Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

Representation: autism, queer, bi, disability, chronic illness, Asian American

CW: racism, ableism, inability to afford medical care, getting stuck in an elevator, and everything else that you’d expect when reading an apocalyptic horror/thriller

I give this book 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. This was so incredibly exciting. From about 40% in until the very end, it was nonstop action. The characters in this book were so dynamic, and I found myself actively rooting for some and hating on others. There were multiple times while reading this book where I was literally holding my breath!! I loved all the representation within the characters. I desperately wanted this book to include an epilogue, but I think it was more powerful without. I would love to see this book turned into a movie.

I feel like this book needs to be broken in 2 parts, the beginning that I enjoyed, but the second half had me questioning if this was the best book choice for me. Sometimes YA isn’t the best fit for me, and I think that happened with this book.

This Is the Way the World Ends is a lot of things, but above all, I'd describe it as WILD. I never expected this to be where the story was gonna go, but you know what? I love that.

Waverly has a great voice and I instantly felt connected to her. Like me, she's an autistic lesbian and I LOVED seeing myself in an epic, over-the-top story like this. Seriously, that was so dear to me. The themes explored here are also really powerful, but the most important part is that this book does what it needs to do: it entertains.

With loads of twists and fun characters, This Is the Way the World Ends is addictive. I read it in one sitting... literally without getting up even once. If you're looking for something that feels a little absurd (although, is it really?), this one is for you!

As a beneficiary of a very generous scholarship, Waverly is very fortunate to attend one of the most prestigious college prepatory schools, Webber Academy.

Being a gay autistic student, Waverly struggles to fit in with her classmates. And coming from a low income family doesn’t help her situation. As a distraction and to also supplement the family income, Waverly become a student tutor in the hopes to make new friends in the process.

With an upcoming fundraising masquerade ball, Waverly can only wish for the opportunity to hob nob with the elite crowd. So when one of Waverly’s students, who also happens to be the most popular girl in the school, offers Waverly the chance to take her place, Waverly couldn’t refuse. It would be Waverly’s one chance to reconnect with her ex-girlfriend, Ash. But things don’t go as planned as Waverly gets hunted down for witnessing a gruesome murder during the building’s lockdown and during a global blackout.

This is the Way the World Ends is a mixed bag of genres. It’s part mystery, part second chance romance, and part sci-fi. And because of that, I have mixed feelings about the novel.

With no clear cut plot, the novel is a slow read at the start. I nearly gave up at 34% And nothing really happens until I was invested at 45% when Waverly witnesses the murder.

The characters were not as fleshed out as I would have wanted. The main protagonist is supposedly autistic but at what end of the autism spectrum was not made clear. But she wasn’t a “Rainman.”

The ending wasn’t a cliffhanger. But it was pretty vague and inconclusive. So is a sequel coming? Two okay stars.

I received a digital ARC from Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press) through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Wow this book is so so good. Its amazing. I want book #2. I mean we have to have another book right? You can't leave us hanging with that ending. The twist I didn't see coming. I mean maybe I should have I don't know. With Waverly she is just great, all she wants to do is help her mother out, by going to this school it will help her get into pre med. Which is her goal. Falling for Ash wasn't part of that goal. But she does and when Ash leaves without a word... That is just the start of things. Waverly has two best friends whom I just love. Their little group makes up of Frank and Pari and Waverly. All are different in one way or another. But that is what is so great about them, they could care less really. But Waverly gets a chance to see Ash again when Caroline says hey take my place at the ball. Caroline is pretty popular and very rich.
But she seems to be very friendly with everyone. But at this ball is where it all goes down. This book is not to be missed. A definite must read.

No doubt this story will be talked about. I mean it just has has to.
This Is the Way the World Ends by Jen Wilde is seething, atmospheric and compulsively readable.
A suspenseful, fast paced, YA queer, romance and a touch of dystopian was a freaking bombshell of amazingness.
This was a riveting and thrilling story that kept me guessing until the very end! It was so exciting to read with all the twists and turns, incredible characters, and intriguing mystery happening. I couldn't put it down. This story is the definition of a page-turner! I loved it!
My first time reading Jen Wilde’s work and it most certainly won’t be last.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Wednesday Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

