I really thought I would race through this book but I couldnt finish it after around 30%. I kept putting it down thinking i would finish it but I gave up.

I was so excited about this book 10% in that I bought a hard copy, but it struggles to deliver on the fascinating premise at any point. I still would absolutely love to read more about the author, I just wish there was more of a compelling plot in this book, because the premise and the characters are fascinating.

As Samantha Irby says in her blurb, this one is a banger! I love dark humor that interrogates topics like class, work, and what it takes to survive, and The Survivalists reminds me of Ling Ma's Severance with how it takes on those topics. It also feels extremely timely, with, ya know, wondering if the end of the world is nigh (sure feels like it!). I teach a class on comedic novels and I'll be recommending this one to students going forward.

Kashana Cauley has made a name for herself as a TV writer for The Daily Show. Her debut novel, The Survivalists, starts out with Aretha going on her third first date in a week. When she meets Aaron, he is kind and intelligent, loves his grandmother, and even runs his own business. Tactical Coffee Company seems like an odd name for a business, but when she learns it fronts a secret bunker where he and his roommates plan to wait out the end of the world, she realizes she might be in for more than she bargained for.

This was an insightful and hilarious read. Aretha is fighting to make partner at her law firm in a world where things are stacked against her success. She gets pulled into this survivalist world the more frustrated she gets with her life. However, the survivalists don't seem adaptable to survival, leading to a hilarious ending. Once her own survival instincts kick in, she can withstand anything.

Tried to get into The Survivalists but it was not what i was expecting, and ended up not finishing it around 25%.

I really almost didn't survive this book. I don't know if I didn't get it or if it was something else, but it wasn't one of my favorites even though I had very high hopes for it.

I enjoyed the writing style and the humor throughout the book. Took some time to get used to not having chapters but it flowed well. Preparedness and coffee are areas of interest for me and the author did a great job exploring the topics. Aretha and Aaron are so cute together at the beginning of their relationship. But she might get more than she bargained for when it comes to his wayward roommates.

In addition to racism and gentrification Kashana Cauley used dark humor, irrational thoughts (seemingly unchecked mental illness, politics and toxic work culture to bring this story to life and I'm here for it!

I'm still unsure about this book. Its difficult to say if I just didn't enjoy the execution of sarcasm or if it simply wasn't well done. This isn't to say that the novel didn't have some enjoyable moments, because it did (I won't include any for the sake of not spoiling the laughable moments), but as a whole the book keeps us on the surface with our characters and it winds up being an okay read rather than the greatness you are expecting from the premise. I spent time wondering if only getting to know our characters on the surface was purposeful, another jab at capitalism/workaholic culture, but unfortunately even if that is the reason it is still missing something else.

This is a delightfully weird book. I really enjoyed the preppers and the main character's entrance into that strange world! Very funny too.

I love the premise of this. A law student is tired of the dating game, so when she meets a man who has also lost his parents, she's willing to take a risk and get more serious with him. Never mind his doomsday prepping roommates. Not a lot happened in this book, especially considering the premise, but it was solid enough for me to keep reading. I'd try this author again.

The Survivalists is funny but it also doesn't hesitate to pack a punch. Though it takes a bit to get going, I really enjoyed my time with this book. Definitely an underrated gem!

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book. I just could not get into the story and I found it so boring. I only made it about 20% through. I found the writing style slow. I wasn’t hooked right away and I felt like it was a chore to read.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vibes: Get Out meets Crazy Ex Girlfriend meets Fight Club meets my own NYC journey from Midtown offices to Central Brooklyn neighborhoods. Watching somebody lose their mind and/or join a cult but it’s kind of understandable because society sucks. Doing uncomfortably stupid things for “love” but also doing things for career doesn’t get you much farther because a career can’t love you back. This book takes a bit to pick up but then I stayed up all night to finish it. It’s funny and weird and creepy.

This novel was more of a coming-of-age tale than the thriller I expected, but I loved the premise and the writing! It did move slowly in some parts, but I'm glad I stuck around for the ending. I look forward to seeing what Kashana Cauley writes next!

I adored this book - it is so, so funny and yet also deeply moving. Aretha felt incredibly real - she is funny and quick in a way that was entertaining but not unbelievable, and her relationship with Nia was my favorite part of the book. Caulay is such a talented writer and I’m excited to see what she does next.

So well written so engaging a book about doomsday pressers that kept me entertained from beginning to end. I laughed out loud a few times and kept turning the pages.#netgalley #catapultbooks.

"The Survivalist" Was Hilarious! | literally laughed out loud a few times in public and got some suspicious looks. It was also shocking, and beautifully written! - What stuck with me the most after finishing the book, was a reminder to "NEVER say NEVER.! You don't know what you will do when you are actually in a situation. Bravo! I am upset that Kashana Cauley doesn't have a plethora of books under her belt already. But I will patiently await the next title release.

THE SURVIVALISTS by Kashana Cauley is a masterclass in sarcastic writing that’s both poignant but doesn’t take itself too seriously. This is one of those books you have to sit with for a bit after you finish to truly digest what the heck you just read. It moves so quickly and it’s easy to get swept up in Aretha’s tumble through life, but in those moments of calm, you gain pristine clarity. In terms of characterization, it’s easy to look down on how easily Aretha falls into a wayward hobby and loses herself until you realize, with sadness, that obsession can happen to any of us when any number of circumstances align. THE SURVIVALISTS is a commentary on the caustic fatality of capitalism and a workaholic culture consumed with the idea of productivity. Thank you to the publisher for a finished copy!

I really loved Aretha - she is a relatable and engaging protagonist with so much personality. The story was interesting, although I found it moved a bit slowly in some sections. My biggest issue was that the narrator seemed to switch focus a few times - the majority of the book follows Aretha and all of her thoughts and emotions, so when it switched to scenes where Aretha isn't present at all it felt a bit jarring.
Overall a fun and funny read with some interesting things to say.

One of my reading goals for 2023 was to explore more genres and this novel proved to be the perfect start. Categorized as satirical fiction x dystopian, this one was a page turner. It read like a Top 10 Netflix series, you know the ones you end up binging in a day? It gave diverse characters, creative plot, and a little romance with just the right amount of dark humor to keep the story moving along. I think the author knocked it out of the park!

ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ꜰᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴄᴏɴꜱᴘɪʀᴀᴄʏ ᴛʜᴇᴏʀʏ ᴏʀ ᴡɪʟᴅ ᴄʀᴀᴢᴇ?

Remember when that man took bath salts and allegedly turned into a zombie? Well it had me shook and I fed into the zombie craze. I even had a “survivor kit” which is the same concept as the Go-bag, a survivalist staple. This is a bag containing only the essentials that a survivalist keeps at the ready, so thru can grab and go if the alarm ever sounds on Dooms Day.

Put this on your reading list!