I thought the premise of this book was very good, and the plot clever, although I was unimpressed with the writing which made for a dull read for me..

This book is an unsettling glimpse of the very near future, although in many ways it's a view of our present because...."the market will dictate". This is a line used repeatedly to describe the surreptitious way certain companies have infiltrated and run so much of our lives and we have allowed it, A day without Amazon or Apple is nearly impossible. They offer us ease and mindless convenience that we have come to rely on, putting smaller and less innovative businesses in jeopardy. It's the American way.

In this novel by Rob Hart, Cloud (sound familiar) is the company that runs and owns everything. No one can compete. The world has become a place where everyone must live inside because of global warming. It's too hot to be outside. Coastal towns and countries are under water. Cloud offers a green solution in delivery drones and no one has to leave home for anything anymore. You can even live and work at Cloud where it is perpetually air conditioned and everyone wears Cloudbands, which are a lot like the Apple watch you have buzzing on your arm right now. These Cloudbands control where people go, what they have access to and tracks their every move.

The plot begins when the founder and CEO announces that he has pancreatic cancer (sound familiar). The two protagonists, Paxton and Zinnia, have just been hired at Cloud, but for very different reasons. A good portion of the book is devoted to describing the monotony of their lives living at and working for Cloud.

I'm a Sci-Fi and dystopian fiction fan and I thought this novel holds it's own against Handmaid's Tale, Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 (which are all mentioned in this book). This novel as well as the newly released The Farm by Joanne Ramos shows us the not so distant future. I highly recommend them both.

Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for my digital ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book is set to be published on 8/20.
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Cloud, a warehouse and housing complex, is the perfect place to live and work—or so it seems. Paxton has chosen to move in because it’s the only option he has left. Zinnia is a corporate spy sent to uncover the dark secrets Cloud seems to be hiding. How far will Cloud go to keep their secrets?
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I loved everything about this book! I was hooked from the beginning and could not put it down. I would categorize this book as a dystopian thriller, but also a cautionary tale because it involves frightening parallels with our world today.
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It doesn’t have chapters, but rather sections that alternate between the blog of Cloud’s founder, Zinnia’s perspective, and Paxton’s perspective. I felt bad for Paxton because he was wronged by Cloud in the outside world but came to work for them. There was no other option because the American job market had fallen apart due to events and circumstances I won’t give away here. I loved seeing a woman, Zinnia, portrayed as a tough-as-nails, cunning spy! She knew her stuff.
The idea of an enormous, live-work complex like Cloud, while intriguing, is totally frightening given the level of control they had over the employees/residents. The expectations for the majority of the employees were wild.
There are some surprising twists, a high level of mystery, and heart-pounding action. I highly recommend this book!

I love these kinds of stories. I liked thinking how cool it would be if Amazon or Wal Mart delivered stuff by drone. Anyone a fan of Black Mirror will definitely enjoy the hell out of this.

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc

Creative, imaginative and terrifying, is Rob Hart’s THE WAREHOUSE a piece of literary genius or a prediction of the future humanity could be heading for? This near-future, dystopian tale actually feels like it has roots in the contemporary business world where consumers crave the one-stop shopping experience, done online with the click of a button, then voila, your purchase is at your door while the brick and mortar shops crumble.

Welcome to a world where one company has almost completely devoured the American economy, where being employed by them means living within their structures, eating their food and losing all sense of individuality and privacy, because the Cloud is watching, tracking you, and rating your performance. One would think that evil would have no place in such a controlled atmosphere, but, leave it to humanity to find a way to obtain illegal substances, perpetuate sexual aggression and even murder for hire. With a touch of romance thrown in, one security officer and one “merchandise picker” will be put to the ultimate test of loyalty, trust and make discoveries that are chilling, all while under the scrutiny of the Cloud.

A good read, a little fascinating and a little creepy in the parallels that can be drawn with the seeming potential for big business to become Big Brother, all while we still insist on destroying the gifts that Mother Nature gave us!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Crown! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Publisher: Crown (August 20, 2019)
Publication Date: August 20, 2019
Genre: Dystopian
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

**I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review**

I really enjoyed The Warehouse by Rob Hart. The publisher recommended it to me based on my enjoyment of another dystopian book, and I’m glad they did. This was a fun read filled with thinly (very thin) veiled allusions to a certain mega-corporation in the real world (*cough*, Amazon). The use of gun violence and climate change as causes for this dystopia brought real weight to the narrative.

The use of alternating POVs also added to my enjoyment. Some times, this device pulls a reader out of the story, but Hart used it masterfully here. The only reason this wasn’t a five star read for me is the ending. I won’t give it away, but it just didn’t seem as well thought out as the rest of the book. Let’s just say, the burgers stretched the plot a bit too thin and hope that doesn’t spoil anything for anyone. This book is worth the time to read.

4 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. This was recommended to me by the publisher because I enjoy books by Blake Crouch. It’s interesting, this didn’t remind my of a book by Crouch, Hart definitely has his own voice. This story follows Paxton and a company called The Cloud, which definitely reminded of another large, technology-based company that exists today. Paxton can’t believe he is actually working and living at The Cloud ( they have a work/live sector). Next comes Zinnia. She is undercover to find out information about The Cloud. This story is fast-paced and I do think fans of Crouch will like it even though it is quite different than his books.

The Warehouse is part post-Apocalyptic science fiction, part espionage thriller, with subtle references to where our world could possibly be headed (with drones delivering online purchases, and the lopsided scales of work/life balance). The narrative is told through three points of view - Gibson Wells, founder and CEO of Cloud, the online conglomerate that offers a safe haven from the desolate world; Paxton, a disgruntled inventor adversely affected by Cloud's monopoly-minded strategies, and Zinnia, a spy hired to infiltrate and sabotage Cloud's foundations. The world is presented as a Utopia, where every convenience is available to its workers, but at the cost of their personal freedoms.

The multiple narratives worked well in fleshing out the world of the titular Warehouse (called MotherClouds), and the goings-on within. A color-based hierarchy exists coupled with CloudBands designed to monitor productivity (via stars) and location. The plot twists at the end worked well, and the ending leaves this reader hoping for a sequel.

Holy cow, I haven't been so disturbed by a book since I read Handmaid's Tale back in 1985. This has the same type of impact, where it might seem totally ludicrous but then you realize it could actually happen and many/most parts actually ARE happening. (To be clear, some parts are over the top but most of this story cannot be shoved off as impossible)

It's told in that same barely-in-the-future style that Handmaid's Tale was back in 1985. It's a future you can see right around the corner, it's a future you can see that we are on a direct path to take, and that makes it super scary. And you realize that all the things that got the world to where it is in The Warehouse are all the things we are being warned about now, and all the warnings we are ignoring.

I read this book the week of Amazon Prime Day. I know we are not supposed to buy on Amazon Prime Day because it's bad for the workers blah blah blah but everything was on sale and I needed to save money blah blah blah. And that's what put The Warehouse world into existence.

The Warehouse not only made me see the future we are headed for, but made the reality of our PRESENT more real. I felt incredibly guilty that I had bought things on Amazon Prime Day. Real, intense guilt, and the feeling that I was not only personally involved in hurting people, but also involved in keeping our world on the track to that future.

I've got a lot to think about, and that makes a great book. And even if you don't see a direct line to that future, the book is a WILD ride that you won't want to put down.

I did receive an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I ONE HUNDRED PERCENT recommend this book to everyone.

The Warehouse tells you a harrowing tale of what life could potentially look like in the future. It combines present elements of how actual warehouses and companies are run and adds a little bit of advanced technology and global warming into the mix. The result is a captivating story of two people trying to come to terms with what is happening in their lives and what is right or wrong.

I wouldn't go as far as to say it's a modern day 1984 by George Orwell, but I can definitely see the book becoming reality in the near future. That is even more the reason to give this book a try. You'll have a pleasant time reading it and maybe you'll spare a thought for the numerous people that are currently working in warehouses or at similar institutions.

Wooooah this was such a great concept.
I love, love books like this. I really enjoy reading about processes and how things work- especially in dystopian societies.
Lots of interesting twists and turns with an ending that feels very satisfying.
Looking forward to reading more of Rob Hart's books!

