Review of The Merge by Grace Weller

Laurie and Amelia, mother and daughter, have signed up to merge their consciousness because Laurie has Alzheimer’s and Amelia cannot stand the idea of her mother forgetting who she is. The world is in political uproar about these mergings. It’s taking away people’s autonomy, their identity, but there’s an overpopulation and resources are thinning, so what else can be done?

Along with other merging patients, Laurie and Amelia attend preparation sessions to gear themselves up for the procedure and life after the merge. There’s a pregnant couple who cannot afford  the tax with bringing new life into the world so must reduce the size of their family, there’s the brothers where one is dying of terminal cancer and merging will take away his pain, and there’s a young girl suffering from addiction about to merge with her father. Everyone has their reasons, but as they get closer to the day of their merge, Laurie is having doubts.

A shocking, page-turning novel of how far science can be pushed in the face of overpopulation and human sacrifice.

Reviewed by Victoria

Published on 06/11/25 by Magpie

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