Notes on Infinity is an engaging and interesting read. All of the characters are highly intelligent pondering those existential questions in competitive and realistic way. I really enjoyed the different points of view and how this drove the narrative. At its core there is romance, vulnerability and dysfunction. At times it is very science based but I felt I could keep up to some degree. I did like its unpredictability and bittersweet nature. Although the pacing for me made it feel like a book of two halves. Overall an enjoyable read that takes you on a journey.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The author has created a compelling story driven by well-developed and relatable characters. I particularly appreciated the excellent pacing; the book tells its story effectively without ever feeling bloated or rushed. Highly recommended.

Zoe is the rather neglected intelligent daughter of a physics professor. She chooses to study chemistry at Harvard where she meets Jack. The attraction is instant but more importantly Jack gives Zoe an entry into cutting edge research. Together they start to research a genetic cause of ageing and this quickly becomes a start-up called Manna. As money starts to flow, Zoe moves further from the lab and is unaware of the direction the research is going in.
There's no doubt that this novel pulls strongly from several stories of start-ups in the medical field however it is a little more than these. For about the first two thirds of the book it reads as a perfectly enjoyable tale of two young people caught up in an exciting prospect. However, after the fall, the book focuses more on Jack than Zoe and it becomes more emotional. Overall I really enjoyed the cautionary tale for our time!

Notes on Infinity is a gripping, intellectually engaging debut—a smart campus novel doubling as a tragic love story and cautionary biotech thriller. Rooted in the realities of elite science culture yet pondering timeless existential questions, it’s a novel brimming with promise even amid its structural stumbles.

Original, modern and smart. I liked how the story was told - shifting narration between Zoe and Jack part way through, then shifting again towards the end. Exploring themes of the headiness and naivety of youth, professionally and personally.

Thank you to netgalley for providing this ebook for review

I really wanted to love this book. As a chemistry graduate myself and a recent lover of Tomorrow x3 and someone who gave Lessons in Chemistry 5 stars, I was expecting absolute magic. This was emphasised by going to an author talk with Austin herself.

The beginning of the book was super slow paced that only reading a review that said the latter half of the book was unputdownable, made me not DNF. I felt as thought it was too similar to tomorrow x3 and lacked any clear idea

However the second half was so so great! The pacing really picked up and with the intro of Jack’s POV, shot this book up to three stars.

I wish Jack had a pov from the beginning so we could sort of see what was going on.

Overall really nice, good writing and a really good debut

Thank you for the opportunity to have an advanced copy of your book! I really enjoy having early access to books and getting an insight into how book feedback is gained. Thanks :)

‘Notes on Infinity’ certainly made for compelling reading. Multifaceted and well-paced, insight into the scientific world – the competition, the secrecy, venture capital, marketing and the encroaching of the pharmaceutical industry – is enveloped by the competitiveness of the two main characters, who unite to take on the scientific community, with exciting effect. Their relationship adds another dimension and the climax, whilst not entirely surprising, is wrought with emotion and loss.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.

Update: I have now read “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow”—just because so many people compared it with “Notes on Infinity”—and I must say this: “Notes on Infinity” is similar, BUT SO DIFFERENT! Personally, I loved “Notes” more.

What a ride! So many unexpected twists. I thought I could predict the entire plot, but little did I know! Brava, Austin Taylor.

First things first: I have not read “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,” so I can’t compare the two novels, although I see there are quite a few comparisons being made. I love books about startups and early-stage investments, so this was just my cup of tea. The love story was a bit unusual, and I also enjoyed the double narrative. Indeed, the soul of another person is always a complete unknown to each of us!

One of the most compelling aspects of “Notes on Infinity” is the nuanced love story at its heart. The relationship between the two main characters is a vivid exploration of young love - filled with excitement, vulnerability, and the uncertainty that comes with discovering oneself through another person. Both characters are ambitious, driven by their personal dreams and haunted by their insecurities. The love story intertwines with themes of betrayal. In the world of startups and high-stakes ambition, trust is both precious and fragile. The novel deftly shows how love and betrayal can exist side by side - how the very people we care for most are also those who can hurt us most deeply. The characters’ choices, both intentional and accidental, are masterfully executed!

I wish the book were longer! But then again, it was just the right length and ended on a perfect note. I grew to love the (somewhat) controversial characters, their love story, and their dysfunctional families. Austin Taylor impeccably covers so many stereotypes - from women in STEM to patriarchal family dynamics.

It never could have been a five-star read, not only because of the slightly annoying scattering of all the Harvard names and references, which are lost on people who have never been to Harvard (and, actually, I have, but the names of the places still rang hollow to me). While you can immediately sense the author’s scientific background, I did not appreciate that most of the scientific references were fake, although somewhat loosely based on actual research.

Anyway, a great read! A page-turner at its best!

With many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Notes on Infinity is so Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow that it feels almost cynical, although I'm sure Austin Taylor must have started writing it before the breakout success of Gabrielle Zevin's book. When Zoe and Jack meet at Harvard, their studies take an unexpected turn as they drop out to run a start-up developing what promises to be the first effective anti-ageing drug. Zoe feels like she lives in the shadow of her MIT professor father, who has always seemed more interested in her older brother's career, and her decisions are unconsciously guided by a desire to impress both of her parents. Meanwhile, Jack was brought up by his grandparents in rural poverty in Maine and is unembarrassed by his desire to make money after experiencing a traumatic, precarious childhood. Notes on Infinity sounds like it might have a speculative edge but no - it's absolutely grounded in the real world and the relationships between the characters. And unlike the way Sam and Sadie are handled in Tomorrow x3, Taylor chooses to keep us in Zoe's head for the majority of the novel before taking a sharp turn into Jack's perspective. While there are plot reasons for this, I felt that it lessened the emotional impact of the book. The only character I ever really cared about was Zoe, because Jack's interiority came too late, and the decision also results in an inevitably rushed ending, as Taylor has to pack Jack's backstory in before the climax. I wanted to believe more in the depth of their relationship, as I did with Sam and Sadie's. I was mildly surprised, as well, that the theme of ageing and mortality ends up being so thematically irrelevant, despite a brief gesture towards the impact of the death of Jack's grandfather. The anti-ageing drug is ultimately a McGuffin; they could be developing anything.

However, despite these criticisms, this is an addictive read, and I absolutely ate it up. I loved the way Taylor explored Zoe's changing scientific ambitions, as she tries to figure out what she really wants and is praised for being a 'woman in STEM' even as she is subtly pushed into handling comms and PR for the company rather than doing research. Both the campus setting and the politics of the start-up are nicely, critically conveyed. Ideal holiday reading: it gave me just enough to think about, but wasn't too dense to read in big chunks. 3.5 stars.

An intriguing tale of two students with very different backgrounds meeting on a university course, and their lives becoming irrevocably entwined as a result. At times I found the language and point of view/ writing style a little distancing. However the story was such that I couldn’t put it down and had to know the ending!

I also found the knowledge and research that went into the novel incredible! I love that it all has a foundation in reality to one degree or another, per the intriguing notes at the end. To have the ability to both write and study at such depth is brilliant.

I agree with others that the story could have picked up pace a little earlier. But it definitely held my interest and I was invested in the characters enough to keep reading on. Glad to have read this wonderful story that will no doubt linger in my mind for some time to come.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Notes on Infinity is set in the world of pharmaceutical start-ups. Jack and Zoe are academic rivals, both brilliant and fiercely ambitious. They start to work on a research project together, and from there, their world opens up to seemingly endless possibilities until the deepest betrayal threatens everything they've built.

I absolutely devoured this one. It's a love story but also so much more. It captured my attention and heart very quickly, and I didn't want to put it down. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it. The characters really got under my skin, their personal struggles especially left a lasting impression, and I'm still thinking about their story weeks after finishing. It's messy. It's gritty. It's bittersweet and incredibly moving. In a nutshell, it was everything I love in a book, and I adored it

An excellent read that I just couldn't put down.

This book took me on a journey, and I didn't want it to stop. I thought it was a great concept, with well-developed characters, and I found it to be very well written. It was a tad science-heavy at times, but that didn't bother me.

I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the advance copy.

4.5 stars.
Well this was something a little different from what I expected... And in a good way...
We start with Harvard students Zoe and Jack who meet in a lecture. They are chalk and cheese but both have one big thing in common. They have defied the odds to get to where they are. They start to be competitive, sparking off against each other and then, to Zoe's angst, Jack stops attending the lecture. Long story short they meet again and Jack recommends Zoe to join him in a the lab of the most prestigious professor in their field. And it is there where Zoe's ideas about formulating a cure for ageing starts... We then follow them through the various stages of putting said idea into practice, starting with getting good results, then forming a start-up, getting funding, adding people to the company, promoting the idea... They are really flying high, until...
And that's all I am saying as, well, if I waxed as lyrical as I wanted to, especially about the final quarter of the book, it really would spoil things for you... Suffice to say that it is worth the journey...
Well... as long as, if you are not familiar with the field of science that is demonstrated herein, you manage to just skim these parts. Honestly, it doesn't mater whether you understand it or not...
The main story, the drug they are trying to create, often kinda plays second fiddle to the relation/friend-ship between Zoe and Jack. Which is way too complicated to even try and explain. Suffice to say it held me rapt all the way through and, well, as I said, the final quarter, Phew...!
This is a book that also can be read on many levels. There is a lot of food for thought around ageing and immortality, both the possibility and the repercussions and I think it would make an excellent book-club read. Or there's the story of two kids all caught up with something bigger than them, and just trying to survive. it all. Either way, I think this book will be big... And I also can't wait to see what the author has in store for next time!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I did greatly enjoy parts of this book but for a lot of the heavy science parts I just sort of buzzed over them. If not from a science background it did get a bit bogged down. Overall though I did enjoy the bits I understood.

Thanks to @netgalley the author & publisher for the ARC.

I enjoyed the premise of this book, you could be slightly mistaken for thinking that it is similar to "Tomorrow, Tomorrow & Tomorrow" but it isn't.
I enjoyed reading this book but I found it quite hard to read in parts, too science-heavy, too technical for me in parts. It does highlight & celebrate women working in the STEM environments and also demonstrates the negative side of this where they are treated like mascots, they're lauded for their successes but then not taken too seriously!
I liked the characters in this book, you get invested in them, and it was a bit of a roller coaster, full of twists & turns!
This is definitely one to read this summer!

This book was great, but sooo heartbreaking.

I loved the concept of it; the anti-aging discussion is prevalent today. I also loved Zoe’s character and seeing how love blinded her to the actual situation.

I didn’t understand everything as it’s quite science-heavy, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I felt Zoe and Jack’s pain, I felt how trapped they were - I just wish it had a happier ending for both of them (however unrealistic that is).

Profound, lyrical, and thought-provoking ✨🌌. Notes on Infinity is a philosophical, deeply moving exploration of love, existence, and the mysteries of the universe. Austin Taylor’s writing is poetic and insightful, weaving together science, emotion, and wonder. I adored the reflective tone and the way the story invites readers to ponder life’s biggest questions. Perfect for fans of literary fiction that sparks curiosity and introspection.

I enjoyed lots about this book.

The novel is undoubtedly ambitious, offering a sharp, if at times sobering, look at unchecked ambition, the ethical minefield of scientific advancement, and the intoxicating allure of pushing human limits.

The premise is intriguing and imagining the possible emergence of a life altering drug was compelling. It takes us into the underbelly of academia, startups and scientific breakthroughs. It also takes us into a fair bit of scientific jargon which I must admit lost me at times.

There are some things that I prefer not to dwell too much on in real life and Big Pharma is one of them but Notes on Infinity made me nose dive into he possibilities, the secrecy and the corruption.

Maybe that's why I couldn't fully get on board with the story. Or maybe it's because the human element also felt a bit lacking.

While Zoe and Jack are undeniably brilliant and driven, I found it hard to connect with them on an emotional level. Their relentless ambition often overshadowed any deeper human complexities, leaving them feeling more like highly intelligent, almost clinical, constructs rather than relatable individuals. This made it difficult to fully invest in their personal journeys or the intense pressures they faced, despite the intriguing plot unfolding around them.

Overall, would I recommend this book? Yes, especially if your interest leans more towards the scientific and biotech aspects than mine.

Thank you to Austin Taylor, Penguin Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in return for my honest review.

I had such high hopes for this book but I couldn’t really connect with all the science terminology. Thanks to the author, NetGalley and publishers.