Great book! I couldn't put this one down and wish it didn't end.

The characters are deeply developed without taking a ton of time. All are wounded by the world yet still moving forward.

Reminds me of a bunch of different genres smooshed together, but it works great. It can be dangerous to try that but I believe Rob Hart did it well!

An endorsement from Blake Crouch was all I needed to request this book from netgalley. Imagine a world in the not so distant future where Amazon has become even more all encompassing and you have The Warehouse. Most small businesses have disappeared, driverless trucks and drones are the norm, and job choices are slim. The world is crashing and burning - climate change, minimal government, the lack of clean water, out of control migration. Of course, it’s not just Amazon this book derides. Hart has stolen other elements from our lives - Apple Watch, a government more on the side of corporations than humans (the Worker Responsibility Act will scare you silly).

We hear from alternating narratives from our three main characters. Gibson is the founder of The Cloud. Paxton finds himself working for the Cloud after they forced his small business to fold. Zinnia is there on an undercover espionage mission. I liked that the different narratives provided us with a point/counterpoint to the capitalism vs. worker argument. If 1984 painted a picture against communism, The Warehouse goes after capitalism. In both instances, it’s the individual that gets trampled.

There’s a very dry, subtle sense of humor here. Not just the names of the laws Gibson has enacted, but the commercials. But there’s also a real darkness here, especially as the book progresses.

This book did a great job of keeping me engaged. It’s got a fast pace and quite a few interesting side stories. It actually spooked me. As someone who uses Amazon a lot, I really felt like part of the problem.

My thanks to netgalley and Crown for an advance copy of this book.

Lovers of Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, and Handmaid's Tale should pick this one up. Imagine a world if That One Online Retailer monopolized everything and took over America. Surely that could never happen, right? They'd never buy up the grocery stores or deliver things by drones. No WAY! Oh...wait...

The Warehouse was a great dystopian novel. You discover Cloud, an Amazon-type company that has taken over the world, through three perspectives: a former prison guard who is new to the company and wanting to reinvent himself; a a young woman who spies on large corporations for money; and the CEO of Cloud, who is dying and needs to pick a successor. It’s set in the future when global warming has made much of the planet uninhabitable, making these large Cloud campuses with on site boarding seem pretty appealing, even if that comes at a price. ⁣
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I’m a big fan of dystopian books, stemming from my love of The Giver. If you enjoyed The Circle, you would like this one as well! I’d give it a 4/5! ⁣
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The Warehouse will be released on August 20th. Keep a look out for it! ⁣
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Thank you to @netgalley and @crownpublishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. ⁣
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#thewarehouse #robhart #netgalley #booksharks #currentlyreading #arc

Library blog review:
Imagine a world ravaged by gun violence and environmental damage, where a huge corporation that sells everything to everyone and delivers the items by drone limits the choices of where you can live and work. In Rob Hart’s The Warehouse, the giant company Cloud has put other retailers out of business and become the only place to work. Paxton and Zinnia pass the test and start their jobs. Paxton ends up in security; Zinnia works long days racing against the clock, picking items to mail to customers. They work at Cloud. They eat at Cloud. They sleep at Cloud. Zinnia puts up with sexual harassment from a manager; Paxton competes against others for the approval of his boss.

But neither Zinnia nor Paxton is who they seem. Each is keeping secrets, and each has an agenda. However, it’s not easy to stand up for yourself when you are a tiny cog in the Cloud.

The Warehouse is likely to be this year’s big, almost-there dystopian novel. And it all feels like it could come true next week.

Rob Hart dedicated his book to Maria Fernandes, a woman who worked part-time at several Dunkin’Donuts to make ends meet and who died from gas fumes while taking a nap in her car. In the meantime, Dunkin’ CEO Nigel Travis earned $10.2 million the year she died. The Warehouse is not a perfect book, but it will make you think hard about the relationship between corporations and their employees and about income inequality.

I read an advance reader copy of The Warehouse, which comes out on August 20. The Galesburg Public Library will have it in print and as an ebook.

Goodreads review:

Five stars for the concept, 3.5 stars for the execution, plus 1/2 star for the dediction and explanation in the Acknowledgments.

