This is a solid good time. The characters were loveable and the humor lands consistently. I also appreciate the social commentary that is found throughout the novel. Great twist ending.

From the very beginning, this book was a wild ride! A dream vacation gone wrong in truly unimaginable ways. Author MJ Wassmer creates a unique yet somehow familiar environment where neither the reader nor the characters can guess what will happen next! It would make a great beach read.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend has the building blocks of a great story, but unfortunately, the pieces never quite coalesce into something memorable. The book follows Dan Foster, an average guy (or even below average depending on his mood), who is enjoying a tropical vacation with his girlfriend, Mara, when the sun explodes. What follows is a chaotic series of events at an elite resort, as tensions between the wealthy guests and staff quickly escalate, leading to a dictator-lite situation driven by a fitness influencer with a pyramid scheme.

From a satirical perspective, the book is largely successful. The characters at the resort, each a caricature based on a few traits, represent a broad cross-section of humanity, and their reactions to the apocalyptic crisis are funny because they feel true. The exaggeration of personalities, like the overconfident fitness influencer or the girlfriend of a guy suffering from chronic self-doubt, creates moments of dark humor and satirical brilliance.

However, while the satire is strong, the rest of the book falters. Aside from Dan, very few characters are developed, and some of the storylines fizzle out instead of building toward anything impactful. Dan’s self-deprecating humor is initially charming but quickly becomes repetitive and stilted. There’s potential for deeper exploration of certain subplots, but these are unfortunately left underdeveloped, which could have added much-needed intrigue and depth to the narrative.

Ultimately, Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend provides enough entertainment to keep you reading until the resolution, but not much else. The humor, while initially engaging, grows tired, and several promising storylines are abandoned. Also, the book’s constant references to Rachel Platten’s "Fight Song" are excessive and, frankly, grating.

While the book might appeal to those who enjoy satirical social commentary, it falls short of being truly memorable due to its lack of character depth and the failure to fully develop its more interesting plot points.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my DRC!

Defying its own title, I dove into this book expecting one thing, only to be whisked away on a wild ride that I adored! It's a page-turner packed with zippy action, fantastic characters, and plot twists that explore human emotion and resilience. The pacing is perfect, with each chapter building suspense and intrigue, pulling me deeper into the story. I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

Sure, there were moments I wanted to shake Dan (the male lead) and even Mara, but Dan's redemption journey is so good that I couldn't not like him in the end! I literally LOL’d multiple times and got all misty-eyed, too! I don't want to spill any beans and spoil the fun, but imagine a mashup of Lord of the Flies and a movie which I won't name because, well, spoilers! This book is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year! Five stars. Do recommend.

This book was release August 2024 however I read the ARC provided by SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own. There was no obligation for a review in exchange for an advance copy, and no commitment to provide one.

Wassmer's debut is quite a ride! I really liked Dan and his sense of dark humor and his girlfriend was a hoot, too. For a first book, the character development was great, even with side characters and the ones you hate. While the humor was good, the Lord of the Rings aspect gave it a dark turn, too. There's also quite a twist near the end that you kind of see coming, but it's still a good one. All in all, I liked this book and look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Such an entertaining read! Who knew there could be a fun apocalypse? Witty and well written.
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend had a very decent plot. The book reminded me so much of Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy.

The foundation of this book could have made it an amazing read. It was like an apocalyptic comedy - very heavy on the dad jokes. But a lot the book was very cringey. It started out super slow, picked up and then.. well.. read the book.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer is a dark and satirical thriller that takes aim at the world of online reviews and the consequences of our digital actions. The story follows a disgruntled reviewer who takes their frustrations to dangerous extremes, leading to a suspenseful and gripping narrative. With sharp humor, a fast-paced plot, and an exploration of the impact of modern technology, this book offers a fresh and thought-provoking take on the dangers of anonymity and the power of the internet. Perfect for readers who enjoy dark humor mixed with suspense and social commentary.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer!

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is a dark, satirical take on the world of reviews and ratings. It’s funny, clever, and definitely has an edge, though it’s not for everyone.

I made it to about 20% in this book and just could not get into it. The writing style was all over the place and the storyline was weak. I didn't like any of the characters, either. Just not for me!

Truly unique plot that keeps the reader guessing. Was expecting a romance, but is more like an action packed movie of survival.

One of my favorite reads of the year. Such a unique, fresh read that I hadn't come across before. Part-hilarious, part-heartfelt but all pure fun and adrenaline, I genuinely loved every thing about it. I can't wait to read Wassmer's next book.

This was an interesting story that took me outside of my normal genres. I was expecting something a little lighter (I judged the book by its cover), and got more of of a doomsday dog-eat-dog tale. There was quite a bit of the story that I felt did drag, but I appreciated some of the humor and banter scattered throughout and felt that the ending was a surprise. I didn't expect the story to go where it did, and for that I applaud MJ Wassmer on his debut! I look forward to seeing what he produces in the future. Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this arc! This review was written after the book's publication date.

I am so sad I waited so long to read this, I would have nominated it for library reads! I don't usually read science fiction, and to be honest I didn't think that was what I was getting myself into, but I LOVED this! It was funny, kept me at the edge of my seat, but yet still dark and mysterious at the same time. Just really, really good!

Described as White Lotus meets Kevin Wilson, a man who finds himself trapped on an island resort after the sun explodes, and suddenly must choose whether to save himself from the chaos, or help the fellow guests make it off the island alive…

This was nothing at all like i expected when i picked it up, but found myself not able to put it back down!

Thanks for the digital copy!

While the premise is intriguing, the execution can feel uneven at times, with characters that lack depth and a plot that doesn't fully engage. Despite the witty commentary on modern society's obsession with validation, the book falls short in delivering a compelling story. Overall, it misses the mark, and I would not recommend it for readers looking for a meaningful or engaging read.

This one was OK for me! This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. However, it didn’t have me completely captivated by it. I really think it was a great read, and the characters were well developed, but the storyline wasn’t super there for me.

A totally unique Sci-fi/Thriller mashup that will make you laugh, quake, shake your head in wonder, and most of all, keep on reading as the story takes you into places heretofore completely unimaginable.

Dan Foster- our third person POV narrator, is a twenty-nine-year-old lovable angst-ridden loser — who also happens to be handsome, charming and really really drop-dead funny (the “loser” label, perhaps, existing only in Dan’s head, as his beautiful and sensitive girlfriend, Mara, would be the first to point out).

When Dan and Mara take a long-awaited vacation to an all-inclusive resort in the sun-soaked Bahamas, they have no idea that their world is about to change. Unbelievably, in fact. As that “sun”, so bright, and such a beautiful feature of any Caribbean island, is about to suddenly explode.

What happens next is about as outrageously frightening and catastrophic as a reader might expect. As the population of vacationers currently visiting the resort, (divided between three residences, ranging from high to low in the luxury of the experience offered) scramble to survive their dark and rapidly glaciating surroundings, Dan and Mara find themselves unwittingingly participating in what may be the strangest revolution to grace the pages of a literary novel. With savage chills redolent of Animal Farm, and an absurd grotesqueness deeply reminiscent of Kafka, our heros’ journey is like no other - guaranteed to intrigue, and captivate, right up to the unexpected (and totally satisfying) ending.

Highly recommended, (and did I mention, funny?) this reader is looking forward to reading more from this new (and very talented) author.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the e-ARC of the book.

This book is a satire on what could happen to the people who witnessed Sun explosion on a resort on a remote island.

It was fun and unexpected, some parts were unbelievable. The humor, the dialogues were excellent.