Despite the glorious cover (seriously, if this book could be judged by its cover it would be 10/5 stars), intriguing twist on a post apocalyptic premise, and LGBTQ+ romance promise, The Last Bookstore on Earth is a slog. Maybe I was prejudiced by the fact author hasn’t even graduated college yet, but I found the story dull and the romance pretty much nonexistent. Granted, the fight for survival from the apocalyptic rains that look over the entire book are pretty much the opposite of sexy, but we are told rather than see Liz and Maeve begin a relationship, but this consists of zero indicators of any attraction, a single kiss, sharing a bed, and deciding to stay together at the end of the book. None of the other characters are fleshed out beyond basic descriptions.

Even the attempt at a major shock reveal involving Liz’s twin sister and family’s deaths falls flat because there is so little detail given beyond tired cliches in the multiple chapters that set up the action—the mother is a workaholic, the father is a dreamer, the twin sister is perfect. Sigh. At least the dialogue flows fairly naturally, though I could have really done without the asides Liz imagines being made by future alien civilizations as they remark on her current antics (yes, it’s just as strange and stilted as it sounds).

1/10, glad it was less than 300 pages so I didn’t waste too much time on it.

Content warning: body horror, gore, physical violence, murder, gun and knife violence

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Honestly, it feels ominous that a novel about apocalyptic weather decimating society and life as we know it comes out at the start of a new year. Hopefully this isn't a prediction of what's to come, though severe acid rain is a realistic way to wipe out society.

While this is a story about survival, it's a pretty quiet and slow moving plot focusing on two teens accepting what they've done (or haven't done) to survive. I don't blame Liz at all for trying to ride out the apocalypse in a bookstore and I really liked the community connecting role she and the bookstore play within the plot.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.

Lily Braun-Arnold's debut YA post-apocalyptic novel is both gripping and thought-provoking. I especially loved how it handled grief and the tough choices the teenage characters had to make to survive. The teens felt real, and their struggles were deeply moving.

Thank you to Random House Children's Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read The Last Bookstore on Earth. This charming, heartfelt story is a love letter to books, readers, and the magic of storytelling. Set in a near-future where physical books are nearly extinct, it follows a quirky cast of characters as they rally around the last bookstore standing. It’s equal parts uplifting and thought-provoking, with plenty of humor and a touch of mystery to keep things interesting.

The world-building is rich without feeling heavy-handed, and the characters are wonderfully relatable, each with their own quirks and struggles. At its core, this book is about connection—whether it’s through the pages of a book or the people we meet along the way. If you’ve ever been enchanted by the smell of old books or the comfort of a cozy reading nook, this one will feel like a warm hug.

The pacing is steady, though it takes a little time to build momentum—but once it does, it’s a rewarding ride. The Last Bookstore on Earth is a must-read for book lovers and anyone who appreciates a story about the enduring power of the written word.

Immensely impressed by Lily Braun-Arnold's debut YA post apocalyptic tale of survival in a future all too possible. What I truly loved about this story was its handling of grief. The teenage protagonists were haunted by the loss of possible future that are not impossible and the awful choices one makes to survive. Its always a bonus when the teen characters act like teens especially in conforting insurmountable obstacles. Overwhelmingly enjoyed!

Thank you to Random House Children's | Delacorte Press and Netgalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. and I thought there could have been a little bit more character and plot development. I appreciated that it was a quick read I could lose myself in, and it was fun (terrifying) to consider the post-apocalyptic realities, especially given the current state of the world. I did greatly enjoy it and I would recommend it to others. It just fell a little bit short in building my interest in the two main characters and I didn't find myself necessarily rooting for them to succeed.

The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold is an unforgettable blend of dystopian tension, poignant individual narratives, and a beautifully layered sapphic romance. The novel masterfully alternates between the stark present—where the remnants of humanity cling to stories as their last vestige of hope—and the fractured past that led to the climatic, world-altering event. Each individual story within the main narrative enriches the larger tapestry, offering deeply personal stakes that make the overarching collapse feel all the more devastating. As the FMC, navigating this intricate world was both a harrowing and empowering journey; the growth and resilience demanded of me was a testament to Braun-Arnold's skill in crafting authentic, flawed characters. At its heart, the tender, healthy sapphic relationship between the protagonist and her love interest shines like a beacon, reminding readers that love and connection can thrive even in the darkest times. This book is a triumph of storytelling that left me breathless and inspired.

My thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books for the ARC of "The Last Bookstore on Earth" in exchange for an honest review
Harrowing and heartbreaking, this is the end of the world as experienced by two teen girls thrown together in a struggle to survive.......and somehow struggling with their growing connection to each other.
in the uncomfortably nearby future, Mother Earth's uncontrollable climate takes an apocalyptic turn with lethal acid storms that wipe out all but isolated pockets of humanity. In a pocket all to herself sits 17 year old Liz, now the sole proprietor and resident of the abandoned bookstore where she used to work. A few wandering stragglers left alive stop in to trade their random valued items for books, interrupting Liz's solitude. But then Maeve, another teen girl breaks into the store for a longer stay, putting Liz at odds with her. Maeve's own terrible ordeals toughened her enough to stay alive and she's got the practical skills that could help Liz turn the bookstore into an acceptable shelter. And it's a shelter they'll desperately need since another toxic storm is heading their way.
In their dangerous quests for needed supplies, Liz and Maeve's encounter with other survivors turns violent. So in addition to finding supplies, they've also made some vengeful enemies whose fundamental human need to live through the next storm is no less than theirs.
Liz and Maeve's separately tragic stories slowly bring them together as more than just colliding survivors. You'll feel your heart aching for them as they find a way to a working, uneasy friendship and then on to genuine deep affection. And all of this occurs as the girls face one life threatening challenge after another. Believe me, that makes for one can't-put-it-down book.
If you're willing to endure the nightmarish scenario this book envisions, "The Last Bookstore on Earth" takes you on the kind of emotional ride that's well worth the read.

I really enjoyed this dystopian young adult read. Author Lily Braun-Arnold portrays parts of her life in a beautiful vulnerable and well done way.
Liz the FMC is a great representation of someone with survivors guilt who has lived through this post apocalypse storm. She is running a bookstore while also living in survivor mode. The flashbacks throughout the book are thoughtfully placed and really bring life to the story.
If you like dystopian books like divergent I recommend this book.
Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book before it was released.

The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold is a young adult near-future dystopian novel from the perspective of our main character, Liz. After a catastrophic weather event referred to as "The Storm," mass destruction and death caused by this storm, complete with acid rain, devastates the country and leaves people fighting for survival. Liz loses her family and takes shelter in the bookstore where she used to work. 
She survives there for a year without much adversity from the outside world and with occasional visitors who stop to trade for books and leave messages for others passing through. One night, Maeve breaks in, not realizing someone lives there. 
They become friends, and the story progresses from there. They each deal with losses, emotional baggage, and perspectives on survival in this new world. They face challenges from the environment and others. 
I enjoy the introspection and processing we experience from Liz's perspective as she learns more about the world outside the bookstore. She suffers from survivor's guilt and isolation and tries to maintain her idea of morality. As a way to build some structure in her daily life, she keeps the bookstore running. To remember the past world before The Storm, she records the stories of passersby in a diary. Those diary entries are interspersed throughout with the present day and flashbacks to paint a picture of life before. 
I also appreciate the bits of comic relief when Liz imagines future aliens exploring the planet after they are gone, giving commentary.
I would like to have seen more instances of Liz and Maeve emotionally bonding.
World-building was light and limited to their immediate area, and not much explanation was given for the weather event. 
I enjoyed the writing style and was engaged with the steady pacing. This was a really good story, and I would love to read more by this author. 
PS after reading the author notes, I can see how much of herself she put into the story. I love that!
#dystopian #climate #weatherevent #catastrophic #sapphic #YA #nospice #oppositesattract #survival #NewJersey #HEA
I received this free ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and author Lily Braun-Arnold for the opportunity to read this work in exchange for an honest review.
Liz lives alone in an old forgotten bookstore that is more an informational hub than bookstore anymore.
The setting is post apocalypse and people come to the bookstore to leave messages for others, a form of post office if you will, in exchange for food or any other items they may have that Liz needs.
Mayve sneaks into the bookstore late one night looking for a safe place to sleep. This is their story.
We’ll follow the pair as they struggle to make much needed repairs to the bookstore left from “the storm”, as they find their way through a blossoming relationship, and as they prepare for the next “fatal storm”, be it of nature or man.
Sadly I fiound this book unengageing and hard to follow at times. It took much too long to get to the actual story, and then the end seemed rushed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. Rounded this one up to 3 stars. This is a fast, post-apocalyptic read suitable for middle school or young high school students. I wouldn’t recommend for anyone older than that as it is quite simplistic and forgettable.

How would you react if the world ended? No electricity, no government, no real rules. Would you try to keep your humanity, cling to what was familiar? Try to help? Join groups for survival? Attack to live? How far would you go?

Liz is the last surviving person in her family- and it’s all her fault. Unable to move forward, she came to her old work- the little bookshop. Trading food for the chance at delivering letters, taking down stories, her world is safe enough despite issues- dwindling water, lack of supplies… at least she had shelter.

A trespasser comes in one night, Maeve. Smart, sarcastic, a survivor through and through. She’s had to do things to survive and she’s not leaving the first shelter she’s found. The two are amazing together- first fighting, hurtful and then friendly, loving as they get to know one another. Readying for another acid storm, decisions have to be made. Repair the shop and stay there, even though a violent group knew about it now; or run, hoping to find another shelter before the next storm. The differences between the two become very clear. Can they pull together and make something real as the world fell apart?

I loved the idea of this story, seeing how everyone would react when the world ended. Watching a girl cling to the familiar, hearing the stories of the “customers”. I loved Maeve, smart and snarky, prickly but loyal. The two were charming and believable together. The story itself was easy to follow if a bit messy- we jump from present to past to people’s stories- all labeled, but sometimes jarring. Still, it’s a great way to deliver the information we needed. I found myself reading this more slowly, taking breaks even though I liked it. This isn’t a fast, easy read. It’s thought-provoking, emotional sometimes, both painful and hopeful. For me, it was a three star read.

⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
As far as adult content, there’s language, lots of violence and light sexual content. I would consider this more New Adult than YA, but there’s nothing so over the top that I would have been worried.

This one wasn't for me, unfortunately. It got off to quite a slow start, and I was hoping this book would have a little more action to it. Teens who are looking for quieter, more contemplative survival stories would certainly like this, so I will be recommending it to that crowd, but I personally have a better time with faster-paced stories.

A solid 4 star read!!

And his is YA but imagine if Ellie from The Last of Us never met Joel. Like loosely okay? But kind of? Idk it gave me those vibes. No zombies but acid rain. What might her life had been like?

This was an easy read and quick to get through. I normally read mystery/thriller but this was a great change.

I really enjoyed the story and the character development

Have you ever read a book where nothing much happens and yet EVERYTHING happens? It's not a mover and shaker type of story, and yet you can't turn away from it. I think it's the humanity in the writing, and the eeriness of the reality painted before our eyes that really caught me in its spell. I could step back and see that we hadn't moved very much in the story, and yet I couldn't care less. I was caught in the here and now, but also the glimpses at the past as we gradually build the history of what happened in the world and in HER world. The her in that statement is Liz. I could easily see myself in her place, and while I'd like to say that I would have had a more Maeve take on the change in circumstances, meaning that I could keep things light, keep moving, and do what was needed whenever needed, I think I'd really be more of a Liz whereas I would want to preserve what I could of normal everyday life, and try to make a go of things where I was at versus taking on the newly changed world. The thing is the place that they've landed isn't even their final destination because everything that's already happened is about to come back again in possibly an even worse way. The good news, they've been through some of it at least before so they know what to avoid, but the bad news is that a world in turmoil tossed into MORE turmoil doesn't always take that change kindly. Some fight back...and sometimes the one with more bite wins.

This was an incredible story that kept me turning pages. I needed to know what happened before, but I wanted to see what would happen in the present. Honestly, I'm still curious what would happen in the days to come, but I'm not certain this is the type of story that would benefit from an additional release. I think it's meant to leave you with the feelings built during the story, while making you imagine what might still occur. I'll warn you the feelings do get heavy, and some scenes are definitely more traumatic than others, but I wouldn't miss out on the experience for the world. If you enjoy Young Adult Fiction with a Fantasy/Dystopian flair, this is wholeheartedly the story for you.

So. Darn. Good! Liz’s story is hard to imagine but what better place to hang out when the world has fallen apart than a bookstore! Readers will find themselves agreeing with the notion of taking care of books and a place where the few people left can come and get something to read or to leave a note on a message board should their loved one show up. What a scary concept but like a couple others I’ve read this week, would make such a cool movie. This will be one to promote not just to teens but most adults will love it.

This is a really interestng take on life in a world that has been ravaged. Living day to day, accepting friends for as long as they last, never daring to think about tomorrow. Oh, and you are surrounded by books. This is not Heaaven but it is not Hell either.

The synopsis of this story initially caught my attention more than the cover--the cover is pretty but not as eye-catching--and I intrigued by the idea of a YA book set in this post-apocalyptic world and focused on climate change and subsequent survival. It initially put me in the frame of mind of Dry by Neal Shusterman, which is a YA book I really enjoyed. I think Braun-Arnold did a good job of creating and developing the main characters. The limited insight and dialogue seemed realistic when thinking of the capabilities of a teenager. I think it will be well received by its target audience, especially teens, but may miss the mark for older readers who enjoy YA and may feel irritated with gaps in the story and world building such as why acid rain is happening, how someone is predicting the storms, etc. Those things weren't really explained, which I found frustrating. Overall, it was a good book.

Two teen girls fall in love in the last bookstore on earth as they fight to survive as the world is ending around them and a storm is coming. When the storm first happened it destroyed everything... and now seventeen ear old Liz Flannery lives by herself in an abandoned bookstore. Liz spends her days trading books for supplies and trying to get by day by day... then she learns that another storm is coming and when her bookstore is broken into by a strange girl named Maeve... they'll have to find a way to work together to survive this new danger coming. This was definitely a unique slow burn sapphic survival love story and definitely focuses on the loneliness and struggles of the individual fmc. I think that this is a great read for fans of dystopian/end of the world type of romances that are slow burn. For me it was a bit too slow but I do think other YA readers will have a good time with it.

Release Date: January 7,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*