This book had a lot of good ruminations on marriage and relationships, but the novel carries on for much longer than it should. I feel like this could have been tightened up in editing and come out as a much stronger novella. The characterization could have been stronger, especially when there were only three characters to focus on.

I got an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGallery (Thanks!!!).

The concept of this book is fantastic, we get a glimpse to the future, but the near future, when cars would drive by themselves and the "future people" would be amused by the idea that their parents used to control their cars (shocking!). In the same time, the future people are still working, eating and communicating as same as us and even feeding the chickens the old fashion way.

The story is about Junior "winning" a very unusual lottery (without a knowledge of participating it)
and being selected to travel far away for an unknown period of time, while Hen, Henrietta, his wife, is staying behind in their isolated
quiet farm. But maybe the story is not really about Junior, but about Hen and her life while he is gone?
Junior and Hen's life is very simple, normal and expected, until a stranger appears at their door with the lottery good news for both of them. But are the news that good?

The novel has 3 parts, the first one is giving us a lot of unclear information about Junior's winning and his upcoming trip, Junior and Hen relationship and their way of living, and it was kind of boring to read, it's written more as a manuscript for a TV show and less as a book.
The second part was the best for me, and by the middle of it I managed to resolved the puzzle but still wanted to keep of reading in order to see how all the parts come together in the end. The third and final part was ok but expected for me.

I liked it but it took me some time to get used to it.

As advertised this is a Black mirrors book or for older readers this will definitely make you feel like you've entered the Twilight Zone! The book quickly got me hooked, however, it did start to drag by the end but the suspense kept me going. So glad I finished as the ending is thought provoking with ideas and themes I keep coming back to. This would make for a good beach read as it is a short, easy read that will give you something to ponder as you lie on the beach and stare at the sky. I'm not much of a sci-fi reader but the psychology and suspense in this book intrigued me enough to read the author's other books.
Thank you to Iain Reid for this fascinating novel and to Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for the ARC.

This was described as a Black Mirror-esque book and it did not disappoint! Not my usual type of book but the twists had me at the edge of my seat. I thought I had it figured out and knew exactly what was going on - well, I was close and yet oh so far at the same time. I can see how it this is your usual genre it may be considered predictable; it was very enjoyable. It was a quick and easy read!

#NetGalley
Book Published: August 7, 2018
Review Published: June 3, 2018

So I’m not a big fan of the cover page, although it very accurately depicts the two “worlds” our protagonist is caught between. I also thought the title was a little strange, as none of the characters are actually “foes” of each other, even when they bicker. I’m sure there was a good reason for why that's the title but I guess it went over my head. Well, either way, the summary of the book was what really drew me in, in the end.

Plot and Writing
Junior and Henrietta are a married couple living out a peaceful, mundane existence on their remote farm set in our world but far in the future, where space travel and other technologies have largely advanced. The novel begins with the arrival of Terrance, an employee of OuterMore, an organization apparently at the forefront of new technology. Terrance explains to the couple that OuterMore is working to launch the Installation, a project that involves sending Junior into space for a long period time, while a replacement stays behind with Henrietta. But who is Terrance really? And what is the real purpose of the Installation? And why Junior? And who—or what—is his replacement? What follows is a suspenseful tale that tackles the state of marriage and of self in a deeply provocative way that’ll definitely have you staring at a wall contemplating the expansion of yourself; how appropriate that in the novel, such thoughts are juxtaposed with the literal expansion of space.

I simply loved it! The pacing is pretty slow but the story still manages to suck you in successfully. It was hard to put down, particularly as the mystery began to solidify and the suspense was ramped up. I don’t typically read psychological thrillers like this one, but the sci-fi (and possibly supernatural) element really drew me in and I was not disappointed. The writing is amazing; it’s no wonder Reid is a bestselling author! ‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ has been on my TBR for a while now, but ‘Foe’ has bumped it up the list.

