Blog Tour: We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson {Review + Giveaway}

ABOUT WE ARE THE ANTS:

Henry Denton doesn’t know why the aliens chose to abduct him when he was thirteen, and he doesn’t know why they continue to steal him from his bed and take him aboard their ship. He doesn’t know why the world is going to end or why the aliens have offered him the opportunity to avert the impending disaster by pressing a big red button. 

But they have. And they’ve only given him 144 days to make up his mind.

Since the suicide of his boyfriend, Jesse, Henry has been adrift. He’s become estranged from his best friend, started hooking up with his sworn enemy, and his family is oblivious to everything that’s going on around them. As far as Henry is concerned, a world without Jesse is a world he isn’t sure is worth saving. Until he meets Diego Vega, an artist with a secret past who forces Henry to question his beliefs, his place in the universe, and whether any of it really matters. But before Henry can save the world, he’s got to figure out how to save himself, and the aliens haven’t given him a button for that.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

REVIEW: 

What happens when you read a book that has so many beautiful quotes that you have to stop every page or two to reread them? You recommend it to the world, of course. Everyone (that's right, EVERYONE) should read this book. Why? Because We Are the Ants is the most beautiful book I've ever read. It is so lyrical, so real, and so heartbreaking that I want to buy a million copies and distribute them.  It is THAT good. 

When I said that the writing is gorgeous, I really wasn't exaggerating. You don't believe me? Okay, how about: 

Sometimes I think gravity may be death in disguise. Other times I think gravity is love, which is why love's only demand is that we fall.

Or:

How ugly we must look to them, spilling light into every dark corner to push back the shadows, blinding ourselves to the true beauty of emptiness.

Or my personal favorite: 

The first time I'd kissed Jesse was the first time I'd kissed anyone, and it had felt like remembering the name of a song I'd forgotten but had been humming for days.

I mean, seriously. Stunning. My ARC has way too many tabs marking every single beautiful moment (so I can revisit them over and over again). I was in love the second I started reading. That first quote is literally in the first ten pages so you know that it can only get better from there. Now, not only will the prose win you over but the main character will make you laugh, weep, and embrace the book because you can't deal with the feels. Henry's life is awful so you can't help but care about him. Everything (and everyone) that surrounds him is important. I love that the author managed to add so much depth to every single character and event. Everyone has a purpose and every turn contributes to the conclusion. I was fascinated by the very unique "science fiction" component. Not only is this a great contemporary but you also get a sprinkle of aliens and who doesn't love that? All Henry's "End of the World" scenarios and his interactions with the sluggers are brilliant. These elements added a little something special to the book that sets it apart from everything else out there. 

Can you tell that I think this novel is flawlessly executed? Because I do. Unless suicide is a trigger for you, please pick up a copy. Or enter to win one below. But if you don't win, BUY THIS BOOK. I'm pretty sure it'll make your "Best Books of 2016" list at the end of the year. 

ABOUT SHAUN DAVID HUTCHINSON:

Shaun is a major geek and all about nerdy shenanigans. He is the author of The Deathday Letter, fml, and the forthcoming The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley. He can be reached at shaun@shaundavidhutchinson.com. He currently lives in South Florida with his partner and dog and watches way too much Doctor Who.

LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Tour Schedule:

Week 1:

1/18: Caught Read Handed - Top 10

1/19: Bookish Antics - Review

1/20: Reading Is Better With Cupcakes - Pocket Note

1/21: Reads All the Books - Review

1/22: Read Write Love - Q&A

Week 2:

1/25: Tina the Bookworm - Review

1/26: The Hardcover Lover - Guest Post

1/27: The Innocent Smiley - Review

1/28: No BS Book Reviews - Q&A

1/29: Don’t Fold the Page - Review

Giveaway:

3 Finished Copies of WE ARE THE ANTS

a Rafflecopter giveaway