What would you do if the Sun exploded while you were on a vacation in the Bahamas? Zero Stars Do Not Recommend explores a post apocalyptic world where everyone has to fight to survive on a tropical island.

Not gonna lie, this one took me a bit to get through. I am not a huge fan of plain fiction books, but this book is anything but plain. I have not laughed so much reading a book in forever. This has it all: romance, murder, intrigue, mystery, and a deep dive into the human psyche while keeping it grounded in a sense of reality.

Obviously, this book has already been published, but if you haven't picked it up yet, I highly recommend it.

More like 3.5 stars for me.

I thought the overall premise was intriguing - The main characters are Dan and Mara, and they're on a tropical vacation in paradise, when the sun explodes. What follows is how all of the resort guests respond to and deal with the lack of light, allocating resources on the island, etc. The resort is already set up to divide its guests based on class, and those ramifications are heightened as the power dynamics of the groups play out. It had a "Lord of the Flies" feeling to it at times.

Some parts of the book were engaging, some were funny, and some went completely off the rails in an over the top way. Unfortunately the ridiculousness of some of the plot overshadowed the parts I liked and ultimately this book just didn't land for me.

This was wild and far-fetched and didn’t do it for me. I wanted to like it so much more than I did. The story had a good concept but the way it was executed wasn’t for me.

I am so so sorry, I really did not vibe with this book. It might be a good book for someone, and I would encourage those to give it a try but I struggled to connect and have the story pull me in. Sorry.

Really unique take on the post-apocalyptic novel. I had a great time reading this, however the humor did start to feel pretty repetitive after a while. Would still recommend to anyone looking for a funny, unique story.

DNF. The characters and plot line were interesting but I just wasn’t invested at all in this. I think this has a lot of potential but it just wasn’t for me. I listened to both the audiobook and tried reading the e-book but I couldn’t get into it. To me it wasn’t funny but I could tell the author was trying a little too hard, and even though it was supposed to a parody I couldn’t get over the social injustice of the rich taking over. It bothered me so much , I know it would probably happen in real life so I don’t want to read about it too. I think this would appeal to a lot of people but I don’t thinks it for me

Thanks to NetGalley, RB Media, Sourcebook Landmark, and MJ Wassmer for the e-ARC and ALC

I don’t know what I was expecting going into this book, but a funny story about the sun exploding was definitely not it. I hardly ever read book synopses, and it was a lot of fun to dive right into the plot of this one and get swept up in something so unique. (Should I have paid more attention to the cover? Probably.)

There were a lot of things I enjoyed. I loved the humour. The author did a great job of including satire while still keeping things heartwarming and a bit panic-inducing. I also LOVED the plot twist. Did not see that coming in a million years. Once I hit about the 70% mark, I flew through the rest of the book because I was totally blown away.

Unfortunately, I found that the rest of the book before the twist didn’t interest me the same. It was cool and I liked it, but there was no desire for me to pick it back up and keep reading. I think it could’ve been a bit shorter to maintain the investment of the reader.

Although my rating is a bit on the lower side, I recommend you check it out if the premise sounds interesting to you. It could be a winner!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for my gifted copy!

Imagine going on an incredible vacation, only to be soon left fighting for your life. This dark humor novel was entertaining and fun!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

Oh my goodness! This is the most amazing contemporary adult version of Lord of the Flies ever! Seriously you need to read this!

# Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend
# 8/20/2024 ~ 8/22/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0

4.5 stars rounded up. This book was so much fun to read. I really had a hard time putting it down and had to resist the urge to jump to the end to see how things worked out. Definitely the most entertaining apocalyptic book I've read.

The characters were great in this one. I really liked all of them. Even the villains were fun to hate. The class warfare was fun in an entertaining, timely way.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

At the start of this novel, main character Dan and his girlfriend Mara on vacation in the Bahamas at the grand opening of a new resort - when out on the beach one day, everyone sees the sun melt and go dark. As they prep for the end of the world, things quickly go crazy, and Dan and Mara are left trying to figure out how to survive, how to get back to the mainland, and how to help the other people at the resort from the craziness that ensues at the resort.

Despite the end of the world premise, this book is more satirical/funny than serious. It’s entertaining and page turning, but the satire was a little over the top for me. I feel like the author was trying for a John Scalzi vibe but didn’t quite get there. It definitely was a fun read though and I’d definitely try the next book by this debut author.

3.75 stars

Dan Foster's vacation paradise turns into chaos when the sun explodes, plunging the island into darkness and sparking a rebellion among elite guests. As he faces a choice between escaping with his girlfriend or leading a fight for survival, Dan unexpectedly becomes a beacon of hope in the apocalyptic upheaval.

This book was so funny and just outrageous. I found myself giggling at so many funny lines and witty remarks. It felt very millennial coded which is a yes from me.

It is an apocalyptic world when the sun explodes and everything is dark. People go on power trips, start rationing food, and forcing people to work. Dan is the person people turn to, which he finds baffling.

I absolutely ADORED our main cast of characters. They were a hoot. I loved Mara and Dan so much, and how much they loved each other. That wedding was chaotic to the highest degree and I was here for it.

The action from the story never lets up at all, and I found myself really looking forward to reading. I was incredibly happy with the book and am SO happy I read it!!

