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Love and Survival #1
The Edge of Life: Love and Survival During the Apocalypse
"Prepare for impact with this action-packed and thought-provoking apocalyptic novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat." –Sublime Book Review
To cope with everyday life, neurodivergent Kat is a secret binge drinker, and jilted Ryan is a workaholic. Disillusioned, neither does more than go through the motions of living-then comes the asteroid.
Warned that a planet-killing asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, acquaintances Kat and Ryan join forces in an effort to survive. Mere hours before impact, they race toward the safety of Ryan's inherited South Dakota bunker, encountering chaos. A last-ditch effort to nuke the asteroid only manages to fragment it into chunks causing multiple strikes.
Earthquakes, fire, and volcanic ashfall assail Kat and Ryan, who turn to each other for solace. Kat finds someone kind who values her differences and Ryan finds himself falling for Kat's pluck and quick-thinking. Though jaded, they learn to trust and rely on one another.
Attempting to survive the onslaught of their new world, Kat and Ryan must reach the bunker before imminent food shortages and catastrophic climate change cause society to further unravel.
The Edge of Life shows that survival can include falling in love. With steamy romance and non-stop action, this is one thrilling apocalypse road trip you shouldn't miss.
To cope with everyday life, neurodivergent Kat is a secret binge drinker, and jilted Ryan is a workaholic. Disillusioned, neither does more than go through the motions of living-then comes the asteroid.
Warned that a planet-killing asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, acquaintances Kat and Ryan join forces in an effort to survive. Mere hours before impact, they race toward the safety of Ryan's inherited South Dakota bunker, encountering chaos. A last-ditch effort to nuke the asteroid only manages to fragment it into chunks causing multiple strikes.
Earthquakes, fire, and volcanic ashfall assail Kat and Ryan, who turn to each other for solace. Kat finds someone kind who values her differences and Ryan finds himself falling for Kat's pluck and quick-thinking. Though jaded, they learn to trust and rely on one another.
Attempting to survive the onslaught of their new world, Kat and Ryan must reach the bunker before imminent food shortages and catastrophic climate change cause society to further unravel.
The Edge of Life shows that survival can include falling in love. With steamy romance and non-stop action, this is one thrilling apocalypse road trip you shouldn't miss.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2023
222 people are currently reading
3621 people want to read
About the author
Lena Gibson
8 books254 followersAward-winning author Lena Gibson is a storyteller as an elementary school teacher and keeper of the family lore. As someone with autism, she often creates characters that reflect this experience.
A voracious reader from childhood onward, Lena seeks wonderful books in which to escape. She loves interesting characters and fast-paced, emotional narratives, leading her to write genre-defying stories in multiple categories. While her books are disaster romance, time slip, dystopian adventure, and sports romance, all are about love, resilience, and hope.
When Lena isn't writing, she reads, practices karate, and drinks a ton of tea. She resides in New Westminster, Canada, with her family and their fuzzy overlord, Ash, the fluffiest of gray cats.
https://linktr.ee/LenaGibsonAuthor
A voracious reader from childhood onward, Lena seeks wonderful books in which to escape. She loves interesting characters and fast-paced, emotional narratives, leading her to write genre-defying stories in multiple categories. While her books are disaster romance, time slip, dystopian adventure, and sports romance, all are about love, resilience, and hope.
When Lena isn't writing, she reads, practices karate, and drinks a ton of tea. She resides in New Westminster, Canada, with her family and their fuzzy overlord, Ash, the fluffiest of gray cats.
https://linktr.ee/LenaGibsonAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
April 18, 2023
《 5 ✰ 》
Original Review (2/17/23):
The Edge of Life was the most unexpected gift! How is this a debut?! I see you, Lena Gibson. 👏 I have been utterly brain dazzled since finishing Kat and Ryan’s incredible story of survival — against all odds while finding love along the way!
Societal collapse and the way individuals cope with extreme events — terrifying. This book made my heart stop multiple times! Sleep with one eye open or just forgo sleep all together. The tension is written masterfully. 🤌 It will leave you hanging on every word with goosies all over. I love how smart and resilient both of the main characters are. The way their relationship evolves. It felt so real. That bond that slowly develops through shared experiences. The emotions of accepting a new reality. I could go on and keep gushing…but all I really want to say is, I hope you read and savor this book!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Black Rose Writing, and Lena Gibson for the gifted ARC.
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
Update (4/6/23):
It’s finally here! HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!!! 🎉 Included in KU!
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
First Reread (4/14/23):
An absorbing page-turner that will grip you early on and keep you at the edge of your seat until the end. It is unlike anything you have read. Think The Walking Dead minus the zombies with a dash of romance. You do not want to sleep on this debut.
*Note: Lena has shared that the second installment is written, but there will be three other books releasing first!
HUGE shoutout to Anouk for reading this with me and coming along for the ride! I enjoyed our discussions as much as the book. The best time, always! 🥰
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
Just got the arc! Can’t wait to start this!
You had me at, apocalypse road trip!
Original Review (2/17/23):
The Edge of Life was the most unexpected gift! How is this a debut?! I see you, Lena Gibson. 👏 I have been utterly brain dazzled since finishing Kat and Ryan’s incredible story of survival — against all odds while finding love along the way!
❝
Today was the twenty-first of May, a day now burned into his brain. If they lived through this, it would be one of those days. People still asked, “Where were you September eleventh?” He’d been six years old, on the way to school. His teacher had explained what had happened. Everyone who lived through the asteroid and its aftermath would also have a story. He hoped his had a happy ending.
Societal collapse and the way individuals cope with extreme events — terrifying. This book made my heart stop multiple times! Sleep with one eye open or just forgo sleep all together. The tension is written masterfully. 🤌 It will leave you hanging on every word with goosies all over. I love how smart and resilient both of the main characters are. The way their relationship evolves. It felt so real. That bond that slowly develops through shared experiences. The emotions of accepting a new reality. I could go on and keep gushing…but all I really want to say is, I hope you read and savor this book!
❝
“Let’s go back to sleep. The world will be different in the morning.”
“We didn’t quite break and we aren’t lost forever. Maybe we can find our way back together. We’ll just take it one day at a time.”
Many thanks to NetGalley, Black Rose Writing, and Lena Gibson for the gifted ARC.
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
Update (4/6/23):
It’s finally here! HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!!! 🎉 Included in KU!
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
First Reread (4/14/23):
An absorbing page-turner that will grip you early on and keep you at the edge of your seat until the end. It is unlike anything you have read. Think The Walking Dead minus the zombies with a dash of romance. You do not want to sleep on this debut.
*Note: Lena has shared that the second installment is written, but there will be three other books releasing first!
