Reviews

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

karrama's review against another edition

4.0

The premise is physically impossible. At least as far as the hero understands it, it can and did happen. We follow a girl who comes of age as the world might be ending. The moon may crash into Earth. The protagonist documents the changes in society through her personal experiences. There is no sunlight, weather patterns have gone crazy, food is not growable and the future is not knowable. What will happen? It's the reality of the emotions and family connections that keeps this story moving. Character driven distopia is an understatement. We feel her pain and hope as the year progresses and people migrate to find food and family in the nightmare Earth became.

ghostlyreader's review against another edition

4.0

I really liked this book. The beginning was kind of slow and I am not going to lie, for the first 100 or so pages Miranda was a whiny little brat and her mother wasn't much better. However, after reading the book more I found that their attitudes got a little better and I wasn't as annoyed with the main characters. So if you run into this problem while reading the book, I highly recommend just sucking it up and keep reading. The story def. gets better and you get dragged into it pretty fast. I do have to say though, this isn't a happy story. It's pretty depressing and the ending might leave you wanting more. But with that said, I still recommend it and I plan on reading the other two books soon :)

midnightpoison13's review against another edition

5.0

"Life As We Knew It" offers a fresh perspective on the dystopian genre, providing a captivating exploration of a world transformed by a catastrophic event. I found myself engrossed in the narrative and thrilled to discover that it is part of a series.

The story unfolds as the moon is struck by an asteroid, triggering a chain reaction of natural disasters that plunge the world into chaos. Through the lens of Miranda's diary entries, readers witness the profound impact of these cataclysmic events, from devastating tsunamis to volcanic eruptions, as they wreak havoc on a global scale.

Miranda's diary serves as a poignant window into her family's struggle for survival amidst the chaos. As they face looting, loss, and the harsh realities of foraging for resources, their bonds strengthen, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. Yet, lingering concerns about the safety of her father, his new wife, and their unborn baby, as well as the unknown dangers lurking beyond their town, cast a shadow over their precarious existence.

Against this backdrop, Miranda's friends embark on perilous journeys in search of a better life, highlighting the profound ways in which adversity shapes human resilience and resourcefulness.

Overall, "Life As We Knew It" is a compelling read that masterfully blends dystopian elements with intimate human drama, leaving readers eager to delve deeper into its sequels.

cosymilko's review against another edition

4.0

I bought this book after seeing it here on Goodreads in the post apocalyptic shelves. It definitely lives up to that.

After a meteor hits the moon and knocks it closer to earth life changes. People were not expecting the moon to be closer, the weather to turn sour or the collapse of society.

Living in their house and trying to survive the apocalypse is Miranda and her family. She journals everything right down to the arguments she has with her mum.

I found this to be a simple read, which is expected with a 16 year old narrator. The world is detailed and after reading it at night I was wondering how I'd survive in her place. Would I give up and die or fight on?

The book broke my heart several times but I needed to finish. I had to know if they'd device the winter.

jeseshat's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

gatosenojados's review against another edition

4.0

I had to go back and check when this book was published because the 2020 vibes were so strong.

jaca122's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

princessbethany's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

I really like the concept of this book and the plot kept me hooked all the way through, but I can't help but think that the diary format was just not the right choice for this one. It really pulls me out of the story when I am supposedly reading a diary where the girl is writing in perfect dialogue prose. I think it would have done better as a first person novel with diary elements. 

I love speculative fiction, probably my favorite genre, so this was a fun read!

hollybolly's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

eyekanreed's review against another edition

3.0

Pretty decent post-apocalyptic YA book. If you're big on realism then this isn't for you, but an okay read otherwise.