What do you think?
Rate this book
Together in a Broken World
Two boys fall in love in a deadly world, but it’s the secrets they keep that might kill them.
Seventeen-year-old Zach was visiting his uncle in a small Montana town when a mysterious illness ripped through the world. Most died, but those who survived the Infection became mindless killers, spreading the disease with a single scratch. Now, a year later, civilization lies in ruins, and Zach is the town’s sole survivor. Desperately lonely, he longs to return to his family in Seattle, but his fears hold him captive.
Eighteen-year-old Aiden is on a critical mission for the covert Scientific Collective, delivering vials whose contents could cure the Infection. Tortured by his boyfriend’s death, he welcomes the risks of the perilous journey. When a militia attacks Aiden, he flees to Zach’s town.
The boys escape together and soon form a bond as they comfort each other in this desolate and broken world. The farther they travel, the more their affection grows, as do the forces pulling them apart. But their greatest threats are the secrets they keep. Zach hides details of his uncle’s death, and Aiden conceals the vials’ sinister origins. In order to survive, they’ll have to confront the truths that could tear their love apart.
Seventeen-year-old Zach was visiting his uncle in a small Montana town when a mysterious illness ripped through the world. Most died, but those who survived the Infection became mindless killers, spreading the disease with a single scratch. Now, a year later, civilization lies in ruins, and Zach is the town’s sole survivor. Desperately lonely, he longs to return to his family in Seattle, but his fears hold him captive.
Eighteen-year-old Aiden is on a critical mission for the covert Scientific Collective, delivering vials whose contents could cure the Infection. Tortured by his boyfriend’s death, he welcomes the risks of the perilous journey. When a militia attacks Aiden, he flees to Zach’s town.
The boys escape together and soon form a bond as they comfort each other in this desolate and broken world. The farther they travel, the more their affection grows, as do the forces pulling them apart. But their greatest threats are the secrets they keep. Zach hides details of his uncle’s death, and Aiden conceals the vials’ sinister origins. In order to survive, they’ll have to confront the truths that could tear their love apart.
398 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2024
225 people are currently reading
12751 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
September 4, 2024
Baby, I'm burning, yearning inside, I can't get you off my mind / I got a fever, 110, you're my only, only medicine (Only You – Anderson East).
You know, I'm just going to go ahead and say it... I like zombies. I know I'd better hang up my hipster card right this very moment, because yeah, it’s a genre that's so~oo played out by now and we're all tired of "zombie movie" this, and “zombie book” that, but I’m honestly never too strongly opposed to their inclusion. In this, or that. I think they're cool! In fact, I’m pretty sure that I’m part of the problem, because I find enjoyment in even the most basic, mid, zombie stories! And with zombie media nowadays, I’ve noticed more and more that I'm walking away disappointed because newer stories like to try to “subvert expectations” or whatever and forego the usual tropes. I guess it's fine to try new things, but I can’t help it, I always find the most entertainment in post-apocalypse fiction whenever it does the usual thing where everybody's at each other’s throats! And if I don’t get that, then I go out of my way to imagine scenarios like it. There used to be this game mode in an old Call of Duty game where you and a group of four would face off against hordes upon hordes of zombies until all players get overwhelmed. It was all good fun because after a few rounds, your team would eventually have to retreat into an elevator to go to the next level, and I’m sure you know where this is going, but as soon as we got the signal, me and my friend used to rush over to the elevator and shut the door just as the two remaining guys were running to join us on our voyage to safety, abandoning them to the flesh-eating monsters. Thus reenacting that one scene in every zombie movie. Aaaah, those were the days. Of course, this totally messed our game and we died only a few minutes later, and I would always get a crazy amount of hate messages, but it was a good time nonetheless. Hey, somebody’s got to do it, and it might as well be me! And then there’s how I used to play The Sims, where I’d make families of eight and then delete all the doors to the food, just to see how long it would take for everyone to turn on each other. Haha! …Please don’t judge me. But enough about the torture labyrinths my Jigsaw ass used to create in video games, what I’m really trying to say here is that I liked this book, and no matter how formulaic it got at points, I was just jazzed to be along for the ride. Though, since we're on the topic of zombies, I was a little disappointed at how this book doesn’t actually feature that many of them. I suppose it’s more in the same vein as The Last of Us season one, where, and let’s all say it together now… “humans are the real monsters!" but come on, I think I counted one, maybe two zombies? That's wild. Like damn, is this a zombie apocalypse or a Katy Perry album listening party? Oh well. Look, this book isn’t groundbreaking, and it often gets hung up on the usual stuff the genre is known for, but if you go into it with an open mind, I do think that there’s enough here to be at least a little entertained. That doesn’t really sound like high praise, but with all the boring post-apocalyptic novels I’ve read this year, I’ll take “pleasantly surprised,” sure.
Sorry for all the mindless yapping. I feel like I had to preempt this whole review by explaining that I’m that guy who comes across a lot harsher than intended and will talk a lot of trash about something only to then add a little, “Yup, it was pretty good!” at the end of my rants. I don’t know, that’s just how my mind works. I’m out there on Letterboxd giving all my two-star ratings a little “like” too, just to let the people know that I had a good time. The truth is, the only reason why I actually started this book right away was because my opinions on The Only Light Left Burning didn’t really sit right with me. Like, I should have like that one more, right? I figured I had to quickly whip out a quick emergency read to get the bad taste out of my mouth. I can’t lie, this book accomplished what the former couldn't: brevity. Together in a Broken World is no masterpiece, it’s true, but The Only Light Left Burning was such a slog to get through (for me) that I felt like I’d already spent months on M. Night Shyamalan’s “beach-that-makes-you-old” by the time I was finished with it. So, props to this book for speeding things along, keeping it moving at a steady pace. But I guess I should stop stalling and get to the not-so-great stuff, huh? Yeah, alright. I hated one half of the couple and was just lukewarm on the other. Aiden sucked and was constantly abandoning Zach, while he was way too forgiving for all of Aiden’s shitty behavior. Sorry, but I needed way more than a constant string of “Aw shucks” from Zach before I could even start to think about liking Aiden. I feel like such an armchair analysis guy, but all I ever want from books with a romance and a big “break-up” scene is for the characters to not be so quick to forgive. I’m not saying that every character who does wrong needs to repent or “absolve” themselves of their sins or anything quite so dramatic, but some lingering resentment and a dash of trust issues really does go a long way to making characters feel more realistic. Besides I just feel like “forgiveness” as a theme is one of the hardest things to write convincingly, and yet it seems like every author wants to center their story around it. I found this notion to be especially far-fetched this time around because this book is set in a post-apocalyptic world! Why exactly do these characters trust each other so easily when everybody knows that a healthy suspicion means survival!? If you ask me, it was a bit weird because when they first meet, Zach is unwashed as hell and walking around like Bigfoot, yet after a couple pages they’re totally cool with each other. Oh, and Zach’s appearance when he first appears just proves how much of a superficial loser Aiden really was, because he only starts liking Zach after he completely cleans up, which I kind of get, but it came across more like that scene in Breakfast Club where Allison removes her entire goth aura in order to impress the jock guy. That scene sucked ass back then and it sure as hell sucks ass now. Seriously, if I didn’t have eleven seasons of The Walking Dead under my belt, I’d have to say that Aiden is the dumbest character ever featured in a post-apocalypse story… but since I do, he’s probably like the twentieth.
