(I know this review is late, but I'm working through my backlog of books and want to make sure I give a review!) I love this series by Charlie Jane Anders. I don't usually read a lot of sci-fi, fantasy is usually more my genre, but I absolutely adored this one. It felt cozy while still maintaining the stakes, which I liked, and I'm always a sucker for a found family. The characters are delightful, and Anders is so good at helping the reader build a connection with the characters and story. Definitely recommending this one!

Alright, buckle up for an unbelievable ride with "Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak" by Charlie Jane Anders. Now, if you're a teen dipping your toes into the vast ocean of fantasy literature, this might be the treasure chest you're looking for.

First off, let's talk about the world-building. Anders weaves a vibrant tapestry of magic, wonder, and quirky creatures that would make even seasoned fantasy authors nod in approval. It's like diving headfirst into a kaleidoscope of imagination – pretty cool.

Now, onto our main characters – relatable, charming, and maybe a tad clumsy. Who isn't awkward when navigating a world filled with magical mishaps and unexpected adventures? Our protagonist's journey from ordinary to extraordinary is a classic hero's tale with a sprinkle of modern charm.

The plot? It's a rollercoaster of unexpected twists, with just enough suspense to keep you turning those pages. The pacing is like a well-tuned playlist – steady build-ups, crescendos of excitement, and the occasional heartstring-tugging moments.

And let's not forget the themes – dreams, heartbreak, and the courage to face the unknown. It's the kind of stuff that resonates with those venturing into their coming-of-age chapters.

Here's the disclaimer: if you're searching for the following complex, multi-layered epic for the seasoned fantasy connoisseur, you might need to adjust your expectations. "Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak" is more of an enchanting gateway drug into the fantasy realm.

If you're a teen looking to dip your toes into the vast ocean of fantasy, this book might be your magic carpet ride. Easy, breezy, and filled with the correct dose of whimsy to make your reading adventure delightful.

An excellent sequel to an excellent book, Anders feels more confident writing for teens in this second outing, and the twists and turns the story takes will keep teens turning pages.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

Okay, it took me a few tries to get into it (again, because of me, not at all because of the book), and I loved it! You can tell that the characters have grown up. It still has a mix of many great space operas (Star Wars, Star Trek, A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, to name a few) with its own LGBTQ+ characteristics. It's a great story. I'm ready for the last book now!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

I absolutely adore this series and the way that it's so fun and humorous while also being so deep and thoughtful. Though I feel like I still know nothing about the universe they are in and the aliens and different cultures, I also feel like I know their world so well, and entering this world again was like coming home.

My favorite part of this book was most definitely the character developments. Rachel is really starting to find herself and learning who she wants to become, and as someone who has also struggled with anxiety and introvertedness, her story has really resonated with me. She's not necessarily changing, but she's growing into herself and learning about herself as she learns about the universe. Elza's growth is definitely my favorite, and it's hard to put into words all the things that she is learning and growing through.

If you want incredibly diverse sci-fi, this is the place to look. Race, gender identity, and sexuality are all explored by this series, and I have loved every second of it.

Definitely get your hands on this incredible series!

First I just want to say that I enjoyed the first book in this series more than this one.

In my personal opinion, this book has some flaws but also was a decent book. One of the flaws of this book was the pop culture refrences, this didn't make the book unbearable but it was a little akward when the book would talk about fighting aliens and such and then Arianna Grande. Compared to the first book, this book is very somber and stressful. I didn't get into the book much until the last third of the book. I feel that the POV's fall into the trend of having a character that you really dread having to read their POV, but the other two characters were intresting. Taking into account both the positives and the negative I give this book 3 stars. Thank you so much to NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

(i received an e-arc from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

this was an enchanting and action-packed adventure across the stars. if you asked me to pick a favorite amongst the trio of characters here, i would not be able to choose; they were all well fleshed-out protagonists with unwavering ambitions.

These were such great reads! I don't read a lot of sci fi, but when I do, it's always a great read! I really enjoyed watching Tina go on this journey, with thoughts of a future that maybe she didn't get the full picture of. They were such great reads!

The main thing that I loved about these books is the cast of characters. We had a wide variety of people, Tina who was a clone of a lost general, and Rachael is her artist best friend, the outcasts and the loners, and such wonderfully queer characters. I loved this found family!

This world with the alien war, where a brilliant hero was killed too soon, and they made a clone, that was Tina, and left her on Earth to grow up. It was so interesting to read, and once she got the memories, well, then things got going!

Dreams was a darker book. There were some losses in the first book that really illustrated how bad war is, and there have been consequences that the characters are dealing with. Plus there's the pressure that they're under to make things better. Not an easy time! But I did love that we got 3 perspectives in it instead of just Tina!

Really enjoyed reading these books, and I'm so excited for book 3!

3/5
I really tried with this book but I just couldn't grasp some of the things happening in this book, maybe because this was a sequel and the newness just wasn’t there for me. I did find promise in the storyline and the prose, both were done pretty well, but I just couldn't get on board with the story. I felt it was a little confusing and it made me refer back and forth often which I don’t enjoy in my reads. I wasn't feeling connected to the characters or the world. I kept reading hoping it was maybe just me being in a funk or not in the mood, but I generally didn’t enjoy it unfortunately, despite loving sci-fi/space operas.

I did not find much about this book enjoyable and I always hope for the best with queer stories. But ultimately I am jus not a fan of Charlie Jane Anders' writing style. I find it to be extremely dispassionate and it doesn't compel me to keep reading. The writing is very passive, brushing over major things that happened. I pushed through for the sake of the queer content but the style just really took me out of it.

Fantastic sequel and follow up to Victories Greater than Death. I love the world Charlie Jane has created so much, and the love with which she’s rendered her team of young, heroes, queer, trans, cis, and all thoroughly human and loving and living. Watching them grow, and actually deal with the trauma and repercussions of the events of the first book make the emotional impact of this one even more resonant. And all of this is i I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and cannot wait for the third book in the trilogy.

Honestly I was confused when beginning the book because I was unaware this was book 2.

I wish it had been labeled more clearly. I did go back and read book 1 & then book 2.

The writing was magical and the world was solid. That ending left me wanting more and ready for book 3.

‘Dreams Bigger than Heartbreak’ by Charlie Jane Anders was a fast-paced adventure, just epic on all fronts. Highly recommend!

After disliking the first book so much I should have known better than to request the second one but I thought maybe it would get better. Sadly it did not.

Anders creates a beautiful world, continuing to develop her characters in a way that feels real, despite the science fiction setting. I especially like that characters deal with the trauma and consequences (both positive and negative) of their actions; saving the world isn't always easy, and the choices that we make do have real consequences. Even if these are choices we are proud of, sometimes it can still be hard to live with the fallout as we become different people because of our actions. The choices we make determine the future, both for ourselves and others.

— "Maybe your real self is what remains, after you've lost all the things you thought were you."

This book is the second in the Unstoppable series, which started with Victories Greater Than Death.

In the first book, Tina believed she was the chosen one, a clone of a famed alien hero destined to save the universe. Her and a group of human teenagers were brought to space to help, but things didn't go exactly as expected.

Now, Tina is in a space academy trying to become the hero people wanted her to be. Her best friend, Racheal, is struggling with being unable to make art after contact with an alien species. Her girlfriend, Elza is competing to become a princess, but the system itself is corrupt.

This would be a great read for people who are new to sci-fi. It's fun and fast-paced with characters you can really connect to. As the characters are from contemporary Earth, it's an easy one to pick up if you feel put off by difficult worldbuilding or settings completely seperate from our own. If you love books with diverse representation this one is also for you!

Charlie Jane Anders is a fantastic writer and the character work especially shines here. Rachael, Elza and Tina are complex and easy to love.

At the same time, it didn't feel particularly new or memorable to me. Maybe that's because I tend to enjoy adult sci-fi more!

Despite that, I'd 100% recommend this series to YA sci-fi fans and also contemporary YA fans who want to delve into more speculative fiction!

I love these books and I love the characters. Though these books feel more targeted toward a younger audience, I really think older teens and young adults will love them. These are great books for people who are looking for a fun adventure with gender queer characters.

I'm not very sure I understand all the pop culture references in this one. Thank you for giving me a copy, but I will not be recommending this book.