Sick(ness): A Post Apocalyptic Romance

by Isla R. Quinn

Two survivors. One chance. No guarantees

The sickness took everything—sound, safety, and the illusion that tomorrow was guaranteed.

Abby has spent months surviving alone inside the walls of her apartment, watching the world outside her windows collapse. Food is dwindling. Silence is suffocating. And every day the infected move closer to what’s left of civilization.

Then she hears him.

Sawyer isn’t the savior she imagined—he’s bruised, wary, and determined to trust no one. But survival is colder alone, and together they navigate a ravaged Midwest where danger comes from the living just as often as the dead.

As scarcity sharpens every choice and strangers become threats in the dark, Abby and Sawyer discover something unexpected in the ruins—a connection strong enough to challenge the despair around them.

But in a world built on fear, nothing stays safe for long.

And love might be the one thing they can’t outrun.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic, Zombies, Dystopia, Romance, Apocalyptic, Forced Proximity, Survival

282 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Mom of two, wife, and unapologetic Michigan native—born and raised with the Great Lakes in my veins. I’m proud to call the Upper Peninsula home, where the air is crisp, the people wave from their porches, and every season feels like its own adventure.

Reviews

[Rain]

*3.5* This is a beautiful, very slow-moving story that focuses heavily on character introspection and emotional deep dives.

Addy (31) is a 3rd grade teacher and living in an apartment alone when the world collapses.

Sawyer (39) is former military, prepper, living across the hallway from Addy.

There were some pretty big issues with consistency and pacing. Addy starts off feeling timid and kind of helpless, but later we’re told she grew up on a ranch, learned how to take care of herself, and knows how to shoot a gun.

I also really struggled with the timeline. I could never get a clear sense of how long it had been since the infection started, or how long the characters had been traveling together. Are we talking weeks? Months? Even the travel distances felt vague, at one point it seems like locations are only a day’s walk apart, but it’s never clear.

The conflict didn’t fully make sense to me either. The bad guys were two men, which made it hard to believe that Sawyer, a badass former black ops soldier, would abandon all their supplies, the truck, and a secure cabin instead of handling the situation. Some of the choices felt like they existed just to move the plot along.

Romance-wise, everything moved very fast, even if their connection did feel genuine. The “I love you” came way too soon.

Tropes/themes:
Post apocalyptic US
Contemporary setting
Teacher fmc
Former military mmc
Forced proximity
Decent romance
HFN ending

There are some very cute moments when sawyer, calls her 2B (her apartment number), and Addy calls him soldier man (what she called him when they lived across the hallway).

Overall, this is a quiet, emotional story with a lot of heart, but it really could have benefited from a much stronger editing hand. Despite my frustrations, I still found it beautiful in its own way and I plan to read the next book in the series.

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books]

「⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 4 Star Review...」 ☀︎ ❥ ☀︎ SICK(NESS) ☀︎ ❥ ☀︎
Is the first full length post apocalyptic romance book in the (Sickness) series by new to me author Isla R. Quinn . Main characters are Sawyer (39) and Addy (31). First-person, dual POV. Set in a small Midwestern town of Gains.

📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS

From the last book I read (This is how we die by Elle Richards) this one was recommended..So off to Amazon I went..And the rest is history, I started it that night in bed and struggled to put it down, waking up bleary eyed and sleepy I dived back in and finished it up.

I really enjoyed this one. It pulled me in straight away. And speaking the obvious I couldn't put it down.

First it started off with flu like symptoms ravishing the globe, killing hundreds if not thousands, a mandatory quarantine was set in place. Third grade school teacher Addy is holed up in her apartment building, scared, alone, her meager rations are running out, she hasn't heard a sound from outside of her building or from the other residents within the apartment complex since the outbreak.

Until a voice outside her apartment breaks that ever present silence '2B'

The guy next door Sawyer, rough around the edges, sticks to himself. Ex military, knows to always be prepared and prep for anything that may happen in any situation.

