Ever since the movie Twister I have been in love with all things natural disaster so I knew I had to check out The Edge of Life. I am to say that it did not disappoint. It had just the right amount of romance, wild things happening on earth, and of course there were some people who went off the rails after the asteroid hit.

Kat and Ryan both know a guy who discovered the asteroid, and ended up being brought together awkwardly (he was trying to help both Kat and Ryan work through their stuff) and despite not knowing each other they heed his warning and head to a not well known compound in South Dakota that Ryan inherited from his doomsday grandfather.

I enjoyed that they started out as acquaintances and had to get to know each other very quickly as once news of the asteroid hit mainstream media people unexpectedly lost their minds. Everything Ryan and Kat went through to get out of Seattle and on the road felt very real.

Once on the road they meet a variety of people, some good, some not so good. There were quite a few tense moments near the end of the book. The Edge of Life is marketed as a romance so no worries on them making it, but it was a nail biting experience as you read about some of the horrors they had to escape.

Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book! Truly so good - loved Kat and Ryan’s character development, loved their journey through the apocalypse! The Slains brothers will be giving me nightmares, but that was such a great element to the storyline. Definitely recommend and will be checking out more books from this author!

I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

This was so so good! I thought it was going to be a fluffy read, but it was so much more than that. I loved seeing the characters friendship, and then romance, grow. Definitely a surprise hit for me!

Love and survival during an apocalypse...surprisingly wholesome!! This was such an easy, cutesy read which I completely ate up in one sitting.

A fun and interesting read. Diverse characters with very different backgrounds set at an interesting time.

Kat and Ryan's journey was a gripping tale of love and survival amid fantastic action.

Thank you to Black Rose Writing and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Sadly I wasn't a big fan of this book. I sadly didn't feel connected to the characters or the storyline. Sorry.

I absolutely loved the They Both Die at the End; the tears, the relationship, the growth, then more tears.

I had trouble getting into this one. I didn't really feel the relationship connection. I wanted to care... but it was hard to understand them. And the action seemed to take away from the relationships. Was I just expecting too much?

I kind of got a bit of a Fallout vibe, especially toward the end. And I started doubting the reliability of the narrators. (Which made the book better, in my opinion.)

Maybe if there's a book 2, I would be able to get into the world-building more.

I love a post apoc story. It's always interesting to see how things go and how people cope. My rating of this story varies a little depending on whether it's a single story or the first of a series; I can't find anything that says either way.

As the first in a series, this is great, introducing us to two great characters and getting things established and settled in a base, giving us a villian who can recur and cause more problems. As a single story, the characters are still great - although more on Kat in a moment - but the ending is very frustrating.

The blurb says that Kat is neurodivergent, and she claims it herself at the end, but I didn't get any sense of that during the read; her narration is as easy as Ryan's and she doesn't seem to have trouble with anything. She nearly has a panic attack at one point, but I'd have been curled into a ball long before that, so it didn't strike me as odd.

I enjoyed this read, it was fun and exciting (I skimmed some of the sexy bits, but that's just me) and if this is a series, I look forward to reading more of it.

Author: Lena Gibson
Genre: Romance/Post-Apocalyptic
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I am normally not a huge fan of romance novels, but I really enjoyed this story. The romance set within the story of the start of the apocalypse created a sense of urgency and really strengthened the intrigue of the plot. This story was well-written and the suspense of the setting kept me wanting to read more.

Read if you like:
☄️Don't Look Up
🛌Forced Proximity
❤️Love Against All Odds

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review. This book was just published on April 6th, 2023, and is now available!

Imagine two people getting stuck together and having to survive the end of the world. As they frantically make their way towards a haven, they also become a refuge for one another. It makes for a beautiful story.

I LOVED how the apocalypse unraveled: the warning signs, the growing uncertainties, and the actual disaster happening so abruptly and brutally. Seeing the quick demise of society was jarring, and it was 100% believable, knowing how people react to most crises.

Despite their likable personalities, the two protagonists, Kat and Ryan, were difficult to connect with. I struggled to enjoy their immediate attraction and how they quickly overcame their initial character flaws. The dialogue and some descriptions of their actions also felt stiff and unrealistic, which took me out of the book.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My sincere thanks to Black Rose Writing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.

