Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

After loving Maeve Fly, I was so excited for Leede’s new book. This story is about a virus that spreads across America, transforming the infected and making them feral with lust.

In all honesty, the narration of this audio was not my favorite. The story was very interesting and I loved that Leede went in a totally different direction with her sophomore novel. However, the narration took down my overall enjoyment. Maeve Fly had excellent narration, so I look forward to Leede’s next book.

ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

@ceejthemoment became an auto buy author for me with Maeve Fly,so American Rapture was one of my most anticipated October reads. And ya’ll…it lived up to my expectations. This book mashed up dystopian, a plague, religion and zombies and wove them together to create something truly amazing. Parts had me laughing, wanting to cry, gasping and internally screaming. I literally could not put this one down and finished in a day. So check the trigger warnings, check this one out and then slide into my DMs for a CJ Leede fan club chat

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This one was a tough read, but still a very good one. The themes of religious trauma and deconstruction struck close to home. I think it was a very good depiction of someone figuring out their faith after difficult events.

There is a lot of sexual violence in this book, due to the nature of the disease at the focal point of the apocalypse, but I found it manageable to read because it was not very graphic. In addition, there is a graphic animal death towards the end of the book, but again, this did not feel gratuitous and pointless because of the way the author explained it in the author's note.

I think this book did a wonderful job of dealing with incredibly difficult and triggering topics in a way that honors victims and introduces thought-provoking conversations about religion and sexuality, gender roles, the role of government, grief, and interpersonal (and human/animal) connection.

Publication date: 15 October 2024

I sat with my review of American Rapture for a long time. A LONG time. What I came up with is still 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️


In American Rapture, you follow Sophie, a very sheltered Catholic girl, as she navigates a new world devastated by a virus that makes the infected feral with lust. I think romantasy has rotted my brain because, for some reason, I thought a virus that makes a person feral with lust…could be fun. It is not. It is SUPER not. This is a brutal book that will rip your heart out. And then stomp on it. And then light it on fire. 🔥


What I liked: the found family aspect. On her journey, Sophie picks up a group of people from various walks of life. She learns how sheltered she really is from her interactions. I loved watching her grow. At times, this book is funny. Which it desperately needs as every thing else is triggering. Thanks C J🤣


It took me several months to finish the audio. (Thanks @macmillan.audio and @netgalley). The narrator does an amazing job bringing Sophie to life, even in the brutal parts of the story. I think this is what kept me coming back honestly. 🎧


Did I love it or did I hate it? She screams for she does not know. What I do know is I will be reading C J Leede’s next book because she knows how to write a story.

If you have ever read or watched THE STAND and thought to yourself, “yes, this but…on steroids”, this is your book! The apocalypse is here and it’s caused by a fast-spreading disease. One with a 0% survival rate. The only way to stay safe is to stay away from those who are infected. Seems simple, right? Come on guys, this is horror. Of course it’s not that easy! The disease makes those who are infected…uhhh…extremely lusty. As if every person they come across is a shirtless Henry Cavill begging for affection. But then they wanna bite your face off. Oh! And our main character is an extremely sheltered Catholic teenager who is traveling across the country to find her brother after her parents are infected. Shew! This one is a wild ride full of gore but underneath it all, you’ll find a heartwarming coming of age story and a healthy dose of found family. I binged this one in a day thanks to the audiobook because I did not want to put it down!

**4.5-stars**

💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙

Oofhhh. American Rapture hit me like a punch to the gut. The Author's Note made me cry legitimate grown-lady tears. This is such a well-executed Apocalypse story; completely successful, IMO, with the topics Leede chose to explore. This is going to stick in my mind for a very long time. Let's talk about the elephant in the room, shall we?

Maeve Fly. When I read Maeve Fly last year, I found it to be shocking, yes, but also smart and visceral. That story was presented in a biting stream of consciousness narrative style from the perspective of the MC. That type of narrative choice isn't my favorite and I often find myself struggling to determine what exactly the author is hoping for me to get out of it.

American Rapture is nothing like Maeve Fly.

I mean, I guess I shouldn't say that, because in some ways it is. It's also smart and visceral, as well as certainly memorable, but the tone throughout, and the way the story is presented, is vastly different. This is a truly realistic Apocalypse story. We follow a teen girl named, Sophie, who was raised in an extremely zealous Catholic household.

Sophie has been very sheltered from the world, and as you get to know her, she feels emotionally stunted; certainly more naive than she should be at her age. We discover that she has a twin brother, Noah, who has been removed from the household and sent away for unknown reasons. On the brink of the societal collapse, Sophie sets out to try to find him. On her own for the first time, Sophie is quickly schooled in the ways of the world.

The synopsis alludes to sexual elements and sex, as well as sexuality, are def amongst the topics explored here. The virus in question has many symptoms, but one of the most shocking is that infected individuals act out in sexual ways, often attacking in violent, lust-filled rages. Sophie is witness to these on more than a few occasions.

For Sophie, having been completely sexually repressed, this is beyond incomprehensible. She was on the verge of her own sexual awakening when this all started, which further complicates her confusion, guilt and shame. In a lot of ways, Sophie made me think of Carrie White. This is what would have happened if an Apocalypse had hit just prior to Carrie going to the prom.

I did love going on this journey with Sophie though. I had such empathy for her. I wished I could have been there to help guide her and reassure her through many of her most difficult moments; clearly, her parents were useless. I will be honest, I did skip Chapter 44. I had been warned ahead of time of some content contained therein, that because of circumstances going on in my life, I wouldn't have handled well at the moment. Even skipping that chapter though, I still feel like I easily understood everything that was happening in the story directly thereafter.

I did listen to the audiobook and loved the narration by Moniqua Plante. They did a great job bringing Sophie to life. I felt like I was listening to her recount these events first hand. It drew me in and held me. I do feel like even though disaster struck numerous times over the course of this story, the world was literally falling apart, it nevertheless left me with a sense of hope and light. An understanding that no matter what you are going through, no matter what your losses, as long as you are breathing, you can push through. You can come out the other side, maybe not the same, not undamaged, but alive and with the chance to be happy again.

If you pick this up, and I recommend you do, please be sure to read the Author's Note at the end. I appreciate the novel even more after learning a bit about Leede's own journey and the struggles that she had recently been going through. I feel she put a lot of heart into this story. It's thoughtful, impactful and gripping throughout. I was really impressed, and more importantly, moved by it.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. It's clear that C.J. Leede is an incredible talent with a lot of versatility in her writing. I cannot wait for more!!!

CJ Leede is quickly becoming my favourite horror author, because following up Maeve Fly (absolutely unhinged Disney princess as serial killer) with sex-crazed zombies is just… genius verging on maniacal?

I ate it UP. American Rapture is a lot of things—ragtag found family surviving the apocalypse, completely wild zombie re-imagining if it were sexually transmitted and lust-raged/violent, a spotlight on religious fervor and purity culture and how it can spiral, coming of age and queer awakening—how does Leede pack so much into one crazy ride without losing any of the tension, adventure and heart of her characters?? I don’t know. She’s just so good.

Also shoutout for writing my new favourite dog character in any book and including a Native love interest. 👌🏽👌🏽 This was absolutely gripping, I loved every second, even when I didn’t absolutely love the wide-eyed innocent narration of the audiobook, the story was still enough to keep me in its clutches.

Now this IS horror—so it has gore and difficult and violent scenes and imagery—but it’s horror with a heart and super thought-provoking and emotional so I can’t recommend it enough if that’s your thing, like it is mine!!

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. I was foaming at the mouth to get to this one!!

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audio Review: The audio is great and would highly recommend.

Review: This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024, I absolutely loved the author's previous work Maeve Fly. I really enjoyed this book for the first 30 percent, I thought there was no way it wasn't going to be a new favorite. It nailed dark humor around religious trauma and current politics in the back drop of a pandemic. It felt like (not in a bad way) a COVID-19 meets rabies that causes people to be extremely sexual, retelling. The MC was shaping up to be one of my favorite characters ever (she's still great what's coming isn't her fault). I really enjoyed (bec. I could relate, it's not a light topic) hearing about the MC's religious trauma and the dark humor that came out of that.

