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The Last Man on Earth: A Survival Romance
Famous rapper Villain and his rowdy entourage are headed to his bachelor party in Brazil when his private jet crashes on a remote island. The only survivors are him and Ariana, the beautiful, older, no-nonsense in-flight concierge who can't stand him.
Stranded with no rescue in sight, they have no choice but to work together if they want to survive. What begins as a fragile truce soon ignites into passion and forges a path to trust, understanding, and a love neither of them expected to find.
But when rescue finally comes, reality hits hard--the headlines, the scrutiny, their grief, and the fiancee and boyfriend they left behind.
Ultimately, they realize they have to Will they return to the lives they once knew, or fight for the new life they built together on that island?
Stranded with no rescue in sight, they have no choice but to work together if they want to survive. What begins as a fragile truce soon ignites into passion and forges a path to trust, understanding, and a love neither of them expected to find.
But when rescue finally comes, reality hits hard--the headlines, the scrutiny, their grief, and the fiancee and boyfriend they left behind.
Ultimately, they realize they have to Will they return to the lives they once knew, or fight for the new life they built together on that island?
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2025
1242 people are currently reading
3128 people want to read
About the author
Shae Sanders
50 books556 followersJust a girl who loves black love. Reading it, writing it, and living it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 736 reviews
January 7, 2026
4.5/5
THIS BOOKS WAS SO GOOD!! The perfect mixture between a romance with thriller vibes. I finished this book in 24 hours because it’s so fast paced. Loved the character growth between there’s two so much!
THIS BOOKS WAS SO GOOD!! The perfect mixture between a romance with thriller vibes. I finished this book in 24 hours because it’s so fast paced. Loved the character growth between there’s two so much!
October 29, 2025
THIS IS THE CREATIVITY I NEED FROM AUTHORS. I loved how this book had my attention from the beginning. I just wish we got 100 more pages. A detailed experience when they got rescued and how challenging it was to transition back into their old lives. Ending felt a bit rush but still a good read.
October 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Y’all! I paused my current read for this because the visuals had the timeline in a frenzy…and I’m glad I did, because this wasn’t just a romance; it was a stripping down of ego, grief, and survival instincts until love had room to breathe.
Ariana is structure, routine, and control– the kind of woman who survives by being composed. Watching her slowly loosen her grip on independence, not out of weakness but because shared survival required surrender, was powerful in a way it was felt.
Villain? He started as a walking red flag with a stage name and zero emotional regulation. Then tragedy forced silence into him, and we got to see the man underneath the persona– raw, wounded, protective, learning softness as a language he was never taught. His grief didn’t make him colder…it forced him to show up warmer than he ever had the safety to be before. Ladies and gentlemen this is where we meet Vincent.
🌿 his unraveling was his becoming
🔥 her letting go became her healing
🌊 love found them when certainty left
Their bond didn’t bloom from convenience, it formed because there was nowhere to hide. No entourage. No image. No armor. Just two people stripped to the bone, learning how to live again by learning how to feel again.
This story didn’t just give chemistry– it gave human transformation.
Not fairytale love… survival-forged love.
He didn’t win her. He grew into someone worthy of standing beside her.
And that’s why it’s a 5.75-star read & if you don’t agree…we didn’t read the same book.
Y’all! I paused my current read for this because the visuals had the timeline in a frenzy…and I’m glad I did, because this wasn’t just a romance; it was a stripping down of ego, grief, and survival instincts until love had room to breathe.
Ariana is structure, routine, and control– the kind of woman who survives by being composed. Watching her slowly loosen her grip on independence, not out of weakness but because shared survival required surrender, was powerful in a way it was felt.
Villain? He started as a walking red flag with a stage name and zero emotional regulation. Then tragedy forced silence into him, and we got to see the man underneath the persona– raw, wounded, protective, learning softness as a language he was never taught. His grief didn’t make him colder…it forced him to show up warmer than he ever had the safety to be before. Ladies and gentlemen this is where we meet Vincent.
🌿 his unraveling was his becoming
🔥 her letting go became her healing
🌊 love found them when certainty left
Their bond didn’t bloom from convenience, it formed because there was nowhere to hide. No entourage. No image. No armor. Just two people stripped to the bone, learning how to live again by learning how to feel again.
This story didn’t just give chemistry– it gave human transformation.
Not fairytale love… survival-forged love.
He didn’t win her. He grew into someone worthy of standing beside her.
And that’s why it’s a 5.75-star read & if you don’t agree…we didn’t read the same book.
January 15, 2026
This was, by far, the most unique romance book that I’ve ever read. If you’re someone who feels like all romance books sound the same, read this one!
Admittedly, I almost DNF’d this book. The MMC was extremely unlikeable. However, I’m so excited that I continued reading. All of a sudden, I was like “wait, why am I rooting for this man?” When an author can take an unlikeable character and peel back the layers until you’re empathizing with them, that’s a sign they knew exactly what they were doing!
This book is a slowww burn! There was just the right amount of tension between the two characters. I love how they both supported each other during the most challenging circumstances.
In a way, this book took me outside of my comfort zone, and it forced me to weigh in on the ultimate question. Was this cheating OR survival? It’s the kind of question that will stick with you long after the last page.
I’m personally happy with how everything ended! ❤️
Admittedly, I almost DNF’d this book. The MMC was extremely unlikeable. However, I’m so excited that I continued reading. All of a sudden, I was like “wait, why am I rooting for this man?” When an author can take an unlikeable character and peel back the layers until you’re empathizing with them, that’s a sign they knew exactly what they were doing!
This book is a slowww burn! There was just the right amount of tension between the two characters. I love how they both supported each other during the most challenging circumstances.
In a way, this book took me outside of my comfort zone, and it forced me to weigh in on the ultimate question. Was this cheating OR survival? It’s the kind of question that will stick with you long after the last page.
I’m personally happy with how everything ended! ❤️
December 31, 2025
What a great way to wrap up 2025! Initially, I was turned off by all the hype surrounding this book, but I'm so glad I gave it another shot. I definitely judged it way too soon! This is one book that lives up to the hype!
November 3, 2025
2.5/5 I really wanted to love this one because it was so hyped up—but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The story and plot were very predictable, and the “romance” felt lukewarm at best. By the end, I realized I didn’t know much about the characters at all. The character development was pretty one-dimensional, with very little depth or growth.
It was a quick read, but ultimately not one that stuck with me. I could take it or leave it. 🤷🏽♀️
It was a quick read, but ultimately not one that stuck with me. I could take it or leave it. 🤷🏽♀️
October 20, 2025
Loved it!!! 🥰🥰🥰
October 20, 2025
This book reminded me so much of one of my favorite old school movies The Blue Lagoon. But make it black! lol it was also referenced in the book ☺️
Story picks up little after 50% mark. I really started to feel the romance between Ari and Vincent (Villain).
I enjoyed it although the ending felt rushed.
Story picks up little after 50% mark. I really started to feel the romance between Ari and Vincent (Villain).
I enjoyed it although the ending felt rushed.
November 19, 2025
4.25 🌟 This is my first ever “survival romance” novel and I am not disappointed at all! This is also my first novel by Shae Sanders and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing / storytelling abilities. I am glad this was my introduction to her because it definitely convinced me to read more of her catalogue.
I agree with many of the reviews I've read about this novel that say the “rescue” arc / ending should've been longer (or even included in a sequel) because it was all gas and no brakes the last 20% of the book, and I really wanted to see more of how Ariana & Vincent got readjusted to life / society after months on the island.
Nevertheless, I was fully invested in Ari & Vincent's survival on the island and seeing how they made it all those months stranded. I feel Shae (the author) did an amazing job telling this story and really making you sympathize with their situation / survival on the island. Also, Villain / Vincent's character growth was so well done and I ended up loving him more as a character than Ari. Their HEA was beautifully written and I can understand the hype around this book! 10 out of 10 recommend.
I agree with many of the reviews I've read about this novel that say the “rescue” arc / ending should've been longer (or even included in a sequel) because it was all gas and no brakes the last 20% of the book, and I really wanted to see more of how Ariana & Vincent got readjusted to life / society after months on the island.
Nevertheless, I was fully invested in Ari & Vincent's survival on the island and seeing how they made it all those months stranded. I feel Shae (the author) did an amazing job telling this story and really making you sympathize with their situation / survival on the island. Also, Villain / Vincent's character growth was so well done and I ended up loving him more as a character than Ari. Their HEA was beautifully written and I can understand the hype around this book! 10 out of 10 recommend.
November 12, 2025
I loved TF out of this book!!! The Last Man On Earth was, hands down, the best book I read in 2025. I highly recommend you read this book before the year is out. You will not be disappointed.
October 21, 2025
A top read for 2025!
This book got me out of a vicious reading slump 🙌🏾 and I can’t stop thinking about it.
I enjoyed the unique premise and both the story and writing were great (per usual). Ari and Vin were written so beautifully that I could actually visualize their interactions while reading. This is one of the best romance novels I’ve read this year and I would love to see this story depicted in a movie.
I deducted a few points only b/c I wish more time was devoted to unpacking the events that occurred in the last quarter of the book. However, I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the book from beginning to end, would definitely read again and also recommend.
4.75/5 🌟
This book got me out of a vicious reading slump 🙌🏾 and I can’t stop thinking about it.
I enjoyed the unique premise and both the story and writing were great (per usual). Ari and Vin were written so beautifully that I could actually visualize their interactions while reading. This is one of the best romance novels I’ve read this year and I would love to see this story depicted in a movie.
I deducted a few points only b/c I wish more time was devoted to unpacking the events that occurred in the last quarter of the book. However, I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the book from beginning to end, would definitely read again and also recommend.
4.75/5 🌟
October 28, 2025
Too good!! 5🌟!
Vincent, aka Villan, was a menace on that plane, and Ariana was trying to make it through her last flight as a flight attendant when tragedy struck, and they were the only two survivors from the crash. The older FMC and younger MMC, along with the survivor romance, were sooo good! The character development of Vincent and Ari was excellent. Seeing them handle their grief, struggle, experience small wins and losses, fall in love, and individually realize what matters most! Ugh, this was just too good, and the HEA was perfect! This is my first survivor romance, and it was done so well!
Vincent, aka Villan, was a menace on that plane, and Ariana was trying to make it through her last flight as a flight attendant when tragedy struck, and they were the only two survivors from the crash. The older FMC and younger MMC, along with the survivor romance, were sooo good! The character development of Vincent and Ari was excellent. Seeing them handle their grief, struggle, experience small wins and losses, fall in love, and individually realize what matters most! Ugh, this was just too good, and the HEA was perfect! This is my first survivor romance, and it was done so well!
January 23, 2026
This is a really good Love story
The book tells a story of survival and also love how to deal with complicated situations and how to overcome immeasurable odds I do recommend checking this book out
Keith Book Korner
The book tells a story of survival and also love how to deal with complicated situations and how to overcome immeasurable odds I do recommend checking this book out
Keith Book Korner
November 15, 2025
4.5🌟 Shae Sanders ATE with this story! Imagine being one of only two survivors of a plane crash and having to thug it out on a deserted island with a man you barely know. Ari & Vincent went through hunger, fear, and isolation.
That long rescue felt way too long, but it gave them exactly what they needed which was space to grow, trust each other, and build something real in the middle of chaos.
Watching Villain transform to Vincent was Incredible. The character development was chef’s kiss.
My only wish is that we got more of their journey after the rescue because after everything they survived, I needed to see how their love held up in the real world.
That long rescue felt way too long, but it gave them exactly what they needed which was space to grow, trust each other, and build something real in the middle of chaos.
Watching Villain transform to Vincent was Incredible. The character development was chef’s kiss.
My only wish is that we got more of their journey after the rescue because after everything they survived, I needed to see how their love held up in the real world.
October 22, 2025
Trust
This was a really good love story. The chemistry that developed between the main characters was top tier. It's nice when a story shows real love.
This was a really good love story. The chemistry that developed between the main characters was top tier. It's nice when a story shows real love.
October 25, 2025
this was a time here! stranded on an island 👌🏾
This man on this island turning this girl every which way but loose boyyy! Now if a man don’t tear a pig up the way he just tore this pig up for invading their space… I don’t want him 🤯🤯💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽🚬
This man on this island turning this girl every which way but loose boyyy! Now if a man don’t tear a pig up the way he just tore this pig up for invading their space… I don’t want him 🤯🤯💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽🚬
October 18, 2025
This book had no business being this GOOD. The way Ari & Villian grew from despising each other to loving each other after surviving a plane crash was so well detailed. Their entire duration on the island was very well written, that every little detail about shelter, food, water made it clear I would’ve never survived one day on a deserted island. Great dialogue and focus on mental health talk after the rescue made the ending come together perfectly.
November 28, 2025
Absolutely in my TOP 5 books this year!
From start to finish this book was 5 stars!! From the very first chapter I was locked in with Villian & Arianna!! I couldn’t stand Villian at first 😭 he was so childish & entitled he definitely acted his age!! The way things changed so quickly was crazy!! The crash reeled me in & really had me on my toes wanting to know what was going to happen next!! How are they going to survive if they survive at all!!
The character development in this book is crazyyy!! We literally watch them go from Arianna & Villian to Ari & Vincent the way Vincent matured & was everything Ari needed when she needed it was amazing!!! He was such a provider & protector he knew he was all she had & he wanted to be everything she needed & more 🥰 I really grew to love him & the man he became!!
In the blink of an eye they were back to reality & idk how I felt about that 😭 they were so content on the island & were each others peace til the point I didn’t want them to be rescued 😩😭 I wasn’t sure what would happen with them or if Vincent would be a man of his word… but I must say he really did his big one!!! This book gave me alllll the feels!!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this & was legit sad when it ended!!! This was my first read from this author but most definitely won’t be my last!!! Absolutely a must read for anyone who hasn’t already!!!
From start to finish this book was 5 stars!! From the very first chapter I was locked in with Villian & Arianna!! I couldn’t stand Villian at first 😭 he was so childish & entitled he definitely acted his age!! The way things changed so quickly was crazy!! The crash reeled me in & really had me on my toes wanting to know what was going to happen next!! How are they going to survive if they survive at all!!
The character development in this book is crazyyy!! We literally watch them go from Arianna & Villian to Ari & Vincent the way Vincent matured & was everything Ari needed when she needed it was amazing!!! He was such a provider & protector he knew he was all she had & he wanted to be everything she needed & more 🥰 I really grew to love him & the man he became!!
In the blink of an eye they were back to reality & idk how I felt about that 😭 they were so content on the island & were each others peace til the point I didn’t want them to be rescued 😩😭 I wasn’t sure what would happen with them or if Vincent would be a man of his word… but I must say he really did his big one!!! This book gave me alllll the feels!!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this & was legit sad when it ended!!! This was my first read from this author but most definitely won’t be my last!!! Absolutely a must read for anyone who hasn’t already!!!
December 16, 2025
Let me save you the suspense. It's several hundred pages of screwing. Screwing on land. Screwing by sea. Nothing else really happens to move the plot forward. They are trapped on a deserted island and they screw one another until help comes. That is 3/4ths of the book. The last 1/4 was decent. 2.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2025
In short, I don't get the hype?
January 21, 2026
This book had me hooked! I loved every minute of this book.
It was so good. Definitely worth the hype!
Going to be a top read of 2026 already.
I enjoyed both POV. Love the uniqueness of the story. It was giving this survivor type of romance. It’s written so well. You can picture everything literally. I felt like I was on the island with them. I can’t even imagine being a survivor from a plane crash.
The chemistry between Ari and Villain was an interesting one. I love the character development. It was done well! You will see the growth and love it.
I wish the ending was more of them together but I still enjoyed it.
It was so good. Definitely worth the hype!
Going to be a top read of 2026 already.
I enjoyed both POV. Love the uniqueness of the story. It was giving this survivor type of romance. It’s written so well. You can picture everything literally. I felt like I was on the island with them. I can’t even imagine being a survivor from a plane crash.
The chemistry between Ari and Villain was an interesting one. I love the character development. It was done well! You will see the growth and love it.
I wish the ending was more of them together but I still enjoyed it.
January 23, 2026
When I say the last 20% of this book did it for me. Like I really loved how much Vincent matured and how he loves Ari. What they built and maintained after what they dealt with was amazing. The writing was incredible with a few misspelling and grammatical errors.
December 5, 2025
This was my first survival romance and it definitely won’t be my last! I liked both Villain and Ariana, though Villain had to grow on me because he was extremely rude in the beginning. I enjoyed watching their romance develop while they tried surviving on the island and the spicy scenes definitely delivered. The pacing was solid for most of the book, but the last third felt rushed and I just wanted to spend more time with certain moments. Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
January 24, 2026
4.5⭐️
A survival story meets soap opera!
A survival story meets soap opera!
November 9, 2025
Surviving Rescue
Wow this was so good!!!
Vincent aka Villain the rapper is at the top of the world in his career and getting ready to party on his bachelorette trip before marrying his baby mama. Ariana is a flight attendant servicing Vincent's private jet, ready to move into the next phase of her life after this flight. Tragedy strikes and the two are the only ones left on an uninhabited island. Vincent grows from an immature, childish young man into a capable, understanding grown man. While Ariana whom is used to being in control becomes vulnerable and for the first time dependent on a man.
Their time on the island was painted so vividly. I could literally picture the changes in their body...the weight loss, the hair growth, the darkened skin. Prior to rescue the way they learned to survive together was beautifully depicted.
Once they were rescued we lost the descriptors. There was conflict after conflict, but we lost the connection that was built on the island. I would have loved for her to talk about the changes to their bodies and skin once home. I rarely say this, but I think we needed about a 100 more pages of this book. There were so many layers and it just felt rushed while the first half was carefully paced. We needed that same energy after rescue. There was no description of the baby, like what did they look like? Vincent lost so many people, and idk if enough time was spent on that grief. Or even one celebration of life for them? There was only a brief mention of therapy. The wedding was also barely described.
This story was original, heart wrenching, and the love was strong. I just needed more after rescue
Wow this was so good!!!
Vincent aka Villain the rapper is at the top of the world in his career and getting ready to party on his bachelorette trip before marrying his baby mama. Ariana is a flight attendant servicing Vincent's private jet, ready to move into the next phase of her life after this flight. Tragedy strikes and the two are the only ones left on an uninhabited island. Vincent grows from an immature, childish young man into a capable, understanding grown man. While Ariana whom is used to being in control becomes vulnerable and for the first time dependent on a man.
Their time on the island was painted so vividly. I could literally picture the changes in their body...the weight loss, the hair growth, the darkened skin. Prior to rescue the way they learned to survive together was beautifully depicted.
Once they were rescued we lost the descriptors. There was conflict after conflict, but we lost the connection that was built on the island. I would have loved for her to talk about the changes to their bodies and skin once home. I rarely say this, but I think we needed about a 100 more pages of this book. There were so many layers and it just felt rushed while the first half was carefully paced. We needed that same energy after rescue. There was no description of the baby, like what did they look like? Vincent lost so many people, and idk if enough time was spent on that grief. Or even one celebration of life for them? There was only a brief mention of therapy. The wedding was also barely described.
This story was original, heart wrenching, and the love was strong. I just needed more after rescue
January 16, 2026
I want to start by saying I read other books by Shae Sanders and I really enjoyed this book. I love Villain character development this book. This is my first survival romance book and I really enjoyed the book especially in the beginning. I do feel like when the couple was rescued from the island the book kind of fell off and the pacing of the book kind of threw me off. Overall a good read.
January 12, 2026
This was my first time reading a survival romance, and it was so good. The author really did her big one. The pacing was a bit slow, and it took me longer than expected to finish, but I realize it had to be though, in order to fully feel the emotions, the fear, and the sadness… all of it had me needing to calm my damn nerves, lol.
Villain really went from sir, who you think you talking to? to a genuinely great man, because at first I wanted Ari to pop him upside the head. The beginning was heartbreaking and had me devastated. I said holddddd up now, wait a damn minute. Villian took hella losses but still showed up for Ari and himself. What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man.
I don’t even have much else to say. Just read the book!
Villain really went from sir, who you think you talking to? to a genuinely great man, because at first I wanted Ari to pop him upside the head. The beginning was heartbreaking and had me devastated. I said holddddd up now, wait a damn minute. Villian took hella losses but still showed up for Ari and himself. What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man.
I don’t even have much else to say. Just read the book!
October 19, 2025
This book is amazing! From beginning to end, I was absolutely enthralled. The way I was holding my breath throughout each and every scene because I didn't see what was coming next. Wow!
What an incredible journey this was. Very well written. I cried, laughed, and clutched my pearls. Highly recommend!
What an incredible journey this was. Very well written. I cried, laughed, and clutched my pearls. Highly recommend!
October 20, 2025
4.5⭐️ soooo freaking good!!
January 20, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. The Last Man on Earth was beautifully written, emotionally gripping, and completely immersive from start to finish. The enemies-to-lovers trope was done so well — slow, layered, and full of tension that felt natural rather than forced.
The characters are what truly made this story shine. I felt every emotion Ari and Villan experienced — fear, grief, frustration, vulnerability, longing, and love. Their dynamic was powerful, and I loved how they brought out the best in each other over time. Even with the ten-year age difference, their connection felt balanced, intentional, and deeply genuine. Villan’s care and protectiveness after the plane crash never felt overbearing — it felt earned, tender, and rooted in respect.
The romance unfolded in such a satisfying way. Watching animosity slowly transform into trust, then into love, was incredibly rewarding. The spicy moments were perfectly placed — not overwhelming, not gratuitous — just enough to enhance the intimacy and deepen the emotional connection between them.
I also appreciated how strong the storytelling was from beginning to end. The book started off strong, never lost momentum, and wrapped up in a way that felt complete and emotionally fulfilling. Everything came together exactly as it should have, and the ending left me feeling content rather than rushed or unfinished.
This is easily one of those books that sticks with you — the kind you think about after you’re done reading. I can already say this will likely be one of my top reads of 2026.
Highly, highly recommended!
The characters are what truly made this story shine. I felt every emotion Ari and Villan experienced — fear, grief, frustration, vulnerability, longing, and love. Their dynamic was powerful, and I loved how they brought out the best in each other over time. Even with the ten-year age difference, their connection felt balanced, intentional, and deeply genuine. Villan’s care and protectiveness after the plane crash never felt overbearing — it felt earned, tender, and rooted in respect.
The romance unfolded in such a satisfying way. Watching animosity slowly transform into trust, then into love, was incredibly rewarding. The spicy moments were perfectly placed — not overwhelming, not gratuitous — just enough to enhance the intimacy and deepen the emotional connection between them.
I also appreciated how strong the storytelling was from beginning to end. The book started off strong, never lost momentum, and wrapped up in a way that felt complete and emotionally fulfilling. Everything came together exactly as it should have, and the ending left me feeling content rather than rushed or unfinished.
This is easily one of those books that sticks with you — the kind you think about after you’re done reading. I can already say this will likely be one of my top reads of 2026.
Highly, highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 736 reviews