This was a very unnecessary sequel, in my opinion. The first book was SO good and I loved it, and as much as I love the world and the characters, a sequel wasn’t needed in any way shape or form.

However, I did still really enjoy it! It was sweet and funny and dramatic, and I did love getting to see these characters again. I was of course rooting so hard for Andrew and Jamie throughout, even if they were annoying me at times because like? You’ve been through all of that together in the previous book and now you’re struggling to communicate with each other?

There’s a lot of new characters introduced, and I liked getting to see new dynamics within this story. A lot also happens very quickly in this book - in the first quarter there’s some big dramatic scenes and I loved that we’re thrown right into the action. This book definitely had a sadder, darker feel to it than the first book, which was very interesting and a really good choice.

I also think there’s absolutely room for a third book, a kind of spin-off, based on the epilogue - and I would read it! I do love these characters so much, and I think this is a really good post-apocalyptic world.

I adored All That's Left In The World and keep a copy in stock at all times, so when I saw this I applied for an ARC immediately. The Only Light Left Burning was absolutely as good as ATLITW and i therefore had to give it five stars.

I put off reading this, because the first book was so good, and I was worried this wouldn't live up to my expectations. And the sequel curse strikes me again because I spent most of this book feeling depressed, frustrated and bored. It felt like the author wanted to create more conflict, and having Jamie and Andrew fight for the majority of the book just annoyed me.

There wasn't really much happening in this book. While it introduced new characters from the community they found themselves in that I did like, by the end many had died, or left. I felt Cora took a background role for most of this story, and there was too much focus on the aftermath of what happened at Fort Caroline.

A lot of this story is walking around, finding new people, ascertaining if they're good or not, and then walking some more. There's just so much walking. If this felt more character driven I might have been fine with this, but I felt we got little more than surface level for every character, even including Andrew and Jamie. The ending was worth the slog, but I'm disappointed.

Another fantastic book by Erik, the sequel to All That's Left In The World. I loved this book just as much as the first. Once again, Jamie and Andrew must fight to survive in the post apocalypse world that was ravaged by the superflu. They find other settlements and people that they make their found family. I'm glad it ended the way it did, but I wasn't expecting Howard to return. I'm glad that Jamie and Andrew found their way back to each other after so much heartache in this book.

This book is hands down one of my favourite reads of 2024 so far.
I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with Jamison and Andrew in this long-awaited sequel. Their continuing adventures were as thrilling as l'd hoped.
However, the unexpected star of the story was the adorable 'Kid' Albie and his charming blue hippo, Bobo.
Every time Albie appeared, he melted my heart and brought a smile to my face. I would love to see a whole book dedicated to Albie and Bobo.
This book retains the comforting familiarity of the first while introducing thrilling new adventures and plot twists. I loved every single chapter. It's a solid 5-star read for me, with an extra star for Bobo!

A fantastic follow up to one of my all time favourite books. This story is much more about found family and less high stakes than the first book. It doesn’t take away from the beautiful story this book tells and introduces some great now characters into the mix.

All That's Left in the World is one of my favourite YA books, so naturally I couldn't wait to read the sequel!

It wasn't what I was expecting: in All That's Left in the World, Andrew and Jamie find each other while trying to survive, and in a world where it's every man for himself, they let each other in

In The Only Light Left Burning, we see how two people who still obviously love each other can have very different perspectives about what being there for each other means. Andrew wants peace, a sense of community, to stay away from the madness, to hide from the monster rather than become the monster by punching back. Jamie doesn't trust new acquaintances, because he's so afraid they re going to turn against them, and when he's right, he believes that fighting back is the only way to protect Andrew (and the other people he ends up letting in).

This brings them in a constant state of conflict, without a clear right or wrong view (Erik J. Brown picks a side but I disagree here, I think it's more of a "both sides are right" situation), which frankly frustrated me a bit, because the boys' chemistry is amazing and we didn't get to see much of it.

The new characters give a more "found family" flavour to the story, there are scenes that remind us in a brutal way that a post-apocalyptic world isn't a fun adventure, and of course it's still Andrew and Jamie, even when they don't communicate as well.

The Only Light Left Burning has a different feel than its bestseller predecessor: more adult, more conflict, darker and sadder. It doesn't manage to reach the same level of "all-time favourite" for me, but it is still a great book!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the ARC.

Returning to the world of a book you adored always gives me mixed feelings. On the one hand, I'm excited to be reunited with characters I know and love, in a world I'm familiar with and enjoyed. On the other, I'm worried - will I enjoy it as much as the first instalment? Will I be happy with the path the author chooses to take the characters down? Will my heart be ripped out and stomped all over?

The Only Light Left Burning picks up not long after we left Andrew and Jamie in the Keys. They've settled into their roles in the community; however they have conflicted feelings about staying in Florida, putting a strain on their relationship. Due to circumstances out of their control, they end up back on the road again with their lives, and relationship, at risk.

Being back in Andrew and Jamie's world is a delight...I mean I wouldn't actually like to be in a dystopian world, obviously, but I suppose if I had friends like them and the crew they travel with, it wouldn't be so bad...especially if Erik J. Brown was authoring my life! Brown paints such a vivid picture of their world and the cast of new characters were introduced to are just lovely. Each one of them is so distinct and fully formed; I became quickly attached to all of them and had my fingers constantly crossed that they would all be ok.

It's difficult to review TOLLB without leaning into spoiler territory. What I will say is that Erik J. Brown has, once again, written a wonderful queer story to be enjoyed by both young and hold. He managed to shock me with a particular set piece earlier in the story (which is no mean feat), as well as make me shed several tears and also kick my feet in glee like a teenager. If you haven't read All That's Left in the World, do yourself a favour and immerse yourself in this fantastic novel and its sequel. And then read the rest of Erik J. Browns books because they're just fab!

The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown is an exhilarating sequel that takes the beloved post-apocalyptic queer YA adventure romance, All That's Left in the World, to new heights. From the moment I picked up this book, I was on the edge of my seat, feeling the stress and anxiety of Andrew and Jamie's journey as if I were right there with them. The wild, jaw-dropping twists and turns kept me hooked, and I couldn't put it down until I reached the beautiful, satisfying ending.

After their long and treacherous journey south, Andrew and Jamie believe they've found safety in the Florida Keys' Islamorada colony. However, safety doesn't necessarily mean happily ever after. Andrew settles into their new community, finding a sense of home and family among the other survivors. On the other hand, Jamie's anxiety prevents him from fully embracing this new life, and he remains determined to return north to fulfill a promise to their friend Henri—to bring her to the colony and reunite her with her daughter. Their differing desires and the arrival of a hurricane, coupled with a shocking betrayal, force them to leave the colony and confront their tensions head-on while facing old enemies.

The character development in this book is astounding. Andrew and Jamie show incredible growth, shaped by their experiences in this harsh world. Their relationship faces the ultimate test, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. The new characters introduced are fully fleshed out, adding depth to the story and making their fates impactful, whether for better or worse. No one is truly safe in this narrative, which only heightened my emotional investment in the story.

The ending was nothing short of beautiful and well-deserved. It closed Andrew and Jamie's story in a satisfying way, leaving no plot points open from the previous book. While we might not have more Andrew and Jamie stories, I wouldn't mind revisiting this world to explore new tales. Erik J. Brown has crafted a world and characters that linger long after the last page is turned, making The Only Light Left Burning a must-read for fans of the series.

This was a great follow up to one of my favourite recent YA novels, 'All that's left in the world'. Following on from where we left our main characters we see their relationship develop as they navigate life in a post apocalyptic world. Dealing with trials and tribulations, this could be a bleak story but Erik J Brown manages to find the hope in their story while sensitively handling big topics such as death, morality and community. a very enjoyable and ultimately heartwarming read.
thanks to Hachette Children's Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this fantastic book in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured this book! This book was fast-paced and kept you on your toes! It broke me and put me back together several times!

Andrew and Jamie both had some funny and heartwarming moments but I also loved how their trauma from the last book was addressed and how it changed them. Their struggle to figure out who they are in this world and whether or not they are growing into the right people is realistic and intriguing. I also enjoy how simple teenage issues( First times, relationships, etc) are handled in the book.

I loved their ending. They deserve to live in peace. This is one of my favorite reads of 2024!

I loved the first book in this series and was thrilled to hear about the sequel. While the ending of All That’s Left in the World was satisfying there was a sense of Andrew and Jamie being left in a tentative and precarious position with a lot of scope to continue their story.

Book two picks up almost exactly where the first finished, with a slight gap of a few weeks. Andrew and Jamie are still in living in Islamorada and the journey to collect Henri has not yet occurred. Despite the strength of their feelings for each other, their relationship is strained by their different ideas about how best to build a safe and fulfilling future together – Andrew wants to stay put with the community he has found in Florida, but Jamie worries about their past catching up with them and thinks they’d be safer moving on.

Through Andrew and Jamie’s ensuing struggles to be together and survive, Brown explores big questions of ethics, morality, safety, community, revenge, freedom, and how to find joy and hope amongst enormous loss. Their story encourages readers to consider who circumstances might force us to become and how we might find our way back to who we are at the core of our being.

This was a well-executed and compelling sequel which did justice to the profundity of the first book and the characters we loved so much from the first, while also introducing us to some incredible new personalities. My only complaint was that I wished there was one more chapter. The ending felt so hard won that I was disappointed we didn’t get to sit in peace and connection for a moment longer.

