
Member Reviews

I had no idea what to expect going into this book, and even while reading it I wasn’t always sure how I felt about it.
The first word that comes to mind when describing it is “confusing.” The combination of the mysterious plot, the futuristic setting, the vague writing style, and characters that often felt distant from me as a reader came together in a perfect storm of “wait, what is going on?” I could always get the general gist of things, but the details were often foggy, and while I enjoy being held in suspense as a reader, I don’t like feeling confused.
First of all, every aspect of the plot had some sort of mystery to it. How did Celia get on the island? How did she lose her memories? Why can’t she see color? Why is Kasey so unfeeling? What is the felony Kasey committed? Who is Act and what is his relationship to Celia? And more as the plot continues. If I’d had fewer questions, or if the answers to some of them had come earlier on in the story, I would have had firmer footing and been able to focus on the most important questions.
The sci-fi setting didn’t help matters. I love science fiction – seriously, it’s probably my favorite genre – but it can be confusing to get to know an unfamiliar, futuristic world. On top of all the other confusion, it was too much. And although many of the concepts Joan He introduced were unique and interesting – the eco-cities, ranking people based on their ancestral environmental impact, experiencing things virtually to save resources – none of these concepts were explored as thoroughly as I would prefer, so once again, I was left with questions.
The protagonists, sisters Celia and Kasey, were promising characters, and there were moments or even entire chapters where I strongly connected with them, but I never felt like I truly knew or understood them. I was surprised that I especially had trouble connecting with Kasey. She seemed like exactly my type of character: a socially awkward STEM prodigy who feels different from everyone else around her. But she felt so distant and unfeeling, which I know was partially intentional but also partially resulted from a lack of in-depth exploration of Kasey’s thoughts and feelings or development that explained her actions.
I had more insight into Celia and ended up relating to her more, even though, because of her amnesia, her personality and motivations weren’t always clear. In terms of side characters, Act might as well have been a black box for all I understood his motivations. Paradoxically, despite knowing nothing about him for most of the book, Hero came across as more accessible and less inscrutable; I could at least guess at why he did what he did. And surprisingly enough, though I was disappointed to discover both romances in this book were straight, the romance was actually pretty well-written.
This is a three-star read for me because everything that I liked about it also had some part that I disliked. The plot was full of unexpected twists and turns, but that meant I spent the first half of the book with nothing but questions. One of the protagonists was well-written and grew on me as the story progressed, while the other seemed promising at first but never felt real to me. The world of the story was so interesting and unique, but I never got to learn about it in as much detail as I wanted.

4/5 stars.
First off, I have to comment on the beautiful cover for this book. As soon as I saw it I immediately needed it, and then reading the blurb I was so excited to read a dystopian novel for the first time in years.
The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a sci-fi dystopian novel set in a futuristic world about sisters Kasey and Cee who are trying to find each other again. The novel is told in alternating perspectives, about Cee who is stranded on an island and trying get to her sister Kasey, and Kasey who is struggling to keep afloat following her sister's disappearance and trying to find out what happened to her. The book is about sisterhood but also the futuristic world they live in, which is slowly crumbling.
The world isn't one completely foreign and obscure to this one; unfortunately, a lot of the aspects in the novel are ones I can imagine happening in real life a hundred or so years from now. The novel is set in a world that's been severely damaged by human waste, who've taken advantage of the Earth's resources so much so that now people are driven to live in small 'eco-cities' in which they have to spend 1/3 of their time in holograms to reduce emissions, and that's only if their ranks are high enough. If not, they live in other areas where the air is polluted, resources are scarce, and they're strongly effected by natural disasters. It's tough to read, especially when there's already so much going on in present day here, but worth it to ride it out till the end.
I liked both sisters, but I really enjoyed Kasey's chapters the most. I loved the worldbuilding in her chapters, since most chapters were set in the eco-city she lived in and she was surrounded by technology that I struggled to understand. It was confusing at first, and took me a while to get to grips with, but once I did it became easier to become immersed into the world. I loved thinking of theories in the novel, a lot of them being wrong but the ones that were right ended up hurting so much.
Overall, the novel was touching and gut-wrenching, and perfect for sci-fi fans who also enjoy reading about familial relationships