The Edge of Life is the story of Ryan and Kat, two not quite friends that are thrown together when they decide to combine forces in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. I was drawn to this book after reading that the two main characters were going to be headed to a South Dakota bunker after an asteroid collides with earth. This interested me because there ARE actually bunkers left over from the Cold War era that do exist in SD. I was interested in how the author would describe the this as well as how she would deal with the catastrophic event. Overall, I really liked the book, but I would have liked a little more about the actual community once they finally make it there because that was what I was most interested in ahead of time. I thought things were going too easily for the characters at first, but when Ryan and Kat started to really face difficulty, I was really into it and couldn't put the book down. 4 Stars

The Edge of Life is Lena Gibson's debut novel. WHAT?
If I have to keep this simple, this book is refreshing and a delight! I have never encountered romance entwined with an apocalyptic theme (yes, I have been under a rock when it comes to romance, don't judge me!). The pacing was well executed, and Ryan and Kat are off to a tense start. Through their immeasurably built walls due to family dynamics and relationships, they open the windows to romance, letting in intense passion, revelling in banter and compatibility and working together, navigating challenges that are out of their control. The stakes were well-built throughout the book, and I was rooting for them. The balance between character development and an intense, uphill plot was well executed. The ending was well deserved. I will be keeping my tbr telescope close for Lena's future books.

Thank you, Netgalley & Black Rose Writing, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

The Edge of Life by Lena Gibson was much more thrilling than I expected beforehand. The tension and action start early in the story when Ryan and Kat have to cross America to flee the effects of meteorite impacts and have a chance to survive. I really enjoyed the story and the realism really scared me at times. Sometimes it felt like reading a cute romance story only to be suddenly catapulted into a thrilling post apocalyptic world where the main characters have to overcome a thousand obstacles to survive. I had so many emotions! The combination of romance and apocalyptic world worked really well for me. Definitely recommended to people who also love this kind of story.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with a free advanced reader copy of this book. This did nog affect my review in any way.

This was a delightful read! Plain and simple. The pacing was perfect, the characters were likable even with their semi-addictions (more about that later), and there was suspense and romance. A fun read.

Our characters are broken from the wrenches life has thrown at them, leaving them bruised and burying their hurt in their chosen numbing solution. For Kat, whose husband unexpectedly died, that is alcohol. Ryan works to disappear into work and helps him forget how his girlfriend's betrayal left his apartment and his heart emotionally stripped. A mutual friend brings them together for hikes to break them both from their isolating habits.

Just as they seem to be making some headway, it's discovered a major asteroid is about to crash into their area, so they plan to head to Ryan's grandfather's bunker in South Dakota. There their adventure begins in discovering each other and what each is made of deep down. The story is fun at times, harrowing at times, but entertaining all the way. Definitely not your typical romance---I struggled a bit with whether it was just a contemporary romance or more dystopian---nevertheless a great read, and I hope this author writes more!

Well, considering the world was literally crashing down around them, that was fun! 😂

The Edge of Life by Lena Gibson is an end of the world romcom/dystopian nightmare (quite the combo!) about an unlikely couple who join together to try to survive a series of natural disasters. Kat and Ryan are both going through rough patches and have become closed off after suffering personal loses in their lives. To numb their pain, Kat has turned to binge drinking and Ryan has become a workaholic. Bonded together by a mutual friend, Nick, they start taking weekend hikes as a group. Slowly the two begin to consider each other friends and thank goodness, because the world's about to collapse around them. Nick, a scientist, has discovered that an asteroid, the same size as the one that eliminated the dinosaurs, is headed straight towards Earth. Unable to speak directly about it he manages to convey to his friends that they need to get away from the west coast immediately. Thankfully Ryan has inherited a bunker in South Dakota from his grandfather and he offers for Kat to take the journey to safety with him. Thus begins a truly wild, sometimes harrowing and sometimes delightful, journey across Northern United States. The two will face earthquakes, food shortages, party towns, mobs, gorgeous campsites, injuries, volcanos, national parks, self reflections and growth, truly dangerous people and truly amazing people. As they travel, each has to trust their own instincts and rely on the other, forcing them to break down the emotional walls they've built. This book has some very stressful, high anxiety, downright triggering moments so be prepared for anything you imagine being a threat in a post-apocalyptic book. It also has some really lovely moments showing the bright side of humanity and the beauty of new love.

Likes -
*Exciting plot. I really wasn't ever bored and always wanted to see what happened next
*Neurodivergent character who wasn't a complete sterotype. Kat is established as a neurodivegent character but is treated with care and isn't made into a caricature. I really appreciated that.
*Romance - The volanoes aren't the only thing erupting, wink wink.