HUGE shoutout to Anouk for reading this with me and coming along for the ride! I enjoyed our discussions as much as the book. The best time, always! 🥰
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
Just got the arc! Can’t wait to start this!
You had me at, apocalypse road trip!
October 29, 2023
Best Read of 2023! What a ride!
Phenomenal debut novel! This book was so good! SO GOOD!
Right from the beginning this book made me feel things, it grabbed me by my cold dead heart and didn’t let go. I’m still reeling.
It started off with Kat, a neurodivergent elementary school teacher, mourning her dead husband at the bottom of a gin bottle. She is broken and detached from life, barely surviving each day. Her good friend Nick tries to help by getting her to hang out and go hiking. At the same time our hero Ryan, is a workaholic recovering from a nasty break up from his long term girlfriend. In comes Nick again, to get Ryan away from his desk and out in nature. The three of them begin weekly hikes, all the while Nick, an Astro-scientist of some sort, has discovered a meteorite that may be headed towards earth.
Quickly, this story changes to one of disaster prep and survival as the world prepares for impact.
This book was gripping! I was on the edge of my seat with the twist and turns. As the information about the meteorite clarifies, Nick tells his friends to seek shelter and Ryan offers Kat solace in the bunker he inherited from his grandpa.
They begin a long, crazy and harrowing journey from Seattle to South Dakota, going from car to bike and then on foot. Meeting helpful people and not helpful people. We quickly see how disaster brings out the best and the worst in everyone.
With all of this craziness happening we also see an incredibly tender and moving friendship and love grow between Ryan and Kat. They support each other, share their burden and persevere. This book shook me. It moved me. It made me tear up.
It was not a fluffy read, so make sure if you tackle this you are in a mindset for deep feels and darker elements.
But this book has been, by far, my best read of the year. I don’t hand out five stars easily, you have to pull them out of me with pliers, but this one earned it!
Don’t let the cartoon cover fool you, this was The Last of Us sans zombies. Prepare yourself for love during the apocalypse and read this book! Update: I like the new cover of this so much better.
CW: talk of rape, parental abuse, spousal abuse, alcoholism, on page violence, mass casualties of natural disasters.
A copy of this book has been provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review.
Phenomenal debut novel! This book was so good! SO GOOD!
Right from the beginning this book made me feel things, it grabbed me by my cold dead heart and didn’t let go. I’m still reeling.
It started off with Kat, a neurodivergent elementary school teacher, mourning her dead husband at the bottom of a gin bottle. She is broken and detached from life, barely surviving each day. Her good friend Nick tries to help by getting her to hang out and go hiking. At the same time our hero Ryan, is a workaholic recovering from a nasty break up from his long term girlfriend. In comes Nick again, to get Ryan away from his desk and out in nature. The three of them begin weekly hikes, all the while Nick, an Astro-scientist of some sort, has discovered a meteorite that may be headed towards earth.
Quickly, this story changes to one of disaster prep and survival as the world prepares for impact.
This book was gripping! I was on the edge of my seat with the twist and turns. As the information about the meteorite clarifies, Nick tells his friends to seek shelter and Ryan offers Kat solace in the bunker he inherited from his grandpa.
They begin a long, crazy and harrowing journey from Seattle to South Dakota, going from car to bike and then on foot. Meeting helpful people and not helpful people. We quickly see how disaster brings out the best and the worst in everyone.
With all of this craziness happening we also see an incredibly tender and moving friendship and love grow between Ryan and Kat. They support each other, share their burden and persevere. This book shook me. It moved me. It made me tear up.
It was not a fluffy read, so make sure if you tackle this you are in a mindset for deep feels and darker elements.
But this book has been, by far, my best read of the year. I don’t hand out five stars easily, you have to pull them out of me with pliers, but this one earned it!
Don’t let the cartoon cover fool you, this was The Last of Us sans zombies. Prepare yourself for love during the apocalypse and read this book! Update: I like the new cover of this so much better.
CW: talk of rape, parental abuse, spousal abuse, alcoholism, on page violence, mass casualties of natural disasters.
A copy of this book has been provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review.
August 14, 2023
Re-read bc I couldn't stop thinking about this book since I read it months ago. It's really so good. I loved my reread as much as the first time!
4.5 Asteroids hurling towards earth!!! ☄️
"I'm scared too," he whispered against her hair. "Me too. We've got each other." He held her for what seemed a long time, perhaps as long as a minute. Maybe two.
When you finish a book and you immediately want to re-read it, you know it was a banger! I think dystopian contemporary thriller/romance may be my new favorite genre bc I could not put this book down!!
The Edge of Life is about Kat and Ryan, two people who barely know each other trying to navigate their way through a modern-day apocalypse event. They face challenge after terrifying challenge, as the world around them is forever altered and there are more dangerous obstacles to contend with than just the devastating fallout of the asteroid impact and volcano eruptions. They form a unique bond as they help each other survive and end up falling in love as the world around them falls apart.
"I don't understand what's happened to some people. I didn't think they'd change in a matter of days. Some people have become their worst selves overnight. I don't want that to happen to us."
Kat-Kat is a neurodivergent elementary school teacher and my girl is as tough and smart as they come! Seriously, I would be crying in the middle of the road like a toddler and Kat is just out here like she trained for The Walking Dead! I LOVED HER!! She shows such grit and strength throughout the book and also somehow is able to maintain a good attitude and positive demeanor.
Ryan- Ryan is a lawyer from Seattle that has had his heart broken and reluctant to consider love again. He was so sweet and protective of Kat while at the same time being respectful and acknowledging how fierce and capable Kat is all on her own. The progression of them falling in love was beautiful and I was a puddle for them the entire book! The man takes her on a date in the middle of an apocalypse!!!
"He couldn't help but admire her tenacity and courage."
"I wanted to take you on an actual date. At least once. This is the best I can do. Dinner, then dancing if you like."
"Something nice is this moment, right here, right now," Ryan squeezed her tighter. "We're together."
I also love the dual POVs. I think my only small critique would be I wish it were written in first person, but the premise and the characters are so compelling that it's not really a big deal. But do yourselves a favor besties and add this to your TBR it's adrenalin pumping and romantic and I really enjoyed it!! 💙
UPDATE/DISCLAIMER -Do not let the cartoon cover mislead you, this book is intense and deals with some heavy themes such as mass casualties, mention of SA, alcoholism, violence and catastrophic destruction. (thanks to Rae for pointing this out)
SOOO excited to start this one!! It's been at the top of my tbr, thx for the rec Cecelia!!!
4.5 Asteroids hurling towards earth!!! ☄️
"I'm scared too," he whispered against her hair. "Me too. We've got each other." He held her for what seemed a long time, perhaps as long as a minute. Maybe two.
When you finish a book and you immediately want to re-read it, you know it was a banger! I think dystopian contemporary thriller/romance may be my new favorite genre bc I could not put this book down!!
The Edge of Life is about Kat and Ryan, two people who barely know each other trying to navigate their way through a modern-day apocalypse event. They face challenge after terrifying challenge, as the world around them is forever altered and there are more dangerous obstacles to contend with than just the devastating fallout of the asteroid impact and volcano eruptions. They form a unique bond as they help each other survive and end up falling in love as the world around them falls apart.
"I don't understand what's happened to some people. I didn't think they'd change in a matter of days. Some people have become their worst selves overnight. I don't want that to happen to us."
Kat-Kat is a neurodivergent elementary school teacher and my girl is as tough and smart as they come! Seriously, I would be crying in the middle of the road like a toddler and Kat is just out here like she trained for The Walking Dead! I LOVED HER!! She shows such grit and strength throughout the book and also somehow is able to maintain a good attitude and positive demeanor.
Ryan- Ryan is a lawyer from Seattle that has had his heart broken and reluctant to consider love again. He was so sweet and protective of Kat while at the same time being respectful and acknowledging how fierce and capable Kat is all on her own. The progression of them falling in love was beautiful and I was a puddle for them the entire book! The man takes her on a date in the middle of an apocalypse!!!
"He couldn't help but admire her tenacity and courage."
"I wanted to take you on an actual date. At least once. This is the best I can do. Dinner, then dancing if you like."
"Something nice is this moment, right here, right now," Ryan squeezed her tighter. "We're together."
I also love the dual POVs. I think my only small critique would be I wish it were written in first person, but the premise and the characters are so compelling that it's not really a big deal. But do yourselves a favor besties and add this to your TBR it's adrenalin pumping and romantic and I really enjoyed it!! 💙
UPDATE/DISCLAIMER -Do not let the cartoon cover mislead you, this book is intense and deals with some heavy themes such as mass casualties, mention of SA, alcoholism, violence and catastrophic destruction. (thanks to Rae for pointing this out)
SOOO excited to start this one!! It's been at the top of my tbr, thx for the rec Cecelia!!!
April 16, 2023
"We didn't quite break and we aren't lost forever. Maybe we can find our way back together. We'll just take it one day at a time."
Anouk and Cecilia are so right- It is an absolute banger. So thanks girls for recommending ❤️
✔️ An apocalyptic journey
✔️ Romance with actual communication
✔️ Walking dead vibes (no zombies tho)
✔️ Action packed
✔️ Spicyyyy (3.5/5🌶️)
✔️ Neurodivergent rep
✔️ Unputdownable
Oh wow when I started this book, I was a bit concerned as to how the apocalypse is going to take place, what is going to be the aftermath, what kinda emotions am I going to be seeing? But the author packed it all up so brilliantly in these 298 pages. I gotta applaud her for writing such a masterpiece and one that is her debut. Kudos! 👏👏
It did start off slow, but I was sucked in immediately. Our FMC, Kat is easy to like. She is neurodivergent and a school teacher, and also a binger drinker. Our MMC, Ryan is apparently a replica of Captain America and am all for it. That's enough for me to like him. To add more to him, he's a workaholic lawyer and genuinely grows to care for Kat. Both of them have a history of their own but reading how they develop a friendship and eventually something more is worth it 🥺
I liked how the author built up the apocalypse, then how it happened gave me chills and then the aftermath had me on the edge of my seat 🤌
Highly recommended!
Anouk and Cecilia are so right- It is an absolute banger. So thanks girls for recommending ❤️
✔️ An apocalyptic journey
✔️ Romance with actual communication
✔️ Walking dead vibes (no zombies tho)
✔️ Action packed
✔️ Spicyyyy (3.5/5🌶️)
✔️ Neurodivergent rep
✔️ Unputdownable
Oh wow when I started this book, I was a bit concerned as to how the apocalypse is going to take place, what is going to be the aftermath, what kinda emotions am I going to be seeing? But the author packed it all up so brilliantly in these 298 pages. I gotta applaud her for writing such a masterpiece and one that is her debut. Kudos! 👏👏
It did start off slow, but I was sucked in immediately. Our FMC, Kat is easy to like. She is neurodivergent and a school teacher, and also a binger drinker. Our MMC, Ryan is apparently a replica of Captain America and am all for it. That's enough for me to like him. To add more to him, he's a workaholic lawyer and genuinely grows to care for Kat. Both of them have a history of their own but reading how they develop a friendship and eventually something more is worth it 🥺
I liked how the author built up the apocalypse, then how it happened gave me chills and then the aftermath had me on the edge of my seat 🤌
Highly recommended!
January 26, 2025
This book tackles an apocalyptic scenario: a world-ending asteroid unleashing chaos with volcanoes erupting, earthquakes shaking the planet, and humanity scrambling to survive.
The beginning of this story was a 5, while the ending was a 2.
Ryan and Kat are both dealing with personal losses. Kat numbs herself with weekend black-out binge drinking, while Ryan immerses himself in work. Their friend Nick, brings them together for weekend group hikes.
Ryan conveniently inherits a bunker in South Dakota, which becomes their ticket to safety, if they can just get there in one piece from Seattle.
Once the story gets going, their romance feels rushed, forced, and lacking genuine chemistry. The intimate scenes were awkward and out of sync with the rest of the story.
“You’re my companion for the end of the world, my new best friend, and I don’t know you.”
Agreed.
One of the more frustrating aspects of the book was the lack of realism when it came to their approach to survival. The story is set in areas of the US where personal protection is common. Not to mention all the hardware stores and mom-and-pop shops would also stock supplies like bear spray or other weapons. Instead, these two characters have... a bat. As my BR, Isabella, pointed out, at least grab a kitchen knife!
The idea of Kat being neurodivergent was intriguing, but there’s little in her thoughts or actions to back this up. It just feels like an afterthought, especially because it wasn’t brought up until the very last page.
Adding to the disappointment, the ending felt abrupt and unfinished.
Overall, the book had intense action and a promising premise, but it suffered from too much telling and not enough showing.
This was a great story to BR with my fellow apocalypse book reader, Isabella. Thanks for jumping in on this one with me!
The beginning of this story was a 5, while the ending was a 2.
Ryan and Kat are both dealing with personal losses. Kat numbs herself with weekend black-out binge drinking, while Ryan immerses himself in work. Their friend Nick, brings them together for weekend group hikes.
Ryan conveniently inherits a bunker in South Dakota, which becomes their ticket to safety, if they can just get there in one piece from Seattle.
Once the story gets going, their romance feels rushed, forced, and lacking genuine chemistry. The intimate scenes were awkward and out of sync with the rest of the story.
