While Dan and Mara are enjoying their first vacation at an all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas, something horrific happens, and the sun seems to melt from the sky, leaving everyone in the dark. Things quickly descend into chaos as everyone realizes there is no way off the island and no way to let anyone know they are there.

When Building A, which is filled with all the richest people decides they are going to be in charge it doesn't go over well with everyone else, but it seems there is nothing to be done as Building A has the food, and has armed guards walking around making sure everyone else stays in line.

Dan ends up the face of the resistance, quite accidentally, and has no idea what to do.
Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend was a surprising read. I enjoyed the beginning, it drew me in with the writing and setting, and Dan was a refreshing main character. There were times I was laughing out loud, and other times this story was full of emotion due to the circumstances and what happened to some of the others on the island.

I did feel like this story slowed down for me in the middle, but once we passed that it again drew me in and I didn't want to put it down.
There were a lot of twists and turns that were surprising and took the book in a whole different direction than I was expecting, which I loved.

Thank you DB Media and Sourcebooks landmark for the advance listening copy and advance reading copy. Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is a hilarious and captivating utopia novel that I could not stop reading. The main characters Dan & Mara go on their first vacation and soon things go totally wrong. As they work together to escape, the satire in this novel will have you howling with laughter or sitting with your mouth open in shock. I will definitely be recommending this book to friends who need something light and funny to read.

All-inclusive Vacation? Check. First holiday with your girlfriend? Check. New vacation resort in the Bahamas? Check. All the drinks, all the sun, and all the food? Check, check, check. Sun explodes? Check.

Wait, what?!? So much for the perfect vacation. Dan Foster and girlfriend Mara find their worlds turned upside down in this debut novel about what might happen in society when faced with the impending end of the world. Dan is the reluctant hero who fits a grumpy everyman role, forced into the persona of being a hero/spokesperson when he has no idea what to do and just wants to fade into the background. Filled with wit, humour, and a narrator who can’t help but make snarky comments telling people exactly what he thinks, #zerostarsdonotrecommend utilizes satire to expose the underlying cracks in society and how we just might respond when those cracks are revealed. A fun read with some twists and turns to keep you on your toes, saying too much more will give away too many spoilers! Suffice it to say I rather enjoyed this fresh novel from #mjwassmer.

<“satire: the use of a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn; wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly” Merriam-Webster-webster.com>

Shoutout to @netgalley and @bookmarked for the advance ebook. #zerostarsdonotrecommend will be on shelves everywhere August 6, 2024. Contrary to the title, I actually do #recommendthisbook

The background photo is if the skies in Saskatchewan last week as a result of all the forest fires burning in Northern Saskatchewan, Alberta, and even BC, here in Canada. The skies have since cleared up but it’s crazy hot and humid here. Here’s hoping the fires are contained and stopped soon. Sending up prayers and gratitude for all the firefighters and first responders fighting to restore some harmony and putting their lives on the line.

#satire #satirical #humorbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookgeek #booknerd #bookrecommendations #mjwassmer #sourcebookslandmark #fictionbooks #bookreview #zerostars #saskatchewanwildfires #smokeyskies #redsun #gratitude #thankyoufirefighters

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend follows Daniel, Mara, and a host of characters after the sun explodes during their secluded island vacation.

I'll start by saying this was not what I expected. That's not a bad thing, it just took me a bit to recalibrate. I expected a comedic apocalyptic novel poking fun at the antics of what might happen but what we got was something more serious. While there were comedic moments, and I appreciated the sarcasm of our main character, Daniel, there were also some really heartbreaking and downright cruel moments as well.

Once I re-set my expectations of what I thought I would get, I ended up really enjoying this book. I think it takes a look at an extreme response to an extreme situation, focusing on the ugliest of humanity. Sure, there's hope but Daniel and his crew deal with the worst of the worst from Building A. While hard to read at times, it forces you to think about what you would do, what you would want in this situation, how you might react, and I appreciate any book that evokes that type of internal debate.

Sometimes the emotions and motivations of the characters don't come across on page but I think this could make for a great screenplay and can go either funny or serious. I did find the plot to be a little predictable, but I will say that I recently read something that had a similar apocalyptic catalyst (even though the plots were very different). Some scenes felt really fast and I found it hard to follow who was doing or saying what but overall I liked the way the pieces came together and the thought provoking nature of the plot.

3.5 rounded up.

For those who prefer their apocalyptic fiction with a subversive, snarky, sarcastically humorous sensibility, this debut novel by newcomer MJ Wassmer is tailor-made for you! With a propulsive storyline and over-the-top action, Wassmer takes the reader and his eccentric cast of characters, on the most excellent thrill ride! If, of course, you have an exploding sun, a tropical Caribbean island resort populated with outrageously imagined tourists, and a mad scientist in an observatory in mind!

I can't count the number of times I belly laughed, rolled my eyes, or said, "Shut the front door!" while reading this hoot-and-a-half of a story!

This novel has a publish date of August 6, 2024.

