4.5 Stars

DEAD THINGS ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR is one of those stories where you don't know what to expect and what you find is much more than you were hoping for. It's full of family relationships, by blood but mostly found with an emphasis on adopted, as well as friendships and then more of working relationships (like I have to fight with you but I don't know that I would chose to know you). It's set in a small town with a larger-than-life traumatizing event where basically all hell breaks loose. If you enjoy shows like Stranger Things or with apocalyptic monsters and humans who are equally evil, then this is definitely one to pick up! Plus, there are also some very sweet moments of wisdom, romance, and heart.

I really, really loved these characters! Not to say that I didn't have some frustrations and reservations, because I did, but I felt they were relatable and real. Take Sid for instance. She is not the leading will-cut-down-zombies-without-blinking-an-eye leading lady. She is scared and weak and freaks out. I think most of us when faced with something so unreal would take some time adjusting. I appreciated that she had weaknesses and strengths, which allowed her character to also develop and grow as the story goes. And develop it does. This was the same for almost all of the characters, even fierce and removed Eleni. There's also Brian who holds so much grief inside that it hurts while also building like a bomb, and also carries a fierce protection for his sisters that extends to others. He comes off a bit like the usual bad boy, but as well all the characters in this motley crew, none of them quite fit the usual stereotypes because they're a lot more complex and they change over the course of this story. There is also Angel and Shandy with their relationship that is lightly woven in this story. Sometimes gay relationships are pushed in books with a message that feels forced (as can be with religious or inspirational messages, romance or with anything), but in this story, it felt like a natural part and I appreciated that.

I also want to talk just a bit about the plot itself. It moved at a really good pace. There were several climatic moments that built to the final and most intense one, but there were also some moments of downtime and reconvening. The romantic aspects of this story I also really liked. They didn't feel construed, fell naturally into this story and were sweet. I liked that there was so much creativity and how the author allowed it to unfold with all these different characters. Everything didn't go perfectly and didn't tie up in a perfect bow at the end, which I also appreciated. There was danger, people got hurt and killed, there was heartbreak and evil, but there was also perseverance, sacrifice, friendship, love and joy. All the feels, guys. All the feels.

I also noted a few nuggets of wisdom I highlighted. These aren't all of them in this story, but these are the ones I wanted to share that connected with me right now in my life:

"Sometimes I wonder about empathy," I say then. "Do we always have to feel something ourselves in order to understand someone else?"
She contemplates that. "I think it depends on the person. There's no right way or wrong way. If one assumes all empathy to look the same way, they are therefore expecting everyone to behave the way they do . . . which is not empathetic, is it?: She leans forward, elbows on her knees. "[There are] always going to be people we can't relate to, people we'll never love, people we'll never meet. In those situations, you have the opportunity to see how far your empathy can be stretched."
"Some people suck, though," I mutter.
"Whether someone is worthy of empathy isn't something you need to decide. You do get to decide if it's something you wish to extend to someone. It it'll harm you or not. Caring for yourself and caring for others is a balance."

"People make mistakes, but you know now that you get to choose the person you want to be. It's not a straight path, there are obstacles, and the journey never ends. But you're not alone on the road."

"Every person makes an impact in some way, average or not," I say. "We change one another."

In the end, was it what I wished for? This book surprised me, in a very good way. I loved the motley crew that forms, the lovable characters, all the relationship dynamics as well as the creative, page-turning plot. I'll definitely be looking forward to this author's next release!

Content: Swearing (including s and f-words), crude comments/descriptions, some detailed violence (including people dying by zombies and other humans, as well as some torture), a gay relationship.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through TBR and Beyond Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I’m always intrigued by post apocalyptic books, and this one had a magical realism twist in that things are pretty much as they are now, but there are fault lines that have magic, and there are Guardians of them who have their own powers. When one of the Guardians dies, the fault line cracks open and Magic spreads. Now more people have Magic, but with magic comes greed. Ford is like the governor from the Walking Dead, or really like any of the antagonist, and he will stop at nothing to have all of the Keys to the fault lines and the powers of the guardians. He wants to be the most powerful. Sid is about as average of a teenage girl you can be, but the apocalypse brings her to center stage when her brother goes missing, and she finds herself tied in with a gang of other teens who have powers. And the twist on her power is AWESOME.
In essence, it’s about a group of teens trying to save their town from Magic (being badly used) with Magic, and just finding the humanity in everyone. People change in times of crisis, for the worse or better, and it will really show you who people are.

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours for an early copy of this incredible book!

In a world where there are lay lines and guardians who have special abilities and are charged with guarding them, one girl will find herself fighting to find her brother and save the other guardians as well as discover her own powers. Sid Spencer never expected to face the apocalypse (the literal one) in high school. She was navigating losing her best friend, having her love letter exposed, and dealing with her own insecurities while being one of the very few asians in town. Her town is known for it's lay lines and being a tourist destination for anyone interested in magic. These lay lines are guarded by Guardians, individuals with magical abilities and keys connected to those. When one of the seals are broken and someone kills one of the Guardians, one of the seals is broken and magic is unleashed. The killer is after the rest of the Guardians and wants to steal their powers. Sid wakes up to discover that her brother is not only missing but he has been keeping a secret, he's a Guardian. Sid is desperate to find her brother but finds her entire town trapped inside and that the killer is trying to find her brother as well. She finds herself joining the remaining Guardians fighting against hordes of living corpses, the killer and his group, and possible falling in love with the one boy she never expected to fall for. For someone who has always felt ordinary, she's going to have a very extraordinary journey. This was a really fun apocalyptic magical journey with a dash of romance, friendship, and navigating the apocalypse. I loved Sid and her relationship with Brian so much, as well as the other ragtag crew of Guardians. The book works as a standalone and wraps everything up really nicely. It felt like a fast paced read and had me holding on onto the very end. It had a bit of Raven Boy vibes which I adored. i would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys magical survival stories and a bit of apocalypse adventure.

*Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Shout out to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this book! I absolutely loved this. Am I very afraid of zombies? Yes. Did I find this very readable and enjoyable? Yes. These things can be true at the same time! It was quick-witted, fast-paced, and I could not put it down. I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed those fun early 2000s zombie movies that mixed comedy and horror. I will definitely be purchasing this for the library and recommending to our students!

This was such a fun read! It was a YA apocalypse fantasy zombie weird ness that I really had a fun time with, I loved how fast paced it was and it really drew me with the writing style! Great characters too I especially loved Sid and felt like while it was a YA book it wasn’t written too YA where it could really appeal to anyone! Will for sure be purchasing for our library.

I really enjoyed this! It was a super fast-paced YA apocalypse story with tons of twists and turns as well as some really great characters. The plot and setting were really compelling and well-paced, and the dialogue was so fun to read. Overall, really great story that I FLEW through. And the cover is so cool!

This YA zombie apocalypse, fantasy read was one that I couldn’t put down! It was fast paced with adventure, twist, turns and humor. The characters and storyline are amazing. Sid the mc is one character you will be rooting for. One day a typical teenager and the next a Guardian trying to save the world. A great read! Thank you to NetGalley, Robin Wasley, and TBR book tours for giving me the chance to read and leave my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear" by Robin Wasley is such a fun book with the captivating and unique blend of magical apocalypse, zombies, and representation, making it a standout debut.

The plot was extremely engaging throughout, and I was super invested in the characters, especially with the found family aspect. The characters are exceptionally well-developed and they felt incredibly real, with Sid standing out as relatable and endearing, especially with the transracial adoptee representation. The dialogue is very quick and witty nature, with substance underlying it; the dialogue by itself is something I think would be extremely engaging for teenager readers. The characters, including Sid and her family, are praised for their quirkiness, realism, and detailed portrayal. The setting almost felt like a character in itself, coming alive and becoming a force to be reckoned with. The world building was great as well with the magical, well-thought-out post-apocalyptic world. The pacing had the perfect balance between action-packed scenes and slower, emotionally resonant moments.

One of the strongest aspects of this book was the inclusion of transracial adoptee representation. The representation is everything in this book, making the reader who may have had the same experiences as Sid feel thoroughly seen through the addressing of the complexities of family, love, and identity. The seamless integration of representation into various aspects of the story is very thorough and felt genuine.

The book is absolutely wild in the best way with its creativity, fun elements, emotional depth, and heartfelt moments. The horror and suspense also helped create an authentic sense of danger that keeps you flipping through the pages. This book definitely has it all as even the romance is well-developed with its sweetness and tenderness.

"Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear" is a fantastic book for its engaging plot, well-developed characters, representation, and a perfect blend of magical and emotional elements. I definitely can’t wait to read more from Wasley.

I inhaled this book so quickly! It had everything I love. From splashes of both horror and magic, a society crumbling and teens trying to navigate their place in it, and loss & love combined. This book will pull you in all directions as our MC, Sid, grapples with her new life in a dramatically different and dangerous world where she may finally belong. Robin Wasley's debut is fabulous and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an early copy for review.

Can I just say I loved absolutely everything about this book? Not only was the plot a blast but the characters all but walked off the page. They felt so REAL and I absolutely adored the MC. The dialogue was quick and witty and still there was substance beneath it all. Robin Wasley did a beautiful job giving all of these characters amazing arcs, making me feel for every single one of them, and creating this post-apocalyptic world that was so magical and well thought out. The design of it all was excellent. The pacing of this book was quick and SO MUCH happens. But when the slower paced scenes came, they were perfect. I laughed out loud, sucked in my breath, and even got a little teary-eyed throughout. Loved the romance, loved the friendships, loved the families. Found family is everything and I cannot wait to read more of Robin’s books. I absolutely will be purchasing this.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for offering me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

So you're telling me this is a magical apocalypse, zombies, and transracial adoptee representation? Did I hear that right? I fell in love with this book before I even started. Days after finishing, I am only fully obsessed. Let's just begin with my favorite aspect: the representation. This book made me feel thoroughly seen in the ways that you can feel like a misplaced jigsaw piece. The person who doesn't fit into the picture. All the ways our family loves us, that we know it's not about blood, but the things that still jump out at us.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book, hands down, has been one of my favorite reads of the year so far (the fact that it is January and I've only read 5 books total so far this year, including this one, should in no way diminish this accomplishment - it's a great book). It has everything you could want- action, magic, romance, zombies, social commentary that's not too on the nose, a cat named Chad, etc. The banter was witty without seeming like it was trying too hard, and the characters all had depth and rich inner lives. Not to mention that the stakes were high and felt real- I genuinely did not know from moment to moment who would die or who would live and that was thrilling.

This book was wild in the best way. It was so creative and fun, while still managing to be painfully emotional and heartfelt. I don't think I've ever read a book like it before and that's amazing. The horror elements and suspense kept me flipping through the pages and created a true sense of danger for the character, which was STRESSFUL. At one point, I literally had to set the book down and take some deep breaths. But it also has so many quiet, emotional moments and great characters, and this sense of wonder and magic that was so atmospheric.

Also, I have to just say that Sid Spencer is the type of heroine I want to read more of—relatable, emotional, insecure, prickly, awkward, empathetic, and brave. AND CHAD IS THE BEST, I would read a whole standalone book just about Chad and she deserves it. The romance was also sweet and tender and supportive and I loved the gentle chemistry that bloomed between them.

10/10 read and just so unique and well written, such an amazing debut! I can't wait to read future books from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the arc.