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Before This Is Over
In the midst of a devastating epidemic, how far will a desperate mother go to keep her loved ones safe?
There is a deadly virus spreading around the world. At first it is a distant alarm bell in the background of Hannah's comfortable suburban life. Then suddenly, it has arrived on the doorstep.
The virus traps Hannah, her husband, and their young sons in their city, then their neighborhood, and finally their own home. As a formerly idyllic backyard and quiet street become battlefields, fear and compassion collide. But what happens when their water supply is cut, and then the power, and the food supply dwindles?
Chilling and suspenseful, at once deeply personal and terrifying in its implications, Before This is Over invites us to imagine what a family must do to survive when pushed to the extreme.
There is a deadly virus spreading around the world. At first it is a distant alarm bell in the background of Hannah's comfortable suburban life. Then suddenly, it has arrived on the doorstep.
The virus traps Hannah, her husband, and their young sons in their city, then their neighborhood, and finally their own home. As a formerly idyllic backyard and quiet street become battlefields, fear and compassion collide. But what happens when their water supply is cut, and then the power, and the food supply dwindles?
Chilling and suspenseful, at once deeply personal and terrifying in its implications, Before This is Over invites us to imagine what a family must do to survive when pushed to the extreme.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2015
53 people are currently reading
1498 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Hickie
2 books40 followersAmanda Hickie lives a brisk walk from Coogee Beach in Sydney with her two computer oriented sons and husband and two non-computer oriented cats.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 204 reviews
March 28, 2017
This book takes the whole "end of the world" thing to a whole 'nuther level.
One of the main characters Hannah, is a helicopter mom's role model. Once she hears of a virus that is starting to make rounds, she starts stockpiling the groceries. She then decides to keep everyone in her family at home. That will keep them safe.
Turns out that Hannah was right. The virus starts wiping the population out. But Hannah had prepared and she guards her family. At all costs. I can see where she was going with the whole protection mom thing but she turns a cold eye to her neighbors at times. They might be contagious. (Get ready to read about lots of sanitizer, masks and gloves if you read this one)
They do end up helping a few of them out. But honestly? The characters in this book got on my dang nerves. I felt like I was trapped in that house with them.
It felt like this book went on forever. With those same aggravating people.
I don't think I'd survive the Apocalypse, even though I've read enough of this type book to be an expert.
There are some stories starting to go around about the bird flu being here in my state. I'm watching the news, but I can't go all Hannah. I think I'll go with one of my favorite internets people.
Ms. Pooh.
My rating reflects how boring it was to be trapped in a house with young children, teenagers, an uptight woman and her long suffering not too smart husband.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
One of the main characters Hannah, is a helicopter mom's role model. Once she hears of a virus that is starting to make rounds, she starts stockpiling the groceries. She then decides to keep everyone in her family at home. That will keep them safe.
Turns out that Hannah was right. The virus starts wiping the population out. But Hannah had prepared and she guards her family. At all costs. I can see where she was going with the whole protection mom thing but she turns a cold eye to her neighbors at times. They might be contagious. (Get ready to read about lots of sanitizer, masks and gloves if you read this one)
They do end up helping a few of them out. But honestly? The characters in this book got on my dang nerves. I felt like I was trapped in that house with them.
It felt like this book went on forever. With those same aggravating people.
I don't think I'd survive the Apocalypse, even though I've read enough of this type book to be an expert.
There are some stories starting to go around about the bird flu being here in my state. I'm watching the news, but I can't go all Hannah. I think I'll go with one of my favorite internets people.
Ms. Pooh.
My rating reflects how boring it was to be trapped in a house with young children, teenagers, an uptight woman and her long suffering not too smart husband.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
November 1, 2015
As the promo for the book will tell you this is the story of an epidemic and how it affects one ordinary family living in Sydney. The epidemic, termed Manba started in Asia rapidly leading to hundreds of thousands ill and dying. The prognosis is poor for those who become infected with no effective treatments and death being almost inevitable. Hannah and Sean are an ordinary Australian couple with two sons, teenage Zac and five year old Oscar. When the first case is reported in nearby Newcastle, Hannah starts to obsess about the safety of her family. By the time the first case is reported in Sydney, she is almost paranoid even though her husband and work colleagues tell her she is mad and needs to relax.
This is a really thought provoking account of an epidemic asking the reader to reflect on what they would do if/when such an epidemic hits our shores. At what point would you stockpile food, stop going to work, keep your kids home from school, barricade your house and refuse to have any contact with visitors and neighbours? Where do you draw the line between compassion for others and protecting your family? It also raises questions about how our modern world would function with a loss of essential services, media, internet, electricity, water. Would you be ready?
April 11, 2017
Manba is a virus like SARS that is spreading worldwide and, in Australia, a paranoid and extremely annoying helicopter mother, Hannah, sees danger everywhere. It turns out that she was right to stockpile food, because her family winds up being trapped in their house for a few weeks to avoid contagion.
I was expecting a story with some tension, but instead I got a boring story of meal planning and a lot of games to keep toddlers occupied. I kept reading to see whether something would actually happen in this book but it never did. In addition to not having any real sense of danger, another problem I had with the book was that the author didn't give me a reason to root for this family. Hannah was an unpleasant character throughout and her husband was a doormat. She is not a person I would want around in a crisis. She very grudgingly helped an elderly neighbor, a three year old girl and her son's schoolmate (and gave no help at all to the family's cat). I understand wanting to protect one's family, but her "us first" attitude was repugnant. I know exactly how she would vote if she were an American.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I was expecting a story with some tension, but instead I got a boring story of meal planning and a lot of games to keep toddlers occupied. I kept reading to see whether something would actually happen in this book but it never did. In addition to not having any real sense of danger, another problem I had with the book was that the author didn't give me a reason to root for this family. Hannah was an unpleasant character throughout and her husband was a doormat. She is not a person I would want around in a crisis. She very grudgingly helped an elderly neighbor, a three year old girl and her son's schoolmate (and gave no help at all to the family's cat). I understand wanting to protect one's family, but her "us first" attitude was repugnant. I know exactly how she would vote if she were an American.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
April 11, 2020
Found this book via a Goodreads Friend, not a doomsday senario but quite pertaint to what we are experiencing now in this Covid 19 environment. A very easy read, mostly read in one day while I sit in govt suggested self isolation over the Easter weekend and I could see many parallels in the story but luckily our situation is not as bad and hopefully won’t be!
September 13, 2020
It is so surreal to be reading this book now in the midst of our own pandemic with it playing out, at least in the beginning, so much like our own. This book is very well written and kept my attention throughout. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 18, 2018
Kirkus review stated, "There is no shortage of suspense." Apparently we have differing views on what is suspenseful and what is not. In my opinion, this is not. I found the main character, a mother, annoying, and all the characters barely fleshed out. Plot-wise it could have been very good, but fell very short in that regard. I kept thinking it would get better or that I might come to care how it ended. Nope.
November 29, 2015
An Ordinary Epidemic explores the impact of a pandemic through the experience of one family in suburban Sydney.
When a few people die from a mysterious illness within a few days, Hannah starts stockpiling food. She keeps her son home from school and begs her husband not to go into the office. When the government declares a state of quarantine, what looked at first like hysterical paranoia begins to seem like good sense.
Hannah is not an easy character to like but, as a parent myself, I find her behaviour understandable. She is determined to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure that her family will survive the epidemic. But as the death toll rises, her sense of right and wrong are called into question. Should she have to share her precious food with neighbours who didn't bother to prepare in time? Can she leave a young child to fend for herself, or should she take her in at the risk of infecting her own family?
An Ordinary Epidemic is a tense, gripping, claustrophobic story of human nature in desperate times, which had me stocking up on beans and rice.
