anyone who likes quiet, character-driven science fiction; stories about alien biology and human emotion; books about love and grief; slice-of-life storytelling; and speculative fiction that uses the unfamiliar to say something deeply familiar. Honestly, I want to recommend it to all humans.
If I could give it more than five stars, I would.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the published for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I have read all of Becky Chambers' other books and really enjoyed them so let it be known that I started off reading this book already biased in its favor. When I saw the ARC on NetGalley, I requested it before I even read the blurb explaining what it was about, because I saw Chambers was the author, and I knew it didn't matter what it was about, odds were good that I'd like it. As you can see from the 5 star rating, I did.
To be honest, once I read the description, it didn't sound like something I'd typically go for, because it's set up as a bit of a love story, and I am not a fan of the romance genre. It's true, this is a love story, but it's a love story of all types of love - romantic, platonic, love of the activities that you are passionate about it life, love of knowledge, love of trying new things, love of other sentient life that you might not even fully understand. What it is not, is a light "romance novel" where people meet in some random way, instantly fall in the love and only ever deal with contrived problems, or problems of their own making where they won't be honest with each other. It's the exact opposite of that. It's two adult people being honest with each other and dealing with the real challenges of sustaining a long-term relationship day after day - when is the right time to move in together? Who is willing to have a harder commute? How do you deal with members of each others' family/friends, especially if you don't get along? How do you fit each other into each others' lives and hobbies? How do you handle finances? It's basically a "slice of life" story set against the backdrop of a sci-fi world.
The world - a planet seeded for colonization long ago, but barely able to support its colonists - is well-developed and felt well-explained without an overwhelming amount of background information shoved at the reader. One of the two main characters, Cora, is a rorqual pilot. Rorquals are the most alien creatures in the book, huge shapeless intelligent animals that work sort of like pack animals to move shipments through space. Cora's bond with Colibri, her rorqual, forms a central part of the story. I loved that Chambers really does write Colibri as alien; Cora has to literally rewire her brain to understand Colibri, and even then, isn't fully understanding all of Colibri, as Colibri can never fully understand all of Cora. Despite that, their bond with each other is loving, accepting and supportive. When Cora and Signy, the other main character, become a couple, Signy's efforts to understand this bond help the reader learn more about it too. I also liked that Signy was not threatened by Cora's bond with Colibri; she only seeks to understand it.
The last cool element I wanted to mention here is the format. Chambers alternates chapters from the start of Cora and Signy's relationship with chapters from 15 years in the future when they are an established couple. That makes this into a more "cozy" read, not that bad things don't still happen, but you obviously know that Signy and Cora get together and remain that way long into the future. However, they are in a very different place in the future chapters than in the past, so the story does leave you guessing as to how they got that way. There are also interstitial chapters that range from conversations with Colibri, to recipes, to plant descriptions. I am sucker for a unique story format, so I enjoyed this a lot.
Overall, if you enjoy slower, paced "slice of life" sci-fi, definitely give this a shot. It's quite different than a lot of other "cozy" sci-fi or romance out there, and yet it hits a lot of the same beats, just in a creative, unique way.
First off, I have read all of Becky Chambers' other books and really enjoyed them so let it be known that I started off reading this book already biased in its favor. When I saw the ARC on NetGalley, I requested it before I even read the blurb explaining what it was about, because I saw Chambers was the author, and I knew it didn't matter what it was about, odds were good that I'd like it. As you can see from the 5 star rating, I did.
To be honest, once I read the description, it didn't sound like something I'd typically go for, because it's set up as a bit of a love story, and I am not a fan of the romance genre. It's true, this is a love story, but it's a love story of all types of love - romantic, platonic, love of the activities that you are passionate about it life, love of knowledge, love of trying new things, love of other sentient life that you might not even fully understand. What it is not, is a light "romance novel" where people meet in some random way, instantly fall in the love and only ever deal with contrived problems, or problems of their own making where they won't be honest with each other. It's the exact opposite of that. It's two adult people being honest with each other and dealing with the real challenges of sustaining a long-term relationship day after day - when is the right time to move in together? Who is willing to have a harder commute? How do you deal with members of each others' family/friends, especially if you don't get along? How do you fit each other into each others' lives and hobbies? How do you handle finances? It's basically a "slice of life" story set against the backdrop of a sci-fi world.
