This was a pretty run-of-the-mill YA dystopian novel but it definitely had its moments of glory. It did a good job of world-building and had a few new, interesting angles. I really liked that it was interspersed with personal stories from her customers, that was definitely a nice touch.

This is like if Ellie never met Joel, and if she wasn't The One. It's more of a What-If scenario with Ellie attempting to settle down and find normalcy with her girlfriend.

This is definitely an apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic story for the younger set. It's not very technical on the hows and whys, so don't come in expecting in-depth worldbuilding. There's a couple of horror/thriller scenes to whet your appetite, but this novel leans more heavily on the interpersonal relationships between the characters, and the FMC reminiscing about her past life.

Maybe I'm too old for this, or I was expecting a little too much out of it, but I didn't find this novel all too exciting. It was a little too cozy than what I like in this type of setting. I liked the concept of the acid rain, and the bookstore/postal service of sorts, but I wasn't really a huge fan of how the setting was 99% isolated to the bookstore.

The bookstore was a main character of sorts, but I didn't find it all too compelling to stand on its own. Liz didn't work there long enough for me to feel like there was some kind of deep-seated history intertwined between them. She just happened to be a former employee who ended up squatting there for the apocalypse.

Liz and Maeve's relationship was cute, but at the end of the day, it felt like they fell in love with each other due to proximity and convenience.

This was a quick read, and I'd recommend it for preteens who might want to read something that's a lot less gruesome than The Last of Us.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for this arc.

There are too many times that authors create a dystopian world that is hard to see actually taking place. That is one of the reasons I really like The Last Bookstore on Earth. This is a world you can actually see taking place. We have actually heard of Acid Rain, it has actually been a problem - not to this level, but it has been something we have faced. As such, it a makes the story more believable. I think the characters are the highlight of this book. I am always looking for more LGBTQ novels for my students who identify as such. For those students, and any others, looking for a post apocalyptic setting that does not feature flesh eaters, this is a fine book.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In this dystopian young adult book, The Storm has decimated mankind. Seventeen-year-old Liz is holed up in the New Jersey bookstore where she used to work. It has become a trading post of sorts, survivors trading food, batteries, etc., for books or to post messages for loved ones passing through. Liz feels relatively safe and secure, that is, until another teen girl, Maeve, breaks in seeking shelter. The girls butt heads but Maeve has some useful skills that Liz does not. Liz needs Maeve’s help to fix the bookstore before the next predicted Storm comes through. Both girls are keeping secrets that threaten to destroy what they are trying to save.
This was a quick read for me – I enjoy dystopian novels and it was relatively short for a YA book. I could see elements of The Walking Dead and The Last of Us, minus the zombies, in the behavior of the survivors. I liked the way the author told of Liz’s life before the Storm in flashbacks leading up to the disaster. I would definitely recommend this title for ages 14 and up.
#TheLastBookstoreOnEarth #NetGalley #LGBTQ
This title will be available January 7, 2025.

I'm always a sucker for apocalyptic fiction and quite enjoy the depressing nature of the situation faced. I think our teen readers will also really connect with it and will be begging for more books by this author. Will purchase for the collection.

This book captivated me. Made my heart happy. The YA authors are booming this year!!!!This plot was perfect.Characters strongly developed and easy to identify with.

I enjoyed this book, but it definitely could have been better. I did really like the characters, they were done well, and I enjoyed reading from Liz's perspective. I really wanted to know what would happen next, but I was disappointed that a few things weren't explained more. I wanted to know why the storms were happening, and what the science behind them was. I wanted to know more about Liz's relationship with Eva, cause it wasn't shown that much, so I didn't really care. I would have liked to explore Liz's loneliness more, too.

But, if you're looking for a post-apocalyptic novel that isn't about zombies, has cute queer representation, and will keep you wanting to know what happens next, The Last Bookstore on Earth might be for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Full disclosure: I do love an end-of-the-world book.

The Last Bookstore on Earth is one of those end-of-the-world books that I ultimately find comforting. Despite all the hell and strife and confusion, people can still do good. And their stories will live on.

Braun-Arnold takes the ideas of stories living on literally by situating her novel in a bookstore. Our main character Liz was an employee there when the massive Storm hit. After all the tragedy, she relocates from her home to live in the apartment above the bookshop. She still runs the bookshop as well, but ends up become a post office as well. She is sort of at the crossroads of humanity. A bulletin board holds messages for passersby in a way that I might imagine the postal service was in the frontier. Liz is dealing with her own trauma when she gets word that another deadly storm is coming. But her bookshop needs repairs. Enter (quite literally) a thief named Maeve who Liz caught breaking in. They soon forge a bond and Maeve is working to repair the shop.

This story looks at survival on both a corporeal and psychic level. What does it take to survive? Soup cans? Connection? Shelter? Dealing with past trauma?

It is absolutely lovely, but not free of violence--after all this is the end of the world and people are trying to survive. But there is a hope that glimmers thoughout the piece that I found just wonderful.

Definitely buying for my library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

I absolutely loved this book! It was a fantastic read. Highly recommend.

Everything about it was perfection.

Five stars!

Loved this book, but wanted to strangle Liz for her indecisiveness and apathy at times. It’s a beautiful coming of age story, as Liz finds the strength to leave her hiding place and open up her heart yo Maeve. Each girl has to negotiate a path between fear and old behaviors before they can arrive at any sort of beginning.

I very much enjoyed this apocalyptic story that took us through the days of Liz and the bookstore. I was super drawn into this world of seemingly benign and peaceful existence and intrigued by the rules that Liz set for herself. This is an awesome book that will really pull you into Liz's POV and you won't be able to put it down til the end. Would love to see another book detailing life after the second big storm!

In a future where physical books are nearly extinct, a quirky bookstore becomes a sanctuary for those clinging to the past. The story follows a group of misfits who find solace in the store, navigating their personal struggles while trying to keep the magic of books alive.

With a mix of nostalgia and adventure, this novel explores themes of connection and the power of stories. It's a heartfelt tribute to the love of reading, reminding us why books matter in a digital world. A delightful read for book lovers!

This one sucked me in quickly! I thought the characters were well fleshed out and I loved the relationship dynamics. I could have used a little more information to fully flesh out the acid rain storm situation but I still enjoyed what was on the page. A solid dystopian YA read overall, that was really concentrated on the characters and relationships more so than the action/adventure story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC!

The premise, someone hiding out from the climate apocalypse in a bookstore, appeals to me. I would absolutely want to have an endless supply of books to read in that scenario. But, other than that, and I got the Nancy Pearl prescribed 43 pages in (you have to read 50 pages, unless you're over 50. For each year, you subtract one page). I like books and dystopia, but I guess I just didn't like the main character enough to put up with how ineffective (depressed) she was.

If I had to spend my final months on earth somewhere, I'd probably choose a bookstore too. I completely understood the need to not leave, knowing that this was my safe space, even when it wasn't really so safe anymore. A beautiful cover and a really good read! The missing star is only because of the predictability of the final fight scene. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Kids will like this one, and I will be adding it to our collection of dystopian novels. Nice to see the importance of community, purpose and story included in a dystopia. Comparisons to Station Eleven are apt.

The first half of this book was much better than the second half. Much of the drama between the two main characters didn't feel earned or fleshed out enough. I was also confused about the timeline of the age of the character. Seemed like she graduated high school at 16? I really wanted to like this book and it started out great.

This is going to be an instant hit with young adult and new adult readers. It has heart, drama, suspense, romance, and books. What more could you want? The Last Bookstore on Earth is an impressive debut.

This was so unique and original! I haven’t read a good post apocalyptic novel in a long time and this totally delivered! I loved the bookshop it was a character in itself and the characters were amazing. Will be adding to my library 100%.

This was a GREAT BOOK! My FIRST 5-star read of the year! I absolutely loved the writing and the plot was to die for. Going to order this book when it comes out!