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All We Have Left
Cosy, hopeful and uplifting, this heartwarming post-apocalyptic romance is perfect for fans of Fable for the End of the World and Emily Henry.
Thirty years after the end of the world, a young woman enters into a marriage of convenience with a man she hardly knows so she can secure vital medical care for her beloved younger sister.
The world might not have ended all at once. But end it did.
Kayla Hollins is a survivor. Living in the fragmented wasteland of the Canadian Pacific Northwest, she's outlived a colony, a cult, a paramilitary group, and most of her family. So when her younger sister April falls seriously ill, Kayla will do anything to save her. They trek to Salt Spring Island, a beacon of hope in their otherwise brutalized world, which is rumoured to still have a hospital. But Salt Spring's utopia comes with a price. Not just anyone can enter paradise or access their medical care, and Kayla's past is chequered.
Desperate, Kayla makes a deal with Sid Charles, an aspiring politician with whom she had a chance encounter before arriving on Salt Spring. If Kayla and Sid get married, it will boost Sid's chances of election, and grant April automatic access to the medical treatment she desperately needs. And in two years, when Kayla is eligible for citizenship herself, they can get a divorce. Simple, right?
Sid is distant and cranky, but Kayla comes to learn he is also shockingly kind. The more time she spends with him and his ragtag group of rescued boys, the more she comes to admire him. But with April's treatment and Sid's election on the line—and the constant terror of her past being discovered—Kayla isn't sure she can risk trying to change their arrangement.
Trapped together in the closest thing left to paradise, Kayla and Sid both know what it means for the world to end. But as they try to rebuild with the people of Salt Spring Island, there may be time left to save—if not the world—themselves.
Thirty years after the end of the world, a young woman enters into a marriage of convenience with a man she hardly knows so she can secure vital medical care for her beloved younger sister.
The world might not have ended all at once. But end it did.
Kayla Hollins is a survivor. Living in the fragmented wasteland of the Canadian Pacific Northwest, she's outlived a colony, a cult, a paramilitary group, and most of her family. So when her younger sister April falls seriously ill, Kayla will do anything to save her. They trek to Salt Spring Island, a beacon of hope in their otherwise brutalized world, which is rumoured to still have a hospital. But Salt Spring's utopia comes with a price. Not just anyone can enter paradise or access their medical care, and Kayla's past is chequered.
Desperate, Kayla makes a deal with Sid Charles, an aspiring politician with whom she had a chance encounter before arriving on Salt Spring. If Kayla and Sid get married, it will boost Sid's chances of election, and grant April automatic access to the medical treatment she desperately needs. And in two years, when Kayla is eligible for citizenship herself, they can get a divorce. Simple, right?
Sid is distant and cranky, but Kayla comes to learn he is also shockingly kind. The more time she spends with him and his ragtag group of rescued boys, the more she comes to admire him. But with April's treatment and Sid's election on the line—and the constant terror of her past being discovered—Kayla isn't sure she can risk trying to change their arrangement.
Trapped together in the closest thing left to paradise, Kayla and Sid both know what it means for the world to end. But as they try to rebuild with the people of Salt Spring Island, there may be time left to save—if not the world—themselves.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2026
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March 29, 2026🌿✨ All We Have Left ✨🌿
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
💫 What to Expect
• Post-apocalyptic
• Marriage of convenience
• Found community
• Political stakes
• Slow burn
• Healing arc
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
💫 What to Expect
• Post-apocalyptic
• Marriage of convenience
• Found community
• Political stakes
• Slow burn
• Healing arc
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
September 23, 2026
Thank you to libro.fm and Tantor Media for this ALC.
This is a post apocalyptic setting where you’re either trying to make it on your own as a wilding or you’re in some kind of colony. But there’s good ones and bad ones ranging from cults and paramilitary organizations to rather normal ones just trying to rebuild society.
Kayla and her sister have been on their own for years. First her and her family survived a massacre of their colony by a military type group and then escaped a cult group. When her parents and boyfriend are killed, she learns she can’t trust anyone ever and she just needs to survive and take care of her sister. Then her sister gets sick.
She takes the chance to try one more and while it’s a bit of a rocky start, she might have finally found a safe place. But only if she allows herself to actually trust this is actual safety and not an illusion.
Overall a decent book, interesting premise but suffers from a lack of chemistry between the two main characters. Just didn’t have the emotions I wanted there. I would call this a higher side of three stars but the romance just felt lacking.
For narration itself, it was fine. But I wish it were at least dual narration because the narrator doing the male voices felt like it took away from the impact of the story.
This is a post apocalyptic setting where you’re either trying to make it on your own as a wilding or you’re in some kind of colony. But there’s good ones and bad ones ranging from cults and paramilitary organizations to rather normal ones just trying to rebuild society.
Kayla and her sister have been on their own for years. First her and her family survived a massacre of their colony by a military type group and then escaped a cult group. When her parents and boyfriend are killed, she learns she can’t trust anyone ever and she just needs to survive and take care of her sister. Then her sister gets sick.
She takes the chance to try one more and while it’s a bit of a rocky start, she might have finally found a safe place. But only if she allows herself to actually trust this is actual safety and not an illusion.
Overall a decent book, interesting premise but suffers from a lack of chemistry between the two main characters. Just didn’t have the emotions I wanted there. I would call this a higher side of three stars but the romance just felt lacking.
For narration itself, it was fine. But I wish it were at least dual narration because the narrator doing the male voices felt like it took away from the impact of the story.
July 31, 2026
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the publishers Titan Books.
All We Have Left is a dystopian post apocalypse book set (in this fictional world what remains of) Canada.
Kayla and her younger sister April are all that is left of their family and Kaylas been looking after April since their parents died. They've survived alone for years after fleeing a cult but now Kayla needs to get April help. The island of Salt Spring is her only hope but after April is diagnosed with Diabetes all hopes of leaving the island after getting April treatment are shattered.
I loved the tender slow burn romance between Kayla and Sid and the family he brings the two sister into the folds of is so lovely.
This is a unique novel for its genre and was different to what I expected but in a good way and that ending made me want to hug the book.
All We Have Left is a dystopian post apocalypse book set (in this fictional world what remains of) Canada.
Kayla and her younger sister April are all that is left of their family and Kaylas been looking after April since their parents died. They've survived alone for years after fleeing a cult but now Kayla needs to get April help. The island of Salt Spring is her only hope but after April is diagnosed with Diabetes all hopes of leaving the island after getting April treatment are shattered.
I loved the tender slow burn romance between Kayla and Sid and the family he brings the two sister into the folds of is so lovely.
This is a unique novel for its genre and was different to what I expected but in a good way and that ending made me want to hug the book.
June 11, 2026
Firstly, I would like to say thank you to Titan Books for this gifted copy of All We Have Left.
All We Have Left follows two sisters, Kayla and Alice, who, after 11 years in the wilderness, seek sanctuary on an island that has managed to regain its civilisation. However, in order to gain access to life-saving care for her sister, Kayla must enter into a marriage of convenience with an island local and find a way to accept her new and sudden life.
Going into this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. This is my first novel by Emily Paxman, and I was unsure whether it fell into the romance or romantasy genre given its post-apocalyptic setting. However, after reading it, I'd definitely feel comfortable calling it a pure romance because, I'll be perfectly honest, the post-apocalyptic setting really isn't in play here, or perhaps it's more of a post-post-post apocalypse. Our main character, Kayla, is discovering a healthy civilisation for the first time, and we don't really experience the level of high stakes that the book suggests with its premise of being set 30 years after a devastating earthquake.
Among other things, I also felt that the plot fell victim to having one too many ideas and not enough time to develop them. Genuinely, all of the plot points sound interesting if they are given enough room to be explored. Instead, we get several semi-baked storylines that, as a reader, I felt little connection to. I feel as though the book either needed to be much longer or separated into a duology in order to fully convey the gravity of the events that take place.
As a whole, I do think the book was enjoyable, and I loved the developing relationship between Kayla and Sid. I do, however, think their relationship suddenly snowballs into "I love you"s and "let's have kids" a little faster than the initial pace of their relationship would suggest. Although, to be fair, this is often addressed within the book as a product of the way relationships develop in post-apocalyptic societies.I also loved the brotherly dynamics between the boys, which unintentionally gave the entire cast a Peter Pan and the Lost Boys-type feel. It was unexpected and very sweet.
Overall, I rated the book 3.5 stars (4 stars on Goodreads) because I genuinely enjoyed reading it. Despite some of its darker themes, I found it quite light-hearted and easy to digest. The book is also well paced for a standalone novel, and the story moves along well enough to keep the reader engaged. That being said, I think it would have benefited from fewer major plot points (the cult honestly felt like fluff) and a greater focus on the changing dynamic between Sid and Kayla, as that's where most of what I loved about the book lies.
