Pub date: June 3, 2025

Thank you to Bindery Books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book did not meet my expectations. I had high hopes because the premise sounded intriguing. However, the execution fell short.

My primary issue is that the chapters follow the main characters, but we also get a point of view from someone else experiencing the unmapping. I felt disconnected from these alternate perspectives and having them in the middle of the chapters made the story feel so disjointed.

Another significant critique is the body shaming. I encountered this twice in the first 15% of the book. In one instance, a character’s skin was described as hanging out and bunching near his collar. In the other, people in a specific profession were noted to be fat. Both instances were connected to discussions of incompetence, which is a trope I dislike. Just because someone is larger in size doesn’t mean they’re incompetent. I kindly request authors to avoid writing stories in this manner. I don’t believe the author intended to be malicious, but it didn’t come across as a positive writing element.

I also felt that the representation of a female protagonist and a character with mental health issues was not positive. They felt tropey and undercooked.

I’m disappointed because many of my critiques were related to representation, which I didn’t anticipate. I follow Mari (the imprints tastemaker), and she frequently discusses representation in books.

Overall, the book had a promising concept, but its execution was disappointing.

The Unmapping is a very strong debut novel that I enjoyed immensely.
I was very quickly drawn into the story, and felt grounded in the narrative almost right away. This feels funny to me because of the nature of the story -- in a setting where the ground is literally moving and characters are getting lost, I felt extremely well-oriented.
On that note, I loved the premise of this book from the moment I first heard about it, and it did not dissapoint.

3.5/4 stars

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing an early ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Quick Take: Fascinating sci-fi / climate fiction premise and interesting insight into the human response to a crazy event like this, but ultimately I wanted more of the logistics (the how and why of the Unmapping).

Blurb: Every morning at 4am, the city of New York rearranges itself. Buildings swap locations and jumble and people never know where they will end up. It's with this climate fiction / sci fi premise, that Denise Robbins delves primarily into the human experience of this. There are two emergency management officials that anchor the events, Esme and Arjun, but the book weaves off in many directions with a multitude of other characters and points of interest.

Mood Reader Guide: Emily St. John Mandel like / speculative fiction / cli-fi / literary fiction / New York City / disasters / sociology and psychology / character-driven / introspection /

Other Thoughts:
- This is the kind of book that I really wish I was reading as part of a college course, or as a seminar with the author. Because I think I got a lot out of it, and also I feel certain I missed things and may have missed the larger point in the end :)
- If you're expecting this to be like The Day After Tomorrow or some super action-driven natural disaster science fiction movie, you are going to be disappointed. The blurb and advertising for the book do not hide that it is literary fiction and focused on the human condition, so meter your expectations.
- My favorite parts were talking about the emergency management logistics and day to day existence of how the city dealt with the Unmapping. I also really liked the Wisconsin setting for some parts of the book, location of the first small town to experience this phenomenon.
- The writing style is somewhat chatty and fragmented. It reads like a narrator really telling a story, with pieces of thoughts and incomplete sentences that are in our heads - not beautifully written extensive prose. I thought it matched well with the story.
- I also really liked the mixing of social issues, climate change, political unrest, and how an event like this spreads out its tentacles in lots of unpredictable ways.
- Definitely an author to watch, and I hope lots of readers pick this up and give it a try because I want to chat about it with others!

The Unmapping is a very interesting story that most strongly reminded me of Station Eleven and other works by Emily St. John Mandel. For a first time author this is a great start, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

My only real criticism is that I think the novel tries to do a little too much with the shifting narratives. It ends up feeling a little under explored despite how wide its scope is. I also found it to be a strong choice (although not one that I totally agree with) to jump from the building about to fall into the sea, to months later while skipping the action that would have taken place in between. There was an opportunity for a tense situation and the book instead jumps ahead. I think that choice makes sense, but at the same time it ended up feeling a tad anticlimactic.

With that said, I think the focus on the cultish aspect of this as well as the emphasis on the unpredictability of human nature and our ability to cope with Mother Nature was intelligently done. Four stars from me.

really well written sci-fi (?) story with some intriguing ideas and strong characters. 5 stars. tysm for the arc. would recommend.

THE UNMAPPING by Denise S. Robbins takes place in a New York City where every day at 4:00AM, the buildings magically rearrange themselves on the existing grid. This imaginative storyline explores how to survive when you never know where you'll next wake up, and how life in a bustling city can go on when everything is chaos.

