I love how much Jill makes sci-fi accessible in this well crafted YA dystopian romance. Building a world is no easy task, and the scenes we’re in for The Metro and Outerlands are distinct and immersive. The technology and operations make you ponder over the future of society and who the real enemies are. Nothing is black and white and I enjoyed that complexity!

Thank you Jill, NetGalley,and Random House Children's for the e-ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Back in my dystopian era! I read so much dystopian in high school that I stepped away from the genre for the most part and only pick up a few here and there. Boy am I glad this was one of the chosen! I was intrigued the whole time. The world building was well done. In my opinion the best dystopians are the ones where you can see how the world got to that point and there were definitely elements where I could see reflections of how our society views productivity, efficiency and class structures. I also loved how the terrible things about the corporation was revealed as the characters discovered them and you realize they aren’t just overbearing they are bad.

I was a little confused on the timeline of when the corporation took over but that might just be me missing dates/years and such a minor detail that it doesn’t take away from the story.

The romance isn’t the main plot, but it’s also not really a side plot since it drives several big elements. This was my one issue with the book because I wasn’t totally sold on the romance until maybe half way/three-fouths through the book. It started off very “we met once and now I can’t get you out of my head even though I know nothing about you”, which isn’t normally my favorite but once I got into the meat of the story I was more invested and it wasn’t something that bothered me enough to take away from the other plot points.

Lastly, I liked that it didn’t end with the teenagers overthrowing the government in the span of one book (I’ve read too many that solve everything so fast), but it set up how they are working with other groups to break free of the society they are in.

Overall I would recommend to all YA dystopian readers! And I think even non-dystopian readers would enjoy this one!

If you're ready for a dystopian revival, make sure to preorder this! It's a YA dystopian romance, set in a future where productivity is everything and people are exploited to spend their lives working themselves to the bone. Which just goes to show how dystopian has a way of showing the world for what it is by adding some sci-fi twists to something that's very much already a reality.

But this is part of the Joy Revolution imprint, and very much a YA romance, so it's also a fun, fast-paced read. These elements worked very well together to create a touching story with interesting worldbuilding that never became top heavy. I especially thought the element of "proxies", workers who take over what actually matters in life so the other people can focus on work, like childcare, relationships, and making memories, was so interesting.

In a dystopian megalopolis spanning the eastern seaboard, the government has succeeded control to a massive corporation where people employees rather than citizens. Under company rule, the haves outsource everything but working—even having emotional experiences—to the have nots. Liv has lived the company life since she was six months old when most parents give up their children to avoid a hit to their productivity credits. By day she works as a proxy, providing emotional experiences for the rich, and by night she uses the horrific memories of her abandonment to manipulate people for a crime boss to secure her own found family’s safety. Are you crying yet?!? I was! When a dying man offers Liv an outrageous sum to go beyond the company limits to see the stars for him one last time, she decides to risk everything one last chance at freedom for everyone she loves. And Adrian, a rookie cop with a complicated past and a jaded droid partner, is on her tail as Liv heads to the Outerlands. Only once he catches her, Liv doesn’t remember anything of her past and Adrian soon founds himself going from her captor to her protector to her true love. This book represents the best of science fiction—using the unimaginable to cast into question the choices and values we live in the present. Here it is how do we measure the worth of our fellow human beings—is it in what they can provide to us, how our lives can be improved through their labor and suffering, or are we all entitled to safety, protection, health, and hope by the very fact of our existence? Brilliantly done and all wrapped up in a lovely enemies to first love story.

The Dividing Sky is a wonderful leap back into the dystopian genre. The set up of life focused on joy vs productivity is relevant and engaging, providing a great message to young people.

The humor and banter is definitely a highlight that will draw teens in, as is the romance. If readers are looking for a light step into sci-fi that doesn’t get too technical and a book that centers falling in love unexpectedly, this is a fantastic pick!

Joy Revolution is such an apt name, and I’m excited to see what comes next!

I love a fiod dsytopian world especially with a Black fmc and this book gave me everything I needed, it read bwautifully and flowed amazingly. I loved the twist and turns and can't wait to read more by this author.

I’m a character and vibes person and this book was perfect on both. The twists surprised me, and i love when I think i can predict where it’s going but the author comes at me with something unexpected! Live Liv and Adrian!

I loveedddddd it. DYSTOPIAN IS FINALLY BACK

I can’t wait to see what else she writes

5/5 stars and I’m going to recommend The Doviding Sky to everyone

I love, love, LOVED this story! I had been craving a futuristic romance with a Black female character for months, and then I discovered *The Dividing Sky*. It's a cozy dystopian novel that truly stands out.

I loved the world building in this book. The concept of Proxies and the contrast between life inside and outside the Metro was brilliantly executed. Despite the dystopian setting, the author managed to infuse the story with light hearted banter that made it thoroughly enjoyable.

If you love dystopian fiction with angst, cozy moments, amazing world building, and a book with a beautiful cover, then you’ll love this novel.

Thank you, Jill Tew, for letting me read this ARC so early on. Your book is amazing!

AHHHH!!! Screaming because I LOVE this book!!! The Dividing Sky is an INCREDIBLE debut by the talented Jill Tew. I’ve been a fan of YA Sci-Fi since the Uglies Series and the Hunger Games, and there were so many moments in TDS that brought back that same buzzy excitement from those early reads. YA Dystopian is back! I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on this one!

From the jump, the world came to life on the page. The dystopian society Tew has created is complex, yet easy to envision with crisp details and vivid descriptions. The novel balances some of the bleak realities of this futuristic world with cozy moments of warmth, hope, community, and love. And speaking of love…

I absolutely ADORE the two POV characters, Liv and Adrian! Liv is smart, snarky, and so easy to root for. And Adrian is sweeter than a slice of carrot cake and a swoon worthy love interest. It was so much fun seeing their romance and this story unfold. Plus there are plenty of fun and sassy side characters that I couldn’t get enough of.

I highly recommend this book! And I can’t wait to read more from this author!

The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew is a dual-POV, cozy dystopian novel following Liv Newman and Adrian Rao in their struggle to find love and connection in spite of the Metro, a society that values productivity above all else. Liv is an EmoProxy, an enhanced individual designed to record emotions and memories then transmit them to the Metro’s wealthy for credits, sometimes illegally. Adrian Rao is a new Forceman tasked with hunting down the Proxy who is dealing illegal happy memories and bring her to justice. Adrian tracks Liv to the Outerlands, the wilderness outside the Metro, where they quickly learn that not only is there more to life than a productivity score and compliance through sedatives, but also that there is more to one another than meets the eye.

I had no idea cozy dystopian was a genre until I read The Dividing Sky. The very idea seemed incompatible; how do you combine a subgenre that is supposed to feel like a warm hug with another subgenre whose hallmark is making readers uncomfortable? But after reading Tew’s debut, cozy dystopian just might be my new favorite crossover genre. The constant pressure to be productive, even taking drugs to do so, is startingly reminiscent of corporate America, but the innocent romance between the two protagonists, along with the strong themes of finding freedom in nature, is intensely hopeful. In other words, Tew masterfully portrays the bleak despair characteristic of dystopian novels as well as the fluffy, adorable antics of a contemporary romance.

Ultimately, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was new and refreshing, yet retained aspects of both genres it claims. The language and themes were also appropriate for a YA audience; in other words, the novel explored themes and concepts, such as the constant need to produce and consume, in a sophisticated manner without being overly dark or graphic. I would highly recommend this novel to both YA and adult audiences, as well as anyone else who enjoys well-written science fiction.

If this book gets a sequel, I will be preordering as soon as possible.

This is such a breath of fresh air, honey, and citrus in the sci-fi dystopia genre, with a love story that is the beating heart at the center of it all.

The two MCs Liv and Adrian are standout characters that both get POVs throughout the book and have such unique views on the world that it is easy to tell whose POV you are reading from. They are both so easy to relate to and I love how their relationship builds throughout the story! The romance is a slow-burn (but not too slow), enemies-to-lovers romance with a bit of a twist.

The world is so well built and described and like most dystopian futures serves as a comment and warning on society - especially the constant desire from companies for more productivity from their workers and just what lengths the government would go to for that. The commentary on this capitalist world is poignant and cleverly written. There are some well-written plot twists too!

I love the BIPOC representation in this story and that we get it from the creator also - which is something Joy Revolution champions. This is a top 10 book of 2024 for me and I cannot believe this is a debut book. So well done! I cannot wait for this to hit shelves on October 8, 2024! Preorder your copy now!

A new YA dystopian romance! With Helnik vibes! And a quest into the wild unknown where the MCs discover the truth of their dystopian existence, find freedom and love! (And carrot cake!) (Now I wonder if I should try carrot cake????)

I loved the world building and the plot resolution, and I very much loved the angst 🥲

The Dividing Sky is out this fall, if you read YA/dystopian, you MUST check it out!

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

A strong YA scifi debut set in a futuristic dystopian society with a diverse cast of characters and enemies to lovers romance! The comp titles being serpent and dove and arcane did not disappoint! The setting at the start is very reminiscent of the undercity in Arcane and Mean reminded me of Shimmer. There’s no witches but this is the male main character tracking her to throw her in jail, however his plan is kinda ripped from under his feet when he realizes she doesn’t remember her crimes and he starts to fall in love with her outside the city instead. The way those two cared for each other and how she helped him with his anxiety was really emotional. She has a cool ability to share her feelings with technology and spread joy which was unique to the story

I was a huge dystopian girlie back in the early 2010s, as I’m sure most of us were. I loved the idea of these futuristic worlds getting torn apart by teenagers who were done with playing by society’s rules. The Dividing Sky gave me that same feeling and so much more. It’s hopeful and romantic while forcing you to consider the true meaning of a “good life.” I loved getting to see the development of the characters, the choices they made and how those choices affected the world around them. Jill does such a great job at capturing the essence of innocence and jaded cynicism combatting each other. I wanted to reach through my screen and hug every single one of them (even Nas!!) I hope we get to see more of this world but mostly I can’t wait to read everything else Jill writes!!

Tew describes this YA romance as "cozy dystopian," and that's a pretty good descriptor! (Although if you're like me and associate "cozy" with "not enough plot," don't worry - there's plenty of plot to go around here.) Liv is an 18 year old living in "the Metro," a corporation-administered city-state comprising the East Coast of the US. Liv is an "emo proxy," someone who records her own emotions so others can experience them. (The executives of the company are so busy being productive they can't even go on vacation. Work life balance is literally a thing of the past.)

Liv's emotions are so strong that they have inspired people to think anti-corporate thoughts, attracting the attention of the Forcemen (i.e. the corporate police). When Liv and a hot rookie get caught outside of the Metro while she's got self-induced amnesia, these enemies are about to become more than friends...

I'm not a huge YA reader, but this was a ton of fun and I can honestly say it was like nothing else I've ever read. This would be perfect for the teen who's not truly a cynic, but who's already skeptical of corporate life. It is a quick read. Do note that there is some age-appropriate "steam" (kisses and a fade-to-black encounter.)

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

The Dividing Sky was a gem of a surprise for me. The world building was so immersive I felt as if I was standing next to our main characters. It's a book that could easily be adapted to the screen and have it done justice.

The story has a wonderfully diverse cast with so many plot twists that kept the story moving and the reader entertained. There is action throughout the story but also feels almost like when reading a cozy fantasy as there isn't extremely violent scenes throughout. It is a book that anyone would be able to enjoy and I hope brings back a renaissance of dystopian books in the world.

Thank you NetGalley and Jill Tew for the ARC!

THE DIVIDING SKY is the hopepunk future we need.

Jill Tew's debut follows the story of Liv Newman, a merchant of memories, in futuristic Boston pursued by the rookie cop Adrian Rao who is tasked with ending her illegal dealings. But the cat and mouse game falls apart when Liv forgets her own memories, and Adrian questions the morality of arresting a criminal who doesn't remember what she's done.

Tew pokes at social mores of a too-close-to-home future, the definition of justice, and what it means to be good in a world where even happy memories are criminalized. It also explores one of my favorite themes in science fiction: that happiness and love can be a radical and revolutionary choice, and that it can save us all.

Keep a close eye on Jill Tew. She's got more where this came from.

Absolutely impeccable world-building here—especially in such a relatively small page count. Someone adapt this post-haste! Cannot wait to read everything Jill Tew writes from here on out. A star!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Dividing Sky" by Jill Tew marks an impressive debut in the world of dystopian fiction, offering an emotionally resonant and thought-provoking journey through a captivating dystopian world. This is a book that has made me excited for the return and future of dystopian YA books. The worldbuilding established in this book is well-developed and captivating.

Tew's story brings together elements of action, humanity, and social commentary. The vivid portrayal of the world and its diverse cast of characters, including women and people of color, adds depth and richness to the story, making it both relatable and inspiring. The worldbuilding as well as the characterization shown throughout the book are definitely the highlights of the story for me. I absolutely loved the world that Tew created, and I was engaged the entire time I was reading.

Despite the grim backdrop of a violent and oppressive society, the book is imbued with moments of warmth, humor, and human connection. Tew's skillful handling of emotional intelligence and interpersonal dynamics elevates the story, creating a cozy dystopian atmosphere that feels both familiar and compelling. I found myself drawn into the immersive world-building and deeply invested in the lives of characters like Liv and Adrian. The blend of banter, romance, and tension keeps the story engaging from start to finish. The romance felt realistic, and the different characters, especially our main ones, actually felt like teenagers. They brought a breath of fresh air to the dystopian story, and I would love to read more about them and this world.

Overall, "The Dividing Sky" is a beautifully written dystopian tale that has left me eagerly waiting for more from Tew. If you have been waiting for the return of the dystopian YA genre, then I think this book signals that return, and I can’t wait for more.