While this book can be read as a standalone, it was the third (I think?) in a series and I was sooo confused from the start. I ended up DNF'ing this one because I wasn't interested enough in the plot to make sense of this. I think some people would really like this one, but I did not.

This book is the third in the Zoey Ashe series and I wish I had read the other books first. This book can definitely be enjoyed as a stand alone but for me, it would have been better to start from the beginning

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing sequel that can also stand alone, Zoey is Too Drunk for This Dystopia is witty, sharp, and entertaining throughout. With such a relatable main character, this book is easy to connect to and enjoy on many levels.

This was such a joy to listen to. Zoey is such a subtly hilarious character. With so many things going wrong in her life after taking over a criminal empire, it's hard not to cheer for her throughout!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was not at all what I was expecting. A ride from page one and I could not tell the next twist it was going to take.
I went into the audiobook completely blind. I didn't know the plot or anything and that was by far the best decision I could have made.

The narrator does a fantastic job with the snarky voicing of the main character. 10/10 would recommend if you enjoy a wild ride with tons of snark.

Jason Pargins never disappoints with his futuristic, potentially terrifying but always hilarious novels. Very reminiscent of The John Dies At The End books in the humor and snark and dystopian ideas. Loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!

If you know me, you’ll know that I picked up Zoey is Too Drunk for this Dystopia because the cover art is amazing (and that title - hello!). But I never read the book description before I started listening to this audiobook.

I also didn’t realize this was book three in the Zoey Ashe series - but that didn’t matter for the absolute enjoyment of this book.

There was so much going on in this book. Not so much that I lost track of any of the storylines, but so much that there was always action going on. And, this was the perfect book to read during election season - the whole book takes place in the week leading up to the Tabula Ra$a mayoral elections and all of the political pandering and intrigue that goes along with it.

I honestly adored Zoey - she was funny and honest and down to earth. I would love o be her friend. Actually, all of the characters felt like a group of friends, and now that I have finished this book, I feel like I have left them behind.

4.5 stars
Okay, what? 😂 I had absolutely no idea this book was in a series, nor did I know anything about it aside from daughter takes over shady dad’s shadier empire, before I started it. I’ve found a new favourite, and have to go find the rest of the series now.
The narrator had me in absolute stitches for about 75% of this story. Gory, hilarious, deadpan, ridiculous, I absolutely ate it up. The scene with our prankster at the end?! Omg I couldn’t breathe I was laughing so hard!
Now! Listen, not all of the story is laughs. There was one scene that had me in tears. I loved these characters so much that one single loss ripped my heart out. In my opinion, a book that can rip you from emotional pain to hysterical laughter is a job done exceptionally well.
I feel like there were a few pieces that weren’t 100% necessary to either character development or the plot line that could have been cut for time, but all in all I loved this book. It’ll stick with me for a long time.

On the surface, Jason Pargin's Zoey is Too Drunk for This Dystopia could be written off as another semi-futuristic funny dystopia. It certainly seems as if his book doesn't take itself too seriously. However, what is unique about Jason Pargin's writing, I include the entire "Zoey Ashe" and "John Dies at the End" series, is that Pargin is a brilliant satirist. You should take his work seriously because his slicing, biting wit and take on today's politics and popular culture are interesting and often painfully accurate. He is in good company with Hunter S. Thompson, Catch 22, and "Transmetroplitan." I could see him and Spider Jerusalem having a lot to say to each other right before Spider loses his shit and pulls out his Spider Jerusalem bowel disruptor on the annoying people in the restaurant.

As a side note - I would love to know if that gun got a nod in this novel in the form of an umbrella.

"That guy is a turd in my teeth."
― Jason Pargin, Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia

Zoey is to Drunk for this Dystopia, is the third in the Zoey series following Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick. If you are unfamiliar with Pargin's work, the basic premise of the "Zoey Ashe" series is that Zoey is a reluctant and farcical heiress to a fortune built on dirty money. Her absent father, who recently passed, was a kingpin in Tabula Ra$a, and his fortune was left to a very ordinary Zoey, much to her surprise. All of a sudden, people are trying to kill her. She has a team that works to protect her, and her choices of what to do with her father's wealth have a massive impact on the people of Tabula Ra$a.

In this book, Tabula Ra$a is hosting its huge annual music festival in the desert, with history's most ridiculous mayoral election in the background. It is a battle of perceptions between the candidates. "As tensions ratchet tighter, Zoey realizes that this is a battle of narratives: Every culture needs a collective story to believe in, so it's just a matter of coming up with one and then carefully sculpting reality to make it fit. How hard can that be? They have the whole weekend."

"Where you find demand, you find people willing to fill that demand."
― Jason Pargin, Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia

Pargin touches on issues that impact everyday life—fronted by the absurd. For instance, Tabula Ra$a is a city in the middle of the Utah desert. The irony here is that Utah is one of the most conservative states, and Tabula Ra$a... isn't. Zoey's world is the excesses of anything goes, but she is shackled by what she can do by celebrity. Everything said and done is recorded and broadcast on various social networks. Everyone has an angle and an ache to get a finger in the Tabula Ra$a pie. The narrative of what is true and what is a lie is constantly changing and shaped by the viewers' perception—this becomes stochastic terrorism. Perceptions are wielded like a cudgel. Politics aside, stochastic terrorism is a very effective and prevalent threat used widely by both the media in general and media personalities in the real world, and it is matched to the absurd degree in Zoey's world.

The writing is thoroughly engaging. Party in the desert that sounds a lot like burning man to the nth degree, riots, stunts, drugs, sex, danger, action, buildings blowing up, angels set afire...there is a lot to digest here.
This book has some harrowing scenes, one with a fake sinking ship, one with an artificial meat product, and one with a moving drink machine.

It is strange even to put these words together, harrowing and synthetic meat products, but it is true.

Even with this being the third book in the series, it is still one of my best reads of the year. I enjoy the characters. Zoey is entertaining and a lot more complicated than you would initially think. As the series progresses, we learn more about Zoey's team, who they are, and where they come from.

I can't say more about the plot because I don't want to give it away, and even if I could, it is so unbelievable that it is hard to explain. Just trust me. Please don't miss this series! His novels are truly worth the read.

Thank you for the opportunity to review "Zoey is too drunk for this dystopia," the final(?) installment in the Zoey Ashe series by Jason Pargin. In full disclosure, I'm drafting this before finishing the audiobook but also far enough in that I feel comfortable with what I'm writing. Wanted to get a review in by the archive date on NG.
Pargin is known for a certain style of writing, and I know what I signed up for by diving headlong into this series after making my way through his "John dies" books.
No complaints for the irreverence, the thin plotlines, and the overall ridiculousness of everything. The ridiculousness is part of the fun! The big thing here is that Pargin just doesn't seem to know what to do with female characters, and that's a problem when the main protagonist is a woman. His handling of Zoey and Echo is flat and middle-schoolish, with far too much attention on their physical features and nearly zero on character development and growth throughout the book series. I could have skipped from the first book to this one without missing a beat, and after spending so much time immersed in this world that is definitely not a positive bit of feedback. Though, thinking more about it, we're not getting much in the way of development from the other primary characters in this series either. As over-the-top as the 'John' series was, we did see movement and bits of interest over the span of the series.
I don't know. Maybe this one just wasn't for me. Or maybe I'm just not in the mood for this sort of thing at the moment and will come back to it eventually and love it. It's Pargin, for sure, and one knows what they're getting (and usually I'm here for it!)

