Two brilliant Harvard students, Zoe and Jack, develop a groundbreaking anti-aging drug and launch a biotech startup, only to have their partnership and company threatened by a devastating accusation. Exploring ambition, ethics, gender dynamics in STEM, and the cost of chasing immortality, the story blends scientific intrigue with a complex, emotionally charged relationship at its core.

Reader Review Summary

Set in the high-pressure world of biotech startups, the novel follows Harvard students Zoe and Jack as they discover a potential cure for aging and are propelled from academic life into the whirlwind of Silicon Valley entrepreneurship. Zoe, the daughter of an MIT professor, and Jack, her competitive classmate, become research partners and eventually co-found a company after dropping out of Harvard. Their journey is marked by scientific breakthroughs, intense late-night lab work, and the challenges of navigating fame, investor scrutiny, and the ethical dilemmas of their discovery. The narrative explores themes of ambition, gender dynamics in STEM, friendship, betrayal, and the personal costs of chasing scientific immortality. The story is told through dual points of view, with a significant shift in perspective partway through, and culminates in a dramatic accusation that threatens both their company and their relationship, drawing comparisons to real-world cases like Theranos and the Elizabeth Holmes scandal. The book blends elements of science fiction, romance, and literary fiction, and includes content warnings for drug use, suicide, addiction, domestic violence, infidelity, child abuse, and misogyny.

Readers praised the book for its emotional depth, complex character dynamics, and authentic depiction of scientific research and the startup environment. Many highlighted the compelling relationship between Zoe and Jack, describing their transition from friends to lovers as both captivating and fraught with tension. The academic and biotech settings resonated with readers who have backgrounds in science, with several noting the accuracy and relatability of the portrayal of women in STEM and the pressures of being a female founder. The dual POV structure, especially the late shift to Jack’s perspective, was cited as a powerful narrative device that added dimension to the story. The audiobook narration, particularly by Helen Laser and Shahjehan Khan, received positive feedback for enhancing the reading experience. Readers also appreciated the exploration of themes such as ambition, gender bias, and the ethical complexities of scientific discovery, as well as the emotional impact of the plot twists and the tragic, thought-provoking ending.

Some readers expressed dissatisfaction with the book’s pacing, particularly noting that the first half felt slow or overly focused on scientific jargon, which could be alienating for those without a science background. Others found the characters, especially in the early chapters, to be underdeveloped or difficult to connect with, describing Zoe and Jack as flat or unrelatable at times. The shift in narrative perspective was confusing for some, and the latter part of the book was criticized for becoming rushed, redundant, or dreamlike, with less focus on the legal and ethical fallout of the startup’s collapse. Several reviewers were disappointed by the ending, feeling it was bleak, unsatisfying, or a disservice to Zoe’s character, particularly in the context of representing women in STEM. Comparisons to 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow' were frequent, with some readers feeling the similarities highlighted the debut’s perceived lack of maturity or narrative skill. A few also noted that the book’s marketing was misleading, as it focused less on the consequences of immortality and more on personal and professional dynamics.

The book has generated significant discussion and anticipation, with over 1,300 ratings and more than 500 full reviews, and an average rating of 3.72 out of 5. It is being positioned as a major release for 2025, with many readers predicting it will become a popular book club and literary fiction title. The novel’s exploration of women’s experiences in science, the pressures of startup culture, and the intersection of ambition and ethics has resonated with a diverse audience, including those with backgrounds in STEM and those interested in contemporary fiction. The story’s structure, emotional intensity, and blend of genres have made it a subject of both praise and critique, and the book’s content warnings reflect its engagement with heavy and potentially triggering topics. The author, Austin Taylor, is noted as a debut novelist with a background at Harvard, and readers have expressed interest in following her future work.