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If We Survive This
The Walking Dead meets Yellowjackets in If We Survive This, a tense and emotional young adult horror novel from award-winning author Racquel Marie about a teen girl leading a group of survivors on a perilous journey during the apocalypse.
Flora Braddock Paz is not the girl who survives. A colorful creative who spends as much time fearing death as she does trying to hide that fear from her loved ones, she’s always considered herself weak. But half a year into the global outbreak of a rabies mutation that transforms people into violent, zombielike "rabids," she and her older brother Cain are still alive. With their mom dead, their dad missing, and their LA suburb left desolate, they form a new plan to venture out to the secluded Northern California cabin they vacationed in growing up―their best chance at a safe haven and maybe even seeing their dad again.
The dangers of the world have changed, but so has Flora. Still, their journey up the state is complicated by encounters with familiar faces, new allies, hidden truths, and painful memories of the family’s final time making this trip last year. And for Flora, one thing inevitably remains: No matter how far you run, death is never far behind.
Flora Braddock Paz is not the girl who survives. A colorful creative who spends as much time fearing death as she does trying to hide that fear from her loved ones, she’s always considered herself weak. But half a year into the global outbreak of a rabies mutation that transforms people into violent, zombielike "rabids," she and her older brother Cain are still alive. With their mom dead, their dad missing, and their LA suburb left desolate, they form a new plan to venture out to the secluded Northern California cabin they vacationed in growing up―their best chance at a safe haven and maybe even seeing their dad again.
The dangers of the world have changed, but so has Flora. Still, their journey up the state is complicated by encounters with familiar faces, new allies, hidden truths, and painful memories of the family’s final time making this trip last year. And for Flora, one thing inevitably remains: No matter how far you run, death is never far behind.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 17, 2025
160 people are currently reading
16094 people want to read
About the author
Racquel Marie
6 books814 followersRacquel Marie grew up in Southern California where her passion for storytelling of all kinds was encouraged by her friends and big family. She received a BA in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in gender and sexuality studies from the University of California, Irvine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 586 reviews
June 18, 2025
I can handle so much these days. More than I ever thought possible. It’s a strange thing, really, to discover that you were wrong about yourself.
I don’t really see this YA as horror, even though it’s pitched as one. For me, it’s more of an apocalyptic story like All That’s Left in the World, with the horror feeling of The Honeys. It’s genre-bending because it’s also part contemporary with its dual timeline and way more introspective than those books above.
The central theme in this story is fear. Flora has OCD even though she has hidden it all her life and might look like a girl who only cares about her appearance. But deep inside, she has locked up so much anxiety, and her biggest fear is death. But this was Flora.
Now Flora doesn’t care at all (even though her OCD still screams in her head). Nothing is the same anymore, and Flora fights. She runs. Always runs. To stay alive. And most important of all, to save her brother. But as her brother says, ”You don't always have to be the hero.”
I loved the sibling dynamics between Flora and Cain, but the scene that touched me most was the one with Biscuit and Adán and June when tears sprang to our eyes.
Although there is a lot of action in this story (with bloodshed and gore), it’s mainly character-driven, and Flora's internal (sometimes spiraling) thoughts predominate. I skipped some parts because I'm not the best for so many graphic scenes with blood, but overall, I flew through the book. Racquel Marie’s writing always fascinates me, whether it is contemporary or something more gruesome.
Thank you, Fiercereads and NetGalley, for this harsh but beautiful ARC!
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I don’t really see this YA as horror, even though it’s pitched as one. For me, it’s more of an apocalyptic story like All That’s Left in the World, with the horror feeling of The Honeys. It’s genre-bending because it’s also part contemporary with its dual timeline and way more introspective than those books above.
The central theme in this story is fear. Flora has OCD even though she has hidden it all her life and might look like a girl who only cares about her appearance. But deep inside, she has locked up so much anxiety, and her biggest fear is death. But this was Flora.
Now Flora doesn’t care at all (even though her OCD still screams in her head). Nothing is the same anymore, and Flora fights. She runs. Always runs. To stay alive. And most important of all, to save her brother. But as her brother says, ”You don't always have to be the hero.”
I loved the sibling dynamics between Flora and Cain, but the scene that touched me most was the one with Biscuit and Adán and June when tears sprang to our eyes.
Although there is a lot of action in this story (with bloodshed and gore), it’s mainly character-driven, and Flora's internal (sometimes spiraling) thoughts predominate. I skipped some parts because I'm not the best for so many graphic scenes with blood, but overall, I flew through the book. Racquel Marie’s writing always fascinates me, whether it is contemporary or something more gruesome.
Thank you, Fiercereads and NetGalley, for this harsh but beautiful ARC!
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June 9, 2025
Oh, this broke my heart so many times. It has a searingly accurate portrayal of what it’s like to live with OCD and intrusive thoughts. Flora’s brain is constantly showing her images of herself or her loved ones dying in horrific ways. You know when you’re really frightened for your life? That’s been Flora’s daily reality for years before a rabies mutation turns the majority of the population into “rabids” whose sole purpose is to eat the uninfected. You might she’s made to survive the zombie apocalypse. But at what cost, though!! It has to be extremely exhausting to be in a state of fight or flight all the time. I have some experience with this, having anxiety and intrusive thoughts myself, but nowhere near as severe as Flora. It really breaks my heart that some people go through this their whole lives.
With regard to the plot, Flora and her brother Cain leave LA, planning to reach a cabin they had previously vacationed at, all the way up in Northern California. It’s dangerous to stay…but it’s also dangerous to leave. There are rabids everywhere, and when they run into people who have also managed to survive, they have to ask themselves—what have THEY done to survive…
I honestly love zombie apocalypse stories. I don’t like serious, horrifying, give-you-nightmares horror, like “It” or “Pet Sematary”—but I do love me a good “we must journey across this ruined wasteland full of undead” tale. Call me crazy. It’s just my jam. So this book scratched that itch for me. I will warn you, though…this has TREMENDOUS amounts of blood and gore. Like, buckets of viscera. Slip-sliding in undead goo. You catch my drift?
Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
With regard to the plot, Flora and her brother Cain leave LA, planning to reach a cabin they had previously vacationed at, all the way up in Northern California. It’s dangerous to stay…but it’s also dangerous to leave. There are rabids everywhere, and when they run into people who have also managed to survive, they have to ask themselves—what have THEY done to survive…
I honestly love zombie apocalypse stories. I don’t like serious, horrifying, give-you-nightmares horror, like “It” or “Pet Sematary”—but I do love me a good “we must journey across this ruined wasteland full of undead” tale. Call me crazy. It’s just my jam. So this book scratched that itch for me. I will warn you, though…this has TREMENDOUS amounts of blood and gore. Like, buckets of viscera. Slip-sliding in undead goo. You catch my drift?
Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2025
If We Survive This is the third book I’ve read by this author. I’m also a big zombie fan so it was a win win choice. First thing that took my attention is how fast this author has gotten so good. Flora is a teenager who should be celebrating milestones like her 18th birthday, prom, and graduation but instead is fighting for her life against a world of rabids and evil humans. She is also trying her best to watch out for her older brother, Cain, who sometimes seems more vulnerable in this new life.
I love when books take a running leap into a story, especially when it’s meant to be scary or suspenseful. When we join Flora and Cain, a year has gone by since the rabies mutation began to devastate the population so the horror is now ever present. They are managing alone in their family home but decide that survival means taking a risk and leaving for a better place. This hellish road trip toggles back and forth with a family trip to a cabin that took place in the past during more innocuous times.
This author never writes about just the subject at hand. That’s what I love best about her books. Flora fears the world, the micro details of daily life. Her brain captures the possible dangers and sends everything to worst case scenarios. Though she struggles, she still finds joy in her family, her fashion art, and the world at large. But in the present, all of those fears are real. Death and loss are the here and now. The give and take of the sibling relationship is strongly written as well. Of course, Flora and Cain love each other but the dynamics between siblings can be complicated too.
“With siblings, it’s easy to drag every old annoyance back to the surface and use it to fuel your anger, even if you, too, burn along the way.”
The book has action, violence, and some Queer romance. Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of dystopian worlds, zombie/pandemic stories, sibling YA mains, and young adult characters struggling but also finding meaning in life.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
I love when books take a running leap into a story, especially when it’s meant to be scary or suspenseful. When we join Flora and Cain, a year has gone by since the rabies mutation began to devastate the population so the horror is now ever present. They are managing alone in their family home but decide that survival means taking a risk and leaving for a better place. This hellish road trip toggles back and forth with a family trip to a cabin that took place in the past during more innocuous times.
This author never writes about just the subject at hand. That’s what I love best about her books. Flora fears the world, the micro details of daily life. Her brain captures the possible dangers and sends everything to worst case scenarios. Though she struggles, she still finds joy in her family, her fashion art, and the world at large. But in the present, all of those fears are real. Death and loss are the here and now. The give and take of the sibling relationship is strongly written as well. Of course, Flora and Cain love each other but the dynamics between siblings can be complicated too.
“With siblings, it’s easy to drag every old annoyance back to the surface and use it to fuel your anger, even if you, too, burn along the way.”
The book has action, violence, and some Queer romance. Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of dystopian worlds, zombie/pandemic stories, sibling YA mains, and young adult characters struggling but also finding meaning in life.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
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June 15, 2025If We Survive This is pitched as a zombie book, and technically it is. But really this is an emotional and surprisingly quiet YA coming of age novel about a queer girl with OCD and intrusive thoughts who survives a zombie apocalypse. It interweaves flashbacks and moments from the present (with zombies) and has themes of found family and a sapphic romance subplot. If you're looking for an action-packed zombie drama, you're not really going to find it here. But it does an excellent, if brutally realistic job of showing the experience of someone with OCD dealing with regular life and then contrasting that with surviving when the worst truly has happened. I received a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.
November 21, 2025
The girl whose thoughts were consumed with death and the many possibilities it could happen, finally chose life.
When I can’t put a book down, I know I’ll consume it as fast as humanly possible, and I did with this one.
I loved the combination of flashback chapters and what was currently happening because it made everything come together and the details of Flora’s struggles make more sense.
This book is categorized as a YA, but I’m not sure if I’d describe it that way. Although there is a LOT of self-discovery and understanding, it was extremely gory. There were a few moments where these characters reminded me that they were in the 18-19 age range, they had to grow up fast for the end of the world.
I am a lover of apocalyptic books, especially when zombies are involved, but I’m also a strict rater. This book impressed me, kept me on my toes, and surprised me.
I thought I wouldn’t love Flora because I tend to struggle with characters who are self-deprecating, but she was wrote so well it made her character that much better. It also had transgender rep which you don’t find often!
Incredible read, and a top one for the year.
When I can’t put a book down, I know I’ll consume it as fast as humanly possible, and I did with this one.
I loved the combination of flashback chapters and what was currently happening because it made everything come together and the details of Flora’s struggles make more sense.
This book is categorized as a YA, but I’m not sure if I’d describe it that way. Although there is a LOT of self-discovery and understanding, it was extremely gory. There were a few moments where these characters reminded me that they were in the 18-19 age range, they had to grow up fast for the end of the world.
I am a lover of apocalyptic books, especially when zombies are involved, but I’m also a strict rater. This book impressed me, kept me on my toes, and surprised me.
I thought I wouldn’t love Flora because I tend to struggle with characters who are self-deprecating, but she was wrote so well it made her character that much better. It also had transgender rep which you don’t find often!
Incredible read, and a top one for the year.
June 17, 2025
In If We Survive This, an outbreak of a mutated version of the rabies virus occurs, leaving society in shambles and creating violent and infectious “rabids.” Flora Braddock Paz and her older brother Cain leave their childhood home and embark on a journey to an isolated cabin from their past to possibly locate their father and try to survive in the dangerous new world.
The audiobook of If We Survive This is narrated by the novel’s author Racquel Marie and she does a good job at bringing the story to life. Nevertheless, her voice is a bit soothing and when aspects of the plot slowed down a bit in the middle of novel, I needed to replay a few chapters to better absorb what was happening.
