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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
What will the world look like in thirty years’ time? How will humanity survive the oncoming effects of climate change? Set in the near future and inspired by the world around us, Gravity Is Heartless is a romantic adventure that imagines a world on the cusp of climate catastrophe.
The year is 2050: automated cities, vehicles, and homes are now standard, artificial Intelligence, CRISPR gene editing, and quantum computing have become a reality, and climate change is in full swing―sea levels are rising, clouds have disappeared, and the planet is heating up.
Quinn Buyers is a climate scientist who'd rather be studying the clouds than getting ready for her wedding day. But when an unexpected tragedy causes her to lose everything, including her famous scientist mother, she embarks upon a quest for answers that takes her across the globe―and she uncovers friends, loss and love in the most unexpected of places along the way. Gravity Is Heartless is bold, speculative fiction that sheds a hard light on the treatment of our planet even as it offers a breathtaking sense of hope for the future.
Review:
With all that is going on in the world today, I often like to escape into the world of books. Gravity is Heartless, by Sarah Lahey, focuses on a bleak dystopian future where the Earth is ravaged by global warming. Even with it's bleak subject matter, I found the book utterly entertaining. The setting was (sadly) realistic, and the characters and story were very creative.
What I Liked:
Setting:
The time is set about thirty years in to the future. If you imagine the worst possible effects of global warming, then you can guess a few of the possible problems in this world. Rising temperatures melt most of the polar icecaps, flooding island nations. This creates waves of nation-less refugees. The hotter climates cause the wealthy to build massive, air-conditioned cities that overlook large populations of the poor. Everything has changed, including how people live, work, and eat. The details make this bleak world come to life.
Conflicts:
One of the main conflicts that I found scariest (because I can see it happening) is the formation of two political movements. One is science-driven, pushing for reforms that might save the planet. The other is based on religious fanaticism. Both of these factions are vying for power and limited resources. And they are both ripe for corruption.
Characters:
Quinn is a scientist who is at a crossroads in her life. While she's making strides in her career, her personal life is in chaos. She's set to marry a fellow researcher, but is getting cold feet. As the wedding approaches, an event occurs that causes Quinn to question everything she believes in.
She has a lot to sort and in her journey she encounters several unique characters. The one who will affect her life the most is Tig. Tig is human but has many parts of him replaced with tech. He seems to know Quinn already, but she certainly doesn't recognize him. Tig is one of the many displaced island people of South Asia. He represents what is being lost in the world. Quinn represents the future. How is it that they make such a powerful connection?
Story:
The story centers around the possibility that Quinn's mother, a famous scientist herself, could have unlocked the secrets of time travel. Both the Science party and the Religious party want this secret. While Quinn's mother remains missing, they believe Quinn is the key to unlocking the mystery. All this is set in the backdrop of civil unrest, and the budding romance between Quinn and Tig.
What I was Mixed About:
While the romance between Quinn and Tig was exciting (and very sexy), I was troubled by how pushy and possessive Tig quickly became. He "chose" her, he is jealous of any attention Quinn gets from other men, and he tries to push her into getting married. Tig showed all the red flags of being an abuser. Fortunately, Quinn gets this vibe as well, and is very cautious with him. But I didn't like how others were willing to excuse Tig's behavior, including her own father!
A Note: This is definitely an Adult book with sex on the page. If you like "Clean" books, you may want to skip this book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: June 2nd, 2020
Author: Sarah Lahey
Publisher: She Writes Press
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Page Length: 360 Pages
Source: Publisher & NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A highly entertaining read about the effects of global warming.
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