A special shout out to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This is going to be an odd review. I admired how much this book despite being book three in the series could easily have been book one or a standalone. The cover art seems to backup this might be intentionally done. However, this quality took something away from the series taking a step forward. Usually a book would be the equivalent of television season this was more of a good standalone episode. This book also has more reflection on social issues and less action so depending on your taste take that as you will. Overall I enjoyed it but was left with the feeling something was missing.

Another book I picked up without realizing it was part of a series! Another book that totally can stand on it's own. Zoey is just trying to pivot a massive criminal enterprise into something more humanitarian, too bad most people don't believe her. Good mystery to solve, truly entertaining character, solid laugh aloud chuckles, and meaningful stakes.

Another fun read in this series, Pargin continues the trend of getting Zoey in over her head and then pulling her out at the last second.

Let me please offer one word of advice: Please get the audiobook! It had me absolutely dying with laughter. This book and it's series are so incredibly witty and outlandish in the best ways and I cannot recommend them enough to friends and collogues. This is the third Zoey Ashe book by Jason Pargin and I feel as though he has truly found his groove. His stories get better and better each time, the absurd situations are brilliantly played out and the Zoey is just trying to survive from minute to minute in the most casual and sassy ways possible.
I received the Advanced Audio Copy of this book through NetGalley and I want to thank them and the publishers for providing me the opportunity to dive back into this ridiculously fun dystopian world and Tabula Ra$a. The narration was fantastic and I have to give both the book and narration 5* each and collectively. I hope we get more from this author and can't wait to see what happens next.

Zoey is back in her dystopia. The one she stumbled into a couple of books ago. I like the writing style and the madcapness of it all. I just still don’t like Zoey. I don’t know why I feel like I need to like a character in a book. It grounds me. Maybe? I still read these and enjoy them and then wondered what happened. Kind of like waking from a dream.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Jason Pargin/David Wong novel, and while it's the last of a trilogy (I think?), I think it worked fine as a standalone. I'm sure there are nuances to Zoey's overall story, life, and relationships that I missed, but there was plenty of backstory and context clues provided.

Zoey Ashe is a poor kid turned heiress/scion to the most powerful crime boss in all of Tabula Ra$a (this name sucks btw), a giant new city in former Utah (?). Now she is one of the wealthiest people in TR and has a team of shady folks making sure she doesn't fuck up the whole empire. This means they are trying to keep her out of her own way, as they are busily trying to buy an election, and Zoey is a tenderhearted millennial who believes women.

In this dystopian future, everything is broadcast to the masses via social network Blink (think Insta on steroids and no one ever opts out), including videos of torture porn that may or may not be real. Atrocities can be manufactured and votes swung in various ways, and it makes one wonder why they wouldn't just rig the damn election using all of that sweet, sweet technology (but then we wouldn't have a book). Pargin does an adequate job of writing a woman (he makes her "fat," which I'm sure means she is average size, and assigns her bullies to fat-shame in her public sphere, but, well, you can always tell when you're reading some dude's version of what it's like to be female. Honestly, Zoey seems largely superfluous to this story, other than to hang the trappings of empathy on, as no one else in this dystopia has that feeling. Her team does everything for her, and she is just kind of whisked along. I'm sure I wouldn't handle money and quasi-fame any better as a twentysomething, but I am not the heroine of a scifi series. Shouldn't there be *something* remarkable about her other than being rich but down to earth and loving cats? Maybe that's the point is she is an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances.

This is a "funny" dystopian novel, and it's not half bad from that vantage point, although the reviews describing it as "hilarious" might have a lower threshold for laffs than mine. A few chuckles here and there were had. Overall, not great, but not terrible. Elizabeth Evans totally slays in the voice acting; she manages a variety of accents and distinguishes each character amazingly well (this is a rarity in my experience). She also bring a great sense of emotion - real acting, not just reading.

3 stars for being entertaining without me really caring what happens to these characters.

I'm generally a huge fan of dystopian stories and the purple cover really drew me in for this third book in a series I thought I could pick up halfway through. Unfortunately even though the narrator was excellent, I just couldn't get into this cookey tale set in an imaginary city called Tabula Ra$a told from the perspective of a drunk/drugged out socialite. I ended up DNFing about 25% in because the story just wasn't for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

A Riot of Revelry in "Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia" - A Fantastic Standalone Listen

I had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy of the audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review. To my surprise, "Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia" is the third installment in a series, but I can confidently say that it stands strong on its own. Narrated by the incomparable Elizabeth Evans, whose talents are unrivaled in the audiobook world, this was an unforgettable experience.

In the heart of the dystopian desert, the city of Tabula Ra$a annually hosts a massive music festival followed by an even grander drunken riot. The festival, an organized chaos orchestrated by Zoey's people, sets the stage for mayhem, and their responsibility is merely to keep a lid on it. However, this year's festivities are different, with a bizarre mayoral election unfolding in the background. Two starkly opposing candidates divide the city's population: one a staunch traditionalist activist, the other, Megaboss Alonzo, who promises a ten-dollar incentive for your vote. It's a thrilling backdrop for a city constantly oscillating between chaos and control.

The novel takes an intriguing turn when a horrific crime is broadcast live on the all-encompassing social network Blink. The conservative candidate seems poised to gain support in the wake of this crime, but suspicions arise that it might be a well-orchestrated hoax. As tensions escalate, Zoey discovers that the battleground here isn't just politics; it's a battle of narratives, a profound exploration of the power of storytelling and perception.

Now, let me share what I loved about "Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia."

A Standalone Marvel: Though this book is the third in a series, it effortlessly stands on its own. As someone who jumped into Zoey's world without prior knowledge of the series, I was thoroughly captivated by the world-building and characters. It's a testament to the author's skill in crafting a narrative that newcomers can enjoy just as much.

Spectacular Narration: Elizabeth Evans' narration is nothing short of a masterpiece. Her ability to bring each character to life and infuse emotion into every word is commendable. She has a way of enveloping you in the story and making it an unforgettable auditory experience.

Jason Pargin's Narrative Magic: Pargin's writing is a mesmerizing blend of futuristic madness, social commentary, and razor-sharp wit. The storyline keeps you engaged with its absurd pranks, thrilling crime-solving, and a delightful touch of silliness. The way he tackles complex themes in a seemingly light-hearted manner is an art that few can master.

While this audiobook had me utterly enchanted, there's one minor aspect I would like to touch upon. Unlike some of Pargin's previous works, the overarching theme of this book seemed to emerge early on, which, for me, reduced the element of surprise and intrigue. However, as the story progresses, it regains its momentum, leading to a satisfying conclusion.

In the second half of the audiobook, the pace quickens, and it becomes impossible to pause. The blend of humor and thought-provoking takes on various aspects of human experience is Jason Pargin's signature, and it shines brightly in this installment.

In conclusion, "Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia" is a riotous, entertaining, and thought-provoking audiobook. Despite being my introduction to the Zoey Ashe series, it left a profound impact on me. This is a story you won't want to miss, especially when delivered through Elizabeth Evans' exceptional narration. Jason Pargin, please continue to gift us with more Zoey Ashe books. Your unique narrative style is a treasure in the world of speculative fiction.

Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia is the third installment in Jason Pargin's hilarious and thought-provoking Zoey Ashe series. In this latest adventure, Zoey finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy that threatens to tear apart the fabric of her futuristic society.
As always, Pargin's writing is sharp and witty, with a keen eye for the absurdities of modern life. The world of Tabula Ra$a is a vividly realized dystopia, where the lines between reality and simulation are constantly blurred. Zoey is a compelling and relatable protagonist, even as she navigates a world that is far removed from our own. She is flawed and impulsive, but she is also fiercely loyal and determined to do what is right.

The plot of Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia is fast-paced and engaging,while sometimes too much stuff is going on. narrator does a fantastic job, making the book better.