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Annover Park #1
We Are Not Blood: A Found Family Post Apocalyptic
The Last of Us meets A Quiet Place & Annihilation in this Found Family Post Apocalyptic without zombies.
A 36-year-old sheriff on his way to a meeting.
A 21-year-old student returning to her senior year of college.
A 6-month-old baby in the backseat of her mother’s car.
Three strangers who should’ve never met.
But when the bridge all three are on collapses in a cataclysmic event, Quinn risks her life to save the trapped Ava. The baby’s mother is dead, but her rescue is too little too late. They both hurtle for death, but before the poisoned river below claims them, Anson finds them and carries the girls to the safety of dry land.
Only nothing is safe anymore. As nature mutates, each disaster more disturbing than the last, Anson feels responsible for Quinn and Ava. He promises to find them somewhere safe before he continues his solo journey south, but as weeks turn to months, the unusual trio faces two questions that will forever change the course of their lives. Is any place truly safe? And is blood the only thing that makes us family?
We Are Not Blood is the first book in the Annover Park Trilogy, a nature-based post apocalyptic. This series is perfect for fans of The Last of Us, Earth Abides, Annihilation, and The Quiet Place series (more so as the series continues). Filled with disasters, a sloooooooooow burn age gap romance (later in the series), and a literally found family, this trilogy will end on minor cliffhangers with unanswered questions until the resolution in book 3.
A 36-year-old sheriff on his way to a meeting.
A 21-year-old student returning to her senior year of college.
A 6-month-old baby in the backseat of her mother’s car.
Three strangers who should’ve never met.
But when the bridge all three are on collapses in a cataclysmic event, Quinn risks her life to save the trapped Ava. The baby’s mother is dead, but her rescue is too little too late. They both hurtle for death, but before the poisoned river below claims them, Anson finds them and carries the girls to the safety of dry land.
Only nothing is safe anymore. As nature mutates, each disaster more disturbing than the last, Anson feels responsible for Quinn and Ava. He promises to find them somewhere safe before he continues his solo journey south, but as weeks turn to months, the unusual trio faces two questions that will forever change the course of their lives. Is any place truly safe? And is blood the only thing that makes us family?
We Are Not Blood is the first book in the Annover Park Trilogy, a nature-based post apocalyptic. This series is perfect for fans of The Last of Us, Earth Abides, Annihilation, and The Quiet Place series (more so as the series continues). Filled with disasters, a sloooooooooow burn age gap romance (later in the series), and a literally found family, this trilogy will end on minor cliffhangers with unanswered questions until the resolution in book 3.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2025
128 people are currently reading
730 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Scarano
24 books463 followersNicole Scarano is an avid fiction reader and film enthusiast; her favorites being dystopian, apocalyptic, fantasy, and action sprinkled with a little romance here and there. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her rescued pitbull, China (who was part of the inspiration for Kerberos in her first novel, Pomegranate). Nicole's passion for writing consumes her free time, especially when it includes snuggling on her sofa with China. Her love of writing is so strong, she even tattooed a quote from one of her stories on her rib-cage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
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May 24, 2025
dnf at 9%
i only read this for my bestie but she dnfed it so i will too.
it was lwk just boring and weird. like the age gap was 🥴🥴 wdym he’s 36 and she’s 21 🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴
i’m so sick of not loving anything i’m reading 😭😭😭😭😭
i only read this for my bestie but she dnfed it so i will too.
it was lwk just boring and weird. like the age gap was 🥴🥴 wdym he’s 36 and she’s 21 🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴
i’m so sick of not loving anything i’m reading 😭😭😭😭😭
May 24, 2025
DNF @ 45%
The writing was amazing, but I was sick of the “oh he just happened to save them bc he had a gut feeling” “she knew she should get back bc she had a gut feeling” “her gut feeling told her __” it just made it worse unrealistic.
Also the 15 year age gap was a HUGE no-no for me.
The writing was amazing, but I was sick of the “oh he just happened to save them bc he had a gut feeling” “she knew she should get back bc she had a gut feeling” “her gut feeling told her __” it just made it worse unrealistic.
Also the 15 year age gap was a HUGE no-no for me.
April 30, 2025
Wow, I loved this book! The dynamic between Anson, Quinn, and Ava was written so well and it never felt forced. Ahhh, I honestly loved everything about it.
Anson and Quinn each had such distinct voices, which made reading We Are Not Blood even better. I was dying to know more about Anson’s backstory with his father, but I guess I’ll just have to wait for the next book… the anticipation, haha!
I seriously can’t wait for the next ones! 💕
Anson and Quinn each had such distinct voices, which made reading We Are Not Blood even better. I was dying to know more about Anson’s backstory with his father, but I guess I’ll just have to wait for the next book… the anticipation, haha!
I seriously can’t wait for the next ones! 💕
June 14, 2025
I will lead with: this book got me out of a reading slump. I really enjoyed the story and found it engaging.
That being said, it was riddled with errors. Character development was far too on-the-nose, even going as far as repeating the exact same phrases and sentences about MMC at least 5 times in 200 pages.
2.7⭐️
But of course I will read book 2.
That being said, it was riddled with errors. Character development was far too on-the-nose, even going as far as repeating the exact same phrases and sentences about MMC at least 5 times in 200 pages.
2.7⭐️
But of course I will read book 2.
December 16, 2025
4.5 stars
I was interested by the set up and the book delivered. There were a couple grammatical issues, but the story was interesting. There was some repetition in this story, but it lessens towards the end. I liked relationship between Anson and Quinn. We can tell that these two would not even be friends if the world was not ending. But, having to rely on each other, they are slowly building a partnership together. Anson keeps putting a wall because he is battling some demons and knows he is too old for her. I thought Quinn was a great character. She doesn't know anything about survival but is learning throughout the book. It was dark and a bit gruesome but I could not put it down.
It ends of a bit of a cliffhanger but nothing that is going to drive me crazy while I wait for next book.
(There is no explicit scenes in this story. But it seems like there might be later in this series)
I was interested by the set up and the book delivered. There were a couple grammatical issues, but the story was interesting. There was some repetition in this story, but it lessens towards the end. I liked relationship between Anson and Quinn. We can tell that these two would not even be friends if the world was not ending. But, having to rely on each other, they are slowly building a partnership together. Anson keeps putting a wall because he is battling some demons and knows he is too old for her. I thought Quinn was a great character. She doesn't know anything about survival but is learning throughout the book. It was dark and a bit gruesome but I could not put it down.
It ends of a bit of a cliffhanger but nothing that is going to drive me crazy while I wait for next book.
(There is no explicit scenes in this story. But it seems like there might be later in this series)
Want to read
September 10, 2025Synopsis is giving Last of Us vibes 👀
May 30, 2025
3.5🌟 I love an apocalyptic storyline and this did not disappoint! I loved the action and plot but what I didnt enjoy was some of the cringe dialogue between the MCs around the age gap - i have no issues with an age gap but him calling her kid bugged me otherwise I loved this and will definitely read book 2!
April 29, 2025
Wow
I usually don’t leave book reviews, but I just have to say — I absolutely loved, loved, loved this book!
It’s definitely a slow-burn story, and the age gap between the characters was handled so well. I also really appreciate that there’s no spice in this book, which is perfect for my reading preferences.
This is a beautiful story of found family. It was heartwarming to watch Anton, Quinn and Ava rely on each other, even as Anton struggles with trauma from his past. He keeps telling himself he’s not good enough for them, that he’ll just find them a safe place and leave — but the way their bond grows is just so beautiful.
Overall, this was a really well-done post-apocalyptic novel, and I truly enjoyed every moment of reading it! Can’t wait for the next book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 stars!
I usually don’t leave book reviews, but I just have to say — I absolutely loved, loved, loved this book!
It’s definitely a slow-burn story, and the age gap between the characters was handled so well. I also really appreciate that there’s no spice in this book, which is perfect for my reading preferences.
This is a beautiful story of found family. It was heartwarming to watch Anton, Quinn and Ava rely on each other, even as Anton struggles with trauma from his past. He keeps telling himself he’s not good enough for them, that he’ll just find them a safe place and leave — but the way their bond grows is just so beautiful.
Overall, this was a really well-done post-apocalyptic novel, and I truly enjoyed every moment of reading it! Can’t wait for the next book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 stars!
May 12, 2025
I still need to write a review!
But what can I say, I could not put the book down. And I started to read it at the worst timing!
I started the book and the next day Portugal went dark, we lost all power, phone coverage all this from 11:30 am into the night.
Picking your kids from school in a European capital without traffic lights was so scary!!! Police, firefighters and ambulances were working non-stop. My anxiety skyrocketed, not just because of the war happening in Europe, but because of this book.
But did I put it down and take a break? Nooooooo, I punished my self by continuing it, because it was a non-stop of tragedy and overcoming simple obstacles when what we take for granted is no longer available. Plus the star of the show: the found family (so heartwarming!).
Grumpy (him) x sunshine (her)
Forced proximity
Pretending to be married
Best and worst of humanity
Apocalypse without zombies
So many unaliving - "naturally" and "you threaten her you die"
Age gap - 36 years old sheriff and a college student
No spice or even fade-to-black! Oh yes, this is one of those slow burns and I loved it. It needed to be.
5 freaking ⭐
Finally, check triggers, I am European so I'm not the best person to set triggers for US readers or others
But what can I say, I could not put the book down. And I started to read it at the worst timing!
I started the book and the next day Portugal went dark, we lost all power, phone coverage all this from 11:30 am into the night.
Picking your kids from school in a European capital without traffic lights was so scary!!! Police, firefighters and ambulances were working non-stop. My anxiety skyrocketed, not just because of the war happening in Europe, but because of this book.