Sadly, I ended up DNFing this book at 60 percent. I don't think this is a hard DNF, I may come back to this at some point. I just really lost interest and felt the story lost a lot of momentum. There was a lot going on in the world that I found interesting, however our MC wasn't really engaging with any of that anymore. We do get into some interesting relationship (platonic and romantic) dynamics, I just found that if I kept going I might end up hating the book and I really would like to come back to it some day.

In summary, I loved the MC, religious trauma, and pandemic/ end of world back drop. At the end of the day the pacing was off, the story slowed down too much and I felt there was some missed opportunity to engage with the world and survival elements.

Wow, talk about an unputdownable book! While I'd heard amazing things about Maeve Fly, American Rapture was actually my first ever read by CJ Leede, and now I absolutely need to pick up her debut. American Rapture was a bit of a slow start for me. I wasn't quite in the right headspace when I first began reading (and this one is so thematically heavy that I think you do need to be in the right headspace to really appreciate it), but after taking a little break and returning to it, I absolutely devoured every chapter.

This would be an incredible selection for a book club. There's so much to discuss--from Leede's plot choices to the character development to the many themes of guilt, shame, religion, sexual identity, sexual awakening, etc. I will caution that you should definitely check the content warnings for this one; beyond the gore and religious trauma (which I expected based on the summary), there is also a significant amount of religious bigotry, death of loved ones, and sexual assault.

I listened to the audiobook of American Rapture, and I would recommend this format to those who prefer audiobooks over physical copies. The narrator was excellent, and she brought just the right amount of emotionality and naivety to the narrator's voice.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listener copy!

CJ Leede is a phenomenal author. Religious trauma mixed with apocalyptic horror? Yes, please!! The narrator really brought this story to life!

This book was such an insane romp and i loved it. It’s very hard for me to enjoy pandemic-centric media anymore (for obvious reasons), but this was so good!! And what a gorgeous cover. I can’t wait to purchase a hard copy and put it on my shelf! Amazing narrator too!!

“𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑬𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏? 𝑰𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇?”

This is for a very specific kind of reader and you have to carefully consider if that is you!
Proceed with extreme caution.

Read this for:
⛪️ a horrifyingly original pandemic that transforms people into lust-driven monsters (lust is putting it gently. They are r*pe zombies, to be blunt.)
✝️ a severely sheltered Catholic teen navigating the end of days while grappling with her own desires and beliefs
🔥 found family, survival horror, and a deeply unsettling critique of purity culture

Everything about this book is intentionally gratuitous, from its gut-wrenching violence to its viscerally emotional weight. Leede doesn't pull punches: the sexual violence is deeply unsettling, and the relentlessly disturbing religious themes hit hard.

Sophie’s world collapses as a devastating virus sweeps the country, turning the infected into terrifyingly feral creatures. Raised in a suffocating religious household, she’s ill-prepared for the horrors that await. But the fight for survival is only part of her journey—this is also a reckoning with the deeply ingrained doctrines of shame and sin.

Leede masterfully weaves grotesque horror with a raw exploration of faith, identity, and liberation. The brutality is offset by moments of fragile beauty, making Sophie’s journey as emotionally profound as it is terrifying.

Don’t be deceived by the playful pun in the title—this is a gut punch of a book. If you’re drawn to dark, thought-provoking tales like The Last of Us but crave a sharper dive into societal and religious critique, this one’s for you. But fair warning: it’s not for the faint of heart.

Have tissues—and maybe a stiff drink—on standby. 🖤

🚨 MAJOR Content Warnings abound. This is not your typical apocalypse story. It’s extremely graphic, unflinchingly brutal, and drenched in themes of religious trauma, repression, and survival. No human or animal is safe from harm in this story. If you’re a fan of horror that doesn’t shy away from *anything*, this is your book. Otherwise… shy the hell away, steeeeer clear.

CJ Leede once again knocked it out of the park. This creepy, post-apocalyptic nightmare was never what I was expecting, which is more than I could ask for. I was both disgusted and fascinated. Perfect for any horror fan.

FANTASTIC READ AND LISTEN.

I had heard about this book in a group I’m in and it immediately peaked my interest. I was blown away and in a chokehold by it. The very first page had me sucked in and I couldn’t stop. It felt like it was based in the past but also the future but also present? It felt like it held no timeline and I was fascinated by that. The way the narrator told the story was perfect.

The story felt post apocalyptic but also political but also controversial. I have so many thoughts I can’t put into words but this was such an amazing and different type of book for me. I gave it 5 stars the that was rounded up from 4.5. My only dislike was that it revolved around a 16 year old. The story felt much older.

Following the religious aspect felt current with times as well as familiar. I truly think this one will hold controversial thoughts and reviews. Especially after the deaths towards the end. I was upset about it, but reading the author’s note helped me accept it better. There should absolutely be trigger warnings though. Many tears were shed.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

American Rapture by CJ Leede was a dynamic read. It felt like The Walking Dead mixed with religion then a sprinkle of amazing characters with independent struggles. I enjoyed the character development and original storyline.

Wow.. yeah this one… this is one of those rare books that come a long once in a blue moon and really make you not only challenge what you’ve believed your whole life through merciless feats it also gives some of the most unapologetic hope I have ever experienced.

At the end of the day this story is about self discovery, and found/finding family and true love in its purest forms. CJ Leede holds up an amazing mirror to Dante’s inferno and asks the reader to look deeper and see what each circle maybe bring and what each of us hold within ourselves to climb our ways out (even if it’s kick and screaming and by the skin of our teeth).

The religious content is HEAVY, the deaths are ROUGH, and the emotional turmoil is GRUELING, but… somehow still… you manage to come out the other side. I hope those who read this book take what they need from it and choose to carry themselves forward in this world like a bird on the wind.

American Rapture centers around Sophie, a sheltered Catholic teen, who must fight to survive a deadly virus spreading throughout America. The virus not only makes you ill but will also make you sex crazy.

Slight spoilers and TW ahead...
I felt the synopsis for this was slightly misleading. The virus was described as making people "feral with lust" so I was expecting satire and horny people all over the place not full on assault and rape. Although there were some brilliant moments of Sophie coming to see how religion can be toxic and harmful, I wish we would've had other perspectives throughout the book. Overall, I thought this would be a fresh new take on the apocalypse media genre but it felt much like anything else on the market.

As for the audiobook, Moniqua Plante did a wonderful job as the narrator. She was able to convey all of Sophie's emotions and stress. I was even impressed by her male character voices. I look forward to more works by this narrator.

As someone who doesn't enjoy dystopian fiction or religion in general, I fear this book wasn't for me. The premise just sounded so different and interesting that I fooled myself into believing I would like it.

It was very well written, and I loved the idea of exploring the Catholic guilt and the deep seeded misogyny inherent to this culture.

There were many depictions of graphic violence that I had a difficult time getting through. I think if you plan on reading this one that you should go into it with caution.

Monique Plante did a very nice job with the narration. You could feel the terror and desperation in her voice.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for this ALC. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

✨ Review ✨ American Rapture by C.J. Leede; Narrated by Moniqua Plante

Thanks to Tor, Macmillan Audio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

I loved Maeve Fly, and so this was a book I was really looking forward to, and it absolutely did not disappoint! Set in a pandemic / zombie apocalypse-sort of world, where a disease is making its victims turn into sex-crazed monsters, Sophie, a sheltered Catholic girl, sets out to survive.

This is a book I love even more as I sit with it. The richness of the relationships Sophie builds on the run as well as the vivid scene-setting of the different places she ends up on the way have really stuck with me. The book balances just a bit of humor (the whole Frank Lloyd Wrong experience, the cheese curd stop... lol) with a thoughtful exploration of fundamental Christianity/Catholicism. From her love of books to her naivete, she felt like a character that was easy to root for, and I loved every bit of it.

Sharing more risks the experience of the story I think, so I'll leave it short!

🎧 The book is written in almost stream of consciousness - short, urgent, sometimes panicky thoughts. I found this to work really well in text, but wasn't a pleasant experience in audio for me.

CW: there's a gruesome pet death in the book that some may find really difficult to read; pandemics gone apocalyptic; fundamentalist cults of religion

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: apocalyptic sci fi / horror
Setting: Wisconsin
Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins
Reminds me of: The Last of US
Pub Date: Oct 15 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ apocalyptic horror
⭕️ teenage character in a book not written for teens
⭕️ obscure midwest settings