This sounded like it would be right up my alley. I like a good dystopian where the world is flooding. However, I wanted so much more from this book. I felt like there wasn't a lot that happened and that there were some plot points that I feel could've been developed more. But the narration was fantastic. I am a big fan of Eunice Wong because she always captures the tones of the characters she's narrating so well.

I am not a climate fiction fan most of the time, so I probably should have know going in this wouldn’t be for me.

This was middle of the road for me. I liked the FMC, and enjoyed the writing style overall, however the pacing felt a bit off and at times the story really dragged.

Loved the audio narrator!

The world is flooded after an an clear apocalyptic event has occurred. One can imagine the ice caps have melted, the oceans have risen, and the world is plagued by superstorms and intense heat due to an unstable climate situation.

Nonie, her sister, her dad, and a few other survivors are hold up in the American Museum of Natural History until another storm comes along and washes away nearly everything they've worked to create. They've been trying to document human history as well as gathering research to retain for the future. However, a lot of it gets washed away when the Museum is destroyed.

They have a canoe within the museum they use to escape and to make their way up the Hudson River in search of a family farm Nonie's mother mentioned would hopefully be their sanctuary should they ever need it. Now, they make their way north and through the wilds of the new world outside. Medicine is scarce so even common colds and illnesses can be deadly. Not everyone they meet along the way has the best of intentions either.

I did love reading in the summary that this story was inspired by the curators in Iraq and Leningrad who worked to protect their collections from war. I thought that was such a great way to be inspired by a story and I am now more curious about their stories. More than anything, I think this book does have some echoes of Station Eleven and survival and humanity in a world after the apocalypse has occurred.

I am a huge fan of dystopian novels and when a book is called a thriller and compared to Station Eleven, I have an expectation that there will be action and world building with speculation on what happened to the world and what will come. While this book does have dystopian themes, it’s much more in Nonie’s head rather than the dystopian world. As such, it’s very poetic and lacking in any real action. It’s so slow and not at all my type of novel. Lots of characters introduced but not much development so I didn’t connect to anyone. This just wasn’t for me.

Typically I enjoy dystopian and climate fiction stories, but this one was a little slow even for my liking. Glacier melt has caused the oceans to rise and there is so much water that New York City is virtually under water. Teenage Nonie, the narrator, along with her sister Bix, her father, and family friend Keller have been living atop the American Museum of Natural History (nicknamed Amen) for years, but even that site isn't safe when a hurricane type storm brings even more water and the structure collapses. The four make their way across the city in a canoe taken from a museum exhibit.

This was an interesting story and Nonie's memories of her mother and others who lived and died in Amen (AMNH - the museum) are warm and touching. But there is little character development along the way as our little crew face dangers both natural and human. Additionally, this really seems like it should be marketed as more of a YA story. Nonie's youth and even Bix at times are evident in their quest to find an old family farm in northern New York.

All the Water in the World has a fascinating concept: A group of survivors have formed a community on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City after flooding and disease have irrevocably altered the landscape and society as we currently know it. But when a superstorm breaches the city’s flood walls, they are forced to abandon the museum, travelling north on the Hudson River toward what they hope is safety and a fresh start. The book is narrated by thirteen-year-old Nonie in a structure that alternates between the past and the present.

All the Water in the World is a thought-provoking book, providing insights into how society can survive and thrive in a climate disaster, highlighting the importance and nobility of preserving the past for a future that may never come. The writing is spare and quite beautiful, simple but meaningful. Nonie is an endearing character, possibly neurodivergent, with life experiences and a unique perspective that kept me engrossed in her narrative. I listened to portions of this as an audiobook, read by Eunice Wong, and the serene, wistful quality of her voice worked so well for this story and complemented Eiren Caffall’s writing perfectly.

The blurb calls this book a thriller, but I think that’s an inaccurate representation. Rather than an action-packed apocalyptic road novel, All the Water in the World is more contemplative and slower paced, focusing on thematic elements and characters rather than plot development. It reminded me of both Station Eleven and The Light Pirate in this way (although I don’t think it accomplished as much as those two books did). The ending was satisfying, but the journey to get there was more thoughtful than exhilarating.

3.5 stars rounded up. All the Water in the World is a worthy addition to the growing genre of climate fiction and nature-centric dystopia. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the early reading opportunity.

Out today!

The narrator for this audiobook was great to listen to. The narrator had great pacing, the different voices were good and the emotion could definitely be felt in this narration!

The story itself is beautifully written, filled with tense situations as the group escapes what was once their haven in NYC. This is heartbreaking throughout yet also kind of uplifting in the sense that we can find and keep family in even the worst scenarios. The support systems these people built in an apocalyptic future were what brought the good vibes to the story. Otherwise, it is pretty bleak. This is told from Nonie's perspective and she is a child that grew up knowing only one reality. The references from her family that she didn't remember the "world as it was before" showed that even after the world changes, new lives can begin.

Overall, this was a good story, albeit a bit slow for me, personally.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

I did not think that I would be finding a 5 star read so early in the year but here we are. I cannot fully express how much I loved this book. Set in the (near?) future the glaciers have melted and ocean levels have risen. Much of the population has died with the exception of a few pockets of people here and there. This is a startling glimpse into what could/will happen due to our climate crisis. We follow Nonie and her family as they evacuate their camp to safer ground. Its a story of trials, danger, love, and ultimately, hope.

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall is a beautifully descriptive thriller set in a flooded future. The story follows 13-year old Nonie and her family, who have created a settlement on the roof of New York's American Museum of Natural History after the glaciers melt and the city becomes largely uninhabitable.
Nonie, who has a deep connection to the weather, narrates their journey as they try to escape a superstorm by traveling north on the Hudson River. This story explores themes of survival, community, and the preservation of history and knowledge. If you enjoy dystopian fiction with a strong emotional core, this novel is definitely worth a read.

All the Water in the World offers a unique perspective on climate change, narrated through the eyes of Nonie, a girl with a profound connection to water. While the premise of a post-apocalyptic New York City and a family’s journey for survival is compelling, the novel's pacing often feels sluggish, with repetitive plot points that dilute its potential for tension. The world-building, although creative, sometimes lacks the urgency needed to fully capture the peril of a climate-ravaged future.

I wish Nonie's connection to the water had been explored more. The characters' time spent in the museum was my favorite part of the story bringing the central themes of preservation and resilience to the forefront, particularly in the family's dedication to safeguarding humanity’s knowledge. I thought Eunice Wong did a good job narrating the story. Overall, while the book’s heart is in the right place, its slower rhythm may leave readers craving more emotional depth and conflict.

I was excited to read this one given the dystopia / post-apocalyptic aspects of the storyline. I was also interested in the climate change theme as well. However, I was really bored, and the story did not hold my interest. There wasn’t enough action going on and the pace was way too slow for my liking. I found my mind wandering off. I also never fully connected with any of the characters. I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator very monotone. Unfortunately, this one was not for me.

The premise of this audio book was fascinating to me. I heard great things from social media so I requested it. I really tried to like it but I could not finish. I couldn't connect with the story as it was too outside of my realm of possibility. I am not a fantasy/time travel person so I think I should probably passed. I am sorry I could not finish.

Thank you Net Galley, Macmillian Audio and Eiren Caffall for the opportunity to preview this title.

I did not share this review on my socials because I did not want to negatively impact the release. I will come back and change this review if I am able to come back to it and finish it.

I am a big fan of dystopian or cli-fic, but this one just didn't stand out for me. The chapters were short which was nice but also led to me not really feeling connected to the characters. I didn't love their journey and started to zone out about 2/3 through the book. There was just no desire to continue but I did just to complete the book. Sadly, this one wasn't a winner for me. After the Flood was a better "the water is rising" novel IMO. Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC of the book before release.

I want to know if I'm crazy for thinking this, but "All the Water in the World" by Eiren Caffall reminded me of reading "The Road" but didn't make me supremely depressed afterwards.

The water levels rose, the city fell, but some stayed. Camped out on the American Museum of Natural History a group of survivors are maintaining the collections. Living through the Lost, feral animals, new diseases, they have made it. But you can't fight Mother Nature and no city is designed to survive a superstorm. When the city is flooded Nonie and the remnants of her group venture out, hopeful that there is somewhere out there they can live.

Narrated by Eunice Wong, damn fine work.

Reasons to read:
-If you are familiar with the curators in Iraq and Leningrad who stayed to preserve the collections
-Hope in bleak times
-Less depressing "The Road" vibes
-Plenty of gut punches
-Climate warnings
-I enjoyed the back and forth way of pushing the story and context

Cons:
-Oh no the dogs

This was a moving survival story set in a post-climate change apocalyptic world that sees a group of travelers trying to find a place where they can live in peace. Very much along the lines of The road or Station Eleven, this was good on audio and pairs perfectly with The last bookstore on Earth, another 2025 new release climate change dystopia. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

A thrilling tale of survival that evokes "The Road" in its use of simpler language to express deep emotion. Museum-lovers will especially enjoy it.

Part dystopian alternate world where water and raging storms have taken over the world, part apocalyptic world with mosquito illnesses ravaging the world and survival becoming dangerous and difficult. All the Water in the World blends adventure, science, light fantasy/magical realism, and climate change. It was an enjoyable read, I listened on audio and would recommend the narration. It gave me Camp Zero vibes, so if you enjoy this one, go read that next!

Imagine the city of NY, with water covering the buildings. To survive, people fled or barricaded themselves into buildings and lived on rooftops. One group made a home out of the American Museum of Natural History. They made use of what they could while trying to save as much as possible.

Massive storms made much of the world uninhabitable and people will do anything to survive. When a huge storm takes out the home they once knew, they know they have to leave. Nonie can feel the storms, like water in her blood, she knows when they are coming and how big they will be.

They journey to a farm her mother used to talk about, and along the way, they realize how different the world outside has become. Danger and disaster are around every corner, can they survive and make it to the farm? Or will they succumb to the new world?


Thank you to MacMillan audio for a copy to enjoy.

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall had the potential to be a great book. Unfortunately, the book fell short.

The premise was great. All the glaciers have melted and most of the Earth’s habitants are gone. The book focuses on thirteen-year-old Nonie, who lives with her mother, father, and older sister on the roof of NYC’s American Museum of Natural history. At least until a hypercane (think hurricane but times it by a hundred) wipes out the museum and Nonie and her family escape to find safety up north.

There is no doubt that Caffall is a good writer. However, the writing style was a bit too “poetic” for my liking. I listened to the audiobook and found it difficult to focus on the story, which is not typical for me.

One of the reasons why I like reading speculative fiction/dystopian is to better understand where the world might go wrong and its impact on humanity. All the Water in the World did not delve into the “how” and barely touched on how this family survived. The book just felt like a very long journey without enough depth to keep me hooked.

The audiobook narration was perfectly acceptable. The narrator did a nice job of trying to capture all the voices. Unfortunately, the writing style made her voice seem a bit choppy.

There are so many good speculative fiction books on climate change that are out there. (The Light Pirate is hands down my favorite.) Unfortunately, All the Water in the World isn’t one of them.

I thought I was going to enjoy this book immensely but it fell a little flat for me. I think that I prefer to read for escapism and the storyline driven by the longterm effect of climate change did not suit

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.2
Fine, but...not much else. Station Eleven vibes, sure. Fine. Here, I suppose, are more words for the minimum.