I think my main problem is that Aiden and Zach never felt like they were treated equally within the narrative. They kept talking about how they both “owe each other” for saving each other’s lives, but the reality is that Zach really did most the work throughout the story; fixing up cars, finding shelter, creating distractions for Aiden to escape the armed bandits after them, it was all Zach! Aiden mostly only gets away with being dead-weight because Zach finds him attractive. Yeah well, guess what? This is a book, so looks don't mean all that much when you're nothing more than words on a page! And yet the narration makes it seem like they’re some kind of super team when they’re together. Nah, let's set the record straight: Aiden’s getting carried, for real. Part of what makes post-apocalypse stories interesting to me is the fact that people from all corners of society are brought down to the same playing field, so to speak. We’re all down here in the muck now. So, I thought it was an odd choice to have Aiden come from a society of relative safety and privilege, because it also made his overconfident and smug personality come across as more insufferable, insensitive, and callous than what was probably intended. Their dynamic does actually get a lot better as the book progresses, and I actually thought they were pretty cute by the time I reached the final pages, but I guess my main issue with their initial dynamic is that the whole thing is kind of about a one-sided crush, and I'm not the biggest fan of those kinds of stories. I liked 500 Days of Summer, I did! But I did my time, that's not what I'm looking for here! In my opinion, unrequited love makes for a good song, but not so much when it comes a romance book where we’re supposed to be rooting for and like both characters in the couple. Otherwise, I actually think this book could have been more interesting if it had taken place farther in the future. I love Fallout’s world, and a lot of what makes it so fun is whenever you happen upon a new town and you can see the remnants of the old world. A community surrounding an old motel called “Novac,” which is clearly taken from an old sign that used to say “No Vacancy.” It’s little things like that that always scratches that itch! Because this book is about a cure to the zombie infection and takes place so early after the end of modern civilization, the gravity of the fact that the world as we knew it is over never really sets in. The world hardly ended; it just took a year off! And because it’s so early days, we don’t even get any cool, post-society, Walking Dead-esque slang to call the zombies! This book really could have used a few terms to properly describe these soulless monsters. Maybe something like “content creator” or “influencer?” Hey, it works for me. Alright, this is the last thing, but it was also kind of annoying how often this book acted like super popular things were these niche interests. Like, we’ve all seen Star Wars and everybody's heard of Daft Punk, let's not pretend like they're hidden gems, now. And it's funny because if this did take place in the far-flung future, then none of this would have been a problem, because then you could pretend like these things are lost media! Okay, I’ll end this here because this review is already way too long. And yeah, I know I was low on praise in this review, but if you were to ask me right now at this moment in time if I liked this book, I'd say that … yup, it was pretty good.
You know, I'm just going to go ahead and say it... I like zombies. I know I'd better hang up my hipster card right this very moment, because yeah, it’s a genre that's so~oo played out by now and we're all tired of "zombie movie" this, and “zombie book” that, but I’m honestly never too strongly opposed to their inclusion. In this, or that. I think they're cool! In fact, I’m pretty sure that I’m part of the problem, because I find enjoyment in even the most basic, mid, zombie stories! And with zombie media nowadays, I’ve noticed more and more that I'm walking away disappointed because newer stories like to try to “subvert expectations” or whatever and forego the usual tropes. I guess it's fine to try new things, but I can’t help it, I always find the most entertainment in post-apocalypse fiction whenever it does the usual thing where everybody's at each other’s throats! And if I don’t get that, then I go out of my way to imagine scenarios like it. There used to be this game mode in an old Call of Duty game where you and a group of four would face off against hordes upon hordes of zombies until all players get overwhelmed. It was all good fun because after a few rounds, your team would eventually have to retreat into an elevator to go to the next level, and I’m sure you know where this is going, but as soon as we got the signal, me and my friend used to rush over to the elevator and shut the door just as the two remaining guys were running to join us on our voyage to safety, abandoning them to the flesh-eating monsters. Thus reenacting that one scene in every zombie movie. Aaaah, those were the days. Of course, this totally messed our game and we died only a few minutes later, and I would always get a crazy amount of hate messages, but it was a good time nonetheless. Hey, somebody’s got to do it, and it might as well be me! And then there’s how I used to play The Sims, where I’d make families of eight and then delete all the doors to the food, just to see how long it would take for everyone to turn on each other. Haha! …Please don’t judge me. But enough about the torture labyrinths my Jigsaw ass used to create in video games, what I’m really trying to say here is that I liked this book, and no matter how formulaic it got at points, I was just jazzed to be along for the ride. Though, since we're on the topic of zombies, I was a little disappointed at how this book doesn’t actually feature that many of them. I suppose it’s more in the same vein as The Last of Us season one, where, and let’s all say it together now… “humans are the real monsters!" but come on, I think I counted one, maybe two zombies? That's wild. Like damn, is this a zombie apocalypse or a Katy Perry album listening party? Oh well. Look, this book isn’t groundbreaking, and it often gets hung up on the usual stuff the genre is known for, but if you go into it with an open mind, I do think that there’s enough here to be at least a little entertained. That doesn’t really sound like high praise, but with all the boring post-apocalyptic novels I’ve read this year, I’ll take “pleasantly surprised,” sure.
Sorry for all the mindless yapping. I feel like I had to preempt this whole review by explaining that I’m that guy who comes across a lot harsher than intended and will talk a lot of trash about something only to then add a little, “Yup, it was pretty good!” at the end of my rants. I don’t know, that’s just how my mind works. I’m out there on Letterboxd giving all my two-star ratings a little “like” too, just to let the people know that I had a good time. The truth is, the only reason why I actually started this book right away was because my opinions on The Only Light Left Burning didn’t really sit right with me. Like, I should have like that one more, right? I figured I had to quickly whip out a quick emergency read to get the bad taste out of my mouth. I can’t lie, this book accomplished what the former couldn't: brevity. Together in a Broken World is no masterpiece, it’s true, but The Only Light Left Burning was such a slog to get through (for me) that I felt like I’d already spent months on M. Night Shyamalan’s “beach-that-makes-you-old” by the time I was finished with it. So, props to this book for speeding things along, keeping it moving at a steady pace. But I guess I should stop stalling and get to the not-so-great stuff, huh? Yeah, alright. I hated one half of the couple and was just lukewarm on the other. Aiden sucked and was constantly abandoning Zach, while he was way too forgiving for all of Aiden’s shitty behavior. Sorry, but I needed way more than a constant string of “Aw shucks” from Zach before I could even start to think about liking Aiden. I feel like such an armchair analysis guy, but all I ever want from books with a romance and a big “break-up” scene is for the characters to not be so quick to forgive. I’m not saying that every character who does wrong needs to repent or “absolve” themselves of their sins or anything quite so dramatic, but some lingering resentment and a dash of trust issues really does go a long way to making characters feel more realistic. Besides I just feel like “forgiveness” as a theme is one of the hardest things to write convincingly, and yet it seems like every author wants to center their story around it. I found this notion to be especially far-fetched this time around because this book is set in a post-apocalyptic world! Why exactly do these characters trust each other so easily when everybody knows that a healthy suspicion means survival!? If you ask me, it was a bit weird because when they first meet, Zach is unwashed as hell and walking around like Bigfoot, yet after a couple pages they’re totally cool with each other. Oh, and Zach’s appearance when he first appears just proves how much of a superficial loser Aiden really was, because he only starts liking Zach after he completely cleans up, which I kind of get, but it came across more like that scene in Breakfast Club where Allison removes her entire goth aura in order to impress the jock guy. That scene sucked ass back then and it sure as hell sucks ass now. Seriously, if I didn’t have eleven seasons of The Walking Dead under my belt, I’d have to say that Aiden is the dumbest character ever featured in a post-apocalypse story… but since I do, he’s probably like the twentieth.
I think my main problem is that Aiden and Zach never felt like they were treated equally within the narrative. They kept talking about how they both “owe each other” for saving each other’s lives, but the reality is that Zach really did most the work throughout the story; fixing up cars, finding shelter, creating distractions for Aiden to escape the armed bandits after them, it was all Zach! Aiden mostly only gets away with being dead-weight because Zach finds him attractive. Yeah well, guess what? This is a book, so looks don't mean all that much when you're nothing more than words on a page! And yet the narration makes it seem like they’re some kind of super team when they’re together. Nah, let's set the record straight: Aiden’s getting carried, for real. Part of what makes post-apocalypse stories interesting to me is the fact that people from all corners of society are brought down to the same playing field, so to speak. We’re all down here in the muck now. So, I thought it was an odd choice to have Aiden come from a society of relative safety and privilege, because it also made his overconfident and smug personality come across as more insufferable, insensitive, and callous than what was probably intended. Their dynamic does actually get a lot better as the book progresses, and I actually thought they were pretty cute by the time I reached the final pages, but I guess my main issue with their initial dynamic is that the whole thing is kind of about a one-sided crush, and I'm not the biggest fan of those kinds of stories. I liked 500 Days of Summer, I did! But I did my time, that's not what I'm looking for here! In my opinion, unrequited love makes for a good song, but not so much when it comes a romance book where we’re supposed to be rooting for and like both characters in the couple. Otherwise, I actually think this book could have been more interesting if it had taken place farther in the future. I love Fallout’s world, and a lot of what makes it so fun is whenever you happen upon a new town and you can see the remnants of the old world. A community surrounding an old motel called “Novac,” which is clearly taken from an old sign that used to say “No Vacancy.” It’s little things like that that always scratches that itch! Because this book is about a cure to the zombie infection and takes place so early after the end of modern civilization, the gravity of the fact that the world as we knew it is over never really sets in. The world hardly ended; it just took a year off! And because it’s so early days, we don’t even get any cool, post-society, Walking Dead-esque slang to call the zombies! This book really could have used a few terms to properly describe these soulless monsters. Maybe something like “content creator” or “influencer?” Hey, it works for me. Alright, this is the last thing, but it was also kind of annoying how often this book acted like super popular things were these niche interests. Like, we’ve all seen Star Wars and everybody's heard of Daft Punk, let's not pretend like they're hidden gems, now. And it's funny because if this did take place in the far-flung future, then none of this would have been a problem, because then you could pretend like these things are lost media! Okay, I’ll end this here because this review is already way too long. And yeah, I know I was low on praise in this review, but if you were to ask me right now at this moment in time if I liked this book, I'd say that … yup, it was pretty good.
Read
February 18, 2024I feel so conflicted. I wanted to DNF more than once because I didn’t want to give a low rating or write a bad review. But somehow, I also wanted to read on and on, so here I am, in doubt because this story could have been so much better.
When I found out about this title, I immediately thought of All That’s Left in the World, one of my favorite YA books. And this one is definitely for ATLITW lovers. And for those who worry, it’s similar but different enough to stand out.
When I saw the cover, I almost screamed with joy. Because this is what we call an amazing cover.
When I started reading, I shifted around in my chair. I wanted to love this book so much! Even more, because some friends told me they loved it and were sure I’d adore it too.
Yeah … I hoped that too …
Just hear me out. I don’t think this book is terrible. I read it with a smile on my face, and I rooted for Zack and Aiden so much. They were both great guys. The story is fast-paced and held my attention. But …
I think this could be a great story. But it isn’t right now (my opinion, others could think differently!). It just needs far more editing. The writing was too clunky and too telling for my liking, sometimes even information dumping like. And some things were really cringy. When Aiden said in a few sentences that he was once taking care of a ten-year-old who died because he got stung by a hornet, I was like, WTF am I reading now? Why put this in the story?
And when Zach and Aiden met Jo, they thought that she was autistic because she was wicked smart and living her dream???? Really?
Or when the boys found a pharmacy, and there suddenly was a passage about safe sex and the apocalypse?
So yeah, I read the book and liked most of its content, but I am also sad because, in my opinion, it could have been so much better. And, like I said, I am conflicted, and I have no clue how to rate it.
I’m rating the cover five stars, though!
Thank you so much, Paul Michael Winters, for the ARC. I’m so sorry I didn’t like this as much as I hoped to. I will definitely check out your future books, though.
Follow me on Instagram
When I found out about this title, I immediately thought of All That’s Left in the World, one of my favorite YA books. And this one is definitely for ATLITW lovers. And for those who worry, it’s similar but different enough to stand out.
When I saw the cover, I almost screamed with joy. Because this is what we call an amazing cover.
When I started reading, I shifted around in my chair. I wanted to love this book so much! Even more, because some friends told me they loved it and were sure I’d adore it too.
Yeah … I hoped that too …
Just hear me out. I don’t think this book is terrible. I read it with a smile on my face, and I rooted for Zack and Aiden so much. They were both great guys. The story is fast-paced and held my attention. But …
I think this could be a great story. But it isn’t right now (my opinion, others could think differently!). It just needs far more editing. The writing was too clunky and too telling for my liking, sometimes even information dumping like. And some things were really cringy. When Aiden said in a few sentences that he was once taking care of a ten-year-old who died because he got stung by a hornet, I was like, WTF am I reading now? Why put this in the story?
And when Zach and Aiden met Jo, they thought that she was autistic because she was wicked smart and living her dream???? Really?
Or when the boys found a pharmacy, and there suddenly was a passage about safe sex and the apocalypse?
So yeah, I read the book and liked most of its content, but I am also sad because, in my opinion, it could have been so much better. And, like I said, I am conflicted, and I have no clue how to rate it.
I’m rating the cover five stars, though!
Thank you so much, Paul Michael Winters, for the ARC. I’m so sorry I didn’t like this as much as I hoped to. I will definitely check out your future books, though.
Follow me on Instagram
February 15, 2024
Wow, wow, wow. This book had a chokehold on me from the very start and up until the final page. I am in awe that this is a debut.
The magic of Together in a Broken World lies within the two protagonists, Zach and Aiden. They are well-developed and lovable, and both of them have such emotional depth. They're human, they're flawed, they're kind-hearted, and they feel 3-dimensional. You become so invested in them that you take things personal when they hit a roadblock.
The plot is thrilling and exciting, but not at the expense of beautiful, romantic, touching moments that surround Zach and Aiden's slow-burn feelings for one another. The adventure aspects are balanced with the romance aspect of the book, and those two elements work so well together.
I laughed. I cried. I was on the edge of my seat. I could not put this book down, and read it in 2 or 3 sittings simply because I was in love with these characters and I needed to know what would happen to them.
