It’s been a couple years since 17 year old Aisha has seen her sister June, but with a meteor heading straight for earth and the end of the world imminent, she and her mother decide it’s time to try to find June and make amends. Joining their journey is Aisha’s boyfriend Walter, his parents, and a stray cat that Aisha has dubbed Fleabag. As they make their way across Malaysia, the group finds themselves revisiting and letting go with the past and coming to terms with the bleakness of the present, all while still holding out hope for the future, even with the end looming.

This is a slow-paced, tender story set at the end of the world that focuses on the people, relationships, and feelings rather than the actual impending doom. Aisha harbors a lot of anger over the things that have happened in her life and all the things that will never happen in her life because everything is ending in a few short months. She often finds herself expressing this anger by being prickly with Walter and we are able to watch as his sunny disposition gets slowly worn down by Aisha’s negativity, even as they are both trying their best to make the most of the time that they have left. Mikail finds a balance that has the reader vacillating between being frustrated with Aisha and feeling sympathetic towards her plight.

I felt like I was put through the wringer while reading this story—laughter turning to sadness turning to anger turning to hope. Mikail expertly weaves a story that will get you thinking about what—and who—really matters in life. The story from start to finish feels a lot like the stages of grief as they make their way closer to June and closer to the end. And the way Mikail brings it all together in the end leaves you feeling a little bit of hope, even as you know that nothing has fundamentally changed in regards to the group's future. This story is very much driven by the relationships, especially those between Aisha, June, and their mother, and that is how Mikail gets the reader thinking, re-evaluating, and growing in their own relationships with loved ones.

If you're looking for an action-packed adventure where an individual or a group of individuals tries to stop the end of the world, this is not the story for you. This is a story that is anchored in accepting that the end is near, a story that reminds us that we need to stop waiting, to take the risk, to reach for your own joy and happiness. Because even though the end of our world isn’t imminent, tomorrow is never guaranteed—and this story is the reminder to evaluate what truly matters to you.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for free and have voluntarily written this review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

At the End of the World is a short YA novel whose only SF/F aspect is that it takes place in a world where a few months earlier it was revealed that an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth and that everyone there only has months left to live. In this world we follow - through a story that jumps back and forth through time - a Malaysian girl named Aisha, who should be about to head to university and planning a marriage with her fantastic long-term boyfriend, but is instead lamenting all the possibilities that are lost to her. And so when her mom decides that they should spend part of their remaining time searching for Aisha's long lost sister June, who walked out on them three years ago, Aisha has to come to terms with what she lost when June walked out and when the world realized it was all about to end.

The result is an excellent story of love and grief, as it really shows how hard people can get hit by grief and how that will affect everyone around them, and not necessarily for the better. But it's also a story, in the wake of the end, of how people can remember and retell themselves about the good moments, such that they can maybe work to get past that grief with the people who matter most. A really good if short YA read.




Plot Summary:
Three years ago, Aisha's sister June walked out on her mother and Aisha, saying she needed to "find herself". Aisha was devastated by her sister leaving her alone with her mother - who Aisha loves but who has often seemed to consumed with grief over her dead husband and parents to truly care for and with Aisha. Aisha hasn't heard from June since, and in the time that has passed, Aisha has finished high school, gotten into university, and found the love of her life in her classmate Walter, with whom she imagines raising a family of her own.

But four months ago the world became aware of shocking news: an asteroid was heading directly for Earth and would in a few months time hit it dead-on, causing the extinction of all who lived on the planet. And so all the dreams Aisha had of her future, just like everyone else's, have become completely unattainable, to Aisha's inner dismay.

In the wake of all this, Aisha's mother decides there is no time left to try to mend things with June, and so she proposes that Aisha and June leave their house and go search for June. Together with Walter and Walter's parents they go on a journey to find her in the place Aisha's grandparents once lived, but along the way Aisha will have to deal with her inner emotions - towards her past, towards June, and towards her lost future....

At the End of the World is a short novel, which jumps back and forth each time in a very logical and easy to follow way - each chapter details what time period it takes place in (for example, putting in parentheses "four months ago"), and always takes place from the perspective of Aisha. This is not a complex novel in terms of its plot or characters...but that is part of why the novel works pretty well because it really makes Aisha and everyone else really understandable, and that's what allows the novel to deal with the themes it does.

For Aisha is a girl who has had to deal with most of her life a mother who has been emotionally absent in the wake of the death of Aisha's father and Aisha's grandparents. Her mom responded to each death by moving them away to a new place and then often just not being present in the moment, such that Aisha's sometimes only support was her sister June. And though Aisha has grown to think of their last house as her "home", even if it isn't for her mom or sister, it has been kind of empty without June to provide that support...even if the discovery of Walter has allowed Aisha to have happy moments in the last three years.