“You’re my companion for the end of the world, my new best friend, and I don’t know you.”
Agreed.
One of the more frustrating aspects of the book was the lack of realism when it came to their approach to survival. The story is set in areas of the US where personal protection is common. Not to mention all the hardware stores and mom-and-pop shops would also stock supplies like bear spray or other weapons. Instead, these two characters have... a bat. As my BR, Isabella, pointed out, at least grab a kitchen knife!
The idea of Kat being neurodivergent was intriguing, but there’s little in her thoughts or actions to back this up. It just feels like an afterthought, especially because it wasn’t brought up until the very last page.
Adding to the disappointment, the ending felt abrupt and unfinished.
Overall, the book had intense action and a promising premise, but it suffered from too much telling and not enough showing.
This was a great story to BR with my fellow apocalypse book reader, Isabella. Thanks for jumping in on this one with me!
May 27, 2023
Thank you so so much Cecelia for introducing me to this book and reading it with me 🤍.
I loved it a lot and our conversations during it even more! 🥰
☙ ⏤⏤⏤⏤ ❧
Wow, I’m actually blown away. 🤯 This is a debut?
This book is amazing. The story is so original!
And the characters are such a delight. 💕
It’s giving me very strong ‘The Walking Dead’ vibes minus the zombies but with some added romance and *spice* on top. ❤️
It really kept me at the edge of my seat, especially the enddd. 👀
☙ ⏤⏤⏤⏤ ❧
From this point it's just me rambling why I love the characters so if you want an actual coherent review. Read Cecelia’s review here! 💕
Both Ryan and Kat are in a bad place and forced to travel across the country when disaster strikes. During this trip they’re forced to not only battle the mayhem this world is becoming, but also their personal struggles.
I absolutely love how these two grow together and how the relationship blossoms.
Kat is so strong, smart and honest. I can’t stop gushing over her. And Ryan.. sigh 😮💨
Yes he started out as a douchebag but my man turned it arounddd. The sweet little things he does, even though the world is falling apart around them 🥹.
Tiny spoiler >>> I loveee that he still took her on a date and let her do a little sightseeing in Yellowstone park. Like how cute is that 🥰
And the earplugs!! So cuteee
Anyway, I’m not gonna go in any more detail but the further I got into this book, the more I loved both of them!
☙ ⏤⏤⏤⏤ ❧
Conclusion: read this book!!
I loved it a lot and our conversations during it even more! 🥰
☙ ⏤⏤⏤⏤ ❧
Wow, I’m actually blown away. 🤯 This is a debut?
This book is amazing. The story is so original!
And the characters are such a delight. 💕
It’s giving me very strong ‘The Walking Dead’ vibes minus the zombies but with some added romance and *spice* on top. ❤️
It really kept me at the edge of my seat, especially the enddd. 👀
☙ ⏤⏤⏤⏤ ❧
From this point it's just me rambling why I love the characters so if you want an actual coherent review. Read Cecelia’s review here! 💕
Both Ryan and Kat are in a bad place and forced to travel across the country when disaster strikes. During this trip they’re forced to not only battle the mayhem this world is becoming, but also their personal struggles.
I absolutely love how these two grow together and how the relationship blossoms.
Kat is so strong, smart and honest. I can’t stop gushing over her. And Ryan.. sigh 😮💨
Yes he started out as a douchebag but my man turned it arounddd. The sweet little things he does, even though the world is falling apart around them 🥹.
Tiny spoiler >>> I loveee that he still took her on a date and let her do a little sightseeing in Yellowstone park. Like how cute is that 🥰
And the earplugs!! So cuteee
Anyway, I’m not gonna go in any more detail but the further I got into this book, the more I loved both of them!
☙ ⏤⏤⏤⏤ ❧
Conclusion: read this book!!
April 21, 2023
“𝙒𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧. 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙒𝙚’𝙡𝙡 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.”
“𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬,” 𝙍𝙮𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧. “𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧.”
Everything happened so fast. I was so absorbed in the story, and to be honest while reading I was so uncomfortable—everything felt so real.
The story was so scary, I had to stop several times. The earthquake and volcano eruption parts feel so real, it gives me goosebumps.
There is action, mystery, and suspense, as well as a romance story, which helps to neutralize the story.
Some things I don't like are that the story isn't told in 1st person and also that Ryan who always mentioned Kat that she's delicious pls stop- like who are you, vampire?😂
And I don't know, but I don't really like how their relationship ended because it happened just too soon for me🙃
Reading this book was quite a journey. I never thought that my experiences with earthquakes and erupting volcanoes would leave me traumatized until I read this book😅🤣
So please keep in mind that this book mentions a couple of natural disasters, and if you've ever experienced one, it might be quite triggering.
Thank you, Cecelia, Rebecca, Kristina, and SK, for the recommendation💖 After reading your reviews, I picked up this book right away.
4⭐
---------------------
The plot really intrigued me, here we gooo
𝘒𝘢𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥, 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘬'𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘙𝘺𝘢𝘯.
𝘙𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮.(𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥.)
𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯.
𝘒𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘺𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦.
“𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬,” 𝙍𝙮𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧. “𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧.”
Everything happened so fast. I was so absorbed in the story, and to be honest while reading I was so uncomfortable—everything felt so real.
The story was so scary, I had to stop several times. The earthquake and volcano eruption parts feel so real, it gives me goosebumps.
There is action, mystery, and suspense, as well as a romance story, which helps to neutralize the story.
Some things I don't like are that the story isn't told in 1st person and also that Ryan who always mentioned Kat that she's delicious pls stop- like who are you, vampire?😂
And I don't know, but I don't really like how their relationship ended because it happened just too soon for me🙃
Reading this book was quite a journey. I never thought that my experiences with earthquakes and erupting volcanoes would leave me traumatized until I read this book😅🤣
So please keep in mind that this book mentions a couple of natural disasters, and if you've ever experienced one, it might be quite triggering.
Thank you, Cecelia, Rebecca, Kristina, and SK, for the recommendation💖 After reading your reviews, I picked up this book right away.
4⭐
---------------------
The plot really intrigued me, here we gooo
June 9, 2023
I don't read many romance novels but this one caught my eye because it's set during the Earth going through an impending asteroid collision. The main characters have suffered previous heartbreak (she with a husband who died and he with a girlfriend who cheated on him with two guys). Neither is dealing well with their circumstances when the story opens and have pretty much walled themselves off from relationships with just about everybody. But they do have a mutual friend who gets them to go hiking with him and before too long chemistry and attraction arrive and an asteroid bearing down adds a bit more pressure and urgency to this situation.
