What do you think?
The Dead Weight #1
If We Survive the Night
It's kill or be killed in this heart-pounding apocalyptic horror. The first book in a new series, If We Survive the Night combines the ruthless zombie perils of The Last of Us with the every-woman-for-herself angle of Yellowjackets. What type of person does it take to survive the end of the world?
Sixteen-year-old Quinn is used to being told that what she feels inside isn't quite right. After getting kicked out of multiple foster homes and narrowly escaping juvenile detention, she's undergoing therapy at a residential treatment center for "troubled" girls. Looking for a night of freedom, Quinn sneaks onto the roof with her best friend Keisha, and what she sees changes everything…
She witnesses the start of the zombie apocalypse.
As zombies, or "carriers" as the news calls them, infiltrate the treatment center, escape becomes crucial. Quinn and Keisha make a pact to leave together, but several unexpected complications screw up their plans.
As the girls battle the carriers and wrestle with their doubts about each other, Quinn realizes she has never felt more alive. Maybe this is exactly the kind of world she was built for. And part of thriving in this cutthroat environment means cutting off the dead weight – even if that means putting other lives at risk…But even if she's willing to sacrifice everything, can anyone really outlive the apocalypse?
Sixteen-year-old Quinn is used to being told that what she feels inside isn't quite right. After getting kicked out of multiple foster homes and narrowly escaping juvenile detention, she's undergoing therapy at a residential treatment center for "troubled" girls. Looking for a night of freedom, Quinn sneaks onto the roof with her best friend Keisha, and what she sees changes everything…
She witnesses the start of the zombie apocalypse.
As zombies, or "carriers" as the news calls them, infiltrate the treatment center, escape becomes crucial. Quinn and Keisha make a pact to leave together, but several unexpected complications screw up their plans.
As the girls battle the carriers and wrestle with their doubts about each other, Quinn realizes she has never felt more alive. Maybe this is exactly the kind of world she was built for. And part of thriving in this cutthroat environment means cutting off the dead weight – even if that means putting other lives at risk…But even if she's willing to sacrifice everything, can anyone really outlive the apocalypse?
352 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
" Some little girl grew up here with a dad and probably a mom too. She had this entire room all to herself. She got to play outside and probably got a new toy horse whenever she wanted, while I was trying new meds in a group home and coming up with new ways to keep the older kids from stealing my things. Now she's gone, and I'm still here. The apocalypse evened the playing field, and now it's the strong who survive, not the nurtured"
Jo Salazar’s If We Survive the Night is the kind of book that doesn’t just scare you—it unsettles you on a deeper, emotional level. It’s brutal, raw, and strangely beautiful in the way it captures what survival really means when the world collapses. From the first chapter, I felt the tension coil tight in my chest, and it never let up. This isn’t just another zombie story—it’s a story about identity, resilience, and the terrifying clarity that comes when everything familiar burns away.
Sixteen-year-old Quinn is a character who feels like she’s been fighting her whole life, against the system, against herself, against the idea that she’s “wrong.” Watching her navigate the chaos of the apocalypse feels like watching someone finally find a world that matches the storm inside them. Her defiance, her fear, her flashes of tenderness, they all hit hard. I found myself rooting for her even when she made choices that scared me. That’s the genius of Salazar’s writing: she doesn’t ask you to like her characters, she asks you to understand them.
Salazar’s prose is cinematic and visceral. You can almost hear the screams echoing down the hallways, smell the metallic tang of blood, feel the cold air of the rooftop where it all begins. But beneath the horror, there’s a haunting question that lingers: What kind of person does it take to survive the end of the world? Quinn’s answer is devastating and unforgettable.
By the time I turned the last page, I was wrecked. Not just by the violence or the fear, but by the realization that sometimes survival isn’t about staying alive, it’s about deciding who you’re willing to become when everything else dies.
This book left me shaken, breathless, and strangely inspired. It’s not just apocalyptic horror. It’s a mirror held up to the darkest parts of ourselves.
Jo Salazar’s If We Survive the Night is the kind of book that doesn’t just scare you—it unsettles you on a deeper, emotional level. It’s brutal, raw, and strangely beautiful in the way it captures what survival really means when the world collapses. From the first chapter, I felt the tension coil tight in my chest, and it never let up. This isn’t just another zombie story—it’s a story about identity, resilience, and the terrifying clarity that comes when everything familiar burns away.
Sixteen-year-old Quinn is a character who feels like she’s been fighting her whole life, against the system, against herself, against the idea that she’s “wrong.” Watching her navigate the chaos of the apocalypse feels like watching someone finally find a world that matches the storm inside them. Her defiance, her fear, her flashes of tenderness, they all hit hard. I found myself rooting for her even when she made choices that scared me. That’s the genius of Salazar’s writing: she doesn’t ask you to like her characters, she asks you to understand them.
Salazar’s prose is cinematic and visceral. You can almost hear the screams echoing down the hallways, smell the metallic tang of blood, feel the cold air of the rooftop where it all begins. But beneath the horror, there’s a haunting question that lingers: What kind of person does it take to survive the end of the world? Quinn’s answer is devastating and unforgettable.
By the time I turned the last page, I was wrecked. Not just by the violence or the fear, but by the realization that sometimes survival isn’t about staying alive, it’s about deciding who you’re willing to become when everything else dies.
This book left me shaken, breathless, and strangely inspired. It’s not just apocalyptic horror. It’s a mirror held up to the darkest parts of ourselves.
September 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ .....📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
☀︎ 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚆𝙴𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 ☀︎Is a full length zombie apocalypse series by author Jo Salazar.
Twelve troubled girls. An apocalyptic event. Who will survive, and who is just dead weight?
I was tossing up between 4 stars and 5 but then I sat back and I've honestly not read anything like this before, and I can honestly say that I didn't really even like the main character, she was deadly, not to be crossed, killed without remorse, the list goes on...But the storyline pulls you in...I'm still kind of reeling over this book, so many wtf moments...So this definitely kept me on my toes...I even cringed with one eye open when they came across other survivors because you never knew their demise..
I'm definitely keen to jump into the next book, because seriously wtf with that ending!!
So if this hadn't popped up a few times within a group I'm in I doubt weither it would've come under my radar, the cover has nothing to do with anything, this is a zombie story, a group of wayward girls who follow a daily medicated regime, to waking up to a shitstorm that's overtaken their sanctuary.