In If We Survive This is a poignant novel that focuses upon developing its characters and provides LGBTQIA+ and neurotypical representation that feels organic and very relatable. Told in dual timelines-one from the year before the outbreak and one in the novel’s present-the two perspectives help to develop the characters and their complex relationships.
Flora is an engaging character and her mental and emotional struggles are presented in a way that is insightful and genuine. Dealing with anxiety and OCD can be difficult in everyday life, but Flora manages to do what she can to protect herself and her brother in the midst of an apocalypse.
The secondary characters that Flora and Cain encounter help to provide more emotional connections to both their pasts and the present, while also illustrating the detrimental decisions and behaviors made necessary by the degeneration of society.
One theme If We Survive This does share with The Walking Dead is that while those infected may be the more immediate problem, the true danger is often other people. I wish the antagonists had been introduced earlier and developed a bit more, but they served their narrative purpose.
The ending was not quite what I was expecting, but I appreciated it. While this book is a YA novel, it doesn’t minimize the overall grimness of the situation for an unrealistic resolution.
Thank you to RBmedia I Recorded Books and NetGalley for access to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
The audiobook of If We Survive This is narrated by the novel’s author Racquel Marie and she does a good job at bringing the story to life. Nevertheless, her voice is a bit soothing and when aspects of the plot slowed down a bit in the middle of novel, I needed to replay a few chapters to better absorb what was happening.
In If We Survive This is a poignant novel that focuses upon developing its characters and provides LGBTQIA+ and neurotypical representation that feels organic and very relatable. Told in dual timelines-one from the year before the outbreak and one in the novel’s present-the two perspectives help to develop the characters and their complex relationships.
Flora is an engaging character and her mental and emotional struggles are presented in a way that is insightful and genuine. Dealing with anxiety and OCD can be difficult in everyday life, but Flora manages to do what she can to protect herself and her brother in the midst of an apocalypse.
The secondary characters that Flora and Cain encounter help to provide more emotional connections to both their pasts and the present, while also illustrating the detrimental decisions and behaviors made necessary by the degeneration of society.
One theme If We Survive This does share with The Walking Dead is that while those infected may be the more immediate problem, the true danger is often other people. I wish the antagonists had been introduced earlier and developed a bit more, but they served their narrative purpose.
The ending was not quite what I was expecting, but I appreciated it. While this book is a YA novel, it doesn’t minimize the overall grimness of the situation for an unrealistic resolution.
Thank you to RBmedia I Recorded Books and NetGalley for access to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
May 28, 2025
Six months ago, there was a global outbreak of a rabies mutation that transformed people into violent, zombielike "rabids”. With their mom dead, their LA suburb being deserted & their dad missing, Flora & her brother Cain venture out to their childhood cabin in hopes of finding their dad.
3.5/5✨ rounded down
I am a simple girl, I see anything pitched as The Walking Dead or Yellowjackets I’m going to read it…so when I saw it was being pitched as both?! yeah, GIVE IT TO ME NOW! I was really enjoying this until I wasn’t towards the middle but then the ending..like yes flora be a boss!
I think the main thing that I enjoyed the most about this is how much representation it has. We get a lesbian mc with queer side characters, there’s neurodivergent rep as well as Hispanic & Biracial family rep all woven into this story..the writing is easy to follow as we switch between dual timelines.
I loved the sibling dynamic between Flora & Cain but let’s be honest the real power duo was Adan & Biscuit. he really loved his little pup & I loved him as a character, he was so funny & I loved that biscuit is alive & well!
however, despite being pitched as YA Horror this felt more like a coming of age, survival thriller so I finished feeling a liiiiittle underwhelmed because I wanted more horror. for me, the romance between Cris & Flora was underwhelming as well but maybe I’m just expecting too much considering they were trying to survive an apocalypse? lastly, I wanted more of the bad guys. they added that touch of the darkness you would expect to see from people living in this world & trying to survive. they could have been Negan 2.0 but fell flat.
Final thoughts, this is a solid YA apocalyptic read. I did enjoy it overall but certain things fell flat. I would recommend to someone who wants a YA survival/apocalypse thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5✨ rounded down
I am a simple girl, I see anything pitched as The Walking Dead or Yellowjackets I’m going to read it…so when I saw it was being pitched as both?! yeah, GIVE IT TO ME NOW! I was really enjoying this until I wasn’t towards the middle but then the ending..like yes flora be a boss!
I think the main thing that I enjoyed the most about this is how much representation it has. We get a lesbian mc with queer side characters, there’s neurodivergent rep as well as Hispanic & Biracial family rep all woven into this story..the writing is easy to follow as we switch between dual timelines.
I loved the sibling dynamic between Flora & Cain but let’s be honest the real power duo was Adan & Biscuit. he really loved his little pup & I loved him as a character, he was so funny & I loved that biscuit is alive & well!
however, despite being pitched as YA Horror this felt more like a coming of age, survival thriller so I finished feeling a liiiiittle underwhelmed because I wanted more horror. for me, the romance between Cris & Flora was underwhelming as well but maybe I’m just expecting too much considering they were trying to survive an apocalypse? lastly, I wanted more of the bad guys. they added that touch of the darkness you would expect to see from people living in this world & trying to survive. they could have been Negan 2.0 but fell flat.
Final thoughts, this is a solid YA apocalyptic read. I did enjoy it overall but certain things fell flat. I would recommend to someone who wants a YA survival/apocalypse thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2025
I am really mad at that ending
July 2, 2025
Racquel never disappoints me. There is something about her writing that speaks so directly to my soul.
If We Survive This is a very heavy novel, not just because it takes place in the middle of a devastating apocalypse, but because we follow Flora surviving in this new world while living with OCD and depression. Flora has spent her life battling intrusive thoughts outlining the most horrific scenarios. So the irony isn’t lost on her that those obsessive anxiety spirals have made her uniquely qualified to survive in what is currently the worst case scenario: the end of the world.