Our two main characters are Esme and Arjun, friends who both work at the Emergency Management Department. Esme is data-driven and logical, quickly jumping in to save a stranger who gets injured in an explosion when the unmapping first begins. Yet her fiancé Marcus won't return her phone calls, and she is worried he has become one of the missing. Arjun, on the other hand, is an anxious young man who just wants to be a hero. Originally from New Delhi, he now lives with his father, and just so happens to be in love with Esme. While THE UNMAPPING primarily focuses on telling their stories, we also oscillate among a variety of other side characters who begin as unnamed examples of how people in the city are experiencing the event, yet eventually become tied together as the book continues. Robbins does a good job of balancing the character development with Esme and Arjun, while using the minor character as case studies of the unmapping.

When it comes to the unmapping itself, I was a bit confused. What, exactly, where the rules? Yes, the buildings moved while the roads and natural elements, like trees and bodies of water, stayed the same. Okay, but why did everything underground stay fixed? The book makes multiple "we don't know" statements in what appears to be an excuse for not having a solidified and fully built sci-world. Unfortunately, that detracted from my enjoyment of the book, as I was often focused on trying to understand what was moving and what was not rather than being focused on the storyline.

Similarly, this book introduced a lot of elements that were very interesting, but not fully explored. For example, we know that the unmapping began in Gleamwood City, a private community where artificial Christmas trees are manufactured. We know this city is home to a unique character who also may be involved in starting a cult. But how does this connect to the main plot? While we get some vague answers at the end, I was left feeling underwhelmed. It felt like there was too much happening in some of these smaller side plots, and the novel would be stronger with a more central goal.

That being said, THE UNMAPPING read to me as a commentary on the COVID-19 pandemic. The city is affected by an unforeseen event that alters all aspects of daily life, resulting in deaths, shortages, and confusion. How can the city return to normal, if ever? How can the government provide for its citizens effectively, if at all? I kept thinking about how the life we had before the pandemic is likely gone for good, as even today, five years later, we still live with the virus circulating and the changes, such as hybrid work schedules and outdoor seating, that didn't previously exist. While there are suggestions within the text that the unmapping was caused by climate change, I can see how the book shows us how humanity reacts to a crisis in general.

All in all, THE UNMAPPING is reminiscent of other debut sci-fi books written in recent years, specifically THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley and THE CENTRE by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi. These books are bursting with unique ideas, yet the execution could use some improvement. I look forward to what Denise S. Robbins writes next, because I'm sure it will be another exciting concept that will make me think, with even stronger writing than this debut.

This book did not end up being for me. I appreciate how ambitious it is. But I never really felt like I got a grasp on what was going on. Not that it was confusing, but that it never made me fully invested in what was happening. The writing didn’t create the right kind of tension to make me want to continue reading, so it ended up feeling more like work to read it. It’s a great premise; but I did not love the execution.

There were so many great things about this novel from its quiet, character focused plot, to the various perspectives that painted a picture of humanity in such a vulnerable state. I really enjoyed the novel overall, but I really had to push myself to sit down with it. The story felt a little too slow at times, not fueling me to turn the pages like I wanted to, and although the characters were solid, I didn’t find myself caring much for them.

This is such a unique story that definitely deserves to be told, and I’m sure it will find its audience of devoted followers.

An intriguing debut novel that mostly works.

The premise is simple and fresh: what would happen if buildings started moving about, repositioning each morning? How would society - and individuals - cope with such a change? The Unmapping by Denise S. Robbins explores both the micro and the macro effects of this strange phenomenon.

First the positives - the prose is clear, easy to read without being simplistic. Robbins can write and the story draws you forward without the need for an action-filled plot. In terms of mood and tone, the clearest comp I can think of is Famous Men Who Never Lived by K Chess, which is another literary-ish spec fic novel based on an out-there premise.

The story covers a lot of thematic ground: belief and self-delusion, how we respond to our environment, climate change and consumerism, and. These topics are handled adeptly - Robbins has a nice way of being thought-provoking without dictating to you.

The characters feel ... distinct and interesting. Could I imagine those people, in that situation doing the rather odd things they did? I think so. They do, however, feel really unusual. Could it be that the three or four characters the story really focuses on (and, maybe, the author) are all just different to me? It's possible. But, while the key characters are generally rather engaging, they also feel .... un-real. Kind of odd, kind of off. Compared to say, Emily St John Mandel or David Mitchell, the characterisation doesn't quite have that magical air of believability that can really lift a work.