Thank you to the publisher for this digital copy to review!

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is utterly fantastic, over-the-top, often hilarious, fun reading - which is a feat when you consider it's a plot about the end of the world.

I love a good apocalypse plot and this one is certainly unique - a couple is on vacation on a remote island when the sun explodes in the sky and the world is thrown into chaos. Everything from here is a race to navigate their new reality as the resort they are staying on devolves into chaos. There is SO MUCH ACTION in this book, and the characters are just so much fun to follow along with - and the twists are fast and furious and impossible to guess.

This book is also just filled with perfect laugh out loud moments - the absurdity of the situation paired with the deadpan responses by Dan as a lead character are perfectly crafted. Dan is the most delightfully flawed man, who is all too aware of his shortcomings and completely confused by the fact everyone else seems to see him as some sort of revolutionary leader. That combines for the ideal combination of entertainment and kept me glued to the page.

Overall this is pure, easy entertainment, popcorn thriller fun. Literally the most ideal book for end of summer TBR's when you want something satisfying, a little silly and wholly enjoyable to read. Be sure to grab yourself a copy.

Many thanks to the publisher for the copy!

Do not let the title fool you!!! Stars are definitely recommended! This title is it folks! Honestly this title screams, read me!!! I need this book to be a movie!

I was excited to read this book and it far exceeded my expectations. It read like a summer blockbuster movie and it was hard to put down. It was definitely one of my favorites reads of the year so far!

Just finished "Zero Stars Do Not Recommend" by M.J. Wassmer and was instantly intrigued by the wild premise—a tropical vacation interrupted by the sun exploding! I didn’t know what to expect, and the story took some surprising turns. Without giving anything away, I had a hunch about the ending, but the journey to get there was still enjoyable. Solid 3 stars for keeping me hooked!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early!

It is so hard to write a review without spoilers but this book was a rollercoaster comedy and plot twists! There is nothing but action right from the beginning and it’s non stop throughout. I’m normally not a huge dystopian novel fan but this was so beautifully mixed with comedy popping up often and in the most unexpected moments that it makes it an incredibly enjoyable read.

I immediately was drawn to Dan and Mara’s characters and liked them more and more as everything progressed. They were a perfect pair in every way.

I am such a huge fan of the conclusion and explanation of this novel! It’s one I will think about for a long time to come! So impressed - for a book called Zero Stars Do Not Recommend, I thankfully couldn’t agree less!

So, initially, I grabbed this book because the cover led me to believe it was a rom-com. Wrong! Insert buzzer sound here.
You could call it a modern-day Lord of the Flies, and you wouldn’t be far off, but there’s so much more to this book. It’s got a mix of romance, mystery, sci-fi, thriller, and satire. Like Lord of the Flies, it forces us to consider what would happen if the worst-case scenario became reality. What would society look like if our systems of law and order collapsed and we were left to fend for ourselves?
Who among us, male or female, hasn’t felt like Dan at some point in our lives? That kid in school who was told they could be anything they wanted but ended up only achieving mediocrity? And who doesn’t wrestle with the question of what it means to be a man or a woman and the stereotypes that go along with that? Mara is amazing in this story, loving Dan for who he is rather than who she could mold him into. She’s a total badass.
The writing is sharp; it’s funny while tackling some terrifying ideas and notions. The one-liners are hysterical, and the relationship between Dan and Mara is delightful to read. And who would ever expect a Bible-thumping preacher’s wife, who also happens to be an MLM creator, to be the one who stages a coup and steals all the food and power? But, as with all stories, not everything is as it seems, and there’s more going on at the resort than meets the eye.
I’d describe this as a “soft” thriller, not because it’s overly scary, but because it still gives you that anxious, “OMG, what’s going to happen next?” feeling that thrillers do. If you’re a fan of the Finlay Donovan or Riley Thorn books, I think you’ll really enjoy Zero Stars Do Not Recommend. As always, read it yourself and see what you think. I went in expecting a rom-com, but it turned out to be so much better!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy. Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is an apocalyptic story that also has humor in it. The two main characters are Dan and Mara. They are vacationing at a private island resort. On the morning of their second day, the sun suddenly explodes. This plunges everything into chaos. Dan and Mara end up fighting for their lives. I believe that there were similarities to Lord of the Flies. I enjoyed the story overall. I do feel like it was a bit hard to get into, but around the half way mark, I did not want to put the book down. I did guess what would happen.

This is the silliest, most ridiculous, lighthearted quirky romp of an apocalypse story I've ever read. Totally fun, just a compulsively readable blast.

Dan is on vacation at a brand new island resort with his girlfriend Mara when the sun explodes. From there it's about the way the guests cope with their certain doom, being away from their families, and trying to manage their limited resources. Of course there's a rising dictator Lillyanna of the Beachbod exercising MLM empire, a blood thirsty head of security, and multiple average Joes trying to plot a way back to their families before the world ends. Chaos and hilarious madness ensues (with some darker elements, too).

I read this almost 400 pages in two days because I could not put it down, and I was actually partially surprised at the end. I do think it didn't need to be quite so long, it dragged a little in the last quarter, but overall the story was propulsive and exciting with plenty of dark humour and wit.

Super fun, four stars, would definitely recommend.