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Simple Songs for the End of the World
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 30, 2026
First, thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Simple Songs for the End of the World is one of those rare novellas that proves you don't need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting impression. M.C. Schmidt has crafted a beautifully original, deeply moving story that balances humour, heartbreak, and hope with remarkable skill.
Against the backdrop of a world thrown into chaos by a catastrophic satellite collision, Gus is forced to confront an equally devastating personal crisis after receiving a life-changing cancer diagnosis. Yet this is never simply a story about illness or the end of the world. Instead, it becomes a poignant exploration of community, creativity, and the small moments of grace that help us endure life's darkest chapters.
Schmidt's writing is vivid, intelligent, and wonderfully observant. He has an extraordinary ability to find beauty in ordinary moments, creating characters who feel authentic, flawed, and deeply human. Even in the bleakest circumstances, there is warmth, tenderness, and an understated wit that continually lifts the narrative. I found myself laughing one moment and unexpectedly emotional the next.
At its heart, this is a love letter to art and the people who create it. Music, friendship, family, and shared experiences become lifelines, reminding us that connection is often the greatest source of hope when everything else feels uncertain. The story never shies away from grief or fear, but it continually finds small silver linings, offering an inspiring reminder that dignity, resilience, and compassion can survive even the most difficult of times.
Thought-provoking, beautifully written, and quietly unforgettable, Simple Songs for the End of the World is a novella that lingers long after the final page. It left me reflecting on what truly matters and appreciating the light we can still find, even when the sky seems to be falling.
Simple Songs for the End of the World is one of those rare novellas that proves you don't need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting impression. M.C. Schmidt has crafted a beautifully original, deeply moving story that balances humour, heartbreak, and hope with remarkable skill.
Against the backdrop of a world thrown into chaos by a catastrophic satellite collision, Gus is forced to confront an equally devastating personal crisis after receiving a life-changing cancer diagnosis. Yet this is never simply a story about illness or the end of the world. Instead, it becomes a poignant exploration of community, creativity, and the small moments of grace that help us endure life's darkest chapters.
Schmidt's writing is vivid, intelligent, and wonderfully observant. He has an extraordinary ability to find beauty in ordinary moments, creating characters who feel authentic, flawed, and deeply human. Even in the bleakest circumstances, there is warmth, tenderness, and an understated wit that continually lifts the narrative. I found myself laughing one moment and unexpectedly emotional the next.
At its heart, this is a love letter to art and the people who create it. Music, friendship, family, and shared experiences become lifelines, reminding us that connection is often the greatest source of hope when everything else feels uncertain. The story never shies away from grief or fear, but it continually finds small silver linings, offering an inspiring reminder that dignity, resilience, and compassion can survive even the most difficult of times.
Thought-provoking, beautifully written, and quietly unforgettable, Simple Songs for the End of the World is a novella that lingers long after the final page. It left me reflecting on what truly matters and appreciating the light we can still find, even when the sky seems to be falling.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A novella about music…that has an album you can listen to? YES PLEASE! One of my favorite reads of 2026. M.C. Schmidt has written a novella about the end of the world…as we know it.
Often “end of the world” stories focus on the events of an apocalypse. Not this one. We meet Gus who has been given a diagnosis that ends his world as he knows it. At the same time satellite communication is devastated, sending the world back into the 1990s.
Gus is our amazingly loveable main character. The co-founder of an indie music label and a musician in a successful indie band. Artists are great cultivators of community and Gus has assembled a support group unlike any other. His immigrant mother, an ex-girlfriend, bandmates, and clients come and go in this story of resilience at the end of the world.
With his tragic health diagnosis the music starts to flow out of him. M.C. Schmidt didn’t just write a novella, he gave us the music. You can and SHOULD listen to the music. If you can play guitar you can even give it a go yourself. Schmidt has provided the basics needed. The music is folky Americana, sung by a sultry camp fire voice.
When it comes to plot, like any novella, it moves quickly! It only has so many pages to complete a compelling story. When I review novellas I ask a question. Could this have been longer? In this case I think the story was told in an appropriate amount of pages.
When your friends need you, you need to step up and be the support network they need. Love them, cherish them, and help them.
A lovely read with great music. Hope for humanity if the scenario here were to ever manifest in our time.
Thank you for reading this review by Nothing But The Good. Thank you to the Victory Editing for the ARC through NetGalley who also wins for the suggestion. Thank you to M.C. Schmidt and team for their working bringing, Simple Songs for the End of the World, to life.
