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Postscript
From Stonewall Honoree Cory McCarthy, joyful, affectionate, read-in-one-sitting novel about letting go of the things we can’t change and holding on to the passion of our instincts.
On the far side of a swift and unknowable apocalypse, a few sapiens are surviving off the last scraps of humanity. No longer recognizable as Cape Cod, the dunes of their archipelago are empty apart from regrets and ruins—until West blows in like a storm.
West is a prophet of instinct, the last amateur anthropologist, ever aware of being present in life. He can’t help but move through Ani’s rage, Karen’s anxiety, and Emil’s immense longing with curiosity and care. West’s unbridled love and grief challenge the survivors to defy extinction with the most beautifully human thing imaginable: a family.
He may even impress Death.
★ “Simultaneously tragic, existentially terrifying, heartwarming, and sensual."—Kirkus, starred review
On the far side of a swift and unknowable apocalypse, a few sapiens are surviving off the last scraps of humanity. No longer recognizable as Cape Cod, the dunes of their archipelago are empty apart from regrets and ruins—until West blows in like a storm.
West is a prophet of instinct, the last amateur anthropologist, ever aware of being present in life. He can’t help but move through Ani’s rage, Karen’s anxiety, and Emil’s immense longing with curiosity and care. West’s unbridled love and grief challenge the survivors to defy extinction with the most beautifully human thing imaginable: a family.
He may even impress Death.
★ “Simultaneously tragic, existentially terrifying, heartwarming, and sensual."—Kirkus, starred review
240 pages, Hardcover
Published February 17, 2026
17 people are currently reading
3510 people want to read
About the author
Cory McCarthy
22 books378 followersCORY (previously Cori)
…earned degrees in poetry and screenwriting before falling in love with writing for children and young adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. They have authored four acclaimed YA novels, with a middle grade series, young adult contemporary, and nonfiction picture book forthcoming. Cory coauthored the bestselling ONCE & FUTURE, a finalist for the New England Book Award, with their spouse A.R. Capetta.
…earned degrees in poetry and screenwriting before falling in love with writing for children and young adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. They have authored four acclaimed YA novels, with a middle grade series, young adult contemporary, and nonfiction picture book forthcoming. Cory coauthored the bestselling ONCE & FUTURE, a finalist for the New England Book Award, with their spouse A.R. Capetta.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
November 7, 2025
ARC for review. To be published February 17, 2026.
4.3 stars
It is the Post, the name for the time after the apocalypse and very few people are left. West is sold to Emil who has a dog. Emil introduces West to Ani and Kay. These are the survivors, eking out an existence on Cape Cod. What’s the use of going on? Is it different for each person?
This short book was interesting, and haunting, and also comes with a powerful anti-gun message. Well done characters and a rich sense of place.
****Edited to add: I did not realize this was YA. Me Bing up to the full 4 stars and would really move to something like a 4.3. This is a great YA book.
4.3 stars
It is the Post, the name for the time after the apocalypse and very few people are left. West is sold to Emil who has a dog. Emil introduces West to Ani and Kay. These are the survivors, eking out an existence on Cape Cod. What’s the use of going on? Is it different for each person?
This short book was interesting, and haunting, and also comes with a powerful anti-gun message. Well done characters and a rich sense of place.
****Edited to add: I did not realize this was YA. Me Bing up to the full 4 stars and would really move to something like a 4.3. This is a great YA book.
Did Not Finish
December 3, 2025DNF @ 32%
Reading this novella felt like being at a modern art museum. I honestly had no idea what was happening and I had no idea what I was reading more than half of the time. The details, characterization, and worldbuilding were very bare minimum and you pretty much fill in the blanks.
The post-apocalyptic vibes were more like The Road than The Last of Us. So if you're a fan of the Cormac McCarthy novel, then this might work for you.
Thank you to Dutton Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this arc.
Reading this novella felt like being at a modern art museum. I honestly had no idea what was happening and I had no idea what I was reading more than half of the time. The details, characterization, and worldbuilding were very bare minimum and you pretty much fill in the blanks.
The post-apocalyptic vibes were more like The Road than The Last of Us. So if you're a fan of the Cormac McCarthy novel, then this might work for you.
Thank you to Dutton Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this arc.
March 7, 2026
A tender, heartbreaking dystopian YA novella about a ragtag group of survivors living off Cape Cod island in a post-apocalyptic world. Filled with great banter, found family, queer love and the saddest ending ever! This story made me laugh, smile and cry - really what more can you ask for in a good book?? Recommended for fans of You and me at the end of the world and They both die at the end. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Read
February 20, 2026A sad, slow post-apocalyptic YA novel-- an introspective one, sorta along the lines of The Road. I wished it'd been longer because I wanted to get to know the characters more! It probably won't be for every reader, but that's okay. I listened to the audiobook and am looking forward to picking up a physical copy to flip through and see the illustrations.