All We Have Left follows two sisters, Kayla and Alice, who, after 11 years in the wilderness, seek sanctuary on an island that has managed to regain its civilisation. However, in order to gain access to life-saving care for her sister, Kayla must enter into a marriage of convenience with an island local and find a way to accept her new and sudden life.
Going into this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. This is my first novel by Emily Paxman, and I was unsure whether it fell into the romance or romantasy genre given its post-apocalyptic setting. However, after reading it, I'd definitely feel comfortable calling it a pure romance because, I'll be perfectly honest, the post-apocalyptic setting really isn't in play here, or perhaps it's more of a post-post-post apocalypse. Our main character, Kayla, is discovering a healthy civilisation for the first time, and we don't really experience the level of high stakes that the book suggests with its premise of being set 30 years after a devastating earthquake.
Among other things, I also felt that the plot fell victim to having one too many ideas and not enough time to develop them. Genuinely, all of the plot points sound interesting if they are given enough room to be explored. Instead, we get several semi-baked storylines that, as a reader, I felt little connection to. I feel as though the book either needed to be much longer or separated into a duology in order to fully convey the gravity of the events that take place.
As a whole, I do think the book was enjoyable, and I loved the developing relationship between Kayla and Sid. I do, however, think their relationship suddenly snowballs into "I love you"s and "let's have kids" a little faster than the initial pace of their relationship would suggest. Although, to be fair, this is often addressed within the book as a product of the way relationships develop in post-apocalyptic societies.I also loved the brotherly dynamics between the boys, which unintentionally gave the entire cast a Peter Pan and the Lost Boys-type feel. It was unexpected and very sweet.
Overall, I rated the book 3.5 stars (4 stars on Goodreads) because I genuinely enjoyed reading it. Despite some of its darker themes, I found it quite light-hearted and easy to digest. The book is also well paced for a standalone novel, and the story moves along well enough to keep the reader engaged. That being said, I think it would have benefited from fewer major plot points (the cult honestly felt like fluff) and a greater focus on the changing dynamic between Sid and Kayla, as that's where most of what I loved about the book lies.
August 8, 2025
You better get ready for the sexy apocalypse, people.
July 19, 2026
Oh, this was such a me book, honestly! I had a feeling I’d love it, and I truly did. I mean. Fake marriage trope in the apocalypse!? Yes please! I loved learning about the world that Kayla and her sister grew up in- basically, societal collapse, cults of terrible men, all the stuff you’d expect at the end of days. The girls have been living on their own for years since their mother died, but as April gets sicker and sicker, Kayla knows she may have to rejoin society, even if briefly. What she doesn’t expect is a cozy farmhouse with Sid and the Lost Boys, and having to figure out who can be trusted, especially when her sister’s life is on the line. Will this group turn out to be just as horrific as those Kayla’s experienced? Or can something be salvaged in this new world? It has all the great stuff I loved, all kinds of morally gray decisions, and Kayla’s story was harrowing. Oh, and the romance part was excellent!
Bottom Line: I feel like Cozy Apocalypse could easily be my new favorite genre, really.
Bottom Line: I feel like Cozy Apocalypse could easily be my new favorite genre, really.
June 18, 2026
All We Have Left is a unique post-apocalyptic romance that proves the end of the world does not have to mean the end of love, family, or second chances. While the setting could be considered bleak on the surface, the story is full of warmth and heart, balancing survival with healing, humor, and a lovely slow-building romance.
The heart of the story is Kayla and her unwavering devotion to her younger sister, April. Everything Kayla does is driven by her determination to keep April alive, even if it means risking her own happiness or entering a marriage of convenience with a man she barely knows. (He’s amazing, btw) Their relationship was one of my favorite parts of the book. Kayla’s spent years acting as April’s caregiver, protector, and pseudo-parent, and the depth of their bond was fantastic. Since there’s a ten-year age difference between them (Kayla’s a woman in her mid-twenties, and April’s a teenager), their experiences are very different. It’s interesting to see how they both adjust to their new surroundings and how their relationship shifts and changes.
Kayla’s emotional journey was really moving. After surviving years of unimaginable trauma, she has spent her entire life expecting danger around every corner. Arriving somewhere safe should have been a relief, but instead she struggles to adjust because she no longer knows how to live without constantly being on high alert. The way the novel explores trauma, healing, and learning to trust again is layered and nuanced, and watching Kayla slowly lower her guard and begin to believe she deserves safety, happiness, and love was wonderful. Of course, she gets help from some very special people.
The love story between Kayla and Sid is one of my favorite parts of the book. Their marriage-of-convenience relationship develops through acts of kindness, growing trust, and mutual respect and support. It built slowly, which makes sense considering all Kayla’s dealing with. And I can’t say enough about Sid. I adored him! Sid’s gruff personality hides an incredibly compassionate and kind heart, and I loved the patience and understanding he showed Kayla as she worked through her past.
There’s also a great found family feel to the story, which I loved. It stood out against the stark and isolated years Kayla and April spent in the wild. There are times when the story focuses on some heavier topics, but overall, it’s a unique and cozy story about resilience, hope, and finding the courage to build a future and take a chance on love.
The heart of the story is Kayla and her unwavering devotion to her younger sister, April. Everything Kayla does is driven by her determination to keep April alive, even if it means risking her own happiness or entering a marriage of convenience with a man she barely knows. (He’s amazing, btw) Their relationship was one of my favorite parts of the book. Kayla’s spent years acting as April’s caregiver, protector, and pseudo-parent, and the depth of their bond was fantastic. Since there’s a ten-year age difference between them (Kayla’s a woman in her mid-twenties, and April’s a teenager), their experiences are very different. It’s interesting to see how they both adjust to their new surroundings and how their relationship shifts and changes.
Kayla’s emotional journey was really moving. After surviving years of unimaginable trauma, she has spent her entire life expecting danger around every corner. Arriving somewhere safe should have been a relief, but instead she struggles to adjust because she no longer knows how to live without constantly being on high alert. The way the novel explores trauma, healing, and learning to trust again is layered and nuanced, and watching Kayla slowly lower her guard and begin to believe she deserves safety, happiness, and love was wonderful. Of course, she gets help from some very special people.
The love story between Kayla and Sid is one of my favorite parts of the book. Their marriage-of-convenience relationship develops through acts of kindness, growing trust, and mutual respect and support. It built slowly, which makes sense considering all Kayla’s dealing with. And I can’t say enough about Sid. I adored him! Sid’s gruff personality hides an incredibly compassionate and kind heart, and I loved the patience and understanding he showed Kayla as she worked through her past.
There’s also a great found family feel to the story, which I loved. It stood out against the stark and isolated years Kayla and April spent in the wild. There are times when the story focuses on some heavier topics, but overall, it’s a unique and cozy story about resilience, hope, and finding the courage to build a future and take a chance on love.
July 1, 2026
3.5* I'm a sucker for a post-apocalyptic setting and All We Have Left 100% delivered on those vibes. Think settlements, culty folk and camp politics. This is very much a character focused book, with relationships and day to day survival being at the forefront of the story, which I really enjoyed.
While the cast of characters was fairly big, I do wish the side characters had been developed further, as they kind of melded into one another. The romance was sweet but I think the pacing of the book itself left me wanting more from their connection and journey to each other. The pacing had me uncertain whether or not this was building up to be a series, so when then ending did come, it felt somewhat abrupt.
Overall, this was an entertaining read and unlike any romance I've read before. It's definitely one that came with obvious good points and some that didn't quite work for me but in general I'd definitely be excited to read more from this world and Emily Paxman in the future.
what to expect:
- post-apocalyptic canada
- marriage of convenience
- single guardian
- diabetes rep (fmc's little sister)
While the cast of characters was fairly big, I do wish the side characters had been developed further, as they kind of melded into one another. The romance was sweet but I think the pacing of the book itself left me wanting more from their connection and journey to each other. The pacing had me uncertain whether or not this was building up to be a series, so when then ending did come, it felt somewhat abrupt.
