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gingerlaura's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
2.5✨
This book started out as a 5-star read, then it got progressively worse and the ending was just downright bad. Very disappointing, especially seeing all the glowing reviews.
I liked the first part of the book, getting to know the characters and the building tension of the incoming boom☄️. Directly after the asteroid strike it was still fun to read as well, as humanity started showing its ugly side. However, after that, the whole plot is just two people being on a boring road trip.
I didn't know running from natural disasters could be this boring. What made the story particularly boring was that everything was too convenient, there was no real threat and nothing truly exciting was happening throughout this book. The ending was also way too rushed and left me unsatisfied, as many things remain unfinished and unclear.
As for characters Ryan was decent enough, but my god Kat became such an insufferable person, crying every few pages about literally anything got real tired real quick. She's also supposed to be neurodivergent, though that doesn't become clear by her actions nor thoughts.
The writing also wasn't the best and sentences flowed awkwardly at times, which didn't contribute to a good rating either. Normally I absolutely love post-apocalyptic books where natural disasters happen and humanity goes crazy, but this was just not it.
This book started out as a 5-star read, then it got progressively worse and the ending was just downright bad. Very disappointing, especially seeing all the glowing reviews.
I liked the first part of the book, getting to know the characters and the building tension of the incoming boom☄️. Directly after the asteroid strike it was still fun to read as well, as humanity started showing its ugly side. However, after that, the whole plot is just two people being on a boring road trip.
I didn't know running from natural disasters could be this boring. What made the story particularly boring was that everything was too convenient, there was no real threat and nothing truly exciting was happening throughout this book. The ending was also way too rushed and left me unsatisfied, as many things remain unfinished and unclear.
As for characters Ryan was decent enough, but my god Kat became such an insufferable person, crying every few pages about literally anything got real tired real quick. She's also supposed to be neurodivergent, though that doesn't become clear by her actions nor thoughts.
The writing also wasn't the best and sentences flowed awkwardly at times, which didn't contribute to a good rating either. Normally I absolutely love post-apocalyptic books where natural disasters happen and humanity goes crazy, but this was just not it.
kzimm2024's review
4.0
4 stars. This was a great basis for a story, unfortunately I am a WA State native. If an author wants to name specific towns and hiking trails, please be accurate. Otherwise be more vague and don't mention these places specifically.
Drove me nuts and took enjoyment away from the story:
They went hiking "toward Baker" but ended up at Hidden Lake Lookout which is way further south and East of Concrete, completely different highway approach.
-------
Quote "Grateful for the change of subject, he told her about the hike and Glacier Peak Park. “Rachael Lake is off the Snoqualmie Pass. I thought we might like something challenging.”
Correct about Rachel Lake location but Glacier Peak is way north!
-------
“Tell me if it goes numb or is too tight. We should get a doctor to check your ankle in Everett on the way out.
Okay- where the fuck did these people live? Snoqualmie (south) is so far from Everett (north). I know since we would hike Rachel Lake and I lived in Everett! Why would they go past about 15 capable walk-in clinics to go to Everett from Snoqualmie Pass??
And when they had to leave the city, Ryan had to go back to his work and get a code for the bunker. That was fine but the whole description of him doing all that and returning home to pack and then driving to meet Kat (I assume north) was very vague and drawn out, let alone not accurate.
She texted him her location:
“Just outside Everett on Highway 2 near Snohomish. Parking behind an empty office building near the road out of town.”
OK, but then the author gives us this:
"Kat waited behind the empty office building in Everett for Ryan to arrive."
What's the fascination with Everett? Snohomish is far enough away to make a difference in the story. I should know. Ugh. Moving on.
Nick is their friend, a good one at that, and he convinces them to join him on hikes to get out of their ruts. Ryan had a good description at the start- total hottie- but I never got a good one of Kat.
Possible spoilers ahead:
They make it out of Seattle, heading E towards S Dakota. First by hybrid suv, then by bike and eventually by foot.
The condoms thing with Ryan was funny. I was super surprised Kat came on to Ryan so fast for sex, it seemed like it came out of nowhere but it was a good scene. She has some introspection: Still, she was glad she’d left that behind because she liked herself better sober.
While they still had bikes, they were dealing with volcanic eruptions/ash so they hunkered down for a short time. Had some time to talk:
“I thought you were beautiful when I met you for our first hike,” he said, his voice pulling her back to the moment. “I could tell there was something special about you, but I didn’t think I was interested in dating.”
“You did not. You barely spoke to me.” Her tone was incredulous. She’d never guessed he was interested in anything about her that day.
“I watched. I listened. I admired.”
