The Testaments: A Novel (The Handmaid's Tale)

I absolutely loved The Testaments. As a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, it exceeded my expectations: richly layered, fast-paced, and deeply satisfying. Atwood masterfully returns to the world of Gilead, not to repeat the past but to expand it, giving us new perspectives and, finally, a sense of possibility.Told through the voices of three women, including the formidable Aunt Lydia, we get an inside look at the regime’s inner workings and its cracks. Each narrative adds depth and urgency, and I found myself racing through the chapters, eager to see how their stories would converge.While The Handmaid’s Tale left us in suspense, The Testaments offers a sense of resolution without losing the sharp critique and moral complexity that made the original so powerful. Atwood doesn’t just revisit Gilead: she reshapes it.This sequel felt both timely and timeless, and I truly couldn’t put it down. For fans of The Handmaid’s Tale, it is not just a worthy follow-up: it’s essential.

Loved this sequel to The Handmaid's Tale! It delves into the history of Gilead, how Aunt Lydia came to be Aunt Lydia, and how Gilead took over the U.S. It goes into far more detail than the book or the show on Hulu. It is written from the point of view of June's daughters, Hannah (Agnes), Nicole, and Aunt Lydia. I feel like I have a better understanding of why Aunt Lydia was the way she was, the extremes people must go to in order to survive, and gives a better "ending" to the last season as this book takes place 15 years into the future, after June goes into Gilead with Luke, and honestly it was hard to put down. I read it in a day and a half.

Loved the book to read before this comes out on TV. Would definitely recommend.

I read A Handmaids Tale in my thirties and I am a huge fan of the TV series. I love how we learn more about Aunt Lydia. I didn’t want the story to end.

I enjoyed this a lot. Even more than the handmaid’s tale. Really well written, more focus on Geliad, has a lot of revolution in it.Highly recommend

I wouldn’t have missed reading this sequel to The Handmaids Tale, but I was frequently confused. It’s a compelling read, which I recommend.

Great sequel to A Handmaids Tale. It have multiple POVs versus the first book’s single POV. It was an interesting read.

I enjoyed this as much as I did The Handmaids Tale. I hope there will be a third one, please!