I had a number of problems with this book, both in terms of content and writing style. It tells the story of Max and Carys, two astronauts falling through space with only 90 minutes of oxygen left. What follows is a series of flashbacks telling the tale of their relationship, how they got together and how they found themselves in space. The premise is interesting but I just thought the execution was poor. The dialogue was really wooden and just seemed completely unrealistic. I thought the message within the narrative was dealt with in an incredibly heavy handed fashion that became repetitive and honestly, boring. Structurally, the prose was quite good, but the final part of the book just seemed quite messy and muddled. Overall, I just didn't enjoy this one and at times, found it quite annoying.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

! read this whole book in one sitting, The book blurb sounded intriguing and even though it isn't my usual genre of book it really appealed to me and it certainly didn't disappoint!
More a love story told from both Carys and Max's point of view as they are drifting through space away from their ship with ninety minutes of air left to try and save themselves.
The story switches between the present and to their pasts and you learn about their world and how they came to be up in space.
I would have liked a bit more insight into the new world they live in, but that did not stop me from enjoying this book.
I would say that this is more of a romance read as opposed to the sci-fi genre but it works really well, both characters are relatable and you cant help but to route for them.
Its a hard one to review without giving away spoilers and I don't want to deprive any readers from discovering them for themselves!
Would i recommend this book - Yes, really well written debut with a unique plot that needs to be read!

Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan is a near-future science fiction love story. When I picked it up, I had misremembered it being YA, but it's not. (The characters are in their late 20s.) The social world building is the most interesting aspect of this book, despite a few hiccups, and while the science was more or less OK for the most part, the author did hang some crucial plot points on some rubbish physics, which I will be ranting more about below.

Carys and Max have ninety minutes of air left.
None of this was supposed to happen.
But, perhaps this doesn’t need to be the end…

Adrift in space with nothing to hold on to but each other, Carys and Max can’t help but look back at the well-ordered world they have left behind – at the rules they couldn’t reconcile themselves to, and a life to which they might now never return. For in a world where love is banned, what happens when you find it?

Hold Back the Stars is a love story like no other.

This book has two timelines, the floating in space with ninety minutes of air left timeline and various flashbacks showing us how the characters got together as a couple and, to a lesser extent, how they ended up floating in space. The two timelines worked, but I think the linking and integration of the past storyline could have been more clever. It was fine as it was, but the flashbacks were all quite discrete for all that they were chronologically ordered. That aspect was mostly enjoyable but didn't exactly impress me. Also, most of the story focussed on the love story and I'm not completely convinced they were a perfect match so it was a bit meh.

What was interesting was the social aspect of the world building (for the physics aspect, see rant below). In this near future world, the EU has expanded to include large swathes of the world, notably not China, not sure about the rest of East Asia, and not the former US. (Bafflingly, Australia was welcomed into the system after Russia, which seems like a strangely out of touch take on the matter, from the perspective gained by living in the EU.) Now called Europia (Europe + utopia, sigh), they are aggressively anti-nationalism and pro-individualism and seem to be very socialist, although this isn't discussed in the story, it's just the only thing that makes sense. Their solution to nationalism is to have everyone on Rotation, moving to completely different parts of Europia every two years and encouraging them to learn lots of languages to be able to communicate with each other well. That part I found very interesting, if slightly dystopian when it mentioned a seven year old living on Rotation away from his parents (I was assuming children moved with their parents until a sensible age, which wouldn't have undermined the system). Of the two main characters, one comes from a fiercely pro-Rotation family and the other didn't enter Rotation until she was 18, which sets up a lot of interesting conflict between them.

The more pertinent and contrived conflict, however, comes from our main couple vs Europia's Couples Rule, which states that people can't settle down and have kids until 35 (because fertility problems have been solved). I thought Rotation was a really interesting idea, but the Couples Rule was taking things a bit bafflingly far, in a "How did society really thing this was a good idea?" way. (They should have just stuck to having parenting exams, in my opinion.) The main characters obviously want to challenge the rule and be together, but there's a lot of weird overreactions that aren't really fully addressed.

So the physics rant. For reasons unexplained, a shockingly dense asteroid field has settled in near-Earth orbit, which is stopping people from leaving Earth (by destroying stuff in space — miraculously not any communications satellites apparently because the future internet is doing quite well). Also there are frequent meteor showers, of the size to burn up in the atmosphere, which apparently terrifies people in places that have devolved to uncivilisation (like the former US). I don't see why shooting stars are so terrifying, but on the other hand it's not like the US school system was great before it was destroyed? Anyway, I was willing to let the magical appearance of an Earth-orbiting asteroid field pass, until the solution to getting of the planet was to try to fly through the asteroid field and find a path that way. What the actual fuck. That is just so mind-bogglingly not how it works. The first thing the space agency would have done when asteroids magically showed up is map and track them all using telescopes on Earth. That way no one would have been trapped (although it might still have been inconvenient to get past them). Also the whole mapping a path through the asteroid field makes it sound like they were magically hovering above the earth (actually, a lot of things sounded like that...) when, duh, they'd be in orbit and not all on the same trajectory if they weren't actually magically gravity defying. Speaking of magic gravity, the author manages to define Lagrange points correctly, then completely misunderstands practical implementations. (Mind you, I would have let that last one pass if it hadn't been repeated three times.)

A lot of the above became apparent near the end of the book, leaving an unpleasant taste in my mouth as I finished it off. There was one physics fail much earlier which annoyed me a lot because it also implied the author doesn't read much SF since it's something that seems to come up a lot (correctly) in other books/stories. Basically, at one point when the main characters are floating in space, their comms fail and they panic and try to mime at each other and stuff. These characters are tethered together and neither of them (not even the more astronaut-trained one!) think to touch their helmets together and talk that way. Sigh. Instead they end up using a torch in a slightly nonsensical way until they fix the radio. So that annoyed me, because it could have been a lovely moment too. (Disappointingly, in a short interview at the back of the book, the author cites the torch solution as one of her favourite parts of the story...)

As I said earlier, the social world building in this book is really interesting. I wouldn't mind reading another book about other people set in the same world to get more insight into other aspects of this future. There were a few contradictions between the idealised society and how things worked in practice that I would like to see explored more. But in the end, and because it was loaded towards the end, I couldn't see past the physics to properly enjoy the book overall. I didn't hate it, but those aspects were very frustrating. The author also did something unusual with the very end, which I don't want to spoil, which piqued my interest as I got to it, but there seemed to be a bit of magic to some of the insights the characters gained because of that writing device, which, well, didn't make sense. But it was still an interesting way to finish things off, even if it broke some narrative rules.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about future societies and characters getting together. It's definitely not a capital R-omance book, and I don't think it would satisfy a reader who went into it with those expectations. Read it for the social world building and do not expect any of the science to make sense.

3.5 / 5 stars

First published: November 2017, Black Swan (Random House UK)
Series: No
Format read: eARC
Source: Publisher via Netgalley

*I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I really liked this- it was wonderfully written, I loved the dual perspectives and the changing timeline and learning about the relationship between Max and Carys out of order. The setting of both space and their futuristic world were both great and the world-building in general was well thought out.

The only thing that got me was the ending- it was confusing as I didn't know what was real and what wasn't- the three possible endings overall just seemed mostly messy and that the author just wanted the opportunity to include all her possible endings instead of just picking one.

Aside from that, which really was a bit of a shame, I was a big fan of this book as it included a lot of my favourite elements of a story- romance, space, science-fiction, jumping timelines, and dual perspectives.

Can't wait to see what else the author writes

I absolutely adored this book. There aren't many books where I finish and then reread the final chapter, but this was one. Truly beautifully heartrending. I loved the characters, the settings, the realistic nature of their relationship and the near future of Europe. It felt plausible and honest. Absolutely loved it and will recommend it to anyone.

They are falling in space, spinning away from their ship, two pointillist specks on an infinitely dark canvas.
“We’re going to be fine.” He looks around, but there’s nothing out here for them: nothing but the bottomless black universe on their left, the Earth suspended in glorious technicolour to their right.

So glad I was approved for this on Netgally, then spotted a hardback copy in my local library. Even if I hadn’t already heard of it through Netgalley I would probably have picked it up as I have a weakness for Science-fiction, books with ‘Stars’ in the title and the cover is just stunning. The paperback cover is lovely too, but have added a hardback copy to my Christmas list…
The story is a fairly unique idea (though I did read an excellent fanfic years ago which followed the characters last ten minutes in pace with failing oxygen!) and I enjoyed how the backstory was fleshed out with flashbacks, while the countdown really ramped up the tension. The language geek in me loved that moving around different countries and speaking different languages was celebrated and normal, as well as the fact that the two main characters meet through chatting in multiple languages while one of them is studying in a language-learning centre – this is my utopia!
The author’s notes at the back of the book state that she was inspired by the lead-up to the Olympic Games in London and the happy, inclusive mood inspired by the Games. I really liked how she translated this into the world she created. The Science-fiction geek in me wanted some more of the Science, as the steps by which Max and Carys ended up in space stretch the reader’s credulity at times, particularly with certain revelations about the technology which appear near the end of the book.
A dedicated Science-fiction reader may be disappointed by the lack of Science as the focus is very much on the romance. I do like character-driven books so really enjoyed this!
Pick it up if you fancy something a bit different, a musing on what makes us human and what we value and, overall, an affirming read which reminds you of what it means to live and love.

‘Doubt thou the stars are fire,
Doubt thou that the sun doth move,
Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt I love.’

What I liked: Speculative utopian/dystopian future with Europia and America, the messages about being multilingual and multi-cultural and how that is celebrated and the norm, the main characters and their respective relationships with their friends and families.

Even better if: I am torn about the ending…still can’t decide if it made the book for me or didn’t fit.

