15/10 would recommend

I don’t think I’ve ever laughed this hard reading a book in my life.

The Second Word is the kind of funny where you have to stop reading because you’re laughing too hard, then immediately go back and read the line again because you can’t believe how perfectly he said it. Jake Korell has this incredible ability to put into words the exact thoughts and observations you’ve had but would never think to say out loud or wouldn’t be brave enough to.

What makes the book even better is how real everything feels. His version of Mars isn’t some distant, impossible sci-fi fantasy. It feels like a natural extension of where we’re already headed, with private companies racing to get there and all the messy ethical and political questions that come with it. The technology feels believable, but more importantly, the people do. Their ambition, insecurity, ego, and need for recognition all feel painfully familiar. Korell makes it clear that even on another planet, humans would still be completely, hilariously human.

That’s where the magic of this book really lives. It treats space exploration with genuine respect and curiosity, while also embracing the absurdity of human nature. It reminded me of Andy Weir in how grounded and accessible the science feels, but with a sharper, more satirical edge. Korell isn’t just imagining how we’ll survive on Mars—he’s imagining how we’ll bring all of our same flaws with us.

So much of the humor comes from how relatable it all is. I found myself constantly thinking, “I cannot be the only person who thinks like this,” and then laughing because he captured it so perfectly. It’s the kind of book you quote to your friends, reread your favorite parts of, and wish you could experience again for the first time.

Underneath all the humor, there’s also something deeper. It’s funny, but it’s also smart and honest about who we are. Mars, in this story, isn’t just shaped by science. It’s shaped by ego, politics, insecurity, and ambition. And somehow, that makes it feel both futuristic and uncomfortably recognizable.

I genuinely didn’t want it to end. This is, without question, the funniest book I’ve ever read—and one of the most original.

Over the moon (or should I say Phobos) at how entertaining and reflective this Martian journey was. Korell set up the world with such believable details that I wouldn't be surprised if it gave our current leaders some ideas on our interplanetary future. I laughed more than I can count, both from genuinely witty writing and downright silly scenes. Reading this felt like reading my best friend's creation, where are humors were so aligned that I truly enjoyed every part. There were moments of deeper insights too, especially when the coming-of-age tale began to wrap up and the main character took his path into his own hands.

While I highly recommend this story, I struggled at times with the cycle of the main character. The relationship with his father (and others) came to a satisfying and realistic ending, but throughout the book, the ups and downs started to feel slightly repetitive. But, I can concede that this is very similar to real-life relationships, with people falling into patterns over and over again. The situations Flip was thrown into (like the mission to Earth, the battle with the Pauls, etc.) had a tendency to feel a little forced and I remember thinking that the conclusions of each situation felt too simple, almost resolved too quickly with not enough consequences. Every step took the reader on an adventure though, and in the end, contributed to the hopeful ending.

This book really caught me off guard in a good way. The Second World mixes absurd humor with a genuinely heartfelt coming-of-age story, all set against the chaotic backdrop of a newly independent Mars trying to figure itself out. The idea alone is wild, but it works thanks to sharp satire and creative worldbuilding.

Flip Buchanan is an especially engaging main character—relatable in his struggle to step out of his father’s shadow, even as everything around him spirals into political madness, alien encounters, and bizarre cultural quirks. The “second-best” theme hits harder than expected and gives the story emotional weight beneath all the silliness.

There’s a lot of gleefully ridiculous humor here, but it never feels empty. The book also digs into deeper ideas about family, identity, and what it means to matter in a huge, messy universe. It’s a strange balance, but the author pulls it off.

If you like satire with heart and don’t mind things getting a little weird, this is definitely worth checking out.

This book had a lot of promise, but I found the timeline hard to understand. In the same chapter, Flip would go from 8 years old to much older and then back to when he first met his friends. This might be better enjoyed as an audiobook, because I think the humor would also translate better that way than on the page.

The Second World by Jake Korell is an interesting science fiction novel that takes us to a very tumultuous Mars that is trying to become independent from Earth and become its own country. The story follows Flip Buchanan as he tries to learn how to be the leader Mars needs, rather than being the leader his father wants him to become. Along the way, he will learn a lot about himself and the bizarre world he now inhabits. Aliens are only the first discovery that he will make as he tries to make his name and become the man the planet needs. There is way more comedy involved in this book than science fiction, which makes this even more delightful. It is a fast read that will have you chuckling as the cast tries to make Mars, a planet, into a country. The author did a great job of creating a narrative that hooks you early and keeps your attention with short chapters and silly scenarios.

In his sci-fi debut, THE SECOND WORLD, Korell explores life on the Red Planet through the eyes of a young martian named Flip. In a distant future, Mars has been colonized for several years. Flip Buchanan, a descendant of the famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin, comes from a family accustomed to being the "first" in everything. Flip's dysfunctional family life has him constantly living in his father's shadow, and feeling as though he is never good enough. A difficult circumstance to overcome when your father is the most important man on Mars. When Mars decides to become an independent planet, Flip finds himself trying to navigate the ups and downs of life among the political upheaval.

Korell's debut is funny and entertaining, with plenty of laugh out loud moments. What makes the book interesting is how believable this society that the author has created on Mars is, going for a science fiction aspect that is more realistic rather than fantastical. Korell's strengths lie in his impressive worldbuilding and Flip's heartwarming dynamics with his friends. Although the plot's timeline can be confusing with Flip's abrupt age shift, the writing is clear and easy to follow. This is a wonderful read for fans of Andy Weir with an added dose of humor.