A LOT of time passed with descriptions and info and not any actual talking, for example:
A few bison roamed on and beside the road, but the herd congregated on the right near the water source. He and Kat sat on the hill and waited for the animals to leave the road. Kat snapped a few pictures with her phone and of the two of them. They didn’t have to wait long before the herd moved on.
And I could not wrap my head around them just biking for hundreds of miles a day. Like it was no big deal. And Kat had been a couch potato lush for 2 years or more. Just sayin'.
They escape some scary situations and are really good together. Nothing builds trust like almost dying together. Its depressing how humanity preys on others once the veneer of civility is gone.
Last peeve, they never discussed much and especially their own "diagnosis" so it blew me away at the end where he declares his love for her she says, "even though I am neurodivergent?
WTF- how would he know?
HFN as volcanoes explode once they make it to the bunkers.
Drove me nuts and took enjoyment away from the story:
They went hiking "toward Baker" but ended up at Hidden Lake Lookout which is way further south and East of Concrete, completely different highway approach.
-------
Quote "Grateful for the change of subject, he told her about the hike and Glacier Peak Park. “Rachael Lake is off the Snoqualmie Pass. I thought we might like something challenging.”
Correct about Rachel Lake location but Glacier Peak is way north!
-------
“Tell me if it goes numb or is too tight. We should get a doctor to check your ankle in Everett on the way out.
Okay- where the fuck did these people live? Snoqualmie (south) is so far from Everett (north). I know since we would hike Rachel Lake and I lived in Everett! Why would they go past about 15 capable walk-in clinics to go to Everett from Snoqualmie Pass??
And when they had to leave the city, Ryan had to go back to his work and get a code for the bunker. That was fine but the whole description of him doing all that and returning home to pack and then driving to meet Kat (I assume north) was very vague and drawn out, let alone not accurate.
She texted him her location:
“Just outside Everett on Highway 2 near Snohomish. Parking behind an empty office building near the road out of town.”
OK, but then the author gives us this:
"Kat waited behind the empty office building in Everett for Ryan to arrive."
What's the fascination with Everett? Snohomish is far enough away to make a difference in the story. I should know. Ugh. Moving on.
Nick is their friend, a good one at that, and he convinces them to join him on hikes to get out of their ruts. Ryan had a good description at the start- total hottie- but I never got a good one of Kat.
Possible spoilers ahead:
They make it out of Seattle, heading E towards S Dakota. First by hybrid suv, then by bike and eventually by foot.
The condoms thing with Ryan was funny. I was super surprised Kat came on to Ryan so fast for sex, it seemed like it came out of nowhere but it was a good scene. She has some introspection: Still, she was glad she’d left that behind because she liked herself better sober.
While they still had bikes, they were dealing with volcanic eruptions/ash so they hunkered down for a short time. Had some time to talk:
“I thought you were beautiful when I met you for our first hike,” he said, his voice pulling her back to the moment. “I could tell there was something special about you, but I didn’t think I was interested in dating.”
“You did not. You barely spoke to me.” Her tone was incredulous. She’d never guessed he was interested in anything about her that day.
“I watched. I listened. I admired.”
A LOT of time passed with descriptions and info and not any actual talking, for example:
A few bison roamed on and beside the road, but the herd congregated on the right near the water source. He and Kat sat on the hill and waited for the animals to leave the road. Kat snapped a few pictures with her phone and of the two of them. They didn’t have to wait long before the herd moved on.
And I could not wrap my head around them just biking for hundreds of miles a day. Like it was no big deal. And Kat had been a couch potato lush for 2 years or more. Just sayin'.
They escape some scary situations and are really good together. Nothing builds trust like almost dying together. Its depressing how humanity preys on others once the veneer of civility is gone.
Last peeve, they never discussed much and especially their own "diagnosis" so it blew me away at the end where he declares his love for her she says, "even though I am neurodivergent?
WTF- how would he know?
HFN as volcanoes explode once they make it to the bunkers.
sarahholland's review
3.0
Copy received from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Very readable book - started it and kept on going. Liked the writing. Definitely would be interested in the author's next book. Recommended.
Very readable book - started it and kept on going. Liked the writing. Definitely would be interested in the author's next book. Recommended.
bookish_kristina's review
5.0
Best Read of 2023! What a ride!
Phenomenal debut novel! This book was so good! SO GOOD!
Right from the beginning this book made me feel things, it grabbed me by my cold dead heart and didn’t let go. I’m still reeling.
It started off with Kat, a neurodivergent elementary school teacher, mourning her dead husband at the bottom of a gin bottle. She is broken and detached from life, barely surviving each day. Her good friend Nick tries to help by getting her to hang out and go hiking. At the same time our hero Ryan, is a workaholic recovering from a nasty break up from his long term girlfriend. In comes Nick again, to get Ryan away from his desk and out in nature. The three of them begin weekly hikes, all the while Nick, an Astro-scientist of some sort, has discovered a meteorite that may be headed towards earth.