Dislikes -
*The writing is not the best. There were some parts where I rolled my eyes, things felt too on the nose or overly explained. I thought Lena Gibson knew her characters really well and gave them individual voices but she could benefit from a little more showing and less telling.
*The very end of the book. I didn't like how it ended due to one choice the author makes, though it didn't mar my experience overall.

Happy reading!

I am the BIGGEST nerd for world ending disaster ANYTHING. When I read the description of this book I knew that I HAD TO HAVE IT. I don't know what it is, but movies, books, TV shows... anything that describes itself as a disaster type of entertainment... I am jumping on that boat.

This story follows two Characters, Ryan and Kat. Two acquaintances who have the same best friend Matt. Kat's husband died and since then she has been on a sort of spiral during her alone time. Ryan's long term girlfriend cheated on him so he buried himself in his work. In the beginning of the story, Matt talks his friends into hiking on Sunday's as a group to try to help get them out of their reclusive states and back to living life. Suddenly after a literal giant discovery, Matt gets pulled away for work and must miss out on the excursions.

The rest... well, I will let you find out yourself as I am not the one who spoils all the fun!

I read this book everywhere and tried as hard as I could to not stop reading it. I loved the flow of the book, it did not seem rushed nor did it seem to drag. There were times when my heart would be pounding out of my chest as if I were going through what the characters were. Everything that happens on the path from start to finish feels very real and I could see each event taking place happening in real life if something like this were to ever happen in our life time.

I would like to thank Netgalley for sending me an ARC for this book.

The Edge of Life is a sometimes sweet, sometimes tense post-apocalyptic love story, about two people finding each other just as the world as they know it is ending. I generally avoid romance novels, but saw some glowing reviews from friends and do like PA fiction, especially when it’s realistic rather than about zombies, so was keen to see how the mash up worked. This has two delightful lead characters and enough suspense to keep me happy.

Kat is a lonely elementary school teacher who has been drowning her feelings in alcohol for two years since her husband died. When her best friend, astroscientist Nick introduces her to his other friend Ryan, a workoholic lawyer, he just intends to get them all out for some exercise. Then Nick sends a veiled message that they should leave Seattle, as a massive asteroid is about to hit Earth, so they embark on a perilous road trip to reach their only chance at survival - Ryan’s survivalist grandfather’s bunker in North Dakota.

This was a very readable - and scarily believable - first novel, that certainly had me wondering what I would do in their situation. There are a lot of familiar PA elements - from the rapid onset of hedonism and anarchy, the rise of thuggery, threats of rape, and the perpetual problem of finding enough to eat. At first I thought they seemed to have it all work out too easily, but this doesn’t last, and it does get quite dark.

The best part of this are Ryan and Kat: she is neurodivergent, but not portrayed as “lovably quirky” like characters with autism have been in a lot of recent fiction, she’s brave and resourceful, but just has problems with some people. The author bio at the end explains: “As an adult newly recognized with autism, she often creates characters that reflect her experience.” Ryan is appealingly serious and moral, but steps up when the need arises. I liked the love story, but could’ve done without the love scenes which were quite graphic and unnecessary.

It’s not clear whether this is the start of a series - quite a few threads and characters’ fates were left hanging which is fine if there’s more to come, but if not I’m disappointed by the (extremely cheesy) ending, so I’m rounding down from 4.5.
Thanks to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Edge of Life is published on April 6th.

Kat, a young widowed teacher, is slipping into alcoholism with weekend binge drinking when an astronomer friend encourages her to get back into hiking with him and another friend, Ryan, whose girlfriend destroyed his hopes of marriage. But before much hiking can occur, the three learn that a large asteroid is likely to hit the planet. World governments keep the worst news under wraps as in hopes that targeted nuclear attacks will fragment the asteroid sufficiently to prevent enormous losses, but Kat and Ryan are encouraged to get out of Seattle in a hurry and head for a survivalist bunker Ryan has inherited from his grandfather. The novel follows them as they struggle to reach the bunker in an increasingly chaotic and dangerous world.

While initially I was not that drawn in, once Kat and Ryan hit the road, the novel held my attention well, especially as I happened to be reading it in the Seattle airport and could easily imagine the nearby volcanoes erupting. The novel gives a gripping sense of what could happen as a result of major asteroid strikes, both to the earth and in terms of human reactions. Readers who enjoy fictional but believable doomsday scenarios will not want to miss this novel.