Could not put this down.

Vibrant cover, vibrant characters, and heart-pounding adventure. Wren is on the trip of a lifetime when she becomes ill with food poisoning, rendering years of planning down the drain. When she is finally well enough to travel, it’s just in time to return to the States… but at the airport, she misses her flight and learns that a meteor is on a collision course for Earth, and there are not going to be survivors. Desperate to get home, she pairs up unexpectedly with a member of the royal family who she treated like a normal human being, so he now owes her a favor. Prince Theo promises he can get Wren a flight home if she can help his travel incognito. Their adventures take them across Europe, forced proximity does it’s thing, and they fall in love.

The writing is vivid, witty, and real with tinges of regret and grief, while the action is non-stop fun, harrowing, and sometimes funny. I have a feeling the author didn’t take herself too seriously with the banter and cheesiness, but she also addresses issues of mental health and family dynamics.

Did I mention I could not put this down. There had better be a sequel!

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #ThePrinceAndTheApocalypse from #NetGalley

I went into The Prince & The Apocalypse with no expectations and it turned it to be one of the funniest books I've read all summer. Wren Wheeler was such an engaging character from the very beginning and I loved being in her head with her thoughts about her upcoming college experience, her family members (especially older sister Brooke), and her dog, Wally. The meeting with Prince Theo worked perfectly for me and the way the story catapulted from there kept me reading. The pacing was perfection and McDowell really kept the story moving while allowing for character growth in quieter moments. The characters had real chemistry and I totally bought their whirlwind romance at the end of the world.

I highly recommend The Prince & The Apocalypse for a perfect beach read. The story never got too heavy despite the premise of a comet hitting Earth in 8 days. With this type of story, we the audience knew the crisis would be averted so that we could focus on the characters.

The ending really threw me for a loop and I hope we get some sort of follow up, whether it is a full length book or a novella. I would love to know what happens next with Wren and Theo.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the arc for review purposes.

Wren has planned this trip to London what seems like forever. She has her itinerary planned out and ready to go until she gets there and finds herself ill and spending her trip in the hotel room. Now it's time to go home and she is determined to at least make it to The World's End Restaurant. Unfortunately she finds it closed for renovations.... then she misses her flight home. She meets a boy at the restaurant and she discovers he is the Prince of England. She helps him get away from paparazzi and he offers to help her if she needs it. The news breaks out that a comet is heading directly toward Earth and the outcome doesn't look good. Wren has eight days to make her way home before the end. She takes the Prince up on his offer to help and finds herself falling in love.

I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. I can't tell you my relief to discover that there was a bit of a cliffhanger. I cannot wait for the next book!

This novel was a fun bit of fantasy! Wren is not impressed by Prince Theo’s star status at all which makes for some fun dialog, and there’s nothing like an end of the world scenario to bring two people together that would never normally hang out. As they travel across Europe to Greece where a private plane can whisk Wren back home these two grow closer. Is it circumstance or are they really drawn to each other’s personalities? That’s a question the second book can and I hope will answer.

If you like young adult novels that aren’t realistic but are fun to read then The Prince & The Apocalypse may be the right novel for you! I certainly enjoyed this fun flight of fantasy remembering my own young dreams of meeting my own prince. It’s only in a book where that man could be the Crown Prince of England! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review and it was honest!

Wren is on a school trip in London that hasn't gone according to her plans. While trying to salvage her trip, she meets Theo, who is hiding from his life. When they find out that they are facing the end of the world, Wren and Theo set out on a ln adventure together. These two are immediately dynamic together. They have quite the banter! The compassion and support that they show each other is great to read but will their friendship morph into more and will there be enough time? I loved the character development and the paving of the story. I will be checking out more by this author! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

On the last day of her senior year trip to London, Wren wants to go eat breakfast at a specific restaurant. The rest of her trip has been a disaster so she is determined to get this one detail right. But when she arrives, the restaurant is closed. She meets one other boy there, who happens to be Prince Theo - the runaway Prince of Wales who has left the palace and is hiding from his family. The two of them end up on the run from the paparazzi causing Wren to miss her flight. All other flights back to the US end up being canceled due to a comet expected to hit Earth and end the world in eight days. With a little over a week to get home and everything being shut down, Wren must rely on another wild adventure with Prince Theo to get her home.

This was truly the most wild ride but in a fun way. It definitely requires a lot of suspension of reality, but once you get past how impossible this truly is, this story is such a fun adventure. I love a good royal romance so the prince on the run was a fun twist to that. I never know what was coming next and I flew through this story trying to figure out how it would all work out. It felt a bit older than many YA books which was unexpected but fine with me. Also that cliffhanger - please tell me we are getting a part two!!!!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the gifted copy.

This book completely surpassed my expectations! I devoured this captivating rom-com in one sitting, unable to tear myself away. Stranded in London, Wren Wheeler teams up with the charming British crown prince, Theo, as they face an impending global catastrophe. Their journey across Europe is filled with comedic mishaps, unexpected hurdles, and a blossoming romance that tugged at my heartstrings. What I adored most were the flawed and relatable characters. Wren's need for structure and Theo's desire for freedom added depth to their connection. With an ending that left me yearning for more, I'm eagerly hoping for a sequel to continue this enchanting tale!

Wren has been dreaming about her senior trip to London for years, planning the perfect itinerary, rooming with her best friend, and eating breakfast at the same restaurant her sister did. But when her itinerary is thrown out the window when she gets sick for half the trip, her BFF spends all her time with other friends, she hopes to get one thing right, eating the same breakfast her sister did on the final day. But even that can’t go right, The Worlds End restaurant is closed for renovations. But there’s another person there, a cute boy, who looks remarkably like the missing prince, who also didn’t expect the restaurant to be closed, one who she helps out of a tight spot and is given a phone number she never expects to use. But when she misses her plane, finds out the world is going to end, and can’t get another flight home, she sees no choice but to call him. Together they strike a deal and travel across the continent so he can be in his favorite place on earth when the comet strikes and he can charter her a flight home. But as with the rest of her trip to London, their itinerary consistently goes sideways and it seems like they’ll never reach Santorini.

I adored this book, it was so cute and a really fun, quick read. I was going to read this over the course of four days, and that was all fine and good until I got halfway through, my youngest woke up wanting back rubs, and suddenly it was hours later and it was over. I would love to read a second book, even if it was just a short story, though I’m hoping for more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

⭐⭐💫

CW
🟪 Depression
🟪 Imminent Death
🟪 World-Ending Comet

I was so excited about the premise of this book. It sounded like it was going to be such a fun summer read, with a hint of apocalyptic energy that I enjoy.

Ultimately, the plot fell really flat for me. What should’ve been something fun just turned into a story trying to pack way too many plot events without giving them room to breathe or for the reader to really register they’re happening. While I can accept part of that is because of the world-endingness of it, it just didn’t work in that way for me. Instead of being excited about where the trip would take them, I found it a bit of a slog, especially during recreations of famous boating tragedies (hint hint, nudge nudge).

I did enjoy the characters and their purpose. I think the idea that someone doesn’t feel like they deserve the perks of their name is always a great concept to explore and was done well here. The dynamic between Theo and Wren was believable and fun, so it was a bummer the plot didn’t match that energy.

I also really don’t like the sequel baiting at the end. This was a story that should’ve stood on its own. Maybe it wasn’t intended as sequel baiting, but it definitely felt like sequel baiting. Will I read it if it happens? Yes, I think so, because my biggest issues with this book were plot-related, and I’m willing to give the characters a second chance in a different story.

This was a cute, enjoyable read. I thought the meet cute was clever and the plot was very original. I did think the resolution towards the end felt a little too easy, but that ending was so good. Overall, this was a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the e ARC. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

It's the apocalypse, but make it fun.

I loved this book. Wren is very relatable with her need to have everything planned and then having a comet heading to the planet earth derail her plans. Wren’s inner monologue was so relatable and witty. I also loved Wren and Theo's banter and their chemistry was so palpable at times. I read this super quickly because I needed to know how it ended. The epilogue was so open ended I need to know what happens but the potential is so good. I kind of hope there's another book or something to find out what happens.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for providing a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was really cute. This follows Wren, a highly organized over planner on a senior trip abroad to London. She has planned this trip so well that even her itinerary has an itinerary. The moment her flight lands, her plans are shot. Her friends have been able to experience England while she ends up stuck in her hotel room ill for most of the week. On her last day, she is finally feeling better and has one more item on her list that she might actually be able to check off. Even that doesn't go as planned. Wren ends up running into the missing Crown Prince and saving him from the paparazzi. He is grateful for the help and offers her a favor if she ever needs one. Wren ends up missing her flight home and is stranded in the airport when news of the impending apocalypse breaks. She calls in her favor to Theo in the hopes that he and the royal family might be able to pulls some strings to get her home before the world ends. Again things do not go according to plan.

I really loved going on this adventure with Wren and Theo. There were alot of discussions about being worthy, vulnerability, and being free to make your own choices. While they both had their own agendas, at the end of the day they were both on a journey of self discovery and grew up alot in the last 10 days of Earth's existence. There put themselves in some unlikely situations, but that made it all the more fun.

This is perfect for YA readers who want a fun dystopian story that stays hopeful and has a bit of romance.

The Prince & The Apocalypse is a captivating tale that seamlessly blends romance and action into one exhilarating narrative. In this adrenaline-fueled story, readers are taken on a thrilling journey where love and chaos intertwine. McDowell skillfully weaves together the elements of romance and action, creating a truly mesmerizing experience for her audience. As the plot unfolds, readers are introduced to a prince who finds himself entangled in the midst of an impending apocalypse. The stakes are high, and the tension is palpable as the prince navigates through a world on the brink of destruction. McDowell's writing style is engaging and effortlessly draws readers into the story. Her vivid descriptions and well-developed characters bring the narrative to life, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in this captivating world. The Prince & The Apocalypse is a must-read for those seeking a thrilling adventure filled with heart-pounding romance and pulse-pounding action. McDowell's ability to seamlessly blend these genres together is a testament to her skill as a writer, leaving readers eagerly turning the pages to uncover what lies ahead.

I am genuinely shocked by this book. It's so freaking cute and I love them together so much. She was just able to get him to open up and share about his life in ways that he never has before. They really fell in love in such a short amount of time but I believe in them. Now, I am going to need this to be a duet because I need more especially after that ending.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Idk how Kara McDowell was able to make such a bleak thing like the end of the world into something so heartwarming but she really did that!!

The Prince and the Apocalypse is a short and sweet read filled with relatable characters, sweet romance, and high stakes adventure. I honestly had so much fun reading it! And while the premise might sound a little silly, there's also a lot of meaningful conversations on identity and mental illness. I'm definitely inspired to take charge of my life as though a massive asteroid is coming and I only have eight days to live.

And that ending??? I'm so excited to see where the author will take the story next!

It should be a dream opportunity: a senior trip to London! Wren’s older sister had an amazing time when she went a few years earlier. But Wren’s trip went downhill and now she just wants to go home. The only item left (that she actually can accomplish!) on her perfectly planned itinerary is breakfast at the World’s End restaurant. When she gets there, however, it’s closed for renovations.

As she’s cursing her luck, she notices a cute boy standing there. As it turns out, it’s Prince Theo, the heir to the British throne, who’s escaped the palace and is trying to stay hidden. When some tourists spot him and start taking pictures, she helps him get away. He takes off again, giving her his number in case she needs a favor.

Wren figures she’s just had a pretty cool experience, at least, after the rest of her stay, but when she arrives at the airport, she finds out things are a mess. As it happens, the world is about to end. A comet is about to hit Earth, and it will wipe out everyone. When her flight home is canceled and she can’t get another one, Wren decides to call in that favor.

Then she and Prince Theo end up going on a road trip from London to Santorini so she can use the family’s private jet to get home to be with her family before the world ends.

The premise is pretty outlandish, frankly. Putting a standard regular-girl-meets-prince love story against the backdrop of the apocalypse is a bit unusual. I sometimes had a tough time with it, but once it had been going for a while, I settled in and enjoyed the romance. It turned out being fun and just the kind of escapist pleasure readers would expect. So, give The Prince a chance.

American Wren Wheeler is on a trip with her high school to London. On her last day there, she runs into Prince Theodore, the heir to the British throne. Theo wants to hide away from the British press, and Wren helps him to escape, however, it leads her to miss her flight home. While this is all happening, NASA announces the impending end of the world in just a few short days, leading Wren to lean on the royal heir to help her to get back to America.

This was such a fun plot and concept! It had me hooked from the very start, and I enjoyed every second of it. It was light-hearted and very entertaining despite the end of the world concept. I loved the road trip through Europe - it was so fun, and I loved getting to explore each place they went to with them! However, it did also have some more serious moments, such as discussions of mental health.

I loved the romance between Wren and Theo and watching them fall in love throughout the book. I felt the chemistry between the two, and it just felt very natural.

I would say that my only negative of this book was that the last 20-30 pages felt really rushed to conclude the book.

Also I need to talk about that ending because what the heck??? That last line?? I’m going to need a sequel!

Overall, it was a fun, fast-paced book filled with fun adventures and romance!

I have been a fan of Kara’s books since her debut. I have always just connected with her storytelling and her style of writing. I truly didn’t think anything would surpass my love for One Way or Another, but honestly, The Prince and the Apocalypse is by far the best story she has ever written! When I picked it up I was immediately sucked into the world she had created and I did not want to put the book down, which has been a rare thing over the last year. It was seriously everything I needed in a YA romance and everything that had been missing from the books I had been reading. Wren and Prince Theo’s story is SO GOOD! It reminded me of Before Sunset/Before Sunrise (two of my all time favorite movies) meets Deep Impact and I was 100% there for it. The way that I can’t even begin to explain how good this book is is all that you really need to know. I need Kara to write all the books in this world and I need her to do it now! Make sure this is on your radar. Top tier read for sure!

The Prince and the Apocalypse is a cute YA/NA novel about finding yourself at the end of the world. Wren Wheeler, after a disastrous school trip abroad (‘I have acquired absolutely nothing on this trip except disenchantment.’), finds herself stranded in England with eight days until the end of the world and a favor from the Crown Prince burning a hole in her pocket. The two commence a whirlwind trip across Europe. The two dodge pursuers and their own emotions, both of which could derail their plans.

The book was a 3.5/5 star read for me. Altogether, it was a fun read, and it had some great moments of banter, character growth, and emotional height.

It dragged in places and there were a few places where I didn’t care about the characters or their various perils as much as I wanted (or was very frustrated with their choices), especially when it seemed like they were making ridiculous decisions 😂

Wren’s relationship with her sister was interesting. We see the conflict between the two from Wren’s perspective, of course. She looks up to but is jealous of and annoyed by her supposedly superior sister. Wren believes Brooke, her sister, is smarter and more successful than Wren could hope to be.

Most of the downfalls of Wren’s school trip came from her drive to follow a strict plan/schedule, seemingly caused at least in part from her feelings of inferiority. Her strict adherence to ‘the plan’ causes conflict with her BFF (‘…turns out European Naomi doesn’t like my itineraries nearly as much as Chicago Naomi does.’) and results in her meeting the prince (and missing her flight) in the first place.

I enjoyed the banter between Wren and Theo, the Prince. (“I’m a terrible bodyguard.” He shrugs. “I’m a terrible prince.”) Although it dragged occasionally, there are many fun moments (and several that made me laugh out loud) throughout the book.

‘I’d rather not kick Theo in the balls if I can help it.’

“Stress makes me say weird things.”

‘Whatever the underwater equivalent of the mile-high club is… I refuse to join it.’

“…How am I supposed to play the reluctant, self-deprecating heir to the throne, if you always get there first?…”

I enjoyed the author’s foray into what would happen if everyone knew the end was coming. Who would go to work, and why? Who would deny the existence of the comment, declaring anyone who fell for the story to be sheeple? What morals would fly out the window, and which morals would survive to the end? What would you regret, if anything? Would you continue to meet the expectations of you, or attempt to throw them out the window (“I don’t know how to be anything other than who they made me.”)? What would you want to do with your final days, and what if there was an ocean separating you from your greatest desire?

‘I can’t believe I ever worried about the calories in bread, as if at the end of my life the thing I’d care about would be the size of my pants. Insane.’

‘I’ve never been drunk, because I’ve always stayed far away from anything that could derail my plans.’

I absolutely adored Eleni, one of the people they meet along the way. She was such a sweetheart with such kindness available at the end of the world for an absolute stranger. Her family was also 💕💕

Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC.

This was such a cute sweet romance. Wren was such a fun character and Theo was a cinnamon roll! All the adventures they went on to get to the end were so chaotic and funny. The story of the world ending was very interesting. I cannot wait to read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.