I went into this book only knowing that it was based on an end of the world scenario where the sun explodes and that was the extent of my knowledge of what it was about.
The book had me quite literally laughing out loud just from in the first few pages. The comedy in this one is GOLD. At first I thought I was possibly reading a romcom, as the two MC's are in a relationship and on a scheduled week long vacation together. However, though there is a sweet little underlying love story, this was more general fiction, mixed with thriller and part mystery. The storyline highlights social stratification in a humorous way. It's funny, yet almost sad if you truly think about how it mimics the mannerisms of peers in our society today.
There are some CRINGE characters that bring about some cringy moments in this book. However, even the less than desirable characters are necessary to the storyline...so I really can't complain...other than how one appears to walk away from everything unscathed, that irked me, but it also seemed plausible given the personality traits (sadly).
I'm a big proponent of not giving away any spoilers in my reviews...so it's hard to say much else without doing just that. Therefore I'll conclude with why someone should take a chance on this writers debut novel.
It's funny...did I already mention the comedic gold? The characters are relatable (chances are you're either one of the personalities portrayed or you know someone JUST like the characters in this story), its fast paced, the plot is well thought out and it keeps you guessing. I actually did not see the ending coming and was rather annoyed with myself that I didn't see it after it was all said and done, haha, but that's how enthralled I was by certain side characters and what I thought were their motives.
I thought there were a few times where the MMC makes his insecurities known and it started to get a little repetitive, it almost made him undesirable to "listen to" which can be tough since the book is from his POV, but at the same time I think it cemented who he was and how unlikely of a hero he would be, which is kind of the entire takeaway point from the story in my opinion.
Underestimate no-one, including yourself.
Oh! and..for the love of humanity...be mindful, if a pig wears pearls, it's still a pig...don't buy into their ponzi schemes ;-)

Wow! I really LOVED this book! I’m a huge fan of post-apocalyptic stories and then to find one that is funny, entertaining and also makes you think about humanity and how we cope with things is absolutely bonkers! I loved how this story wove itself together! The characters were great, the plot was even better, and the way it was written was ::chef’s kiss:: perfect! Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark & MJ Wassmer for a digital ARC of Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be honest, it was the title that snagged my attention! I use this phrase all the time, so I loved it! And after reading the synopsis, I was pleased to learn that this book fit right into one of the genres that I read & review the most.

Poor Dan, a total slacker, finally gets to take a luxury vacation with his girlfriend & then the sun explodes. Damn his luck!

Chaos ensures at the resort. It becomes a battle of the Haves and the Have-Nots for power as they all try to figure out how to survive without the literal sun. Somehow, Dan has become an unlikely source of hope to many of the other vacationers. But when he is faced with getting back to the mainland via a small plane that has been discovered, he has to decide if he wants to return as slacker Dan or if he wants to stay and be the hero that many of these people have begun to look toward in this new apocalyptic world.

I absolutely LOVED & devoured this book! Wassmer's writing is superb! This was my first read of his & I'm a total fan! It grabbed my interest from the very beginning and did not let go until the final word. It was so witty & funny, as well as heartwarming. I love a good underdog story.

While I hope I never have to find out what a post-apocalyptic world would be like, this was probably the most realistic version of what I would picture it to be that I've ever read.

This was a 5-Star read that I DO recommend! I will provide my review closer to release and 100% recommend it on IG!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend was an exciting book, with an excellent premise and even better characters. Dan and his girlfriend, Mara are vacationing in the Bahamas when the sun just… disappears. What follows is a study on humanity in a disaster, but with a dose of humor and a lot of heartbreak.

I would recommend this to any reader wanting a different book that sucks you in and won’t let go. It’s hard to describe but this captures every element needed for good reading, offering a little something for readers of every genre.

Five stars, wholeheartedly recommend!

I'm a fan of apocalyptic fiction, but this is the first such story I've read that made me laugh WHILE making me think. There's also a major plot point later in the book that I predicted, but only because it's my other "must-read" type of thing and I was hoping it would head in that direction.

So many people will enjoy this story -- and they're all going to want to talk about it with their friends when they finish. I expect to see it on bestseller lists, and I'll be very happy to do my part in spreading the word.

A huge thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital copy in advance of publication.

What a fun read! Loved journeying through what happens in a post-apocalyptic world with modern, relatable characters and a sense of humor. For instance, who can imagine a MLM Boss B*tch occupying a power vacuum? Wild and witty, yet touching and thought-provoking. Great stuff, so much fun, and can’t wait for more from this author. 5 stars!

It took me a bit to get into this book but once I did I was hooked! What a unique plot. I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

The premise of this book sounds great but the characters didnt do anything for me! I couldnt get into the story and was only able finish maybe half.

Zero Stars deserves five stars. This is such a fun story exploding with witty humor, satire and relatable characters that shine light to a dark-ish story. Your eyes will widen, your jaw will drop, you will laugh, you will gasp, you will want Bagel Bites. The future looks bright for debut author MJ Wassmer.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is a funny, satirical and insightful read, one that asks the questions: what would you do at the supposed end of the world?

I thought that the book had a great, strong start and an equally strong ending. However, I felt that the pacing during the middle seemed up and down at times, and the inclusion of another POV that I personally thought was a little bit strange in the switch-up, dragged it out for me. This book does have a solid cast of characters that were easy to be invested in and a great twist near the end that left me shocked. Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it if you’re looking for a fast-paced and humorous read, especially one that doesn’t try to take itself too seriously.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for providing this eArc. All opinions in this review are my own.

This is my first 5-star review of 2024, how exciting! The title of this book totally drew me in, and I'm so grateful because this was a definite step outside my usual genres. This book was a delight from start to finish - the main character's narration is quippy and hilarious while also being introspective and relatable, the plot is engaging and well-paced with just enough twists and turns, and the relationships between some of the couples are heart-wrenchingly beautiful. I would recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humor who's ever felt that they weren't living up to their full potential but hates self-help books.

I'm certainly looking forward to reading more from MJ Wassmer and picking up a physical copy of this novel when it hits the shelves! Thank you so much NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.

If there's any such thing as a fun apocalypse story, Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is definitely it. It's an unusual tale full of humor and heart and interesting characters, and overall it's a tremendously enjoyable read.

Dan Foster and his girlfriend Mara are at a resort on a remote island in the Bahamas when the sun explodes (which totally sounds like something that would happen to me when I'm trying to relax on vacation, by the way), and things only get worse from there when Lilyanna Collins, a fitness pyramid scheme CEO, takes control of the resort. And let me tell you, on the list of literary villains, Lilyanna is second only to Dolores Umbridge on the awfulness scale. As someone who stopped reading the Harry Potter series after The Goblet of Fire because I knew Umbridge would make an appearance in the next book (I'd already seen the films), Lilyanna was really hard for me to take. The only thing that made her bearable was knowing that she'd probably get her comeuppance in the end (and did she? I'll let you read the book to find out!).

But other than Lilyanna, this novel has a really fantastic cast of characters. Dan is a wonderfully funny – and kind of clueless – main character, and his girlfriend Mara is beyond feisty. The supporting characters are all unique and well-written, and I especially loved Beard Guy despite his very minor role in the story.

Although it's addressed in a humorous and entertaining way, class warfare is really the main issue at play in this book. Lilyanna, her goons, and the other Building A (that is, the wealthy) residents are pitted against the “commoners” from Buildings B and C. When people start dying under Lilyanna's iron-fisted rule, Dan and Mara must decide if they're up for leading the resistance.

While I did see the twist coming in advance of the big reveal (although not until probably the 65% mark or so), I absolutely loved it. It's not exactly the most plausible situation, but it is perfect in the context of this story. And it's hard to say anything else about it without spoiling things, so, in the words of the great philosopher Forrest Gump, “that's all I have to say about that.”

So, yeah. If you enjoy your apocalypse stories with some humor and rich people who behave very, very badly, you'll likely enjoy this one. 4.35 stars, rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

Dan Foster is finally taking a vacation with his long-term girlfriend at a new resort.
Then the sun explodes.

What happens next? Well, at this resort it quickly becomes a battle between the haves versus the have-nots over who gets food, etc.

This was a fun read. Part dystopian, part humor, part action.

I’m surprised this was a first novel and will definitely read more from the author.

I received this book for free from Netgalley but it did not influence my review.

Wooooow! This book was an unexpected read! I loved every page of it. The wittiness it was written with. The characters were so wonderfully sculpted and realistic. The storyline was unreal. It has “The Mist” vibes minus the scary monsters. It really put a magnifying glass to society and how we as a group cope and deal with unprecedented events. It showed that while there is good and compassionate people, there can also be ugly. It really had me questioning what I would do, and more importantly, would I survive. I highly reccommend this read to anyone who likes end-of-times stories with a sense of humour. A great debut book and can’t wait to read more from MJ Wassmer.

This book was so much fun. The entire cast of characters felt like real people and the book was both hilarious and heart wrenching. Highly recommend.

I had a really hard time getting into this book at first, but it was largely because of formatting issues. I'm hoping those are resolved before the book is ready for other readers. This is another dystopian, survivalist story, of which there have been many as of late...hopefully life doesn't imitate art...and it takes a group of really unlikeable people and throws them into a scenario that would bring out the worst parts of even the best people. It reminded me in some places of Lord of the Flies, and it was interesting to see Dan's character develop over the course of events.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The humor, wit, and sarcasm laced throughout the story kept me attentive and made me laugh out loud at several points. The cover and title drew me in immediately, and I finishing this read in less than a day due to how engrossed I was. I will be keeping an eye out for more titles from Wassmer!

I was captivated by this book—it was a truly unique experience that has left a lasting impression on me. With its creative flair, the book stands out as memorable. Deciding to judge the book by its cover rather than the summary proved to be an unexpected delight. It's an experience I would recommend to others, as going in without preconceptions enhances the journey. The narrative evokes a spectrum of emotions, ranging from humor to sorrow to anger.

I am particularly excited about the idea of this book being adapted into an audiobook. A talented narrator could really enhance the story, adding depth and dimension to the experience. It would be quite the treat to hear how a voice actor interprets the material.

I'm thankful to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for granting me an advanced reader copy of Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend.

Definitely an interesting read. Really loved the humor in this, and definitely didn’t expect the ending! It did feel a little repetitive in some parts, the “villain” for lack of a better word, in the earlier parts of the book, I don’t think needed as much spotlight as she had. After the first few speeches she made, I felt like I already knew what she was like as a person- but that could just be a preference of mine. I grew up around obnoxious religious people. Once you know one, you kind of know them all. It was a really enjoyable read for me other than that. A super creative concept!

I was immediately drawn in by the title of this book, and the story did not disappoint!

The book is well written and conceived, with a colorful cast of characters and an interesting premise. Dan is a relatable protagonist facing familiar challenges in his day-to-day life. But then the sun explodes and you get to see how an everyday guy reacts to the potential end of the world. Even in this fantastic, imaginative tale, the range of responses experienced among the characters was authentic and believable.

The book is part dark humor, part satire, part accurate representation of humanity's ridiculousness. The writing was sharp, and I couldn't stop thinking about it, even after the story ended. I was honestly a bit surprised to learn this was a debut novel. I can't wait to read more from MJ Wassmer!