This author has no worries killing off its characters, so good rule is don't get attached because you never know what's going to happen to that character, because if your dead weight bringing down the group your out, in some ways you'll be made a sacrifice to save another.
Only the strong and ruthless will survive in this changed world, kill or be killed, take what is theirs and make it your own, no laws to abide by, no one coming to the rescue.
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
☀︎ 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚆𝙴𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 ☀︎Is a full length zombie apocalypse series by author Jo Salazar.
Twelve troubled girls. An apocalyptic event. Who will survive, and who is just dead weight?
I was tossing up between 4 stars and 5 but then I sat back and I've honestly not read anything like this before, and I can honestly say that I didn't really even like the main character, she was deadly, not to be crossed, killed without remorse, the list goes on...But the storyline pulls you in...I'm still kind of reeling over this book, so many wtf moments...So this definitely kept me on my toes...I even cringed with one eye open when they came across other survivors because you never knew their demise..
I'm definitely keen to jump into the next book, because seriously wtf with that ending!!
So if this hadn't popped up a few times within a group I'm in I doubt weither it would've come under my radar, the cover has nothing to do with anything, this is a zombie story, a group of wayward girls who follow a daily medicated regime, to waking up to a shitstorm that's overtaken their sanctuary.
This author has no worries killing off its characters, so good rule is don't get attached because you never know what's going to happen to that character, because if your dead weight bringing down the group your out, in some ways you'll be made a sacrifice to save another.
Only the strong and ruthless will survive in this changed world, kill or be killed, take what is theirs and make it your own, no laws to abide by, no one coming to the rescue.
November 19, 2024
I'm going to be honest with you, with the cover (though really cool) looking very YA and knowing that the characters were teenagers I wasn't planning to pick this one up until I saw a video of the author and felt like cheering her on but adding to her page read count on Kindle. I wasn't expecting to love the book and I was cool with that. You can imagine how delightfully surprised I was when I found myself absolutely hooked from the get go.
The main character is a pretty unusual one for a lead in a zombpoc and she is written both convincingly and compellingly even though she's not always easy to root for. She felt like a fully realized character and made for a wild and interesting time.
It was at the proverbial edge of my seat quite a few times while reading and Salazar certainly did not shy away from making things high stake, something she made painfully clear was going to be the case very early on.
I had a great time with this book.
The main character is a pretty unusual one for a lead in a zombpoc and she is written both convincingly and compellingly even though she's not always easy to root for. She felt like a fully realized character and made for a wild and interesting time.
It was at the proverbial edge of my seat quite a few times while reading and Salazar certainly did not shy away from making things high stake, something she made painfully clear was going to be the case very early on.
I had a great time with this book.
September 7, 2026
4 stars
I took a chance on this when my Libby hold came in. I wasn't expecting much out of a YA book but I was in the mood for something post apocalyptic. It surprised me though - it was engaging from the start and the pacing never really lulled.
Quinn - our FMC - was an interesting character to follow. It becomes obvious almost right away that she's some type of psychopath. She doesn't feel emotions the way a regular person does and is usually looking at the way the way others around her react to things in order to mimic their facial expressions and behavior. I think you can imagine why this particular trait might be useful in a world-is-ending type of situation where zombies (oh, sorry, "carriers") are popping up everywhere and it becomes kill or be killed.
Though it's young adult, there's still a lot of gore and violence. Watching Quinn do what she needed to do in order to live was entertaining and also horrifying. Morals were out the window. I'd like to point out that the side characters were annoying sometimes. Everyone was so quick to point out how cold and heartless Quinn is, yet they all simultaneously relied on her to do the dirty work most of the time. Keisha used her to stay alive, and so did the rest of the group. Quinn and Keisha's relationship was intriguing because they were both so often manipulating each other it was difficult to tell if there was any real affection (aside from Quinn's physical attraction).
If you enjoy this kind of setting in a book, I'd recommend checking it out, it's definitely worth the read. There's a sequel coming out next year.
I took a chance on this when my Libby hold came in. I wasn't expecting much out of a YA book but I was in the mood for something post apocalyptic. It surprised me though - it was engaging from the start and the pacing never really lulled.
Quinn - our FMC - was an interesting character to follow. It becomes obvious almost right away that she's some type of psychopath. She doesn't feel emotions the way a regular person does and is usually looking at the way the way others around her react to things in order to mimic their facial expressions and behavior. I think you can imagine why this particular trait might be useful in a world-is-ending type of situation where zombies (oh, sorry, "carriers") are popping up everywhere and it becomes kill or be killed.
Though it's young adult, there's still a lot of gore and violence. Watching Quinn do what she needed to do in order to live was entertaining and also horrifying. Morals were out the window. I'd like to point out that the side characters were annoying sometimes. Everyone was so quick to point out how cold and heartless Quinn is, yet they all simultaneously relied on her to do the dirty work most of the time. Keisha used her to stay alive, and so did the rest of the group. Quinn and Keisha's relationship was intriguing because they were both so often manipulating each other it was difficult to tell if there was any real affection (aside from Quinn's physical attraction).
If you enjoy this kind of setting in a book, I'd recommend checking it out, it's definitely worth the read. There's a sequel coming out next year.
April 29, 2026
Momentami było ciekawie, ale całość bardziej przypominała mi dwa pierwsze odcinki serialu o apokalipsie zombie, gdzie 3 wyjdzie już za tydzień niż pierwszą książkę z serii. Akcja była dosyć dziwnie rozłożona jak na mój gust i czułam się jakbym czytała część wyrwaną z prawdziwej pierwszej części.
September 14, 2026
My goodness, was this a GREAT read!! This is my first, and probably only YA read of 2026 and I absolutely loved it! This is how zombie apocalypse stories should all be told!
More thoughts to come!
More thoughts to come!
August 22, 2026
*4.5 ⭐️ Rounded Up*
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and Edelweiss for providing access to this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Did I stay up until two am reading If We Survive The Night?
Undoubtedly
Do I regret doing so?
Absolutely Not
Zombie fiction is one of my favorite types of horror stories and If We Survive The Night is a refreshing and unsettling addition to the subgenre.
With its setting and characters-mostly “troubled” teenage girls who have been undergoing therapy within a residential treatment center-to its main character Quinn, a sixteen-year-old who has always felt that she didn’t belong in the “normal” world that the center attempted to prepare her for, If We Survive The Night is a unique story about survival, resilience and identity.
