Thank you NetyGalley for the ARC. The book is set in 1 day. Annie is 8 months pregnant and at IKEA when an earthquake hits. The book follows her as she tried to survive and reunite with her husband.

This book is disorienting. I think the experience of reading it really mirrors the experience Annie is going through in the aftermath of the book. It starts out relatively clear and lucid and progressively becomes more and more delusional. I’m not sure I really understood the ending nor did I feel a sense of closure. It’s a short quick read but quite intense.

Compulsively readable!!! But that ending was an absolute letdown. All that buildup for NOTHING. I enjoyed the back and forth of this book and it made me very fortunate I do not live in an earthquake zone.

The premise of Tilt is original and captivating; a woman navigates the aftermath of a Pacific Northwest Earthquake while nine months pregnant. The execution however was lacking and pedantic. None of the characters in the novel are likeable and none of the plot threads are answered completely. Often the narrator and her husband become millenial characatures rather than real people. The reader plods on with the characters but is left asking at the end, why did I take the journey.

Tilt is an impressive and memorable debut novel. Having grown up in Oregon, I especially loved the setting. It was accurately portrayed both in physical characteristics, as well as the stereotypical Portland-isms. I also really enjoyed the main character and that the fact that she loved her unborn baby but didn't having the "glowing" storybook pregnancy that is so often depicted in novels. Overall, despite being speculative fiction, the plot felt believable and like it was based on real events. It was apparent that a lot of research went into writing this book. A majority of the book was the character's inner dialogue and thoughts and while I didn't always resonate with her character as much as I'd hoped, it was interesting to read her point of view. I was left with questions regarding the father and the ending. I sometimes enjoy an ambiguous ending, but in this case I would have appreciated a little more to wrap up the long journey. All in all, Tilt is a book that will stick with me and I can't wait to read what Emma Pattee writes next!

Tilt is a gritty and fresh dive into speculative fiction about an expectant mother who finds herself unprepared for the intersection of a massive environmental catastrophe and impending childbirth. Told in dual timelines that follow a chronological intersection trajectory, the disaster narrative is well-researched and terrifying. We follow in the protagonist's literal footsteps as she navigates miles of destroyed and devastated Portland in search of her husband, 37 weeks pregnant. Internally, she's navigating the landscape of her own psyche, and coming to terms with the very real and inescapable challenge of imminent childbirth and all of the accompanying challenges and responsibilities that entails. The story itself is nothing short of brilliant, even if I would not give the protagonist 5 stars for her decision-making. As a slightly older Millennial with several children of my own---who grew up on the West Coast with food supplies in the very real event of a major earthquake---I periodically wanted to prod her along on her own journey through adulthood (and wish her mother had done with same). But this, too, is part of the story, and her evolution rings true. As much as we might *think* we are prepared for any number of major life events---birth, death, disappointment, professional malaise---we're not really in the fray until, suddenly, we are. Tilt--slightly more than a novella--is an impactful, well-crafted story, and like with Horrorstor (by Grady Hendrix), I'll never quite look at Ikea the same way again...

Many thanks to Netgalley and S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for an ARC of Tilt. The opinions expressed remain exclusively my own.

A young woman, nine months pregnant, finds herself having an unbelievable day as she shops at IKEA for a crib. The big one hits, an earthquake of all earthquakes and Annie finds herself trying to survive long enough to find her husband.

This is an emotional read as we journey with Annie through the destruction and react to the devastation that has literally flattened this Oregon city. The writing is so descriptive and the emotion just permeates the storyline. Her memories tell a life story all their own and you can’t help but admire her resilience as she searches for Dom, reassuring her unborn child that everything will be ok

This book will tug at your heart and will have an underlying stab at all the ills of the world. The ending…..well that remains to be seen.

Recommended!

I grew up in Portland, just east of the city, and so it was a bit like going home to read Emma Pattee's novel, Tilt. Earthquakes are a part of living in Oregon, and most people just sort of ignore the shaking and get on with their lives. The earthquake in Tilt is clearly the big one, a major earthquake that no one can possibly ignore. The central character is Annie, who is shopping for a baby crib when the earthquake begins collapsing buildings, ripping up roads, killing people, and destroying the bridges that cross the Willamette River, the natural division that separates the north and south sides of Portland.

Annie is 37 weeks pregnant and as she quickly realizes, she should have bought baby items before this late date, but as readers learn, Annie never seems to think beyond today. After the earthquake, Annie begins walking to where her husband should be working. Anne is not alone. People who survived the earthquake move out of buildings and begin to walk toward a destination. The details of Annie's walk are a major strength of Tilt. How people act in the midst of a natural disaster reflects the world in which we live. Some people are kind and helpful, some are stunned, some begin looting, and some are cruel and mean. This Portland feels real.

In between chapters that focus on Annie's walk, Pattee includes chapters of flashbacks, where it becomes clear that Annie's last minute shopping trip to buy a crib is how she functions. Annie doesn't plan her life. Life just happens. Apparently her husband, Dom, is no more responsible than Annie. All that readers know about Dom is what Annie tells us in her flashbacks. It isn't a flattering portrait of either of them. Annie definitely is a tough characters to like or admire. She is just a pregnant woman, stuck in a bad place. It is her journey throughout one day that holds the reader's attention.

Tilt is well written with strong descriptions. Readers will feel like they are walking along with Annie on her endless walk to find her husband. There is no cell service and no police or public service people to help Annie. This novel is quickly read. It covers only one day of Annie's life, but it is not a good day or an easy one. At one point, Pattee ends this novel. There is no resolution, and Annie is still walking, but I was less bothered by this ending than many other readers will be. Life does not actually have endings, until the very end. The day ends, we go to bed, and we get up the next day. So Pattees ending seems natural.

Thank you to the publisher Simon Element and NetGakey for providing me with this ARC to read and review. The comments above reflect my honest review. I enjoyed this novel and thought it worked well. Pattee is a talented writer. I suspect she will gp far.
4 stars.

Annie is 9 months pregnant and shopping at IKEA for her baby’s crib when a massive earthquake hits Seattle. She is stranded and desperate to reach her husband and this is her journey to get there…

This book touches a lot on unfulfilled dreams and real life getting in the way of what you had once imagined for your life. As Annie looks back on what she had once envisioned for her life, we see her struggling to come to terms with her reality.

I found the natural disaster as a backdrop almost mimicking life. Things not going as planned and having to adjust to new obstacles. People trying to hurt you, people trying to help you. Desperation and kindness all within the same hour.

I felt that the ending was abrupt but that could have been intentional because so much of life is about the journey and not the ending.

An absolutely stunning debut. Pattee's story is harrowing, her pacing perfect (the ever-approaching flashbacks are very smart) her writing self-assured and evocative.

I really enjoyed this one! It was really unique in how there are elements of a thrilling disaster story, but this is definitely not a thriller in the traditional sense of the genre. The dramatic events are merely a backdrop to the protagonist's interior musings grappling with her own questions and doubts about her pregnancy, her relationship, and her life as a whole. I personally really enjoyed the balance the author struck; the subject matter was particularly interesting to me as I myself am 30 weeks pregnant. Visually I feel like this would make for a really great video game, from the earthquake's origin as our protagonist is in IKEA buying a crib, following her journey to get home across the city of Portland. I did find myself by the end feeling like there was something missing; I don't know how memorable this one will be long-term. But I definitely recommend picking it up--and it's a short one, too.

I so loved this debut novel, even though I’m far from the demographic of the likely target audience, young marrieds. Classifying it was a treat: a thriller-ish suspense slash nearly dystopian slash literary women’s fiction work— and for me it all worked. The journey of a very pregnant Annie, on foot, alone, from a North Portland, Oregon Ikea store after a massive earthquake parallels her mind’s journey through hopes, fears, and memories- in conversations she frequently shares with her unborn child that she calls Bean. I anguished along with her as this fiercely determined woman seeks her way back- to her husband, to home, to a future. Read it!

9/10

Emma Pattee comes out swinging with this debut novel.

I loved this book.

Here’s the premise:

Annie is 37 weeks pregnant and is at IKEA in Portland to buy a crib when the big earthquake hits. The city is in chaos. Annie’s goal is to get back home to her husband, but in the process she learns a lot about who she is, what she’s capable of and, most importantly, what it means to be a mother.

The entire book takes place in one day. It’s gripping, from one scene to the next.

Emma is a damn good writer too. Her mastery of words has me in awe.

This might be the best book I’ve read this year. Granted, it’s only April, but still.