Often “end of the world” stories focus on the events of an apocalypse. Not this one. We meet Gus who has been given a diagnosis that ends his world as he knows it. At the same time satellite communication is devastated, sending the world back into the 1990s.
Gus is our amazingly loveable main character. The co-founder of an indie music label and a musician in a successful indie band. Artists are great cultivators of community and Gus has assembled a support group unlike any other. His immigrant mother, an ex-girlfriend, bandmates, and clients come and go in this story of resilience at the end of the world.
With his tragic health diagnosis the music starts to flow out of him. M.C. Schmidt didn’t just write a novella, he gave us the music. You can and SHOULD listen to the music. If you can play guitar you can even give it a go yourself. Schmidt has provided the basics needed. The music is folky Americana, sung by a sultry camp fire voice.
When it comes to plot, like any novella, it moves quickly! It only has so many pages to complete a compelling story. When I review novellas I ask a question. Could this have been longer? In this case I think the story was told in an appropriate amount of pages.
When your friends need you, you need to step up and be the support network they need. Love them, cherish them, and help them.
A lovely read with great music. Hope for humanity if the scenario here were to ever manifest in our time.
Thank you for reading this review by Nothing But The Good. Thank you to the Victory Editing for the ARC through NetGalley who also wins for the suggestion. Thank you to M.C. Schmidt and team for their working bringing, Simple Songs for the End of the World, to life.
June 30, 2026
🎸 ARC Review 🛰️
In this Dystopian Literary fiction novella, we meet Gus. He's a musician living his life - he's pretty chill.
Gus is having a medical issue tested and is living with the anxiety of what the diagnosis will be. 🤒
While that's going on, chaos breaks out around the world because satellites are down. The world as we currently know it is gone. Dial-up modems and landlines are back! 💾📞
Does society devolve into mayhem? Come together? Is Gus worried for nothing? Or are these his last days?
I absolutely loved this book! It's this dystopia where we're seeing people experience an apocalyptic change in real time.
How would you deal with it if you couldn't use your cell phone, lost Reddit, TikTok, the ability to have Alexa save your grocery list?!
In a way, it's a fallback to 'the good old days' when life was simpler, you talked with your neighbors read the newspaper, and went to the local bar with friends.
There's a philosophical component that's really introspective - how would you feel if this happened?
I have to talk about the music!!!!!! The MMC is a musician and writes his way through his emotions.
🎼 Best of all - the songs are in the book *with the sheet music/chord charts*!!!!! 🎼
Am I going to try playing these on all of my instruments? Yes!
The songs added a fantastic emotional release component. After all, most people who write music write to express their thoughts and feelings, whether about their own life or things going on in the world.
To have a book use that as a writing technique to express the characters thoughts instead of, say, an inner monologue, was so unique and enjoyable!
If you're looking for a weekend read, a reflective book to contemplate life, or an adult dystopia that could actually happen, you may like this book.
Triggers: Suicide (minor mention, not active), Medical Content, Grief
In this Dystopian Literary fiction novella, we meet Gus. He's a musician living his life - he's pretty chill.
Gus is having a medical issue tested and is living with the anxiety of what the diagnosis will be. 🤒
While that's going on, chaos breaks out around the world because satellites are down. The world as we currently know it is gone. Dial-up modems and landlines are back! 💾📞
Does society devolve into mayhem? Come together? Is Gus worried for nothing? Or are these his last days?
I absolutely loved this book! It's this dystopia where we're seeing people experience an apocalyptic change in real time.
How would you deal with it if you couldn't use your cell phone, lost Reddit, TikTok, the ability to have Alexa save your grocery list?!
In a way, it's a fallback to 'the good old days' when life was simpler, you talked with your neighbors read the newspaper, and went to the local bar with friends.
There's a philosophical component that's really introspective - how would you feel if this happened?
I have to talk about the music!!!!!! The MMC is a musician and writes his way through his emotions.
🎼 Best of all - the songs are in the book *with the sheet music/chord charts*!!!!! 🎼
Am I going to try playing these on all of my instruments? Yes!
The songs added a fantastic emotional release component. After all, most people who write music write to express their thoughts and feelings, whether about their own life or things going on in the world.
To have a book use that as a writing technique to express the characters thoughts instead of, say, an inner monologue, was so unique and enjoyable!
If you're looking for a weekend read, a reflective book to contemplate life, or an adult dystopia that could actually happen, you may like this book.