How far will you go to survive the end of the world?
The author doesn’t shy away from the brutality that is implicit in a world where the governing rules of behavior no longer exist. The zombies-or “Carriers”-are powerful and monstrous, yet there is the aspect where human beings also provide their own specific type of calculating danger.
While the residential facility was far from the most pleasant of locations, I appreciated the research that was utilized to make it feel like an actual place, as opposed to a more garish and over-the-top portrayal for shock value. The adult characters presented ran the gamut of being judgmental, uncomfortable and sympathetic and as such received a measure of consideration once the situation went awry.
Quinn is a main character that you may not like, as some of her decisions, while wholly pragmatic, are quite brutal, yet I found myself hoping for her survival nonetheless. Her portrayal is not something that is typical for female characters-let alone teenagers-and watching her become more alive in the world where death surrounded her was a fascinating journey.
Her bond with her best friend Keisha helps to both humanize her and trigger her possessiveness and more ruthless behavior. The tension between them-as Keisha has her similar behaviors in relation to analyzing others and a penchant for manipulation-keeps you invested right to the very end of the book.
And what an ending! I was waiting with baited breath and so many expectations and I wasn’t disappointed. I’m truly looking forward to reading the next book in this duology.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and Edelweiss for providing access to this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Did I stay up until two am reading If We Survive The Night?
Undoubtedly
Do I regret doing so?
Absolutely Not
Zombie fiction is one of my favorite types of horror stories and If We Survive The Night is a refreshing and unsettling addition to the subgenre.
With its setting and characters-mostly “troubled” teenage girls who have been undergoing therapy within a residential treatment center-to its main character Quinn, a sixteen-year-old who has always felt that she didn’t belong in the “normal” world that the center attempted to prepare her for, If We Survive The Night is a unique story about survival, resilience and identity.
How far will you go to survive the end of the world?
The author doesn’t shy away from the brutality that is implicit in a world where the governing rules of behavior no longer exist. The zombies-or “Carriers”-are powerful and monstrous, yet there is the aspect where human beings also provide their own specific type of calculating danger.
While the residential facility was far from the most pleasant of locations, I appreciated the research that was utilized to make it feel like an actual place, as opposed to a more garish and over-the-top portrayal for shock value. The adult characters presented ran the gamut of being judgmental, uncomfortable and sympathetic and as such received a measure of consideration once the situation went awry.
Quinn is a main character that you may not like, as some of her decisions, while wholly pragmatic, are quite brutal, yet I found myself hoping for her survival nonetheless. Her portrayal is not something that is typical for female characters-let alone teenagers-and watching her become more alive in the world where death surrounded her was a fascinating journey.
Her bond with her best friend Keisha helps to both humanize her and trigger her possessiveness and more ruthless behavior. The tension between them-as Keisha has her similar behaviors in relation to analyzing others and a penchant for manipulation-keeps you invested right to the very end of the book.
And what an ending! I was waiting with baited breath and so many expectations and I wasn’t disappointed. I’m truly looking forward to reading the next book in this duology.
Want to Read
August 11, 2026ARC received! Thank you, Sourcebooks Fire!!!
February 23, 2025
This was so good! I stayed up late, like late late because I could not stop. It’s Dexter meets The Walking Dead. It’s just about the best zombie book I’ve ever read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🖋️ Author: Jo Salazar
📖 Title: If We Survive The Night
📅 Pub Day: August 25, 2026
💌 Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9781464299308
⏱️ Length: 349 pages
📌 Genre(s): Horror, Zombie Fiction, Survival Fiction
⭐ Star Rating: 5
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
I'll be honest, I had been putting this one off for a while because the YA label wasn't something I was in the mood for. I'm really glad I finally picked it up because this does not read like YA at all.
Quinn is sixteen, living in a residential treatment center for troubled girls after a childhood of foster homes and near misses with juvenile detention. Then the zombie outbreak hits, and what unfolds is a survival story that's brutal, gritty, and incredibly hard to put down. The gore is not watered down in the slightest. This is graphic, visceral, and completely committed to the horror of it all.
Quinn is what really sold this book for me. Watching her become more resilient and cold-blooded over the course of the story was so satisfying. She's flawed, messy, and increasingly ruthless, and somehow I was rooting for her the entire time. The dynamic between her and Keisha adds a layer of tension that keeps you on your toes right up to the end.
Knowing that Jo Salazar originally self-published this before Sourcebooks picked it up and gave it a three-book deal is pretty damn impressive, and I'll absolutely be reading the rest of the series.
Physical copy is going on my shelf for sure 🧟♀️🖤
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ zombie survival horror
✔️ morally grey female protagonists
✔️ gritty YA that doesn't read like YA
✔️ The Last of Us vibes
✔️ high stakes survival
✔️ found family
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Jo Salazar, and Sourcebooks Fire for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
📖 Title: If We Survive The Night
📅 Pub Day: August 25, 2026
💌 Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9781464299308
⏱️ Length: 349 pages
📌 Genre(s): Horror, Zombie Fiction, Survival Fiction
⭐ Star Rating: 5
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
I'll be honest, I had been putting this one off for a while because the YA label wasn't something I was in the mood for. I'm really glad I finally picked it up because this does not read like YA at all.
Quinn is sixteen, living in a residential treatment center for troubled girls after a childhood of foster homes and near misses with juvenile detention. Then the zombie outbreak hits, and what unfolds is a survival story that's brutal, gritty, and incredibly hard to put down. The gore is not watered down in the slightest. This is graphic, visceral, and completely committed to the horror of it all.
Quinn is what really sold this book for me. Watching her become more resilient and cold-blooded over the course of the story was so satisfying. She's flawed, messy, and increasingly ruthless, and somehow I was rooting for her the entire time. The dynamic between her and Keisha adds a layer of tension that keeps you on your toes right up to the end.
Knowing that Jo Salazar originally self-published this before Sourcebooks picked it up and gave it a three-book deal is pretty damn impressive, and I'll absolutely be reading the rest of the series.
