This book was so surprisingly good. I don't usually give a thriller more than 4 stars, but this book really had it all. It took a LONG time to develop the thriller aspects and I actually really appreciated that. Because when we finally figure out what's going on, it feels really impactful and heavy. The information withheld from the reader felt purposeful and was not annoying. I really didn't know which direction they plot was going to go in, but everything wraps up so convincingly. I'm amazed that this book doesn't use any magical realism or sci-fi, etc. but pulls off such an intense central conflict grounded in science, politics, and social issues. And the central romance was worth reading alone! The twists and turns in the romance were better than some actual romance novels I've read. I also felt like I learned something about my own world and society. Definite recommend!