Member Reviews

Zero stars do not recommend was a great book. It really kept me intrigued throughout the whole thing, I did not want to put it down. I will most definitely be buying this book just to read again. The ending was a complete twist and not at all what I had expected. I will most definitely be recommending this to anyone who asks for a good book to read. 11/10

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. It had lots of twists and turns and the last 1/3 of the book had me turning the pages. There were definitely moments that weren't as entertaining but ultimately a good read

Was this review helpful?

Imagine you are at an all-inclusive resort and the sun just melts away. This is an apocalyptic tale that is surprisingly funny and so different from my usual read.The sarcasm, the character stereotypes- it definitely grabbed my attention. And there were lots of plot twists and character development.
It was written as satire- and I’m glad I knew that going in- it made me enjoy it a lot more.
For a debut novel from MJ Wassmer, whose self-proclaimed passion is “writing silly things” - I can’t wait to read more.
4.25 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc!

Was this review helpful?

This was freaking hilarious from the first sentence. I did guess the twist, but it was still executed well. The character development was great. The writing was easy to follow. There were several movie references and even a Stephen King reference, which cracked me up. If you’re looking for an easy mindless read, pick this one up when it’s published on August 6th. It’s highly entertaining. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys apocalyptic books and going on vacation on a deserted island. Overall, I had a blast reading this.

10/10 for the cover 😍


Thank you to MJ Wassmer, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest voluntary review!

Was this review helpful?

I'll say it - I didn't expect for a book about the world ending to be funny, I have been proved wrong. 

Don't get me wrong, there are serious moments in here too, but the author has a great mix of both. This gives the whole story a more relatable feel. The characters are really well sorted out and you really get a sense of who they are… for better or worse.

Plus, the twist in the story really make it a worthwhile read! There was a few times reading it where I had to go “wait, what!?” Before continuing on.

I have already suggested this book to a friend!

Was this review helpful?

3.5 Stars.
Well, this book caught me by surprise, in a good way. I was not sure what to expect, as I chose it solely to complete my A-Z challenge. The premise of the story is on an apocalyptic event and how humans will show up in such an event. The writing was witty and displayed how by nature humans tend to group up or find a “tribe” in difficult times as a way to survive. The characters and the setting were well written. The author did a good job of showing how people have both a shadow and a light side and how a situation can exacerbate which side a human will tap into when in the face of a challenging situation. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and would recommend for someone looking for something different, yet light to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved the concept of this book! I loved the small nuggets of home I picked up from reading- TN stand up! The plot thickened as it moved along. It was witty and quite controversial in some aspects. The character development was interesting to follow as we neared the end. I will say that it felt like the book dragged on aimlessly for a minute which made me put it down for days at a time, I just became bored with reading it after-while.

Was this review helpful?

I was drawn in to this book by the cover and the title. I went into this book blind as I do most books and I am so glad I did. It was fun discovering the characters and watching their development throughout the book. I really enjoyed the humor the wit and the plot twists oh my! I love a book set in a post apocalyptic world. It had so many twists I didn't expect and just had me needing to keep reading so many times. This book definitely sucks you in and makes it hard to put down. Loved that it was different than most of the books that I usually read. I will definitely need a copy for my book shelf.


Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Not at all what I was expecting, but everything I wanted. Dan Foster may be my new favorite fictional character.

Wassmer has clearly spent time with Southern mega-church folks, because some of his characters could have been biographical. Absolutely hit the nail on the head.

In fact, his characterization of each social subset was nearly perfect - a testament to the author's travels, colorful acquaintances, or simply that he's a very skilled writer.

I thoroughly enjoyed every page, and am eagerly anticipating Wassmer's future efforts.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

This is a hilarious book about one man navigating the potential end of the world while stranded on an island resort with a bunch of panicked vacationers.

Dan is on vacation with his girlfriend at an island resort when the sun explodes. But the world doesn't immediately end, curiously enough; they're just plunged into darkness. There's some panic, of course, and then when reality sets in, Dan has to figure out who he can trust and how to get them all out of this situation. Told through Dan's hilarious, often sarcastic and self-deprecating voice, this is a very funny look at how the potential end of the world might go. I loved all the commentary on class differences -- it was so spot on -- and how vividly the characters are drawn. 5 stars, would recommend this book to anyone looking for a funny and thought-provoking read.

Was this review helpful?

This is not my typical genre but the title looked interesting.

A couple go on vacation and while on vacation - the sun explodes. Follow along as they figure out what to do and whether they join an alliance to get necessities and survive.

Interesting book. Funny and dark!

Was this review helpful?

Loved the White Lotus vibes of this books. It was very entertaining. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an early copy! Loved the satire and wittiness throughout the story.

Was this review helpful?

I was drawn to the title and cover, and stayed for the plot! Funny, dark, a wild ride from start to finish. Kudos on this great debut novel. I don't to give anything away, but this book is certainly what you least expect on so many levels!

Was this review helpful?

Zero stars was an amazing read from start to finish! The title sucked me in, then reading it was so fun and unlike my typical genre!! Highly recommend you read this book when released!! Looking forward for more books from MJ Wassmer!!

Was this review helpful?

Dan is enjoying an all-inclusive vacation with his girlfriend when the sun explodes. The resort turns to class warfare when the elite guests determine themselves the ruling class.

This is definitely one of my favorite reads this year. It had the perfect mix of humor and darkness. It is laugh out loud funny, despite some serious tragic events occurring. It’s very clever and the characters true to life. We all know a Lenny and Lillyanne (unfortunately). This will be a hit for 2024!

“Each of us is just figuring this out as we go. There’s no playbook, or secret to success, or even one definition of why the hell success is.”

Zero Stars Do Not Recommend comes out 8/6.

Was this review helpful?

Four stars, do recommend! I was immediately drawn in by the interesting title of this book and the storyline kept me on my toes. The story is about a couple who goes on a vacation to a new resort and when they're there, the sun blows up. The couple and other guests are forced to work together to come up with ways to survive. I took a chance on this one thinking it wouldn't be what I usually enjoy but I am so glad I did. I really enjoyed the satire and wit throughout the book and would recommend to my audience. Full review coming about a month before publication per publisher.

Was this review helpful?

What a fun read. I loved everyone’s unique personalities, and the banter was unmatched.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Wow, such a fascinating read. I've never read anything like it! The two main characters were interesting, I enjoyed them the most and truly loved watching their character development throughout the story. It had so many twists I didn't expect and just had me on the edge of my seat many times. Many cute moments that made me giggle as well. This is in 3rd person, which was really hard for me to get into for many chapters due to that factor. I took off 1 star for that and the way the MMC descriptive states things from the 3rd person perspective. If it would've been in first person POVs I think this would've been a brilliant book!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

Was this review helpful?

This book was different from anything I've ever read before. It is hilarious and full of fun with relatable characters and unlikely friendships.

Was this review helpful?

Wassmers writing is so easy to fall into and devour. It was witty and funny and just an overall good time!

Was this review helpful?