The stench of death from dead residents cloying the air within their apartments forces them to leave their sanctuaries together heading towards the unknown. But before all broadcasts ceased there was chatter on the air about a safe zone.

The main focus of this story was on the characters themselves, which if being honest I enjoyed that aspect as many in this genre lean towards the sickness, I liked how this one centered around their budding relationship with a world that was out to kill them. Things were kept interesting enough with the two men hunting them for Addy, woman in this world were few are far between so far, I liked the meticulous prepping, the hunkering down in places to keep out of the elements, to hide, to ride things out until their next move. It definitely kept my attention throughout. I also liked how these characters were mature adults. So a lot of favors in this book.

Really excited to jump into the next book but will have to wait until September for book#3

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[Carla]

My thoughts about this story are mixed! It’s good but very fast everything! I expected more! Unfortunately!

[Catheryn]

Reread 3/2026

On the reread, the continuity issues and formatting issues were more obvious. However, vibes and enjoyment, this story stays at a 4.5 stars. The dynamic between Sawyer and Addy are what I love is post-apocalyptic romance stories.

***

4.5 stars

I really loved this post-apoc story. It is told in a pretty somber tone, which matches the state of the world. We learn what is going as Abby learns. I liked how Abby and Sawyer go from strangers to partner to lovers. We see them work together and learn to trust each other. While they were neighbors before, they didn't know each other. The world is very creepy and we not sure what to expect. The story tightly focuses on Abby and Sawyer, there are not too many side characters. (Which I love)

I can't wait to read the next in this series.

[Jagged]

Redundant

This seems like the author tries very hard to be eloquent with flowery description but then ruins it with repetitive mundane thoughts, introspection, and descriptions of Sawyer. He's always eyes focused and forward looking, while coming off as competent to our heroine. I didn't see any of this though in the actual telling.

The timeline wasn't done well. I thought the beginning was three to gfve days post breakout. But Addy has matted hair. Supposedly no electricity, but still had water. I'm sure she still owned a brush.

Her windows were taped shut, but then she was somehow opening them too far in the next sentence. In less than a week she forgot how to interact with people. I'm not following this.

Sawyer has no personality. His background doesn't add up with his current behavior. He supposedly was a prepper but took just a duffel bag with him when they left? What?

Yeah, this was not researched well, thought out well, or executed well at all.

[Sandra Aranda]

For those of you that love the Post-Apocalyptic setting yet are tired of simply zombies, monsters, fighting and death then this is the book for you. Yes, there is death, there are zombie-like people, and criminal actions. However, the main focus of the book is a romance. A new beginning. HOPE for more.

You got drawn into the two main characters Addy and Sawyer’s lives. Jay, a late comer to the story, was a very sweet addition. I look forward to hopefully hearing more about him and a possible romance for him in future books. I also want to hear more about Sawyer and Addy as their story is just beginning.

This book was sweet and real. I read it in two days as I could not put it down. It had me rooting for the main characters and left me feeling that even when the worst happens there is always HOPE for a better future. For a future no matter what it looks like.

I gave it 4 stars as there were some minor transition issues and one instance at the end just thrown in and not dealt with. Yet it is still a wonderful read!

[Avery Clason]

What a great novel to read if you’re itching for a nostalgic post-apocalyptic novel (one that brings back the feelings of the 2010s)!

I really enjoyed the characters in this novel, especially Addy! She was so brave, funny, and comfortable being uncomfortable. She is the embodiment of FMCs from traditional post-apocalyptic novels, but in a refreshing and endearing way - an FMC that had you rooting for her throughout the whole story.

I did notice that the start of the book was a little slow, but quickly picked up pace once Sawyer (the incredible MMC) was introduced. I felt that the pacing from then on was great and I’m curious if the slow start was meant to mimic the slowness of Addy’s life while she was self-quarantining in her apartment.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to someone who loves a good slow burn romance, anything set in a post-apocalypse world, and a brave/strong FMC.

Thank you Isla Quinn for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Renee Oquinn]

very quick easy read. apocalypse (zombie) with found romance. story follows Abby at the start of a virus outbreak that changes everything. alone and hiding in her apartment she finds her neighbor is the only survivor as they soon realize they can no longer stay put. they set out on a journey out of town to seek a safer more secure place. slow burn angst. hardship and survival

[Raven Fort]

Sick(ness) was a fast, emotionally engaging read - I finished it in a single day. The story does a great job of pulling you into a world that feels fragile, dangerous, and deeply human. I really connected with the relationship between Addy and Sawyer and appreciated the slow-burn tension and found family elements woven throughout the story.

There were some moments where certain ideas and emotions were repeated a bit too often, and a few inconsistencies that briefly pulled me out of the narrative. However, the overall strength of the characters and the emotional core of the story kept me invested.

This is a solid post-apocalyptic romance with heart, tension, and hope - and one that fans of survival-based slow burns will definitely enjoy.

ARC provided for honest review.

[Amanda Gale]

Sick(ness) was intense, emotional, and completely addictive. I loved the characters, the world, and the steady tension that kept me turning pages. A fantastic post-apocalyptic read—I’m already excited for more!

[Holly]

I really enjoy this genre. This story was a bit vague with the details of this pandemic. It didn’t make a lot of sense.
I would have liked to know a bit more of the characters history and background.
Epiloge almost nonexistent.

[&ris]

Just ok

I wanted to like this book alot. I love apocalypse romance. But this one moved too fast for me i guess. They would talk like things had been bad for months but it had only been a few weeks. I was kind of confused with the time line. And are people zombies now or are they just walking around aimlessly sick?

[Lozz’s Random Reads McKenzie - Lee]

Apartment Neighbours, Strangers, Become Reliant on Each Other to Survive

What would you do if the world, slowly, then, quickly began to fall apart.

This is what happens to middle grade teacher Addy.

One day she has a full class of kids, then slowly, as the sickness takes hold, there is a dozen, the four, then, none.

The government is telling the citizens to stay inside.

Gather provisions, and wait for further information.

With water, the rations getting low, Addy is beginning to come to terms with the fact that she is going to have to step outside at some point and witness for herself how bad things have gotten.

Then she hears it….

Through her door.

A murmured, Hello!

Soon, Addy discovers the voice belongs to her Neighbour.

The man she occasionally saw in the hall, and nodded a “ Good Morning”

She remembers him to be talk, broad shouldered and quiet.

She also vaguely remembers hearing his name…

Sawyer.

Desperate to no longer be alone, and to form a connection, she answers back.

“Are you Sawyer”

“Yeah”, “You know my name ?”

He lives next door.

He asks his she’s coping?

Does she have enough food and water?

He also informs her that he has managed to gather quite a lot if canned food and water if she needed anything.

I connection has been made.


Eventually, both run out of food and the decision is made.

Sawyer has a small radio.

He thinks there is a government base to the North West, they can try to find.

He has a truck parked near by with a tank of gas,

Plus.

They can gather provisions along the way.


But, as the leave their apartment building that has been slowly rotting under the decaying bodies astound them, and travel to the Nth West, it’s the bitterly cold autumnal weather, and the bodies that have succumbed to the illness but still walk around that causes logical problems.

And worse than ALL of that are the lawless humans, the scavengers, with nothing to lose.


Probably not the best time to be reading Dystopian novels 🤔

But!

As this genre goes, this wasn’t bad.

Addy and Sawyer awkwardly fumble through getting to know each other, while struggling to survive.

The tension was there every time they had to entered a new town.

And!

As to turns out, for good reason.

( Luckily, Sawyer is also ex military)

Their relationship was, rightfully so, a slow burn, as they had never been anything more than hallway acquaintances, but once they re on the road things start to thaw out.

