⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(4/5)

This kinda gave This is the End vibes but make it a vacation time end of world book. A very fun and unique concept!! Four Stars, definitely recommend. ;) Perfect summertime read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

This book sucked me in from the first page. I loved The White Lotus vibes it had. But really any locked door mystery always makes me happy. This book also had so many other tropes I loved, which I can’t say or they would be a spoiler. This is a page turner that will keep you up all night trying to figure out the mystery. Unlike the title, I do recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks and MJ Wassmer for an eARC for an honest review of the book.

Hilarious and sobering. Characters are well fleshed out and believable. Great pacing and kept me interested. Dan is the reluctant hero we all need at the end of the world!

Wassmer's post-apocalyptic novel was a delight from start to finish. Our narrator's sarcastic brain was a wonderful vantage point for experiencing the fallout of a cataclysmic event at an all inclusive resort. The inevitable divisions that emerge, the small skirmish as a leader is selected, the strain and formation of relationships - the messy beginnings of a societal system with all its flaws. There are many inevitables but also many surprises. A gratifying think-piece of a beach read.

This book was such a joy to read! It's the first book in over four years on Bookstagram that caught my attention through a sponsored ad (major kudos to this man's wife—her videos are fantastic!) I was so excited to get approved for a NetGalley copy. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down!

It's like a modern-day Animal Farm, but set on an island. When the sun explodes, cutting off all contact with the outside world, uncertainty grips the island's vacationers. With no way of knowing if help will ever arrive, divisions quickly emerge and chaos ensues. The characters are somewhat clichéd—an underachieving protagonist, his optimistic fiancée, the MLM tycoon and her entourage of boss babes, the strongmen who can easily be paid off, the quirky astronomer, the hopeless rich entrepreneur—but the author's witty portrayal of each had me laughing. I pre-ordered the book immediately and can't wait to share my physical copy with friends! It's the perfect lighthearted summer read for a vacation getaway.

Lord of the Flies goes on vacay ☠️☀️
This was a darkly hilarious mess (I say affectionately).

There was some predictability in the plot, but the twists were executed in a satisfying way. The characters had a Glass Onion lovable caricature vibe to them, and the humor was somehow both over the top and tongue in cheek? The scene of the main characters baby talking at gunpoint had me cackling.

Overall this was a very enjoyable read and I devoured the whole thing in one day.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC!

ZERO STARS, DO NOT RECOMMEND is MJ Wassmer's debut, but it certainly doesn't read like one. It's about an average guy, on an average Caribbean vacation, having a perfectly average day... until the sun goes out. It becomes survival of the fittest as everyone on the island competes for resources and supplies, makes alliances and enemies, and tries to find a way home to see their loved ones before the end.

This was one of the most enjoyable reading experiences this year, with literally laugh out loud one liners, despite the dire circumstances the characters find themselves in. It gets intense sometimes, but the darkness is cut with levity, which is exactly what I'm looking for in a summer read. It's one of my favorite books I've read this year.

Venturing into 'Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend' was an unexpected journey into chaos. Set in a vacation paradise turned survival nightmare after the sun explodes, Dan and Mara navigate a world gone mad. Wassmer’s narrative grips with its dark humor and unpredictable twists, akin to a modern-day Lord of the Flies. While the premise is intriguing and the cover enticing, the execution left me questioning its dated humor and scientific inconsistencies. Despite its flaws, Wassmer delivers a wild ride that keeps you glued till the end.

I tried … I really did with “Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend” by MJ Wassmer. This book is supposed to be satirical - okay, but it wasn’t my type of humor - in fact, it felt very dated. I thought the concept was interesting, but that was about it (okay, the cover’s also pretty dang cool - kudos to the illustrator). But shortly after the sun explodes, my scientific brain kicked in … and things just didn’t make sense. I’m okay suspending scientific facts, but the fact that people were concerned about Internet made me think that people at the vacation get-away were not the brightest … and that’s when I figured out what was going on. Not the book for me … and if you cannot ignore basic scientific facts, this won’t be the book for you either [unless you can and are okay with insulting so-called humor and put-downs). Great concept … but I wish the book had lived up to that very promising cover!

Thank You, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark
Publish Date: Aug 6th, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

thrilling novel that begins with Dan and Mara's vacation at a newly opened resort. Their peaceful getaway is shattered when the sun explodes, plunging everyone into a desperate struggle for survival. Stranded on the island with no way to contact the mainland United States, Dan, Mara, and the other guests must navigate the chaos and fight to stay alive. Wassmer masterfully builds tension, creating a fast-paced and gripping narrative. The resort, initially a paradise, quickly becomes a sora-like cult because they start to ration food and shower time you have to do a certain time depending on what building you are in building A is in charge of everyone they are super rich and building B is the middle class and C is slightly lower than B.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend" explores themes of resilience and community. Wassmer’s vivid descriptions and relentless pacing make the catastrophic scenario feel real and urgent.

