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The Darkness Outside Us
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
They Both Die at the End meets The Loneliest Girl in the Universe in this mind-bending sci-fi mystery and tender love story about two boys aboard a spaceship sent on a rescue mission, from two-time National Book Award finalist Eliot Schrefer. Two boys, alone in space. Sworn enemies sent on the same rescue mission. Ambrose wakes up on the Coordinated Endeavor with no memory of a launch. Theres more that doesnt add up: evidence indicates strangers have been on board, the ships operating system is voiced by his mother, and his handsome, brooding shipmate has barricaded himself away. But nothing will stop Ambrose from making his mission succeednot when hes rescuing his own sister. In order to survive the ships secrets, Ambrose and Kodiak will need to work together and learn to trust each other . . . especially once they discover what they are truly up against. Love might be the only way to survive.
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peanutnine
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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🤩 Special Edition Book Mail 🤩
I'm in love with my newest Dazzling Bookish Shop arrival!

peanutnine @TheIntrovertedDodoBird here's the latest 😊 3w
TheSpineView 😎😎😎 3w
Roary47 Oooo 😍 3w
32 likes3 comments
review
Robotswithpersonality
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Panpan

Whoops! On the plus side, I'm glad that clones in space is indeed turning out to be a viable subgenre I can look forward to reading again in the future, as this makes the fifth book I've read in that theme in the past couple years.
I believe I'm in the minority here, but this is not the type of story structure I can enjoy. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? The author spent nearly 200 pages building up a connection between the reader and the characters and their relationship, and the mystery they were solving, and then HE BLEW 'EM OUT AN AIRLOCK! I don't care if the sentiment was supposed to be that it would add to the romance that whichever version of themselves they were, they would learn to work together/love each other, that it's supposed to build suspense in the middle of solving the mystery, it reads as redundant to me to repeat certain steps of getting to know each other and realizing something is wrong and trying to solve it, when you could have just written another 50- 100 pages (without the halt in between) where they just discover the clones in the engine room, and then the overall plan and grow closer during that, and then the ultimate ending, and you would not have had to have what reads as a stalling mechanism, to me, in the middle. 6mo
Robotswithpersonality 3/3 Just my natural impatience, but I basically called bullshit and started skim reading by the half way point. Read enough to know it followed the story beats on repeat like I was afraid it would as soon as it hit part two. I did give a thorough read to the first exposition/explanation dialogue with OS Prime and the letters. I gather there were reflections on what helps make a long standing successful romantic relationship, how humans/clones can survive knowing that kind of fate, not being able to leave that isolated environment, but if there were golden takeaways I didn't catch any. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Feel free to consider this a DNF on my part as that's exactly what I felt like doing about half way through.
⚠️Suicide
6mo
1 like2 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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*Offended tiny robot noises* ☺️

Nutmegnc Incredible book. 🥰😱 6mo
GondorGirl This book was stunning. 6mo
9 likes2 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Sunday to-do lists, always daunting.

4 likes1 stack add
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Christy2318
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

I‘m picky about #scifi and this was fabulous. It‘s sort of YA and sort of #romance, but not really. It wasn‘t what I expected going in, it was so much more. Very existential. If you know too much going in, it would ruin the story. 🛸🛸🛸🛸🛸

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Nalbuque
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

Completely unexpected. The main things that you think you‘ll get end up being secondary: a sci-fi plot and a queer romance. But not in a bad way! They‘re there and add to the read, but this was so much more. It was deep and sad and hopeful. It wasn‘t a “can‘t put down” book, and it took me longer than usual to finish, but prob bc I‘ve been on a comfort-book spree. This wasn‘t particularly comforting all the way thru, but completely worth it!

peanutnine Loved this one! Definitely not what I expected going in but in a good way 11mo
15 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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KristiAhlers
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

To be fair sci-fi really isn't my cuppa and this does start off slow but gets better as you read further. Truly this is a soft pick and felt the overall story could've been stronger 🌟🌟🌟 1/2

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LiteraryNib
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Mehso-so

One of the things that I like about this novel is that Eliot Schrefer cleverly uses metonymy, a rhetorical device, to deepen the meanings and emotional takeaways.

