"Yours for the Taking" by Gabrielle Korn is a Sapphic and Dystopian Fiction Story!

In the year 2050, the effects of climate change have impacted the world to the extent that soon being outside will no longer be safe. The one chance of survival is through "The Inside Project" and is only assured if your application to join is selected.

"The Inside Project" can offer safety from the elements within structures the size of large cities, stationed around the globe. The Manhattan site will be directed by billionaire and feminist, Jacqueline Millender, who has innovative ideas on how she envisions her location operating.

Jacqueline is quickly realizing her dream for the future...

"Yours for the Taking" has a premise that is so out there it's distracting and yet, at the same time, it's both thought-provoking and improbable. The writing is good and the storytelling is creative but I had trouble wrapping my head around what's happening because it feels almost too close to watching history repeat itself from the early 20th Century.

It's always a deal breaker for me in the inability to connect with the characters and it was glaring here. I didn't like, feel sorry for, want to share a meal, or have coffee with any of them. The emotional pull towards these characters just wasn't there. Perhaps a bit more character development and a little less plot focus would have made a difference with this.

This story is labeled as Adult Fiction but you can't fool me. This story reeks of Young Adult mixed with New Adult overtones. The characters are immature and I wasn't expecting that in this story as it was described in the synopsis.

This was an immersion reading experience through the gifted Digital Reading Copy and Advanced Listening Copy. The audiobook is narrated by Jasmin Savoy Brown, whose voicing skills are good, however, either format will deliver a satisfactory experience.

I'm an outlier with "Yours for the Taking" as most reviews are positive with high ratings and I'm glad for this positive support to the author. Dystopian Fiction is one of my favorite genres and I was expecting to love this story but not every book is for everyone and this one is definitely not for me.

2.5⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Gabrielle Korn for a DRC and an ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

YOURS FOR THE TAKING has a really interesting premise, some engaging using of multiple points-of-view (including excerpts from an in-universe book, for which I have a bit of a weakness), and an ultimately hopeful ending amid a dystopian nightmare.

Unfortunately, it ended up falling fairly flat for me in the end! I like Korn's writing style, but a lot of characters seemed underdeveloped. Their actions don't necessarily make sense, and their realizations about what's happening Inside don't seem supported by what they've experienced. I don't need my science in a sci-fi novel, especially a dysopian sci-fi novel, to be entirely realistic, but the closer an author hews to realistic affect of drugs, for example, means that I need those affects to be... credulous. I will say, though, that found Jacqueline to be a credible antagonist—her brand of feminism and fascist descent are scary and all too realistic in today's political climate.

Overall, YOURS FOR THE TAKING is best enjoyed without too close an examination. If you think too long or hard about the logistics of the Insides, of the science referenced throughout, of the interpersonal conflicts between the POV characters, you'll stumble and enjoy yourself a little less. Korn is an engaging writer, and this could be an engaging read if you don't ask too many questions.

This was a really interesting take on the feminist dystopia. It kept me engaged, and I definitely recommend it.

I received this book as an ARC via NetGalley. I rate this book a solid 3.5. I think some of the climate/sci-fi elements could have been more refined and a smaller, more fleshed out cast of characters so we could see more character development. However, I overall really enjoyed the dystopian story and the critique of TERF feminism.

Yours For the Taking (pub. date December 5, 2023) by Gabrielle Korn is a completely-engrossing, near-future (set in 2050) story about one possible solution to climate change–governments building completely-enclosed compounds called “Inside” and taking applications for those who would be chosen to live Inside. Each Inside would be self-sufficient and built strong enough to withstand the extreme weather that has gotten so much worse that Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens have been essentially wiped out by hurricanes, and California burned to a crisp from forest fires. The Midwest has become a tornado highway, and everyone that can, in North America, is moving north to Canada.

Jacqueline Millender is the founder of the Manhattan Inside, due to a significant donation from her inherited wealth, her founding of Refillables (personal products refilled by drone to reduce the plastic problem) and her association with a feminist book that shares a name with this book. That is, before her enormous wealth allows her to escape earth and hide on the space shuttle.

If we stay on our current course, women will not become truly equal to men before the world is made uninhabitable. Yours for the Taking! Reclaiming Female Power in a Changing World by Jacqueline Millender

Millender secretly sabotages the future career of a lesbian African-American female doctor, Olympia, forcing Olympia to accept a job as the medical director of the Manhattan Inside. Jacqueline has an interesting idea for Inside–instead of recreating the world they came from, with its inherent power dynamics, what if only women-identified people were allowed Inside? Millender has ideas for the Inside population reproducing itself, and is willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve her vision, including getting a surrogate to bear her child to live Inside.

Meanwhile, trans woman Shelby becomes Millender’s executive assistant, dropping out of college to her family’s disappointment. Although initially Shelby had been drawn to apply to an internship with Millender through her book, she begins to notice flaws in her corporate, white feminism.

Finally, Ava, a queer woman who is a plant biology lecturer, who is in a relationship with Orchid, a carpenter, receives her acceptance to Inside. But Orchid is not accepted, although she worked on the building of it. Ava reports as expected, but Orchid journeys north, to Canada.

I loved most of the characters–Ava and Olympia, especially, and just read, horrified by Jacqueline Millender’s actions as things go terribly awry. I loved the subplots about mothers and daughters and the love stories and how women create a more just society, without patriarchy.

As far as anti-fatness, I have to consider it mixed. Orchid, Ava’s beloved, is described as having a belly, but Jacqueline Millender is very image-conscious, and is described as “always aware of women’s body sizes”. There is some discussion about weight gain and weight loss, and Jacqueline is very specific about what the women Inside should and shouldn’t eat. But these things aren’t a major component of the book.

This is a thrilling and chilling novel reminiscent of Christina Dalcher’s Femlandia. This book very clearly portrays how people’s good ideas and even their best intentions become thwarted and maligned when money and power are involved. I loved the characters who were well thought out and rendered with depth and layers. Inter-personal connections along with a sense of self and belonging make this a must read.

I received both a print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This book is set in the not so far future in the wake of irreversible climate change. In an attempt to save humanity, structures call Insides were built around the world and citizens were hand selected to populate the Insides. One particular Inside is run by Jacqueline Millender, a billionaire feminist with very specific criteria and ideas for how her structure is going to run. Her vision is a female only society, and the women chosen to come on board Jacqueline puts together a team of women who fit her brand and buy into her initial vision of utopia that she is building. As their Inside becomes a reality, it becomes clear that what looked good on paper does not always turn out well in reality and those working for Jaqueline begin questioning the ethics and sustainability of the world that they have built.

This was the perfect read after just having read Can We All Be Feminists?: New Writing from Brit Bennett, Nicole Dennis-Benn, and 15 Others on Intersectionality, Identity, and the Way Forward for Feminism, a book of non-fiction essays about intersectional feminism. It was timely that I had just finished that prior to reading this. Korn's book touches on exactly why Jacqueline's version of feminism sounds good and is compelling, but it also alienates alot of women based on many other factors. This is a compelling dystopian sci-fi novel that calls into play the very real issue of not only women's issues but how race, class, disability, and the LGBTQIA community are impacted by one person's version of feminism and activism. In this case what Jaqueline feels is good for her should be good for all, and we quickly discover that isn't the case. If you don't agree with her or fit her vision she will find someone who does and will get the job done. She's got the funds and influence to make things happen.

Overall, I enjoyed this. It reads a bit on the YA side from the dialogue and character development perspective in my opinion. The book spans around 20 years so the timeline moves quickly so we can see the development of the community from start to finish. The author takes on alot in that amount of time and I felt parts of the plot get lost because of it. We get alot of tell vs show as the book is a bit more character driven than. The ending is a bit open ended (not a cliffhanger), which as a preference I do no prefer. I like more concrete endings with things wrapped up neatly.

Let me begin by saying this is a queer science fiction book with great rep and an interesting premise of a climate dystopian world. I feel like all my sentences about how I feel after reading this book follow the structure of "I really wanted to like x, but y...". To prove my point, a list:

- I really wanted to like the sapphic romances, but they felt too shallow and poorly developed for us to value them as much as we were seemingly meant to.
- I really wanted to like the premise of the elite leaving the planet behind and living on space ships, but the science seemed too poorly thought-out (How are these people going from space to earth to space to earth? Where are they getting the fuel? I have too many questions.)
- I really wanted to like the plot twist about Jacqueline's Inside development strategy, but it seemed a little too mustache-twirling evil and obliviously ignorant to be believable.

I could keep going. Some things were certainly done well and I enjoyed myself enough overall. This book just needed another two or so passes by an editor to tighten up some character development and motivations. I liked the questions and thoughts the themes of this book provoked, and the concept was pretty different from most things I've read recently. Pretty 50/50 on this one, but would be interesting in reading Korn's sophomore novel for sure!

Yours For the Taking is a book that tackles a lot of big questions: How do we solve gender inequality? In what ways does power corrupt morality? Who decides what people to save at the end of the world and what are the consequences of that? What do humans need to live fulfilling lives? What type of society do we want to build for our future generations? And so much more!

I was honestly stressed the whole time reading this book because it felt so immediate. It's set in the near future (roughly 2050-2080s) and the impacts of climate change and state of the world felt so real. It's like watching your worst nightmares come true. But in an entertaining way, for sure!

I loved the whole cast of characters, although Brook and July were definitely my favourite, particularly their sisterly bond. There was a lot of great rep among the characters, including characters who were lesbian, queer, non-binary, and trans. Although I wish we got more of how those identities informed certain experiences, particularly with the Inside.

Overall, I flew through this book and it really got me thinking, which I always appreciate in a sci-fi. I gave it 4.5/5 stars (rounded to 5 stars on NetGalley).

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

YOURS FOR THE TAKING by Gabrielle Korn is a great read. It's a compelling take on the climate crisis and how it could--or could not--be changed. The author thoroughly skewers the "billionaires in space" escape that seems so popular now as well as the uber-rich white feminist philanthropist "savior" the media loves to center. Even though Jacqueline Millender's actions or attitudes were a bit predictable, I was still hooked on the story and could not quit reading. Many of the characters were richly written and very compelling. I especially enjoyed reading the story lines about the younger generation, those who were born on The Inside. Korn brilliantly fleshes the answer to that "what if" question in the book. The only reason I'm giving this four stars is because of the character Olympia, a Black woman. Other than the scene where Olympia meets with Jacqueline for the first time (and Jacqueline delivers a dozen microagressions and several overtly racist statements), she sounds and acts like all of the white characters. The author, who, as far as I know, is white; her choice to write a Black character from a first person POV did not work.

I really enjoyed Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn, with its unique futuristic forecast of our society. Great concepts, examining sexuality and gender roles, as well as mother-daughter bonds, and new rules of society. Was an interesting and captivating read! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

I really liked the plot here, the premise is very interesting and really sets the stage for a unique post apocalyptic world. I was a bit disappointed in the end by a couple things but I do still like the premise here and that kept me reading. The story is told from the point of view of characters both inside and outside, I liked that both were included and it gave a nice perspective. In the end though there are 8 separate perspectives and it made it a bit difficult to connect with any one character and also made the progress feel a bit disjointed. In particular one POV is from a person in the future in the form of excerpts from a book being written on the happenings of the Inside, these pulled me from the story and were in general a bit disruptive to the flow in my opinion. The excerpts and outside perspectives also reveal to the reader details of the goings on far before anything really happens, making the actual finale a bit anticlimactic. From all this I was waffling between 3 and 4 stars but the end was sort of a disappointment, leaving the reader in the dark about what happens to one of the characters. I was looking forward to hearing what eventually happens here only to find that we aren't told, maybe an opening for a sequel but overall left me feeling like it was unfinished. I like the premise a lot and feel like it had some great potential but some of the storytelling just wasn't what I was hoping for here. It was an ok read and I would try something by this author in the future.

I'm not generally one for science fiction but enjoy a good dystopian story. This story really had me enthralled for a good bit. The thought process behind this new world called Inside. The feminist point of view in how all the worlds problems could be attributed to men (which in many ways could be considered on point). Trying to build a calmer, more peaceful life. It was great...until it wasn't. In the end, egomania is found amongst females and males and power corrupts everything. I wasn't super keen on the ending...made me feel like there may be a second book but I'm not sure I'd read more of this story line at this point. 3.5 stars.

An intriguing cli-fi novel that's notable mostly for the representation and female forward cast and plot. That said, the science is iffy at best (and sometimes downright sideways) so you'll have to go with it occasionally. Focus on the drama between the women and know that it does take big leaps in time. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Interesting if not as engaging as I'd hoped.

It's a compelling read - is the future feminine? And if so, what version? Is it cis white corporate "girlboss" feminism? What is a family? Can you choose your family? The ideas are interesting, and the characters varied. I did think it ended a bit quickly, although at least on a note of hope considering the setting.

"The year is 2050. Ava and her girlfriend live in what's left of Brooklyn, and though they love each other, it's hard to find happiness while the effects of climate change rapidly eclipse their world. Soon, it won't be safe outside at all. The only people guaranteed survival are the ones whose applications are accepted to The Inside Project, a series of weather-safe, city-sized structures around the world.

Jacqueline Millender is a reclusive billionaire/women’s rights advocate, and thanks to a generous donation, she’s just become the director of the Inside being built on the bones of Manhattan. Her ideas are unorthodox, yet alluring—she's built a whole brand around rethinking the very concept of empowerment.

Shelby, a business major from a working-class family, is drawn to Jacqueline’s promises of power and impact. When she lands her dream job as Jacqueline’s personal assistant, she's instantly swept up into the glamourous world of corporatized feminism. Also drawn into Jacqueline's orbit is Olympia, who is finishing up medical school when Jacqueline recruits her to run the health department Inside. The more Olympia learns about the project, though, the more she realizes there's something much larger at play. As Ava, Olympia, and Shelby start to notice the cracks in Jacqueline's system, Jacqueline tightens her grip, becoming increasingly unhinged and dangerous in what she is willing to do—and who she is willing to sacrifice—to keep her dream alive."

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Gabrielle Korn, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

The concept of Yours for the Taking was extremely intriguing, as a LGBTQ+ sci-fi that discussed climate change and specifically queer women. Unfortunately, the concept was better than the execution. Ultimately, there's nothing majorly wrong with this book, and I was mostly fascinated while reading it. The concept of the Inside was gripping, and I liked Brook and July as characters. It was interesting to see the climate aspects of the future, and I think the book makes some valid critiques. As always, I love reading about queer women, and this book was definitely full of them! However, I think that Korn tried to take on too much in the book, making it just not work. The characters felt very shallow, and there was a lot of "telling" what characters were thinking/who they were versus the story unraveling this as it went on. This book covers a time span of 20+ years, but I felt like the characters were the exact same all the way through because there was very little to no growth. I also didn't like how some characters, such as Shelby, took a back seat once more characters were introduced; I would have liked to see more of Shelby's storyline, as I think her perspective as a trans woman would have added more to the story. The book definitely critiques basic white cis feminism, but while it does that, it also still reads like a white woman writing it lol. There were just lots of statements made where I felt like "okay, and?" This book definitely had potential, but I think it needed to be trimmed back on characters some and reevaluated to see truly how much of a statement it wanted to make.

I've followed Gabrielle Korn for years. She's an incredible journalist and she's paved the way for so many queer writers (or maybe I'm just projecting). The world she built is so intricate and if it weren't so terrible I'd want to live with the Mc's too

It's 2050 and the world is experiencing a major climate disaster. In the US, flooding plagues the coasts, cities disappear underwater, tornados are unavoidable in the Midwest. The solution? Insides - completely self-sufficient bubbles in major cities that can fit millions of people. The New York Inside will be different than the others, as it will be managed by women's rights activist Jacqueline Millender.

Ava is approved for the New York Inside just before her long-term girlfriend breaks up with her. Olympia is hired by Millender as the Inside's medical director. And Shelby, Millender's personal assistant, has a front-row view of her boss's decision-making.

This is a phenomenal book that explores climate change, the class divide, race, feminism, separatist movements, gender inequality, queerness, and a whole host of other extremely relevant issues. Usually when a book tries to tackle this many issues at once in an average sized dystopia, the story and characters become either simplistic or extremely convoluted. Here though, the result was thought-provoking and nuanced. Each character is complex in their own way. I especially appreciated Korn's discussion of the family, queerness, and feminism.

If I hadn't already bought a copy for the library, I'd go back and do that.

Thank you very much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC!

Thank you netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest reviews

Dnf/ did not finish.

I really didn’t like this writing style. Especially on the first page, the descriptions were crazy. I didn’t need that much, it felt very forced. It needed to be toned down. Otherwise, it just didn’t intrigue me. I didn’t love the way the characters were written, and the plot was a little meh.

I really loved the concept for this book. In a world where climate change is destroying the planet, what will people do to survive? I enjoyed the characters and getting to know each of them and their different points of view. And I liked all of the intertwining relationships between them. Overall a really interesting and thought provoking read!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this!