Deborah Willis

A Novel

Girlfriend on Mars

Review of "Girlfriend on Mars" by Deborah Wills: 3.5/5 Stars

Imagine sitting down to watch a reality TV show about Instagram influencers, environmental activism, and rich billionaires getting high on weed—yes, all at once—and then someone throws in a deadpan joke about the Mars colony we all know Elon Musk is planning. If that sounds like a fever dream, congratulations, you’ve just experienced “Girlfriend on Mars” by Deborah Wills. 

This book is a whirlwind of fun and easy reading with a heaping dose of sarcastic humor that’ll have you smirking even when you’re questioning what on Earth (or Mars) is going on. Wills nails the deadpan tone like a pro, and I found myself laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all. It’s like she decided to spin a wheel of topics, and whatever it landed on—be it Instagram influencers or environmental activism—she threw into the story. It’s a bold move, but hey, it somehow works… mostly.

The satire kicks off strong, skewering reality TV and the kind of superficial, weed-infused lifestyles that some billionaires seem to enjoy. But the more I read, the more I felt like the book was taking on too many things at once. Environmental activism? Sure. Weed? Why not. Religious talk? Okay, fine. But together, these topics felt like they were trying to coexist in a tiny, overcrowded spaceship with no clear destination.

And speaking of things that didn’t quite work for me: Kevin. Oh, Kevin. Here’s a character who could turn any page into a slog. His point of view was so irritatingly mundane that I found myself skimming entire sections just to escape his bland musings. It’s like Wills wanted to create a character who’s the embodiment of a human yawn—and nailed it. Unfortunately.

Now, let’s talk about that ending. After all the build-up and the many tangents, I expected a grand finale, something that would tie it all together with a bow—or at least a twist that made the whole trip worthwhile. But nope, what I got instead was an ending that felt like it had sprinted through the last mile, out of breath and slightly incoherent. It was rushed and didn’t make much sense, leaving me wondering if I’d missed something important or if the author just ran out of steam.

But despite all this, I did enjoy the book. The pace was brisk, the humor was sharp, and it’s one of the most original stories I’ve read in a long time. There’s something delightfully offbeat about “Girlfriend on Mars,” even if it doesn’t always hit the mark. So while I can’t say it’s perfect (or that Kevin didn’t make me want to throw the book across the room), I’m glad I picked it up. It’s a quirky, wild ride of a novel—just don’t expect it to make a whole lot of sense when you reach the end.

Jehan Chawla

Review of "Girlfriend on Mars" by Deborah Wills: 3.5/5 Stars

Imagine sitting down to watch a reality TV show about Instagram influencers, environmental activism, and rich billionaires getting high on weed—yes, all at once—and then someone throws in a deadpan joke about the Mars colony we all know Elon Musk is planning. If that sounds like a fever dream, congratulations, you’ve just experienced “Girlfriend on Mars” by Deborah Wills. 

This book is a whirlwind of fun and easy reading with a heaping dose of sarcastic humor that’ll have you smirking even when you’re questioning what on Earth (or Mars) is going on. Wills nails the deadpan tone like a pro, and I found myself laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all. It’s like she decided to spin a wheel of topics, and whatever it landed on—be it Instagram influencers or environmental activism—she threw into the story. It’s a bold move, but hey, it somehow works… mostly.

The satire kicks off strong, skewering reality TV and the kind of superficial, weed-infused lifestyles that some billionaires seem to enjoy. But the more I read, the more I felt like the book was taking on too many things at once. Environmental activism? Sure. Weed? Why not. Religious talk? Okay, fine. But together, these topics felt like they were trying to coexist in a tiny, overcrowded spaceship with no clear destination.

And speaking of things that didn’t quite work for me: Kevin. Oh, Kevin. Here’s a character who could turn any page into a slog. His point of view was so irritatingly mundane that I found myself skimming entire sections just to escape his bland musings. It’s like Wills wanted to create a character who’s the embodiment of a human yawn—and nailed it. Unfortunately.

Now, let’s talk about that ending. After all the build-up and the many tangents, I expected a grand finale, something that would tie it all together with a bow—or at least a twist that made the whole trip worthwhile. But nope, what I got instead was an ending that felt like it had sprinted through the last mile, out of breath and slightly incoherent. It was rushed and didn’t make much sense, leaving me wondering if I’d missed something important or if the author just ran out of steam.

But despite all this, I did enjoy the book. The pace was brisk, the humor was sharp, and it’s one of the most original stories I’ve read in a long time. There’s something delightfully offbeat about “Girlfriend on Mars,” even if it doesn’t always hit the mark. So while I can’t say it’s perfect (or that Kevin didn’t make me want to throw the book across the room), I’m glad I picked it up. It’s a quirky, wild ride of a novel—just don’t expect it to make a whole lot of sense when you reach the end.

After a while Kevin’s perspective just gets so boring

Elizabeth Denny

A weird but charming-ish story about what happens when the person you've sort of been with your whole life, from your northern canadian town, decides they want to go live on a colony on Mars... and it just so happens, there is a reality tv show that's going to send two people there funded by a billionaire... and she gets accepted as a contestant. Told from the perspectives of both people in the relationship, a really interesting modern take on what it means to be in a relationship and a quarter life crisis during the climate crisis and the new space age. 

Girlfriend on Mars A Novel

Reviews