Manflu

by Simone de Muñoz

Following a global pandemic, which has either killed or weakened most of the male population, women now dominate all aspects of life.

Dr. Morgan Digby, married to a man rendered bedbound from his bout with manflu a decade prior, is working tirelessly on a vaccine, yet obstacles keep springing up in her path.

When she meets a handsome neighbor who has never been exposed to the deadly virus, things become…complicated. There’s something between them, but he can’t leave his home.

Morgan’s struggle to remain faithful to her ailing husband isn’t her only battle. Someone has been one step ahead of her, countering her every move. Will she find a vaccine before it’s too late to protect those she loves?

Genres: Thriller

285 pages, Paperback

Published March 5, 2021

About the author

Simone de Muñoz writes dystopian, or perhaps utopian, fiction, depending on your perspective, where women drive the story and sometimes even run the world. She holds a master’s degree in public policy from UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in economics from MIT, which she uses in her day job as a data analyst at a nonprofit. Based in Silicon Valley, she lives with her patient husband, their two young sons, and a grumpy dog named Fish. Manflu is her debut novel.

Contact Simone if you would like her to join your book club discussion of Manflu on Instagram @simonedemunoz.

Reviews

[Ninna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was terrible. An interesting concept that read like it was written by a 10 year old. A daytime soap has more intrigue, depth and understanding than this. Name any aspect of a book and it was done badly here. Awful.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author knows how to tell a story! Compelling, exciting novel.

[Gaby Oakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful debut by Simone de Muñoz! I loved how different and creative the plot is! The book is very thought provoking and had me thinking about what I would do if I was the main character, really testing my moral standards. Even though I think the story could've been a bit more thrilling and suspenseful, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it! The chapters are short and easy to read. This is a great book to pick up if you're looking for something different and fast to read! Also, what better time to read about a "fictional pandemic" than during an actual pandemic! I'm looking forward to reading more from Simone de Muñoz !
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[Poptart19 (the name’s ren) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

Interesting premise, mediocre execution. Heavy handed prose & clichéd futuristic world building made it hard to fully engage with the story. Many (imo unhelpful) assumptions about gender are baked into the narrative, & there’s little space left for the reader to ponder what might or might not change if the male population was suddenly decimated by disease. An unsatisfying ending makes this a book I cannot recommend.

[What I liked:]

•It was interesting to read a speculative novel about a pandemic during a pandemic. There were definitely things I could sympathize with the characters about, like social distancing & the push for a vaccine.

•Jonas & Morgan had a really touching relationship. I enjoyed their scenes together.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Clunky, heavy handed prose, & lots of info dumping that intrudes on the narrative.

•I don’t really like how society suddenly became some kind of utopia with women running everything. Don’t get me wrong, I believe the future is female & things could get better for ALL genders without the patriarchy, but women can definitely be corrupt, greedy, & cold-hearted b*stards, just like anybody. This part of the premise really lacks nuance, & the book suffers for it. (Some women are eventually revealed to be evil, but I still think the premise went to far on this.)

•The last thing I want to read in a novel about a pandemic is a giant government conspiracy to infect citizens. I’m so so sick of effing conspiracy theories. Also the reasons behind the conspiracy weren’t very convincing to me.

•This books treats gender in a very binary way, & conflates gender with biological sex. Not that gender has to be a focus of the story, but I thought it odd that in a book that centers on a virus that affects men & women differently there was no nuance on this subject. Wouldn’t a vaccine research scientist think in terms of X & Y chromosomes instead of gender identity when looking at how biological sex affects immunity?

•I also dislike a lot of assumptions the book makes about women—like most women no longer care about their appearances & just wear pyjamas to work because there are no men to impress; what happened to liking fashion, or dressing to please yourself because you like looking sharp? The perspective honestly doesn’t feel very woman-centric.

•I really dislike the ending. There was a lot that could have been explored between Morgan, Nate, & Jonas, but that got swept under the rug. What happened with Nate at the end felt like a cop out. There was no emotional resolution. Also, why Patty’s book? Why not just move to Europe & do their research there?

CW: infidelity (sort of...one partner gave the other permission to open the relationship, but she kept it a secret when she found a new sex partner, & called her own actions “cheating”)

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

[Sue King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a book about a virus that targets men be fun?

