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 🫶🏾

Such a great read! I loved it! World-ending vibes, mixed with a royal romance. Yes please! I will definitely be ordering this one for my high school library!

This book is so good!! I need the sequel asap, the cliffhanger ruined me. Honestly this book went above and beyond my expectations! so didn’t expect to love it so much! Read it ASAP!!

Well.this was a roller coaster of a ride! For a book that takes place at the end of the world and also deals with mental health it was actually a very fun read. I loved the adventure and mishaps Wren and Theo go through to get Wren home to see her family, I loved the inclusion of Comet the rescue dog, and I loved the ending, despite it being a cliffhanger. I really want to backpack through Europe now too so I can also potentially meet a hot prince ;)

I raced through The Prince & The Apocalypse like Wren and Theo raced across Europe. I could not put this book down—I had to know what happened next.

After an unexpected encounter with Prince Theo outside a pub, Wren helps the prince flee from his fans and the paparazzi in London, but misses her flight to the United States—and then learns there are no other flights available because a comet will hit Earth in 8 days. Theo and Wren embark on an epic road trip to Santorini, where his family keeps a private plane. But how do you hide the missing crown prince while you are dashing from London to Paris and beyond using public transportation? And what if you can’t get home before the end of the world?

Along the way, Wren and Theo overcome obstacles and encounter a range of characters facing the apocalypse in different ways. There is terrific banter, humor, friendship, and a blossoming romance. The author skillfully balances keeping the timeline tense and the story fun to read.

This is the first book I have read by Kara McDowell but it will not be my last. It is labeled as YA but I think it has broad appeal. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the advance copy – I enjoyed every minute I spent with Wren and Theo.