I loved many of this novel’s elements in theory—the main character’s neurodivergence, her complex relationship with survival, the dual timelines—but in practice, they fell flat, especially when it came to Flora. While I respect the mutability of a teenager in turmoil, Flora’s interiority and character motivations were a mess. I never really believed her rage. The grief was well-done, but the horror, while offering a refreshingly practical take on zombies, felt rather toothless. And, while the present timeline did feel urgent, I was continually ripped out of the story by the “before” timeline which felt low stakes until the very end of the novel.

While I wouldn’t recommend this book to YA readers looking for a story of survival as raw and wrenching as Yellowjackets, I think the diverse cast of characters and the genuine attempt to tackle the ugliness of grief make it a good introduction to the genre for more squeamish readers. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book took a piece of my soul with it. It’s a raw, messy, gritty story with a deep and compelling cast of characters. It’s gruesome and gory in all the right ways. I’m screaming from the sidelines, cheering them on through their battles and hoping for the best outcome. I’m crying with them having to deal with the hard choices and losses along the way. I’m holding that axe beside them trying to find a way out of the corner they’re stuck in. This author didn’t shy away at all from showing the gritty, gruesome side of mental illness either. I felt very seen and heard in the struggles of living with a brain that doesn’t work like anyone else (including myself) wants it to. This book will live rent free in my head for the rest of my life.

This was a fairly interesting concept with some execution that just needed a little fine tuning! the pacing could have been improved but I loved the plot and the cast of characters.

“If We Survive This” follows Flora, a young girl living in the aftermath of a rabies outbreak which mutated and turned most of the population into zombie-like creatures known as “rabids”.
I absolutely loved this! Definitely my new favorite Racquel Marie book, even though it is pretty hard to top her other novels. The way Marie writes the main character Flora and her OCD was so realistic and I loved to see it! I also loved Crisanta and Flora’s relationship and how it developed throughout the story. I am really excited to see—and to read—any dystopian novels Marie may release in the future.

A book that promises to be like The Walking Dead drew my attention, and I'm glad to say it kept it.

Nobody wants to think about the end of the world as we know it. Sure, you can prep all you want, but it doesn't do much good when the world actually ends and you start to live a nomadic lifestyle. Flora, a girl that has dreaded everything in life because of her OCD seems to be made for this post-apocalyptic world. She's overly cautious and wary of everything and everyone. On their journey to find a family vacation spot in search of their father, Flora and her brother, Cain, run into a family friend, Crisanta. However, as they have grown older since they last time they saw each other, Flora realizes that time can change relationships. Through their misadventures and near misses with "rabids,"Flora learns more about what Crisanta and her friend, Adan, have done to survive. Will their group make it to the cabin they are searching for, or will they die trying?

I liked this book a lot. As a fan of the show, I was glad that it did have a Walking Dead vibe, along with trying to find a place in a community that is not as caring or as safe as it 0nce was.

Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story follows Flora, a teen with OCD, as she and her friends try to survive in a terrifying, apocalyptic world. But what really stood out to me wasn’t just the survival aspect, it was the heart of the story.

The way she struggles with OCD feels so raw and real, and I appreciated how the book showed mental illness as part of her, but not all of who she was.

I read this ARC via Netgalley.

Ever since a virus turning people into "rabids" killed their parents, Flora has been taking care of things - things like her brother Cain, who broke his leg. But now that Cain is healed, they are both heading out into the devastated world to try to get to a cabin where Cain thinks their father may be. Along the way, they meet up with old family friend Crisanta and her companion Adan. Flora is less than thrilled to see Crisanta again, especially since she isn't sure she can trust her.

I tried to read this through the new Netgalley Reader but had some trouble, plus I got my library hold on <i>Onyx Storm</i>, which is why it took me so long to get through this when I was primed for a good zombie story - I had just started watching "Fear the Walking Dead," too, basically biding my time until the next season of "The Last of Us" comes out. Flora's fear of germs and hypervigilance about the dangers of the world was perfectly suited for this post-apocalyptic life, even though she's had these fears her whole life. The story was gritty and full of gore, but also had some soft and quiet moments, and the flashbacks revealed just enough so that the reveal of exactly why Flora didn't trust Crisanta was a big question until the right moment. A great addition to post-apocalyptic stories featuring LGBTQ characters.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Racquel Marie knows how to write a book that grips you, whether it’s a heartbreaking romance or a zombie apocalypse horror.

There was a lot of great representation in this book: OCD rep, lesbian rep, gay rep, trans rep, Colombian American main characters. All of the characters were great, and I loved getting Flora’s POV throughout the story.

Everyone has secrets, and no one is willing to share. It’s scary, confusing, and all Flora wants to do is protect her and her brother.

I think the only thing that kept this from being 5 stars for me was how quickly the pace picks up towards the end of the novel. It was just a lot different than the rest of the novel had been.

I don’t want to say too much, since this doesn’t come out until June. But I had a great time reading this, and honestly I think the last few pages were my favorite. So good.

Definitely put this on your TBR, friends!

CW: gore, blood, death, violence, injury/injury detail, medical content, child death, animal death

So, I will be honest, I struggled with this one. Mostly because I have OCD, and this was very clearly in an OCD person’s head, and it was so accurate it was genuinely kinda triggering! Yikes! But, beyond this, it’s honestly a super well done book that has a really interesting portrayal of family, responsibility, and life after the apocalypse. It really does feel like The Last of Us meets Yellowjackets, and the romantic moments are some of the more powerful ones. It’s high-stakes, high-tension with absolutely phenomenal writing.

Racquel Marie cannot be put in a corner– Marie’s foray into the apocalypse genre is a heart-racing, high-stakes adventure. If We Survive This is a book about learning how to live, not just survive.

If We Survive This is a gripping, violent, and intensely human book. Racquel Marie skillfully combines horror and unfiltered emotion to create a narrative that is about surviving oneself as much as surviving the end of the world.

Six months into a rabies-induced apocalypse, Flora Braddock Paz is still fighting her worries, her sadness, and the constant threat of the "rabids." She never thought she would survive this long. In addition to navigating the horrors of the outside world, Sarah and her elder brother Cain must also deal with the horrific memories and secrets that threaten to consume them from within as they set out on a desperate trip to their family's former cottage.

This book doesn't mince words. The characters are what keep you interested, even though the horror is visceral—the kind that makes your stomach turn and your heart race. Every choice Flora makes and every action she does feels considerably more risky because of her OCD issues. Additionally, the relationships are full of bite (sometimes literally)—particularly the slow-burning, enemies-to-lovers affair between Flora and Crisanta.

If We Survive This challenges you to consider what you would be prepared to do in order to survive through flashbacks, moral quandaries, and a pervasive sense of impending loss. More significantly, what kind of person would you end up becoming?
An unforgettable, nerve-wracking ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I want to make it super clear that normally when I rate books, it’s based on how much I enjoyed it.

That is not the case for this one.

This one made me scared and uncomfortable but also seen and not alone. I had to read it in small bursts (which is not my reading style) in order to get it done because it felt too real at times.

This book felt like an alternate version of myself in an apocalyptic setting and it was terrifying. Truly, Flora’s thought process made so much sense to my brain and I did not like seeing that.

Also, this book is horror, not horror comedy with some good laughs, so this genre isn’t really my style. I was genuinely scared during this book.

Because of this very incoherent review with all my feelings, I can’t give this book any less than 5 stars. Any book that can make me feel the way this one does, deserves it.

Racquel Marie is one of my favorite authors, but I was so shocked when I saw she’d written a zombie novel. That being said, she approached it with the same care and attention to detail that she does with her other books. Flora and Cain are lovable and realistic, and Crisanta and Adan won me over immediately. However, I really did not like that the plot twist (to us as the reader) was something that Flora knew all along. It cheapens the plot twist, even if it was very surprising. There were other twists, such as with the arrival of Trent, that did not feel well supported or expected either. Despite these things, this book was so fun and I’ll definitely be seeking it out for my classroom!

I think this book has changed my mind on whether or not I like horror books. I would have never said I do before, but this book was an immediate yes for me. The concept is fascinating. I loved the flashbacks and our main character. The drama of it kept me guessing without ever feeling like a twist was too unrealistic. This hit in every way for me. It's emotional, thrilling, and I think this is Racquel Marie's best yet (and I say that as someone who has adored everything so far). This is a great addition for any collection.

I swear I've never met a Racquel Marie book that I didn't love and I hope I never do. Anything she writes I will be here to read it and im so sure be captivated by whatever it is. Obviously in If we survive this the shift was pretty sharp from her previous three books into something as bloody and gory as this was but It was so good.

I have always loved the post apocalyptic, zombie apocalypse, the last of us, the walking dead etc type stuff so I knew Id have no problem loving that aspect of the book. It was bloody and gory and disgusting but also borderline kinda cool to me because i'm a little twisted like that lol. It might not sit too well for people with weaker stomachs but the characters will absolutely make up for that. I admit I didn't know how a rabies induced apocalypse would work at first but I liked learning the details of all that and it easily just twists itself into the general mold of stuff of this sort, but it was fun to see that twist at all. There was a lot of question around what can the Rabid's hear, how much do they feel, are they still themselves inside but with ultimately no control over what they're doing? And as it is with every time that question is asked its really left up to reader to decide. Theres a ton of moral questions like that asked here honestly. Flora ponders so many so often at least. I feel like I haven't read a ton of books with OCD rep but it was interesting to watch Flora fight that in so many situations that I feel like directly challenged it. Cain, Crisanta, and Adan were awesome characters It was so easy to get attached to them right from the jump, especially little biscuit but i swear my heart tugged every time I thought something might happen to any of them. Flora and Crisanta's bickering was funny but also easy to see right through to what they actually wanted to say. Because of course as we well know, the idiots who are in love cannot actually admit it until they are forced to! Also I saw someone in these reviews compare them to Ellie and Dina from the last of us and that also explains why I loved them so much.

The flashbacks back to the last time they went to this family cabin were a nice break every once in a while and also allowed you to feel a little bit more of Cain and Flora's grief over losing her parents and see how life used to be for her before essentially all hell broke lose. It also really helped me figure out a lot of the stuff that was brewing under the surface and give context to some things in present tense too. Which leads into my final point, when the synopsis said "hidden truths" they were not lying! It felt like every body in this damn book had secrets including Flora. Which was funny because a few times when I was reading id be like wow what a hypocrite but then in the next sentence she would say exactly that lol. At least she's a self aware hypocrite. Overall like I said I loved this, cannot wait for whatever Racquel publishes next because I will be among the first in line to read it,

Yaaaaaass 5/5!
Thank you so much for the eARC. I’m happy to say this one honestly was better than I initially thought 😅
I’m in my late 20’s so def far away from ‘YA’ but now and then I come across new titles that make me wonder how younger me would’ve liked this.

Let me tell you, younger me AND older me enjoyed this!! Tbh it’s such an original idea book wise, I don’t feel like I’ve come across it before so it made it exciting and not just a bunch of tropes slapped together. The rep here is great (as someone w OCD) and done so in a very careful manner without taking away from the story/mood.

Def an enjoyable read!

I really enjoyed the OCD and queer rep this book offers. However I'm not the biggest fan of zombie/ apocalypse settings so that's on me. I would definitely recommend this to someone who finds those topics interesting!

I received an ARC via netgalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What I liked:
- the OCD rep (I know very little about OCD or the experience of living with it, and I enjoyed seeing that perspective)
- the characters (I found them all to be “likable characters” and I enjoyed the lesbian rep and the trans rep)
- the setting (this was the first time I consumed zombie-themed media in book form and it was an interesting experience)

What I struggled with:
- If I remember correctly, the back and forth timelines are common in Racquel Marie’s books, and I normally like it, but in this book, I found it a little harder to follow. I struggled to remember where they were, who was there etc. on the page I was reading).
- This book felt pretty slow moving. It didn’t pick up (to me) until around the 70% mark.

I will also say, for fellow Racquel Marie fans, this book does feel a bit different than her others in that the central romance has a lot less “page time”. It is mostly focused on the main character’s struggle with OCD during the apocalypse. Which is fine! But slightly different than what I was expecting so I just wanted to mention that.

All of this being said, I would recommend this particularly to someone who is looking for a beautifully written representation of OCD, or an apocalyptic-themed YA.

I needed some time to emotionally recover from reading this book.... For the Last of Us fans who were obsessed with Ellie and Dina storyline, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!!!! You get so emotionally attached to each character as you learn more about their history and what has made them the way they are! I was in TEARS at 2:00 a.m. because I couldn't put it down! I can't wait for it to officially release so I can have a physical copy as a trophy on my bookshelf! 10/10 I will recommend this book to everyone!

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the arc

Minor spoilers ahead

Intense, heartwarming, and exhilarating - I really enjoyed this book! I always love an apocalyptic setting (especially one with "zombie"-esque characters -- Rabids as they are called in the book), and Marie executes the age-old trope with a fresh style that makes it feel unique compared to every other zombie book I've read.

I was a little worried about the intensity going into this as it is YA, but I think the balance between scary and not horrifically violent is perfect. There were some descriptions where I was definitely squirming, so I was happy about that! Sometimes with YA books, the violence is sanitized too much that it loses its impact, but nope, definitely not the case here!

I also really enjoyed the OCD representation. It was an interesting idea- how would someone with OCD manage an apocalyptic situation where death and contamination are so prevalent? As someone with OCD - while mine manifests differently than Flora's - I found the depiction to be accurate and not sensationalized.

I liked Flora as a character a lot. She has to make tough decisions and cares deeply about the people around her. When her brother - Cain - is injured prior to the start of the book, she takes on the role of protector and provider. Their parents are gone- their mother is dead, and their father went to investigate the family's vacation rental cabin to see if it's safe for them to hide out there. When he's been gone for a month, Flora and Cain decide it's time to make their own way up to the cabin.

Cain is also a good character, funny and supportive of Flora. As the older brother, he sometimes struggles to allow Flora to take care of him, a role she has become accustomed to. On Flora's end, she worries immensely about Cain and feels the pressure of keeping him safe.

Loved Crisanta as well and Adán. Adán especially adds much-needed humor and levity. He is also trans, and that fact is treated with respect and care. And Biscuit. Oh, sweet Biscuit, I love you. I did shed a few tears at one specific scene, but in a bittersweet way!

Winnie is also a good addition. Being younger than all of them, her somewhat innocent view of the world contrasts nicely with the other characters. I really felt for her, and while I guessed where her story was going quite quickly, it still hit me hard. It was also nicely done the way Crisanta initially is skeptical of her, but you get to see the way their relationship warms up.

Loved the romance between Flora and Crisanta. They have history, but Flora is convinced Crisanta is straight, despite her obvious flirting with her throughout LOL. I love an oblivious lesbian! I also love "Never Have I Ever" as grounds for revealing group gossip and tensions, so I was squealing all the way through that scene! When they finally do kiss, I was cheering,finally! The build-up is just so good and worth it. Speaking of relationships, there was another one that was unexpected but that I really loved as well. No more spoilers, but I shipped!

There were some cliffhangers and twists that had me gasping. Very well-executed and nicely done, with the seeds planted throughout that you don't see until the reveal. Some of the reveals were sad and had me tearing up, and others had my mouth hanging wide open. Some had me doing both at once. Sometimes it feels like a plot twist isn't earned, but I'm happy to report I didn't feel that way at all here.

I did feel like I found myself somewhat bored with some of the flashback chapters. The book is split between "Then" and "Now", with the "Then" following Flora, her family, and Crisanta as they travel to the cabin for a trip up there. While some of the flashback chapters gave good insight to the characters or revealed important storylines, others were less important, and I just wanted to get back to the present. In the end, I do think they contributed nicely, but the slower pacing was a bit too jarring from the drama of the current timeline.

I also didn't fully grasp why Flora was so mad at Crisanta for what had happened before they met up, but luckily that anger didn't last too long. Crisanta and Adán had an interesting backstory to their friendship that added a different type of tension to the storyline other than just the Rabids. Again, not fullyyy sure why Flora was mad other than maybe Crisanta not telling her (though I felt her not saying was justified), but maybe I misinterpreted something.

I liked that the ending was hopeful while still realistic. There's an intense scene with Flora at the end that is really just a culmination of everything she has been going through, and it was beautifully done.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and had a great time reading it!

4 stars

omg can everyone please read this please please PLEASE. even if zombie books aren't your thing, because despite being central to the plot, it's really so much more than that!! the OCD rep is incredible, the relationships the right mix of serious and lighthearted - despite circumstances, and the themes ough the themes!!! AND a perfectly executed dual timeline. which is so hard to do, but it's not only done in a way where neither story competes with the other, it also enhances the overall narrative because of the timings of the reveals. I don't want to say too much, but trust me, (as long as you can handle gore, that's important) this is definitely a book you want to read!!!