You know those movies you watch or books you read and, when you reach the end, you’re certain it would be a completely different experience the second time? Now add in that you have no idea what is going on the entire time and you’re not sore you like any of the characters. Add in an 80s era detective show with (of course, because it’s the 80s) blatant misogyny and racism.

It might be better and make some sense the second time and buy time travel is only real in this book, not my life, so I’m not sure I’ll reread it.

A Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi Thriller with Room to Grow

Jinwoo Chong's "Flux" is a captivating sci-fi thriller that explores the complexities of time travel and its potential consequences. The premise, involving a device that allows for limited time jumps, is intriguing, and the story moves at a brisk pace.

What I Liked:

Unique Concept: The "Flux" device, with its limitations and unpredictable side effects, offers a fresh take on time travel.
Intriguing Characters: The main characters are well-developed and face morally ambiguous dilemmas.
Fast-Paced Action: The story keeps you on the edge of your seat with its suspenseful plot twists and action sequences.
What Could Be Better:

Some Predictability: While the core concept is strong, some plot points felt a bit predictable.
Character Depth: While the main characters are engaging, some supporting characters could have benefited from further development.
Overall:

"Flux" is a solid sci-fi thriller with a compelling premise. While it may not be groundbreaking, it's an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that will keep you entertained.

Recommendation:

If you're a fan of time travel stories and enjoy fast-paced thrillers, "Flux" is definitely worth checking out.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A fascinating look at several different timelines that was confusing to follow but ultimately pretty rewarding. I enjoyed the different perspectives and trying to weave the story together.

read this one a bit ago. it is bizarre in all the best ways and unoiquely mindbending which worked very well for me, though might not for others. 4 stars. tysmf for the arc.

The weaving together of multiple timelines made it challenging for me to really immerse myself in the story and understand what was going on right off the bat. It wasn’t until about halfway in that the relationship between each of the timelines became clear to me. Maybe it’s because I don’t typically read sci-fi, but this book felt unnecessarily convoluted. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I couldn’t read this on my Kindle, the formatting was super wonky — which was such a bummer! I had such high hopes for the ARC, but I’ll need to pick up a physical copy before I can review it I think.

"Flux" by Jinwoo Chong is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of identity, love, and the complexity of human experience in an interconnected world. The novel blends speculative fiction with elements of psychological realism, offering a fresh take on the struggles of self-discovery in the modern age. Chong’s prose is both poetic and precise, drawing readers into a world where technology, memory, and emotion intertwine. The characters are deeply human, their flaws and desires resonating long after the final page. This book is a challenging yet rewarding read that I am still thinking about.

I had to DNF due to the formatting of the book. It entirely broke any chance of getting into the story. This might be good but I couldn’t get into it enough to know.

Flux by Jinwoo Chong offers a fresh take on time travel, intertwining the lives of three characters across different timelines. Eight-year-old Bo loses his mother in a tragic accident just before Christmas. Decades later, 28-year-old Brandon is reeling from a job loss after a hostile corporate takeover, and 48-year-old Blue is entangled in a high-stakes trial involving a defunct tech startup and its dark secrets. Without spoiling "too much", as their individual stories unfold, an experimental technology capable of manipulating time begins to connect their lives.

This debut is a unique blend of neo-noir and speculative fiction. Chong weaves these disparate threads into a cohesive narrative that explores grief, trauma, and Asian identity in America. I wholeheartedly enjoyed it and can't wait to dive into I Leave It Up to You!

Thank you to NetGalley and Melville House for the free ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.

TLDR: Amazing book if you come with an open mind and no expectations. I loved getting a look into the main character’s mind and developing a deeper understanding of him as the book progressed. The content in this book really stuck with me. I’ll be thinking about everything it proposes in relation to the exploration of self, cultural identity, and familial bonds for a long time. It came at just the right time for me. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access.

Writing Style: ☆☆☆☆
Jinwoo’s writing style was one that I really enjoyed. He has a way of writing that is not overly flowery or expository but is not plain either. He has a way of putting profound things simply that at times left me putting the book down and pondering how it applies to my own personal sense of self. I loved the non-linear approach to telling a nonlinear story.

Plot: ☆☆☆☆☆
Flux, at its base, is a science fiction novel about time-traveling. To describe it as such would be to do it a disservice. The author uses time-traveling to explore grief, childhood trauma, complicated familial relationships, self-identity, cultural identity, mental health, and even some social commentary. He does this in a way that is not unfamiliar and yet still manages to be unique. I adored the parallels drawn between the main character and the in-world fictional character he idolizes. The plot is presented in a way that is very all over the place but in a very intentional and well-thought-out way. If you try to come at it expecting a clear linear progression with a closed mind, you will be confused. When you accept it for what it is in the moment and let things unfold how the author intends, it is incredibly gratifying. Eventually, you piece together exactly what is happening and it feels satisfying. The first half of the book was a beautiful fever dream that I loved every minute of.

