Well this was insanity and the perfect dystopian break I needed for the season. This had some familiar elements to the Silo- large container of people and there's some sinister dark happening within the walls. It was a gripping story that left me on edge and trying to uncover the darkness that was lurking behind the false safety.

While the premise and story line held my attention and kept me trying to piece things together, I didn't really connect with the characters. Living, dead, free, imprisoned- I just didn't feel compelled to fully root for anyone or want their protection. It's an odd thing when you're so connected to the plot.

Overall it was a refreshing change of pace for my usual reads and genres.

Speak up SMP. Until you meet the demands of your influencers we will not be reviewing your books.

Speak up SMP. Until you meet the demands of your influencers we will not be reviewing your books.

Rating: 2/5 stars
Disclaimer: I may have not enjoyed Yours for the Taking, but that does not mean you will not.


Yours for the Taking is a sapphic, dystopian that takes place in 2050 and explores how Climate change has Changed our world. The Only way now to Survive is to apply for the Inside Project, but is everything being done in the sake of the human race surviving? Are the intentions of the person behind the project sincere or are they calculated and Misguided?

To me the premise ofthis book sounded really interesting as well as thought provoking. This book definitely has moments and themes that leave you pondering.

Other than that I really struggled due to the slow pacing and the characters did not feel relatable. with the characters, they felt very similar to one another and not unique.

There is no doubt in my mind that many people will enjoy this. If I had to name a notable book that if you like this book then read this book, I would choose The Handsmaid Tale.

Wow! What a read! This is my favorite book that I’ve read this year. From start to finish, I was completely hooked. I could not put this book down. It was an enjoyable, page-turning, futuristic dystopian tale about the impacts of climate change and people’s choices on how they will stay alive. A billionaire, Jaqueline Milender (who reminded me of Elon Musk) designs a living arrangement that’s called The Inside which she claims will save the planet through female empowerment- but it ends up being in very unorthodox ways. The book then follows strong women characters as they navigate their new reality. This book is full of love, resilience, as well as beautiful queer and trans representation. It also prompts the reader to reflect and question what gender roles really mean, and to contemplate the impacts of climate change. This read will stay with me for a very long time! I highly recommend it!!

The world is ending, and the climate crisis has become a real problem. In order to survive, the human race has developed shuttles/space stations for the elite that can afford the privledge. Otherwise, the rest of the human race will be "fighting" to be included in the new institutions being built across the world... called "inside". As the NYC "Inside" is being developed however, it is discussed what attributes should be looked at for the humans being selected? How did the human race end up in this failed position? Is patriarchy the issue? Would a colony of women better succeed?

This dystopian story is far-fetched to be sure, but it also has some interesting topics around gender and the attributes of humans that make our civilizations successful or not. Additionally, the discussion of Power V. Gender is intriguing. The characters were well-developed, and the story-line was consistent active and kept my attention. Most of my thoughts on the subject matter were on my own, and the book left a lot of topics "open-ended" so to speak. I will say though there is a very strong feminist/pro-female theme throughout, in-case anyone finds that to be too over the top.

The audio narration was clear, easy to listen to, and overall enjoyable.

It’s the year 2050, the world is on the verge of destruction and soon, it will no longer be safe to be outside. Hence the creation of the “Inside Project” funded by women’s rights activist Jacqueline Millender. When the lives of three unrelated women converge within Inside, Ava, Shelby and Olivia begin to suspect there is more going on, within the new society, than meets the eye.

This was an interesting take on climate/dystopian fiction that examines multiple ethical issues and what happens when ideas of today, are taken to the extreme in a future society. It really made me think about some of the complex issues discussed, and what a world like the one presented would look like.

My primary issue, and what kept me from loving this one, is that I struggled to connect with the characters. They were very interesting and I loved learning more about their backstory. Yet somehow, they still seemed like just that - characters. Instead of feeling three dimensional, they felt flat, as though they could not exist off the page. This prevented the emotional attachment that I needed to love Yours For the Taking. I also would have preferred a more conclusive ending, versus the nebulous and open ended ending we got.

All of that said, I would still recommend this if you enjoy dystopian or climate fiction. And the audio makes for an easy and pleasant read.

Read if you like:
•dystopian books
•climate fiction
•queer ensemble
•multiple povs
•emotional reads
•ethical debates

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies.

I believe this was my first read in the cli-fi (climate fiction) world. Which made the book both poignant and annoying. I loved it once I could look past the blatantly obvious political influences. I guess I just want to be able to escape in my books and this didn’t feel as far removed from reality as I had hoped. Granted, it is dystopian in nature, but still far too realistic politically. Almost felt like it has an agenda.

I enjoyed the plot as far as life within The Inside versus the wasteland of outside. I enjoyed the tumultuous relationships between characters. I enjoyed the utter chaos that was secretly happening. I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. I can see myself giving this author another shot one day in the hopes that more fictional adventure will be written rather than politics!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and author Gabrielle Korn for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm just not quite sure about this one. I tried to listen to it two different times and none of the characters grabbed me. I kept forgetting who each character was until something described what they were doing and I was like oh ya the doctor. I also was kinda irked by the descriptions. There was plenty of representation, but it was put forth in a way that was almost like those male writer memes - she's a butch, but she's beautiful, her hair, etc... Like each character was a beacon of their entire identity group and it felt very forced and weird. Probably because the characters were never really developed beyond their descriptions either. I get the point of the book and I think it's a solid idea that really could have gone somewhere, but the point of making your readers think is not to tell them what to think. Gabrielle Korn was also the narrator and I can't really tell if it was her narration that was stunted or just the material in general. It did very much feel like an author, who is not a professional performer, reading their material. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Yours for the Taking takes sapphic novels and redefines them. I can imagine its characters asking 'Bechtel test? How primitive.' This book asks the question 'What if a white feminist is given supreme power and authority'- and the results are as disastrous and disturbing as you can imagine. In a world ravaged by climate change, a world destroyed by raging storms and too high temperatures, innovators create "Inside"; a safe zone for the select few financed by the world's billionaires. The story follows a group of women as they navigate this new world, the betrayals, love, and heartache they experience; and how dangerous a lack of intersectionality can be. This one is one to watch, and an important commentary on our social and personal dynamics in an ever changing world that never truly has our best interests at heart. A gripping narrative about power, race, and identity- and how even at the end of the world we divide and oppress each other. And what happens when we say enough is enough.

Yours for the Taking
Gabrielle Korn
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dystopian, Queer
What I loved most - ended with hope.
Realistic dystopian examination of gender selection - women, intelligence, purposefully selected. A very biased selection by one woman with a massive agenda. Told over decades to allow for plot building and experiencing life in the dome. No outside windows - totally cutoff from the outside world.
Smart. Terrifying. Very creative. Great read!

Yours for the Taking was intriguing, endearing and fast paced but in the end, I had many questions that weren't answered. Maybe there will be a sequel?
Ava lives in Brooklyn on a now hot and storming earth. Billionaires (who will go live in space anyway) decide to build places called "Inside" since being outside is quickly becoming not-an-option. Ava is one of the lucky few to be selected to go to the North American Inside which was funded by white feminist girl boss Jacqueline Mellinder who makes the decision to exclude men.
There are alternating POVs from Ava in Inside, Ava's ex who is still outside and Shelby, Jaqueline's assistant on the space station.
What can go wrong on a life raft built by a girl boss trying to reinvent society without men does go wrong, but it doesn't seem as bad as it does in space? Or in the other Insides which aren't run by feminists......so in the end the message, if there is one, is a bit muddled for me.

That said, this is an intergenerational saga and an interesting thought experiment as we face very real climate crisis. As I said, the characters are endearing and I hope there might be a sequel at some point. I also particularly enjoyed the narration by Jasmine Savoy Brown.

𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦!

Oh wow, what a crazy and wild ride. I love a good dystopian novel and this one was a whole new level, a feminist dystopia? It was gripping, engaging, addictive and fantastic!

Thank you stmartinspress for this gifted copy..

In so many ways, 2050 feels so far away and yet doesn’t. Author Gabrielle Korn brings us to the not so distant dystopian future where climate change is rapidly affecting the world and guaranteed survival is not a guarantee.
This book is about gender dynamics and about reclaiming female power. Though set in a dystopian landscape and in the future, it is not such a stretch to feel this narrative personally whether you feel you fall somewhere on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum or not.
Overall, this book will suck you in with good pacing and character development. Most of the characters are also feminine and focused on surviving in a world that’s been destroyed by the ravages of wars and climate decimation. I didn’t expect to enjoy this sort of sci-fi dystopian book so much. Usually there feels to be an aspect lacking, but I feel Author Korn developed a fascinating premise and world to dive into and to contemplate on.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publishing company for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book for review and reading. My honest review is that I hope this book finds a strong audience upon its release and makes its voice heard.

A queer, dystopian, end of the world climate change thriller featuring a cast of strong, feminist FMCs who are easy to root for but end up being more nuanced and complex than anticipated. Great on audio narrated by Jasmin Savoy Brown and perfect for fans of books like The future by Naomi Alderman. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.

There's a lot I can say about this book. It infuriated me. It made me feel sad and horrified, and then, just when I thought it was over, I felt some sort of happiness.

The fact that I felt such strong emotions tells me the author did something right. The idea of an all-female society looks good on paper, but it just doesn't work, especially when you have an insane business woman behind it all, and it quickly became a horror show. I loved the weaving of all the different characters, seeing all the connections both within and outside of the Inside was interesting. I felt for the girls, I was pissed at the people in charge. And that ending was exactly what it should've been. Not necessarily happy, because really, it wasn't, but something that also wasn't horrible either.

It was a story of hope in the darkest of places, of humanity coming together, of insane women, of heartbreak and loss, and, most importantly, what family truly means.

"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.

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.

Okay, I loved this!

What a beautiful debut novel. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while. The characters were incredibly written with the nuance, complexity, and flaws that make us human. It was easy to empathize with our main characters.

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 run by Jaqueline a reclusive billionaire/women's rights advocate. 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. Olympia, who is finishing up medical school when Jacqueline recruits her to run the health department Inside. 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. At once a mesmerizing story of queer love, betrayal, and chosen family, and an unflinching indictment of cis, corporate feminism, Yours for the Taking holds a mirror to our own world, in all its beauty and horror.


I wouldn’t characterize this as a thriller or suspense novel in the typical sense, but it is a strong, well written dystopian novel. One of my favorite aspects of dystopias is the knowledge that while it may not be true, it could be true and this is one that felt too close for comfort

Gabrielle, I need a book two expeditiously! I need to know what happens next.

Yours for the Taking is a vivid thought experiment about taking the climate crisis as an opportunity for reworking society, as one powerful woman turns her biodome into a lab and tries to create an all-female utopia.
Very vivid characters explore life in the dome and in the tethered spaceship -- both areas only the privileged few are selected to enter, as the rest of the world becomes ravaged by heat and storms.
Oprah=Musk-esque Jacqueline is effectively running what's left of the US from space, leaving it to Medical Director Olympia to implement her policies in the INSIDE bubble. Through her and some of her subjects, over 20+ years we see how some of the forced utopia looks and feels very different from what we'd expect, as they overcorrect for the mistakes that led to wars, climate crisis, etc. They do this be completely enclosing large chunks of NYC into a mostly impenetrable bubble, and a mostly communal, agrarian culture. Things of course unravel, and we see the very human level of how this evolves over 20-some years.
It's both entertaining and thought-provoking, and the inevitable gaps in science/logistics and conceits to minimize the number of characters are understandable and not too distracting.
A great effort and ode to why systems and institutions need to keep the obsessions of one person in check.

I was really excited about the premise of this book but delivery in the audiobook fell flat for me a bit. The intertwining storylines felt disjointed to start and by the time they all pulled together, literal decades passed over a few chapters…

In this future-world, where climate change has made the globe near unlivable, the rich have access to livable alternatives and everyone else is left to lottery chances at earning a spot. When the ultimate “millennial girlboss” swindles her way into a women only safe space, it’s full of transphobic ideals that prove a lack of equity for those trapped inside. Somehow what comes next is both a lot and not enough with how much time passes between the start and end of the story but suffice to say, any sort of autonomy is removed “Inside” and while this seems to work for some, it has long term repercussions for the girlboss overlord…