The writing is just beautiful, the world building impeccable, the characterisation so compelling that I read this book in one sitting because I was so invested in the people and the relationships depicted within.

The ability to maintain this many realistic insecurities while not having them cloud the overall story was beautifully executed.I liked that much of the book was focused on the flaws of the characters and how this impacted their daily lives. Because, although this is future set, in a world where artificial intelligence, driverless cars and technology dominate, this is so far from what I would consider to be a 'sci-fi' novel. Jerry has a traumatic past that leaves him subject to psychotic hallucinations and depressive episodes.

I loved all the smart lines of wisdom sprinkled throughout this book, from the drunken conversations between the three MCs, to the wonderfully real quotes we got from Joe, to the completely ahead of his age thoughts coming from our MMC. I don't know where I was expecting the story to go, but some of the revelation really took me by surprise. Told from the perspective of John, a seventeen-year-old American who has been labelled technology's newest prodigy, the story begins with him landing in Japan in preparation for a business meeting with Sony. While in parts he did come over as a bit immature, it's is easy to like his flawed character and development. I was born a Dutchie, but felt that that tiny, rainy country known for tulips, windmills, cheese and of course Amsterdam wasn't my place to be.But as I drop my hands, something catches my eyes – a few flecks of brightness in that dark hallway that sits between the foyer and dining area. Reviews“The book’s suspenseful twists tie the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima to themes concerning the roles of scientists in either tearing or healing humanity…an arresting novel. Oddly enough, considering how weird the other characters initially seem, it’s John, our point of view character, that I had most problems identifying with. Set against a tech heavy backdrop, Beautiful Shining People blooms into an emotional and soulful tale that reckons with the isolation we can all feel as outsiders and how a little bit of self love, along with love for another can change your world view. This is another thing, maybe the main thing, I loved: the first part of the novel is just John and Neotnia getting to know one another.

It’s going to be quite hard to review without spoiling the central conceit of the novel, but let’s see how we get on! While I'm not usually that into robots and AI, I really enjoyed how it was incorporated into the story here. It was a mesmerising story that almost shows the reader a glimpse of what could be in both a lovely and terrifying way. Overall, though, this is entertaining enough and I enjoyed following the developing relationship between John and Neotina, but I scratched my head too often at some of the character and world-building choices to give it anything other than a cautious recommendation. But they are each hiding a shameful secret, one they try to hide from the world and are terrified of being discovered.It's so nuanced that you can't really categorise where this would be shelved in a library but that's why I loved it! The protagonist John is a 17-year-old American teenager who was my least favourite part of this book, he'd grown on me by the end but he was a bit annoying to be honest, and I wish we got more of his backstory than the sad bits that actually weren't that tragic compared to what literally every other character was living through.

Konbanwa ,’ the girl says, smiling a soft, inviting smile that’s replaced last night’s neutral lips.There’s a whole holocaust section there too, when the characters visit Hiroshima, that only clumsily shoehorns into the plot and feels out of place. While in parts he did come over as a bit immature, it’s is easy to like his flawed character and development. Set in a spell-binding, atmospheric, and strikingly realised near-future Japan - in a world full of technology, AI, and a digital cold war - we are taken on a mesmerising journey through Tokyo’s shimmering neon-lit streets, into the secluded peacefulness of temples and shrines, and plunged into a multi-layered, thought-provoking story of conflict, acceptance, trust, technology, love, and the human condition.