3⭐
There is an outbreak of a rabies type mutation which transforms the infected into violent, zombie-like creatures called "Rabids".

Not necessarily my writing style, however I'm glad I stuck to it. Enjoyed the story - extremely emotional & intense.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"If We Survive This" is a wonderfully queer Zombie apocalypse novel. My expectations were low—and ultimately thwarted. This book was cinematic. Emotional. Romantic. Literary. And very human. If you miss "The Last of Us" season 1... this book should scratch that itch. 🧟‍♂️

Wonderfully narrated, a touching and sad story, with great representation.

Refreshing to see that in this day and age there are still zonbie stories worth telling.

Highly recommended!

A rabies like virus has taken over the world, and Flora and her brother must risk everything to try and find their father. But the possibility of death is all around, intrusive thoughts are winning out, and Flora doesn’t know who she can trust.

I love anything zombie related so this apocalyptic survival story seemed right up my alley. I really liked Flora as a character, and I appreciated how her mental health issues were portrayed both before and after the end of the world. I enjoyed her skepticism but also hope for the situation. This book had high stakes, a lot of tension, and a lot to lose which made for an overall really enjoyable read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ya rabies zombie apocalypse book. A brother and sister set out to find their father and/or others after they've been isolated and have run out of resources and their home city. this one is pretty action-packed and there's a little bit of gore. our main character does have OCD which is not something I would want to be struggling with during a zombie apocalypse caused by rabies so that was quite the perspective. this is very different from the previous Raquel Marie books that I have read but I did still really enjoy it. it is super queer.

"If We Survive This" ~ Raquel Marie
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️ Audiobook
Horror/Teen/YA

"A Thoughtful, Emotional Spin on the Apocalypse"

"If We Survive This" by Raquel Marie is a character-driven survival story that blends the tension of a post-apocalyptic journey with the emotional depth of grief, family trauma, and self-discovery. At its heart is Flora Braddock an artsy, anxious, and unexpectedly resilient survivor. As she and her brother Cain trek through a dangerous landscape overtaken by "rabids," the infected victims of a mutated rabies virus.

What sets this story apart from many in the genre is its emotional intelligence. Flora’s inner voice is raw and honest, capturing the fear and uncertainty of navigating not just a crumbling world, but her own tangled past. The sibling dynamic with Cain adds depth and heart, especially as they confront the ghosts of their family's final road trip and the pain of loss.

That said, the pacing can lag, especially during introspective stretches, and some of the more dramatic moments with side characters or reunions feel underdeveloped. The worldbuilding around the outbreak is minimal compared to the emotional stakes, which may disappoint readers expecting more traditional zombie-thriller action.

Still, Raquel Marie brings a refreshing voice to the dystopian YA scene, one that centers queer identity, mental health, and the complexities of love and loss. It’s not about beating the apocalypse; it’s about learning to live through the end of the world.

ARC REVIEW (AUDIO)

First of all, thank you to Racquel Marie, RB media and Netgalley for the ARC. In exchange, I will give my honest review.

2,5/5 stars
I have very mixed feelings about this book. Let me start with something I really liked: the OCD representation in the MC. We, as the reader, are really able to follow the intrusive thoughts Flora has, leading up to certain decisions.

When listening to this, I often had times I was lost in the story. I didn't know what happened or if it was present time or a throwback.
Around the 40% mark, the pacing was so slow I had to pull myself through this book, but then it picked back up at the last part of the book. The ending could've been a bit longer.

I liked the sister-brother dynamic between Flora and Cain.

This story doesn’t have much plot - the focus is on a group of teens trying to survive in an apocalypse and the innocence they’ve had to sacrifice to survive. I was expecting more “rabids” based on how the book was advertised but I did appreciate the story the author was attempting to craft with the characters. I wish there was a bit more balance between the harsh reality of surviving an apocalypse and the joy of being young. The flashbacks didn’t bring enough levity to the morose tone. By the end of the novel, I did feel for the characters, especially the lead, but it was hard for me to buy into the character dynamics. I think this would be good for readers looking for a character driven story featuring loss of innocence but it missed the mark for me.

I really liked the OCD rep in this book. I also thought the past and present timeline was a great way to tell this particular story. However, I just found myself not fully invested. A lot of the middle dragged for me and then by the time some twists and excitement came in at the end it all felt rushed and over with too quick.

Still a decent book and I’m sure that lovers of zombie apocalypse stories will find this one enjoyable, it’s just not my favorite.

3.5 Zombies out of 5 🧟⭐

Great concept! I mean who doesn't love zombies stories, it was just missing something. I never felt any connection to the plot. I liked Flora a lot, she was a very strong main character battling through a lot personally and I think she was very well written. I also liked the side characters. The romance plot was intriguing as well but I think could have gone a bit deeper into it. As for the plot I had sorta predicted what the outcome of the story would look like so it made it hard for me to enjoy the story as much as I could have. It was still good, there were a lot of characters and 'side quests' so to speak along the way that made up for it.

The audiobook was very well done! Loved how the author herself was the one narrating it! I find it adds so much to the audio since the author knows how much emotion to put behind every scene!

Overall it's a solid Zombie YA that would make a good addition to any fall TBR!

A coming-of-age zombie story with heart!

Not only was it written beautifully but the audio was done by the author, Racquel Marie, which is always great. The audio was so easy to follow along and Racquel delivered so well.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Racquel Marie, Feiwel & Friends and Recorded Books for both the ARC and ALC copies of the physical and audiobooks!

"I never thought the disease they'd give cartoon animals via frothy mouths and wild eyes would become this. Maybe that was my naivete. I never thought I'd be mutated into something dangerous either."

First and foremost, I wouldn't classify this as run-of-the-mill YA zombie horror. It is more existential to me, personally, and it broke my heart a million times over. It is probably as true to the theme of "Coming of Age" without it being glaringly obvious. What would you do if the world as you knew ended, one parent went missing and the other ended up dead? The thought sent me into a panic, and I'm a full-fledged adult. It doesn't help the fact that the idea of an evolved version of the rabies virus turning people into zombies is literal nightmare fuel...

"Are they people? Maybe. Are they trying to kill me, the only thing standing between my brother and death? Yes. I act accordingly, letting the second take precedence over the first. Whatever might happen to my soul after death as a consequence cannot be worse that what it's endured in life."

I would highly recommend this to everyone who is intrigued by it. Racquel Marie is a brilliant author and incredible narrator. This will grab you in your feels, have you on the edge of your seat and just hoping for something good to come out of the dark for these kids.

"And I am my mom, aren't I? Made from her in blood and heart."

"... Because my life is not this. This moment. This place. This vast, empty grief. I will see sunshine tomorrow. I will pick up rocks the color of my eyes and I will fill my hair with flowers even if I have to watch for bees and I will suffer but I will also live."

Yellowjackets-coded book? Yes please!

Having had OCD myself, I can't stress enough how powerful If We Survive This was for me. Racquel Marie's depiction of mental illness—specifically intrusive thoughts and the hyper-vigilance of anxiety—rang so true, raw, and heartbreakingly familiar. Flora's whirlwind thoughts, her frantic ritual of practicing death and disaster in her head, weren't dramatized for shock value—they were actuality. It's one of the best depictions of OCD I've ever had the pleasure to read about in fiction, YA or otherwise.

This book is zombie apocalypse by half, coming-of-age road trip by half, and all heart. The Walking Dead, had it been smaller in scope, less spectacle-oriented about how to stay alive and more about what it costs. It's told in two timelines—then and now—and catches up with Flora both before and after the apocalypse. In the before, she is a perfectionist, fashionista, math genius, and design dreams of going to school for design. Later, she's a survivor, walking through an angry, ravaged California with her brother Cain, trying to reach a cabin from the past.

Flora doesn't really see herself as being strong, but she is. Her strength isn't bellowed or flashy—it's in her endurance, even when her own brain is a battle field. Her dynamic with Cain is the heartbeat of this book—messy, gruff, and so amazingly real. They fight, they misunderstand each other, but they decide to be with one another. That dynamic destroyed me.