Yes, it can. Based in a future with self-driving cars and disinfecting showers outside everyone's homes, the story revolves around Morgan, a researcher who is developing a vaccine against the man flu. There is mystery and friendship and intrigue rolled into this debt novel.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved MANFLU. Could not put it down. The characters were sympathetic and we'll developed. Their back stories seemed real and were clearly written. Couldn't wait until the end in order to find out what happens. Great book, outstanding author. Looking forward to reading more novels by Simone de Munoz. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manflu is a book that feels very relevant to today's time, although it's much, much different. While it does involve a pandemic, only men are affected by the virus in a way that basically puts them out of commission...for pretty much the rest of their lives. And while the thought of something called Manflu might seem silly, the disease in this book is extremely debilitating and awful.
The story follows Dr. Morgan, a woman married to a man affected by Manflu. She's a scientist working to create a vaccine that will help men get back out into the world without worrying about dying from such a terrible disease.
Unfortunately for Morgan, there's corruption, lies, secrets, and sabotage abound. It seems like some women aren't happy with the idea of a vaccine, and they'll stop at nothing to keep the world free of men.
Add in a one-night stand with a much younger man and a surprise pregnancy, and Morgan is seemingly in over her head. Will she succeed in her goals to create a vaccine, or will the sabotage prove to me too much?
I rather enjoyed this story. It's definitely tense at times, and it makes you wonder just what a world without capable, able-bodied men would really be like.
I liked Morgan. She was determined and laser-focused. She cherished her husband, and all she wanted was a world where he could live his life as normally as possible again. And even though she had a one-night stand with his permission and got pregnant, they both were able to come to terms with it and find a way to make it work.
I also liked Gena and her partner Pam. They seemed like good people. Even Gavin surprised me. The one person I had high hopes for, but who ended up disappointing me, was Nate.
The story is fast-paced and exciting, and fans of thrillers will definitely want to check this one out.
4.5 stars!

[Sneha's Thriller Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohh wow! What an amazing debut! I am so happy that I got an opportunity to read this brilliant novel. It's well-written, emotional and fast-paced. This novel is extremely thought-provoking. It's not every day that you get to read novels where women rule the world(in the future) without men. Yes,that's right. You may have read the synopsis and understood by now what the story is about. But trust me, it's so much more.

What I liked:
✔️ Easy and lucid language
✔️Short, well-written chapters
✔️ Emotional ( I went on crying for 10 mins when a character died😭)
✔️ Immensely thought-provoking

What I didn't like:
❌ I thought the ending could do better
❌There could've been a bit more suspense in the story

Nevertheless, this is a must read for everybody. It's quick and very easy to read. I loved it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

[Helen Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was slightly sceptical about whether I’d like this, based on the title, as it seemed either slightly inappropriate or very tongue in cheek but I’m really glad I gave it a go. I continued my scepticism through the first few chapters as I found it a little too unbelievable but thereafter I totally turned a corner and found it fascinating and compelling reading.
The topic is very current and relevant as it draws many parallels with corona virus but with some ingenious and inventive quirks which are very thought provoking. The characters are very likeable and engaging and I definitely felt I was empathising and wondering what I’d do in their situations.
The pace of the story is enjoyably quick, I loved the ending but was also sorry to have finished it. Recommend.

[Wendy Hall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this to fulfill a prompt in the 2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge (a book about or set in a non patriarchal society). The premise is intriguing and some of the author’s choices for changes in society as a result of women being in charge / most men being out of the picture were interesting. However, I thought it was terribly written, couldn’t get into the writing style at all.

[julie young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A topic scarily relevant in the middle of a world pandemic!! When those purporting to be working towards finding a cure for a virus which is decimating the male species are discovered to be going in a very different direction. The race is on for someone to stop them carrying out their devastating plan. A very thought-provoking read.

[Judy Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this book through a giveaway that Simone did.
Thank you so much for giving me the chance to read your book. It was exhilarating, wasn't expecting all the exciting things that happened in every chapter. Couldn't wait to pick the book up once I put it down.
It was that good!
Gives you something to think about with everything that is happening in the world today.
Highly recommend reading Manflu!

[Carrie Shaked · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast and fun read

I loved the plot and found the book hard to put down. Imagining a world run by women was both joyous and heartbreaking at times as we discover the corrupting cruelty of power.

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Precisely the best way to reveal everything regarding how I felt about this book with: Plot, theme, characters, etc. All in all, I was genuinely captivated by the author's story and sincerely recognize the book was indeed a definite grand slam.

There are secrets, lies, twists, and moral quandaries sprinkled throughout so it never gets tiresome. She even includes a great deal of accurate science and medical knowledge so she has done her homework!

[Beccy Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting idea for a story, a world where women are on top in literally every area.
Good characters a nice romantic plot twist, some will they won’t they moments
A solid read

[Carol Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did wonder whether the book was a bit sarcastic at the illness men call manflu but I am happy to say it is a very serious book and well written so I was surprised that this was a debut book.
Dr Morgan Digby was a working scientist trying to find a cure for the pandemic that has hit the male population of the world. She is married to Jonas but he is confined to the house as he is ill with Manflu , this only affects men and she has to be careful not to take any germs in to him as this would lead to him dying early of the virus. All men are likely to get the virus and it will kill them unless a cure if found but it seems not everyone wants a cure available.
When things keep getting in the way of her and Sarah's research but is it intentional or just coincidence. ? When will it end and will there ever be back to normality and have the male population in the workplace again, maybe some think the world is better without them!.
I really enjoyed the book and would love to read more from this author.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A virus has swept over the world only affecting men. In its wake it either leaves men dead or weakened while women are not affected. As time went on women have taken over running the world while the surviving men have to live in quarantine.

Dr. Morgan Digby is working tirelessly to find a vaccine. She is working herself ragged and being shot down around every corner. The closer she comes to having a working vaccine her funding is taken away for one reason or another. Is someone trying to sabotage her work keeping her from finding a vaccine? If so who would want to do such a thing and why? What are their motives behind everything?

With everything that is going on in the world today Manflu makes you stop and think more heavily about what is happening. Manflu is very similar in lots of ways to the situation we find ourselves in today. I wonder how close our reality is to Manflu? Manflu is a wonderful story that makes you stop and think a lot.

Manflu kept me glued to the page from the very beginning. I was hooked from the summary. Once I picked it up there was no way I was going to put it down until I had read the last page. Manflu is one of the most thrilling and intriguing reads I believe I have ever read. I will take Manflu with me tucked away in a corner of my mind to bring forward from time to time to relive Morgan’s story over and over.

The world-building was so amazing and brilliantly written coming alive right on the page. The characters had a role to play and they played it amazingly well. Manflu would make one of the best TV shows ever! I can’t wait to read more books by Simone de Muñoz in the future.

I highly recommend Manflu to everyone looking for their next great read! You can’t go wrong with Manflu. So one-click your copy of Manflu today!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon de Muñoz's debut novel is a compelling read about a world where women have taken the lead due to the Manflu that decimates men. The story is about Dr. Morgan Digby who is proactively working toward a vaccine.

Her every step toward progress is hindered by sinister attempts to subvert her advances. Due to the loss of men, women face a shortage of diversity in the workplace and a crisis in the world's population. Who could be behind what appears to be an attempt to stop men from ever having a place on the world's stage?

The extrinsic struggle that Dr. Digby faces is equally met with her intrinsic struggle with her desire to be faithful to her husband and a neighbor. Will these men be a driving force in her goal to produce a viable vaccine and save men from Manflu or lead to her ultimate ruin and men's demise? You'll have to read to find out.

I enjoyed this book's innovation toward a topic that has garnered attention and many laughs. Although the thought of an epidemic that targets the Y-chromosome is no laughing matter, I cannot help but to wonder myself would the world's leaders be any different if they were all women? This thought provoking novel was such delightful read!

[Jenny Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Manflu
Author: Simone de Munoz

I have often wondered what a world without men would be like and I expected the story to move more along these lines rather than focusing on developing the vaccine.

The storyline moved quickly and grabbed my attention while reading and I liked the near futuristic ideas such as self-driving cars although I would have liked it better if the main character had more backbone.

I received a copy of Manflu for an unbiased review through a Facebook group called The Book Club.

An enjoyable read ***

[Joe J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting concept where the author took the times were are living with during the pandemic and goes a step further and imagines what it would be like if the illness affected and killed men making females the only species that could and did survive. A lot of interesting questions were raised. You can tell the author is relatively new and inexperienced and she will definitely get better at letting dialog tell the story instead of describing every detail, but overall I enjoyed and thought it was a very promising effort and creative.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morgan is fighting to develop a vaccine in a world where women now dominate society due to a disease that has decimated the male population called Manflu. Her husband Jonas survived, but is weak and housebound. Will her friend’s nephew tempt her from her husband and the straight and narrow? Will she get the vaccine developed in time? And who can she actually trust?

A decent read, I enjoyed the story line and the vision of the world being run by women! The writing style was easy to follow, and I finished this in a few days.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Manflu.

[Kry Tiger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Morgan Digby spends her days working on a vaccine that has render every man on earth either weakened or dead. With a husband who is bedridden and a cute new neighbor who entices a certain itch that’s rarely scratched, Morgan finds her life way past complicated. One day, her entire life changes. Morgan will do anything to keep her loved ones safe.

This was a unique concept and I rather enjoyed it. It was different from a lot of pandemic storylines. A few twists along the way, and you’ll find yourself waiting for the end.

[KimE Degnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!

I started this novel because the author and I attended the same graduate school. Then, I had so much fun with her ideas, characters, and story that I couldn't put it down!
This author's plot lines and twists are flawless. No nagging loose details or badly executed elements. Please write more books! Soon!

[arity · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hilarious premise in light of today's obsession with genders. Unfortunately storytelling and language is very primitive. It's almost like reading a diary of a highschooler. Still, it was amusing to see how author sees world with few men.

[Simone Muñoz]

Manflu is my debut novel about a world after a pandemic that has killed or weakend men, leaving women in charge. It's a timely thriller with a strong female lead. There is friendship, sex, and suspense. I hope you enjoy it!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manflu by Simon De Monflo.
This was a really enjoyable read. Very fast pasted which is what I like. The chapters were short and easy which is what I like. I don't like long chapters. I was surprised this was a debut for Simon. Will be looking forward to reading more from this author 5*.

[Leslie Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much! It’s strange to think about a book about a pandemic as fun, especially when you’re in the middle of an actual pandemic. But Manflu is very well-written, and the characters are compelling. I especially loved the romance factor. This is one story you won’t want to miss!

[Autumn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great concept, but very poor writing skills. Disappointing.

[Emily Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The world-building was great, but the plot was predictable, and the ending stunk.

[Jaime Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

Relevant for today's life and boy oh boy does it make ya think!?!? I enjoyed the book just felt the dialogue was a bit stiff & unrealistic.