I really wanted to like this book. A satirical, romantic exploration of the human desire to reach for the stars sounded so fun and engaging, but the overarching feeling I'm left with is confusion.

For one it was about 50 pages too long, so that the final 20% reeeeally dragged. Added to that, the wider pool of characters felt so one-dimensional and governed by the simplistic tropes they were intended to represent. There was some genuinely moving moments between Kevin and Amber, but these were overruled by the wider narrative, which never seemed to know whether to be playful or emotionally impactful. That and the ending of the book, Season Two, just left me feeling so morose, and for all the wrong reasons.

There is definitely a good storyteller in here, and the concept did keep me intrigued up until the final page, but there was just far too much going on, and not enough investment in the characters, for me to enjoy this.

Thank you to Serpent's Tail for the early ARC, in exchange for an honest review

An interesting concept for a novel, whilst it may not be everyone’s cup of tea I enjoyed it and found myself gripped until the end

Girlfriend on Mars has a really interesting and unique premise and is full of great humour and characters. I was really drawn to this and I thought the mix of sci-fi and romance was done really well. I think the only downside for me that this was slightly slow paced but overall I enjoyed this sci-fi romance and I think it will be great for fans of YA who want something a bit new and different.

I was really drawn into the concept of this book, however, the story just fell a bit flat for me. I was expecting a bit more sci-fi and drama, but I feel like it was mainly characters pining after the wrong person. I enjoyed the lighthearted humour, but I found the pacing incredibly slow, and unfortunately, I ended up DNF'ing it around the 30% mark. It also read a bit like YA, and that's just not a genre I typically enjoy. I think, overall, the story could be tightened up a bit. But I also appreciate that I'm perhaps not the right target market.

I first heard about Girlfriend on Mars in October last year when my friend raved about a new book that Serpent's Tail had recently acquired. I devoured this overnight as soon as I received my copy.

Girlfriend on Mars is, at its core, about a relationship between Amber and Kevin, who are in their early thirties, have been together since high school and grow and sell weed together. Amber is an ex-gymnast and nutritionist, obsessed with the latest fads that neoliberal environmental consumerism offers to her as the solution to the climate crisis. Kevin is passive in their relationship, stuck in the past and unable to live a fulfilling life.

One day, seemingly out of nowhere, Amber announces to Kevin that she has signed up for MarsNow, a reality TV show in which contestants compete and are eliminated by popular vote until the final two are sent on a rocket to colonise Mars. Kevin is devastated: is Amber breaking up with him?

Deborah Willis is a darkly funny, inventive new voice in contemporary Canadian fiction. Girlfriend on Mars explores our dependent consumerist relationship with reality TV and its fickle truth behind the glamour, of how it affects real world relationships.

People who don't read scifi have nothing to fear: Girlfriend on Mars barely falls into the scifi category, as the novel feels anchored in our contemporary era. It is instead a very clever, witty parody of the extremes to which our obsession with reality TV has brought our society.

With its fast pace, vivid characters and rollercoaster of emotions, it is a perfect beach read for the summer.

Thank you to Serpent's Tail and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.