There were so many parts about this book I enjoyed but the ending really left me hanging, is there a part 2? Or I just get to imagine it in my head. I feel like there was so much traveling around and so many details but the end killed me!
I loved all the banter and crazy experiences they had trying to get Wren home, loved seeing their relationship develop but I would love to see just a little more closure in the epilogue

Kara McDowell has done it again! The Prince and the Apocalypse puts us in the passenger seat of a wild ride, during which we closely experience Wren's journey to find her way home.

Wren is in London on her senior trip. She is struggling with making plans for the person she thinks she is supposed to become vs. the person she wants to become. When she attempts a last ditch effort at making the best of her trip, she runs into the crowned prince of England, Prince Theo, who is having an identity crisis all his own.

With the end of the world imminent due to a comet strike, the two forge a plan to help each other get to where they want to be when the world ends. Their plan takes them on a wild ride throughout Europe during which they realize that place that they want to be might just be with each other.

It will take a reader with great willpower to stop reading at the end of each chapter; each chapter ends with a hint of the next edge-of-your-seat event on their journey, and you'll root for Wren and Theo with everything you've got.

I loved this book, and can't wait to put it in my classroom library!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

You know when you get a book and you think it'll just be this fun, exciting adventure that gets you to shut your brain off? This is exactly why I got this book from NetGalley - with all the scary stuff going on in my life, I just needed something to lose myself into. Though in hindsight, a book with Apocalypse in the title wasn't a great way to do that.

This book is surprisingly deep and heartwarming and I unexpectedly got myself sucked into it, laughing and screaming and crying right alongside the main characters. Wren is amazing - I'll be the first to admit she's annoying at times, tends to get too anxious, doesn't always make the right decisions, and I love her all the more for that. I saw a lot of who I was in high school in her, scared as fuck about where my life was going, feeling directionless and clinging to a made up plan just so I had it. Wren - I feel you. It's also no secret I like books about princes - hello, Red White and Royal Blue - and I was skeptical, but Theo absolutely managed to capture my heart as well. That boy is absolutely selfless, broken, and deserves the entire world, and yes I will be wrapping him in a burrito and hugging him for like, a long time if I get the chance. It was incredible to read about him and Wren finding this little bubble of happiness in the face of horrible odds and getting their moment, and I'll carry this book with me for a long, long time.

That ending though? Shame. Fucking SHAME on you. I need a sequel immediately.

I have read every single one of Kara's books before this one and this was no exception to her brilliance. A fun rom com dealing with hidden royalty, end of the world and more humor and irony than most!

A romance during an apocalypse? Yes please! The story of Wren and Theo is the romance many are familiar with but put in a very high stakes, high emotion setting which I think is very unique. The story was perfectly paced, filled with action and the cliff-hanger at the end ... well, there better be a second book because I need to know what happens!!!

I give it 4 stars because after all the build up, the comet is dealt with in 2 sentences and it's very anti climactic.

When I first heard about this book from Tiktok, I was immediately drawn in by the premise. A girl stuck in the middle of the Apocalypse with the prince of England? Count me in.

However, as early as chapter 2, I could tell this one wouldn’t be a favorite of mine. It was by no means horrible; it was a quick, light read I finished in a day. But there just wasn’t enough development for me. Firstly, Wren and Theo meet almost immediately. We hardly know anything about Wren and essentially the only thing we know about Theo is he exists. It’s mentioned that Wren had a miserable trip to England, but I would’ve liked to have seen more of that trip to fully sympathize with her and understand her as a character. From one single meeting, Theo is willing to do a huge favor for Wren. To me, this was more unrealistic than the entire plot of the book. And even as they spent more time together, I never fully felt like they got to know each other in depth, and there wasn’t much chemistry between them.