World Building: ☆☆☆☆
The technological aspects of the world were written in a very subtle and casual way. All of the context that clued you into the tone and setting of the world was very natural. The majority of the book is set in the near future and is very believable in that aspect. I enjoyed reading about the simple yet effective quality-of-life improvements made in the world as they were relative to the plot. While the world-building in regard to technology and pop culture was great, they weren’t the focus of the book.

Characters: ☆☆☆☆☆
This aspect is where Flux really shines. The entire book reads like one big character study. Everything is so intentional when it comes to the words written, to the point that even the name of the main character (or lack thereof) relays important information about the larger themes and tone of the work. The side characters are very underdeveloped as their own individual characters. They are only developed as far as to serve the main character’s development or to portray something about the main character. That’s not to say they are flat, boring, or unlifelike. It is quite the opposite and I really enjoyed how the other characters are explored. The book doesn’t let the readers experience the other characters much through actions or interactions with them. Instead, all of the other characters are explored and developed through the main character’s memories and perceptions of them. I think there is something incredibly gripping and profound in reading about the other characters almost solely through the eyes of the main character. The narrative being spun about them in the main character’s head is almost unreliable. The main character himself is not very likable personality-wise either, which I enjoyed. That aspect to it helps elevate the narratives being relayed to you.

Overall: ☆☆☆☆☆ (4.5)
If you want to enjoy your time reading this book, I think it is important to toss out every preconceived notion or expectation you have regarding the genre or themes. You know what? Get rid of your expectations when it comes to plot structure too. If you’re not able to take what it gives you and enjoy the ride, understanding that clarity won’t come until close to the end, you most likely won’t enjoy it. That being said, if you are able to let go, piecing together the fragmented bits of context scattered throughout and exploring the main character’s mind leads to an immensely satisfying end. This is a book that will stick with me in my mind for a long time to come. Thank you to Jinwoo Chong for the experience, and thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to said experience.

An illuminating twist on the cyberpunk genre that gave me insight into valuable perspective I wouldn't normally have access to. Fans of the genre will enjoy this thoroughly.

The pacing in this was great, the time jumps kind of had me confused. It is a very interesting story overall.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm so sad to say that the formatting on the Kindle was not good. It practically made it unreadable. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this book.

The formatting of this book was messed up on my kindle, which just made reading and understanding what was happening even more confusing. I don't think I was in the right headspace for this book and the formatting just exacerbated that issue.

“Flux” – Jinwoo Chung

“That was one thing about memory. It often obeyed the capriciousness of a mind trying to hide from guilt, but one, always, had to live with the deceit.”

My thanks to @netgalley and @melvillehouse for the opportunity to read this.

A sci-fi, speculative, time-travelling first novel, “Flux” follows three people at various stages of life. As an 8-year-old, Bo loses his mum in a tragic road accident and is left haunted by the incident. As a 28-year-old, Brandon loses his job with a magazine and is quickly drawn towards a tech company with little disclosure. As a 48-year-old, Blue is a witness in a high-profile case against the same company. The book weaves between these three streams and slowly unveils its secrets about the protagonists and the technology at the heart of the book, while exploring ideas of grief, assimilation and corporate power.

I’m in a weird position with this book, in that I’m sure I would enjoy a second reading a lot more than the first, but nothing really encourages me to do so. I felt very lost and unengaged for the majority of the book, stuck with it, and finally got to the ending with a better sense of the goal of the book, one that I could assess better upon a reread. However, I find the themes much more interesting than the characters, and I’m not sure if the plot will fully make sense even upon revision.

There’s definitely something here, and it might work better for other people, but I spent so much of my time reading this either confused or bored that it’s hard to wholly recommend. That said, it could well work for others.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**"Flux" by Jinwoo Choung** is a fascinating and ambitious read that offers a unique, thought-provoking experience, though it may not be for everyone. The book’s abstract presentation and fragmented narrative style ask for a great deal of patience from its readers. Many may find the disorienting storytelling a bit overwhelming, as we are often as confused as the protagonist, trying to make sense of the blurred boundaries between memory, identity, and reality.

The plot itself is a whirlwind, twisting and turning between a TV show, the protagonist’s story, and their fragmented memories. As the protagonist grapples with these overlapping worlds, themes of identity and the fluid nature of memory are explored in deeply compelling ways. The constant shifting between realities keeps the reader on their toes, but it also creates a sense of uncertainty and chaos that might frustrate some.

Despite these potential challenges, *Flux* stands out as a truly unique reading experience. The constant twists and the interplay of different realities makes for a book that requires and rewards patience, offering a fresh perspective on the nature of existence and self. However, its unconventional structure and abstract storytelling might leave some readers feeling lost or disconnected.

**Rating:** ★★★★ (4/5)

*Flux* is a book that demands engagement and patience, offering a complex, multi-layered narrative that will be immensely satisfying for readers who enjoy stories that challenge traditional storytelling. It’s a thought-provoking journey into identity, memory, and alternate realities, though not without its frustrating moments

Thanks to NetGalley and Melville House Publishing for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!

2 stars unfortunately!

i feel like this book had a lot of ideas which ultimately failed to make a cohesive narrative in the end. it did try a lot of things— i liked how the three 'perspectives' ended up being the same voice in different times, i liked some of the themes touched on in this as well. (celebrity worship culture, growing up as an asian minority in western society, estranged families, and grief is always a hit with me if you explore it in your book). i liked some of the time travel intricacies and how certain scenes hit (blue and his father, bo and brandon in the snow).

but this book didn't feel like it knew what it was. was this a literary fiction-esque character study of brandon, his failing relationships and how he grapples with grief and trauma; or was this trying to be a fast paced sci-fi thriller steeped in mystery? the book tries to do both and is as such weak in both areas. i will say it wasn't as if this was written poorly, i did like the author's writing style and some of how the plot advanced. but the pacing left much to be desired and the plot twists into a convoluted mess that becomes increasingly hard to follow in the last 30% or so of the book.

the idea of flux was never really explained properly either— to what end was the company trying to commodify time travel? what was going on with the batteries? who the fuck was lev in all this?
some of how things came about also never really ended up making sense to me— how did brandon fall down an elevator shaft with nil repercussions? how did blue figure out how to trigger time travel when any combination of things he did in the day could have triggered it? it was still unclear to me why three employees were killed in the first place as well— for something that is quite literally in the front and centre in the blurb, i thought it would have been more prevalent. another gripe i had was that i genuinely couldn't bring myself to care about the TV show sections in this and they had my eyes glazing over every time they appeared (which was unfortunately quite often).

ultimately, i think this was a case of one book trying to achieve too many things at once and succeeding at none of them as a result. i wanted to love this, but it unfortunately didn't end up being the book for me.

thank you to netgalley and melville house publishing for the copy of this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy!

Wow wow! I loved this!!! I think it’s for a low score because it’s weird and a lot of people have a hard time with weird. But I found it really interesting and honestly quite sad.

If you love not knowing what’s happening for 80% of a book then this one’s for you

This was a wonderfully done novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the plot of this book. I thought the world worked well and had that feel that I wanted in this genre. The characters had that charm that I wanted and worked realistically in this universe. Jinwoo Chong has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

Flux by Jinwoo Chong is a book that starts off very confusing, and it takes a while to get into the story. The author switches between perspectives, holds back key information, and makes it hard to know if the narrator can be trusted. At first, this made me feel lost, but over time I realized this confusion is part of the experience. It mirrors how the narrator feels, adding to the story’s depth.

The plot combines several elements: childhood memories, losing a job and finding a new one, and a strong connection to an old TV show. This show is central to the story—it provides comfort to the characters but also plays a bigger role in their decisions. The book constantly shifts between layers: the TV show, the main story, and the protagonist’s memories. Sometimes these layers are clear, and other times they blend together, making it hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t.

The way the author writes about memory loss and repetitive patterns in life is impressive. The language reflects how time and reality seem to slip away for the narrator. The pacing of the story, however, can feel off—just when you think you understand something, another twist throws you off again.

I didn’t always like the narrator. Their thoughts and actions often reflect patriarchal attitudes, and they use language that felt unnecessary and even offensive at times. Unlike other books where unlikable characters are part of the point, here it felt less intentional. By the end, though, the narrator became more reflective, which made them a bit easier to relate to.

What stood out to me most was the book’s many layers. It’s about the narrator’s personal struggles, the TV show’s story and meaning, and how the two connect. As a reader, you often feel like you understand as little—or as much—as the narrator does, which is both frustrating and fascinating.

Flux is a challenging book that asks for patience. It’s not an easy read, but if you’re willing to embrace the confusion, it’s a unique and thought-provoking story about identity, memory, and the way we escape into other worlds.