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Through the Chaos #1
This is How We Die: A zombie apocalypse romance
Sadie's spent two years perfecting the art of being invisible, and her neighbour, Theo, has spent just as long noticing her, anyway.
As months of lockdown deteriorate into riots, and rumours of the dead reanimating turn out to be terrifyingly real, residents grow to become family, and the walls of their once safe apartment building close in around them.
While chaos reigns and survival means doing things none of them could have imagined, Sadie learns to trust the man who makes her laugh, cry, and protects her from any threat, even one that lurks inside their building.
If you love the early days of an apocalypse and the slow-burn dread of society's collapse, This is How We Die is for you.
As months of lockdown deteriorate into riots, and rumours of the dead reanimating turn out to be terrifyingly real, residents grow to become family, and the walls of their once safe apartment building close in around them.
While chaos reigns and survival means doing things none of them could have imagined, Sadie learns to trust the man who makes her laugh, cry, and protects her from any threat, even one that lurks inside their building.
If you love the early days of an apocalypse and the slow-burn dread of society's collapse, This is How We Die is for you.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2026
About the author
Elle Richards
5 books96 followersElle Richards has been a fan of end-of-the-world, post-apocalyptic stories for the longest time, and she loves romance. Put them together, and you have her When the World Fell series.
During her free time, she enjoys hiking, drawing, renovating, and Googling cast members while she's watching TV shows and movies.
You can find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellerichard...
During her free time, she enjoys hiking, drawing, renovating, and Googling cast members while she's watching TV shows and movies.
You can find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellerichard...
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 29, 2026
「⭐️⭐️ ⭐️💫 3.5 Star Review...」
☀︎ THIS IS HOW WE DIE ☀︎ Is the first full length zombie book in the (Through the Chaos) series by Elle Richards. Main characters are Theo and Sadie. First-person, dual POV, ends on a cliffy. Set in Melbourne.
📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
I grabbed this on release day, after picking up and discarding so many books due to a funk I'm going to jump into this one in hopes it pulls me out of it. Have loved all this author's previous works so am keen to see what she throws at me with this one..
It kind of had that desired effect of pulling me out of my funk but not quite, it's very slow moving which I guess is what one would expect with a group of nine renters (there used to be seventeen) holed up within their apartment building in hopes they don't succumb to the illness (the ultimus Virus) that's ravaging their country.
I liked the group dynamic and the creepy property manager thrown into the mix but I'm a wee bit unsure how he actually fitted into the storyline. Unless that's how one sister goes missing when she turns up here?
Theo and Sadie who lived in the same apartment complex for two years didn't really speak to each other until the pandemic, but being quarantined for so many weeks and being the only two residents on their floor who have survived the virus to date, he got the courage to approach her and a slow burn relationship entailed which I liked seeing evolve and the change in Sadie as she grew to trust and care for about him slowly transcended.
Sadie has one surviving family member after losing their parents to a tragic car accident, her sister Ava is all she has left in the world. And she's in another country (America) trying to catch a plane home to Melbourne.
Theo has a sister and niece who will likely make their way to their dads country estate out in the country making it the perfect place to ride out the pandemic.
For me this didn't really pick up until about the 60% mark and that's when it got into it's groove when they left their apartments and I became more invested in the storyline as they travelled to Theo's dads place put in the country.
I'm excited to see what happens with Ava in the next book which looked promising and more action packed as she's in the thick of the pandemic with being stranded at the airport terminal with havoc escalating with people running in fear, others getting bitten, as they all strive to make it out in one piece.
Please don't let us wait too long for the next book...
☀︎ THIS IS HOW WE DIE ☀︎ Is the first full length zombie book in the (Through the Chaos) series by Elle Richards. Main characters are Theo and Sadie. First-person, dual POV, ends on a cliffy. Set in Melbourne.
📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
I grabbed this on release day, after picking up and discarding so many books due to a funk I'm going to jump into this one in hopes it pulls me out of it. Have loved all this author's previous works so am keen to see what she throws at me with this one..
It kind of had that desired effect of pulling me out of my funk but not quite, it's very slow moving which I guess is what one would expect with a group of nine renters (there used to be seventeen) holed up within their apartment building in hopes they don't succumb to the illness (the ultimus Virus) that's ravaging their country.
I liked the group dynamic and the creepy property manager thrown into the mix but I'm a wee bit unsure how he actually fitted into the storyline. Unless that's how one sister goes missing when she turns up here?
Theo and Sadie who lived in the same apartment complex for two years didn't really speak to each other until the pandemic, but being quarantined for so many weeks and being the only two residents on their floor who have survived the virus to date, he got the courage to approach her and a slow burn relationship entailed which I liked seeing evolve and the change in Sadie as she grew to trust and care for about him slowly transcended.
Sadie has one surviving family member after losing their parents to a tragic car accident, her sister Ava is all she has left in the world. And she's in another country (America) trying to catch a plane home to Melbourne.
Theo has a sister and niece who will likely make their way to their dads country estate out in the country making it the perfect place to ride out the pandemic.
For me this didn't really pick up until about the 60% mark and that's when it got into it's groove when they left their apartments and I became more invested in the storyline as they travelled to Theo's dads place put in the country.
I'm excited to see what happens with Ava in the next book which looked promising and more action packed as she's in the thick of the pandemic with being stranded at the airport terminal with havoc escalating with people running in fear, others getting bitten, as they all strive to make it out in one piece.
Please don't let us wait too long for the next book...
February 14, 2026
I really enjoyed that this book was mostly pre-zombie - the buildup beforehand. It sucked me in and I really liked the relationship that the people who lived in the apartment building had. Theo and Sadie were both interesting characters and really cute together. I kind of thought Dustin wasn’t necessary though; there was enough going on without adding him to the mix. I wasn’t expecting that cliffhanger with Ava and am really excited to read her story next.
October 30, 2026
Story: 1/5 ⭐️
Characters: 1/5 ⭐️
Setting: 1/5 ⭐️
Audio Performance: N/A 🎙️
Spice level: 0/5 🌶️
Overall Rating: 1/5 ⭐️
DNF at 46%.
This was highly disappointing. First of all, I am almost halfway through the book and all we have dealt with is quarantine, a very similar one to the Covid one we all experienced. No zombies or anything like that so far. Just a group of people staying in quarantine and following the rules.
Second, the summary makes it sound like the MC has some deep, dark secret that makes her want to hide from everyone, while the ML has been keeping an eye on her. Nothing like that happened. Instead, she was extremely rude specifically to him and kept refusing to talk to him. Meanwhile, he is just a golden retriever guy who keeps trying to have a conversation with this woman. The reason she was unfriendly to "single males" was pretty mehh given it was 6 years since the ex situation.
But what finally made me give up was the characters making the stupidest possible decision EVERY SINGLE TIME. The pandemic is ongoing, restrictions keep getting tighter, and things are clearly serious, but they haven’t stocked up on food. They just don’t treat the situation with any of the seriousness it deserves.
When they finally think to get food, they decide to leave it until tomorrow because they need to have dinner and rest before going outside. Mind you, things are already dire at this point. Then only two people go out, and they proceed to make a series of stupid decisions that gets someone infected.
There is a creepy character that is absolutely crazy and threatening the safety of all the women, but they keep kind of glossing over that whole situation. Even as they take his access away, they still trust him to keep to the new established rules. Even though this person is obviously insane.
Time and again, it was just stupid decision after stupid decision, and I got tired of it. Their behavior didn’t make sense, and continuing felt like a waste of time.
Characters: 1/5 ⭐️
Setting: 1/5 ⭐️
Audio Performance: N/A 🎙️
Spice level: 0/5 🌶️
Overall Rating: 1/5 ⭐️
DNF at 46%.