Triggers: Suicide (minor mention, not active), Medical Content, Grief
July 4, 2026
What happens to society, as well even just to a person, when all global communications are no longer available.
In MC Schmidt's newest release, "Simple Songs for the End of the World," the reader is introduced to Gus, who is having quite a bad time right now. He loses his girlfriend, finds out he has cancer, and has his mom move in, all while worrying if the debris that destroyed the atmosphere and communication could now destroy life as well.
This story deals with relationships and friendships as well with mortality, all with a humorous portrayal of life,i.e., wait until one reads about Gus' dilemma regarding his cancer. The story immerses the characters and the reader to a time returning back to the way society was before cell phones and even returning back to dial up the internet. But through all of this, Gus shows that art/music will survive and unite people together again. There is a unique musical element within this story showing that even when one can be drowning in their worries and thoughts, music can create comfort.
MC Schmidt described his book, writing that this story "isn't a political book, but it was intended to speak to the benefits of strong local communities and the life enriching power of art."
I am rating this story 3 stars, as the story had good potential, but I wouldn't ever need or want to reread the book. I felt that the music, which gave a good playlist, was also confusing at times for someone who could not read or play music. I also was left with way more questions than answers, feeling that the story was lacking, as well as leaving me with a sense of emptiness.
In MC Schmidt's newest release, "Simple Songs for the End of the World," the reader is introduced to Gus, who is having quite a bad time right now. He loses his girlfriend, finds out he has cancer, and has his mom move in, all while worrying if the debris that destroyed the atmosphere and communication could now destroy life as well.
This story deals with relationships and friendships as well with mortality, all with a humorous portrayal of life,i.e., wait until one reads about Gus' dilemma regarding his cancer. The story immerses the characters and the reader to a time returning back to the way society was before cell phones and even returning back to dial up the internet. But through all of this, Gus shows that art/music will survive and unite people together again. There is a unique musical element within this story showing that even when one can be drowning in their worries and thoughts, music can create comfort.
MC Schmidt described his book, writing that this story "isn't a political book, but it was intended to speak to the benefits of strong local communities and the life enriching power of art."
I am rating this story 3 stars, as the story had good potential, but I wouldn't ever need or want to reread the book. I felt that the music, which gave a good playlist, was also confusing at times for someone who could not read or play music. I also was left with way more questions than answers, feeling that the story was lacking, as well as leaving me with a sense of emptiness.
Review of advance copy received from Author
There are certain things I feel like you'll get with every book of M.C.'s. It's going to make you laugh, it's going to be a little/lot quirky (as evidenced by the choice of cancer Gus is afflicted with), and there is something about this book in particular, perhaps due to personal circumstances, that will leave you with a sense of longing/nostalgia.
I also appreciated the music that comes with the book. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much, but M.C. understates his guitar playing ability. It takes guts to put yourself out there like that, which I respect.
Full disclosure, I first met the author when we were in third grade. Or maybe it was before that? The first time I remember talking to him was in third grade though. It's weird the things we remember, but I distinctly remember that conversation. Can you be friends with someone you see/communicate with once every decade or two? Maybe? All that to say that my review may be slightly biased, but I enjoyed Simple Songs for the End of the World quite a bit. M.C. has more creative thoughts in an hour than I've had in my life. This book showcases his creativity through the writing and music. It was fun to read and listen to.
I also appreciated the music that comes with the book. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much, but M.C. understates his guitar playing ability. It takes guts to put yourself out there like that, which I respect.
Full disclosure, I first met the author when we were in third grade. Or maybe it was before that? The first time I remember talking to him was in third grade though. It's weird the things we remember, but I distinctly remember that conversation. Can you be friends with someone you see/communicate with once every decade or two? Maybe? All that to say that my review may be slightly biased, but I enjoyed Simple Songs for the End of the World quite a bit. M.C. has more creative thoughts in an hour than I've had in my life. This book showcases his creativity through the writing and music. It was fun to read and listen to.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, what an incredibly lovely book. I laughed out loud and cried out loud, both at great volume and in public. I loved the perfect balance of humor and poignancy that this book walked. I left its pages feeling hopeful and touched. I adored the characters and the feeling of family both found and literal (the relationship between Gus and his mom was my favorite part). The way music was sewn into the story was interesting and so rad! I ADORED everything about this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an early copy of this book. It was very unique, I had never read anything like this before, it works so well. The musical aspect was a lot of fun and engaging. By the end, it made me reflect on what it means to be human. This is the first review I have ever written about a book, it impacted me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews