I started to read this and instantly I was thinking Huh? This really took me for a loop. I read the synopsis and thought this would be interesting. That is exactly what it was. I was glad to read this as I am always looking for out the box stories for my inquisitive mind. I enjoyed reading this one. It gave me a bit of the sci-fi/dytopian feel but in a small realistic way. It was weird but I liked it anyway.

3.5 stars - Fun premise with some shining moments and a truly dizzying last 100 pages but the middle slogged a bit for me.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend

No, that's not how I feel about the book. It's the title!

Imagine going on vacation in the Bahamas to a grand, new resort. You're sitting on the beach, relaxing with your loved one when suddenly the sun explodes. It actually kind of fizzles out, looking like yolk dripping from an egg. Either way it's over. Your vacation. The world.

That's the situation professional underachiever, Dan Foster finds himself in. What's a guy to do? He's not used to taking charge or being a hero. But soon he might have to. His only goal at first is to get his girlfriend Mara off the island, but almost immediately the situation gets out of control when the A group takes the supplies and control. Somehow people begin looking to him for guidance, but Dan can't do anything. Can he?

This book is all kinds of crazy goodness. You've got action and drama. And more action. It's laugh out loud funny. One on hand it's unbelievable, but I could also see everything happening the same way if the sun ever did explode.

The characters slowly grow on you. There are many different personalities. You will find yourself caring about some and despising others as they represent different sides of humanity.

This debut novel would make an excellent movie. I really hope someone's working on it! Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend will be released August 6. Thanks to Sourcebooks for the chance to read!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200174139-zero-stars-do-not-recommend?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=JgSgLNNSQe&rank=1

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend releases August 6, 2024

Dan and his girlfriend, Mara, are on vacation together on a remote island in the Bahamas when the sun explodes.

Sub-genres that include environmental/climate catastrophes are ones I love to read because there’s something about experiencing an interpretation of a near-future event that is equal parts chilling, fascinating, and thought-provoking.
Wassmer’s debut, however, did not work for me at all… I’d hate to play off of the title of the book, but it’s heavily leaning that way.

I think this was supposed to be satirical, but I didn’t find any of it funny.
The heavy religious undertones were extremely off-putting and it didn’t sit well in conjunction with the abundance of gun violence.

Some other things that rubbed me the wrong way took place through dialogue of the main characters, and came off homophobic, racist, and fatphobic.
For the sake of this being an early copy, I’ll leave out direct quotes but here’s a summarized version of how a minority character is depicted:
After learning the name of one of the staff/guards, the main character articulates that “Rico” is the perfect name for this guy (read: a resort staff who is turned into a hired guard with a rifle and shoots to kill). Furthermore, the main character goes on to taunt Rico by asking him if he wanted to be a luchador when he grew up instead of ending up with this job he doesn’t like, or perhaps an artisanal cheesemaker or a dictator with a beret. Later in the story, Dan adds insult to injury by insinuating that Rico couldn’t have possibly had a mother growing up, that a moose fucked a Monster Energy drink in order to conceive him, and that he doesn’t have the capability to read. Amidst all this, it’s implied that all of these thoughts/vocalizations are intended to be jokes, but at what point are we supposed to be laughing?
In terms of other things within the book, they compare their living conditions of rationed food and daily chores to being the same as living in North Korea, they describe a Black character as being as big as a house, and others fail to recognize same sex marriages because they “forgot they could do that now”… what year are we living in?!

By the time I reached 80% it felt exactly like a hybrid episode of <i>Lost</I> and <I>Under the Dome</I>.

This book was fascinating, and I felt all the emotions reading it. I purposely waited several days before writing my review so I had time to process it. At first, I was skeptical. I'm a teacher, and when I read that the sun exploded, fiction/dystopian or not, I was immediately questioning what would really happen if the sun exploded. I phoned a science teacher and asked and got a full description that was not anything like the book described, so I was wondering about the reality of the plot from the beginning. Turns out I was right to question it... but no spoilers.

This book was well-planned, well-written, and quite enjoyable. I didn't really enjoy the third-person narration, it took me a while to get into the format.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark and all opinions are my own. Thank you for this opportunity!

I mean … this isn’t what *I* would do if I was on a beach resort and watched the sun melt out of the sky.

3.5 stars cause Dan is annoying for too many pages. Maybe it’s because I watched Hunger Games recently or because gravity was still normal, but I caught on pretty quickly that this was a simulation of some sort. Let this be a warning that MLM Huns will thrive at the end of the world, we must do something now.

<i>Thanks NetGalley for sending the arc in exchange for honest review</i> 🫶🏻

Wow, this book was much better than expected. The cover does not match what the story was about but I actually liked it, because I was very surprised. The characters in this book were way well written and I thought there was some great humor! This is a different take on the end of the world trope. Love a locked door mystery, especially one with vibes.

"Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend" by MJ Wassmer is a satirical take on the classic vacation-gone-wrong trope, but falls short of delivering a truly engaging or memorable story. The novel follows Dan Foster, a self-proclaimed underachiever, as he navigates a series of unfortunate events on a seemingly idyllic island vacation.

Wassmer's writing is light-hearted and humorous, with moments of wit scattered throughout the narrative. However, the story's premise feels contrived and lacks the depth needed to sustain reader interest. The sudden and improbable turn of events, such as the sun exploding and the island being plunged into darkness, strain believability and detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

One of the novel's shortcomings is its character development, particularly with regard to Dan. While he is presented as a relatable and likable protagonist, his journey lacks emotional depth and fails to resonate with readers on a meaningful level. Additionally, the supporting characters are largely one-dimensional and serve more as caricatures than fully fleshed-out individuals.

Despite its shortcomings, "Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend" has its moments of humor and may appeal to readers looking for a light and entertaining read. However, those seeking a more nuanced and engaging story may find themselves disappointed by its lackluster execution.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me an advance copy of MJ Wassmer’s #debut novel, Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend, in exchange for an honest review.

#ZeroStarsDoNotRecommend swiftly morphs from dystopian satire into an apocalyptic reimagining of the Third Reich. Any traces of satire quickly dissipate after the mob incident in chapter five, which is when the plot turns dark (no pun intended). The futuristic and comedic elements fortunately return for the final quarter of the novel. Think more injustice, less comedy, and readers will easily enjoy this well-written social commentary that is hopefully an inaccurate depiction of future civilization.

The story opens with the sun exploding, immediately jumpstarting the plot and introducing the reader to two of the main characters—Dan Foster, the protagonist, and his girlfriend, Mara Nichols. The duo is eventually joined by two other married couples, who assist them in leading the resistance.

The guests are ushered to a central location where resort management confirms that the sun no longer exists and banishes them to their rooms to await further instructions. The situation devolves overnight upon the wealthy visitants’ seizure of all available resources on the island, triggering survival-of-the-fittest mindsets and creating class-based factions among the guests. Once a seemingly innocent party is fatally injured, absolute chaos erupts.

Although the plot is fairly predictable, the novel is well-organized and contains an entertaining cast of characters, including the villainous Rico, the lifestyle guru-cum-dictator Lilyanna, and Shae, a quasi-Dr. Jenkins archetype a la #WaywardPines; all of whom partake in milestone events ranging from funerals to even a wedding.

There are also many insightful passages scattered throughout that prompt the reader to consider such circumstances long after finishing the novel.

Overall, the book was a refreshing spin on a genre that is typically depressing. In contrast to the title, four stars and highly recommend this novel for both avid and unfamiliar readers of #apocalypticfiction alike.

🏝️ ℤ𝕖𝕣𝕠 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 𝔻𝕠 ℕ𝕠𝕥 ℝ𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕 🏝️

Dan Foster has spent most of his life being mediocre. After being told his entire adolescence that he was something special, he truly feels he’s never reached his full potential. The only right thing he’s ever done right is love Mara, a woman so “out of league she’s playing a different sport.” Which is why when the opportunity to take her to a new, all inclusive resort in the Bahamas comes up on social media, he jumps at the chance.

Everything is perfect, until the sun explodes. Or disappears, or something, it’s just gone. As panic starts to set in, the wealthy residents of Building A institute a system just a hair shy of fascism, and the worst of humanity comes out to play. With nothing but bad options to choose from, Dan has to decide if he’s ready to reach his full potential, or if he wants to face the end of world being mediocre.

Wow!!! I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve never been a huge reader of contemporary fiction, but I struck a home run with this read. From the very first page I was all in.

Everyone knows someone like Dan, or has felt like him at some point in their life. He is completely relatable, both in his moments of self doubt and when he’s questioning what it means to do the right thing. His love for Mara is so sincere and the kind every girl wants to find.