March 19, 2026
In a world where the sun has disappeared and most people on earth have rotted away, a few survivors remain. West, who was in 6th grade when the world turned, is now 18 and living on a ship. His optimistic outlook changes everyone he comes into contact with, from the young captain who is just waiting out life, to the angry woman who refuses to speak to the other angry woman on the other side of the island, to the feral child they rescue.
I definitely cried while eating breakfast and reading this short and achingly lovely little book. The lyrical prose is a stark contrast to the brutality of the post-apocalyptic world, and West's ability to find beauty in everything shone through. The worldbuilding was minimal but effective. It's a bit hard to say if this would fit better in adult fiction versus young adult, because although most of the characters are adults, this does follow West's coming of age.
I definitely cried while eating breakfast and reading this short and achingly lovely little book. The lyrical prose is a stark contrast to the brutality of the post-apocalyptic world, and West's ability to find beauty in everything shone through. The worldbuilding was minimal but effective. It's a bit hard to say if this would fit better in adult fiction versus young adult, because although most of the characters are adults, this does follow West's coming of age.
February 24, 2026
A really lovely story of found family and joy in the face of devastation that I think is more adult literary fiction than YA. Publishers Weekly called it "luminous" and they're not wrong, though it's also heartbreaking and philosophical. A couple of explicit scenes place it at the upper bound of YA, while the overall narrative feels more akin to adult novels like Station Eleven.
Pair with the aforementioned Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel or The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold for other moving, character-driven stories of post-apocalyptic survivors.
My thanks to Penguin Random House for giving me access to this audiobook for review.
Pair with the aforementioned Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel or The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold for other moving, character-driven stories of post-apocalyptic survivors.
My thanks to Penguin Random House for giving me access to this audiobook for review.
March 1, 2026
thank you to NetGalley and to Penguin for the advanced digital copy.
this gem is out now.
--
postscript by cory mccarthy is the kind of book that feels less like a novel and more like a hand extended across the end of the world. man o' war is one of my favorite books of all time, so my expectations were high, and i am relieved to say that mccarthy's writing remains as lush, interesting, and carefully crafted as ever. reading this felt like watching a painter create art out of nothing, brushstroke by brushstroke, each line deliberate and alive.
the premise is spare. the world has ended in some swift and unknowable way. cape cod is no longer cape cod but an archipelago of dunes and ruins. a handful of survivors drift through what remains. and then there is west, who arrives like weather, like hope, like a question mark. he is curious, instinctive, and almost painfully open in a world that has calcified around grief and rage.
what struck me most is how little mccarthy relies on heavy description. the world building is intentionally sparse. we are not handed a detailed map of the apocalypse, nor do we get pages of explanation about what went wrong. instead, we are given feeling. atmosphere. presence. the writing gestures rather than declares, which feels exactly right. this is not a story about the mechanics of extinction but about what remains human after it.
the book is short, and part of me desperately wished it had been longer. i wanted to stay with these characters, to linger in their strange, fragile family. and yet the brevity feels purposeful. it mirrors the precariousness of their existence, the sense that nothing is guaranteed. the smallness of the text somehow amplifies the largeness of its questions.
because postscript is quietly philosophical. it asks what we cling to when the world offers no promises. it nudges at nihilism without surrendering to it. if everything has already fallen apart, what is the point of tenderness, of sex, of love, of building a family out of scraps? mccarthy does not answer this directly, but the novel itself becomes the answer. the point is instinct. the point is connection. the point is choosing to care even when extinction looms.
west, in particular, feels like a thesis in motion. he is not naive, exactly, but he is unguarded. he moves through other people’s pain with curiosity rather than fear. in another writer’s hands, that could feel cloying, but here it feels radical. there is something defiant about maintaining softness in a brutal world.
i also appreciated how the prose never becomes overwrought despite its lyricism. there is beauty in the language, yes, but it is controlled. mccarthy trusts white space, trusts implication. the result is a book that feels almost like a long poem, or a series of meditations stitched together by longing.
postscript made me think about purpose in the face of nothingness. it made me consider what it means to be human when society has dissolved. it is melancholy, yes, but also strangely joyful. it insists that even at the far edge of the world, love is still possible. and sometimes, that is enough.
this gem is out now.
