I'm not sure I've ever had such a strange reaction to a book. For the first 120 pages or so, I actively disliked it (that's the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars). There were a couple times I almost gave up on it. The characters seemed petty, I kept getting tripped up by missing or inconsistent details...and then it all changed. 180 degrees. And I FELL IN LOVE with it! The character growth arcs are fantastic, the pacing is incredible in places and aching with slow-building tension in others, and I was so pleasantly surprised by the depth of the sci-fi elements!! The love story is as breathtaking as promised, and I can't wait for the next in the series! 
 If you're wavering in the early pages of this one, keep going. It's well worth it!