This was a wonderfully inventive book. I thought the characters were credible and interesting but mostly they seemed realistic. Who would normally have a blind woman in a post-apocalyptic world actually thrive? I like the different things that were tried for survival, the knowledge gained little by little and the joining of forces to effect victory over their challenges. I didn't want this story to end.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars. Half a star deducted because I got lost at some of the science talk but other than that a brilliant and different concept for the end of the world. Some nice dark and witty dialogue at times. All the characters are extremely well written and the story just seems to flow with them.

It's been a while since I got to read a book about an apocalypse. I ended up enjoying this more than I expected. It turns out Dystopian and I haven't fallen out of love thank god XD

The title kind of sold it away lol. The book is about 7 people waking up from their sleep in their same old places, just to find out everyone has vanished and everything has been abandoned. They try to get to one another and to figure out what has happened.

I like the idea of the characters being absolutely clueless about everything at first and their journeys in search of other living people. The writing is well-paced; the dangers that the group had to encounter and how they managed to deal with them were pretty realistic but still enjoyable, in my opinion. And since my brain is small, I am incredibly grateful the author didn't throw in a bunch of scientifically complex terms and force me to understand everything to get a grip on crucial details. The ending is somewhat bittersweet, but rather makes sense (I hope it's not a spoiler).

I just wish the characters showed more of their emotions and talk... less, and that we get to know more of the elements involved in the third part of the book.

Fantastic! What a story! Okay, here goes:
In and around a college outside of Boston, 7 different people wake up in their homes. Immediately it becomes clear something (everything?) is wrong. There’s no electricity. The doors are all locked. No one is around. And the birds are going absolutely HAM. There are animals everywhere. And they’re not in the clothes they remember from the previous evening. This begins the whateverpocalypse.

Slowly but surely, these survivors (?) find each other and try to survive.

Things I loved:
The characters. Especially Touré. He’s fantastic. He’s the kind of human I want to befriend but will likely never meet because our circles are highly unlikely to intersect. But all of them are quirky and wonderfully defined. Plus, Doucette does an excellent job of changing voice as they alternate narrators.

The science. It’s one of those SciFi novels where the science exists far beyond my understanding but us explained in such a way that it feels just out of reach rather than incomprehensible.

The thrill, the tension. It’s a constant, fascinating battle for survival. I was rapt from the very first moment.

The sense of magic and wonder. What a planet we live on, even after the apocalypse.

I think my teenagers who can handle a LONG book (I don’t know how many pages because I read it on kindle, but it felt long, in a good way) will love this. It’s feel accessible to a popular YA audience in a way that Station Eleven, also a stunner of an apocalyptic thriller, is not. Sure, there aren’t as many of those OMG-isn’t-that-just-a-gorgeous-sentence moments, but there are plenty of plainly written thought gems dropped in there.

I highly recommend this as a read, and I am thankful to NetGalley and #yalsa20 for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I hope birds of a similar reading feather will add this to their 2021 reading list.

In THE APOCALIPSE SEVEN, by Gene Doucette, seven people with virtually nothing in common wake up in the Boston area to find that the world has changed while they slept and they are they only ones left alive in it. As these seven slowly find each other and begin to put the pieces together as to what has happened, they realize the impossible has become possible and more has changed than they ever could have fathomed. Only by working together to find the truth do they discover what is really going on.
The makeup of the seven people, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses, provides some wonderful moments of humanity and mutual discovery. Doucette has done a good job of really considering how people would handle being alone, confused, and suddenly forced to survive in a way they never even had to consider before. If I had a better understanding of the geography of the Cambridge/Boston area, I could have wrapped my brain around all of their movements a little better, especially considering how much of the book is about traverse the land to find each other, then to find supplies, as well as several search and rescue moments. There was a nice moment of transition in the book when the reader finally feels the success of these seven finding each other and beginning to figure out how to live life from this point forward, then the book takes a twist that entrancingly hooks the reader for the rest of the novel.
Well-crafted, THE APOCALYPSE SEVEN feel like an epic tale, but with only the good parts and without pages and pages of excess unfocused ramblings than some epic tales fall into. It makes you wonder how would you handle waking up to an empty world.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be engaging from the first page. This apocalyptic story was told from each characters voice and I found myself drawn into each character's perspective. I thought it might become confusing, or disjointed, to hear from all characters, but it did not read this way at all. It helped to keep the pace of the story and add another level of interest. I would have liked more character development once they had come together, to really examine the differences between people, the inevitable moral dilemmas and relationship complexities that would have had to face, This was touched on, but I think it could have been delved into further.

I was kept guessing as I read a long and enjoyed reading how they determine what has happened to the planet. I was a tad disappointed with the sci-fi addition, however I can't think of an alternative ending that would have satisfied me.

Quite good. Probably best described as sci_fi, but could also be just good fiction. The mystery aspects are mostly engaging, and there are some interesting characters. This is an experienced author that know how create and tell a tale, so I'm not surprised I liked this. Recommended.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

Well, that took some turns I didn't expect.

I don't think I have fully digested and processed my feelings about it, but I would say that I am inclined towards saying I enjoyed it. The characters felt a little flat for me, but the setting and plot more than made up for it.

I feel quite certain that almost no one is going to predict how this one ends. Worth the read for that alone, if nothing else.

Thank you in advance to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the advanced copy of The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette in exchange for my honest review.

***The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette contains an extremely unique plot that kept me guessing--what in the world is going on? Told through the perspective of varying narrators, each character awoke one morning to find the world that we know quite changed.....and quite deserted. They have no memories of what happened, nor any inkling as to the timeframe and events that led to the apocalyptic world around them. Each are driven to find "survivors" and must navigate this treacherous new setting.

I personally enjoyed most of the book. I am a huge apocalyptic fiction fan. The plot compelled me to keep reading because I had to know what happened and how their lives would resolve. The resolution, however, struggled for me. I was disappointed by cause and background of the apocalypse and by the epilogue. I'm interested to see what others think--perhaps they will love it. I do believe that this book could bring up some great discussion, but there are several questions that in my opinion, that were never answered. Often a book's ending is a preference thing, and in this case, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Another book about the end of the world, it seems there were a lot of them this last year and understandably so. This one is different in that you should not expect an action packed, zombie filled book with a lot of fighting. It's more of a study of human nature, what happens when it seems like you are the last one alive in the world when you wake up in the morning?
I liked the pacing of the story and how you slowly got more and more information along with the characters leading to a more or less satisfying explanation in the end. The fact that the chapters were divided between the 7 people gave you insight in all of them and (superficially) their backgrounds. In the end the guessing about what had happened is what kept me reading, along with a slight attachment to the characters. I think more could have been done to add tension to the book in the form of moral choices or angst to grip readers more, but I did enjoy myself with this book.

*** An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ***

It seems like apocalypse and end-of-the-world stories are more common than ever these days. It's easy to see why. They offer nuanced, speculative fiction that allows the reader to get lost in a 'what if?' scenario of their choosing. I have read so many tales about the ending of days yet each time I see one I can't seem to resist just one more. Some are not as great as they could be but there are plenty of gems out there if you give them a chance.

The Apocalypse Seven is a shining light in a new wave of stories about the end of humanity's existence on earth. A fascinating and endearing yet uncomplicated perspective on the extinction of human life and the lucky few (depending on your idea of lucky) who live long enough to experience the aftermath. I had a great time with this novel, especially due to its cast and setting, and it really reinvigorated the genre as a whole for me. As I said before, an apocalyptic tale can have so much nuance if done right and that is very clear in The Apocalypse Seven. Gene Doucette has balanced a brilliant cast with an intriguing plot set in post-apocalyptic Cambridge, Boston.

