LINKS

KEYWORDS

Queer Dystopia
Climate Grief
Found Family
Pharmaceutical Escapism
Obsessive Longing

There Are Reasons for This

by NINI BERNDT

In a near-future, climate-ravaged Denver, Lucy arrives searching for answers about her brother Mikey’s death and becomes entangled with Helen, the enigmatic woman he loved, as their lives intertwine amid societal collapse, pharmaceutical numbness, and a pervasive longing for connection. Exploring grief, queer desire, and the search for meaning in a disintegrating world, the novel offers a haunting meditation on love, loss, and the families we choose.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a near-future, climate-ravaged Denver, the novel follows Lucy, who arrives in the city after her brother Mikey’s death, seeking out Helen, the woman Mikey loved. The story unfolds in a world marked by environmental collapse, class disparity, and widespread pharmaceutical use to manage emotional pain. Lucy moves into an apartment across from Helen, who is unaware of Lucy’s true identity, and becomes increasingly obsessed with her. The narrative explores themes of grief, longing, queer desire, and the search for connection against a backdrop of societal decay, with elements of mystery, dystopia, and speculative fiction. The city is depicted as crumbling, with constant climate disasters, a pervasive sense of resignation, and characters who numb themselves through drugs and fleeting relationships. The book also features side characters such as an old woman in the attic and touches on the commodification of companionship, as seen in Helen’s job as a professional cuddler. The prose is often described as dreamlike, stripped-down, and poetic, with a focus on the emotional and environmental unraveling of its characters and setting.

Readers praised the book for its evocative and lyrical prose, with many highlighting the author’s ability to capture the weight of grief and the complexities of queer relationships. The depiction of environmental collapse as a slow, suffocating process resonated with those who appreciated the subtlety and realism of the dystopian setting. Several reviewers noted the honest portrayal of messy, intimate, and sometimes destructive relationships, as well as the mirroring of personal and planetary collapse. The atmosphere, described as tense, immersive, and haunting, was frequently cited as a strength, along with the book’s exploration of themes like loneliness, emotional scarcity, and the search for meaning. Some readers found the narrative gripping and the characters’ struggles with love, loss, and identity compelling, especially in the context of a world on the brink. The book’s queer representation and its reflection on the need for human connection in a fractured society were also appreciated.

Some readers struggled with the book’s dreamlike, sometimes disorienting narrative style, finding it confusing or difficult to follow. A recurring criticism was the lack of likable or relatable characters, with several reviewers describing Lucy, Helen, and Mikey as passive, irritable, or emotionally disconnected. The slow pacing and muted emotional tone left some readers feeling detached or uninterested in the characters’ fates. Others felt that the plot was meandering, with certain storylines introduced late or left unresolved, and that the ending lacked the emotional payoff they expected. The heavy focus on atmosphere and internal states, rather than action or clear resolution, was off-putting for those seeking a more traditional or cathartic narrative. Additionally, some readers found the speculative elements, such as the proliferation of pharmaceuticals and the commodification of companionship, underexplored or wished the dystopian setting had been utilized more fully.

The book has received a moderate average rating (3.92 out of 5) from 158 readers, with 49 full reviews, indicating a mix of strong positive and negative responses. It is categorized under genres including fiction, mystery, science fiction, LGBT, queer, dystopia, and lesbian literature, and is published by Tin House with a release date of June 3, 2025. The narrative is set in a plausible near-future shaped by climate change and social fragmentation, and features themes of grief, love, class, and the search for connection. The book has been compared to works by Margaret Atwood, Emily St. John Mandel, Sam Shepard, and Joy Williams, and has been recommended for readers interested in speculative fiction with queer and dystopian elements. Some reviewers noted that the book may require focused attention due to its style and structure, and that it may particularly resonate with readers interested in literary explorations of emotional and environmental crisis.

Other Books You Might Like


Copyright ©2024 Hidden Sci-Fi