Thank you to the author for his entertaining imaginative tale, the publisher for their assistance to said author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of "Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend"

#ZeroStarsDoNotRecommend
#MJWassmer
#NetGalley
#ApocalypticFiction

I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on August 6, 2024.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for this arc.

Okay so if anyone has much scientific knowledge of what happens when stars explode, they will realize that there is much more to this story than is first explained to the dazed and confused guests by a resident astronomer who just happens to also live on the island. Watch for subtle clues that reveal a bit of what is happening behind the curtain. I appreciate that the clues are very subtle and allow the story to play out. I was surprised, and more than a bit horrified, at the reason for everything.

The book grimly shows what happens when society crashes down in the wake of a tragedy. It also presents human nature and how that plays into who rises to the top and controls what happens and who meekly accepts.

Along with a glimpse of how fucked up things can go, the story dishes out a heap of self discovery. Dan freely acknowledges that he’s a bit of a slacker. He admires his nurse girlfriend Mara who jumps in to help anyone in need even if this might cost her dearly. Dan isn’t the only person who wrestles with self preservation vs helping their fellow humans. Some will survive this battle and others will lose. There are also some truly evil fuckers on the island and that isn’t limited to the goon squad guards.

One thing though. The book is also darkly hilarious a lot of the time.

I’m not sorry I took a leap of faith and tried this book. I laughed a lot – even if Lenny and Charles were, at times, reduced almost to caricatures – and I was sad at the fates of some of my favorite characters. I think that many of the people in the book will be dealing with their demons and PTSD in the years to come. Right now though, they’re writing scathing yelp and tripadvisor reviews. B

The White Lotus meets Kevin Wilson was a perfect description of this book. Kevin Wilson is one of the few white guys on my short auto-buy list so I had to give this book a try. It didn’t disappoint. Funny, heartfelt, fast paced, and a little twisty, it will have you rooting for the Dan the average dude.

5 stars, absolutely do recommend!

I had downloaded this book and forgotten the premise only to be reminded on page two when the sun explodes and I'm thrust into the decisions of Dan, the relatable and professionally underachieving protagonist. It's so rare that I read a book that has a plot that hooks me right away, but this one got me and I quickly devoured it. The fact that I was reading a book based on the sun exploding while people are stranded on a small island in the bahamas and thought "yeah, I can relate" says it all.

The dark humor, satire, and tension all blended for a book that felt both funny and anxiety-inducing all at the same time. The characters were diverse and dynamic, and we even had a super-villain. What more could you want?!

This was a fun and fast paced read. Hard to believe it is a first novel. Great concept and lots of interesting characters. Four stars. I do recommend.

The end of the world has ended your vacation - what next?

"Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend" starts with the sun exploding, ruining Dan and Mara's sunny Bahamas vacation. From there, things quickly snowball, dividing the resort's guests into factions and dissolving into war.

I think this book is categozied incorrectly as "humour/satire". Once things start to go badly, the moments of levity are too few and far between for this to be considered humour. It would be described more accurately as an action-packed, violent, and dark exploration of how many might lose their humanity when faced with a disaster of apocalyptic proportions. It's definitely not *bad*, but it's just not what I went in expecting from the categorization, cover, and description. I did really like Lilyanna as a villain (mostly because I'm the most anti-MLM person I know), and overall the writing is strong. I saw the twist coming from a mile away, but that didn't ruin it. Dan's constant reminders to himself about being a man and what a man does fell flat for me since there wasn't a lot of growth for him overall - perhaps that's part of what was supposed to hit as satire, but for me it just felt awkward. And while I can see, unfortunately, humanity dissolving into this when faced with the apocalypse, I'd like to think there'd be a few more people willing to help each other out instead of solving things through violence. Even the helpers here were violent. If you think about it, it's quite a depressing view of the end.

Overall, if you're interested in a dark view of what might happen at a luxury resort in the end times, this may be up your alley. If you're looking for the comical apocalypse the cover suggests, you may have to keep looking.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story starts off with a bang, literally it opens with the explosion of the sun and what happens next is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies just way crazier. When the sun explodes Dan and his girlfriend Mara are on a luxury island which goes into chaos right after. The lady named Lillyanna takes over the island with her mlm style dictatorship. I definitely was rooting for Dan and Mara and their friends the whole time. This story had lots of twist. I definitely enjoyed it immensely

I never thought an apocalypse story could be fun, but M.J. Wassmer managed to pull that off in Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend.

This book lured me in by being a White Lotus meets Lord of the Flies plot. It was infuriating, laugh out loud hilarious, a bit romantic, scary, and managed to touch on some very on topic issues like class warfare.
I personally loved the tongue in cheek way the author poked fun at the kinds of people who take their pyramid scheme career way too seriously with the character Lilyanne. I thought it was spot on and hysterical.
The twist was unexpected even if I had guessed at it a bit beforehand and I thought it lead to a good resolution. It was a very unique storyline and I enjoyed it.

