A big thanks to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My fear of storms has once again resurfaced.

Into the Churn by Hayley Reese Chow is a YA sci-fy novel that spans across many planets both habitable and inhabitable due to super-cell storms. Seventeen-year-old Ezren Hart interns in her mother’s terraforming lab, studying Belethea’s deadly storms with the dream of giving her backwater planet open teal skies. But when budget cuts threaten to shut down her mother’s lab, Ezren enters Belethea’s Race Royale, the system’s deadliest and most lucrative race. To win, she’ll have to run, drive, and fight her way across Belethea’s barren landscape while navigating its savage and volatile storms. With her planet’s future, and her family’s, on the line, she can’t afford to lose. But first, she’ll have to convince her handsome royale partner that their planet is worth saving. Foster Sterling is a jaded ex-prodigy royaler still reeling from his partner’s death in a training accident. When Ezren Hart comes charging into his life, her passion reminds him of what he once loved about racing and his dream of returning pride to their planet. Still, no matter how fast they go, they can’t outrun the mysterious string of deadly accidents following them like a curse. As Foster falls harder for Ezren, he races to piece the clues together. But with time running out and their survival on the line, he’ll have to decide if their dreams are worth their lives. Earth was tame. Belethea is not.

This book is everything I love in a sci-fy novel. The stakes are higher than the atmosphere. The characters don't just automatically answer every single problem with science or technology. Not to mention the characters are ones that you want to cheer and almost see them fail. There was never a dull moment in this book, and I can't wait to get my hands on book two.

I loved this book! It's a super cute, low angst YA read that I definitely recommend.

The story of a race for survival is one we've definitely seen before but it's done in an interesting way and still feels fresh and exciting. The relationships are low angst/drama but the action is definitely not and keeps you invested. You can feel how tough this race is for the characters both physically and emotionally and you want to keep reading to find out what's next. And the mystery twist at the end was a nice unexpected surprise.

I loved the characters of Foster and Ezren and their relationship. Their romance is a slow burn, cutesy type that's perfect in a YA book. The author did a great job building their story. I loved the supporting characters and their banter as well and wouldn't mind seeing future entries into the series telling their stories.

This is the first book in a series but the ending is not a cliffhanger and wraps the events of this book up nicely. You could definitely read this as a stand-alone or just take a break before the next book without too much issue.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an arc. All opinions are my own.

I'll be honest, this was a completely superficial arc request upon seeing the cover. But hear me out, okay. I had just finished my reread of Illuminae and I was all in my Kady and Ezra feels when I stumbled upon this and all my mind could scream was that this was Kady and Ezra in another universe (yes that one pink streak did it for me). Then I read the synopsis and it seemed interesting enough that I wanted to give it a chance because I was in the mood for more sci-fi romance.
I went into this book with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It wasn't the great extraordinaire that is Illuminae (but let's be honest nothing can compare to that so it's unfair to do so) but it was still a solid story and had that quality that made me unable to put down the book. And I love it when I'm unable to put down a book.

Like with every book, there were some things I liked and disliked but the things I disliked were minor enough for me to be able to overlook them while reading and still enjoy the story. So what did I like about this book?

<i>Into the Churn</i> had a dual, first-person POV from Ezren and Forster. Often with dual POV's I find that some chapters are redundant and added simply because it was necessary to stitch POV. I did not have this issue here and did not feel like any chapters were redundant. I loved Ezren. She was strong, witty, resilient, and had that stubborn quality about her where she refused to give up when things got hard. She entered this big dangerous and deadly race for the simple fact that she loved her family and planet so much she wanted to do anything to save them and make it better. She trained hard and never once complained or whined. The love interest and second main character, Foster, was a great character too. He had that golden retriever characteristic to him. If there's one thing I didn't like about his character is that he always felt the need to protect Ezren when it was clear that she could take care of herself just fine. But after what happened to his last partner, I could hardly blame the guy and it made his character more realistic.
The downside about the characters was that all the side characters fell flat to me. I felt like all the focus was on Ezren and Forster and that the side characters were just there for the sake of the plot. They had no depth. We never learn their story, what drives them, what scares them. They remain flat, static characters which, consequently, made me not care for them.

The plot was fun to read. I loved the idea of this huge race with all kinds of different obstacles they had to overcome. When I first read about this race in the synopsis, it immediately made me think about the podrace in <i>Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace</i> and got really excited. In reality, the Race Royale was much different from the pod race but it was still so cool and brutal.
I only wish it was described and explained in a bit more detail but I'll get to that in my paragraph about things I disliked.

The final thing I really liked was the romance. Yes it was quick and there was little build-up and no slow burn but when I dove into this book, I was looking for a quick, cute romance and that's what this book delivered. The connection between Ezren and Forster is instantaneous and as they spend time together 24/7 to practice for the race, it's only normal they grow fond of each other quickly. So their relationship development didn't feel unnatural and forced to me.

Coming to the things I disliked, I wanted to come back to my earlier point about descriptions. The descriptions throughout the entire book were lacking. If you're writing a sci-fi or fantasy novel, you transport your character into an unfamiliar world. Therefore apt descriptions of what it looks, like, how it operates, and how it governs are necessary for your reader to understand what's going on. I was missing these details in this book. The race is cool and all, but as a reader, we're thrown into it with barely any idea of how it works, what it entails, and what it looks like. It would have been better if we'd gotten some explanatory details of its working beforehand and some descriptions of the vehicles and other attributes used during the race. Because I had a hard time Imagining the vehicle they rode or how their suits looked. I had these giant, Michelin Man suits (imagine man on the moon kind) in my head when in reality (I think) they were skin-tight suits.
I also with the technology they used was explained better. I feel like the author assumes the reader would immediately understand how their chatting system works. But it took me ages to figure out if they were typing or talking (and I think it was neither, I think they were thinking the words and it transcribed into text) But these are little things that should be made clear to the reader as these are things they are unfamiliar with in the real world. I also missed some descriptions about the planet they were on and I had a hard time imagining what it looked like. I understood that its surface was inhabitable and that they lived underground but beyond that, there are very little descriptions beyond mauve dirt? and rocks?

To branch off from world descriptions I want to move on to world-building. This was lacking. Fairly quickly into the story, I began to notice inconsistencies in the world's details. Furthermore, there is very little explained about the history of the world, how the people came to these barren planets to try and make them habitable. How these planets worked and where their resources came from to actually start building a life on these planets. I was also missing some world politics but after reading the synopsis for the sequel I can only hope we get more details in the next book.

And lastly, the thing that grated me the most was the made-up swear words.
What is it with Americans and their phobia of swear words? Seriously, it's just words, why give them so much power? These characters are 18, surely they're mature enough to swear instead of these dumb made-up swear words that grate on everyone's nerves. I could understand not wanting to swear words in a book meant for a younger audience (even if I don't agree with it), but then either lower the age of your characters or write NA or adult. Because not using actual swear words but then have basically every spoken sentence include a dumb swear word like "shaft" or "fodding"
just looked ridiculous. There is plenty of YA out there that doesn't use swear words without making up words and it works. If you don't want swear words in your book, that's fine, but then don't have your characters cursing in every sentence.

As I mentioned earlier, the things I disliked did not overpower the things I liked and I was able to overlook them while reading. <i>Into the Churn</i> was a solid sci-fi story with a good base. It was overall a good book. But it could have been a great book if more attention to detail had been paid. The key to a great sci-fi is, in my opinion, the attention to detail. It's a fun, breezy read if you're looking for something light and fun to read.

I genuinely loved the worldbuilding, it was so fascinating. I never read anything like this and I was so caught up in the story. Thank you for giving me an opportunity. I'll deff read the sequel and a full review will come in the coming days on my Goodreads.

A fun, YA sci-fi. I liked the atmosphere and the characters. The world was interesting and I enjoyed seeing the different perspectives on terraforming. There are so few books that take place in environments like this, so I enjoyed that a lot. I also appreciated how strong Ezren felt about her planet. I really liked Ezren as a character. She was passionate and strong, but had her flaws. It felt like ADHD rep, but that was unconfirmed. Foster was also an engaging character, but not as well developed. I would've loved more opportunity to dig into his past and see more about why he was estranged from his mother, see the potential that people keep attributing to him, and just in general make him more well rounded. The side characters were also great. I appreciated the lack drama within the team and appreciate that there was no girl on girl toxicity that is so common in YA.
I also really liked Ezren's family. They gave Ezren more depth and rounded her out as a character. They were good motivation and it was nice to see a positive parent/child relationship. They are so rare in YA. I would've liked to see more of Micah, I liked her a lot.
One thing I struggled with was the jargon. There was a lot of adding 'space' words in front of regular words to make them sound more interesting. The tech all had weird names and it didn't feel necessary.
Also, the plot felt a bit jumpy. I really would've liked them to have been investigating for longer and make more of an effort to learn things, instead of falling into them. I almost feel it could've been a duology, keeping the ending fairly similar, but having another book with more investigating and the fallout of their discoveries.
I feel bad, I have such high expectations of this genre because of the Illuminae series. Really, this book is great and I enjoyed it a lot. It doesn't have the intricacies of Jay and Amie's books and that's okay. Go into it expecting a fun ride and it will not disappoint.

Thank you, Hayley Reese Chow and NetGalley for providing me with this e-book.

Into the Churn is an adventurous, exciting and fantastical book with interesting characters and spectacle world-building.
Featuring competitive races, fake dating and an underlying scheme this book will get you hooked. Ezren is a strong-willed and feisty young lady whereas Foster is more of a laid-back grumpy underdog. Making them the perfect pair. The story is told through a dual POV of Ezren and Foster, giving you insight into both worlds from different backgrounds. There are also some intriguing and loveable side characters involved and some smark remarks and witty banter. Not only have Ezren and Foster swoon-worthy chemistry, but they also show us how teamwork is really done.

The world-building was next level. There a too few Sci-Fi books with this kind of techy vibes. The thrilling races through space and different worlds made it truly special. The races eventually lead up to this grant competition, reminding me a bit of the Hunger Games. While there is a competition to be won and a planet to be saved, there is also a mystery to be solved that had me guessing until the end of the book.

Into the Churn is for everyone who loves to read about an exciting futuristic race competition with romance and mystery. I can't wait for the next book 'Into the Fire' coming May 2024.

“Be strong. Be swift. By legs, wheels and fists, we go into the churn. We race, we fight, and we live to do it all over again. For ourselves, for Belethea, and for each other.”

You know those books you just can't tear yourself away from? This is exactly that kind of read!

I usually stick to fantasy or romance, but I decided to give this sci-fi a shot. And boy, am I glad I did! I was totally sucked in. The world-building was spot-on, doling out just enough info to keep me in the loop without overwhelming me. And can we talk about Ezren and Foster? Those two were adorable together and their romance had me grinning like a fool the whole way through.

Now, don't get me wrong, I loved it, but there were a few too many training scenes for my liking. It felt a tad repetitive at times, which made me remove half a star.

But overall? "INTO THE CHURN" is a total winner. It proves that sci-fi can be a blast, even for us non-regulars.

Huge thank you to Hayley Reese Chow, Whimsical Publishing, and NetGalley for sending me this ARC!

I adored Into the Churn! The story is definitely one of my favorite sci-fi romance books. Into the Churn's technological world was unique and fun to learn about, and I absolutely fell in love with Foster and Ezren.

The story is about a girl named Ezren who loves going out into the storms and exploring the surface of her home planet, Belethea. But with the impending shutdown of the lab where her mother works and the rising cost of her brother's surgery, Ezren has no choice but to join Belethea's race royale, a deadly race. Paired with the blunted Royaler Foster Sterling, Ezren learns that sometimes dreams come true no matter the odds stacked against them.

The bond between Foster and Ezren was not just a romance, it was a beautiful connection that warmed my heart. Their story was free of misunderstandings, and their communication was the key to their strong relationship. This book delivered the most heartwarming romance I've read this year!

Thanks so much, Hayley Reese Chow, Whimsical Publishing, and NetGalley, for this ARC! Such a fun read!

Thank you so much to Whimsical Publishing, Hayley Reese Chow and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was such a wild ride!

I'd been looking for more sci-fi that incorporated a romantic element for a while now, so I was super excited to come across Into the Churn.
I will immediately point out two aspects that worked less for me so I can get to the good stuff. First off, I will admit the world-building was very intense from the get-go and it took a while to get used to. While I was really impressed with how immersively and specifically the author managed to create this new world in space, it could get a bit overhwhelming at times. The second thing I'll point out is that the lingo the characters used was at times repetitive and occasionally took me out of the dialogues.

Now, to the things I did like, which is mostly everything else! I think the author made a fantastic job with the main characters, Ezren and Foster, They both felt real and genuine for their age; their relationships developed naturally and was really sweet, which was such a breath of fresh air. Ezren's backstory was interesting and I enjoyed her determination to push through the difficulties even though she's shy by nature and doesn't love being at the center of attention, with her beliefs and her family being her propelling forces. Foster is the golden retriever book boyfriend of dreams! He was such a good guy in the best possible way; I adored how his trust in Ezren never wavered, even when so much was at stake and he felt responsible for what happened with Vieve.

I wish we'd gotten a bit more of Bex and Grady, but perhaps that could be explored in a different book? Ha ha!
All in all, it was a great experience and I will absolutely recommend the book to anyone looking to add some sci-fi to their tbrs.

Oh. My. Goodness. I'm honestly 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙!

Whoever said you can't pick a book by its cover LIED! Because that's what I did with this one and it could not have gone better.
When I saw this cover on netgalley I LOVED it. Then I read the synopsis and was intrigued. Now I read the entire book and I need more. I'm in love. I'm obsessed. I'm hooked.

This book had everything! From drama, to fights, to sci-fi fiction, to found family, to friendship goals, to a beautiful romance. It made me laugh, gasp, cry... Honestly it made me go through every emotion and then some.

Foster and Ez own my entire heart. Grady and Bex are the cutest as well. Sam, Ez's mom, Sylvia, Foster's mom, the capybog... Ugh, I fell in love with these characters and now I'm supposed to just move on? Absolutely impossible. Thank heavens we'll have more of them.

Foster is my FAVORITE grumpy book bf from now on. He's the absolute best and the way he was WHIPPED from the start oh goodness gracious. He fell first and harder and absolutely no one can tell me otherwise. He deserves the world and I'm glad he got it (Ez is his world). And Ez is adorable. Her sunshiny and optimistic personality really complement Foster super well and I love how she sees life. She's the bestest older sister and the way she loves her family - and her planet - really shines through her every action. They're a match made in heave - or in this case, in Belethea. And I'm so glad they found each other as well. 🥹🩷

And the entire BRR is so good! I loved the drama, excitement and the entire action of it. The thrill it gave me was exhilarating. It had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath till the end.

Overall, this book is pure perfection and the only thing wrong with it is that it ends. Cannot wait for the next one. I already miss my babies and it's only been like the 10 minutes it's taking me to write this review...

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange of my honest review. This opinion is DEFINITELY my own and if you don't believe, go read it yourself. You can 100% thank me later for changing your life for eternity.

This is a fantastic YA sci-fi adventure plus romance story (which manages not to wallow in miscommunication or slide into betrayal, thank the stars). I loved the main characters and the “Hunger Games” vibes but in space. No cliffhanger but I think there’s another book so I’m excited to continue in this universe!

There was a noticeable writing shift between chapter 1 and chapter 2 from a craft perspective, not just change in voice. I stopped reading at the end of chapter 2, 7% in. Love the cover.

Dropping 5 stars because writing and publishing are hard.

A fun and fast YA sci-fi novel, Into the Churn is a futuristic Hunger Games with a marathon twist. The BRR is a 5 day marathon where partners run, ride, and brawl to the finish in a no holds barred fight. Ezren is a terraforming intern who needs money for her baby brother and to keep the research station she works at alive. Foster is a racer with a chip on his shoulder the size of his famous racing mom who ditched him for another team and his ex partner who died in a tragic accident last year. Ezren and Foster must work together to beat the odds and everyone rooting against them in this fight to the finish. I really enjoyed this book! I think the sci fi elements (specifically the storms) are a very interesting obstacle and background that fleshes out the narrative. Foster is a fascinating hardened character who despite his dissolution with the entire racing system, doubles with Ezren to protect her. While I think a lot of the terminology that was fictional was fun, it was hard to comprehend. Several times and word was used to a few different ways that would have changed the meaning. Another point is that while they did explain a lot of the specifics of the race and certain world building aspects later in the book, it did make it a tad hard to follow in the beginning. I think with like 50 more pages and a little polishing this book would be fantastic!

Into the Churn pulled me like a Belethea tornado. Any time I had to put it down, I was swept back into the story as soon as I started reading again. I'm gonna go all out with the puns by adding that it blew me away.

I'm talking about the adorable, wholesome romance first:

🌌High Stakes Space Race Meet-Cute
🌌He Falls First and Hard
🌌Flirting in Teal Storms
🌌Only One Heating Bag (aka Body Warmth for Survival)
🌌They Protect Each Other
🌌Sterling/Hart Ship--I mean, Team Name

The way they had each other's backs!! They were the strength when the other was weak. She gave him something to believe in, and he didn't underestimate her from the beginning. It was one of the sweetest romances I've ever read.

The timeline of the story is about a year. The bonds that formed over that time were natural and didn't feel rushed. I especially loved the found family aspect that developed later on.

The world-building was one of the best parts about Into the Churn. I wanted to be on Belethea under the teal and navy skies, with the wild storms rampant. The tech was unique and fun to imagine. And the fashion! It was giving Bridgerton x Cyberpunk x Zenon vibes, and I was obsessed.

Capybogs and hummingbots. That is all.

The way Hayley Reese Chow wrote the action put me right into a seat with the crowds watching. I was cheering and rooting for Belethea's teams. I never knew who would get hurt or if they would win, so the unknown kept me on the edge of my seat.

I can't wait to read Into the Fire next!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Whimsical Publishing for providing a copy to me in exchange for my honest review.

Let’s begin by saying what a fun ride. I really loved everything about this dystopian YA fantasy romance from the races, to the competition, with the romance, what an enjoyable experience. I adored the premise of why she entered the competition and her relationships with the other racers. I also loved how she made the female racers so strong. Some of my favorite parts was seeing the girls beat the boys, this just had me smiling (AKA Bec’s). The one thing I wish was flushed out more was the beginning of Foster’s and Ezren’s relationship. I just felt that you blinked and they were together saying they loved each other. But other than that well done. I am ready to go into the Churn myself and would love a book 2 if that is possible.


I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Hayley Reese Chow for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy of this book!

Into the Churn was exactly what I wanted it to be. A Hunger Games style competition, science fiction technology, severe weather, Fourth Wing style training, a new planet to explore, and some YA romance. I was captivated from the first time Ezren stepped foot outside onto the surface of her home planet, Belethea.

Belethea is a world wreaked by impossible to track storms. Ezren wants nothing more than to be able to terraform Belethea into a new home for humanity. Foster is a Belethea Royale Racer who lost his partner in the qualifier race last year. Both Ezren and Foster need to race in this year's deadly competition for different reasons. And due to some unforeseen circumstances, they become each other's partners training for the race.

I devoured this book in only a few days. Dual POVs are my absolute favorite especially when it comes to romance between the two characters. Ezren is smart, determined, and athletic. Foster is strong, compassionate, and dependable. All the characters in this book are extremely loveable for completely different reasons.

I very much enjoyed the world building both of the planet itself as well as the other places humanity lives in in this fictional world. The way in which the author describes Belethea and its people made this a world where I would want to live, regardless of all the deadly storms and tornadoes. I can't wait to learn more about humanity's other refuges in the next book!

There was some clunky writing in the exposition and finale, as well as some disorienting time jumps throughout the book. But I enjoyed this book much more than I ever expected.

Overall I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

thank you so much to netgalley and whimsical publishing for this arc!

this book was so fun and well-written! If you enjoy sci-fi competition type books, then you should give this one a try. added bonus, there’s a romance subplot!

this story follows Ezren, a passionate and determined terraforming intern on the planet Belethea, and Foster an ex-prodigy athlete in the Belethea Race Royale circuit. fate and flightiness brings them together to compete in the BRR tryouts as a duo. this story follows them as they train and compete, all while trying to figure out their feelings for one another. not to mention something sinister is lurking in the background.

I truly enjoyed this. though it took me a little longer to get through, I was interested from start to finish. the world building wasn’t as smooth as I typically prefer but I was able to understand the intricacies of the world not too long after starting. this had the perfect balance of adventure, self growth, and romance.

I would’ve loved to see more of the training interactions, especially between Foster and Ezren. while we get to see their wonderful dynamic at play in the actual races, we don’t get much in terms of build up.

if you enjoy YA competition-based novels with a touch of romance, pick this one up!

This was the kind of high stakes space adventure (with romance) that I needed in my life. Ezren is cute, clever and a little chaotic. She’s determined to help her home and her family survive in a dicey space world, where the land outside is dangerous and terraforming necessary to improve conditions for the people living there. I was cheering for her all the way and loved watching her bring something to the game that nobody else did. She’s a tough little cookie and a total asset to the team.

It’s not smooth sailing, with such a dangerous race to prepare for, it’s no surprise that there are problems along the way - especially with competing teams looking to sabotage each other. I was kept on my toes with this one and the romance added an extra hook to the story which I loved to see unfold. All in all a great read!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

A compelling science fiction tale featuring high-stakes races, a budding romance, and a vividly depicted cosmic setting. The story, with elements reminiscent of popular franchises, offers an exhilarating atmosphere and conveys a potent message about resilience. The romance between the main characters, Ezren and Foster, is tender and captivating. The book is an excellent introduction to the genre for young adults, without compromising on quality.

This was such a great sci-fi romance. I do not read a lot of sci-fi. But I really liked this one. The romance and banter was so good!