Physical copy is going on my shelf for sure 🧟♀️🖤
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ zombie survival horror
✔️ morally grey female protagonists
✔️ gritty YA that doesn't read like YA
✔️ The Last of Us vibes
✔️ high stakes survival
✔️ found family
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Jo Salazar, and Sourcebooks Fire for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 ⭐
As soon as I discovered this novel was centered around a zombie apocalypse, I was immediately intrigued. Then I found out it takes place in a residential treatment center and I was sold. Because seriously, how much more interesting can that premise get? Sadly, the execution just didn't quite live up to all that amazing potential for me.
My first issue was the pacing. It took a while for the story to really gain momentum, and even once things started getting more interesting, I found myself struggling to enjoy the actual survival aspect. And the biggest reason for that? The characters.
If I had to summarize my reading experience in two words, it would be: EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED.
Quinn is our sixteen-year-old MC, a girl who has been living in the residential treatment center after spending years in the foster system due to her problematic behavior. Later on, we discover she's allegedly been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. And I'll be frank, it took me approximately five minutes to decide she was a psychopath instead. I don't know if that's because I watch an unreasonable amount of true crime documentaries or what, but I immediately understood what kind of character I was dealing with.
I could appreciate what the author was attempting by giving the characters morally complicated personalities, but to be completely honest, that made it almost impossible for me to become invested in the survival aspect. With zombie stories, for instance, the characters are usually what make me care about whether everyone makes it out alive. I'm supposed to be sitting there thinking, "PLEASE DON'T DIE." Instead, with Quinn, I was thinking, "Well... let's see what happens."
Because Quinn is so calculating. She eventually realizes she enjoys the thrill of taking a life, and once she embraces that side of herself, she's basically an unstoppable murder machine. I kept waiting for some kind of meaningful character development, but I didn't feel like she changed much beyond becoming increasingly comfortable with her violent instincts. Maybe the intention was to make readers uncomfortable with the lengths people can go to when survival becomes their only priority, but in reality, I never experienced that sense of horror. Mostly, I was just tired.
Then we have Keisha, the love interest, who initially gave me some hope that I might connect with the story more. As it turns out, that hope didn't last very long. Beneath her "good girl" persona, she's just as manipulative, and it becomes pretty obvious that she's influencing Quinn so she won't be discarded like the other girls.
That also left me wondering about their relationship from the very beginning. Did Keisha truly care about Quinn before everything fell apart, or was she already manipulating her because Quinn seemed more "easy to deal with" than the others? Was their friendship real and eventually corrupted by the apocalypse, or had it been a performance from the start?
I genuinely don't know, and that's part of the problem.
There wasn't a single character I could look at and think, "Yes, I understand you." Everyone was suspicious of everyone else, everyone had their own agenda, and their relationships were toxic as hell. I know this wasn't supposed to be a fluffy romance, and I wasn't expecting it to be. This is a zombie survival story first and foremost. But I still needed someone to care about.
Instead, I reached a point where I honestly didn't care whether any of them survived. I just wanted to know how the story ended so I could finally put the book down.
Another thing that worked against this book was how predictable I found the plot. So many developments were visible from a mile away that even the action scenes couldn't completely pull me back in. And that’s honestly the most frustrating part, because I wanted to love this so bad. It’s rare to find a horror setup that feels this fresh, which makes it even harder to admit that the actual delivery just fell flat for me.
Still, if you enjoy morally gray characters, toxic relationships, brutal survival scenarios, and an action-heavy plot with plenty of highs and lows, this could be right up your alley, especially if you're a fan of The Walking Dead or Yellowjackets.
In the end, I've seen this book receive a lot of positive feedback from other ARC readers, and I'm actually glad it worked so well for them...For me, though? The premise had me running toward this book, but the characters had me running for the exit.
eARC received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
As soon as I discovered this novel was centered around a zombie apocalypse, I was immediately intrigued. Then I found out it takes place in a residential treatment center and I was sold. Because seriously, how much more interesting can that premise get? Sadly, the execution just didn't quite live up to all that amazing potential for me.
My first issue was the pacing. It took a while for the story to really gain momentum, and even once things started getting more interesting, I found myself struggling to enjoy the actual survival aspect. And the biggest reason for that? The characters.
If I had to summarize my reading experience in two words, it would be: EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED.
Quinn is our sixteen-year-old MC, a girl who has been living in the residential treatment center after spending years in the foster system due to her problematic behavior. Later on, we discover she's allegedly been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. And I'll be frank, it took me approximately five minutes to decide she was a psychopath instead. I don't know if that's because I watch an unreasonable amount of true crime documentaries or what, but I immediately understood what kind of character I was dealing with.
I could appreciate what the author was attempting by giving the characters morally complicated personalities, but to be completely honest, that made it almost impossible for me to become invested in the survival aspect. With zombie stories, for instance, the characters are usually what make me care about whether everyone makes it out alive. I'm supposed to be sitting there thinking, "PLEASE DON'T DIE." Instead, with Quinn, I was thinking, "Well... let's see what happens."
Because Quinn is so calculating. She eventually realizes she enjoys the thrill of taking a life, and once she embraces that side of herself, she's basically an unstoppable murder machine. I kept waiting for some kind of meaningful character development, but I didn't feel like she changed much beyond becoming increasingly comfortable with her violent instincts. Maybe the intention was to make readers uncomfortable with the lengths people can go to when survival becomes their only priority, but in reality, I never experienced that sense of horror. Mostly, I was just tired.
Then we have Keisha, the love interest, who initially gave me some hope that I might connect with the story more. As it turns out, that hope didn't last very long. Beneath her "good girl" persona, she's just as manipulative, and it becomes pretty obvious that she's influencing Quinn so she won't be discarded like the other girls.
That also left me wondering about their relationship from the very beginning. Did Keisha truly care about Quinn before everything fell apart, or was she already manipulating her because Quinn seemed more "easy to deal with" than the others? Was their friendship real and eventually corrupted by the apocalypse, or had it been a performance from the start?
I genuinely don't know, and that's part of the problem.
There wasn't a single character I could look at and think, "Yes, I understand you." Everyone was suspicious of everyone else, everyone had their own agenda, and their relationships were toxic as hell. I know this wasn't supposed to be a fluffy romance, and I wasn't expecting it to be. This is a zombie survival story first and foremost. But I still needed someone to care about.
Instead, I reached a point where I honestly didn't care whether any of them survived. I just wanted to know how the story ended so I could finally put the book down.