Harvard student Robbie awakens, after another freshman party, to a world that doesn't make sense. Apart from Carol, another student Robbie discovers is blind and missing her seeing eye dog, everyone else is gone. The streets are empty. Nature has resurged in humanity's apparent absence and the city is filled with wild life, both harmless and very dangerous. Robbie and Carol, on their intial foray into an abandoned Cambridge, almost colide with Touré who is also confused, scared and a little bit excited by this turn of events. Whilst searching for food they come across young Bethany also trying to figure out the circumstances of the disappearance of humanity. They band together and focus on survival because, other than an unusual supplement bar call Noot, food, warmth and safety are in short supply.

Pastor Paul didn't know anything was wrong until Sunday came. The lack of an appearance by his congregation was unheard of and started the alarm bells ringing. Exploring his garage and the neighbour's house Paul comes to three conclusions. (1) No electronics work including his trucks battery, (2) His well kept armoury is required for survival and (3) Rapture has happened and everyone is gone. Eventually getting a radio to work connects him to Ananda, who's hiding out in MIT, in Cambridge. Win only came home to see her mother, who sounded lonely on the phone. Now her whole life is gone. Win wanted the city life after being raised on a farm but she knows in her bones that nature is her best friend. Finding Elton, a horse that doesn't know he's a horse, and heading to the city puts her in a course to find the last six people left on earth.

Together they are the Apocalypse Seven (self titled) and they slept through the end of the world. A significant amount of time has past but none of them know exactly how much they've lost. The only unusual occurrence they can pinpoint are shimmering lights that sometimes take humanoid form but only seem harmless. Everyone wants answers to what happened in the apocalypse but what they face is truly unbelievable and forces each of them to question themselves and each other all while do their damnedest to live through it. The Apocalypse Seven is an exciting and engaging story about the power of nature, of things we don't understand (yet) and the many faculties the human mind is capable of when faced with extreme circumstances.

As I said before, I enjoyed the plot. It was both entertaining and satisfying due to its simple yet expertly paced story beats. But its both the cast and setting made this book for me. The characters are very archetypal. Paul is a man of god, but also not scared of a fight. Robbie is the unwilling leader who everyone naturally looks to. Carol is a thoughtful, peaceful person who is accepting of the hand she was dealt in life. Bethany is a kid who wants to be treated like anything but one. Touré is a role-playing gamer nerd. Ananda is an eccentric scientist. Win is a gifted archer in touch with nature, more comfortable around animals than humans. But they work so well in a team dynamic and I was kind if hoping this might be a trilogy so I can continue to hear about their stories. I don't have a favourite because they all brought something to the mix and it felt good to see them all react to and interact with the world around them.

I also loved the setting. A historic town that is overtaken by nature. A town that symbolizes the future of our species that succumbed to how earth used to be in an age before humans took over. I thought the time spent in this version of Cambridge was fantastic and I hope I get to return there again. Gene Douchette really delivered on the idea of an post-apocalyptic survival adventure and I can't wait for other people to read it so I can talk about it more. Even if you're getting tired of the end of the world, give The Apocalypse Seven a go because it's well thought out, populated with memorable characters and it sits perfectly between dramatic and not taking itself too seriously which makes it a satisfying tale for a wide audience.

Sorry; can't give this book higher than 3 stars (and, truth be told, it's more like 2.5 stars). The dialog seemed very stilted to me...not things college kids would say. And not the things that they'd do under the circumstances. None of the characters inspired me even slightly, nor piqued my interest enough to continue reading. If the characters and/or plot don't grab me by the first couple of chapters, I quit. Which I did with this one. Not recommended for anyone over the age of about 15,.

Seven strangers wake up in New England alone and confused. Wild animals are everywhere, no signs of people anywhere, and things just don’t add up.

Can you say an end of the world book was fun to read? I thoroughly enjoyed The Apocalypse Seven. Interesting take on the end of the world. Elton alone is worth the time. One thing I really appreciated with this book was that all the survivors worked together instead of trying to kill each other.

Unfortunately, this book was just not for me, and I had to DNF it. The premise sounded awesome, and I was really interested to meet the cast of characters… but the opening really dragged for me.

My first red flag was beginning the story with a character waking up. It wasn’t a total dealbreaker because it does work extremely well on the rare occasion (ie. The Hunger Games). But here it didn’t. I understand why the author chose to begin with the character waking up in the context of this story, but I feel like he chose the wrong character.

If we woke up in Carol’s head, the emotional stakes would have been immediately through the roof. Escalating terror at not being able to find her seeing eye dog, not being able to find help, and being alone in a place she can’t identify. Then she’s calls out and finally has a stranger answer her… She doesn't know if he's the one who's taken her dog. She doesn't know if the man who answers her cries is a friend or foe. But she calls out to him because she's that desperate. That sounds heart pounding right? The potential was there…

But instead, we woke up in the brain of a hung over freshman who drank way too much beer has us fretting for several pages about how he got home last night, whether or not he has slept in, if he’s going to be late for class, rifling through a drawer of clothes, and worrying about his body odor? I mean… there’s just no stakes there.

I did know that there would be “waking up” in the beginning thanks to the description… but the characters should wake up to some action or emotional stakes. They shouldn't wake up to the mundane and shuffle around scratching their head.

But I thought if I could just power through that opening, I’d make it to the action and everything would be well.

Then FINALLY we get to the point where Carol’s having an emotional breakdown on the church steps, and the speeding bicycle comes hurdling a new character into our path! The action is building up! Something's going to happen! But then….

We cut to an info dump of that new character’s backstory.

I took a breath. Ok. I can do this… I’ll just make it through this part and the exciting post-apocalyptic action will start.

Things are moving along, the group is together…. But then… I’m supposed to believe that these super intelligent kids who got into Harvard would decide to go to their favorite restaurant instead of a grocery store? After they’ve seen churches, hotels, stores all vacant? Only after they arrive at the closed restaurant do they come to the conclusion that a chef wouldn’t be there to prepare their food? Did I read that right?

Then… these Ivy League students who all aced their SATs seek drinking water at …. the river? In Boston? I’ve never been in any city where I’d drink the water from a river.

By this point, I’m a little disgruntled as a reader. I skim forward to…

The wolves! YES!!! The wolves and the wolf chase were great. I liked the exchange where he got into the super market and the new girl says she doesn’t think his friends are going to make it. Great build up of tension there. And the moment where the wolves are on the other side of the fence and Carol hears them sniffing the air… also great. That’s what I was waiting for.

But by the time I finally got to it, I’d already had to skim big chunks of text and was exhausted with the story.

So, again, great premise. There’s an enticing hook there. (Great cover art too!) And the story likely becomes riveting… but the beginning lost me before I was able to get there.

Other reviewers really liked this book from what I can see - it’s got a lot of 4 and 5 stars already. So, I know I’m probably an outlier. Maybe I’d give this book another shot in the future, but for now, I’m going to shelve it.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to @netgalley for the arc of The Apocalypse 7 by @authorgenedoucette
I finished this book in a couple of days mostly because I was very invested in the characters. They all felt unique and I enjoyed that this is a very character driven narrative. I like an author that creates believable & diverse characters.

The Apocalypse 7 tells the story of seven people; Robbie, Toure, Carol, Paul, Bethany, Ananda & Win. They find themselves the lone survivors of the apocalypse & they have to survive. There's a lot more danger than anticipated. Also I would like to say that Nolan is the bestest boy. I don't want to spoil too much. This book deserves to be read and I give it 4⭐

The Apocalypse Seven is an interesting book, and not what I had first expected. Yes, there are classic tropes of post-apocalyptic fiction, but there's also a lot more. The main seven characters are all from different backgrounds, with different skills, abilities, and foibles. This makes for many interesting interactions when they have to work together to try and work out what has happened to the rest of the world. Being one of seven people left alive (probably, maybe?) would be a challenge for anyone, and the challenges are well displayed.
The third arc of the book has some unexpected twists and turns, which challenge everything you think you know about what's happened.
An exciting read throughout, with a wide range of characters.

The end of the world hey? Feels like we're there already doesn't it? Well, this book makes our current issues look like nothing - and it's great because of it! Reading a novel where there are only a few people left in the world resonated with me, the way the author wrote about how empty everything feels really sucked me in. Wildlife everywhere, a mystery about why these people are the only ones left provides a great premise, up until an ending that felt a little disconnected from the rest of the novel for my taste. All in all, a good read - don't expect highbrow concepts, more routing for the characters to survive the situation they're in. Good times!

this is my first book from this author and i am genuinely surprised by how i enjoyed this book. i didn't think it would make me love it, but i did love some parts and i enjoyed the ride. It's good tale about survival and stuff like that and it happens in Cambridge which i find very fun and endearing. Will definitely recommend this and check out new books from this author!

Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette absolutely delivers what it promises. It is an enjoyable scifi tale of survival and discovery that takes place in Cambridge, MA after all but a few humans have been gone for some time. The author does an excellent job of describing what Cambridge and Boston would be like long after humanity disappears. The story switches viewpoints between the seven characters in a very understandable way that pulls the reader deep into the plot.

I will keep an eye open for more novels by Gene Doucette. I recommend Apocalypse Seven for people that enjoy stories that include aliens, post-apocalypse scenarios, survival, and Cambridge.

Gene Doucette blew my mind with Unfiction some time ago. Difficult to go from there, once the bar is set that high. With this, now my third read by him, he definitely doesn’t disappoint, it’s no Unfiction, but it’s quite good. I’d read more of Doucette’s, but he’s got this penchant for series and I prefer standalones. This one seems to be a standalone, at least for now, but it can easily be serialized too.
So anyway…that’s obviously why I selected to read it, the other reason being…hey, it’s apocalypse, perfectly appropriate for the worst election on US record ever. So…did Doucette’s tale of whateverpocalypse as the seven survivors of it come to call it distract enough from the ever disappointing and depressing news? Well, yeah, it kind of did. Doucette’s a very good writer, he does great descriptions, dynamic pacing and dialogues and likeable engaging characters, but his greatest asset is his wild originality and imagination.
And so his stories go places other works in the genre just don’t get to. Although…this one for me was very reminiscent of Wayward Pines, but it was still very much a beast of its own. Apocalypse comes quietly in this story, people just wake up to it, wake up to a barely recognizable world grown wild in flora and fauna and strangely peopleless. Seven survivors of Beneton ad different races (this is not a mere PC nod, it’s logical to the plot as you’ll understand in the end) and of varied ages come to find themselves at the end of the world and must band together to survive it and find out the truth about how it all came to be. The truth takes quite a while to uncover, so for a long time you’re stumbling around as cluelessly as the seven, but in the end the scientist among them gets there. But even armed with the truth, the fight still isn’t quite fair or balanced, because whatever’s after them may not be a force that’s well meaning or even terrestrial. So it’s a survival story and a mystery with a pretty crazy plot twist in the end.
And it works, on every level. Despite the abundance of young characters, it never gets dumbed down to YA levels, in fact the youth acquire themselves nicely and maturely in this brave new world they find and work well with the older of the seven, the scientist and the pastor.
The depiction of the apocalyptic world they inhabit is vivid and stark, made me think of the World Without Us, which is a high compliment since that’s one of my all time favorite nonfiction (and apocalyptic) reads. The funny thing is that Doucette set the story right around where he lives, which just makes you appreciate how different the writer’s brains are wired, to jauntily and brutally fictionally annihilate their surroundings just for fun.
And fun it is, oodles of fun. I really enjoyed this story, it was exciting, compelling, original, infused with just enough humorous aspects and wtf*ckery to prevent it from being opressingly bleak, this is the end of the world you don’t want to sleep through…unlike the titular apocalypse seven. Very good read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.