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Not with a Bang
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26When the world finally ends, will you see it coming? Will you be prepared?
In the summer sky, a celestial object is fast approaching, due to slingshot around the Earth and disappear again. And everyone has their own theory on what it is – a meteor, a planet, aliens?
Meanwhile, the Minton family is in crisis. Briar Minton can't stop thinking about the girl who went missing six months ago. Investigating her disappearance takes her down a rabbit hole, deep into the world of a cult and the extraterrestrial intelligence they claim is communicating with them.
At the same time, her father Marcus is becoming more unhinged after losing his job as a policeman, becoming obsessed with doomsday prepping and forcing his wife and four daughters along for the ride. He is completely convinced, and maybe even a little bit hopeful, that the apocalypse is imminent.
As the celestial object approaches, the Mintons reach breaking point.
Can they find their way back to each other, at the end of the world?
In the summer sky, a celestial object is fast approaching, due to slingshot around the Earth and disappear again. And everyone has their own theory on what it is – a meteor, a planet, aliens?
Meanwhile, the Minton family is in crisis. Briar Minton can't stop thinking about the girl who went missing six months ago. Investigating her disappearance takes her down a rabbit hole, deep into the world of a cult and the extraterrestrial intelligence they claim is communicating with them.
At the same time, her father Marcus is becoming more unhinged after losing his job as a policeman, becoming obsessed with doomsday prepping and forcing his wife and four daughters along for the ride. He is completely convinced, and maybe even a little bit hopeful, that the apocalypse is imminent.
As the celestial object approaches, the Mintons reach breaking point.
Can they find their way back to each other, at the end of the world?
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 21, 2026
About the author
Temi Oh
9 books222 followersTemi Oh was born in 1993 in London, to Nigerian parents. She studied at Bishop Thomas Grant and then Emanuel School, Battersea. In 2015 she graduated from King’s College London with a BSci in Neuroscience. Her degree provided great opportunities to write and learn about topics ranging from ‘Philosophy of the Mind’ to ‘Space Physiology’.
After her final year she decided to pack up and pursue her dreams. She married her high-school boyfriend, and moved to Edinburgh to study for an MA in Creative Writing and finish her book.
After her final year she decided to pack up and pursue her dreams. She married her high-school boyfriend, and moved to Edinburgh to study for an MA in Creative Writing and finish her book.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Did Not Finish
May 11, 2026This is, for me, unfortunately a DNF at around 50%. I was promised sci fi and I felt that that side of the story was lacking, and the stuff we had lacked basic science. We had a planet passing too close to Earth and it effected the magnetic field, causing cars, phones, jewellery, cutlery and the likes to fly up into the sky and rocket back down to the ground. However building structures seemed to be fine, and the dad of the family finds that one of their push bikes is also fine, just needed the chain putting back on.
The book felt more based on family drama with a bit of oh this is going on as well in the background.
For me this book was a miss, mainly because I went in with the thought of a science fiction book which it didn’t feel like. If you like a book that’s based on a dysfunctional family with a lot of drama with some extras happening around, then I believe you will enjoy this book.
The book felt more based on family drama with a bit of oh this is going on as well in the background.
For me this book was a miss, mainly because I went in with the thought of a science fiction book which it didn’t feel like. If you like a book that’s based on a dysfunctional family with a lot of drama with some extras happening around, then I believe you will enjoy this book.
tbr-arc
January 9, 2026i'm on board because there's a ufo cult.
*thank you to S&S/Saga Press for the ARC*
*thank you to S&S/Saga Press for the ARC*
March 22, 2026
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher. This was my first book from this author, but after this I would definitely read more.
This is a book about the end of the world, and specifically, one family. We flit back and forth between the run up to the catastrophic events and then the aftermath. This is well done and the change in timelines always made sense. We follow multiple members of the family, learning what’s important to them. The novel is about family and part of what made this feel really tense was how the family are in different locations when catastrophe strikes and the horrible feeling of not knowing where each other are. The father of the family had been intensely prepping for the event but things didn’t go to plan and they have to make decisions in the face of uncertainty. The uncertainty really did ramp up the tension. In the wake of the event, the characters don’t know what the threat is and it makes it feel quite overwhelming.
This may seem like such a little detail, but I loved that this referenced a few towns outside of London. This just made the novel feel so grounded and almost scarier for its breadth of consideration.
