How We Survive

How We Survive Series

by L.M. Juniper

Last of Us meets The Walking Dead in this post apocalyptic story. Perfect for fans of The Cascadia Series, and Until The End Of The World by Sarah Lyons Fleming.

Despite the end of the world, life on Huntingdon has improved. But when a simple excursion turns into a deadly incident, the group is separated. Desperate and out of options, Jake’s crew finds shelter with a force more powerful–and dangerous–than they realise.

Back home, Liv, Roy, and Noah wait for their return. When hope runs out, Liv leads the search for Jake’s group, only to discover disturbing information and a menacing new threat.

Meanwhile, Marianne and Dae-Jung hunt for a cure. But every mile north reveals new horrors as they’re pursued by those determined to stop them at any cost.

Between killing zombies and avoiding spores, life was hard enough. Now, in order to survive, Jake, Liv, and Marianne must fight a human threat—one with even less humanity than the zombies.

HOW WE SURVIVE is a heart-pounding diverse series with a character driven plot that explores how societal collapse forces ordinary people into extreme situations and reveals the lengths they’ll go to survive in a world gone mad. Will they make it out alive, or will they become just another casualty?

What readers are saying about How We Survive...
"Even in the apocalypse, this story still finds room for hope and humanity, no matter how grim it gets."
"It Had me on the edge of my seat, but with a found family like this at least I wasn't alone."
"There's zombies, there's representation on every level, there's Molotov cocktails, I love everything about it."

“The How We Survive series is zombies with a cool twist and real characters you root for. LM Juniper shoves you into the action while also tugging on your heartstrings.” - Sarah Lyons Fleming, Author of Until The End of The World Series

How We Survive Series reading
1. How We End
2. How We Began

Genres: Dystopia

430 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 8, 2025

About the author

Gamer, writer, and nerd who writes fantasy, science fiction, and post apocalypse with a lot of heart.

When I'm not writing I'm still working on growing my mustache.

How We Survive Series Reading order:
For BEST experience I highly recommend this order.

1. How We End
2. How We Began
3. How We Survive

Upcoming project:
The Wishing Well (sapphic paranormal romance)
Sunstone Island (pan4bi romance)
Tales of Sunantar (sapphic romantasy)

Reviews

[Sassy_Vixxen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never be the same after reading this book. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat through most of the story. Thank you so much to author LM Juniper for providing an advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Not only do we get perspectives from Jake and Liv again, but we also get more information about the backstory of the virus from Marianne's point of view. The story is intentionally told in both 1st and 3rd person POV giving the story telling a unique perspective. The characters are so complex with real human emotions. The situations they face force them to make decisions that no one should ever have to make. Who to protect, who to feed, and who to trust. We see the kindness that is possible from humans during a crisis, while also seeing the cruelty humans are capable of. The cast of characters is diverse with representation from every race, gender, and sexuality. This may be a zombie apocalypse book, but it is also a wholesome found family story that will stick with me forever.

• Setting 5/5⭐️
• Plot 5/5⭐️
• Characters 5/5⭐️
• Emotional Impact/Depth 5/5⭐️
• Gut Rating/Vibes 5/5⭐️

[Dayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for the second book in this series and the author absolutly smashed it. To say I didn't finish it and immediately begin again, would be a lie. We have Jake, our MMC, and our amazing found family of misfits surviving at his parents house. Navigating a new world of Withered, or Substrates, or whatever word people use to call those that have been taken over by the ancient parasite that has now mutated to our biological systems. The bond and love that they all share is deep, and the author does an amazing job expressing that, as bonds form quick in an apocalypse. The tension is ramped up from beginning to end, as it is a survival book. But the tension with other survival groups not just the Withered is front and center in this story.

I love the bonding that the author wove into the story and care for one another. From learning each other's histories, hair care and bonnets, to seeking out items that the others would use better than them. It weaves that beautiful found family vibe that is my absolute favorite through the whole book, whether the group is together or not.
The push and pull of different groups of survivors and how they approach the situation was very interesting to witness. Not everyone has human decency at the end, but most do, and hope is worth everything in the end.

There is beautiful representation in this book including black, brown and queer in the main characters. There is also ace and pan representation as well as healthy masculinity. Besides that the dog is amazing.

'As plans go, turns out our family is terrible at sticking to them.'

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an advanced reader copy from the author.

I've always had a fondness for zombie fiction but what I've really loved about How We End and now How We Survive is the heart that the author brings to the story. How We Survive brings even more of that because now the core characters have had more time to bond and get to know each other, so they're more invested than they were before, which brings its own risks and rewards.

The zombies are terrifying, as they should be, but the characters are what really stands out to me. They reflect on both the past and the present, they feel deeply both about their own experiences and those of others, and they try to show a kind of compassion that can be difficult to find in zombie books, since usually compassion gets you killed. In this, though, compassion enhances the bond between the characters and makes them work that much harder to protect and support each other. They're not only trying to get to the next day, they're trying to get to a future where they can continue to care for each other, no matter how hard it gets.

How We Survive has something I've rarely found in zombie stories: Hope. There's tension and danger, but there's also laughter and a sense that these people won't let the broken world break them too.

[avis03 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Post-Apocalypse, 1st and 3rd Rotating POV

Status: Not a Romance, KU, Series

Liv: 32 Yrs Old, POC (Indian Descent), Curly Hair, Smoker, Divorced, Previous Pediatrician, PTSD (Child Abuse, Child Death, Imprisonment), Recoverimg Addict/Alcoholic

Jake: 27 Yrs Old, Trans, POC (Korean Descent), Pan, Heavily Tattooed (Arms, Neck, Chest, Abdomen), Pierced (Plugs), Pet (Dog), Smoker

Marianne: Former Prime Minister, Immune

Notes: Set in the UK (London), Zombie Post-Apocalypse, Survival, Found Family

CWs: Violence, Gore, Addiction, Ableism, Child Loss (past), Gender Dysphoria, Epilepsy Seizure (Child), Depression, Mass Death (including children), Child Abuse (mentioned, not graphic), Mention of Domestic Abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Spoiler Death of Side Characters

[C.K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced sequel with tons of action and lots of heart.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'M FINE. EVERYTHING IS TOTALLY FINE.