always_need_more_books's review
3.0
Following on from The End of the World Running Club (which I haven't read) in which Ed Hill literally runs across the country to get to his wife Beth and their children, this book continues with the story but this time told from Beth's point of view.
Asteroids have hit the Earth and destroyed life as we know it - communication systems have been wiped out, their is no government or law and parts of the Earth are flooded. Beth Hill has managed to survive the apocalypse with a baby and toddler in tow, living in hellish conditions in an evacuation camp, while unbeknownst to her, Ed is doing everything in his power to reach them. As the story opens, she is joining a cruise ship which is taking survivors to Cape Town. Unfortunately, because Ed doesn't have the right papers, he isn't able to join them and they are separated once more.
On the ship, she makes friends with Mary, who helps with childcare when Beth is called upon to use her IT skills to help fix the ship's computer. When disaster strikes, and Beth's children are taken from her, she will do every thing within her power to get them back.
I thoroughly enjoyed this romp which seemed to move from one disaster to the next. As I have said before on here, I do enjoy dystopian fiction. And I also absolutely love a disaster movie. San Andreas, The Day After Tomorrow and Deep Impact are a few of my favourites so this was the absolutely perfect mix for me!
Beth Hill is pretty annoyed at her husband - she is quite used to doing everything herself so when she has to survive an apocalypse and care for her children alone, it comes as no surprise to her. She is amazed however when Ed makes it to the evacuation camp but there is little time for a reunion before they have to leave him behind again.
This is ultimately a tale of friendship, a mother's love and surviving against all the odds. Beth's journey to Florida by sea is helped by various friends she makes along the way. But by no means is the journey straightforward - as well as having to navigate the sea with very primitive navigation equipment, they have a gangster following them because they stole his boat! Beth tells the story and her narration makes me really warm to her - she is funny and honest (especially about parenting) and it is obvious, that her and Ed were not all that happy before the apocalypse happened.
I very much enjoyed this! It was exciting and although I wasn't sure I believed some of the events were plausible, that was OK! I think this would make a great film, one of those movies you watch thinking "This can't get any worse" and then it does. An exciting story set in a different world, one without rules., I'm keen to go back and read the first book now too!
Asteroids have hit the Earth and destroyed life as we know it - communication systems have been wiped out, their is no government or law and parts of the Earth are flooded. Beth Hill has managed to survive the apocalypse with a baby and toddler in tow, living in hellish conditions in an evacuation camp, while unbeknownst to her, Ed is doing everything in his power to reach them. As the story opens, she is joining a cruise ship which is taking survivors to Cape Town. Unfortunately, because Ed doesn't have the right papers, he isn't able to join them and they are separated once more.
On the ship, she makes friends with Mary, who helps with childcare when Beth is called upon to use her IT skills to help fix the ship's computer. When disaster strikes, and Beth's children are taken from her, she will do every thing within her power to get them back.
I thoroughly enjoyed this romp which seemed to move from one disaster to the next. As I have said before on here, I do enjoy dystopian fiction. And I also absolutely love a disaster movie. San Andreas, The Day After Tomorrow and Deep Impact are a few of my favourites so this was the absolutely perfect mix for me!
Beth Hill is pretty annoyed at her husband - she is quite used to doing everything herself so when she has to survive an apocalypse and care for her children alone, it comes as no surprise to her. She is amazed however when Ed makes it to the evacuation camp but there is little time for a reunion before they have to leave him behind again.
This is ultimately a tale of friendship, a mother's love and surviving against all the odds. Beth's journey to Florida by sea is helped by various friends she makes along the way. But by no means is the journey straightforward - as well as having to navigate the sea with very primitive navigation equipment, they have a gangster following them because they stole his boat! Beth tells the story and her narration makes me really warm to her - she is funny and honest (especially about parenting) and it is obvious, that her and Ed were not all that happy before the apocalypse happened.
I very much enjoyed this! It was exciting and although I wasn't sure I believed some of the events were plausible, that was OK! I think this would make a great film, one of those movies you watch thinking "This can't get any worse" and then it does. An exciting story set in a different world, one without rules., I'm keen to go back and read the first book now too!
euzie's review
4.0
This was great. Characters fully realised, effortless writing (seemingly), scenes that you can see perfectly in your mind and a plot that...OK the plot is simple A F, but that really doesn't matter when the writing is this good.
As an aside, I also didn't realise there had been a riot in Leeds once, and it was only after i had woken up that i noticed what i had walked past.
As an aside, I also didn't realise there had been a riot in Leeds once, and it was only after i had woken up that i noticed what i had walked past.
pixiestyx22's review
3.0
Not as good as the first one, but it was great to see some of the characters return. There are a few too many "lucky breaks" in this book. And also, we know what "a wanker" is in America, Adrian. :)
bundy23's review
2.0
DNF. The first book wasn't great but at least it had an interesting premise and was readable... this... this was ridiculously bad and barely readable so I stopped reading and didn't even skim through it to find out what happened.
jude_holmes_'s review
2.0
I loved the fun pace of the end of the world running club which managed to be heart warming and occasionally laugh out loud while being a mostly light hearted/upbeat and easy read affair, but this really was just the wrong side of that, with every character constantly terrified but brave and continually slamming into confusing fight/storm sequences that I skim read. Occasionally, good feeling would rise to the surface but this sequel isn’t all I’d hoped for by a long shot (and what is with the strange stereotyping of every single character/accent?) Overall a bit meh
aliceandthegiantbookshelf's review
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pctek's review
5.0
Well worth the read. Even if you haven't read his other one.
Not just an End Of World book, and not a soppy relationship book either.
Plenty of action too.
Not just an End Of World book, and not a soppy relationship book either.
Plenty of action too.
claresbooks's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
etiolation's review
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25