The Shutouts picks up in the wake of Yours for the Taking, plunging us back into a dystopian future unraveling under the weight of climate catastrophe, government betrayal, and identity politics. Though billed as “set in the same world,” make no mistake, this is a true sequel imo, and you’ll be lost without reading book one first.
The novel alternates between multiple timelines and a wide cast of characters, all trying to navigate the fractured world left behind after the fall of The Inside Project. Civil society has collapsed. Climate change has taken its toll. And now, groups (some communal, others cult-like) fight for survival in scattered, makeshift tribes. While there are interesting dynamics at play (especially with Ava and Brook), many of the secondary characters blurred together for me, and the emotional stakes didn’t land as deeply as in book one.
The book explores the existential dread of a post-climate-crisis world, as well as identity, resistance, and the messy complications of building a new future. There’s also strong representation for nonbinary and LGBTQ characters, which adds important depth and inclusivity to the speculative fiction landscape.
The narration was excellent and easy to listen to, but the constant timeline shifts and ensemble cast made it harder to follow, it probably would be easier to follow by reading it. I often found myself zoning out or rewinding just to stay anchored in the narrative.
This felt more like a bridge book. There’s not a ton of action, and the emotional beats never quite hit as hard as they could’ve. It was thoughtful, yes but I never felt truly immersed.
This wasn’t a bad book by any means, it just didn’t quite live up to its potential. The narration was strong, but it lacked the momentum that Yours for the Taking had. This truly felt like a gap to a third book in the area and definitely don’t recommend if you haven’t read Yours for the Taking.
Recommended for fans of climate fiction, slow-burn speculative dystopias, and inclusive, identity-forward storytelling.
Available on Kindle Unlimited!
Yours for the Taking Review
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★
The Shutouts is out now. Huge thank you to MacMillan Audio for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.