Wow I truly truly had no idea what I was getting into with this book. Don't let the cover fool you, this one is intense. It has some funny moments, in fact it has a lot of funny dialogue. But it's also some version of Lord of the Flies with the rich and the less rich vs the children.

And like Lord of the Flies, it has some moments that really make you question humanity. It goes in unpredictable directions even when you think you understand what's going on. I had lots of issues with it but I have to admit that I read the whole thing in one sitting and I could not put it down, so that alone means it's a four-star read for me.

It gets bonus points for being a crazy, wild ride.

with gratitude to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This was such an interesting book and unlike anything I'd ever read before. You get two main characters and you get both of their perspectives throughout the book. However, it is written in third person which makes it a little hard to really fully get into the characters and I couldn't get into the book for a little while because of that.

That being said, you still get a book full of twists and turns. There were so many points in this book where it took a turn I was not expecting and it led to a completely different path of events that was going to happen. I did enjoy the book once I got used to the point of view writing style.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend was entertaining and thought provoking. The author's sense of humor was fun and kept the book light, yet not too much joking to keep the plot from being believable. The characters were well thought out, and stayed true to their form through out the book. It had some plot twists to keep you guessing. It was thought provoking to keep you guessing what was happening and what was going to happen next. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

Five Stars, DO recommend! I had to check this one out based solely on the title. It was definitely a chance worth taking. The sense of humor and sarcasm this book has is unmatched. This plot was very unique and unlike any other that I've read. The main characters were interesting and relatable. Who knew the world ending could be so entertaining.

Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately I do not think I was the right person to read this book. I was so intrigued by the premise but the stream of conscience writing of the main character really detracted from the story for me. He seemed very shallow and maybe if I had gotten further into the book I would have felt differently.

Love the idea though

The title alone pulled me in, but the story itself was just as mesmerizing in the most wacky, fun way. In "Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend," Dan and his girlfriend Mara enjoy a vacation on a small, pristine island in the Bahamas. And then, without any warning, the sun explodes, and all hell breaks loose.

I can't imagine there are too many funny novels about apocalyptic events, but this was full of great one-liners. I enjoyed reading how different hierarchies within the hotel formed, which I'm sure is more true-to-life than one would like. The villains were almost cartoonishly evil, but that just made the story even more entertaining.

The book had a great twist, and I plowed through the rest because I just HAD to know how it ended. Overall, this was the perfect quick summer read that I bet would make a fabulous movie.

Zero Stars Would Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer is a hilariously unique tale about a couple on vacation when, quite unexpectedly, the sun explodes. This catastrophe sets the stage for a story that blends humour with chaos, evoking a funny "Lord of the Flies" vibe. Adding to the mix is a quirky MLM pyramid scheme cult leader, making the narrative even more intriguing and satirical.

I absolutely loved the witty humour in the book; it had me laughing out loud multiple times. The banter and one-liners were engaging, keeping the tone light amidst the chaos. It's hard to believe this is MJ Wassmer's first book, as the writing felt polished, and the humour was spot on.

The slow start was a downside, making it a little challenging to get into the story initially. Additionally, there were some formatting issues, which I suspect were due to the ARC version I received.

Despite these minor drawbacks, I plan to buy the book when it comes out, as I'd love to have it on my bookshelf. The humour and unique storyline make Zero Stars Would Not Recommend a memorable read worth revisiting.

Thank you to MJ Wassamer, NetGalley, and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the opportunity to read this novel. It will be on sale on August 6th, 2024.

Dan and his girlfriend, Mara, finally have gotten their beach vacation at a new all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas. Their relaxation plans did not, however, include the sun exploding, and vacation nightmares ensue. Morals, class, and societal norms are all explored in this dystopian travelogue that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

An interesting premise and plot and overall I would say this is a “story” that I enjoyed. Unfortunately, the writing style just felt amateur and parts that I felt like it was goofy comments that were from a teenager show. I enjoyed the twist in the ending and wanted to know what would happen.

Dan and Mara are just beginning their vacation at a brand new resort on a tiny island in the Bahamas when the sun explodes. The resort becomes chaos as everyone tries to find a way off the island, and an MLM boss babe takes over, assigning jobs and rationing food, water, and electricity. Will they get off the island? How long can they survive without the sun?

The first half of this book was a slow read for me. It didn’t quite hook me until about the midway point when things really started to get interesting.

Overall, I give this book 3 stars. It was a little bit of everything - funny at times, dark, mysterious, absolutely chaotic, and I was pleasantly surprised with the twist.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for the advanced copy.