Item: Yours for the Taking
Rating: 4.00
Author: quirkycat

by Gabrielle Korn

The year is 2050. Ava and her girlfriend live in what's left of Brooklyn, and though they love each other, it's hard to find happiness while the effects of climate change rapidly eclipse their world. Soon, it won't be safe outside at all. The only people guaranteed survival are the ones whose applications are accepted to The Inside Project, a series of weather-safe, city-sized structures around the world.

The director of the Inside being built on the bones of Manhattan is Jacqueline Millender, a reclusive billionaire/women’s rights advocate. Her ideas are unorthodox, yet alluring, challenging the very concept of empowerment.

Shelby, a business major from a working-class family, is drawn to Jacqueline’s promises of power and impact. When she lands a job as Jacqueline’s personal assistant, she's swept up into the glamourous world of corporatised feminism. Also drawn into Jacqueline's orbit is Olympia, who Jacqueline recruits to run the health department Inside. The more Olympia learns about the project, though, the more she realizes there's something else at play. As Ava, Olympia, and Shelby start to notice the cracks in the system, Jacqueline tightens her grip, becoming increasingly dangerous in what she is willing to do - and who she is willing to sacrifice - to keep her dream alive.

At once a mesmerising story of queer love, betrayal, and chosen family, and an unflinching indictment of cis, corporate feminism, Yours for the Taking holds a mirror to our own world, in all its beauty and horror.

Book Summary:

The world is dying. Nobody wants to admit it, but that's the truth. Some people are coming together to create a plan, but only time will tell how effective they are. One such plan is to create safe cities – completely walled off from the weather (and those outside).

Jacqueline Millender is personally funding Manhattan City. However...she has a few unorthodox plans for her city. Ironically, she doesn't even plan on living in the city. She merely wishes to establish it and see how it turns out. Or so she says.

My Review:

I love how creative Yours for the Taking was. Despite the many common elements, it's wholly unlike any other dystopian I've read. I've read a few "bunker-style" survival novels, and this isn't like those. It's something different and compelling.

One of the highlights of Yours for the Taking is how it addresses many important topics. There's the obvious (environmentalism, conversation, etc), but there are a few surprises as well. Most of them stem from Jacqueleine's biases and behaviors – racism, classism, sexism, you name it.

What is interesting is how this novel almost feels like two distinct books, depending on the perspective. The first generation for the city feels more like a political drama of sorts. Meanwhile, the younger generation (I'm trying to avoid spoilers, so forgive the generic terminology here) had strong The Pretties vibes (for me, at least).

In addition to the above elements, there's at least one romantic subplot and several lessons for the readers to pick up. I appreciated the unique blend of storytelling styles and perspectives. I'm adding Gabrielle Korn to my author-watch list.

Highlights:
Science Fiction
Dystopian
Bubble Cities
Multiple Perspectives

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Yours for the Taking

by Gabrielle Korn

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Mar 11, 2024

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