3.5 stars rounded up to 4. The concept and ideas in Yours for the Taking, of how humanity might respond once Earth became (largely) inhabitable is well done here. The set-up and political intrigue of a purely feminine (identifying as or born as female) community is intriguing. In Yours for the Taking we span 20+ years to see how things might develop and what it might be like for a new generation to grow up in an indoor only environment.

The issues crop up when it comes to the set-up of the Inside (as it’s called) construction. While the plot, societal commentary, and characters are solid; the actual set-up of the Inside seems quite flawed for me. If you can overlook many of the logistical challenges of how the Inside is maintained then there is lots to like here. However, if you might get caught up on how the Inside manages to have endless fresh water and clean air, or how specific nutrients (like Vitamin D or UV from the sun) and other elements that humans need from the outdoors (not including food as that is addressed) are garnered then you may be frustrated by the lack of details. I had to get over lacking explanations about certain logistics of the indoor space (and its existence for 20+ years.

That said, I was able to largely ignore the bad scientific explanations and instead focus on the social commentary because the philosophical discussions and focus are very engaging. I especially liked that this is the first dystopian book I can think of that actually addresses how the trans community might adapt (or ‘qualify’) in a selected society. As well as handles the range of different sexual preferences in humans. With a large focus on the lesbian lead characters you almost forget there are heterosexual women in this little community (which kind of brings up another issue of where they get their pleasure from; but that’s just another oversight in the end). For me, as a bisexual woman, I could adapt to this environment; although I do wonder what a straight woman might say about living in this environment (or the idea of it at least).

At the end of the day I did enjoy this read. It starts a bit dull but definitely ramps up and intrigued me throughout. I’d have liked the narrative to go back to the plight of the women who could not bear a child (same as myself) but understand there is a lot that could have been analyzed here but might have bogged the overall key story down. If you love dystopian social commentary this one is definitely for you. It focuses on the corruption power can have, and that we need more than one person’s ideological set-up to be truly successful. If you want some extreme feminism ideals, and have ever imagined a world of only women (biological or identifying as) then this might be an interesting read for you. I’m glad to have read it and will recommend it out for some who will find the sociological context interesting; but it’s definitely not going to be for everyone.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Gabrielle Korn's Yours for the Taking is a thought-provoking dystopian novel that explores the complexities of power, gender, and climate change. Set in a near-future where rising sea levels have ravaged New York City, the story follows a group of women who seek refuge in a utopian community known as "Inside."

Korn weaves a compelling narrative that challenges the traditional notions of feminism and power structures. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each grappling with their own internal struggles and motivations. Ava, the protagonist, is a particularly intriguing character, as she navigates the complexities of Inside and questions the true intentions of its enigmatic leader, Jacqueline.

The novel's exploration of climate change is both timely and unsettling. Korn paints a vivid picture of a world grappling with environmental catastrophe, forcing readers to confront the potential consequences of inaction. The setting of Inside, a technologically advanced and self-sufficient community, raises questions about sustainability and the sacrifices that may be necessary for survival.

While Yours for the Taking is a work of fiction, it draws clear parallels to contemporary issues. The novel's examination of power dynamics and the potential for corruption within seemingly utopian societies is particularly relevant in today's world. Korn's exploration of gender roles and the complexities of female relationships adds another layer of depth to the story.

Overall, Yours for the Taking is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that will resonate with readers long after they finish the final page. It is a timely and important work that raises critical questions about power, gender, and the future of humanity in a world facing environmental crisis.

I’ve realized after reading both this & the sequel that this author is just not for me. This has the components of something I would enjoy, but the characters feel immature and aggravating. That being said, the world built around them is interesting & I definitely see why some readers loved this!

Yours for the Taking sold me with the idea of a Sapphic dystopian novel. Dystopian is definitely my favorite genre however this one did fall a little flat for me. The novel is listed as adult but still had a very young adult feel to it. I did feel that the novel jumped around the central themes a bit but overall it was enjoyable.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

I honestly enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would. A dystopian sci fi novel discussing deep matters like climate change, LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, the concept of a nuclear family, and the abuse of power?! This book was so much more than the blurb even promised.

That being said, while I loved the plot/premise, some of the writing took away from the overall idea. Korn definitely suffered from some pacing issues that should have been fixed in editing - both too fast and too slow in different parts, that this sometimes felt like a rollercoaster ride in the worst way. One of my biggest grievances with the book, actually, is its abrupt ending. Furthermore, I get that it's a "sci fi" book but some of the science doesn't check out (especially in regards to the medical aspects, most specifically the IVF process).

