This book had its moments but overall it was just meh. I did really enjoy the narration but while it seemed so much was happening, I just couldn’t get myself invested in the story or characters enough to care.

Narrator was fine, although I listened on 1.75x. The story was decent and had some twists that I wasn't expecting, but overall I just didn't really care about the characters and what happened to them.

Dan and Mara go on a vacation together to an island resort in the Bahamas. And then the sun explodes and the world is plunged into darkness. The apocalypse happening on your holiday? Dan is not leaving the best yelp review. While funny, don’t let the beachy cover fool you. There was a lot more serious action than I was expecting. It’s a great summer read. Narrated with heart and humor. A really easy listen.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was whimsical, funny, and oddly filled with heart. It wasn't what I was expecting and there are times where I laughed out loud. I would be so mad if this is how my vacation turned out lol

This is a solid good time. The characters were loveable and the humor lands consistently. I also appreciate the social commentary that is found throughout the novel. Great twist ending

Thank you, NetGalley & RBmedia / Recorded Books for this advanced listeners copy ✨

I really wanted to like this one. I didn't hate it, but I didn’t feel like it should have with this premise. I have tried 3 times to listen to this book. As intrigued as I was for how this would all play out, I found myself unable to connect with or even really like any of the characters (and there are quite a few to choose from).

I was initially drawn to this book by its intriguing title and eye-catching cover, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

It is the end of the world, or at least this is what Dan thinks after the sun explodes during a vacation to a exclusive island resort with his girlfriend Mara. What we see in this story is what would happen if you leave people of different "social status" in an island after a catastrophe. The result is actually very predictable, the upper class dominates everyone else, living in luxury and from it the rise a manipulative leader that is represented by a christian woman and her husband and her ability to take the control thanks to their background as professional scammers or more know as CEO of a pyramid company that sells healthy lifestyle to the janes and joe doe's of the world.

The book has so much potential but the plot was flat, and even though it was funny, and I enjoyed the narrator, I felt it was predictable and inconclusive.

Thank you Netgalley for the ALC in exchange of my honest opinion.

This was quite the entertaining read I was looking for! With a cast of characters that brought this funny and heartfelt story to life, I enjoyed it and would recommend the audio.

*many thanks to RB media, sourcebooks, and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Netgalley ARC Audio

This is a fun little dystopian book. Dan is honestly a bit of a loser. He and his girlfriend are at an island resort when the sun explodes. A class war ensues with the Wealthy Main Line Marketing Liliana taking control of the resort. Dan for some reason finds himself the face of a rebellion, but he has trouble stepping up.

I enjoyed the book. It was a lot of fun and well written. I also liked the audiobook narrator.

Zero Stars. Do Not Recommend by MJ Wasteman is a darkly comic and surprisingly insightful social satire that blends absurdity with apocalyptic tension. The novel follows Dan Foster, a professional underachiever who is enjoying a lackluster vacation with his girlfriend at a tropical island resort, when the unimaginable happens: the sun explodes. Suddenly, Dan finds himself trapped in a chaotic world where survival takes precedence over everything else.

The story unfolds with sharp wit and biting humor, as the once-idyllic resort becomes a powder keg of class warfare, dwindling resources, and growing desperation. With a coup staged by wealthy guests and class divisions growing ever more evident, Dan is thrust into the unexpected role of a reluctant hero. The absurdity of his situation—caught between the desire to escape and the pull to help his fellow stranded vacationers—provides both the comedic and emotional heart of the story.

Wasteman’s writing skillfully blends satire with action, taking jabs at the entitled attitudes of the rich, the vacuity of modern life, and the complexities of human nature in a crisis. At its core, Zero Stars. Do Not Recommend is a clever commentary on the collapse of societal norms, with an everyman protagonist who may not have much going for him, but finds himself in the most unlikely of positions.

Fans of The White Lotus and Kevin Wilson will enjoy the novel’s quirky humor, sharp character insights, and exploration of morality in the face of the apocalypse. Wasteman crafts a story that's equal parts absurd and profound, a blend of high-stakes survival and dark social critique that offers more than just laughs—it leaves you questioning what you'd do when the world as you know it falls apart.

I really enjoyed this one. It was witty and funny and sad all in one. If you like satire pointing out societal issues, I would definitely recommend this one.

This ended up being really fun! I went in with zero expectations and enjoyed the witty banter paired with social commentary. I laughed, almost cried, and would absolutely recommend this to a friend

Loved the narrator Stephen Thorne, hated the main character and couldn’t connect with him which made it hard for me to listen to him be the good guy

This was a very fun read. A bit silly, but I really enjoyed it. The characters were likeable and the setting was fun. Didn't feel like an author debut, will definitely keep an eye on this author in the future.

Apocalypse? Yes please.

Thank you Netgalley for my audiobook arc.

I enjoyed this story, it’s an easy one to listen to.
I had picked up on a lot, and I wasn’t surprised with the plot twists and revelation but still really enjoyed this story.

✨ALC Review✨

Read this book. Listen to this book actually. The narrator, #stephenrthorne is impeccable. Flawless. This book is immaculate.

So, we start with Dan, on vacation in the Bahamas with his girlfriend, Mara. They’re enjoying the beach as one does on a Bahamian island when the sun literally explodes. What do you do when you’re trapped on a tiny island during the end of days? Well, if you’re Dan, you kind of fake it til you make it.

You also end up becoming a cog in the fascist regime started by Lilliana of Beach Bod MLM fame.

Y’all, this book literally had me laughing out loud. It is funny, and moving. It’s complex and absolutely thought-provoking. I cannot stress enough how fantastic it is.

There is so much going on and I don’t want to spoil anything. Just trust me when I say it is phenomenal. I give it all the stars!

Thank to #netgalley and #RBmedia for the ALC. All thoughts are mine alone. Also, thanks to @sherry_reads_books for making me push this up the TBL. I’m stunned with how much I love it.

#booksbooksbooks #contemporaryfiction #speculativefiction #postapocalyptic #bookstagram #audiobooks #narrators #voiceactors #voiceacting #fivestarreads #fivestarbooks #bookrecs #bookreview

Two stars, do not recommend.

I had high hopes for this book. The description caught my interest immediately, and I impatiently waited for an ARC opportunity (thank you Netgalley!).Unfortunately, the narrator was not a personal favorite, and often times made it difficult to follow along. The characters were difficult to like and the story took turns that were kind of out there, not in a good way. Two stars for the concept, but I ended up DNF'ing it about 30% in.

This was a humorous and adventurous "end to the world". I liked the way the story starts with the sun blowing up and the fact that the title itself is an intentional pun.

So weird and so creative! I didn't know quite what to expect but I was really impressed with this, it went in so many different directions from where I was expecting in such an interesting way. I was talking to some friends about how often the partner of the reluctant hero is the true hero and that I liked that this actually addressed that, at least to a small extent. This book is a bit bananas but in a fun way! The narration was good too!

This might be the funniest book I've ever read.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend is a delightful comedy about everyman, Dan Foster, who is relaxing at a luxury island resort when the sun explodes. Over the course of the next two weeks, he and the other resort guests must survive resource hoarding from wealthy "building A", tribal politicking from an MLM cult leader, and near death in hopes of being rescued.

I had such a fun time with this! The story was compulsively readable and brimming with satire. Recommended for fans of The Righteous Gemstones or Patricia Wants to Cuddle.