This is a highly creative work that takes a simple "what if" and spins it into an imaginatively colorful story. What if there were another world—a "Second World"?

We're introduced to this world through the eyes of a kid telling us his story. And this boy is unique: he's a natural-born Martian citizen whose roots trace all the way back to Earth—a descendant of Buzz Aldrin himself. We essentially grow up alongside him, getting to know his family, his friends, and his world. It's fascinating to watch the social and political dynamics that take root in new soil—the soil of Mars. And it drives home a powerful idea: we shape wherever we go; where we go doesn't shape us.

It's a fun, inventive look at what life might be like if humans settled on another planet and made it their second home. The references are clever, tongue-in-cheek, and at times downright satirical. I thoroughly enjoyed this book—it's a great read and an even better way to pass the time. If you don't mind a chuckle or two mixed with some existential provocations along the way, or if imaginative fiction is your bent, this one's for you.

I just wrapped up this and I can say this book has its own strange, hilarious orbit. I absolutely had no idea where the story was going to go, but I guess that's what made it fun. Flip is the kind of character who feels instantly relatable, and yet ends up stuck in the middle of all the chaos. One chapter I’m laughing, and the next I’m sitting there thinking about generational baggage. The satire is spot‑on and it all feels just exaggerated enough to be funny without losing its bite. The worldbuilding is also bold and delightfully absurd. You can tell the author had fun playing around with it. If you like sci‑fi that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still sneaks in some emotional depth, I think this book is a blast. A pretty unique story for sure.

Absolutely amazing book but I did find it quite unbelievable at times. I wouldn't like to live in a world like that.

Colonizing Mars, it turns out, doesn’t magically solve humanity’s problems. If anything, it just relocates them, with slightly better views and far worse plumbing. The Second World leans into that idea with gleeful irreverence, following Flip Buchanan as he grows up in a Martian society that’s still figuring out what it actually means to be a country.

Flip is the son of Mars’ most influential figure, which sounds glamorous until you realize it mostly means living under a permanent spotlight you never asked for. His family has a long-running obsession with being “first”—first to achieve something, first to plant a flag, first to make history. Unfortunately for Flip, he seems destined to land in second place in just about everything. That tension—between expectation and identity—forms the emotional core of the book, even as the story gleefully hurls killer clones, alien discoveries, and political chaos into the mix.

The narrative unfolds as Flip recounts the past, speaking directly to the reader with a tone that’s equal parts sarcastic confession and cosmic shrug. It’s a storytelling style that gives the book its personality. Flip’s voice is quick, self-aware, and often hilariously exasperated by the absurdity of the world around him. Mars may be a brand-new society with shiny ideals and revolutionary slogans, but its people still manage to recreate the same old power struggles, media theatrics, and cultural divisions they left behind on Earth.

And that’s really where the book shines. Beneath the jokes and ridiculousness, Korell is clearly poking at something deeper: the stubborn persistence of human nature. We bring our ambitions, egos, and political drama with us wherever we go—even if “wherever” happens to be another planet. Watching Mars stumble through independence while simultaneously reinventing (and repeating) Earth’s mistakes gives the story a satirical bite.

The worldbuilding is also a lot of fun. Little details about Martian life—new slang, cultural quirks, and the weird logistics of living on a hostile planet—help the setting feel lived-in rather than just futuristic wallpaper. It’s easy to imagine this version of Mars, partly because it’s so recognizably human.

That said, the humor sometimes leans a little hard into repetition, and the book occasionally prioritizes punchlines over deeper character exploration—particularly with some of the adult figures orbiting Flip’s life. The story also covers a lot of ground over a long stretch of time, which can make certain moments feel more like snapshots than fully developed turning points.

Still, Flip himself remains a compelling guide through the chaos. His struggles—with family pressure, friendship, love, and the lingering feeling of never quite measuring up—anchor the story emotionally even when the plot veers into full-blown sci-fi spectacle.

At its heart, The Second World is less about Mars than it is about growing up in someone else’s shadow and figuring out how to define your own version of success. It’s messy, funny, occasionally a little over-the-top—but also surprisingly thoughtful about legacy, identity, and the strange human urge to matter in a universe that’s far bigger than we are.

Smart, chaotic, and unapologetically quirky, The Second World is a sci-fi coming-of-age story that proves one thing very clearly: you can leave Earth, but you can’t quite escape being human.

The Second World by Jake Korell is a brilliantly sharp and surprisingly touching sci-fi epic that manages to be both a satirical space adventure and a deeply personal coming-of-age story. Set against the backdrop of a Mars that has just declared independence, the plot follows Flip Buchanan, the "irreverent" son of the planet’s most powerful man, as he navigates two decades of political chaos, killer clones, and the struggle to step out of a formidable family shadow. What really makes this book stand out is how it balances high-concept worldbuilding with a very human search for self-worth; Korell’s wit is reminiscent of Kurt Vonnegut, but the emotional depth he gives Flip’s journey feels entirely original. Whether you're here for the biting commentary on media and culture or the heartfelt exploration of found family, this is one of those rare novels that stays with you long after the final page, reminding us that finding your place in an infinite universe is the ultimate adventure.

This was marketed as a comedy to me. This is so much more. It is funny and it is a coming of age story. It has a lot of heart to it. The first third has a lot of comedy which worked for me. The middle third was frustrating, the mc’s character arc was shaping up and he infuriated me quite a bit, but the last third made up for it. Very well written for a debut novel. Would’ve preferred it more if this wasn’t touted in the same category as Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy. Kudos to the author.