Im not usually a zombie or apocalypse kind of person but I took a chance on this one and loved it. I loved all of the characters and thought they were all very well fleshed out, i loved the portrayal of OCD in the main character as well. The only complaint I have is that the end was a little bit too rushed for my liking. That, and that I want more of these characters now.

Much like all of Racquel Marie’s books, this was incredible. I’m yet to read a book by her that I don’t love, and despite the new genre, this is no exception.

I’m not personally huge on zombie books (I’m a wimp), but I thought this was a creative take on the subgenre while still paying homage to everything people want from a zombie story. The characters are strongly written, with real flaws and messy emotions, and there are real stakes to keep you hooked. The dual timelines really emphasize all the ways the characters have had to change. Overall, I loved If We Survive This and would definitely recommend!

This book is a DNF at 4.3%. I’m DNF it because of the reader. This book is read by the author, and it feels more like a drone than a story. There’s very little inflection, very little movement that keeps your interest in the story. Also, this story at least so far feels like a combination of the Last of Us, the Quiet Place, and a few others. I have no desire to move further than this.

An engaging and entertaining take on zombies. A recommended purchase for HS and YA collections where zombie/dystopian survival is popular.

The audio for this was fantastic. I loved Racquel's voice.
I didn't enjoy the actual story as much as I was hoping to. I think I'll go back and reread it at some point to see if I feel different.
But the audio was superb.

racquel’s books are some of my all time favorites, and this one is no exception. which is hilarious, because zombie media is usually not my thing. but of course, if racquel writes it, i’ll read it, which means this was a big win for me. the timeline flashbacks were well-placed to add context and flesh out the characters. and speaking of characters, a character-driven story in the apocalypse may be more my speed than plot, because this really worked for me. i appreciated how well flora’s OCD was handled and seeing how it affected her navigation of a new reality that none of them could change.

racquel narrating her own book is so superior!!!!! her voice adds such a vibrance to the text, i loved it so much

Regretfully, I am unable to review this book at this time. I have been super preoccupied recently and so I completely forgot that I even requested it, so unfortunately I let it get archived before I had the chance to download it. Therefore, I am unable to review this book fairly.

I have listened to an audio extract provided by Netgalley and I liked the narrator and I’m definitely intrigued by the story. I absolutely do still plan on reading this book eventually when I am able to buy it as I am so ready for TWD meets Yellowjackets!

Thankyou to Netgalley for sending me an ALC, and once again, I very much regret missing out on this one!

This one was marked as horror which drew me to it, but it wasn't much of a horror read. More of an apocalyptic story with gore. Just alright for me, but I can see others really enjoying it.

🔪🌲🪓🥾🎒

I’m a huge fan of The Last Of Us, so as soon as I saw the premise of this book I added it to my never-ending TBR and let me tell you, IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT 👏🏼👏🏼

Flora is such a badass; I really admired her strength and tenacity throughout the whole book. Trying to survive a zombie apocalypse and keeping the people she loves safe while struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder (specifically OCD related to germs/cleanliness nonetheless) and being constantly surrounded by death is SO much to handle yet she just keeps slaying (literally and figuratively because ya know, Rabids). Racquel Marie did a great job tackling heavy subjects of grief and OCD within a killer (pun intended) zombie apocalypse story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!! 🫶🏼

This book is angst personified but, yet, I still couldn't stop reading. I thought some of the world building was interesting but the constant introspection was exhausting. I would have liked it a bit more balanced with the characters' actual actions.

In a zombie apocalypse, siblings lie to each other to hold onto hope and a chance of reuniting with their dad. Mom is dead so is most everyone else. What makes this one different is the kindness the characters have toward each other through losing everything and dealing with mental health.

I was kindly given an audiobook version from NetGalley. The story was ok I was expecting a little more from this story given the description as being walking dead meets Yellowstone, and I love anything zombies, it has a few good twists to the story and some unexpected situations. I’m not sure if it was just the narration that I didn’t like or if I would have liked the story better if I read it instead of listening to it.

I just couldn't jell with this. The author writes the FMC's OCD brilliantly, but the cast as a whole felt dull and lifeless. I couldn't get myself to care about any of them. I've sat down to write a review a few times now, and each time I hit a wall. I just didn't care enough about the characters to be interested when anything happened. Even as an audiobook, I struggled to get through this and had to DNF at 42%.

Normally, something like this would be right up my street, but perhaps this just isn't the book for me. I've added a star for the well-done OCD rep, but this can't be more than two stars for me. I will try and finish it so that I can post a proper review, but for now, this is as far as I can manage.

Thank you to NetGallery and RMmedia for the free Audio ARC.

The plot itself was good.It’s kind of like your topical zombie apocalypse except change the zombies to rabids.I liked the 2 time lines on before and after the apocalypse and the lgbtq romance subplot.I love Flora’s characters development and personality.The story is unique as it has a open-ending ,bitter sweet ending.Overall,I think it is a fun read for apocalypse loving readers who just want a quick short read,or a good pride month read .

Book Review: If We Survive This by Racquel Marie

Rating: 4 stars ★★★★

If We Survive This hit me deep the kind of story that gets under your skin and lingers long after the last page. Racquel Marie doesn’t just write characters; she breathes life into their struggles, their fears, and their desperate hope. This book is messy and beautiful, brutal and tender all at once.

What stands out most is the raw honesty nothing is sugarcoated. The emotional intensity feels so real, like you’re walking alongside the characters through their darkest moments and smallest victories. The author captures trauma, survival, and the complicated, sometimes toxic pull of relationships with such nuance. There’s pain, yes, but also moments of fierce resilience and heart-shattering vulnerability that make you root for them hard.

I loved how the story explores how trauma shapes identity and the messy ways people try to protect themselves sometimes breaking others and themselves in the process. The tension between wanting to hold on and knowing you might need to let go is palpable. It’s that fragile, aching balance of hope and despair.

This book isn’t an easy read, but it’s so worth it. The characters stayed with me, raw and imperfect and utterly human. If you want a story that grabs your heart, refuses to let go, and reminds you that survival isn’t just about living it’s about finding the strength to keep going despite the scars this is it.

This book truly was an amazing composition. The topics covered are vast and at it's core, shows the importance of a support system when the world falls apart.

This audiobook is a perfect example for why I believe there will always be fresh zombie stories to tell. Zombie movies are often steeped in metaphor, and the best ones say more about people and how we react to disasters.
This story is about a girl named Flora and how she faces the dangers after a zombie apocalypse. Family is important and she has to learn how to take on not just adult responsibilities but real dangers. This is a well written story with great narration that keeps just the right pace for this interesting tale. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️