For fans of All That's Left in the World or The Last of Us, this book was written just for you.
I cannot recommend Together in a Broken World enough. I can find no faults in it. You will love it.
A huge thank you to Paul Michael Winters for being kind enough to give me an ARC of this absolutely incredible book. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to meet Zach and Aiden so I can fan-girl over this story with other people.
The magic of Together in a Broken World lies within the two protagonists, Zach and Aiden. They are well-developed and lovable, and both of them have such emotional depth. They're human, they're flawed, they're kind-hearted, and they feel 3-dimensional. You become so invested in them that you take things personal when they hit a roadblock.
The plot is thrilling and exciting, but not at the expense of beautiful, romantic, touching moments that surround Zach and Aiden's slow-burn feelings for one another. The adventure aspects are balanced with the romance aspect of the book, and those two elements work so well together.
I laughed. I cried. I was on the edge of my seat. I could not put this book down, and read it in 2 or 3 sittings simply because I was in love with these characters and I needed to know what would happen to them.
For fans of All That's Left in the World or The Last of Us, this book was written just for you.
I cannot recommend Together in a Broken World enough. I can find no faults in it. You will love it.
A huge thank you to Paul Michael Winters for being kind enough to give me an ARC of this absolutely incredible book. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to meet Zach and Aiden so I can fan-girl over this story with other people.
February 7, 2024
This was a fast paced post apocalyptic story that gave me exactly what I was looking for.
Action
Romance
Smooches
GAY PANIC
If that’s also what you’re looking for then BAM.
My only criticism was that the dual pov was a tad messy but for a debut I’m willing to overlook that.
Action
Romance
Smooches
GAY PANIC
If that’s also what you’re looking for then BAM.
My only criticism was that the dual pov was a tad messy but for a debut I’m willing to overlook that.
May 21, 2024
A captivating, emotional and adorable post-apocalyptic story!
Blending YA gay romance with the adventure, danger and mental toll of a road trip in a world where civilization has collapsed, Paul Michael Winters delivers an excellent debut novel which will keep your eyes on the page from start to finish!
A lot of people will compare it with All That's Left in the World, and fairly so since there aren't many gay YA post-apocalyptic books out there, and I do think that if you loved the one, you will love the other too - but the books aren't similar apart from the general concept, don't expect a copy!
Aiden and Zach had great chemistry from the start, and their interactions are adorable. The attraction is there in every smile and every thought, sometimes subtle sometimes on the forefront. They're quite open about it which moves the romance quite a bit - the big obstacles are the mental struggles they need to overcome.
The states of Montana, Idaho and Washington are not your usual setting for a road trip so the worldbuilding is refreshing and the author has paid a lot of attention to getting the locations, roads and landscape correct.
The danger chasing after Aiden ups the stakes of his relationship with Zach, since it brings him against the dilemma of listening to his heart but putting him in danger, or respecting his right to make his own choices and losing him forever.
I devoured this book in less than 2 days, enthralled with the characters, their relationship and their journey - don't sleep on this book in May!
Edit: The book is out now!
Thank you Paul Michael Winters for the ARC!
Blending YA gay romance with the adventure, danger and mental toll of a road trip in a world where civilization has collapsed, Paul Michael Winters delivers an excellent debut novel which will keep your eyes on the page from start to finish!
A lot of people will compare it with All That's Left in the World, and fairly so since there aren't many gay YA post-apocalyptic books out there, and I do think that if you loved the one, you will love the other too - but the books aren't similar apart from the general concept, don't expect a copy!
Aiden and Zach had great chemistry from the start, and their interactions are adorable. The attraction is there in every smile and every thought, sometimes subtle sometimes on the forefront. They're quite open about it which moves the romance quite a bit - the big obstacles are the mental struggles they need to overcome.
The states of Montana, Idaho and Washington are not your usual setting for a road trip so the worldbuilding is refreshing and the author has paid a lot of attention to getting the locations, roads and landscape correct.
The danger chasing after Aiden ups the stakes of his relationship with Zach, since it brings him against the dilemma of listening to his heart but putting him in danger, or respecting his right to make his own choices and losing him forever.
I devoured this book in less than 2 days, enthralled with the characters, their relationship and their journey - don't sleep on this book in May!
Edit: The book is out now!
Thank you Paul Michael Winters for the ARC!
May 6, 2024
absolutely LOVED!! and now that i’ve had time to sit on this i just gotta say that it’s bloody brilliant!! paul michael winters truly crafted the perfect essence of a post-apocalyptic world and the way two teenagers would navigate it. the pacing of their travels and the high stakes of the chase to complete the secret mission mixed with the secrets being kept and romance of falling in love despite the madness was truly GIVING! i was so tuned from start to end and i couldn’t help but want to scream more more more! winters did his boys justice and really gave us readers exactly what we needed. thank you! i truly had such a great time; it was an easy 5 stars for me! i HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone wanting the perfect post-apocalyptic gay book ‘round these parts!
June 30, 2024
I was very excited to read this because I absolutely love queer books with a post-apocalypse setting, and also because I saw people recommend it to fans of Erik J. Brown's All That's Left in the World, which is one of my favourite books. However, I unfortunately was disappointed.
First of all, the writing. I didn't like it at all. The whole book read like this: "Aiden is hurt. I'm so sad." or "I really like Zach. He makes me happy." Like?? And the info-dumping aspect of it... we'd get information about the Collective or the characters' backgrounds through dialogue, which is something I despise when authors do it. I find it so lazy, and it doesn't hold the reader's interest at all.
It needed more action. The whole book was like this: Zach and Aiden are travelling through the states, get attacked, Aiden gets panicked and abandons Zach, Zach gets in trouble so Aiden comes back to help him, Zach is mad at Aiden and Aiden feels bad, Zach forgives Aiden, repeat. Just a neverending cycle.
Last but not least, the romance. I didn't care about Zach and Aiden's relationship in the slightest, due to the fact that I didn't care about them as individuals in general (the info-dumping really didn't do their characters any favours). It was like this: Aiden and Zach meet, Zach is immediately attracted to Aiden, Aiden is not immediately attracted to Zach due to his ragged appearance, Zach showers and gets a haircut and Aiden is immediately attracted to him, they kiss, they have sex, they confess their love for each other. Yay. And sometimes the dialogue between them could be so cringe, especially after they confessed their feelings for each other.
The story had a lot of potential, though, and I'm sure that Paul Michael Winters himself has potential to be a great writer. I was sorry to not like his debut, but I wish him the best of luck on his career.
First of all, the writing. I didn't like it at all. The whole book read like this: "Aiden is hurt. I'm so sad." or "I really like Zach. He makes me happy." Like?? And the info-dumping aspect of it... we'd get information about the Collective or the characters' backgrounds through dialogue, which is something I despise when authors do it. I find it so lazy, and it doesn't hold the reader's interest at all.
It needed more action. The whole book was like this: Zach and Aiden are travelling through the states, get attacked, Aiden gets panicked and abandons Zach, Zach gets in trouble so Aiden comes back to help him, Zach is mad at Aiden and Aiden feels bad, Zach forgives Aiden, repeat. Just a neverending cycle.
Last but not least, the romance. I didn't care about Zach and Aiden's relationship in the slightest, due to the fact that I didn't care about them as individuals in general (the info-dumping really didn't do their characters any favours). It was like this: Aiden and Zach meet, Zach is immediately attracted to Aiden, Aiden is not immediately attracted to Zach due to his ragged appearance, Zach showers and gets a haircut and Aiden is immediately attracted to him, they kiss, they have sex, they confess their love for each other. Yay. And sometimes the dialogue between them could be so cringe, especially after they confessed their feelings for each other.
The story had a lot of potential, though, and I'm sure that Paul Michael Winters himself has potential to be a great writer. I was sorry to not like his debut, but I wish him the best of luck on his career.
May 21, 2024
Paul Michael Winters' 'Together in a Broken World' is hands down one of the best reads I've read this year so far.
From the get-go, I was completely engrossed, especially by the dynamic duo of Aiden and Zach, whose characters stole my heart from the outset and only deepened their hold on me as the story unfolded. Their chemistry throughout the book was simply magical, seamlessly intertwining to craft a story that's as enchanting as it is poignant.
The characters they meet along the way are just brilliantly thought out, making Zach and Aiden's journey even more thrilling and engaging. I felt a real connection with them, especially with Curtis and Jo. They're not just side characters; they're so vivid and interesting, seamlessly woven into the storyline. Curtis's kindness and compassion and Jo's endearing charm added such richness to the journey of Zach and Aiden, making every encounter with them a highlight of the journey. Their presence enhanced the story, making it even harder to put the book down.
Each chapter left me hungry for more, eagerly turning pages as the suspense mounted, my anticipation reaching fever pitch by the story's climax end chapters. I found myself on an emotional rollercoaster, experiencing moments of pure joy, heart-wrenching sadness, ‘infectious’ laughter (get it), and breathless awe throughout. 'Together in a Broken World' wasn’t just a book - it was an absolute adventure.
From the get-go, I was completely engrossed, especially by the dynamic duo of Aiden and Zach, whose characters stole my heart from the outset and only deepened their hold on me as the story unfolded. Their chemistry throughout the book was simply magical, seamlessly intertwining to craft a story that's as enchanting as it is poignant.
The characters they meet along the way are just brilliantly thought out, making Zach and Aiden's journey even more thrilling and engaging. I felt a real connection with them, especially with Curtis and Jo. They're not just side characters; they're so vivid and interesting, seamlessly woven into the storyline. Curtis's kindness and compassion and Jo's endearing charm added such richness to the journey of Zach and Aiden, making every encounter with them a highlight of the journey. Their presence enhanced the story, making it even harder to put the book down.
Each chapter left me hungry for more, eagerly turning pages as the suspense mounted, my anticipation reaching fever pitch by the story's climax end chapters. I found myself on an emotional rollercoaster, experiencing moments of pure joy, heart-wrenching sadness, ‘infectious’ laughter (get it), and breathless awe throughout. 'Together in a Broken World' wasn’t just a book - it was an absolute adventure.
April 28, 2024
This post-apocalyptic novel is well written, and the world Zach and Aiden inhabit is very well developed. I especially liked the realistic scenario that caused the collapse of civilization—believable and well thought out. I do love a society’s-collapse-is-right-around-the-corner story, and this one had me at page one.
Two first person point of view novels are sometimes hard to pull off, but Zach and Aiden have very different voices, which is one of the things I love about the novel. There are a lot of emotional mysteries to unravel while they evade the Infected, the FLA, and scrounge for food and other supplies. Aiden is on a mission he cannot tell Zach about and this causes quite a bit of trouble for them throughout.
I highly recommend this action-packed, road trip style story about two teenagers trying to fix their broken world, and their broken selves, with love and humor.
Two first person point of view novels are sometimes hard to pull off, but Zach and Aiden have very different voices, which is one of the things I love about the novel. There are a lot of emotional mysteries to unravel while they evade the Infected, the FLA, and scrounge for food and other supplies. Aiden is on a mission he cannot tell Zach about and this causes quite a bit of trouble for them throughout.
I highly recommend this action-packed, road trip style story about two teenagers trying to fix their broken world, and their broken selves, with love and humor.
March 20, 2024
Get your tissues ready because your feelings are gonna be felt.
I don’t think I´ve ever wanted someone to succeed on their mission more than I did for Zach and Aiden and the author didn’t make it easy for them.
The stakes keep getting higher, and when you thought they were gonna have a moment to rest another twist was revealed.
This book grabbed me and didn’t let me go until the last page, honestly there were times I couldn’t breathe anticipating what’s next.
Zach and Aiden´s sweet relationship is everything that’s right in YA, it was so beautiful to see them overcome their own issues and get out of their heads.
Did I want to knock some sense into Aiden at times? Absolutely, but I understood his hesitation and the decisions he made.
Zach is such a sweet character, I just wanted to hug him the entire book and never leave him alone, Zach thrived under pressure and made "The Great Collapse" his bitch, honestly.
I also really enjoyed the love scenes, this being YA they are not overly explicit, but I could feel the author´s passion and romance behind the words.
The Great Collapse is such a cool concept, the mission they guys gad always felt fresh and never repetitive which can happen very quickly in dystopian books.
I would love to read more about this world.
PS, Curtis will forever be In my heart ❤️
All the start for this book, I’m gonna recommend it forever.
I don’t think I´ve ever wanted someone to succeed on their mission more than I did for Zach and Aiden and the author didn’t make it easy for them.
The stakes keep getting higher, and when you thought they were gonna have a moment to rest another twist was revealed.
This book grabbed me and didn’t let me go until the last page, honestly there were times I couldn’t breathe anticipating what’s next.
Zach and Aiden´s sweet relationship is everything that’s right in YA, it was so beautiful to see them overcome their own issues and get out of their heads.
Did I want to knock some sense into Aiden at times? Absolutely, but I understood his hesitation and the decisions he made.
Zach is such a sweet character, I just wanted to hug him the entire book and never leave him alone, Zach thrived under pressure and made "The Great Collapse" his bitch, honestly.
I also really enjoyed the love scenes, this being YA they are not overly explicit, but I could feel the author´s passion and romance behind the words.
The Great Collapse is such a cool concept, the mission they guys gad always felt fresh and never repetitive which can happen very quickly in dystopian books.
I would love to read more about this world.
PS, Curtis will forever be In my heart ❤️
All the start for this book, I’m gonna recommend it forever.
May 9, 2024
All I can say is WOW. I just finished this book and it has left me a complete and utter puddle. No notes, pure glorious storytelling.
When I first heard of this book, I was wary that it would be a very similar of All That’s Left in the World, one of my absolute faves. I’m thrilled to say that this book is very singular and stands strongly in its own right, telling a very different post-apocalyptic tale that is uniquely its own and utterly enticing. Zach needs to be protected at all costs, he is such a great character and so well-written! Aiden also has my heart, and the two of them together?! *melts* they’re blossoming relationship is an incredible one to read through and while it can be a bit frustrating at times *cough Aiden cough* it is superb and totally feasible in its trajectory and intensity.
Speaking of intensity, the feelings in here are VISCERAL, I found myself constantly on the edge of my seat clutching for dear life as I was reading. The stakes are high and feel high in the absolute best way. I have to commend the storytelling here, it is enrapturing, feels fresh and utterly captivating. Very seamlessly executed and smooth from start to end. The characters are all complex and consistent as well.
Lastly: CURTISSSSSS 😭✊🏻
Thank you so much to the author for the gifted early copy in exchange for my honest review. These are all my own opinions and I’m telling yall, READ THIS BOOK.
When I first heard of this book, I was wary that it would be a very similar of All That’s Left in the World, one of my absolute faves. I’m thrilled to say that this book is very singular and stands strongly in its own right, telling a very different post-apocalyptic tale that is uniquely its own and utterly enticing. Zach needs to be protected at all costs, he is such a great character and so well-written! Aiden also has my heart, and the two of them together?! *melts* they’re blossoming relationship is an incredible one to read through and while it can be a bit frustrating at times *cough Aiden cough* it is superb and totally feasible in its trajectory and intensity.
Speaking of intensity, the feelings in here are VISCERAL, I found myself constantly on the edge of my seat clutching for dear life as I was reading. The stakes are high and feel high in the absolute best way. I have to commend the storytelling here, it is enrapturing, feels fresh and utterly captivating. Very seamlessly executed and smooth from start to end. The characters are all complex and consistent as well.
Lastly: CURTISSSSSS 😭✊🏻
Thank you so much to the author for the gifted early copy in exchange for my honest review. These are all my own opinions and I’m telling yall, READ THIS BOOK.
April 2, 2024
After finishing Together In A Broken World, it was immediately added to my “I wish I could read this again for the first time” list.
I absolutely fell in love with Aiden and Zach and was rooting for them their entire journey. Every time it got to a scene where they were fighting each other or something/someone trying to tear them apart, I had to keep reading because I had to know that they made it out together!
TIABW is fast paced, has plenty of drama, and gives a fresh take on a gay post-apocalyptic romance. If you like The Walking Dead, The Last Of Us, or All That’s Left In The World, you’ll love this book too!
I absolutely fell in love with Aiden and Zach and was rooting for them their entire journey. Every time it got to a scene where they were fighting each other or something/someone trying to tear them apart, I had to keep reading because I had to know that they made it out together!
TIABW is fast paced, has plenty of drama, and gives a fresh take on a gay post-apocalyptic romance. If you like The Walking Dead, The Last Of Us, or All That’s Left In The World, you’ll love this book too!
May 24, 2025
Cute main characters, interesting plot, and okay writing. Teenage me would’ve also enjoyed this 👍🏻
April 24, 2024
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
There was darkness in this story, as you would expect with post-apoc, but there was also light and fun. I even laughed out loud a few times!
The characters were lovable and relatable. Especially Zach. I often found myself smiling at his thoughts because I think the same kinds of things or just because they were funny. But I liked Aiden too, even if he had a bit of a harder shell to get through. Both boys had trauma and had been through some awful stuff. I felt for them and was happy for them when they got their cute romance.
I also appreciated that the characters were sensible and made smart decisions about surviving the apocalypse, but they weren't super experts. Sure, Zach knew a lot about electrical and mechanical stuff and could even hotwire cars, but he also got ideas for what to do when someone showed up at his base from movies he'd seen. Which, yeah, I think most of us in a post-apoc situation probably would get a lot of our ideas from movies.
I feel like the virus/danger/conspiracy part of the story could've been stronger. In the sense that some things broke my suspension of disbelief or were glossed over when they could've had more depth or it would've made more sense for the characters to question things. The idea was good, the bones of it were good, it just could've used more fleshing out.
Speaking of the virus, there were a few zombie-like infected people, but that's really not what the book is about. There was more danger from non-infected people, and the focus was on Aiden's mission to get some vials to some scientists and the feelings between the two MCs.
Overall, this was an enjoyable queer YA book that nicely blended the darkness of the apocalypse with fun characters and sweet teen romance!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2024 // Format: Ebook via TTS / Paperback*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes m/m YA romance, lovable and relatable characters, post-apoc worlds, and some darkness but also some fun.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
There was darkness in this story, as you would expect with post-apoc, but there was also light and fun. I even laughed out loud a few times!
The characters were lovable and relatable. Especially Zach. I often found myself smiling at his thoughts because I think the same kinds of things or just because they were funny. But I liked Aiden too, even if he had a bit of a harder shell to get through. Both boys had trauma and had been through some awful stuff. I felt for them and was happy for them when they got their cute romance.
I also appreciated that the characters were sensible and made smart decisions about surviving the apocalypse, but they weren't super experts. Sure, Zach knew a lot about electrical and mechanical stuff and could even hotwire cars, but he also got ideas for what to do when someone showed up at his base from movies he'd seen. Which, yeah, I think most of us in a post-apoc situation probably would get a lot of our ideas from movies.
I feel like the virus/danger/conspiracy part of the story could've been stronger. In the sense that some things broke my suspension of disbelief or were glossed over when they could've had more depth or it would've made more sense for the characters to question things. The idea was good, the bones of it were good, it just could've used more fleshing out.
Speaking of the virus, there were a few zombie-like infected people, but that's really not what the book is about. There was more danger from non-infected people, and the focus was on Aiden's mission to get some vials to some scientists and the feelings between the two MCs.
Overall, this was an enjoyable queer YA book that nicely blended the darkness of the apocalypse with fun characters and sweet teen romance!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2024 // Format: Ebook via TTS / Paperback*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes m/m YA romance, lovable and relatable characters, post-apoc worlds, and some darkness but also some fun.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
June 26, 2024
I was going to give it two stars but they kicked a dog in the face so imma have to give this one.. critical review below :/
Not a zombie book, I repeat not a zombie book. I think there were only a handful of infected in this book and they were half as dangerous as that poor dog they beat up or that random wild cat.
All you need to know is this reads like the first draft of a YA book with random vague sex scenes? Any conflict introduced will be resolved by the next page and the perspective changes SO CONSTANTLY.
It’s a lot of ‘I can’t tell you’ and then one page later telling you. There is no showing and everything feels spoon fed. An example would be the ‘I think this old lady in the junkyard is autistic’ why? That’s such a random thing to say. If you wanted to include autism rep you need to show it to us with actions and descriptions not just a throw away line that doesn’t make any sense and the whole book was like that.
Not enough zombies and too much two page conflict every other chapter to be enjoyable, I don’t know that I would reconvened this to anyone unless it gets republished with an edit. I think it was a solid idea but fell into predicable tropes and was overall very disappointing.
Not a zombie book, I repeat not a zombie book. I think there were only a handful of infected in this book and they were half as dangerous as that poor dog they beat up or that random wild cat.
All you need to know is this reads like the first draft of a YA book with random vague sex scenes? Any conflict introduced will be resolved by the next page and the perspective changes SO CONSTANTLY.
It’s a lot of ‘I can’t tell you’ and then one page later telling you. There is no showing and everything feels spoon fed. An example would be the ‘I think this old lady in the junkyard is autistic’ why? That’s such a random thing to say. If you wanted to include autism rep you need to show it to us with actions and descriptions not just a throw away line that doesn’t make any sense and the whole book was like that.
Not enough zombies and too much two page conflict every other chapter to be enjoyable, I don’t know that I would reconvened this to anyone unless it gets republished with an edit. I think it was a solid idea but fell into predicable tropes and was overall very disappointing.