This is really family focused and we see varying levels of behaviour. There’s kindness and co-operation, but there’s also some really horrible and inhumane behaviour. This is such a character focused novel and it’s fascinating to look at how people behave in the face of extreme events, change and uncertainty.
This is a book about the end of the world, and specifically, one family. We flit back and forth between the run up to the catastrophic events and then the aftermath. This is well done and the change in timelines always made sense. We follow multiple members of the family, learning what’s important to them. The novel is about family and part of what made this feel really tense was how the family are in different locations when catastrophe strikes and the horrible feeling of not knowing where each other are. The father of the family had been intensely prepping for the event but things didn’t go to plan and they have to make decisions in the face of uncertainty. The uncertainty really did ramp up the tension. In the wake of the event, the characters don’t know what the threat is and it makes it feel quite overwhelming.
This may seem like such a little detail, but I loved that this referenced a few towns outside of London. This just made the novel feel so grounded and almost scarier for its breadth of consideration.
This is really family focused and we see varying levels of behaviour. There’s kindness and co-operation, but there’s also some really horrible and inhumane behaviour. This is such a character focused novel and it’s fascinating to look at how people behave in the face of extreme events, change and uncertainty.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
SPOILERS GALORE. My reviews are NEVER spoiler free. They are spoiler full <3
Oof this was a bit of a letdown for me. This sci-fi family saga has a big emphasis on "family saga" and a clear lack of sci-fi "alien-first-contact." I think one of the reasons this book grew to be so annoying to me was because the majority of the characters are pieces of shit. LMFAO. I am not exaggerating, even though I really wish I was - the second half of this book was difficult to get through.
We have the patriarch and matriarch of the family, Marcus and Kim, with their four daughters (from oldest to youngest) Aaliyah, Briar, Tanice and Chantale. Each of them is a hot mess for varying reasons. Even Chantale, the youngest at about seven years old, was periodically breast fed by her mother well beyond the infant and toddler stages. Including at SEVEN YEARS OLD. That's so damaging to a child's growth and mental state, holy shit. Not to mention weird and creepy (at least by Western standards).
So for starters, before the events of the story we find out that Marcus (a white man), the father, killed a black man via negligence while on the job as a cop. He even states at one point that the job kind of wiped away his empathy and kindness towards people, so when he saw the man in the back of his car looking sick, he just assumed it was theatrics or drugs, instead of what it really was, which was a dangerous diabetic attack that ended up killing him. While unemployed for many months, Marcus then became a survivalist-type obsessive who built a bunker in their backyard and put the family into HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS WORTH OF DEBT????? That is fucking insane. I hated him and could not figure out why Kim hadn't divorced him yet, especially considering that while she was away in Guatemala for research, HE CHEATED ON HER WITH THEIR BABYSITTER??? Jesus Christ, I need to yell about it because WOW what an absolute dogshit excuse for a human.
The character I hated the most, though, was definitely Aaliyah. She was a truly horrific person. She's supposed to get married in this story, but because of the aliens, that kind of doesn't happen for a while. She was a sick, jealous, spoiled brat who destroyed her so-called best friend's tennis career by spreading vicious drug rumors, and then later in life she started fucking her best friend's fiance/husband because she felt she owned him (also cheated on her own boyfriend/fiance in the process, which is super cool), and THEN made a promise to take care of the newborn of this same best friend as she was dying from sepsis after giving birth. But of course she immediately starts complaining and reneges on that promise because she “never wanted kids” and doesn't think she owes her best friend anything. Then why the fuck did you make that promise in the first place, you insufferable fucking cunt? God, I despised this character. As more and more of her past was revealed she only seemed to get worse and worse.
The story, to me, seemed to focus not just on an alien invasion/apocalypse event or on a dysfunctional family but also on the sinister misogyny ingrained in our society. Notice that, after the alien event, everything that happens is because of men and their psychopathic urge to dominate.
—Dennis Crossley and his creepy alpha-bro-wannabe minions basically do a hostile takeover of all the grocery stores in the area so that the rest of the population has no choice but to trade/barter with them for basic food and water. They tote guns and brutally beat/kill people when they feel like it, and Aaliyah herself is exposed to sexual harassment and assault because of this group of men. These are the same males who bleat about how they're "protectors," but at the first sign of trouble, they immediately become the most dangerous, predatory people in society.