This was highly disappointing. First of all, I am almost halfway through the book and all we have dealt with is quarantine, a very similar one to the Covid one we all experienced. No zombies or anything like that so far. Just a group of people staying in quarantine and following the rules.
Second, the summary makes it sound like the MC has some deep, dark secret that makes her want to hide from everyone, while the ML has been keeping an eye on her. Nothing like that happened. Instead, she was extremely rude specifically to him and kept refusing to talk to him. Meanwhile, he is just a golden retriever guy who keeps trying to have a conversation with this woman. The reason she was unfriendly to "single males" was pretty mehh given it was 6 years since the ex situation.
But what finally made me give up was the characters making the stupidest possible decision EVERY SINGLE TIME. The pandemic is ongoing, restrictions keep getting tighter, and things are clearly serious, but they haven’t stocked up on food. They just don’t treat the situation with any of the seriousness it deserves.
When they finally think to get food, they decide to leave it until tomorrow because they need to have dinner and rest before going outside. Mind you, things are already dire at this point. Then only two people go out, and they proceed to make a series of stupid decisions that gets someone infected.
There is a creepy character that is absolutely crazy and threatening the safety of all the women, but they keep kind of glossing over that whole situation. Even as they take his access away, they still trust him to keep to the new established rules. Even though this person is obviously insane.
Time and again, it was just stupid decision after stupid decision, and I got tired of it. Their behavior didn’t make sense, and continuing felt like a waste of time.
February 10, 2026
I had just finished this author’s first zombie-apocalypse trilogy, which I loved, so I was thrilled to see she’d released the first book in a new series. This one focuses on the beginning, after the virus hits, people get sick, and the rage-biting starts. With only nine people left in an apartment building, the slow realization of what’s happening outside is chilling. I loved Theo and Sadie, and honestly all of the characters, except for one creepy sleaze ball. Seeing familiar names from the previous series was definitely a surprise.
August 5, 2026
I ate this book up and finished it in one sitting!
This had great tension and suspense, Elle did an amazing job of turning Covid into an apocalypse, capturing lockdown life and the incredible tension that The Last of Us offered in its first few scenes. She created stunning suspense, accuracy of fear and uncertainty of events, and it really just made me feel like this is how pre-apocalyptic life would look. I loved the dynamic thrown in with the neighbours of the apartment building and how it became a little warrior unit wh I le they endured the unknown.
The chemistry between Sadie and Theo was brilliant, I loved both of their characters so much and the progression of their story. They had fantastic Aussie banter, chemistry, and overall just were chef's kiss. I really hope we get another book that explores Ava's adventure to melbs but also to see how Theo and Sadie move through the next part of their relo.
Someone wrote that they were unsure of where Dustin fit into the story - imma clarify this.
Dustin was a good example of the ugly side of humanity in comparison to the apocalypse. He was creepy, unsettling, and downright disgusting - but his actions represent how ugly humanity can be in every day life. I loved Laura's character beating down but I think that this scene was very tame in comparison of what Elle could have done, but the contrast shows that overall, people want to do the right thing and while they could have gone vigilante, they chose to rise above this rather than sit on a bad conscience. The man deserved a beat down though.
The supporting characters were amazing and offered some really great comic relief and perspective, I adored every single one except Dustin and really hope that there is some insight into what happens next for them in future books. Laura and Owen reminded me so much of my bogan neighbours and I adored them so much 😂
I loved this story and definitely will keep my fingers crossed for another installment
This had great tension and suspense, Elle did an amazing job of turning Covid into an apocalypse, capturing lockdown life and the incredible tension that The Last of Us offered in its first few scenes. She created stunning suspense, accuracy of fear and uncertainty of events, and it really just made me feel like this is how pre-apocalyptic life would look. I loved the dynamic thrown in with the neighbours of the apartment building and how it became a little warrior unit wh I le they endured the unknown.
The chemistry between Sadie and Theo was brilliant, I loved both of their characters so much and the progression of their story. They had fantastic Aussie banter, chemistry, and overall just were chef's kiss. I really hope we get another book that explores Ava's adventure to melbs but also to see how Theo and Sadie move through the next part of their relo.
Someone wrote that they were unsure of where Dustin fit into the story - imma clarify this.
Dustin was a good example of the ugly side of humanity in comparison to the apocalypse. He was creepy, unsettling, and downright disgusting - but his actions represent how ugly humanity can be in every day life. I loved Laura's character beating down but I think that this scene was very tame in comparison of what Elle could have done, but the contrast shows that overall, people want to do the right thing and while they could have gone vigilante, they chose to rise above this rather than sit on a bad conscience. The man deserved a beat down though.
The supporting characters were amazing and offered some really great comic relief and perspective, I adored every single one except Dustin and really hope that there is some insight into what happens next for them in future books. Laura and Owen reminded me so much of my bogan neighbours and I adored them so much 😂
I loved this story and definitely will keep my fingers crossed for another installment
March 10, 2026
3.5 / 5
Heat level: 1/5 peppers (very mild in description and frequency, nothing happens until like 80%)
I have mixed feelings about this story. I loved the main characters and their relationship, I even loved the overall plot of the story, what was wrong for me was the execution of the story. This book was a slow build, sometimes too slow. We spend a lot of this book learning about the evolution of the pandemic, how the virus mutates. Things in my opinion do not ramp up till after 50%. The virus really doesn't start being rabid/zombie like until then.
What I didn't like:
-I think there was just too much focus on the main character's relationship with other side characters (the other residents at this apartment complex) who they part ways with in the end it just felt a bit.....unneeded? Filler like? Maybe I should say I felt like if we trimmed it down a bit we wouldn't miss a lot.
-The news developments, they were constantly watching the news. Which is valid but it felt like half of the story was watching them watching the news if that makes sense.
I think Ava has the story I want to read, her story sounds like it is going to start in a very action filled/climatic spot especially with that epilogue in this first book.
Heat level: 1/5 peppers (very mild in description and frequency, nothing happens until like 80%)
I have mixed feelings about this story. I loved the main characters and their relationship, I even loved the overall plot of the story, what was wrong for me was the execution of the story. This book was a slow build, sometimes too slow. We spend a lot of this book learning about the evolution of the pandemic, how the virus mutates. Things in my opinion do not ramp up till after 50%. The virus really doesn't start being rabid/zombie like until then.
What I didn't like:
-I think there was just too much focus on the main character's relationship with other side characters (the other residents at this apartment complex) who they part ways with in the end it just felt a bit.....unneeded? Filler like? Maybe I should say I felt like if we trimmed it down a bit we wouldn't miss a lot.
-The news developments, they were constantly watching the news. Which is valid but it felt like half of the story was watching them watching the news if that makes sense.
I think Ava has the story I want to read, her story sounds like it is going to start in a very action filled/climatic spot especially with that epilogue in this first book.
October 29, 2026
Such A Good Book !
In the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia Theo Bolton and his remaining neighbours are in lockdown. A pandemic is working its way around the world. Climatologists had been working in the polar regions and in the course of their research they accidentally discovered a lethal virus. Over the course of at least a year the virus spread, on top of that it began mutating. So far there’s no cure.
With the loss of so many, Theo’s apartment complex finally became a real community. There were two notable exceptions one was the odious buildings caretaker Dustin, the other one was her. The Princess, Sadie Wentworth, she might as well be an actual princess because she seems so aloof, making him feel like a peasant. Maybe it’s time to get out of the city, find a way around the blockades on the main roads? Or maybe he should listen to his sister and actually put some effort into talking to her properly?
A good solid read, give it a shot and see if you can stop yourself from talking back to the characters with improvements to their way of handling things.
