I enjoyed the first part in the series, Life as We Knew It, and thought retelling the events from a different perspective and then having the two mains meet up in the third was a smart way to handle the trilogy. But while the ideas were there, ultimately this book really lacks substance and feels like a poor version of the first one. There will be some SPOILERS - be forewarned.

Following Alex and his family who live in NYC, he must find a way to keep his family alive as they go through the cataclysmic events resulting from the moon being hit closer to the Earth.

The most immediate thing that quickly seems evident is Alex just isn't as strong as a character as Miranda from the first one. It seems like Pfeffer didn't feel as comfortable writing from his perspective and tried getting around that(opting for the 3rd person rather than an intimate 1st), but he often comes across as flat and his reactions to certain things feel confusing and unrealistic. He is painted as this uber-responsible and religious kid who somehow avoided all normal aspects of being a 18 year old boy (girls, friends, hobbies) and has been driven to do well at school and nothing else. He doesn't come across as real or likable and I think a really big thing that hurt his character is how quickly things start. In the first book, we are given a chapter or two of Miranda's life before the moon comes into play. We get to see what she's like in her normal life and connect with her as a real girl. With this book, the moon is on its way within the first few pages and things are immediately thrown into emergency. We don't get to know him before and, in the end, he just feels like a robot who actually is perfect for going through this kind of tragedy since he doesn't miss anything from normal life and never complains on how this has messed up the future he has worked so hard for. He's just boring.

Another big strength from the first book that is missing here is the realism of everything. If the moon really was brought closer to the Earth, it is not a stretch to say that things would have turned out exactly as they were depicted in Life As We Knew It, especially with how all the characters reacted to the struggles they faced. In The Dead And The Gone...not so much. I kept raising my eyebrows as things kept unfolding and debating if that would have really happened. Staten Island and Puerto Rico are wiped out by tsunamis but Manhattan is left unscathed for the most part? That's pretty fortunate...and odd because all are coastal islands. And Staten Island is more WEST than Manhattan. Did the waves just decide to skip over the city?

The most notable eyebrow raisers come with the characters and their reactions to a lot of things. Here are some summarized conversations of major scenes:

Alex: I got you a chance to go off to a convent where they'll take care of you. I didn't ask you if you wanted to go and I might never see again. And you need to leave right this instance.
Bri: That's cool. I'm ok with you not giving me the option and don't care that I might never get to see my sister again. I love Jesus!

Uncle Jimmy: Where are your parents?
Alex: Probably dead.
Uncle Jimmy: That sucks. I'm splitting town regardless, despite the fact that you're just a kid and I should be a responsible adult. I know you'll be fine. I got room for one more though. Can I take Bri?
Alex: I got Bri a chance to go off to a convent. How about Julie?
Uncle Jimmy: Naw, she sucks. Bye!

Alex: I'm so glad we're best friends now.
Kevin: I know! I'm so glad we never talked before but when Chris told me to be friends with you when he left, I agreed because I'm a robot.
Alex: I understand. Did I mention how religious I am and how much I value the sanctity of life?
Kevin: Wanna go rob dead bodies in the street?
Alex: You bet I do!
Kevin: And afterwards, I'll have no problems waiting hours and hours in the below freezing temperatures so I can get you an extra bag of food which I don't need. Chris told me to look after you after all, and I owe him because....I don't know why.

Alex: Hi uber powerful person. I had your business card randomly, so your crack security squad let me in without asking you first.
Chris' Dad: Perfect. I owe you a lot because you and my son weren't friends but competed against each other in school. I respect you more than anyone else even though I have never met you and didn't know much about you.
Alex: Awesome! Hey, can you help me leave the city with my sisters?
Chris's Dad: Why of course! I happened to have three tickets out right here!
Alex: How convenient!

And my personal favorite...

Alex and Julie: Boy, I sure hope Bri is ok since she's been missing for days.
::Elevator rolls up and they find her dead body::
Alex: Damn! (no tears)
Julie: (no screaming, but one verb "cried") Wake up!
Alex: She's dead - but look how pious she is. She "died in a state of grace"... rolled up in a ball and starved to death in an elevator.
Julie: Yes, she's so pious! I'm so glad I was frantic and emotional(like a real person) throughout the whole book, but I think I'm cool with this. Just taking after you, bro.
Alex: Right. Let's just leave her here. Nothing says pious like rotting in an elevator. Up for some canned peas?

I was set to read the whole trilogy, but now I'm just having second thoughts. The reviews that I've seen of the third have been somewhat mixed, so I might just end it with this one. Such a shame too, the concept was great.