Imagine a world ravaged by gun violence and environmental damage, where a huge corporation that sells everything to everyone and delivers the items by drone limits the choices of where you can live and work. In Rob Hart’s The Warehouse, the giant company Cloud has put other retailers out of business and become the only place to work. Paxton and Zinnia pass the test and start their jobs. Paxton ends up in security; Zinnia works long days racing around against the clock, picking items to mail to customers. They work at Cloud. They eat at Cloud. They sleep at Cloud. Zinnia puts up with sexual harassment from a manager; Paxton competes against others for the approval of his boss.

But neither Zinnia nor Paxton is who they seem. Each is keeping secrets, and each has an agenda. However, it’s not easy to stand up for yourself when you are a tiny cog in the Cloud.

I really wanted to love this book, but I did not. It started really slowly, and the characterization was not strong. Zinnia comes across as an unlikable Katniss Everdeen without her redeemable qualities and adorable younger sister. Paxton is bland and never felt like a real person I could care about. There was a plot twist <spoiler>note to self - CloudBurgers</spoiler>that literally pulled me out of the story. Of all the many things I could believe Amazon might be guilty of, this isn't one of them, and I felt like I was supposed to be much more horrified than I was. The difference between the lives of the workers and the CEO was much more horrifying.

The Warehouse is likely to be this year’s big, almost-there dystopian novel. And it all feels like it could come true next week.

Rob Hart dedicated his book to Maria Fernandes, a woman who worked part-time at several Dunkin’Donuts to make ends meet and who died from gas fumes while taking a nap in her car. In the meantime, Dunkin’ CEO Nigel Travis earned $10.2 million the year she died. The Warehouse is not a perfect book, but it will make you think hard about the relationship between corporations and their employees and about income inequality (while making you feel thoroughly angry and depressed).

I read an advance reader copy of The Warehouse.

I can't criticize it too harshly, but can't give it much of a recommendation either. Readable, mainly due to a couple of sympathetic characters, as well as its timely subject matter, but not enough questions were answered for it to be satisfying.

Great characters. Amazing storyline. Seems too close to reality. Could Rob Hart know something everyday people don't know about - which direction we are headed toward when it comes to workplace, retail shopping, and global conglomerates? An excellent book club selection as there are many topics that could be discussed. A definite novel that will have readers thinking and people talking.

The Warehouse takes place in a near-future world where one company, Cloud, has taken over. Cloud is so large it more or less runs parts of the US government.


Paxton is a former prison guard and small business owner. Cloud made him go out of business and now he works for them. Zinnia is a spy hired to take a menial job at Cloud to uncover a hidden secret within the company.

Cloud is so large that workers like Paxton and Zinnia live inside what is called a Mother Cloud. Massive buildings filled with dorms, restaurants, entertainment and Cloud’s Warehouse.

Overall this story was compelling. Author Rob Hart has created a world that is believable. The systems and functions of Monther Cloud were well thought out. For some Cloud is a savior, for others, it is nearly evil. The author keeps ambiguous if Cloud is actually an evil company.

My only criticism would be this story could have been a trilogy. Some of the subplots felt like they could have carried a full novel alone. Especially seeing how Zinnia’s spying involved a few steps, each step could have been the glue to link the multiple books.

A good book leaves you wanting more. So perhaps that minor criticism is nothing more than a personal desire to have more Paxton and Zinnia adventures along with digging deeper into Cloud.

Author Rob Hart truly digs into some scary ideas. Workers living in company-owned housing is nothing new. But the extent to which Mother Cloud is monitoring their employees on and off duty is scary. Yet the modern trend chipping away at our privacy for convenience is real. In a few years, we could be living in a world as The Warehouse envisions…

Anyone looking for a thriller that digs into modern themes should be picking up The Warehouse by Rob Hart. It releases on August 20, 2019.

A free review copy was provided via NetGalley for this unbiased review.

A troubling scenario of rampant capitalism taking over for the state in all manner of politics, infrastructure, employment, and... really disturbing hamburger recipes. The main characters were likable, it not as fleshed out as they could have been, perhaps with a more focused and detailed mystery plot would have demanded.