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peanutnine
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Loved this trippy sci-fi adventure 🚀
#ScarathlonDailyPrompts #Dark @StayCurious

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peanutnine
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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#ManicMonday #LetterD @CBee

📚 The Darkness Outside Us, The Dead Romantics
🖊️ Jen Deluca
🎬 Dave 📺 Doctor Who
🎤 DNCE
🎶 Dear No One by Tori Kelly, Dream a Little Dream of Me by Michael Buble

CBee Thanks for playing 😊😊 2y
25 likes1 comment
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Kenyazero
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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I am not sure how I feel about this one yet. I‘m only 11% in and so far it can be summed up as typical sci-fi stuff, a vague mission made more vague by memory loss, teen horniness, and evaluating attractiveness (related, of course, to that last item). #LGBTQ #SciFi

Nutmegnc It‘s gets better! Hang in!! 2y
PuddleJumper 🤣🤣 Amazing 2y
Kenyazero @Nutmegnc good to know! 2y
21 likes3 comments
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Nutmegnc
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Lots of 5⭐️ reads: The Darkness Outside Us, Heartstopper #4, The Heartbreak Bakery, The Charm Offensive, Wolfsong series, Upright Women Wanted, The Archive of Alternate Endings, The Disordered Cosmos!!
And snuggly Freddie ftw! @Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Eggs Wow lots of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Cute 🐈 (edited) 2y
31 likes1 comment
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Kenyazero
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Every now and then my brain supplies me with similar thoughts and it makes me feel dizzy (without the spinning part). It‘s interesting to think about though.

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reading_rainbow
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Interesting and good plot, character/romance aspects of it I found kind of stiff
#gaymay

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reading_rainbow
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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I will unravel here.
I am in a waiting room without end, without location, without time or place. If I go outside, I die before I get any answers. I exist only in a theoretical way, like a point on a coordinate plane. I am the simulation.

—————————————-

(I would go absolutely crazy if I was trapped in space)

17 likes1 stack add
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reading_rainbow
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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💕birthday book shopping💕 I have a feeling a few of these are going to pull me out of my slump

Leftcoastzen Happy Birthday! 🎂 2y
Texreader Happy birthday!! 🎁🎂🎉🎊🎈 2y
JessClark78 Happy Birthday! 🎊🎂🎉 2y
reading_rainbow Thank you!! 🌺🎈 @JessClark78 2y
33 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Nutmegnc
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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This has been my favorite book so far this year! So intriguing and unexpected. If you like sci-fi and queer themes, this book is for you!! #gaymay

peanutnine I loved this one! 2y
Nutmegnc @peanutnine I‘ve read a lot since early January and it still is the best!!! 2y
52 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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StellaDz
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

This book is so hard to describe without spoiling the premise. I thought it was YA but I can‘t say it really is (I think the only downside is clearly the marketing is slightly off with that cover- but I still love the cover). I laughed, cried, and was left in awe. The audiobook was amazing and the narrator did such a good job with voices and inflections. Run and get it. Maybe my fave book of 2022 so far? If not, def top 3!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

sprainedbrain Great review! I absolutely loved this one and agree it was mislabeled YA. ❤️ 2y
14 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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AmandaBlaze
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

This was a good character driven sci-fi that kept me interested. I can't say much more without giving away hints of the plot.

DogMomIrene Going to have to check this one out. Sometimes the books where you can‘t explain much are the BEST books. 2y
26 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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AmandaBlaze
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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I'm about halfway through and things are getting weird. Who can Ambrose and Kodiak trust but each other? This book is definitely holding my interest.

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AmandaBlaze
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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“Saturn's moon Titan is the nearest celestial body.“
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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nitalibrarian
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Next up. Switching gears from contemporary romance to YA science fiction.

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AmandaBlaze
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Really enjoying this so far.

GondorGirl This was such a good book! Totally unexpected! I can't wait to hear what you think! 2y
25 likes1 comment
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AmandaBlaze
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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“I remember wanting to have something smart to say back to Minerva. I remember wanting her to admire me. But I was just a kid, so the best I could do was hug her. Five years later, and I've started thinking it's the best any person can do in most situations.“

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AmandaBlaze
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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I have to switch out the Wayward Children books for this one as the ebook is due tomorrow. From the reviews, it promises to be an entertaining read #FabulousFebruary #Readathon.

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sprainedbrain
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

Holy sh*t, this book is so good. It‘s sci-fi, and I suppose you can call it YA (though I didn‘t roll my eyes once, so not sure it counts 😂), and it definitely has an element of romance, but whatever I was expecting, it far surpassed. Excellent writing, super surprising, and perfectly entertaining. I won‘t say more because I would hate to spoil this book for anyone, but if you like sci-fi, speculation, and characters to love, read it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

GondorGirl I feel this book was so mis-marketed as a YA romance. I don't really consider it either of those things. This was a beautiful scifi novel. It was completely unexpected and I freaking loved it! 2y
peanutnine I loved this book! Definitely not what I expected, in the best way possible 2y
sprainedbrain @GondorGirl I agree that it was mismarketed. I probably wouldn‘t have picked it up at all if it wasn‘t for Litsy. 2y
96 likes9 stack adds3 comments
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Nutmegnc
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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I managed one #bookspinbingo for January 2022 with the help of a couple free spaces…although I read a few that weren‘t on this card. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Fantastic month!! 2y
41 likes1 comment
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HollyBolly
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
Pickpick

4.5/5 stars Loved it!! I was captivated and so confused soon after part 1 was over. More than a romance and very good!

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HollyBolly
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer

Just finished part one... and WHAT IS GOING ON? People weren't kidding when they said this is more than just a space romance.

shanaqui Yep, the end of part one is a total “whoooaaa“ moment. 2y
19 likes2 comments
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HollyBolly
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer

After Parasite by Darcy Coates, I'm in the mood for some sci-fi!

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Nutmegnc
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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I‘m completely gobsmacked and must sit with this novel for a while. I definitely loved it. Like LOVED it, but there‘s so much to consider. About love, truth, myths, what makes us who we are. Even thoughts about the nature and the future of humanity, right and wrong, survival. I was not surprised to read he had a NASA consultant as well as a mathematician. Just…my head is spinning. If you‘ve read this, what are your thoughts??

Nutmegnc @peanutnine boy. It took me a minute to get into it but wham when it grabbed me, it held on!! Phew!! (edited) 2y
GondorGirl Yesssssss! This book was so much more than I'd expected and it was AMAZING! 2y
TracyReadsBooks I agree. I think it took a little while to get into the story but once I did, it was much more than I expected. Really fantastic and definitely leaves you with a lot to think about. 2y
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Nutmegnc @GondorGirl I just read the Murderbot series so I was kind of on a space theme but wow. Nothing like what I expected and so much more!!! And that last line!! 😱🥰😍 (edited) 2y
peanutnine Omg yes! It was not entirely what I expected going in and has so much to unpack, I still think about it a LOT. 2y
sprainedbrain Well, I‘m sold! 2y
Nutmegnc @sprainedbrain 👏👏👏 2y
GirlNamedJesse This was my favorite book of last year! ❤️ I love stories that surprise me. 2y
Nutmegnc @GirlNamedJesse That‘s awesome! It‘s my favorite so far—and I anticipate it will continue to be my fav of 2022! 2y
41 likes6 stack adds10 comments
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shanaqui
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
Pickpick

Finished! And... Wow, should not say too much about it because I think people will tend to appreciate it best unspoiled. #Bookspin

GondorGirl Yesssss! I thought this book was mis-marketed when it was called a YA romance. There was so much meat to this story and it was FANTASTIC! 2y
shanaqui @GondorGirl Agree! I kinda get why it's YA, but mystery/survival story would be more accurate than romance. 2y
Nutmegnc Omg I just finished this and I can‘t even…😱 2y
shanaqui @Nutmegnc Good scream or bad scream? XD 2y
Nutmegnc @shanaqui Definitely good scream but I‘m a mess. I can‘t get this book out of my head. #obsessed 2y
12 likes5 comments
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shanaqui
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer

My least favourite thing in life is that ever since I first started getting serious anxiety, my anxiety can get triggered when I get too involved in the book I'm reading -- and then chances are that I need to put down the book for a while, sometimes a long while, and forget the emotional involvement before I pick it up again.

I really want to finish this one, and yet also, anxiety. Argh.

Smrloomis Ugh, sorry to hear that! I‘m sure it‘s frustrating. Does switching to another book help? 2y
shanaqui @Smrloomis Sometimes! I like to have non-fiction on the go as well so I can switch to that for a calm down. 😁 2y
Smrloomis @shanaqui That sounds good! Hope it works for you 🤞🏽 2y
See All 7 Comments
LiteraryinLawrence That sounds really frustrating. These days, there is such a high level of anxiety in the real world that it seems unfair for your anxiety to also manifest itself in your reading life. I know anxiety doesn‘t care about fairness. 💗 2y
Larkken I get it. Could switching to an audiobook version help since you could be semi- distracted doing something else? 2y
Clare-Dragonfly That is rude, anxiety! Books should be relaxing! 😠 2y
shanaqui @Larkken Hmm, I hadn't thought about trying audio. I do have some crafting I need to do, so maybe that will help! Thanks for the suggestion.

@LiteraryinLawrence Thanks! It is pretty frustrating, but at least I'm doing pretty well with my anxiety lately and I can recognise it and take a breath.

@Clare-Dragonfly Right?! I think this is part of why I don't read as much as I used to (other than just time constraints), which sucks.
2y
12 likes7 comments
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shanaqui
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer

I'm finding this a tad predictable, but fun enough -- I keep reading it in big gulps.