--
postscript by cory mccarthy is the kind of book that feels less like a novel and more like a hand extended across the end of the world. man o' war is one of my favorite books of all time, so my expectations were high, and i am relieved to say that mccarthy's writing remains as lush, interesting, and carefully crafted as ever. reading this felt like watching a painter create art out of nothing, brushstroke by brushstroke, each line deliberate and alive.
the premise is spare. the world has ended in some swift and unknowable way. cape cod is no longer cape cod but an archipelago of dunes and ruins. a handful of survivors drift through what remains. and then there is west, who arrives like weather, like hope, like a question mark. he is curious, instinctive, and almost painfully open in a world that has calcified around grief and rage.
what struck me most is how little mccarthy relies on heavy description. the world building is intentionally sparse. we are not handed a detailed map of the apocalypse, nor do we get pages of explanation about what went wrong. instead, we are given feeling. atmosphere. presence. the writing gestures rather than declares, which feels exactly right. this is not a story about the mechanics of extinction but about what remains human after it.
the book is short, and part of me desperately wished it had been longer. i wanted to stay with these characters, to linger in their strange, fragile family. and yet the brevity feels purposeful. it mirrors the precariousness of their existence, the sense that nothing is guaranteed. the smallness of the text somehow amplifies the largeness of its questions.
because postscript is quietly philosophical. it asks what we cling to when the world offers no promises. it nudges at nihilism without surrendering to it. if everything has already fallen apart, what is the point of tenderness, of sex, of love, of building a family out of scraps? mccarthy does not answer this directly, but the novel itself becomes the answer. the point is instinct. the point is connection. the point is choosing to care even when extinction looms.
west, in particular, feels like a thesis in motion. he is not naive, exactly, but he is unguarded. he moves through other people’s pain with curiosity rather than fear. in another writer’s hands, that could feel cloying, but here it feels radical. there is something defiant about maintaining softness in a brutal world.
i also appreciated how the prose never becomes overwrought despite its lyricism. there is beauty in the language, yes, but it is controlled. mccarthy trusts white space, trusts implication. the result is a book that feels almost like a long poem, or a series of meditations stitched together by longing.
postscript made me think about purpose in the face of nothingness. it made me consider what it means to be human when society has dissolved. it is melancholy, yes, but also strangely joyful. it insists that even at the far edge of the world, love is still possible. and sometimes, that is enough.
Read
March 26, 2026beloiter
v. intr. to look around in a state of mild astonishment that your life is somehow still going, as if a part of you had just assumed that your allotment of days would’ve been used up by now, standing there like a player at a slot machine, perpetually surprised that your winnings continue to trickle out, but not sure what you’re supposed to do now.
- The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
- not sure how to rate this as the writing style was at times clichéd and I predicted the ending easily :/
- but it was also immensely enjoyable and I read it in one sitting!! and it compelled me to leave a review, so
- off the top of my head, it’s not really comparable to any other book I’ve read
- conceptually so cool + I loved the characters (the main two to a lesser extent but the side characters weren’t especially overshadowed)
v. intr. to look around in a state of mild astonishment that your life is somehow still going, as if a part of you had just assumed that your allotment of days would’ve been used up by now, standing there like a player at a slot machine, perpetually surprised that your winnings continue to trickle out, but not sure what you’re supposed to do now.
- The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
- not sure how to rate this as the writing style was at times clichéd and I predicted the ending easily :/
- but it was also immensely enjoyable and I read it in one sitting!! and it compelled me to leave a review, so
- off the top of my head, it’s not really comparable to any other book I’ve read
- conceptually so cool + I loved the characters (the main two to a lesser extent but the side characters weren’t especially overshadowed)
February 26, 2026
4.5*
Postscript is a melancholic yet beautiful take on the apocalypse. Weird sentence, sure, but let's go with it. The vibe is spot on- you can really feel the isolation, and the desperation, at the end of the world. The author does not sugar coat that things are bad, and that people can be bad, but they also can be really great too. It's all in how the characters choose to live and what they live for. The world-building is sparse, but I feel like that was kind of the point- it didn't quite matter to the characters why things got this way, they just had to live with it. There was a lot of character growth in this tiny book, and I absolutely adored the found family aspect. Main character West is wonderful, and it's impossible to not like him. He has a sort of childlike wonder that is hard to keep in tact in any time, but I imagine especially so at the end of the world. The only thing I felt a little iffy on was that West seemed quite a bit younger than Emil- was he? Perhaps not, perhaps Emil just seemed older, and maybe it doesn't quite matter when there are only a handful of people left, but I did kind of wish that was explained a bit better, mostly for my own peace of mind. But, a small gripe in an otherwise really lovely story. I could not put it down- when the synopsis tells you "read-it-in-one-sitting", it isn't lying.
