liralen's review
4.0
So. More zombies. More of a zombie bent than [b:This is Not a Test|12043771|This is Not a Test (This is Not a Test #1)|Courtney Summers|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1314375864s/12043771.jpg|17010494], actually—Test focused far less on the actual zombies than it did on a small group of people trying to cope. Please Remain Calm, on the other hand, features an even smaller set of people and a WHOLE LOT OF ZOMBIES.
You know what I should not read on my birthday? Zombie books. I should not read zombie books. Because I do not like nightmares, thank you very much.
But don't get me wrong—it's well crafted and painful and human (despite all the undead), and although I am quite thrilled that Summers's [b:next book|21853636|All the Rage|Courtney Summers|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410879862s/21853636.jpg|18982890] has no zombies (I hope)...if there are more books connected to Test, I'll read them. Zombies and all.
You know what I should not read on my birthday? Zombie books. I should not read zombie books. Because I do not like nightmares, thank you very much.
But don't get me wrong—it's well crafted and painful and human (despite all the undead), and although I am quite thrilled that Summers's [b:next book|21853636|All the Rage|Courtney Summers|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410879862s/21853636.jpg|18982890] has no zombies (I hope)...if there are more books connected to Test, I'll read them. Zombies and all.
celise_winter's review
4.0
People aren't supposed to be able to fathom eternity. It's an amount of time beyond all human comprehension. But ever since everything ended, I think I'm getting closer to understanding it. These little tastes of it in the way hell stretches around us, making pain endless and moments like this one rare and fleeting.
A much-needed look into what happens to Sloane and Rhys past [b:This is Not a Test|12043771|This is Not a Test (This is Not a Test #1)|Courtney Summers|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1314375864s/12043771.jpg|17010494]. The first one was good but leaves things quite open, something this short sequel remedies. Oddly, I felt more connected to Rhys through his point of view than I ever did to Sloane in the first novel. The language becomes almost poetic around the halfway mark, something Courtney Summers should do more of because she's good at it.
A much-needed look into what happens to Sloane and Rhys past [b:This is Not a Test|12043771|This is Not a Test (This is Not a Test #1)|Courtney Summers|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1314375864s/12043771.jpg|17010494]. The first one was good but leaves things quite open, something this short sequel remedies. Oddly, I felt more connected to Rhys through his point of view than I ever did to Sloane in the first novel. The language becomes almost poetic around the halfway mark, something Courtney Summers should do more of because she's good at it.
octobertune's review
3.0
Read this review and more on my blog October Tune!
In 2013 I read This Is Not a Test a book about a group of teenagers who were hiding in a school to get away from the zombies. Zombies? Yeah, I read a book about zombies, can you believe it? I once said I thought zombies were the Umbridge of mythical/supernatural creatures (ok they're not really mythical nor supernatural but you get what I mean), and that I would avoid books, movies and TV shows about them like the plague. But I did end up reading a couple of zombie books (Warm Bodies, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, etc), and of course TINAT. I was so frustrated with the open ending that I might have cheered when I heard about Please Remain Calm.
This novella of about a hundred pages goes further where the previous book ended, with Rhys and Sloane trying to get away from their hometown and to a safe place that they heard about on the radio. But along the way, they get separated. Rhys ends up meeting a couple of people who will help him get Sloane back, but nothing really goes according to plan, which is kind of obvious if you're right in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
The story is written from Rhys' point of view, which took a bit for me to get used to. I am just more used to reading from a girl/woman's POV than from a boy/man's, but I guess that's a bit obvious when you're a girl yourself. But in the end, I did like reading from his POV. We meet three new characters in this book; Jess, Lisa and Ainsley, and they were really nice and I liked them a lot.
Of course, with the book having only a hundred pages, a lot of stuff happened in a short amount of time, and I thought the book ended way too quickly. And I have to say I am still not really that happy with how it ended, because it still had an open ending. (So fingers crossed for another novella? Okay just kidding.No I'm not).
I liked Courtney Summer's writing, and I am definitely planning on checking out more of her books, just not her zombie books, because I still think zombies are the Umbridge of all the creatures that exist. Sorry not sorry.
My opinion on this book in one gif:
I think people who've read it will understand at which part I did this.. (gif credit)
In 2013 I read This Is Not a Test a book about a group of teenagers who were hiding in a school to get away from the zombies. Zombies? Yeah, I read a book about zombies, can you believe it? I once said I thought zombies were the Umbridge of mythical/supernatural creatures (ok they're not really mythical nor supernatural but you get what I mean), and that I would avoid books, movies and TV shows about them like the plague. But I did end up reading a couple of zombie books (Warm Bodies, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, etc), and of course TINAT. I was so frustrated with the open ending that I might have cheered when I heard about Please Remain Calm.
This novella of about a hundred pages goes further where the previous book ended, with Rhys and Sloane trying to get away from their hometown and to a safe place that they heard about on the radio. But along the way, they get separated. Rhys ends up meeting a couple of people who will help him get Sloane back, but nothing really goes according to plan, which is kind of obvious if you're right in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
The story is written from Rhys' point of view, which took a bit for me to get used to. I am just more used to reading from a girl/woman's POV than from a boy/man's, but I guess that's a bit obvious when you're a girl yourself. But in the end, I did like reading from his POV. We meet three new characters in this book; Jess, Lisa and Ainsley, and they were really nice and I liked them a lot.
Spoiler
And I was just so sad at what happened to that lovely little family. I mean I think Ainsley wasn't older than five (I think her age was mentioned somewhere in the book but I forgot, oops) and TO SEE THAT LITTLE GIRL CHANGE INTO A ZOMBIE JUST BROKE MY HEART OK!!!Of course, with the book having only a hundred pages, a lot of stuff happened in a short amount of time, and I thought the book ended way too quickly. And I have to say I am still not really that happy with how it ended, because it still had an open ending. (So fingers crossed for another novella? Okay just kidding.
I liked Courtney Summer's writing, and I am definitely planning on checking out more of her books, just not her zombie books, because I still think zombies are the Umbridge of all the creatures that exist. Sorry not sorry.
My opinion on this book in one gif:
I think people who've read it will understand at which part I did this.. (gif credit)
reclusivereader's review
2.0
This follow up was better. Not good or great but readable. Also, short! It was more action packed but with an ending that was pretty sad, awful, sawful and yet also somewhat open ended so I don't think if there's eventual plans for more or not. But.
Overall? Still couldn't recommend this series.
Overall? Still couldn't recommend this series.
lazymuggle's review
5.0
I’ve fought off groups before and making it out in one piece was pure dumb luck. That’s it. These days it feels like alive is an accidental state of being.
This had it's share of moments of triumph and hope, but overall it was somber (or downright depressing).
This had it's share of moments of triumph and hope, but overall it was somber (or downright depressing).
mel_mazzone's review
5.0
Gut-punching.
I love these characters so much and I’m not ready to give them up.
I love these characters so much and I’m not ready to give them up.
dominicanbookworm's review
4.0
I CAN'T KEEP CALM COURTNEY SUMMERS.
love the cover!! so creepy.
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Aún no estoy segura si 4 o 5 estrellas pero akjbfafnafsf Y ESE MALDITO FINAL, NO.
love the cover!! so creepy.
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Aún no estoy segura si 4 o 5 estrellas pero akjbfafnafsf Y ESE MALDITO FINAL, NO.