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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was an ARC from NetGalley and Orbit
This was an interesting book. Set in an apocalyptic dystopian world after several climate disasters and the collapse of the technological world, three sisters set out to find out what really happened to their mother 20 years ago. There are several twists in the book which kept it interesting. I did find though that the sections where the mom’s guidebook slowed the story down a bit for me. I did enjoy the multiple POVs throughout the book.
In “A Mother’s Guide to the Apocalypse” we have the story of a family torn apart by climate change and political upheaval, which feels very topical and frightening.
Olivia Clark is a successful filmmaker, happily married, and the proud mother of triplets. Signs of a possible coming apocalypse spur her to learn about prepping, and the question of this novel is … will this be enough to save her daughters?
Told in several POVs (a winning concept and well-done), interspersed with Olivia’s prepping handbook (unfortunately slowing down the plot), this is a deeply emotional story. I wish there had been more showing and less telling of the dramatic world events, because that would have added a necessary element of suspense. There were some thrilling episodes from time to time but not enough to keep me really interested.
Great characterization and an interesting plot, but not enough visceral world-building.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.
This was an emotional, thought provoking and fast paced read!
We meet the "mom", and learn about her childhood... more so how she had to grow up early. How she raised her little brother and against all odds, became a success in Hollywood. With that kind of background, it is easy to imagine that our friend Olivia is somewhat high strung. Understandably so - given she had to be... now married and a mother of triplets, we find her in the year 2024. Political unrest, natural disasters, and why not add a home invasion during a blackout! Olivia is a momma bear that got sucked into becoming a doomsday prepper. From hoarding water piles, to batteries and candles and chlorine tablets, you name it. What struck me the most was that nagging fear she had and the need to protect her loved ones. Given the current shenanigans in the world in 2025, understandably so! Despite all of her prepping and willingness to protect what she cherished most, 6 months later - Olivia is dead.
The story continues with the triplets, in particular the "eldest" Rosie insisting on them following their mother's guide to the apocalypse. The guide leads our 3 leading ladies into a direction I didn't expect or saw coming. I felt all kinds of ways, from giggling to wanting to cry.. Overton sucked me into the story and I empathized with the characters and felt like hugging and holding them myself.
It's a solid 4.5 Star read ! Fast paced and twisty!
Thank you to Hollie Overton, whom I don't know but feel like we are friends now, after reading this emotional rollercoaster! Also, thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for letting me jump on this ride!
We meet the "mom", and learn about her childhood... more so how she had to grow up early. How she raised her little brother and against all odds, became a success in Hollywood. With that kind of background, it is easy to imagine that our friend Olivia is somewhat high strung. Understandably so - given she had to be... now married and a mother of triplets, we find her in the year 2024. Political unrest, natural disasters, and why not add a home invasion during a blackout! Olivia is a momma bear that got sucked into becoming a doomsday prepper. From hoarding water piles, to batteries and candles and chlorine tablets, you name it. What struck me the most was that nagging fear she had and the need to protect her loved ones. Given the current shenanigans in the world in 2025, understandably so! Despite all of her prepping and willingness to protect what she cherished most, 6 months later - Olivia is dead.
The story continues with the triplets, in particular the "eldest" Rosie insisting on them following their mother's guide to the apocalypse. The guide leads our 3 leading ladies into a direction I didn't expect or saw coming. I felt all kinds of ways, from giggling to wanting to cry.. Overton sucked me into the story and I empathized with the characters and felt like hugging and holding them myself.
It's a solid 4.5 Star read ! Fast paced and twisty!
Thank you to Hollie Overton, whom I don't know but feel like we are friends now, after reading this emotional rollercoaster! Also, thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for letting me jump on this ride!
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is outside of my usual genre, I don’t usually read apocalyptic, or dystopian novels. I am glad I gave it a chance. This book wasn’t as bleak as many dystopian novels I have read, it’s more apocalyptic light.
This book started out running. It’s fast paced with running commentary about the evils of technology. And the possible trajectory of the US. This was an interesting read in our current political, technological and ecological climates in the US especially during a weeklong heatwave. There are a lot of parallels between current events and what happened to cause the collapse of the United States in this book.
Instead of focusing too exclusively on the world and the nightmarish reality the characters live in, the focus of this book is the familial relationships within it.
The book that Olivia wrote as a guide for her children is also interesting, filled with some helpful tips and could actually help somewhat in an emergency situation. It’s not as exhaustive as an actual guide (and there are some very good ones out there) but as this is a fiction novel and not actually a guide I found it a very interesting part of the book. Giving it 4 stars rather than 3 because I will definitely remember this book, if not just for the interesting tips found in the pages of the Mothers Guide.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
dark
reflective
tense
4.5 Mother's guide to apocalypse: An interesting thriller wrapped in an apocalypse futuristic dystopian setting, with warnings and handy tips dedicated to the character's triplets. At first, we're trying to understand what kind of journey/ plot this will be, then we get more focus on motherhood, siblings, and family relationships, and the plot twist at the end infuriated me.
A mom can make guides and try to protect her children from anything, but it's impossible to control all. The best is to give children the best tools to fend for themselves if needed.
A mom can make guides and try to protect her children from anything, but it's impossible to control all. The best is to give children the best tools to fend for themselves if needed.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Nergalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me gripped from page one and I could not put it down. It's a true testament to not only a Mother's love but also a Father's love. The bond between the sisters was so realistic! This book kept me guessing and I did not see the twists before they happened.
This is also a solid glimpse of what can befall us all if we do not take climate change seriously.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me gripped from page one and I could not put it down. It's a true testament to not only a Mother's love but also a Father's love. The bond between the sisters was so realistic! This book kept me guessing and I did not see the twists before they happened.
This is also a solid glimpse of what can befall us all if we do not take climate change seriously.
I devoured this book. Like, stay-up-way-too-late-turning-pages-with-wild-eyes devoured. I had to know what happened to Olivia. I needed to know what Mel’s deal was. And honestly? I was side-eyeing every single character by the end because no one is quite what they seem. And honestly? That’s half the thrill.
We only get Olivia’s voice in the prologue—and then she’s gone. Not just from the timeline, but from her own story. Everything we think we know about her comes through other people: forum threads, old documents, and the oh-so-contradictory accounts from Sam and Mel. And honestly? That silence is what makes it so powerful. You’re just as desperate as her daughters to figure out who she really was. And what really happened to her.
We only get Olivia’s voice in the prologue—and then she’s gone. Not just from the timeline, but from her own story. Everything we think we know about her comes through other people: forum threads, old documents, and the oh-so-contradictory accounts from Sam and Mel. And honestly? That silence is what makes it so powerful. You’re just as desperate as her daughters to figure out who she really was. And what really happened to her.
This story blends doomsday dread with a slow-burning family mystery in a way that just works. The sisters—Rosie, Bettie, and Cassie—are trying to piece together the truth through their grief, their rage, and their deeply chaotic sibling energy. Their dynamic is raw and real and full of moments that made me laugh, wince, and want to hug all three of them.
I love that the narrative doesn’t give us easy answers. It plays with memory, survival, and trust in this slippery, haunting way. Is Olivia a martyr or a runaway? Is their father a liar or a man barely hanging on? Even when you think you’ve figured it out—nope. There’s always one more layer to uncover.
Absolutely gripping, emotionally sharp, and just the right amount of apocalyptic vibes kept me guessing (and spiraling) to the last page.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review—and honestly, I will never trust a prepper forum again.
3⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit books and Redhook Publishing, and Hollie Overton for allowing me to preview this title ahead of the general release date.
Upon reading the title of this book, one might assume that it is an apocalyptic or post-apocalypytic story. Not really. The first chapter is about a woman prepping for a possible upcoming cataclysmic event that has not happened yet. Fast forward 20 yrs and the climate and infrastructure had collapsed, but the world is fine, just different. The story follows 3 sisters, triplets, who were whisked to England by their father after their mother died, but now has information that said mother might be alive. They travel back to "America" where chaos ensues and there is, of course, more to the story than simply mother is not dead.
This story is told an each chapter having a different POV of a different character. It is more told from their vantage point, but it is still done in 3rd person with very little internal dialogue. The story itself was a quick read, nothing too crazy, or with a shocking twist. The world is not terribly different than our current one, everything that was different is mentioned in a quick passing glance. When I first finished, I thought this was a solid 3.5 ⭐️ but the more I think about it, it wasn't that interesting. I think I skimmed quite a bit. So upon reflection, I think this might be a barely 3⭐️.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit books and Redhook Publishing, and Hollie Overton for allowing me to preview this title ahead of the general release date.
Upon reading the title of this book, one might assume that it is an apocalyptic or post-apocalypytic story. Not really. The first chapter is about a woman prepping for a possible upcoming cataclysmic event that has not happened yet. Fast forward 20 yrs and the climate and infrastructure had collapsed, but the world is fine, just different. The story follows 3 sisters, triplets, who were whisked to England by their father after their mother died, but now has information that said mother might be alive. They travel back to "America" where chaos ensues and there is, of course, more to the story than simply mother is not dead.
This story is told an each chapter having a different POV of a different character. It is more told from their vantage point, but it is still done in 3rd person with very little internal dialogue. The story itself was a quick read, nothing too crazy, or with a shocking twist. The world is not terribly different than our current one, everything that was different is mentioned in a quick passing glance. When I first finished, I thought this was a solid 3.5 ⭐️ but the more I think about it, it wasn't that interesting. I think I skimmed quite a bit. So upon reflection, I think this might be a barely 3⭐️.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was an emotional, thought provoking and fast paced read!
We meet the "mom", and learn about her childhood... more so how she had to grow up early. How she raised her little brother and against all odds, became a success in Hollywood. With that kind of background, it is easy to imagine that our friend Olivia is somewhat high strung. Understandably so - given she had to be... now married and a mother of triplets, we find her in the year 2024. Political unrest, natural disasters, and why not add a home invasion during a blackout! Olivia is a momma bear that got sucked into becoming a doomsday prepper. From hoarding water piles, to batteries and candles and chlorine tablets, you name it. What struck me the most was that nagging fear she had and the need to protect her loved ones. Given the current shenanigans in the world in 2025, understandably so! Despite all of her prepping and willingness to protect what she cherished most, 6 months later - Olivia is dead.
The story continues with the triplets, in particular the "eldest" Rosie insisting on them following their mother's guide to the apocalypse. The guide leads our 3 leading ladies into a direction I didn't expect or saw coming. I felt all kinds of ways, from giggling to wanting to cry.. Overton sucked me into the story and I empathized with the characters and felt like hugging and holding them myself.
It's a solid 4.5 Star read ! Fast paced and twisty!
Thank you to Hollie Overton, whom I don't know but feel like we are friends now, after reading this emotional rollercoaster! Also, thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for letting me jump on this ride!
We meet the "mom", and learn about her childhood... more so how she had to grow up early. How she raised her little brother and against all odds, became a success in Hollywood. With that kind of background, it is easy to imagine that our friend Olivia is somewhat high strung. Understandably so - given she had to be... now married and a mother of triplets, we find her in the year 2024. Political unrest, natural disasters, and why not add a home invasion during a blackout! Olivia is a momma bear that got sucked into becoming a doomsday prepper. From hoarding water piles, to batteries and candles and chlorine tablets, you name it. What struck me the most was that nagging fear she had and the need to protect her loved ones. Given the current shenanigans in the world in 2025, understandably so! Despite all of her prepping and willingness to protect what she cherished most, 6 months later - Olivia is dead.
The story continues with the triplets, in particular the "eldest" Rosie insisting on them following their mother's guide to the apocalypse. The guide leads our 3 leading ladies into a direction I didn't expect or saw coming. I felt all kinds of ways, from giggling to wanting to cry.. Overton sucked me into the story and I empathized with the characters and felt like hugging and holding them myself.
It's a solid 4.5 Star read ! Fast paced and twisty!
Thank you to Hollie Overton, whom I don't know but feel like we are friends now, after reading this emotional rollercoaster! Also, thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for letting me jump on this ride!
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
I had a fun time reading this book the concept was interesting, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters.
I also had fun trying to figure out what was going to happen, and watching the mystery unfold and answers come out was satisfying.
I did find the ending a bit sudden, but I’m overall happy with how it all tied up at the end.
A solid, fun and quick read.
I also had fun trying to figure out what was going to happen, and watching the mystery unfold and answers come out was satisfying.
I did find the ending a bit sudden, but I’m overall happy with how it all tied up at the end.
A solid, fun and quick read.