#netgalley #tilt

I received a complimentary copy of this book through the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are completely my own.

The writing of this novel is fantastic. It is gritty, and honest - I felt everything that Annie did. I related to Annie in many ways. I feel like saying anything else will be considered a spoiler. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Tilt (or: "The Most Stressful Trip to IKEA Ever")
Annie is nine months pregnant and doing what all expectant parents do—getting way too invested in Swedish furniture. But just as she's picking out a crib, a massive earthquake rocks Portland, Oregon, leaving her stranded with no phone, no money, and no idea how to get home. So she does the only thing she can: she walks.

Sounds thrilling, right? A high-stakes survival story? A post-apocalyptic-style scramble through a crumbling city? Not quite.

What Tilt actually is though...
Despite being marketed as a thriller, Tilt is less edge-of-your-seat disaster story and more introspective journey through one woman's life choices (with added seismic activity). The earthquake isn’t really the main event—it’s just the backdrop for Annie’s existential crisis.

As she trudges through Portland, she flashes back to the choices that led her here: her struggling marriage, her unfulfilling career, and the fact that she sort of accidentally ended up having a baby. (Not by trying, but by "not not trying"—a phrase that should be printed on a warning label somewhere.)

What Worked for Me
- The Earthquake as a Metaphor
The idea of an actual earthquake mirroring Annie’s inner turmoil? Very cool. Her life is shaking, crumbling, and forcing her to reevaluate everything. Love the concept.

- Some Thought-Provoking Moments
The novel touches on themes of control (or lack thereof), regret, and the slow unraveling of expectations. At its best, it makes you think about your own life choices.

What Didn’t Work for Me
- Annie is... a Lot
Look, I don’t need to like a protagonist, but Annie's whole "life is just happening to me" attitude was frustrating. I kept waiting for her to have some major realization or moment of growth, but it never really came.

- The Ending. Just… The Ending.
I get that some books go for ambiguity, but this one felt like it was building toward something and then just… stopped. Like someone ripped the last few pages out and said, "Eh, you get the idea." No, I do not get the idea. I need closure!

Final Verdict
Would I recommend Tilt? Maybe. If you go in expecting a disaster-thriller, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you’re in the mood for a slow-burn, introspective novel about a woman figuring out her life while also surviving an earthquake, it might be worth a read.

⭐ 3/5 stars – Just like assembling IKEA furniture, I kept waiting for the final piece to snap into place… and it never did. ⭐

I know many people will enjoy this book, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I struggled to connect with the main character's choices (yes, she might have been in shock after an earthquake but I wanted to shake her myself half the time.) I also just wanted more explanation of SO many things. I know the ending will infuriate many readers. This was a short book and beautifully written so definitely worth a try for those who like literary books with propulsive narratives and dramatic premises.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

This book was very good if you love natural disaster books but the issue that I had was the back and forth from present to today and her feelings about what got her to this point. The other issue that I have was that this book was very open-ended at the end and didn't give a very good conclusion. The narrator was talking to her unborn child the entire time which was very interesting way to tell the story but at the same time she was making horrible decisions which after the first half of the book you hope that she could have made a better decision. Overall it was an interesting debut for this author but there needed to be some more plot and some more conclusion to the story for me to give it a higher rating.

Apparently, Oregon is due for a catastrophic-sized earthquake, anytime between now and the next hundred years. The author takes this supposition and runs with it. The novel starts off with Annie, who is nine months pregnant and in IKEA shopping for a crib, when the big one hits.
She spends the day traveling through the wreckage of the city, mostly on foot, searching for her husband. It was definitely no fun for her, but an engaging experience for the readers.
Thanks to #netgalley and #marysueruccibooks for this #arc of #tilt by #emmapattee in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of Day After Tomorrow, San Andreas, and Don’t Look Up, this one is for you.

It’s a fast paced read coming in under 250 pages.

It follows 9 month pregnant Annie, after a devastating earthquake in PNW. Without any means of communication and chaos around her, it follows her journey to try and get home.

It’s a page turner and will have you on the edge of your seat, while wondering what you would do in this situation.

This book effortlessly weaves the gut-wrenching survival story of a 37-week pregnant protagonist in the wake of an apocalyptic earthquake with the sensitive character drama that she was living before The Big One hit. The result is stunning and terrifyingly relatable for any parent.