Setting
As mentioned, the setting typically doesn’t move far from Junior and Henrietta’s farm. We spend a couple of scenes at the mill where Junior works but mainly we get to know the house and the barn nearby. It felt isolating to be essentially stuck visiting and revisiting the same place over and over again, which helped me to understand the kind of isolating Junior and Henrietta exist in.

Characters
It’s a pretty small cast, and while I typically prefer larger casts, three was more than enough in this case.

Junior is our main protagonist, a farmer who loves his solitary life and equally adores his wife. At times he kind of annoyed me, especially when in relation to Henrietta and making assumptions for and about her, but he was so genuinely human in his mannerisms that I found myself really immersed in his character and fascinated by the questions he posed to himself. The novel is told in first person from his perspective, which aided the immersion, though it was pretty jarring when I realized that there were no quotation marks around his words. That style choice was so poignant and when it was revealed why that was the case, I freaked out. Like I said, I typically don’t read a lot of psychological thrillers so I don’t predict their twists well, and thus, I did not expect that ending and definitely felt just as shaken as our characters by it.

Henrietta is Junior’s wife, a standoffish and anxious woman who gets swept up in the craziness that her life had become since Terrance stepped into their lives. Despite the bizarre coldness, I found her really interesting. For the longest time, I could not figure out her motives and that’s the one problem with a story told in the first person of another character, but I desperately wanted to understand her (again, I was just that immersed with Junior, who also shared that same mission). The more we learned about her, the more sympathetic I was, and I’m happy with the way we left her. I can firmly say that the way the novel ended for her made this a solid 4/5 star read; it wasn’t just because I was happy with it but because I felt like her story was the “true” story of the novel, the one that encapsulated the themes wonderfully.

Terrance is the good-mannered OuterMore employee who acts as the bridge between his company and Junior and Henreitta, providing the background and information regarding the Installation, as well as spending much of the book collecting data on both of them for reasons that are at best incredulous. In a strange way, I always trusted Terrance; he felt to me like a traditional fae character, always telling the truth but hiding the parts he doesn’t want you to see and being an expert at skirting around certain topics. At the very least, I believe that HE absolutely believed in everything he said.

Negatives and Triggers
I can't really think of anything I didn't like about the book, and I couldn't pick out any triggers, unless you particularly feel icky about bugs; they don't feature prominently but their are passages that give great detail to dead and alive beetles. But those are few and far between.

Conclusion
Overall, I really like ‘Foe’ and would definitely recommend it to others. Thank you for the galley!

No writer confounds and surprises like Ian Reid. His books keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat. This book is particularly bizarre, but I read I'm Thinking of Ending Things very recently, so I knew what to expect: philosophical debate disguised by an eerie story in which all is not as it seems.


Junior and Hen have a quiet, rural life together. They work hard, feed the chickens, and enjoy their evenings together. One day, a man named Terrance appears at the farm with a strange announcement - Junior has been long-listed for a potential trip away from Hen via a research project called OuterMore. Terrance leaves, but says he'll be seeing them again soon. A year or so later, Terrance returns with the news that Junior has been officially selected and will be leaving for the OuterMore project for an unknown amount of time. Terrance moves in with them to prepare and research for the trip. And that's about all I can say.


Books like this are meant for going in blind -learn as little as you can before diving in, and then enjoy the ride. Reid is asking some big and often contemplated questions here - how well can you truly know another person? How well can you truly know yourself? Where is technology leading us, and is all advancement positive? What is the essence of lasting relationships? What is up with the horned rhinoceros beetle?! Ok, this last one may be one of my lingering questions...


I have to admit that I caught on to the big twist long before it's reveal, though I wasn't expecting the second twist right at the end. I don't want to spoil this book for anyone, but know that Reid not only carefully crafts his words, but makes subtle stylistic choices that can be revealing. This is for those who enjoy thinking about a book long after it ends, and who are comfortable with an artistic storyline. This book doesn't wrap up nicely at all, in fact the ending is completely open for continuation. My only criticism of this book is that it could have been longer, gone deeper, explored further. I can't rate this as high as ITOET, as it doesn't pack quite the gut wrenching, emotional punch that his first novel did. Reid may very well be one of my favorite new (and Canadian!) authors.

I received a free copy of this for review from NetGalley **

This was my first dive into sci-fi and I was pleasantly surprised. The book was short but it sucked me in and I really liked the ending. I will definitely be checking out more from this author and diving deeper into sci-fi.

The book’s description dubs it as “a taut, psychological mind-bender,” but I didn’t really agree with the psychological part. I found it much more speculative than psychological, but that may have just been my interpretation.

Foe is an incredible book with only three main characters: Junior and Henrietta (Hen), a young couple living on a farm, and Terrance, a seemingly mysterious man who works for a private company, that is somehow connected to the government.

You know something weird is going on as soon as the book begins. Junior and Hen live a simple, quiet life, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. They keep to themselves and don’t have any family or friends around, so when a car pulls up to their house one night, you know something is off.

What follows is a beautiful narrative that explores the typical, daily life of Junior and Hen. Terrance picks apart their relationship, asks personal questions about their marriage, and spends the rest of his time observing everything they do. Creepy, right? To make matters worse, Junior begins having a hard time recalling past memories, and Hen becomes increasingly agitated with the situation as a whole.

As you read through the book, you’re dealt more questions than answers. Who are these characters? What are they doing? Who does Terrance really work for? Why must Junior and Hen go through so much, without being given a full explanation? I became more enthralled with the story after each chapter, and eagerly awaited more hints and clues as to what was happening.

When the truth came out, though, my mind was blown! I did not expect the plot twist, at all, and as soon as everything became clear, I was annoyed with myself for not predicting it earlier. Once everything is laid out, the story become so obvious and simple that you’ll be hitting yourself over the head for not putting it together.

Foe will make you question a lot of things: the future, technology, and what lengths you’d go to to preserve relationships. It’s an amazing book, fast-paced, and wonderfully written. It’s eerie and unsettling, but will also tug on your heartstrings. I’m confident that it will be a fantastic book to curl up with in the fall, soon after its release date.

Thank you to the publisher for an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and Ian Reid.
This was a good read, well written. I found the book dragging at some parts.
Few characters with unexpected ending.

Junior and Hen live a peaceful life on a farm. They are simple people living a happy and simple life until a man in a car shows up late one night talking about space travel. Then things begin to change.
Great book. I wasn't sure where it was headed, and once I figured it out I was blown away that I hadn't figured it out. There was always an eerie feeling that something was going on in this small farm.

I'm never disappointed with Iain Reid's books. Just like in I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Reid takes his reader on an intense journey filled with mystery & philosophical questions placed in a simple setting of ordinary life.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel.
After the puzzling addiction of a story called “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”, Iain Reid is back with his second novel, “Foe”.
It is the near future and Junior and his wife, Henrietta are living a quiet, secluded life on their farm. One day a government man arrives on their doorstop, claiming that Junior has been selected to be part of ‘The Installation’, the first human-occupied dwelling on the Moon, and Junior must leave his wife and his life “for the greater good”. But his wife will not be left alone, the government man assures. She will be left with an exact replica of Junior- a copy of him in every way, from his mannerisms to his appearance, someone who will hold his place until he returns to her.
Reid’s short yet twisted little psychological tale is entertaining from the get-go. The storyline is rife with drama and suspense, and the characters are innocent and honest, but also not quite who they seem to be. Junior and Henrietta are both suspect characters, and I had many different assumptions on what was going to happen at the end of the novel. Luckily, I was not correct with any of them.
Like Reid’s previous novel, the ending of “Foe” leaves much to be desired however it is far better than “Ending” in that there is some resolution to the storyline and the reader does not have to speculate everything on her own.
I appear to be in a science-fiction mood as of late (stumbled upon great accidentally it seems), however this one did not have the large, bland, science component that my other chosen novels of this genre have been inundated with. We know there is a human residence on the Moon, and we know that certain people have been randomly chosen to live there (or so we are told) but we do not have to hear the specifics on how it was built (although hearing the “why” of that part would have been pretty neat!).
I appreciate Reid’s short, easy-to-read novels, but he always leaves me wanting more. A creative, unique, thought-provoking read, Reid is one hell of a storyteller. One day, he will write a thick, bulky novel and I will get my satisfaction.

Foe is not a psychological thriller by any means. It doesn't mean it isn't a good read, because it was, but mostly because it isn't a thriller. Go into this book with that in mind. It's closer to mystery, even if it isn't that, either.

There is a small cast of characters to follow, and with the exception of one scene, it happens all in one location, from the viewpoint of one character. This could make most projects of Iain Reid's short novel concept fail. It can either get too bogged down in details, or begin taking on the persona of the author with the character evolving too drastically.

Mr. Reid does a decent job of staying the course of his character in the first person, but falters in presenting the other characters of his novel. I found his initial character visitor was a bit cartoonish and easy to pick up on his agenda early on, with such obvious interview questions.

The whole premise carried on too long, and either the main character really was not overly intelligent in noticing/ending things, or it was part of the design. That concept just became too unbelievable to me. I can't go into further detail without revealing plot points, but that one was completely unrealistic.

I didn't find anything overly surprising at the end, but it did make me go back a few chapters to reread a passage or two to see the connective tissue.

Definitely a good book to pass the time at the doctor's office. It's a pretty interesting take on where humanity might be headed.

Three and a half stars.

1.5?

I did not like this. I thought it was boring; I didn't get anything out of it. I figured out what was happening about halfway through so when the ~reveal happened I was basically just [shrugs]. I didn't like any of the characters (considering there were only 3, disregarding Mary's two sentences) and found the writing style not to my taste. I think maybe if the plot was presented in a different way and maybe made you care about the characters a little bit more I would have liked it more.

This 200-page novel was filled with suspense from beginning to end! I finished this book in only a couple sittings in one day. I was absolutely absorbed by the storyline and how he chose to write it. The writing flowed really well from one event to the next and kept me engaged the whole time. It’s one of those books that after finishing it and realizing what has happened, I wanted to re-read it to figure out how the writer did it. I found this while reading Reid’s other novel as well, "I’m thinking of Ending Things". Reid has an amazing way of telling a story that you think you may know how things will end up, but he throws a curveball and ends it on a completely different note. I enjoyed all of the characters in this book, though there were only a few, I felt they were well developed and I connected with each of them. I like how he set this in the future, but you never really know when, or where for that matter. The vague time and “city” they live in adds to the mystery of what is happening. I really wish Reid had more books, I devour them and thoroughly enjoy his writing. Thanks so much for this copy, I have told numerous people already about this beauty of a novel and cannot wait to read it again when it officially comes out. I will post an official review on GoodReads closer to the pub date. Thank you again, this was truly one of the best books I have read in a long time!

** spoiler alert ** Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this excellent novel.

If I hadn't read so many sci-fi novels, I would have been blown away by this novel. It has everything to please most readers, as much those who read only very literary novels, full of reflections on life, marriage and love and what it means to be a human being and to be oneself, than those who are interested in intelligent science fiction, i.e. that gives you food for thought about our world and its future, or the readers who love horror stories. Because this novel contains a little of all that.

At the beginning, which I have, by the way, found a little slow, this novel reminded me of several other works as a Ray Bradbury's short story (I don't remember the title) in which the main character discovered at forty that he wasn't, like he had always believed, a human being, but rather an android. I also thought of Blade Runner (Philip K. Dick), in which the replicants could be replicated at will and given the memory of a past created from scratch by Tyrell Corporation. In the movie Moon, Sam, the MC, discovers with which we believe to be the clone #1 a whole supply of other doppelgängers in stasis; all these clones being ready to take the place of the previous one (the real Sam still on earth) if something happened to it. And in the movie The Island, a lottery allows the inhabitants of a vast complex filled with human clones to win a trip to a supposed island paradise. But in fact, the "winners" are by no means random choices. The false lottery was intended to destroy the clones no longuer needed because of the death of their owner, the original human being.

I also remembered a nightmare that I had done in the early 80s. In this dream, I went shopping. When I got home, I found the door locked, but through the door's window, I was seeing my husband coming and going. Then I rang so that he came to unlock the door. But when he saw me, he asked who I was and what I wanted. I thought he was just kidding. But I quickly understood that he wasn't when he told me very seriously that he didn't know me, that he lived with a Danielle Tremblay, but that she was already there, at home. Besides, I soon saw that other Danielle go by and take care of MY children. The discomfort and sadness caused by this dream was intense and stayed a long time with me. Who am I if I am not the one I believe, the one I always thought to be? That's what this book gives us to experience.

But, anyway, the idea of reproducing identically (or almost) a human being for different reasons is far from new and original. What is new is the fact that the scientific and technological means to achieve such a replication are at our door if not already in use. And the author gives us a brief idea of what these means can be.

Moreover, I'm far from being as pessimistic as Mr. Reid concerning the reproduction of organs, etc. If we had the opportunity to have a duplicate of all our organs, we could replace ours without problems of rejection if they didn't work properly anymore. And even if it was possible to transfer all our psychological, social and memorial baggage (some people would say our soul) into a perfect doppelgänger of ourselves, we could live forever.

But Mr. Reid's vision of such cloning isn't nearly as optimistic. Of course, we'll have to establish a professional ethic of such replications and decide what will be done with unused organs, but our survival could one day depend on these replication sciences and technologies. By the way, I was very sad to discover that the Junior that we had followed since the beginning of the novel (first person account) (view spoiler)

The most original particularity of Foe is the reflection on what it is to be human, to be "normal", to be oneself (our identity), what matters in life in general or for a couple in particular. I could even say that here science fiction is only an instrument to give us the opportunity to think over these important concepts and the impact that the cloning of human beings could have.

But Mr. Reid's vision of such cloning is so dark that it makes us feel uncomfortable right from the start, and this discomfort grows as we discover what is happening to Junior, the MC, as he believes he is finding out by himself.

Other original elements: Junior's discovery of the truth before his "departure" and what Hen decides to do at the very end. Even though I had guessed everything else until then, I didn't suspect these two important plot points.

Oh, and the way the author reports the clones' dialogues is simple and effective. This allows us to immediately understand what happened at the very end (view spoiler).

Because of these last elements of surprise and all the meditation generated by this well-written novel, I give it five well-deserved stars.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for an advanced copy of this book. I was hooked from the very first page. I wanted to finish this book really fast, that’s how hooked I was. I thought that the plot was brilliant, the dialogues were very well constructed, the language was very easy. It was really amazing. And totally free of violence. The characterization was perfect. I wanted to slap Henrietta as well as Junior for being so naive but at the end, with that unexpected twist, it all made sense. And what a great reflection about relationships! Just brilliant!

Set in a near future, Junior and Hen live a quiet, unremarkable life on a farm far away from the city. It appears that life in the rest of the world is not going entirely well, as attempts are being made to colonize satellites around Earth. One day, a stranger appears and tells Junior that he has been 'selected' to go to the satellite, sometime in the future, and that he must prepare to leave Hen for an unspecified time. The stranger interviews them, takes measurements and then leaves. Junior's life feels strangely disrupted and different for a time, but gradually he and Hen resume their normal quiet lives. Until the stranger returns......

This is such an unusual, thought-provoking novel. It explores identity and what it is to be, or not to be, human.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great book. So few characters but it held my interest and i had to know the outcome. Very well put together and quite a page turner.

How do I describe this novel...Sci-Fi, thriller, certainly a mind bender. I will just have to say it was a clever, enjoyable adventure with a great ending. It is one I will be recommending to my customers.