Yours for the Taking

What an absolutely phenomenal book. Review to come as soon as I get my thoughts together. Definitely a must-read!

DRC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Devastatingly beautiful, Yours for the Taking is a novel that makes you think and reflect. Loved it.

Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn is a powerful and thought-provoking novel set in a dystopian future. As the effects of climate change worsen, the only way to survive is to be accepted into The Inside Project, a series of weather-safe structures around the world. The story follows Ava and her girlfriend as they navigate the challenges of their world, while trying to find happiness.

The novel's main focus is on the character of Jacqueline Millender, a billionaire and women's rights advocate who has become the director of the Inside being built on the bones of Manhattan. She promises power and impact to those who work for her, and Shelby, a business major from a working-class family, is drawn to her promises of empowerment. Olympia, a medical student, is also recruited by Jacqueline to run the health department Inside. However, as they start to notice the cracks in Jacqueline's system, they realize there is something much larger at play, and she becomes increasingly unhinged and dangerous in what she is willing to do to keep her dream alive.

Yours for the Taking is a mesmerizing story of queer love, betrayal, and chosen family. It is an unflinching indictment of cis, corporate feminism, and holds a mirror to our own world, in all its beauty and horror. The author weaves a powerful tale that forces readers to question the true meaning of empowerment, and the price that must be paid for it. The characters are well-developed, and the storyline is both engaging and heart-wrenching.

Overall, Yours for the Taking is a powerful and poignant novel that is both timely and relevant. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to explore the intersection of politics, feminism, and the environment. Gabrielle Korn has written a masterful novel that will leave readers thinking long after they have finished reading it.

Remember that period of time when we luxuriated in excellent, thought-provoking dystopias all the time? THE CITY OF EMBER was the absolute best and that was before we had all the technology we have today, which in turn allows us to imagine even more otherwordly nothingness. And I devoured those books.

This took me back to those days--a juicy dystopia with a fascinating experimental power structure, complicated morals around how those in power implemented control, and the boundaries between where you can want the best for a group of people without listening to what they actually want.

The entire concept of the Inside was a strong enough premise to carry the book, but it also had fascinating relationships, characters to root for, and commentary on what makes us human, how we become successful, and how we see the world.

An absolute delight of a read! I managed to pace myself and savour how delicious it was.

Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn is an outstanding read.
I knew once I read the description I had to get this one.

I love dystopian type stories and Yours for the Taking sucked into the year of 2050 and held me captive.

There are slight bits of romance here and there, tons of intriguing suspense, adrenaline-pumping action all throughout the story, and lots of character development spread throughout the story. All those things I listed are perfectly divided throughout the story, making for a superior way of story-telling.
Well written characters, an incredibly thought-out plot line with an amazing thought-provoking story. Her world building and storytelling was just phenomenal.
This dystopian novel got me read for hours.
A creative, unique story that was truly an unputdownable book.

I only hope Gabrielle Korn continues to create such stories to keep me entertained for years to come.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Yours for the Taking is an exilirating ride throughout the entire book. It begins in the future in the year 2050. As the result of climate change, life on Earth is almost unlivable. There is overbearing heat, coastal erosion, flooding, and the constant threat of tornados, hurricanes and other destructive weather conditions. It centers around an all-female utopian experiment that the protagonist, Jacqueline Millender envisioned. But unfortunately, she has her own warped agenda. This is the perfect read for anyone who likes plot driven sci-fi. The characters are interesting and believable, racially and socioeconomically diverse, with plenty of LGBTQ representation. I loved it and I highly recomment theis book. I was fortunate to receive this novel from Netgalley as an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was truly a wild ride! I’m always down for a good thought provoking dystopian novel! I won’t say the story is post apocalyptic bc as the book says multiple times - the world never truly ends, just changes and people adapt- but it is definitely post (what we know as) civilization.

The story spans a 30+ year time line with multiple characters and starts at the end of the world as we know it, where people are being forced to consider alternate forms of survival due to increasing temperatures and instances of natural disasters.

The solution comes in the form of closing off parts of major cities and turning them into “Inside”. Most of the story takes place inside the walls of the North American Inside, a closed off and fortified Manhattan. It seems like a dream to be accepted into Inside and have been chosen for survival in this human made Utopia, but things aren’t quite as they seem. Their main investor, a self proclaimed ultra feminist, has her own ideas of what makes the perfect place to live and what makes up the perfect population.

As the story unfolds, the project becomes more and more unethical, dangerous, and - for the reader - increasingly thought provoking. I will think about this book and these characters often. I read this book via an eARC from NetGalley, which did not influence my opinion at all! I will absolutely be purchasing it upon its release date later this year!

Thank you netgalley for the arc of this novel!

This book has such a perfect formula. Maybe I’m bias, I find queer rep in sci-fi/fantasy, something I still want to hoot and holler about! I just hope for this novel to reach the masses

Listen, this was so good that I wanted to just eat my Kindle after I finished it. "Yours For The Taking" has definitely earned a place as one of my favorite distopian sci-fi novels, ever. It was friggin delicious.

The story starts is off in the year 2050. Earth has started to become inhabitable due to severe climate change. One of the main protagonists, Jaqueline Millander, is in charge of creating one of the self sustaining "Inside" communities where humanity can survive...or at least the ones who have been selected to be able to.

"Inside" is as large as a city, and to everyone's surprise, all female. Because frankly, it's because of men that the world even got to this point. War, ruining the environment and the patriarchy are all things that Jaqueline wants to breed out in her "experiment". So she watches and tries to control how it all plays out from her space shuttle where she lives with the other most wealthy and elite.

There was not a single dull moment in this book for me. I connected with or at least totally understood every main character and where they were coming from. This novel was so well planned out, written and goddamn perfect I can't even stand it. The fact that this is the author's first novel is just bonkers to me. I will RUSH to be at the front of the line for any future releases for her now.

I cannot give enough thanks to NetGalley and St. Marten's Press for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Before I begin my review, I will strongly urge you to go into this reading experience blindly. When I received the eARC, I instantly started reading it without looking up the summary or any pre-reviews and I am so glad I did. So, go read the book and then come back, read my review, and discuss your thoughts with me because I really loved this book.

In 2050, the planet is in a state of crisis. Climate change has wrecked the environment beyond repair and people are beginning to look elsewhere for living arrangements and a way out. And so, The Inside Project is born. Inside is an elite, weather-safe city structure set on all the major continents, in which you are only allowed entry upon having your application selected. Each continent is running their Inside differently and North America’s has flaws from the get-go. This mesmerizing story follows three main characters, Ava, Olympia, and Shelby, and how their paths cross in the Inside. Once they begin to see the cracks in the system, there is no going back.

With the introduction of each of the main characters, I was instantly drawn into them, connecting with their strife or cheering them on. The way in which Gabrielle chose these characters from three very different walks of life and converged their storylines together throughout the plot was unmatched. I understood their sorrow, their confusion, and their hope for the future so easily. Their growth and development built so smoothly that it couldn’t be anything but sincere.

This book was not only an incredibly enjoyable read, it was also thought-provoking. It took a mirror to the way we view the patriarchy in our society. I was completely enthralled from page one of this book and the pacing and structure was phenomenal. I would love to hear Gabrielle’s planning process because the plot felt so genuine and fluid throughout the book, I would imagine she had to plan extensively. Props to her! I am still in awe that this is her first book, and you better believe I will be a life-long reader now!

Big thank you again to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Gabrielle Korn for sending me an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

My one-liner description: Cli-fi feminist dystopian where the world has been basically destroyed and people apply to be selected to live in sealed domes that are meant to carry on humanity and everyone else is left to fend for themselves with the understanding that they will all likely die.

I highly suggest going into this one as blindly as possible.

Y’all, I FLEW through this book. I couldn’t put it down. The story is told from multiple viewpoints and they were all interesting, all different.

I feel like giving much more info kind of gives some of the story away. But what I will say is that this is a book of found family, grief, joy, examining the choices we make, an exploration of corporate cis feminism, and explores whether good intentions excuse the ignoring of consent and the manipulation of entire populations.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this advance copy of Yours For The Taking.

I have so many thoughts about this book, that I don’t know where to start. So, let’s start with the bottom line – This book is a masterpiece, go read it now.

Like other great dystopian novels (ie. 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale and Parable of the Sower), it takes the issues of today and fast forwards to the catastrophic future we’ll face if we keep going in the direction we’re headed.

Yours for the Taking starts in 2050, when climate change has made surviving on earth almost impossible. To ensure their own survival, billionaires have funded small, self-contained cities across the globe, known as “Insides” for the working-class to live in while they monitor and control the cities from space.

Most of the story is set in an Inside in what was formerly Manhattan and is primarily told from the point of view of the women who live in this Inside and the woman who founded it. While the characters are all women, they’re also incredibly diverse, with lots of LGBTIQA+ and racial representation.

The themes explored are timely and relevant. The author weaves commentary about wealth distribution, our reliance on corporations, feminism and climate change throughout the story so seamlessly, it’s nothing short of genius.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the most original futuristic, sci fi, apocalyptic, all female character driven stories. Set in 2050, the world is being ravaged by climate change and the select few are chosen to go on “the inside” as the only survivors. Families are separated as those members are chosen (or not) & selected to be part of this new community. Ava, our main character is selected & is brought into this all female haven, or so it initially seems. The leader”Jackie” has some crazy ideas for the future, her own offspring and the future of the women on her version of the inside. Interesting look at gender roles, apocalyptic themes and the long term impact of climate change. The concept of the inside, the crazy outcome of what it became and the strong relationships that developed throughout the book had me hooked from the first page. This book was given 5 stars for it originality. Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press & the author, Gabriella Korn for the opportunity to preview this unique gem in exchange for my honest review.

This book was incredible, I could not put it down, if I didn't have to sleep I would have finished it in a day. The writing style made me feel like I was there every step of the way with each and every character, feeling their feelings, and going about their lives. I especially loved the multiple view points, connecting everyone's stories.

This book takes place over a span of almost 40 years starting as the world starts to shut down due to the massive destruction of climate change. I suggest going in mostly blind and experiencing everything first hand, bc its a wild ride!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Yours For the Taking!

One of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I loved every second of it and didn’t want it to end. Please pick this up if you wish to do something insightful, meaningful, and overall excellent.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is going to be a modern classic. It is incredibly relevant to current world events while containing cautions and lessons relevant for any generation.

There is a decent sized cast of characters, all of which felt perfectly represented in regards to the amount of page time given. They are well rounded with motivations and fears. Since the book spans multiple decades, the reader gets to follow along as the characters age and change.

If you're looking for a book with commentary on white feminism, intersectionality, queerness, climate change, misogyny, and capitalism, you have to check this book out. I am blown away by Korn's writing and her ability to weave such important topics into a novel.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Imagine a future where climate change ravages the world making it unlivable. The governments dissolve and a single government united the world in a common goal, to combat climate change. They devise a plan to create a city Inside, where select people will help to keep civilization alive.

The year is 2050 and Jacqueline Millender founder of Yours!, requests to not only fund Americas Inside but to direct it… from space. The wealthy and elite flee to space as they are unsure if Inside will succeed.

The story follows Ava, Olympia, and Shelby as the main characters with more added in as it spans 30+ years. The characters are all relatable, even though each come from different walks of life.

I was intrigued as soon as I picked this novel up and was bummed to have to put it down to read a book club book. I couldn’t wait to get back to it. This book dives into the problems of white cis gendered feminism, by creating a story you don’t want put down. My only qualm with the story was I wanted to know more about what was happening with the weather and climate outside as the story progressed. We got a little bit of what was going on but I wanted a little more.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Gabrielle Korn for the eARC copy! I can’t wait to get my hands on a hard copy!

What an incredible story of love, found family, and feminism with excellent queer representation. The book is set in the near future where climate change has ravaged the planet. the solution is to move to the “Inside.” I could not put this book down - the story was so well thought out and flowed perfectly. I felt a connection with each character and I loved to see their stories intertwine.

I recommend going into this book blind, as there were many aspects that gave me goosebumps as I dove into the world Korn created.

This book may be the best book I read all year. I will 100% be purchasing a copy when it is published in December.

I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a twisty and epic adventure that I loved reading every page. Female driven and amazing I could not put it down. I can not wait for more from this author!

This book sucked me in from the very first sentence and had me in a chokehold until I finished it 24 hours later. I was texting with another friend who was reading it at the same time and we both couldn’t get over how absolutely wild and yet terrifyingly realistic it all was. Every chapter felt like a surprise and every time I felt like I knew what was going to happen next I was wrong.

This book is one that really makes you think in addition to being utterly binge-able. By far one of the best books I’ve read this year!

Extremely intriguing conceit that put LGBTQIAP+ characters at the forefront.

Great sci-fi choice form my Pride Reading time. Climate change is not to be ignored. This story is almost like a Black Mirror episode which are now too close for comfort.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.

Coming out in December of this year is a dystopian epic! A timely commentary on how humanity will react to the climate crisis. If we seize the opportunity to be better, will we ACTUALLY be better?

Multi generational, multiple POV, queer voices and powerful women.

WOW what a tale!

It's 2050 and as the world is slowly dying, Jacqueline Millender, a very powerful mogul is trying to same society via "The Inside Project" Millender has a very specific idea of how to save the world and that includes who is worth saving. Surrounding Jacqueline are various characters including her trans personal assistant and her strong willed doctor-director of the program. Alternatively, Ava, is a young scavenger living in Brooklyn is granted a ticket to the program. Through her eyes we are able to experience the project as it grows.

This story is a thriller but also a treatise on feminism and reproduction. Jacqueline is very much the contemporary old white liberal who truly believes she knows what is best for all of us. Korn has chosen excellent characters to illustrate a story that isn't too far from reality. I was engrossed from the start and you will be too. If you love dystopia, have a healthy fear of billionaires, or just want to read the next great feminist thriller, Yours For The Taking is for you!
#StMartinsPress #YourForTheTaking #GabrielleKorn

This is a book that I will be thinking about for a long time to come, the idea was so out of this world and yet so believable at the same time, I can see how every single character made the decision that they do and how they justified it to themselves and others. I thought the characters were really well written and fleshed out, I enjoyed this novel a lot and look forward to reading more by Gabrielle.

Absolutely loved this -- a dystopian, sapphic love story with tons of emotion. One of my new favorites I think!

4.5 stars
This book was a very thought-provoking look at what happens when one person pushes their version of utopia on a population (in this case an unsuspecting population). The book grappled with issues of consent, gender and class identity, transparency, free will, and what it means to be a feminist. It’s a lot to cover in one work of fiction, but Korn does it well.

Climate change has fully wreaked havoc on the planet and to save humanity (or a small fraction of it), closed communities (called Inside) are being set up around the world - these are full societies sealed away to protect inhabitants from the brutal heat, constant severe storms, and food and water shortages. There are also really rich people living on spaceships orbiting the planet (a la Wall-E).

The book is told through the experiences of several protagonists, all associated with the NYC Inside. Jacqueline Millender is a billionaire who has created one of the “waves” of feminism and has strong ideas on what is wrong with society and how to fix it. Shelby is a trans woman and Jacqueline’s assistant. Olympia was hand picked by Jacqueline to run the medical program, and effectively be the director, of the NYC Inside and takes the job in part because she was doxed by men’s rights groups online for an opinion piece she wrote and subsequently had her other offers rescinded. Ava is a woman who gets into the NY Inside, but her girlfriend Orchid doesn’t make the cut. The story told through the viewpoints of these characters, and some other side characters, is compelling, interesting, and disturbing. The end is not neatly tied up, nor should it be, but it feels complete.

I feel like there have been several of these kinds of “thought experiment “ books about what society would look like if women were in charge and Yours for the Taking has something new and interesting to offer to the genre. I appreciated the clear-eyed critique of the White cis-het feminist worldview if put on all of society. I also really liked the points that were made on consent, particularly by the new generation of kids who were born Inside. Overall I really enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it. Also, can we please please combat climate change so we can avoid a version of this future?

4.5 ⭐ OMG. This book. So much good stuff in here. Do yourself a favor. Go into this one blind. (I literally saw lesbians and climate change and jumped in with both feet, and so glad I did!) Brilliantly written, the characters are so real, the plot. This book has all the makings of a huge hit.

It's the year 2050, climate change is ravaging the world, and billionaire / women's rights advocate Jacqueline Millender is funding the North American survival structure built to house a few million people, but she has her own agenda.

Ava gets accepted to live Inside, but her girlfriend doesn't, and so Ava must go alone. This book follows Ava's journey and a half dozen other women (including trans + non binary) in this epic scientific experiment. Mostly female cast, all super strong characters, and an amazing story that is a scathing commentary on the world we live in today.

Heart wrenching. Frightening. Beautiful. Loved it! ❤️

[Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Brilliant, and thought-provoking piece of feminist speculative fiction. Definitely a story that will stick with me for years to come.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the early review copy. This is a book that I'm going to need all the special and signed editions for my shelves.

Reading this book just as smoke was pouring in from Canadian wildfires blocking out the sun for days and causing air quality warnings couldn’t have been more timely. It gave an eerie sense of foreboding to the story while reading. The book is very thought provoking and I enjoyed the discussions on gender, sex and reproduction and who should be allowed to live on “The Inside”. I thought this was a really interesting take on dystopian lit from a feminist perspective and enjoyed reading this book a lot. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre and think it would be a great book for book groups as well. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, this was one of the most engaging, thought-provoking, and relevant books I’ve read in a long time. If you like dystopian fiction novels, especially with queer representation, you need to read this one. Yours for the Taking follows the stories of three young queer women in the not-so-distant future when the global climate change crisis is so severe that around the world, selective, climate-resistant communities known as “The Inside” are created. The Inside that is built where Manhattan used to be is run by an elitist power-hungry billionaire feminist who has extreme ideas on how to select and curate the “perfect” community in the Inside - starting not accepting any men.

I found myself hooked in this story. It moved very fast, although I felt connected to all of the characters. This novel covers a very wide range of topics, including but not limited to toxic (and non-toxic) feminism, capitalism, transphobia, gender norms, eugenics, queer belonging and family, consent, and motherhood.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s press, and Gabrielle Korn for allowing me to read this ARC - do yourself a favor and read this one.

BIG thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Publishing Group for letting me get my hands on this book early!

Yours For The Taking is a story of feminism, gender structures, climate change, family, and queerness. It challenges readers to think about what equality truly is The characters hooked me and I fell in love with almost all of them (except you, Jacqueline…).

This is a book that will hook you FAST and force you to just keep reading one more chapter. My advice? Pre-order it. Read it. Get your hands on it. You won’t regret it!

Also, a big shoutout to the queer representation in this book. So well done.

Whoooo, what a ride. I love me a good dystopian novel and this seriously took me for a ride. And a good one at that! I loved the world that Gabrielle created and it had me from start to finish. You find yourself rooting for Ava, developing a growing resentment of Jacqueline, and pity for Olympia as you take this journey with them. I loved this and those of you who love dystopian societies where the good triumphs will love this too!

This is one of the more innovative works of fiction I've read recently. Korn is able to weave multiple perspectives seamlessly into an important and gripping dystopian and slightly sci-fi novel that also digs deep into identity and privilege issues that are some of the leading social issues of today.

Separate from the social and climate issues that are central to the story, the story alone could stand as a gripping post-apocalytic-esque novel. Korn's writing is deep, and literary where it needs to be, yet accessible and engaging when the story requires it. Seeing the story and the struggles from multiple perspectives is necessary to understand the impact that each character's decisions have on each other and on their immediate and more distant environments.

This will definitely be a high-demand book club worthy title when it publishes in December because of Gabrielle Korn's skillful balancing act between the fast-paced story and the surgical precision with which she dissects what it means to be a feminist, the effects of privilege in gender, race, status, and economy, the tension between capitalism and environmentalism, and the importance of finding the humanity within ourselves and within those around us.

This novel is truly engrossing. From the time I picked this book up I honestly did not want to put it down. I was shook! Of course, the setting of the book being in a very near future Earth, particularly NYC did not help at all. Gabrielle built a world and created an atmosphere of urgency that reflects the current state of our planet and showed a glimpse of what could potentially be our future.
The characters created have distinct qualities and although there were more than a few characters introduced, it was not hard to follow each ones narrative. This story does have a clear villain as far as moving the plot along but Korn definitely aptly includes the nuance of the human situation in the weaving of this story.
This book definitely hits all of the points for being a classic dystopian novel, but it is also very unique.
I cannot wait for book two!

I LOVE Dystopian stories and am always hesitant that I will be absorbed in the way that I always hope to be when I begin reading them. I am so happy to say that this book absolutely drew me in and surpassed all of my expectations! It is such an engaging read! The characters are interesting and seem SO real. I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience as the storytelling was superb and the plot was incredible. I believe this story will be a huge hit and I can only hope that there will be much more to come from this incredible storyteller! Absolutely recommend...

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this eBook! This is a really good look into the problems that will occur from climate change and the possibilities that might arise from one person having way too much power. It is an amazing read for someone that likes dystopia but doesn't like violence and is more focused on how humanity would react to the impending end of the world.

This dystopian sci-fi masterpiece is one of my new favourite books of all time.

It’s 2055, and the climate crisis has reached a breaking point. The weather is vicious and unpredictable, and soon the Earth will be uninhabitable. Over the past five years, billionaire Jacqueline Millender has been funding the North American division of a project called Inside, resulting in what’s left of the city of New York being enclosed in climate-proof structures, with only a few windows throughout. Only 3 million people will fit in each Inside, but Jacqueline has a bit of a different plan for hers.

We have three main characters:
Ava, who applied for Inside with her girlfriend Orchid five years ago, and they’re about to find out if they got in;
Shelby, who applies for an internship with Jacqueline Millender’s company and ends up being offered a position as her personal assistant instead;
And Olympia, a med student with several job offers on the table, all of which disappear after her controversial opinion piece goes viral. Except the one from Jacqueline, to be the medical director of Inside.

Despite being on a space shuttle, Jacqueline still has a terrifying level of control over Inside. Life is different than what was promised, but Ava, Shelby, and Olympia settle into their new lives relatively well. Until the cracks in the foundation of Inside get too deep for them to ignore.

This book had everything. The slow burn dystopia really worked for me, even though the events take place over 20+ years; I was happy to either read more about day-to-day life Inside or find out quickly what went wrong and explore the ramifications of that. Most of the characters were LGBTQIA+, and all of them were complex and interesting—especially our villain, the perfect example of what conservatives think a feminist is.

YOURS FOR THE TAKING is a compelling commentary on feminism in our patriarchal society, corporate greed, and last and surprisingly least relevant to the story, climate change. And we’re getting a sequel! Five stars, Gabrielle Korn added to auto-buy authors list.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A really inventive and new way of looking at a post-apocalyptic world. The perfect mix of the horror of world-building gone right and wrong, and a true look at what happens with power. Prescient, feminist, queer, and very readable. Korn puts the conversations of today into a not-so-distant future and makes it fun.

Wow, this book... I don't even know where to start. I didn't know I needed a queer dystopian book so badly until I was approved to read this book.

I appreciate that the world was already "built" and you could get right into the story. This feels like something that may happen in this fucked up world we're in, which is the best kind of book.

I loved the characters! I feel I would have made similar decisions to Orchid, because she feel she did not have a choice.

This is a well written, well thought out book about a what appears to be a utopian society for women. It is set in the future, when climate change has made the world virtually unliveable. It is also a love story, love that survives separation, love for our children and for what is true equality, despite what is being told Lots to think about and lots to feel about

For her fiction debut, Gabrielle Korn teleports into the alarming future with a queer climate fiction novel that opens in the year 2050. A resident of a now-sinking Brooklyn, Ava has the chance to escape the inevitable when she’s admitted to the refuge that is The Inside Project, created by girlboss par excellence Jacqueline Millender. But, as you might imagine, this supposed feminist utopia is not all that it seems. Korn manages to grapple with weighty topics while also delivering a compelling read, rife with twists—and a sequel is already in the works.

https://www.elle.com/culture/books/g42156598/best-books-of-2023/

I'm a dystopian gal. I love an end-of-times, the world is collapsing novel. Yours for the Taking has made the list of my favorites in this genre. The world-building was great; the descriptions of Inside and the outside world painted a vivid picture of where humanity was heading. I felt like I could see Inside with its cookie cutter apartments, multi-level gardening structures, and clandestine "bars" with alcohol-free wine. I could feel the smog outside and empathize with the people doomed to remain there.

While I didn't love all the characters (who ever does), I felt like I actually got to know the major players in the plot. Most of the characters had some depth, and I was able to connect with them in a way that made me care for their futures. I was rooting for Ava and Olympia while worrying for Shelby. That's not something I find myself doing very often, but Gabrielle's writing got me there. Oh! And the queer representation! I find many authors awkwardly shoehorn queer characters into stories as a pandering tactic, but Gabrielle managed to show that representation can be done and be done very well.

All in all, this was a pretty good book. Better dialogue would've bumped this one up to five stars for me.

Thanks a million to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

I'm trying to figure out where to start with talking about this book, but at the very least, I can safely say that this one had such a chokehold on me and I'm going to be screaming at people to read it when it comes out in December. This is my favorite kind of sci fi - one that is terrifying because it feels so close to being a reality.

This book asks a lot of questions - are men the biggest issue with society, and therefore the cause of climate change? Would life be better in a society with all women? What would that look like for trans women, trans men, and nonbinary people? How does this proposed society treat women of different wealth classes and educational backgrounds? What happens when we let a billionaire have control over the future of humankind?