But did I put it down and take a break? Nooooooo, I punished my self by continuing it, because it was a non-stop of tragedy and overcoming simple obstacles when what we take for granted is no longer available. Plus the star of the show: the found family (so heartwarming!).
Grumpy (him) x sunshine (her)
Forced proximity
Pretending to be married
Best and worst of humanity
Apocalypse without zombies
So many unaliving - "naturally" and "you threaten her you die"
Age gap - 36 years old sheriff and a college student
No spice or even fade-to-black! Oh yes, this is one of those slow burns and I loved it. It needed to be.
5 freaking ⭐
Finally, check triggers, I am European so I'm not the best person to set triggers for US readers or others
June 8, 2025
To say I loved this story is an understatement.
I loved it.
I can't wait for the sequel.
I loved it.
I can't wait for the sequel.
July 16, 2025
Lots of fun but my word she cried a lot.
So much.
So much.
October 23, 2025
Enjoyable read!! Very quick paced, predictable with the type of story it is & felt the ending was extremely rushed. I am intrigued to see where the next one goes tho
May 4, 2025
4.75⭐️ This really gave my my fix of ‘The Last of Us’ and I loved every second of it. I think Quinn and Anson make a good team, they were able to overcome danger together and become a stronger pair for Ava. I think Anson’s determination to leave her due to his survivors guilt really made him a complex and awesome character, and Quinn really grew into a strong/badass Mom. I devoured this in a matter of days and I cannot wait for the next one. I will be surviving off of the highlighted romance crumbs I was given until January 2026!
May 13, 2025
SUMMARY:
A 36-year-old sheriff on his way to a meeting. A 21-year-old student returning to her senior year of college. A 6-month-old baby in the backseat of her mother’s car. Three strangers who should’ve never met. But when the bridge all three are on collapses in a cataclysmic event, Quinn risks her life to save the trapped Ava. The baby’s mother is dead, but her rescue is too little too late. They both hurtle for death, but before the poisoned river below claims them, Anson finds them and carries the girls to the safety of dry land. Only nothing is safe anymore. As nature mutates, each disaster more disturbing than the last, Anson feels responsible for Quinn and Ava. He promises to find them somewhere safe before he continues his solo journey south, but as weeks turn to months, the unusual trio faces two questions that will forever change the course of their lives. Is any place truly safe? And is blood the only thing that makes us family? Filled with disasters, a sloooooooooow burn age gap romance (later in the series), and a literally found family story.
REVIEW:
We Are Not Blood is the first book in the Annover Park Trilogy and it on of my all time favorite book by Nicole Scarano. This is a found family post apocalyptic slow burn romance about Sheriff Anson Ford who was on his way to a meeting, senior college student Quinn on her way back to college and a six-month-old baby in the backseat of her mother's car that meet when the bridge they are all on in different locations collapses in a cataclysmic event. All three of them have to survive on disaster after another together while also trying to survive attacks from other survivors that have let what happened make them into animals with no morals. The moment that Anson saved Quinn and Ava just before they were about to plummet to their death was an intense and emotional moment had my heart racing. It was such a terrifying moment when Quinn witnesses what the toxic river water was doing to all the people that were trying to escape to safety.
Whenever Anson would tell Quinn that he was only staying with her and Ava until he can find a place to safely leave them were frustrating moments since they were only safe when they were with him. There were several intense moments when Quinn and Ava were alone trying to survive while Anson was also alone hoping that they were safe so he could find them. It was such a sad and emotional moment when Quinn finally got to her parents but unfortunately they were no longer alive which completely changed her forever. I fell in love with Anson just like Quinn is starting to by the end of the book when he saves her yet again from another bad situation. Quinn is an amazing young woman that save and has become a mother to baby Ava even though they share no blood ties. Nicole Scarano delivered a page-turning novel that with every page had me gasping in surprise, shock and left me so emotional with an ending that had me wishing that it was already 2026 so I can get my hands on book two Not Of My Flesh.
A 36-year-old sheriff on his way to a meeting. A 21-year-old student returning to her senior year of college. A 6-month-old baby in the backseat of her mother’s car. Three strangers who should’ve never met. But when the bridge all three are on collapses in a cataclysmic event, Quinn risks her life to save the trapped Ava. The baby’s mother is dead, but her rescue is too little too late. They both hurtle for death, but before the poisoned river below claims them, Anson finds them and carries the girls to the safety of dry land. Only nothing is safe anymore. As nature mutates, each disaster more disturbing than the last, Anson feels responsible for Quinn and Ava. He promises to find them somewhere safe before he continues his solo journey south, but as weeks turn to months, the unusual trio faces two questions that will forever change the course of their lives. Is any place truly safe? And is blood the only thing that makes us family? Filled with disasters, a sloooooooooow burn age gap romance (later in the series), and a literally found family story.
