The zombie apocalypse is over. The humans have won. Life is back to normal. And Rip is bored as hell. It's not much of a life sitting in a call center in the poor town of Spanish Shanty, Florida, answering emails like a drone and listening to customer complaints.
Rip was ruler of a tiny kingdom in the Lazy River waterpark, killing zombies by day and making passionate love at night. He misses the danger, the camaraderie, and the blistering love he once knew. He longs to feel Santana--his trusty machete--in his hand, and Davia--the fiercest woman alive--in his arms once again. He can still picture it-- life on the razor's edge--and he would do anything to get that feeling back.
But what if Rip could get it back? He's totally desperate. Not normal desperate--more like ready-to-restart-the-apocalypse desperate. Condemning humanity to a repeat merely for an adrenaline rush is probably not a good idea. But life at the call center is nothing more than a slow death, and Rip might not be able to go on without trying to find out.
Yeahhhhh... that’s going to be a no from me. The main character is just an asshole. Example 1: “I’m still not learning Mexican,” I say. “Spanish.” “What’s the difference?”
This…this was not the book I was expecting. I really expected something more lighthearted and comedic given that it’s about a man who was kind of a boss during the zombie apocalypse and is therefore trying to re-start the apocalypse to get back the world in which he felt like he was most alive in. It’s not that book though. There is some serious social commentary going on in this book, which I did appreciate, but it definitely made the read heavier than I anticipated. I would still recommend it but definitely with the caveat of knowing what you’re getting yourself into when you read this. It isn’t lighthearted and it can be very depressing at times. If you enjoy zombie fiction, I would definitely recommend picking this up. It was different from any other zombie book I’ve read, and I definitely appreciated that.
Received via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
You know those guys who fantasize about the end of the world? The overly macho doomsday preppers who salivate at the very idea of civilization’s collapse? This book is what happens if they actually get their wish, but then we fix the world.
This is the story of a bunch of guys who hatch a plan to restart the zombie apocalypse because that’s when they felt most alive, doing what they were great at: mowing down the undead. It’s The Hurt Locker except with the walking dead. The book itself is well written, and I’m granting an extra star for the fresh concept. It’s not very often you get a new spin on a tired genre. The last time I found something unique in the zombie genre was XOM-B, which I can’t even describe without giving it away. Before that was Ex-Heroes (superheroes + zombies) and Monster Island (controlled zombies, with a twist). So yeah, bonus points for Adams coming up with a new wrinkle.
I also like how he frequently subverts the idea, and squeezes in commentary on the genre, yet the meta nature of that commentary never detracts from the tale. There is a bit of “be careful what you wish for, for you will surely get it,” but it’s layered with unexpected turns which are sometimes horrifying and sometimes humorous.
I recognize that this story is not for everyone, but I had a great time following Rip's journey! We encounter him two months after the end of a zombie epidemic, where he feels purposeless and longs to go back to the glory of decapitating zombies on a daily basis. Along with present day, we're treated to flashbacks from the apocalypse throughout the book, which is a device I adore in books. Rip is irreverent, self-deprecating and really an asshole- but there was something lovable about him. His longing for the community he found during the apocalypse was such refreshing to read and I believe is both a unique and realistic take on what would happen during such a catastrophe. This is my first experience reading Brock Adams, and I believe his second published book, but I so enjoyed his commentary on society and the extremes he takes his characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this ebook for review, all opinions are my own.
This book wasn't the best but it was good enough to keep me reading. I never read a thriller before this one and it was really interesting. Would I read it a second time? More than likely no. But for anyone who is a fan of the end of the world and zombies I recommend this one to you.
Humans won the war against the zombies within a few months and everything is getting back to normal. Cell phones, coffee, fast food, and for Rip, back to boring life as a customer service agent.
But during the apocalypse, Rip was the leader of a small group who had taken shelter in the Lazy River water park, because these zombies wouldn't cross water.
He wants that life back, no matter the cost.
Not too bad of a read, the back and forth between past and present were separated enough that it didn't give me whiplash. Blood, gore, guts, beheadings; it is a zombie story after all, and there was one 'adult' scene so this book isn't for readers under 16, as long as they're a mature 16.
There were referrals of our society, their addiction to coffee, fast food, cell phones/social media, video games, and of course the destruction of the environment. And how we went right back to those things as soon as we could, acting as if nothing happen.
Another warning for those extra sensitive people, this book did contain humor that some would be offended by, but it was humor between friends, not intended to be racist or anything like that, just humor between friends. There were other humorous parts, but not as many as I thought there would be, but there were times I 'snorted' or giggled. The author's portrayal was spot on, and seems as if not a fan of Trump, and (even though I'm not a fan) Grassely as the president who kicked ass, go Iowa!
This book is extremely well written, as befits its author, a college professor. (On a side note, apropos of nothing, he also appears to possess--in addition to prodigious writing skills--an absurdly high level of eye-candy appeal). Ahem. Anyhoo. Very original first-person recounting of the Zombocalypse. In this highly -saturated genre, it is particularly difficult for new additions to bring anything innovative to the Zombie Storyline, without sacrificing the tried and true tropes of existing zombie canon which make the genre so enjoyable to read in the first place. For example, I don't want to read a zombie book where the zombies aren't really zombies but ....surprise! They're aliens. Or, it's after the infection has been cured and now the former ex-humans have to deal with the aftermath of being "cured". Or whatever. Yawn. No thanks-I like my zombies slow or slow-ish, very dead, non-aware and hungry. This book? Check, check and check. It's a fresh adddition to the genre that manages to balance an original plotline while also sticking to the beloved basics--no mean feat. *************SPOILER ALERT*************** It is the narrator's (clearly sociopathic, but also endearingly relatable and funny. He's harmless enough--to the living, anyway....er, mostly) skewed perspective of--and his actions to follow in--the eventual worldwide "all-clear" of the living dead menace which makes the story told one you haven't heard before. If I had any qualms, its that the book wasn't longer. There was certainly plenty of space and room to expand in terms of backstory and further in-depth character development. (Davia! What is "Rip" short for-Ripley? Or is it a nickname?) Also some interesting supporting characters whose stories I would have liked to have seen more of unfold along the way (the Boss, Queen Walmart). But these are quibbles with things that AREN'T present in the material-I have zero issue with the content as written, only that there wasn't more of it still to read.
I listened to the audio version of Apocalypse Yesterday to participate in a Florida Book Club, and I really don’t think that this book furthered my understanding of Florida’s history, geography, or culture in any meaningful way. I can usually concentrate on audio while I am walking, but my mind often wandered as I heard the narrator talk about zombies, decapitations, and gory violence.
The protagonist, Rip, and a few others live in the Florida panhandle and have survived a zombie apocalypse. The story’s premise explains what happened before the world ended and whether zombies should be reintroduced. Rip carries his machete, named Santana, around as though he is in love with it and personifies it frequently. A woman, Davia, also has a special weapon, a poleaxe. There is much discussion about weapons, survival, and what the world has become.
Political statements made in the book satirize some of what happened during the 2020 pandemic, especially the responses of Trump. Rodney, a main character who is Black, represents some of the skepticism voiced by African Americans during the pandemic. However, I didn’t appreciate the violence associated with the political statements and characters. I found few parallels between the world changes in this book and the actual world changes resulting from the pandemic. I could not relate to the characters or the events, and it was not a good read for me. For my other book reviews and the genres I truly enjoy, see my blog at https://quipsandquotes.net/
I am an admitted fan of zombie stories, and nothing pleases me more than finding one that is truly original and fresh. Adams has delivered just that with this novel. The premise is so clever, we've won the zombie apocalypse and now people who were heroes in the zombie-ravaged world have to return to their nowhere minimum-wage jobs. The author employs a back-and-forth timeline structure that both delivers an exciting zombie story and this very thoughtful tale of people struggling with the knowledge that their golden years are behind them. The characters are colorful and compelling, and the pain they feel is quite authentic, really grounding this story in a relatable human reality. Adams has outdone himself here
It was an interesting idea: what happens after the Apocalypse has happened and you have survived. According to this book it turns back to, relatively, normal. The products mostly come from new Russia who have reaped the benefits of years of practice fighting zombies (who knew they are buried under the ice in northern Siberia? Adds an extra edge to the global warming threat doesn't it?) This was a fun book to read, didn't take me too long and, like I said, the idea is kind of different than most zombie apocalypse books. It tells you about Rip, a survivor from the apocalypse who after 3 months living with the thrill of killing and leading a group of people is now back in his mindnumbing callcenter job and secretly longs back to that time and the Russian woman he fell in love with.
The books switches between then and the events now, which makes the contrast between the feeling of being alive while in survival mode and being stuck in a dead end job all the while feeling like your life is just passing by even bigger. Blood and gore are often mentioned and the writing style is crisp and to the point. For some reason it feels more like a guy book, but as a woman I had fun with it too and I really liked the slightly different approach this time so if you enjoy a zombie apocalypse book every once in a while you might want to look into this one.
***An ARC was provided Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ***
It's the first time I've ever read a zombie novel that takes this tack; the humans win. (This isn't a spoiler, it's right there in the summary.) I've never read a novel where the zombies are defeated.
Written in two time periods, this book covers the outbreak, skims loosely over the actual fighting, and covers Rip's desolation afterwards, when things are back to 'normal'. He's suffering a type of PTSD, desperately missing the straightforwardness of life during the outbreak - fight, scavange, kill or be killed - and it drives him towards an unthinkable decision.
I didn't like him, but I don't think I was supposed to. I very much enjoyed the read, although the time skipping was a bit confusing at first. Although each chapter is labeled with it's time period, there are times in the 'current' chapters when he would think about the past for a couple of pages, which always threw me a little bit.
It's a fascinating read and a really interesting concept - how do you go back to normal after something as massive as that? Sadly, I don't feel like Rip was the right character to explore it with, but I did really enjoy the read anyway. I'd love to see more books about other characters in the same situation; there's lots of throwaway bits of background, lots to explore in future novels.
It's the first time I've ever read a zombie novel that takes this tack; the humans win. (This isn't a spoiler, it's right there in the summary.) I've never read a novel where the zombies are defeated.
Written in two time periods, this book covers the outbreak, skims loosely over the actual fighting, and covers Rip's desolation afterwards, when things are back to 'normal'. He's suffering a type of PTSD, desperately missing the straightforwardness of life during the outbreak - fight, scavange, kill or be killed - and it drives him towards an unthinkable decision.
I didn't like him, but I don't think I was supposed to. I very much enjoyed the read, although the time skipping was a bit confusing at first. Although each chapter is labeled with it's time period, there are times in the 'current' chapters when he would think about the past for a couple of pages, which always threw me a little bit.
It's a fascinating read and a really interesting concept - how do you go back to normal after something as massive as that? Sadly, I don't feel like Rip was the right character to explore it with, but I did really enjoy the read anyway. I'd love to see more books about other characters in the same situation; there's lots of throwaway bits of background, lots to explore in future novels.
Seven months ago, the zombie apocalypse became reality, and call center employee Rip adapted to the chaos well and became the leader of a group of survivors riding out doomsday in a local water park. Two months ago, the U.S. military and other militaries around the world developed a strategy that effectively ending the worldwide outbreak and now Rip finds himself back at the call center again and missing the freedom and excitement the apocalypse provided, not to mention the attractive Russian woman who became his lover. If there were only some way of recapturing everything that he’d lost…
The post-apocalyptic world of this book reminds me a bit of the post-lockdown world we live in right now because of supply chain issues and merchandise shortages. It was published in 2020, so it had to have been written in the pre-pandemic era. I liked the voice of the main character and enjoyed some of the comedic touches (especially the end of President-turned-zombie Trump).
I gave Apocalypse Yesterday four stars on Goodreads. It was super fast-paced, with a lot of action.
Apocalypse Yesterday is a fun, yet frustrating novel that looks at the aftermath of zombie outbreak through the eyes of Rip, a customer service representative who begins to reminisce about his time during the outbreak. Brock Adams' premise is fascinating; he's clearly spent the time thinking what could and would happen in the event of a zombie-like situation. However, Adam's descriptions tend to run wordy, with long comparisons and metaphors dragging down shorter scenes and filling pages with exposition. I enjoyed Apocalypse Yesterday and finished it in a day, but felt it could have been sharper and either shorter or more fleshed out with plot.
This was a really unique zombie book. The premise is ridiculous and I went into it expecting a lighthearted comedy, but it was actually a pretty dark and not totally unrealistic take of how people might react to that kind of event, made all the more entertaining by the fact that it was published in the midst of the pandemic. There was nothing that really stood out and made it a great novel, but it was a fun read!
Unlike most zombie stories, this book uses them as a backdrop, not the main storyline. The story starts after rather slow and I felt the characters seemed rather shallow. I did enjoy the wife's reaction to the execution, this was well written. It is a good zombie story and worth reading. The storyline is light and easy to read.
This is a really creative approach to the zombie/apocalypse narrative, focusing on a character who thrived in the end of the world and when life returns to normal, yearns for the end of the world. The audiobook, read with the perfect gravelly voice, really takes it up a notch. Yeah, it's a little kitschy, a little bit redneck, but all kinds of good.
I loved the writing and the premise. I was waiting for a big finish but, sadly, it never came. Sort of like mediocre sex that starts out good... you’re not sad you did it, but you do wish it had ended better.
Despite that, I whipped through this book in a day and wanted more, more, more. Everything (except the ending) delighted me and have already suggested it to other people.
The characters and setting are delightful but the ending was seriously lacking. Still, happy to read this author again.
While the premise holds promise, the main character stating “I look cool as f***.” sums up his unlikable nature and irredeemable qualities all too well. Even if you’re a fan of zombies, you’re likely better of skipping this one.
This was a nice surprise & the audio version paired well. I don’t often see a lot of fiction focused on the aftermath of zombie outbreaks & paired with the office drudgery, made for a fun read. I’d pick up another story by Adams 😄🧟♀️🔪
This book is good fun, full of post-post apocalypse blues and midlife crises. The protagonist is back in his pre zombie apocalypse job in a call center, still carrying his matchete and longing for the good old days of Zombie killing, and simpler life. The author has a good eye for the comic side of the zombie outbreak and there is a bit of sharp social commentary in between zombie killings.
Four stars not for the reading experience, but because of the way it captures the mood of the current age quite apart from the zombies. This might be the most Gen Y-Millennial novel I've ever read.
When I heard the concept of a book taking place after the zombie apocalypse I was really excited. Rip works in a call center, and it having a hard time coming to terms with life being back to normal, after being a badass with an ax killing zombies. I was ready for psychological turmoil and rebuilding, but what I got is a man trying to restart the apocalypse. Really? While I loved the humor and brutal cynicism, I didn't think anyone would be dumb enough to restart the apocalypse so he can get his glory days back. Disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I feel like I'm not really sure what to say about this book because I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. In fact, I didn't have any feelings at all about it other than 'meh'. Apocalypse Yesterday takes part after the zompoc has happened (the hint is in the title) and the humans have won. Life is getting back to normal which is great! Right? Erm.... well not for 'Rip'. During the apocalypse he was a bad ass, zombie killing, gang leader but now he's...... a call centre worker! So it's understandable that Rip would want to go back to the good old times. He convinces his mates to help him to steal a zombie from a government facility so that it can be released into public and the apocalypse can start again. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters, not one of them was likeable and the plot was ridiculous. At one point Rip and his mates were sat around in a bar reminiscing about when they were cool zombie killers and they literally sounded like a bunch of douche bags bragging, making up stories to impress each other, and encouraging each other with idiot ideas whilst getting wasted. I feel like there's a very specific audience for the book rather than it being for any zompoc fan. It has to be a reader that finds those kind of stupid characters entertaining and has the ability to completely go along with a silly plot. It just ended up being an average read for me unfortunately. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.