None of these questions have simple or easy answers, and while the future of Gabrielle Korn's world has some ideas, it doesn't claim to solve for them. Instead, it challenges the reader to answer these for themselves while seeing how this might unfold through the eyes of a handful of characters. It all sounds very daunting, but it ends up being a very fast paced, accessible story.

I don't think it's perfect - the book spans years, and there are many times that I wish we could have spent more in or learned about more characters in them. I also found the ending a little too neatly wrapped up, but it still had me begging for a sequel. It still manages to be a 5 star read for me, though, because my experience reading it was just so good. I found this alternate future (or not alternate? Like I said, it feels so close to what might actually happen) endlessly fascinating and impressive. I want more of these characters and more from Gabrielle Korn!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC!

This felt very different from the books that I’ve been reading this year. It was a good palate cleanse after reading a very lengthy fantasy series. I love that this book is set in the future and it gave me insane futuristic vibes. The author has such a way of getting so damn detailed. There were sentences that I read twice (maybe 3 times) because I was so blown away by the descriptions. I don’t like to give much away in my reviews, but I want to give a huge thumbs up to the author for allowing me to read this. Incredible read and incredible writing.

Wow! What a read! This is my favorite book that I’ve read this year. From start to finish, I was completely hooked. I could not put this book down. It was an enjoyable, page-turning, futuristic dystopian tale about the impacts of climate change and people’s choices on how they will stay alive. A billionaire, Jaqueline Milender (who reminded me of Elon Musk) designs a living arrangement that’s called The Inside which she claims will save the planet through female empowerment- but it ends up being in very unorthodox ways. The book then follows strong women characters as they navigate their new reality. This book is full of love, resilience, as well as beautiful queer and trans representation. It also prompts the reader to reflect and question what gender roles really mean, and to contemplate the impacts of climate change. This read will stay with me for a very long time! I absolutely loved it, and I highly recommend it!!

Yours for the Taking is at once a found family story, a queer narrative, and a scathing critique of anti-trans movements backdropped by a climate dystopia and capitalism run-amok. There are so many levels to the story and characters that it’s like a box of mysteries just waiting to be unpacked and left me speechless.

This story takes place in a disaster ridden world, where the climate is in full collapse and humanity is on the edge of societal breakdown. In the midst of this, the Inside project is proposed, where structures are built in population hot spots around the globe and small portions of humanity are invited to attempt to ride out the climate disaster. And if one of the Inside cubes goes a little rogue and decides to cut men out of its population? Well, nobody needs to know.

Yours for the Taking is extremely concerned about the topic of autonomy, particularly women’s autonomy, which is cognizant of debates and struggles today. It’s what the book, ultimately, is about. Each of the characters is grappling with autonomy in some way, some to a greater extent than others, which makes the overall narrative seem in conversation with real world problems.

This is one of those books where I would have to suggest doing as little research into it as possible just to get the full effect of the unwinding story. I went in fairly blind (though I requested the ARC, I had only skimmed the summary and heard a few of my TikTok mutuals gush about it) and it was probably the best way to experience the narrative. The extent of the antagonist’s atrocities and plans is revealed slowly and deliberately by Korn.

The power of this book and the way in which it weaves together the stories of several women to create an overall message about womanhood, paired with a strong writing style puts Yours for the Taking in the running for my best book of 2023 (and it hasn’t even been released yet!). Though the themes are heavy and the topics hard to grapple with at times, I truly believe it is well worth the read.

Ooh, I got chills from the prologue alone.
This story has all the elements to get me to love it: near future, sci-fi dystopian and queer.
As someone with climate anxiety (who doesn't have it at this point, am I right?) my palms were sweating with the descriptions of this not so distant future.
I really liked Ava and this story had me hooked from the beginning. What first drew me in was the cover and then the title (I try not to read the description so I don't get any spoilers) and then the story completely swept me away. I'm excited to read future works of this author and to share this one with my friends and followers.
Sometimes there are just books that really hit you with their brilliance and this is one of them. Great work!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Could not finish fast enough. Stayed engaged with every page. Was stimulating on so many levels. Will be looking out for more from this author. Thanks for allowing me to read!

So many thoughts about this book! I've read quite a few dystopian/utopian feminist books over the past decade, but they all seem to leave out a piece- it could be race, class, education, or the whole LGBT spectrum. This author seems to have thought of every possible angle of what a feminist utopia could be and then breaks it all down piece by piece. Such a thought provoking read- definitely wish I had read this with a book club.

This book was about how climate changes have the planet dying. One solution was proposed. People are Inside or Outside. Inside is how you will survive. The Inside is monitored by the rich people from space. This book will make you think. Would you react the same? This was a great ride and i will want to re-read it because i think every time i will find something to think about. I highly recommend this book. I am unsure how to categorize it but i loved it!

I received a free copy for an unbiased opinion.

Yours for the Taking was a fascinating look at what could happen when our world’s climate collapses and the rich help build shelters. I enjoyed the take on feminism and examining what could happen if one person is in charge of everything. Highly recommend!

This was a really original take on the cli-fi sub-genre looking at how society reacts to the climate crisis. It raised some interesting questions and imagined a set of solutions (and actors) that prompted considerable reflection. It's a take down of girlboss feminism and climate change denial. The book isn't subtle in its critique, but subtlety is overrated--this book says it all with its full chest.

This book is best enjoyed without overthinking every detail of plausibility in the world it builds. Suspend disbelief and you'll enjoy stepping into the characters' shoes, imagining the life and decisions they're facing.

It’s the year 2050 and not everyone gets into the Inside Project; you have to apply to have a shot at surviving the climate-ravaged places across the planet. When Ava gets in and her girlfriend doesn’t, she has a mixture of emotions and experiences that leave her questioning her decisions and reckoning with the world she’s always known. Tackling themes of feminism, capitalism, queerness, race and gender, this is a remarkably frightening, enlightening and unflinching take on dystopian literature.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

A book about climate change, it sounds so interesting, but yet so boring. Not this book!!! I absolutely loved this one, I couldn't flip the pages fast enough. Went out of my comfort zone to read this one, and I'm so glad I did!

Title: Yours For The Taking
Publication date: dec 4 2023

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the Ebook copy of this ARC.

I am loving a good dystopian story these days so I ate this up. In this book, due to climate change and a deterioration of the quality of life on Earth, Insides have been built throughout the world. Citizens apply to live Inside and those who are chosen get a life in a city sized “Inside” which I can best describe as a manufactured earth with fresh air. Those who are not selected must do their best to survive on an earth that is becoming uninhabitable. On the Inside located in Brooklyn, a feminist billionaire is calling the shots. She has funded this project with the condition that she is in control. As those living and working on the Inside learn about the realities of the world that they are helping to create they begin to questions the ethics of Jacqueline, the billionaire in charge. But what can they do?

I really enjoyed this book, in part because I can see the terrifying reality of what happens when those with the most money make the decisions that affect everyone. This book takes place over many years and it was interesting to watch the character development and growth. And, as always it’s a terrifying reminder of the way we are going with climate change and the state of our planet. If you enjoy a sci-fi dystopian story, this book is for you.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. This was an absolutely OUTSTANDING novel. Truly a unique dystopian that felt highly realistic, and even more terrifying because of that. This was my first read from Ms. Korn, but this will certainly not be my last one! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

Power is poison when it goes uncheck regardless who holds it. Since white men are given more opportunity to exercise power, it is more frequent to see one of them making headlines after abusing their power years over years. But let's not forget them women can be no different than their male counterparts. While we are vocal in demanding for more power for women, we should be equal in monitoring how that power is used.

Jacqueline Millender was no different than a white man. While promising a world where people can be equal under her command in the underground world that was created against the climate stricken world above, she was actually forming a dictatorship. Like all dictatorships before hers, this one was bound to fall because people eventually fed up, people want some sense of control over their own lives.

While I believe we will need to live underground or in space in couple of decades due to climate beating us for all the things we did to it, I hope that it will be not the be the dystopia described on these pages. If we are going to have no sunshine or once in a while cool breeze, we might as well have no dictator looming over us.

"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." ~ Lord Acton

This phrase came to mind so many times while reading this book! Jacqueline Millender. a future feminist, is being asked to help fund the creation of an "Inside," a contained city to help civilization survive all the horrible things they've done to the planet. In exchange, she wants to be in charge. Similar to the frog in the pot of water as it starts to warm up, her ideas and implementation can be justified at the beginning. But as time goes on, the frog's water heats up and her eventual goals become apparent. But is it too late? That is the bare bones plot of the book; however, as seen through the eyes of several different views within the world created, this is almost more of a character study. Perhaps one of characters under a stress we haven't seen before? I don't think I am getting my point across well, but I loved this story and would pick up the book to read even when I knew I could only get in a couple pages. I loved the characters and I loved the mystery of what was going on and where the book was leading. Definitely one to consider even if you aren't in to science fiction, fantasy, or even LGBTQIA+ because it is just that well written of a story!

I really loved the concept for this book. In a world where climate change is destroying the planet, what will people do to survive? I enjoyed the characters and getting to know each of them and their different points of view. And I liked all of the intertwining relationships between them. Overall a really interesting and thought provoking read!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this!

Fans of climate change-related dystopia, rejoice! Gabrielle Korn has figured out how we can survive. You just need to be smart, fertile, and a woman.
I enjoyed this take on cli-fi from an all-female perspective. Yes, some of the science is a little "unsound", but it IS fiction. Korn has built a solid world with interesting characters and even more interesting ethical dilemmas. There's a lot going on in these 336 pages. and while I would have loved more detail into some aspects, the editing kept everything moving along so there are no parts that drag.
I was also impressed with the ending. Does this mean there could be a continuation? If not, I still think it worked quite well.
#NetGalley

It's 2050 and the world is experiencing a major climate disaster. In the US, flooding plagues the coasts, cities disappear underwater, tornados are unavoidable in the Midwest. The solution? Insides - completely self-sufficient bubbles in major cities that can fit millions of people. The New York Inside will be different than the others, as it will be managed by women's rights activist Jacqueline Millender.

Ava is approved for the New York Inside just before her long-term girlfriend breaks up with her. Olympia is hired by Millender as the Inside's medical director. And Shelby, Millender's personal assistant, has a front-row view of her boss's decision-making.

This is a phenomenal book that explores climate change, the class divide, race, feminism, separatist movements, gender inequality, queerness, and a whole host of other extremely relevant issues. Usually when a book tries to tackle this many issues at once in an average sized dystopia, the story and characters become either simplistic or extremely convoluted. Here though, the result was thought-provoking and nuanced. Each character is complex in their own way. I especially appreciated Korn's discussion of the family, queerness, and feminism.

If I hadn't already bought a copy for the library, I'd go back and do that.

Thank you very much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC!

I really enjoyed Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn, with its unique futuristic forecast of our society. Great concepts, examining sexuality and gender roles, as well as mother-daughter bonds, and new rules of society. Was an interesting and captivating read! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a thrilling and chilling novel reminiscent of Christina Dalcher’s Femlandia. This book very clearly portrays how people’s good ideas and even their best intentions become thwarted and maligned when money and power are involved. I loved the characters who were well thought out and rendered with depth and layers. Inter-personal connections along with a sense of self and belonging make this a must read.

Yours For the Taking is a book that tackles a lot of big questions: How do we solve gender inequality? In what ways does power corrupt morality? Who decides what people to save at the end of the world and what are the consequences of that? What do humans need to live fulfilling lives? What type of society do we want to build for our future generations? And so much more!

I was honestly stressed the whole time reading this book because it felt so immediate. It's set in the near future (roughly 2050-2080s) and the impacts of climate change and state of the world felt so real. It's like watching your worst nightmares come true. But in an entertaining way, for sure!

I loved the whole cast of characters, although Brook and July were definitely my favourite, particularly their sisterly bond. There was a lot of great rep among the characters, including characters who were lesbian, queer, non-binary, and trans. Although I wish we got more of how those identities informed certain experiences, particularly with the Inside.

Overall, I flew through this book and it really got me thinking, which I always appreciate in a sci-fi. I gave it 4.5/5 stars (rounded to 5 stars on NetGalley).

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

First, I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Yours for the Taking Is a near future story about climate change and how a handful of women try to create a future that will allow humanity to move on from the mistakes of our past. As the seas and global temperature rise uncontrollably, the world turns to a new plan for the future of humanity. Investors are sought out to build massive city structures that will allow people to survive the destruction brought on by climate change, and they call the program Inside.
Jacqueline Millender, one of these investors, has decided that she can solve the problems of society by simply removing men from the equation. When New York City Inside seals its doors for good, there is not a single man present.

Jacqueline uses her money and influence to surround herself with a team of women who can make her dream a reality. Some of them have their reservations, especially around Jacqueline’s defining criteria, but the opportunity to help shape and preserve a future for all of humanity is too good a prospect to pass up. It’s not until the second generation of Inside begin to reach adulthood that some inhabitants begin to feel the growing pains of the world that Jacqueline has built for them.

This is an amazing book about love and family at the end of the world as we know it. I wouldn’t necessarily call it post apocalypse because the apocalypse is only just getting rolling. The novel does however bring to light a lot of questions about how perspective and bias play a huge roll in what we expect out of a perfect society. There is a lot here, and I’m not going to be able to cover all the arguments for or against corporate feminism or dependence on the benevolence of billionaires. I would say that if you enjoy found family and high stakes along with a book that has something to say, then this is a good fit for you.

I have two main critiques about the novel. The first is that it may be a little heavy-handed both in politics and in reality for some readers. This is clearly an author who has taken a lot of time to think about what our world will look like in just a generation or two, and it is bleak. This author also has a clear opinion, but does a great job of making characters that live and breathe rather than mouthpieces for the sake of an opinion. My second critique would be a bit of a spoiler, so all I can say is that the ending left some dangling threads. I’m hoping those threads are a sign that we may get more from this world, but regardless, I enjoyed the read.

My final say is that if you like feminist stories, found family, queer love stories, and a dash of dystopia then you’ll probably enjoy this one. I hope this helps you in your quest to fill the next spot in your TBR. Happy Reading!

This novel was incredibly interesting and I definitely enjoyed the topics it explored. I liked the way it took to explore the psychology of the characters and the choices the author made in progressing the plot. While personally I would have been ok with double the size of the book for more in depth exploration of everything, I definitely do think that it makes the genre really accessible for someone less acquainted with sci-fi.

This was a different type of book that I normally read,
The story begins in the year 2050. Earth has started to become inhabitable due to severe climate change. Ava and her girlfriend live in what's left of Brooklyn, and though they love each other, it's hard to find happiness knowing that soon they won’t even be able to go outside. The only people guaranteed survival are the ones whose applications are accepted to The Inside Project, a series of weather-safe, city-sized structures around the world.
Jacqueline Millender is a reclusive billionaire/women’s rights advocate, and thanks to a generous donation, she’s just become the director and she's built her whole brand rethinking the very concept of empowerment.
Shelby, a business major from a working-class family, is drawn to Jacqueline’s promises of power and impact. When she lands her dream job as Jacqueline’s personal assistant, Olympia, who is finishing up medical school when Jacqueline recruits her to run the health department Inside. The more Olympia learns about the project, though, the more she realizes there's something much larger at play.
As Ava, Olympia, and Shelby start to notice the cracks in Jacqueline's system, Jacqueline tightens her grip, becoming increasingly unhinged and dangerous in what she is willing to do—and who she is willing to sacrifice—to keep her dream alive.

Wow. "Yours for the Taking" by Gabrielle Korn is an absolutely incredible book. It hit every mark for me. I loved the inclusivity and the feminism, as well as the cautionary message that a world controlled by women could be just as flawed as a world controlled my men. It is incredibly well-written and, although lengthy, kept my attention the entire time. At some points, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what would happen next. The characters were all vibrantly alive and I cared about what was happening to them. I completely devoured this book! There was not a dull moment.

Set in the future, "Yours for the Taking" envisions a world so destroyed by climate change that people have to resort to desperate measures just to survive. One such method is the creation of self-contained communities where a selected few were privileged enough to live. This book focuses on one such "Inside" community, which, by design, is comprised of all female residents. However, this idealistic experiment does not live up to it's creator's expectations and the vision of a female utopia is quickly shattered.

This is not an easy, fun read, but I think it will make an excellent book club read because there is so much to unpack and discuss. I rarely read a book twice, but I will definitely read this one again. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this fabulous book. Five stars!

This book grabbed my attention from the very start and I did not want to put it down. It was refreshing to read something with such a diverse cast of characters, in which gender, race, sexuality, and more are discussed in very thoughtful ways. The concept is gripping and the writing is fantastic.

This was a really interesting take on the feminist dystopia. It kept me engaged, and I definitely recommend it.

I read "Yours for the Taking" by Gabrielle Korn on NetGalley. The story takes place in the future, unfortunately not too many years in the future, when climate change has wrecked havoc on the Earth. Some people have been chosen to live in The Inside Project, then inside being weather-safe structures. Some of the wealthy have been living off Earth in space shuttles. Others are trying to survive on their own. This is the story of some of those people. I really liked reading this story and will watch for others from Gabrielle Korn.

Yours For The Taking by Gabrielle Korn is a dystopian sci-fi that has hints of The Hand Maiden mixed with 1984.

Set in the year 2050, where the climate has changed, humans are finding it more difficult to live, and multimillionaires are building complexes that give humans to live. And space travel to stay for years inside a shuttle is very much possible. Jacqueline Millender is a powerful figure in this world. She wants a world without men in it. She wants to play God. She wants to create a world of women empowerment. She gets into her world three important women who can make her dream possible. They are Ava, Shelby, and Olympia.

The concept of this book is very interesting and very plausible in today's world. It's scary and the same time an eye opener. There's so much in this book. Marginalization, consent, cyber crimes, and the effects of technology are important topics that form a framework for this book. I liked the plot, though the characters are morally gray, and maybe that's what they are supposed to be.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press for this book.

CW: A major part of this book deals with consent, privilege, marginalization, and gender.

Yours for the Taking
Gabrielle Korn
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dystopian, Queer
What I loved most - ended with hope.
Realistic dystopian examination of gender selection - women, intelligence, purposefully selected. A very biased selection by one woman with a massive agenda. Told over decades to allow for plot building and experiencing life in the dome. No outside windows - totally cutoff from the outside world.
Smart. Terrifying. Very creative. Great read!

I am teaching a class on feminist speculative fiction this year, and I’ve been lucky enough to be immersed in a lot of fictional utopias and dystopias. Yours For the Taking is one such novel, and I can see myself teaching it in another iteration of the course. In the vein of other feminist speculative work, it interrogates our current systems and asks what kind of future we would like to live in…and what kind of future we might be building right now. I found it a compelling and propulsive read, and highly recommend it to my fellow lovers of the genre.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

Yours for the Taking is a dystopian, apocalyptic novel that centers around the idea of an all-female, or non-cis-man, society. Though this book started out a little slow for me, by the time we got to the introduction of the Inside, I was hooked. Climate disaster is something that is, unfortunately, on the horizon (and already happening) and I think this one does a good job of capitalizing on that very real fear.

I liked that this story incorporated nuance into its understanding of gender and other disparities. We see nonbinary representation through Ira, and Olympia provides insight and takes a stance against JM's white-washed version of feminism. All in all, I thought Yours for the Taking had solid writing, a great story, and stayed interesting throughout. I gave this one a five-star rating because I enjoyed it, would recommend it to a friend, and would read it again.

This story offers a captivating examination of empowerment and self-discovery in a dystopian setting. Korn offers a novel viewpoint on negotiating life's intricacies by fusing together personal tales and perceptive remarks. The book is a must-read because of its captivating tale and honest tone.

A dystopian fiction novel taking place after when the final tick of the doomsday clock strikes midnight, so to speak. Climate change has ravaged the world, and the only safe place is Inside. One Inside in particular has been generously invested in by a billionaire girlboss, who claims to be an activist for both feminist and the environment, and the Inside under her control will build a new world free from the inequality of the Patriarchy. Yours For the Taking is a layered book, looking into the reality of the effects of climate change, power x oppression x capitalism, and exclusionary “white woman feminism.” I truly can’t believe this is a debut novel. I really enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it. 4.5 stars from me.

This book got me out of a reading slump that had me struggling to enjoy reading and talk about books for about a month. It was so interesting and unsettling I sped through it once I picked it up.

The main vibes of this book are: climate change, dystopian, white/corporate feminism, queer characters

As a women in STEM girlie who remembers joining the tech workforce and finding tons of “feminist” groups all about taking up space and reclaiming our power at the office, Jacqueline Millender, the billionaire wannabe feminist thought leader, really reminded me of the somewhat hollow versions of feminism I’ve seen in tech that so often only focus on already wealthy white women. Her character was really frightening in so many ways, and I think her chilling take on what was happening on earth was what made me love this book so much.

The other main characters were all pretty solidly on the other side of things when compared to Jacqueline. Well, at least by the end of the book they were. While Jacqueline was incredibly wealthy and had this really flawed view of feminism, other characters like Ava, Shelby, and Olympia tried to correct course and keep the future of humanity going in a positive direction with a more inclusive view.

Anyways, I really loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys dystopian books or books that explore what might happen as the world gets more and more uninhabitable due to climate change. Folks who are interested in the dark sides of white feminism would also really enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

I refuse to spoil this for any future readers. Please just prepare with tissues for a devastatingly beautiful heartache of a novel. Wow.

This book was incredibly interesting and dark. I was drawn to it from the description and it delivered on all the aspects I was looking forward to. I love dystopian books and have been eating up queer science fiction, and this book combined both of those. I'm also a huge feminist, and as a white woman in feminism, this book made me think.

I also really liked the climate change aspect, as this is another topic of interest for me. This dystopian was a near future, and that adds a bit to the unsettling vibes of the novel.

I saw people I know in Jacqueline Millender, people who are upper middle class or rich and call themselves feminists, but have a narrow view of who that includes. This made me appreciate the other characters who had more inclusive viewpoints even more. I enjoyed how the book tackled complex topics such as sex and gender.

The characters took some time to develop, but I liked the found family aspect. I also liked how the characters were interconnected. I loved Ava and her storyline was emotional to me.

I wish the ending was more final. I'm a HEA person, and this book was not that. It ended on a maybe, although the implications are there.

For me, this book is a niche fit that combines all of my interests but I still think it would be enjoyable for anyone who reads dystopian/science fiction or has an interest in intersectional feminism.

I received this advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Excellent novel! This story was particularly intriguing and filled with fascinatingly flawed characters. The power dynamics that ultimately forced a reckoning with the planet, were in many ways part of the challenges faced by the Inside concepts. I like that this story also calls out feminism as not always being equal or fair to all women or those of non-binary, or LGBTQ communities. Gender conforming norms are tough to give up for some of our population that were raised in more traditional communities and times. It's fascinating to see the way in which those policies and traditions, norms, play out in this story. An excellent read, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in futurist takes on the climate disaster and underlying dynamics of gender issues in our current world.

WOW, this one got me thinking! I love how much this one pushed the idea of the perfect society. It pushed me to wonder what I knew and to wonder what I'd want.

How to make the perfect society. As the climate ravages the world, the elite few begin to plan above-ground dome-type societies and decide they are hand picking their survivors. So who gets to live in there? And why, what is your criteria?

You get this from many perspectives. You get it from Shelby and Olympia - two different right-hand type assistants to Jacqueline, the elite rich person who created their dome-society, their Inside. You also get Ava, a random person who was accepted into the Inside and is learning the new society (while still remembering the old).

But as they all get settled and started creating the next generation, it becomes clear as they grow from toddlers to kids to teens, that there are maybe some flaws in the thinking. I love how it got me wondering - what was okay? What wasn't. What would really make it different than how we live now - this 'better' society.

And I really appreciated the conclusion to this one. I highly recommend this one, it was a unique and fascinating read!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Feminist, queer, dystopian story about the effects of climate change and a world free from men?! SIGN. ME. THE. FUCK. UP!!!! And wow did this book deliver. I heard about Yours for the Taking on a whim from another author I follow who read a very early copy and that single bit of praise was enough for me to take the chance on this book. I devoured Yours for the Taking in two days; I couldn't put it down.

I wish I had read this book for a book club, it would make the perfect discussion book as there is so much to reflect on. Between how we view and identify gender, to what feminism actually is, power dynamics, ethical and moral considerations. There is so much in these pages!

I loved the world building of the Inside, the (not so distant) look at what the world could become if don't take better care of mother earth, and that all of our characters were women (this one passes the Bechdel test for sure). I'll be thinking about this book for a long time to come. Five RAVING stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press for an early copy of this book.

I loved this! This was great! I actually really enjoyed the several POVs. I thought it was a really creative way to show just how gucked their world was getting. If you don't like multiple POVs you may not enjoy it but it was used so well.

4.5 Stars rounded up to 5. This novel is perfect for those that enjoyed Naomi Alderman’s The Power.

Dystopian gem 'Yours for the Taking' by Gabrielle Korn, set in 2050, explores survival in weather-safe havens led by Millennial tycoons. The narrative weaves the lives of Ava, Olympia, and Shelby against the ambitious backdrop of Jacqueline Millender's Inside Project. The story, though compelling, could benefit from streamlined character organization. Korn's debut delves into queer love, betrayal, and corporate feminism, skillfully using the dystopian genre to critique societal constructs. Fast-paced and thought-provoking, it tackles toxic feminism, capitalism, and gender norms. A captivating blend of speculative fiction and social critique, leaving readers anticipating Korn's future works.

Intriguing premise & good writing. I appreciate the critique and feminist ethos in a dystopian novel. You can sense the pandemic vibes and I loved the opening sci-fi/world overview. Feel like I've met Jacqueline Millender, if not on the news, then in movies or a corporate cult or something!