The story is told using short chapters, many of which consist of flashbacks or memories that were interspersed throughout the primary plot. They were balanced well with the primary plot and it was an excellent way to provide relevant background information without slowing down the plot. While there are some darker events in the book, I appreciated how the author included them, avoiding being overly detailed but still writing them in an impactful way.

The characters and setting were strong. The idea of a world that's becoming more submerged and vulnerable to water-related disasters was explored well, and the setting was creatively utilized to bring this world to life. I loved how immersive it was, and how easily I could visualize the setting. The characters were excellently drawn, with lots of depth, realistic motivations, and very easy to emotionally connect to.

If you enjoy literary fiction with a dystopian setting and strong characters, then this is a must read. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was the perfect choice for bringing this story to life. Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[3.75/5]
All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall follows a young girl Nonie who along with her family live on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History surrounded by a world of water. Initially, this novel is extremely well-written and incredibly lyrical. However, there were some points of the novel where the author used comparisons that drew me out of the story. Moreover, there were some points where I really just wanted the author to get to the point.
If you are a reader that prefers a plot centred book, then this is not the novel for you. There was some plot in this novel, but I was left with the overall feeling of wanting more. This novels attempts to tackle many societal issues and it felt at times that the plot was simply to serve this purpose. That is, it somewhat felt like a checklist where the author wanted to talk about a specific issue so had a plot point that would allow for a discussion of this issue. This would then be repeated for the next plot point and so on. Overall, I was left feeling like the need to discuss a social issue was driving the plot forward rather than the discussions on social issues arriving organically as a result of the plot.
Overall, if you are looking for a lyrically written climate fiction novel I would recommend this novel; the plot may not be memorable, but Eiren Caffall does have beautiful writing.
*** Thank you to Netgalley, Eiren Chafall, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. All thoughts are my own. ***

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for early access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion. It is a different genre from my usual reads, but I think it’s valuable to try new things, especially at the beginning of the year.
This dystopian novel is set in the not-too-distant-future, when NYC has been evacuated except for a small group of people who live on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History. A superstorm hits, and Manhattan floods, and the few remaining people decide to leave, heading north to upstate New York. The story follows the young Nonie and a small crew, trying to survive. Water is all around them, but there is worry of contamination, and Nonie begins a water log, tracking the water for the future.
Nonie’s preoccupation with water may seem unusual, but I've had similar experiences when backpacking and need to plan my day around where and when I can access water. Having grown up in the greater NYC area, I enjoyed the descriptions of what remained on the Hudson River as Nonie and crew made their way up the Hudson - alongside the cliffs of the Palisades and up past West Point. However, I didn't really connect with the story, and I'm surprised it's not labeled as YA, considering the age of the main character.

this was a pretty good audiobook. The narrator was good, and the book was interesting. The dystopian future could be a plausible future especially when the environment has been going the way it is now. Overall, it was a good story11

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I liked the concept but I just couldn't really get into it. The parts with action were good but it just seemed boring and drawn out for the most part.

💧ALL THE WATER IN THE WORLD💧 by @eirencaffall was a contemplative thriller in a post-apocalyptic world. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher, @macmillan.audio for the audio-ARC.

Happiest of pub days to this story! In it, we follow Noni and her family (found and biological) as they navigate a world flooded by water. Since the collapse, her family was living in the American Museum of Natural History (AMEN) attempting to catalogue and preserve what was left of the collection. When AMEN is no longer the safe haven on the roof of the museum that it once was, they must find a new shelter and battle the world as it is now.

I found this book charming and simultaneously depressing. Messages of hope for the future mix with devastation, loss and grief. I found this to be a comp to STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel and THE BOOK OF M by Peng Shepard, both of which I also enjoyed.

Wow, what a fantastic read! There are a couple different elements within this story and I really enjoyed all of them. Nonie and her family are living in the American Museum of Natural History. So there is a lot of talk about American history, especially about Native American tribes, their customs, and their treatment by white settlers. There is also some talk about previous wars and how works of art were saved and hidden from invading armies.

Next, Nonie and her family are living in AMNH because of climate disasters. So there is a lot of talk about the science of weather and how it reached a point where cities were destroyed. I grew up in the era of climate disaster movies so this immediately won me over.

Finally, there is the plot, which involves AMNH no longer being inhabitable and them having to leave up find a new place to live. This also includes one of my favorite reading tropes, found family. Traveling with Nonie and her group to safety is a sad, yet emotionally fulfilling, experience. This book is an easy 4 star, probably more like 4.5 star, read.