REVIEW:
We Are Not Blood is the first book in the Annover Park Trilogy and it on of my all time favorite book by Nicole Scarano. This is a found family post apocalyptic slow burn romance about Sheriff Anson Ford who was on his way to a meeting, senior college student Quinn on her way back to college and a six-month-old baby in the backseat of her mother's car that meet when the bridge they are all on in different locations collapses in a cataclysmic event. All three of them have to survive on disaster after another together while also trying to survive attacks from other survivors that have let what happened make them into animals with no morals. The moment that Anson saved Quinn and Ava just before they were about to plummet to their death was an intense and emotional moment had my heart racing. It was such a terrifying moment when Quinn witnesses what the toxic river water was doing to all the people that were trying to escape to safety.
Whenever Anson would tell Quinn that he was only staying with her and Ava until he can find a place to safely leave them were frustrating moments since they were only safe when they were with him. There were several intense moments when Quinn and Ava were alone trying to survive while Anson was also alone hoping that they were safe so he could find them. It was such a sad and emotional moment when Quinn finally got to her parents but unfortunately they were no longer alive which completely changed her forever. I fell in love with Anson just like Quinn is starting to by the end of the book when he saves her yet again from another bad situation. Quinn is an amazing young woman that save and has become a mother to baby Ava even though they share no blood ties. Nicole Scarano delivered a page-turning novel that with every page had me gasping in surprise, shock and left me so emotional with an ending that had me wishing that it was already 2026 so I can get my hands on book two Not Of My Flesh.
September 28, 2025
I love post apocalyptic books and I’m always looking to read more of them! I discovered this book when I was on Instagram and it sounded amazing and my kind of read, so I grabbed a copy and read it as soon as I could! After reading, I can say that I loved this book! The plot had me hooked right from the first page and it only took me a few sittings to read because I didn’t want to put it down until I had finished reading! I did try and take my time to make it last longer, but I couldn’t lol! Now, there wasn’t a ton of romance in this book, but it does say the romance is slow burn and it will develop more as the trilogy progresses! I can’t wait to see it progress because I know it’s going to be good from the little bit there was in this book! There was also a lot of action and suspense in the plot, which added a lot to it and made me enjoy it more! The characters were also amazing and made this book even better! Quinn was the main female character, and in this book she was young and was at college! Quinn’s life changed and she did struggle with it because the world was basically killing everyone! Quinn grew as the plot progressed and I do see her growing more as this trilogy progresses! She also became a mother in this book and she did her absolute best for baby Ava! Anson was the main male character and love interest of Quinn! Anson was a sheriff and this meant that he was a bit more equipped to deal with the end of the world lol! Anson supported Quinn and Ava and he was protective of them and wanted them to be in a safe community! I liked Anson a lot and it was clear to see that he was hiding something from his past! I hope we find out more about it as this trilogy progresses! This book was written from both Quinn and Anson’s point of views! I was hoping that it was going to be before I started reading and I’m really happy that it was! It helped me connect more with both characters and see how they were dealing with the massive changes they had both been through! It allowed me to see how they felt about each other as well! It allowed for more things to happen in the plot as well, even though Quinn and Anson spent pretty much all of the plot together! I now can’t wait to read the next book in this trilogy! It says that the next book releases in January, which isn’t that long of a wait, but it’s long enough when you’re dying for it lol! I’ll definitely be anticipating its release and reading it as soon as it does! This book thankfully wasn’t left at a massive cliffhanger! The cover for this book is absolutely stunning and I loved it as soon as I saw it! It definitely drew me to the book and made me check out the synopsis! I love how well it suits the book and what happens in it!
June 30, 2025
Enticing and exhilirating from the very first page! When I saw this book advertised a Pedro Pascal in the The Last of Us mmc vibe, paired with a compelling found family/slow burn romance plot line? I said sign me the heck up, read it in a day, and ya'll I haven't stopped thinking about it!
Summary:
"Survivors would forever describe the crack that shattered the air as the sound of the world breaking."
Quinn the 21 year old college student, Anson the 36 year old Sherriff, and Ava the six month old baby: Three strangers who's fates are about to become irreversibly intertwined. When a cataclysmic event brings all three of them together, they will fight through unimaginable disasters as nature itself turns on human kind.
Thoughts:
What a frieken ride! From page one, this book stepped on the gas (hehe..look you'll get it when you read it) and does not let up. It is heart pounding, nail biting, and just everything I wanted in a post apocalyptic book.
The characters were so compelling. You have Quinn the young, innocent woman trying to navigate these horrors
She still shows incredible courage and love stepping into the role of a mother. Then you have Anson, who's damaged and bitter. He has this devastating past that makes him closed off and brutal, but at his heart he's a protector and I just 😍. I never thought I would swoon over the idea of a man fighting to get a girl tampons in the middle of an apocalypse....but damn here we are.
Age gap romance is not generally my preference in books, but when it's as compelling and thoughtfully written as this one, I will happily recommend. For example, there is actually no romance itself in this book, you just get the framework for what is being set up for future books. The characters open up, begin to rely on one another, and become a family unit. It is extremely organic and well done.
