I once read a novel centered on astronauts and spaceships because everyone on Reddit swore it was a masterpiece. I decided to try it, and I absolutely hated it. Because of that experience, I avoided anything sci-fi or space related for a long time.

This book came out earlier this year, and I kept seeing it everywhere. I was skeptical because it was also about space and astronauts. So I picked up another TJR novel instead and loved it. Then I tried a second and ate it up as well. That gave me the courage to finally give this one a chance, and I am so grateful I did because it is such a beautiful book and completely changed my view of space themed stories.

I love the being that Joan is. She has a way of making things look as effortless as possible. Even in dire situations, she is collected, she stays open minded about the world, and she never reacts the way you might expect. She stands up for what she believes in, she always thinks about others, and her love for her niece is so precious. I just love her character so much. Vanessa complements her perfectly, and watching the two of them together was both fun and painful. The moment on the spaceship broke me. It was so brutal and so final, and I felt my heart crack.

If I ever come across TJR, I will thank her for not taking the route I was dreading. She saved it and made the whole journey worth reading. Not that it would not be worth reading with an alternate ending, but this ending meant so much more because of everything that came before it.

And Frances. She did not complete the story, but she is exactly what she is, a sweet person and a great addition to this story. Her story was important, and I am glad it was told.

I am genuinely glad I picked this up. It is a love story, but not just romantic love. It is a love of life and space and time and everything that exists.

I would love to see this adapted for the screen because it would make such an amazing movie.

A final shout-out to Julia Whelan, who is such a great narrator and brought everything to life in a special way.

There was absolutely no need for all those extra POVs in part 2. They added nothing except to build anticipation for the main story I actually wanted to read about and maybe to give life and faces to the so-called party of the year. Another thing this book made very clear is that you should never marry a celebrity or an athlete, because clearly they are not faithful. Mick is such an a**hole. Selfish, destructive and somehow still setting literal fire on top of all the emotional chaos. An everlasting douche. Glad Nina finally found her voice and did what their mom should have done years ago.

I never want to see Mick in another book again, and I am not sure I like Carrie Soto enough to read about her right now.

Special shout to Julia Whelan, because she truly elevates anything she narrates.

Overall, this was such a good read. I could not put it down until I finished.