However, her desperate attempts to wield control in an uncontrollable environment have caused her to lose hope and trust in the world. She has been forced to step up as the protector and leader while her older brother heals from a debilitating broken leg. And when they decide to venture up north to find safety in the secluded cabin they vacationed in growing up, run-ins with other survivors add a whole new layer of danger and uncertainty.
Their journey up through California is interspersed with flashbacks of the last roadtrip they took to the cabin as a family a year prior. We get to see the very jarring contrast between who Flora was before the outbreak and who she is after. The girl who once wore her heart on her sleeve, and was coddled by those around her, has now become jagged and ruthless. She would rather spurn everyone who comes near, then let them become another ghost haunting her. Even if it means distrusting the childhood friend they reconnect with. The girl who she has always loved, and now reminds of her who she once was.
This is a gory heart racing story that makes you squirm from the violence and the unrelenting thoughts of impending doom. But it is also one of humanity, hope, family, and forgiveness. How kindness and love can still prevail. And most prominently, what it takes to continue on when everything tells you not to. What it is to choose to live.
If We Survive This is a very heavy novel, not just because it takes place in the middle of a devastating apocalypse, but because we follow Flora surviving in this new world while living with OCD and depression. Flora has spent her life battling intrusive thoughts outlining the most horrific scenarios. So the irony isn’t lost on her that those obsessive anxiety spirals have made her uniquely qualified to survive in what is currently the worst case scenario: the end of the world.
However, her desperate attempts to wield control in an uncontrollable environment have caused her to lose hope and trust in the world. She has been forced to step up as the protector and leader while her older brother heals from a debilitating broken leg. And when they decide to venture up north to find safety in the secluded cabin they vacationed in growing up, run-ins with other survivors add a whole new layer of danger and uncertainty.
Their journey up through California is interspersed with flashbacks of the last roadtrip they took to the cabin as a family a year prior. We get to see the very jarring contrast between who Flora was before the outbreak and who she is after. The girl who once wore her heart on her sleeve, and was coddled by those around her, has now become jagged and ruthless. She would rather spurn everyone who comes near, then let them become another ghost haunting her. Even if it means distrusting the childhood friend they reconnect with. The girl who she has always loved, and now reminds of her who she once was.
This is a gory heart racing story that makes you squirm from the violence and the unrelenting thoughts of impending doom. But it is also one of humanity, hope, family, and forgiveness. How kindness and love can still prevail. And most prominently, what it takes to continue on when everything tells you not to. What it is to choose to live.
June 24, 2025
2025 reads: 150/300
i received a digital review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
flora braddock paz has always considered herself weak. there’s no room for weakness during the apocalypse, though, and somehow she and her older brother are still alive half a year into it. now, they’re on their way from their desolate LA suburb to their secluded cabin in northern california. but no matter how far they run, death is never far behind.
i’ve enjoyed racquel marie’s romances, so i was very excited for her first horror novel! i loved how flora had OCD and how this was discussed in the midst of an apocalypse. this story was focused on her journey rather than the apocalypse itself (though, obviously, this did play a big role in her development), and i liked seeing how she changed throughout the book. we also get flashbacks to flora’s pre-zombie world, providing more insight into her story. overall, this was a great book, and i highly recommend this to anyone looking for a character-driven YA horror.
i received a digital review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
flora braddock paz has always considered herself weak. there’s no room for weakness during the apocalypse, though, and somehow she and her older brother are still alive half a year into it. now, they’re on their way from their desolate LA suburb to their secluded cabin in northern california. but no matter how far they run, death is never far behind.
i’ve enjoyed racquel marie’s romances, so i was very excited for her first horror novel! i loved how flora had OCD and how this was discussed in the midst of an apocalypse. this story was focused on her journey rather than the apocalypse itself (though, obviously, this did play a big role in her development), and i liked seeing how she changed throughout the book. we also get flashbacks to flora’s pre-zombie world, providing more insight into her story. overall, this was a great book, and i highly recommend this to anyone looking for a character-driven YA horror.
August 13, 2025
absolutely loved this (as i have all of racquel’s books!). a beautiful story of humanity and love and friendship and community and growing up, set amidst a rabies-induced apocalypse.
June 21, 2025
3.5/5 stars
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November 11, 2025thank u racquel marie for giving me a break from all the white man zombie books
June 20, 2025
“i have been here before and i will be here again.”
part zombie horror and part all-too-familiar search for one’s place in the world, if we survive this surprised me in all the best ways with its achingly realistic depiction of anxiety and OCD, sibling bonds, and contemplation of humanity. think the walking dead if the walking dead was a coming of age story.
told in dual timelines—now and then, two very different road trips to the same cabin—if we survive this centers around flora, a girl no one (herself included) would have pegged as a survivor. then flora loved fashion and math and dreamed of attending design school; now flora can only focus on keeping herself and her brother alive. the OCD and anxiety that once made normal life so difficult present a new set of challenges now, but years of existing in fight or flight mode have prepared flora for survival in unexpected ways.
the older i get, the more picky i am about YA fiction, but if we survive this is one of the best YA books i’ve read in a long time. i laughed AND cried over this book. i love a good post-apocalyptic story, and this one is reminiscent of the early seasons of the walking dead in the way it balances action and gore with quieter moments of introspection. i truly loved flora—in both timelines, she feels like a real teenager figuring out her place in the world. the heart of the novel is her relationship with her older brother, a sometimes-fraught bond between two people who desperately love and want to protect each other but don’t always understand each other. the romantic subplots were cute, and i appreciated the queer rep (+1 for actually using the word lesbian) and that they weren’t the central focus of the story.
my only complaint is that the story could have benefited from an additional 50 or so pages to further explore some themes, but that really didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all.
perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven survival stories or miss the smaller scale and intimacy of early TWD 🩵
arc provided by netgalley and macmillan children’s publishing group in exchange for an honest review.
rating: 4.75/5.0 stars
June 24, 2025
This story will certainly appeal to fans of movies & books with zombie or apocalyptic storylines. I really enjoyed reading about the resilience and survival of this brother and sister duo.
Flora & Cain are on a mission to survive and find their dad who has been missing for weeks. With “rabids” at every turn, they strengthen their bond, & begin their journey with a couple of friends. Throughout their journey, they try their best not to get bitten by rabids, have a lot of self discovery, & navigate through everyday teenage issues such as high school crushes, sexual identity & challenging sibling dynamics.
Overall a solid read that is perfect for fans of YA, slow burn, apocalypse stories. I especially love the separate underlying love stories taking place with the main characters & their potential significant others. The alternating timelines between before the outbreak & after was relevant & significant as it showed the family dynamics. Thank you Colored Pages Book Tours and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Flora & Cain are on a mission to survive and find their dad who has been missing for weeks. With “rabids” at every turn, they strengthen their bond, & begin their journey with a couple of friends. Throughout their journey, they try their best not to get bitten by rabids, have a lot of self discovery, & navigate through everyday teenage issues such as high school crushes, sexual identity & challenging sibling dynamics.
Overall a solid read that is perfect for fans of YA, slow burn, apocalypse stories. I especially love the separate underlying love stories taking place with the main characters & their potential significant others. The alternating timelines between before the outbreak & after was relevant & significant as it showed the family dynamics. Thank you Colored Pages Book Tours and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
November 17, 2025
This was a fun YA apocalyptic book. Unfortunately this didn't work as well as I would have liked it to. This would probably make an entertaining movie though with all the moving around and fighting. The premise wasn't unique by itself -- standard zombie stuff but I liked the pacing. One thing I really liked about the book was the smooth transition between the "Then" and "Now" chapters. The "Then" chapters give great context to what had just happened in the "Now" chapters. I wasn't really invested in the characters or the plot. I did like the ending though, that was nice. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced YA zombie/apocalyptic novel.
Thanks to Goodreads giveaways for providing me with an ARC.
Thanks to Goodreads giveaways for providing me with an ARC.
October 14, 2025
A genuinely good YA, that explores finding one's place in a harsh world, and embracing fear, pain and our own weaknesses to better meet its challenges, because in the end, trying to avoid those is no way to actually live.
This is also an example of good use of flashbacks - which, unfortunately, is in my experience a rare enough occurrence that it is worth highlighting here. Those work really well with the ongoing, present-time story and are expertly weaved in. In general I was pretty impressed with the author's writing: understated, smart and insightful, funny at times too.
The characters are another strong suit of this book.
The sibling dynamics in particular, but also the sort of generalized codependency, which I suppose is inevitable at the end of the world, ha! All their relationships hold nested levels of sacrificing for each other, guilt, resentment, control... all stemming from misguided love and fear of loss. Flora is such an interesting protagonist too and I found her anxiety is well portrayed, at least as far as I can tell. The mentions of it can be a bit repetitive but it needs to be, by the very nature of what it portrays. She trudged through it and her progress was slow, but that's what also made her arc so satisfying and empowering. But really, all of the cast was great, which is not to say that they were not being stupid at times, but they always were so in ways that made sense for who they were at that time of their respective journeys. It was all so very human, vulnerable and ultimately extremely endearing.
Favorite quotes:
This is also an example of good use of flashbacks - which, unfortunately, is in my experience a rare enough occurrence that it is worth highlighting here. Those work really well with the ongoing, present-time story and are expertly weaved in. In general I was pretty impressed with the author's writing: understated, smart and insightful, funny at times too.
The characters are another strong suit of this book.
The sibling dynamics in particular, but also the sort of generalized codependency, which I suppose is inevitable at the end of the world, ha! All their relationships hold nested levels of sacrificing for each other, guilt, resentment, control... all stemming from misguided love and fear of loss. Flora is such an interesting protagonist too and I found her anxiety is well portrayed, at least as far as I can tell. The mentions of it can be a bit repetitive but it needs to be, by the very nature of what it portrays. She trudged through it and her progress was slow, but that's what also made her arc so satisfying and empowering. But really, all of the cast was great, which is not to say that they were not being stupid at times, but they always were so in ways that made sense for who they were at that time of their respective journeys. It was all so very human, vulnerable and ultimately extremely endearing.
Favorite quotes:
We can carve away at ourselves as much as we'd like in an attempt to make the other whole again. But maybe all we've done is trade the same scraps of our hearts back and forth. Another thing for us to share.
With siblings, it's easy to drag every old annoyance back to the surface and use it to fuel your anger. Even if you, too, burn along the way.
I wanted to be unlike myself so bad. [...] Instead, I'm still exactly like I've always been. [...] I've been here before and I will be here again. It's as inevitable as life and death. An endless cycle, inescapable. Always me.
[and echoing this, a bit later]
I want to be brave. I want to be the girl who spits in their faces and stares down the barrels of their guns with a smile, who knows with full confidence that no matter what is said or done to her, she will not break. I keep waiting for my injuries to scab over and turn into tough skin. I want calluses and texture. I want to be stronger than this. But I am tender flesh and hollow bones. I am breakable. I have shattered before, and I will shatter again. [...] I am me.
I am glad I have taken the small life I was given and done my best with it.
January 17, 2025
I always love a good zombie apocalypse book, but the thing most of the time they never really hit the mark for me. Either they’re too focused on action and the characters end up feeling flat, or it’s too much like a million other things I’ve seen from the genre. So I wasn’t expecting too much going into this, but it actually ended up being a pleasant surprise.
What really stood out was how character-driven the story was. It wasn’t something I had expected going into the story, but I really liked the characters and their dynamics, so I was happy we got to see a lot of that. I will say though as much as I enjoyed the characters, I do wish the plot had been a little more fleshed out, especially when it came to the villain. We don’t meet them until around the 70% mark, and the whole concept behind them and the group they were with was interesting, so I really wish we got to see them come in a bit earlier.
One aspect that I thought was done really well was the representation of the main character’s mental illness. It’s rare to see it written so well in a book like this, where the focus could have easily been just on the action, but the author did a good job of showing how OCD manifested in different ways for the main character before and after the apocalypse.
Speaking of before and after, we get dual timelines in this book, with one taking place before the apocalypse and the other being after. I honestly had mixed feeling on these, because while some of them created a nice parallel between the past and the present, others didn’t really seem necessary and kind of interrupted the flow of the story for me.