Additionally, I think Korn spent too much time trying to develop multiple characters that she instead didn't really fully develop any of them all that well. Really, she should've somehow taken the three "main characters" (Ava, Olympia, Shelby) and combined them all into one or two and I think it would've been a little bit easier to digest. Also - I feel that some of these romances/relationships that were delved into were unnecessary for the plot and really took away from the overall story.

Still, i'm going to give it 4 stars (although realistically, more about 3.5) because I was interested the entire time and it's likely I'll pick up more books by Korn in the future.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. Review originally withheld as part of a pro-Palestine reviewer boycott of St. Martin’s Press.

Yours for the Taking is a timely speculative fiction novel exploring a possible near-future. The world is ravaged by the impacts of climate change, and a female corporate billionaire poses a solution to protect a select few women into the future.

What’s fascinating is that Gabrielle Korn, in structuring the world of the novel and the direction it goes in the story, is clearly in-tune with conversations around gender, feminism, and inclusion. While this isn’t the first time an author has proposed a story, or even a thought exercise, positing “what if all men disappeared” in some form or another, this is the first I’ve seen willing to have the uncomfortable conversations. What about trans men and nonbinary people? Are men themselves the problem, or is it the patriarchy as a system contributing to most of the world’s ills? Can women and feminism be just as corrupt when given power, particularly in a society of women? How does white feminism exclude (intentionally or unintentionally) the plight of poor and marginalized people, who need the support most?

Jacqueline is well-intentioned, certainly, but ultimately as wealthy and out-of-touch as any of her male counterparts (the Bezoses and Musks of the world). She has her own vision as to what a “utopian” society should look like, and she goes to extremes to achieve this.

As a contrast, there are three other characters from three different walks of life, chosen to go “Inside,” and drawn in for their own reasons. I was the most drawn to Olympia, admittedly, because she’s a doctor and she’s openly critical of Jacqueline’s ideology from the start. She’s Black as well as being queer, and while Korn as a white woman, doesn’t delve too far into Olympia’s struggles, she does point out the short-sightedness of some of Jacqueline’s views.

Ava and Shelby were both also fairly interesting. Ava’s path to motherhood while Inside, and her connection to Jacqueline due to this was poignant, especially as she learns a secret about the fate of one of her children. Shelby is perhaps the most ambitious, being drawn into Jacqueline’s corporate world and the promise of power to escape poverty.

I had mixed feelings about the structure. On the one hand. I liked that it explored the full extent, more or less of the situation. But I did feel that some character growth and introspection, which would otherwise naturally come from existing through a long period through many hardships, was sacrificed for the sake of the narrative’s length and punchy pacing. However, the message remained present throughout and hit hard. .

This is a deeply moving and effective imagining of an-oft-touted premise, exploring the myriad flaws with the concept, even if there are some short-term gains for a select few. I recommend it to readers who are interested in an intersectional feminist speculative fiction-dystopian story.

I liked the premise more than the execution on this one. Some of the characters (Ava, Olympia) were a lot more developed than others (Jaclyn, Brooke) but that is partly down to setting and age. I liked the climate fiction part, but think more time could have been spent there.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this title in exchange for honest feedback. A gripping dystopian tale. Perfect for fans of Oryx and Crake with better politics

This book was a saga of women and families set against a dystopia caused by climate change. At first, the story found itself similar to Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.” With its imagined new order. It was a strong story with lots of passion and drama that was a great read. The resolution was well done and I enjoyed reading it. It contains lots of gay/lesbian content which could offend people not comfortable with this.

Always a fan of dystopian type reads! This was no exception! I was pretty jazzed that I was able to read this via NetGalley. My views (which are awesome) are my own!

Climate Change is happening and it is making the world a not so fun place.....hopefully you are one of the chosen females to sustain life in this new community. There is a lot of cishet feminism represented and topics that need discussing! This discusses and lets you sit on the heavy topics of queerness, feminism and being equal in an unequal world.

Pick this book up! Thank you NetGalley and the wonderful author Gabrielle Korn! Can't wait to read more from this upcoming author!

It’s 2050, and the only places safe to live after the effects of the climate crisis are enclosed cities run by The Inside Project, directed by Jacqueline Millender. Jacqueline has a vision of women’s empowerment — as long as they have enough cash to pay for it. This follows several main characters inside and outside of the company and is described as a “mesmerizing story of queer love, betrayal, and chosen family, and an unflinching indictment of cis, corporate feminism.”

This hard a really strong beginning but I felt a little bogged down by the time jumps.

I ended up DNFing but it might be just for the meanwhile.
I’d like to come back and finish it.

This is at once Apocalyptic and Dystopian, which is an interesting combination. We see our world fall a part due to climate change as well as the Inside, planned communities to preserve humanity on a small scale. The New York City Inside is run by billionaire Girl Boss Jacqueline Millender as an experiment. Will a society entirely made of of women be superior to a unisex society? At first it seems like a feminist dream, but experimenting on people without their knowledge never goes well.

I enjoyed this book. It's more about the concept than the characters, who are mostly flat. The writing is overall very good and the concept is very thought out and interesting. The book follows three women: Ava, a citizen of the Inside, Olympia, one of the minds behind the Inside and the community doctor, and Shelby, Jacqueline's assistant. I enjoyed all of these perspectives.

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

Solid speculative fiction novel that focuses on what if Elon Musk was a woman and people actually decided to let her try and make her own dome cities as the world was even more rapidly falling apart than it was currently. Ended up being a bit simplistic in the sense that the clearly evil Elon Musk analogue eventually gets put in jail when her cultish insanity comes out. The character work is solid, but I honestly won't remember too much of this in another month or so.

Not reviewing St martins press books till they speak about their problematic employee. But yes this book was amazing !

Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn is pretty out there and isn't afraid to be. I would suggest for readers of The Stand and Hugh Howey's Silo, Wool, and Shift. Although not as action-packed, the post-climate change dystopia is character-driven and I thought the author did a great job...until the end. It felt too open-ended for me. I'm not sure if the author wanted to hint at a sequel, but it wasn't set up that way. With a nearly all female-identifying cast, this book did a great job of building the world and delivering a pretty impactful story. I would read more by this author.

Favorite quotes:
“Normal only sounds good if you benefit from it,” Olympia said.

She’d always imagined that having a dead loved one might feel like hearing a voice in the next room, a room you can’t get into.

I'm really torn. On the one hand, I was engrossed from start to finish, and on the whole this is an interesting look at how trying to build a utopia in a time of climate change can quickly devolve into eugenics. What the book needed, I think, was at least a hundred more pages. It wrapped up far too quickly and too easily. I'm infuriated by the end but I enjoyed the ride.

In Gabrielle Korn's debut fiction novel, "Your for the Taking," a feminist multibillionaire's ambitious solution to a climate change-induced housing crisis reveals a dark underside that challenges the very essence of community and progress.

Set in a shrinking New York City of the 2050s, Ava, a young white woman, finds herself navigating a dwindling landscape alongside her girlfriend. When the opportunity arises to apply for the Inside Project, a groundbreaking initiative backed by tech innovator Jacqueline Millender, Ava and her partner seize the chance. Selected to join the Inside housing program, Ava's journey intertwines with two other women: Shelby, Jacqueline's trans assistant, and Olympia, Inside's Black, queer medical director. As Ava delves deeper into the inner workings of Inside, she uncovers a web of personal agendas and willful ignorance that shape the program's foundations. Despite its lofty goals, the program's flaws and contradictions come to light, challenging Ava and her companions to confront the true cost of progress.

While the novel's premise is timely and thought-provoking, its execution falls slightly short in the latter half. Despite occasional reveals, the story lacks surprises and fails to fully engage with its complex characters. The limited scope of relationships within the narrative adds to a sense of isolation, underscoring the novel's critique of community and connection. Ultimately, "Your for the Taking" shines with intriguing ideas but struggles to delve into deeper thematic exploration. Like its central figure, the novel grapples with ambitious concepts but fails to reach its full potential.

I was really intrigued by the premise but the characters needed a bit more. One in particular was hard for me to like.

This was another “try something different” challenge, since I have been enjoying more dystopian literature. And while the storyline was fascinating and held great promise – a ruined future resulting from climate fallout - and a narcissistic businesswoman who wishes to save the world, it fell a bit short for me.

There was a missed opportunity to really delve into the characters’ emotions and into themes of female power and abuse, as this book seemed mostly to scratch the surface. The ending was quite tidy as well, and would have benefitted from some additional conflict.

I don’t tend to favor plot-focused books like this, as they often have little emphasis on the writing, with a lack of sentence variety (lots and lots of simple sentences here) and very few setting descriptions. When I look back on this story, I realize I truly have no picture of what Inside looked like. After I’d written this review, I peeked at a few other comments and see that this, more than likely, is why people have pegged the novel as a YA piece. And perhaps it really is, but was marketed otherwise? I don’t read in the YA genre and am no expert.

That said, this was an entertaining book and did raise some interesting questions about complacency, happiness, and family.