—Marcus himself becomes a liability and is wholly responsible for putting his family in danger because he…couldn't keep his fucking mouth shut. When Dennis Crossley was boasting about his strategies for survival, Marcus just had to join in and talk about how he built his own bunker with food and everything they'd need to ride out a nuclear event. And that's why their house is overtaken - because Marcus needed to feel like a big tough guy to the perceived "alpha" schmucks.
—The alien cult Brair joins was an interesting part of the story, and although Freya was obviously the leader of said cult, it was really Cato who kept everyone in line. He was the enforcer. He was the one who made threats and lashed out at people who dared question the cult's beliefs. He was the one who forced NDEs (near death experiences) and almost killed Briar. He was the one who DID kill multiple young teenagers. He was the one who hunted and shot arrows into Briar as she fled. Again, one of the very few men in this specific setting is the biggest threat to the whole group.
—Tanice and Chantale are trapped in a wine cellar for the first few days of the alien event. Why? You guessed it - because a male photographer refuses to let anyone leave despite not knowing for certain if there's actually been a nuclear detonation. He kills people to keep them from getting out. It basically becomes a hostage situation. Clearly, this is another example of how a man is suffering under the delusion that he's the "protector" while actively putting everyone around him in harm's way.
Moving on. I do wish there was more in terms of the alien invasion/first contact part of the plot. All the metal/other alloys were pulled up into the air and then dropped, which destroyed all infrastructure on earth, but then…that was it? I felt disappointed because it seemed a bit anticlimactic. I kept expecting something else. Towards the very end of the book we get lots of explanations for why Hero appeared and what it represented and who could’ve sent it and what it all means, but it just seemed like an info dump that should’ve been spread a bit more evenly throughout the story.
Oh, and in the end Kim and Marcus are still together? That might’ve been the most unbelievable part. Marcus had ZERO respect for his wife, and Kim honestly hated that man 😂
Oof this was a bit of a letdown for me. This sci-fi family saga has a big emphasis on "family saga" and a clear lack of sci-fi "alien-first-contact." I think one of the reasons this book grew to be so annoying to me was because the majority of the characters are pieces of shit. LMFAO. I am not exaggerating, even though I really wish I was - the second half of this book was difficult to get through.
We have the patriarch and matriarch of the family, Marcus and Kim, with their four daughters (from oldest to youngest) Aaliyah, Briar, Tanice and Chantale. Each of them is a hot mess for varying reasons. Even Chantale, the youngest at about seven years old, was periodically breast fed by her mother well beyond the infant and toddler stages. Including at SEVEN YEARS OLD. That's so damaging to a child's growth and mental state, holy shit. Not to mention weird and creepy (at least by Western standards).
So for starters, before the events of the story we find out that Marcus (a white man), the father, killed a black man via negligence while on the job as a cop. He even states at one point that the job kind of wiped away his empathy and kindness towards people, so when he saw the man in the back of his car looking sick, he just assumed it was theatrics or drugs, instead of what it really was, which was a dangerous diabetic attack that ended up killing him. While unemployed for many months, Marcus then became a survivalist-type obsessive who built a bunker in their backyard and put the family into HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS WORTH OF DEBT????? That is fucking insane. I hated him and could not figure out why Kim hadn't divorced him yet, especially considering that while she was away in Guatemala for research, HE CHEATED ON HER WITH THEIR BABYSITTER??? Jesus Christ, I need to yell about it because WOW what an absolute dogshit excuse for a human.
The character I hated the most, though, was definitely Aaliyah. She was a truly horrific person. She's supposed to get married in this story, but because of the aliens, that kind of doesn't happen for a while. She was a sick, jealous, spoiled brat who destroyed her so-called best friend's tennis career by spreading vicious drug rumors, and then later in life she started fucking her best friend's fiance/husband because she felt she owned him (also cheated on her own boyfriend/fiance in the process, which is super cool), and THEN made a promise to take care of the newborn of this same best friend as she was dying from sepsis after giving birth. But of course she immediately starts complaining and reneges on that promise because she “never wanted kids” and doesn't think she owes her best friend anything. Then why the fuck did you make that promise in the first place, you insufferable fucking cunt? God, I despised this character. As more and more of her past was revealed she only seemed to get worse and worse.
The story, to me, seemed to focus not just on an alien invasion/apocalypse event or on a dysfunctional family but also on the sinister misogyny ingrained in our society. Notice that, after the alien event, everything that happens is because of men and their psychopathic urge to dominate.
—Dennis Crossley and his creepy alpha-bro-wannabe minions basically do a hostile takeover of all the grocery stores in the area so that the rest of the population has no choice but to trade/barter with them for basic food and water. They tote guns and brutally beat/kill people when they feel like it, and Aaliyah herself is exposed to sexual harassment and assault because of this group of men. These are the same males who bleat about how they're "protectors," but at the first sign of trouble, they immediately become the most dangerous, predatory people in society.
—Marcus himself becomes a liability and is wholly responsible for putting his family in danger because he…couldn't keep his fucking mouth shut. When Dennis Crossley was boasting about his strategies for survival, Marcus just had to join in and talk about how he built his own bunker with food and everything they'd need to ride out a nuclear event. And that's why their house is overtaken - because Marcus needed to feel like a big tough guy to the perceived "alpha" schmucks.
—The alien cult Brair joins was an interesting part of the story, and although Freya was obviously the leader of said cult, it was really Cato who kept everyone in line. He was the enforcer. He was the one who made threats and lashed out at people who dared question the cult's beliefs. He was the one who forced NDEs (near death experiences) and almost killed Briar. He was the one who DID kill multiple young teenagers. He was the one who hunted and shot arrows into Briar as she fled. Again, one of the very few men in this specific setting is the biggest threat to the whole group.
—Tanice and Chantale are trapped in a wine cellar for the first few days of the alien event. Why? You guessed it - because a male photographer refuses to let anyone leave despite not knowing for certain if there's actually been a nuclear detonation. He kills people to keep them from getting out. It basically becomes a hostage situation. Clearly, this is another example of how a man is suffering under the delusion that he's the "protector" while actively putting everyone around him in harm's way.
Moving on. I do wish there was more in terms of the alien invasion/first contact part of the plot. All the metal/other alloys were pulled up into the air and then dropped, which destroyed all infrastructure on earth, but then…that was it? I felt disappointed because it seemed a bit anticlimactic. I kept expecting something else. Towards the very end of the book we get lots of explanations for why Hero appeared and what it represented and who could’ve sent it and what it all means, but it just seemed like an info dump that should’ve been spread a bit more evenly throughout the story.
Oh, and in the end Kim and Marcus are still together? That might’ve been the most unbelievable part. Marcus had ZERO respect for his wife, and Kim honestly hated that man 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Entertainingly dramatic story of one family handling the end of the world.
I had such a good time reading this! Each character is vividly brought to life and has their own voice and drama, and then the family dynamics are fascinating too. Our main character is Briar, who is trying to solve the disappearance of her school friend ... but she also frames the other POV characters: her father who becomes a prepper after losing his job, her mother who is trying to make life-changing decisions, and three sisters all busy with their own lives too.
In terms of expectation-setting, this is character-centred and very fast-paced -- the twists and reveals start early and keep coming. I felt like the story was always solidly-grounded, even when we're in the 'weirder' elements of it. There are quite challenging elements; this is definitely adult fiction, even though some of the POVs are YA. However, it's not hard sci-fi, and it doesn't get too philosophical about the nature of humanity, good vs evil, or what a devastated London might be like ... because dear goodness, some people love to bang on about the Blitz Spirit in any disaster, and I think we all know that's not at all how things would work out. As T.S. Eliot puts it, quoted for the title:
Rating: 16/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
I had such a good time reading this! Each character is vividly brought to life and has their own voice and drama, and then the family dynamics are fascinating too. Our main character is Briar, who is trying to solve the disappearance of her school friend ... but she also frames the other POV characters: her father who becomes a prepper after losing his job, her mother who is trying to make life-changing decisions, and three sisters all busy with their own lives too.
In terms of expectation-setting, this is character-centred and very fast-paced -- the twists and reveals start early and keep coming. I felt like the story was always solidly-grounded, even when we're in the 'weirder' elements of it. There are quite challenging elements; this is definitely adult fiction, even though some of the POVs are YA. However, it's not hard sci-fi, and it doesn't get too philosophical about the nature of humanity, good vs evil, or what a devastated London might be like ... because dear goodness, some people love to bang on about the Blitz Spirit in any disaster, and I think we all know that's not at all how things would work out. As T.S. Eliot puts it, quoted for the title:
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
Rating: 16/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoy an apocalyptic novel, it’s one of my favorite story lines. This was technically apocalyptic, but it was more of a literary family drama that happened to be during an extinction level event. I got what the author was going for, but it wasn’t what I was expecting or hoping for. The writing was still solid and I enjoyed my time, but I had to reframe my expectations so I could give this book a fair chance.
