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What Happened Next #1
What Happened Next
When adults start dropping like flies, a small group of youngsters must make a dangerous journey.
Expect thrills, suspense, adventure - and even some laughs - in this dystopian debut from Jon Colt.
Expect thrills, suspense, adventure - and even some laughs - in this dystopian debut from Jon Colt.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2024
About the author
Jon Colt
8 books29 followersJon Colt is a novelist based in Edinburgh, known for his debut book, What Happened Next.
Writing has always been his passion, and he draws inspiration from the likes of Stephen King, James Herbert and Dan Brown.
When he's not writing, he can be found walking his charcoal labrador, Ringo, re-watching TV shows such as Breaking Bad, Mr Robot or What We Do in the Shadows, reading, or playing the guitar.
Writing has always been his passion, and he draws inspiration from the likes of Stephen King, James Herbert and Dan Brown.
When he's not writing, he can be found walking his charcoal labrador, Ringo, re-watching TV shows such as Breaking Bad, Mr Robot or What We Do in the Shadows, reading, or playing the guitar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
February 23, 2026
Dystopian, fast paced, underlying political read.
I flew through it but won't be continuing the series, just not for me.
I flew through it but won't be continuing the series, just not for me.
April 13, 2025
The book , the story plot , the characters everything in this book was so good! The author reached out to me and asked would I be interested in reading this book and that was the best decision I ever made.
This book is about a virus that sweeps the nations and many adults have died from it very violently I might add. As the adults are quickly decreasing in numbers this leaves a lot of children out to fend for themselves.
The characters in the book are so believable! I did enjoy how the book chapters are not too long which allowed me to read this book quickly. Once the action started it started. This book can best be described as all gas and no brakes. I did love the added element with the story I won’t give it away! Let’s just say it adds to the story tremendously. It’s been a while since I read a book that made me cry! That scene was a tear jerker.
I would definitely compare this book to Stephen King’s book “The Stand” there are some elements in this book that seeps into this one. Overall this book is an amazing read. I enjoyed this book so much I already bought book 2 and pre ordered book 3. Everyone should read this book, there is no higher praise than that.
Thank you again Jon Colt for providing me a copy of this ebook. I am truly grateful.
This book is about a virus that sweeps the nations and many adults have died from it very violently I might add. As the adults are quickly decreasing in numbers this leaves a lot of children out to fend for themselves.
The characters in the book are so believable! I did enjoy how the book chapters are not too long which allowed me to read this book quickly. Once the action started it started. This book can best be described as all gas and no brakes. I did love the added element with the story I won’t give it away! Let’s just say it adds to the story tremendously. It’s been a while since I read a book that made me cry! That scene was a tear jerker.
I would definitely compare this book to Stephen King’s book “The Stand” there are some elements in this book that seeps into this one. Overall this book is an amazing read. I enjoyed this book so much I already bought book 2 and pre ordered book 3. Everyone should read this book, there is no higher praise than that.
Thank you again Jon Colt for providing me a copy of this ebook. I am truly grateful.
May 23, 2025
I really just don’t know what to say about this one, and I’m sad. I was incredibly hopeful because the author sent me a free copy and the plot seemed so interesting.
The author made two claims on Instagram: (1) the book is not anti-vax, and (2) the book is not pro-racism in anyway. I thought it was odd that an author would have to clarify this, but now I understand why.
As far as the anti-vax claim, the deaths were literally caused by a vaccine and the only people who survive are children who were too young to receive the vaccine and anti-vaxers who live in “distance living centers,” and who are largely also white supremacists? This book somehow paints vaccines out to be dangerous but also makes anti-vaxers white supremacist conspiracy theorists. Not sure what to make of that.
For the racism claim, I have several things to say. The most glaringly obvious is that the story ends *spoiler* with the shit head, violent, psychopathic kid being welcomed into the DLC because “God brought him home.” Turns out he’s a great descendant of the former high eagle - the leader of this white supremacy group, which basically makes him Jesus. I do understand that there’s a second book, and the author could plan on highlighting how evil these racists are later; however, the book did kind of end on a pro-racism note? Also, I couldn’t help but notice how odd the descriptions of any non-white person were. Literally an older black woman was dying, and I feel like I heard more about her being a black woman with a black face than her actual death. Then, “the Mexican fell to his knees” when another character died, and the race part just felt so irrelevant. Not to mention the Mexican character was immediately described as really into soccer. One black character was a single mother. One black character was a fatherless child because his father left for cigarettes and never came back. One black character was aptly and oddly only described as having an Afro. The white characters? Couldn’t tell you tbh because their skin color was never mentioned in this way. Just feels really weird to me generally. I don’t even like to go woke like this, but I genuinely just felt like it was wildly distracting and pulled me out of the story.
As for the plot itself, it was fine, but it honestly felt too short for the number of plots and the ending was rushed and somehow also took forever to get through.
The author made two claims on Instagram: (1) the book is not anti-vax, and (2) the book is not pro-racism in anyway. I thought it was odd that an author would have to clarify this, but now I understand why.
