Thank you so much for sending me this ALC, but this book was just not for me… I DNFed about a 3rd of the way through and just could not get through it. The narrator was hard for me to focus on and I just could not see myself caring about where the story was going to go. It also seemingly drops you in the middle of the story, so I was very confused with the timeline of it all. Again, thank you for sending this to me to listen to, but it was just not for me.

Thank you MacMillan audio for the review copy of All the Water in the World. This is a tough one to review, a story I wanted to enjoy and themes I do, and did, appreciate and respect, particularly in terms of climate change and environmental themes as well as themes on survival, resilience, and community. The story overall though did not land for me, the story was dark, the chapters for me too abruptly short to really engage me in characters and themes and I often felt a push pull of action to then downshift into reflection and contemplation. The themes are important, the power of understanding our collective history as well as engaging in emerging new ideas about civilization and community are truly wonderful to reflect on; the book offers a sense of what if/what would I do, what would I focus on if I were in this situation, which is great for book clubs and chats. But for me the value of these themes got lost in the writing style, the heaviness of the writing, and for me also the narration, which is was impacted in part by the formatting of the story and short chapters but also simply was a little to static and bland for me, though I do believe that was a relevant decision to share how the main character Nonie likely would have sounded and how she thought (so I want to respect that artistic statement and production style).
a 4 star idea with a 2-3 star execution for me.

Finished up this new release yesterday and it was good….

But there were places for improvement? Overall, I love a good climate-based post-apocalyptic book (or a movie) and I liked the way this one went. The world has flooded and a group of former museum workers and family are stuck in the museum where they begin to rebuild life. Waters rise and they must make a tough decision to leave or stay.

I think my major places that this one didn’t work was 1. We didn’t get much info on how it happened. I wanted more. 2. They left the museum sooooo fast. 3. The plot overall just flies by after they leave the museum that it will give you whiplash. I think there were plenty of prices that could have been fleshed out more but it wasn’t bad considering all the plot that happens.

I never could get into this book. Sometimes disaster fiction works, and sometimes it doesn't. I feel like this is one of the times that it didn't work for me.

❤️ For my friends who want an action-packed, heart-filled post-apocalyptic literary thriller.

ALL THE WATER IN THE WORLD by Eiren Caffall (Eunice Wong, Narrator)

🎧 Thanks, @stmartinspress and @Macmillan.audio, for the book and audiobook review copies via #NetGalley. (Available now) 8 hours, 12 minutes

After a global climate-based apocalypse floods New York City, a small group of researchers create a settlement in the American Museum of Natural History. They are equally concerned with their survival and the preservation of their collections, comparing themselves to curators in Iraq and Leningrad, who worked to protect their collections from war. With them are 13-year-old Nonie, her father, and her older sister. But when a superstorm breaches the flood walls, they are forced to flee north, facing threats from the elements and other survivors on their way.

This brilliantly written literary thriller was as heart-pounding as it was heart-wrenching. It highlighted the unbreakable bonds of a family—both those we’re born into and those we find along the way.

The audiobook performance is exceptional. Eunice Wong perfectly captures the nuance of each character and adds a haunting quality to Nonie’s old soul in a young body.

When a story is so compelling, I keep reading until it's finished; I must give it five stars. This dystopian novel hooked me from the beginning and did not let go. I loved the initial museum setting and all the continued references to the Museum of Natural History - I'm a sucker for any museum-themed tale. Caffall's characters were terrific, and I grew very attached to them as I read. I'll be looking for future books by this author - kudos for a brilliant debut novel.
Readers familiar with NYC and the Hudson River Valley will especially enjoy the inclusion of famous and not-so-famous landmarks along the protagonists' journey.
This is dystopian fiction, so bad things happen for those worried about trigger warnings. All the bad things you can imagine in a dystopian world are alluded to or occur, so the reader beware.

I listened to an audio version of the book. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free version in exchange for a review.

This climate dystopian novel tells of a world where the world has been flooded due to glacial melting and where people have been reduced back to the hunting and gathering tasks of the preindustrial world. Nonie, her family and friends have been living in the Museum of Natural History and once that is no longer a viable shelter, they begin working their way north to the farm her family owns. Having lost loved ones before the novel starts, the rest are now in jeopardy as well since the world is a more unstable and violent place than it was before especially as resources grow more and more scarce.

I was intrigued by this one because of the location - living in the Museum of Natural History. This location which is a place of education, childhood, galas and a place my kids always dreamed of having a sleepover in is now the only refuge for the desperate ones who remained in NYC. They then work their way to the Berkshires which is also near and dear to me and I know it very well - so for me there was enjoyment in the familiar places now so changed. You have to enjoy climate fiction to enjoy this one, but it reminded me of the Light Pirate and it was written so well that it kept me engrossed the whole time. I had the audiobook and the audio absolutely delivered - the narrator was amazing and I didn’t get confused even though I didn’t have the book to refer back to.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC to review

After the glaciers have melted, Nonie, her family, and a group of researchers stayed behind living in a settlement on top of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Survival is the name of the game for them. They learn to be self-reliant but when a superstorm hits, Nonie and her family flee, taking with them a book that holds their records. Along the way they encounter civilizations that have been created, they suffer, experience loss, experience community, and do their best to survive.