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shanaqui
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer

#bookspin I'm going to take it easy (despite my brain being like "oooh a challenge") and only think about one book at a time. #8 is this book, so I've got started! I've had it around for ages without actually ever getting in the mood to pick it up.

So far, obviously suspicious of the AI. Always be suspicious of the AI.

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peanutnine
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

WOW ? this was not what I expected going in, but in the BEST way!! Ambrose is on a mission to Titan, Saturn's moon, to rescue his sister who was sent there to start a new colony. But he wakes up with no memory of the launch and discovers that there is another spacefarer on board that he's never met. This was part mystery, sci-fi, and love story. It had some "Good Place" vibes. It really just makes you think about what makes a life worth living ✨

Nutmegnc It‘s on my book spin bingo card for this month! Looks like it‘s gonna be up next 😜 2y
peanutnine @Nutmegnc yayyy enjoy! I can't wait to see what you think! 2y
43 likes1 stack add2 comments
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faelinwolf
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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My local library has started to do these fun boxes every month called Something for YA. They have things to make, things to eat, things to keep, and a library book to read. The box this month has a theme of "Treat Yo Self!" ? They are so much fun! Libraries are amazing! ❤️

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WanderingBookaneer
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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75% in and I‘m not engaged. I think Covid (I‘m not positive, I just teach in FL) is affecting my enjoyment. I‘ve been underwhelmed by so many books lately.

Prairiegirl_reading Nothing has been working for me either. 😕 I‘m on holidays and have read one page all week. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 3y
Smrloomis I hear you. I‘ve been reading the news in FL a lot (don‘t live anywhere close to it) and it‘s really worrying/upsetting. Hope you all get some relief soon! 3y
51 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Branwen
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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I didn't realize this when I put it on hold, but here we go with yet another GAYS IN SPACE book! 🏳️‍🌈💕📚🚀 Now I'm evedn more hyped to read it! #gaysinspace #librarylove

GondorGirl I ADORED this book, but I really feel like Tor did it a disservice by calling it a YA romance. The chargers could have been a few years older and nothing in the plot would have to change, but it would bring in a way broader audience. And, yes, there is some romance, but the book is so so SO much more than that! I can't wait to see what you think about it. 3y
GondorGirl Also, I'm now digging through the #GaysInSpace hash tag and my TBR pile hates you for it. 🤣 3y
Branwen @GondorGirl Interesting! I'm even more excited to read it now! I'll let you know what I think! YASSSSSS! FILL YOUR TBR WITH MORE GAYS IN SPACE! *evil laugh* 😘 3y
Shae_Purcell I also just found your #gaysinspace hashtag and I'm loving your recommendations! Not sure if you listen to podcasts at all, but Girl in Space and The Strange Case of Starship Iris come to mind when reading this book's description. 3y
Branwen @Shae_Purcell Oooooh YAY! Thank you so much! I will have to check them out! 😃💕📚 3y
46 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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GirlNamedJesse
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

I love books that surprise me, and this one absolutely did! I was on the edge of my seat, flying through the rest of the book. And then I had the worst book hangover ever. And then I have thought about it nonstop for dayyyyys until I finally got my head (and heart) together enough to write a review. It made me ask all of the big questions about humanity and I'm still muddling through how I feel about them all. I went in blind and it was perfect!

Nutmegnc Honestly. Same. 2y
7 likes1 comment
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cewilf
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

This was wonderful, not at all what I expected. If you read some Goodreads reviews, others mention how oddly this was marketed as a YA romance. There is some romance, but really the only YA part of the book is their age. I don‘t usually pick up space books (they stress me out!) but this has great twists and was totally worth the read. Brings up some great questions about life and our purpose as humans.

26 likes3 stack adds
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cewilf
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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I haven‘t read a book since March (except for 3 rather lengthy HP fanfics I devoured in the past couple weeks 🤓) but I am here to say that I am on day 1 of summer break after the most trying school year ever, and I am ready to read through the piles of books that have been building up throughout my house 📚Cheers to summer reading! And being back on my favorite app.

BookishMarginalia Yey for summer! 3y
30 likes1 comment
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LibrarianRyan
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Space, the final frontier ... okay it's not Star Trek, but it is a space book with just two alive people trying to figure out how to survive. It's LGBTQ read that looks like a lot of FUN!.

Out June 1
#CoverLove #YAedition

34 likes3 stack adds
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TracyReadsBooks
The Darkness Outside Us | Eliot Schrefer
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Pickpick

It‘s difficult to review this one without giving anything away...So, I‘ll just say that it‘s about two enemies on a deep space rescue mission. EXCEPT, well, it‘s not that easy. Secrets, danger, and...unfortunately, I really can‘t say more. A fun YA science fiction read. On sale 6/1/21.

20 likes2 stack adds