Quickly, this story changes to one of disaster prep and survival as the world prepares for impact.
This book was gripping! I was on the edge of my seat with the twist and turns. As the information about the meteorite clarifies, Nick tells his friends to seek shelter and Ryan offers Kat solace in the bunker he inherited from his grandpa.
They begin a long, crazy and harrowing journey from Seattle to South Dakota, going from car to bike and then on foot. Meeting helpful people and not helpful people. We quickly see how disaster brings out the best and the worst in everyone.
With all of this craziness happening we also see an incredibly tender and moving friendship and love grow between Ryan and Kat. They support each other, share their burden and persevere. This book shook me. It moved me. It made me tear up.
It was not a fluffy read, so make sure if you tackle this you are in a mindset for deep feels and darker elements.
But this book has been, by far, my best read of the year. I don’t hand out five stars easily, you have to pull them out of me with pliers, but this one earned it!
Don’t let the cartoon cover fool you, this was The Last of Us sans zombies. Prepare yourself for love during the apocalypse and read this book! Update: I like the new cover of this so much better.
CW: talk of rape, parental abuse, spousal abuse, alcoholism, on page violence, mass casualties of natural disasters.
A copy of this book has been provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review.
Phenomenal debut novel! This book was so good! SO GOOD!
Right from the beginning this book made me feel things, it grabbed me by my cold dead heart and didn’t let go. I’m still reeling.
It started off with Kat, a neurodivergent elementary school teacher, mourning her dead husband at the bottom of a gin bottle. She is broken and detached from life, barely surviving each day. Her good friend Nick tries to help by getting her to hang out and go hiking. At the same time our hero Ryan, is a workaholic recovering from a nasty break up from his long term girlfriend. In comes Nick again, to get Ryan away from his desk and out in nature. The three of them begin weekly hikes, all the while Nick, an Astro-scientist of some sort, has discovered a meteorite that may be headed towards earth.
Quickly, this story changes to one of disaster prep and survival as the world prepares for impact.
This book was gripping! I was on the edge of my seat with the twist and turns. As the information about the meteorite clarifies, Nick tells his friends to seek shelter and Ryan offers Kat solace in the bunker he inherited from his grandpa.
They begin a long, crazy and harrowing journey from Seattle to South Dakota, going from car to bike and then on foot. Meeting helpful people and not helpful people. We quickly see how disaster brings out the best and the worst in everyone.
With all of this craziness happening we also see an incredibly tender and moving friendship and love grow between Ryan and Kat. They support each other, share their burden and persevere. This book shook me. It moved me. It made me tear up.
It was not a fluffy read, so make sure if you tackle this you are in a mindset for deep feels and darker elements.
But this book has been, by far, my best read of the year. I don’t hand out five stars easily, you have to pull them out of me with pliers, but this one earned it!
Don’t let the cartoon cover fool you, this was The Last of Us sans zombies. Prepare yourself for love during the apocalypse and read this book! Update: I like the new cover of this so much better.
CW: talk of rape, parental abuse, spousal abuse, alcoholism, on page violence, mass casualties of natural disasters.
A copy of this book has been provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review.
janeyre9's review
3.0
Well, considering the world was literally crashing down around them, that was fun!
alongreader's review
4.0
I love a post apoc story. It's always interesting to see how things go and how people cope. My rating of this story varies a little depending on whether it's a single story or the first of a series; I can't find anything that says either way.
As the first in a series, this is great, introducing us to two great characters and getting things established and settled in a base, giving us a villian who can recur and cause more problems. As a single story, the characters are still great - although more on Kat in a moment - but the ending is very frustrating.
The blurb says that Kat is neurodivergent, and she claims it herself at the end, but I didn't get any sense of that during the read; her narration is as easy as Ryan's and she doesn't seem to have trouble with anything. She nearly has a panic attack at one point, but I'd have been curled into a ball long before that, so it didn't strike me as odd.
I enjoyed this read, it was fun and exciting (I skimmed some of the sexy bits, but that's just me) and if this is a series, I look forward to reading more of it.
As the first in a series, this is great, introducing us to two great characters and getting things established and settled in a base, giving us a villian who can recur and cause more problems. As a single story, the characters are still great - although more on Kat in a moment - but the ending is very frustrating.
The blurb says that Kat is neurodivergent, and she claims it herself at the end, but I didn't get any sense of that during the read; her narration is as easy as Ryan's and she doesn't seem to have trouble with anything. She nearly has a panic attack at one point, but I'd have been curled into a ball long before that, so it didn't strike me as odd.
I enjoyed this read, it was fun and exciting (I skimmed some of the sexy bits, but that's just me) and if this is a series, I look forward to reading more of it.
sk_isheretoo's review
4.0
"We didn't quite break and we aren't lost forever. Maybe we can find our way back together. We'll just take it one day at a time."
Anouk and Cecilia are so right- It is an absolute banger. So thanks girls for recommending ❤️
✔️ An apocalyptic journey
✔️ Romance with actual communication
✔️ Walking dead vibes (no zombies tho)
✔️ Action packed
✔️ Spicyyyy (3.5/5
Anouk and Cecilia are so right- It is an absolute banger. So thanks girls for recommending ❤️
✔️ An apocalyptic journey
✔️ Romance with actual communication
✔️ Walking dead vibes (no zombies tho)
✔️ Action packed
✔️ Spicyyyy (3.5/5
readingbookswithanouk's review
5.0
Thank you so so much Cecelia for introducing me to this book and reading it with me
natsreverie's review
4.5
The Edge of Life, written by Lena Gibson, is a romance and science fiction novel filled with thrilling suspense. The topics of this novel can be hard to read, so be advised to read the trigger warnings at the end of this review.
The risk of an impending apocalypse brings binge drinker Kat and workaholic Ryan together in an attempt to survive the approaching planet-destroying asteroid. After their mutual friend secretly warns them of the threat, they flee Seattle together and embark on a dangerous road trip to Ryan’s inherited South Dakota bunker. While chaos ensues, they must learn to trust and comfort each other in order to endure the catastrophic event and its aftermath.
It took almost no effort for me to get invested in this book. The dual point of view made getting into the story dynamic and easy, providing the opportunity to get to know the main characters bit by bit at the same time. At first, I was not a big fan of Ryan since I found him a bit unempathetic, and I thought his personality would clash with Kat´s since she seemed a lot more emotional. But I´ve never been so happy to be wrong. Their chemistry is incredible, and it adds so much value to this story. Both characters are explored so deeply, and their interactions with each other bring out so much of their emotions that getting to know them flows seemingly as you read.
The connection between the main characters was definitely my favourite part of this story, not only because it helped me care more about them and therefore the plot, but also because caring deeply about what was happening to them made the reading experience so much richer. The experience was completely immersive, I could feel everything they felt and it was hard to read sometimes because I felt their fear and anxiety so acutely. Their feelings were palpable. And this feeling of being completely absorbed by the story was only intensified by the pacing. I usually have issues with this component of the plot, but this book´s pacing keeps you on your toes through the entire thing because it is so real you really feel as if you´re living it along with them.
I went into this story almost completely blind. I had read the blurb before starting, but I didn´t remember much when I got around to it. This actually worked in my favour, which is usually not the case, and I liked discovering the plot as I went on. I think it helped to keep me invested from the start. The only faults I find in this book are small details that you can maybe find in some dialogues that took me out of the story for a slight second, but it was easy to get quickly back into it. I will also say that I would have liked the ending to be a little more fleshed out. I feel like there is a part of the story missing, some more development after the ending scene, since leaving it that way felt a little anticlimactic for me. However, I believe the author is currently working on a sequel, and I think that is exactly what the story needs, it is just as a standalone that I think the ending seems unfinished.
I would rate this story 4,5 out of 5 stars overall, and here is the rating broken down into categories:
- overall enjoyment: 4,5
- writing quality: 4
- characterisation: 5
- world-building/setting: 5
- plot development: 4,5
- ending satisfaction: 4
My reading experience with this novel was great overall. I was invested from start to finish, and it has been a while since I cared so much for the well-being of more than one character in a story, so it was refreshing to find that in this book. I can´t wait to see what else this author has in stock for this story. If she ends up publishing a sequel, I´ll be waiting.
This book can be a great reading choice for those who love a fast-paced plot and those who thrive by having a story with suspense that keeps you alert during the entire reading experience. Also a great read for whoever enjoys having romance be a main part of the story without being the main focus, so it doesn´t take away from the rest of the plot. So if you love a slow-burn romance that drags through pages and pages, this is probably not for you. In any case, this book is a very entertaining read, so I would still give it a chance and try something new, even if it might seem like it is not your type of book.
Age recommendation: Romance Science Fiction Suspense Thriller (18+).
Trigger warnings: Profanity, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Anxiety, Depression, Climate Crisis, Fire, Blood, Cheating (mentioned), Misogyny, Sex, Attempted Murder, Murder, Rape (mentioned), Violence, Death.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.