Another thing that worked against this book was how predictable I found the plot. So many developments were visible from a mile away that even the action scenes couldn't completely pull me back in. And that’s honestly the most frustrating part, because I wanted to love this so bad. It’s rare to find a horror setup that feels this fresh, which makes it even harder to admit that the actual delivery just fell flat for me.
Still, if you enjoy morally gray characters, toxic relationships, brutal survival scenarios, and an action-heavy plot with plenty of highs and lows, this could be right up your alley, especially if you're a fan of The Walking Dead or Yellowjackets.
In the end, I've seen this book receive a lot of positive feedback from other ARC readers, and I'm actually glad it worked so well for them...For me, though? The premise had me running toward this book, but the characters had me running for the exit.
eARC received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
August 28, 2026
What a fun ride this was! 🧟♂️ I’m a sucker for a good zombie apocalypse book, and this exceeded my expectations! Also grabbed the audiobook and thought the narration was well done! I’m super excited for the next installment in this new series!! 🙌
Thank you partner Sourcebooks Fire for the gifted advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
Thank you partner Sourcebooks Fire for the gifted advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
September 2, 2026
dnf at 70 percent because I’m just getting more and more annoyed with this book, I would rather shit in my hands and clap than read any more about Quinn and her heartless ass
October 25, 2024
A perfect read for my 50th book of the year! Zombie apocalypses aren’t usually my go-to genre but my bestie did the audio narration so I had to read it.
The author is a social worker, which adds so much depth and believability to the psychological aspects of the storyline. I didn’t even have to cringe at the medical details because she did such a good job!
The character development was great, even for minor characters. I love that our heroes were female and the amount of gore was excellent.
I’d like a sequel! Highly recommend for anyone who likes psychological thrillers, horror, fantasy, strong female leads, the midwest, and adventures.
The author is a social worker, which adds so much depth and believability to the psychological aspects of the storyline. I didn’t even have to cringe at the medical details because she did such a good job!
The character development was great, even for minor characters. I love that our heroes were female and the amount of gore was excellent.
I’d like a sequel! Highly recommend for anyone who likes psychological thrillers, horror, fantasy, strong female leads, the midwest, and adventures.
September 18, 2026
Jo Salazar’s debut horror masterpiece If We Survive the Night begins in the Pegasus Center, a residential facility where sixteen-year-old Quinn and other young women are being treated for various mental health challenges. Quinn’s life has been a series of foster homes and juvenile detention facilities, and she has learned to survive by doing what needs to be done. Then the zombie apocalypse begins, and those rotting fiends may have met their match in Quinn.
Quinn’s courage and ingenuity comes in handy when reanimated corpses attack the Pegasus Center. Quinn and several others escape and begin a spontaneous odyssey toward what they hope will be safety. Quinn quickly finds that although she didn’t have a place in the crumbling society that favored the privileged and pampered, her skill set and survival mindset are perfectly suited for battling an environment dominated by merciless, drooling zombies: “The apocalypse evened the playing field, and now it’s the strong who survive, not the nurtured.”
There is gore and action galore in this young adult horror novel, but If We Survive the Night also has emotional depth and social significance. Quinn kills dozens of zombies, but she also unapologetically murders people she sees as threats or obstacles in her quest for survival. Quinn’s moral code offers plenty for young readers to consider. If We Survive the Night also illuminates deficiencies in the foster care and mental health treatment systems without being didactic or heavy-handed.
If We Survive the Night isn’t for everyone, but it’s perfect for some young readers. The nonconformists and outsiders will quickly turn pages as Quinn and her gang of escapees face both monsters and their own fears. After reaching the devastating final chapter, they will recommend If We Survive the Night to others in their circle.
Local friends can meet author Jo Salazar at Scout’s Tales Bookstore in Arlington Heights on Monday, October 12, 2026! Click here for details!
This review also appears in slightly different form on my What's Not Wrong? blog.
Quinn’s courage and ingenuity comes in handy when reanimated corpses attack the Pegasus Center. Quinn and several others escape and begin a spontaneous odyssey toward what they hope will be safety. Quinn quickly finds that although she didn’t have a place in the crumbling society that favored the privileged and pampered, her skill set and survival mindset are perfectly suited for battling an environment dominated by merciless, drooling zombies: “The apocalypse evened the playing field, and now it’s the strong who survive, not the nurtured.”
There is gore and action galore in this young adult horror novel, but If We Survive the Night also has emotional depth and social significance. Quinn kills dozens of zombies, but she also unapologetically murders people she sees as threats or obstacles in her quest for survival. Quinn’s moral code offers plenty for young readers to consider. If We Survive the Night also illuminates deficiencies in the foster care and mental health treatment systems without being didactic or heavy-handed.
If We Survive the Night isn’t for everyone, but it’s perfect for some young readers. The nonconformists and outsiders will quickly turn pages as Quinn and her gang of escapees face both monsters and their own fears. After reaching the devastating final chapter, they will recommend If We Survive the Night to others in their circle.
Local friends can meet author Jo Salazar at Scout’s Tales Bookstore in Arlington Heights on Monday, October 12, 2026! Click here for details!
This review also appears in slightly different form on my What's Not Wrong? blog.
April 27, 2025
If you want a unhinged dystopian adventure, then you've found the right book.
I loved how this included so many different aspects of mental health issues a long with survival and how they would deal in these situations. There's always something happening, and it keeps you second-guessing everyone !
I loved all the twists and turns and even had me tearing up at a couple of moments.
There better be a book 2 ! because I need more of Quinn!
I loved how this included so many different aspects of mental health issues a long with survival and how they would deal in these situations. There's always something happening, and it keeps you second-guessing everyone !
I loved all the twists and turns and even had me tearing up at a couple of moments.
There better be a book 2 ! because I need more of Quinn!
October 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - “Apparently the apocalypse is the perfect time to discover that your “problem child” reputation was actually just survival training with terrible branding”. 🧟♀️🩸😬
This was a great YA horror read, and honestly, it didn’t feel watered down just because the characters are teenagers.
Sixteen-year-old Quinn is living in a residential treatment center for “troubled” girls when the world basically decides everyone has bigger problems now. A zombie outbreak hits, the girls have to escape, and suddenly therapy schedules, rules, and authority figures matter a whole lot less than figuring out who can actually survive.
Quinn was easily the most interesting part for me.
