Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary is an exhilarating and thought-provoking sci-fi adventure that combines high-stakes space survival with complex scientific puzzles. The story follows Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut who awakens aboard a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there, only to discover he's humanity's last hope for survival against a cosmic threat.

Set against the stark loneliness of space, Grace’s journey to unravel the mystery of his mission is filled with tension and surprises. The friendships he forges, particularly with a surprising ally, add warmth and humanity to the story, grounding its technical aspects in real emotional stakes. Project Hail Mary balances thrilling moments of action with quieter, introspective scenes, creating a narrative that feels both urgent and deeply personal. The stakes are high, but Weir’s wit and Grace's endearing resilience bring a lightness to even the darkest moments.

Overall, Project Hail Mary is a triumph, blending scientific wonder with heart, humor, and a touch of the unexpected. It’s a must-read for sci-fi fans and anyone who enjoys stories of ingenuity and the human spirit. Special thanks to NetGalley and to Ballantine Books for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!

Awesome book! One of the best books I read this year!! I really enjoyed the friendship between Ryland and Rocky was well written and very touching!! I can't wait to see the movie!!

My husband read this in about 24 hours because he couldn't put it down. In fact, he liked it so much that he bought his own copy shortly after it was released. It's one of his favorite books of all time now, which is saying something because he reads a lot of sci-fi and fantasy.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐I don't know why I waited so long to read this #NetGalley ARC. Maybe I feared it wouldn't be as good as Weir's other novels. While this isn't quite as awesome as The Martian, it's a close second, and will probably be my favorite book this year. I'm hoping Weir comes out with a new novel soon because he has reached auto-buy status. This was my 6th book for #SciFiSummer

Just as good and possibly better than, The Martian. Weir has a unique talent of making science accessible, but not critical to his stories. He treats it as a part of the environment and situation rather than a, "behold, marvel at my science knowledge" dump. Definitey for fans of the lone survivor trope and bittersweet endings.
This time our main character wakes up with retrograde amnesia, only to find himself alone on a ship hurtling through space, for a reason that isn't immediately apparent. What follows is a story of survival and self (and then some) discovery. Well paced and with enough surprises to keep almost any reader curious. Can't recommend this book enough. Highly recommend the very cleverly done audiobook as well!

Looking to expand your reading genres? Don't know where to start with science fiction? Give Andy Weir a try with Project Hail Mary. This fun romp through space to save the universe was a great read!

I am very late to read this book and finally joined a group reading it to make myself read it after starting and stopping multiple times. Many people like this book so you don’t really need my review, as someone who does not. The characters are mostly caricatures or stereotypes, and it is hard to care when even the alien and the MC read as the same personality. Some things happen too easily and quickly and that is fine for plot purposes, but it annoys me when books say they get the science right when getting the “science” right generally means it would be a very boring book with more pipetting. I enjoyed The Martian, and this is very similar. That science in that one was fun and seemed more forced to me in this book and overly tedious for basic things like making a pendulum. I didn’t need that level of details. Also, the entire chain mess seemed easily fixable with some forethought before the mission was sent out but drama for plot purposes. Also, I don’t need another book of white male main character basically does science alone, plus or minus an alien, and saves everyone. An ensemble cast in space would have strengthened this book but not how this author writes. Again, your view may vary, and I bring my own baggage with me on this topic.

Didn't enjoy this as much as the Martian, largely because of the ending, but also because the science infodumps were SO intense. I usually can't move on until I've processed and semi-understood what I'm reading, but eventually I was skimming the science parts.

This was a heck of a book. I first encountered Andy Weir through the movie "The Martian" and I loved it. My wife had been reading him for a while, and so when I saw this book available, I requested it.

I'm sad that I let it sit so long to read now. I had a blast. Even though harder (science-heavy) sci-fi isn't generally my thing, Andy Weir makes it really accessible and fun to follow along.

I was completely invested in the characters, and even enjoyed the flashbacks that happened frequently to give us the full story. I suspected some things about how it had happened, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment.

I also liked how the author played with things that aren't possible for us (yet), but are reasonably possible in the extreme situations that happen here.

All in all, I enjoyed myself and will be looking for more from Andy Weir.

Thankyou net galley for the chance to review this! Project hail Mary did not disappoint, being a huge fan I threw myself into this. It's very different from his previous work in a the way it has more fantasy but still heavily is based on reality and science. Loved it so much I grabbed the audiobook for myself!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions contained within are my own.

My introduction to Andy Weir was unorthodox for me. As someone who swears by reading the book before seeing the movie, I’ve put off movies for years because I haven’t yet picked up the book. Something about The Martian, however, captured my attention, so I watched the movie. Then read the book. And then vowed to read anything else Andy Weir every publishes, haha. So far, I haven’t regretted that decision and I’m happy to say that Project Hail Mary held up to what I expect from this author!

We start the tale with an amnesiac in space which, under the best of conditions, is not ideal. Ryland Grace, however, is the only person left of the crew that was launched into space to save all of humanity. You can see how that makes the amnesia kind of a big deal! Now Ryland has to figure how to save Earth while slowly piecing his memories together.

I went into this expecting a great blend of science and heart and I was not disappointed. I mean, I can’t tell you whether or not the science holds up in the real world (leaning towards a no), but it was enough for me that it read like it possibly could. Besides, that was the mere backdrop to what truly made me love this story: the characters and their relationships with one another. I thought it was interesting watching Ryland rediscover himself and his memories while also just trying to survive. It touched my heart to watch him grapple with the concept that he is the only one that can hope to stop the destruction of everything and everyone he’s ever known. That’s some heavy stuff and damn did Weir handle it in such a compelling way. And can we talk about Rocky?! Well… in the interest of spoilers, we really can’t, but let me just say that Rocky has become one of my favorite fictional characters.

I think what eventually brought this story from a 5 star to a 4 star, for me, was the ending. It just felt so rushed to me, which, in a way, made sense for the plot. But it read like the author was realizing how long the book was getting already and decided it was time to wrap things up, whether the story was ready or not. It wasn’t bad, but it left me feeling a little underwhelmed. Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I cannot wait for Andy Weir to thrill me once again!

Andy Weir hits another home run with this one. There’s much familiar territory for Weir fans such as space travel and good hard science along with the drama and situations that keep you on the edge of your seat. Thoroughly entertaining

Project Hail Mary is a heartwarming tale of a man lost in space with no memory of how he got there. No one is there to help him, and he needs to solve a riddle in the hopes of saving mankind. Like his previous book The Martian, Weir fills Project Hail Mary with heart, humor and lots of digestible science facts. There are a lot of flashbacks showing what happened and how Ryland Grace (our protagonist) got to where he is, and it unravels in a way that makes you feel for him and his plight even more. Oh, and by the way—if the ending doesn’t make you emotional, do you have feelings? 10/10, highly recommended 😊

This was another winner from Weir! Weir makes science fun and humorous while also depending life on it. The flashbacks got confusing at times but I love how we got to see the lead up to the events. Their relationship was everything! I adored Rocky. There were so many oh shit moments and space is scary!

Project Hail Mary kept me reading and kept me entertained.

The story is about Ryland Grace who wakes up in a spaceship light years from Earth. He doesn't remember how he got there and the others on board are dead.

Although some of the science in this one was hard to follow for me, I found myself drawn into the story in a way that many science books do not

The story is more about finding connections and getting through fear and rising to the challenge. Now that is my kind of story.

I'm not sure how Andy Weir came up with the idea for this book, It was compelling from the first page, and it just got better and better. It was hard to put down.

It is hard to find a book better than this one. Thank you #NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

In "Project Hail Mary," Andy Weir takes readers on a breathtaking interstellar adventure that echoes the suspenseful brilliance of "The Martian." Ryland Grace, the sole survivor of a last-chance mission, wakes up millions of miles from home with a daunting task ahead. As his memories slowly return, Grace must unravel an impossible scientific mystery to save humanity and Earth itself.

Weir's storytelling prowess shines once again as he weaves a narrative filled with discovery, speculation, and the raw essence of survival. The protagonist's predicament, alone in space with only two corpses for company, creates a claustrophobic and intense atmosphere that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The story's strength lies not only in its gripping plot but also in Weir's ability to inject humor and wit into even the direst situations. Ryland Grace's journey becomes an irresistible page-turner as he navigates the challenges of space, unraveling the mysteries that threaten the existence of humanity.

Weir's scientific accuracy and attention to detail, a hallmark of his writing, add authenticity to the narrative. The story seamlessly blends suspense, scientific intrigue, and moments of quiet introspection as Grace grapples with the enormity of his task.

"Project Hail Mary" is a testament to Weir's mastery of the genre and his knack for creating relatable, engaging characters. The interplay of science and fiction is executed with finesse, making the novel both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.

While the story captivates with its suspense and ingenuity, there were moments when the narrative felt slightly formulaic, echoing themes from Weir's previous works. However, this familiarity doesn't diminish the overall enjoyment of the book.

In conclusion, "Project Hail Mary" is a thrilling and entertaining addition to Andy Weir's repertoire. It delivers an interstellar journey filled with suspense, humor, and the indomitable spirit of human resilience. I gave it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, solidifying Andy Weir's position as an immediate-buy author for fans of gripping science fiction adventures.

An underdog hero set against all odds full of plausible science and compulsively readable- if you enjoyed the Martian you'll like Project Hail Mary.

I want to thank #Netgalley for the providing me the opportunity to read this title in exchange for an honest review.
I physically could not stop reading this book. It became an obsession for me until I finally finished it. I recommend Andy Weir to everyone who comes to the library asking for Science Fiction. His characters never disappoint and this protagonist has a wonderful sense of humor as well as intelligent character. The story was rewarding and the ending was not as expected which I love.

Yes, it's long. Yes, there's some sciency stuff in it. Just trust me. I couldn't put it down and I don't know squat about space.

In Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir has retreated to his comfort zone. This would be a liability for most authors, and indeed it will become one for him if he ends up never really being able to break out of it. But for now, he understands what he’s good at, and Project Hail Mary plays to every one of his strengths. The book takes the premise of The Martian and remixes everything about it, broadening the scope and raising the stakes as high as they can go. Once again, we have a solo astronaut who seems to be at the mercy of fate, but this time, instead of the world rallying to save him, it’s up to him to save the world. And instead of confining the action to our neighbor in the sky, this novel sends us into deep space in a wildly entertaining race-against-time thriller that, scientifically, does quite a lot of work, incorporating a first-contact scenario and speculating on ontological origin-of-life questions. With a masterful command of pacing and tension, Project Hail Mary is a better book than The Martian on every front. And though it remains to be seen if there’s any other kind of story Andy Weir might ever be good at, he proves beyond doubt that he’s damn good at this kind.

(For the full text of this 4½ star review, see the attached link.)