February 12, 2024
One of few books in recent memory i couldn’t put down and finished in two long sittings. I felt connected to the outcome for Aiden and Zach as well as engaged in the mystery and action throughout. Highly recommend for anyone who likes a thrilling adventure with a captivating love story.
June 28, 2024
So, I created a list of things that I didn't like while I was reading and I'm going to put that list here. I'll start with no spoilers and then add the spoiler warning towards the end.
1. Split POV in first-person. I've said before in other books that it can be confusing reading a book in first-person when there's a split POV. I had to go back and double-check whose POV I was reading from multiple times.
2. Zach lies about having a boyfriend a couple different times. He even says he's doing it to make Aiden jealous. Not a good start to their relationship.
3. Aiden has a dead boyfriend and Zach doesn't seem to care all that much. Aiden states he's not ready for a relationship and Zach thinks, "Regardless of what's happening in that brain, his body is clearly into me." Kinda creepy in my opinion.
I know lots of other people have really enjoyed this book. This whole thing is just my opinion and I'm glad others have enjoyed it.
1. Split POV in first-person. I've said before in other books that it can be confusing reading a book in first-person when there's a split POV. I had to go back and double-check whose POV I was reading from multiple times.
2. Zach lies about having a boyfriend a couple different times. He even says he's doing it to make Aiden jealous. Not a good start to their relationship.
3. Aiden has a dead boyfriend and Zach doesn't seem to care all that much. Aiden states he's not ready for a relationship and Zach thinks, "Regardless of what's happening in that brain, his body is clearly into me." Kinda creepy in my opinion.
I know lots of other people have really enjoyed this book. This whole thing is just my opinion and I'm glad others have enjoyed it.
January 20, 2025
It’s not that it’s bad entirely, although the writing is very flat and the narrative is padded and the dialogue is rank, but it’s just that there are so many more engaging YA post apocalyptic romance novels.
Also, am I alone in feeling depressed by the number of YA novels in which teenagers are obsessed with OG Star Wars and the Beatles? Does the target audience even know who the Beatles were? It’s hard not to think that a 17 year old might be more interested in something that came out in their own life time or even that of their parents.
Also, am I alone in feeling depressed by the number of YA novels in which teenagers are obsessed with OG Star Wars and the Beatles? Does the target audience even know who the Beatles were? It’s hard not to think that a 17 year old might be more interested in something that came out in their own life time or even that of their parents.
December 29, 2025
super similar to all that’s left in the world but very fun
April 22, 2024
3.5 stars
[I received a physical copy for an honest review]
Together in a Broken World by Paul Michael Winters is a Queer YA post apocalyptic romance between two boys finding love after the end of the world and over coming the secrets they both are keeping. Filled with survival, running for their lives, a deadly virus, moments of kindness from strangers, and thankfully a happy ending.
I love a good post apocalyptic romance, making it queer just gets me more excited. While I enjoyed the story overall, I struggled with the writing style, I just didn't mesh with it, it didn't read smooth at times. Dual point of views was a plus for the story. I absolutely adored Zach, he was seriously the star of this book for me. He's managed to be isolated from the worst of the downfall of the world, surviving alone in a small town. He's simply kind-hearted, and I wanted nothing bad to happen to him, the author had me on the edge of my seat though a few times when it came to his safety. Then we have Aiden, who I unfortunately didn't care for , I felt like his whole backstory wasn't strong enough for me to care about. That could also be because I just didn't like him lol
In the end, Together in a Broken World is a decent debut novel for author Paul Michael Winters. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for his future releases.
[I received a physical copy for an honest review]
Together in a Broken World by Paul Michael Winters is a Queer YA post apocalyptic romance between two boys finding love after the end of the world and over coming the secrets they both are keeping. Filled with survival, running for their lives, a deadly virus, moments of kindness from strangers, and thankfully a happy ending.
I love a good post apocalyptic romance, making it queer just gets me more excited. While I enjoyed the story overall, I struggled with the writing style, I just didn't mesh with it, it didn't read smooth at times. Dual point of views was a plus for the story. I absolutely adored Zach, he was seriously the star of this book for me. He's managed to be isolated from the worst of the downfall of the world, surviving alone in a small town. He's simply kind-hearted, and I wanted nothing bad to happen to him, the author had me on the edge of my seat though a few times when it came to his safety. Then we have Aiden, who I unfortunately didn't care for , I felt like his whole backstory wasn't strong enough for me to care about. That could also be because I just didn't like him lol
In the end, Together in a Broken World is a decent debut novel for author Paul Michael Winters. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for his future releases.
May 14, 2025
2.5 stars; i liked the concept and the idea of the story but unfortunately the writing didnt really work for me
June 9, 2025
if you're here because you liked All That's Left in the World by Erik J. Brown, this book indeed has a very similar setup. two boys at the end of a virus infected world, on a mission, being hunted down by humans because humans are the worst. they even share their love of movies and pop culture with ATLITW.
unfortunately I didn't like this as much as All That's Left in the World. I initially was reading very quickly because its always fun to get started in a post-apocalyptic world - y'know when the characters don't fully trust each other, we're still learning about what actually happened to the world etc. but it started going downhill for me quite quickly about 40% of the way in. let me explain.
whilst there is an actual plot, with a beginning, middle and end, the driving force of the plot is repetition. the characters continuously rinse, repeat, and recycle the same cycle of actions. possibly even the same words are said. how do they not learn. also everything is just so very easy and very convenient for these two gay boys at the end of the world - sadly, I found that very hard to believe. even the villain in the story pops up like a cartoon character, and is dealt with very...cartoonishly (my words are not wording.)
a large part of this book is the romance. but I really could not get behind the romance because it felt to me very unhealthy right from the start. Zach thinks very creepy things about Aiden and his then relationship status when they first meet, and Aiden is only interested in Zach when he cleans up his appearance. they also do a lot of trauma dumping and in the first 30% of the book, which was honestly A LOT, and a lot of therapy speak throughout. it just didn't feel very natural - more a convenient forced matching of two characters. like mashing two dolls together for a kiss.
the narrative choice to have their two POVS switching throughout may also be at fault. I didn't think it would be an issue for me, but I ended up sometimes struggling to differentiate between the two boys, and again felt tired of hearing about the same events from both their POVS. I'm a firm supporter of show not telling.
it was fun for a while but I got bored around halfway. I don't know that I'd recommend this to anybody, particularly if you are a zombie apocalypse fan, because the infected in this book were close to none. it was more like a road trip, with a handful of humans hunting the boys down. it was ok.
unfortunately I didn't like this as much as All That's Left in the World. I initially was reading very quickly because its always fun to get started in a post-apocalyptic world - y'know when the characters don't fully trust each other, we're still learning about what actually happened to the world etc. but it started going downhill for me quite quickly about 40% of the way in. let me explain.
whilst there is an actual plot, with a beginning, middle and end, the driving force of the plot is repetition. the characters continuously rinse, repeat, and recycle the same cycle of actions. possibly even the same words are said. how do they not learn. also everything is just so very easy and very convenient for these two gay boys at the end of the world - sadly, I found that very hard to believe. even the villain in the story pops up like a cartoon character, and is dealt with very...cartoonishly (my words are not wording.)
a large part of this book is the romance. but I really could not get behind the romance because it felt to me very unhealthy right from the start. Zach thinks very creepy things about Aiden and his then relationship status when they first meet, and Aiden is only interested in Zach when he cleans up his appearance. they also do a lot of trauma dumping and in the first 30% of the book, which was honestly A LOT, and a lot of therapy speak throughout. it just didn't feel very natural - more a convenient forced matching of two characters. like mashing two dolls together for a kiss.
the narrative choice to have their two POVS switching throughout may also be at fault. I didn't think it would be an issue for me, but I ended up sometimes struggling to differentiate between the two boys, and again felt tired of hearing about the same events from both their POVS. I'm a firm supporter of show not telling.
it was fun for a while but I got bored around halfway. I don't know that I'd recommend this to anybody, particularly if you are a zombie apocalypse fan, because the infected in this book were close to none. it was more like a road trip, with a handful of humans hunting the boys down. it was ok.
June 4, 2024
I had seen many comparisons of this book to All That’s Left in the World, a book I utterly adored, so I patiently waited for this one to come out and ordered it as soon as I could. I finished it in about 3 hours. Overall there were some things I liked and disliked about the story.
Likes:
- Zach carried the entire story, his character was well-developed and likeable
- the geography and the author’s knowledge of the PNW helped make me feel like I was there and connected to the plot
- Had a fun twist on on apocalypse themes that I haven’t seen before with Aiden’s character and his role/job
Dislikes:
- Some of the sexual content felt a little bit much for a Y/A book. The scenes would fade to black and then start up again in the next chapter, which I felt was too much for a book designed to be read be teenagers. As an adult, it threw me off a bit with how detailed the writing was. It was something I would expect with characters in their twenties, not late teens and I felt that the book honestly would have been better if the characters were slightly older and the author wasn’t trying to skirt around the sexual content.
- Aiden’s character felt really underwhelming. I didn’t really like him and his whole personality was having a dead boyfriend and trauma and that never really changed and when it started to, it felt unnatural and quick.
- I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style. SO MUCH telling rather than showing. I with that it was third person POV so I could get away from the characters’ thoughts because I was tired of hearing them make so many statements with no detail or point.
- Important plot points happened in literally less than a page… I felt like I got taken out of the story when characters started dying, or the bad guys caught up, only to be saved by some hero a paragraph later and then they’re back to sunshine and roses.
Overall, I had high hopes for the book but it fell short for me. I think the main problem was the author’s own comparison and sharing that he was inspired by another very popular book running with the same theme. Readers of All That’s Left in the World were hyped up for this story and the comparison was the downfall for me.
I think others would definitely enjoy this book, but it was not my favourite read.
Likes:
- Zach carried the entire story, his character was well-developed and likeable
- the geography and the author’s knowledge of the PNW helped make me feel like I was there and connected to the plot
- Had a fun twist on on apocalypse themes that I haven’t seen before with Aiden’s character and his role/job
Dislikes:
- Some of the sexual content felt a little bit much for a Y/A book. The scenes would fade to black and then start up again in the next chapter, which I felt was too much for a book designed to be read be teenagers. As an adult, it threw me off a bit with how detailed the writing was. It was something I would expect with characters in their twenties, not late teens and I felt that the book honestly would have been better if the characters were slightly older and the author wasn’t trying to skirt around the sexual content.
- Aiden’s character felt really underwhelming. I didn’t really like him and his whole personality was having a dead boyfriend and trauma and that never really changed and when it started to, it felt unnatural and quick.
- I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style. SO MUCH telling rather than showing. I with that it was third person POV so I could get away from the characters’ thoughts because I was tired of hearing them make so many statements with no detail or point.
- Important plot points happened in literally less than a page… I felt like I got taken out of the story when characters started dying, or the bad guys caught up, only to be saved by some hero a paragraph later and then they’re back to sunshine and roses.
Overall, I had high hopes for the book but it fell short for me. I think the main problem was the author’s own comparison and sharing that he was inspired by another very popular book running with the same theme. Readers of All That’s Left in the World were hyped up for this story and the comparison was the downfall for me.
I think others would definitely enjoy this book, but it was not my favourite read.
March 8, 2025
I wanted to love this book but unfortunately it was not it for me. It was so repetitive! Zach leaves and then regrets it and comes back and repeate. And if it's not happening at the moment he is thinking about leaving. It became anoying pretty quickly. I could look past that if the relationship between Zach and Aiden was anything else than product of loneliness, proximity and looks. I mean Aiden is into Zach from the get go. He is only person who he spoke to in months and he is attracive. On the other hand Zach starts to catch feeling after Aiden takes proper shower. Yeah, all it took was for Aiden to clean himself.
The plot was interesting but it felt too easy.
The plot was interesting but it felt too easy.
March 3, 2025
Together in a broken world was a decent read, I liked these characters a lot more compared to the characters in a haunting between us. Both Zach and Aiden characters just felt like they had more depth, they made both equally smart and stupid decisions. The story was interesting but it does feel rather slow, it’s a lot of descriptive travel bits but the angst and wholesome moments were both enjoyable to read. The romance was both sweet and kind of awkward, there are plenty of cutesy, tense/serious moments, and angst. If you enjoyed All that is left in the world by Erik J Brown you would probably enjoy this book too! This was an enjoyable read but after finishing it, the book just feels okay.
September 2, 2025
Quería leer algo rollo post apoc con mlm... y bueno, eso delivereó
y ya
Conceptos e ideas muy chulas pero nada desarrollado, te presenta un mundo muy pensando y muy detallado para estar constantemente rusheando todo y no explayarse en nada
Peca de algún que otro cliché, como el instalove
deberían haber sido 2 libros
y ya
Conceptos e ideas muy chulas pero nada desarrollado, te presenta un mundo muy pensando y muy detallado para estar constantemente rusheando todo y no explayarse en nada
Peca de algún que otro cliché, como el instalove
deberían haber sido 2 libros
September 19, 2024
content warnings: graphic violence, guns, abduction, death of family, mourning; discussion of attempted rape/non-con (past, off page), social anxiety, and past and present trauma
meh. i don't know it was just really repetitive and i mostly disliked how 'easy' it all turned out to be for the characters bc SOMEHOW someone was always there to save them.
meh. i don't know it was just really repetitive and i mostly disliked how 'easy' it all turned out to be for the characters bc SOMEHOW someone was always there to save them.
October 30, 2025
For being a Zombie apocalypse themed book, there sure weren’t very many zombies.
The issue I have with YA tackling a topic like this is that, while the characters may be young, given the circumstances they would have grown up mentally way more. As it is they act like twelve year olds the whole time, and i just wasn’t able to suspend my belief enough to fully engage here.
Still, if you enjoy YA, and want an apocalyptic setting for your gay love story, this book does that just fine!
The issue I have with YA tackling a topic like this is that, while the characters may be young, given the circumstances they would have grown up mentally way more. As it is they act like twelve year olds the whole time, and i just wasn’t able to suspend my belief enough to fully engage here.
Still, if you enjoy YA, and want an apocalyptic setting for your gay love story, this book does that just fine!
July 23, 2025
felt kinda repetitive at some point but the plot was interesting enough and it was very fast paced which kept me hooked so thats a plus ig
September 2, 2025
Rushed. Muy lindo, pero todo MUY rushed. Timeskips super bestias innecesarios, bastante predecible, pero aun así disfrutón.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews