I was hooked on this book from the moment I saw the title! As a book girlie at heart, the idea of hunkering down in “The Last Bookstore on Earth” sings to my soul!
This book was fast paced and amazing fun, I read it almost in one sitting and I will not hesitate to recommend it to patrons looking for LGBTQIA+ stories in different genres.
Liz & Maeve may be a romance of forced proximity but the cosy vibes of this book make it the perfect Queer dystopian for younger secondary school readers!

The premise of this book is an interesting one - who knew the setting for a tentative YA sapphic romance would be a crumbling bookstore that survived an acid rain storm? This is a fun dystopian read but I would have loved to know more about the bookstore and Maeve's journey to Liz!

This was such a fun read. I have to admit, with the real apocalypse seeming more and more imminent, I’ve been enjoying post apocalyptic books less and less, but this one was different. The humour and tone of it, right from the start was great to just relax into.

There was no mention of autism in the book or the synopsis, but Liz felt very autistic to me. Whether she was or not, I felt very seen by this book. She is definitely autistic in my heart. What is mentioned is that she likes girls and that also was really nice representation to see. The romance was cute and I really liked both Liz and Maeve.

Honestly, this was just a really good read. The world felt a little too real, but not in a bad way, the characters felt authentic and the humour was just perfect. I was absorbed from page 1.

Looking forward to more from this author!

The end of the world happened and Liz tries to make the best out of what little is left in the world by hiding away in a bookshop and still providing books to a random assortment of customers. Then Maeve shows up and brings chaos into Liz's life in both good and bad ways.

I really felt like this book gave me an insight into how teenagers must feel right now. With their lives paused because of the lockdowns and their future being so uncertain because of the catastrophic destructions we keep raining on on our planet. It was heart wrenching to read the parts where Liz just talks about craving the banalities and insecurities of normal life. Craving it so badly that she created this pocket of normality for herself in a bookshop she loves so dearly. She was also such a relatable character. I think YA can often be extremely enjoyable and the characters can be fun to follow, but rarely they remind me so much of my younger self and make me appreciate the person I've grown into. This one certainly managed that.

I will admit certain choices in the ending didn't land for me but I enjoyed the whole story so much that it was easy to ignore those small hiccups. I would also love to explore the larger world of this story because this version of the end of the world seems extremely horrifying.

This short YA dystopia is a superb novel and one that I'll think about for a long time. Set in a close future USA in the aftermath of a toxic acid storm which claimed the lives of her family, Liz has taken to living in the bookstore where she worked before the storm. Haunted by memories, she lives alone and few pass by the shop, until Maeve breaks in one night and life changes for Liz.

This is a pacey story of survival and love in unlikely circumstances, where destruction and loss give way to a fight for what means the most. Liz's backstory is told through her memories, a nostalgic look at teen life and it's troubles, and the coming to terms of her actions past and present.

With a bookstore setting, LGBT+ characters and a superb narrative, this is a wonderful story and will appeal to fans of Patrick Ness and Erik J. Brown.

This was a sweet and easy-to-read end of the world story, which whilst not being particularly heavy on darker or elaborate plot elements, still had much to offer. It is just worth noting that the plot isn't the central, dominant driving force as typically found in this sort of book, otherwise you might be in for a surprise. The setting was an obvious hit for bibliophiles and had such heart and prominence that it became a character of its own (and a great one at that.) The characters were certainly a relatable bunch, although I will admit occasionally forgetting some of the side characters in between their rare appearances. Overall, I thought from prose to momentum to world-building that Braun-Arnold did a terrific job for a debut book (and I am definitely going to keep an eye out for future publications!)

3.5
Fair warning this book had more body gore/injury details than I was expecting made me feel nauseous at times
#ad I received this book as an ARC but the opinions are my own
While I enjoyed this book overall, the tone and story felt like the younger side of ya. This isn’t a major criticism of the author but it did read like a young persons debut novel, at times sentences felt crammed full of character descriptions while not totally necessary for that scene. Especially when the characters design had already been established. I also assumed a lot of the injuries were more severe than they turned out to be because characters fully recovered from them. Spoilers but at one point liz’s fingers described as hanging on, how did she recover in the epilogue? This could’ve been a moment about her living with her new disability etc but it just made the character seem like an inconvenience because of said disability. I expected the book to gut punch me with sadness and honestly I was more surprised when the characters made it out alive.

This was a cute and short intimate read which explored survival, forgiveness, and love in a post-apocalyptic setting. It's sapphic focus was also a refreshing take as a lot of these type of books recently have a lot of mlm focus - they both die at the end and all that's left in the world.

The idea of spending all your time and the rest of your days in a bookshop doesn't sound too bad, in my opinion.

Thank you so much for the early access!

The Last Bookstore on Earth follows teenage Liz, who has made herself the bookseller of the apocalypse. Her formulaic life is turned upside down when Maeve tries to rob her shop for supplies. Romance ensues.

I enjoyed the concept of this book. These two different approaches of dealing with the end of the world and with the loss that comes with that. I especially liked the type of apocalyptic disaster occurred in the story and the addition of Liz recording people’s stories. The discussion on the pressures of the future and then the sudden removal of that pressure was interesting and really fit this type of story.

However I really struggled with Liz as a character. She was naive to the point of irritation and at one point early on, based on the vague memory of a biology lesson, she out of nowhere shoved her hand into a generator and destroyed it down to bone and tissue. It just felt like it came out of nowhere as a way to push the relationship forward but in reality was a dumb thing to do. A couple chapters later they then go out hunting for supplies when the night before, Maeve had cauterised Liz’ wounds and I just couldn’t wrap my head around the ridiculousness of these events.

I’m sad because this book had a lot of potential but it just isn’t for me.

I absolutely loved this, a post apocalyptic dystopian world and possibly the last book shop in the world (well New Jersey I would hazard a guess!), which is run by Liz. A survivor of the world around her. This is a YA read, that flicks back and forth between the now and the before, Liz is bit of a trauma stubborn sapphic survivor. You could say reading this that she actually has not done very much at all other than survive but then comes Maeve. She is a further survivor who obviously takes her chances at entering Liz sanctuary.

This is a story very much of found family, being brave and having to make a choice that can cost you your survival. I enjoyed the slow burn chemistry between the two main characters. So much is hidden by them both that comes out throughout the story as they generally open up but this does come with consequences.

Small amount of world building which I actually enjoyed, I didn’t need to know why the world turned but it’s not zombies which made a refreshing change and generally if you were in that situation I doubt you would know much other than your living area.

The drama is all there ready to unfold, it’s a really good story that I did eat up very quickly as I enjoyed it so much. I did worry that it was going to be one of those open ended tales but again was pleasantly surprised!

Great debut, very enjoyable and would highly recommend. Thank you for allowing me to read this as part of an ARC via NetGalley. Look forward to more story’s from this author!

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this from NetGalley and can see it being very popular. I’ll be honest and say the title alone made me want to read this and I didn’t even check the blurb. It was refreshingly different from books I’ve read lately with its apocalyptic theme and was very enjoyable. It features just one point of view, and I love the inner monologue. The book takes you through the emotions of what goes on throughout the book. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

First and foremost, if the world had ended due to a climate change apocalypse, a bookstore doesn’t seem like the worst place to be. Aside from Liz’s clear loneliness at the start of the book, I think most book lovers can agree when we say there could be worse places to be stranded.

I really enjoyed the concept and writing of this book, the essence that the bookstore gives and how it represents Liz’s home on such a deeper meaning, especially after recently losing her whole family is truly quite comforting. She does encounter quite a harrowing accident quite early in the book (to keep it vague) which made my whole body feel quite uncomfortable, almost to the point where you’re imagining the pain of that happening to you. Reading about her experience during the first storm also broke my heart.

The love story between Liz and Maeve was refreshing, while they are initially very sceptical of each other, it’s nice to read about how they could still find some happiness and comfort in someone else despite the horrors happening outside their doors.

(Slight Spoilers!) The only thing that confused me a little is the timeline between Liv and Maeve meeting and the second storm. I thought that it had been at least about 3ish weeks (of their month countdown), which puts their timeline correct for when Eva comes back and says the storm will be in the next week, but it confused me into thinking it had only been a week or two which doesn’t seem like quite enough time for Liv’s arm to heal as much as it had? It may be my interpretation of the text, but it didn’t quite add up.

Besides that, I thoroughly enjoyed the book!

This is the first book I read in 2025 and what a way to kick off the year!

While there is romance in this book, it’s an apocalyptic survival story first and foremost. The cast of characters is small, with less than a dozen characters total, and only three at the heart of the story, but that’s to the book’s benefit. We get to understand how small Liz’s world has become, and we really get to know the characters and their relationships incredibly well.

I really enjoyed the flashbacks to life before The Storm, and I thought they fit in with the overall story really well. We slowly get to understand more of Liz’s character, culminating in the disastrous day when she lost everything.

One of the biggest themes of the book is, to quote Hamilton, ‘who lives, who dies, who tells your story’. Liz is a collector of other people’s stories, and it was a very powerful storyline to see her come to terms with her own story. She’s eighteen and still finding her place in the world, and that storyline really spoke to that.

This whole book is beautifully written, and explores the people – rather than the events – of an all-too-likely climate apocalypse. I believe there is something in this book for readers of all ages, who have ever experienced (and overcome) loneliness.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

3.5 stars - entertaining read but somewhat lacking in the details that would make this come to life.
Post-apocalypse and our main character, Liz, is holed up in the last bookstore on earth. She’s not left the building in over a year, but has a stockpile of tins and the occasional visitor who will often leaver her something of use. We’re given very little to explain what happened, or why, but as the book progresses we learn a little more about how the world as we know it has come to an end.
Liz has become accustomed to a solitary existence, but one day her peace is disturbed by someone desperate to find shelter from the predicted second storm.
Maeve is handy. She helps Liz make some vital repairs to her environment, but her need to gather stores also brings danger to Liz’s door.
The romance felt rather borne out of convenience, and there were some elements that just made little sense. However, I can see this going down well as a sort of introduction to the genre.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.

Teenage post-apocalypse media will always have me instantly hooked, and this didn't disappoint.

Light touch on reasoning for the horrific apocalyptic events, and impending follow-up events, but enough for savvy readers to understand/assume climate change. The MC, Liz, is very Normal Teen in abnormal circumstances, and as such doesn't always make the best decisions, or even make any real sense, but i like that - she doesn't instantly become wise and worldly just because she's one of the few to survive, she somehow bumbles through regardless.

Loved the setting, and really liked the structure of the narrative being interspersed with stories from other survivors, introducing other voices and more background in a manner appropriate to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

This is an enjoyable enough read but I found it to be slow and a bit flat.

The main character is an ordinary girl who has sought refuge in a bookshop from what appears to be a nuclear aftermath. Nothing in particular happens and then another ordinary girl, albeit one who, unlike Liz, has developed survival skills, breaks into the bookshop. The girls hit it off and Maeve stays. Then nothing much happens. It is not until about three quarters through that there is any excitement or tension but when it comes, it is reasonably good.

I didnt realise that this is a YA book so I was surprised at how dull and safe this post apocalyptic society seems to be - no gangs of people with ill intent rampaging through the countryside pillaging etc., and it is only near the end of the book that we are told that there was a period of shooting and unrest immediately after the storm but things (rather improbably I think) have apparently settled down now and people come to the bookshop bringing food and useful things to exchange for books and to leave messages in case loved ones come by..

A quick and reasonable read but not very compelling

If you enjoy a chatty protagonist in an end of the world setting this book is perfect for you. The inner workings of Liz’s brain provide a comforting insight to brain of a 17 year old girl who is stuck on her own in a post natural disaster world. It’s an easy read to sink your teeth into and is a nice pallet cleanser for when you’re between some heavy series or in a reading slump.

⭑⭑⭑⭑✩

~

I really enjoyed this one. It was a great quick and easy YA read set in a realistic dystopian Earth (which I appreciated), with dystopian elements that were simple and realistic, which made it more of an enjoyable and impactful read. And anything set in a post-apocalyptic bookstore already has me hooked from the get go🤣
Highly recommend for anyone into LGBTQIA+ dystopia / end of the world vibes
~

Thanks to NetGalley and Lily Braun-Arnold for the ARC 🫶🏼

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Penguin Random House UK for offering an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book overall, but I thought it suffered in a couple of aspects, such as pacing and characterisation.

The premise is original, detailing an apocalyptic event which kills a large part of the population. The main character Liz takes refuge in the bookstore that used to be her place of work, and it becomes a sort of trading post for people passing by, who leave each other messages or pick up books in exchange for other items that Liz might need. The message here that people need escapism and literature even in the darkest of times was, I thought, really sweet.

I also liked how the author didn't shy away from gory description of injury and actually flinched at some parts. The main character lost her entire family in the first apocalyptic event and is now getting the building ready to withstand another event, which she hears is impending - but none of the cast of characters are sure when exactly, and therefore how long they have to prepare.

I didn't really feel that the chemistry between the main character and love interest was believable or that the "enemies to lovers" trope was well executed. There was one singular POV as the book is narrated in first person, and the author failed to highlight any reasons why the MC is falling for, or even likes, the LI. I couldn't get through the opening chapters quickly enough, but the book significantly slows down around 70% of the way in. I didn't lose interest per se, but I thought once a third character was introduced in the dynamic, everything became pretty rushed, and the MC's feelings did not make sense to me, but they may have done if the author had spent longer on this. The inner monologue of the MC is very much telling us rather than showing us.

Essentially, before that 70% mark I would have been eager to buy/gift a copy of this book to others, but I do think the final third was a bit of a letdown and could have used more polishing and detailing.

Usually dystopians are heavy, grim narratives about how we’ve inevitably destroyed our world through our own stupidity and although The Last Bookstore on Earth definitely has elements of that, it also has a rare message of hopefulness throughout.
Liz is not our usual struggling downtrodden survivor of the apocalypse whose rage allows her to rise up and overthrow the establishment. She’s very much a normal teen in abnormal times, trying to make the best of a bad situation. Is she willfully ignorant? Probably. Does it somehow work for her? Pretty much.
The story manages to blend minimal adventure and tender romance with the profound impact of climate change and somehow keeps you engaged throughout.
The story follows Liz, a solitary survivor haunted by the past, and Maeve, a mysterious newcomer with a hidden agenda. As their world teeters on the brink of annihilation, their paths intertwine, sparking a connection that could be their salvation or their downfall.
The characters are relatable and endearing. The romance, while tender and heartwarming, is tastefully executed, avoiding explicit content and focusing on the emotional depth of the relationship rather than spicy scenes- so perfect for younger readers.
While the book delves into serious themes of loss and survival, it never loses sight of its core message: love, even in the darkest of times, can be a powerful force for good.
As dystopian fiction experiences a resurgence, The Last Bookstore on Earth stands out as a must-read for fans dipping a toe into the genre.