Overall, this was an entertaining read and unlike any romance I've read before. It's definitely one that came with obvious good points and some that didn't quite work for me but in general I'd definitely be excited to read more from this world and Emily Paxman in the future.
what to expect:
- post-apocalyptic canada
- marriage of convenience
- single guardian
- diabetes rep (fmc's little sister)
June 24, 2026
In the terms of a dystopian romance, where you would think it would be more high stakes this is very low stakes. There is no action but it still is a relatively good story. All We Have Left is about two sisters who are roughly 10 years apart in age. on is 25, that is our FMC who's pov we are in. This is a first person pov where Kayla, 25, and April, 15, end up on their own after the death of everyone they know. When April starts getting sick they have no choice but to seek help and when they light the beacon and a ferry comes to take them to Salt Springs Island, an island in the Canadian Pacific Northwest, they find themselves surrounded by armed men. Kayla later finds herself in a deal to be engaged in order to keep her sister well via medical care.
Now when it comes tot he engagement part I thought it would be a lot quicker..it in fact did take some time. I will say there is a decent amount of character development when it comes to our FMC and MMC. Both have been through things growing up and while our MMC has already gone through things to have dealt with the those things it is blatantly obvious being out in the wild and taking care of her sister on her own that Kayla has not. It was nice to see actual reactions to those traumatic experiences she went through. I will say though that since I did expect maybe some huge event to happen and there maybe to be a little action I am a bit surprised there was really none but more talk of like things that have happened in this world. I wouldn't mind maybe a follow on book from maybe surrounding events that have happened that have more actions. I ended up rating it what it did because in the end I did like the story...but I wouldn't be also wrong in saying when I read that it was a dystopian type genre that I did expect a bit of something different.
Thank you to Titan books for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Now when it comes tot he engagement part I thought it would be a lot quicker..it in fact did take some time. I will say there is a decent amount of character development when it comes to our FMC and MMC. Both have been through things growing up and while our MMC has already gone through things to have dealt with the those things it is blatantly obvious being out in the wild and taking care of her sister on her own that Kayla has not. It was nice to see actual reactions to those traumatic experiences she went through. I will say though that since I did expect maybe some huge event to happen and there maybe to be a little action I am a bit surprised there was really none but more talk of like things that have happened in this world. I wouldn't mind maybe a follow on book from maybe surrounding events that have happened that have more actions. I ended up rating it what it did because in the end I did like the story...but I wouldn't be also wrong in saying when I read that it was a dystopian type genre that I did expect a bit of something different.
Thank you to Titan books for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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July 13, 2026Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
All We Have Left by Emily Paxman is a first person-POV grounded cozy post-apocalypse romance set after the end of the world. Kayla and her younger sister April have done their best to survive the end of the world and losing their parents. When they arrive at a safe haven for a temporary stop, it is revealed that April has diabetes and will need to be staying at the haven long-term for her health.
This is being marketed as being for fans of Emily Henry and I can see why. It’s sitting in that space that can blur between romance and book club fiction, though I would say this leans more romance while Emily Henry leans more book club fiction. The romance is not the whole story as Kayla’s arc and her drive to make sure her sister has everything necessary to survive are pretty big aspects, but it is a very significant piece.
The book deals a lot with the impact of cults when it comes to building trust in a new community and grief. Kayla is grieving not only her mother, but also a possible future that was stolen from her on top of the fact that the world as her parents knew it ended shortly before her birth. Sid, the MMC, is also dealing with a similar grief, though there are key differences. The cult aspect is threaded throughout and it does play a big part in Kayla’s arc, making the long-term impact feel very immediate rather than distant.
Where I think this book really shone was in Kayla's journey to learning how to let other people in. When we meet her, she's hard, wants to leave Salt Spring immediately, and fights pretty much anyone who tries to help her and April. It's hard to blame her given her upbringing and the world around her, but it also makes her and April's life a lot harder than it needs to be. This is where the cozy aspect of the marketing really does come in, though as most of the characters are very patient and understanding towards Kayla rather than meeting her hostility with anger or offense.
Content warning for mentions of miscarriage, forced child marriage, and child soldiers
I would recommend this to readers who love cozies that tackle difficult topics and have a strong romance
All We Have Left by Emily Paxman is a first person-POV grounded cozy post-apocalypse romance set after the end of the world. Kayla and her younger sister April have done their best to survive the end of the world and losing their parents. When they arrive at a safe haven for a temporary stop, it is revealed that April has diabetes and will need to be staying at the haven long-term for her health.
This is being marketed as being for fans of Emily Henry and I can see why. It’s sitting in that space that can blur between romance and book club fiction, though I would say this leans more romance while Emily Henry leans more book club fiction. The romance is not the whole story as Kayla’s arc and her drive to make sure her sister has everything necessary to survive are pretty big aspects, but it is a very significant piece.
The book deals a lot with the impact of cults when it comes to building trust in a new community and grief. Kayla is grieving not only her mother, but also a possible future that was stolen from her on top of the fact that the world as her parents knew it ended shortly before her birth. Sid, the MMC, is also dealing with a similar grief, though there are key differences. The cult aspect is threaded throughout and it does play a big part in Kayla’s arc, making the long-term impact feel very immediate rather than distant.
Where I think this book really shone was in Kayla's journey to learning how to let other people in. When we meet her, she's hard, wants to leave Salt Spring immediately, and fights pretty much anyone who tries to help her and April. It's hard to blame her given her upbringing and the world around her, but it also makes her and April's life a lot harder than it needs to be. This is where the cozy aspect of the marketing really does come in, though as most of the characters are very patient and understanding towards Kayla rather than meeting her hostility with anger or offense.
Content warning for mentions of miscarriage, forced child marriage, and child soldiers
I would recommend this to readers who love cozies that tackle difficult topics and have a strong romance
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 stars.
Emily Paxman’s All We Have Left presents a refreshing spin on the gritty post-apocalyptic genre, trading bleak, hopeless wastelands for a "cozy dystopian" atmosphere focused on rebuilding, community, and survival. The story takes place thirty years after the world has fractured, following Kayla Hollins, a hardened survivor who has outlived cults, paramilitary groups, and most of her family in the Canadian Pacific Northwest. When her younger sister, April, falls dangerously ill, Kayla makes a desperate trek to Salt Spring Island, a rumored utopian community with a fully functioning hospital.
However, paradise has a strict entry fee, and Kayla’s checkered past threatens to lock her out. Enter Sid Charles, a distant but driven man who wants to be a politician and needs to boost his image for an upcoming election. The two strike a marriage of convenience: Sid gains a respectable image to secure votes, while April receives instant, life-saving medical care. The plan is simple—stay married for two years until Kayla is granted her own citizenship, and then quietly divorce. But as Kayla settles into Sid’s world, the lines of their transaction begin to blur.
The heart of the novel relies heavily on the emotional growth and individual baggage of its two leads as they navigate their forced proximity.
Kayla begins the novel entirely defined by her trauma and hyper-vigilance. Having survived multiple volatile factions, her world is microscopic: protect April at all costs, trust no one, and keep her walls firmly up. Her journey on Salt Spring Island forces her to shift from a mindset of mere survival to actual living. She has to learn to integrate into a functional society, accept the vulnerability of being cared for, and realize that her worth isn't solely tied to being a shield for her sister.
Sid offers a wonderful contrast as a classic "grumpy but secretly gold-hearted" hero. He initially projects a distant, cranky, and hyper-focused exterior, deeply driven by his political goals and his devotion to a ragtag group of rescued boys he mentors. Sid’s arc is about opening up his guarded heart and letting someone share his heavy burdens. As he lets Kayla in, we see his rigid sense of duty soften into genuine partnership and profound kindness.
While the backdrop of the story was genuinely interesting and the community building felt vivid, the central romance left me with mixed feelings. Paxman successfully establishes a great slow-burn dynamic initially, but the execution of the relationship eventually became a point of frustration.
Specifically, Kayla felt entirely too wishy-washy with her feelings toward Sid. While her past trauma makes her initial hesitation understandable, her constant back-and-forth internal monologues eventually became repetitive. She would take a step forward in caring for Sid, only to aggressively pull back and overthink their arrangement, leaving too many important thoughts unsaid. This emotional flip-flopping slowed down the pacing of the book's second half and made it difficult to fully invest in the payoff of their relationship.
Overall, All We Have Left is a solid, heartwarming, and unique post-apocalyptic tale that succeeds in creating a gorgeous sense of found family and atmospheric world-building. Emily Paxman has a beautiful voice, and the premise of a low-stakes, hopeful dystopia is incredibly comforting. However, because the romance is such a central pillar of the plot, the frustrating hesitation in the main character's arc kept this from being a standout read. It was perfectly fine and a completely enjoyable way to spend a few afternoons, but it won't be topping my list of favorites for the year.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Emily Paxman’s All We Have Left presents a refreshing spin on the gritty post-apocalyptic genre, trading bleak, hopeless wastelands for a "cozy dystopian" atmosphere focused on rebuilding, community, and survival. The story takes place thirty years after the world has fractured, following Kayla Hollins, a hardened survivor who has outlived cults, paramilitary groups, and most of her family in the Canadian Pacific Northwest. When her younger sister, April, falls dangerously ill, Kayla makes a desperate trek to Salt Spring Island, a rumored utopian community with a fully functioning hospital.
