Caitlyn Can't Die

by Liz Hambleton

Since when did surviving the apocalypse become a good thing?

Caitlyn was doing okay before the end of the world. She had a decent job, dated around, and there was nothing a glass (bottle) of wine couldn't fix. When a Halloween haunted house proves to have real-life monsters turning everyone into creatures with black goo for blood, she manages to survive a few months on pure luck. The thing is... she doesn't want to anymore.

Riley doesn't leave people behind. It's not in his nature to give up, so when he finds a woman bleeding out in the woods, he stops to help. It's only when she wakes up the next day, furious that she isn't dead, that he realizes she didn't want to be saved. The duo are complete opposites who can't stop arguing with one another about how to survive, or if they even want to anymore.

It's not just the lack of heat, clean water, and tampons. This new world is horrible for those left alive. People have become more dangerous than the beasts they are running from. Who would want to live like this? But day after day, and despite all odds, Caitlyn and Riley keep going. They start to wonder if the lack of every modern convenience combined with the threat of impending doom isn't all that bad. They have each other, and maybe, that's enough.

Genres: Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Romance, Zombies, Contemporary, Humor, Survival

294 pages, Paperback

Published March 11, 2025

About the author

Liz Hambleton writes imperfectly beautiful romance. Her heroines are always strong-willed, and her heroes, resilient. Her characters live in alternate worlds and futuristic times, and putting yourself in their stories lets you escape reality while still feeling the power of true love.

If she’s not reading, she’s writing, and her deep adoration for the written word shines in everything she creates. Liz is married with two children, two large dogs, and a fish that refuses to die.

Connect with Liz on Social Media:

https://lizhambletonbooks.com/

Facebook:

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TikTok: @lizhambletonauthor

Instagram: @lizhambletonauthor

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started so strong and I was certain this one would sail to an easy 5 stars but after the first half Caitlyn gets a personality transplant or something and her sense of humor just goes MIA. I guess you can be funny or you can be a sexually satisfied, not both.

I do appreciate that this one actually did address the difficulties of menstruations in the apocalypse though, it was kind of a refreshing thing to see in a zombpoc adjacent story.

[Breanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

“𝕋𝕚𝕡𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕡𝕠𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕪𝕡𝕤𝕖. 𝔻𝕆ℕ’𝕋”

Caitlyn is tired and ready to give up. The world has gone downhill and people have turned into these undead beings called, Bloats. The Bloats tend to be fast and smart making it hard to outrun them. Not only are there Bloats, but there are halflings too which are half human/alive and half bloat. They can talk like normal and communicate with Bloats. Caitlyn is so very tired of running from them and ready to give it all up when she gets badly injured escaping a horde. Riley happens to find her and helps nurse her back to life even though she just wants to die and slowly but surely he gives her a reason to want to live.

There was quite a bit of comedy in this book. I really enjoyed the aspect of the surviving and all the things they had to overcome in order to survive. I am looking forward to reading the next book when it comes out. Was a unique read.

Tropes:
🧟‍♀️-Dystopian
🩷- Dark humor
🧟‍♀️- Forced Proximity
🩷- Found Family
🧟‍♀️- Interconnected Standalone

[Jessica (Bestie Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is going down as one of my favorites for 2025! I am a sucker for a great apocalyptic romance and Liz did an amazing job with this one. There is enough humor to keep it lighthearted, but the serious moments still hit the way they should. I love the banter between Caitlyn And Riley. The slow burn of this romance was perfect and I love that Liz talked about all the things that we don’t think about when it comes to the apocalypse. Like being dirty and not getting to shower, the deodorant, brushing teeth, and how horrible it would actually be to live through the apocalypse and then get your PERIOD!!!! I also love that her heroines are always older because let’s face it a 18-year-old does not have the Life skills to make it without help and I mean a lot of help!

this book was perfect, and I loved it so much!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I have LOVED every single one of Liz Hambleton’s books that I've read. I found Liz Hambleton on TikTok and absolutely devoured two of her series before reading this one! If you haven't checked her out yet, you're missing out!

I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC copy of Caitlyn Can't Die so mark your calendars for March 15th! I'm not usually into zombie type media but this was perfect. The banter, sarcasm, slow burn, grumpy, no filter, and character development *chef's kiss*. As always, check trigger warnings to protect your mental health.

