When I first picked this up and started it, I had this sinking feeling I wasn't going to like it. In fact, it took me two tries to really get into it and past the 'waking up in confusion with no memory' bit but I'm so glad I stuck with it because I LOVED IT. Once I got accustomed to the narration and voice and things started developing, I was hooked. I was never all that confident with science in school but somehow the science in this is what won me over. I don't know how I would have felt if I'd read this physically instead, but listening to the audiobook was best for the experience. I didn't understand any of the science and math of course but listening allowed it to just wash over me and left me excited for the developments and how cool and complex everything sounded. I could feel my interest and excitement growing steadily and was absolute enthralled with the space travel and astrophage discovery and research, cementing it at a 4 star read in my head. But god, when the first contact with the alien kicked in? Wow. I wanted to cry at how much I loved the meeting and the getting to know one another and figuring things out around the language barrier, and THEN figuring out each other's languages. Wow. It went straight to 5 stars in my head and I spent the rest of the plot anxious that something would detract from my enjoyment (worried from a review from a person I like and follow) but I needn't have worried. I'm still getting into sci-fi. The first book I really read in the genre was To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars and it was such a magnificent experience and introduction. That story however was a massive odyssey and jam packed with action and high-stakes excitement. I loved it and I loved this for the flip-side it provided. I enjoyed all the science. I enjoyed the "slower" pace, the way it delved into the intricacies a situation like this would be full of. There was the conflict of the problem that needed to be solved of course and I enjoyed the build up to the solution, focusing on the micro instead of the macro of a gun-slinging adventure. This was one of the best experiences. I'm buzzing to explore more of the genre and I'm of course going to be checking out The Martian since it's so popular. I don't know what to expect from it at all besides knowing it's well-known and often recommended (especially the movie) and I worried at first whether I maybe should have started with that instead of this but I loved this so so much that I can't regret it and just feel excitement to consume more. I'm debating whether to get the audiobook for The Martian or see what the physical reading experience is like but I've heard it's also very full of information and right now listening seems to be the best way to take everything in but at the same time I don't want to relegate sci-fi to just audiobooks because I love physically reading too. I'm a bit hesitant because the last book I read before this was a physical read and a lot of it dragged because of science stuff but then again I wasn't as invested in the subject matter focus as I am in space and star and alien stuff. Much to think about but in the end, Project Hail Mary has definitely wormed it's way into my favourites.

EDIT because this is so important and made me vibrate with excitement and I can't believe I forgot to mention it when writing this: the audiobook was fucking amazing purely for how they DEPICTED HOW THE ERIDIANS SPEAK!!! When I first heard it I swear my soul ascended from my body oh my goddddd!!! SUCH a fucking good audiobook and experience!