Overall, this offered a nice balance of emotion, representation, and action. Even though it might not be something I remember long term, I still found it enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone who wanted a character driven apocalyptic book.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
~🅞🅥🅔🅡🅐🅛🅛 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ . 25~
What really stood out was how character-driven the story was. It wasn’t something I had expected going into the story, but I really liked the characters and their dynamics, so I was happy we got to see a lot of that. I will say though as much as I enjoyed the characters, I do wish the plot had been a little more fleshed out, especially when it came to the villain. We don’t meet them until around the 70% mark, and the whole concept behind them and the group they were with was interesting, so I really wish we got to see them come in a bit earlier.
One aspect that I thought was done really well was the representation of the main character’s mental illness. It’s rare to see it written so well in a book like this, where the focus could have easily been just on the action, but the author did a good job of showing how OCD manifested in different ways for the main character before and after the apocalypse.
Speaking of before and after, we get dual timelines in this book, with one taking place before the apocalypse and the other being after. I honestly had mixed feeling on these, because while some of them created a nice parallel between the past and the present, others didn’t really seem necessary and kind of interrupted the flow of the story for me.
Overall, this offered a nice balance of emotion, representation, and action. Even though it might not be something I remember long term, I still found it enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone who wanted a character driven apocalyptic book.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
~🅞🅥🅔🅡🅐🅛🅛 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ . 25~
June 18, 2025
I hate that I didn't enjoy this. Maybe it was the audio I didn't vibe with but I don't have the capacity to reread this with me eyeballs to see if that is the difference.
I just didn't vibe with it, and that makes me sad. Because I was so looking forward to this one.
I just didn't vibe with it, and that makes me sad. Because I was so looking forward to this one.
Want to read
May 8, 2024i'm a simple person, i see a book has been inspired by yellowjackets, i click want to read.
October 24, 2025
4.5⭐️
I guess I love Zombie books now??
This was fantastic, I just couldn't put it down.
A really introspective and meaningful book wrapped up in full Zombie Apocalypse drama! The amount of Queer rep in here and the careful handling of mental illness (specifically OCD) was super.
I think this author is going to become an insta-buy for me at this rate.
I guess I love Zombie books now??
This was fantastic, I just couldn't put it down.
A really introspective and meaningful book wrapped up in full Zombie Apocalypse drama! The amount of Queer rep in here and the careful handling of mental illness (specifically OCD) was super.
I think this author is going to become an insta-buy for me at this rate.
August 8, 2025
thanks for making me cry racquel I thought we were cool
June 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book very much gave off “The Walking Dead” vibes, which I loved! If you love the show you will absolutely love this!
I didn’t really see how it was like “Yellowjackets” though, which isn’t a huge deal, I was just expecting more of that show’s vibe.
This was written so well! I underlined so many lines! It was so descriptive. You could really picture everything Flora was seeing and felt the character’s fear or any emotions they may have had.
There were lines I laughed at, was grossed out at and was scared at. I was on edge the whole entire time while reading! In a good way.
I really liked all of the characters and thought they were super unique and they stood out to me!
It went back and forth between the past and present, and seeing Flora and Cain’s dynamics between their parents and them was so special. I love a good sibling story, and this provided. The bond they shared was so good to read about, even if they kept things from each other at times. I preferred the present chapters better, but the past chapters tied in perfectly to the story!
It had drama and angst as well between the characters in just the right amount! I loved the found family aspect of it all. It made my chest feel warm and fuzzy.
I loved Cain and Adán together! Adán was honestly my favorite character. I warmed to him the minute I met him and he just kept getting better and better the more we got to know him! It took a little too long for Crisanta and Flora to get together which made me sad. The pining was great at first don’t get me wrong, but by the end I just wanted them to be together. We didn’t see a lot of it, and I was hoping for more.
Flora had OCD, which I don’t see in books very often. I know it is around and I am probably just not reading ones where it is talked about, but it was a very prevalent part of the story and it blended in very well! It wasn’t forced and it tied into Flora’s character and her surroundings.
Wow! What an ending! My heart was pounding so hard! I teared up. I almost wanted JUST a little bit more because it can’t end like that!! But at the same time, it also wrapped up in such a good way for an apocalyptic novel that it made sense as an ending. Honestly I’d read a second book if there ever was one. I don’t want to leave these characters!
With the ending being a little rushed and it being open ended, and the fact that the plot was a little slow for me at times is why I gave this 4 stars instead of 5, but otherwise I really enjoyed it!
Even the acknowledgments were really sweet and well written!
This book very much gave off “The Walking Dead” vibes, which I loved! If you love the show you will absolutely love this!
I didn’t really see how it was like “Yellowjackets” though, which isn’t a huge deal, I was just expecting more of that show’s vibe.
This was written so well! I underlined so many lines! It was so descriptive. You could really picture everything Flora was seeing and felt the character’s fear or any emotions they may have had.
There were lines I laughed at, was grossed out at and was scared at. I was on edge the whole entire time while reading! In a good way.
I really liked all of the characters and thought they were super unique and they stood out to me!
It went back and forth between the past and present, and seeing Flora and Cain’s dynamics between their parents and them was so special. I love a good sibling story, and this provided. The bond they shared was so good to read about, even if they kept things from each other at times. I preferred the present chapters better, but the past chapters tied in perfectly to the story!
It had drama and angst as well between the characters in just the right amount! I loved the found family aspect of it all. It made my chest feel warm and fuzzy.
I loved Cain and Adán together! Adán was honestly my favorite character. I warmed to him the minute I met him and he just kept getting better and better the more we got to know him! It took a little too long for Crisanta and Flora to get together which made me sad. The pining was great at first don’t get me wrong, but by the end I just wanted them to be together. We didn’t see a lot of it, and I was hoping for more.
Flora had OCD, which I don’t see in books very often. I know it is around and I am probably just not reading ones where it is talked about, but it was a very prevalent part of the story and it blended in very well! It wasn’t forced and it tied into Flora’s character and her surroundings.
Wow! What an ending! My heart was pounding so hard! I teared up. I almost wanted JUST a little bit more because it can’t end like that!! But at the same time, it also wrapped up in such a good way for an apocalyptic novel that it made sense as an ending. Honestly I’d read a second book if there ever was one. I don’t want to leave these characters!
With the ending being a little rushed and it being open ended, and the fact that the plot was a little slow for me at times is why I gave this 4 stars instead of 5, but otherwise I really enjoyed it!
Even the acknowledgments were really sweet and well written!
November 29, 2025
⭐⭐⭐.5
KU selection for GoodReads 2025 challenge: Hispanic Heritage.
KU selection for GoodReads 2025 challenge: Hispanic Heritage.
November 27, 2025
okay I will say that I felt like giving this book a 3 star overall, because it laid in between a 3-4 for me… but the zombies man. they’ll always do it for me. I love apocalypse media— the exploration of the human psyche, the survival aspect, the devastation and the hope and rebuilding that surmounts it, just EVERYTHING.
this book felt like it was dragging for perhaps the first third of it… but the latter sections made up for it. I was so locked into the book and read the last 200ish pages in one sitting. I also really appreciated flora as a fmc— although she got annoying sometimes, there were real and raw reasons for how she was acting, so I couldn’t be too pissed off at her.
the other characters felt like they needed to be developed slightly more, but I still really enjoyed them. I also enjoyed how the big plot points made sense in my head. whether or not I felt the same about how they were resolved… a different topic of discussion.
as I’m writing this, I feel a little more inclined to give this a 3-star, so that change will be happening once I finish this review LMAO. but yeah love apocalypse media. this one was a solid one!
this book felt like it was dragging for perhaps the first third of it… but the latter sections made up for it. I was so locked into the book and read the last 200ish pages in one sitting. I also really appreciated flora as a fmc— although she got annoying sometimes, there were real and raw reasons for how she was acting, so I couldn’t be too pissed off at her.
the other characters felt like they needed to be developed slightly more, but I still really enjoyed them. I also enjoyed how the big plot points made sense in my head. whether or not I felt the same about how they were resolved… a different topic of discussion.
as I’m writing this, I feel a little more inclined to give this a 3-star, so that change will be happening once I finish this review LMAO. but yeah love apocalypse media. this one was a solid one!
August 27, 2025
Even though this is a very different genre than we’re used to from her, Racquel never ceases to amaze me. She was just born with a golden pen, y’all! I love this take on a dystopian world where everything is going to sh*t because of rabids—I kept picturing fluffy rabbits running around biting people, but that might just be me. And even in this kind of story, Racquel weaves some LGBTQ+ spirit into it. It doesn’t feel forced; it’s just as it should be. I absolutely cannot wait for her next book!!
July 22, 2025
One word. Dumb.
June 21, 2025
An apocalyptic zombie romp with heavy themes, realistic depiction of anxiety, and the love of family at its core.
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 9 hours 5 minutes
🎤: Racquel Marie (Author)
Publisher: Recorded Books
I love when authors narrate their novels. This one was no exception. I felt like the author did an absolutely amazing job and added a lot of nuance and layered emotion to the dictation. Each character was able to have their own voice and did not bleed into each other. I was able to listen to the entire novel at the same speed without adjustments. Highly recommend!
Genre: YA Horror
Themes:
🧟 : Coming of age
Representation:
🩸 : Anxiety surrounding germs
🩸 : Latinx Characters
🩸 : Conversational Spanish
🩸 : Lesbian main character
🩸 : Trans/queer side characters
Tropes:
💗: Teens save the world
🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.
Short Synopsis:
Flora deals with some pretty heavy things on the daily. Including anxiety surrounding germs. When rabies takes over the human race and turns normal people into cannibalistic zombies, she leads a pack of her peers on a journey to her family's cabin in search of her missing father.
General Thoughts:
This book definitely had it all. Gorey zombie apocalyptic vibes set to the backdrop of some really heavy coming-of-age themes. Watching Flora tried to regulate her high anxiety surrounding germs and intrusive thoughts with actually maintaining order to keep her brother and friends safe was quite the task. I felt like while the anxiety rep was definitely for a more debilitating case of anxiety, it was very well represented, and felt very realistic.
This book was not at all predictable for me. I did not see the big twists throughout the book coming in anyway. I feel like the author made a very good case for each of these characters to feel well flushed out and realistic. The background setting of the apocalyptic world and cannibalistic zombies was so well done. I definitely felt like I was in the middle of the cinematic type setting.
The Latinx rep in the novel was so well done. The conversational Spanish was on point and dictated very well by the narrator. It flowed well into the novel and felt appropriate to the times of usage.
While the novel did have lots of really fun and action packed scenes, there were a few times where the downtime went on a little too long for me. But that is something that is easily fixable in subsequent books.
There is a light thread of sapphic and achelian romance in this novel. It does take a giant backseat to the overall horror story.
I cannot wait to see what else this author comes out with. While this was a debut, it definitely did not read like one and I am very excited to see what else can be done with this author in the future. This was a stellar opening for me.
Disclaimer: I read this book via NetGalley ALC from Recorded Books. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 9 hours 5 minutes
🎤: Racquel Marie (Author)
Publisher: Recorded Books
I love when authors narrate their novels. This one was no exception. I felt like the author did an absolutely amazing job and added a lot of nuance and layered emotion to the dictation. Each character was able to have their own voice and did not bleed into each other. I was able to listen to the entire novel at the same speed without adjustments. Highly recommend!
Genre: YA Horror
Themes:
🧟 : Coming of age
Representation:
🩸 : Anxiety surrounding germs
🩸 : Latinx Characters
🩸 : Conversational Spanish
🩸 : Lesbian main character
🩸 : Trans/queer side characters
Tropes:
💗: Teens save the world
🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.
Short Synopsis:
Flora deals with some pretty heavy things on the daily. Including anxiety surrounding germs. When rabies takes over the human race and turns normal people into cannibalistic zombies, she leads a pack of her peers on a journey to her family's cabin in search of her missing father.
