Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut novel by Grace Walker. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!
In the future, the Earth's climate crisis has escalated and the population is out of control, prompting new regulations for people impacting their daily lives. The Merge is touted as a way to solve those issues - two people's consciousness is merged into one body. No longer will diseases destroy lives. There are rewards for those participating, and penalties for those not. Laurie is dealing with early onset Alzheimer's and her daughter, Amelia, can't bear to see her mom's mind fade. They are joined by a group of other Merge participants as they prepare to move to The Village, a luxurious rehab center for those who have merged.
This book combines so many genres perfectly - sci-fi, dystopian and speculative fiction, psychological thriller, suspense, and horror- I can't believe it's a debut novel. It was a wonderful combination of themes: what would we do to save those we love, as well as being under the control of those making ethical decisions for us.. It never veers into a preachy book on politics, instead immersing the reader into all the emotional aspects. It was brilliantly written - the POV begin with first-person narration from both Amelia and Laurie; then changes into first-person plural as they merge. I couldn't stop thinking about this book when I had to put it down. This is a must read debut!
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