The Testaments Book Reviews

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Good. My Grandma is a very wonderful and determined woman. IDK how she does it how she has completed so many books; She has a wonderful gift. Love you Grandma...

Wow. Couldn’t wait to read it, then couldn’t put it down once I started. Fantastic story!

To Margaret Atwood. Thank you for answering the questions we have all had for years about the fall of Gilead and the fate of the original Handmaid not answered in the end of the first book. I almost wish it had taken you two books to wrap things up as neatly, surprisingly, and wonderfully as you did. Thank you for another great and thought provoking read!

More please. This is an excellent book which helps flesh out some of the more visible parts of Gileadan society from the original book and in the also excellent TV series. But there is so much more to Gilead and its universe that could be examined and used as a mirror or warning to our world. Imagine books describing the lives of the Econofamilies, the events that led to the Colonies and their subsequent cleanup efforts, the foreign relations and trade of Gilead with its neighbors, or the geopolitcs of the world that Gilead exists in and appears to be at war with. This book really just whetted my appetite for more books from the original author and I really hope that she continues this chilling examination of a deeply flawed but entirely believable fictional theocracy.

Slow at first then picks up. It took me many months to get through the first quarter of the book but once the book got very good I could not put down. Rated w one star missing due to the slowness at first. This book would be a great end to the Handmaids series on Hulu....

Amazing!. I love this whole storyline set in the future even after with what the show covers and I hope the show picks up this storyline.

Cnt. Goodrichtmy

Exceptional Storytelling. I used to hate reading. In some ways I still do, whether it be text books, articles, etc. I was amazed at how captivating this book was, both from watching the Hulu series and from what I have originally heard about The Handmaids Tale. I read this book in less than one day. I have never truly read a book that fast before in my life. I’m so grateful to the author for continuing this brave story of the survivors of Gilead.

I loved the book and hope it stays fiction. I loved the book and read it non stop. While I hope this book is simply a good story, a cultural warning, and not a forecast of our future in the USA. Tonight I’ll pray that our country will not submit itself to the whims of radicalized evangelicals lurking in government and who hope for this horrible world simply to get their way. They are a horror story in America. I’ll pray for our democracy survives this period that treats all its people with respect and a deeper commitment to our constitution and institutions to prevent this type of thing from ever leaping from these pages to a cold dead end of unvarnished greed, pogroms and persecution from evangelicals and their cults to harm innocent Americans.

Riveting. Loved it. Truly gave me closure.

Terrifyingly prophetic. Please put this on screen to reach more people. Margaret Atwood is an oracle in our time.

Fantastic Sequel. Gripping, entertaining, fantastic. I read it in one day, which is saying a lot because I’m not a fast reader. I loved the book, the changes in perspective made perfect sense and the character choices were spot on. Truly great ending to a story that began 30 years ago.

Great Book. Really enjoyed reading this answered some questions left hanging from previous book. Altho wish there had been more information on “the baby daddies”.

Riveting. I delayed reading this thinking it would be a disappointing follow-up to The Handmaiden’s Tale. Was I wrong! I couldn’t put it down and am thrilled to find out the real ending to the former book.

my fave. this is my all time my favorite book ever. i highly recommend <3

Finally. Gilead brings about endless questions for me. It is so interesting, yet disturbing, but also mesmerizing. I think an entire collection could be written on its uprising, inner workings, biographies, downfall, etc. and I would read them all. Aunt Lydia is a brilliant character in The Testaments. I cannot say that I saw it coming either. However, it is disappointing to read so very little about June & Luke. Nothing of Moira, Emily, Janine, or The Waterford’s. I could never get enough of the beloved Gilead story, regardless, this book is still a masterpiece.

Difficult Start but Gripping. I found this book hard to get into but once you are hooked, it’s hard to put down. A rarely accurate look at the dark side of human nature and doing whatever is needed, when being brave it all one has left. Beautifully descriptive writing as always from Atwood.

Lightning Strikes Twice. Margaret Atwood has written an evocative, worthy sequel to the original “Handmaids Tale” that brings the story of Gilead to a satisfying end and serves as a poignant reminder that fiction can become fact if society isn’t vigilant of what can happen under our own noses. The character development is superb and answers many questions simmering in the minds of “Handmaid” readers about the rise of both Gilead and certain enigmatic players on the stage Atwood so brilliantly sets. Enjoy and savor the fruits of her literary labours!

An unnecessary sequel. Very disappointing. Reads like a YA novel and has nothing more to say about this dystopian society. A totally unnecessary sequel to a great book.

Fantastic. Riveting, page turner, amazing!!! I was truly upset when I finished this book because I didn’t want the story to end.

The Testaments. Amazing writing! Inspiring!

So disappointing. I like Margaret Atwood but this is not her best work. I don’t know how it got such good reviews.

