Boys Book Club Review: Project Hail Mary
Make space in your reading schedule for this stellar review.
What do space, survival, and complex scientific calculations have in common? They’re all right at home in an Andy Weir novel.
This month, at David’s request, we decided to read his most recent novel, Project Hail Mary.
If you want to be one of the cool kids who likes to brag about reading the book before the movie comes out (and rightfully so), be sure to do so before May 2026.
So sit back with your favorite beverage and join us on this voyage.
P.S. If you missed our last book review of Stephen King’s Billy Summers, you can check it out here.
Details
Author: Andy Weir
Page Count: 496
Year Released: 2021
Genre: Science Fiction
Plot Summary (No Spoilers… We Promise)
Imagine waking up from a deep slumber on an unfamiliar spaceship millions of miles away from home without any idea of how you got there, what you’re doing there, or even what your own name is.
That is the unfortunate situation Ryland Grace is faced with as the sole survivor on a last-ditch desperation attempt (hence the book title) to save Earth from imminent doom. Ideally, he’d ask his crewmates to fill in the blanks but he also happens to be the sole survivor of the long interstellar journey. His only company is a life support robot who is annoyingly strict when it comes to following rules and answering his many questions.
With no memories to draw from and no crew to work with, Ryland is faced with the seemingly impossible task of piecing together the mission he’s expected to complete all on his own. With the closest human being located light-years away and the clock ticking on a desperately-needed solution, the fate of humanity rests squarely on his shoulders. No pressure.
The Boys’ Reviews
Evan’s Review
I knew this review was going to be a tough one. Not because I found the book anything less than thoroughly enjoyable, but because I personally found this story to be at its most exciting when you don’t know what to expect next. Diving into Project Hail Mary without any information is, in my humble opinion, the best way to enjoy it and the many surprising twists and turns along the way are what make the experience so captivating … which isn’t exactly ideal for a book review. I’m going to do my best to describe my thoughts in as much detail as I can but the priority is tiptoeing around any spoilers. I even put my ballerina shoes on for this.
To start, I am a little bit of a space nerd. When it comes to science fiction books related to space travel, I’m about as “all in” as you can get. Additionally, I’m a big fan of the book (and the film) The Martian, also written by Andy Weir. If either of those elements are of interest, then this book should be right in your wheelhouse. While it is a science fiction book, the elements of science and math that are sprinkled throughout help to ground the plot in reality and give it a certain amount of believability that might otherwise be missing in a ‘space journey’ type adventure.
The pacing in this book is pretty much perfect. There are plenty of flashbacks as Ryland unlocks new memories and begins to remember key details. As those details are filled in, we shift back to the present moment with him to explore more of the ship and unravel the purpose of his mission. I never found myself wanting certain sections of the book to finish so I could get back to other storylines.
Adding to that perfect pace is the humour that Weir injects into his stories. This book and The Martian are both genuinely funny reads that make the journey that much more immersive. Not only does the plot make me want to read more, but there are actual laugh out loud moments to keep the enjoyment level high.
“I decide on a more tactile approach: I’m gonna start pushing buttons! Hopefully there’s no “Blow Up the Ship” button.”
—Ryland Grace
The setting of this book is also very fascinating and unlike what you would expect from a “normal” space travel story. Without spoiling any details, there are certain challenges that present themselves which add even more intrigue to the adventure.
Finally, the characters are truly terrific. Ryland Grace’s arc from beginning to end is extremely well-written and pulls on your heartstrings as you discover more about his situation. There are several other standout cast members that I can’t give away but the interactions that one of them has with our main character are hands down my favourite parts of the novel.
To wrap up my thoughts, I will say that Project Hail Mary was in the goldilocks range of books for me. The pacing was just right. The characters, plot and story were just right. And there was just the right amount of math, science, humor, and heart. Mix those facets with plenty of exciting surprises and you have a book that effortlessly kept my attention from beginning to end.
Verdict: 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐
David’s Review
Oh boy, this is a tough one to review—though I mean that in a good way.
Arguably, the main attraction of this book is its gripping mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish. As the main character uncovers the mystery of how he ended up millions of miles from home and aboard a spaceship, you’ll be discovering it right along with him. To preserve that experience for you, I’ll focus mainly on what you’d see on the back of the book (you’ll thank me later). On that note, be careful if you decide to read other reviews online as some people have no hesitation revealing major plot points.
This is an Andy Weir book, through and through. If you’ve read The Martian, you should be familiar with some of his tropes. A witty and likable protagonist? Check. A somewhat futuristic yet believable setting? Check check. A tale of human ingenuity and resilience? Check check check.
Part of the reason why Project Hail Mary feels so realistic is because the science and calculations are supposedly accurate. If you didn’t know, the author is a huge space nerd who spends his free time studying subjects like relativistic physics and orbital mechanics (to each their own, I guess). While I appreciate his attention to detail, there are times when he dives too deep into the technical aspects, making it a bit overwhelming. Thankfully, you can easily skim through these sections and keep the story moving without missing a beat.
“I spend a lot of time un-suiciding this suicide mission.”
—Ryland Grace
Ryland Grace is everything you'd want in a leading character—intelligent, witty, and highly capable. Yet, even with all these strengths, he still embarks on a meaningful journey of personal growth throughout the story. His supporting cast are no slouches either. Again, it’s hard to talk about them without spoiling anything but let’s just say that there’s one character in particular that I’m sure you’ll fall in love with.
The pacing in this book is excellent, and while you may predict some of the twists and turns, I’d wager there are still plenty of moments that will catch you off guard. And speaking of plot twists, the ending is perfect. As a “destination over journey” kind of guy, I place a lot of value on how well a story’s conclusion ties everything together, and I’m happy to report that this one will not disappoint.
If it wasn’t obvious by now, I absolutely adored this book. Project Hail Mary has easily become one of my all-time favorites, a sentiment that many readers online also seem to share. Whenever I get asked for a recommendation in the sci-fi genre, this is my go-to. It’s an unforgettable journey that blends science, suspense, and heart in a way that few books manage to do.
Verdict: 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐
Final Thoughts
David’s Closing Remarks
Okay, I swear Evan and I are different people. It just so happens that we gravitate (see what I did there?) toward the same elements when critiquing a book. I didn’t realize he was a proud owner of ballerina slippers, but then again this shouldn’t surprise me, considering he owns multiple pairs of Crocs. Jokes aside, it’s clear that this book is special. There’s a reason it was nominated for multiple awards and appeared on people’s top books of 2021 lists, including Bill Gates'. At this point, if you have even the slightest interest in reading it, you should do so. You won’t regret it.
Evan’s Closing Remarks
I did a double-take reading David’s thoughts because I thought I was re-reading my own review for a second. I promise we’ll get better at sharing differing views as we review more books (I hope). Also, I’ll admit I’m a bit disappointed he only skimmed through the complicated sciency math parts. I skipped those completely because I thought he’d explain them to me. Anyway, I’ll echo his sentiment and say that this book is absolutely worth the read. As far as space exploration thrillers go, I don’t really know of a better book. Just do yourself a favour and go find a copy. We’ll all feel better when you do.
Thanks for hanging out with the boys 🤙
- David & Evan
Read along with us for the next review of… Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain