Mel loves Sasha and dreams of a day that Sasha might reciprocate her feelings (even though she's straight) - so the fact that it's thirty degrees outside in January and hasn't rained for a year simply passes her by. Mel is just about coping with being the only 'out' lesbian in school and all the sniping that Janis and Ella aim her way, as well as her dreary Saturday job with the stupidly posh Dorian... But when domestic animals suddenly lethally turn on the human race, and Mel finds herself stuck in a mansion with Dorian and Ella, her love-life suddenly turns on its head in the most extraordinary way. Themes of first love/crush, family, friendship, sexuality and gender identity, climate change wrapped up in buckets of teenage angst and delivered in spades of crazy and unpredictable action.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, .

With Apocalypse Cow, O.R. Sorrell has created a new sub- genre, "YA End of the World Romp."
I'm here for it.
Mel is too busy being in love with her straight best friend to notice the first signs of the impending Apocalypse, but when it does hit (in the form of animals mutating into wildy creative violent monstrosities- see "pigeons shitting lava"), Mel becomes the disaster gay we all needed.
This was a bananas end of the world tale that had me cackling throughout.
If you ever read "Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging" and thought it needed more Apocalypse content, then this is the book for you.
Can't wait to see what Sorrell does next.

Thank you to netgalley and Guppy Books for the eARC. This review has been left voluntarily.

I loved it: dark humourous, thought provoking, and gripping.
I think the author is a talented writer and hope to read more as this one is excellent
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Cowpletely bonkers from the cover to the content!
Worth a warning for students about the graphic nature of some of the scenes, as from the comic cover and title they might not be expecting it.
Has shelf appeal.

Wow! A bonkersly brilliant, cow-climbing, mouse-healing kinda book filled with laughs, tension and a fab splash of romance too.

That was a bit of a confusing read. But in the end, I can say without hesitation that I had fun.

At first, it was delightfully silly. A girl so hopelessly in love with her best friend that she didn't see a frickin apocalypse coming? Yes please. A nice little romantic comedy to help my brain rest after the final exams + a bit of unsettling horrory tinges, but not too much of them. Perfect. But then a full-on proper apocalypse starts and the mood of the book changes. Now there are body parts splattered around the city, blood, gore, people are dying?? Honestly I wasn't prepared. It got a little too intense too quickly and without a warning. Low-key my fault for ignoring that the book has the word "apocalypse" in the title... But yeah I think it's the publisher's fault too, because the description doesn't mention in the slightest that the book will go in such direction. Was it obvious? For me surely not, when the synopsis only mentioned main character's love life.

So, overall, quite confusing. At the same time gory and light-hearted. But once I learned that this is what I should expect from this book, it was enjoyable. Decently written and paced. The plot might not be the most well thought out of all time, there are some plot holes, but this book doesn't even try to be serious, so it's easy to just shrug it off.

I wasn't fan of the romance though. It was very predictable right from the start and based on a trope that I don't particuraly enjoy. But it didn't stop me from enjoying the book as a whole.

It got me out of the biggest reading slump I've had in a few years. The ending suggest that there might a second volume coming and I'm invested in the story enough the read it when it comes out.

Never has a Zombie Apocalypse, or the prospect, even sounded more like the best time ever! A fabulous read.

I think I would have really enjoyed this book as a teen (or in the 2012 era). I thought it was great fun and an easy read but it didn't quite feel like the future and I thought climate change would play a more pivotal role in the plot.

Overall, Apocalypse Cow was an entertaining read that touched on important issues. The humor in the book kept me engaged, but I wished for more depth in the character development and a balance between the jokes and the serious themes. Despite this, the book had the potential to be something really special and I enjoyed the unique take on a dystopian world.

This was a really funny apocalypse story with likeable characters that I cared about. I enjoyed the writing style and this book had me laughing out loud in lots of places. Loved all the descriptions of the mutant animals.
Only criticism was the sex content. Could have done without it so it could reach a larger audience. I know my 11 year old would love it but some themes are a bit old for her.

Apocalypse Cow: a book that’s genuinely funny, moving, original and exciting all at once.

As you might be able to tell from its title, O. R. Sorrel’s work of genius doesn’t take itself too seriously. It reads like satire in some cases, intense drama and survival story in others. Each page, however, is a masterpiece!

I love complimenting books, particularly raving about the ones I’ve enjoyed, and I can’t wait to start on this one. All the characters are excellent; even Dorian—who at first strikes the reader as an insufferable, insipid rich boy—develops brilliantly and proves what a valuable asset he is to the story and the audience’s enjoyment. Our protagonist (though I can’t quite remember her name) is funny, likeable and strong—albeit a hopelessly lovesick lesbian teenager (I mean, who wasn’t?)— and I adored seeing her relationships with other characters grow, and, in some cases, change completely. Her best friend Nev served as potentially my favourite non-binary character in fiction ever, as well as served to be comic relief, sometimes the only intelligent person on the page, and exactly the person you want by your side in the apocalypse. Other characters like Sally and Ella were brilliant in their own ways too!