I've been wanting to read this book since I saw it on multiple lists at the beginning of the year for books to be on the lookout for in 2021. For one thing, the cover is absolutely stunning and the description (<i>We Were Liars</i> meets <I>Black Mirror</i<??) made me even more intrigued. That's why I was so excited when NetGalley and the publisher gave me the opportunity to read and review an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from alternating perspectives, Cee, who has woken up on an abandoned island with no memories other than one: that she has a sister and she needs to find her. Kasey is living on a version of Earth that is crumbling. The safe places to live on the dying planet are shrinking and Kasey might be the only person who can save everyone.
To really say much more might be a spoiler and the journey of discovery with this book is half of the enjoyment. This book had me constantly thinking...of what was going to happen (and so many of my theories were WRONG) but also about free will and about what makes us human. When I realized that so much of this book happens due to humans being humans and the disasters that follow I was a little nervous... it has been hard for me to read dystopian-type stuff while under lockdown from a pandemic. However, while I was nervous and excited to see what would happen I found the book enough of a thought-provoking escape to be an enjoyable read.
Above all this book made me think about the love of sisters and how despite all the science and logic in the world some things are just stronger than that.
There are some CWs here including violence, death, death of a loved one, suicide, drowning, natural disasters and terminal illness.

The Ones We’re Meant to Find tells the story of Cee and Kasey, two sisters who become separated from one another. Cee on a deserted island with no memory of how she got there and only remembers one thing - she has a sister. And Kasey who lives in an eco city, the last inhabited unpolluted place and humankind’s one chance of survival. This is a beautiful story about survival and the incredible connection we have with other people. It included many difficult topics including suicide, violence and terminal illness and handled them brilliantly.
The world building was incredible. I felt fully immersed in the different and fascinating environment. The concept of the eco city was interesting, and I enjoyed reading about how it came into existence. With both sisters being in different places, I loved the contrast. Cee on an island and Kasey in the eco city, and it allowed me to see the differences and learn about each environment without any need for massive info dumping. It was a wonderful blend of dystopian with sci-fi aspects.
The characters all felt so real, and because there weren’t a ton of them, I connected with them on a better level. This story didn’t need lots of characters to be special, and the author really brought them to life.
I was fully invested in finding out how Cee ended up on the island, and although I had a few theories, I couldn’t guess the truth (which was more mind blowing than I could have imagined!) The plot often slowed down in parts but it was still interesting and didn’t lose my interest.
The writing was stunning. The author really climbed inside the character’s heads so much that they felt like real three-dimensional people. Both Cee’s and Kasey’s POV’s were unique, and they felt like two separate people.
One big issue I had was I didn’t always know what was going on. Although I loved both POV’s it could get quite confusing as to follow the storyline and what was going on. Especially towards the end, I had to flick back and forth to understand what had happened. However, overall this m was a beautiful yet heart wrenching novel with enough elements to keep me engaged and excited to keep turning the pages. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review.

I was pleasantly surprised by The Ones We're Meant To Find. It is a futuristic/dystopian novel with both a lonely, deserted island and a high tech city in the sky.
Cecilia has been missing for several years and assumed dead by most. She has been on a deserted island with only a bot to keep her company and a strong urge that she must find her sister. Kasey, a scientist and Cecilia's sister, lives in the high tech city in the sky and is on a quest to find out what really happened to her sister.
The Earth has became so toxic and polluted to humans, that living in the sky is now the best logical option for human survival. However, only certain people are allowed in this city and people are subjected to numbers based on their worthiness that can be displayed above their heads at any time. People in this city are also subjected to several rules and regulations that takes away their freedom and faced with the dilemma of living a longer/healthier/logical life or living a life of emotional freedom. Cecilia always desired that life of freedom and emotions, while Kasey was all about the logical science side of things.
The novel goes deeper than I expected and has plot twists that have you questioning what it really means to be free or to be human and how far is too far to save humanity. Although the novel does have a great deal to do with science and has lots of technical details, it also has beautiful prose and a great writing style that brings it to life. The writing style also brings out the personality of each sister, more technical and scientific when you are with Kasey and more lyrical and emotional when you are with Cecilia.
I also really enjoyed the atmosphere of the book. You could feel the more futuristic sterile environment of the sky city, the toxic desolation of earth and the beauty and loneliness of the island. I also felt the weird dreamlike state of the island that went along with the par of one of the twists.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Ones We're Meant To Find and would highly recommend it to friends.

I was immediately spellbound when i picked up The Ones We're Meant to find. Joan He draws you into her world where you can't help but root for these two sisters to find each other. As the story progressed and you find out is really happening in the world outside. I was speechless and completely surprised. The story definitely reflects whats happening in the real world with the condition of our oceans and what the consequences might be if we don't act now. Her writing is superb as always and The characters are so 3 dimensional. you feel that you could walk up to them on the street and strike up a conversation with them.

Full review has been posted to Blog "Read with Tessa" -
The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a YA sci-fi novel following the stories and bond between two sisters – Celia, surviving on a desolate island with limited memories and one mission only: to find her sister; and Kesey, surviving in a destroyed environment presented with the decision wether to use her knowledge to help save humanity, responsible for Earth’s destruction and whom have continuously failed her and her loved ones.
I jumped into this book knowing only what is vaguely stated in the synopsis hinting at a science-fiction component, yet this story exceeded all my expectations taking the science-fiction component and making into something novel and unique. It is my belief that it’s best to know as little detail as possible before picking this one up, thus I will be as vague as possible while giving my detailed opinion of this new book by author Joan He.
Joan He builds the surrounding background to this story perfectly, giving us a detailed description that allows to obtain a clear picture of the world – without extending chapters of information to reach this feet. Within a couple of pages the world is set out for the reader and, although Earth is in a devastated state, the description becomes slightly unsettling as it depicts a future that seems truly possible: Earth has been made uninhabitable due to mankind’s pollution and global warming. Within this setting, technology has advanced extensively, creating novel ways to combat the aforementioned disruption.
Via the characters, the author explores the power of human bonds, mainly between sisters, specifically how far an individual is willing to go for a loved one, the sacrifices one makes to survive, while also covering topics of love and humanity. As technology had advanced in this world, we are also presented with themes and conversations of the benefits and dangers of artificial intelligence – What makes us human? Who determines what is right and what is wrong?
The dual point of view of the protagonists, Celia and Kasey, are perfectly woven together with twists-and-turns throughout the novel, creating an atmospheric, unpredictable and perfectly-paced story. A curious authorial choice made was to write the individual points of views in different perspectives, first and third person respectively. Although as a reader you become accustomed to it very early-on, it did initially throw-off my reading experience. However, I am also able to understand how this sets and fits the “mood” of the storyline.
Overall, The Ones We’re Meant to Find is an enjoyable read, covering important topics and relevant discussions for all readers, regardless of age. This read leaves you wanting more, yet ends perfectly and in-line with the atmosphere of the story. I encourage anyone drawn-in by the synopsis to pick this novel up, everyone will find something of value within its pages.
Trigger Warnings: terminal illness, suicide, violence (including chocking), death, death of parent (off page), vomiting, large scale natural disasters and mass casualties, some gore.
Disclaimer: Thank you to Text Publishing for providing me an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

THis is the second book i've read by joan he, and i enjoyed both. I got this as an earc via netgalley, it comes out May 4th.
This is a scifi novel about two sisters. One stuck on an abandond island, searching for her sister. One living in an ecocity, grieving her sister. Joan he has a Beautiful writing style and the dual perspective and the plot twists made this very enjoable. I found myself very invested and trying to figure out what was going on. It touches on tHemes like grief, class, climate change, technology. And i loved this is a book about sisters!

