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Nostalgia Is Heartless

The Heartless Series, Book Two

Published by She Writes Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

“A thrilling and immersive work of speculative climate fiction.” —Kirkus Reviews

The second installment in the topical, award-winning Heartless Series, Nostalgia Is Heartless delves into a world on the brink of climate catastrophe.

Pregnant, unemployed, and living back home with her father, scientist Quinn Buyers wonders how she got to this point. Her famous scientist mother is still mysteriously missing, the planet is at risk from a massive solar storm, the pesky Transhumans want to take a colony to Titan, and her assisted living companion, a robotic meerkat, is showing clear signs of anxiety and depression. But her biggest challenge is her partner. How can she reconcile her long-distance relationship with this reserved, enigmatic cyborg?

This time, Quinn’s adventures take her across the globe to Antarctica . . . where it rains all day, every day. Full of humor and whimsy, Nostalgia Is Heartless will delight readers as they follow Quinn’s race to save her family, her planet, and—hopefully—her love life.

About The Author

Sarah Lahey is a designer, educator, and writer. She holds bachelor’s degrees in interior design, communication, and visual culture, and works as a senior lecturer teaching classes on design, technology, sustainability and creative thinking. She has three children and lives on the Northern Beaches in Sydney, Australia.

Product Details

  • Publisher: She Writes Press (October 26, 2021)
  • Length: 338 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781647422103

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Raves and Reviews

2022 16th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist in Science Fiction
2022 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Cross-Genre and Fiction: Science Fiction
2022 Forward Indies Awards: Finalist Science Fiction
2022 Indie Reader Discovery Awards: Winner Environment Category
2022 International Book Awards: Finalist Fiction Cross-Genre
2022 International Book Awards: Finalist Science Fiction
2022 Eric Hoffer Award Finalist Science Fiction
2021 Chanticleer Book Awards: Cygnus First Place Winner
2021 Readers Favorite Five Star Award
2021 American fiction awards: Finalist Science Fiction


“The story builds directly on the events of the previous novel, but it is self-contained enough that new readers can hop on without feeling too lost. The mix of humor, whimsy, and science makes for a climate change–centered adventure that manages to feel escapist and topical at the same time. A thrilling and immersive work of speculative climate fiction.”
Kirkus Reviews

“. . . [T]he quirky characters lend a whimsical feel to the story, and Lahey is clever and inventive in imagining new technology while still dealing with relatable problems . . . Alternately funny and philosophical, this story paints a vivid, high-tech world while still packing an emotional punch. . . . This near-future story of a world ravaged by climate change will delight lovers of both romance and action sci-fi.”
—BookLife Reviews

“In this gripping novel set in a near future beset by relentless climate emergencies, a principled scientist grapples with personal and scientific challenges.”
Foreword Clarion Reviews

“The writing was done so well, I didn't find anything that broke my suspension of disbelief. The characters were fully fleshed out, and even without reading the first book, I had no problem keeping up with the story. The imagery was so engaging, something for every sense. I could hear and feel and see everything on the pages in my head and it was a hell of a movie.”
—IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award review

“With impeccable world-building, readers get to explore an intriguing blend of Earth’s climate catastrophe with the super-advanced technology world of cyborgs and AI. Though set in the future, the characters still share features typical of the human condition: the endearing and relatable plight of impending motherhood and a fascinating cyborg with symptoms of depression.”
—Indie Reader Discovery Awards review

“Lahey’s writing is exemplary, seamlessly switching POVs and settings to provide a sense of a larger world you find easy to immerse yourself in. If you're a fan of dystopian sci-fi dramas, I highly recommend Nostalgia Is Heartless.”
Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“This book was so much fun to read. The characters are written with much humor and humanity. And the adventure and excitement kept me reading well beyond bedtime! I highly recommend this book. This hope in the future is what makes this series so compelling. There will be a final book in the series. And I can't wait!”
Pondering The Prose

“Even dropped in without reading the first, there was depth and intrigue from the beginning. I loved the mix of the Earth’s clime destruction with the ultra-high technology world of cyborgs and AI. And it just gets better as the book goes on—especially towards the end. The world building just got more intriguing as Nostalgia is Heartless progresses.”
Utopia State of Mind Book Reviews

“The biggest draw for me to this book . . . was the focus on impending motherhood, and, admittedly, a bit for the time travel. As a mother, I found Quinn’s pregnancy and questions about motherhood hit close to home.”
The Lily Cafe

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More books from this author: Sarah Lahey