And now with the end of the world coming, Aisha even thinks THAT is being taken away from her. And so she faces a ton of inner turmoil and anger over her own situation, over her future being taken from her, and over her past being made more difficult and less whole by the actions of June - who may have done what she needed to but in doing so inadvertently hurt her sister in the process. In short, Aisha is grieving for her past and future, and the fact that she keeps it all internal just makes her feel worse and worse until she might explode...which the trip to find June only makes worse. And well, it's only by getting this all out and by realizing others may feel similarly, especially the chill and seemingly always sunny Walter, that Aisha is able to feel some relief.

This is not a book where there's a surprise happy ending, but despite that, the way Aisha and her family are able to come to another conclusion and realize how they can try to emotionally heal (finding a therapist would also help they acknowledge, but that practice has become less frequent given the end of the world is coming) winds up working pretty well. And so we get a solid enjoyable YA novel about grief for both the past and future that is definitely worth reading.

I really liked the premise of this book. The author did a good job showing how people might react to the end of the world as well as showing how this can sometimes bring out the best in people.
My struggle was with the introspection of the main character. I felt that most of the book was in her mind. The actual story was almost an afterthought. Some readers will love that. I tend to prefer a more action packed read.
This is not the first story I've read about the end of the world. I've read two that were outstanding so my expectations may have been a bit to high.

This is a very sweet little book about what matters at the end of the world. Apparently, it was released in the UK as The Cats We Meet Along the Way, with a very... peppy sort of cover. It's a bit odd, and I can see why some people were confused about what they were getting involved with. There is one cat, leaving the plural titular "cats" puzzling, and the cover, while gorgeous, seems off in tone. To that end, this is marketed much better, and you will know immediately that you're in for some end of the world rumination, and perhaps one (singular) cat.

But the story itself, marketing aside, is very lovely. It's melancholy in tone, to an extent, but it is the end of the world, so I didn't exactly expect anyone to be super optimistic. We meet Aisha, whose sister June left the family home two years ago and hasn't been heard from since. Aisha has been devastated by June's absence, especially since their father died when they were young, and their mother has kind of been emotionally unavailable. But with the end of the world nigh, Aisha and her mom decide it's now or never, and they simply have to find June. Her boyfriend Walter and his parents are game, and they have an RV, so the group heads out on the search, and hope to maybe get some closure along the way.

I feel like a lot of people have complained about this book being sad but... duh? For me, it was certainly no more depressing than any other book about imminent doom, and was in fact very heartfelt in tone. Yeah, Aisha was sad about what she lost, and what she stood to lose at the end of the world. Of course she was! But there was also a lot of mending of relationships, and trying to enjoy each other's company, and making peace with the past and the potentially non-existent future. And, there are definitely still funny and quirky moments, so that you don't feel utterly down after reading. I quite enjoyed the quiet introspection of this story.

Bottom Line: It's a lovely little book about what means the most to you at the end of the world- and is also maybe a message about not waiting until the end of the world to tell someone you love them.

"At the End of the World" by Nadia Mikail is a poignant and beautifully crafted story that explores the profound impact of family and relationships in the face of impending apocalypse.

The novel introduces readers to seventeen-year-old Aisha, who hasn't seen her sister June in two years. Despite the physical distance, Aisha constantly thinks about her and hopes for her well-being. When they learn that the world is about to end in nine months, Aisha and her mother decide to embark on a journey to find June and reconcile with their past. It's a race against time, as they grapple with unresolved issues that must be addressed before it's too late.

One of the novel's remarkable strengths is its portrayal of authentic and layered family relationships. The bond between Aisha, her mother, and her sister June is at the heart of the story. Their struggles, conflicts, and attempts at reconciliation feel genuine and emotionally resonant. The narrative captures the complexities of family dynamics with honesty and sensitivity.

The structure of the story, with alternating perspectives from the past and present, provides depth to the characters and gradually unveils the reasons behind the family's estrangement. It allows readers to understand the characters' motivations, regrets, and desires.

The setting of Malaysia adds an interesting dimension to the story, touching on cultural and religious differences that affect relationships and dating. However, it's worth noting that some readers might have appreciated a deeper exploration of these themes.

The character of Aisha is authentic and relatable, and her journey of coping with the impending apocalypse and her own emotions is portrayed with realism. Her relationship with Walter, her boyfriend, is honest and reflects the challenges faced by young people during a time of crisis.

The emotions in the story are palpable, and readers can feel the characters' fear, anger, love, and hope as they navigate their way through an uncertain world. The novel is a testament to the enduring power of family bonds and the importance of resolving conflicts before it's too late.

In summary, "At the End of the World" is a moving and thought-provoking novel that delves into the depths of family relationships and the significance of reconciliation. Nadia Mikail's storytelling is both tender and powerful, making it a compelling read for those who appreciate stories of family, love, and resilience in the face of adversity.

4.2 rounded down to 4/5

THOUGHTS

This book was so different than I expected, and while I'm not entirely convinced that it fits in the YA niche where it has been marketed, I do think it is an excellent addition to apocalyptic literature. Because it is not so high-key. It is not so melodramatic or gruesome and grisly. It's just people being people in the end times, in a hopeful and nostalgic sort of way.


PROS
Sticking Together: One thing I absolutely adore about this book is that at no point do these characters consider going their own separate ways. They might have different plans and motivations, but they're family. They're in it to the end. So when Aisha wants to find her sister, they all track down a camper an to borrow before heading out with her. That's so different than other apocalyptic fiction, especially in the YA sphere, and I love that. Because in the end times, wouldn't we realistically be sticking with our closest friends and family no matter what?

Human Decency: While I'm not so convinced that humans will behave with decency when faced with our imminent demise, I nonetheless adore this vision of a world where we do. A world where minimum looting happens. Where nobody is trying to take advantage of another, someone somehow less fortunate than them. This is a world where, when faced with imminent demise, humanity stops. Everybody gets to go home to their families, plant their gardens, and ride it out together. And I think that's unrealistic, but it adds a particular bittersweet grain of hope to this novel that I love. We don't always need bitter realism. Sometimes we need hope.

Sentimental: YA apocalypse and YA dystopia is generally all about pushing back. There has to be more life, right? Teenage characters often rail against the announcement of their demise, because it isn't fair. They've hardly had a chance to live. And Aisha feels that way, too, but it's different for her. She's not on a last-ditch quest to save the earth. She's not forming a rebellion to overthrow an oppressive government. She's mourning. And that gives this whole book an achingly sentimental feel that I appreciate.


CONS
Introspective Voice: As much as I appreciate the introspection here for what it adds to the genre, I do think this book isn't what readers of the genre want. They want action, reaction. They want characters fighting back, and that's just not what we get here. The introspective nature of this story might be a letdown for a lot of readers. So reader be warned! This feels far more literary than a YA apocalypse usually is.

Name Confusion: On a technical level, I kept getting non-MC characters mixed up. They weren't quite properly introduced, not in a way where names would be enough for me to identify them. I kept having to stop myself throughout this relatively short book to wrack my brain for who we were referring to again.

Long Unfolding: This book isn't full of action. This book isn't fast. This book is nostalgic, right down to the way it is written. It takes a long time to unfold, and while I certainly didn't mind, it won't be what a lot of readers are looking for. It's nostalgic. It's sentimental. It's introspective. And that's the whole book, unfortunately.


Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6/10
Fans of Sarah Beth Pfeffer's Life As We Knew It will love this new, softer take on the end of the world. Those who love Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street will adore this new vignette-style apocalypse.

DNF -65%

I simply couldn’t enjoy this book. From the beginning till I DNF’ed it the book felt dull and flat. Also the main character was simply rude to her boyfriend. Walter was literally just trying to help and she was being so rude. Overall not enjoyable.

Nadia Mikail studies law in London. She is also a full-time houseplant owner and a part-time investigative journalist of what London's. world is ending, what matters most to you? Seventeen-year-old Aisha hasn't seen her.

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order next year and will recommend it to students.

When the world is ending, what would you do? Aisha is a seventeen year old girl who has not seen her sister June for two years, ever since she left home and went completely silent. Now that the world is ending, Aisha and her boyfriend Walter and his parents as well as her mom and a cat named Fleabag they picked up are going to go on a roadtrip through Malayasia to find June before the world ends. They want to resolve their issues and come to terms with everything. to be together when it’s all over and to make peace, because in the end what really matters is the people they love. The story is told from present and past, as the events leading up to the very end. It was a very beautiful and bittersweet story about family and what matters most to you as the world ends. Aisha is angry and hurt about her sister’s disappearance but this trip is going to force her to face that anger and how she wants to feel with the world ending, the acceptance and forgiveness, the fact that there is no time for anger but only time to cherish the very last moments you have with your loved ones.

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*