Bottom Line: Heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once, this short novel packed a big punch.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Postscript is a melancholic yet beautiful take on the apocalypse. Weird sentence, sure, but let's go with it. The vibe is spot on- you can really feel the isolation, and the desperation, at the end of the world. The author does not sugar coat that things are bad, and that people can be bad, but they also can be really great too. It's all in how the characters choose to live and what they live for. The world-building is sparse, but I feel like that was kind of the point- it didn't quite matter to the characters why things got this way, they just had to live with it. There was a lot of character growth in this tiny book, and I absolutely adored the found family aspect. Main character West is wonderful, and it's impossible to not like him. He has a sort of childlike wonder that is hard to keep in tact in any time, but I imagine especially so at the end of the world. The only thing I felt a little iffy on was that West seemed quite a bit younger than Emil- was he? Perhaps not, perhaps Emil just seemed older, and maybe it doesn't quite matter when there are only a handful of people left, but I did kind of wish that was explained a bit better, mostly for my own peace of mind. But, a small gripe in an otherwise really lovely story. I could not put it down- when the synopsis tells you "read-it-in-one-sitting", it isn't lying.
Bottom Line: Heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once, this short novel packed a big punch.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
April 3, 2026
An ethereal, emotional book about the end of the world. Just give it a go. See where the tide takes you.
April 8, 2026
Read like a poem with some great quotes
April 11, 2026
I really didn’t think this odd little story would matter much to me but here I am, emotional over the ending and all of the characters anyway. Worth the read for sure
April 5, 2026
What a strange little book…
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book was short but filled with emotion, each of the characters were so well written. The ending was rough, but it kind of tied everything together.
March 10, 2026
Having the main character referred to as child-like and having characters treat him that way made the romantic elements of the story very off-putting. I listened to the audiobook and the voice actor definitely read the character as younger too. Maybe the physical book isn’t as bad but I couldn’t really get past it.
September 26, 2025
I am so entirely lucky to have a friend who got me an eARC of this book sent to my email. I am so entirely lucky to be the first person to leave a review of this book on here.
My heart has latched onto this story so thoroughly. Postscript is found family. Postscript is humanity facing consequences. Postscript is forgiveness. Postscript is falling so deeply and tenderly in love. Postscript is holding on for dear life to old love. Postscript is reflecting on humanity's failings. Postscript is loss.
It took me a moment to get into the motion of McCarthy's writing style for this book. But even before I did, I was continuously filled with emotions. I'm sure there are some who this story won't reach and impact as deeply. Not every story made to touch every person. But Postscript is absolutely a new favorite book of mine. I cannot wait to have a physical copy to annotate in my hands.
From the characters to the post-apocalyptic setting to the natural commentary on humanity and the things we got/did wrong, all of which are things that need to be addressed and called out. I was fully committed to it all and didn't want to be done with this book.
And West.... West is such a special character. He will remain with me for a long time.
My heart has latched onto this story so thoroughly. Postscript is found family. Postscript is humanity facing consequences. Postscript is forgiveness. Postscript is falling so deeply and tenderly in love. Postscript is holding on for dear life to old love. Postscript is reflecting on humanity's failings. Postscript is loss.
It took me a moment to get into the motion of McCarthy's writing style for this book. But even before I did, I was continuously filled with emotions. I'm sure there are some who this story won't reach and impact as deeply. Not every story made to touch every person. But Postscript is absolutely a new favorite book of mine. I cannot wait to have a physical copy to annotate in my hands.
From the characters to the post-apocalyptic setting to the natural commentary on humanity and the things we got/did wrong, all of which are things that need to be addressed and called out. I was fully committed to it all and didn't want to be done with this book.
And West.... West is such a special character. He will remain with me for a long time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
"Sapiens are not meant to survive alone."
It's been several years since an apocalyptic disaster destroyed the earth's population, and now only a handful of people ("sapiens") are left, eking out their lives in what used to be Cape Cod. West joins the tiny group after being trafficked and traded by a lone wolf he called Captain. Now West finds home in Karen's stable (she is trying to atone for the way she treated her queer child after they came out), a friend in Ani (who is desperate to find the bones of her dead partner), and a lover in Emil. Together, they try to make sense of the senseless, looking for sparks of hope and joy in a postapocalyptic world.
I love what apocalyptic books can teach us about humanity (see also: Station Eleven, Moon of the Crusted Snow). This is really poignantly written with some beautiful parts. I liked Karen's character arc and the imagery of Jasper watching out for Ani from the tree near his grave.
The emphasis on Emil's and West's sexual relationship was problematic for me. I get that their sexual experiences are evidence of joy in a joyless world, and I get that they felt safe and at home with each other, but it also felt like there was a power imbalance: Emil was much older and it's clear that West is still a teen, and Emil basically traded for West's life based on, I don't know, looks I guess. But then again, are the rules different when you're the last people on earth? Maybe. I just thought that, with the brevity of this novel, there didn't need to be as many sexual encounters as there were.
Ultimately this is a pretty emotional book; consider yourself warned.
Multiple cracked/open door sexual scenes
Profanity, including the f-word
Thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the ALC.