In the author’s note in All That’s Left in the World, Brown writes that he was tired of not seeing queer representation in postapocalyptic stories. His books are part of an ever-increasing canon in which we can see our community’s capacity to not just survive, but to thrive represented across a multitude of genres (including the dystopian). I look forward to seeing what story he decides to tell next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for granting my wish for this ARC!

I very much enjoyed All that's Left in the World a couple of years ago, but I'm one of those odd people who love this kind of post-apocalyptic read. However, so many other people enjoyed it as well that Erik was basically forced into a sequel he hadn't planned to write. I think a lot of people are glad he was, as this sequel is amazing. When we left our boys, they'd found safety in a settlement in the Florida Keys, but the threat of Fort Caroline was still looming and the boys weren't sure what the future would hold. I can't possibly list all the things it held just in this book, which covers a few months, but: ride-or-die friendships; betrayals; alligators; Pokemon stuffies; the Mexican Hat song; and so much more...

The boys and their friends go through a lot in this book, swinging through a lot of emotions and problems, and I felt like shouting at them now and then. No spoilers so I won't tell you how it ends up, but it did feel pretty true to life. They are still only seventeen, after all, not an age known for being emotionally clever!

Erik seems pretty clear that he won't be coming back to this series, but hopefully he will continue to write. And maybe we'll get lucky and Netflix will pick this up as a series! Last of Us is doing so well, and this one doesn't even have mushroom people to animate...

Sequel review so some spoilers likely for book 1, but not this one

Jamie and Andrew survived so much in All That is Left in the World, and at the start of this book they have settled (somewhat) in a new community and are starting to put some roots down. However when a natural disaster hits and some old enemies are threatening to make a reappearance, Jamie and Andrew start to reconsider their life in the cabin where they met. Although, it might not be possible for just the two of them to make a break for it anymore....

Another tale of a treacherous journey, with moments to make you laugh and also cry for sure.

Loved spending more time with the boys, and the Wayward bunch they become along the way

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette/Hodder for the early review copy of this book, however all opinions my own

You'll definitely love this one if you loved the first, or even just dystopian stories in general. Out 28 May so you've time to catch up and pre-order, if you havent already

I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book before the date of publication in exchange for an honest review.

What I have found the most captivating in the first book was the way Jamie and Andrew's relationship was written. Perfectly balanced slowburn from strangers who are not sure whether they can trust each other to lovers. So you can imagine how uneasy I have felt when in the beginning of the second book it seemed like some of the spark that they had - has died. These two must work hard, sometimes together - and sometimes invidually, to find each other again.

One issue that I have had with the previous book was the worldbuilding. It is, after all, set in a post-apocalyptic world, which honestly I could not feel while I was reading both the first and the second book. We know that there had been a flu, and the majority of the population died as a result, but what happens next? Is the flu just gone? Are people no longer getting infected? In the acknowledgements, the author stated that due to the pandemic he had no intention to revisit Jamie and Andrew's world ever again, but did so due to the support of the fans, however, I feel like this did have an impact on the way the world was written. I want to know more about this setting! Is there even the slightest possibility that the world can go back to some sort of normalcy, since all the settlements seem to be struggling?

One thing that I have to applaud Erik for (aside from creating the masterpiece that was the first book) is his ability to create incredibly likeable characters. Some of my favourites introduced in this book were Niki, Daphne and Ramiro.

Overall, it was a fine read. If you were a fan of the first book, you should definitely check it out. I did except a little more, since All That's Left in the World has been my favourite book I had read last year, but I am still satisfied with how it turned out. 3.5⭐

I vividly remember reading All That’s Left in The World by the lovely Erik J Brown during the pandemic and it gave me such enjoyment and comfort; it helped lighten dull times. I have recommended it to everyone I know. So I have clearly been desperate for the sequel which was somehow just as beautiful, poignant and joyful as the first. I will miss these two darling boys but jeez… they deserve a break from their trauma. YA at its best and can’t wait to see what Erik does next. Perfection.

Firstly a huge thanks to NetGalley, Erik J Brown and Hachette Kids for allowing me to read “The only light left burning” early!!

All that’s left in the world is in my top 10 reads of the year so being able to read the sequel early means everything!

Jamison and Andrew will forever mean a lot to me as a queer person it’s great to have representation!

The only light left burning made me feel every sort of emotion I could ever possibly feel. I cried my eyes out both from sadness and happiness!
The found family in this book was amazingly writing and my favourite part of the book! All of the new characters added especially “kid” and “Taylor” had a huge impact on the story and really and truly pulled it all together!

Being reunited with old characters both good and bad also really made the story feel like a full 360!

I will be thinking about this book for the foreseeable future!