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rubi_blue6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Romance novels? Not usually for me. But what I think this book succeeded in was making it not about some elusive once in a lifetime love; the core romance felt authentic. And then there's the familal love, the friendships, love for media and the world that's left behind
The author didn't shy away from the ugliness that's inevitably left in the post-apocalyptic world.
It reads like a video game, with the small side-quests, goals and moments of brief encounters or observations
I picked this up in a charity shop because I love the genre; I wasn't expecting anything groundbreaking but I got an sad, lovely narrative that was tense and a little dark
Moderate: Vomit, Murder, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia and Child death
broke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Medical content, Grief, Gun violence, and Murder
Minor: Racism
fiolud's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Blood, Gore, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Medical content, Child death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Violence, Misogyny, and Hate crime
brianneh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, and Homophobia
melsage1823's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this novel. This story definitely hit hard after coming out of the pandemic and still struggling with the aftermath of it. It subverted the Bury Your Gays Trope and it was just overall really amazing representation that we get to read about two queer teenagers being able to survive through tragedy. I also felt like setting this story in a post apocalyptic world helped Erik.J.Brown subvert alot of tropes. The slow burn relationship is heartwarming without fitting into those stereotypes. Andrew and Jamie have flaws and are portrayed with a lot of humanity and depth.
My hope is that this novel inspires a new sub genre where Queer Teens are able to unite and survive through the toughest of challenges. The community definitely needs more stories like this especially when everything feels so hopeless. Before I move onto some of the positives I need to talk about one small pet peeve I had, the world building.
This would have been five stars if the world building was built up through show don't tell. Hate to compare it to other post apocalypse media but take The Last Of Us. The video game adapted show perfectly sets up the effects of the cordyceps virus through a chilling flashback TV talk show and then a full flashback for our main character and the tragedy he faced once the world fell. This is the world building I felt was missing in this novel as in my opinion showing what Andrew and Jamisons life's were like pre super flu and during would have been more impactful than the characters bluntly telling us what happened. I wanted to care about the post apocalyptic ravaged America but I couldn't due to only finding out about the state of America through exposition. Other than that though I really did really enjoy this novel.
I could rave about this novel for pages but I'm gonna do my best to limit the positives to three things. My first positive is how the theme of two people coping and surviving after a pandemic is handled throughout the novel. It's always bothered me how much marginalised people are excluded from the dystopia and post apocalyptic genre but here it works really well. Through this novel being own voices Erik.J.Brown has shown perfectly what it's like to be queer in a post apocalypse something that I've only seen the Last Of Us address this well before. We get to see how society collapsing has both positively and negatively affected Jamie and Andrew. Its just brilliant. The tone of the novel is great whilst also Dark at some points we also get to feel hope as Jamie and Andrew bond and find each other. If your queer like myself, this novel will hit especially hard.
Secondly I loved all of the characters. Without giving away spoilers I'll talk about Jamie and Andrew in another paragraph but the side characters such as Hank, Henri, Cara, The Fort Caroliners and
Finally, without any spoilers Jamie and Andrews relationship is the glue that holds this book together. It's not only emotional and beautiful but it's a realistic and well built up relationship too. Too often as mentioned Gay Couples have to experience sadness and truama or be the most perfect representation with no inbetween. Jamie and Andrew are in between and it works really well. Through their time together they experience laughter and hope especially with Andrews awesome personality but they also experience challenges and truama. By the end of the book they are at a completely different place but we are able to not only route for them but connect with them on a personal level too.
Overall All That's Left In The World is an incredible queer post apocalyptic book that perfectly balances hope and tragedy. It can hit you in the gut sometimes whilst also being a super comforting and inspiring read. Whilst I would mainly recommend this to the queer community, any audience can pick up this novel and still really enjoy it. Cannot recommend reading enough, I can't wait for the sequel.
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic and Murder
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
Minor: Vomit and Death of parent
libby_i_guess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia
earftoalex's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Vomit, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
royalwaves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I can’t wait for the sequel that releases in March and I highly recommend this book. This is one of if not my favourite apocalypse book I’ve read. And the fact that it’s queer makes it even better.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, and Murder
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Vomit
kaz_brekker1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Murder
Minor: Homophobia
gabriellesimpson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Medical content, Violence, Homophobia, Murder, Gun violence, and Death