Once they stumble across a holiday cabin for shelter, things start to ramp up as they are forced to share the one and only bed.

Nothing like warm breath, body heat, and skin on skin, set a girls heart rate skyrocketing.

However, they make the mistake of staying to long and getting comfortable in their idilic living situation, which cause them to drop their guard.

Then.

All hell brakes lose.


Very atmospheric.

Excellent build up of tension.

The relationship between Addy and Sawyer was moving along at crawl speed…
And then….it wasn’t Haha!

They went from polite, sometimes awkward conversations to, second night in bed, pawing at each other and ripping their clothes off .

It had a satisfying conclusion that, let’s face it, we could see coming.

Although! 🤔

I did wonder right up until the end if we were going to get a twist regarding secondary character Jay though .

A pretty decent weekend read

[Sierra ❤︎]

I'm not usually someone who reads thriller books, even thriller romance. However, I was drawn into this book from the very start and let me tell you I was thoroughly impressed. This was definitely a 4 star read and I will tell you why.

This book is set in a post apocalyptic world where a virus has begun spreading and attacking globally extremely fast causing the whole world to go dark. We follow Addy, our female main character, as she rehashes the events leading up to the "end of the world" and navigating through the "end of the world" as she knows it. We also follow Sawyer, our male main character, as he reflects back on his findings with the virus and how he navigates through the "end of the world." This world is painted so tragic, human, and scarily possible. I believe that is part of what pulled me in, knowing that while this story isn't real, it very possibly could be. I finished this book in just short of 2 days, due to work, I didn't want to put it down.

We also get to experience the romance portion of the story following Addy and Sawyer. We see them go from strangers who have only scarcely crossed paths and shared forced small talk, to partners working together to survive the apocalypse, to raw and pure lovers. While I usually hate the instant love trope, where they've barely known each other and all of a sudden they're each others gravity holding them to the earth. However, it felt different with Addy and Sawyer. We were able to experience the build up to their love, the fight they put up until giving in, and the raw connection and love they shared. It also felt very possible and real considering the circumstances they're living in. While I don't want to say they're trauma-bonded and connected in ways that aren't usual, they kind of are. In the best way possible.

The reason I left a star off is because some parts of the story towards the end felt repeated or didn't fully make sense. Something would happen, but then in the next chapter it would happen again, but the events would sometimes be just a tad different. Or a character would say something, but then it was a big revelation the next chapter. Things like that, that took you out of the story because they just didn't make sense. Overall, I would say Sick(ness) is worth the read, even if you're like me and you don't read very many thriller books.

[Teany]

Love, Survival, and Mystery in a Broken World: A Review of Sickness

Sickness, available on Kindle Unlimited, is a post-apocalyptic romance that blends survival with a developing love story. Set in a world affected by a mysterious illness, the story focuses mainly on relationships while still showing the tension of a collapsed society.

One of the strongest characters in the book is Sawyer. He is protective, resilient, and clearly shaped by the harsh world around him. His character feels grounded, and his connection with Addy becomes a central part of the story.

Addy, the female lead, was interesting to follow, although her character development felt a little uneven at times. At the very beginning of the book, she is almost portrayed as somewhat weak or uncertain. Then suddenly she appears very strong and capable. That shift made it a little difficult to know how to feel about her character at first. However, I did end up liking the stronger version of Addy that we see later in the story. I just wish that strength had been shown a little more consistently from the beginning. That said, the fact that she had been surviving on her own before meeting Sawyer does say a lot about her resilience.

Another character who stood out was Jay. Even though he isn’t the main focus of the story, he leaves a strong impression. His personality makes readers curious about his story, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading his book.

While the romance works well, I did wish the book explored the sickness itself a little more. The illness is what caused the collapse of society, but the story only hints at what might have caused it. I would have liked more details about where it came from and what led to the outbreak. At times it almost feels slightly zombie-like, but not completely, which makes the mystery even more interesting.

Overall, Sickness is an engaging romance set in a post-apocalyptic world with strong characters and an intriguing premise. Even though I would have liked more background about the sickness and a smoother development of Addy’s strength, the story and relationships still make it an enjoyable read.

[Rose]

I have mixed feelings about this one

It had everything I love: apocalypse, forced proximity, woodsy setting, etc, but so much of the book was internal monologues about their feelings, blah blah blah, which I found myself skipping pages just to get through.
Also, I really didn’t like or care about Addy or sawyer (but that’s subjective and in no way reflects on the book itself). She constantly said things like, I can take care of myself, but in reality, she was pretty useless. Sawyer was supposed to be this special forces guy, but he did stupid things like silhouetting himself in the window at night, and shooting a gun near their cabin. Another time, he shoots an infected guy in a grocery store, even though he was trapped & couldn’t get them. Not only did it make a lot of noise but now you’ve sprayed everything around him with brain matter.
Spicy scenes were meh. I didn’t hate them & the pacing was good, I just felt it was a little too wordy. I don’t need to know every thought they had between every kiss. But again, that’s subjective…
A LOT of repetitive descriptions.
Also, they only encountered 3 zombies in the entire book… kind of disappointing

Overall, it wasn’t the worst I’ve ever read, and there were quite a few parts I liked, but there were also a lot of really tedious parts that bogged it down.

I did like the slow burn romance, and it was a great plot, I just wish the author had done a better job of building the suspense, instead of wasting so much energy on their inside voices.

[Hooked On Romance]

2.4 stars ⭐️

This was supposed to be a post-apocalyptic zombie book with only a bare mention of zombies. Well, actually, the word zombie is never even used. 😂

Apparently, some kind of sickness is unleashed, and most of the population gets sick and dies. There's not a lot of backstory or explanation given, and I'm not even sure if everyone who died was supposed to become a zombie because I think there were only two zombies in the entire book. 🤨

This was definitely not a nail-biter, and there were no edge-of-your-seat moments. It was mostly a story about Addy, an elementary school teacher, and Sawyer, her ex-military prepper neighbor. They never really knew each other until they found themselves among the very few people who didn't get sick.

There's not a lot of world-building happening here either. And here's what really didn't make sense to me: if you're in a country with over 300 million people and most of them have died and turned into zombies, where the heck are all the zombies? 🤷‍♀️

Addy and Sawyer leave the city, and basically, the way this book reads, it's like there are virtually no people—living or undead—anywhere. So there's really no sense of danger or angst. 😬

The first zombie Addy sees is when she's outside taking a bathroom break. She spots a guy in the distance and can tell he's not alive.

And that's about as exciting as it gets. 😐

I went into this expecting a post-apocalyptic zombie romance, and unfortunately, the zombie apocalypse was barely there. 🧟‍♀️

[Augusta Williams]

This was an interesting take on a post apocalyptic world ending event. In this first book, we get to see the fall where everyone becomes sick and dies, but some stumble around but it doesn’t necessarily say there’s zombies so I’m not sure about that? Maybe we’ll find out as a series progresses. Two unlikely neighbors in an apartment building building an alliance and eventually fall in love and reverse this new barren landscape. They find an unlikely friend along the way, but can’t completely escape the danger our female love interest is taken by two stalkers and she gets recovered, but it has shaken or two main love interest to the core. This New World might seem like they’re alone, but they know they aren’t now and instead of the sick they fear it’s regular people interested to see how the story plays out.

[Trine-Lise Jensen]

I really loved this book, it had me hooked from the start! The writing was beautiful, i loved the post-apocalyptic setting. And the characters were also so cute. Even a bit of found family in here, which is a trope i love, and cannot wait to read the next book.

This gave med 28 days later/Last of us/The walking dead vibes, with alot more emphasis on the romance and not as much action. But still loved the journey they had through this book of figuring out how to live in a world with this sickness.

[The Little Lonely Writer]

The premis and idea of the story was really good and intriguing.

I was given an ARC copy.

I sadly DNF'd about 90% of the way through. It was clear from page 1 that it had AI input due to the number of words that get repeated, the groups of 3's, "It's X, not Y". It didn't really have anything to do with the emdashes the fact it was written by AI.

I felt it lacked soul and energy and human input. The story was fine but it's clear that even the cover is AI generated and it just makes me sad. I was really looking forward to this book too

[Norma]

WOWWWWWW I just finished reading "SICK(NESS)" Absolutely, riveting. I could not put it down. I loved the characters of Addy and Sawyer and how they found each other in such a broken world. The plot was unstoppable. Isla Quinn's descriptions of the story scenes made me feel as if I was right there. I was wondering how many books are you planning for this series? Please keep it going... I am hooked !!!! Already pre-ordered on amazon book #2 "The Long Winter". I would love to receive your newsletters and be part of your "ARC TEAM" !!!!!
A BIG FAN OF YOUR WRITING. THANK YOU, KIWI 🤗

[romancelover]

This was an okay 3 stars. Didnt love it, didnt hate it. Kinda liked it. I love post apocalyptic romances and this one was quick and cute, with a balanced plot to romance ratio. Its still not Claire Kent level (the dystopian Queen, one of my fav authors), but it will do in a pinch if ure craving this type of romantic suspense.

Bonus points for Sawyer. He was a good hero. And the writing was pretty solid too.

[Molls Bells]

Overall, I enjoyed this quick read. If you’re thinking about getting into apocalyptic romance, but you don’t like much horror or gore this would be for you. Also, it’s definitely open door spice but it’s very mild. The book focuses on the relationship building more than anything which doesn’t bother me at all. Very cute and likable characters. Big plus that they were both in their 30s and more mature.

[Dena]

coupla good people

This was an interesting take on a two people meeting through walls. Strangers that are in the same building neighbors but need each other due to unforeseen circumstances.
I thought that she could have shown more confidence especially since she portrayed herself as a Texan living on a ranch. I liked how they moved and the meeting with the guy he could have laid out his vulnerabilities more.

Overall it was pretty good

[Sarah]

I got this book as an ARC reader. I’m glad I kept reading it. At first I didn’t think I’d like it, but then I got hooked. This book had me stressed out once Addy felt someone watching and they found human foot prints. Them being haunted like animals had me on edge. I definitely recommend this book and hope to read more books by this author in the future.

[Meredith Karim]

A great overall book that gives a completely different perspective to the apoloplptic world!

There was a few things that dragged and didn't feel relevant to the main plot.

Definitely going to be reading book 2

I was kindly gifted this book as an arc reader but all reviews are my own words and not influenced.

[Kay]

This was unGodly slow. Like so slow i put myself to sleep reading it several times. And the characters are so flat and boring besides a military man, and a grade school teacher, who is basically useless. And don't get me started on the "2b" thing like ur in love with the girl, maybe you should stop calling her by her apartment name. This just wasn't for me.

[Pene|ope • Reading Slump, Send Help]

2.5 stars. Interesting PA story, but it felt a little unfinished. It's an interconnected standalone, so the world will be built out in further stories, but I felt like we needed more in this one. The zombie-like beings aren't even really shown yet. It was enjoyable to pass the time though. I would read more in this world.

[Nessa]

Lukewarm romance.
Honestly, I was more taken by the MMC (Sawyer) and his reliability as a man more than the romance.
The heroine was like a side-piece who barely made a dent in the plot, whereas Sawyer was the one who leapt out of the pages.
I enjoy passionate romances, whereby this was more of a cosy and reassuring read.

[Heather Shower]

A fresh, hopeful spin on post-apocalyptic fiction with a strong romantic focus. Addy and Sawyer were compelling and easy to cheer for, and Jay added a nice touch I’d love to see expanded. Emotional and absorbing, this story shows that even in a broken world, hope can still thrive.