Normally, if I had spent the same amount of time reading another book, as I had spent reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, I probably would've hated it immensely. It took me forever just to get through the first 100 pages or so, and I had to really deliberate if this book was going to be worth all the time I was giving it. Luckily, I'm extremely pleased with how things turned out because this book is a gem. 
 The big thing to know going into The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is that it is incredibly character-driven, which might have been why those first 100 pages took me so long to read. I kept expecting this big, exciting space exploration plot, when in actuality, the plot is very simple. The book follows the tunneling spaceship, the Wayfarer, as it's on its way to a far away planet to create a tunnel connecting two parts of the galaxy together. While some exciting events do happen to the ship and its crew, the story mainly focuses on those individuals. 
 And honestly, that's enough. This universe that Becky Chambers has created is extensive and detailed, and the reader learns all about it through a fascinating cast of characters. They are different races and species, speak different languages, have different sexual orientations, redefine genders and their norms, and come from completely different backgrounds. It's amazing, and you couldn't ask for more diversity. 
 If this book didn't take so long to get into, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet probably would've gotten a boost in its rating. I highly encourage readers who love well-written characters and new, highly developed worlds to pick this book up because it's a beautifully written story that deserves to be read past the first 100 pages.