Genre: Romance | Dystopian | Post-Apocalyptic
Published: November 28, 2021
Series: The After Series
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Audiobook: No
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
Can love survive an apocalypse?After a deadly virus ravages Chicago and destroys Mackenzie Lyons’ carefully curated world, Mac escapes the devastation and horror to her childhood hometown with the help of her best-friend’s little brother, Jake. But the small-minded community of Sanford isn’t exactly welcoming, and the virus isn’t the only battle brewing.Jake Brent has secretly loved Mac forever, and while this isn’t the way he’d dreamed of their relationship beginning, with the uncertainty of the outbreak he’ll take every opportunity with Mac he can and hope—pray—for a better future.But when Sanford’s misogynistic council torment the survivors with horrifying demands and a lawless motorcycle gang threatens their fragile sanctuary, somehow Jake and Mackenzie must form new alliances and face down dangerous enemies in a struggle far worse than the outbreak.Surviving the virus was one thing, surviving humanity after is another.
Review
A deadly virus overtakes Chicago, and Mackenzie is anything but prepared for it. Thanks to her best friend's little brother, Jake, she escapes the violence, anarchy, and looting in Chicago to return to her hometown of Sanford. As closed-off and weird as Sanford was before, it's become even more so under the mayor's iron fist.
Jake has been in love with Mackenzie since he was nineteen. An apocalypse isn't the most romantic circumstance to pledge his love for her, but he'll take the opportunity that's been presented to him. Circumstances arise that will test their love. Can their love overcome the challenges, or will it crumble?
The author does leave a note in her blurb on Amazon providing a trigger warning regarding violence towards women. Unfortunately, I didn't see it and ended up getting slapped in the face with it. I need to be more aware before I start borrowing books on Kindle Unlimited.
The premise is realistic and well-articulated. It's easy to suspend disbelief whilst reading about the government's and civilians' responses to the threat. The plot has a good balance of action and narrative. The plot is paced well with only brief lulls in the narrative. The characters are unique, engaging, and realistic. I was emotionally invested in Mac and Jake's relationship, and I was hoping that their relationship would overcome any challenges that they encountered.
The romance is mature, 18+. I don't really care for mature romance and it caught me off guard because I read the prequel, The Beginning of the End, and it was a young adult romance, so I expected that the romance in the rest of the series would be young adult. It's not the author's fault that I didn't read her note, and I will be more discerning in the future.
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic books and don't mind mature romance, then I recommend this book.
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