** spoiler alert ** I loved this book!!! The fantastic part was how realistic this could totally be.

Autistic scholarship student Waverly makes up 1% of the student at her prestigious prep school Webber Academy in New York. While most of her friends get by on the success and money of their wealthy parents she gets by on tutoring jobs and the help of the academy's Dean Owen Webber. So when Caroline, the "it girl" and also friend/tutor student to Waverly suggests that Waverly goes to the academy's masquerade ball in her place, though hesitant at first, Waverly agrees when she finds out that former girlfriend and daughter to Dean Webber, Ash is going to be there. Once Waverly arrives, it's almost everything she has dreamed of, feeling like a real-life Cinderella. But Waverly came with a mission and that was to speak to Ash to ask her why, without any warning, Ash left for London and never spoke to Waverly again. But when Waverly stumbles into a secret meeting overhearing the schools Dean and other donor parents discussing a sinister plat, she realizes that the school masquerade ball is nothing more than a cover-up for something disastrous and now she and her friends need to escape the ball before the plot unfolds. All of this while the apocalypse is happening outside.
I had so much fun reading this book. There were so many times that I got so mad at the thought of people in society not accepting someone for who they were inside and out. But, that's just it isn't it? There are still so many that aren't accepting of a mentally challenged genius or someone who is gay or someone with a disability. I live with 4 chronic illnesses so I completely related to the character Pari. I loved her take no s*** attitude and she didn't shy away from, nor felt no shame in embracing every part of her disability. Author Jen Wilde did an absolutely amazing job with this book. I truly hope the story continues. This was a short read, done in a few hours. Great for a rainy day or a sunny day

This is a story with so much going on that you can't help but be hooked. You've got teen angst with love lost and trying to fit in. There is a masquerade ball at a prep school that is more a rite of passage than just a celebration. You have kidnapping and cult behavior. And then throw in the end of the world as we know it. Most of the story takes place one one day, with some flashbacks to help set the scenes. It flows so smoothly despite how much is going on. I love the factory setting with the different levels, secret doors and elevators, and a mirror maze. Although terrifying, it also makes the story that much more exciting. And then the day ends. It seems kind of abrupt, but the story has to end somewhere, and we pretty much get an idea as to what will happen next. I really enjoyed the book!

Dear Publishing: this book is my jam! Action-packed thriller with end-of-the-world disaster movie plot that would rival any Roland Emmerich tentpole. And add to that a quirky, loveable, relatable, queer autistic MC, a cast of misfit teens who may or may not be in on the conspiracy and a locked room-type mystery with murder and loaaaads of mayhem. What a fantastic ride I can't wait to take again.

This book is definitely engaging. I read it in basically one day. But it was a mess. The first half is pretty slow and then the characters literally just start running all over the place. Waverly's obsession with Ash was annoying. Also, I have so many questions - which I won't post here because I don't want to give any spoilers. But that ending was just not good - how did these kids not die? It read like the ending to a superhero/action/spy novel - but these are regular kids, and not super-athletic ones. I really liked the characters, but we don't get to spend a lot of time with them, because they are too busy running around and reacting to the things that are happening.

Thank you to NetGalley and the pulbisher for allowing me to review this book.

This is a miss for me. The blurb says that this book is about Waverly, an autistic girl that agrees to go undercover as her friend Caroline to the prestigious Masquerade Ball her fancy school is throwing. It's a chance to see the other side of life that Waverly doesn't get to experience, and she'll have the chance to settle things with her ex-girlfriend, the Dean's daughter. Things get a little wild when the night goes horribly wrong, casting friends and foes against one another in the hopes of survival.

I wanted to love this book, but I just didn't. I feel like all I knew about Waverly was that she was poor, autistic, and still pining for her girlfriend. That was it. Autism seemed to be her only personality trait, and for me, that wasn't enough. I love to see representation in books, but it needs to be good representation.

I also found that the book just got more and more out of control and unbelievable as it went. It made it quite difficult to not roll my eyes at all the wild stuff going on. more than anything, that made me feel like I'd wasted good hours reading this when I could have been reading something else. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

I'm a big fan of Jen's other books but unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one. This book was very messy and all over the place. None of the characters were very likeable.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a copy in exchange for a honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 9, 2023
Waverly doesn’t fit in at Weber Academy. As a scholarship student from Queens, she’s taking on tutoring gigs to help pay her way to her dream of Yale Medical school, a dream that Weber can definitely help bring to fruition. So, when super popular socialite Caroline asks Waverly to attend the Weber Academy’s ultra exclusive annual ball in her place, Waverly awkwardly accepts, hoping that this glimpse into the rich and famous society of Weber alumni, donors, parents and students will be the chance she needs to finally reconnect with her ex-girlfriend who ghosted her months ago. But Waverly doesn’t expect is to see someone murdered, or to hear the nefarious plans the founder of Weber, and its dean, have for the future of Weber, and the future of humanity. Waverly has to find a way to get the Weber community to believe her, and to save the world in the process.
“This is the Way the World Ends” by YA author Jen Wilde is a sleek, modern and engaging story with diverse, spunky characters that will find quick fandom among fans of Karen McManus. Waverly, a queer young woman with autism, breaks the boundaries and stereotypes every step of the way, leaving readers with a strong, stigma-breaking protagonist to root for. A character with autism is nothing new, of course, but Wilde does Waverly and the autism community justice, by making her eccentricities and her anxieties part of the overall reality of the plot, and I appreciated Wilde’s honest depiction of Waverly’s struggles and behaviours.
Part YA, part dystopian fiction, “Ends” is full of page-turning action and suspense. The end of the world is at your door and you’re surrounded only by the rich, white men who helped create it? There’s no other choice but to get the hell out of there (and FAST), and Wilde pulls readers into the tumultuous adventure of Waverly and her friends as they aim to do just that.
Wilde is not a new author, but she is a new one for me, and I always love when I discover a hidden gem in my TBR list. Wilde’s “This is the Way the World Ends” will be on every “to read” list there is, and we will be hearing about it for months to come. An on-trend disaster story that manages to be both fresh and modern, “Ends” will leave an indelible mark (in the best way!)

I wanted to enjoy this book based on the description but I really struggled. This book was all over the place. It almost felt like 3 different stories and the author couldn’t decide where they wanted the book to go.

I liked that 2 of the MC were neurodivergent. The reason I gave the book 2 stars was because I felt like the author did a great job with the disability representation.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

3.5 stars
i’ve read a few jen wilde books and never clicked with her writing style, but decided to give This is the Way the World Ends a try anyway, because as an autistic lesbian, i’m a sucker for stories about autistic lesbians and those are few and far between.

this book immediately felt more mature and put together than any of the author’s previous work. i’m not sure if that’s because wilde’s skill has matured or if she acquired a really great editor, but whatever the case, it’s working out.

the story started out feeling like a typical ya contemporary. its shift into apocalyptic storytelling was extremely abrupt but i think it worked. i didn’t care much for the love story at the heart of it all and i think the side characters were quite underdeveloped, but that’s often to be expected with books of this length.

overall it was enjoyable. i would recommend it.

Waverly is an autistic scholarship student at the prestigious Webber Academy. In order to try to fit in she tutors the upper 1%. It is during tutoring that she meets the schools “it” girl and ends up forming a friendship. When she convinces Waverly to attend the masquerade ball as her – Waverly reluctantly agrees.

The ball is everything Waverly ever dreamed it would be – and more, but when some sinister things start happening Waverly isn’t quite sure what to do. As the world is thrust into a blackout Waverly and her friends must navigate through hurdles and try to save the night. But Waverly can’t help but wonder, even if they do escape, will there be anything worth living for?

This book was good but left me wanting for more. It was a fun YA queer romance and dystopian mash up that was really a delight. However, the whole second half of the book was out of the blue and not what I was expected or wanted. I was prepared for the dystopian, but I seem to struggle that this group of high school kids could save the world. It just felt very disjointed. I think had the author just stuck to the first half of the book and turned that into the entire book, but more flushed out, then it would have been a better read.

Thank you to St Martins Press, Wednesday Books, @StMartinsPress, @WednesdayBooks, and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This one is out May 9th.

As an autistic scholarship student at the prestigious Webber Academy in NYC, Waverly is used to masking to fit in, in more ways than one. While her classmates are the children of the one percent, Waverly is getting by on tutoring gigs and the generosity of the school's charming dean. So, when her tutoring student "it girl" Caroline asks her to attend the school's annual fundraising Masquerade disguised as her, Waverly jumps at the chance - especially once she finds out that Ash, the dean's daughter and her secret ex-girlfriend, will be there. The Masquerade is everything Waverly dreamed of, until the evening takes a dark turn. As the world is thrust into a blackout and the people at the gala are planning something more sinister than anyone could have imagined, Waverly and her friends must navigate hurdles and try to make it through the night, but even if they do escape, will there be anything left worth living for?

This book was a fast paced YA queer romance and dystopian mash-up that was delightfully addicting and I devoured it in one day! I loved all the queer, disability, and racial representation that was packed into the diverse cast of characters. I definitely was not expecting the chaos of the second half of the book, the turn everything took threw me and I had several questions that were left unanswered. The ending left me wanting more and hopefully there's a sequel in the works to tie up some of the loose ends.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The first 25% of the book was just introductions. Speaking of introductions it felt like the author was trying to hard to have the characters be different. It seemed like each character only had a disability so that the author can pat themselves on the back.

It took way too long for the plot to really happen. Then when it finally kicks in it’s all over the place.

I just as not a fan of this book, which is unfortunate because I really did want to like it.

Fan of Jen Wilde but this one just wasn't for me. It was a little all over the place and I struggled to connect with it and it was a lot for me to keep slugging through. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.