How you could use it in your classroom: I probably wouldn’t except with an older teen or adult class, where it could serve as an interesting discussion starter about what we truly value. Saying that, please also keep in mind that although this is marketed as an adult novel, there is nothing in here that would be inappropriate for a younger reader, although that does depend on what your guidelines are – for example, in this world people are encouraged to avoid pairing up or settling down until they are at least 35 years old, with many taking that as license to have ‘strings-free’ relationships. There is also mention of miscarriage and death. As always, In would recommend reading any book yourself before recommending it to others.

This is an absolutely stellar (pun intended) debut novel about love, loss, and space travel. We meet our star-crossed protagonists in the midst of a seemingly doomed space mission and slowly learn their origin story, as well as the details of the utopian future they live in, where strict rules have been put in place governing relationships.

The world building was very clever and I’d love to see that expanded and read more about Europia. We’re only given snippets which are enough to understand what’s going on, but seriously tantalising for a reader like me who loves the nuances of fictional utopian/dystopian worlds. How does Europia’s government work? What’s the deal with Voivodes? What happened to the America’s? It’s definitely apparent that the author works for a film company and I wouldn’t be surprised if the film rights for this have already been snapped up. I’d go and see it in a heartbeat.

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

An absolutely beautiful book - I'm still in pieces over it. How to describe? A love story set in deepest darkest space...kind of Romeo and Juliet mixed with Gravity and a little of One Day thrown in. A young couple chasing a forbidden love against all odds, utopian ideals, rule breaking and meteors. The perfect mix of romance and science fiction.

It seems to have taken me forever to come up with a review for this as my thoughts on it have been and, a few weeks later, remain rather muddled.

Firstly I want to say that I absolutely loved it for its originality. In fact, I was so drawn to the concept behind it that I somehow ended up both buying a copy and requesting it from NetGalley (I forgot I already owned it). There was something about the idea of a man and woman adrift in space with only 90 minutes of air left and almost no hope of salvation that really appealed to me. Space has always seemed so big and terrifying to me and the thought of being adrift…. wow.

However, if you’re expecting a tense and nail biting fight for survival similar to Gravity or The Martian I fear you will be disappointed. While there is some attempt to save themselves the majority of the story is spent with Max and Carys reflecting back on their relationship. Interspersed with the current time, and their rapidly diminishing air supply, we get flashbacks to their first meeting and all of the ups and downs of their romance, leading up to how they ended up in their current predicament.

The story of their time together does make for a fascinating story and combining that with some truly incredible world building really did engage me but given how little air they had remaining I couldn’t help but think, shouldn’t you be trying harder and focusing more on that?

I felt there should have been more tension. The portrayal of their relationship is wonderfully real and the story is truly heartbreaking at times but I found it difficult to reconcile this leisurely stroll through their past with the thought of their rapidly approaching deaths.

Added to this I have to admit that I didn’t particularly take to either Max or Carys. The characters are believable and well rounded but Carys was too insecure and needy and Max too committed to his beliefs and unwilling to compromise. They do balance each other out in many ways but I never really got behind them as a couple and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was worth it (although maybe I’m just too much of a cynic).

The biggest highlight of this story for me was probably the world the author created. Set in the future it’s so incredibly well thought out and believable. There’s no info dumping but rather all of the details around the state of the world, the political situation and belief systems are revealed gradually and in a very natural way. I liked this idea that their are no real nationalities or religion but rather everyone is encouraged to be an individual, although it did seem a tad lonely and a selfish way of existing.

The pacing of the story is a little bit on the slow side but the writing does make it very readable and it was yet another I found difficult to put down. The ending when it comes is like a lot of the book, a little confusing, a lot unique but ultimately felt right.

Overall I have to say I loved how unusual this book was and also how real it was. I just wish there had been a little more tension and passion to it. If you’re looking for a sci fi space type story I don’t think this will necessarily be for you but if you like unique love stories this may be perfect. I know I will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

In a futuristic Utopia, Carys and Max are stranded in space – this much we know. But how did they reach this point? That’s what Hold Back The Stars shows us, in a series of flashbacks and ‘what-ifs?’, alongside depicting a utopian world where living in one ‘voivode’ for more than a few years, and settling into a committed relationship before the age of 35 is forbidden.

This is the world that Max and Carys are born into, yet they were clearly born to buck the trend, finding each other before the age of 30 and irresistably drawn together.

The world of Hold Back the Stars is really well-built. The concepts underlying the world can be complicated, but they are explained well, without being patronising or in too much detail all at once and it’s clear why some aspects work well while others might be challenged by younger members of the community. The utopian ideals are clear and, given the current climate within the UK at the Brexit decision, it’s interesting to see what one possible future might have been – it opens a whole other can of worms about what it now might be!

Katie Khan takes a really interesting spin on the ending of the book – sorry, I don’t want to spoil, but I thought it was a unique way of resolving Max and Carys’ situation.

An absolutely masterpiece of a debut novel that nearly reduced me to tears on more than one occasion.
In the author's own words, it is "a sprawling mass of space, meteors, first love, utopian ideals, rule breaking, and time running out."
Superbly written with a warmth and sense of humanity that works perfectly, this is speculative fiction with a very unique presentation.