Everyone in the Minton family have their own private turmoil going on that’s occupying their minds. None of them are actively communicating with the others in the family except for the Dad who’s focusing his energy on prepping for the end of the world and drilling this fixation into his family. On the morning of Lia’s wedding, the extinction level event happens and everyone has to come together and work to survive.
This turned into more of a character driven story and I liked the characters depth overall. They’re not all entirely likeable, but they felt real. This was an interesting read and I would like to read more by this author in the future. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I think I would’ve liked it better knowing the literary context before going in.
Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Press for asking me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Everyone in the Minton family have their own private turmoil going on that’s occupying their minds. None of them are actively communicating with the others in the family except for the Dad who’s focusing his energy on prepping for the end of the world and drilling this fixation into his family. On the morning of Lia’s wedding, the extinction level event happens and everyone has to come together and work to survive.
This turned into more of a character driven story and I liked the characters depth overall. They’re not all entirely likeable, but they felt real. This was an interesting read and I would like to read more by this author in the future. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I think I would’ve liked it better knowing the literary context before going in.
Thank you, NetGalley and Saga Press for asking me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
April 28, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC.
Meet the Minton family. On the surface they seem normal, nice enough. But a series of personal troubles drives Marcus, the patriarch, into doom prepping. His wife and four daughters mostly go along with it, despite each facing their own troubles. Then one day… the unexpected (or expected?) happens. He’s proven right, but at what cost?
I went into this blind and I had no idea where it was going, but I am pleasantly surprised. Starting with the Minton family; they were all flawed, very relatable in some ways, and the book really dives into each persons thoughts and troubles. The primary narrator is the second daughter, Briar, but the chapters are split between the family members. It’s a bit confusing because it feels like you should’ve reading from another character’s POV, but it’s actually still Briar, retelling. Makes you wonder what her role is.
As for the plot, it’s very action packed. A strange occurrence takes place and everyone is suddenly thrown off. Everyone panics, fight for resources, secure their homes and loved ones, and try to understand what happened. What would you expect from people when it suddenly feels like the world is ending, or something on a massive scale is happening?
Loved this for its originality and character dynamics.
Meet the Minton family. On the surface they seem normal, nice enough. But a series of personal troubles drives Marcus, the patriarch, into doom prepping. His wife and four daughters mostly go along with it, despite each facing their own troubles. Then one day… the unexpected (or expected?) happens. He’s proven right, but at what cost?
I went into this blind and I had no idea where it was going, but I am pleasantly surprised. Starting with the Minton family; they were all flawed, very relatable in some ways, and the book really dives into each persons thoughts and troubles. The primary narrator is the second daughter, Briar, but the chapters are split between the family members. It’s a bit confusing because it feels like you should’ve reading from another character’s POV, but it’s actually still Briar, retelling. Makes you wonder what her role is.
As for the plot, it’s very action packed. A strange occurrence takes place and everyone is suddenly thrown off. Everyone panics, fight for resources, secure their homes and loved ones, and try to understand what happened. What would you expect from people when it suddenly feels like the world is ending, or something on a massive scale is happening?
Loved this for its originality and character dynamics.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I've always been drawn to stories in a post-apocalyptic world. This is one of the few that definitely can be considered a hopeful tale. The story is told from multiple POV's, but primarily through the eyes of Briar. One of four sisters whom live with their parents in London. The story surrounds the upcoming "comet" that is supposedly going fly near to earth. They called it "Hero". What they soon realize is that their coordinates are off and what was thought to be a comet is actually some sort of alien object that is heading straight for Earth. With its sudden stop in our sky the story is told in a countdown of days before and after the event.
Though the family each experiences this event in different ways the theme of family and love is always present. I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy stories of alien contact, apocalyptic events and the bonds of a family. If you enjoyed Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, you'll enjoy "Not with a Bang" by Temi Oh.
Though the family each experiences this event in different ways the theme of family and love is always present. I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy stories of alien contact, apocalyptic events and the bonds of a family. If you enjoyed Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, you'll enjoy "Not with a Bang" by Temi Oh.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC for review. To be published July 14, 2026.
3 stars
Family drama meets post apocalyptic examination in this book about the Minton family. Father Marcus has become a peeper after a tragedy forced him from his job. His wife Kimona tries to decide how to best protect her daughters while still carving out a life for herself. The eldest Minton daughter is getting married in a couple of days, another daughter is involved with a strange cult at her school.
I love my post apocalyptic fiction, but this was a little (or a lot) disjointed, some of it reading like it was YA, even though it clearly wasn’t. I did like that one of the characters had POTS; this is the first time I’ve run across that in fiction. Overall the book was OK and had its moments, but there were definitely issues.
3 stars
Family drama meets post apocalyptic examination in this book about the Minton family. Father Marcus has become a peeper after a tragedy forced him from his job. His wife Kimona tries to decide how to best protect her daughters while still carving out a life for herself. The eldest Minton daughter is getting married in a couple of days, another daughter is involved with a strange cult at her school.
I love my post apocalyptic fiction, but this was a little (or a lot) disjointed, some of it reading like it was YA, even though it clearly wasn’t. I did like that one of the characters had POTS; this is the first time I’ve run across that in fiction. Overall the book was OK and had its moments, but there were definitely issues.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was originally very excited to review this book as I am a big fan of a pacey disaster novel. The execution unfortunatley fell flat for me. There were too many perspectives and too many attempts to try and pursue complicated topics in a package that did not allow for proper exploration. Some of the storylines felt dull, while others provided just enough intrigue to want to see the book through.
Ultimatley the book did not spend much time dedicated to the "apocolyptic" premise and would be much better recieved in a market for those who enjoy family dramas.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Ultimatley the book did not spend much time dedicated to the "apocolyptic" premise and would be much better recieved in a market for those who enjoy family dramas.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 16, 2026
It's been a very long time since I read Temi Oh's debut, Do You Dream of Terra Two?, but I still remember how much I enjoyed it. So I was quite excited to receive an ARC copy of Not With a Bang!
In this book we follow a family in an intimate post-apocalyptic drama. The writing is incredibly fast paced and I quickly found myself intrigued and addicted to the narrative. I immediately wanted to find out where the story would lead, and the breakdown of society felt visceral and real.
A very interesting take on the reaction of society, and an intense story of the way a family reacts to a possible end of the world. Once I got into this, I couldn't stop reading! I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review - thank you to S&S!
(Actual rating 3.5 stars)
In this book we follow a family in an intimate post-apocalyptic drama. The writing is incredibly fast paced and I quickly found myself intrigued and addicted to the narrative. I immediately wanted to find out where the story would lead, and the breakdown of society felt visceral and real.
A very interesting take on the reaction of society, and an intense story of the way a family reacts to a possible end of the world. Once I got into this, I couldn't stop reading! I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review - thank you to S&S!
(Actual rating 3.5 stars)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Not With A Bang is an emotionally resonant family drama with an end of world setting.
There's plenty of tension, of the character kind and of the action kind. The premise itself is cleverly intriguing - things go boom and humanity shows its best and worst side, all through the experiences of one scattered and shattered family.
Temi Oh is a talented writer who makes you believe the impossible is possible, grounding the story with the characters you come to know well and offering some thought provoking themes whilst also entertaining.
I loved it.
There's plenty of tension, of the character kind and of the action kind. The premise itself is cleverly intriguing - things go boom and humanity shows its best and worst side, all through the experiences of one scattered and shattered family.
Temi Oh is a talented writer who makes you believe the impossible is possible, grounding the story with the characters you come to know well and offering some thought provoking themes whilst also entertaining.
I loved it.
March 9, 2026
This is my second book of Oh's, and unfortunately, all the disparate elements here don't really end up cohering for me. There's some really interesting pieces in here (the dad obsessed with prepping, sisters trying to survive the goings on that start at one of their weddings), but they don't really come together, even after they are reunited on the pages. There's a lot of after the fact explanations of what's going on on the page, and I feel like if you have to explain something that just happened on the page a while ago to tell us what was ACTUALLY happening, you might need to rethink your story delivery vehicle. The premise was interesting to me, but it just didn't come together for me. Better luck next time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
NOT WITH A BANG captivated me from the first paragraph. Head over heels, I found myself sucked into this addictive family drama in which the characters feel like real, breathing human beings with their own idiosyncrasies and fatal flaws… The promise of the world’s end is fulfilled in brutal, shocking fashion, and Oh delivers on the best part of any post-apocalyptic story: the various facets of human behavior which are cut and polished under the strange light of unforeseen circumstances.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews