Format: ebook
Published: 4th June, 2024
Age: Adult
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Rating: 2/5 Stars
I really wanted to like this one more than I did. Especially with the apparent blending of 1920s and space opera sci-fi, as well as the sapphic element. Unfortunately, the interesting elements fell flat among the poor worldbuilding and lack of characterisation.
Ruth is determined to get payback for her sister, by disguising herself as a debutante and convincing Esteban Mendez-Yuki – the man who got her sister pregnant but fled when he found out who she really was – to get engaged, so Ruth can break his heart, take his fortune, and make sure her sister and new nibling are taken care of. But the plan starts to fall apart when Ruth, disguised as Evelyn Ojukwu, meets Esteban’s sister, Sol.
Most of the time reading this, my reaction was “meh”. Ruth is supposed to be a hotshot con artist, but although we’re told about her talents, we don’t really see what makes her so good. Yes, she pulls off the Evelyn disguise, but barely, and it feels like it’s largely because the upper crust society just don’t truly pay attention. Except for Sol. Sol is in trouble; she was expected to inherit from her step-father, and take over running the business Esteban has no interest in, but for reasons unknown, these plans change, leaving Sol at a bit of a loss that has her taking desperate measures. Sol quickly works out Eve isn’t who she says she is, and the pair end up in sort of frenemy territory while they navigate their growing attraction. Their relationship was one of the book’s strengths, but still felt quite superficial.
The worldbuilding was all over the place. The society is sort of a mix between Regency and 1920s, while being futuristic enough to allow for same sex partnerships and a bit more freedom, but like the relationship between Ruth and Sol it’s shallow. Earth does still exist, and Ruth believes she has family down there; the upper crust fled when they believed the Earth was dying, but actually the home planet was saved and we get nothing more than that, except the hints that Ruth’s mother’s family were probably Orthodox Jews.
The way this is pitched, I expected more humour. But it never quite reaches rom-com level, the sci-fi feels squeezed in with lacklustre worldbuilding, and the overall pace was incredibly slow. It just felt like it was a book that didn’t quite know what it wanted to be, so ends up being a little bit of everything without any depth.
There are absolutely plenty of people who will read and love this, and be able to look past its flaws. Unfortunately, I’m just not one of them!
Reading Challenge
Musicals Reading Challenge 2026
Prompt: Rocketman – Rocketman – Set in space
Progress: 15/24, +1 Bonus