Yes, this book is funny, and I enjoyed that about it, but what I enjoyed most was how well it depicted what happens when society breaks down. How easy it is for the worst in us to come out, for the strong to prey on the weak, and for even the best of us to turn a blind eye if it means survival. It was so well done, and honestly so unexpected, that it’s what pushes this from like to love.

If you like end of the world stories that will make you laugh and as well as gasp a time or two, please give this book a try. Four and half stars, highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
(Rounded up for NetGalley)

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this free e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

In the whip-smart social satire "Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend," author M.J. Wassmer takes readers on a wild ride through an apocalypse unlike any other. Imagine a vacation that goes from bad to worse when the sun literally explodes, plunging an island resort into darkness. Professional underachiever Dan Foster finds himself trapped in this chaotic situation, and suddenly he must choose between saving himself or helping fellow guests make it off the island alive.

Wassmer's offbeat premise and quirky characters immediately grab your attention. Dan, our unlikely hero, is relatable in his averageness, and his journey from underachiever to beacon of hope is both heartwarming and hilarious. The elite guests staging a coup and commandeering supplies add an extra layer of tension, as class tensions rise and revolution brews on the island.

The novel skillfully blends humour, heart, and unexpected plot twists. As temperatures drop and desperation sets in, Dan becomes an accidental hero, caught between escaping with his girlfriend, Mara, or fighting for the survival of everyone on the island. The stakes are high, and the choices are anything but straightforward.

Wassmer's writing is sharp and witty, and the pacing keeps you turning pages. The island setting, with its crumbling luxury, becomes a character in itself: a microcosm of society on the brink. The author deftly explores themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the fragility of our modern world.

"Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend" is a refreshing and entertaining read that will leave you laughing out loud while pondering the deeper questions. With its unpredictable twists and memorable characters, this speculative comedy thriller is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction and dark humour.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was freaking hilarious from the first sentence. I did guess the twist, but it was still executed well. The character development was great. The writing was easy to follow. There were several movie references and even a Stephen King reference, which cracked me up. If you’re looking for an easy mindless read, pick this one up when it’s published on August 6th. It’s highly entertaining. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys apocalyptic books and going on vacation on a deserted island. Overall, I had a blast reading this.

A twist that you never see coming makes this a great read for the beach or late at night when you should be asleep. I see a streaming series in the future.

What would you do if you were stranded on a tropical island and the sun exploded? This book was so freaking good. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in less than a day. This debut by MJ Wassmer was the perfect mixture of funny and post apocalyptic, with plenty of social commentary on human nature. And it’s perfect that it comes out in August because it’s the beach read with a twist you didn’t know you needed. The main character takes a vacation with his girlfriend to the Bahamas and then has to navigate the aftermath of life on the island when the sun explodes (implodes?) in the first few days of their trip. This isn’t quite like anything I’ve ever read before and I love that about it. It’s lord of the flies with class battles, larger than life characters, the end of the world, and a hearty dose of humor. Definitely worth the read!!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks landmark for the ARC!!

4.5 Stars rounded up!

What a fabulous debut! I started it Thursday night and finished it Saturday morning if that's any indication of how sucked in I got. Imagine you are taking a much needed vacation in the Bahamas when a day into your vacation the sun explodes. Yup, it explodes and then the owner of the resort doesn't know what to do so he shifts power to an MLM mogul and her preacher husband. Everything goes to sh*t as you can imagine and it's basically a weird episode of Lost meets the LuLaRoe documentary. The writing was hilarious and I haven't laughed out loud while reading in a long time. BUT this book also has some depth that I didn't see coming. The ugly side of humanity, social class advantages and disadvantages and also the bonds of loyalty. I don't want to say too much  more and spoil it, but this book is going to be big. There were so many unexpected twists that I'm just so impressed this is a debut book. Can't wait to see what comes next from MJ Wassmer! Thank you Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. Pub Day is August 6th.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐬𝐭:

Dan Foster, a self-proclaimed professional underachiever, has finally decided to treat himself to a vacation. His life so far has been nothing out of the ordinary, always falling short of his true potential. However, as he sips on a few Miller Lites in paradise with his girlfriend, Mara, he starts to feel a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long while.

But just as he begins to relax, the unexpected happens - the sun explodes.