In the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia Theo Bolton and his remaining neighbours are in lockdown. A pandemic is working its way around the world. Climatologists had been working in the polar regions and in the course of their research they accidentally discovered a lethal virus. Over the course of at least a year the virus spread, on top of that it began mutating. So far there’s no cure.
With the loss of so many, Theo’s apartment complex finally became a real community. There were two notable exceptions one was the odious buildings caretaker Dustin, the other one was her. The Princess, Sadie Wentworth, she might as well be an actual princess because she seems so aloof, making him feel like a peasant. Maybe it’s time to get out of the city, find a way around the blockades on the main roads? Or maybe he should listen to his sister and actually put some effort into talking to her properly?
A good solid read, give it a shot and see if you can stop yourself from talking back to the characters with improvements to their way of handling things.
March 21, 2026
This one took me a while to read….
Going into it, I was expecting a strong zombie apocalypse story, but honestly, the apocalypse felt like it took a complete backseat. Instead of survival, tension, or real stakes, it felt more like reading an episode of Friends—just with a light sprinkle of zombies in the background.
The pacing was slow, and not much really happened to keep me engaged. I kept waiting for the story to pick up or for the danger to feel real, but it never quite got there.
If you’re looking for a true zombie apocalypse with action, suspense, and survival elements, this probably isn’t it. It leans much more into character interactions and everyday dynamics, which just didn’t work for me in this setting.
Overall, I found it pretty boring and wouldn’t recommend it if you’re expecting a typical apocalypse story.
Going into it, I was expecting a strong zombie apocalypse story, but honestly, the apocalypse felt like it took a complete backseat. Instead of survival, tension, or real stakes, it felt more like reading an episode of Friends—just with a light sprinkle of zombies in the background.
The pacing was slow, and not much really happened to keep me engaged. I kept waiting for the story to pick up or for the danger to feel real, but it never quite got there.
If you’re looking for a true zombie apocalypse with action, suspense, and survival elements, this probably isn’t it. It leans much more into character interactions and everyday dynamics, which just didn’t work for me in this setting.
Overall, I found it pretty boring and wouldn’t recommend it if you’re expecting a typical apocalypse story.
June 19, 2026
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀
Okay, I just finished and I’m emotionally unstable now in the best way. After loving the original 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝐹𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠, getting to go back to the very start of the chaos was everything. Watching those first cracks form, feeling the initial panic, the confusion, the slow unraveling was 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁.
I absolutely 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 the characters. Seeing everyone’s transformation happen as the world collapsed before your eyes was so perfect and well done. And my new BFF Tim and my main man Theo? They were 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑓’𝑠 𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑠 from page one for me. Their energy towards Sadie in their own ways… I was fully here for it.
As for the ending, I’m not crying… you’re crying. 🥹
I’ll just be here counting down the days until the next one!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, I just finished and I’m emotionally unstable now in the best way. After loving the original 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝐹𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠, getting to go back to the very start of the chaos was everything. Watching those first cracks form, feeling the initial panic, the confusion, the slow unraveling was 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁.
I absolutely 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 the characters. Seeing everyone’s transformation happen as the world collapsed before your eyes was so perfect and well done. And my new BFF Tim and my main man Theo? They were 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑓’𝑠 𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑠 from page one for me. Their energy towards Sadie in their own ways… I was fully here for it.
As for the ending, I’m not crying… you’re crying. 🥹
I’ll just be here counting down the days until the next one!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 12, 2026
I really enjoyed Elle Richards previous series and was excited to start this new one. This felt completely different in almost every way especially since this is a novel instead of a novella. I loved the side characters and hope we continue to see them as well as more like the epilogue. I was surprised to start with Theo and found myself endeared to him quite quickly where it was slower with Sadie. I'm very curious about the structure of the series and if characters will return and in what capacity.
February 16, 2026
A quick read - I could read so much more of these stories! Give me more of the journey and more of the zombies! But still, I really liked the concept and connected with all the characters. The ending perhaps felt a little rushed.
