This was a great start to a fun new YA space opera. It was a face-paced read with action, adventure and interesting characters. I think the romance was a bit fast for my liking a this seems to be the start of a series and so I would've liked it to be dragged out a bit.
Overall, a light read with some depth and I'm looking forward to the next book.

I received an eARC copy of this book from NetGalley.

“Into the Churn” by Hayley Reese Chow
3.75 ⭐ (rounded to 4 due to ranking system)
-Sci-Fi
-YA Romance
-Underdogs
-High intensity

-Duel POV
If you are looking for a story that will give you a wonderful blend of The Amazing Race and The Hunger Games but taking place in an extremely thought out detailed sci-fi setting, then “Into the Churn” is for you!

Ezren is our FMC who just wants to stay on her planet of Belethea interning at her mother’s lab and finding a way to help Belethea flourish. She has no interest in this systems’ high stake race royale. That is, until she is forced to enter to save everything she cares about.
Foster is our MMC who is in a royaler who has had a tragedy lead him to losing all passion he had with the races. That is, until Ezren storms into his life and reminds him.

This story was such a fun time. Chow keeps you on your toes with the action of the races and the mystery that is unfolding around Ezren and Foster. Ezren and Foster have fabulous chemistry and it’s no surprise that they end up together. Plus, can I just say THANK YOU to Chow for making a couple that TALKS to one another. There is no miscommunication trope here folks!

The world Chow created is impressive and vast and I can tell she has poured herself into creating this high intensity sci-fi setting. My main nitpick is that at times, I got bogged down with odd lingo, tech, and just other setting terms that at times left me feeling unmotivated to continue. Especially in the beginning. At times I felt just withdrawn from the story due to my confusion which is a bummer because I can feel Chow’s passion for the world. I may find I enjoy it more during a future reread since I’ll have some familiarity with what confused me. #IntotheChurn #NetGalley

I will be cross posting on Goodreads (3/28)

A sci-fi full of action, Into the Churn is a fast paced and exciting read. I wasn't totally sold on the romance, but to be honest there were so many other things going on that it didn't bother me as much as it usually would have. One for lovers of action on other planets!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Into The Churn by Hayley Reese Chow
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 4 April 2024

I’m just going to start off this review by clearly stating that I am in fact not a sci-fi girl at all. Nope, not one bit, but boy was Into The Churn packed full of edge-of-your-seat suspense and pure unadulterated underdog action.

17-year-old Ezren has a lot of her shoulders. Not only has she been told that she’s lost her internship at the terraforming lab she’s been working at, but she’s also found out that the place she calls home is under threat of being shut down. Also, her brother, Sam, who was injured in a horrific accident when he was younger also requires major surgery, but now that she is out of a job and her mother possibly out of her job too, it’s yet another problem she has to solve.

This was an action packed read. I enjoyed watching the slow burn between the main characters Ezren and Foster, as well as the additional banter from the secondary characters. I only wish there had been more written about the actual BRR, the days just seemed to fly past too quickly.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thankxx for the arc !!

This is probably my first time reading high (?) sci-fi and I absolutely love this. And greater than that I LOVE Ezren and Foster's chemistry !! the book is based on the sports which has race across a planet with pretty PRETTY bad weather.

--> They became lovers too soon really.. I would really have loved a slow burn SO MUCH
--> The ending was rushed, its just my opinion but i think this one book could've been longer, even how they found out abt the fraud it was too rushed. Like trust me the starting and middle was reallyy great

AND OMG I heard its a series sooo what is book 2 going to be abt !?!!

My emotions are all over the place and I'm still trying hard to recover from it.
So, a science fiction. After the loooongeesttt time ever! While I dove in expecting outer space, crazy universe shit, I never thought it'd be THIS CRAZY. This book is very well written and has great character development, abeautifully crafted plot, unique setting and a nicely established pace. The romance was so authentic and not at all over the top which makes you actually be in the story and not be bombarded with the lovey-dovey.
However, I would've loved to see more of Ezren's lab rat side to make the beginning stronger and a peek into Ezren and Foster's uni life.
But
Did I love it? HELL YES!
Will I read more such stuff? DUHHHH
Am I madly in love with Sterling/Hart? ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY!!!!

Into the Churn by Haley Reese Chow
Ezren Hart wants nothing to do with Belethea’s Race Royale, but when a budget cut could shut down her mother's terraforming lab, the only way to achieve her dreams for her planet might be to run, drive and fight her way to the top of the Royale. Foster Sterling is an ex-prodigy whose fall from grace is still weighing him down. He lost his partner and his passion for the Race in what was thought to be an accident. But when Ezren comes bursting into his life he becomes more convinced that these accidents are not so accidental. Will these two be able to overcome their fears to save their planet or will this race, and its racers, take them out?

Thank you to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for lending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun, light, and easy read, the pacing was fast but the plot wasn't overly exciting. I absolutely loved both Ezren and Foster. Ezren was an incredibly empowering female character without being standoffish. Foster was so sweet on Ezren. I love how grumpy, my only thing is that he was constantly jealous of any guy that even talked to Ezren but he was a pessimist so I'll give him a break. The communication between these two characters is top tier, there was never a moment where I was screaming at them to talk to each other. I'm not a huge fan of the sci-fi genre, but this book's world and gadgets felt overly complicated, I felt like none of it was ever really explained. I am still confused about the details of the Race Royale and the meaning of all the replacement cuss words like chaff and fodding. This book is definitely a Sci-fi, YA novel but I would recommend this to friends who are fans of slow burns and underdog stories. I will 100% be looking out for the next book in this series.
Characters- 4/5
Plot- 3/5
Spice- 0/5
Overall rating- 3.5 stars (rounded up)

I had a really great time with this book!

This was such a cool sci fi world that felt three dimensional and lived in. I appreciate that, although humanity had expanded into the stars, there was still wealth inequality which effected the lives of the citizens. (I mean Ezren signs up for an insanely dangerous race to help pay for her brother's healthcare , if that isn't an accurate reflection of our times, I don't know what is).

I loved Ezren and I loved Foster. They were such great characters and off the bat, I was like oh these two were made for each other. I wouldn't necessarily call this a slow burn but more of a realistically developed romance. Thank you to Hayley for making the romance unproblematic. They supported each other, apologized for their mistakes and knew when they needed to be apart in order to cool down from a fight. Why is that so hard to find in books?!

I freaking loved the description of the race and the deadly elements. Each race was such a wild ride and I was on the edge of my seat in the very end. Also the prerace prayer was a banger.

I did have a few small quibbles that kept this from a 5 star:
1) some of the worldbuilding exposition in the beginning was clunky
2) why wasn't Ezren given an electronic message about the exhibition being rescheduled instead of a handwritten one? That seemed like an excuse to have the two leads trapped together in the storm. The use of a written message took me completely out of the story and I think there was a better way to set up that situation.
3) Not enough training montages
4) The ending climax was again clunky and a little rushed.

But overall, I'd love to read another book set in this world.

Title: Into the Churn By Hayley Reese Chow

Release date: April, 4th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars


"Into the Churn" is a thrilling blend of underdog resilience, budding romance, and gripping sci-fi adventure, set against the backdrop of savage storms and cutting-edge racing technology.

In a world where deadly storms threaten the planet Belethea, seventeen-year-old Ezren Hart is on a mission to save her mother's terraforming lab from closure. With her sights set on entering Belethea’s perilous Race Royale, Ezren teams up with the jaded ex-prodigy royaler, Foster Sterling. Together, they race against time and a series of mysterious accidents to secure the future of their planet and Ezren's family. As they navigate treacherous landscapes and unravel secrets, Ezren and Foster face tough decisions about their dreams and the risks they're willing to take.


With heart-pounding action and swoon-worthy romance, Chow kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Ezren and Foster's journey is filled with twists and turns, making it impossible to put down.


But what truly sets this book apart is its unique concept. From the adrenaline-fueled Race Royale to the meticulously crafted world-building, Chow's creativity knows no limits.

Whether you're a fan of YA, sci-fi adventures or slow-burn romance, this book has something for everyone.

Tropes:

Underdog Heroes
Slow-Burn Romance
Deadly Competition
Found Family
Dual POV
Sci-Fi

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

The cover for this one was what caught my eye and I knew I had to read it. I requested it, got approved the same day and started it the next day after I finished the book I was reading. Into the Churn is an action packed science fiction romance books. It's set on a planet called Belethea that's plagued by dangerous storms. And follows Ezren as she qualified for the system's biggest race.

This book grabbed my attention from the start with Ezren and her passion for the planet she lives on, her love for her family and her belief in the terraforming goal. When things go south she realizes entering the systems biggest and most dangerous race the BRR is the only chance she has to change things. Her passion and determination really shone through from the start and she brings that to her training and participation for the race. The race is done in doubles and she ends up teaming up with Foster who has been on the race team for a few years. Which is where the romance comes in. Foster is a bit disillusioned with the race after losing his previous double and he isn't sure he wants to race again until Ezren runs in there.

There is plenty of action with the races they participate in that lead up to the big race. There is fighting and racing with other opponents as well as the dangerous weather and storms against them. There is a bit of mystery as well that gets resolved near the end. The ending wraps everything up in a satisfying way, but leaves room for a sequel.

I really liked this book. It has this very slid structure with the plot keeping moving forward. It also has plenty of tropes, but they are well written and the book still manages to feel fresh too. There is plenty of action and things going on and I wanted to know what would happen next. The pace is good too, with enough happening or changing and things not dragging on too long.

I liked reading about both Ezren and Foster as well as seeing them form the others point of view. Ezren with her passion and determination. And Foster is just such a solid and reliable presence and I loved how he is there for Ezren and helps her along. They make for a great couple and I liked reading about them together. There are some great sweet scenes. And even their conflicts made sense and some drama, but it all was well written and didn't drag on too long.

The world building was another thing I really liked about this book. It's clear the author thoughts a lot about this new system and the planets and stations on there. There are all these little bits and pieces sprinkled throughout to give the reader a feel for the worlds. I liked learning about Belethea and the other planets, but also how the people from different places have different fashion standards and such. And there are some different words the characters use.

To summarize: This was a solid read and I really enjoyed it. Into the Churn kept me reading with plenty of action, some mystery, likable characters and a good romance. The story is well plotted and paced, I kept wanting to know what would happen next. I liked Ezren's passion and determination and how she joined the race team for a reason; to bring change to the planet she lives on. I liked Foster's steady and reliable presence and how he always is there for Ezren. Seeing them fall in love was great and I liked the slow burn romance. There are some sweet moments between them and I liked how the conflict and drama that is there made sense and didn't drag on too long. The world building was well done, it's clear there is a lot of thought put in the world building. There are bits and pieces are sprinkled throughout the book that makes the world comes alive. This one reads as a standalone with a satisfying ending, but I see there will be a sequel and I am excited for that one!

A very interesting concept and story line, i think it could've been done a little better though. It was still enjoyable though.

Ok I love love loved this book. It was cute, funny, charming, slightly tense. I loved that Ezren and Foster had open and honest communication with one another. I would love to see this book turned into a movie. The love story was so sweet and heartfelt. I teach in a middle school and I would absolutely recommend this book to them. It shows both what a strong confident woman is and what a positive healthy relationship should look like. Honesty, trust, communication, walking away to avoid saying things you'll regret. But easy apologies when you so put your foot in your mouth. Amazing.

Please please let me have an ARC of book two! I want to see what's next for team Sterling/Hart and I don't want to wait.

What a gripping read! Into the Churn is a solid YA sci-fi/ fantasy read with a bit of romance, a bit of mystery and political machinations, a bit of reality tv, and a very big, very exciting space race. I loved seeing the main characters as the underdogs, tackling every challenge that came their way despite all the odds stacked against them. Some aspects of the world-building needed a bit of tightening, but overall I felt immersed in the story and I could see myself racing along with Ezren and Foster through Belethea's storms. I'm curious to see how the story will continue with the sequel, Into the Fire.

Thank you NetGalley, Whimsical Publishing and Illustration, and Haley Reese Chow for the digital copy of this book. My review for Into the Churn will also be shared on Goodreads and on Instagram (@readcomolaflor) within 5 days of submitting my review on NetGalley.

I struggled with this book a lot because I felt like the pacing was very slow. There were almost too many descriptors and adjectives in in the writing. Things like "red-hued" and "green-flashing" in the same sentence kind of pulled me from the story.

I think this would have been a fun read if the language didn't go down the story!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)

Ezren Hart is dedicated to the research her mother's lab is doing on Belethea to provide the chance to experience life aboveground. When she learns the lab is in danger of being shut down, she reluctantly enters an open tryout to become one of Belethea's Race Royalers. Making the team could provide the publicity and funding the lab- and her family- desperately needs. When she meets potential race partner Foster Sterling, she doesn't expect to feel so much trust and chemistry with him. Can these two prove themselves and make a difference for Belethea?

I love a good YA novel, and this one didn't disappoint! This combined Hunger Games, Star Trek, Amazing Race, and American Gladiators for a sci-fi reality show race of champions. The racing portions of the book were my absolute favorite parts since they had so much action. I loved Ezren and Foster and could feel the chemistry from the moment they met. I did think the romance happened a little fast, but it didn't bother me too much because it just felt right for them to be together. There's a little bit of a mystery that comes into play as you get further into the book, and I wasn't able to predict the villain in the end. I thought I knew, but the author did a great job of keeping it a secret. The side characters were likable, but Foster and Ezren are the real stars. Now I'm curious to see what will happen to this amazing duo in book 2!

Thank you Netgalley and Whimsical Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love the worldbuilding in this science fiction tale. There’s intrigue, romance, danger, hope and more. You definitely will root for the underdogs! I could really picture the wild and stormy wilderness of the planet Belethea. You will come to care about both Ezren and Foster as they scrap and fight their way to the finish line. The race is insane….miles upon miles of treacherous terrain and storms that change course in mere seconds—oh yeah, and other racers who are constantly trying to take you out of the running, literally. I know I’d be out in the first five minutes! The story is a pulse-pounding thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat!

Look for this very soon, on April 4th! Also, you won’t have to wait long for book 2–that’s publishing on May 21st. Win-win!

Thank you to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are mine alone.

Huge thank you to Whimsical Publishing and Netgalley for the copy of this ebook!

Into the Churn was a truly vibrant story I simply could not stop reading. From the beginning I rooted for Ezren and I was fascinating by Belethea and the world surrounding this planet our main heroine loved so dearly. I was really intrigued by all the politics and the technology and lore of this universe Hayley Reese Chow crafted. We are then later introduced to Foster, Ezren's race partner and this duo was absolutely perfect. They worked so well together and it was a joy to follow them on their individual journeys as well as their story together. Their romance was also adorable. The fast pace of this story worked in its favour and made it a book difficult to stop reading.

However, I would have loved a bit more development on Foster's backstory as well as more worldbuilding about the world around Belethea (I love worldbuilding a lot).
The ending was also a bit too abrupt - the time jumps took away from the relationship development, we were more told than shown how Ezren's and Foster's relationship formed. The mystery was resolved too easily in my opinion and there were too many made up swear words.

Overall, Into the Churn was an incredible fun novel with amazing characters and I will absolutely read the sequel Into the Fire.

Ezren Hart loves her job as an intern at a terraforming lab on a planet called Belethea where violent and unpredictable storms ravage the barren landscape. Whilst most inhabitants live in shelter underground, Ezren loves to be outside battling the elements. When the lab loses funding, her friend persuades her to apply to enter the Race Royale for the prize money.
The main characters Ezren and Foster are underdogs, part of an underfunded team who are putting their lives on the line just by trying to compete in this crazy race/fight to the centre of Belethea whilst dodging the storms and attacks from other competitors.
Into the Churn is a cracking sci fi dystopian adventure with romance, science, politics and found family thrown in. The pace is intense, this is one of those rare books that is hard to put down, the world building is fantastic and very accessible and there is great character development.
Fans of Hunger Games, Ender’s Game or Ready Player One will love this.

Wow, this book was super interesting and unique and unlike anything I’ve ever read. I don’t normally reach for sci fi but this book has me convinced I’m missing out. I REALLY enjoyed it! I recommend going in blind and just enjoying the ride!

Can I first say I love the cover from this book. and second I love a good ya sci-fi book. it reminded me to read more of this genre in the future. I finished this book in a day so good was it. Ezren and Foster lead an intense journey through a world of literal life-and-death stakes. The found family dynamic is heartwarming. I was rooting for them so much and could connect to them to, the plot had some pacing issues, but it still made me so happy while reading this and will continue the series in the future. I would 100% recommend this to teen and adult who would love sci-fi, fantasy books