Bets

by Carrot Quinn

The cities are dying. Bets escapes just in time to save her own life. But where will she go? She's heard that somewhere in the desert, people have found a way to be free...

Genres: Fiction, Dystopia

222 pages, Paperback

Published December 14, 2024

About the author

I'm a writer and a long-distance hiker.

You can read more of my adventures and essays on my blog- carrotquinn.com

My instagram is @carrotquinn - instagram.com/carrotquinn

Reviews

[Megan Wolniewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carrot Quinn could write a menu and I would be excited to read it. As usual, Carrot did not disappoint with Bets. I loved every chapter of this book - she did an excellent job for her first work of fiction! Undoubtably, my favorite work of hers is her writing on the L2H, and I found Bets similar in a lot of ways. I loved the environment, the plot was intriguing, and the writing was thought provoking. I hope she continues with more works of fiction!

Also, this book is fairly short - 200 pages. I appreciate her keeping the story as is instead of trying to fill it just for the purpose of making it longer!

[Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was AMAZING!! I wish I could read it all again for the first time. Having read snippets over the years the anticipation was off the charts and this story 100% delivered. Dark and hopeful and funny and sad and ultimately a very reassuring look at societal collapse. Also the doggo is perfect.

[Ayesha Cording · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this cover to cover in 4 hours, no breaks, absolutely unable to put it down, just engrossed in the story. I haven’t done that with any book since Carrot’s last. Carrot’s writing always has this beautiful ephemeral quality that I just can’t find anywhere else - somehow perfectly encapsulating the horror and beauty of being alive. Can’t wait to see where she goes from here.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt a little too real for these times. Some elements of Station 11 but with more real-life anarchist/punk vibes.

[Rick Eckhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Carrot's third book. Her first two books were both non-fiction: hiking the Pacific Crest trail, and her early days riding the rails. This book is a departure, but a fine one at that. I can see she spent time carefully crafting the story. She is a good writer. I enjoyed this book very much! And I'm looking forward to the next!

[Bucket · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this okay. It's mostly an interesting story, and creative. The author knows her stuff on outdoor survival, which is refreshing. I liked the inclusion of a transgender character, lesbians and the bold way the author includes sex in the narrative.

But there are a lot of conveniences, including one in a million chances of the right person showing up at just the right time. Things like the world being so incredibly dangerous, but then the young boy being allowed to go on an adventure to another encampment with Georgia and Bets bugged me. And the author uses the (in my opinion) worn out trick of withholding information to create a suspense that is really mist when everything is explained away in a few short pages later.

As far as narrative structure and plot, this is really two stars, but I want to give it three because it's bold, there are many well-crafted sentences, and, honestly, all the bones are there for writing a great novel - the author just needs to figure out how to plot and structure in ways that don't feel forced and convenient. In a future Quinn novel, we could definitely see real greatness.

[Kisså · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt very of the moment, as society collapses around us irl. I love how the author managed subtle commentary on so many things: queer identity and gender fluidity, abortion, the earth healing itself after all we've done to it, how wise a simple animal is for knowing that being alive in the moment is enough. Gorgeous scenery, interesting plot twists, nods to some classic creepy post-apocalypse tropes. I read it in 2 days, and if Carrot does indeed write another book about one of the minor characters (as she alluded to possibly doing in an IG post) I would look forward to reading it!

[Cristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carrot has such a distinct a readable writing voice, but I still struggled with this story. Parts of it were massively descriptive and you could tell there was a struggle to break out of a non fiction and teaching voice, dragging where it didn’t need to. And then it would sped up when it was important not to and detail would be lost. I understand this is part of a larger story, but I am not compelled to read the rest, which makes me sad. Thru-hiking will break your heart was life changing to me, and sunset route was such a personal and necessary follow up.

[Krista Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way that Carrot wrote about the PCT and its super impressive that this is her first book of fiction. She is a great writer, storyteller and now world builder. I’m curious if this story continues…? The timing of reading it hit super close to home given our current events but I assume she was inspired by all of that. I’m looking forward to what she comes up with next. Will it be more stories of her own adventures or new fiction? Either way, I’m looking forward to it.

[Lars Ehri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride!!

This is an incredibly written novel that takes you so many places through the heart and the wilderness. It was truly difficult to put it down. It’s a story that I will likely never forget. I don’t know how I could! Bets, Dog and all of the characters have been sticking with me long after I finished this book. I wish I could read it again for the first time.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not typically a reader of speculative fiction, so I needed to hold some space for this one. Carrot Quinn does a wonderful job of world-building an apocalyptic future that feels almost cozy in its desolation. I struggled to follow the plot at times, but on a re-read, I enjoyed all of the twists and turns. I hope to see a sequel!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Gosh. It’s just gut punch after full body chills after a breath of air sucked in after I didn’t know I was holding my breath. Carrot Quinn is an amazing writer, and the first novel is no different. I think Carrot’s life experience also allows for a particularly striking imagining of near-future apocalypse and survival. What an amazing, engrossing book.

[Kevlar Blackstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I most appreciated about this book was the optimism around the dystopian future. So many dystopian novels describe the future of the planet as a wasteland. I like that Bets is set in a world still livable after the collapse of late stage capitalism. Great characters. Good story. I’m already looking forward to the sequel!

[Sarahmarie Specht-Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bets is fiction, but it’s still deeply Carrot Quinn: a swirl of beautiful landscapes and existential wonderings and hardscrabble existence in the American west. It felt a little too real for our time, but still an enjoyable adventure.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this post-apocalyptic story of survival, community and myth making, and the interplay of these things in in the life of Bets. heartbreaking and inspiring in turns, but overall emotionally affecting. Highly recommend!

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely little book that captures the energy of exploring with love, and also love for dogs. Love Carrot, great writer, love her work, look forward to more.

[Chi Tranter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling

An end of the world story that's also about being human. What happens when systems slowly break down, how people adapt.

[Kimina Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner for sure. Keeps you wanting more. I often find my mind wandering back to this world even after having finished the book. Highly recommend!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dystopia. Class Divide. Survival. Community.

[bfb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Carrot’s nonfiction but this book has so many cliches packed into it (though they are lefty cliches). Reads less like a believable story and more like a modern morality tale.

[M Waldron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read so many books set in a similarly foggy near future and this is the best one by far. It’s so freakishly believable and terrifying. Best book of its style that I’ve read in a minute!

[rose ghostie · Rating 5 out of 5]

love all of Carrots books, this one was super immersive (just like their storytelling style in memoir is - but as a post apocalyptic fiction time!)

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

An odyssey through post-collapse America, BETS features a fair number of erratic characters who are all traversing the near-future decaying landscape of the American Southwest. The descriptions of this new world are immersive and the inner dialogue of the titular main character is especially insightful as they learn to survive and embrace the contrast between city and country.

The prose and POV stand out as an intimate experience of what it's like to wade through the backcountry and the author hilights all the trials and challenges of what a day-to-day could look like in a world with limited resources.

[Mitchsmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars