Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak is the second book in the Unstoppable series by Charlie Jane Anders. This young adult sci-fi fantasy is full of twists and turns. It is well-paced and addictive to read with a great found family in space and an entertaining plot.

This was such a great sequel! Well- I should say, it was such a great sequel as soon as I remembered what the heck happened in the first book, but that is at least partly on me. The book does pick up immediately, without a ton of reminder of what happened, so just a heads up. Otherwise, I thought it was fabulous!

The characters were my absolute favorite part of the first installment, and this one was no different. In fact, we are treated with an even more in depth look at all the characters- and a look at how their new lives have changed them. Most of our main characters were just your basic (albeit very capable) Earth kids, who were thrust into the middle of a universal fight among various species, so that is... a lot for a person to take in, yeah? They not only have to deal with the fact that they are on intergalactic spaceships, which in itself is a lot, but so much more. They've all had to make choices they'd never dreamed of making, they're still all in very precarious positions, and they have the regular every day life and relationship stuff to deal with. Frankly, it's impressive that these folks can get out of bed most mornings!

The stakes are, just as in the prior book, extremely high. They not only strive to save themselves, but the whole of the universe, basically- including all their loved ones on Earth. Talk about pressure, right? And to do so requires a lot of "no good choices", as you can imagine. But the author does a wonderful job infusing serious and dire moments with wonderful bits of humor and banter and friendship and love. It makes for such an enjoyable story, and a really well-balanced read.

Bottom Line: Can't wait for Book 3, not only to find out what happens next, but to get to spend more time with this wonderfully unique and diverse cast of characters!

Without being spoilery, what a sequel!

Picking up straight after the events of book 1, There are still the themes of racism and classism, but we see a lot of character growth within battling these topics.

I enjoyed seeing more development, and I also appreciated the use of pronouns in the book. I also really loved the wit and humour used.

The writing felt mid-paced, so it did feel slower to read than what I expected, but that's okay.

Overall, I do think that this sequel stands out just as well as the first one!

Rating: 4/5

Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak by Charlie Jane Anders is an amazing story!! kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

It’s not often that the second book in a trilogy is better than the first, but Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak is. The world is richer, the plot is more exciting and coherent, and the characters are more interesting, with good personal growth arcs.

The book starts soon after the first ends. The six teenagers from earth have settled on the ruling planet to pursue their dreams. Tina, the sole point of view character of the first book, is in the military academy to train to be the hero she was genetically supposed to be. However, she isn’t the POV character in this book, and we only catch glimpses of her training and adventures through her diary entries. Her story isn’t at the centre of the plot anyway, so the narrative choice works well.

The two POV characters are Rachel and Elsa. Rachel saved the universe at the end of the first book, and she’s now living with the consequences. She has nightmares and headaches, and she’s constantly pestered by the authorities to reveal everything she knows about the aliens and their intentions, only she doesn’t remember anything. And the worst of all, she’s lost her ability to make art. When the authorities decide to take a direct route to her mind—through her brain—it’s time for her to flee.

Elsa is living her dream, competing to be accepted in the princess programme. It’s less about being regal and more about being able to join her mind with an ancient hivemind species who monitor everything that happens in the universe. But most of her time she studies the history of Marrat, the megalomaniac enemy they didn’t manage to defeat. And now he’s been given a free range at the royal palace.

The three girls and their friends embark on three different spaceships to find answers to their problems, only to unite when Marrat makes his move. Once again, he manages to destroy everything, and it’s up to the humans to fix the mess. But this time they might not be able to. The ending was great, and promises an exciting conclusion for the trilogy.

Like the previous book, this was about inclusion, acceptance, and self-discovery. The humans present themselves in various ways they have been unable to do when still living at home, and they’re thriving. Everyone is conscious of pronouns and asking permission to invade the personal space of others, and it happens more naturally than in the first book where it tended to stick out. They seem to be more mature, too, than the teenagers of the first book. They are more like adults who actually might be able to save the universe.

But as a species, they’re being treated as inferior. Much of the plot is about defeating the reign of Compassion that tries to purge the universe of lesser species in the name of freedom. Hopefully the humans will manage it in the conclusion—though it might be smallest of their problems.

Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak concentrates on its characters' emotional journeys versus physical paths. Heartbreak also focuses on Rachael and Elza voices. Tina is heard from but she is moved from the forefront to a side character’s voice.

Charlie Jane Anders has everyone chase after their dreams in this second book of the Unstoppable Trilogy. No one’s dreams are what they seem. I think this is actually sad that Anders has no one get their happy ending in regards to chasing after their dreams. I noticed that the reading level is geared to 13-18 years old and I think this is a horrible message to send to young people. I get that dreams are not what we think they are when we are dreaming them, but to have every single character’s dream fall flat isn’t realistic.

I am surprised that no one has figured out the issue with Rachael’s art. I find it interesting how Anders deals with Rachael’s issue. There is a twist regarding Rachael’s art journey that is fun and will be interesting to watch play out in the final book.

Elza, Elza, Elza. Be prepared for heartbreak in almost every area of Elza’s life in this story. Becoming a princess is not easy. Elza has to jump through some hoops and ends up creating some of her own drama. (chuckle)

I was bored throughout most of the book. The last third of the book is very exciting and reminiscent of the first book. There are battles on different planets, in space, and on spaceships. Very exciting. Lots of blood, drama, angst, death, and sacrifices are made. My heart was beating so fast - very thrilling.

Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak ends with a bang and a renewed sense of purpose. Let’s see how Anders fixes these issues. (chuckles).

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

I couldn’t get into this book, maybe because I didn’t read the first one. Everything felt confusing and soaked in neon. I loved the premise, though. Three stars, possibly revisiting this one after I read the first book.

Last year I read two of Charlie Jane Anders books, Victories Greater than Death and Never Say You Can’t Survive. Both were excellent and I recommend you read them. Dreams Bigger than Heartbreak is the sequel to Victories, so you really need to read that one first. Dreams is also closely related to Never Say You Can’t Survive, Anders’ book about writing.

In Victories, Anders plays with the Chosen One trope. Tina is a clone of a great warrior and she was created to allow them to come back and fight the enemy. But it turns out that Tina is a teenager, with some good instincts, but no answers. What she has is a chosen family of friends and together they fight and defeat the bad guy. In Dreams, Tina’s best friend and her girlfriend, Rachel and Elza, are more central to the story. It was Rachel, not Tina, who saved the day, but as a huge cost. Now it feels like the victory itself is unraveling as Marrant and The Compassion turn reality on it’s head.

Anders has distilled the terrors of the last few years, the terrors that we face right now, and put them into her book. How do you fight an enemy who can make love feel like hate and lies like the truth? In a challenging universe with an unnamed horror threatening, the teens are pursuing their own paths, but trying to stay connected. They struggle to be true to themselves when they aren’t always sure who they are. Still, the love between friends is what makes everything bearable.

I can’t wait for the third instalment.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Tor Teen via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

“When someone tries to twist you into the wrong shape, that’s when you have to stand up and show them who you are.”

It’s hard to summarize a high action sequel to a high action series. So much went on during Victories Greater than Death, that summarizing Dreams Bigger than Heartbreak would be a disservice.

Instead, I will talk about how much I love every single one of these characters. Even the bad ones… they’re written as such a contrast to the lovely found family, sometimes it takes me by surprise how evil they can really be. I loved learning more about the government and the way certain planets work. The princesses, the AI voice in their heads. All fascinating.

And let me tell you, I’m absolutely terrified. I was practically screeching the last third of this book. I have no idea how they’re going to handle this, but I know for sure, they can. I’m rooting for every single one of them—except that one guy. Fuck that guy.

Thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced review copy! Dreams Bigger than Heartbreak releases on April 5th.

CW: death, war, violence

This sequel concentrates on three female protagonists: Racheal who lost a part of herself to save everyone: her art. Elza who is competing to become a princess and Tina who is studying at the Royal Fleet Academy and trying to live up to the legend she was cloned from.

A casual tone with a sharp wit and such great humor compliment this imagination-friendly narrative. It is integrated with a relatable portrayal of the characters' innermost thoughts and emotions. Excellent worldbuilding showcases the author's creativeness with fantastical things that make you want to smile and wish you could experience them. Plus those unbelievable brilliant greetings we've grown to love. The author cleverly moves the story forward or gives us info needed not only through the characters, but through messages, texts, transcripts etc. Sometimes these little narrative quirks become a little too much.

The sequel is more tension and machinations and less action in the beginning, amping up your anticipation. Wish we could have seen more things through Tina's yes, though I really enjoyed Rachael's and Elza's POVs. A bit of suspense and a lot of intrigue color the storyline, while the feeling of impending doom from the unknown bigger enemy the Vayt warned them of persists. With a contagious sense of discovery, this tale kidnaps you into its world and never lets go.

Themes that are contemplated here are prejudice, equality, doing what's right and being you who are no matter the cost. It is also about the ability and sometimes need to dream big. It paints a beautiful picture of the power of friendship.

Can a thrilling sci-fi story be full of charm? Yes when done right like the author does here.

I'm throwing in the towel at 50%. I found the first book in this series enjoyable enough, but somehow this one just isn't really working. There has been some confusing skipping around and the constant exaggerated emotiveness is just irking me more than it should. Still love the concepts of the story and support all the great representation and messaging surrounding inclusivity and acceptance.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Tor Teen in exchange for an honest review.

You know how the second book in some trilogies tends to get lost within the series since it's generally the book that sets up everything that will happen in the finale? Yeah, well that doesn't happen here. DREAMS BIGGER THAN HEARTBREAK picks up to continue the action from VICTORIES GREATER THAN DEATH, but this time Anders lets Elza and Rachael take the lead and I think that was a very smart move. Having different points of view adds another level of depth to this series. As Elza competes to to become a princess in to the Palace of Scented Tears, Rachael is forced to try to figure out life after her brush with the Vayt.

There is A LOT going on in this book, this book is full of moving pieces to the plot. Through it all Tina, Elza, Rachael and the rest of their friend group stay true to themselves even while facing impossible circumstances. At an important moment Elza has a revelation that was truly powerful. DREAMS BIGGER THAN HEARTBREAK explores sense of self, the depths of relationships, the complexities of culture and society, and especially about identity.

If you enjoyed VICTORIES GREATER THAN DEATH, you'll definitely want to dive back into the Unstoppable series, DREAMS BIGGER THAN HEARTBREAK does not disappoint.

One of the greatest aspects that sets Dreams apart from Victories is the rotating POV chapters. This time, Anders hands the spotlight to Rachael and Elza, with interludes for Tina. There’s a lot still happening with this story, so splitting up the POVs allows Anders to open the world, both in a physical sense and through her characters. For starters, I just loved traversing new planets with these characters, especially Wentrolo, which is central to the story. Anders’ descriptions of Wentrolo are enough to make me (and any reader) wish I could live there, too. She guides readers across the galaxy, visiting planets that each have unique and intriguing qualities. She also introduces a plethora of a new alien species that help reinforce the scope of this book.

Beyond the immersive new worlds, Anders delves into the psyches of Rachael and Elza. She does a wonderful job exploring how both girls (and the others) fit into the newest chapter of their journeys. Rachael faces a challenge that seems truly insurmountable. Her encounter with the Vayt left her unable to do the one thing she excelled at, and that’s creating art. Moreover, Rachael now holds a connection with Vayt, which has its own set of pros and cons (well … mostly cons). In both regards, Anders brings readers through the lasting trauma Rachael faces, especially as she struggles to find her place with everyone else. However, Rachael remains pivotal to the story. Through her, Anders provides more answers about the Vayt and the threat that frightens even them. Readers also see the evolution of Rachael and Yiwei’s relationship, and how it expounds on everything Rachael experiences.

Like Rachael, Anders gradually unveils new information through Elza, largely how princesses and the Ardenii operate, something that was touched upon in book 1. Readers experience Elza’s curiosity along with her and get to see more about how her puzzle-oriented brain thinks. Anders also digs more into Elza’s prior life on Earth. Her history more deeply informs her guarded, cynical nature, and it’s easy to feel protective of her. Readers see how Elza’s past causes her to be empathetic towards those who have also been ostracized. But what stood out most for me with Elza is that readers see her softer side due to Tina. The buildup from book 1 pays off so, so well as Anders explores Elza and Tina’s relationship, and it’s just so lovely. While the problems facing the galaxy stir bad memories and anxiety within Elza, Anders always ensures she has a safe place to land with Tina.

The Compassion is another standout element for me, especially with such a provocative opening for Dreams. In book 1, readers learned in general the harmful nature of the Compassion and the dangerous principles one of its leaders, Marrant, abides by. In this book, readers get to learn more about Marrant’s background. Anders also continues to explore the Compassion as she uses them to illustrate the rise of a fascist regime. While readers know that every statement spouted by the Compassion should be ignored, it’s fascinating to read how their seductive rhetoric drew in supporters who simply wanted answers. And if the Compassion gave them? So be it. Anders skillfully writes a horrible but compelling group. She highlights how desperation can get the better of people, and how that in turn can quickly lead them to retaliate against their own. It’s frustrating to read but also entirely real, and Anders doesn’t hold back.

If you enjoyed Victories Greater Than Death, you will adore Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak. Anders’ charming wit and sharp humor carries over to Dreams, providing laugh-out-loud moments of levity to break up the intensity of the overall story. Despite that, not once does she forget the massive stakes she’s laid out (and whew, are they massive). She tackles the fascist parallels in a clever and thoughtful way that also feels quite grounded. Every twist and reveal feels earned. But most importantly (at least for me), the characters undergo so much growth, and Anders doesn’t compromise their established personalities. Readers, I think, will feel even more connected to the core group as they continue to search for their purpose in a starkly human way. They experience pain and hardships, love and yearning, and they remain the badass queer space heroes that readers will gladly root for.

Anders has such a vibrant imagination that she really showcases with Dreams in every facet. She maintains the excitement she brought with Victories, building on the thrilling suspense that will lead readers into the next installment. And I, for one, cannot wait to see what’s in store for book 3.

I didn't love this one as much as the first one! But I still really liked it and it was a very different vibe but still as immersive. The world-building is still top tier and the cast of characters is still as diverse and charming as it was in Victories Greater than Death.

this was an amazing sequel!! we are all so lucky to get to experience Charlie's breathtaking world building and characters, and i can already tell that this book is going to be big when it comes out!

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak is a solid second installment in the Unstoppable trilogy. While I was unsure about some of the changes, such as the shift from mainly following Tina’s POV to Rachael and Elza’s, with a few scattered telecommunications from Tina, Anders makes it work.
The characters are also separated for a good portion of the book, sent on different missions, hence the change in style, so it does suck a bit to not have the same character bonds as before. But seeing the way Tina and Elza maintain their bond from a distance is really sweet to read.
It’s also fun to see how each of their solo (and occasionally interconnecting) adventures assist in their respective character arcs. Rachael is particularly interesting in how she is coping with the loss of her artistic abilities, but still having to do her bit to save the galaxy. Elza’s vulnerability is challenged during a competition to become a Princess when she unexpectedly reunites with someone from her past…who was meant to stay in the past. And Tina, fresh off the adventures as the heroine of the last book, is dealing with insecurities as a student at the Royal Space Academy, where everyone expects great things from her.
The book is briskly paced and constantly engaging, similar to the last one, with some pretty intense plot twists. It also ended on a cliffhanger that left me anxious to know what would come next.
This is a solid second installment, and if you enjoyed the first, you will not be disappointed! And if you enjoy sci-fi and are looking for queer rep, I recommend checking this series out!

I am so excited about this! The sequel to Victories Greater Than Death is called Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak and it’s out on April 5th, 2022. So what’s it about?

While the original character (Tina) grapples with the expectations of being a space hero after the battle in the first book, the sequel follows two new POVs. This is so lovely because we have an inside look into the backstories and cultures of Rachael (Tina’s best friend) and Elza (Tina’s girlfriend). Rachael tries to regain her artistic ability to draw, and Elza competes at a princess school consisting of coding skills and weaponry training. But their three different paths collide when they fight against a new, more daunting galactic threat!

My favorite thing about this book is the worldbuilding! It is unique and immersive. Right now, as I’m writing this and sipping on my tea, I’m pretending that I have a cup of snah-snah juice instead. Haha!

The stakes are even higher in this book, with a threat spanning across galaxies. I feel like a reader’s bond with the characters over the course of two books also adds to the stakes because the reader is invested in their journeys… which brings me to the characters! I love the relationship between Rachael and Yiwei because of their dialogue, actions, and relatable teen conflict! If you like the trope “Saying I Love You Without Saying I Love You,” this is a cute character relationship to read! There were also some new characters, like a princess who talks in riddles and a mysterious artist who tries to help Rachael regain her art skills.

I am in awe of the way the author tied everything together with a nice little bow. There are a lot of characters, planets, and groups of people/organizations, so it was nice that the author slowly reintroduced us to this space world. And by the halfway point of the book, the action picks up and it doesn’t stop! I didn’t have any guesses on how this would play out, which led to some startling reveals.

I had the lovely opportunity of writing a review for both books thanks to NetGalley, and I can’t wait for the next installment of the Unstoppable series—especially since Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak ended on a cliffhanger.

~~I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review~~

Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak is the second installment of the Unstoppable trilogy by Charlie Jane Anders, and boy did it deliver! Second books are hard to do, especially in a trilogy, but Dreams managed not only to build on the conceit of Victories (the first book), but also raise the stakes to an even more impossible level. We got perspectives from new characters other than Tina, although we do still get her personal data journal entries. Dreams mainly follows the two closest to Tina: her best friend Rachel, dealing with the loss of her art and subsequent impostor syndrome as the de facto "savior," and her girlfriend Elza who has been accepted into princess school, but doesn't find it to be quite what she expected. Nearly the entire gang got back together, and we got to fill out more of the rich universe that these books inhabit! (Let me just put it out there--I want some concept art or a graphic novel or SOMEthing! asap!)

One of the things I absolutely loved that Charlie Jane Anders expanded upon in this book is the EverySpeak, the universal translator that also supplies the user with the correct pronouns for whatever individual they are conversing with. It even adapts for gender-fluid folx, based on which pronouns they are gravitating toward that day. Watching Kez embody this incredible technology was so special, and Kez and Elza have a beautiful bonding moment in the second act that brought tears to my eyes! I cannot wait to see what else blossoms in the third book, and I'm going to be daydreaming about my own EverySpeak until then.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“No matter what you love, there will always be countless other people who think you’re loving it the wrong way.” – Princess Constellation

I want to preface this review with a disclaimer: I am not a Sci-Fi reader, so this review is going to be a bit short.

Victories Greater Than Death saw Tina Mains and her best friend Rachael end up in space on an intergalactic mission. This follow up, Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak focused on Rachael and the aftermath of book one, as well as Elza and her journey to become a princess.

I really liked that this book focused on the other characters. It was nice to get the different perspectives, especially as we see the characters going on different missions and paths. I found myself getting confused sometimes with the jump back and forth between the two perspectives, but that might just be me.

Overall, I can’t really write much because I’m honestly not sure I understood everything that happened. So much happens in this book and it was difficult for me to follow, but like I said, this genre is not my thing. But I enjoyed the book and I plan to read the third.

What keeps bringing me back to this series is the setting. And I don’t just mean space– I mean the characters, the culture, everything. I love that all introductions include names and pronouns. I love that they always ask before hugging/touching someone else. Even if I don’t really understand what is happening, there is just something that keeps me coming back.

Just as good as the first book. Eagerly anticipating the third book already. I love the world that Anders created in this series.