Overall, I thought this was pretty good for a debut novel. It was definitely unlike any book I’ve ever read which is hard to find as an avid reader these days. I would be interested in reading what the author writes next.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and the author for the gifted ARC from NetGalley.
Publication date 8/6/24

3.5 stars

I should start by saying this book would absolutely have a higher rating if I wasn’t so sensitive.

This book has one of the strongest beginnings I’ve read in a long time. I laughed out loud multiple times and was so excited for the story. However, I think the light-hearted beginning made me think it would be like that the entire time. But things did get pretty real and sad and I just couldn’t get over some of it. And the main character could be a real jerk and I didn’t want to root for him at times.

The author did a great job with the characters and I felt such a range of emotions throughout their story. It can be viewed as a basic and predictable story but I think it was still unique and fun and worth the read.

This is still such a strong debut novel and I would absolutely read more from M.J. Wassmer. I am fully aware that this is my fault. I mean they even mention a revolution in the book summary so what did I expect?? I’m just too sensitive for these types of books and shows and I need to accept it.

Also, I love the cover.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book did not disappoint. I loved, loved and loved this book. The whole premise of the book is automatically pulling. This story is one of a kind, and I would recommend.

5/5 Stars ⭐️

"Zero Stars Do Not Recommend" by MJ Wassmer is a masterful debut that takes readers on an unforgettable journey. Initially, it presents itself as a fun, light-hearted beach read, following a couple on a summer vacation. However, this seemingly breezy narrative takes a dramatic turn when the sun explodes, plunging the world into a post-apocalyptic setting. This unexpected twist is handled with such skill that it leaves readers both shocked and captivated.

The strength of this novel lies in its deeply relatable characters, like Dan and Mara. Wassmer has crafted them with such authenticity and depth that I found myself fully immersed in their struggles and triumphs. Dan’s resilience and Mara’s courage are both inspiring and heart-wrenching, making them feel like real people rather than mere characters on a page. Their journey is one of survival, but also of personal growth and discovery, which resonates on a profound level.

The emotional range in "Zero Stars Do Not Recommend" is impressive. There were moments that brought tears to my eyes, as well as instances that made me laugh out loud. Wassmer balances these emotions beautifully, creating a narrative that is as poignant as it is entertaining. The story's pacing is perfect, with each chapter leaving you eager to see what happens next.

One of the standout aspects of this book is its surprising and powerful ending. Just when you think you’ve figured everything out, Wassmer delivers a twist that is both unexpected and satisfying. It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel, given the maturity and confidence in the storytelling. I always love a HEA!

"Zero Stars Do Not Recommend" is a book that deserves a spot on everyone’s TBR list. It's a thoroughly entertaining book that examines human nature. MJ Wassmer is an author to watch, and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a story that combines heart, humor, and a dash of the unexpected.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is so funny! I wanted to read this story just based off the title and I’ve found it to be very clever and it had me laughing throughout.

This was a little exhausting to read. The world is a mess right now. The last thing I want to do is read a book about the elite taking over when the end of the world is approaching. A little too close to home. I mean there is an “uprising” but by that time, I didn’t care anymore.

Even the narrator who is lumped in with the non-elite, spends so much of his time being judgmental. It feels like the point was missed… or if not, it was a conscious choice…

The story is juicy and incredibly entertaining, but the characters are so freaking exhausting. I’m meh about this one. It was clearly written by a white man and just didn’t give me enough to enjoy… except Mara!

This debut novel is one of the most interesting plots I have read in years! Couple Dan and Mara are set to enjoy two weeks in paradise at a new all-inclusive resort when the sun explodes and chaos unfolds as resort guest scramble to gain power over each other and scare resources on the island. While a terrifying situation unfolds, Wassmer brings unexpected humor and keen observations about the human condition and American culture. With critiques on Christian conservatism, MLM 'girl boss' culture, and sexism/classism, Wassmer uses this novel to reflect on how we would potentially handle a near catastrophic dystopian environmental disaster. I swung between cackling out loud to gasping in horror, and absolutely had to know how the resort residents would fare as the situation got more dire. Wassmer shows real promise as a satirist with a unique plot and memorable 'average' characters you will remember beyond the end of the novel!

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is a comedic take on the apocalypse. Dan & Mara are on an island vacation when suddenly the sun explodes. Poof. - 𝙷𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚘 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 - The temperature is dropping & they’re stranded with the other guests not knowing if they’ll make it home to their families. Everything descends into chaos immediately & Dan bands together with a few other guests to try & get Mara home to her mom.
This book had me giggling like an idiot. The concept for this book was so intriguing. I’ve read books & watched movies about the world ending before but never where the sun explodes. Before I even started reading I was racking my brain trying to figure out how this was going to play out. I had zero complaints & I 𝒟𝑜 recommend this book. Five stars all around. It’s not all comedy either. It’ll tug at your heart strings. There’s a good balance of seriousness too.
This is also the author’s debut novel so I’d like to take a moment to say what an amazing job he’s done & what a way to kick off your writing career. I hope to read more someday. Also his wife does their social media & she’s equally hilarious so if you want a laugh go follow them!

Thank you to NetGalley & Sourcebooks for this advance copy.