She is not your sweet, instantly lovable heroine. She is cold, calculating, emotionally detached, and willing to do things other people won’t. But in a world where hesitation can get you killed?
Turns out being a little morally questionable is practically a resume skill. 😂
What I really liked was how unapologetic the story was about survival getting ugly. People die. Loyalties shift. Some characters become liabilities. And Quinn is constantly weighing who is worth saving and who might get everyone else killed.
The relationship between Quinn and Keisha added another layer because there is friendship there, but also manipulation, attraction, possessiveness, and this constant question of whether either of them truly trusts the other.
And the “carriers” themselves were only part of the danger.
The other survivors?
Sometimes worse.
This had plenty of violence, brutal choices, and WTF moments, but it also had something more interesting underneath all of that: Quinn finally finding herself in a world where the traits everyone told her were wrong might actually be the reason she survives.
That was such a fascinating angle.
And that ending?!
Rude.
The verdict: 🧟♀️🔪The world ended, the rules disappeared, and Quinn finally found an environment where being emotionally unavailable and slightly terrifying is considered a marketable skill.
4 stars. Great YA apocalypse horror with one very morally gray girl I would absolutely want on my team… as long as she still considered me useful. 😭
This was a great YA horror read, and honestly, it didn’t feel watered down just because the characters are teenagers.
Sixteen-year-old Quinn is living in a residential treatment center for “troubled” girls when the world basically decides everyone has bigger problems now. A zombie outbreak hits, the girls have to escape, and suddenly therapy schedules, rules, and authority figures matter a whole lot less than figuring out who can actually survive.
Quinn was easily the most interesting part for me.
She is not your sweet, instantly lovable heroine. She is cold, calculating, emotionally detached, and willing to do things other people won’t. But in a world where hesitation can get you killed?
Turns out being a little morally questionable is practically a resume skill. 😂
What I really liked was how unapologetic the story was about survival getting ugly. People die. Loyalties shift. Some characters become liabilities. And Quinn is constantly weighing who is worth saving and who might get everyone else killed.
The relationship between Quinn and Keisha added another layer because there is friendship there, but also manipulation, attraction, possessiveness, and this constant question of whether either of them truly trusts the other.
And the “carriers” themselves were only part of the danger.
The other survivors?
Sometimes worse.
This had plenty of violence, brutal choices, and WTF moments, but it also had something more interesting underneath all of that: Quinn finally finding herself in a world where the traits everyone told her were wrong might actually be the reason she survives.
That was such a fascinating angle.
And that ending?!
Rude.
The verdict: 🧟♀️🔪The world ended, the rules disappeared, and Quinn finally found an environment where being emotionally unavailable and slightly terrifying is considered a marketable skill.
4 stars. Great YA apocalypse horror with one very morally gray girl I would absolutely want on my team… as long as she still considered me useful. 😭
September 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ YES, YES AND YES!!!👏👏👏
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!!! 😃🧟♀️
This book literally played out like a movie in my head. I was so completely hooked, especially once the zombie chaos started. The scenes with the “carriers” were SO good, and the whole thing had that intense survival-horror feeling that immediately made me think of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝘀. If you love either of those, especially if you’ve played The Last of Us, I honestly think you need to read this.
But what really made this one stand out for me was Quinn 👀 I’m trying not to say too much because discovering her character for yourself is half the fun, but having a protagonist like her in a zombie apocalypse is SUCH an interesting choice. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀… 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲 🤣And somehow watching her navigate this new world was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also loved the whole setup with the girls being in a residential treatment center before everything goes to hell. It gave the story such a different dynamic, because these girls were already dealing with their own issues and complicated pasts BEFORE the apocalypse. Then you throw zombies into the mix and sit back and watch the CHAOS! 😂
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗦𝗢 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀! 𝗜𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁.
And THEN I found out this is the beginning of a series????
GOOD. I’M SOOO IN!!!🙌🧟♀️🖤
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!!! 😃🧟♀️
This book literally played out like a movie in my head. I was so completely hooked, especially once the zombie chaos started. The scenes with the “carriers” were SO good, and the whole thing had that intense survival-horror feeling that immediately made me think of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝘀. If you love either of those, especially if you’ve played The Last of Us, I honestly think you need to read this.
But what really made this one stand out for me was Quinn 👀 I’m trying not to say too much because discovering her character for yourself is half the fun, but having a protagonist like her in a zombie apocalypse is SUCH an interesting choice. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀… 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲 🤣And somehow watching her navigate this new world was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also loved the whole setup with the girls being in a residential treatment center before everything goes to hell. It gave the story such a different dynamic, because these girls were already dealing with their own issues and complicated pasts BEFORE the apocalypse. Then you throw zombies into the mix and sit back and watch the CHAOS! 😂
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗦𝗢 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀! 𝗜𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁.
And THEN I found out this is the beginning of a series????
GOOD. I’M SOOO IN!!!🙌🧟♀️🖤
November 9, 2025
fantastic, dark, gory
I loved this! True YA Horror. I love Jo & her writing! This one is hard to stomach, but worth it if you can stick it out. 👏🏼
I loved this! True YA Horror. I love Jo & her writing! This one is hard to stomach, but worth it if you can stick it out. 👏🏼
April 1, 2025
So what if Patrick Bateman from American Psycho was a teenage girl? And what if she became embroiled in the zombie apocalypse? How would she survive, and could she thrive? These are the questions The Dead Weight tries to answer.
Let me just start out by saying, don't get this book confused with Dead Weight: Essays on Hunger and Harm. That book is about disordered eating. This book was about Quinn, a 16 year old girl with antisocial personality disorder, who breaks out of a treatment center after a virus/disease creates a zombie outbreak.
I loved this book I stayed up late every night so I could just read one more page. The character development and world building was top-notch in this story. Each character was developed and it was written so that the decisions made by Quinn do not seem out of line or extreme, although of course they were. Quinn is the anti-heroine you love even though you know you should not be rooting for her.
Up until this month, I haven't given any "new read" books read this year five stars. I am rereading Stephen King's library of books and am (re)reading The Dune series, and those have gotten 5 stars. This month I was able to give two books this coveted ranking, this being one of them.
Let me just start out by saying, don't get this book confused with Dead Weight: Essays on Hunger and Harm. That book is about disordered eating. This book was about Quinn, a 16 year old girl with antisocial personality disorder, who breaks out of a treatment center after a virus/disease creates a zombie outbreak.
I loved this book I stayed up late every night so I could just read one more page. The character development and world building was top-notch in this story. Each character was developed and it was written so that the decisions made by Quinn do not seem out of line or extreme, although of course they were. Quinn is the anti-heroine you love even though you know you should not be rooting for her.
Up until this month, I haven't given any "new read" books read this year five stars. I am rereading Stephen King's library of books and am (re)reading The Dune series, and those have gotten 5 stars. This month I was able to give two books this coveted ranking, this being one of them.
October 29, 2024
3.5 stars. While I did enjoy this book, I took a star off for animal cruelty, I abhor animal abuse and I don’t like reading about it. After I got past that? It was really good. Very good narration on the audio book. Actually hoping there’s going to be a sequel. I would have missed a really good book if I had stopped reading because of the animal abuse. It really wasn’t necessary.
November 1, 2025
This was suchhhh a fun take on the apocalypse!! It’s from a different perspective, not the typical ‘we need to be kind to everyone and help people’ nah, just murk everyone in our way because I’m an actual psychopath🤣 also loved how the carriers had to be woken!! Just a great twist on the whole trope
August 28, 2026
How do I even sum up this five star ⭐️, fast-paced, unhinged ride?
Take Girl, Interrupted, throw it into The Walking Dead, add the tension of A Quiet Place, sprinkle in some Huckleberry Finn, and drop the whole cast onto Survivor… and you might get If We Survive the Night.
And somehow, it works.
This book definitely did not feel like your typical YA novel. The characters are young, but the circumstances they’ve survived have forced them to grow up far too quickly. Many are dealing with mental health struggles, trauma, difficult upbringings, and the kind of experiences that make childhood feel like something they never really got to have.
Our FMC, Quinn, is at a treatment center when reports begin coming in that “carriers” are taking over a major city nearby. Then the staff start showing symptoms.
Suddenly, the treatment center isn’t exactly the safest place to be.
Quinn and the other girls quickly realize that survival means making impossible choices. Leaving the center becomes their only option, sending them out into a world where supplies are scarce, trust is even scarcer, and the carriers are only one of MANY things that can kill you.
And Quinn + her bestie at the helm? Basically Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon, but make it teenage girls trying to survive the apocalypse.
I loved how the story constantly makes you question who you can trust. The carriers are obviously dangerous, but so are the people who are supposed to protect you. Homeowners don’t necessarily want strangers showing up at their doors. Friends can become enemies. Leaders can make choices you don’t agree with. And sometimes the biggest threat isn’t the thing chasing you.
There’s hunting. Stealing supplies. Escaping. Making alliances. Testing friendships. Figuring out what to do with the people who can’t keep up. And plenty of moments where you’re basically screaming at the page:
RUN. FASTER. NOW.
The survival elements kept the story moving, but what really made it stand out for me were the characters. These aren’t polished, fearless apocalypse heroes. They’re kids who have already been through a lot, suddenly forced into situations where there isn’t a safe or easy choice.
And then there are the carriers…
Shhhhh. 🤫
Because you never know whether the thing you need to worry about is the carrier outside, the homeowner behind the door, or the person standing right beside you.
This was tense, unpredictable, gritty, and surprisingly emotional. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to keep reading just to find out who makes it through the next chapter.
So pack your supplies, trust absolutely nobody, keep your paddle ready, and whatever you do…
DON’T WAKE THEM UP. 😴🧟♀️🧟♂️🏃🏻➡️🏃🏼♀️➡️🏃🏾♀️➡️
Thank you Jo Salazar, Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book. I look forward to reading this series.
Take Girl, Interrupted, throw it into The Walking Dead, add the tension of A Quiet Place, sprinkle in some Huckleberry Finn, and drop the whole cast onto Survivor… and you might get If We Survive the Night.
And somehow, it works.
This book definitely did not feel like your typical YA novel. The characters are young, but the circumstances they’ve survived have forced them to grow up far too quickly. Many are dealing with mental health struggles, trauma, difficult upbringings, and the kind of experiences that make childhood feel like something they never really got to have.
Our FMC, Quinn, is at a treatment center when reports begin coming in that “carriers” are taking over a major city nearby. Then the staff start showing symptoms.
Suddenly, the treatment center isn’t exactly the safest place to be.
Quinn and the other girls quickly realize that survival means making impossible choices. Leaving the center becomes their only option, sending them out into a world where supplies are scarce, trust is even scarcer, and the carriers are only one of MANY things that can kill you.
And Quinn + her bestie at the helm? Basically Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon, but make it teenage girls trying to survive the apocalypse.
I loved how the story constantly makes you question who you can trust. The carriers are obviously dangerous, but so are the people who are supposed to protect you. Homeowners don’t necessarily want strangers showing up at their doors. Friends can become enemies. Leaders can make choices you don’t agree with. And sometimes the biggest threat isn’t the thing chasing you.
There’s hunting. Stealing supplies. Escaping. Making alliances. Testing friendships. Figuring out what to do with the people who can’t keep up. And plenty of moments where you’re basically screaming at the page:
RUN. FASTER. NOW.
The survival elements kept the story moving, but what really made it stand out for me were the characters. These aren’t polished, fearless apocalypse heroes. They’re kids who have already been through a lot, suddenly forced into situations where there isn’t a safe or easy choice.
And then there are the carriers…
Shhhhh. 🤫
Because you never know whether the thing you need to worry about is the carrier outside, the homeowner behind the door, or the person standing right beside you.
This was tense, unpredictable, gritty, and surprisingly emotional. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to keep reading just to find out who makes it through the next chapter.
So pack your supplies, trust absolutely nobody, keep your paddle ready, and whatever you do…
DON’T WAKE THEM UP. 😴🧟♀️🧟♂️🏃🏻➡️🏃🏼♀️➡️🏃🏾♀️➡️
Thank you Jo Salazar, Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book. I look forward to reading this series.
August 22, 2026
It's been a while since I enjoyed a zombie story, If We Survive the Night really scratched that itch left by early seasons of The Walking Dead!
The survival aspect of zombie fiction was at the forefront here, and the main protagonist Quinn is willing to do absolutely anything to do just that. Having a sociopathic main character in your zombie apocalypse tale sounds nuts and shouldn't work, but it absolutely does here. Watching Quinn trying to emulate the emotions and reactions of the girls around her, and trying to hide how much she was thriving whilst surviving was a lot of fun. Do not mess with Quinn 😂
Stories like this can get bogged down by the setting, and locations can start feeling all the same. Jo Salazar keeps it very fun, by sticking the girls in standard locations and adding interesting little twists to each one. The restaurant, and the boat, were two highlights (I'll say no more as spoilers).
If We Survive the Night continues the trend of dark, heavy storytelling with the right amount of gore that has been present in a lot of YA horror offerings recently. This story is the right amount of dark and gritty, and isn't afraid to show the violence that now encompasses the world.
My one quibble which kept this from being a 5 star is I wanted more from Keisha - her character was so close to getting there, but I feel a wall was kept up from Quinn and the audience, and I just never got through it enough to connect with her.
Most importantly for a zombie tale; the zombies were scary, the kills were violent, and the characters were real.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
The survival aspect of zombie fiction was at the forefront here, and the main protagonist Quinn is willing to do absolutely anything to do just that. Having a sociopathic main character in your zombie apocalypse tale sounds nuts and shouldn't work, but it absolutely does here. Watching Quinn trying to emulate the emotions and reactions of the girls around her, and trying to hide how much she was thriving whilst surviving was a lot of fun. Do not mess with Quinn 😂
Stories like this can get bogged down by the setting, and locations can start feeling all the same. Jo Salazar keeps it very fun, by sticking the girls in standard locations and adding interesting little twists to each one. The restaurant, and the boat, were two highlights (I'll say no more as spoilers).
If We Survive the Night continues the trend of dark, heavy storytelling with the right amount of gore that has been present in a lot of YA horror offerings recently. This story is the right amount of dark and gritty, and isn't afraid to show the violence that now encompasses the world.
My one quibble which kept this from being a 5 star is I wanted more from Keisha - her character was so close to getting there, but I feel a wall was kept up from Quinn and the audience, and I just never got through it enough to connect with her.
Most importantly for a zombie tale; the zombies were scary, the kills were violent, and the characters were real.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
September 23, 2026
This was such a fun, surprisingly dark, YA zombie book! I love a good zombie story, and this one had a unique enough twist to keep me interested. Sixteen-year-old Quinn has bounced through foster homes, narrowly avoided juvenile detention, and is now living in a residential treatment center for troubled girls. One night, she sneaks onto the roof with her best friend Keisha and gets a front-row view of the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. When the infected, called carriers, start taking over the treatment center, the girls have to figure out how to escape while deciding just how much they can actually trust each other.
And Quinn…well, Quinn is a lot. At first, I really liked the idea that Quinn was essentially a psychopath. I mean, if the zombie apocalypse actually happened, wouldn’t a complete lack of empathy and a willingness to do whatever it takes be pretty useful? But as the story went on and Quinn kept making increasingly terrible choices, I started questioning my original theory. Maybe being a psychopath isn't quite the survival superpower I thought it was.
I especially liked the storyline involving Keisha, who is a survivor in a completely different way. She's willing to flirt with danger and put herself in questionable situations if it means helping herself survive. But as things progressed, both girls' choices started to feel less like survival and more like self-destruction.
Still, this was a really enjoyable read. It was fast-paced, dark, and had enough of a twist on the usual zombie formula to keep things interesting. And apparently I'm invested enough in questionable life choices that I'll definitely be picking up book two.
And Quinn…well, Quinn is a lot. At first, I really liked the idea that Quinn was essentially a psychopath. I mean, if the zombie apocalypse actually happened, wouldn’t a complete lack of empathy and a willingness to do whatever it takes be pretty useful? But as the story went on and Quinn kept making increasingly terrible choices, I started questioning my original theory. Maybe being a psychopath isn't quite the survival superpower I thought it was.
I especially liked the storyline involving Keisha, who is a survivor in a completely different way. She's willing to flirt with danger and put herself in questionable situations if it means helping herself survive. But as things progressed, both girls' choices started to feel less like survival and more like self-destruction.
Still, this was a really enjoyable read. It was fast-paced, dark, and had enough of a twist on the usual zombie formula to keep things interesting. And apparently I'm invested enough in questionable life choices that I'll definitely be picking up book two.
August 19, 2025
If you are looking for an amazing zombie novel, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 is the one to pick up. But fair warning, it might look like a typical YA zombie book on the surface, but it’s definitely far from that. The gore here is not watered down. We are talking graphic, bone-crunching, flesh-ripping detail that does not shy away from the brutality of an outbreak. What makes it even more unsettling is that the encounters with the main characters can feel just as harrowing as the ones with the carriers because their moral compass is not always intact. Survival forces them to make choices that are just as terrifying as the monsters outside, and Salazar does not hold back from showing that. 5-⭐️, not doubt about it.
Read my full review here: https://myspookyways.wordpress.com/20...
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙅𝙤 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙧, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚!)
Read my full review here: https://myspookyways.wordpress.com/20...
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙅𝙤 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙧, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚!)
October 18, 2025
I really enjoyed The Dead Weight. It’s a book that adults and mature teens would enjoy (it gets pretty gory) At first, we're introduced to troubled teenagers with mental illnesses who are in a group rehabilitation center. Everything is routine, until a zombie apocalypse happens. Quinn is our baddass main character who thrives in this hellscape. She loves killing "Carriers" AKA zombies. She isn't officially diagnosed as being a sociopath because she is so young, but we can figure it out as the book goes on. She definitely has a god complex, deciding which survivors live and who dies. I really loved how exciting this book is, there are always tense moments. There is a good balance with grim, sad parts too. The book ends with Quinn going on a new journey (I won't spoil anything so that is all I'm saying)so I would love to get the next book in this series.
August 29, 2026
This is an excellent heart-pounding zombie horror! Quinn is the main character here, and she's in a inpatient mental health facility on the teens unit when the zombie outbreak begins. What follows is a wild adventure from start to finish. Thank-you, SOURCEBOOKS Fire and Jo Salazar, for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
September 2, 2026
I came across this book very randomly and decided to give it a try, and let me tell you… I freaking loved it! I absolutely loved Quinn. Liking her character so much made me question my morals & values as a human being 😂 but the girl did what she had to do. She was ruthless and I loved it.
October 3, 2026
Now that’s how a zombie apocalypse is suppose to go lol
Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews