Vacations are all about experiencing new things right? So why not the apocalypse?
I went into this book not expecting much, and ended up loving every minute of it.
Not only is the premise very original, but it is also a very well written story, with great characters and very satisfying developments.
It's funny, heartfelt and compelling, and overall a very good book.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was great. I will definitely revisit it in the future and recommend it!

I love apocalyptic fiction - dark and twisty - but I have never read one that is FUNNY! Like, laugh out loud funny, not just made-me-smirk funny. It was dark, too, don't get me wrong. I mean, their sun's exploded and they're trapped on an island with three very distinct segments of people divided by socioeconomic status. I know that does not sound funny, but it is. What a great read!

I listened to the audiobook and the narration is absolutely superb. It's moved to one of my top 5 audiobooks, with the likes of books like Daisy Jones and the Six and Project Hail Mary. It's not a full cast recording like those, but you'd think it is, because the narrator just does a stellar job of taking on a variety of accents and attitudes.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for allowing me to listen to this ARC - what a fun and unexpected read!

"Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend" has an intriguing premise, blending post-apocalyptic chaos with social satire as it follows Dan and Mara on a vacation gone wrong after the sun explodes. The unique concept sets the stage for an engaging narrative, but the execution falls short. The story dragged considerably before the 72% mark, making it difficult to stay invested. Additionally, the use of a derogatory term towards gay people felt out of place and unnecessary, detracting from the overall experience.

Characters like Pete Collins, the "pastor," came off as cringe and gross, with hints of racism, and the MLM vibes from mentions of "beach body" and Rachel Platten's "The Fight Song" didn't help. While the division of buildings and social commentary added some depth, it wasn't enough to maintain momentum. Overall, the book's pacing issues and offensive language overshadowed its potential humor and satire. I don't think I am the target reader for this book, as its style and content didn't resonate with me.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this advanced copy.

Dan and Margo are enjoying their long-awaited vacation at the grand opening of a tropical resort. Instead of the vacation of the lifetime, life as they knew it would never be the same. Midafternoon of the second day, the sun exploded. A thousand people are wandering around the island in darkness. There’s no communication beyond the island leaving the inhabitants in chaos. Their only chance of survival is getting off the island. Can they survive the apocalypse?

What a great listen! Post-apocalyptic dystopian books are way outside of my comfort zone, but I was definitely rewarded for picking up this satirical look at average people trying to manage a world-ending catastrophe.

Narrator Stephen R. Thorne does an excellent job with differentiated voices for the large number of characters while delivering sarcasm perfectly. His portrayal of boss babe Lilyanna was chef kiss.

There were many twists in the book, and I enjoyed how it entertained me while making me reflect on humanity's good and bad traits.

If end of days dystopia satire is your thing, run, don't walk, for this book. Being trapped at a private island when the sun explodes truly is zero stars, do not recommend.

This book was hilarious but also explores how quickly society breaks down when the world ends and how dark it can get. There is death, betrayal, power grabs, etc. But overall, this book is funny.

There was also a super insane twist that I did not see coming.

The beginning and end were strong but I got a little bored in the middle. The narration was excellent. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

The name and cover are catchy attention grabbing for sure! I found the far fetched storyline to be entertaining and over-the-top in mostly good ways. If witty banter, one liners, and sarcasm are your love language then this will likely be a hit. I found myself chuckling along with the craziness that ensued. Thai definitely is not my typical type of book to read but it came highly recommended in my reading groups. I bet the author is an absolute trip!

I would like to thank MJ Wassmer, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. It was worth the laughs.

There is a tv series I watched that loosely is close to the theme of this story. What a wild ride! Dan, who’s self worth is basically in the toilet at where his life is , is forced to take on a role of leadership. He blindly makes his way through their new reality. Everything comes to light and life has changed for anyone that is on this tropical vacation.
A great story! It makes you think what would people do if the sun suddenly disappeared and life as we know it is up to fate! Thank you to NetGalley for this free advance copying. I’m leaving this review voluntarily

Packed with acerbic wit, this social satire is a cross between Lord of the Flies, Lost, Palm Springs and the Stanford prison experiment.

The Hapless and begrudging semi-hero of the book is an unlikely protagonist. The end of the world brings out the best in some, but for most, it reveals exactly where they sit on the scale of psychopathy. The title of the book is brilliant and really captured the quirky sense of crisis and apathy that drives this story. While the stakes are high, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I found myself laughing out loud, immersed in the witty and engaging writing.

The narration was excellent, capturing and differentiating between the large cast of characters well. This was a really fun one to enjoy as an audiobook, and I’d particularly recommend it to anyone having White Lotus withdrawals.

Thank you RB Media and NetGalley for this audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.

A dystopian story where Gillian’s island meets Lost twist. Was not my typical read but it truly was a different read. The author did a good job getting you involved and the narrator kept the various characters engaged. Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this story.

This is for a reader who is okay not taking things too seriously and is not easily offended. Some characters are bigots nd/or ignorant and make comments that are racist, ableist, prejudiced against fat bodies and more. The plot itself is fun--a resort vacation that goes wrong when the sun melts away and classism reigns. There's a lot to explore, and the narrator's tone keeps things fun, but the cover of the book will throw off some readers.

Review of “Zero Stars, Do not Recommend”

By: M.J. Wassmer

Available August 6/2024

Check it Out on Goodreads!!

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an Audio ARC from NetGalley and RBmedia, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐⭐☆☆

In “Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend” by M.J. Wassmer, I found myself intrigued by the premise of a satirical story about Dan Foster, a self-proclaimed underachiever, dealing with an apocalypse while on vacation at a tropical resort. The concept was promising, with the sun’s explosion leading to chaos and survival struggles among the guests. However, the humor just didn’t land for me, and many of the jokes fell flat, leaving the story feeling repetitive rather than sharp and witty as I had hoped.

I also found myself struggling to connect with the characters, especially Dan, which made it hard to care about their outcomes. They all seemed unlikeable, which took away from the impact of the book’s exploration of class tensions and survival. Instead of delivering the absurdity and satire I was expecting, the novel came across as too serious, reminding me more of “Lord of the Flies” than a clever parody.

While “Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend” attempts to offer a biting commentary on human nature, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The balance between satire and storytelling felt off, and the book ultimately didn’t live up to its potential. It was an interesting concept, and hopefully it will be the book for you, but for me it was overall fine, but not something I would pick up again.

Get it at…

📗 - Hard Copy -📗

Your Local Canadian Book Seller

Indigo

Amazon Canada

📱 - Digital - 📱

Kobo

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🎧 - Audio - 🎧

Audible

Libro.FM

Exploding sun, vacation from hell, an unwilling hero - these are the makings of a smart, snarky, comically frighteningly book about the state of the world, societal divisions, the end of the world, and Dan Foster.

It examines the intersection of science and allegorical fiction, dark comedy, and Dan Foster. You’ll simultaneously feel the very real sense that humanity is doomed but also that maybe there’s hope?

The concept? What happens when a resort divided by status faces an apocalyptic world ending scenario becomes a battle for survival whose best hopes are pinned on underachieving and fine with it Dan Foster?

We’re about to find out.

On the first day of vacation, Dan is a few beers in when, overhead, the sun explodes. He immediately realizes, this ain’t gonna be great.

As throngs of tourists eek their way through panic, they’re greeted by a self appointed leader, famous life coach, Lilliana, who has an armed security team and has commandeered all supplies - she’s emptied the vending machines! - and begins rationing and putting people to work.

It ain’t great, but it is hilarious.

Then Dan realizes he’s unwittingly become spokesman for the underdogs.

What ensues is both dark and comedically hopeful - and Mara, as Dan’s long (not) suffering girlfriend is an absolute revelation, both accomplished and supportive of the man she loves.

At no point did I know what was coming next and the ending was unexpected, if tenderly, violently perfect.

Rife with pop culture references, hilarious one liners, science fiction adjacent subplots, perfect pacing, and a deep, abiding love for the common man, this is *the* book of August, if not of the summer.

I’ve already ordered my trophy copy after listening to the delightful audio. 

You’ll laugh out loud, shed some tears, shout encouragingly, and recommend it to everyone you know who loves a fantastic story.

Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebooks for the audiobook ARC, and @mjwassman for writing it. Due out August 6, 2024.

ps. I’ve got some casting ideas when the inevitable series is produced. Don’t be afraid to reach out.

This was a very interesting book, funny, quirky, and witty. It isn't a book I would've chosen had it not been offered to me on Netgalley. However, I'm so glad I read it. It was surprisingly entertaining, unique, and fun to read.

This debut sounded so good and seemed to have such potential but sadly I didn't love the narrator and was honestly bored listening/reading to this story. I ended up DNFing less than halfway through. A flop for me even with the great cover. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book was silly and entertaining enough to keep me engaged until the end. However, it was so far-fetched nothing was believable. I found myself chuckling quite a bit so the book was not bad! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend!