It's true that I didn't show up for the romance but I liked the characters well enough and was rooting for them to make it to their destination before they were swallowed up in the chaos of people or the natural disasters set off by the collision. The bunker in Montana proved to be some journey from Seattle and this book took it right up to pretty much the final pages. It was tense! And that made it a good read for me. Of course, the couple has their HEA implied and I mean, when you're just glad they survived the whole ordeal and will surely live another day, I was satisfied.
As an impending disaster book, this delivered and I am glad I read it (through Kindle Unlimited). I found it unique for a love story and really loved that. If this was made into a movie, I'd watch it (Lifetime, Hallmark, any streamer, do your thing!). It's no shocker to say, I'd read another by this author.
Recommended.
It's true that I didn't show up for the romance but I liked the characters well enough and was rooting for them to make it to their destination before they were swallowed up in the chaos of people or the natural disasters set off by the collision. The bunker in Montana proved to be some journey from Seattle and this book took it right up to pretty much the final pages. It was tense! And that made it a good read for me. Of course, the couple has their HEA implied and I mean, when you're just glad they survived the whole ordeal and will surely live another day, I was satisfied.
As an impending disaster book, this delivered and I am glad I read it (through Kindle Unlimited). I found it unique for a love story and really loved that. If this was made into a movie, I'd watch it (Lifetime, Hallmark, any streamer, do your thing!). It's no shocker to say, I'd read another by this author.
Recommended.
April 6, 2023
This book was just as thrilling as it was terrifying. I’ve aged 10 years since reading this. 2025 is my new 2012.
With that said, I was seriously hooked from the start! Give me a love story, but let’s make it the end of the world as well. So many aspects of this felt so real and reading about the fate of California (never have I been more scared to be an Angeleno) actually made me sick to my stomach. But honestly, woven into this horrifying and gripping apocalyptic event book was a heartwarming story about the tenacity of humans in the face of adversity. I really loved the main characters Kat and Ryan as they navigate their difficult pasts and learn to listen to their heart and trust each other. The dual POV was well-done and I’m glad Gibson allowed us to see into the mind of both these characters. The ending has me yearning for more and I’m hoping Gibson gives us another story in this crazy new world. This book is not for the faint of heart so if you’ve been avoiding books that mention the pandemic, you might not be ready for this yet. Overall, I absolutely recommend to fans of apocalyptic/doomsday movies like Seeking a Friend for the End of the World or Love and Monsters (sans monster). Also recommend to just general fans of contemporary romance who can handle very heavy, sad themes.
On KU!
With that said, I was seriously hooked from the start! Give me a love story, but let’s make it the end of the world as well. So many aspects of this felt so real and reading about the fate of California (never have I been more scared to be an Angeleno) actually made me sick to my stomach. But honestly, woven into this horrifying and gripping apocalyptic event book was a heartwarming story about the tenacity of humans in the face of adversity. I really loved the main characters Kat and Ryan as they navigate their difficult pasts and learn to listen to their heart and trust each other. The dual POV was well-done and I’m glad Gibson allowed us to see into the mind of both these characters. The ending has me yearning for more and I’m hoping Gibson gives us another story in this crazy new world. This book is not for the faint of heart so if you’ve been avoiding books that mention the pandemic, you might not be ready for this yet. Overall, I absolutely recommend to fans of apocalyptic/doomsday movies like Seeking a Friend for the End of the World or Love and Monsters (sans monster). Also recommend to just general fans of contemporary romance who can handle very heavy, sad themes.
On KU!
March 10, 2023
3.4 stars. I requested this as an ARC because several Goodreads friends absolutely loved it.
I was riveted. But also, this book stressed me out of my mind and made me feel at the verge of tears for most of it.
There is definitely some too true stuff there that made me remember feelings I had at beginning of the pandemic and that wasn’t my favorite feeling.
The two main characters are pretty good. But it kinda felt like they fell in love because there was no way to go through that kind of crap without loving someone who was beside you in that.
Add to this, the ending is fairly abrupt.
I did not feel super great after reading this. So this review is about emotions not writing.
I was riveted. But also, this book stressed me out of my mind and made me feel at the verge of tears for most of it.
There is definitely some too true stuff there that made me remember feelings I had at beginning of the pandemic and that wasn’t my favorite feeling.
The two main characters are pretty good. But it kinda felt like they fell in love because there was no way to go through that kind of crap without loving someone who was beside you in that.
Add to this, the ending is fairly abrupt.
I did not feel super great after reading this. So this review is about emotions not writing.
April 25, 2025
I was sooo surprised how much I liked this book! Don’t get me wrong I was stressed for a large part of it, but it was great!!! The 2 main characters were so good together. I did feel like it started a little slow but nothing crazy. I’m a sucker for apocalyptic, world ending, bad weather books! This had it all and a solid romance. Perfect
April 10, 2023
New author.
Interesting story. A bit different. Nice to have the apocalypse without the zombies.
Both have previous relationships end, she widowed, his ex left.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Some violence.
HEA.
Bit abrupt ending, needed an epilogue.
Potential for future stories with secondary characters or growth with the xterra site or how things develop.
Interesting story. A bit different. Nice to have the apocalypse without the zombies.
Both have previous relationships end, she widowed, his ex left.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Some violence.
HEA.
Bit abrupt ending, needed an epilogue.
Potential for future stories with secondary characters or growth with the xterra site or how things develop.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2024
I have Kristina to thank for bringing this one to my attention, even if it did take me a while to get around to reading it. As a Seattle-area native, I appreciated the local setting of part of the book, though sometimes it made it feel too real!
I like books with survival themes partly because I have like, no survival instinct. If an asteroid were coming my way, I'd feel more inclined to go stand at ground zero than deal with the post-apocalyptic hellscape that would follow. Pretty sure Mr. Thirsty wouldn't allow that, though. 🙄
I really liked the chemistry between the main characters and how their relationship developed, and I enjoyed the storyline overall. I only wish we'd gotten an epilogue with maybe a bit of an HEA, but I also understand why it didn't really fit. For a debut novel, this was great.
I like books with survival themes partly because I have like, no survival instinct. If an asteroid were coming my way, I'd feel more inclined to go stand at ground zero than deal with the post-apocalyptic hellscape that would follow. Pretty sure Mr. Thirsty wouldn't allow that, though. 🙄
I really liked the chemistry between the main characters and how their relationship developed, and I enjoyed the storyline overall. I only wish we'd gotten an epilogue with maybe a bit of an HEA, but I also understand why it didn't really fit. For a debut novel, this was great.
March 23, 2023
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 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.
September 6, 2024
A riveting and compelling read.
I did not have any real expectations for this book I just thought I would start it, read a few pages and see how I went with it. I didn't particularly like or dislike Kat or Ryan, our main characters there wasn't anything about them that appealed to me. It starts slow and unexciting, and we are just bumbling along, and then all of a sudden it is up and running and literally page by page the tension is building, and there are twists and turns until, I couldn't put it down, I had to finish it with bleary-eyes that desperately wanted to close. It's an exhilarating read with a little bit of nice spice to it. I loved it.
I did not have any real expectations for this book I just thought I would start it, read a few pages and see how I went with it. I didn't particularly like or dislike Kat or Ryan, our main characters there wasn't anything about them that appealed to me. It starts slow and unexciting, and we are just bumbling along, and then all of a sudden it is up and running and literally page by page the tension is building, and there are twists and turns until, I couldn't put it down, I had to finish it with bleary-eyes that desperately wanted to close. It's an exhilarating read with a little bit of nice spice to it. I loved it.
March 28, 2023
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.
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.
February 11, 2023
The Edge of Life by Lena Gibson follows both Kat and Ryan as they race against the clock towards a bunker to survive the end of the world, as a gigantic meteorite is coming. Kat is a elementary teacher, who tries to cope with her life by drinking on every free day. She's neurodivergent (autistic) too, and this is an ownvoices book. She has met Ryan a couple of times before because of a mutual friend, but now they're suddenly sort of stuck with each other. With the end of times around the corner, their relationship develops fast.
I was of course very curious about the autism rep, I love reading about people with the same neurodivergence as me! I have to say, the rep I read was well done, but I felt like a lot of the time it was just ignored. I expected at least a few meltdowns or shutdowns as there are some pretty intense situations, but those weren't around, and the sensory issues were there, but it felt like it was not enough for what they went through. Every autistic person is different of course, so I'm not here to judge, this is just how I experienced it. But mostly I loved it, especially how Kat tried to interpret social interactions, and used her social mask in emergency situations to save the day - or ruin it lol.
I love an apocalyptic story and this one absolutely didn't disappoint. I was screaming at times at their choices, which is a good thing lol, I was very invested in their survival. The road trip through hell was gruelling yet entertaining as lots of things happened to move the plot, and the romance is the perfect counterpart to the world falling to pieces. I have to say, I thought the actual first romance was a little sudden, but after that it felt very natural and I was heavily invested in their happiness. They make a perfect match, and it was just really sweet and amazing to watch them grow together and open up. I love that part. I very much dislike all spice, but this book had just enough for me to not grow tired of it, which is quite the feat. We also get POV's from Ryan, the lovable workaholic, and he's very fun to read about. Their back stories and time together is my favorite. Plotwise I felt like there was a perfect balance between the action and epic plot and the oasis in between of getting to know the characters. The writing style was very engaging and beautiful.
All in all, a perfect romantic apocalypse story with great autism rep, and I really hope there's gonna be a part two, even though the ending is a real ending, I can see so many things in their future I really want to read about.
I received a free e-arc through Netgalley, many thanks, but this has not influenced my opinions.
I was of course very curious about the autism rep, I love reading about people with the same neurodivergence as me! I have to say, the rep I read was well done, but I felt like a lot of the time it was just ignored. I expected at least a few meltdowns or shutdowns as there are some pretty intense situations, but those weren't around, and the sensory issues were there, but it felt like it was not enough for what they went through. Every autistic person is different of course, so I'm not here to judge, this is just how I experienced it. But mostly I loved it, especially how Kat tried to interpret social interactions, and used her social mask in emergency situations to save the day - or ruin it lol.
I love an apocalyptic story and this one absolutely didn't disappoint. I was screaming at times at their choices, which is a good thing lol, I was very invested in their survival. The road trip through hell was gruelling yet entertaining as lots of things happened to move the plot, and the romance is the perfect counterpart to the world falling to pieces. I have to say, I thought the actual first romance was a little sudden, but after that it felt very natural and I was heavily invested in their happiness. They make a perfect match, and it was just really sweet and amazing to watch them grow together and open up. I love that part. I very much dislike all spice, but this book had just enough for me to not grow tired of it, which is quite the feat. We also get POV's from Ryan, the lovable workaholic, and he's very fun to read about. Their back stories and time together is my favorite. Plotwise I felt like there was a perfect balance between the action and epic plot and the oasis in between of getting to know the characters. The writing style was very engaging and beautiful.
All in all, a perfect romantic apocalypse story with great autism rep, and I really hope there's gonna be a part two, even though the ending is a real ending, I can see so many things in their future I really want to read about.
I received a free e-arc through Netgalley, many thanks, but this has not influenced my opinions.
April 22, 2023
Just when you thought the end of the world was going to be hopeless- there came this book. I was lucky enough to score an early review copy and inhaled it in two days. Author Lena Gibson has created a perfect balance of of tension/action with a romance that leaves you believing that love and hope might just really exist. Her ability to keep readers turning pages while being so emotionally invested in the characters make her a debut author to watch.
June 2, 2024
2.5✨
This book started out as a 5-star read, then it got progressively worse and the ending was just downright bad. Very disappointing, especially seeing all the glowing reviews.
I liked the first part of the book, getting to know the characters and the building tension of the incoming boom☄️. Directly after the asteroid strike it was still fun to read as well, as humanity started showing its ugly side. However, after that, the whole plot is just two people being on a boring road trip.
I didn't know running from natural disasters could be this uneventful. What made the story particularly tiresome was that everything was too convenient, there was no real threat and nothing truly exciting was happening throughout this book. The ending was also way too rushed and left me unsatisfied, as many things remain unfinished and unclear.
As for characters Ryan was decent enough, but my god Kat became such an insufferable person, crying every few pages about literally anything got real tired real quick. She's also supposed to be neurodivergent, though that doesn't become clear by her actions nor thoughts.
The writing also wasn't the best and sentences flowed awkwardly at times, which didn't contribute to a good rating either. Normally I absolutely love post-apocalyptic books where natural disasters happen and humanity goes crazy, but this was just not it.
This book started out as a 5-star read, then it got progressively worse and the ending was just downright bad. Very disappointing, especially seeing all the glowing reviews.
I liked the first part of the book, getting to know the characters and the building tension of the incoming boom☄️. Directly after the asteroid strike it was still fun to read as well, as humanity started showing its ugly side. However, after that, the whole plot is just two people being on a boring road trip.
I didn't know running from natural disasters could be this uneventful. What made the story particularly tiresome was that everything was too convenient, there was no real threat and nothing truly exciting was happening throughout this book. The ending was also way too rushed and left me unsatisfied, as many things remain unfinished and unclear.
As for characters Ryan was decent enough, but my god Kat became such an insufferable person, crying every few pages about literally anything got real tired real quick. She's also supposed to be neurodivergent, though that doesn't become clear by her actions nor thoughts.
The writing also wasn't the best and sentences flowed awkwardly at times, which didn't contribute to a good rating either. Normally I absolutely love post-apocalyptic books where natural disasters happen and humanity goes crazy, but this was just not it.
January 15, 2025
DNF Chapter 9 So here we go, 2025 is not off to a good start. This is my first dnf book of the year and it's only the third book of 2025. This book should have been a winner for me because I just love Apocalypse/Zombie romances. Unfortunately, while this book had no Zombies it was excruciatingly boring. Both characters are flat and bland.
May 13, 2023
4 stars. This was a great basis for a story, unfortunately I am a WA State native. If an author wants to name specific towns and hiking trails, please be accurate. Otherwise be more vague and don't mention these places specifically.
Drove me nuts and took enjoyment away from the story:
They went hiking "toward Baker" but ended up at Hidden Lake Lookout which is way further south and East of Concrete, completely different highway approach.
-------
Quote "Grateful for the change of subject, he told her about the hike and Glacier Peak Park. “Rachael Lake is off the Snoqualmie Pass. I thought we might like something challenging.”
Correct about Rachel Lake location but Glacier Peak is way north!
-------
“Tell me if it goes numb or is too tight. We should get a doctor to check your ankle in Everett on the way out.
Okay- where the fuck did these people live? Snoqualmie (south) is so far from Everett (north). I know since we would hike Rachel Lake and I lived in Everett! Why would they go past about 15 capable walk-in clinics to go to Everett from Snoqualmie Pass??
And when they had to leave the city, Ryan had to go back to his work and get a code for the bunker. That was fine but the whole description of him doing all that and returning home to pack and then driving to meet Kat (I assume north) was very vague and drawn out, let alone not accurate.
She texted him her location:
“Just outside Everett on Highway 2 near Snohomish. Parking behind an empty office building near the road out of town.”
OK, but then the author gives us this:
"Kat waited behind the empty office building in Everett for Ryan to arrive."
What's the fascination with Everett? Snohomish is far enough away to make a difference in the story. I should know. Ugh. Moving on.
Nick is their friend, a good one at that, and he convinces them to join him on hikes to get out of their ruts. Ryan had a good description at the start- total hottie- but I never got a good one of Kat.
Possible spoilers ahead:
They make it out of Seattle, heading E towards S Dakota. First by hybrid suv, then by bike and eventually by foot.
The condoms thing with Ryan was funny. I was super surprised Kat came on to Ryan so fast for sex, it seemed like it came out of nowhere but it was a good scene. She has some introspection: Still, she was glad she’d left that behind because she liked herself better sober.
While they still had bikes, they were dealing with volcanic eruptions/ash so they hunkered down for a short time. Had some time to talk:
“I thought you were beautiful when I met you for our first hike,” he said, his voice pulling her back to the moment. “I could tell there was something special about you, but I didn’t think I was interested in dating.”
“You did not. You barely spoke to me.” Her tone was incredulous. She’d never guessed he was interested in anything about her that day.
“I watched. I listened. I admired.”
A LOT of time passed with descriptions and info and not any actual talking, for example:
A few bison roamed on and beside the road, but the herd congregated on the right near the water source. He and Kat sat on the hill and waited for the animals to leave the road. Kat snapped a few pictures with her phone and of the two of them. They didn’t have to wait long before the herd moved on.
And I could not wrap my head around them just biking for hundreds of miles a day. Like it was no big deal. And Kat had been a couch potato lush for 2 years or more. Just sayin'.
They escape some scary situations and are really good together. Nothing builds trust like almost dying together. Its depressing how humanity preys on others once the veneer of civility is gone.
Last peeve, they never discussed much and especially their own "diagnosis" so it blew me away at the end where he declares his love for her she says, "even though I am neurodivergent?
WTF- how would he know?
HFN as volcanoes explode once they make it to the bunkers.
Drove me nuts and took enjoyment away from the story:
They went hiking "toward Baker" but ended up at Hidden Lake Lookout which is way further south and East of Concrete, completely different highway approach.
-------
Quote "Grateful for the change of subject, he told her about the hike and Glacier Peak Park. “Rachael Lake is off the Snoqualmie Pass. I thought we might like something challenging.”
Correct about Rachel Lake location but Glacier Peak is way north!
-------
“Tell me if it goes numb or is too tight. We should get a doctor to check your ankle in Everett on the way out.
Okay- where the fuck did these people live? Snoqualmie (south) is so far from Everett (north). I know since we would hike Rachel Lake and I lived in Everett! Why would they go past about 15 capable walk-in clinics to go to Everett from Snoqualmie Pass??
And when they had to leave the city, Ryan had to go back to his work and get a code for the bunker. That was fine but the whole description of him doing all that and returning home to pack and then driving to meet Kat (I assume north) was very vague and drawn out, let alone not accurate.
She texted him her location:
“Just outside Everett on Highway 2 near Snohomish. Parking behind an empty office building near the road out of town.”
OK, but then the author gives us this:
"Kat waited behind the empty office building in Everett for Ryan to arrive."
What's the fascination with Everett? Snohomish is far enough away to make a difference in the story. I should know. Ugh. Moving on.
Nick is their friend, a good one at that, and he convinces them to join him on hikes to get out of their ruts. Ryan had a good description at the start- total hottie- but I never got a good one of Kat.
Possible spoilers ahead:
They make it out of Seattle, heading E towards S Dakota. First by hybrid suv, then by bike and eventually by foot.
The condoms thing with Ryan was funny. I was super surprised Kat came on to Ryan so fast for sex, it seemed like it came out of nowhere but it was a good scene. She has some introspection: Still, she was glad she’d left that behind because she liked herself better sober.
While they still had bikes, they were dealing with volcanic eruptions/ash so they hunkered down for a short time. Had some time to talk:
“I thought you were beautiful when I met you for our first hike,” he said, his voice pulling her back to the moment. “I could tell there was something special about you, but I didn’t think I was interested in dating.”
“You did not. You barely spoke to me.” Her tone was incredulous. She’d never guessed he was interested in anything about her that day.
“I watched. I listened. I admired.”
A LOT of time passed with descriptions and info and not any actual talking, for example:
A few bison roamed on and beside the road, but the herd congregated on the right near the water source. He and Kat sat on the hill and waited for the animals to leave the road. Kat snapped a few pictures with her phone and of the two of them. They didn’t have to wait long before the herd moved on.
And I could not wrap my head around them just biking for hundreds of miles a day. Like it was no big deal. And Kat had been a couch potato lush for 2 years or more. Just sayin'.
They escape some scary situations and are really good together. Nothing builds trust like almost dying together. Its depressing how humanity preys on others once the veneer of civility is gone.
Last peeve, they never discussed much and especially their own "diagnosis" so it blew me away at the end where he declares his love for her she says, "even though I am neurodivergent?
WTF- how would he know?
HFN as volcanoes explode once they make it to the bunkers.
December 16, 2024
I started this before bed last night thinking I’d fall asleep in a few minutes, but I was up until 3 am and made myself turn my kindle off and go to bed. 🤣
I absolutely was hooked. I am a dystopian lover, and not so much a cheesy romance lover, but the cheesy romance was minimal compared to the intensity and action the rest of the book had.
I was so excited to wake up today and finish it!
I absolutely was hooked. I am a dystopian lover, and not so much a cheesy romance lover, but the cheesy romance was minimal compared to the intensity and action the rest of the book had.
I was so excited to wake up today and finish it!
September 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A surprisingly tender post-apocalyptic romance with a strong emotional core.
The Edge of Life is a sometimes sweet, sometimes tense post-apocalyptic love story about two people finding each other just as the world begins to fall apart. I don’t usually gravitate toward romance, but the glowing reviews from friends and the realistic take on the end of the world drew me in—and I’m glad it did.
This book is a great blend of genres: it’s romantic without being overly saccharine, and the apocalyptic elements feel grounded rather than sensational (no zombies here, thankfully). The central tension comes not from monsters or conspiracies, but from the looming threat of an asteroid and the deeply human need to connect when everything else is falling apart.
Kat, an emotionally isolated schoolteacher still grieving her late husband, and Ryan, a workaholic lawyer, are thrown together in the most extreme circumstances. Their dynamic is warm, believable, and grows in a way that feels earned. There’s a decent amount of suspense, too, especially during the road trip portion, which kept me turning pages.
The science is light-touch, but effective enough to sell the premise, and I appreciated that the story never lost sight of its characters, even in the face of planetary catastrophe.
If you enjoy grounded apocalyptic fiction with heart, and you’re open to a bit of romance along the way, this is a lovely, emotionally resonant read that might surprise you—just like it did me.
A surprisingly tender post-apocalyptic romance with a strong emotional core.
The Edge of Life is a sometimes sweet, sometimes tense post-apocalyptic love story about two people finding each other just as the world begins to fall apart. I don’t usually gravitate toward romance, but the glowing reviews from friends and the realistic take on the end of the world drew me in—and I’m glad it did.
This book is a great blend of genres: it’s romantic without being overly saccharine, and the apocalyptic elements feel grounded rather than sensational (no zombies here, thankfully). The central tension comes not from monsters or conspiracies, but from the looming threat of an asteroid and the deeply human need to connect when everything else is falling apart.
Kat, an emotionally isolated schoolteacher still grieving her late husband, and Ryan, a workaholic lawyer, are thrown together in the most extreme circumstances. Their dynamic is warm, believable, and grows in a way that feels earned. There’s a decent amount of suspense, too, especially during the road trip portion, which kept me turning pages.
The science is light-touch, but effective enough to sell the premise, and I appreciated that the story never lost sight of its characters, even in the face of planetary catastrophe.
If you enjoy grounded apocalyptic fiction with heart, and you’re open to a bit of romance along the way, this is a lovely, emotionally resonant read that might surprise you—just like it did me.
April 26, 2023
3.5 STARS
Kat and Ryan are kind of thrown together by their mutual friend Nick, who happened to discover the asteroid and cryptically warned them to "take a vacation". They're a bit awkward around each other at first, but impending doom has a way of speeding life up and they are falling for each other in no time.
Of course the road from Seattle to South Dakota is fraught challenges, and it's those parts of the book I enjoyed more than the romantic stuff.
The ending is quick, with no epilogue, making me wonder if a sequel is planned. I liked the characters and would read another book featuring them. There are also some unanswered questions, first being "What happened to Nick?"
Kat and Ryan are kind of thrown together by their mutual friend Nick, who happened to discover the asteroid and cryptically warned them to "take a vacation". They're a bit awkward around each other at first, but impending doom has a way of speeding life up and they are falling for each other in no time.
Of course the road from Seattle to South Dakota is fraught challenges, and it's those parts of the book I enjoyed more than the romantic stuff.
The ending is quick, with no epilogue, making me wonder if a sequel is planned. I liked the characters and would read another book featuring them. There are also some unanswered questions, first being "What happened to Nick?"
February 19, 2024
A story of strength, perseverance, and love with enough excitement to keep the reader wanting more. This was a special read for me since the author was my 3rd-grade teacher (the book reads differently when it's by an author you know). You felt for the characters, especially Kat, who struggled to find peace in her life. Will there be a prequel to this book? Hopefully. It would be interesting to see how Kat and Ryan's characters play out in their new surroundings and where the other characters end up, especially Nick. This was a great read and I'm looking forward to other works by Gibson.
January 9, 2025
Its been a long time since I picked up a book I had never heard of from an unknown to me author. The book showed up on my Goodreads feed and it mentioned an apocalypse and a romance. Both of which I'm a fan of. It was fun to just go into a book knowing absolutely nothing aside from the synopsis.
I had no expectations and ended up having a great time with it. I like how we start with the everyday life of the characters in the opening chapters. It just made it all the more jarring when sh*t actually hit the fan.
I liked our main characters and their friendship. The romance did happen a little too quickly for my tastes. But hey, its the end of the world and things get intense. I actually did like them together, I just wish it had been a little more drawn out is all.
I thought the author balanced the chaos and horror of the disaster with the romance very well. It was an entertaining read with characters I could root for. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
I had no expectations and ended up having a great time with it. I like how we start with the everyday life of the characters in the opening chapters. It just made it all the more jarring when sh*t actually hit the fan.
I liked our main characters and their friendship. The romance did happen a little too quickly for my tastes. But hey, its the end of the world and things get intense. I actually did like them together, I just wish it had been a little more drawn out is all.
I thought the author balanced the chaos and horror of the disaster with the romance very well. It was an entertaining read with characters I could root for. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
December 26, 2023
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!
February 9, 2024
Excellent book
The book was well written and great building of characters and backgrounds. Makes you wish to see the mountains and scenery. We all have flaws and circumstances makes them hero’s . I liked Kat and Ryan, so glad their relationship developed intimately. But I want more! Hopefully be sequel. What happened to Nick, need Christopher, Elizabeth, Luke and Ella’s story.
The book was well written and great building of characters and backgrounds. Makes you wish to see the mountains and scenery. We all have flaws and circumstances makes them hero’s . I liked Kat and Ryan, so glad their relationship developed intimately. But I want more! Hopefully be sequel. What happened to Nick, need Christopher, Elizabeth, Luke and Ella’s story.
April 10, 2023
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!
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!
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