Project Hail Mary

Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship called the Hail Mary with no memory of his name, his past, or his location. Once the fog clears, he discovers his two crewmates are dead and he's light-years from Earth on a desperate mission. An alien microbe named Astrophage is eating away at the sun's energy, pushing Earth toward an inevitable ice age. As the sole survivor, Ryland has to rely on his background as a science teacher to study the problem, travel to the unaffected Tau Ceti star system, and find a solution before humanity freezes. Reading this feels like racing against the clock with an upbeat, practical science nerd who solves crises through chemistry, physics, and quick experiments. There is no romance in the book at all. Instead, the emotional core centers on survival, sacrifice, and an unexpected friendship that develops across deep space. It's a great fit for readers who love smart, puzzle-solving space adventures with plenty of humor and zero explicit content.