[Catheryn]

DNF around 42%

I thought the story had an interesting start. Caitlyn is tired of living in a post-apocalyptic world and just needs tampons. I thought Brian, the guy she is with in the beginning, was actually very sweet and competent. Her character kept trying to convince us that he was just a bumbling idiot, who is only good for sex. But later she also describes him and someone who helped her survive. I didn't like that she kept talking bad about him. I almost wish she didn't start the story with him at all.

The romance, at almost halfway through, was still stunted. They pick up a lost child and once that happened, any sexual tension was killed. At this point I decided to give up. I had hard time caring for Caitlyn and Riley was carrying the whole story.

Overall, it was starting to remind me of Wildflowers by Kylie Scott (no shade and I know this came out before Wildflowers) but I didn't like that story either.

[Shayla Marie Just.a.touch.of.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️
1/5 🌶
𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒛𝒐𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒚𝒑𝒔𝒆. 𝑫𝑶𝑵'𝑻
This book takes place 3 months after the "zombie" apocalypse started. It follows a woman named Caitlin and her love interest Riley who keeps saving her life time and time again. He first finds her bleeding out from an arm injury she got trying to escape bloats (thats what she calls them). She had accepted her fate and was ready to fall asleep and never wake up again. She is pretty tired of this world anyway and doesn't want to fight anymore. To her surprise, she woke up bandaged and with 2 men dragging her through a forest auguring with each other, and that is when the real fun begins!

Caitlin is sarcastic and feisty with a lot of dark humor she can't keep to herself and no real survival skills, and Riley is just a grumpy man that was once a nurse... who seems to find her charming. What could go wrong...excepted everything!

There is a lot of comical banter, life or death situations, and Sexual tension you could cut with a butter knife

My only complaint and the only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because there isn't a lot of spice for a romance book, there are only 2 scenes and they are very, very short and after the 90% mark of the book. I enjoyed the lead up and the tension I just wish with how much tension and lead up there was that the scenes would have been a lot spicier and a lot longer. Otherwise, this book is perfect!

If you love the walking dead and want a little Spice added in, this book is definitely for you!

[Micronova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitlyn Can’t Die, book one in the Serial Survivors Collection
By Liz Hambleton
Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
3.5 stars (rounded up.)

I want to preface this review by stating that I’m a huge fan of Liz Hambleton and I was excited when I found out that she was going to be publishing a new series.

This is definitely perfect for someone looking for that post (zombie- esque) apocalyptic rom-com. I enjoyed the FMC Caitlyn. She pretty much has no filter and speaks first, worries about consequences and feelings later. The sarcasm, wit and banter between Caitlyn and Riley is one of the best parts of this book. This has humor, light romance, light spice and it’s fun to watch the dynamic between Caitlyn and Riley evolve.

While this was a fast, easy read, it did leave me feeling a little bit underwhelmed. I was disappointed with the ending and this book just didn’t draw me in the way I’m accustomed to Liz’s books doing. There is nothing wrong with this book at all, it just missed the mark for me. I’ve learned that I prefer Liz’s dystopian romances that are hard hitting and destroy me emotionally.

Thank you to Liz Hambleton for providing the advance readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[thaís · Rating 4 out of 5]

i just love apocalyptic romances, what can i say? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Kaitlin Ashwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Finished this ARC last night and my goodness was it an adventure. This book was not my typical style read, but I’m glad I ventured out! The banter was the highlight for me, I was giggling at every page turn, I can relate to Caitlyn in name and also the fact that I speak what’s in my mind. I had anxiety during certain moments because.. zombies, and then I was sweaty in others 🤭 I loved the characters and their found love during difficult times (not you Landon) if you are willing to give a zombie apocalypse love story a try like I did I would definitely add it to your TBR! 🤗

[Pene|ope • Temp Hyperfixation: WC & OMV · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I’m wired differently, too practical for the end of the world."

Humorous post-apocalyptic romance. I enjoyed this one, especially both of the MCs.