I also liked the queer representation in this book—natural, spontaneous, and effortless. Flora's identity is treated as just one aspect of who she is, and employing the term lesbian in a YA novel (without it being some huge dramatic reveal!) was truly a relief.

The mood is flawless. Sure, it's disgusting—there's that much blood, that much squelching, you may never be able to think about viscera the same way again—but it's also beautiful reflective. I laughed. I cried. I underlined whole pages of Flora's internal monologue. Her voice is so angry, so discerning. She was such an actual teenager just trying to make it to tomorrow with her heart intact.

I do wish we’d gotten a little more time with some of the side characters and antagonists—the story could’ve easily handled an extra 50 pages—but what’s here is incredibly effective. It’s character-driven horror that isn’t afraid to pause for grief, love, fear, and the weight of simply surviving.

Yessss for Yellowjackets, The Honeys, original TWD enthusiasts, or anyone seeking a YA novel with bite and emotion. This one will stay with me for a very, very long time.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Had this YA novel had a bit more chase and battle, a development of urgency, then this YA Sapphic Romance would have worked better. The story unfolds in a dual timeline, the before the zombies and during the zombies. The unfolding of family history, trauma, feelings of betrayal, and the underlying thread of OCD helps entice the reader to continue caring about Flora.
And yet, I felt the need to finish this book for no other reason than NetGalley gave me the audiobook. Part of the agreement is to write the review.
So here it is - excellent for YA summer reads.

the way the intrusive thoughts were portrayed was stunning. To see someone with a complicated, intense inner world (with anxiety and grief and OCD) be such a strong person, taking the lead and battling the rabids like she did was so empowering.

This is what I was missing without even knowing I was missing it. I was a HUGE fan of The Walking Dead and every spin-off they had, so yeah, I was hella excited that it worked out. This was everything I needed and more.

Ok so the main thing about this book was the zombies. They were actually scary! I’ve read a few zombie books this year and none of them really had that scare factor I was looking for. But then I read this one and it surprised me. Marie not only tells us, but shows us how their skin is coming off, what they look like when they’re trying to bite her, and how they smell and everything. I was so creeped out when I read this lol But the whole world-building was so good. I guess since I had watched TWD, I knew what the world around them looked and felt like. The empty buildings and scrounging, really made this feel lonely and destitute.

What I loved the most about this tho was how it was also so much more than just the zombies. Flora is so jaded but still giving it her all. She is so strong and giving this life her all. And to also be taking care of her brother too impressed me so much. I’m not sure I would have done any of the things she did when I was her age. Shit, idk if I would do it now as an adult. This was so crazy. And let me just say, I can’t imagine going through this and also having OCD. Her brother was also strong. That’s the only way you can survive something like this.

The tension in this never lets up tho, so just make sure you’re ready for it. This book… WHEW! Just when you think they’re doing something good, something else pops up. And I mean up until the very end. This book had me on the literal edge of my seat! There’s so many surprises. I called one of them, but even that didn’t make me like it less. It was definitely a good way to show the characters and the way they were trying so hard to normalize everything.

This book was so good! I don’t want to say too much more for fear of spoilers, but let’s just say, don’t read this at night. Racquel Marie had too much fun with this one and it shows lol Perfect way to start your Summerween! I hope y’all pick this up immediately!

There's nothing like a zombie apocalypse to heighten the intrusive thoughts and end of the world fears of someone with OCD. Such is the case with Flora when she finds herself fighting to survive with her brother as they run from 'rabbids' in search of their parents and someplace safe to hide. This book was gruesome at times but would be perfect for fans of the Walking Dead series. There's also some great queer romance side plots and excellent OCD and asthma disability rep. The author narrates the story and I wasn't the biggest fan of how she voiced the characters but it's still a good horror/dystopia for fans of that genre and a departure from what the author has written before. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. Recommended for fans of books like The last bookstore on Earth.

Audiobook/Book Review 🔪
thank you so much RB Media + Netgalley for the gifted audiobook!

If We Survive This
by Racquel Marie
Narrated by Racquel Marie

About the book 👇🏽

Flora Braddock Paz is not the girl who survives. A colorful creative who spends as much time fearing death as she does trying to hide that fear from her loved ones, she’s always considered herself weak. But half a year into the global outbreak of a rabies mutation that transforms people into violent, zombielike "rabids," she and her older brother Cain are still alive. With their mom dead, their dad missing, and their LA suburb left desolate, they form a new plan to venture out to the secluded Northern California cabin they vacationed in growing up—their best chance at a safe haven and maybe even seeing their dad again.

The dangers of the world have changed, but so has Flora. Still, their journey up the state is complicated by encounters with familiar faces, new allies, hidden truths, and painful memories of the family’s final time making this trip last year. And for Flora, one thing inevitably remains: No matter how far you run, death is never far behind.


🩸 My thoughts:

What a ride! This story is definitely one to be devoured in one sitting! It’s emotional and tense in the best way. For me it was the post apocalyptic zombies that got me to start it and it was the intensity of it all that had its hold over me. The narrator’s delivery was spot on and fit the very feel and tone of the book. The dual timeline was done so well and I feel like Flora’s experience and voice were prominent. If you’re looking for a YA Horror with vigor and representation, you gotta read this one this spooky season! In here you’ll find a sapphic female character, anxiety and OCD representation, and ZOMBIES. If We Survive This is out now!!

Happy reading 📖🎧🔪🩸

I’m sorry, but you had me at a rabies-fueled zombie apocalypse. But then add in a cross-country road trip to reunite with family and I’m running for this faster than a ravenous zombie herd. This story was raw and heartfelt and didn’t sugar coat it’s ending. Sometimes I wanted a little more inflection in the audiobook narration, but otherwise this was such a fun read.

For YA horror, this book deals with some heavy themes ranging from grief to mental illness (severe OCD). The relationship between Flora and Cain was reminiscent of my own relationship with my sibling so I really enjoyed their dynamic.

The OCD aspects hit home for me and made this more of an emotional read than expected. Flora was so relatable but so strong and kept pushing through. I really liked her.

4.5 stars! This book has diverse representation, is action-packed, and has interesting characters that will keep you turning the page. I was kindly allowed access to this eAudiobook Arc via NetGalley. I have been on a big dystopian/post-apocalyptic kick this year, so when I heard about this book on the website, I signed up and hoped I would be able to review. This book definitely held up to my expectations. The narration was done by the author. She did a phenomenal job and brought to life the character's voice. Honestly, the author's voice and narration style matched perfectly with the storytelling and character's personality. The most interesting part of this book for me was the close relationship between the main character, and her older brother, Cain. They rely on each other as they are trying to survive the apocalypse together, but they also have secrets from each other that are slowly unraveled as the book unfolded. Beyond that, the book has an excellent found family as the siblings encounter and ally with other survivors that also have their own secrets that are slowly revealed as the book progresses.

I really loved the diversity of the book as well. The book includes POC representation with lots of LGBTQ representation (e.g. gay, lesbian, bi, trans to name a few). I love when dystopian books actually include characters that are not heteronormative and cisgender as this feels more realistic to me and layered to me. However, outside of their sexuality, these characters feel like real people and have their own strengths and drawbacks, pasts. The main character was lesbian and I really enjoyed learning about her personal struggles with coming out, admitting her feelings to another character, and her dealing with the fact that she feels she is meant to sacrifice herself for others versus her desire to survive and for her loved one to survive.

If you love an excellent found family and diverse cast, you will love this book! I strongly recommend to those who love dystopian/zombie books (the zombies are called Rabids in this world). I also strongly recommend the audiobook, as the narrator voiced this book, and I feel like she brings a vulnerability to the main character that is really special. I loved it! I was slightly frustrated by the ending though and wanted more! I really hope this leaves this book open for a sequel to resolve unanswered questions I was left with!! I would definitely read a sequel if so!