A beautiful catharsis to The Handmaid’s Tale. A wonderful conclusion to The Handmaid’s Tale. Once I started to read, I could not put it down. Set nine years ahead of Season Three of the show on Hulu, it answered so many questions I had. An in-depth look from a child growing up in Gilead until it’s fall from the totalitarianism regime satisfied my desire for catharsis. Thank you Margaret Atwood! A beautiful, brilliant and emotionally moving read.

It was ok.. I honestly love the story of June and her daughters. I am captivated by the depth of the world created through the books and the tv show. This book, however, seems to have been an emotional response by Margaret Atwood to gain back control of her characters. The story is a bit disjointed and attempts to cover this up results in the multiple narrators and ultimately coved up by the “ way in the future end. ” If I were in the position of having an opinion, I would have said it needs to be rewritten. The book is poorly edited and feels heavy-handed. My recommendation is to read this book just to know the cannon of the story and look past the second rate writing.

Speechless. I have spent the day devouring this book. It was worth every minute! Thank you Margaret Atwood for another brilliant book.

Excellent read. Loved it!

It’s a must read. Couldn’t stop reading…!

Much better upon a second reading. ✌️👍. (WARNING: Potential Spoiler) First time around this book doesn’t make a whole lot of sense (especially in the first half). This is primarily because there is a vital aspect of the story and setting that is never explained (you just kinda figure it out): 15 years later. The Testaments takes place 15 years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale (that would’ve good to know 🤬). Another key aspect of the story that I think should’ve been known from the beginning in order to better understand the characters we’re following, is that (view spoiler). Instead, it is done as a surprise reveal about half way through (hens why the first half didn’t make a whole lot of sense), but upon a second reading, I personally enjoyed the book more knowing this from the beginning. *This part is a HUGE, HUGE negative for me because it relies entirely on the TV show.* 👎 (yes, unfortunately the book makes a lot more sense if you’ve seen the show) But the biggest downfall here is the epilogue, which chronicles the future/history of the collapse of Gilead and the fate of all our characters, past and present. Ironic, considering that Margaret Atwood herself stated that explaining the collapse of Gilead was the purpose of writing this book in the first place (also, once again, there is a heavy reliance on the reader having seen the show in order to fully understand everything). As a stand-alone book, it provides good closure to its own story. As a series, it only serves to ruin a first entry that was never meant to have a sequel. Sometimes the best ending is no ending. While I am not a fan of The Handmaid’s Tale, I do recognize that it is a good book. And its ambiguity is what made it good. The lack of information we’re given because we’re following a single POV from a lower class character was not only understood, but accepted. It made us wonder, it made us question, and encouraged us to use our imagination to fill in the blanks. The ending alone is the very definition of “fear for the worst, hope for the best.” Many questions were left unanswered, and the book was all the better for it. The Testaments, however, seems to have set out to answer these questions. Using the tactic of exploring multiple POV’s in order to fill in any potential gaps, and jumping forward into the future to tie up any loose ends. For most books this would be a good thing, except for when the readers fear of the unknown is your friend. In this, the stories ambiguous nature that made the first book so good is suddenly stripped away, and provides you with the happy ending you never realized you didn’t want. 👍 On the positive side, almost every aspect of The Testaments is a step up from The Handmaid's Tale. The characters are better developed with more emotion, and the narrative is more focused, giving the characters more direction and purpose, all done while adding greater tension and higher steaks. Independently they are both good books, but as a series all they do is clash. And while good, they could’ve been great. Even though The Handmaid’s Tale came out over 30 years ago and The Testaments is an obvious cash grab (that’s right, I said it), in retrospect, it would’ve been so much better if they were 1 book. Take the world building and setup of the first with the story and tension of the second, and it would be even more of a classic.

Aunt Lydia does it again. Being a fan of watching Handmaids tales I couldn’t wait to read this. It was nice to see Hannah and Nicole meet. The story explained Aunt Lydia more which made me not hate her.

Counted days til the release and WASNT DISAPPOINTED!! This book shows UP!. Book 2 from Margaret Atwood’s captivating book The Handmaid Tale. There’s not a writer alive who matches her ability to write outrageously absurd situations yet makes them ENTIRELY believable. So believable you envision your reality quickly turning to the chaotic destructive hell on Earth she graphically and masterfully depicts in these novels. PLEASE PLEASE WRITE #3. I just didn’t and don’t want this story, the characters or the Gilead reign and aftermath to END!

A fiction book with relatable experience. This book absolutely took my breath away. The way that modern events are similar to events happening in this book is quite clever. As a woman this book hit hard. From Agnes to Nicole, their experiences resonated with my own struggles as a woman in America.

Wonderful read!. I enjoyed this more than the first book, The Handmaid’s Tale.

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