Pre-Read notes

I was honestly smitten with the Title of this one, and that bird on the original cover. That image force my perspective to shift, I felt, and I was in for any story that did the same!

Final Review

My aliveness is beaming out of me, every pore shining with the fact that I’m alive. I’m so fucking alive I’m shaking. We’re alive, you and me, we’re alive, and that’s why I’m running now, running down the trail with my Birkenstocks flopping and my great misshapen belly straining to stay upright, p56

Review summary and recommendations

I admit I have an embarrassing weakness for disaster and survival stories, and this one is both. This completely miserable but totally memorable protagonist is a young pregnant woman who must survive a massive California earthquake and its aftermath.

The FMC of this book will probably be a terrible mother, but I love her as the protagonist of this story! I was rooting for her the whole way. I loved how this story's is unafraid to be hopeful in a high stakes and terrifying situation.

I recommend this to readers of thrillers, disaster stories, and action books. I also think fans of strong female characters, fast-paced reads, and mom narratives.

People have done harder things than this. People have been through worse than this. Nobody I know, but still, people. p162

Reading Notes

Seven things I loved:

1. My belly distended, a blimp exiting sideways out of my body. I walk in stiff little jerky motions like a stork. p6 Best description of pregnancy ever 🤣

2. Some really brilliant depictions of anxiety from first person POV. Her efforts don't feel forced or hurried, which is sometimes my experience of anxiety from first person. The details of her experience are perfectly fish-out-of-water.

3. The description of inflation over the last 30 years from first person is actually sort of harrowing to read. It's really brilliant writing!

4. Maybe we’re not telling the jokes, we are the joke. Now that we’re pregnant, we’re forced to be part of some enormous collective joke about women.... I really like how this author writes about being pregnant. It's so real and, yes, darkly funny, even given her circumstances.This would be a great joke: the pregnant woman who couldn’t just stay home like she was supposed to, like everybody else would have preferred, who couldn’t wait for the ambulance, who forgot to grab water, who lost her phone and purse and keys, who didn’t buy the whistle even after being told to buy the whistle, didn’t text her husband back, didn’t tell anyone where she was going, who couldn’t JUST WAIT. Who doesn’t even know if her baby is alive, even though she is a mother and a mother is supposed to FEEL THESE THINGS. I am the joke. That damn bra strap sliding down my arm over and over. p142

5. The thread of the plot is fascinating, both seemingly random and clearly the cohesive force of the story. Just excellent work on this unique form!

6. Throughout this brilliant disaster story, the fmc speaks in first person to her unborn baby. I don't always go for this kind of first/second person mashup, but it works really well here, becoming part of the character's internal monolog.

7. Some moving depictions of grief in this book, without going over the top. Hyperbole, in the few instances it arises, seems to be in response to the setting, which is unfriendly.

One thing I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. The confrontation in the opening scene feels theatrical to me. It's just a little too out of reach. But the scene is propulsive for sure. *edit honestly I think it was intentional for the author to do this, because she has some interesting development in for these two characters. You almost need this scene to establish the characters' grit.

Rating: 🪨🪨🪨🪨🪨 /5 pieces of rubble
Recommend? yes!
Finished: Mar 17 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
☄️ disaster stories
🫄 mom stories
🏋🏻‍♀️ strong female characters
👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏾 unlikely friends

Thank you to the author Emma Pattee, publishers MarySue Rucci Books, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy of TILT. All views are mine.
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This story follows a nine-month pregnant woman, Annie, in the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake in Portland, OR and her journey through the devastated town in an effort to get to her husband. While she treks through town on foot, we follow Annie through a series of flashbacks of her relationship as she contemplates her life choices and pregnancy anxiety.

This was perhaps a slower paced read for me, but I enjoyed it. It felt dystopian even though it probably only effected the PNW. There were parts that were absolutely gut wrenching, particularly the present day portion of the book. Present day Annie is experiencing some very tense moments that go over the course of a single day. Her flashbacks show her weariness and cynicism throughout her life. To me, it represented her being a bystander in her own life.

I think this would make a decent book for a book discussion group. There are a lot of choices Annie made, both past and present, that you can pick apart. And you can analyze the author's depiction of how devastating the Pacific Northwest "Big One" could be.

Thank you to Simon Element / S&S / Marysue Rucci Books for this digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tilt is a contemporary novel about a pregnant woman navigating a devastated Portland after an earthquake.

Annie is nine months pregnant and shopping for a crib at IKEA when the “big one” hits. Her only goal is to find her husband, miles away, in a city of leveled buildings, fallen bridges, and panicked residents. As she trudges, exhausted, through a broken city, she reflects on her life as a daughter, playwright, wife, and now anxious, expectant mother.

Emma Pattee has written a gripping novel about a woman struggling to find her partner in a world turned upside down. The post-earthquake landscape of Portland is realistic and gritty, showing people at their best and worst. Many readers will relate to Annie as she looks back on her failed artistic career, her husband’s struggles to make a living as an actor, their stretched finances, and her own fears about motherhood while mourning her own mother.

This is a tense and beautifully written novel that packs a lot of punch in under 250 pages.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Tilt starts with a scary premise and keeps the reader in suspense throughout the book. At 9 months pregnant, Annie is in Ikea shopping for a crib for her yet-to-be born baby “Bean.” Just as she finds the one she wants, a major earthquake hits Portland, OR and changes her life. After escaping from the store, she begins walking to find her husband, with whom she has been having marital problems. As she plods through the devastation, she thinks about her current existence and how things could have been different and what will happen next.

Can anyone really be prepared for such a situation? What would you do? How would it affect your thoughts and your life?

WOW. Tilt is a propulsive, taut, discomfiting read - I was torn between my desire to find out what would happen next and my need to not stay up all night (both reading Tilt and researching earthquake prep because, boy, I do not want to find myself in Annie's shoes). I didn't *enjoy* this book per se, but I say that as a compliment - I was utterly immersed in her cracked-open world and deeply invested in her safe passage. While I was most engaged during the present-day timeline, I appreciated the reflections, and I was fully bought into the messiness and uncertainty of her relationship - it rang true. This book reminded me of The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton x The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I'm surprised it's a debut, and I look forward to recommending it to customers!

I really liked the description of this book and it instantly drew me in. The story follows Annie as she is heavily pregnant in the aftermath of “The Big One” - a huge earthquake that hits the west coast. Stranded at an IKEA, Annie has to navigate the streets of Portland to find her husband among the devastation of the earthquake.

I liked that the chapters went between Annie’s past and present so we could understand more about her and her circumstances. I don’t think she’s the most likable character, especially in her past, but the circumstances of her present made those less important to me. I wanted to see what happened to Annie and the characters she came across on the way. I wish we got more of the present times with the earthquake.

As I read and finished the book, I feel like it met most of my expectations but didn’t completely knock it out of the park. I wish there was a bit more of a suspense/thriller feeling to it. To me, the ending felt kind of abrupt and didn’t end the way I wanted, but overall I thought the book was fine. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it by any means.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC!

I read this in a gulp. It moves back and forth in time- but is mainly focused on the present- to tell the story of Annie who has just thrown a fit in a Portland, Oregon Ikea when an earthquake hits. And she's 37 weeks pregnant. It's not just her trek across the city to get to her husband Dom but also her journey to where she is at this moment. A playwright with one production, she is now working a cubicle job while Dom continues to chase his acting dreams. They're living close to the edge, so much so that Annie wasn't sure about the pregnancy but now, walking through the nightmare, she's determined to protect the child she calls Bean. It's not just about Annie, though, it's also about some of the people she meets along the way. There's a poignancy to much of it. Pattee does a great job keeping up the tension and keeping you guessing. No spoilers. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This was a great read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, Simon Element, Marysue Rucci Books for gifting me a digital and physical copy of this debut book by Emma Pattee. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Annie is nine months pregnant and shopping for a crib at IKEA when a massive earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. With no way to reach her husband, no phone or money, and a city left in chaos, she realizes there’s nothing to do but walk. Making her way across the wreckage of the city, Annie experiences desperation and kindness from strangers. As she walks, she reflects on her life.

Be forewarned – this is a total gush review because I could not have loved this book more. And it’s a debut? Even more astonishing. Because this book will make you FEEL – in all capitals – all the feelings about pregnancy, motherhood, marriage, grief, life, love. I adored the way it played out – we get the current events over the course of one day as Annie experiences the big earthquake, then interspersed are the chapters that let us see how Annie got to that day and point in her life. It’s funny, scary, sad, hopeful. It’s a must read!

As someone who tells themselves “Don’t think about The Big One when crossing Portland’s bridges” (but absolutely does every time), I wasn’t not going to read this book. Emma Pattee was a bit genius in choosing to write this story.

In Tilt, a woman named Annie is 9 months pregnant and shopping for a crib at IKEA. When she’s loading the crib onto her cart, a massive earthquake hits. Chaos ensues. After escaping the building, she spends the next 12 hours trying to find her husband and get home. We join her on her journey and we see her reflecting on moments in her past that got her here.

This book does a great job articulating what a harrowing journey Annie must experience after a natural disaster of this scale. Pattee’s descriptions of damage, injury, and hopelessness are brilliant. I wanted to feel more connected to Annie, but I found her character unlikeable. I couldn’t get past the cynicism we saw in her flashbacks, and her negatively-reactive nature in the present. I had a hard time reconciling the character’s voice with some of the more beautiful lines/imagery Pattee presents (especially at the end).

In the end, Tilt feels somewhat disjointed: like it can’t quite decide whether it wants to focus on emotional turmoil, character development, or the aftermath of disaster. While the writing is pretty strong, I was left questioning its true focus. For Portlanders, I think you’ll enjoy the Portland-centric writing.

This was one incredible book! The author did an amazing job at portraying all the emotions and conflicts to the reader. There were several tense moments along with joy and sadness. Annie was a fantastic character all around.

Wow! I did not think I would enjoy an entire novel about a nine-month pregnant lady walking through the remains of Portland after a devastating earthquake, but the writer was so incredible that I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read.

Annie is a playwriter who has acquiesced to instead live her career as an office manager, to support her husband in his hopeless dreams to become an actor. Pregnant and feeling though this new baby will only add to squashing her dreams even more, she reluctantly goes to buy a crib at a Portland IKEA. Since an argument with her husband the night before was heavy on her mind, she thought having the crib completed would be a welcome surprise for the husband who is very excited about their new addition. In the middle of a tense moment with the unhelpful IKEA employee, a massive earthquake devastates the entire city of Portland. No way to contact her husband, Annie sets off to walk through the rubble of Portland to find her husband. As Annie searches for her husband, she meets people and reflects on her life in a way that only a tragedy can open your eyes.

I have read several natural disaster novels lately, but the author wrote the character of Annie so well that I was hooked to walk with her through the remains of Portland and all of the adventures she was forced to endure. The ending was very disappointing, and I would like to know why the author decided to end it this way. I will be listening to author interviews with Emma Pattee and hopefully she will explain her reasons.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Element & Marysue Rucci Books Marketing Team with Simon and Schuster Co for allowing me to read the Advanced Reader Copy before the March 25, 2025 publishing date for an honest review. #NetGalley #Tilt @marysueruccibooks @emmapattee

A 9 months pregnant woman is shopping at IKEA in Portland when the big earthquake hits the west coast. She works to reunite with her husband and make her way home.

The author did such a great job of establishing the setting of the disaster and her journey to get herself and her baby, Bean, to safety. The story alternates between the day of the earthquake and different times in the past of the relationship between Annie and her husband. The book is a survival adventure paired with an emotional tale of grief, unfulfilled dreams and a relationship journey. The character development was executed beautifully. This was a fast and enjoyable read. I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and @_SimonElement for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I sometimes struggle with non-linear timelines in books but this one was easy to follow with only one protagonist. Annie is a relatable, likeable character. I was almost afraid she wasn't going to make it at the end when she came across the teenagers in the road.
I do wish the cover of the book was pulled more from Annie's story. I imagine the bird is supposed to be one hwr mother created but that's sucha small part of the story.

Tilt is a short story with 2 timelines - one pre earthquake and one post. Annie is 37 1/2 weeks pregnant, shopping in a Portland Ikea then the big one hits. The chaos that ensues as she struggles to get to her husband is very evident in the book, as it is a chaotic book. Just ok for me.

A major earthquake hits Portland, Oregon when Annie who is 9 months pregnant is shopping at IKEA for a crib. Her car was crushed in the parking garage and she lost her phone. Over one day, Annie attempts to get to her husband as she witnesses death, looting, and destruction. The story of who Annie is and her life before today is told in interwoven chapters as Annie tells her story to her unborn child. I liked the immediate story but wasn't as drawn to the parts of Annie's life that she tells to her child

I liked the premise of this book, but it lost me at the beginning when she doesn’t take a ride into the city. I think any survival situation would allow you to trust a a stranger first to get you to safety. I feel like the explanation of the damage should have been more extensive. I have been in many earthquakes, and cars would be working as well as phones that use satellite communication. Her choices made me feel unsympathetic towards the main character, which made for an emotionally detached read.

I expected this book to really work for me, because I love a scenario where normal life is interrupted by something the characters have to survive, especially if they're trying desperately to reunite with their family. Give me anything post-apocalyptic or post-disaster, and I'm here for it. For much of the novel, I was invested and the pages wanted to turn, but as the story progressed I began to lose interest in her plight. I'm usually good with an open ending, but here it felt like a bit of a copout. I would try this author again, but I want her next book to feel a bit more fleshed out.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I read this book during a rare Portland snowstorm, which was probably the most perfect way to experience this story. Patte’s Portland is my own, and reading her extremely-possible (likely?) version of what might happen when the Cascadia Subduction Zone hits while wandering around with our hard-edged, dissatisfied with life, and very-pregnant protagonist was a trip. Like… <i>the Road</i> and <i>Department of Speculation</i> decided to join forces on the same streets I’ve been traversing for decades.

Excited for folks to pick this one up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Annie is alone, 37 weeks pregnant, and shopping for a crib at IKEA when a devastating earthquake rocks Portland, Oregon. Over the course of one day, we follow Annie as she travels across the city searching for her husband while navigating the chaotic aftermath of a natural disaster. Speaking to her unborn child, Annie reflects on her dreams and aspirations, considers the choices she has made, and analyzes her relationships. With transportive storytelling and vivid imagery, this novel unfolds as a poignant exploration of love and loss, new motherhood, sacrifice, survival, and the human response to climate disasters. A propulsive story based on the Cascadia earthquake that captivates from start to finish.

My initial reaction when I read the synopsis of this book was no, I don't think I can handle that right now. I am very glad I changed my mind, as I ended up loving it. I live in Oregon, have heard that "the big one" is coming at any time, have learned earthquake preparedness, and also lived through the global pandemic with a toddler and while pregnant. This book hit close to home.

I loved Annie, and her mixed feelings about pregnancy -- it felt so relatable. I loved the flashbacks as we fill in pieces of her life prior to the earthquake. I was so anxious as Annie made her journey through Portland to find her husband. I couldn't put it down and had to find out what was going to happen.

This book really resonated with me and I look forward to seeing it receive the hype it deserves. I can't wait to read more by Emma Pattee!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!