The Prince & The Apocalypse by Kara McDowell is a delightful high-stakes rom-com that will have you laughing, crying, and rooting for the two main characters, Wren and Theo. It is a perfect book for fans of rom-coms, contemporary fiction, and young adult literature.
Wren is an American teen who is stranded in London when her flight home is cancelled due to a comet that is approaching Earth. She meets Theo, the British crown prince, who is also stranded in London and trying to get home to his family. The two of them team up to travel across Europe together, and along the way, they fall in love.
The book is full of humor, heart, and adventure. Wren and Theo are both relatable characters who are dealing with their own personal struggles.
The Prince & The Apocalypse is different from other books in the same young-adult rom-com area in a few ways. First, it is a rom-com that takes place in the context of an impending apocalypse. This gives the book a unique sense of urgency and excitement. Second, the characters in The Prince & The Apocalypse are very relatable. Wren is an ordinary girl who is thrust into an extraordinary situation, and Theo is a prince who is trying to find his way in the world. Both characters are struggling with their own personal demons, and both are surprisingly relatable even though one is a Prince.

Some of the things I personally enjoyed:
The characters are well-developed and relatable.
The plot is fast-paced and exciting.
The humor is witty and clever.
The romance is sweet and heartwarming.

Here are some of the things I didn't like as much:
The ending was a bit rushed.
Some of the plot points were a bit predictable.

Anyone who enjoys rom-coms, contemporary fiction, or young adult literature should pick up a copy of The Prince & The Apocalypse. It is a heartwarming story about love, friendship, and finding your place in the world.

Thank you Wednesday Books for my copy of The Prince and the Apocalypse! All thoughts are my own.

I love a good royal fiction trope but sometimes they can get repetitive. Heir and space? We’ve seen it. Girl finds out her absent father is actually the prince of a far off nation? It’s been done. But girl has miserable time on study abroad so she goes for one last ditch effort to make her trip special and ends up running into a mysterious boy right before the world is about to end and he turns out of the the Prince of England? GIMME THAT!

I loved how original this idea was. I loved that it was fun and fast paced while also balancing some harder topics like growing up and mental health. This book is a journey and SO fun. It’s a mature YA, so the characters are eighteen and I love love loved it!

Synopsis:

“Wren Wheeler has flown five thousand miles across the ocean to discover she’s the worst kind of traveler: the kind who just wants to go home. Her senior-year trip to London was supposed to be life-changing, but by the last day, Wren’s perfectly-planned itinerary is in tatters. There's only one item left to check off: breakfast at The World’s End restaurant. The one thing she can still get right.The restaurant is closed for renovations—of course—but there's a boy there, too. A very cute boy with a posh British accent who looks remarkably like the errant Prince Theo, on the run from the palace and his controlling mother. When Wren helps him escape a pack of tourists, the Prince scribbles down his number and offers her one favor in return. She doesn’t plan to take him up on it—until she gets to the airport and sees cancelled flights and chaos. A comet is approaching Earth, and the world is ending in eight days. Suddenly, that favor could be her only chance to get home to her family before the end of the world.Wren strikes a bargain with the runaway prince: if she’ll be his bodyguard from London to his family’s compound in Santorini, he can charter her a private jet home in time to say goodbye. Traveling through Europe by boat, train, and accidentally stolen automobile, Wren finds herself drawn to the dryly sarcastic, surprisingly vulnerable Theo. But the Prince has his own agenda, one that could derail both their plans. When life as they know it will be over in days, is it possible to find a happy ending?” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Concept—It’s fresh and original and so flipping fun.

The Pacing—I flew through this book! Perfect chapter lengths, perfect stakes, perfect length.

The Banter—Top notch. I heart Wren and Theo.

What Didn’t Work:

60-80% Dragged a Bit—This part dragged a bit because I was getting impatient for what was going to happen with the freaking meteor!

But, makes sense because we were being set up for a cliffhanger!

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: N/A Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Content Warnings:

clinical depression, mental health, ableist language, suicidal thoughts, injury

3.5 stars
This book was ridiculous and cheesy and frightening all at the same time! I didn’t want to put it down because I simply had to know whether or not the world would actually end. The book played up the stress very well. The romance was sweet, even if it was a little cliche. The only problem really was that the characters didn’t have very developed personalities—it was hard to connect with them and I think the author should’ve gone deeper with their characterization. Otherwise, I yelped at the end and really want more because I wasn't expecting that!

Also, if you love tropes this has got: hidden royalty, only one bed, last night alive.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-arc!

Cringey conversations, making it difficult to get through! The cover was what initially drew me in but the writing was pretty simple.

This is the first book I read by Kara McDowell and I can say I am definitely hooked on her books. I finished this story in one day that is how Amazing it was. Once you start this adventure you won’t be able to stop till the last chapter. Wren and Theo are two characters you’ll fall in love with from the start. The only downside for me is it ended too soon. I needed more Wren and Theo. Please please please write a sequel to this book. I need to know what happens to these two. Their story is far from over and I want a happy ending.

This is a book that I think I would prefer as a movie. I hardly ever make that statement, because 999 times out of 1000, I much prefer the narration and nuance of books–knowing what characters are thinking and feeling on a more intimate level than you can convey in movies without cheesy voice-over. But this road trip, end of the world book would have been fun as a movie. As a book, something just didn't quite hit right.

(For the record, I am aware that this is a YA book and I am above the YA age range. So take that disclaimer in my rating.)

It was a fun book and it was definitely interesting to think about how quickly the world and priorities would change if we were told a world-ending comet was going to hit Earth in 7 days. Things we take for granted that other people do for us (like fly airplanes) would come to a grinding halt.

The tropes that were covered in the book just felt a little tired: a character who dislikes royalty and what it stands for, a reluctant prince with secrets, the "therapy is important" conversation (as I've said in previous reviews, I'm a fan of therapy and think it needs to be destigmatized, for sure. I just don't like it as a plot point in every book I read), favorite child, parents disliking each other.

If half stars were possible, I would give a bonus half star for everything that happened in Greece because I laughed out loud and loved every minute of it (also would have been a favorite part of aforementioned movie. Netflix, are you listening?)

Overall, I did enjoy the book, but it wasn't anything special and not anything I will be recommending to friends,. However, it did end on a cliffhanger and I will be reading the sequel to find out what happens.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

The Prince and The Apocalypse by @karajmcdowellbooks was so enjoyable!
Can you imagine finding out the world was going to end and the person you’re spending it with is the crown prince of England???
It was definitely a fun read!
I got to read this early, thanks to @netgalley, but you can get it on July 11!
#ilovetoread #advancedreaderscopy

This was honestly such a fun read! I really enjoyed the twists in Wren and Theo's adventure through Europe and the premise of the book was so interesting. That ending was really something :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the copy in exchange for a review.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought that it might be a predicable love story about the end of the world. It was predicable in some ways but it defiantly caught me by surprise more than once! This was adorable and I loved every minute of it! This had me laughing out loud a few times. These two characters bounced their wit and sarcasm off each other so well!

💭 My Thoughts: I loved this book so much, except for the meanest cliffhanger I have ever experienced. I cannot wait to see if there is another book or not...although there better be! I loved Wren and Prince Theo. I loved the idea of the apocalypse pushing them together. The setting allowed them to be put into some crazy scenarios and situations. And....GREECE?! Loved it.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book trhough NetGalley and Wednesday Books. Thank you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
🌶️ / 5

How can a book be this good?
I have absolutely no words to describe how amazing it is. It‘s such a rollercoaster of emotions.
And the cliffhanger at the end just killed me!
Pleeeaaassseee let there be a second book

I don‘t want to spoil the book in any way, I was not prepared for everything that happened!
It‘s SO worth to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an arc of this book.

Great characters and story. Fun royal romance without all the over the top drama! Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

*ARC provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review*

Excuse me while my blushed face screams into a pillow over the ending of this book…. MCDOWELL I NEED ANSWERS or at least a short story epilogue please. My face hasn’t been this red in YEARS (Gosh, I sound like a stale aunt). But seriously so good.

The story was enjoyable and kept me on the edge of my seat. I adored the characters between their personalities and fears. It did a great job of showcasing how people act differently when they know their life is on the line. RIP to the pie. I also heavily found myself invested in the main character cause I over-plan for trips too.

Not gonna lie, I was really scared that “World’s End” was going to be the apocalypse reference but then a meteor big enough to eradicate dinosaurs (& the human race 💅) appeared! So no fears it is a genuine apocalypse.

Overall, I mentally don’t think I can recover from this book, so just please read it for yourself.

Absolutely loved this book! I loved the story and the characters. The book was just all around cute and really good

First of all, thank you to Kara McDowell and Netgalley for giving me a change to read an advanced copy of this book. The minute I saw the description, I knew I had to read it!
Once I started this book, I was absolutely hooked and couldn't stop reading it until there was nothing left, but the need for a sequel! This book did not disappoint at all. Wren and Theo's chemistry throughout the book showed they were a great match. I think a lot of little girls used to dream about meeting and falling in love with a prince, and this was a more fun and unique way of the two of them meeting and falling in love. I desperately hope a sequel is planned, and I can't wait to read that one too.

What a FUN story! It does hit on deeper themes of mental health and who we are/the lives we want to live but McDowell handles it so well. The balance between banter, adventure, living life to the fullest, romance, and mental health is so well done.

The adventure that Wren and Theo finds themselves on takes you through Europe and there are so many entertaining antics that ensue. Wren struggles with not having a detailed plan and Theo struggles with having his life laid out before him. As Wren tries to make her way home, Theo is running away. Together they race across Europe to get to their destinations before the end of the world in 8 days. They run from police, they get stranded in the Mediterranean, and so much more but I won't give it away. It gets a little ridiculous about 2/3 of the way in, but in the best way.

The book is a really fun read. As mentioned, there are deeper themes explored through the story but overall it's a fun, light rom-com and I loved it. After the last chapter I was content with the story. After the Epilogue, I NEED more Wren and Theo in my life and hope this isn't the end of their story.

Thank you @Netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for the ARC

This book was so much fun!! I really enjoyed the characters and felt that the story was truly unique. It had a great balance of adventure and heartfelt conversations as well as a propulsive plot. I hadn't read a unique Young Adult book like this in a long time and it felt like I was in such good hands and completely along for the ride. I was interested until the very last page and loved all the little twists. I will recommend this to my students who want an adventure plot line with some depth and cute romance!

Wow, I absolutely loved this book! It was one of those books that captured me from the very first page and was so hard to put down, even when it was well past my bedtime, and I was losing sleep. The book flowed beautifully and kept me captivated until the end. Who knew a book about the apocalypse could feel so… fun? There’s action, adventure, romance and a dash of comedy that feels like the perfect combination. And this book filled me with emotions that I could feel long after finishing the last page. I think anyone who likes young adult romance will enjoy this book.

The story follows the perspective of Wren Wheeler, the girl who always had a plan until it all fell apart during her senior trip to London. By chance she meets the (fictional) crown prince of the UK, and when she misses her flight back to the US amidst an impending apocalypse, she asks for his help to get back home to Chicago. It’s quite an adventure from there as the two travel across Europe together. I really enjoyed the pairing of these two characters who seemed so different from each other at first but ultimately brought out the best in each other. The story felt so real and really made me feel. I was so sad for this book to end, and it didn’t end quite the way I would have liked, but… well, I don’t want to give anything away, so you’ll just have to find out on your own.

The Prince & the Apocalypse was my first book to read by Kara McDowell, but I would love to read more of her books in the future.

I received a free advance copy of this book through NetGalley. All of the opinions in this review are completely my own.

The world is ending. In 8 days, a comet will collide with the planet, causing an extinction level event. Teenager Wren finds herself stranded in London, away from her entire family back in America and is desperate to get back to them - something a chance meeting with the heir to the throne of the UK may help with ...

This is such a fun, heartbreaking book. It's a beautifully written girl-meets-prince romance overshadowed by a looming apocalypse - brilliantly unique and with one of my all time favourite endings. Definitely one I'd recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review

This book was amazing! It was giving me chasing liberty and first daughter vibes and I loved every second of it. But I will need to info on that ending because OMG!! I would also love to see this become a movie I think it would be amazing. Wren and Theo just had such amazing chemistry and banter they always left me wanting more. The writing was great and it really read like a movie always keeping me on the hook.

Will be posting a full review one the book is out!!

Thank you to Wednesday books for and ARC copy 🫶🏾