General Thoughts:
This book definitely had it all. Gorey zombie apocalyptic vibes set to the backdrop of some really heavy coming-of-age themes. Watching Flora tried to regulate her high anxiety surrounding germs and intrusive thoughts with actually maintaining order to keep her brother and friends safe was quite the task. I felt like while the anxiety rep was definitely for a more debilitating case of anxiety, it was very well represented, and felt very realistic.
This book was not at all predictable for me. I did not see the big twists throughout the book coming in anyway. I feel like the author made a very good case for each of these characters to feel well flushed out and realistic. The background setting of the apocalyptic world and cannibalistic zombies was so well done. I definitely felt like I was in the middle of the cinematic type setting.
The Latinx rep in the novel was so well done. The conversational Spanish was on point and dictated very well by the narrator. It flowed well into the novel and felt appropriate to the times of usage.
While the novel did have lots of really fun and action packed scenes, there were a few times where the downtime went on a little too long for me. But that is something that is easily fixable in subsequent books.
There is a light thread of sapphic and achelian romance in this novel. It does take a giant backseat to the overall horror story.
I cannot wait to see what else this author comes out with. While this was a debut, it definitely did not read like one and I am very excited to see what else can be done with this author in the future. This was a stellar opening for me.
Disclaimer: I read this book via NetGalley ALC from Recorded Books. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 3, 2025
“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭, 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘐 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴.”
This story will stick with me for a long time, and Flora in particular. I don’t entirely know how to put this review into words, but as someone with OCD, seeing Flora and getting to know her, her thoughts, and her fears —both before and after the apocalypse— was incredibly relatable, and made me feel seen.
This book captivated me from the start, and if I could’ve, I would’ve finished it in one sitting; the story is so engaging, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There were so many heartbreaking moments, but the found family and the relationships between each of the characters equally warmed my heart too. Each of the characters was written with such care, were so beautifully developed, and felt incredibly real!
Also, I really liked getting to see the flashbacks to the last time they went to the family cabin they’re going to in the current timeline, before the world ended; it allowed us to connect to these characters on an even deeper level— in particular Flora, and Cain, but also Crisanta. Overall, this book was hauntingly beautiful, and I loved it dearly.
This story will stick with me for a long time, and Flora in particular. I don’t entirely know how to put this review into words, but as someone with OCD, seeing Flora and getting to know her, her thoughts, and her fears —both before and after the apocalypse— was incredibly relatable, and made me feel seen.
This book captivated me from the start, and if I could’ve, I would’ve finished it in one sitting; the story is so engaging, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There were so many heartbreaking moments, but the found family and the relationships between each of the characters equally warmed my heart too. Each of the characters was written with such care, were so beautifully developed, and felt incredibly real!
Also, I really liked getting to see the flashbacks to the last time they went to the family cabin they’re going to in the current timeline, before the world ended; it allowed us to connect to these characters on an even deeper level— in particular Flora, and Cain, but also Crisanta. Overall, this book was hauntingly beautiful, and I loved it dearly.
July 10, 2025
Audiobook/Book Review 🔪
thank you so much RB Media + Netgalley for the gifted audiobook!
If We Survive This
by Racquel Marie
Narrated by Racquel Marie
About the book 👇🏽
Flora Braddock Paz is not the girl who survives. A colorful creative who spends as much time fearing death as she does trying to hide that fear from her loved ones, she’s always considered herself weak. But half a year into the global outbreak of a rabies mutation that transforms people into violent, zombielike "rabids," she and her older brother Cain are still alive. With their mom dead, their dad missing, and their LA suburb left desolate, they form a new plan to venture out to the secluded Northern California cabin they vacationed in growing up—their best chance at a safe haven and maybe even seeing their dad again.
The dangers of the world have changed, but so has Flora. Still, their journey up the state is complicated by encounters with familiar faces, new allies, hidden truths, and painful memories of the family’s final time making this trip last year. And for Flora, one thing inevitably remains: No matter how far you run, death is never far behind.
🩸 My thoughts:
What a ride! This story is definitely one to be devoured in one sitting! It’s emotional and tense in the best way. For me it was the post apocalyptic zombies that got me to start it and it was the intensity of it all that had its hold over me. The narrator’s delivery was spot on and fit the very feel and tone of the book. The dual timeline was done so well and I feel like Flora’s experience and voice were prominent. If you’re looking for a YA Horror with vigor and representation, you gotta read this one this spooky season! In here you’ll find a sapphic female character, anxiety and OCD representation, and ZOMBIES. If We Survive This is out now!!
Happy reading 📖🎧🔪🩸
thank you so much RB Media + Netgalley for the gifted audiobook!
If We Survive This
by Racquel Marie
Narrated by Racquel Marie
About the book 👇🏽
Flora Braddock Paz is not the girl who survives. A colorful creative who spends as much time fearing death as she does trying to hide that fear from her loved ones, she’s always considered herself weak. But half a year into the global outbreak of a rabies mutation that transforms people into violent, zombielike "rabids," she and her older brother Cain are still alive. With their mom dead, their dad missing, and their LA suburb left desolate, they form a new plan to venture out to the secluded Northern California cabin they vacationed in growing up—their best chance at a safe haven and maybe even seeing their dad again.
The dangers of the world have changed, but so has Flora. Still, their journey up the state is complicated by encounters with familiar faces, new allies, hidden truths, and painful memories of the family’s final time making this trip last year. And for Flora, one thing inevitably remains: No matter how far you run, death is never far behind.
🩸 My thoughts:
What a ride! This story is definitely one to be devoured in one sitting! It’s emotional and tense in the best way. For me it was the post apocalyptic zombies that got me to start it and it was the intensity of it all that had its hold over me. The narrator’s delivery was spot on and fit the very feel and tone of the book. The dual timeline was done so well and I feel like Flora’s experience and voice were prominent. If you’re looking for a YA Horror with vigor and representation, you gotta read this one this spooky season! In here you’ll find a sapphic female character, anxiety and OCD representation, and ZOMBIES. If We Survive This is out now!!
Happy reading 📖🎧🔪🩸
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