However, paradise has a strict entry fee, and Kayla’s checkered past threatens to lock her out. Enter Sid Charles, a distant but driven man who wants to be a politician and needs to boost his image for an upcoming election. The two strike a marriage of convenience: Sid gains a respectable image to secure votes, while April receives instant, life-saving medical care. The plan is simple—stay married for two years until Kayla is granted her own citizenship, and then quietly divorce. But as Kayla settles into Sid’s world, the lines of their transaction begin to blur.
The heart of the novel relies heavily on the emotional growth and individual baggage of its two leads as they navigate their forced proximity.
Kayla begins the novel entirely defined by her trauma and hyper-vigilance. Having survived multiple volatile factions, her world is microscopic: protect April at all costs, trust no one, and keep her walls firmly up. Her journey on Salt Spring Island forces her to shift from a mindset of mere survival to actual living. She has to learn to integrate into a functional society, accept the vulnerability of being cared for, and realize that her worth isn't solely tied to being a shield for her sister.
Sid offers a wonderful contrast as a classic "grumpy but secretly gold-hearted" hero. He initially projects a distant, cranky, and hyper-focused exterior, deeply driven by his political goals and his devotion to a ragtag group of rescued boys he mentors. Sid’s arc is about opening up his guarded heart and letting someone share his heavy burdens. As he lets Kayla in, we see his rigid sense of duty soften into genuine partnership and profound kindness.
While the backdrop of the story was genuinely interesting and the community building felt vivid, the central romance left me with mixed feelings. Paxman successfully establishes a great slow-burn dynamic initially, but the execution of the relationship eventually became a point of frustration.
Specifically, Kayla felt entirely too wishy-washy with her feelings toward Sid. While her past trauma makes her initial hesitation understandable, her constant back-and-forth internal monologues eventually became repetitive. She would take a step forward in caring for Sid, only to aggressively pull back and overthink their arrangement, leaving too many important thoughts unsaid. This emotional flip-flopping slowed down the pacing of the book's second half and made it difficult to fully invest in the payoff of their relationship.
Overall, All We Have Left is a solid, heartwarming, and unique post-apocalyptic tale that succeeds in creating a gorgeous sense of found family and atmospheric world-building. Emily Paxman has a beautiful voice, and the premise of a low-stakes, hopeful dystopia is incredibly comforting. However, because the romance is such a central pillar of the plot, the frustrating hesitation in the main character's arc kept this from being a standout read. It was perfectly fine and a completely enjoyable way to spend a few afternoons, but it won't be topping my list of favorites for the year.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2026
I was hoping this book would fix me and it did. I never know how much I craved eldest brother x eldest sister romance, but here it IS, and after inhaling this novel I feel normal again. I want 100 more of these.
Want to Read
July 7, 2026Reasons to read
~ Post-apocalyptic romance
~ first person pov
~ slow, cosy
~ hopeful
~ character driven
~ Post-apocalyptic romance
~ first person pov
~ slow, cosy
~ hopeful
~ character driven
July 25, 2026
Thirty years after a mega-quake wiped out the Pacific Northwest our story opens with Kayla and her sick younger sister April on the run, chasing a rumour of a functioning hospital on Salt Spring Island, while desperately trying to avoid paramilitary group True North Strong.
To reach the island, they have to light a signal fire and wait… hoping the right people come.
When they do, Kayla’s survival instincts take over, she panics and attacks, hitting the man in charge with her slingshot. Not exactly the welcome she was hoping for.
They’re taken to Salt Spring anyway, but everything is tightly controlled. April is rushed into medical care, while Kayla, defensive, angry, and used to danger, earns herself demerits almost immediately. And on an island where residency is earned, that matters.
Then comes the reality - April has diabetes!
Which means they can’t leave. Insulin is scarce, expensive, and completely tied to staying within the system Kayla already doesn’t trust.
As sanctuary seekers, they’re given a chance... one that comes in the form of Sid Charles… the same man Kayla shot.
He offers them a place on his acreage, alongside his already established found family, and slowly (very slowly) Kayla starts to feel something unfamiliar… safety. April settles into school, determined to catch up. For the first time in a long time, things almost feel stable.
But insulin isn’t free. And Kayla can’t keep up with the payments.
So Sid offers a solution: a marriage of convenience.
It would clean up Kayla’s sanctuary record, improve his standing as a council member, and secure April’s access to treatment. It’s practical. It's temporary.
Except… it doesn’t stay that way.
Because as Kayla softens toward Sid and the found family around her, the lines between real and fake start to blur.
At the same time, pressure builds... from the council, from Kayla’s suspicious immigration officer Tom (who absolutely sees through them), and from her past… especially when she spots the Grand Astrologue at the hospital. The man who led the cult she escaped. The man who denied them medicine, while clearly keeping it for himself.
I really enjoyed this one.
To reach the island, they have to light a signal fire and wait… hoping the right people come.
When they do, Kayla’s survival instincts take over, she panics and attacks, hitting the man in charge with her slingshot. Not exactly the welcome she was hoping for.
They’re taken to Salt Spring anyway, but everything is tightly controlled. April is rushed into medical care, while Kayla, defensive, angry, and used to danger, earns herself demerits almost immediately. And on an island where residency is earned, that matters.
Then comes the reality - April has diabetes!
Which means they can’t leave. Insulin is scarce, expensive, and completely tied to staying within the system Kayla already doesn’t trust.
As sanctuary seekers, they’re given a chance... one that comes in the form of Sid Charles… the same man Kayla shot.
He offers them a place on his acreage, alongside his already established found family, and slowly (very slowly) Kayla starts to feel something unfamiliar… safety. April settles into school, determined to catch up. For the first time in a long time, things almost feel stable.
But insulin isn’t free. And Kayla can’t keep up with the payments.
So Sid offers a solution: a marriage of convenience.
It would clean up Kayla’s sanctuary record, improve his standing as a council member, and secure April’s access to treatment. It’s practical. It's temporary.
Except… it doesn’t stay that way.
Because as Kayla softens toward Sid and the found family around her, the lines between real and fake start to blur.
At the same time, pressure builds... from the council, from Kayla’s suspicious immigration officer Tom (who absolutely sees through them), and from her past… especially when she spots the Grand Astrologue at the hospital. The man who led the cult she escaped. The man who denied them medicine, while clearly keeping it for himself.
I really enjoyed this one.
June 4, 2026
This is such a beautifully written post-apocalyptic romance. I found it surprisingly gentle given its set thirty years after the end of the world.
Growing up in a world destroyed by The Quake, Kayla and her younger sister April, lost their family after escaping a cult. Since then they have been surviving on their own in the wild until April becomes seriously ill. Desperate to medical care the sisters find refuge in Salt Springs.
Gaining citizenship and access to healthcare isn’t a quick process, so determined to do whatever she can to help her sister, Kayla and her host Sid, come up with a plan that could benefit them both.
I loved watching Kayla and Sid’s relationship develop, the way their romance unfolded naturally, seeing the trust between them grow and learning more about their pasts.
Some of my favourite moments were those set on the acreage with the other residents.
The banter around the table at mealtimes was brilliant and I adored the sense of family and community they shared.
The ending was wrapped up perfectly, heartwarming, full of hope and belonging.
Growing up in a world destroyed by The Quake, Kayla and her younger sister April, lost their family after escaping a cult. Since then they have been surviving on their own in the wild until April becomes seriously ill. Desperate to medical care the sisters find refuge in Salt Springs.
Gaining citizenship and access to healthcare isn’t a quick process, so determined to do whatever she can to help her sister, Kayla and her host Sid, come up with a plan that could benefit them both.
I loved watching Kayla and Sid’s relationship develop, the way their romance unfolded naturally, seeing the trust between them grow and learning more about their pasts.
Some of my favourite moments were those set on the acreage with the other residents.
The banter around the table at mealtimes was brilliant and I adored the sense of family and community they shared.
The ending was wrapped up perfectly, heartwarming, full of hope and belonging.
August 30, 2026
Post-apocalyptic romance is kind of my jam, so obviously *All We Have Left* was right up my alley. Claire Kent's *Kindled* series is one of my all-time favorites, and I'll pretty much always show up for a story about people trying to find love while rebuilding some semblance of civilization after the world falls apart.