Some readers may find the plot a little unsatisfying, too - once certain aspects are surplus to the requirements of the themes and characters, they're dropped. Those who like linearity, structure and clear answers are likely to be disappointed.

In short, The Unmapping was enjoyable and thought-provoking, without fully blowing me away. I'd recommend it for those looking for a slightly unusual, thought-provoking literary spec-fic title. Those who want a strong, clear plot or fully leaping-off-the-page characters might want to steer clear.

Finally, a big thank you to Denise Robbins, Bindery Books and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

##The premise of *The Unmapping* is immediately gripping: overnight, New York City physically rearranges itself: buildings shift locations, residents vanish, the power grid fails, and every morning the map is redrawn. As chaos sets in, we follow Esme and Arjun, members of the city’s emergency response team, trying to restore order while navigating their own personal turmoil.

This is weird fiction at its finest, and the opening chapters deliver that sense of thrilling disorientation brilliantly. I especially enjoyed how the novel lets readers experience the unmapping through a wide range of characters. That multiplicity of perspectives adds a richness to the story’s emotional and thematic impact without becoming overwhelming.

The book also weaves in commentary on contemporary issues like political unrest, climate change, and the power of collective belief. While these themes are more ambient than central, they add texture and resonance to the narrative.

That said, the book's structure and writing style may be hit or miss depending on the reader. The prose dives deep into the characters' internal monologues, often veering off into thought spirals that don't always feel necessary or connected to their development. Both Esme and Arjun undergo significant growth, but the final stages of that growth felt sudden and not fully earned. I found myself wishing for more narrative cohesion and fewer digressions—it felt like the story could have delivered the same emotional punch with a tighter page count.

Still, this is a bold, original debut that will appeal to fans of speculative fiction with a surreal twist. While I didn’t connect with every aspect, I appreciated its ambition and the thought-provoking questions it raises about identity, perception, and resilience.

Dnfed very early on as I could tell this one isn’t for me. The pov switches rapidly with no warning mid chapter, I think it’s intentional to add to the chaos of whats happening but I found myself confused and taking a page or so to reorient myself before I felt back in the flow of the story. This constant shifting was jarring and kept throwing me out of the story which was frustrating. Interesting writing technique just not one that worked for me

What would happen if New York City suddenly decided to rearrange itself one night? And then again every night after that?

This fun speculative fiction story depicts exactly that and all the chaos that ensues and the interpersonal relationships and how they change in this new and ever changing world.

With multiple character perspectives, you really get a feel for how the public would react to such a strange and somewhat catastrophic event. It also shows the hope that can be found in community and banding together to make things work no matter the circumstances. You get the inside look at people’s thoughts and lives and the way that life is still happening and still has to be dealt with even during a crisis, so you see relationships being built and broken down by the same the events, hope gained and lost.

If your looking for a speculative fiction about the world being plunged in chaos but still ends in hope, this is your book.

This book had so much potential, and there were some really great aspects to it. I was immediately hooked by the premise - the idea that our surroundings could suddenly move, leaving us unmoored. Actually, now that I think about it, unmoored is a good word, because that's how the book felt, as if there was no central tether. I loved the references to ants. When their surroundings are disturbed, ants immediately find a new route, but it almost felt like the author didn't ever find a new route, and there were aspects that just did not ever truly fit, although if I stretch my brain I can see the reference. I actually think I would have preferred the book without the entire "Gleamwood City" subplot. Ultimately, there were things to love and things that just didn't work.

Bindery is absolutely killing it with all their books and this is no exception! I love the premise of the story and the execution didn't fail. I was so invested right from the start and it kept my interest, making it hard to put the book down.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the E-ARC. *2.5 STARS*

This was just OK for me. I was drawn in by the premise, which is great. But then immediately you are confronted with two protagonists that seem either underdeveloped, or like they've lived their lives being at the mercy of other people's decisions, thus not finding their own distinct identity. And that could have been part of their respective arcs, but it just was not fleshed out enough. Their transformation away from those starting points was not convincing.

My other major problem was the frequency with which the reader is led right to the precipice of action (that there has been some degree of build up to) just to have the scene or chapter end. All the action seems to happen off the page. A lot of telling instead of showing things happen. And I'm not one of those people that looks for this sort of thing, but it was just so hard to ignore after the 6th time of being literarily blue-balled.

And then how it all resolves was just wholly unsatisfying. The romance arc that was similarly not fleshed out - we were just expected to believe that these things all settled without any actual closure? To me, the ends didn't justify the means here. 400+ pages is too many to have underdeveloped protagonists. The vignettes into un-named side characters were somehow more interesting, and there were a lot of good parts of the book. Unfortunately, a strong concept cannot carry the full weight of a story. Also, the inclusion of climate change in the book was so insignificant that I don't even know why it was mentioned as a potential cause of the Unmapping.

2.5 🌟

The concept for this book was super interesting. However, I was expecting something completely different.

My first thought while reading was “WHAT IS HAPPENING.” It goes straight into chaos. With this being a sort of contemporary sci-fi, I was expecting to dive into more of what was happening, how, and why. What I got was character points of views on how the events were impacting them on a personal level, and that really wasn’t hitting with me.

I wasn’t a fan of our main named characters - Esme was consumed with finding her fiancé and Arjun was running around like a child trying to find ways to be a hero for others while crushing on an engaged woman and coming across weird. While admirable, the things that drove them didn’t interest me, and the repeating of their goals slogged. There was a multitude of other characters that went unnamed, and I didn’t really get the point of that when the story attempts to follow character development so heavily.

The POV shifts were confusing. The chatty run-ons about people issues were boring. The focus on emotions would have been fine if the characters were actually likeable. There was so much potential with this imaginative idea, and it fell super flat for me. I found myself skimming through a lot of the messy paragraphs.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for this eARC. Opinions are my own!

Publication Date: 06/03/2025

Soft dnf at about 20%

First, the good.
The Unmapping is a really unique concept. The writing is beautiful. The premise of waking up one morning with the city having moved around you is fascinating, and the exploration of how society responds in a crisis is frustratingly relevant.

While I didn't dislike what I read, I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the story. I've picked this up and put it back down several times, and at this point I feel like forcing myself through it would be a disservice to both myself and the book.

I'm going to revisit this when it's out and I can purchase and read a physical copy. Occasionally there are books that my brain likes more in certain formats, and I'm hoping this is one of them.

I'm incredibly grateful to Bindery for the opportunity to read and review. While this didn't work for me right now, I can see the appeal and I truly hope that other people can enjoy it.

This was such an interesting concept, but the book was not what I expected.

One morning, the citizens of New York City wake up, and nothing is the same as it was yesterday. Buildings have changed locations, jumping boroughs and rivers. The Unmapping has arrived.

If you are expecting a thriller-esque story with lots of action, you will be disappointed. This book is much more of a character study of various people who live through the Unmapping.

The flow of the book was very disjointed, jumping from POV to POV, and not always giving the names of the people. While this was a bit disorienting to read, it didn't feel out of place. Rather, I, the reader, saw things unfold as they went and learned things as the characters did.

There were so many characters, though, and I had a hard time keeping up with them all. It was hard to tell exactly what the purpose of some of them were, as well. This also led to me not really connecting with any of the characters, which ended up being a good thing, because not all of them had their stories wrap up.

This book was much more character-driven than plot driven, which is not my personal preference. The idea is intriguing, and I do like the author's descriptive style of writing.

Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I dnf’d at 20% (might not be a fair review)

I couldn’t get into this book. I rarely dnf but it just wasn’t what I was expecting. It feels very emotion and descriptive based, whereas, I was expecting more of a dramatic feel considering it’s like an end of world/disaster story. The way the character pov switches in third person regularly, confused me and I couldn’t get invested. I always give up until 20% for a book to change my mind but I wasn’t sold.

I’m sure this book will be great for people that are expecting what I didn’t but my mind was set on a different way of writing and telling of this story

I received an eARC of this book for review from Bindery Books | Mareas via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

The premise of this book is unique and fascinating, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy the execution. It is literary ecofiction with nice prose and an interesting setup. The idea is that cites have started to rearrange themselves daily for unknown reasons. We explore the effects of this mystery primary through the eyes of two emergency workers, a woman with a distant and noncommittal fiancé and a man with a hero complex and a crush on the woman protagonist. Neither is particularly interesting to follow. As I was reading the end, I recognized themes related to human society and impact on nature. Unfortunately, only a day later and I no longer verbalize those connections.

There is an audience for this book... those that seek out speculative literary novels should give this a try. It just didn't work for me.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 on NetGalley