The plot itself is fast paced and exhilirating. Slower moments are used to really build the characters and their backgrounds. Again this is an apocolyptic event book so no one is really "spared" from the events. There are some pretty gruesome, intense, and emotional scenes, but it made for a very realistic and heart wrenching read.
If you enjoyed shows like The Last of Us or The Quiet Place, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. Or if you're just looking to mix up your reading, and just want to fantasize about a grumpy version of Pedro Pascal for a little while 😏. Also I need more people to join me in the hellscape of waiting for book 2 😂.
Summary:
"Survivors would forever describe the crack that shattered the air as the sound of the world breaking."
Quinn the 21 year old college student, Anson the 36 year old Sherriff, and Ava the six month old baby: Three strangers who's fates are about to become irreversibly intertwined. When a cataclysmic event brings all three of them together, they will fight through unimaginable disasters as nature itself turns on human kind.
Thoughts:
What a frieken ride! From page one, this book stepped on the gas (hehe..look you'll get it when you read it) and does not let up. It is heart pounding, nail biting, and just everything I wanted in a post apocalyptic book.
The characters were so compelling. You have Quinn the young, innocent woman trying to navigate these horrors
She still shows incredible courage and love stepping into the role of a mother. Then you have Anson, who's damaged and bitter. He has this devastating past that makes him closed off and brutal, but at his heart he's a protector and I just 😍. I never thought I would swoon over the idea of a man fighting to get a girl tampons in the middle of an apocalypse....but damn here we are.
Age gap romance is not generally my preference in books, but when it's as compelling and thoughtfully written as this one, I will happily recommend. For example, there is actually no romance itself in this book, you just get the framework for what is being set up for future books. The characters open up, begin to rely on one another, and become a family unit. It is extremely organic and well done.
The plot itself is fast paced and exhilirating. Slower moments are used to really build the characters and their backgrounds. Again this is an apocolyptic event book so no one is really "spared" from the events. There are some pretty gruesome, intense, and emotional scenes, but it made for a very realistic and heart wrenching read.
If you enjoyed shows like The Last of Us or The Quiet Place, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. Or if you're just looking to mix up your reading, and just want to fantasize about a grumpy version of Pedro Pascal for a little while 😏. Also I need more people to join me in the hellscape of waiting for book 2 😂.
May 21, 2025
I don't usually write reviews, but I wanted to help support his indie author because it's well deserved. The story was gripping, an absolute page-turner which is the biggest reason for this piece to earn five stars.
What surprised me was that this book had a fresh take on the apocalypse. Every scene flowed into the next, never missing a beat and taking me on an adventure that I didn't quite expect and making me feel very scared for them. Something was always throwing the characters into disarray which kept me on the edge of my seat, rooting for their survival and the unity of their little family.
If you are a big fan of the The Last of Us, especially Joel Miler, you're going to love this. That's all I'm going to say without giving away any spoilers. This book is a gift to those of us obsessed with that grumpy old man. It's the whole reason I picked up this read in the first place and Nicole Scarano delivered.
I personally can't give this anything less than five stars, but for the sake of an honest review, there are some typos in the book. This is an indie author so it's understandable and I'm not bothered by it. I think I only found two, honestly, however there were a handful of sentences that felt like they could have been rewritten for better clarity.
Lastly, I loved the relationship between Anson and Quinn, so much so that the ending left me wanting to see more unfold between them, which is probably a good thing since book 2 is coming out. I actually stopped reading mid book to order book 2 because it was already that good, and was so sad to see it wasn't out yet!
We Are Not Blood was VERY much a slow burn, yet the ending did leave me feeling satisfied. So to wrap up, if you are a TLOU fan (Joel Miller girlie), are cool with super slow burns, and constant life-threatening action, and are probably dabbling in the dark romance section of your library then this book is for you. 5/5 instant fave for me!
What surprised me was that this book had a fresh take on the apocalypse. Every scene flowed into the next, never missing a beat and taking me on an adventure that I didn't quite expect and making me feel very scared for them. Something was always throwing the characters into disarray which kept me on the edge of my seat, rooting for their survival and the unity of their little family.
If you are a big fan of the The Last of Us, especially Joel Miler, you're going to love this. That's all I'm going to say without giving away any spoilers. This book is a gift to those of us obsessed with that grumpy old man. It's the whole reason I picked up this read in the first place and Nicole Scarano delivered.
I personally can't give this anything less than five stars, but for the sake of an honest review, there are some typos in the book. This is an indie author so it's understandable and I'm not bothered by it. I think I only found two, honestly, however there were a handful of sentences that felt like they could have been rewritten for better clarity.
Lastly, I loved the relationship between Anson and Quinn, so much so that the ending left me wanting to see more unfold between them, which is probably a good thing since book 2 is coming out. I actually stopped reading mid book to order book 2 because it was already that good, and was so sad to see it wasn't out yet!
We Are Not Blood was VERY much a slow burn, yet the ending did leave me feeling satisfied. So to wrap up, if you are a TLOU fan (Joel Miller girlie), are cool with super slow burns, and constant life-threatening action, and are probably dabbling in the dark romance section of your library then this book is for you. 5/5 instant fave for me!