That said, if you're looking for an action-packed apocalypse story, this probably isn't it. *All We Have Left* is much more interested in what happens *after* survival: rebuilding communities, figuring out local government, navigating bureaucracy and citizenship, and creating a new normal from the remnants of the old world. Throw in a marriage of convenience between a deeply distrustful survivor and an aspiring politician, and things naturally get a little messy.
I actually enjoyed the way the worldbuilding was slowly revealed rather than dumped on us all at once. We learn enough about the collapse and the different communities that emerged afterward to understand this world, while plenty is left to the imagination. That being said... I'm fascinated by this stuff, so I absolutely wanted MORE. More about Astolia, more about Sid's past, more about Kayla's life before arriving on Salt Spring, and definitely more about how society actually fell apart.
Kayla herself was probably my biggest source of frustration. I completely understood why her experiences had left her deeply suspicious of this new community, but sometimes her skepticism was directed at things that felt so trivial to me that I just wanted to shake her and tell her to let her guard down a little. Her fears made sense intellectually; emotionally, I occasionally struggled to stay patient with her.
Thankfully, the found family more than made up for some of that frustration. I loved the ragtag collection of men and boys living on Sid's farm, and each of them felt distinct enough to genuinely contribute something to the story. Even Tom and his daughter grew on me as the book progressed. The community itself ultimately became as important to me as the romance.
My biggest disappointment was probably the ending, which felt rushed just as the wider world was becoming particularly interesting. The Astolia thread especially seemed ripe for considerably more development, and I finished the book feeling like there was so much more story left to tell.
Which leads me to my current theory/hope: can this please become a series? Because I would absolutely read Silas's love story, and Sid's pre-Kayla life could practically fill a novel of its own. There are enough intriguing characters and unexplored corners of this world that I'd happily come back.
Overall, *All We Have Left* is a quieter, more character- and community-focused take on post-apocalyptic romance. It didn't explore its world quite as deeply as I wanted, and Kayla occasionally drove me up the wall, but I really enjoyed its hopeful vision of people figuring out how to build something worth living for after everything else is gone.
Thank you to Emily Paxman, Titan Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
That said, if you're looking for an action-packed apocalypse story, this probably isn't it. *All We Have Left* is much more interested in what happens *after* survival: rebuilding communities, figuring out local government, navigating bureaucracy and citizenship, and creating a new normal from the remnants of the old world. Throw in a marriage of convenience between a deeply distrustful survivor and an aspiring politician, and things naturally get a little messy.
I actually enjoyed the way the worldbuilding was slowly revealed rather than dumped on us all at once. We learn enough about the collapse and the different communities that emerged afterward to understand this world, while plenty is left to the imagination. That being said... I'm fascinated by this stuff, so I absolutely wanted MORE. More about Astolia, more about Sid's past, more about Kayla's life before arriving on Salt Spring, and definitely more about how society actually fell apart.
Kayla herself was probably my biggest source of frustration. I completely understood why her experiences had left her deeply suspicious of this new community, but sometimes her skepticism was directed at things that felt so trivial to me that I just wanted to shake her and tell her to let her guard down a little. Her fears made sense intellectually; emotionally, I occasionally struggled to stay patient with her.
Thankfully, the found family more than made up for some of that frustration. I loved the ragtag collection of men and boys living on Sid's farm, and each of them felt distinct enough to genuinely contribute something to the story. Even Tom and his daughter grew on me as the book progressed. The community itself ultimately became as important to me as the romance.
My biggest disappointment was probably the ending, which felt rushed just as the wider world was becoming particularly interesting. The Astolia thread especially seemed ripe for considerably more development, and I finished the book feeling like there was so much more story left to tell.
Which leads me to my current theory/hope: can this please become a series? Because I would absolutely read Silas's love story, and Sid's pre-Kayla life could practically fill a novel of its own. There are enough intriguing characters and unexplored corners of this world that I'd happily come back.
Overall, *All We Have Left* is a quieter, more character- and community-focused take on post-apocalyptic romance. It didn't explore its world quite as deeply as I wanted, and Kayla occasionally drove me up the wall, but I really enjoyed its hopeful vision of people figuring out how to build something worth living for after everything else is gone.
Thank you to Emily Paxman, Titan Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Kayla Hollins survived a colony, cult, paramilitary group and her family in the fragmented wasteland of a post-apocalyptic Canada. Her younger sister April falls ill, and Kayla will do anything to save her. Salt Spring Island is rumored to still have a hospital, but only residents can access medical care. Kayla had met aspiring politician Sid Charles en route, and they struck a deal: if the two marry, Sid will get a boost that might help him win an election, and Kayla gets citizenship that she can use to get April access to the hospital. It's a win-win situation, right?
Kayla is ten years older than her fifteen-year-old sister and has been taking care of her in the wilderness, avoiding the roaming paramilitary group searching the forests of Canada for supplies, as well as any colonies that sprang up around cult leaders. She will keep her sister safe, and that includes first attacking the guards with guns when she fears they'll hurt April, then yelling at the immigration officer talking to her in the hospital without a guardian. Kayla is downright feral and paranoid, not trusting anything at first because there was never anyone she could trust. April has to stay in Salt Spring Island, with regular medical bills that must get paid off; in the apocalypse, few people can recognize or care for diabetes without a working hospital to make it.
This is a story of connections and survival, told from Kayla's point of view. Kayla had gone so long without hope that she doesn't recognize care when it happens, and doesn't trust the system. She's overwhelmed, and Sid understands that. He was once an immigrant as well, and is hoping to get into local government to make it easier for future immigrants to get acclimated. The two are friendly with an attraction, and some people easily figure out the reasons for the marriage. At the same time, they really do complement each other, and both have strong caretaker qualities and are used to figuring out solutions alone.
This is a quiet romance, with trust and safety as the means of building a future together. We find out more about Sid and the others in the acreage, and we see the growing sense of Salt Spring as a home, not just a temporary reprieve from the constant dangers of foraging in the wild. It's not guns and violence that will lead to survival in the long run, but creating a community. Farming, crafting, and preserving knowledge will lead to long-term survival, and Kayla still has trauma to work through as part of her happily ever after. She has the opportunity to, and there's strong hope for the future.
Kayla is ten years older than her fifteen-year-old sister and has been taking care of her in the wilderness, avoiding the roaming paramilitary group searching the forests of Canada for supplies, as well as any colonies that sprang up around cult leaders. She will keep her sister safe, and that includes first attacking the guards with guns when she fears they'll hurt April, then yelling at the immigration officer talking to her in the hospital without a guardian. Kayla is downright feral and paranoid, not trusting anything at first because there was never anyone she could trust. April has to stay in Salt Spring Island, with regular medical bills that must get paid off; in the apocalypse, few people can recognize or care for diabetes without a working hospital to make it.
This is a story of connections and survival, told from Kayla's point of view. Kayla had gone so long without hope that she doesn't recognize care when it happens, and doesn't trust the system. She's overwhelmed, and Sid understands that. He was once an immigrant as well, and is hoping to get into local government to make it easier for future immigrants to get acclimated. The two are friendly with an attraction, and some people easily figure out the reasons for the marriage. At the same time, they really do complement each other, and both have strong caretaker qualities and are used to figuring out solutions alone.
This is a quiet romance, with trust and safety as the means of building a future together. We find out more about Sid and the others in the acreage, and we see the growing sense of Salt Spring as a home, not just a temporary reprieve from the constant dangers of foraging in the wild. It's not guns and violence that will lead to survival in the long run, but creating a community. Farming, crafting, and preserving knowledge will lead to long-term survival, and Kayla still has trauma to work through as part of her happily ever after. She has the opportunity to, and there's strong hope for the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Where we are is special. Being safe and free - those are special things. But they shouldn't have to be."
Emily Paxman is a master of setting a scene. Within the first few lines, she invokes a deep sense of nature; something beautiful and fearsome, painting a vivid scene that not only gets us acclimatised to the surroundings but starts the building of a brilliant atmosphere. The world quickly but carefully unfurls within the first chapters, hinting how the world ended, what society may still function out there, and what Kayla's life looks like trying to survive alone with her sister in the wild.
It had all the awe-inspiring nature, fear, fractured societal remnants of my favourite nature-based dystopian tales, but with a unique tone, introducing characters several decades after the world ended so they've never known the world before, making their reintroduction to any form of organised society that much more intriguing. Kayla never had to learn how governments work, what citizenship means, what long-term health conditions are, even the concept of calendars or money.
So when they find themselves needing to cling to one of these remnants to save her sister, Kayla enters a mutually beneficial fake marriage for citizenship, showing a fascinating integration into this society; exploring what a post-apocalyptic settlement could look like, how Kayla finds her place there, and how her relationship grows with Sid, the grumpy border guard, her protector and eventual husband. Their relationship grows beautifully and authentically, first restrained and careful, then friendly, until something sparks beneath the surface with a wonderfully simmering tension.
The story moves quite slowly, but never too slow. It's like we're patiently waiting along with Kayla to figure out what to do, to try and understand the inner workings of this settlement, the rules and customs that clash against a harsh, cult-led world outside. Everything about this story just worked, the romance, the world building, the dystopia - I loved every single page.
"Once we get there, we'll be safe and life will be all rainbows. The world is a messed-up pile of broken buildings and thorny vines, but that doesn't mean all the good is wrong, right? There are still blackberries growing between the prickles. One small miracle is all we need."
Emily Paxman is a master of setting a scene. Within the first few lines, she invokes a deep sense of nature; something beautiful and fearsome, painting a vivid scene that not only gets us acclimatised to the surroundings but starts the building of a brilliant atmosphere. The world quickly but carefully unfurls within the first chapters, hinting how the world ended, what society may still function out there, and what Kayla's life looks like trying to survive alone with her sister in the wild.
It had all the awe-inspiring nature, fear, fractured societal remnants of my favourite nature-based dystopian tales, but with a unique tone, introducing characters several decades after the world ended so they've never known the world before, making their reintroduction to any form of organised society that much more intriguing. Kayla never had to learn how governments work, what citizenship means, what long-term health conditions are, even the concept of calendars or money.
So when they find themselves needing to cling to one of these remnants to save her sister, Kayla enters a mutually beneficial fake marriage for citizenship, showing a fascinating integration into this society; exploring what a post-apocalyptic settlement could look like, how Kayla finds her place there, and how her relationship grows with Sid, the grumpy border guard, her protector and eventual husband. Their relationship grows beautifully and authentically, first restrained and careful, then friendly, until something sparks beneath the surface with a wonderfully simmering tension.
The story moves quite slowly, but never too slow. It's like we're patiently waiting along with Kayla to figure out what to do, to try and understand the inner workings of this settlement, the rules and customs that clash against a harsh, cult-led world outside. Everything about this story just worked, the romance, the world building, the dystopia - I loved every single page.
"Once we get there, we'll be safe and life will be all rainbows. The world is a messed-up pile of broken buildings and thorny vines, but that doesn't mean all the good is wrong, right? There are still blackberries growing between the prickles. One small miracle is all we need."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
this was such a soft, emotional read and honestly not what i expected at all from a post-apocalyptic story
it’s not super intense or action-heavy it’s a lot more focused on the people, the relationships, and just surviving in a quieter way.
we follow Kayla, who has already been through so much, and you can really feel that from the start
everything she does is for her sister, and that love and desperation really drives the whole story
the marriage of convenience was one of my favorite parts
it starts off very much as a deal, very practical, but the more time Kayla and Sid spend together, the more it slowly shifts into something real
and i really liked that it wasn’t rushed
it felt natural and believable
sid was such a good character too
he’s soft, kind, and genuinely trying to do the right thing, which i loved
and the boys he looks after that whole found family aspect just made the story feel even warmer
the setting was also really interesting it’s still a broken world, but there’s this small sense of hope in the community they’re in, which I really liked
this isn’t a fast-paced read it’s slower and more emotional, but that’s what made it stand out for me
it’s more about healing, rebuilding, and finding something good again after everything has gone wrong
overall, this was such a comforting but emotional read that I really loved and it's not my usual type of book I would read but it definitely makes me want to explore these tropes more in other books.
If you like these you will love this book:
- post-apocalyptic romance
- marriage of convenience
- found family
- survival for a loved one
- slow burn romance
- this is just a deal
- soft MMC
- rebuilding after loss
thank you to netgalley, the publisher & emily paxman for the arc
this was such a soft, emotional read and honestly not what i expected at all from a post-apocalyptic story
it’s not super intense or action-heavy it’s a lot more focused on the people, the relationships, and just surviving in a quieter way.
we follow Kayla, who has already been through so much, and you can really feel that from the start
everything she does is for her sister, and that love and desperation really drives the whole story
the marriage of convenience was one of my favorite parts
it starts off very much as a deal, very practical, but the more time Kayla and Sid spend together, the more it slowly shifts into something real
and i really liked that it wasn’t rushed
it felt natural and believable
sid was such a good character too
he’s soft, kind, and genuinely trying to do the right thing, which i loved
and the boys he looks after that whole found family aspect just made the story feel even warmer
the setting was also really interesting it’s still a broken world, but there’s this small sense of hope in the community they’re in, which I really liked
this isn’t a fast-paced read it’s slower and more emotional, but that’s what made it stand out for me
it’s more about healing, rebuilding, and finding something good again after everything has gone wrong
overall, this was such a comforting but emotional read that I really loved and it's not my usual type of book I would read but it definitely makes me want to explore these tropes more in other books.
If you like these you will love this book:
- post-apocalyptic romance
- marriage of convenience
- found family
- survival for a loved one
- slow burn romance
- this is just a deal
- soft MMC
- rebuilding after loss
thank you to netgalley, the publisher & emily paxman for the arc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I give All We Have Left 4.5 stars, and I chose to round up because it was a really well done post-disaster romance that handled a lot of complex situations in a way that balanced realism with the drive of the romance (gotta get that HEA).
I really loved how grounded in a realistic look at survival this book was - not total doomerism and not all rainbows either, but this real feeling middle ground. I was reminded a lot of Far Cry New Dawn with just the overall vibe of much of the world, and I really loved that. Kayla and April surviving on their own felt reasonable - still hard and scary, but also more mundane that often post-apocalyptic fiction shows. I adored Sid and all the boys (and had to laugh that his name ISN'T short for Sidney, especially as a Canadian), and felt that their story was also pretty well grounded and reasonable.
Sid and Kayla's romance hit that "just right" level of intense - both in the romantic sense and in Kayla dealing with her past and her future and coming out of survival mode. She has a lot to work through and sometimes felt a little extreme, but it's also an extreme situation that she's dealing with, and it never felt over the top. Sid is a good balance to her, and the politics of his situation and motivations added a depth that made everything shine brighter for it.
Overall, the story stuck an excellent balance of realism and romance, and it kept my attention and kept up good pacing all the way through. If you're looking at the description and thinking you might give it a try, my vote is yes.
I give All We Have Left 4.5 stars, and I chose to round up because it was a really well done post-disaster romance that handled a lot of complex situations in a way that balanced realism with the drive of the romance (gotta get that HEA).
I really loved how grounded in a realistic look at survival this book was - not total doomerism and not all rainbows either, but this real feeling middle ground. I was reminded a lot of Far Cry New Dawn with just the overall vibe of much of the world, and I really loved that. Kayla and April surviving on their own felt reasonable - still hard and scary, but also more mundane that often post-apocalyptic fiction shows. I adored Sid and all the boys (and had to laugh that his name ISN'T short for Sidney, especially as a Canadian), and felt that their story was also pretty well grounded and reasonable.
Sid and Kayla's romance hit that "just right" level of intense - both in the romantic sense and in Kayla dealing with her past and her future and coming out of survival mode. She has a lot to work through and sometimes felt a little extreme, but it's also an extreme situation that she's dealing with, and it never felt over the top. Sid is a good balance to her, and the politics of his situation and motivations added a depth that made everything shine brighter for it.
Overall, the story stuck an excellent balance of realism and romance, and it kept my attention and kept up good pacing all the way through. If you're looking at the description and thinking you might give it a try, my vote is yes.
October 12, 2026
Thank you to RB media for the free audio copy of this book.
Kayla doesn't trust anyone but April, her younger sister, and is willing to do anything to keep her safe. Including going to Salt Spring Island and joining their society so that April can access the insulin she needs to manage her type 1 diabetes. But Kayla isn't used to being around people and sorting through bureaucracy and quickly racks up demerits, adding years to the amount of time she has to wait to become a citizen and not have to pay for insulin anymore. But Sid, her sponsor and aspiring politician, needs help too. So if they get married, they both get what they need, and they can always divorce in 2 years when Kayla gets citizenship. But will they want to?
Kayla is a fascinating character to me. Her exact age isn't known because the world ended and calendars were no longer kept, but she's estimated as in her late 20s/early 30s. She doesn't seem like one though, which I think makes sense with the story because she didn't grow up with people. She escaped from a cult, watched people she loved die, and had to become a primary caretaker for a child while still a child herself. She has no concept of how to trust or act around other people because of that and constantly struggles to understand this new society she has entered. I enjoyed watching her grow up in a way and learn to trust others and communicate instead of only relying on herself. And I thought the romance was well done.
Kayla doesn't trust anyone but April, her younger sister, and is willing to do anything to keep her safe. Including going to Salt Spring Island and joining their society so that April can access the insulin she needs to manage her type 1 diabetes. But Kayla isn't used to being around people and sorting through bureaucracy and quickly racks up demerits, adding years to the amount of time she has to wait to become a citizen and not have to pay for insulin anymore. But Sid, her sponsor and aspiring politician, needs help too. So if they get married, they both get what they need, and they can always divorce in 2 years when Kayla gets citizenship. But will they want to?
Kayla is a fascinating character to me. Her exact age isn't known because the world ended and calendars were no longer kept, but she's estimated as in her late 20s/early 30s. She doesn't seem like one though, which I think makes sense with the story because she didn't grow up with people. She escaped from a cult, watched people she loved die, and had to become a primary caretaker for a child while still a child herself. She has no concept of how to trust or act around other people because of that and constantly struggles to understand this new society she has entered. I enjoyed watching her grow up in a way and learn to trust others and communicate instead of only relying on herself. And I thought the romance was well done.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of Advanced Reader Copy recieved from Netgalley
All We Have Left by Emily Paxman is a gripping post apocalyptic romance that blends familiar dystopian themes with fresh and original ideas. While it explores the collapse of society and the fight for survival, what makes this story stand out is its unique perspective. The main character was born after the apocalypse and has no understanding of money, timekeeping, or community in the way those who lived before the quake once did.
Emily Paxman excels at scene setting, world building, and character development throughout the novel. Kayla is a fiercely independent and determined young woman who has spent the last ten years raising her younger sister alone in the wilderness. Her strength and resilience make her an instantly compelling character.
Sid, a guarded and brooding border agent, slowly reveals a much softer side beneath his tough exterior. Watching their relationship develop through the many potential obstacles and emotional barriers they face, especially Kayla’s struggle to trust others, was both heartfelt and captivating.
At its core, this book is a powerful reminder that even when the world has fallen apart, hope still remains. Hope for safety, hope for love, and hope for a future greater than the one you have been forced to survive in.
All We Have Left by Emily Paxman is a gripping post apocalyptic romance that blends familiar dystopian themes with fresh and original ideas. While it explores the collapse of society and the fight for survival, what makes this story stand out is its unique perspective. The main character was born after the apocalypse and has no understanding of money, timekeeping, or community in the way those who lived before the quake once did.
Emily Paxman excels at scene setting, world building, and character development throughout the novel. Kayla is a fiercely independent and determined young woman who has spent the last ten years raising her younger sister alone in the wilderness. Her strength and resilience make her an instantly compelling character.
Sid, a guarded and brooding border agent, slowly reveals a much softer side beneath his tough exterior. Watching their relationship develop through the many potential obstacles and emotional barriers they face, especially Kayla’s struggle to trust others, was both heartfelt and captivating.
At its core, this book is a powerful reminder that even when the world has fallen apart, hope still remains. Hope for safety, hope for love, and hope for a future greater than the one you have been forced to survive in.
June 4, 2026
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t generally like romances, there’s just not enough plot to keep me interested. Throw another genre in there, and I’m all for it.
This plot is simple enough. Kayla’s sister April is sick and she doesn’t know how to help her, so she’s headed to Salt Spring to the hospital, the only one she’s ever heard of. Once there, it isn’t as easy as she thought it would be. She has to learn how to live in a civilized society and all the things that come with that. For someone who has lived on the run with only her sister for years, it’s certainly an adjustment. Sid saves her ass more than a couple of times, and I love his character. He is patient with her, knowing what she’s going through.
Kayla is our POV, but Sid and April are definitely main characters. Kayla has a ton of development she goes through, and even though she backslides at time, she really does make some fantastic leaps. Sid is a wonderful main male character; he’s optimistic, level headed, and patient in the way Kayla really needs. Kayla does irritate me at times, but she has reasons for every reaction she has. I do love her development though.
The writing is very easy to follow and the tone is almost lonely and fearful, which is spot on for this one. I read most of this is two sittings with no problems. The epilogue is a bit predictable, but also cathartic. I really enjoyed this one. 4.25⭐️
I don’t generally like romances, there’s just not enough plot to keep me interested. Throw another genre in there, and I’m all for it.
This plot is simple enough. Kayla’s sister April is sick and she doesn’t know how to help her, so she’s headed to Salt Spring to the hospital, the only one she’s ever heard of. Once there, it isn’t as easy as she thought it would be. She has to learn how to live in a civilized society and all the things that come with that. For someone who has lived on the run with only her sister for years, it’s certainly an adjustment. Sid saves her ass more than a couple of times, and I love his character. He is patient with her, knowing what she’s going through.
Kayla is our POV, but Sid and April are definitely main characters. Kayla has a ton of development she goes through, and even though she backslides at time, she really does make some fantastic leaps. Sid is a wonderful main male character; he’s optimistic, level headed, and patient in the way Kayla really needs. Kayla does irritate me at times, but she has reasons for every reaction she has. I do love her development though.
The writing is very easy to follow and the tone is almost lonely and fearful, which is spot on for this one. I read most of this is two sittings with no problems. The epilogue is a bit predictable, but also cathartic. I really enjoyed this one. 4.25⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Rating: 4.75
Cry count: 0
I was fortunate enough to receive a physical ARC of All We Have Left, gifted by Titan Books through NetGalley.
This books was beautifully written, with complexities of a world long changed since The Quake, the trauma and devastation of civilisation loosing all humanity and the feeling and concept of safety.
We follow Kayla (our FMC) and her sister April who she has brought up in the wilderness, moving from place to place to survive, until they need a hospital. We quickly meet Sid (our not perfect, but perfect MMC), who is on border patrol at one of only places that has a hospital, with doctors educated before The Quake happened.
The concept, the plot the writing was everything I wanted and more and had me hooked, reading this within 2 days!
The friendship that starts between Sid and Kayla grows more and more, but there are things that have not been shared that could break them before they even pick up.
Honestly I loved this book and devoured it within 2 days. The one thing that knocked off .5 of a star for me was how rushed the ending was, it felt like there was a poignant part that could have been continued for a few chapters at least. That being said the book was rounded up leaving any questions that may have been asked, answered leaving me satisfied!
Cry count: 0
I was fortunate enough to receive a physical ARC of All We Have Left, gifted by Titan Books through NetGalley.
This books was beautifully written, with complexities of a world long changed since The Quake, the trauma and devastation of civilisation loosing all humanity and the feeling and concept of safety.
We follow Kayla (our FMC) and her sister April who she has brought up in the wilderness, moving from place to place to survive, until they need a hospital. We quickly meet Sid (our not perfect, but perfect MMC), who is on border patrol at one of only places that has a hospital, with doctors educated before The Quake happened.
The concept, the plot the writing was everything I wanted and more and had me hooked, reading this within 2 days!
The friendship that starts between Sid and Kayla grows more and more, but there are things that have not been shared that could break them before they even pick up.
Honestly I loved this book and devoured it within 2 days. The one thing that knocked off .5 of a star for me was how rushed the ending was, it felt like there was a poignant part that could have been continued for a few chapters at least. That being said the book was rounded up leaving any questions that may have been asked, answered leaving me satisfied!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
All We Have Left is a cozy and heartwarming post-apocalyptic romance by the author of Death on the Caldera, which I only listened to and reviewed a few weeks ago! Death on the Caldera is a murder mystery set in a fantasy world, and All We Have Left is a romance set in a dystopian world, and I have given both books 5 stars now, so clearly Emily Paxman's genre-mixing is working like a dream for me! I read a range of genres but I particularly like it when a book combines two or more genres, so I had a good feeling about it going into it, but it was even better than I could have hoped for.
It had me laughing out loud in places and tearing up in others, and I was just totally sucked in, right from page one. The main and side characters have all been through a lot of trauma and their responses felt genuine and realistic, and never played just for drama. I loved seeing Kayla and Sid's emotional development and their arc felt truly deserved. It was a beautiful romance, but I also loved all the other relationships that build and evolve throughout the book too.
Honestly, I can't wait to read whatever Emily Paxman writes next!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
It had me laughing out loud in places and tearing up in others, and I was just totally sucked in, right from page one. The main and side characters have all been through a lot of trauma and their responses felt genuine and realistic, and never played just for drama. I loved seeing Kayla and Sid's emotional development and their arc felt truly deserved. It was a beautiful romance, but I also loved all the other relationships that build and evolve throughout the book too.
Honestly, I can't wait to read whatever Emily Paxman writes next!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 21, 2026
Thirty years after society as we know it collapses, Kayla’s world revolves around keeping her younger sister, April, alive. When April desperately needs medical care, Kayla is forced to seek help from the island community of Salt Spring, a settlement rumored to still have access to healthcare.
Having been burned by communities before, Kayla is reluctant to trust anyone, especially the residents of Salt Spring. But when a marriage of convenience with local resident Sid offers a way to secure the ongoing care April needs, Kayla finds herself navigating unfamiliar relationships, difficult choices, and the possibility of a future she never expected.
I was instantly drawn into Kayla’s story. She’s strong, independent, and fiercely loyal to her sister, making her easy to root for from the very first page. The story has excellent momentum, emotionally engaging characters, and a lot of heart. I found myself completely invested in these characters and flew through the book.
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories that focus as much on hope, relationships, and community as survival, this is one worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the advanced reading copy. All opinions are my own.
Having been burned by communities before, Kayla is reluctant to trust anyone, especially the residents of Salt Spring. But when a marriage of convenience with local resident Sid offers a way to secure the ongoing care April needs, Kayla finds herself navigating unfamiliar relationships, difficult choices, and the possibility of a future she never expected.
I was instantly drawn into Kayla’s story. She’s strong, independent, and fiercely loyal to her sister, making her easy to root for from the very first page. The story has excellent momentum, emotionally engaging characters, and a lot of heart. I found myself completely invested in these characters and flew through the book.
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories that focus as much on hope, relationships, and community as survival, this is one worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the advanced reading copy. All opinions are my own.
April 14, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC 💛
This book genuinely made me happy! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from a book marketed as a cozy post-apocalyptic romance, but I think that’s the perfect description. While it’s not exactly action packed in the traditional dystopian way (no high-stakes rebellions - local government bureaucracy is about as dramatic as it gets), I was never bored for a second!
Reading it gave me this wave of nostalgia for the YA dystopias I grew up on - the slow unfolding of a new world, learning its rules, and piecing together what went wrong. At the same time, it gave me all of the feet-kicking giggles from Wattpad romance tropes. But it didn’t feel immature at all - cozy is a great word for it!
The ending did feel a little rushed, and I would have loved more development of the Astolia thread. I also found myself wanting deeper backstory for Kayla, Sid, and the wider world - especially the history of how everything fell apart. That said, those are the kinds of details that often come with a longer series, so if this remains a standalone, I’m still really happy with what we got.
This book genuinely made me happy! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from a book marketed as a cozy post-apocalyptic romance, but I think that’s the perfect description. While it’s not exactly action packed in the traditional dystopian way (no high-stakes rebellions - local government bureaucracy is about as dramatic as it gets), I was never bored for a second!
Reading it gave me this wave of nostalgia for the YA dystopias I grew up on - the slow unfolding of a new world, learning its rules, and piecing together what went wrong. At the same time, it gave me all of the feet-kicking giggles from Wattpad romance tropes. But it didn’t feel immature at all - cozy is a great word for it!
The ending did feel a little rushed, and I would have loved more development of the Astolia thread. I also found myself wanting deeper backstory for Kayla, Sid, and the wider world - especially the history of how everything fell apart. That said, those are the kinds of details that often come with a longer series, so if this remains a standalone, I’m still really happy with what we got.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for sharing an Advanced Reader Copy of this title!
I didn’t know what I was expecting when I went into this one, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised!
The first part of the book definitely leans into the post-apocalyptic dystopia vibe, and had me thinking the romance part would take a backseat to the fantasy aspects. By halfway through, I had been proven entirely wrong!
I really enjoyed this read for the most part. I found that the setting was wonderfully done (especially being local to me!) and even respectfully wove in the local Indigenous cultures with references to the Hulʼqʼumiʼnumʼ language.
I also enjoyed the unreliable narrator aspect of Kayla’s character, but I can’t honestly say I actually liked HER all that much. I also wish that Sid felt a little more three dimensional, I don’t know what it was about him that made his character fall flat, but they aren’t a book couple I’ll be thinking of years from now.
Overall, if you’re looking for a romance with a seriously interesting premise, pick this one up! I can honestly say I’ve never read anything like it (in a good way).
I didn’t know what I was expecting when I went into this one, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised!
The first part of the book definitely leans into the post-apocalyptic dystopia vibe, and had me thinking the romance part would take a backseat to the fantasy aspects. By halfway through, I had been proven entirely wrong!
I really enjoyed this read for the most part. I found that the setting was wonderfully done (especially being local to me!) and even respectfully wove in the local Indigenous cultures with references to the Hulʼqʼumiʼnumʼ language.
I also enjoyed the unreliable narrator aspect of Kayla’s character, but I can’t honestly say I actually liked HER all that much. I also wish that Sid felt a little more three dimensional, I don’t know what it was about him that made his character fall flat, but they aren’t a book couple I’ll be thinking of years from now.
Overall, if you’re looking for a romance with a seriously interesting premise, pick this one up! I can honestly say I’ve never read anything like it (in a good way).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I usually love all the tropes featured in this book, close proximity, marriage of convenience, and post-apocalyptic romance, but All We Have Left fell a little short for me. I did enjoy the book overall, but felt it could use a bit of tweaking to become something a lot better.
Firstly, I found that there were far too many ideas for the length of the book, meaning none of them got explored to their full potential. Sticking to one or two of these ideas would have been a lot more interesting and would have allowed Paxman to go into a lot more depth than she did in this book. I also struggled with the chemistry between the two main characters which I think is down to this. Some of the storylines overshadowed the romance element that is meant to drive the narrative, so when romantic scenes did happen, they felt very out of the blue and almost forced.
I did enjoy the side characters in All We Have Left, especially the group of men the Sid lives with, they added a lot of dimension and each had a very unique personality, there were just a few too many to keep track of at times! The setting was also great, and I felt very immersed in the post-apocalyptic island of Salt Spring.
Firstly, I found that there were far too many ideas for the length of the book, meaning none of them got explored to their full potential. Sticking to one or two of these ideas would have been a lot more interesting and would have allowed Paxman to go into a lot more depth than she did in this book. I also struggled with the chemistry between the two main characters which I think is down to this. Some of the storylines overshadowed the romance element that is meant to drive the narrative, so when romantic scenes did happen, they felt very out of the blue and almost forced.
I did enjoy the side characters in All We Have Left, especially the group of men the Sid lives with, they added a lot of dimension and each had a very unique personality, there were just a few too many to keep track of at times! The setting was also great, and I felt very immersed in the post-apocalyptic island of Salt Spring.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
All We Have Left by Emily Paxman
Rating: 4
I genuinely did not know what to expect when I picked up All We Have Left, but I am so glad I did—this story absolutely blew me away.
Emily Paxman has crafted something truly incredible here. The premise takes the familiar marriage of convenience trope and gives it a haunting, high-stakes twist by thrusting it into a post-apocalyptic setting where humans are trying to survive. The isolation and desperation are present from the beginning with the world-building perfectly heighten the stakes of the relationship, making every interaction feel fraught with tension and necessity.
The heart of this book, however, lies in its characters. Kayla and Sid are brilliant, complex protagonists who feel deeply human despite the extreme circumstances they inhabit. What impressed me most was Emily Paxman’s depiction of trauma; it is raw, nuanced, and incredibly handled. Watching Kayla and Sid navigate the weight of their pasts and learn to forgive themselves for the things they had to do just to survive is a powerful, emotional journey that stayed with me long after I finished the final page
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!
Rating: 4
I genuinely did not know what to expect when I picked up All We Have Left, but I am so glad I did—this story absolutely blew me away.
Emily Paxman has crafted something truly incredible here. The premise takes the familiar marriage of convenience trope and gives it a haunting, high-stakes twist by thrusting it into a post-apocalyptic setting where humans are trying to survive. The isolation and desperation are present from the beginning with the world-building perfectly heighten the stakes of the relationship, making every interaction feel fraught with tension and necessity.
The heart of this book, however, lies in its characters. Kayla and Sid are brilliant, complex protagonists who feel deeply human despite the extreme circumstances they inhabit. What impressed me most was Emily Paxman’s depiction of trauma; it is raw, nuanced, and incredibly handled. Watching Kayla and Sid navigate the weight of their pasts and learn to forgive themselves for the things they had to do just to survive is a powerful, emotional journey that stayed with me long after I finished the final page
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!
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