Girlfriend on Mars

A Novel

By: Deborah Willis

Narrated by: Landon Doak, Vanessa Matsui

A funny, poignant, and thrilling debut novel that skewers billionaire-funded space travel in a love story of interplanetary proportions.

Amber Kivinen is moving to Mars. Or at least, she will be if she wins a chance to join MarsNow. She and 23 reality TV contestants from around the world—including attractive Israeli soldier Adam, endearing fellow Canadian Pichu, and an assortment of science nerds and wannabe influencers—are competing for two seats on the first human-led mission to Mars, sponsored by billionaire Geoff Task.

Meanwhile Kevin, Amber’s boyfriend of 14 years, was content going nowhere until Amber left him—and their hydroponic weed business—behind. As he tends to (and smokes) the plants growing in their absurdly overpriced Vancouver basement apartment, Kevin tunes in to find out why the love of his life is so determined to leave the planet with somebody else. On screen, Amber competes in globe-trotting, Survivor-meets-Star Trek challenges and seems like she might be falling for Adam. But is that real, or is it just a tactic to keep from being voted off? And since the technology to come home doesn’t exist yet, would Amber really leave everything behind to be a billionaire’s Martian guinea pig? Sure, the rainforest is burning, Geoff Task has bought New Zealand, and Kevin might be a little depressed, but isn’t there some hope left for life on Earth?

An audacious debut from a “a dazzlingly smart and strikingly original writer” (Molly Antopol), Girlfriend on Mars is at once a satirical indictment of our pursuit of fame and wealth amid environmental crisis and an exploration of humanity’s deepest longing, greatest quest, and most enduring cliché: love.

©2023 Deborah Willis (P)2023 Penguin Random House Canada Limited

Don't waste a credit

This story had potential and good narrators, but failed to deliver. I got it as a daily deal, thank heavens. Definitely don't waste a credit.

uno reverse

This books description was not what I got. (small spoiler) A main character dies a very sad death. The end was depressing.
It is a well written book. I just feel tricked.

Held my attention - barely

Never got to the aha moment. Still wondering what the point was. Narration was great.

Good setup but didn’t end well

I liked the idea behind this book. But the ending wasn’t great. I don’t mind a sad ending but I just felt like once they got to mars things got less interesting.
Also I wasn’t a fan of the stoner boyfriend character

Doesn’t know what it wants to be

I took a chance on this book and was disappointed. It tries to be a cautionary tale and a romcom with sci-fi elements. It swings wildly in tone and pacing, then rushes through the third act. Definitely not worth the time to listen.