Aardvark Book Club Fan Club (Not Official) discussion

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.

Jacqueline Millender is a reclusive billionaire/women’s rights advocate, and thanks to a generous donation, she’s just become the director of the Inside being built on the bones of Manhattan. Her ideas are unorthodox, yet alluring—she's built a whole brand around rethinking 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 her dream job as Jacqueline’s personal assistant, she's instantly swept up into the glamourous world of corporatized feminism. Also drawn into Jacqueline's orbit is Olympia, who is finishing up medical school when Jacqueline recruits her to run the health department Inside. The more Olympia learns about the project, though, the more she realizes there's something much larger at play. As Ava, Olympia, and Shelby start to notice the cracks in Jacqueline's system, Jacqueline tightens her grip, becoming increasingly unhinged and dangerous in what she is willing to do—and who she is willing to sacrifice—to keep her dream alive.

At once a mesmerizing 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.

Through Part 1 and 2 / 27%

wow, this one is GOOD so far!

(view spoiler)[ I agree - making it all women isn't going to be a magical solution. I wonder if she can really change the thought process
I can also see the worry of having boy babies and everyone revering them again, that first generation of boys, and wondering if they would become monsters again

that was horrible, leaving those that didn't get in behind.

I like this idea, it makes me uncomfortable and makes me wonder how this would really play out! I'm completely hooked on these characters too! (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 3, 4 & 5 / 55%

(view spoiler)[ wow, this one is stunning me a bit. I don't know how a community of just women would go. I'm not sure if this is realistic or not. they sure jumped over the years of the girls growing up
I wonder what they are doing with the food, about the anxiety, about drugging them

and OMG is she really going to try to kill the other insides?

and I know its far-fetched, but it's comforting that Shelby's dad and sister found Orchid, who is tied to Ava. I know it's silly but I like the peek. I'm just not sure the ones outside would still be alive. I guess you don't wait until the very end to enclose those you plan to save. You leave time just in case.

Interesting to think people trying to scale it, marking it. scary that it was a lot of men (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 6, 7 & 8 / 77%

WOW! (view spoiler)[ oh no! did Jacqueline really take her? why is she acting like they aren't a community, like taking one girl won't send ripples around. . .it's shocking, how much of a hypocrite she is! She's frustarting

I like Olympia. I wonder if she could run the place better - if everyone would have less anxiety and issues if they'd stop drugging them and give them goals and a sense of community. I to doesn't sound like they work together. And do they have gyms or sports type things to do? game nights, something? it sounds like the life for Gen A is pretty miserable (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

(view spoiler)[ wow, that was really good
I like that they broke off and became independent. I agree, the one controlling them should not be a single person and should not be living somewhere else.

and wow, they all had to land
I'm glad July made a good life for herself

interesting that Ava and Brook left. I figured they would stay and help build the new world.

I ended up really liking Shelby too, and Olympia (hide spoiler)]