May 17, 2025
An Amazing Story Of Survival And Found Family!!
THIS WAS UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!!
I’ve read quite a few Apocalyptic Survival Thrillers, but I haven’t read ANYTHING LIKE THIS!! I love the whole concept of the apocalypse and what is happening!! This is a fast-paced (from the start), action-packed, edge of your seat survival story!! The plot never gets dull. You won’t want to put this down!
The characters have such distinct voices, their backgrounds are so different and there’s a 15 year age gap, but they absolutely need each other to survive and to protect baby Ava. Quinn is a kind hearted, smart 21 yr old who knew from the start that the Sheriff, Anson (36 yrs old), is her safe place. When he saved her and baby Ava on the bridge, in the first chapter, she had the thought that she felt safe with him in a way that never felt with a man, besides her father. Anson’s only goal is to save Quinn & Ava. He has a past that plagues him and he feels he’s not a good man. He’s a very good protector and that’s what drives him. I’m looking forward to book two and learning more about his past. These two are attracted to each other, secretly, but so far this isn’t a romance. But the author says this is a slooooow romance, and so far everything is written tastefully.
I’d HIGHLY RECOMMEND this to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced Apocalyptic Survival Thriller with found family!!! Everything I’ve read by this author I’ve loved and they’ve been different genres, she could probably write ANYTHING and I’D LOVE IT!!!
THIS WAS UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!!
I’ve read quite a few Apocalyptic Survival Thrillers, but I haven’t read ANYTHING LIKE THIS!! I love the whole concept of the apocalypse and what is happening!! This is a fast-paced (from the start), action-packed, edge of your seat survival story!! The plot never gets dull. You won’t want to put this down!
The characters have such distinct voices, their backgrounds are so different and there’s a 15 year age gap, but they absolutely need each other to survive and to protect baby Ava. Quinn is a kind hearted, smart 21 yr old who knew from the start that the Sheriff, Anson (36 yrs old), is her safe place. When he saved her and baby Ava on the bridge, in the first chapter, she had the thought that she felt safe with him in a way that never felt with a man, besides her father. Anson’s only goal is to save Quinn & Ava. He has a past that plagues him and he feels he’s not a good man. He’s a very good protector and that’s what drives him. I’m looking forward to book two and learning more about his past. These two are attracted to each other, secretly, but so far this isn’t a romance. But the author says this is a slooooow romance, and so far everything is written tastefully.
I’d HIGHLY RECOMMEND this to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced Apocalyptic Survival Thriller with found family!!! Everything I’ve read by this author I’ve loved and they’ve been different genres, she could probably write ANYTHING and I’D LOVE IT!!!
June 2, 2025
A Pedro Pascal "Joel Miller" inspired MC in a post apocalyptic world----YES PUHLEASEEE! This zombie apocalypse world was so interesting and unique with nature being the ultimate destroyer of the world. Water is not safe, nature is not safe, people are not safe. When a twenty-one year old student on her way to class, a thirty-six year old sheriff, and a 6 month old Ava, get thrown into each other's lives as the world comes to an end, they can only find trust with each other. The character dynamic was so interesting and if there's one trope I love, it's found family and this book did a great job capturing the quickly built trust and bonds that happen when you face life or death with someone. The ending was so TLOU and I loved every bit of it, my heart pounding in suspense, fear gripping me the whole way whenever they encountered a near death experience because I was attached to these characters. Such a great and fast paced read and I can't wait for the next installment.
October 8, 2025
The good:
the apocalypse is unique and provides some really vivid and interesting worldbuilding.
issues that aren't normally addressed in post apocalypse books are addressed and the resolutions make sense.
the found family comes together in a natural and logical way, even if the physical attraction seems a little rushed at times
the bad:
the FMC is extremely whiny at times, which is supposed to be a commentary on how unprepared she is for what's happened but comes across as more childish and often insufferable.
the MMC is almost too stoic, dropping forceful hints about his backstory without connecting to the reader so he feels just as distant to us as the FMC even though we get to hear his POV
the pacing feels rushed, jumping months ahead but leaving the characters is almost the same position they were at the start making it seem pointless except to make the found family aspect work.
the apocalypse is unique and provides some really vivid and interesting worldbuilding.
issues that aren't normally addressed in post apocalypse books are addressed and the resolutions make sense.
the found family comes together in a natural and logical way, even if the physical attraction seems a little rushed at times
the bad:
the FMC is extremely whiny at times, which is supposed to be a commentary on how unprepared she is for what's happened but comes across as more childish and often insufferable.
the MMC is almost too stoic, dropping forceful hints about his backstory without connecting to the reader so he feels just as distant to us as the FMC even though we get to hear his POV
the pacing feels rushed, jumping months ahead but leaving the characters is almost the same position they were at the start making it seem pointless except to make the found family aspect work.
May 12, 2025
This tickled my need for an apocalyptic thriller. So so good! Action packed, some things are similar to The Last of Us, but not so much to not make this plot unique, it is!
Watching the relationship between Anson, Quinn, and Ava is so interesting. A grumpy 36 year old sheriff, a 21 year old college girl, and an orphan 6 month old…strangers turned family in the midst of tragedy.
It’s gory, lots of death. Loss. Trigger warning of: gore, death, violence, and threatened (no actual) SA.
The romance is just a hint of one building at this point, nothing as of now, but a hint of an age gap romance in the later books?? Slooooooooooow burn but honestly, this book doesn’t need spice, but I won’t complain if there’s any later on lol.
My literal only complaint is that I now have to wait 8 months for January 2026 to come for book 2!!!
Watching the relationship between Anson, Quinn, and Ava is so interesting. A grumpy 36 year old sheriff, a 21 year old college girl, and an orphan 6 month old…strangers turned family in the midst of tragedy.
It’s gory, lots of death. Loss. Trigger warning of: gore, death, violence, and threatened (no actual) SA.
The romance is just a hint of one building at this point, nothing as of now, but a hint of an age gap romance in the later books?? Slooooooooooow burn but honestly, this book doesn’t need spice, but I won’t complain if there’s any later on lol.
My literal only complaint is that I now have to wait 8 months for January 2026 to come for book 2!!!
May 22, 2025
I adored this! Quinn and Anson really put all their trust in each other and I loved watching them get closer and look after each other and baby Ava together. The slow burn was done so so well, in fact all the tropes worked fantastically together -- slow burn, found family, age gap, guardians, survival/apocalyptic. I am so ready to read the next book though and see how Quinn and Anson's relationship evolves now that they've actually chosen to stay together. Also Anson referring to Quinn and Ava as 'his girls' was everything!
I also really enjoy reading about apocalyptic scenarios so I really enjoyed that aspect too. I can't wait for the second book and I hope we find out more about Anson and his dad and one or two other things I think might be bread crumbs to be explored later in the series!
I also really enjoy reading about apocalyptic scenarios so I really enjoyed that aspect too. I can't wait for the second book and I hope we find out more about Anson and his dad and one or two other things I think might be bread crumbs to be explored later in the series!
October 9, 2025
So, We Are Not Blood had such a killer premise. Nature turning on humanity? I was fully ready for chaos, horror, and a little poetic justice. Instead, I got stuck watching Anson and Quinn stumble through the apocalypse like it was a group project gone wrong.
They meet during a seismic event and instantly decide to trust each other completely which, sure, okay, trauma bonding is a thing. But then Quinn spends way too much time obsessing over finding her parents when, let’s be honest, basically everyone else on the planet is already toast. Then she spirals into nonstop guilt about catching feelings for someone old enough to be her dad. Girl. Priorities. The world is ending, not hosting a morality play.
And the icing on this rapidly collapsing cake? When Anson is literally bleeding out and dying, she’s still in her own head worrying about herself. Like, hello? Maybe try helping the man who’s keeping you alive instead of throwing yourself another pity party. Selfish ass.
By the last half, I was skimming just to reach the finish line. Every decision they made felt painfully stupid, and the supposed tension turned into monotony. Even with the world ending, I was yawning into the void.
Two stars for the effort and the premise but wow, this one made me root for Mother Nature 🌿
They meet during a seismic event and instantly decide to trust each other completely which, sure, okay, trauma bonding is a thing. But then Quinn spends way too much time obsessing over finding her parents when, let’s be honest, basically everyone else on the planet is already toast. Then she spirals into nonstop guilt about catching feelings for someone old enough to be her dad. Girl. Priorities. The world is ending, not hosting a morality play.
And the icing on this rapidly collapsing cake? When Anson is literally bleeding out and dying, she’s still in her own head worrying about herself. Like, hello? Maybe try helping the man who’s keeping you alive instead of throwing yourself another pity party. Selfish ass.
By the last half, I was skimming just to reach the finish line. Every decision they made felt painfully stupid, and the supposed tension turned into monotony. Even with the world ending, I was yawning into the void.
Two stars for the effort and the premise but wow, this one made me root for Mother Nature 🌿
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2025
Idk why I’m in an apocalypse genre mood atm but this really hit the spot.
The world and catastrophic events were so engaging and as soon as you think you understand it develops even more and they’re met with new obstacles. Kept me engaged from the very first page!
Anson was a great fully fledged character and I’m intrigued to find out more about his father and where they’re going next.
However, Quinn seemed to have barely any character development and she boarded on kind of annoying, especially as in the story months had passed since the beginning, so I’m hoping her growth is just a slow burn.
The writing is a bit repetitive and the author seems obsessed with stating Anson could be Quinn’s dad even though he’s only 15 years older… and it’s said so much it’s just not needed
The world and catastrophic events were so engaging and as soon as you think you understand it develops even more and they’re met with new obstacles. Kept me engaged from the very first page!
Anson was a great fully fledged character and I’m intrigued to find out more about his father and where they’re going next.
However, Quinn seemed to have barely any character development and she boarded on kind of annoying, especially as in the story months had passed since the beginning, so I’m hoping her growth is just a slow burn.
The writing is a bit repetitive and the author seems obsessed with stating Anson could be Quinn’s dad even though he’s only 15 years older… and it’s said so much it’s just not needed
July 27, 2025
Sigh...I finished it, but it was sort of a self-imposed exercise to see how many times I could roll my eyes. Sorry. That sounds harsh, but it amazes me that authors who write post-apocalyptic fiction think it makes sense to "ooh and ahh" over how handsome (or beautiful) the characters are (over and over again)...while the world is collapsing around them. That...and repeating, ad nauseum, teasers about the "dark" past of a character, without ever giving you any real hint at the reason. Those things (and others that made me cringe) will probably be repeated in books two and three of this series, and that's why I'm not reading them. I'm leaving these main characters lost in a wasteland...and I don't really care if they survive it.
May 6, 2025
The opening scene was graphic and absolutely catastrophic, I was on the edge of my seat and terrified for Quinn, Ava, and Anson. The things they had to go through in this new post-apocalyptic world were unspeakable and terrifying, to say the least, and had my heart in a lock the entire book. I haven’t read a found family trope that has made me cry and worry so much for the characters in a book before, I was worried for everyone the entire time and knew eventually Anson would NOT give up his girls. “My girls.” UGHHHHHHH why does the sequel come out in JANUARY I need it NOWWW
6⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5, but good reads only goes to 5!
6⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5, but good reads only goes to 5!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2025
This book was unputdownable and nerve racking, in a good way obviously… I devoured it in a day… action packed from the get go. I like that the plot was straight to the point. No time to dilly dally. The found family was done right 😮💨🤌🏻 yet I have mixed feelings about the age gap 🫣 butttt Anson definitely make it up for it. And now I have to wait until January 2026 for book 2.
Go pick this one up if you enjoy:
* The Last of Us meets A Quite Place with a dollop of The Walking Dead season 1 edge-of-your-seat action
* Found family post apocalyptic
* Forced proximity
* MMC inspired by Pedro Pascal in season 1 The Last of Us
* You-touch-her-you💀☠️ moments
Go pick this one up if you enjoy:
* The Last of Us meets A Quite Place with a dollop of The Walking Dead season 1 edge-of-your-seat action
* Found family post apocalyptic
* Forced proximity
* MMC inspired by Pedro Pascal in season 1 The Last of Us
* You-touch-her-you💀☠️ moments
September 20, 2025
This book had so much promise and I was really looking forward to it from the premise of the story. Unfortunately for me, after the first few chapters, the writing became repetitive and the plot predictable. Everything was because 'She was so beautiful' or 'he was so damaged'... Every other action seemed to be justified by those reasons, and it just became dull to read over and over again. [The author used the same phrasing over and over, not just the theme]
Edited to add: The age gap was also a bit much, and their dynamic was weird, flitting from sparks to parental every other paragraph.
2nd Edit: Also, the writing was sloppy in some places, or perhaps the proof reader wasn't so great.
Edited to add: The age gap was also a bit much, and their dynamic was weird, flitting from sparks to parental every other paragraph.
2nd Edit: Also, the writing was sloppy in some places, or perhaps the proof reader wasn't so great.
October 9, 2025
After reading other reviews i was nervous to give this ago but im glad i did. I enjoyed it! I liked the characters who were realistic and just as upset as any normal person should be surrounded by death and the upcoming apocalypse around them. I especially enjoyed the way this apocalypse progresses, its not zombies or another ice age but instead mother earth comes alive and takes revenge. The rivers flow up like arms searching. The trees plant themselves inside their victims splitting them in half. Very creepy and detailed. Overall i liked it and look forward to book two.
trigger warnings:
death of everyone including children
violence
mention of rape
kidnapping
gore
trigger warnings:
death of everyone including children
violence
mention of rape
kidnapping
gore
April 26, 2025
worth the read!
Such a great book! I’ve struggled to find good apocalyptic books in the past and once I’ve found some I’ve ended up dropping the book in disappointment….. but this book! I couldn’t put it down! Nicole has created a truely captivating story.
The development between Anson and Quinn’s relationship doesn’t feel rushed or forced and is exciting to read. And add in little Ava and you want to melt for the family dynamic that they’ve created for themselves despite the horror in their new world.
I can’t wait to read the next book!!
Such a great book! I’ve struggled to find good apocalyptic books in the past and once I’ve found some I’ve ended up dropping the book in disappointment….. but this book! I couldn’t put it down! Nicole has created a truely captivating story.
The development between Anson and Quinn’s relationship doesn’t feel rushed or forced and is exciting to read. And add in little Ava and you want to melt for the family dynamic that they’ve created for themselves despite the horror in their new world.
I can’t wait to read the next book!!
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