As far as the anti-vax claim, the deaths were literally caused by a vaccine and the only people who survive are children who were too young to receive the vaccine and anti-vaxers who live in “distance living centers,” and who are largely also white supremacists? This book somehow paints vaccines out to be dangerous but also makes anti-vaxers white supremacist conspiracy theorists. Not sure what to make of that.
For the racism claim, I have several things to say. The most glaringly obvious is that the story ends *spoiler* with the shit head, violent, psychopathic kid being welcomed into the DLC because “God brought him home.” Turns out he’s a great descendant of the former high eagle - the leader of this white supremacy group, which basically makes him Jesus. I do understand that there’s a second book, and the author could plan on highlighting how evil these racists are later; however, the book did kind of end on a pro-racism note? Also, I couldn’t help but notice how odd the descriptions of any non-white person were. Literally an older black woman was dying, and I feel like I heard more about her being a black woman with a black face than her actual death. Then, “the Mexican fell to his knees” when another character died, and the race part just felt so irrelevant. Not to mention the Mexican character was immediately described as really into soccer. One black character was a single mother. One black character was a fatherless child because his father left for cigarettes and never came back. One black character was aptly and oddly only described as having an Afro. The white characters? Couldn’t tell you tbh because their skin color was never mentioned in this way. Just feels really weird to me generally. I don’t even like to go woke like this, but I genuinely just felt like it was wildly distracting and pulled me out of the story.
As for the plot itself, it was fine, but it honestly felt too short for the number of plots and the ending was rushed and somehow also took forever to get through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It was fast paced and the story is fascinating! I really grew to like a lot of the characters which was great but then some chapters had my eyes welling up! It was an emotional rollercoaster ride! Really looking forward to getting into the next book! Thank you Jon Colton for sending me a copy of this in exchange for a review!
February 5, 2026
4.5 rounded down
Adults all around the world are dying. A mysterious illness with no survival rate is killing adults at an astronomical rate and with very little warning. The government desperately tries to put a plan and societal guide in place for the kids to live by since soon there will be nobody for them to lean on. There is barely any time to act before all the kids are on their own.
MY THOUGHTS
This novel hits too close to home. It really makes you wonder. A virus synonymous with our COVID-19 happened. Masks, lockdown, vaccines, etc.. and then life kinda went back to normal after the vaccines were provided, just like ours. Now there seems to be something else happening to people. They are getting sick all over again, and not just cough cough stay home cold sick. We are talking rotting internal organs, excruciating pain, followed by projectile vomited blackish blood, falling unconscious until death takes you kind of sick. It comes on fast, shows no mercy and has no survival rate.
It’s very sad, graphic and dreary. The harsh realities of a world forced to quickly cope and figure things out while an invisible enemy annihilates the population. Panic and chaos quickly ensues in this town and every town across the nation. It’s deathly frightening.
We are introduced to a few different families and their dynamics in the small town of Masterson. This is heavily character based. Don’t get me wrong, the atmosphere and the events taking place are serious and engulfing in themselves. But the characters, their survival, their choices and thoughts really take the cake for me.
What to do with death surrounding you? Imagine being a kid and seeing your parents or people you know dying all around you and you must carry on without them. Imagine being a parent or adult KNOWING your painful death is coming in the near future and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
There is a big secret looming in the background surrounding the citizens and town of Masterson on top of everything else happening.
Human life is delicate and one tiny mishap can shape the future of its existence. Fascinating and terrifying.
Overall, this book is great! I cared for the characters a lot. The overwhelming situation that they find themselves hits so close to home. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved it and I look forward to the next book since it leaves us with a cliffhanger of sorts! I’m very thankful to have received this book from the author and definitely recommend to all looking for a good end of the world type thriller.
Adults all around the world are dying. A mysterious illness with no survival rate is killing adults at an astronomical rate and with very little warning. The government desperately tries to put a plan and societal guide in place for the kids to live by since soon there will be nobody for them to lean on. There is barely any time to act before all the kids are on their own.
MY THOUGHTS
This novel hits too close to home. It really makes you wonder. A virus synonymous with our COVID-19 happened. Masks, lockdown, vaccines, etc.. and then life kinda went back to normal after the vaccines were provided, just like ours. Now there seems to be something else happening to people. They are getting sick all over again, and not just cough cough stay home cold sick. We are talking rotting internal organs, excruciating pain, followed by projectile vomited blackish blood, falling unconscious until death takes you kind of sick. It comes on fast, shows no mercy and has no survival rate.
It’s very sad, graphic and dreary. The harsh realities of a world forced to quickly cope and figure things out while an invisible enemy annihilates the population. Panic and chaos quickly ensues in this town and every town across the nation. It’s deathly frightening.
We are introduced to a few different families and their dynamics in the small town of Masterson. This is heavily character based. Don’t get me wrong, the atmosphere and the events taking place are serious and engulfing in themselves. But the characters, their survival, their choices and thoughts really take the cake for me.
What to do with death surrounding you? Imagine being a kid and seeing your parents or people you know dying all around you and you must carry on without them. Imagine being a parent or adult KNOWING your painful death is coming in the near future and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
There is a big secret looming in the background surrounding the citizens and town of Masterson on top of everything else happening.
Human life is delicate and one tiny mishap can shape the future of its existence. Fascinating and terrifying.
Overall, this book is great! I cared for the characters a lot. The overwhelming situation that they find themselves hits so close to home. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved it and I look forward to the next book since it leaves us with a cliffhanger of sorts! I’m very thankful to have received this book from the author and definitely recommend to all looking for a good end of the world type thriller.
February 1, 2026
Jon Colt’s What Happened Next is the kind of debut that grabs you by the collar from page one and refuses to let go. It’s bold, breathless, and surprisingly heartfelt—a dystopian thriller that balances high-stakes tension with deeply human storytelling.
At the center of the chaos is thirteen-year-old Milo Winters, whose peaceful life in Masterson shatters in an instant when adults across America begin dying without warning. Colt writes Milo with a sincerity and vulnerability that make him instantly endearing, and watching him step into a role far bigger than any child should have to face gives the novel its emotional backbone. His partnership with Becca—older, sharper, and carrying her own private terror in the form of a relentless stalker—adds a gripping layer of interpersonal tension. Rex, the young man obsessed with her, is chilling in his realism; Colt avoids caricature and instead paints a portrait of a predator emboldened by a collapsing world.
Then there’s Denzel, whose arrival in Masterson injects the story with a powerful undercurrent of justice, trauma, and long-buried hatred. His hunt for the remnants of the klan responsible for his mother’s murder is both harrowing and cathartic, and Colt handles this storyline with a maturity that elevates the entire novel. The way Denzel’s path intersects with Milo and Becca’s feels organic and explosive, building towards a climax that is as thrilling as it is emotionally resonant.
What makes What Happened Next stand out is Colt’s ability to weave narratives together without losing momentum or clarity. The pacing is razor-sharp, the atmosphere thick with dread, and the stakes escalate in ways that feel both unpredictable and inevitable. Yet amidst the danger and darkness, Colt never forgets the humanity of his characters—their fears, their loyalties, their desperate hope for something better.
This is a debut that announces Jon Colt as a writer to watch. What Happened Next delivers suspense, heart, and a haunting vision of a world on the brink. Fans of dystopian fiction, character-driven thrillers, and emotionally charged storytelling will find plenty to love.
At the center of the chaos is thirteen-year-old Milo Winters, whose peaceful life in Masterson shatters in an instant when adults across America begin dying without warning. Colt writes Milo with a sincerity and vulnerability that make him instantly endearing, and watching him step into a role far bigger than any child should have to face gives the novel its emotional backbone. His partnership with Becca—older, sharper, and carrying her own private terror in the form of a relentless stalker—adds a gripping layer of interpersonal tension. Rex, the young man obsessed with her, is chilling in his realism; Colt avoids caricature and instead paints a portrait of a predator emboldened by a collapsing world.
Then there’s Denzel, whose arrival in Masterson injects the story with a powerful undercurrent of justice, trauma, and long-buried hatred. His hunt for the remnants of the klan responsible for his mother’s murder is both harrowing and cathartic, and Colt handles this storyline with a maturity that elevates the entire novel. The way Denzel’s path intersects with Milo and Becca’s feels organic and explosive, building towards a climax that is as thrilling as it is emotionally resonant.
What makes What Happened Next stand out is Colt’s ability to weave narratives together without losing momentum or clarity. The pacing is razor-sharp, the atmosphere thick with dread, and the stakes escalate in ways that feel both unpredictable and inevitable. Yet amidst the danger and darkness, Colt never forgets the humanity of his characters—their fears, their loyalties, their desperate hope for something better.
This is a debut that announces Jon Colt as a writer to watch. What Happened Next delivers suspense, heart, and a haunting vision of a world on the brink. Fans of dystopian fiction, character-driven thrillers, and emotionally charged storytelling will find plenty to love.
February 23, 2026
ARC READ!
thank you so much to the author for gifting this book to me i feel incredibly grateful. this book was a lot different to books i usually read but i felt like i couldn’t put it down and was so intrigued to read what was going on. i found it so upsetting at times but omg was not expecting that cliffhanger so thought she was gone!🥲
thank you so much to the author for gifting this book to me i feel incredibly grateful. this book was a lot different to books i usually read but i felt like i couldn’t put it down and was so intrigued to read what was going on. i found it so upsetting at times but omg was not expecting that cliffhanger so thought she was gone!🥲
December 29, 2024
The author reached out to me about this book & I’m glad they did, it’s unique to my other reads and I had a good time reading this.
This book follows a few core characters as society comes to grips with a virus that is unknown and killing people swiftly. As things start to deteriorate we get to see some characters shine and take on leader like roles and some characters become their baser selves.
Shout out to Milo and Becca, they were great and so wholesome in this book with a few mistakes on the way out of fear. Brody is underestimated a lot, but he is a literal saviour. Rex is lowkey terrifying, and would absolutely thrive in lord of the flies if Becca was at his side.
I really want to know what happens next because of that ending!!!!
This book follows a few core characters as society comes to grips with a virus that is unknown and killing people swiftly. As things start to deteriorate we get to see some characters shine and take on leader like roles and some characters become their baser selves.
Shout out to Milo and Becca, they were great and so wholesome in this book with a few mistakes on the way out of fear. Brody is underestimated a lot, but he is a literal saviour. Rex is lowkey terrifying, and would absolutely thrive in lord of the flies if Becca was at his side.
I really want to know what happens next because of that ending!!!!
May 7, 2025
This is all about the characters. I found it a little bit slow, but I got so invested in the characters that I just had to keep on reading. Please don’t kill Teddy!
June 6, 2026
4.5 stars
This was fantastic. I would definitely recommend for those who are fans of dystopian. Adults start dying and a little group of kids try to find their way to one of the kids Uncle. I have to say this book kind of reminds me of how I feel about the COVID vaccine 🤭. Will be buying the 2nd one tomorrow so I can dive into the series. I can’t wait to find out what happens to the characters.
This was fantastic. I would definitely recommend for those who are fans of dystopian. Adults start dying and a little group of kids try to find their way to one of the kids Uncle. I have to say this book kind of reminds me of how I feel about the COVID vaccine 🤭. Will be buying the 2nd one tomorrow so I can dive into the series. I can’t wait to find out what happens to the characters.
February 7, 2026
overall a good book! the beginning drags a bit for the first 20% or so but the end was quite interesting!
I could do without the anti-vax propaganda though
I could do without the anti-vax propaganda though
May 4, 2026
This book was pretty crazy and made me feel yucky inside. Lol. And it hit pretty close to home with the vaccine/pandemic storyline. There were a lot of characters that I enjoyed as well. And don’t get me wrong…I liked it but I wouldn’t continue with the series for the same reason I have to turn the news off - to protect my brain from overload.
February 15, 2026
The day the world started to end it was hot outside. An epidemic leads to a lawless state. It pushes people into terrible decisions, decisions borne of love but truly awful nonetheless.
This story grabs you by the neck and refuses to let go. A mother’s love creates a deep well of emotion that rippled its way into my psyche. The plight of the children has me gripped throughout! This is a solid thriller. Well worth a read!
This story grabs you by the neck and refuses to let go. A mother’s love creates a deep well of emotion that rippled its way into my psyche. The plight of the children has me gripped throughout! This is a solid thriller. Well worth a read!
March 20, 2025
We mainly follow the 13-year-old Milo Winters, who lives happily with his parents and little sister Sally in a town in New Hampshire.
Then there’s also Becca and Brody, the two teenagers who live down the road.
Rex, a brutal teenage boy who’s obsessed with Becca.
The good-hearted Lieutenant Peters.
And the cadets Denzel, Diaz, and Chambers.
It’s a hot Sunday morning when the world everyone knows drastically changes.
Milo is helping his dad wash the car; he’s talking to the kids who live next door, and the Winters family is about to eat breakfast. But suddenly Milo’s dad pukes up blood and falls unconscious.
What happens next is a series of horrible events: Over 70 percent of the adult population (it gets even worse) are becoming sick and are experiencing the same fate as the head of the Winters family. Hospitals are filled to the top with deadly sick adults who are falling dead one by one. But what causes these sudden deaths and why are only adults affected and not the people who live in the so-called DLCs (Distanced Living Centers)? Then there are also the Eighty-Eight, a group of white supremacists no one knows much about.
Soon Milo, Sally, Becca, and Brody are on their own, just like all the other kids and teenagers all over the country whose lives are full of grief and hopelessness. But Milo recovers hope when he realizes that there’s one last person left in his family who shouldn’t be affected by the disease. He wants to find this person, even though he promised his mother to stay away from him at all costs.
I was delighted when the author asked me if I wanted to read this book!
I love dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels and What Happened Next fits perfectly into both of these genres.
The beginning of the novel got me hooked! The threat of this upcoming sickness that causes a horrible death felt intense. Especially the vivid descriptions of how people are falling sick, added to the intensity. The characters were depicted vividly as well and as a reader, I could build an almost instant connection to them.
Colt’s writing style reminded me of Stephen King’s, which I personally really like! I’ve read “The Stand” by King and especially the beginning of What Happened Next felt like I was reading a popular dystopian novel like The Stand.
Nevertheless, the last quarter of this book wasn’t as good as I hoped it would be. I’d have liked it if the scenes toward the end of the book were described in more detail and didn’t end so abruptly.
Overall I highly recommend What Happened Next and I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series!
Thank you for reaching out to me, I had so much fun reading!
Then there’s also Becca and Brody, the two teenagers who live down the road.
Rex, a brutal teenage boy who’s obsessed with Becca.
The good-hearted Lieutenant Peters.
And the cadets Denzel, Diaz, and Chambers.
It’s a hot Sunday morning when the world everyone knows drastically changes.
Milo is helping his dad wash the car; he’s talking to the kids who live next door, and the Winters family is about to eat breakfast. But suddenly Milo’s dad pukes up blood and falls unconscious.
What happens next is a series of horrible events: Over 70 percent of the adult population (it gets even worse) are becoming sick and are experiencing the same fate as the head of the Winters family. Hospitals are filled to the top with deadly sick adults who are falling dead one by one. But what causes these sudden deaths and why are only adults affected and not the people who live in the so-called DLCs (Distanced Living Centers)? Then there are also the Eighty-Eight, a group of white supremacists no one knows much about.