*crying in the corner because I desperately wanted to love this book and I just didn't.*
Now, this book has fallen victim to the I haven't got a clue what's going on syndrome I face when being presented with a book that ties so much together I'm like whaaaat. For the life of me, I couldn't get into this book and honestly if it wasn't for a review, this book would have been a DNF for me.
Maybe it's because I'm not in the mood for this genre or maybe it's the writing but I just didn't connect to the characters and I didn't care for the plot. I liked what I read initially and alongside that beautiful cover I honestly thought this book would be right up my street and I was so disappointed when I sat down to read this and I just couldn't get on with it.
I did like...
- the story of two sisters. As someone who has two sisters myself I related to this in a lot of ways and I always enjoy stories that focus on families.
- the concept itself was interesting enough but very confusing.
I feel the major issue with this book was likely the writing. Our characters switch tense which is confusing enough and the lack of world-building was really a challenge for me. I didn't understand the world Joan has created and this was challenging when reading this. I also didn't care for the love story either.
Sadly, this book didn't work for me and I feel like younger YA audiences would enjoy this better.
i received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm always a sucker for a cli-fi novel, and this premise was no exception. The technology explored in the novel was really interesting and inventive. There's also a pleasing story structure here, and I think the author really does a good job of redirecting reader expectations a few times in the story -- there were a couple of twists that did not go the way I expected them. There were moments where the story dragged for me in either Cee's plot or Kay's, but I think the author did a good job of balancing the two viewpoints and maintaining tension. There's not a lot more I can say without spoiling things except that YA is not my preferred genre all the time, and there are some YA tropes in here. Despite that I really enjoyed this book. Thanks to the publisher for giving me a chance to read it.
A slightly longer review is forthcoming on my blog.

You might think you know what you’re getting into when you start to read The Ones We’re Meant To Find but trust me, it’s bigger than you could ever imagine. This book is intense beautiful torture and while it doesn’t feel like a big book, it achieves so much and takes you so far. Without any spoilers, this study is about 2 sisters, Kasey and Cee, Cee is missing and Kasey wants answers. However Cee is actually on an island, with limited memory but one very clear one, her sister and she’s trying to get back to her.
Cee is the heart of this story and I loved her, Kasey is admittedly rational rather than emotional and often socially awkward and blunt so it’s not as easy to relate to her. I wished for more Cee because I just adored her, she doesn’t know much but she knows love and it’s like fuel to her. There’s other wonderful characters, Hero, a mysterious guy who appears on the island, even Hubert the boat, yes I loved a boat, and Ume, a robot that i found so genuinely endearing. This book has it all.
There’s nothing much I can say about this book at risk of spoiling anything, the mystery is what makes this book so special. But expect to be messed up, expect to scream when you get to the end of the book, expect to feel a lot of things. This book really is wonderful, oh and the cover? Just beautiful. Thank you NetGalley for giving me an early copy to review.

Thank you to Text Publishing and Netgalley for providing me an E-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The Ones We're Meant to Find is filled with twists and turns along the way, which can be confusing for some. However, I encourage readers to stick to it until the very end. Much needed commentary on climate change and the effects it'll have on the world and those who live in it is a common theme in TOWMTF.
I definitely liked Cee's character a lot more than Kasey's, just because her motivations felt clear to me in every chapter. Halfway through, I thought that Kasey's goals weren't conveyed well, making it harder to connect with her.

DNF 45%
I never give up on books, I always try to finish them even though I'm not enjoying the story... but I'm sorry to say, this book is a no-no for me.
By itself, the synopsis is promising, the cover is really wonderful, but the author's way of writing is not for me.
And this is something that has been pointed out even with her publication in Italy, her way of writing doesn't grab the reader at all.
Obviously there are cases and cases, the reading is still subjective, but in respect of those who provided me with the book preview, I would like to give my most honest opinion, otherwise I would be a bad blogger.
I'm very sorry.

This book has instantly become my favourite. Of all time. I struggle to pull my thoughts about this book into coherent sentences but I will do my best. This managed to explore so much in such a short time but still do it all so well. From the sisters relationship to the fate of the entire world, every piece of this beautiful puzzle fit so well.
I love the style of story telling that drops you in a new setting but doesn't explain every piece of it right away. You discover things as they become important, as they become relevant to the characters. Even while missing pieces I felt more IN this world, felt more IN the character's heads. They don't need to explain parts of their own past to themselves, they were there... They don't need to explain the city in their own heads, they've known it their whole lives
The pacing of this was also so perfect for me... Right from the start I was in it, by 30% I was suspecting it could be a new favourite, and then at 50% there is a huge twist. Everything is so quick from there it was impossible to put down. The build to that point is beautiful, and it is so satisfying to have that piece click into place at 50%.
.Kasey was such a refreshing character to read for me. I can struggle to understand character motivations or actions taken but she always made sense to me, even when doing questionable things. It was so interesting to learn about Kasey and watch her change while also learning about Celia alongside her.
I tend to not enjoy stories of siblings, I just can't understand siblings that go from a regular relationship to sacrificing themselves for the other. I'm not close to my siblings but I don't hate them either, and it's hard to find stories of siblings who just love each other enough, and want to know the other is ok, but are not going to die to ensure that... These sisters make sense to me though, and I will always cherish this sibling bond that I can understand.
This world was so beautiful in my mind. I see things vividly when I read but if the descriptions and writing isn't there to help me along it won't appear on it's own. The writing here, though, absolutely came to life in my mind. I could live in this story, on this island, in this city in the sky, forever.
Will be rereading as soon as my pre-ordered copy arrives!! This will stay with me forever.

I saw reviewers raving about this book on Goodreads and a few blogs. Being a sci-fi fan, I had to request it.
While this cover is beautiful, it doesn’t scream sci-fi/dystopia. I honestly assumed it was YA contemporary until I read the description, and I’m afraid it may be targeting the wrong group of readers. The worldbuilding is the big standout for me in this novel. Earth is overpolluted and nearly uninhabitable, and citizens have taken to living in ecocities in the sky. If you rank high enough, that is. Most people don’t and have little chance of getting in. Oceans are poisoned and natural disasters occur frequently, killing millions. Time is running out.
Told in alternating POVs between Cee and Kasey, discrepancies in their stories arise early in the book. By Cee’s count, she’s been on the island three years. Kasey says she’s been missing only months. The mystery about what exactly is going on will keep readers turning the pages, but I have to admit I guessed it early. I’ve probably read too many sci-fi books, but I came across a similar premise in another novel a few years ago that clued me in.
If contemporary fans pick this up, I suspect the strong bond between the sisters will be the draw for them, and it’s a driving force in the plot. Cee loves life and is carefree, while Kasey is more at home in a science lab working alone. With me being more a fan of sci-fi than contemporary, the relationship aspect didn’t appeal to me as much.
It’s a grim story, but comes with stunning plot twists that have surprised most readers and complex worldbuilding. If you’re a fan of sci-fi/dystopia who enjoys mysterious puzzles or like reading novels with strong sibling bonds, this book may captivate you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is one of those books that will definitely divide opinion. I realise that a lot of people are very excited about this book and let's face it the beautiful cover just adds to the anticipation. Two sisters estranged and yet desperately seeking each other is the main drive of this story and yet there are so many messages woven into it concerning our planet and the dangerous way we constantly have disregarded it.
We meet Cee the eldest sister alone on an island with just a robot as company. She remembers her sister Kasey but nothing else and is determined to escape and find her sister. I loved Cee and her boundless energy within what felt very much like a Robinson Crusoe/Castaway feel and yet even then it just felt almost surreal.
Kasey is cold, detached and because every scene about her featured lots of technical details at times if blunt it didn't always immediately make sense. She's in a privileged position and desperate for answers about her sister who is believed dead but is she just missing ? Kasey takes matters into her own hands and starts to track down Cee but the answers she finds change her and her perception of the world around her.
This is sci fi with a strong dystopian feel as its about a world that is virtually uninhabitable. Science and technology dominate and if you fear the advance of AI this will certainly make you think. I cannot lie and will state that I didn't really enjoy Kaseys part in this story although without it there wouldn't have been answers to the mystery surrounding Cee. This book left me feeling hollow and yes the author does try to put a positive spin as it winds up but unfortunately I am just left feeling sad. A unique idea but the execution particularly when it came to Kaseys scenes just didn't work for this reader.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

The cover caught my attention immediately. The description left me curious as to how it would all play out. After the first chapter I was confused, but by the second chapter things became more clear and I became invested in figuring what happened to these two sisters. The writing style does take some getting used to but eventually you become used to the flow and the story keeps you wanting more. It was a perfect blend of science fiction and soul searching that worked well for the story.
The story introduces you to Cee and Kasey. Cee is stuck on an island while Kasey is left behind missing her. The question of their separation lingers throughout the book and keeps you glued to the story. Readers slowly learn not everything is as it appears as more of the truth comes to light. I really enjoyed this story and the ideas presented. This novel is a creative and interesting story that I would recommend to others who enjoy science fiction and unique perspectives.

4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
The Ones We're Meant to Find really caught me by surprise. It's rather slow pace, conflicting POVs and long setup certainly wouldn't be to everyones taste, but I absolutely adored it.
At its core, this book is about what it means to be human, about the responsibility we hold to be true to ourselves while still somehow balancing this with our responsibilities towards society as a whole. It's about loss, identity, deciding your own fate, building meaningful connections and the joy and pain they come with. It really resonated deeply with me, and I appreciate these issues being addressed in YA literature.
The concept is very intriguing as well - a science-heavy dystopia that could easily come to be. If you're looking into a read that explores the consequences that humanity's actions have on this planet, this one might be for you.
If you're into slow, introspective books where your initial confusion is rewarded by everything coming together in the end, definitely go and check this one out!