Publication date- August 6th, 2024

I will start of by saying, this was unlike any book I have ever read. I expected a comedic apocalyptic novel poking fun at the antics of what might happen, and yes, there was some of that, but we also got some super serious, heartbreaking and cruel moments as well. I did appreciate the main character, Dan's sarcasm and development throughout the story. The villains were really entertaining, especially Lilyanna, who was the CEO of a fitness pyramid scheme.

I did guess the twist early on in the book, but that didn't affect my enjoyment, and it was still really fun to read it all play out. In the end, Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend was a good book that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a fun satirical apocalypse story.

Loved the narrator on audio! The way Stephen R. Thorne switches flawlessly from New Jersey to Nashville accents without missing a beat is mind blowing and makes the hilarious writing even that much more engaging.

Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for my advantaged copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded down
I’ll be honest, all it took was a comparison to Kevin Wilson to rope me in. But it wasn’t a good comparison, at least for me. This had more of a Lord of the Flies vibe, reminding the reader that most human nature tilts more towards avarice than charity, violence than peace, power than unity.
Dan Foster is a bit of a loser, a classic underachiever. But when the sun explodes while he’s on vacation at an island resort, he’s cast into the unlikely role of hero. Obviously, this isn’t a believable premise. It will not appeal to those that want well researched, science based plots. But it’s meant as satire, so…
The newly opened resort has three tiers: A - C. When the elite of tower A commandeer all of the food and supplies and hire the resort workers and arm them, Dan has a choice to make. Does he keep his head down or take a stand?
Wassmer creates a dystopian civilization that is obviously a play on the rich elites relying on a combo of violence and religion to keep people in line. This is meant to be humorous but it wasn’t as humorous as I expected. I found myself cringing more than laughing. There are moments of heart and hope that shine through.
I enjoyed Dan, the common man forced to become a leader. Mara was also a great character, often acting as Dan’s conscience, but also not afraid to step up and become a hero in her own right.
I had a sneaking suspicion how this would play out and I was basically right. As expected, it went way OTT. <spoiler> Although a part of me had to laugh that Trump just proposed a similar idea about an Iron Dome this week. </spoiler>
I listened to this and was impressed with Stephen R. Thorne’s narration.
My thanks to Netgalley and RBMedia for an advance copy of this audiobook.

I have to admit, this book wasn't it for me. Not saying it wasn't good for someone else, it just wasn't for me. For everything that happened, I didn't really get the emotion from it. There just wasn't a spark and it felt a bit thrown together. I was entertained and it was easy to listen to.

2.5 ⭐️

3.5 I know everyone absolutely loved this book, and I agree it was a solid read with lots of comic relief. However, it took me a bit to get into this book, and when I finally was hooked, it seemed to drag.

I did love all the characters. Obviously, I hated a few, but he did such an amazing job of capturing certain personalities that the whole time, I was laughing at how accurate it was. Overall, this book definitely makes you think about division between class and how quick humans are to turn back to tribalism. Very interesting read that seemed light on topics that are extremely heavy and concerning.

"Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend" by @wassmerwrites is my surprise book of August. My surprise book is a book that is charmingly not at all what I expected based on title, cover, description, or some combination of the three. The cover and title at first glance suggested "contemporary romance/chick lit" to me, and I'm not sure either is a good representation of the delightful and engaging story within.

The first sentence is "Dan Foster was on his fifth Miller lite when the sun exploded. Or maybe his sixth."

The setting is a resort in the Bahamas, an island of only 1000 people. The resort, brand new, has 3 levels of accommodation, building A (the most luxurious) to building C (the most affordable). Because the sun explodes, I have to categorize this book -at least tangentially- as sci-fi, although being that the setting is so remote, the science itself is not explained at all. We know what the characters know, which is not much. The majority of the characters that we follow are "building B" - the sandwich between the haves and the have nots. This opens up a beautiful story of classism, vulnerability, relationships, capitalism and groupthink. It is romantic (a bit), mystery, dramatic, and an ensemble character study. I also LOVE when a book is able to incorporate one of my favorite themes- that the power group (i.e. men, white people, fit people) is also hurt by culture-power systems (i.e. patriarchy, racism, fatphobia). It hurts the non-power group more, but it isn't good for the group in power, either.

At no point in the story did I feel like I knew what was going to happen next. Not to belabor this point, but- as someone who reads 2 books per day on average- do you know how hard it is to surprise me? Mission accomplished.

This is one of the funniest books I have read this year- the audiobook version is extremely well acted and easy to follow. I also was emotional at the loss of certain characters. If I were a high school English teacher, I would put this book on the curriculum.

Thanks to #netgalley and @bookmarked for the Audiobook ARC. Book to be released August 6, 2024.