Soon Milo, Sally, Becca, and Brody are on their own, just like all the other kids and teenagers all over the country whose lives are full of grief and hopelessness. But Milo recovers hope when he realizes that there’s one last person left in his family who shouldn’t be affected by the disease. He wants to find this person, even though he promised his mother to stay away from him at all costs.
I was delighted when the author asked me if I wanted to read this book!
I love dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels and What Happened Next fits perfectly into both of these genres.
The beginning of the novel got me hooked! The threat of this upcoming sickness that causes a horrible death felt intense. Especially the vivid descriptions of how people are falling sick, added to the intensity. The characters were depicted vividly as well and as a reader, I could build an almost instant connection to them.
Colt’s writing style reminded me of Stephen King’s, which I personally really like! I’ve read “The Stand” by King and especially the beginning of What Happened Next felt like I was reading a popular dystopian novel like The Stand.
Nevertheless, the last quarter of this book wasn’t as good as I hoped it would be. I’d have liked it if the scenes toward the end of the book were described in more detail and didn’t end so abruptly.
Overall I highly recommend What Happened Next and I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series!
Thank you for reaching out to me, I had so much fun reading!
February 16, 2025
Thank you Jon Colt for reaching out to me about your book! I was sent a copy of the ebook for my own review!
I’ll start right off saying to check your trigger warnings! I’ll list the ones I noticed at the end of this summary.
This book was hard for me to read. I feel because the talk of a virus and vaccine is so realistic. There was a lot of dystopian in this book but not enough for me to disconnect from real life.
Colt does an amazing job at introducing you to a variety of characters and making you care about them. I felt every happiness and sadness from characters even if I only knew them a chapter! Some of the decisions characters had to make were so hard to read.
This is a dystopian type novel about a virus wiping out the adult population but there’s also a little thriller aspect hiding in the background. There’s a horrible white supremacy group called Eighty Eight working behind the scenes. This novel just sets up the background about this group and I feel it will be explored heavily in Book 2. Yet again group Eighty Eight is too close to reality to me.
The one big issue I had with this book was how adults acted toward the end of the book. We got to meet these characters and be with them multiple chapters. I feel how some acted were not genuine to the character.
If you’re into a dystopian world, virus killing everyone novel, I recommend this book to you! Just beware of triggers when you go in!
Triggers I noticed:
Pet death, parent death, child death, violence, kid violence against other kids, bullying, racism, gun violence, detailed graphic violence scenes, blood, death by suicide
I’ll start right off saying to check your trigger warnings! I’ll list the ones I noticed at the end of this summary.
This book was hard for me to read. I feel because the talk of a virus and vaccine is so realistic. There was a lot of dystopian in this book but not enough for me to disconnect from real life.
Colt does an amazing job at introducing you to a variety of characters and making you care about them. I felt every happiness and sadness from characters even if I only knew them a chapter! Some of the decisions characters had to make were so hard to read.
This is a dystopian type novel about a virus wiping out the adult population but there’s also a little thriller aspect hiding in the background. There’s a horrible white supremacy group called Eighty Eight working behind the scenes. This novel just sets up the background about this group and I feel it will be explored heavily in Book 2. Yet again group Eighty Eight is too close to reality to me.
The one big issue I had with this book was how adults acted toward the end of the book. We got to meet these characters and be with them multiple chapters. I feel how some acted were not genuine to the character.
If you’re into a dystopian world, virus killing everyone novel, I recommend this book to you! Just beware of triggers when you go in!
Triggers I noticed:
Pet death, parent death, child death, violence, kid violence against other kids, bullying, racism, gun violence, detailed graphic violence scenes, blood, death by suicide
January 3, 2025
*Rating* 3.5 stars rounded up.
I recently had the pleasure of reading What Happened Next, which was kindly sent to me by the author Jon Colt. Thank you for this opportunity to read and review your work.
One of the standout aspects of this book was the intriguing subject matter. I found the plot really interesting. The unique themes and ideas presented really piqued my interest and made for exciting reading.
However, I did feel that the story moved a bit too quickly. There were moments where I thought additional details or development could have enhanced the overall narrative. Expanding on these areas could have added more depth and allowed the reader to connect even more with the characters and their journeys.
Overall, What Happened Next was an enjoyable read with a fascinating premise. I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates dystopian novels and fast-paced plots. I'm looking forward to seeing how Colt continues to develop his unique voice in future works.
Thank you again for the chance to read this book!
I recently had the pleasure of reading What Happened Next, which was kindly sent to me by the author Jon Colt. Thank you for this opportunity to read and review your work.
One of the standout aspects of this book was the intriguing subject matter. I found the plot really interesting. The unique themes and ideas presented really piqued my interest and made for exciting reading.
However, I did feel that the story moved a bit too quickly. There were moments where I thought additional details or development could have enhanced the overall narrative. Expanding on these areas could have added more depth and allowed the reader to connect even more with the characters and their journeys.
Overall, What Happened Next was an enjoyable read with a fascinating premise. I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates dystopian novels and fast-paced plots. I'm looking forward to seeing how Colt continues to develop his unique voice in future works.