It's been several years since an apocalyptic disaster destroyed the earth's population, and now only a handful of people ("sapiens") are left, eking out their lives in what used to be Cape Cod. West joins the tiny group after being trafficked and traded by a lone wolf he called Captain. Now West finds home in Karen's stable (she is trying to atone for the way she treated her queer child after they came out), a friend in Ani (who is desperate to find the bones of her dead partner), and a lover in Emil. Together, they try to make sense of the senseless, looking for sparks of hope and joy in a postapocalyptic world.
I love what apocalyptic books can teach us about humanity (see also: Station Eleven, Moon of the Crusted Snow). This is really poignantly written with some beautiful parts. I liked Karen's character arc and the imagery of Jasper watching out for Ani from the tree near his grave.
The emphasis on Emil's and West's sexual relationship was problematic for me. I get that their sexual experiences are evidence of joy in a joyless world, and I get that they felt safe and at home with each other, but it also felt like there was a power imbalance: Emil was much older and it's clear that West is still a teen, and Emil basically traded for West's life based on, I don't know, looks I guess. But then again, are the rules different when you're the last people on earth? Maybe. I just thought that, with the brevity of this novel, there didn't need to be as many sexual encounters as there were.
Ultimately this is a pretty emotional book; consider yourself warned.
Multiple cracked/open door sexual scenes
Profanity, including the f-word
Thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a copy of this book as an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest review.
This book is very different from anything I've read in awhile. West is the main character - a teenage boy who was about 11 or 12 when the apocalypse happened, so he's about 18 now. He has been living on a boat with an old, drunk named Captain, who one day trades West for a bullet. West meets Emil, who is a few years older than West, and through Emil he meets some other sapiens - Karen and Ani - and a dog named Mort.
The writing style plays on brevity and straightforward language, leaving the world building a bit sparse, and at times feeling almost poetic instead of prose. I did like how the chapters were built on concepts like Grief, Rage, Sex, etc. It's a very short book, and I probably could have finished it in one sitting if I had had the uninterrupted time. I think what drives this book is the motley crew of characters coming together trying to survive, as well as the commentary on what it means to be human. Can you have humanity if there are only a few stragglers left? What about society? What are innate parts of being human versus the things we learn? How much of what we do, think, say, act, desire, despise is because it's needed versus wanted? What came first - the guns or the desire to be violent?
I really liked the aphorisms West shared (passed down from his mother). For a YA book, I didn't love the mention of some of the sex acts - maybe also because West seems younger than he is given his optimistic, childlike view of the world.
There is depth to this short book, but if you're reading it at the surface level it'll probably get lost. 3 to 3.5 stars for me.
This book is very different from anything I've read in awhile. West is the main character - a teenage boy who was about 11 or 12 when the apocalypse happened, so he's about 18 now. He has been living on a boat with an old, drunk named Captain, who one day trades West for a bullet. West meets Emil, who is a few years older than West, and through Emil he meets some other sapiens - Karen and Ani - and a dog named Mort.
The writing style plays on brevity and straightforward language, leaving the world building a bit sparse, and at times feeling almost poetic instead of prose. I did like how the chapters were built on concepts like Grief, Rage, Sex, etc. It's a very short book, and I probably could have finished it in one sitting if I had had the uninterrupted time. I think what drives this book is the motley crew of characters coming together trying to survive, as well as the commentary on what it means to be human. Can you have humanity if there are only a few stragglers left? What about society? What are innate parts of being human versus the things we learn? How much of what we do, think, say, act, desire, despise is because it's needed versus wanted? What came first - the guns or the desire to be violent?
I really liked the aphorisms West shared (passed down from his mother). For a YA book, I didn't love the mention of some of the sex acts - maybe also because West seems younger than he is given his optimistic, childlike view of the world.
There is depth to this short book, but if you're reading it at the surface level it'll probably get lost. 3 to 3.5 stars for me.
April 14, 2026
This was one of the most conflicting books I've read in a while.
First, I almost put it down because the flowery language was so over-the-top at the beginning that I couldn't understand what I was reading. But I gave it a shot because I was intrigued, and then I really grew to like West and the story of the few remaining survivors after *some kind* of apocalyptic event (I really don't know what happened? Maybe it started as a covid-like thing but then got worse and then within 6 years the earth reclaimed much of the world and most people died?)
I really loved Ani, and also Karen/Kay's character and growth, and since we were already forced to suspend disbelief, I could accept Kay rapidly changing her lifelong views.
What I could not abide was the weird age stuff. First, I was like okay this is just not YA and someone decided to market it as one for...reasons? I can't figure out why. There's nothing that makes this YA. But the age stuff was just too much. West is really childlike, and the apocalypse happened when he was 12, and he describes himself as looking much like he imagined he would look at 14 despite being 18. And then the love interest, Emil, is 22, and described as having very long hair and beard and West compares his own lack of beard to Emil's when pointing out his 14-year-old-like body. That's fucking weird. I don't like it one bit. He also is described as being emaciated and his stomach is distended from having worms and Emil is like "yes. hot af."
I genuinely expected the story to end with Emil being outed as a predator, but that's not what happens at all.
It's a big time yuck for me despite otherwise really liking the story. Sighhhhh
First, I almost put it down because the flowery language was so over-the-top at the beginning that I couldn't understand what I was reading. But I gave it a shot because I was intrigued, and then I really grew to like West and the story of the few remaining survivors after *some kind* of apocalyptic event (I really don't know what happened? Maybe it started as a covid-like thing but then got worse and then within 6 years the earth reclaimed much of the world and most people died?)
I really loved Ani, and also Karen/Kay's character and growth, and since we were already forced to suspend disbelief, I could accept Kay rapidly changing her lifelong views.
What I could not abide was the weird age stuff. First, I was like okay this is just not YA and someone decided to market it as one for...reasons? I can't figure out why. There's nothing that makes this YA. But the age stuff was just too much. West is really childlike, and the apocalypse happened when he was 12, and he describes himself as looking much like he imagined he would look at 14 despite being 18. And then the love interest, Emil, is 22, and described as having very long hair and beard and West compares his own lack of beard to Emil's when pointing out his 14-year-old-like body. That's fucking weird. I don't like it one bit. He also is described as being emaciated and his stomach is distended from having worms and Emil is like "yes. hot af."
I genuinely expected the story to end with Emil being outed as a predator, but that's not what happens at all.
It's a big time yuck for me despite otherwise really liking the story. Sighhhhh
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Years ago, a mass extinction event threw the world into chaos, with only a limited number of human survivors attempting to rebuild a life in the aftermath. West was only twelve when disaster struck, so he remains boundlessly curious about the world even as he is passed from one caregiver to another. Every person West encounters has a different story and a unique way of looking at this new world, and though not everyone agrees on everything, they must embrace one another’s strengths if they wish to see another day. This contemplative young adult novel reads like a blend between a novel in verse and a traditional narrative. Limited amounts of text give readers just enough information to visualize each scene, and the writing often feels as though it is providing the stage directions to a play. Brief scenes subdivide the novel, painting memorable vignettes as the characters move from one moment to the next. While desperation and anger are certainly present within many of the characters, hope and love also appear despite the bleak circumstances in which they find themselves. This dichotomy is palpable, and it invites readers to consider just what might happen if the world really were to come to an end. Occasional strong language and a LGBTQ romance effectively illustrate these emotions, as well. Thought-provoking and unnervingly relevant, this speculative story is a standout addition to library collections for mature young adult readers.
April 18, 2026
The brevity and sparseness of this was a detriment. While the prose is beautiful at times there were other moments where I re-read parts repeatedly asking “what does that even mean?” It felt a little like it was trying too hard to be poignant.
While I cried a lot at the ending, I honestly felt like this wasn’t eliciting the emotions it should have. Again because of the brevity I think. We didn’t get enough time with these characters and the characters didn’t have enough time together to make the incredibly strong connections make sense. Maybe that’s what happens in the post apocalypse when you don’t know how many humans are even left? But it caused me as a reader to not get the emotional response I know this was going for.
There is something here but I would have liked a little more expansion to really get the full effect of the themes the author is exploring.
While I cried a lot at the ending, I honestly felt like this wasn’t eliciting the emotions it should have. Again because of the brevity I think. We didn’t get enough time with these characters and the characters didn’t have enough time together to make the incredibly strong connections make sense. Maybe that’s what happens in the post apocalypse when you don’t know how many humans are even left? But it caused me as a reader to not get the emotional response I know this was going for.
There is something here but I would have liked a little more expansion to really get the full effect of the themes the author is exploring.
March 27, 2026
It has been awhile since I read a book in a day, but Postscript demanded it of me.
This post-apocalyptic story of love, found family, and survival dug in deep within me and hit me like watching Station Eleven did. There was also a bit of On the Beach by Nevil Shute and Love In the Time of Global Warning by Francesca Lia Block.
West is the heart, the magic, the golden thread that sews the characters together, first Emil, who trades a gun for him from a drunk captain, and who becomes his soul mate/love. Then Karen (described as once "a Karen" in the most conservative of meaning), who later is Kay, Ani and Jude (her dead spouse) and lastly, Don't, the feral child who was raised by Orcas.
If it sounds ragtag and speculative it is, and it isn't. It is all very human (or sapien, as West calls humans) in the most raw and real way. Death is a character in themselves, and grief, home, loss, lust, love and seeking something is sewn in much more than just the idea of survival (though they all are surviving).
The writing was sparse, each word intentional, lyrical, poetic. I cried as it ended, but also felt the bursting seams of hope.
This post-apocalyptic story of love, found family, and survival dug in deep within me and hit me like watching Station Eleven did. There was also a bit of On the Beach by Nevil Shute and Love In the Time of Global Warning by Francesca Lia Block.
West is the heart, the magic, the golden thread that sews the characters together, first Emil, who trades a gun for him from a drunk captain, and who becomes his soul mate/love. Then Karen (described as once "a Karen" in the most conservative of meaning), who later is Kay, Ani and Jude (her dead spouse) and lastly, Don't, the feral child who was raised by Orcas.
If it sounds ragtag and speculative it is, and it isn't. It is all very human (or sapien, as West calls humans) in the most raw and real way. Death is a character in themselves, and grief, home, loss, lust, love and seeking something is sewn in much more than just the idea of survival (though they all are surviving).
The writing was sparse, each word intentional, lyrical, poetic. I cried as it ended, but also felt the bursting seams of hope.
March 18, 2026
A short novella taking place in a dystopian world where survivors must learn to find joy in the worst moments of humanity's history. This is fairly light on the plot; you're not going to get a deep dive into characters' backstories, nor will you learn about what caused the world to end. Rather, the postscript society is just a setting that these characters are placed in, and you'll have to go along with them and pick up the pieces as much as they are.
There's some witty banter, moments of tenderness and longing, as well as reflection on what society looked like in the times before. It almost feels like we're treated to vignettes of these characters' lives, and its. these touching moments that allows their warmth and humanity to shine through.
The writing may not be everyone's cup of tea, since it's so sparse on the world-building that you might end up finishing the novel and not be clear on what exactly happened. Maybe that's the point. Maybe it's a chance to just observe a snippet of humanity's flaws and even some of its strengths.
There's some witty banter, moments of tenderness and longing, as well as reflection on what society looked like in the times before. It almost feels like we're treated to vignettes of these characters' lives, and its. these touching moments that allows their warmth and humanity to shine through.
The writing may not be everyone's cup of tea, since it's so sparse on the world-building that you might end up finishing the novel and not be clear on what exactly happened. Maybe that's the point. Maybe it's a chance to just observe a snippet of humanity's flaws and even some of its strengths.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
This post apocalyptic story was so very different. At times, it was difficult to follow, but it was beautiful and haunting and I never wanted to put it down. West is living on a boat with The Captain and is essentially traded to Emil for a bullet. While this makes him a bit angry, I believe the Captain did it out of love, as he no longer wanted to live, and he wanted to see West with someone to care for him. West is an 18 year old with such a marvelous lookout on life. In this 'post' world, where everything is grey and there is no hope of rebuilding the population, he looks at the world with hope and love, bringing his little community together in a way that they weren't before. Everyone changes with him around. He and Emil have an immediate bond, and it's beautiful to see it flourish.
Such a different book, and certainly not for everyone, but I thought it was lovely.
This post apocalyptic story was so very different. At times, it was difficult to follow, but it was beautiful and haunting and I never wanted to put it down. West is living on a boat with The Captain and is essentially traded to Emil for a bullet. While this makes him a bit angry, I believe the Captain did it out of love, as he no longer wanted to live, and he wanted to see West with someone to care for him. West is an 18 year old with such a marvelous lookout on life. In this 'post' world, where everything is grey and there is no hope of rebuilding the population, he looks at the world with hope and love, bringing his little community together in a way that they weren't before. Everyone changes with him around. He and Emil have an immediate bond, and it's beautiful to see it flourish.
Such a different book, and certainly not for everyone, but I thought it was lovely.
March 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5)
Postscript by Cory McCarthy
Postscript was such an interesting read. It’s quick, gripping, and one of those books that pulls you in right away and keeps you turning the pages. The pacing moves fast, and the story has a lot of emotional depth that makes it hard to put down. This book really teeters on the line between YA and adult. While it’s marketed toward younger readers, the themes and situations feel much more mature at times. Because of that, if you’re considering it for a school library, it’s probably best suited for older, more mature readers who are comfortable navigating heavier topics. Overall, this was a compelling and thought-provoking story that I read very quickly. It may not be for every reader, but if you enjoy books that push the boundaries of YA and tackle deeper themes, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you for the gifted copy @penguinrandomhouse @penguinteen @penguinclassroom
Postscript by Cory McCarthy
Postscript was such an interesting read. It’s quick, gripping, and one of those books that pulls you in right away and keeps you turning the pages. The pacing moves fast, and the story has a lot of emotional depth that makes it hard to put down. This book really teeters on the line between YA and adult. While it’s marketed toward younger readers, the themes and situations feel much more mature at times. Because of that, if you’re considering it for a school library, it’s probably best suited for older, more mature readers who are comfortable navigating heavier topics. Overall, this was a compelling and thought-provoking story that I read very quickly. It may not be for every reader, but if you enjoy books that push the boundaries of YA and tackle deeper themes, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you for the gifted copy @penguinrandomhouse @penguinteen @penguinclassroom
February 18, 2026
I wanted so badly for this to capture the same magic as Man O’ War, which I genuinely believe is one of the best YA books ever written. Postscript is such sweet pathos, so much like Plato’s creation myth (think Origin of Love from Hedwig & the Angry Inch). The author’s block printing/linocuts add to this short and accessible novel. A really beautiful post-apocalyptic story for people who want something between the myth of Pyramus and Thisbe and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Hornier than I’d expected. And don’t forget to keep your tissues nearby. Death is the occasionally appearing Greek chorus/narrator in this novel about the final people on earth, and the joy of celebrating everything as it comes. I’d almost nominate it for Mock Printz, but I feel like the quality is too variable—on the fence. Much stronger towards the end.
March 7, 2026
While I found the prose of this short apocalyptic fable often spiky and vivid, it also felt labored over and too "try-hard." Sometimes it was difficult to understand what was happening or who was talking because the author seemed more interested in putting together sentences in unusual ways instead of telling the story. I just didn't buy the main character, a beautiful, philosophical teen boy who teaches everyone else around him how to love again at the end of the world, and the relentless messaging from all the characters about celebrating love, sex and freedom was tiresome and took me out of the story. And then Death arrived as a character, and I was done. I only finished because it was so short. The reviews of this book are glowing and voluminous so it must be for someone, but that someone is not me.
March 28, 2026
3.75
This post-apocalyptic novella is set on Cape Cod. Its protagonist, 18-year-old West, is a rare beam of warmth in a grayer, harsher world—someone whose kindness quietly transforms nearly everyone he meets.
After sailing with a man known as Captain, West is traded—along with some Benadryl—for a gun and a single bullet when they encounter another boat. The 22-year-old Emil takes West in and brings him first to Ani, a queer woman who helps nurse him back to health while speaking with the memory of her late husband, and then to Karen, a Christian woman who maintains a lighthouse and a nearby compound.
Blending themes of loss, hope, grief, and found family, this young-adult novella is enhanced by striking block-print artwork between sections, which deepens the atmosphere and emotional resonance of the story.
This post-apocalyptic novella is set on Cape Cod. Its protagonist, 18-year-old West, is a rare beam of warmth in a grayer, harsher world—someone whose kindness quietly transforms nearly everyone he meets.
After sailing with a man known as Captain, West is traded—along with some Benadryl—for a gun and a single bullet when they encounter another boat. The 22-year-old Emil takes West in and brings him first to Ani, a queer woman who helps nurse him back to health while speaking with the memory of her late husband, and then to Karen, a Christian woman who maintains a lighthouse and a nearby compound.
Blending themes of loss, hope, grief, and found family, this young-adult novella is enhanced by striking block-print artwork between sections, which deepens the atmosphere and emotional resonance of the story.
April 24, 2026
The world as West knew it ended when he was 12. Now, around 18 years old, he sails around what was once known as Cape Cod with a nasty man who goes by the Captain. When an attractive young sailor named Emil finds them, the Captain takes the opportunity to sell off West for a gun and single bullet. After West’s initial shock, he ends up going with Emil and his dog to a makeshift community. There, he meets Karen, an uptight conservative, Ani, a young woman who spends much of her time lying atop of her husband’s grave, and a spirited young who lives with the orcas. There, West experiences love for the first time as he navigates this new community.
So many feelings with this one. Heartwarming, humorous, and tragic, this unique, poetic story blends so much into few pages.
So many feelings with this one. Heartwarming, humorous, and tragic, this unique, poetic story blends so much into few pages.
April 9, 2026
First, this book is short, easily read in a single sitting if you have some time. It surprised me. Humanity is on display. It saddened me. It made me think. It made me mad. I was looking for hope, but found none—one lesson, perhaps, is that one shouldn’t approach dystopian novels with an agenda.
Would I read it again? No.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
I am still trying to wrap my mind around a worthy takeaway to dull the raw reactions I experienced while reading Cory McCarthy’s tale. I know I will find one, but so soon after reading the final pages, all I feel is an even stronger sense of dread.
Would I read it again? No.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
I am still trying to wrap my mind around a worthy takeaway to dull the raw reactions I experienced while reading Cory McCarthy’s tale. I know I will find one, but so soon after reading the final pages, all I feel is an even stronger sense of dread.
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