This book was very slow going and I struggled with that while reading. This book was also dark and dreary as one would expect the world to be after the effects of climate change changes the world. Nonie is an interesting character and has a connection to the water. It is all she has ever known. She can't recall a time when there wasn't water everywhere.

This book provided a lot of food for thought concerning climate change, survival, choices, moving on, and formed communities. I so wanted to love this book, but it was so slow moving that I put this book down and turned to other books. One positive is I listened to the audiobook, and I thought the narrator did a fantastic job. I also thought the author did a good job creating the dystopian world.

Much too slow for my tastes but others are enjoying this book, so please read their reviews as well.

2.75 for me rounded up to 3 stars.

The story is told using short chapters, many of which consist of flashbacks or memories that were interspersed throughout the primary plot. They were balanced well with the primary plot and it was an excellent way to provide relevant background information without slowing down the plot. While there are some darker events in the book, I appreciated how the author included them, avoiding being overly detailed but still writing them in an impactful way.

The characters and setting were strong. The idea of a world that's becoming more submerged and vulnerable to water-related disasters was explored well, and the setting was creatively utilized to bring this world to life. I loved how immersive it was, and how easily I could visualize the setting. The characters were excellently drawn, with lots of depth, realistic motivations, and very easy to emotionally connect to.

If you enjoy literary fiction with a dystopian setting and strong characters, then this is a must read. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was the perfect choice for bringing this story to life. Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[3.75/5]
All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall follows a young girl Nonie who along with her family live on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History surrounded by a world of water. Initially, this novel is extremely well-written and incredibly lyrical. However, there were some points of the novel where the author used comparisons that drew me out of the story. Moreover, there were some points where I really just wanted the author to get to the point.
If you are a reader that prefers a plot centred book, then this is not the novel for you. There was some plot in this novel, but I was left with the overall feeling of wanting more. This novels attempts to tackle many societal issues and it felt at times that the plot was simply to serve this purpose. That is, it somewhat felt like a checklist where the author wanted to talk about a specific issue so had a plot point that would allow for a discussion of this issue. This would then be repeated for the next plot point and so on. Overall, I was left feeling like the need to discuss a social issue was driving the plot forward rather than the discussions on social issues arriving organically as a result of the plot.
Overall, if you are looking for a lyrically written climate fiction novel I would recommend this novel; the plot may not be memorable, but Eiren Caffall does have beautiful writing.
*** Thank you to Netgalley, Eiren Chafall, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. All thoughts are my own. ***

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for early access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion. It is a different genre from my usual reads, but I think it’s valuable to try new things, especially at the beginning of the year.
This dystopian novel is set in the not-too-distant-future, when NYC has been evacuated except for a small group of people who live on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History. A superstorm hits, and Manhattan floods, and the few remaining people decide to leave, heading north to upstate New York. The story follows the young Nonie and a small crew, trying to survive. Water is all around them, but there is worry of contamination, and Nonie begins a water log, tracking the water for the future.
Nonie’s preoccupation with water may seem unusual, but I've had similar experiences when backpacking and need to plan my day around where and when I can access water. Having grown up in the greater NYC area, I enjoyed the descriptions of what remained on the Hudson River as Nonie and crew made their way up the Hudson - alongside the cliffs of the Palisades and up past West Point. However, I didn't really connect with the story, and I'm surprised it's not labeled as YA, considering the age of the main character.

this was a pretty good audiobook. The narrator was good, and the book was interesting. The dystopian future could be a plausible future especially when the environment has been going the way it is now. Overall, it was a good story11

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I liked the concept but I just couldn't really get into it. The parts with action were good but it just seemed boring and drawn out for the most part.

💧ALL THE WATER IN THE WORLD💧 by @eirencaffall was a contemplative thriller in a post-apocalyptic world. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher, @macmillan.audio for the audio-ARC.

Happiest of pub days to this story! In it, we follow Noni and her family (found and biological) as they navigate a world flooded by water. Since the collapse, her family was living in the American Museum of Natural History (AMEN) attempting to catalogue and preserve what was left of the collection. When AMEN is no longer the safe haven on the roof of the museum that it once was, they must find a new shelter and battle the world as it is now.

I found this book charming and simultaneously depressing. Messages of hope for the future mix with devastation, loss and grief. I found this to be a comp to STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel and THE BOOK OF M by Peng Shepard, both of which I also enjoyed.

Wow, what a fantastic read! There are a couple different elements within this story and I really enjoyed all of them. Nonie and her family are living in the American Museum of Natural History. So there is a lot of talk about American history, especially about Native American tribes, their customs, and their treatment by white settlers. There is also some talk about previous wars and how works of art were saved and hidden from invading armies.

Next, Nonie and her family are living in AMNH because of climate disasters. So there is a lot of talk about the science of weather and how it reached a point where cities were destroyed. I grew up in the era of climate disaster movies so this immediately won me over.

Finally, there is the plot, which involves AMNH no longer being inhabitable and them having to leave up find a new place to live. This also includes one of my favorite reading tropes, found family. Traveling with Nonie and her group to safety is a sad, yet emotionally fulfilling, experience. This book is an easy 4 star, probably more like 4.5 star, read.

Is such a book science fiction or an eerie prediction?” kept coming to mind while listening to the audiobook of All the Water in the World. As Nonie introduces us to life after the catastrophic floods and the process her micro community has taken to try to preserve artifacts and records, the circumstances she details don’t seem implausible for my lifetime. Just over three months ago, I packed my own go bag, selected the papers I’d need for records and identification, the letters I couldn’t be without, and how many survival supplies I could carry as Hurricane Helene neared WNC.

This book left me pondering a lot of questions about how the climate crisis will continue to unfold and how it will change us as individuals and as a collective. The story begins by exploring how we forge community, grieve, and find comfort in the midst of the ongoing trauma of increasingly devastating natural disasters and then evolves to integrate where the line between safety and preservation and prejudice and authority is drawn.

When I finished this book, my timelines were filled with videos of the wildfires scorching LA. I’d recommend it to fans of the genre and also to anyone who is having a hard time wrapping their heads around what society-ending natural disasters might look like and what might be in store for those who survive.

3.5 Stars | I enjoyed this one and if it sparks your interest, I’d encourage you to read it.

Content Disclosures: Death (parental drowning, killing, animals), catastrophic natural disasters (flooding, storms, hurricane), animal attacks, gun shot wounds, racism, indirect warnings of sexual assault, knife wounds, apocalypse medical issues and procedures

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

I read the first 1/4 and had trouble getting into the book. I was able to get an audiobook copy and listened to most of it and enjoyed the book much more this way.

Nonie, her sister Bix and parents live in the American Museum of Natural History trying to survive a world where the waters have risen dramatically and are dangerous. After a huge super storm they are forced to leave their sanctuary. I read a lot of dystopian books and enjoyed this one. Nonie and team tried to be care keepers of the museum and also were able to learn a lot about survival from the exhibits. As always after reading an end of the world book I need to go stock up my pantry!

Nonie and her family take shelter in the American museum of National History after a major flooding event. They use the museum artifacts for survival and try to log all they can to preserve it. When another storm hits and the flood gates collapse, the family must use a boat to travel north on the Hudson River.

Nonie has a special ability where she can feel when the water is coming and has an emotional connection to it. This is an emotional story about destruction, starting over, and learning from history on how to rebuild.

There are also flashbacks on a simpler time. This is a fast-paced apocalyptic thriller, but you won’t face any zombies, etc. just weather disasters and what people will do to survive.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 1/7/25!

Quick overview:
In the future, where massive storms have flooded the earth, a group of survivors are trying their best to navigate the new state of the world and protect as much art and history as possible.

My thoughts: All the Water in the World is a story of loss, survival, and resilience. The story had me in a constant state of anxiety, worrying for these sweet characters and rooting for them to make it. There are strong themes of found family and the importance of taking care of one another in unprecedented situations. I don't want to give too much information as I think this story is best gone into relatively blind.

Audiobook notes: I did quite enjoy the narrator, though I feel this story may have been slightly easier to consume as a physical/ebook due to the jumps around in time/story.

Excellent audio. Hearing the words of this book spoken aloud really helps to bring the pieces together. The narrator was a great fit. Eunice Wong is a new narrator for me and she did not disappoint. Her intonation and inflection were perfect for the suspense and drama of this story. The chapters blended well and the audio flowed seamlessly.

Noni- a 13 yo girl is living in a deserted NYC on top of the natural history museum. The flood gates keeping them safe were breached with a big storm. Now Noni and her family must travel north on the Hudson River to hopefully find her mother's childhood home. It's not a short journey nor a safe one.

I happen to love post apocalyptic/dystopian stories and this was no exception. The storyline was great and I was definitely invested in the characters. Character building was good with some characters and not so great with others. I felt a tad lost trying to keep track of some of the lesser characters as well. A few times in the book I found the writing to be a bit choppy and the storyline to be a bit confusing but overall the idea was excellent. I think this book could have even been longer with more scene building and character depth. The premise of the story would definitely support that. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would read more from this author.