The world - a planet seeded for colonization long ago, but barely able to support its colonists - is well-developed and felt well-explained without an overwhelming amount of background information shoved at the reader. One of the two main characters, Cora, is a rorqual pilot. Rorquals are the most alien creatures in the book, huge shapeless intelligent animals that work sort of like pack animals to move shipments through space. Cora's bond with Colibri, her rorqual, forms a central part of the story. I loved that Chambers really does write Colibri as alien; Cora has to literally rewire her brain to understand Colibri, and even then, isn't fully understanding all of Colibri, as Colibri can never fully understand all of Cora. Despite that, their bond with each other is loving, accepting and supportive. When Cora and Signy, the other main character, become a couple, Signy's efforts to understand this bond help the reader learn more about it too. I also liked that Signy was not threatened by Cora's bond with Colibri; she only seeks to understand it.
The last cool element I wanted to mention here is the format. Chambers alternates chapters from the start of Cora and Signy's relationship with chapters from 15 years in the future when they are an established couple. That makes this into a more "cozy" read, not that bad things don't still happen, but you obviously know that Signy and Cora get together and remain that way long into the future. However, they are in a very different place in the future chapters than in the past, so the story does leave you guessing as to how they got that way. There are also interstitial chapters that range from conversations with Colibri, to recipes, to plant descriptions. I am sucker for a unique story format, so I enjoyed this a lot.
Overall, if you enjoy slower, paced "slice of life" sci-fi, definitely give this a shot. It's quite different than a lot of other "cozy" sci-fi or romance out there, and yet it hits a lot of the same beats, just in a creative, unique way.
May 15, 2026
I received this book as an eARC on NetGalley.
...Man. I really don't want to write this. Becky Chambers is my favorite author. Her science fiction novels have completely changed how I look at the genre, and have raised my expectations considerably. She's an incredible writer, and I wish I could see how her brain comes up with these sci-fi settings. They're always unique, always interrogating something about humanity, and I always want to know more.
Which is part of why this book just did not work for me.
This is less of a science fiction novel, and more of a literary fiction or even romance one. The vast majority of the page count is dedicated to following the relationship between our two main characters. And much of those scenes could exist without being in a sci-fi setting at all. They have a meetcute, they go on dates, they deal with loss and chronic illness. They see each other at work. They even have a forced proximity moment thanks to a volcano! Not to make it seem like this is a romantic comedy, because it's not. At all. It's very much just an intimate portrayal of two women across their relationship (can't be more specific than that to avoid spoilers).
And that's just not the kind of novel I like reading. I usually avoid books that are focused on the life of a single relationship over a long period of time. I was very much in this for the science fiction, which meant I spent a lot of my time being bored here.
That said, what sci-fi elements there are, have Becky Chambers' quintessential style and tone. The rorqual species is fascinating, and I love the conversations we witness between Cora and Colibri. I also loved the entire idea of Fortune, this failed colony planet that people who've never seen Earth are stuck on. Learning more about this world is the thing that kept me reading.
But because this is not about the sci-fi worldbuilding, I was left disappointed. There is a lot of unexplored ground here because that wasn't the focus or point of the book. I honestly would read more books in this world, even if they too focused on a relationship. That's how much I loved it. I still wouldn't give it more than 3 stars, but I would absolutely read it.
So yeah, this book just wasn't for me. But I think there's a lot to love here. I even think this would be a GREAT recommendation for literary fiction readers looking to get into sci-fi. Or even romance readers who want to dip their toes in. I expect it's gonna be reviewed a lot higher by most of the readers I know.
It's just not for me. So, 3 stars. Becky Chambers is still my favorite author. But they can't all be hits.
...Man. I really don't want to write this. Becky Chambers is my favorite author. Her science fiction novels have completely changed how I look at the genre, and have raised my expectations considerably. She's an incredible writer, and I wish I could see how her brain comes up with these sci-fi settings. They're always unique, always interrogating something about humanity, and I always want to know more.
Which is part of why this book just did not work for me.
This is less of a science fiction novel, and more of a literary fiction or even romance one. The vast majority of the page count is dedicated to following the relationship between our two main characters. And much of those scenes could exist without being in a sci-fi setting at all. They have a meetcute, they go on dates, they deal with loss and chronic illness. They see each other at work. They even have a forced proximity moment thanks to a volcano! Not to make it seem like this is a romantic comedy, because it's not. At all. It's very much just an intimate portrayal of two women across their relationship (can't be more specific than that to avoid spoilers).
And that's just not the kind of novel I like reading. I usually avoid books that are focused on the life of a single relationship over a long period of time. I was very much in this for the science fiction, which meant I spent a lot of my time being bored here.
That said, what sci-fi elements there are, have Becky Chambers' quintessential style and tone. The rorqual species is fascinating, and I love the conversations we witness between Cora and Colibri. I also loved the entire idea of Fortune, this failed colony planet that people who've never seen Earth are stuck on. Learning more about this world is the thing that kept me reading.
But because this is not about the sci-fi worldbuilding, I was left disappointed. There is a lot of unexplored ground here because that wasn't the focus or point of the book. I honestly would read more books in this world, even if they too focused on a relationship. That's how much I loved it. I still wouldn't give it more than 3 stars, but I would absolutely read it.
So yeah, this book just wasn't for me. But I think there's a lot to love here. I even think this would be a GREAT recommendation for literary fiction readers looking to get into sci-fi. Or even romance readers who want to dip their toes in. I expect it's gonna be reviewed a lot higher by most of the readers I know.
It's just not for me. So, 3 stars. Becky Chambers is still my favorite author. But they can't all be hits.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THANK YOU SO MUCH to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TL;DR: I am biased because I'd read Becky Chambers' grocery lists to be honest, but this book is absolutely stunning and so well done! It is reflective, sweet, lighthearted, and so good.
This was brilliant and did not disappoint and I wish I'd savored it more. I blew through it. A big reason for that is the characters: Cora and Signey had my heart from page one. Chambers does a really phenomenal job of crafting amazing, real characters, and they were no exception. Cora especially had me really invested; her relationship and dynamics with the people and things around her propelled the story forward in a way that felt vital and important.
The world she's made here is a bit darker than the world of the Wayfarers series or the Mock & Robot moons, but the ideas and contemplation is the same. And the reflection on humanity and human nature was just as brilliant. The story feels important and timely in terms of plot, and the world of Fortune was familiar enough without losing the sci-fi elements that make science fiction stories like this such great windows into new worlds while also reflecting back our own.
The plot took a bit to get into. The time jumps was a brilliant narrative technique, but I didn't appreciate it right off the bat. It was a bit uncomfortable to orient myself into the plot with the skips and changes in narration, and I could see that being an issue for other readers. After about 20% through the book, I really loved it and sad highly invested - if you're reading this review because you're not sure you enjoy the narration but you do like the writing, I'd encourage you to keep going! It's really a very clever technique, but one that isn't clear initially / right off the bat.
If you like Chambers, this is a great read. If you don't, I wouldn't necessarily recommend starting with this book - because of the orientation requirements. Look at the Monk&Robot series and see if you enjoy the slice-of-life storytelling, then jump into this one. It's brilliant, but not my absolute favorite of her work.
But ... If you're considering this book, it's worth a shot. I really enjoyed it quite a lot, and I think it's going to stick with me for a long time. There isn't much I can really say about it without spoiling things - you'll learn what I mean while you read - but this is definitely worth the time.
TL;DR: I am biased because I'd read Becky Chambers' grocery lists to be honest, but this book is absolutely stunning and so well done! It is reflective, sweet, lighthearted, and so good.
This was brilliant and did not disappoint and I wish I'd savored it more. I blew through it. A big reason for that is the characters: Cora and Signey had my heart from page one. Chambers does a really phenomenal job of crafting amazing, real characters, and they were no exception. Cora especially had me really invested; her relationship and dynamics with the people and things around her propelled the story forward in a way that felt vital and important.
The world she's made here is a bit darker than the world of the Wayfarers series or the Mock & Robot moons, but the ideas and contemplation is the same. And the reflection on humanity and human nature was just as brilliant. The story feels important and timely in terms of plot, and the world of Fortune was familiar enough without losing the sci-fi elements that make science fiction stories like this such great windows into new worlds while also reflecting back our own.
The plot took a bit to get into. The time jumps was a brilliant narrative technique, but I didn't appreciate it right off the bat. It was a bit uncomfortable to orient myself into the plot with the skips and changes in narration, and I could see that being an issue for other readers. After about 20% through the book, I really loved it and sad highly invested - if you're reading this review because you're not sure you enjoy the narration but you do like the writing, I'd encourage you to keep going! It's really a very clever technique, but one that isn't clear initially / right off the bat.
If you like Chambers, this is a great read. If you don't, I wouldn't necessarily recommend starting with this book - because of the orientation requirements. Look at the Monk&Robot series and see if you enjoy the slice-of-life storytelling, then jump into this one. It's brilliant, but not my absolute favorite of her work.
But ... If you're considering this book, it's worth a shot. I really enjoyed it quite a lot, and I think it's going to stick with me for a long time. There isn't much I can really say about it without spoiling things - you'll learn what I mean while you read - but this is definitely worth the time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, so, I kind of really loved this book, but I don't exactly know why. It was quite different from anything I’ve ever read before. The two timelines, the two points of view, the interstitials (emails, texts, recipes, symbols that took me way too long to figure out what they were, etc.)...I didn’t always know what was going on (though I guess most of if it made sense to me by the end), but I also couldn’t seem to put it down. And I think Signy and Cora were very much the reason for that.
I loved getting to know both of the characters and them getting to know each other. I loved Signy’s bluntness and Cora trying to woo her. I loved how these two just seemed to fit together and how they quickly became each other’s person. I also loved the time we got to spend with Otto, and especially when Cora joined in on that little family.
As I said, this was very different from anything I’ve ever read. It wasn’t your typical plot, and honestly, if I tried to explain to someone what it was about, I’d probably fail. In a way, it felt like it was about nothing (and I don't mean this in a bad way). It was just going through the lives of two people as they fall in love and try to survive the world they’re in. Apparently, I’m okay with that.
I wasn’t aware this was a duology when I began reading it, but I was happy to learn there’s going to be a second book. And I’m thankful for that because I want to know the in-between. The things that happened between the two timelines. I also certainly didn’t see the ending to this one coming, so I’m excited to see what comes next and what this book was setting up.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I loved getting to know both of the characters and them getting to know each other. I loved Signy’s bluntness and Cora trying to woo her. I loved how these two just seemed to fit together and how they quickly became each other’s person. I also loved the time we got to spend with Otto, and especially when Cora joined in on that little family.
As I said, this was very different from anything I’ve ever read. It wasn’t your typical plot, and honestly, if I tried to explain to someone what it was about, I’d probably fail. In a way, it felt like it was about nothing (and I don't mean this in a bad way). It was just going through the lives of two people as they fall in love and try to survive the world they’re in. Apparently, I’m okay with that.
I wasn’t aware this was a duology when I began reading it, but I was happy to learn there’s going to be a second book. And I’m thankful for that because I want to know the in-between. The things that happened between the two timelines. I also certainly didn’t see the ending to this one coming, so I’m excited to see what comes next and what this book was setting up.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
May 13, 2026
when i ended up with an arc of my most anticipated read of the year, obviously i dropped everything to read it immediately! this book had me invested from the very beginning, as someone who struggles with new world building it sometimes takes me a while to get into a read, but not this book! i loved every single thing about it. i laughed. i sobbed. the love, the grief, the joy, the loss, the hope. i was instantly endeared to signey and cora, both as individuals and as a pair, the dual timeline to them 15 years in the future gave a pessimist like me such hope and reassurance - i loved all the future inserts so much, while reading about them first meeting and learning about them both, to then jump to where they end up and who they grow to become was wonderful. the different formats through were so fun too, the interstitials of texts, emails, and even recipes, were such a great addition. this was like being wrapped up in a hug, a reminder that no matter how bleak the world might be, life is changed by who you surround yourself with, they’re the ones that bring you hope and happiness. the found family vibes were perfection, my emotions were absolutely tested here. i wanted to protect cora at all costs, and related signey so very deeply. didn’t realise until after reading that this is book one in a duology, i am so glad i get to read more about these two in the future! especially after that ending!! first 6 star read of the year, and cannot stop thinking about it. becky chambers has done it again!!
thank you netgalley and publishers for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
thank you netgalley and publishers for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don’t know how to describe the book, so I won’t, but can say that I loved it. Please go in blind as I did and keep an open mind to experience the journey that Becky Chambers will take you on. Read it if you love Becky Chambers writing. Read it if you love all living things. Read it if you love beautiful love stories set in unique places. Read it if you love science fiction. At its core, I felt this was truly a book about love.
I put Becky Chambers in my top 5 authors and have been waiting patiently for her newest book. I knew she was on a hiatus and was so happy to hear this book would be publishing in October. When I was given the opportunity to read and ARC from NetGalley I was thrilled. I’ve read her Wayfarers Series several times as well as the Monk and Robot books and other short stories. This book is not Wayfarers and it is not Monk and Robot, it is something unique and extraordinary.
Signy and Cora’s story was so wonderfully written. I loved reading about the early days of their relationship, but also the chapters set in the future when we see them in the life they have built together. The early story is set on Fortune and survival feels so hard won yet there is beauty to be found in their world. I look forward to revisiting this book when it publishes and my copy arrives to join my growing collection of Becky Chambers’ books.
I would like to say a sincere thank you to the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager, author Becky Chambers, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I put Becky Chambers in my top 5 authors and have been waiting patiently for her newest book. I knew she was on a hiatus and was so happy to hear this book would be publishing in October. When I was given the opportunity to read and ARC from NetGalley I was thrilled. I’ve read her Wayfarers Series several times as well as the Monk and Robot books and other short stories. This book is not Wayfarers and it is not Monk and Robot, it is something unique and extraordinary.
Signy and Cora’s story was so wonderfully written. I loved reading about the early days of their relationship, but also the chapters set in the future when we see them in the life they have built together. The early story is set on Fortune and survival feels so hard won yet there is beauty to be found in their world. I look forward to revisiting this book when it publishes and my copy arrives to join my growing collection of Becky Chambers’ books.
I would like to say a sincere thank you to the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager, author Becky Chambers, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Becky Chambers is one of my favorite science fiction authors, and I was genuinely so excited to be approved for this ARC! And while it took me a little bit to get into the rhythm of this book - the voices of Signy and Cora, and the movements between time and the interstitial moments - I was slowly and inexorably drawn into their story.
The fact that from the beginning of the book, we see 15 years into Signy and Cora's future means we know they end up ok, but as you read, you learn that it's really all about the journey of how they got from the planet Fortune to where they are now. There's beauty and love in how their relationship develops, but you also get to revel in their love and life 15 years ahead. I think Chambers is exceptional in how she writes people: the good, the bad, the joy, the sorrow.
One of the secondary characters, Otto, is a delight throughout the book. And since we see 15 years into the future, we can see the impact he had on Signy and Cora in so many of the daily parts of their future life. Which just speaks to how amazing Chambers is at her craft of storytelling and bringing characters to life. She mentioned in her acknowledgement that due to personal grief and loss, she came very close to stepping away from writing. I, for one, am very glad she didn't, because this book is amazing and I can't wait for the second part of this duology.
One of my favorite quotes:
"Are you quoting me?" Signy asked. "Are you quoting me to me?"
"It was good advice," Cora said.
"Oh, that's so annoying," Signy said.
The fact that from the beginning of the book, we see 15 years into Signy and Cora's future means we know they end up ok, but as you read, you learn that it's really all about the journey of how they got from the planet Fortune to where they are now. There's beauty and love in how their relationship develops, but you also get to revel in their love and life 15 years ahead. I think Chambers is exceptional in how she writes people: the good, the bad, the joy, the sorrow.
One of the secondary characters, Otto, is a delight throughout the book. And since we see 15 years into the future, we can see the impact he had on Signy and Cora in so many of the daily parts of their future life. Which just speaks to how amazing Chambers is at her craft of storytelling and bringing characters to life. She mentioned in her acknowledgement that due to personal grief and loss, she came very close to stepping away from writing. I, for one, am very glad she didn't, because this book is amazing and I can't wait for the second part of this duology.
One of my favorite quotes:
"Are you quoting me?" Signy asked. "Are you quoting me to me?"
"It was good advice," Cora said.
"Oh, that's so annoying," Signy said.
May 12, 2026
I adore how Becky Chambers writes sci-fi. Dont get me wrong there is merit in writing the next epic space opera but sometimes you just need sometime cosy and hopeful.
I especially admire how the author can build a world that’s sucks the reader in and can understand within the first few chapters. So often with new books/series I find myself still trying to grasp the concepts of the world by the half way point and yet Becky manages to establish all the core principles in the first few chapters leaving the rest of the book to focus on the excellent characters.
The story also bucks traditional story telling of a linear beginning, middle and end in favour of alternating between the story how it progresses and interludes from the ending. It’s great because at its core this novel is a romance and there is no time wasted on will they won’t they as we know they end up with their happily ever after and we get to focus on how they got there.
The cast is fairly small so you get to spend plenty of time with each of them making them wonderfully fleshed out and developed. Each of them is unique with their own motivations and challenges. My only regret is not getting enough time with Colibri but I hope that will change in the sequel.
The world is fairly bleak in its outlook which makes it more incredibly how the author can turn it into such a hopeful story and it highlights how it’s the people you surround yourself with that has the strongest impact on your life and outlook.
I can’t wait for the second book to spend more time with our trio and find out how they get to their happy ending.
I especially admire how the author can build a world that’s sucks the reader in and can understand within the first few chapters. So often with new books/series I find myself still trying to grasp the concepts of the world by the half way point and yet Becky manages to establish all the core principles in the first few chapters leaving the rest of the book to focus on the excellent characters.
The story also bucks traditional story telling of a linear beginning, middle and end in favour of alternating between the story how it progresses and interludes from the ending. It’s great because at its core this novel is a romance and there is no time wasted on will they won’t they as we know they end up with their happily ever after and we get to focus on how they got there.
The cast is fairly small so you get to spend plenty of time with each of them making them wonderfully fleshed out and developed. Each of them is unique with their own motivations and challenges. My only regret is not getting enough time with Colibri but I hope that will change in the sequel.
The world is fairly bleak in its outlook which makes it more incredibly how the author can turn it into such a hopeful story and it highlights how it’s the people you surround yourself with that has the strongest impact on your life and outlook.
I can’t wait for the second book to spend more time with our trio and find out how they get to their happy ending.
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