The once idyllic island resort is now shrouded in darkness, and Dan's lack of travel insurance suddenly becomes a regrettable oversight. As tensions escalate amidst the plummeting temperatures, a revolution brews, and Dan finds himself unintentionally becoming a beacon of hope for the remaining vacationers.

When a small plane capable of transporting six people back to the mainland is discovered, Dan is faced with a monumental decision. Does he choose to flee the island with Mara, or does he stay and take on the role of an unlikely hero in the face of the world's end?

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 & 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
☄️ Apocalypse
😂 Humorous
🌀 Twists and turns
🫂 Unlikely friends


𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖:
✳︎ Sarcasm & satire
✳︎ Dystopian sci-fi
✳︎ White Lotus

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

I was absolutely captivated by this story. It's unlike anything I've ever read before! The main characters are so intriguing, and I found myself drawn to them the most. Watching their growth and development throughout the narrative was truly a delight. The plot had unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't help but giggle at the adorable moments sprinkled throughout.

This was such an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read more by this author in the future!

𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (𝟺/𝟻)

𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝙶𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙰𝚁𝙲!

I can't seem to write this review using anything but clichés, so here goes. Holy cow, what a ride! I was really looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint. How the heck is this a debut novel? Because it. Was. Amazing! We have the extremely reluctant hero Dan, and his brave and reactionary girlfriend Mara, who take a 2-week vacation at a new all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas. Little did they know that mysterious events would soon throw them into chaos as they worry and wait for the end of the world. Both Dan and Mara are totally likable and believable. I loved how Mara made Dan want to be a better person, and Mara believed in Dan just as he was. It's written from Dan's POV, and thank goodness he has a sense of humor. There's a lot of observational writing, which I enjoyed. Dan's voice and personality put me in mind of the main character from Alas, Babylon (Randy), who was also a reluctant but ultimately effective post-apocalyptic anti-hero. Bit of a slacker but very smart and decent at heart, who would do almost anything to make sure those he loved were safe.

This is not a criticism but it was hard to pin down exactly what this book wants to be, it's like a few different enjoyable books in one. Wry observational humor, apocalyptic drama, action-packed fight for survival, critical social commentary, romance and human relationships, and a bit of a puzzle, all wrapped up in a big beautiful package. It morphed a lot over the course of the book, and not once was I bored. I pondered where it was going, multiple times, and trust me when I tell you to avoid spoilers before reading.

This is a sarcastic and absurd and tragic and hopeful story that will keep you guessing all along the way. I'll be looking forward to more from this new author in the future! Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC of this story in exchange for my objective review.

This was a fun book that'll be an ideal beach read. Imagine you go on your dream all inclusive vacation to a brand new resort and then the Sun explodes?! Suddenly things get real apocalyptic real fast with the guests being divided up by class and a MLM boss babe pushing her way in charge.

I laughed, I cringed, I rolled my eyes and I cringed some more. Overall, an enjoyable read that was fun as long as I didn't think too much about the plot.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-arc of No Stars, Do Not Recommend by M.J. Wassmer.

This is a twisty locked room thriller with a sci fi heart and the dark humor core. Told in 3rd person, our MC Dan’s dream vacation with the girl of his dreams, Mara becomes an actual nightmare after the sun explodes on the second day at a recently opened Bahamian resort. After a coup by residents of elite Building A led by Beachbody boss, Lilyanna and her preacher husband Pete, the residents of Building B and C look to Dan as a leader following a megaphone fueled rally speech. But all our reluctant hero wants to do is find a way to get off the island with Mara and new found friends. Through temperature drops, work camp conditions, rationing, a few fight scenes, and a chance encounter with the island’s resident scientist, Dan begins to piece together the truth behind his new reality. Who knew that the end of the world could bring about new beginnings?

I guessed the twist…but the explosive ending made up for it. I would recommend this book, but maybe not as a take along to an island retreat. 4/5 star read

I was so thrilled to get an advanced copy of this book! I loved the idea behind it.

What would you do with your time if the sun exploded and the world was about to end?
Overall, I felt this was a good book. It was funny, witty and pretty enjoyable!
The author did a decent job of painting a picture in my mind. With the repetition though, it was difficult to get lost in the book and fully love it.
I ended up giving it less stars, because the amount of times that words were repeated began to make me roll my eyes. The banter was funny, but became a bit much at times. I feel like in this one, less would be more.
I liked the way it wrapped up. I questioned at times throughout, if it was something like that.

Thank you NetGally and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read it early.