Thank you again for the chance to read this book!
February 3, 2026
This book is bout a virus that wipes out most of the adult population, slowly leaving the children to fend on their own. Starting with the positives, its an interesting dystopian landscape which is described well. The characters are realistic to their age, and some are altogether terrifying.
The negatives, I don't like how POC characters are described, their ethnicity is their main focus with one character being called the Mexican multiple times instead of his name. The reason adults are dying is due to a vaccine for another illness and those that survive are either anti-vaxxers or under 14. This felt like a pro anti-vax book, and although that's not what the author intended its how it comes across. I almost forgot to mention that all the anti-vaxxers are white supremacists. So that paired with how the POC characters were described just rubbed me the wrong way.
The author reached out to me and offered me a copy of this book to read but all opinions are my own.
The negatives, I don't like how POC characters are described, their ethnicity is their main focus with one character being called the Mexican multiple times instead of his name. The reason adults are dying is due to a vaccine for another illness and those that survive are either anti-vaxxers or under 14. This felt like a pro anti-vax book, and although that's not what the author intended its how it comes across. I almost forgot to mention that all the anti-vaxxers are white supremacists. So that paired with how the POC characters were described just rubbed me the wrong way.
The author reached out to me and offered me a copy of this book to read but all opinions are my own.
May 21, 2025
Such a good book! I will definitely be purchasing the second & third book because I need MORE!
This book has such a nice easy pace that it was really enjoyable to read and get through quickly. The genre was posty dystopian/thriller and it gave just that. You had full on end of the world vibes almost from the beginning. Things felt Eire and weird. Along with full on thriller vibes.
This book had my heart racing in certain parts. The writer did such a great job of making you feel like you are in the book and you’re right alongside these characters experiencing the same thing.
You get so attached to these characters to the point of heartbreak. I’m pretty sure I cried at least twice if not three times.
Highly recommend if this sounds right up your alley!
This book has such a nice easy pace that it was really enjoyable to read and get through quickly. The genre was posty dystopian/thriller and it gave just that. You had full on end of the world vibes almost from the beginning. Things felt Eire and weird. Along with full on thriller vibes.
This book had my heart racing in certain parts. The writer did such a great job of making you feel like you are in the book and you’re right alongside these characters experiencing the same thing.
You get so attached to these characters to the point of heartbreak. I’m pretty sure I cried at least twice if not three times.
Highly recommend if this sounds right up your alley!
January 16, 2025
What a fabulous book! So interesting and kept me hooked - even at the end I want to read more, more more! I shall definitely be reading more by this author. I have never read dystopian before but this was such a good read, so descriptive I could picture everything. I definitely recommend this!
February 3, 2026
In the world of this novel, all the adults start dying extremely gory, bloody deaths with no explanation. Until we find out the truth, laden with conspiracy. For a majority of the novel, we see the kids of the town forced to take care of themselves and each other with a few remaining authority figures trying to keep some semblance of order.
I enjoyed this book for about the first 50%. However, Colt writes an American experience that sometimes includes words or phrases we don’t really say, and while it didn’t hinder my ability to follow the plot, there were times where it did take me out of the experience momentarily. It’s an anti-vax story that draws characters either as one-dimensional stereotypes or makes them do or say things it didn’t make sense for them based on how we initially see them. I liked several of the characters at the beginning, but then they’d do something (or many somethings) that were just out of character, and that bothered me.
There are other books in this series, so Colt (understandably) ends on a cliffhanger. I don’t think I’ll continue with the series but I am interested in reading his other work because the pace of this one kept me going, and I think he generally writes well. This one just isn’t for me, and that’s okay.
*Thanks to Jon Colt for a free copy of this book.”
I enjoyed this book for about the first 50%. However, Colt writes an American experience that sometimes includes words or phrases we don’t really say, and while it didn’t hinder my ability to follow the plot, there were times where it did take me out of the experience momentarily. It’s an anti-vax story that draws characters either as one-dimensional stereotypes or makes them do or say things it didn’t make sense for them based on how we initially see them. I liked several of the characters at the beginning, but then they’d do something (or many somethings) that were just out of character, and that bothered me.
There are other books in this series, so Colt (understandably) ends on a cliffhanger. I don’t think I’ll continue with the series but I am interested in reading his other work because the pace of this one kept me going, and I think he generally writes well. This one just isn’t for me, and that’s okay.
*Thanks to Jon Colt for a free copy of this book.”
January 14, 2026
Thank you Jon Colt for reaching out to me about your book! It's fairly unique to my other reads and I enjoyed it very much!
This book follows a variety of characters as society has to face the reality of a virus killing the adult population. This is a dystopian novel with a thriller aspect on what’s to come?
I do feel that there was character development, such as Milo and Becca. I feel like these two characters went through a lot and are still protecting their siblings and each other. I did find that the plot was very interesting and kept me very entertained throughout the whole book!
Overall, this book was fantastic. I loved reading it, and I loved the characters!! I cannot wait to read the second book because the cliffhanger on this one was absolutely insane!!
This book follows a variety of characters as society has to face the reality of a virus killing the adult population. This is a dystopian novel with a thriller aspect on what’s to come?
I do feel that there was character development, such as Milo and Becca. I feel like these two characters went through a lot and are still protecting their siblings and each other. I did find that the plot was very interesting and kept me very entertained throughout the whole book!
Overall, this book was fantastic. I loved reading it, and I loved the characters!! I cannot wait to read the second book because the cliffhanger on this one was absolutely insane!!
March 24, 2026
What Happened Next By Jon Colt
When adults start dropping like flies, a small group of youngsters must make a dangerous journey.
✨ I am really enjoying branching out to different genres and themes recently, and this book reminds me why I continue to try new authors and stories! A book about a post-apocalyptic world that puts 2 teenagers with their siblings in a difficult position once their parents die from the inevitable death 80% of adults are dying from, not only to they have to figure out how to survive they have to protect eachother from the horrors out in the world while they venture to a safe haven! I really enjoyed it, I can’t wait or else the rest of the series!✨
When adults start dropping like flies, a small group of youngsters must make a dangerous journey.
✨ I am really enjoying branching out to different genres and themes recently, and this book reminds me why I continue to try new authors and stories! A book about a post-apocalyptic world that puts 2 teenagers with their siblings in a difficult position once their parents die from the inevitable death 80% of adults are dying from, not only to they have to figure out how to survive they have to protect eachother from the horrors out in the world while they venture to a safe haven! I really enjoyed it, I can’t wait or else the rest of the series!✨
February 4, 2026
Not gonna lie it is faced paced and keep you on yours toes at first but when I got deeper within the story I just began to not enjoy it? I'm not sure if it's because of the narrative of how characters were described, and the whole vibe of anti-vaxx just not for me as the story had a good sounding premise but it felt just off when reading
April 15, 2026
A decent read - 4 sittings across 2 days and an interesting story. Worried I’d picked up some anti vax propaganda at one point but it doesn’t quite cross that line. Independently published and could do with an editor, a few typos (wailing / whaling), missed words (the squad stopped - the word car is missing) and quite a bit of repetition of certain phrases (faces getting ‘freckled’ with blood)
But honestly, a decent enough story but pretty heavy, especially if you have kids
But honestly, a decent enough story but pretty heavy, especially if you have kids
June 24, 2026
Absolutely loved this book, good dystopian and no zombies.
Very good characters who I am really looking forward to finding out what happens to them in the next book.
Very good characters who I am really looking forward to finding out what happens to them in the next book.
February 23, 2026
This book was fantastic. I was hooked from page one. The story was completely believable and made me think of how safe were our Covid vaccinations. I loved the characters, they really got to you, even the dog had me on the edge of my seat. This was fast paced and definitely kept me turning the pages. Cannot wait to start book 2.
August 25, 2025
What Happened Next by Jon Colt absolutely hooked me from the start! This dystopian thriller throws readers into a sadly now realistic scenario. A virus wipes out most adults, leaving kids like Milo, Sally, Becca, and Brody to survive in a collapsing world. The tension builds fast, and the presence of a shadowy extremist group adds a sinister edge that kept me flipping pages late into the night. Colt’s world feels raw and real, and the emotional stakes are high from the very first chapter.
The character development is one of the book’s biggest strengths. I genuinely cared about Milo and his crew, and found myself feeling their fear, hope, and heartbreak right alongside them. The pacing ramps up in the second half with heart-pounding action and suspense, and while I wanted more from some side plots (Rex, I’m looking at you), the story still delivered a thrilling ride. Lieutenant Peters and the cadets added depth, and I can’t wait to see how their roles evolve in the sequel.
And yes, the ending left me hanging... in the best and worst way. I’m not usually a fan of cliffhangers, but this one has me counting down the days until the next book (you hear that, Jon????). If you love dystopian fiction with strong characters, high stakes, and a touch of emotional chaos, this one’s for you. Just be warned... You might yell at your Kindle when you hit that final page. I had to instead complain to my dogs since I really don't want to break my poor Kobo...
Four out of five stars.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
The character development is one of the book’s biggest strengths. I genuinely cared about Milo and his crew, and found myself feeling their fear, hope, and heartbreak right alongside them. The pacing ramps up in the second half with heart-pounding action and suspense, and while I wanted more from some side plots (Rex, I’m looking at you), the story still delivered a thrilling ride. Lieutenant Peters and the cadets added depth, and I can’t wait to see how their roles evolve in the sequel.
And yes, the ending left me hanging... in the best and worst way. I’m not usually a fan of cliffhangers, but this one has me counting down the days until the next book (you hear that, Jon????). If you love dystopian fiction with strong characters, high stakes, and a touch of emotional chaos, this one’s for you. Just be warned... You might yell at your Kindle when you hit that final page. I had to instead complain to my dogs since I really don't want to break my poor Kobo...
Four out of five stars.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. I've read a few dystopian style books recently and this without a doubt is my favourite so far.
From the prologue i just knew this was going to be a 5⭐️ read.
This story follows Milo, a young boy and his friends who live a normal life surrounded by their families and other adults who took the Lavitika Vaccine. Those who refused the vaccine were shipped off and locked away at the Distanced Living Centres (DLC) to live until the end. As time goes on we witness the end - all adults who recieved a vaccine are suddenly dropping dead, eventually wiping out the whole adult population. The children are the only ones left outwith the adults locked away in the DLC's and will have to fend for themselves. This is a story of finding the out truth and a story of survival.
My heart raced, I cried and i kept turning those pages to find out what happened. I felt so much sadness for Milo's family, and so much pride toward the group of kids. This really was an emotional rollercoaster. Colt has done a fantastic job of not only world building but character building also. The plot is really tense in parts and really pulls on the heartstrings.
From the prologue i just knew this was going to be a 5⭐️ read.
This story follows Milo, a young boy and his friends who live a normal life surrounded by their families and other adults who took the Lavitika Vaccine. Those who refused the vaccine were shipped off and locked away at the Distanced Living Centres (DLC) to live until the end. As time goes on we witness the end - all adults who recieved a vaccine are suddenly dropping dead, eventually wiping out the whole adult population. The children are the only ones left outwith the adults locked away in the DLC's and will have to fend for themselves. This is a story of finding the out truth and a story of survival.
My heart raced, I cried and i kept turning those pages to find out what happened. I felt so much sadness for Milo's family, and so much pride toward the group of kids. This really was an emotional rollercoaster. Colt has done a fantastic job of not only world building but character building also. The plot is really tense in parts and really pulls on the heartstrings.
April 19, 2026
I found out that the author was giving away free copies of this book, so I decided to give it a go... I'm so glad I did - this book had me crying, gasping and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout every chapter. l can't wait to get my hands on the other three books to find out What Happens Next!
April 17, 2026
I got to read this book because the author kindly provided me with a free copy. I enjoyed reading it, as it has a unique take on the dystopian and post-apocalyptic genre.
Trigger Warnings: Gore, torture, child abuse, death by suicide, bullying, dog death (implied), injured dog, racially motivated violence, depictions of ableism (I think that's all, I may be wrong)
The good:
I liked Colt's simple and direct writing, along with the short chapters, which made it really easy to read. It has a twist that sets it apart from your usual post-apocalyptic story, which I enjoyed. It includes multiple povs, and loveable characters (as well as others I despise).
The bad:
I personally can't handle gore and torture. This story has plenty of it. Also an implied dog death and an injured dog, which really hurt : (
I feel like some parts of the book could be cut, as they didn't move the story forward or were just not necessary/relevant. Also, I don't know if this was intentional and I'm just dumb, but the way certain characters thought and acted, as well as certain events that happened didn't seem believable in the story context and took me out of the story. Certain characters even acted, not to be redundant, out of character by the end of the book, as others here have pointed out.
The other thing that bothered me was the way POC characters were referred as and described like. Other reviewers have also mentioned this, one character is referred to as 'the mexican' at one point, and the black characters' main observation from the author is the fact they're black, and it is constantly repeated when talking about them.
I also question, were all that torture and detailed gory descriptions even necessary? I hadn't even realized what I read was torture until I saw someone here mention it, and it is true. (Is the book lowkey torture porn? Because I feel the detailed description of torture has no point really, just the shock value and for the sake of it.)
Conclusion:
I would recommend the book to anyone who isn't bothered by the multiple trigger warnings and is looking for a series (this is part 1 of a 4 book series) that offers a fresh take on dystopian and post-apocalyptic societies, as well as other twists that I won't spoil. It is an entertaining read that kept me intrigued until the very end. However, because of the gore and other things I mentioned, I doubt I will continue the series.
Trigger Warnings: Gore, torture, child abuse, death by suicide, bullying, dog death (implied), injured dog, racially motivated violence, depictions of ableism (I think that's all, I may be wrong)
The good:
I liked Colt's simple and direct writing, along with the short chapters, which made it really easy to read. It has a twist that sets it apart from your usual post-apocalyptic story, which I enjoyed. It includes multiple povs, and loveable characters (as well as others I despise).
The bad:
I personally can't handle gore and torture. This story has plenty of it. Also an implied dog death and an injured dog, which really hurt : (
I feel like some parts of the book could be cut, as they didn't move the story forward or were just not necessary/relevant. Also, I don't know if this was intentional and I'm just dumb, but the way certain characters thought and acted, as well as certain events that happened didn't seem believable in the story context and took me out of the story. Certain characters even acted, not to be redundant, out of character by the end of the book, as others here have pointed out.
The other thing that bothered me was the way POC characters were referred as and described like. Other reviewers have also mentioned this, one character is referred to as 'the mexican' at one point, and the black characters' main observation from the author is the fact they're black, and it is constantly repeated when talking about them.
I also question, were all that torture and detailed gory descriptions even necessary? I hadn't even realized what I read was torture until I saw someone here mention it, and it is true. (Is the book lowkey torture porn? Because I feel the detailed description of torture has no point really, just the shock value and for the sake of it.)
Conclusion:
I would recommend the book to anyone who isn't bothered by the multiple trigger warnings and is looking for a series (this is part 1 of a 4 book series) that offers a fresh take on dystopian and post-apocalyptic societies, as well as other twists that I won't spoil. It is an entertaining read that kept me intrigued until the very end. However, because of the gore and other things I mentioned, I doubt I will continue the series.
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