Reviews

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

lyntwhit's review against another edition

3.0

Enjoyed this book. Great for teens & preteens, but enjoyed it as an adult reader too. Found it very readable and engaging. Enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed reading the Hunger Games series. I guess the protagonists reminded me of each other a bit. As other readers commented, it does make you think about what if this really happened. Very believable. I also liked it because the mom is very forward thinking for the situation they're in.

sarahjnotmaas's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

5.0

justjulie36's review against another edition

4.0

Besides being slightly unrealistic, which of course is given in books like these, it was amazing! Perfectly paced and unable to put it down! Love the characters and the end!

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

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

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