I really enjoyed this book! A lot more than I thought I would. I flew through this in one sitting, it was such a quick read. I relate to Liz, like I really think that I'd be her in this situation. As much as I'd like to think otherwise after years of watching and reading dystopian stories, I honestly think I'd find a safe place and try to keep some normalcy in my life. Its not something you tend to see in media and its refreshing. Not everyone is going to turn into this survivalist superhero if the world ends and its good for kids to hear that. Loved it.

A beautiful, heart ache of a novel that feels like a strikingly original take on the dystopian story. The voice is so real, and the perspective and the way the story unfolds was very moving.

Wow!!! I saw the title and thought "yes, i'm in!" - who wouldn't want to be in the "last bookstore on earth". Buckle up Buttercup you are in for one helluva ride! This book has everything. The doomsday prepper, the angst teenager, a bookstore, unrequited love, family drama, knives, blood, then a bit more blood, oh and did i mention a bookstore ?
Liz, the main character, is so well drawn, yes she is a lesbian but that is not the main thing, the thing is the world has ended as we know it. Acid rain has melted flesh and bones, very few survive and certainly not unscathed be it mentally or physically.
If you enjoyed the tv drama "The Last of Us" then this is definitely for you!

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!

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!

When I first requested this book, the name had caught my eye because, what do you mean LAST bookstore?! The very idea of it made me cringe, so I needed to aee where this went! And i was far from disappointed. The premise was so interesting, so engaging that I devoured the book in two days. I can’t wait to see what the Author will do next!

This was SO good!! All twists and turns and stories within stories! So damn good!! If you loved ‘all that’s left in the world’ and want a sapphic version with bookshops… you’ll love this!!

A Haunting, Beautiful Love Letter to Stories and Survival

I was utterly captivated by *The Last Bookstore on Earth*—a novel that is as heart-wrenching as it is breathtaking. Lily Braun-Arnold has crafted a story that lingers long after the final page, blending the raw intensity of a climate apocalypse with a deeply human tale of love, loss, and the power of stories to keep us alive.

Liz is a protagonist you can’t help but root for—wounded yet resilient, clinging to the remnants of a world that no longer exists through the books she trades and the tales she collects from weary survivors. The bookstore, once a sanctuary, has become a relic of a bygone era, and Liz's desperate attempt to hold onto it feels both tragic and profoundly moving. And then there’s Maeve—fierce, enigmatic, and carrying secrets that could shatter them both. Their connection unfolds against the backdrop of impending doom, forcing them to reckon with the past while daring to hope for a future that may never come.

The tension is palpable, the stakes impossibly high, and yet amidst the chaos, there is beauty—found in whispered stories, fleeting moments of tenderness, and the simple, aching truth that love can still bloom even at the end of the world.

If you loved *Station Eleven* or *The Last of Us*, this book will grip your soul and never let go. It’s a gut-punch of a novel, filled with searing emotion and lyrical prose, reminding us that even when everything else is lost, stories—and love—are what endure.

I really enjoyed this book!!

It was refreshingly simple without being boring or talking down to the reader - the smaller cast of characters made it easy to follow, and the plot was well structured and intriguing. I loved the two main characters and their development through the story, and I also liked the tertiary characters like Peacoat Man.

I just really loved this!!