A review by hickorynut
Girls Save the World in This One by Ash Parsons

adventurous dark funny 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

4.25

This was essentially what would happen if a zombie outbreak began at a Walking Dead convention, and how the fans, actors, and convention staff work together to survive. I read it in one morning, finding it enjoyable and easy to follow and visualize. The writing kept the story moving quickly and I was never bogged down by irrelevant details or a slog of backstory. Much of the story was the group running from one area of the building to the next but the rotating cast of characters and differing methods of zombie incapacitation kept it from feeling redundant. The characters felt predictable at times but were also easily intriguing and memorable without needing an abundance of backstory or interaction. There were many moments where the plot poked fun at itself and the silliness of certain situations which kept things light and moving. I did feel a tad disconnected from the very ending and last few pages, as if that same silliness was used to overlook the extreme trauma they had faced - I'd expected a bit more from the emotional, trauma processing wrap up for each character. Ending on a smiley social media photo op felt like a dismissal of everything they had experienced and everyone they had watched die. But despite that, overall this was a fun read with vivid visualization that I can see myself returning to to enjoy almost as I would a movie.