Yours for the Taking

In 2050, climate change has made it unsafe to live outside. The Inside Project is a series of weather-safe city-sized structures around the world. Jacqueline Millender, the director of the Inside being built on the bones of Manhattan, is a reclusive billionaire/womens rights advocate with unorthodox ideas. Shelby, a business major from a working-class family, is drawn to Jacquelines promises of power and impact. Olympia, who Jacqueline recruits to run the health department Inside, realizes there is something else at play. As Ava, Olympia, and Shelby start to notice the cracks in the system, Jacqueline tightens her grip, becoming increasingly dangerous. Yours for the Taking is a queer love, betrayal, and chosen family story that reflects our own world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2024
Publisher: St Martin's Press

In the year 2050, Ava and her girlfriend, Lily, reside in what remains of Brooklyn, a city grappling with the devastating effects of climate change. Despite their deep love for each other, happiness seems elusive as the world around them rapidly succumbs to the relentless forces of nature. The once bustling streets are now eerily quiet, and the once vibrant cityscape has been transformed into a desolate wasteland. The only guarantee of survival lies with the exclusive The Inside Project, a series of weather-safe, city-sized structures located around the globe.

The director of the Inside Project, a reclusive billionaire and women's rights advocate named Jacqueline Millender, is constructing it on the ruins of Manhattan. Jacqueline's ideas are unconventional and captivating, challenging the very concept of empowerment. Shelby, a business major from a working-class family, is drawn to Jacqueline's promises of power and impact. She lands a job as Jacqueline's personal assistant, immersing herself in the glamorous world of corporatized feminism. Alongside Shelby, Olympia, a talented health professional, is recruited to oversee the health department within the Inside Project.

As Olympia delves deeper into the project, she begins to uncover a sinister truth lurking beneath the surface. The more she learns about Jacqueline's plans, the more she realizes that there is something else at play, something far more dangerous and malevolent. As Ava, Olympia, and Shelby begin to notice the cracks in the system, Jacqueline tightens her grip, becoming increasingly dangerous in her pursuit of her dream.

Yours for the Taking is a mesmerizing story that blends elements of queer love, betrayal, and chosen family. It serves as an unflinching indictment of cis, corporate feminism, holding a mirror to our own world, both its beauty and its horror. Through its characters, the novel explores the complexities of power, privilege, and the human cost of pursuing one's dreams. It raises important questions about the role of individuals and society in addressing the climate crisis and the urgent need for systemic change.

In a world ravaged by climate change, where survival is a privilege, The Inside Project offers a glimmer of hope. Jacqueline's vision of a safe and inclusive world is seductive, but it comes at a price. As Ava, Olympia, and Shelby navigate the treacherous waters of the project, they must confront the moral dilemmas and ethical compromises that come with power and privilege. They must decide whether to align themselves with Jacqueline's vision or to stand up against her, risking everything they have to protect the world they love.

Ultimately, Yours for the Taking is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that challenges our perceptions of power, gender, and the human condition. It reminds us that even in the face of adversity, there is still hope for a better future, but it requires us to be willing to confront the darkness that lurks within ourselves and our society.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 166 x 243 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781250283368