The Prince & The Apocalypse

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions and views expressed in this review are purely my own and not affiliated with any brand.

This book was AWESOME! I enjoyed it so much. It was full of adventure, fun and wit. I loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. Kara McDowell does an excellent job of writing a story that’s fun and witty against such a heavy backstory. The writing is beautiful!

I would absolutely recommended this book to a friend. Do yourself a favor and read this book!!

I devoured this book in one sitting. It was so much fun that I could not put it down!

I loved both of the main characters and felt like they were extremely relatable. I am very much a planner and like a firm itinerary, so Wren was my type of girl. It was so satisfying to watch her break out of her comfort zone and learn to have more fun. Theo was nothing like I would have expected a prince to be like, but in all of the best ways. He was so kind and put others before himself, and he was shockingly emotionally intelligent for a royal.

The action portion of the story felt like a Bourne Identity and Armageddon mashup, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I don’t want to give anything away, so I will come back in July and add more thoughts on the crazy situations that happen. So much fun!

Overall, I highly recommend this book and humbly beg for a sequel!!

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Wednesday Books for this ARC.

I am OBSESSED with this book! Kara did not disappoint!! I adore Wren and Theo’s relationship, especially their initial meeting and of course, their wedding. The ending absolutely wrecked me, and I am dying (in eight days, apparently) for a second book. Seriously, I would either die from laughing at the ending, or die from the suspense. THE WORLD IS ENDING IN EIGHT DAYS AND IT ONLY TOOK ME A FEW HOURS TO READ THIS BOOK. And if this review sounds like madness that’s because it’s early morning and I stayed up all night because I couldn’t out this book down. Go read it!!

I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. Completely caught me by surprise. The character were so likable, perfectly flawed, and utterly adorable. However, I was not expecting that ending and now I’m absolutely devastated. Please tell me there is a sequel! I know it’s the end of the world, but there has to be more!

This was a really cute romance novel, I loved the concept of the story and I loved that the cover is so eye-catching. It was what I was hoping for when I read the description and loved the characters in this story. Kara McDowell has a great writing style and it's done so well in the romance going on, it didn't feel rushed or faked. I was glad I was able to read this and look forward to more from the author.

“Chuffed to hear it. Can’t have my bodyguard feeling poorly on the job.” His eyes twinkle mischievously as one hand slides off my shoulder and settles on my lower back. Desire blooms in my chest. The weight of his touch feels electrifying—until I remember what Brooke said about European boys charming girls out of their pants. I jump back, determined to put more space between us."

This book has the most insane premise and I DEVOURED it. Savored it. Hardly came up for air. The Prince & The Apocalypse is everything you'd ever want in a contemporary YA all tied up behind a cute little cover. I loved the characters. I loved the adventure. I loved the runaway prince who Just Wants To Be Normal. When I started this book I thought it would be an average, just okay, forget-about-it-in-a-month read, but I'm telling you now all I'll be able to think about for the next year is going to be That Ending. Faxing Kara McDowell as we speak and demanding a book 2.

I need to know if there is going to be another book. The ending left me shocked and I need to know what happens next.

This was an amazing YA book. When I first read the premise I was wondering how this book would play out and I was a little of unsure of it. I am glad to say I loved it. It is a YA contemporary novel but it deal with some heavier topics as well. At times it was a little cringey and cheesy but it made me smile. It's a very fast pace book which will keep you on the edge of your seats.

I loved the characters and the banter that Wren ad Theo had. I wish the book was longer, I wish there was more of them. This is honestly one of the best YA books I have read in a while, it had everything I wanted in a book and left me wanting more. I would recommend this book to anyone that was looking for a cozy romance really witty banter and twists and turns!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this arc! I am so glad I read this book.

Damn did I love this book. It's very cute, and very readable. I really enjoyed Wren and Theo, and the escalating intensity of their road trip together. Some of Wren's particulars of speech/habit are things I loved and felt like I was the perfect audience for (like that the monarchy is a human rights violation in Chapter 1), but might bug another reader, but I loved them, and enjoyed hearing her mention Chicago so often (even though a lot of the things she mentions about loving in Chicago seem really touristy, but I also always want more books that take place in Chicago).
This book really picks up pace as you read it (the "will the comet be stopped? Of course it can't be stopped" seesaw never really stops) and I ended up binging the second half in a weekend very easily. It's a super cute New Adult book, and it is not spicy at all (It's very PG, but it's also very sweet).
Also - I am in actual pain from the ending, and the McDowell saying she can't provide any answers yet is agony inducing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: depression, ablism, family tensions, apocalypse

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f new adult
-road trip romance
-forced proximity
-it's the end of the world
-virgin hero

This book was just fun. What would you do if the only person who could help you see your family before the world ends is the Prince of Wales? This book had the right amount of bonkerness, laughter, hope, and just well the world is ending so why the heck not? Wren was so relatable, wanting to impress her family. Stranded in a foreign country she takes a chance and calls up Theo to help her get home.

I am trash for a road trip romance and so enjoyed the journey. The stress of will Wren make it home, the world ending only days away, the adventure of it all, and how softly and sweetly these two started to fall for each other. A dash of car theft and the world's sweetest pup, I was turning the page wondering how the heck it was all going to work out and just on the adventure with them. The world was falling apart around them and somehow this book was so filled with hope and finding acceptance and joy in your life. And just the things you would do for the people you love at the end of the world.

Steam: 2

<b>ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.</b>

<i>"What did we burn."
"My future, I think."
"Oh good. As long as it wasn't anything important," he says dryly."</i>

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this ARC. This book has skyrocketed to my favorite of the year and I am pretty sure it will remain untouchable.

When selling this book to my friend, I said "Don't Look Up" meets "Red, White and Royal Blue" and "They Both Die at the End". I will not be saying whether or not Wren and Theo die at the end for obvious reasons, but based on my instant reaction from 1/30 when I finished this, I think you can take a guess.

Friends to Lovers, Only One Bed, Different Castes, The World Is Ending. Tropes galore and I ate each and every one up. Wren and Theo's banter was top tier and I couldn't stop laughing throughout. The book does touch on darker themes of regret and loss but it challenges them in ways to remind us as readers what truly matters. You see a full range of reactions to the imminent end of the world and it had me reflecting on which one of them I would have. I thought I was one and by the end, I learned so much from others that impacted my hopes.

I truly hope Kara decides to continue this story, as I would love to see so much more. And even if she chooses to leave this story here, I can now add a new "instant buy" author to my list.