Girlfriend on Mars

Deborah Willis

Book cover for Girlfriend on Mars
Book cover for Girlfriend on Mars
Book cover for Girlfriend on Mars
Book cover for Girlfriend on Mars

Girlfriend on Mars

Girlfriend on Mars

Deborah Willis

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Description

*LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 SCOTIABANK GILLER PRIZE*

"Every detail is sharply placed . . . a scorching sense of humour and a soft spot for humanity down here on Earth." --The New York Times

"Fleishman Is in Trouble, but in space." --Bobby Palmer

"A sharp, funny take on capitalism, climate change, and our lifelong mission to be loved." --People

What if the person you loved was on another planet?

Kevin is a thirtysomething homebody, happily committed to his hydroponics-expert girlfriend, Amber, as they grow weed in their basement in Vancouver.

Out of the blue, Amber announces that she has been selected for a reality show where she will compete for one of two seats on the first human-led mission to Mars. If selected, she must stay on Mars for good, because the technology to come home doesn't exist yet. Is this a suicide mission or a bold new frontier?

Girlfriend on Mars is the story of love unravelling in a world where truth is dictated by Facebook ads and "reality TV" is as scripted as any politician's speech. With rapt viewers voting for Amber to stay on the show and crates of Mars-mission branded protein shakes arriving at his door, is it any wonder Kevin wants to stay in the basement forever?

Critical Reviews

How did Deborah Willis manage to write about love, grief, corporate greed, climate change, and a reality show that sends two people to Mars with such grace and humor and compassion? Girlfriend on Mars blew my mind! This is one of the most original novels I've read in a long time.--Ann Hood, author of Fly Girl

Girlfriend on Mars is out of this world. Deborah Willis pushes the absurdly miserable, deeply addictive pleasure of reality TV to its only possible end, zooming from euphoria past satire to slam into real life and death. Prescient and poignant, Amber's reality is an inch from coming true.--Marina Endicott, author of The Voyage of the Morning Light

Part disaffected-slacker rom-com, part social satire, part wistful end-of-the-world eulogy for ordinary, unscripted love... Winsome, sweet, and apocalyptic--a perfect blend for the end of days.-- "Kirkus Reviews"

A perfectly observed satire that captures the absurdity--and beauty--of twenty-first century life. It reminded me of so many favorite novelists, from Margaret Atwood to Dave Eggers to Alexandra Kleeman. I loved it.--Joanna Rakoff, author of My Salinger Year

A deeply moving, deeply funny novel about love and loyalty in the midst of the paralyzing effects of eco-anxiety and the seductive toxicity of reality entertainment... Girlfriend on Mars is propulsive and surprising in the very best ways--Deborah Willis writes with a combination of pathos and humor that entrances and lights a way forward in this troubled time.--Suzette Mayr, author of The Sleeping Car Porter

[Deborah] Willis [knows] how to tell a story with the grip of a good drama series... While the setup could have made for a breezy read, Willis cuts deep with insight... Every detail is sharply placed by Willis, who has a scorching sense of humor and a soft spot for humanity down here on Earth.--Alex Beggs "New York Times Book Review"

Willis keeps up a light tone and a fast pace even while getting deep into the science behind the Mars voyage, and her satire yields plenty of clever insights on celebrity culture. Readers are in for a treat.-- "Publishers Weekly"

Girlfriend on Mars veers giddily on the brink between satire and tragedy, transporting us to places we never dreamed we'd go... However fantastic, nutty and corrupt this all sounds, we are reminded that [Elon] Musk and his fellow billionaires are already deep into space travel. And that reality, together with Willis' witty writing, entangles us in the quagmire of comedy, love and fear portrayed in these pages.--Nancy Wigston "Toronto Star"

A sharp, funny take on capitalism, climate change, and our lifelong mission to be loved.-- "People"

Both satirical and sobering, Willis's gimlet-eyed debut spares no one, skewering both apathy and misplaced ambition while keeping the pages turning at a furious pace.-- "Booklist (starred review)"

A fresh take on the break-up narrative, mixed with the existential angst of today's world.-- "Library Journal"

Publishing Information

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Pub date: 2023-06-13
Length: 368 pages

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