If this were a silent review, it would start with me plopping down in my seat and just staring wide-eyed at the camera for a solid 10 seconds. I'd show you this book, and then I'd just start slamming it on the table and pointing to it repeatedly. I would hug it a few times, I'd affectionately bite it a few times, and then I'd flip through the pages with fervor, expressing just how engulfed i was. Through the lens, I'd extend this book, trying to shove it into your hands. Finally, leaving it upright before the camera, I'd depart from view, leaving its allure lingering.
*End Scene*.

BUT SERIOUSLY, how does the second book rival the first?!

Let me dive right in: "The Shutouts" has instantly claimed a spot among my top reads of 2024. It's staggering how much I adored it, though considering how "Yours For The Taking" captivated me in 2023, maybe not so surprising. This queer dystopia series couldn't have asked for a better follow-up. And you know what? If this installment concludes the saga, I wouldn't feel an ounce of dissatisfaction. It tied up every loose end impeccably. There were moments where I didn't get precisely what I anticipated (which, oddly, enhanced the experience), but goodness, I'm at a loss for words now. I'm eagerly awaiting Gabrielle Korn's next venture. Her writing?! This narrative?! It's on another level. Put this on your TBR immediately. It comes out Dec 3rd, 2024.

A huge "Thank you" to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for providing me with an advanced readers copy so that I may give my honest feedback and review.

(This review has been uploaded on my Goodreads and will be enthusiastically. shared with my IG followers.)

This, unfortunately, was not it for me. I LOVED Yours For the Taking so so much, I had been looking forward to The Shutouts since it was announced, so I'm trying to process why/how this book could be such a letdown for me. The ending left me feeling so unsatisfied, and the lead up to it was filled with unnecessary filler.

SPOILERS BELOW

The letters never got to Orchid, but her dad actually listening to her mom was nice, I guess. But to write that Orchid found the letters and just BRUSHED THEM ASIDE. Like what?? The book was about the letters, so many DETAILS, and we get a sentence of Orchid just shoving them aside. I can't.

The cult could have been explored more. Maybe I missed it, but who is the current cult leader? What happened to Madly? What truly happened to the babies? Did Vero really have cancer?

Also more on how other people are surviving, the book is called The Shutouts, so I assumed it was going to be more about how the people "shut out" of Inside were handling things, maybe that's just me?

I feel like the author wanted to do so much, but did nothing really, except maybe tell a story about a mother trying to get back to her daughter.

I will say, I did enjoy all the different queer identities represented, but this book could have been a novella.

This series hits right in a very niche sweet spot for me - sci-fi climate change dystopia with hella queer characters at the end of the world! It was an absolutely excellent follow up to Korn’s dystopian duology. I thought it rounded out the series out very nicely and had great pacing. I read it in a day and I didn’t want to put it down!!

🌈Queer rep: main characters - bi/pan female mcs, nonbinary person (they/them), lesbian female mc, FF relationships, NB/F relationship, NB/NB relationship (AFAB/AMAB). Secondary - pan male and female characters, nonbinary characters, trans poly guy. Queer normative society, polynormative society.