TW for suicidal ideation. To me (a realist) it's actually so much more realistic a thought process for an apocalypse, but it's some pretty heavy and possibly triggering content to read through. They discuss it often, and we see the way the FMC practically longs for death in the beginning morph into thoughts of choosing the way she goes, and then morph subtly into deciding to live.

I liked this progression but it's not one I see often in a genre that's usually full of "will to live" rhetoric. (I like both, what can I say?)

These are not zombies, but they fall into that category of creatures turned from humans. I can't say that I understand all of their rules even after finishing the book since they apparently can't be unalived by guns and such, but they presented interesting obstacles to the MCs throughout the story. I do want to read more about this world.

There were some disjointed areas of the book (the girl they find and then "lose" within a day, etc.), and the ending skips ahead past things I would have liked to see on page. But in all, I enjoyed the two MCs and seeing them come to rely on each other as they fell in love. 

Random notes from reading:

She mentions them exploding in the beginning of the book then halfway through when someone else mentions that they explode, she's surprised as if she's never heard or seen that information before. 

Suspending disbelief that he's able to do all that he does with the broken/cracked ribs he has. Especially sleeping with her on his chest, carrying her, sex, etc.

Ew. She just threw up half the lake sheet cpr and now you're making out with no teeth brushing?

Wait so what about his uncle?!

I actually can't remember which city and state this is set in but they're headed North to Canada and it's Christmas in December. Where's the snow??? They talk about being so cold but they're also laying down on the bare ground to make out, laying the child down on the bare ground, traveling with soaked clothes from falling in the river, etc. She was planning to take a bath in someone's pool. Would it not have been emptied for the winter? Otherwise, it can't be that cold lol.

Edit: It's Kentucky. And later they definitely talk about leaving footprints so where's the snow?? And why are they rolling around in it (if they were leaving footprints it was there) in soaking wet clothes?!!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an easy fun read mixed with a little bit of spice. Caitlyn has survived an apocalyptic type of virus that has infected the majority of the population, but has zero survival skills. Her original partner in survival unfortunately gets caught by thr infected during one of their stock up trips. Injured she comes to terms with death as this is no way to live, and she does not want to become one of them. But life has a different plan for her, and she is found and saved by Riley. Riley originally survived with his sister, but likewise she passed during an outing for supplies. Caitlyn and Riley have quite a bit of humourous banter as they travel looking for safety. They get themselves into a few sticky situations and in the process of surviving, they fall for each other. This story has a happy ending as they find other survivors and are able to do more than just live to survive.

[Jelysse · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book. It’s like The Walking Dead but much better. It stared off slow and it took me a while to really get into it. But once it gets to a certain point and chapter in the book, you are guaranteed to finish it. The ending was perfect, the action was amazing, these characters gave me life. The witty banter, the slow burn, the sexual tension, the tension and anxiety of the world being as it is. I was afraid the end would fall short but it didn’t. I recommend this book to anyone.

[Jessica (piscesbooklover)]

Who would have thought that apocalyptic romance would be a genre that I would willingly run to? Liz and her lovable (and hate-able) characters get me every time. End of the world, throw in a slow burn romance with witty banter? I’m completely hooked. I just hope the sequel is close behind because I need to know whats in store for Caitlyn and Riley next!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Caitlyn Can't Die" was my first book by Liz Hambleton, and it certainly won’t be my last. As a fan of horror and post-apocalyptic fiction, I found this novel to be an exciting journey from start to finish. I couldn't put it down and finished it in just two sittings. After reading it, I was so captivated that I immediately added Liz Hambleton's other books to my TBR.

The story centers around Caitlyn, a strong-willed woman who uses humor and sharp wit to cope with her trauma in a post-apocalyptic world. Her resilience and ability to laugh and make jokes in the face of danger are standout qualities, and her character feels real despite the extraordinary circumstances she endures. Riley, the male protagonist, perfectly complements Caitlyn. He is protective, caring, and the kind of man you’d want by your side if the world were to collapse. Together, they form a dynamic team that is always in trouble but consistently manages to pull through with heart and humor. Their witty banter is enjoyable, and the slow-burn romance between them is incredibly satisfying.

One refreshing aspect of the book is how Liz Hambleton highlights the everyday challenges of surviving in an apocalyptic setting. For instance, she humorously points out the struggle of managing necessities like tampons—something we usually take for granted. This unique perspective on often-overlooked survival needs adds depth to the story, making it relatable and thought-provoking.

Overall, "Caitlyn Can't Die" is a fast-paced, engaging, and witty read that balances humor and heart in the face of a crumbling world. Caitlyn and Riley’s journey is one I won’t soon forget, and I look forward to diving into more of her work.

Thank you, Liz Hambleton, for the ARC!

[Dayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caitlyn sure tries to die... but makes the whole read worth it

I loved everything about this book. Caitlyn isn't your normal apocalypse surviver. She doesn't want to keep running, and she certainly doesn't want to turn into one of those that chase her. One chance encounter after a supermarket run changes the entire course of her apocalypse, and she really can't decide for a while if she wants to keep surviving or not. Riley is heading north. He supposes that the infected won't be able to handle the cold. But a chance encounter upends his carefully regimented barricades.

I loved Caitlyn. She's sassy, has a mouth that talks back, and says whatever pops into her head. As anyone still alive, she has a trunk of trauma, but she also finds something worth surviving for. Riley is strong and smart but also willing to save those who he feels are worthy of saving. His desire to not only see the worst of everyone was refreshing, even at the end of civilization. This was my first read by Liz Hambleton I have read, and I will be diving into her entire library now. She did an amazing job bringing me into this world with both main characters. The anxiety and fear they feel throughout the book was clearly delivered. As well as the lighter moments and successes. It was fantastic, and another great take on the zombie apocalypse that had me hooked from the first page.

[A. Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first post-apocalyptic romance book, and what a fun ride! You have all the tension of a well written post-apocalyptic story, but it's so well contrasted by a developing love story. Highly recommend.

The pacing is fast and executed to perfection. The plot flows in a logical, cohesive manner, much to my chagrin. The character choices make sense, but there was one plot line I wanted to see more resolved than it actually was. I am being vague so as to not post spoilers, but there was one part I wished had wrapped up I a slightly different manner. I still enjoyed the read, but it's part of why this wasn't a five-star read for me. I loved the realistic touches in the story, small things that are normally glossed over in almost every book, but that you would be worried about at the end of the world.

The character development and growth we saw in this story were fantastic. This was one of my favorite parts of this book, and I loved how visible the change was in both of our main characters. Both characters start off in a somewhat rough place mentally, so be sure to check your trigger warnings. Especially if suicidal ideation or attempted rape is a trigger. The focus on suicidal ideation was a bit much for me, and it isn't a trigger of mine. It's the other reason this book was only a four star read for me. Thankfully, it was only a large focus on the beginning part of the book and not throughout the rest of the book. Otherwise, I loved the characters and their respective developments.

I really enjoyed this story. It was such a fun first foray into this genre. While I am excited to read more by this author, I don't know if I will be continuing this series. Although, the next book could potentially wrap up that plot point i was hoping for a better resolution of. It's definitely worth reading, and it was so refreshing to read this new to me genre. Thank you to the author for the ARC, I really enjoyed reading your work for the first time.

[Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caitlyn Can’t Die is a post-apocalyptic romance that has it all! Strong female lead? Check! McDreamy male costar? Check! Witty banter and a dystopian good time? Check! Spice? Cheecccckkkkk!

This is my third Liz Hambleton series and they keep getting better and better! I really love the premise of this series - when the apocalypse arrives, who can you trust and who needs to be left behind so you can survive? …is survival even worth it?

Caitlyn is real, relatable, and fed up with living through “unprecedented times” (seems oddly familiar, no?). So, why does she keep trudging on and surviving? You’ll have to read and find out!

Perfect for fans of TWD, Butcher & Blackbird, The Last of Us, Lost, Revolution, etc.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tips for surviving the apocalypse. DON’T.

With a start like that, adventure is coming. I loved Caitlyn and Riley, and going on this adventure with them was absolutely an adventure! I inhaled this book and wanted it to keep going. Watching Riley and Caitlyn start to open up to each other and slowly fall was so good! They have the perfect amount of banter and the tension, who boy, that tension is top-notch!

I can't wait to read more in this series, and if you need a book that takes place in the apocalypse, so yes - apocalypse/darker type things do happen, with a chance for love and plenty of laughs, this is the book for you!

[Stephanie Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! In a post apocalyptic world full of a virus that turns people into “bloats”, you’ll still need tampons, have primal urges, and encounter love (and evil). Caitlyn almost died many times through the book, but Riley refused to let her. Her goal seems to make life as hard as it can be, while his is to make sure she keeps living. This is such a fun rom-com with a bit of fear thrown in!

[Jessica Aranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨This was my first read by Liz Hambleton and it certainly won’t be the last. Caitlyn Can’t Die was definitely not what I was expecting! But I absolutely loved it! If it wasn’t for feeling sick I would have finished this in a day!
✨I loved the witty banter between Caitlyn and Riley. The grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity added another fun layer to this book! You just never know what will happen when you’re trying to survive a zombie apocalypse!
✨I would highly recommend this book!

[Hannah Bariola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitlyn can’t seem to die. She was on a date and the apocalypse hits…. On Halloween. Will she survive the bloats?

This kept me super captivated and interested! At first I was like hmmmm idk if this is for me, I’m not into the zombie apocalypse because it could happen before we know it. BUT I did end up really enjoying it!! If you’re into a bit of a thriller that you can’t put down with some weird zombies and lots of anxiety, here it is 😀

[Becki G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very well written. It kept you on the edge of your seat with all the action but also had the dark comedy elements that lightened it up a bit. The banter between the main characters made the slow burn worth the wait!

[Katelyn Kimball · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED THIS BOOK! From start to finish I couldn’t put this book down. It was funny and spicy. This book is going down at one of my favorites of 2025. And I can’t wait to read the next book!

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have the zombie apocalypse, trying to survive, and meeting survivors. We meet Caitlyn and she is just tired as she does everything she can to find a way to survive. We then meet Riley. He is this caring and kind man that really just wants to help not only himself but others as well. I had mixed feelings with Caitlyn as at times she is just whiny and not very helpful at all. But, then we have times that she definitely shows how she has been able to survive as long as she has. This story is one action/drama moment after another. Throughout the story I am definitely rooting for them to make it to where they are safe. The story is well written and developed. I throughly enjoy Liz Hambleton’s writing. The stories she writes always draw me in and keep me glued to it. This one is no different, I absolutely could not put it down as I had to see what happens. This definitely a fantastic story that absolutely needs to be read.

[Caitlyn Casper · Rating 5 out of 5]

* This is an ARC review. The opinion is my own. *

Absolutely fantastic book. I could NOT put it down. I giggled so many times it's insane. It was my first RomCom, as a fantasy reader, and it's hooked me on a genre I've waved away in the past. PLEASE pick up if you need to escape reality.

There were some weird world building stuff that didn't make sense at all times, but it's a Rom Com so it's easy to overlook.

[Allison Hebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitlyn Can’t Die is a refreshing new take on an apocalyptic world. Filled with witty banter and sarcastic remarks, you fall in love with the main characters - Caitlyn who is one of the most relatable FMCs I’ve read and Riley who is all green flags. Loved this book and can’t wait for the rest of the series! Would recommend for people who enjoy sarcasm, a little bit of comedy, a little bit of suspense and a little bit of romance in their books.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounding up to 5 stars!

Imagine you woke up to find your city overrun by zombies, your survival instincts questionable at best, and your only real weapon is biting sarcasm!

Zombie apocalypse isn’t my go-to genre (I am not opposed either!) but I knew within a few paragraphs that I was going to love this one. The biting humor, mixed with genuinely high-stakes action, creates the perfect balance of chaos and comedy. It never tries too hard to be funny. It just is.

Caitlyn is an absolute delight. She cracked me up repeatedly and she’s very relateable. I honestly think I could be her in a similar scenario: flailing, stubborn, and somehow making it work. The male main character (Riley) is also a standout — supportive, engaging, and just the right kind of charming without stealing the spotlight. He adds to the story rather than competing with Caitlyn or bringing her down in any way, which is refreshing.

The story jumps into action immediately and the pacing hits that sweet spot: fast enough to keep me flying through chapters, but never so quick that I felt lost or rushed. And while the plot leans fast paced, the romance is definitely a slow burn - with some spice! I love a slow burn!

Bonus points for the promise of more standalone stories set in this world. I’m really enjoying this approach to series storytelling lately, and this world has so much more potential to explore.

If you like your end-of-the-world scenarios with sharp wit, smart characters, and just enough gore to remind you that yes, zombies are still terrifying — you’ll want to read this one.

I read this as an ARC Review. Thank you so much to Liz Hambledon for the early copy!

[Jack-Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. 3 stars.

The beginning was really strong, detailed, immersive, and with characters that felt fleshed out. The MMC especially stood out: a nurse with survivor’s guilt, real skills, love for his family, and a believable background.

The FMC, though, was frustrating. She was just… normal, clearly at a different stage in life from the MMC before the apocalypse. From start to finish she felt like any other person, unskilled, constantly making TSTL (too stupid to live) choices, which, you know, makes sense.

But honestly, I wasn’t comfortable with the fact that she survived solely because of the MMC, which, fair, is literally stated in the blurb.

The problem is, I thought it would just be that first scene… but it ended up happening throughout the whole book. He, on the other hand, idolized her for no reason, and he was the one with all the depth and abilities.

That sort of imbalance threw me off. Her lack of growth made her feel like a blockhead, insensitive, tactless, selfish, and unable to read the room. Which is sad, because she was our protagonist.

Now, if she’d had a good character development from point A to point B, I might have understood it, I thought THAT was the point of describing a protagonist in that sort of way. Instead, it never happened, which made the MMC’s idolization/love feel even more weird, like he just latched onto the first normal, non-murdery, non-sketchy human he could find.

The pacing didn’t help either. The first half was detailed, maybe too much at times, but it flowed. The second half dragged with unnecessary scenes, then suddenly skipped three months without explanation. One moment they’re traveling, then they’re suddenly living in some sort of CAVES with survivors, and everything is supposedly “fine” (as fine as it can be in the apocalypse).

Now, THAT ending really killed the immersion. If the MMC getting more hardcore while the FMC got more useless wasn't enough to ruin it, the brush-stroke finale felt like skipping to the last scene of a movie.

I mean, we got full chapters of them stuck in a car, fighting for people they didn't know, looking for medicine, peeing in a bag, great action/horror scenes, an almost too detailed SA scene (so beware for triggers), but ZERO chapters on their supposed arrival at the caves?!



I mean, out of nowhere some foreshadowed strangers (halflings: people infected but not turned) that were a sort of “hint” of the “key” to the future knew how to get to safety?



Meanwhile, the monsters or “bloats” (as the FMC described them) were terrifying but apparently doomed to explode after a while anyway.

I was kind of disappointed that 90% of the book was about “going north” because the infected couldn’t handle the cold, yet that entire goal gets tossed aside in a three-page conversation with those strangers, and bam! time skip, open ending.

It felt like the author lost interest and rushed the wrap-up, because the next book is about another couple.

To be fair, the portrayal of actions and real details of things in certain scenes were great, the grief was strong, and I appreciated the gritty details most books gloss over: the vulnerability of trauma without exaggerating, basic necessities, how drowning really works, how nothing was certain, the smells, especially after not bathing for months or brushing you teeth, menstruation, sort of basic biology. Those touches made the world feel more realistic and the interactions truly fleshed out. I really liked how the author could paint the character and their mannerism in my head.

So, overall, it was an okay read with some solid ideas and details, but weighed down by uneven pacing, a disappointing development of character, and an ending that felt unfinished.

[Bevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

{3.25/5}

CW: some gore, spice, references to cannibalism, familial loss, thoughts of suicide, attempted SA, some others

Thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team! “Caitlyn Can’t Die” is available now!

For when you can’t decide whether you’d rather get laid (to rest) or laid (in a bed).

Nobody expected the end of the world, but Caitlyn certainly didn’t expect to survive this long into the affair. To be honest, she’s not positive she’d like to continue breaking that record. Riley’s headed north with a companion he neither likes nor wanted. When the two cross paths, everything they thought was important changes.

For clarity’s sake: it’s a love in the time of zombies sort of novel. I realize ‘apocalypse’ could mean a lot of different things, so I just wanted to clarify. The apocalypse here is zombie-type things (bloats). And now time for a confession..I actually really hate zombie movies. It’s not that they aren’t good movies, zombies just give me the ick. With that in mind, the book version of zombies turned out to not be so bad.

Caitlyn’s biggest issue, and the main CW for this book, is that she is very, very tired of trying to survive. The story deals a lot, especially early on, with her being ok with finding a permanent way out. And honestly? I get it. She was already burnt out and disconnected, now everything and everyone she loved is gone and running for your life all the time would be absolutely exhausting. It’s a very real take on something I think a lot of people would probably deal with.

My problem, though, is not with the willingness to accept the end of things. My problem is that Caitlyn is a generally not overly likeable person. She’s not somebody you’re really rooting for because she’s just kinda of rude. She’s blunt, she’s a little mean, and she knows it. It takes all types, but I am not one of those blessed people equipped to deal with that, especially at the end of the world. Riley is, though, and he’s the balance to Caitlyn’s literal everything. Somehow, between the two of them, the dynamic ends up working well.

The only other real ‘issue’ I had with the book is a hyperfixation (from Caitlyn) on all things sex. It comes up at the strangest times and really frequently. I’m chalking it all up to trauma and pre-existing relationship issues, but it was jarring at times. Occasionally it worked well as a tension break. I think a lot of my issue here was that Caitlyn is the main POV, so a lot of the internal monologue that we see is told in her very blunt, off putting manner, and you already know how I feel about that.

All in all, I’m confused by this book. I don’t dislike it (at all), but when I think about how I would describe it, most of the commentary I could give is less favorable. I suppose it boils down to this— it’s an easy read with flawed characters about a horribly stressful experience. The characters work well together on the page, to the point that it almost completely overrides the personality flaws of one, and it turns into a fun, slightly anxious, story that I think would do excellently as a movie. Go into this one looking for more of the quick and easy love story over an in-depth dystopian novel, and you’ll probably have a good time.

[Jillsbooknook · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Caitlyn Can't Die is the first novel in the adult apocalyptic romance series, Serial Survivors. Each novel is an interconnected standalone following survivors of a Zombie outbreak trying to find a path forward. Written in dual first person POV, the story follows our titular character Caitlyn as she finds living in an apocalypse to be exhausting, and Riley, a nurse who finds himself saving the life of a woman bleeding out in the woods. Together these two find themselves navigating a new world without tampons, heat, and clean water while also combating zombies and humans alike. Yet they find themselves defeating the odds and it begs to question...can they find happiness at the end of the world?

This book is cute despite the end of the world element…and all the risk of death.

Caitlyn is done with the world and is struggling to find a purchase after everything she has lost. I enjoyed seeing her build herself back up from the bottom throughout the story. Her empathy and curiosity keep her going even when she second guesses things.

Riley is a man after my own heart. His goal is to find safety and I liked how much he cares even when he hardly knows Caitlyn. He has his own backstory that influences his actions and I enjoyed unravelling that with him as we see he has a truly good heart...but he has no qualms about taking action when needed.

This book does contain spice. I would place it at 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. Given the volatile environment of the story...and lack of clean water...spice takes time to develop. Expect it towards the second half of the book and there will be a couple instances. I liked how we got to see these two really work as a team leading up to spice to highlight there is a connection between them and it's not just because of the apocalypse. The spice is detailed and explicit with fun and exploration.

The story itself follows these two trying to head north together after Riley comes across Caitlyn wounded. They find themselves navigating seemingly abandoned cities, searching for supplies, patching people up, and coming across zombies and creatures alike that have them questioning things. I especially liked some of the side characters like Landen and Lana as they highlighted both the fact humans can still be a big threat but also how they can bring people together. There are some trigger elements to consider in the novel around questions of death and attempted SA. I felt both were approached with compassion. I would have liked to have learned more about the world and what is going on but there was an additional piece at the end that has me very curious about these zombies, which Caitlyn has labelled as bloaters. The ending itself leaves things off on a hopeful note and it has me very curious to see what is next!

Overall, an easy book to dive into that I had a blast with!

Thank you Liz for sending along this arc!