I've been waiting to read this book for a while, as my library took it out of it's ebook catalogue for a while. Now that it's "back in stock" I can confirm: it was worth the wait!

Mary Robinette Kowal managed to write a story that is not quite sci fi, but rather a precursor to a sci fi tale. As someone who enjoyed Hidden Figures a tremendous amount, I can see how many recommendations parallel both stories. The characters are lovely, the tone (despite the post-apocalyptic setting) is optimistic and even if everything works out a tiny bit too well, it's a blast to read. She touches on many relevant topics and their intersections, though I wish we could have seen more of the supporting cast. The sex scenes were awkward in a way that probably isn't too unrealistic for two astrophysics nerds, but I definitely cannot look at the term "rocket launch" the same way anymore.

Long story short: I had a great time reading this and regaining some hope in humanity. I'm looking forward to reading the other books on a gloomy winter afternoon.