The cover for this book is goals...its contents not so much. I found this novel to be an odd melange of confusing and simple. The characters came across as flat (little more than names on a page), the world-building, although at first promising, ultimately struck me as patchy, and the storyline and twists were just not up my street. Still, I know that quite a lot of people are looking forward to this novel so I encourage prospective readers to check out some more positive reviews, as this may as well be one of those 'it's not it's me' cases.
The novel follows two sisters, the older one, Cee, has been stranded on an island for the past three years, while the younger one, Kasey, lives in one of the few existing eco-cities and is trying to make sense of Cee's disappearance. Climate and environmental disasters have made eco-cities refuges for humanity. Of course, not everyone is allowed entrance in eco-cities, and in spite of their utopian promises, eco-cities' such as Kasey's are incredibly classists (people are 'ranked, the cities themselves have stratified structure and those who live in the lower stratums lead less privileged lifestyles than those on 'top'). Although much of Kasey and Cee's world remains largely unexplored we do get some details about life in their eco-city. For example, we learn that 'holoing' is a green alternative which allows the citizens of the eco-city to conduct 'nonessential activities' in the holographic mode. There is also Intraface which allows its users to capture their memories as well as apps which can 'adjust' a person's serotonin levels. Kasey, who is a very logical person and who makes sense of the world around her through a scientific lens, finds herself, somewhat uncharacteristically one could say, trying to find what happened to her sister, even if she's convinced that Cee is dead.
Meanwhile, Cee has been trying to leave the island she woke up on. She desperately wants to be reunited with Kasey, and is prepared to risk her life in her attempt to build a raft/boat that will allow her to set forth into the ocean. Cee recollects very little about her former life and seems to have entirely forgotten about the existence of the eco-city or the rest of the world. All she knows is that she has to find her sister.
Here are the problems that I had with this novel (minor-spoilers below):
→the writing itself. Cee's sections are narrated in the 1st person, Kasey's in the 3rd. Something switching between perspectives can enhance a story (as with Red at the Bone, Everything Here is Beautiful, The Travelers, or anything by N. K. Jemisin), but, more often than not, is unnecessary. Kasey remains remote, which is perhaps intentional, after all, the author goes above and beyond in order to emphasise how 'cold' and 'detached' and 'Not Like Other People' she is (it seemed weird that the possibility of her being neurodivergent was never raised or discussed considering how technologically advanced these eco-cities are—for example, if someone feels upset they can locate the source of that feeling, be it a memory or whatnot). Yet, on the other hand, being in Cee's head didn't do all that much for her character either. She doesn't know a lot, her inner monologue consists mostly of what she observes (the island, the ocean, the rocks, the sand, her shack, her robot helper). When the boy arrives her mind is mostly occupied with thoughts of him. Cee's sections also included some really purply phrases (her thoughts 'jellify', she feels the 'muchness' and 'littleness'). Although the writing was for the most part okay, there were a few too many clichéd phrases ("Sometimes [she] felt like a stranger in her own skin", "[she] did not belong–here or anywhere") and even the dialogues were full of platitudes and done to death lines such as "What could we achieve, if we worked together?"
→the world-building left too much unexplored. There was so much that did not make sense or did not convince me and yet, I was supposed to just buy into it? The few half-delivered explanations we get did little in terms of answering my questions or making sense.
→the characters....Cee and Kasey are the classic YA sisters. One is attractive, charming, everyone loves her. The other is quiet, logical, not driven by her feelings but by FACTS, and she just does not 'fit in'. I felt nothing for them, which sounds harsh, but it is the truth. They were painfully one-dimensional, and, the longer I read, the less I believed in them.
→insta-love, of the worst kind. The whole love storyline did not work for me.
→plot...it has its twists, I will give it that. But I just could not bring myself to believe in Kasey's arc (that they would just let her do what she wanted)
→we never learn much about the sisters' relationship to their parents
Sadly, the novel had very little to offer me. By the end of the novel (around the 80% mark) I was so bored and irritated by what I was reading that I ended up skim-reading the rest. There were too many lacunae (in both the world-building and storyline) and I never felt engaged by the characters or the author's style. I was hoping for something more compelling, and yes, the comparison to Ghibli definitely feels misleading.

I remember reading the author's debut novel, Descendant of the Crane, and being absolutely blown away. With The Ones We're Meant to Find author Joan He proves she can write, and that she can create complex and truly creative YA stories. I really hope she'll become one of the bigger names in the genre soon, because she deserves it.
This is a story about two sisters, separated by the ocean, and yet it's also so much more. There are elements of dystopia, science fiction and mystery, and it blends these in a way that I believe will connect with many readers who aren't necessary fans of these genres.
The Ones We're Meant to Find follows Cee, who has been living on an abandoned for three years, with only an old android to keep her company. She has a single memory: she has a sister, and she must find her.
We also follow Kasey, a STEM prodigy living on one of the few eco-cities left on a dying Earth, who's investigating what happened to her presumed dead sister, Celia.
I think the author did a great job at giving each sister their own, distinct voice. They are very opposite characters, and I loved the thought and detail that was put in their perspectives.
The worldbuilding was very interesting, and especially the way eco-cities were incoroporated into the story was extremely well done. I loved the exploration of how rank and numbers based on the damage you or your ancestors have done to the planet, determine whether you're allowed to live in one, or whether you're left in the territories and exposed to natural disasters. It allowed a lot of commentary on climate change and consumerism, which also made it feel like a realistic interpretation of a possible future.
I only saw while writing this review this book was pitched as having elements of Studio Ghibli, and I wholeheartedly agree. This book would make a great Studio Ghibli movie, at is has all the whimsy and heart set in a strange and enchanting world.
All in all, I loved how this story reading puzzled together, with all its nuance and moral ambiguity. It's very thought-provoking must-read for anyone who wants something different within the YA genre. Once this books hooks you, you're in for a rollercoaster of twists and turns, with layered characters weaving together a heart-wrenching tale of love and survival and humanity.