Not all of the unforgettable characters were human, though. The mutant animals, such as seagulls, badgers, ducks and foxes were all completely unique and brilliantly menacing, even if the less intimidating mice and rabbits were much more up my street.

This book would have been a brilliant companion for me when I was a teen struggling with my sexuality, because it showcases LGBTQ issues in such a refreshing, honest and funny way; the story is queer, as are several characters, and it’s as simple as that. The story isn’t dictated by coming-out scenes and hate crimes (even when such things happen) , it just so happens to be queer, and I loved that about it. If this makes sense, I’d have felt comfortable recommending this novel to my painfully straight friends, even at the time they avoided my media because it was—in their words—”too gay”.

With that last thing in mind, though, in my head, this is a book for the queer girlies to enjoy first and foremost!

I absolutely LOVED this book! It somehow manages to be an apocalyptic, dystopian, coming of age comedy, with characters you genuinely cheer on all the way. I particularly enjoyed how it feels very "real" and accurate to teenagers' thoughts and experiences, whilst also being absolutely bonkers (and brutal!) when it comes to the apocalyptic parts.
I will definitely be recommending this to a lot of my students, and to anyone else who will listen!

It started off slowly- a bit too much relationship angst. Once it got going though, it was much more fun.

Animals have turned deadly and are killing humans in lots of unusual and brutal ways. Mel has ended up stuck with the two worst possible people- her exBFF (turned bully) and the spoilt rich kid. Trapped in a mansion with some brief forays into the now deadly outside they start to learn some surprising things about each other.

The animals and their inventive changes were a bit of a highlight, it was tongue in cheek but with a thread of relationships running through. I was a bit annoyed at the end though- our main character having just discovered something and deciding to act upon it, a curveball was thrown in that stopped it, the end. That seemed unnecessary, why even bother.?

An lgbtq+ apocalypse romp, what's not to like? The book is funny, enjoyable and easy to read. Some scenes maybe a little graphic however I feel that's to be expected from a book of this nature!

Apocalypse Cow is completely bonkers, in a good way. Despite wincing at the graphic nature of some moments (I'm a wimp) I loved it.

This book has to be the weirdest funniest book I have ever read in the best way.

Apocalypse Cow is based in 2031 when unexpectedly for lesbian Mel, friends Sasha and Nev the Apocalyse occurs. Mel however wasn't expecting to spend weeks hanging out with her least favourite people bully Ella and posh boy Dorian. Add in some talking crows, people eating pigs, flesh eating badgers and an assortment of other strange animals not forgetting the glow in dark healing mice you have the a great story of friendship, love, perseverance with plenty of humour.

The book is written with young adults in mind but if your looking to read an end of the world book so unique this has to be for you.

With the ending left on a kinda cliff hanger I really hope the author has another one planned as I will be first in line to read it.

A LGBTQ+ love story set during an apocalypse. Diverse set of characters, fast moving plot and the apocalypse itself was just the right level of ridiculous and inventive. Themes were more older teen than I'd expected, some parts of the plot moved too fast to allow you to really care for characters and the ending felt rushed but I will try this author again

Got out of my reading slump with this fun, queer little YA apocalypse story! Not at all my usual vibe but a really fun read.

A great selection of really fun, well fleshed out characters and such a delightful concept… for an apocalypse. I did have Something Bad from Wicked in my head for 90% of the time but I’m truly not complaining about that.

Would LOVE to be able to read Nigel’s whole book and find out exactly what each animal can do.

The ending did make me bolt upright so if we’re open to interpretation, I’m going to choose to believe that all is well. If this is leaving us open for a sequel… I’m surprisingly not mad about it.

Utterly unexpected YA comedy horror with lots of gore, snogging and killer mutant wildlife- loved every lurid moment of it! Strong LGBTQA+ rep and heartily sex-positive. Not for younger readers or the squeamish but gruesome fun for everyone else.

A funny apocalypse story? Yes, they really do exist! Mel's observations and phrases are hilarious and the way she deals with things is fantastic.

It's a really inventive apocalypse, not one I've seen anywhere before, and I was glued to the book as I read. I never guessed what was going to happen and it all seemed to unfold really naturally! You should be aware that there is some violence, mostly played for comedy, and that Mel does suffer some depression afterwards.

The ending seems to indicate that there'll be at least one more book in the series, and I can't wait. This is my new favourite series.

Oh to be fierce, feisty, and sixteen again! Life might not be easy, but having enough energy and commitment to try and make the most of it or perhaps even do the right thing.

I loved all the absurdities (plenty of petrol, not enough cars) and eyballs rolling in Apocalypse Cow. And appreciated the characters surprising me with their depth, not being the one-dimensional they seemed in the first place.

Hopefully, this book is the first in a series as I can easily imagine more adventures along the way :)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.