This was an interesting take on Pride and Prejudice, but the world building was sometimes confusing and I couldn't find myself growing attached to the characters in the same way. I really wanted to love this more than I did. I don't know if it was that the idea of finding an interface partner was foreign to me or just not quite hashed out well enough, but I just wasn't fully committed to the story. This fact made it REALLY difficult to finish the book and it almost felt like I was just trudging through to get to the end. The writing was not bad, I just didn't feel connected.

This book is a pride and prejudice retelling and while it does follow a lot of the same plot they are some pretty big changes. The main change that it is set in the future and it involves space. I appreciated that I wasn’t bogged down in world building but I would like to have known more about interfacing and how that came to be in this world.

The story follows the main points pretty closely, a few of the main characters were gender swapped which was interesting. Lizzie wants to be a pilot but needs an extremely high compatibility rating with an interface partner. Enter Will Darcy. The story continues as we watch Lizzie look past her prejudice and Will learn to handle his pride like the classic book but focuses more on their career path. The original enemies to lovers for me. I enjoyed that Lizzie was the one to make her way down earth side and pursue her future.

This book has all the well beloved characters. The story of George Wickham betrayal is different from the original which I enjoyed actually. What happens to Lizzie’s sibling is sad but I appreciated that Wickham actually was punished in this book.

Overall I liked the book. I did find it interesting how Lizzie’s mother was changed in this book to more of a darker character. It was fairly easy read, it did take me a bit to get into to it though.

I was approved to read this advanced copy through Net Galley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"To Travel the Stars" is a ya sci-fi standalone, written by Amy Sundberg, retelling of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice."

The story follows 17-year-old Lisette Bennett, otherwise known as Lizzie, who has always dreamed of becoming an FTL pilot and traveling among the stars. Unfortunately for her, dedication alone is not enough. In fact, Lizzie comes from a large, poor family in Meryton V, a small, isolated, and miserable space station. No big deal, except that to follow her dream she will need to enroll in a prestigious and expensive university, but more importantly find an interface partner (someone with whom her neural implant can form a permanent bond) with a compatibility level of at least 95%. Something that, in the base where she lives and where everyone knows each other, she has never achieved. At least until Meryton V is chosen to host a prestigious seminar. Lizzie is elated to be able to attend, only to run into the most privileged planetside student she has ever met on the first day. Will Darcy, a boy as rich as he is arrogant and standoffish, of few words except when it comes to insulting her, her family, her friends, and where she comes from. Dislike is instantly triggered. Lizzie can't just keep calm and quiet, so she decides to show him that she can be as good as he is, regardless of money and prestige. However, when Lizzie and Will are forced to interface for a task the unthinkable happens: they turn out to be 99% compatible. This shocking news will send all of Lizzie's beliefs and plans into a tailspin, leading to unexpected developments.

When I read that this was a retelling of "Pride and Prejudice", in a sci-fi key, I admit I jumped right in! I love the original book and well, curiosity got the better of me.

I found it an enjoyable and fast-paced read, albeit not without its flaws. The compelling and extremely smooth pace, coupled with a bubbly tone, kept me glued to the pages and fully absorbed.

The world building, in my opinion interesting and full of potential, seemed to me underused. Okay, the part about Meryton V, the isolated and poor space station, satisfied me. Likewise I appreciated the whole explanation regarding the neural implant and interface partners, which was really very interesting. The problem is the rest. Other space stations and several planets are named, some of them even visited, there is reference to an ongoing war, there are several names and events that pop up randomly, yet no details are given. It all seemed a bit nebulous and confusing to me, which is a pity given the focus on the previous part.

The plot takes inspiration from the main steps of Jane Austen's original work, modifying them in a sci-fi key and shaping them so that they are not entirely identical. I loved the solutions adopted, although in some cases the unfolding seemed a bit rushed.

Lizzie, the protagonist and only first-person pov, convinced me in terms of characterization and development. She is a 17-year-old girl who has always lived in an oppressive satellite station, in a often pushy family, and wants nothing more than to leave. Into dark space. Among the stars. As far away as possible. To see and explore everything. She wants to become an FTL pilot and tries her best, though aware of her limited possibilities. She is a determined, stubborn, smart and proud girl with a penchant for math and reading. She does not feel sorry for herself, does not want to be seen as weak, and therefore hides her anxieties, doubts and fears behind sarcasm and cheekiness. Loyal, he never backs down when it comes to helping friends and family, with whom he has a complicated relationship.

Will Darcy comes from the planet Londinium, is the eldest son of a very wealthy family, and on the surface seems to be an arrogant, cocky, standoffish, critical young man. For me it doesn't hold a candle to the original, some attitudes didn't quite convince me, but I still enjoyed it.

The romance that develops is a very cute hate to lovers, with lots of banter and effective dialogue and no spicy. Perhaps a bit fast-paced in some moments, but tasty nonetheless.
Lizzie's family draws on that of "Pride and Prejudice" with a nosy and suffocating mother, a father lost in his work, a sweet and sensitive older sister, and much more. This is a poor, indebted family in which tension and affection go hand in hand. I enjoyed them and appreciated the various interactions shown.

Other characters inspired by "Pride and Prejudice" are present, all fairly delineated. In particular, I liked the idea of including several LGBTQ+ characters in the book, treated in a normal way and well embedded in society.

All in all, I found it a cute and quick read, able to keep me entertained, albeit with various flaws!

Thank you to Amy Sundberg, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Tropes: sci-fi romance, hate to love, rivals to lovers, banter
Romance wasn’t well done in regards to pride & prejudice, and he wasn’t acting like the proper Darcy
He talks shit to her face but not behind her back🥹
Mom was a bit too much
Combination of Pride & Prejudice with sci-to elements

This was a quick read for me. The main characters grew together throughout the story so well and the chemistry was THERE. Cute, fun cozy and romantic read.

I appreciate that this book, though it is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in the future, has enough variety from the original book that it kept me engaged throughout. I enjoyed the sprinkling of LGBTQ+ characters throughout the book being treated as a normal part of everyday life, instead of the token throwaway character. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down!