Elle writes tension really well - it’s always a good sign when I have to remind myself to slow down reading. In particular the scene in the sporting goods shop was so tense I was reading so quickly I was skipping whole sentences. And that’s pre the zombies!
Elle writes tension really well - it’s always a good sign when I have to remind myself to slow down reading. In particular the scene in the sporting goods shop was so tense I was reading so quickly I was skipping whole sentences. And that’s pre the zombies!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2026
I was excited to return to this world.
Unfortunately, I had the same issues with this book that I had with the third book in her previous trilogy. There were too many side characters that we focused on and that took away from the main couple. Their relationship develops pretty quickly on page but they have known each other for a few years. I did like that most of the first half of the book was before the zombies appeared. But the development of the virus didn't make a lot of sense.
Overall, I didn't really connect to the characters or their relationship. I'm still hopeful for the rest of the series.
Unfortunately, I had the same issues with this book that I had with the third book in her previous trilogy. There were too many side characters that we focused on and that took away from the main couple. Their relationship develops pretty quickly on page but they have known each other for a few years. I did like that most of the first half of the book was before the zombies appeared. But the development of the virus didn't make a lot of sense.
Overall, I didn't really connect to the characters or their relationship. I'm still hopeful for the rest of the series.
April 19, 2026
I liked this. It was set weeks before a pandemic turned into a zombie apocalypse and it was interesting to see the build up rather than starting at the explosion. I really liked the characters except for D-bag. There is some smutt but its not smutty...? I dont know how to explain that. And not until like 75% in.
September 15, 2026
I am so excited for book two I could physically burst! This was a phenomenal read I absolutely love Theo And Sadie so much and to see characters from the other series was such an added bonus! I like getting to see the virus from ground zero and I really enjoyed the different characters in the apartment building as well. I give this 5 stars! Please give it a shot.
May 17, 2026
fresh take
I liked this one because it focused more on the time leading up to the zombies rather than dropping us in the middle of it. I can’t wait to find out what happened to Eva, Tim & Varesh. I hope they deal with Dustin.
I liked this one because it focused more on the time leading up to the zombies rather than dropping us in the middle of it. I can’t wait to find out what happened to Eva, Tim & Varesh. I hope they deal with Dustin.
September 26, 2026
glorious!
Couldn’t stop reading it. It’s so great! As a horror fanatic myself, this perspective of the events leading to the beginning was super interesting. The character development was also really enjoyable. Can’t wait to read more
Couldn’t stop reading it. It’s so great! As a horror fanatic myself, this perspective of the events leading to the beginning was super interesting. The character development was also really enjoyable. Can’t wait to read more
Did Not Finish
March 28, 2026Not a fan of the style of writing
The mmc is desperate not yearning /creep/stalkish
Modern virus please don’t mention quarantine and covid 19 in books
The mmc is desperate not yearning /creep/stalkish
Modern virus please don’t mention quarantine and covid 19 in books
April 20, 2026
I want Theo ✨✨✨✨
May 3, 2026
I loved this! Australian. Great characters. On the edge of my seat. Good writing. Just everything. So desperate to know what happens with her sister!
July 4, 2026
it’s giving more insta love romance vibes than the post apocalyptic thrills I was expecting so meh
July 8, 2026
I DEVOURED this book!!
I haven’t had a story keep me up until 2am in a hot minute! I cannot wait for book two, and I’m looking forward to diving into Elle’s other books soon.
I haven’t had a story keep me up until 2am in a hot minute! I cannot wait for book two, and I’m looking forward to diving into Elle’s other books soon.
September 3, 2026
I liked this book and will definitely read Ava’s book when it comes out but it fr had me stressed and gave me PTSD from the covid lockdown
October 14, 2026
Wish I liked it more but I was bored
May 21, 2026
If you loved Elle Richards other books, then you will enjoy this one. We get to see what happened before and during the end of the world, which is one of my favorite parts of zombie books.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews