Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this alc in exchange for an honest review.

If We Survive This by Racquel Marie is a YA horror that's described as "The Walking Dead meets Yellowjackets." Sadly, I do think this one was a miss for me. The thing that threw me off the most is that I would not call this horror at all. It's more of a survival thriller. I also was really excited after seeing this compared to Yellowjackets but this really was just a zombie apocalypse story. It didn't seem to have anything that would equate it to that television show. What I did like was the narration for the audiobook. It was narrated by the author so I felt like the characters and story just came to life with her voice. So if you're looking for a slower paced zombie apocalypse story with some great pride representation, you should definitely give this one a try.

This was an interesting take on a zombie apocalypse- Mostly ‘cause I thought for the longest she was saying “Rabbits” instead of “Rabids” ☠️

As much as I loved so many elements of the story being LGBTQIA+ representation dowwwn, I just wanted a bit more!! It just felt too stagnant to me.
The spotlight of LGBTQIA+ & Mental Health rep was wonderful though- Kinda reminded me of how it was in 2020 trying to get my HRT medicine lmfao. What a struggle that was…

The characters def carried the story, Abel is def my fave lol!! The scene w/ their dog, I was just 💔 Omg. But also so many scenes w/ Abel had me cracking up!! Such a great tension breaker. The ending also had me like 👁️👄👁️ I mean, from the synopsis, you basically get that info, but I didn’t read it ☠️ So when it happened I was SHOOK. Overall, even though I rated this a 3⭐️ I enjoyed it!!
And Racquel Marie narrating her own book? Iconic.
She did an amazing job 🤍

This is a great character-driven horror that has a lot of emotional depth. The imagery that’s depicted is exceptional and the character development is masterful. I loved Flora as our FMC, the author depicted a realistic character as someone who has OCD. Flora felt so thought out. I also really like Cain as a character, he added a lot of emotional dynamic to the story.

I enjoyed the dual timeline here, it really provided necessary backstory while not impeding the story. The story develops naturally with a consistent pace with a constant presence of looming tension.

The audio wasn’t my favorite. This is read by the author, but it feels just that, like we’re being read to rather than listening to performance with emotions expressed.

4 stars

I've read and enjoyed several of Racquel Marie's books and was surprised - and admittedly a little skeptical - when I learned about the focus of this newest one. Fortunately, I was pleased with the outcome!

Flora is not quite thriving but thus far is surviving during a bizarre, end of days style event. A huge privilege she has that is not afforded to most is that her older brother is with her. There's been a lot of loss otherwise, but this bond is invaluable and definitely coveted by others they encounter. Her brother's presence also facilitates Flora's memories of the past with her parents, which brings her some joy and a lot of pain.

While it did take me a minute to get into this book, once I did, I became really invested in Flora's outcomes AND in what the rest of the characters experienced. I also really enjoyed the way the past memories were woven seamlessly into Flora's contemporary perceptions and experiences. She processes grief and loss in a relatable, realistic way, and this makes her unrealistic (I hope! Who knows what's next for us in these weird times?!) experiences feel more connected to readers and their potential encounters with loss, uncertainty, and fear.

I enjoyed how distinct this book felt compared to this author's previous work. It still possesses many of the characteristic features I enjoy in their earlier efforts but also shows some exciting variety in scope. This is a dark one (which should be apparent based on literally everything one can ascertain about it before reading!), but it's an intriguing read.

2/5⭐️ 📖🎧

Thank you netgalley for this copy!

A YA apoctolyptical take on a rabies outbreak.

This was very dry- the story was flat until over half way done, and the audio no emotion in this.

While I appreciated the diversity of the characters in this nothing stuck out or made this impressionable.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I devoured this book in one sitting. I’ve been craving a solid post-apocalyptic zombie story ever since they announced 28 Years Later, and this absolutely scratched that itch.

Flora is an anxious girlie trying to survive a rabid outbreak while managing OCD. The anxiety was so relatable and real. Huge shoutout to the author for portraying it accurately.

Also… sapphic lead AND queer side characters?! Literally my dream combo. Add in dual timelines done right (yes, I said it!). I normally side-eye flashbacks, but in this context, they worked! The world building was fantastic and had me anxious for the group as they traveled towards safety.

This is a new fave, no question. Do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook! I was surprised that it was narrated by the author but it was a solid audiobook!

🖤 What You Can Expect:
• Zombie apocalypse
• Sapphic FMC
• Anxiety + OCD rep
• Dual timeline flashbacks
• Found family vibes

🗓 Release Date: June 17, 2025
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, RB Media and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.