Is such a book science fiction or an eerie prediction?” kept coming to mind while listening to the audiobook of All the Water in the World. As Nonie introduces us to life after the catastrophic floods and the process her micro community has taken to try to preserve artifacts and records, the circumstances she details don’t seem implausible for my lifetime. Just over three months ago, I packed my own go bag, selected the papers I’d need for records and identification, the letters I couldn’t be without, and how many survival supplies I could carry as Hurricane Helene neared WNC.

This book left me pondering a lot of questions about how the climate crisis will continue to unfold and how it will change us as individuals and as a collective. The story begins by exploring how we forge community, grieve, and find comfort in the midst of the ongoing trauma of increasingly devastating natural disasters and then evolves to integrate where the line between safety and preservation and prejudice and authority is drawn.

When I finished this book, my timelines were filled with videos of the wildfires scorching LA. I’d recommend it to fans of the genre and also to anyone who is having a hard time wrapping their heads around what society-ending natural disasters might look like and what might be in store for those who survive.

3.5 Stars | I enjoyed this one and if it sparks your interest, I’d encourage you to read it.

Content Disclosures: Death (parental drowning, killing, animals), catastrophic natural disasters (flooding, storms, hurricane), animal attacks, gun shot wounds, racism, indirect warnings of sexual assault, knife wounds, apocalypse medical issues and procedures

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

I read the first 1/4 and had trouble getting into the book. I was able to get an audiobook copy and listened to most of it and enjoyed the book much more this way.

Nonie, her sister Bix and parents live in the American Museum of Natural History trying to survive a world where the waters have risen dramatically and are dangerous. After a huge super storm they are forced to leave their sanctuary. I read a lot of dystopian books and enjoyed this one. Nonie and team tried to be care keepers of the museum and also were able to learn a lot about survival from the exhibits. As always after reading an end of the world book I need to go stock up my pantry!

Nonie and her family take shelter in the American museum of National History after a major flooding event. They use the museum artifacts for survival and try to log all they can to preserve it. When another storm hits and the flood gates collapse, the family must use a boat to travel north on the Hudson River.

Nonie has a special ability where she can feel when the water is coming and has an emotional connection to it. This is an emotional story about destruction, starting over, and learning from history on how to rebuild.

There are also flashbacks on a simpler time. This is a fast-paced apocalyptic thriller, but you won’t face any zombies, etc. just weather disasters and what people will do to survive.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 1/7/25!

Quick overview:
In the future, where massive storms have flooded the earth, a group of survivors are trying their best to navigate the new state of the world and protect as much art and history as possible.

My thoughts: All the Water in the World is a story of loss, survival, and resilience. The story had me in a constant state of anxiety, worrying for these sweet characters and rooting for them to make it. There are strong themes of found family and the importance of taking care of one another in unprecedented situations. I don't want to give too much information as I think this story is best gone into relatively blind.

Audiobook notes: I did quite enjoy the narrator, though I feel this story may have been slightly easier to consume as a physical/ebook due to the jumps around in time/story.

Excellent audio. Hearing the words of this book spoken aloud really helps to bring the pieces together. The narrator was a great fit. Eunice Wong is a new narrator for me and she did not disappoint. Her intonation and inflection were perfect for the suspense and drama of this story. The chapters blended well and the audio flowed seamlessly.

Noni- a 13 yo girl is living in a deserted NYC on top of the natural history museum. The flood gates keeping them safe were breached with a big storm. Now Noni and her family must travel north on the Hudson River to hopefully find her mother's childhood home. It's not a short journey nor a safe one.

I happen to love post apocalyptic/dystopian stories and this was no exception. The storyline was great and I was definitely invested in the characters. Character building was good with some characters and not so great with others. I felt a tad lost trying to keep track of some of the lesser characters as well. A few times in the book I found the writing to be a bit choppy and the storyline to be a bit confusing but overall the idea was excellent. I think this book could have even been longer with more scene building and character depth. The premise of the story would definitely support that. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would read more from this author.

This sounded like it would be right up my alley. I like a good dystopian where the world is flooding. However, I wanted so much more from this book. I felt like there wasn't a lot that happened and that there were some plot points that I feel could've been developed more. But the narration was fantastic. I am a big fan of Eunice Wong because she always captures the tones of the characters she's narrating so well.

I am not a climate fiction fan most of the time, so I probably should have know going in this wouldn’t be for me.

This was middle of the road for me. I liked the FMC, and enjoyed the writing style overall, however the pacing felt a bit off and at times the story really dragged.

Loved the audio narrator!

The world is flooded after an an clear apocalyptic event has occurred. One can imagine the ice caps have melted, the oceans have risen, and the world is plagued by superstorms and intense heat due to an unstable climate situation.

Nonie, her sister, her dad, and a few other survivors are hold up in the American Museum of Natural History until another storm comes along and washes away nearly everything they've worked to create. They've been trying to document human history as well as gathering research to retain for the future. However, a lot of it gets washed away when the Museum is destroyed.

They have a canoe within the museum they use to escape and to make their way up the Hudson River in search of a family farm Nonie's mother mentioned would hopefully be their sanctuary should they ever need it. Now, they make their way north and through the wilds of the new world outside. Medicine is scarce so even common colds and illnesses can be deadly. Not everyone they meet along the way has the best of intentions either.

I did love reading in the summary that this story was inspired by the curators in Iraq and Leningrad who worked to protect their collections from war. I thought that was such a great way to be inspired by a story and I am now more curious about their stories. More than anything, I think this book does have some echoes of Station Eleven and survival and humanity in a world after the apocalypse has occurred.

I am a huge fan of dystopian novels and when a book is called a thriller and compared to Station Eleven, I have an expectation that there will be action and world building with speculation on what happened to the world and what will come. While this book does have dystopian themes, it’s much more in Nonie’s head rather than the dystopian world. As such, it’s very poetic and lacking in any real action. It’s so slow and not at all my type of novel. Lots of characters introduced but not much development so I didn’t connect to anyone. This just wasn’t for me.

Typically I enjoy dystopian and climate fiction stories, but this one was a little slow even for my liking. Glacier melt has caused the oceans to rise and there is so much water that New York City is virtually under water. Teenage Nonie, the narrator, along with her sister Bix, her father, and family friend Keller have been living atop the American Museum of Natural History (nicknamed Amen) for years, but even that site isn't safe when a hurricane type storm brings even more water and the structure collapses. The four make their way across the city in a canoe taken from a museum exhibit.

This was an interesting story and Nonie's memories of her mother and others who lived and died in Amen (AMNH - the museum) are warm and touching. But there is little character development along the way as our little crew face dangers both natural and human. Additionally, this really seems like it should be marketed as more of a YA story. Nonie's youth and even Bix at times are evident in their quest to find an old family farm in northern New York.

All the Water in the World has a fascinating concept: A group of survivors have formed a community on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City after flooding and disease have irrevocably altered the landscape and society as we currently know it. But when a superstorm breaches the city’s flood walls, they are forced to abandon the museum, travelling north on the Hudson River toward what they hope is safety and a fresh start. The book is narrated by thirteen-year-old Nonie in a structure that alternates between the past and the present.

All the Water in the World is a thought-provoking book, providing insights into how society can survive and thrive in a climate disaster, highlighting the importance and nobility of preserving the past for a future that may never come. The writing is spare and quite beautiful, simple but meaningful. Nonie is an endearing character, possibly neurodivergent, with life experiences and a unique perspective that kept me engrossed in her narrative. I listened to portions of this as an audiobook, read by Eunice Wong, and the serene, wistful quality of her voice worked so well for this story and complemented Eiren Caffall’s writing perfectly.

The blurb calls this book a thriller, but I think that’s an inaccurate representation. Rather than an action-packed apocalyptic road novel, All the Water in the World is more contemplative and slower paced, focusing on thematic elements and characters rather than plot development. It reminded me of both Station Eleven and The Light Pirate in this way (although I don’t think it accomplished as much as those two books did). The ending was satisfying, but the journey to get there was more thoughtful than exhilarating.

3.5 stars rounded up. All the Water in the World is a worthy addition to the growing genre of climate fiction and nature-centric dystopia. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the early reading opportunity.

Out today!

The narrator for this audiobook was great to listen to. The narrator had great pacing, the different voices were good and the emotion could definitely be felt in this narration!

The story itself is beautifully written, filled with tense situations as the group escapes what was once their haven in NYC. This is heartbreaking throughout yet also kind of uplifting in the sense that we can find and keep family in even the worst scenarios. The support systems these people built in an apocalyptic future were what brought the good vibes to the story. Otherwise, it is pretty bleak. This is told from Nonie's perspective and she is a child that grew up knowing only one reality. The references from her family that she didn't remember the "world as it was before" showed that even after the world changes, new lives can begin.

Overall, this was a good story, albeit a bit slow for me, personally.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

I did not think that I would be finding a 5 star read so early in the year but here we are. I cannot fully express how much I loved this book. Set in the (near?) future the glaciers have melted and ocean levels have risen. Much of the population has died with the exception of a few pockets of people here and there. This is a startling glimpse into what could/will happen due to our climate crisis. We follow Nonie and her family as they evacuate their camp to safer ground. Its a story of trials, danger, love, and ultimately, hope.