I also expected the end of the world to play a larger role in the story. There were a few instances that showed the overall panic the world was facing, but it was honestly easy to forget that the world was supposed to end in a week. It didn’t really seem to affect the plot that much. The stakes never felt high; it read like any other road-trip book. The ending felt especially rushed to me, and it seemed like the characters should have more lasting trauma by the end of the book, considering they all believe they’re about to die. I was also not a fan of the cliffhanger. It felt extremely random, and since this is advertised as a rom-com, the loose ends did not feel satisfactory at all. It felt rushed and inconclusive, like the author didn’t know how to end it.

This book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately for me, it fell flat.

The Prince & The Apocalypse by Kara McDowell is a fun and unique romantic comedy that will keep readers on their toes. Wren Wheeler is a senior-year student who is on a trip to London with high hopes for a life-changing experience. However, things don't go as planned, and by the end of the trip, she just wants to go home. The only thing left on her itinerary is breakfast at The World's End restaurant, but the restaurant is closed for renovations. However, Wren finds a boy there who looks remarkably like Prince Theo, who is on the run from the palace and his controlling mother.

As they escape from a pack of tourists, Prince Theo offers Wren a favor in return for her help. She doesn't plan on taking him up on it, but when a comet approaches Earth and the world is ending in eight days, that favor may be her only chance to get home to her family. The two strike a bargain, and Wren becomes the Prince's bodyguard on their journey to his family's compound in Santorini, where he can charter her a private jet home in time to say goodbye to her family before the end of the world.

The premise of the book is intriguing, and the dynamic between Wren and Theo is cute and engaging. The sarcastic humor throughout the book adds a unique touch to the story. However, the apocalypse situation felt pointless and did not add much action or adventure to the plot. The book also lacked the expected amount of comedy for a rom-com, which may disappoint some readers.

Additionally, some of the side characters fell flat, and some plot points felt forced. The ending was also a cliffhanger, which may leave some readers unsatisfied, especially since there are no plans for a sequel.

Overall, The Prince & The Apocalypse is a cute and entertaining read that is perfect for fans of romantic comedies. Despite its flaws, the book offers a unique premise and likable main characters that make for an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I enjoyed this book, I think the characters were well written and I was left guessing what would happen throughout most of the book. The story set during the last days before an asteroid strikes earth was certainly interesting to read, just hearing what everybody was saying and doing during that time. I won’t spoil what the ending was for people who haven’t read the book yet. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I am glad I picked this one up.

Chasing Liberty + Deep Impact = The Prince & The Apocalypse

I absolutely love natural disaster themed stories, and I jumped at the chance to read The Prince & The Apocalypse. And let me tell you, it didn't disappoint.

I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to read the book prior to release, but now I'm impatiently waiting for the sequel!

I absolutely LOVE wildly sarcastic hilarious main characters like this and this book was just so much fun! I laughed out loud so many times and there were points where I was giggling and kicking my feet up, just obsessed with the cuteness amidst the chaos.

I related a lot Wren because I too wish that I was more flexible and not always sticking to plans and lists and things. It kind of hurt seeing myself in this book at times (but in an eye opening good way lol). Hiding pain behind humor... so real of her!

Of course, I had London Boy stuck in my head throughout because Theo was adorable and also hilarious and also just needs a giant hug and seeing the two of them grow throughout the book made my heart so happy!

I genuinely loved this chaotic apocalyptic adventure and really loved that this dealt with feeling lonely and feeling like you're not good enough while also having hilarious banter and a bit of a romance meshed in! Truly so much fun and I'll definitely be recommending this to everyone!

SPOILERY:
I especially hope that the ending set up for possibly another book???? It would be too hilarious for THAT news to get out lol

4.25/5

Maybe it's because I have always loved early 2000s teen rom-coms, or maybe it's because I identify with that end of the world feeling, but I LOVED this story!

Starting off, we have Wren, a planner who aspires to not be the family disappoint, in London on a school trip. She arrives at World's End to check off an itinerary goal, but finds herself suddenly on an adventure with a prince hiding from the paparazzi. Prince Theo derails her final attempt at following her perfect London plan and she ends up late for her flight. Which would have been fine, if it didn't turn out there were only 8 days left before a comet hit the earth. The apocalypse has started, flights are cancelled, and Wren is left with no plan and no way home. This story is her attempt to find her way back to the people she loves most, finding new friends and family along the way, and learning what truly is important to her in life.

Honestly, if you are not a fan of fun, predictable rom-coms, this is probably not be for you. But if you are, you are in for an exciting ride across Europe with a prince and a girl who's plans never quite seem to come together.

And that ending!! I need a sequel now!

Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin Press / Wednesday Books for this wonderful eARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/6f4d3e05-7918-4acf-a4a7-d812031a2206?redirect=true

This is such an original concept from start to finish. I love the premise and characters. Some of the dialogues felt forced and it felt more like "school trip gone wrong" than actual apocalypse. I definitely would have liked to smack Wren's sister in the beginning of the book. For being older and wiser.. she wasn't very kind. However, I still enjoyed it immensely. I loved the cliff hanger ending.

Rom-com films that have similar plot lines to this book:

A prince who just wants to be a regular guy: The Prince & Me
Girl with a plan that doesn’t like her schedule being messed up: Leap Year
Road trip to be reunited with loved ones: Letters to Juliet

I’d prefer any or all of those films over this book. The characters were more likable and made less dumb choices.

I wanted to read this book because the premise sounded fun and unique. A girl helps a prince escape the paparazzi, and in return he helps her trek across Europe to get home to her family before a comet hits and destroys the planet? Sign me up!

Unfortunately, the whole apocalypse situation, which I hoped would add some action and extra adventure, was pretty pointless. Aside from the threat of a comet destroying all life on earth being the catalyst for our main character’s hectic attempts to get home, it added little to the story. Grocery stores were looted for supplies. Ummmm didn’t that happen in a lot of places at the start of the pandemic? Fights broke out in overcrowded pubs amongst drunk guys. Yeah, it doesn’t take the apocalypse for that to happen. Flights were delayed or canceled because there wasn’t enough staff. Again, that’s happening right now, no comet hurtling toward Earth required.

Add in the fact that our main character spends most of the book absolutely refusing to think about the planet’s imminent doom (although she refuses to think about a lot of things, which made her more annoying as the book progressed), and you basically have every teenage road-trip rom-com ever, albeit with a catchier title.

Approximately 90% of the way through the book, our main character finally starts asking all kinds of questions about what’s actually going to happen to the planet and berates herself for being so stupid for not thinking about these things earlier or paying attention to the news. But by this point I was so tired of her emotional immaturity and tendency to be extremely self-centered that rather than feeling invested I found myself rolling my eyes thinking “Finally, at least we both agree on how dumb you are.”

Lastly, the farther into the book I got the more swearing there was, which I didn’t appreciate.

All that for the book to end on a cliffhanger. I don’t know if the author intends to write a sequel, but if she does that’s several hundred more pages I won’t make myself suffer through.

My advice is this: Rather than read this book, do a double feature of your favorite rom-com followed by a disaster movie. It’ll be a much better time.

A fun quick read that gave me major Before Sunset vibes. Loved the fast pace and the final cliffhanger.

I love the concept, but this one was too young for me. I took a lot of time between reading the blurb and the actual book, so I accept full responsibility for expecting adult characters. As it was, Wren and Theo are high-school age. Their outlook and reasoning was too juvenile for me to connect with, and the worst offender was the insta-love. I assume the author kept the apocalypse relatively low-stakes (as far as apocalypses go) because she was writing a comedy, but it is literally resolved in one sentence. I would have at least liked to see the characters react to their salvation.
I did not see the twist at the end coming, and I enjoyed that! I still think it would have worked better with older characters, but I have a thirty-something year bias...

Thanks to McDowell, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was whacky - but not over the top, weirdly enough as I would've assumed given the situation. I liked both of the protagonist to a degree but there was a point where, and maybe this is just because I am an old, thought they were both being complete idiots.

Also I get the discussions with the family about not wanting to be perfect, but also even if there wasn't a comet heading towards earth, missing like seven planes to get home in order to go on a whirlwind trip around europe is a chaotic idea, and I understand why her family acted that way!

Also we like forgot the best friend existed for 70% of the book - I had really thought there would be more communication between the two.

Idk! It was a cute quick read about a chaotic situation. Overall it was nice.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a chance to read and review.

This was a really fun read! I really liked getting to know the characters and see them on their adventure. Despite a fairly heavy theme (a comet coming towards Earth which will kill like everyone), the book stayed fairly lighthearted, which was nice to read. Some of the conflict was easily solved if they just spoke to each other, and it was a little bit too insta-lovey for my liking, but overall, I really enjoyed this and recommend it as a fun, lighthearted read.

I just really hope there will be another book because if not, I hate the ending so much lol. Definitely ended on a cliffhanger, so keep that in mind if you hate cliffhangers!

An American teen is stranded in London and with the world ending in a few days due to a comet... her only chance of getting back home is the the hands of a runaway British crown prince. Wren Wheeler has been looking forward to her amazing supposed to be life-changing trip to London, but it all goes terribly and now she just wants to go home.... except on her last day in London she helps out a cute British boy who turns out to be the Prince running away from his bodyguards. She ends up missing her flight, only to then learn that the world is ending in a few days and now she is desperate to find a way home. After helping Prince Theo, he offered her a favor, and the only favor she wants is a way back home but getting there wont be easy since Theo is on the run from his family and they have people going all around London looking for him. A quick hair dye job, some helpful friends, and an adventure all around Europe in hopes of making it home in time before the world ends.... easy peasy right? But Theo has his own agenda and secrets and Wren has to figure out if she can rely on him to get her back home. The end days are coming but can they make a few happy memories before then? This one was an interesting one, it started off fun but it kind of fell off at the end for me, it really felt like a rush ending that just abruptly ended and had me wishing there was more to the epilogue or something to explain what is in store for Wren and Theo and if they actually do get back together or reconcile. Honestly, it was a fun read until the end which kind of had me disappointed. However, if you are looking for a adventure with a splash of romance for two teens at the end of the world, give it a go!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I love love loved this! Absoulety amazing! This book brightened my day! Adding it to my favorites! Hoping the author makes more books like this.

Someone I know asked me today to describe my current book badly. I said it was the story or two teenagers from vastly different ways of life taking an ill advised road trip during the end of the world. And I think that’s fairly accurate!

American Wren Wheeler is in the UK on a school trip. On her last day she sets out to accomplish at least something on her extensive itinerary. Upon reaching the Worlds End (which her sister claimed had an amazing breakfast) Wren finds it closed and in her moment of despair meets a British boy, Theo, the Prince of Wales. After helping him dodge the paps he promises her a favour if she needs it. When she’s stranded in the UK as a comet careens closer, she calls the favour in. And they set out on an adventure to get her home.

This book was so addictive I could not put it down. The plot was incredibly interesting, the pace was excellent and never stalled and the writing style was so easy to read and flowed so well! The plot of Wren and Theo getting from the UK to Santorini at first seems a bit far fetched, but the author does a great job of explaining the logistics of what’s happening and why they need to make the trip. In this book the world is ending in 8 days and of course that means service delays, people looting, not showing up for work. It’s all very realistic to what I imagine the end of times would be.

But, among all the sadness and despair, there’s also fragments of hope and love. The bond between Wren and Theo may have been forged out of necessity, but watching them slowly get closer was so satisfying. They are very different people and it’s a delight to see them act as a foil for each other. Both characters show growth and compromise as the story goes along.

I wish the epilogue was a bit longer. I feel like there’s so much that could still be worked through, but on the whole this book was exceptional and I highly recommend it!

Thanks so much to Netgalley, St Martins Press and Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.