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oldemort's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
luelle_'s review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Animal death
lynbrey's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
khuizenga's review against another edition
5.0
A weirdly cozy post-apocalyptic book about life after war and nuclear meltdown. It was beautiful and still and I loved the way it was divided into journal entries from 2 different perspectives
aaronreadabook's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
mealymachine's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
readbycallum's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rakoerose's review against another edition
4.0
This is an incredible short novel that depicts a semi-relatable dystopia where, for Rowenna and Dylan, their lives were changed forever.
I was seven and I had created food, and somewhere, in my little boy mind, I knew who I was, and who I was meant to be.
The memoir style made this novel quiet and gentle and painful. Emotionally evocative in the bold-faced truth the characters were admitting to. The epistolary format always has that hold on me. The way they both would circle the same topics of loss and change and family while not reading each others entries was a beautiful way to show how alike Rowenna and Dylan really are. Both made strong in different ways by the world ending.
I appreciate the way the ending played out. There is joy, undercut by fear and ongoing grief. Their lives seemed fuller, but by seeing more there is more to hurt you when things change. I’m glad I picked this up! It really was a lightning fast and compulsive read, I didn’t want to put it down. Will definitely be keeping an eye out for more translated works by Ros in the future.
I was seven and I had created food, and somewhere, in my little boy mind, I knew who I was, and who I was meant to be.
The memoir style made this novel quiet and gentle and painful. Emotionally evocative in the bold-faced truth the characters were admitting to. The epistolary format always has that hold on me. The way they both would circle the same topics of loss and change and family while not reading each others entries was a beautiful way to show how alike Rowenna and Dylan really are. Both made strong in different ways by the world ending.
I appreciate the way the ending played out. There is joy, undercut by fear and ongoing grief. Their lives seemed fuller, but by seeing more there is more to hurt you when things change. I’m glad I picked this up! It really was a lightning fast and compulsive read, I didn’t want to put it down. Will definitely be keeping an eye out for more translated works by Ros in the future.
catrinsbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
It's 3am and I did decide to just read this entire book in one go, even though I'm not well, so I am going to write this review since I won't be able to go to bed otherwise.
Most books I read are set in America, England or mainly fantasy worlds. The ones set in America feel so far away and I'm really disconnected from them; when reading The Hunger Games I didn't really feel anything much about how America turned into Panem, like, not to say that I don't care about people dying but America is just so kind of normalised in dystopias that it doesn't hit hard with me. I haven't read any dystopias set in England (yet?) but generally, books like A Good Girls Guide to Murder or Afterlove are somewhat relatable, like I absolutely love the British references, but somethings missing. Having this book set in Wales just hit hard. It just felt so *real* and terrifying.
There was something just so real about references to actual Welsh places and words that made it hit hard. I really love how the language was included and Rowenna's relationship with it: hating it in school, but growing to love it. As someone who can't hold a conversation in Welsh :( and have seen how many people in my class have said that it's useless, it was cool (I can't find another word for how to explain my feelings) to read how the characters were keeping Welsh alive, even though most of the people are dead. There's something symbolic in that i guess. I don't see any Welsh in my books (unless it's the cultural appropriation shitshow that is ACOTAR) and it was just made this book so real.
The realness of it just made the whole plot *scary*. The author really just sets up the normal, Welsh life before The End and then bam! it's gone. I get that the hairdressers and the kebab shops etc aren't exclusively Welsh, they're just general British stuff, but the Welsh names and little phrases like 'cariad' and 'diolch' did it for me. It really hit hard when Rowenna talks about everyday stuff like going to the kebab shop because they don't exist anymore: it makes me kind of realise that like these little things make up life and you really don't realise it. One thing I will never get is why the names changed in the English translation: whyyy change classic Welsh names like Dwynwen to just one like Mona?
in the end, i love this book and it probably will cause some anxious thoughts when trying to get to bed but I'm glad i read it
Most books I read are set in America, England or mainly fantasy worlds. The ones set in America feel so far away and I'm really disconnected from them; when reading The Hunger Games I didn't really feel anything much about how America turned into Panem, like, not to say that I don't care about people dying but America is just so kind of normalised in dystopias that it doesn't hit hard with me. I haven't read any dystopias set in England (yet?) but generally, books like A Good Girls Guide to Murder or Afterlove are somewhat relatable, like I absolutely love the British references, but somethings missing. Having this book set in Wales just hit hard. It just felt so *real* and terrifying.
There was something just so real about references to actual Welsh places and words that made it hit hard. I really love how the language was included and Rowenna's relationship with it: hating it in school, but growing to love it. As someone who can't hold a conversation in Welsh :( and have seen how many people in my class have said that it's useless, it was cool (I can't find another word for how to explain my feelings) to read how the characters were keeping Welsh alive, even though most of the people are dead. There's something symbolic in that i guess. I don't see any Welsh in my books (unless it's the cultural appropriation shitshow that is ACOTAR) and it was just made this book so real.
The realness of it just made the whole plot *scary*. The author really just sets up the normal, Welsh life before The End and then bam! it's gone. I get that the hairdressers and the kebab shops etc aren't exclusively Welsh, they're just general British stuff, but the Welsh names and little phrases like 'cariad' and 'diolch' did it for me. It really hit hard when Rowenna talks about everyday stuff like going to the kebab shop because they don't exist anymore: it makes me kind of realise that like these little things make up life and you really don't realise it. One thing I will never get is why the names changed in the English translation: whyyy change classic Welsh names like Dwynwen to just one like Mona?
Spoiler
also i was just on the verge of tears the entire book: the rich neighbours going to kill themselves :( listen, i don't like rich old English people in wales (fuck you second home owners killing the culture) but that was just so depressing. That last 'diolch' was just so :(. My favourite scene of them all I think was when Rowenna was scared about Dylan leaving her after Mona died that she just climbed into bed with him and told him about the dreams. finally, the beauty of the setting contrasting with The End was so (idk how to explain it) but the author slayed.in the end, i love this book and it probably will cause some anxious thoughts when trying to get to bed but I'm glad i read it