A vacation on a tropical island with no (sun)shine? What else could go wrong? This was a survival story with so many unexpected twists and turns that triggered some deep and concerning “what if” thoughts. The sarcastic voice of twenty-nine year old Dan, and the assorted vacationers, were entertaining as they struggled to survive in this isolated and dangerous post-apocalyptic world.

Keep writing “silly things” Mr. Wasserman; this was such a creative and detailed story.
(Bagel Bites and pretzels have even made it on to my grocery list this week!)

I’m so happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of the debut novel Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend; thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark.

I received this as an ARC and loved it, though not what I expected. Based on cover art alone I thought it would be a cute beach read probably a bit of cutesy romance.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The book is funny & the (new) author clearly doesn’t take himself too seriously, but in the best possible way.

Dan and Mara, a young-ish couple embark on a 2 week vacation on a remote island in the Bahamas at a new resort….built by some rich kid with too much of mommy’s money and no idea how to run anything. Then the sun explodes and all the guests are left wondering WTF to do, what now, what happens with no sun?!

The resort is *almost* the only thing on the island and has 3 “hotel” type buildings on it, which ends up creating quite a class system & of course, as you’d expect when the end of the world is near, your friends and family are back home with no way to communicate, things don’t go well, like at all.

The author kept this light and relatable, writing out what most of us would honestly be thinking (& the MLM tie in was awesome!). He crafted male and female main characters, but not in traditional ways or roles which I thoroughly enjoyed, especially from a male author, if I’m being honest. I’ll say I was starting to slowly put pieces together, connect some dots & still I managed to be surprised by quite the twists, by 60% through (on kindle) I couldn’t put it down and was awake until 4:30am this morning to finish it.

I don’t want to say too much or I’ll give away some of the fun twists and turns, but this was way better then I ever imagined! I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for future books!

This book takes places at an island resort. Many couples are here for a nice, relaxing vacation. Unfortunately, things take a turn. Everyone staying at the resort is suddenly moved to take action. People divide themselves according to the section of the resort they are staying in. This seems to correlate with social class to a certain extent. Each group does whatever they can to stock up on supplies and any kind of protection items. Things on this island become tense. People are relying on whatever means necessary to make sure to survive this situation. This book gives the reader insight into what is transpiring on this island during an emergency situation. The strength of the couples’ bonds are put to the test. We get to witness the individuals showing love to their partners. This book is full of some intense scenes, but also a huge plot twist. It really shows the reality of how people behave when a tragic situation is occurring.
I enjoyed this story. I felt like it had a deeper meaning since individuals responded to the situation in different ways. This story was fast paced at certain points. It really highlighted the intensity of the situation. It was very neat to see how some people bonded together, while others just focused on themselves. The author’s writing was well done. I found that it was easy to picture different scenes. The author did a great job of setting the scene and capturing the behaviors of many characters. This book was an easy and engaging read. I became invested in the characters as the story progressed.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend interested me from the beginning and comparing it to White Lotus, which I enjoy. The book was somewhat fun, but it just kept getting more far-fetched. I guess that was the point, but it took me a while to finish it.

In retrospect, the title is freaking hilarious. This is not a book I would typically read. It is about the sun actually exploding. Dan, our main character, is joined by a band of lovable, kooky resort guests who are all plunged into darkness, and who must decide whether to try and escape, or stay and fight. Such a unique premise for a book! I loved the extreme wealth aspect!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this novel. I can see it's gotten a lot of good reviews, so I'm definitely in the minority here. The novel depended on a big twist that I guessed at the beginning, so that didn't help. I could not convince myself to care about any of the characters. It was just not my bag.

Between 3.5-3.75 stars rounded up.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Publishing - thank you!

What an interesting concept for a book! Dan Foster and his girlfriend arrive at the grand opening of an all inclusive resort on an island in The Bahamas. Very quickly into their stay the sun explodes/disappears from existence. The guests on the island have to figure out together how to navigate being stuck on an island during an apocalypse. This quickly goes wrong when the richer of the guests try to take over and the poorer/middle class guests get fed up with their abuse of power.

The last roughly 1/3 of the book is insane and takes you on a wild ride. I did see the twist coming but I love that I was correct about it. The middle part lost me a little bit with the politics and slowed me down a little bit, but it’s definitely worth it because you need to see how the politics/class wars play out for the ending. I didn’t know what to think going into this one; but it had a Lord of the Flies feel, but with adults and while on a tropical resort vacation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!
Reviewed on Goodreads. Overall enjoyed this book. The narrator’s voice is witty/sarcastic, a lot of hints dropped along the way that lead to a good wrap up, enjoyed how none of the characters were really that great. It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I passed 50% I finished it pretty quickly. A couple of character arcs that didn’t fully make sense, but overall really liked the story, dots that get connected, and how it ends. I would read another book by this author, and I would recommend this read if you like funny end-of-the-world stories.

5* Highly Recommended! Truly flabbergasted……I didn’t see it coming!! The characters are spot on for how people would react during an apocalypse. Some got what they deserved, others not what they deserved, and the one I truly hated, should have got more than she deserved. Thank you for a great book, this is truly a great first book for a new author. Read this book!!!,

This book was a hilarious approach to the post-apocalyptic genre. As an elder millennial, former so called gifted child I related a lot to Dan's feelings about his life and not fufilling the sky high expectations of your potential. There were multiple characters that I've encountered the same type of person in real life - especially MLM girl boss Lilyanna. Wassmer's writing is beautiful and hilarious, and it really captures the harsh realities of life while gently reminding us even in the darkest times, there's always hope. This book is a must-read if you're looking for a humorous and unforgettable story.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M.J. Wassmer, The book starts with Dan and Mara on the beach at the T-Soak resort in the Bahamas. It is the first vacation they’ve ever taken since their two year relationship began and it will be one they won’t soon forget. Because while on the beach enjoying the whole vibe of the adult resort they hear an explosion and realize the sun has burnt it self out. Needless to say people panic and run to their respective rooms in the three buildings offered to guest; building A are the super rich, building B is for middle class and building C are those probably vacationing on a payment plan. When everyone is called together on the great lawn they’re introduced by the owner Mr. Sheredan to a researcher of astrology name Dr.Shey. He does his best to calm the guest down but they still have questions it isn’t until the next morning when all the guest from BNC wake up that they learned someone has already taken charge and has a game plan for everyone on the island well everyone in buildings BNC. Her name is Liliana and she’sa visitent from building A, Who made her fortune from a body positive pyramid scheme for women. She starts a ridgid plan with ration cards work schedules and has narcissistic psychopath Rico in charge of security. When they try to start an uprising someone is killed and when “low self-esteem” Dan finds hisself with the bull horn in hand this is how he becomes the group spokes person. Dan is the one everyone will look too to see what their next move is going to be, if only they knew Dan has no idea! Okay once again there is a lot to this book and it’s way too much to put in this review. Just know; people will die, there will be a wedding, all the food and medicine or stolen, and all this while the Island gets colder and colder. There’s also a broken down Cessna six Cedar plane The Dan’s friend Allen says he can fix and Dan wants him and Mara to have a seat on it when it leaves the island. The only problem is Mara doesn’t want to abandon everyone else on the island and she wants Dan to choose to stay and help. Will Dan prove he is everything Mara thinks he is or will he turn out to be the loser he believes hisself to be? This was the best book I have ever read in my life! The whole time I read this book I kept picturing it as a movie and what a brilliant movie it would be because it is an absolutely awesome book. I got so wrapped up reading this book it only took me two sessions to finish it. From the stellar writing the great world building an awesome characters in love to route four I can honestly say this is the best book ever I laughed even when I didn’t know I was about to laugh so many LOL moments in this book and I just loved it and totally totally absolutely recommend it. It is definitely on the list of the few books that I will definitely read again.#SourcebooksLandmark, #NetGalley, #MJWassmer, #ZeroStarsDoNotRecommend,

I'm obsessed with this book. From the premise of the sun exploding and the world ending while on vacation, to all the whacky apocalyptic shenanigans like knitting winter clothes with hotel towels, to Dan's wholesome relationship with Mara--it's an absolute joy to read. Wassmer writes with a dry humor that I could read forever. I especially love the MLM commentary and that whole plotline. The less you know, the better--just buy this book and dive into it knowing you will have a blast!!!

I was really excited to read this book, but the writing style and editing are unbearable to get through. I tried to push through, but I couldn’t do it. I wish the best for this author and hope other readers enjoy it!

Great premise. This book had an engaging start, an exciting twist, and a compelling conclusion. I was able to feel the confusion and the frantic chaos of the situation as it was translated through the writing.

However, I did have a few issues with this book. It was slow around the middle. There was one confusing, non-sequitur section. And there were some grammatical choices that I wasn't a fan of.

Good start. Good conclusion. Good tension. There were just a few issues that could have used some tweaking.

This is like an episode of the office but on a tropical island and the sun has gone out.

Dan finds himself a reluctant leader of an uprising when the sun goes out on a trip to the Dominican. Part Lord of the Flies, part social satire, this wild trip of a book will have you flipping pages like no one's business.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is a hilarious look at societal degradation and breakdown when the world is ending. The characters are all very typical of this kind of story but there ends up being a lot of heart and you can't help but fall for their stories.

thank you to net galley for letting me get my hands on this early because i absolutely LOVED it. makes me want to participate in an apocalypse. it’s witty, it’s funny and i highly recommend it.

4.5 stars!!

A beautiful brand new beach resort in the Bahamas, an exploding sun, class warfare, rebellions aplenty, heroes and anti-heroes abound in this brilliant speculative satirical story!! I could not get enough of this book!! Stories of how humans react in moments of crisis, stories with an eat the rich mentality, stories about surviving despite insane unreal odds will always fascinate me.

Our unlikely hero(?) Dan just wants to enjoy his first vacation in years and relax by the beach with his girlfriend Mara, when all of a sudden- the sun seemingly explodes right above them and the world is plunged into darkness. He quickly joins ranks with fellow vacationers Alan, Charles, and Lenny to get their way off the island on an old plane- only to be stopped by dictator-in-waiting, Queen of MLM Lilyanna. What follows is an insanely intriguing (and incredibly frustrating) bout of class divisions with rationing, chores, guerilla style guards, and rebellion plans after rebellion plans.

And that’s only just scratching the surface of what this book is truly about (since obviously I don’t want to ruin the fun)!!! 10/10 would read again- and recommend highly!!

Thank you so much to MJ Wasserman and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I was really hoping this would be a “fun” apocalypse story, but there was honestly too much death and violence for it to feel comedic! Instead it was a stark view on the human condition, and a sociological look on what happens during catastrophes and power vacuums. There were some good satirical lines sprinkled throughout, but overall it was a little too cavalier with the intense stuff. That being said, it was a really interesting book and I definitely enjoyed reading it!

🌈Queer rep: Secondary gay male characters, MM relationship.

This one was just ok for me, rounded up to 3.5 stars.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is a funny, satirical and thought provoking read, one that asks the questions: How would you behave if you think you’re witnessing the end of the world?

What I Loved:
the voice. I haven’t read realistic dialogue like this in a long time. The sarcasm was top notch, without feeling forced. I also love stream of consciousness.

The cast of characters: for an “ensemble” cast, most of them were very fleshed out.

The commentary on classism and socioeconomics.

The entire premise

The first 1/3 and last 3/3

What I think missed the mark:
The middle.

Mara - For quite a bit, I was unsure if Dan and Mara actually liked each other, or if their relationship would fall apart. Mara’s character definitely shines towards the end, but I feel like she should have shown more of her background and personality throughout.

The violence - while most of the book is goofy and light hearted, there was a lot of brutality that felt out of place

Overall, this was a fun quick read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves a dialogue/monologue heavy story.

### Book Review: Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M J Wassmer

I had a really fun time reading this. "Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend" by M J Wassmer is a whip-smart social satire that combines the tense drama of "White Lotus" with the quirky charm of Kevin Wilson's storytelling. The book offers a thrilling, yet humorous take on a man, Dan Foster, who suddenly finds himself in an apocalyptic scenario after the sun explodes during his vacation.

Dan and his girlfriend Mara share a delightful dynamic. Their banter and genuine connection make it clear they are not just a couple but also best friends. This relationship adds a layer of heart to the otherwise chaotic narrative.

Dan is incredibly relatable. He's a self-proclaimed underachiever who would rather avoid conflict, but the end of the world doesn’t exactly allow for much avoidance. His journey from a passive vacationer to an accidental hero is both humorous and inspiring.

The book does an excellent job of showcasing human nature under stress. As elite guests commandeer supplies and tensions rise, the natural class system reveals itself, leading to some sharp social commentary. While the situation is dire, Wassmer manages to infuse plenty of humor, making the darker themes more palatable.

The evolution of Dan is quite enjoyable, and Mara's unwavering love for him adds depth to the story. Her acceptance of Dan as he is makes their relationship a standout element.

M J Wassmer has immense talent, skillfully balancing comedy with authentic reflections on the human psyche. "Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend" is a satirical gem that left me eagerly anticipating more of their work.