When a few people die from a mysterious illness within a few days, Hannah starts stockpiling food. She keeps her son home from school and begs her husband not to go into the office. When the government declares a state of quarantine, what looked at first like hysterical paranoia begins to seem like good sense.
Hannah is not an easy character to like but, as a parent myself, I find her behaviour understandable. She is determined to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure that her family will survive the epidemic. But as the death toll rises, her sense of right and wrong are called into question. Should she have to share her precious food with neighbours who didn't bother to prepare in time? Can she leave a young child to fend for herself, or should she take her in at the risk of infecting her own family?
An Ordinary Epidemic is a tense, gripping, claustrophobic story of human nature in desperate times, which had me stocking up on beans and rice.
July 9, 2018
did not like it at all , was expecting for a dystopian world where the characters would fight for their life , what I got instead was a couple hiding while a virus runs through their country , thats it ...they hide through all of the book , Honestly I realize that some people might like the slow and suspenseful atmosphere but it was definitely not for me .
March 28, 2017
For all my reviews, visit Clues and Reviews
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Before This Is Over by Amanda Hickie was a book I was incredibly excited to read. I have always been a fan of apocalyptic and pandemic stories, so when I read the synopsis for this novel, I was more than thrilled. Upon further investigation, I found out that the premise for this novel was inspired by the events of the SARS outbreak in Toronto when the author was living in Canada with her family. I thought that was incredibly interesting, not only because I am Canadian, but also because I can remember this event and the hysteria during this time. Hickie does a brilliant job at capturing this feeling throughout the pages of her novel.
The novel opens with Hannah, a cancer survivor and understandable germaphobe, trying to handle the news of a virus that has broken out overseas. Known as Manba, the virus begins as a cough and progresses until it becomes terminal. With no cure and no real sureties, Hannah draws her family close to her and begins to prepare. When the virus begins to spread rapidly and cases begin to show up in her hometown, Hannah is forced into hiding with her family and their fight for survival begins.
The thing that stood out for me with this plot was the fact that it was so incredibly realistic. This is not a zombie book or a sci-fi novel; in fact, the entire time I was reading, I was filled with anxiety as my mind raced with the probability of this scenario. This book was so much than a novel of realistic horror; this novel is a character study in human survival, the nature of people in crisis and the lengths people go to in order to protect their own. If nothing else, this novel will leave you thinking.
My only complaint was that I did find this novel to be a little bit long. At 400 pages, I felt like this novel still would have felt complete with 50 pages left. However, I did not struggle to read any of this book. I sat down to read it and completed it in a single sitting. I was utterly absorbed and deliciously devoured by Hickie’s prose.
If you are a fan of a book that will leave you thinking and anxiously awaiting a resolution, you will love this book. I know I loved it. I rated it 5/5 stars.
Thanks to Little Brown, HBG Canada and the author for a copy of this book; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
www.cluesandreviews.wordpress.com
Before This Is Over by Amanda Hickie was a book I was incredibly excited to read. I have always been a fan of apocalyptic and pandemic stories, so when I read the synopsis for this novel, I was more than thrilled. Upon further investigation, I found out that the premise for this novel was inspired by the events of the SARS outbreak in Toronto when the author was living in Canada with her family. I thought that was incredibly interesting, not only because I am Canadian, but also because I can remember this event and the hysteria during this time. Hickie does a brilliant job at capturing this feeling throughout the pages of her novel.
The novel opens with Hannah, a cancer survivor and understandable germaphobe, trying to handle the news of a virus that has broken out overseas. Known as Manba, the virus begins as a cough and progresses until it becomes terminal. With no cure and no real sureties, Hannah draws her family close to her and begins to prepare. When the virus begins to spread rapidly and cases begin to show up in her hometown, Hannah is forced into hiding with her family and their fight for survival begins.
The thing that stood out for me with this plot was the fact that it was so incredibly realistic. This is not a zombie book or a sci-fi novel; in fact, the entire time I was reading, I was filled with anxiety as my mind raced with the probability of this scenario. This book was so much than a novel of realistic horror; this novel is a character study in human survival, the nature of people in crisis and the lengths people go to in order to protect their own. If nothing else, this novel will leave you thinking.
My only complaint was that I did find this novel to be a little bit long. At 400 pages, I felt like this novel still would have felt complete with 50 pages left. However, I did not struggle to read any of this book. I sat down to read it and completed it in a single sitting. I was utterly absorbed and deliciously devoured by Hickie’s prose.
If you are a fan of a book that will leave you thinking and anxiously awaiting a resolution, you will love this book. I know I loved it. I rated it 5/5 stars.
Thanks to Little Brown, HBG Canada and the author for a copy of this book; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
April 13, 2017
This is an interesting novel about what happens within a family as a viral epidemic begins to spread around the world, including in their community. This virus essentially traps this family of 4 in their home and this novel tells the story of how they cope with having such little control over what comes next. I found this fascinating … I’m always wondering what we’d do if this sort of epidemic started in our world today. I really enjoyed this novels exploration of this scenario.
I thought the author did a wonderful job covering the physical and emotional impact of this on each of the characters. The writing was well done and I felt like the author was able to weave a feeling of claustrophobia into each word. I kept feeling as if I was being forced into a small space and trying to survive as I read. I was at the grocery store and kept thinking about how this would not be an option … and how I’d feel if the shelves were empty and we were hungry. She made that aspect of fear and frustration come alive for me. The panic of trying to make your food and water last, trying to decide how to treat my neighbors who need help, etc. It just came alive in this book!
The characters aren’t particularly engaging, but they did feel real to me. But, I would guess that might be intentional since we’re seeing people at a desperate time, one that can change how they are and how they experience the world. Perhaps I’d have liked them better if I’d seen any warmth or something from them? I don’t know but they weren’t what I’d call likeable … yet they were understandable.
All in all, this is a good book that I recommend especially if you are interested in the idea of how people react to a worldwide epidemic as it comes closer to their own home and family.
NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC for my honest review.
I thought the author did a wonderful job covering the physical and emotional impact of this on each of the characters. The writing was well done and I felt like the author was able to weave a feeling of claustrophobia into each word. I kept feeling as if I was being forced into a small space and trying to survive as I read. I was at the grocery store and kept thinking about how this would not be an option … and how I’d feel if the shelves were empty and we were hungry. She made that aspect of fear and frustration come alive for me. The panic of trying to make your food and water last, trying to decide how to treat my neighbors who need help, etc. It just came alive in this book!
The characters aren’t particularly engaging, but they did feel real to me. But, I would guess that might be intentional since we’re seeing people at a desperate time, one that can change how they are and how they experience the world. Perhaps I’d have liked them better if I’d seen any warmth or something from them? I don’t know but they weren’t what I’d call likeable … yet they were understandable.
All in all, this is a good book that I recommend especially if you are interested in the idea of how people react to a worldwide epidemic as it comes closer to their own home and family.
NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC for my honest review.
March 17, 2020
I read this in 2017, and thought it was ok, but in light of our current situation with COVID-19, I wanted to revisit it, and I'm glad I did.
Hannah and her family live in Sydney, Australia, and as a deadly new disease emerges, she stocks up on groceries and quarantines her family. This isn't a book filled with brave doctors or plucky epidemiologists, it's about the day-to-day life of one family trying to entertain themselves, stretch their food supply, help their neighbors, and occasionally freak the hell out.
Reading this in a time different than the one we're in, you might think Hannah is over-protective and over-reacting, but reading this while there's a global pandemic, I am Hannah. The things she does are the things I'm doing. I get her fears. I get how it feels to be desperate to keep your children safe and not infect them with the same stress you're dealing with. I get her agonizing over whether her pantry is sufficiently stocked. The things she's feeling are the same things I'm going through, and I appreciated a character I could relate to on such an immediate level.
I know for some people, reading a book that mirrors what's going on in our own lives might be exhausting, and I totally get that. But for me, I couldn't put it down.
Hannah and her family live in Sydney, Australia, and as a deadly new disease emerges, she stocks up on groceries and quarantines her family. This isn't a book filled with brave doctors or plucky epidemiologists, it's about the day-to-day life of one family trying to entertain themselves, stretch their food supply, help their neighbors, and occasionally freak the hell out.
Reading this in a time different than the one we're in, you might think Hannah is over-protective and over-reacting, but reading this while there's a global pandemic, I am Hannah. The things she does are the things I'm doing. I get her fears. I get how it feels to be desperate to keep your children safe and not infect them with the same stress you're dealing with. I get her agonizing over whether her pantry is sufficiently stocked. The things she's feeling are the same things I'm going through, and I appreciated a character I could relate to on such an immediate level.
I know for some people, reading a book that mirrors what's going on in our own lives might be exhausting, and I totally get that. But for me, I couldn't put it down.
November 16, 2017
I knew Before This Is Over would be an interesting read due to its subject matter - post-apocalyptic stories, especially where something like a virus or pandemic spreads (because I can more easily imagine that happening than other situations), tend to really pull me in - and this one was no exception. What a brilliant novel!
Firstly, the characters are fantastic. Parents Hannah and Sean are both flawed in their own ways; they don't get it right every time and especially Hannah admits that she aims to be selfish as necessary to protect her own family - whatever it takes, even if it's at the detriment of others. Of course, it isn't always as easy as that when faced with real people, and I loved that the characters were convincing and not too 'perfect'. They felt realistic and convincing and I hugely enjoyed reading about them all and the relationships between them: Hannah and Sean, kids Zac and Oscar, and other people too...
This book really made me think about what I'd do in this situation which I think is always the mark of a good book. I could put myself in Hannah's situation, and the novel drills into the family's relationships with each other.
The thing that's so scary about this is that the start feels so normal. I can imagine there being some sort of virus spreading, and the niggling worry that it might reach your own country...then your own city or town... The fact that the book is also mostly set within the family's house adds a real sense of claustrophobia, very similar (or so I imagine) as they themselves feel. This set the novel apart from other books with a similar storyline - it wasn't necessarily about anyone fighting off other people with the virus, or trying to solve/ cure/ discover more about it. It's about an ordinary family coping in their own way, and the small but important measures they take to try and survive.
Overall, this drew me in completely and I raced through it, savouring every detail about the family's (and indeed the country's) life as they dealt with the ever spreading pandemic. Powerful, interesting and a little different - definitely recommended.
Firstly, the characters are fantastic. Parents Hannah and Sean are both flawed in their own ways; they don't get it right every time and especially Hannah admits that she aims to be selfish as necessary to protect her own family - whatever it takes, even if it's at the detriment of others. Of course, it isn't always as easy as that when faced with real people, and I loved that the characters were convincing and not too 'perfect'. They felt realistic and convincing and I hugely enjoyed reading about them all and the relationships between them: Hannah and Sean, kids Zac and Oscar, and other people too...
This book really made me think about what I'd do in this situation which I think is always the mark of a good book. I could put myself in Hannah's situation, and the novel drills into the family's relationships with each other.
The thing that's so scary about this is that the start feels so normal. I can imagine there being some sort of virus spreading, and the niggling worry that it might reach your own country...then your own city or town... The fact that the book is also mostly set within the family's house adds a real sense of claustrophobia, very similar (or so I imagine) as they themselves feel. This set the novel apart from other books with a similar storyline - it wasn't necessarily about anyone fighting off other people with the virus, or trying to solve/ cure/ discover more about it. It's about an ordinary family coping in their own way, and the small but important measures they take to try and survive.
Overall, this drew me in completely and I raced through it, savouring every detail about the family's (and indeed the country's) life as they dealt with the ever spreading pandemic. Powerful, interesting and a little different - definitely recommended.
July 21, 2016
Fabulous story - edge of the seat story but without the nonstop in your face action. No explosions, no war - just utter fear of what might happen and lack of information, and how an ordinary family reacts to an increasingly believable scenario of a massive virus sweeping the world and killing hundreds and thousands of people.
August 20, 2017
'Before This Is Over' is the story of the Halloran family, a normal family facing the unbelievable, a illness called Manba which manifests itself within two days of contracting the illness, the symptoms being coughing, fever, headaches & diarrhoea, in most cases it ends with death.
As the number of deaths rises, life changes very quickly for the Hallorans, Hannah decides the best way to survive is by shutting her & her family into their house with her husband, Sean, their sons, Zac & Oscar & Zac's friend, Daniel.
Hannah & her family face the unknown as they lose power in their home, their water supply, their food supplies running low & the arrival of their neighbours three year old daughter, Ella, who may or may be infected by Manba.
The Halloran family must rely on each other for their survival.
I enjoyed ''Before This Is Over', the story was so raw, you are seeing people at their worse & their best.
Hannah, the main character is a complex character, now in remission from cancer which was diagnosed eight years before, Hannah has already faced the unknown. Hannah is very strong willed & it shows throughout the story, she is also a flawed character which she is aware of as she reacts to the life she & her family are now living, she feels guilty for some of her actions, while knowing that she is doing what is best for her family. I liked Hannah, she is a interesting character, although at times I found myself questioning her reasoning.
I also liked Sean, he is the quintessential fun Dad who discovers things about myself during the crisis he & his family are living through, he is strong for Hannah & his family, he is at times impulsive, which puts the family in danger.
I found all of the characters well written, they go through so much, you experience what they experience, the highs & the lows.
'Before this is over' is a heartfelt & intriguing story about how individuals cope. The only part which let me down was the ending, I felt it was slightly rush.
Highly recommended.
I received a copy of 'Before This Is Over' from NetGalley to review.
As the number of deaths rises, life changes very quickly for the Hallorans, Hannah decides the best way to survive is by shutting her & her family into their house with her husband, Sean, their sons, Zac & Oscar & Zac's friend, Daniel.
Hannah & her family face the unknown as they lose power in their home, their water supply, their food supplies running low & the arrival of their neighbours three year old daughter, Ella, who may or may be infected by Manba.
The Halloran family must rely on each other for their survival.
I enjoyed ''Before This Is Over', the story was so raw, you are seeing people at their worse & their best.
Hannah, the main character is a complex character, now in remission from cancer which was diagnosed eight years before, Hannah has already faced the unknown. Hannah is very strong willed & it shows throughout the story, she is also a flawed character which she is aware of as she reacts to the life she & her family are now living, she feels guilty for some of her actions, while knowing that she is doing what is best for her family. I liked Hannah, she is a interesting character, although at times I found myself questioning her reasoning.
I also liked Sean, he is the quintessential fun Dad who discovers things about myself during the crisis he & his family are living through, he is strong for Hannah & his family, he is at times impulsive, which puts the family in danger.
I found all of the characters well written, they go through so much, you experience what they experience, the highs & the lows.
'Before this is over' is a heartfelt & intriguing story about how individuals cope. The only part which let me down was the ending, I felt it was slightly rush.
Highly recommended.
I received a copy of 'Before This Is Over' from NetGalley to review.
September 24, 2017
Who knew a book that took place mainly in one location could keep me gripped for its entirety. Before This Is Over is a silent thriller – the thrills aren’t right there in your face but they’re bubbling under the surface the whole time. As Manba, a deadly virus, is sweeping the world, cities full of people are dying, the death toll rising each day and now it’s reached Sydney. But that’s okay because Hannah prepared for this, she stocked up on supplies, and is determined her family will survive this. But she didn’t plan for the electric and water being cut off, and she certainly didn’t plan for having an extra mouth to feed!
Whilst reading this novel, I felt a strong sense of unease, and that’s because I identified with Hannah so much it scared me. Zac and Oscar are her children, her priority, her first, last and everything, so when she reluctantly gives food to her neighbour, she’s very aware that is one less meal for her children. Hannah doesn’t want to share her supplies, and I don’t think I would in her situation either. And this moral dilemma plagues you throughout the whole book – would you give food to the old lady next door, supplies are low, you don’t know when it will be safe to go outside again? If you reluctantly agree to take in a child, one that is not your own, one you barely even know, do you give them the same size portions as your own children because one portion given away is one less portion you have for your own children? Needless to say, this is indeed a thought-provoking read, one that has you constantly questioning what you would do in Hannah’s situation.
This family must adapt every day, Zac is forced to grow up, and Oscar is shielded from as much of it as possible. As each day passes and the kids go to bed, that’s another day survived, but there’s no time to celebrate, you must begin thinking about how you will survive tomorrow and all that it will bring!
The events portrayed in this novel are so realistic, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was based on true events. Manba is a virus, so if you need complete realism in your novels, you’re safe here, there are no zombie apocalypses.
My only niggle with this one – I don’t think the novel needed to be quite so long. I felt at times, small parts of the story dragged. As this is a slow-paced read, with no fast action at all, at certain times, I felt we were given additional information that wasn’t really needed as it didn’t build on the tension in any way, or lay the foundation for something that was coming.
If you enjoy novels of a slower pace, which have you questioning how you would act, or are a fan of pandemic novels, I highly recommend Before This Is Over.
*My thanks to the publisher (Headline Review) for granting me access to a digital copy of this book via Netgalley*
Whilst reading this novel, I felt a strong sense of unease, and that’s because I identified with Hannah so much it scared me. Zac and Oscar are her children, her priority, her first, last and everything, so when she reluctantly gives food to her neighbour, she’s very aware that is one less meal for her children. Hannah doesn’t want to share her supplies, and I don’t think I would in her situation either. And this moral dilemma plagues you throughout the whole book – would you give food to the old lady next door, supplies are low, you don’t know when it will be safe to go outside again? If you reluctantly agree to take in a child, one that is not your own, one you barely even know, do you give them the same size portions as your own children because one portion given away is one less portion you have for your own children? Needless to say, this is indeed a thought-provoking read, one that has you constantly questioning what you would do in Hannah’s situation.
This family must adapt every day, Zac is forced to grow up, and Oscar is shielded from as much of it as possible. As each day passes and the kids go to bed, that’s another day survived, but there’s no time to celebrate, you must begin thinking about how you will survive tomorrow and all that it will bring!
The events portrayed in this novel are so realistic, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was based on true events. Manba is a virus, so if you need complete realism in your novels, you’re safe here, there are no zombie apocalypses.
My only niggle with this one – I don’t think the novel needed to be quite so long. I felt at times, small parts of the story dragged. As this is a slow-paced read, with no fast action at all, at certain times, I felt we were given additional information that wasn’t really needed as it didn’t build on the tension in any way, or lay the foundation for something that was coming.
If you enjoy novels of a slower pace, which have you questioning how you would act, or are a fan of pandemic novels, I highly recommend Before This Is Over.
*My thanks to the publisher (Headline Review) for granting me access to a digital copy of this book via Netgalley*
March 3, 2018
The first thing I noticed about Hannah was how protective she was over the ones she loved (something I could easily relate to) and the whole situation seemed so normal. Then I began to realise that her protective instinct was more than normal and with the threat of Manba hanging over the country she seemed obsessed with avoiding contact with ALL germs.
There was an overwhelming sense of impending doom and I couldn’t help but put myself in Hannah’s position and wonder how I would react if it happened to me. I felt helpless on Hannah’s behalf and found myself trying to think up ways of surviving.
The author’s writing drew me in, I simply couldn’t stop reading as I just had to know what would happen next and where it would all end. I’m pretty sure I held my breath until I’d read the very last words!
A scarily realistic and thought-provoking read that will definitely stick in my mind.
There was an overwhelming sense of impending doom and I couldn’t help but put myself in Hannah’s position and wonder how I would react if it happened to me. I felt helpless on Hannah’s behalf and found myself trying to think up ways of surviving.
The author’s writing drew me in, I simply couldn’t stop reading as I just had to know what would happen next and where it would all end. I’m pretty sure I held my breath until I’d read the very last words!
A scarily realistic and thought-provoking read that will definitely stick in my mind.
July 19, 2022
Okay, this was seriously a very good book. It will make you want to drop everything and get to the end. It had me completely enraptured like I haven’t been in a while. Amazing still how on point she was in 2015 about what a global pandemic would look like!
August 8, 2023
Impressive in how it predicted how a pandemic could go! But not the most compelling read 🤷🏼♀️
March 29, 2017
Oh gosh... I don't know if this happens to everyone but since I got pregnant, anything related with kids is just too much for me.
I couldn't stop reading this book. I have several books in my to-do list that you will like it but this one was just very emotional. You read the book and got you thinking if you would do a little bit more than the Hannah or not... the fact is that probably not.
A fast paced thriller that will make you think about vulnerabilities and about your family.
I couldn't stop reading this book. I have several books in my to-do list that you will like it but this one was just very emotional. You read the book and got you thinking if you would do a little bit more than the Hannah or not... the fact is that probably not.
A fast paced thriller that will make you think about vulnerabilities and about your family.
February 15, 2017
This is a hard one to review. The scale on this book for interest would down, up, down, up, and down.
As in it started slow, then it was good, then it was slow, then it was good, then slow, then it ends.
I mean, yes, it would be hard to write a book about a family stranded in a house for however long this family was stranded. I think there were times when the author was able to accomplish that task and made it interesting. Then there were numerous times when that did not happen. Actually, there were more times when it didn't happen than there were when it did happen. I guess the only thing that really kept me reading was to find out whether or not this family made it and what happened to the world.
That leads me to the ending. The ending. The thing that I spent several hours reading and waiting to get to. It was delivered in about two pages, maybe three. It was like the author was on a deadline, out of time and just threw something in there. Let's just say I was disappointed. While I think I am being very generous with my three stars, I appreciate the time and effort authors put into a book. I just wish that I hadn't put any time into it.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Co. for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
As in it started slow, then it was good, then it was slow, then it was good, then slow, then it ends.
I mean, yes, it would be hard to write a book about a family stranded in a house for however long this family was stranded. I think there were times when the author was able to accomplish that task and made it interesting. Then there were numerous times when that did not happen. Actually, there were more times when it didn't happen than there were when it did happen. I guess the only thing that really kept me reading was to find out whether or not this family made it and what happened to the world.
That leads me to the ending. The ending. The thing that I spent several hours reading and waiting to get to. It was delivered in about two pages, maybe three. It was like the author was on a deadline, out of time and just threw something in there. Let's just say I was disappointed. While I think I am being very generous with my three stars, I appreciate the time and effort authors put into a book. I just wish that I hadn't put any time into it.
Thanks to Little, Brown and Co. for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2016
I really wanted to like this book but just found it a little long with not a lot happening. I know that this is the whole premise - that it's just about an ordinary family living through an extraordinary situation but I found that the ordinariness of it all started to drag on after a while. Six weeks in a house with the same characters - by the end, they were all getting on my nerves. There were a few climactic bits but I never really felt a great deal of tension. Once the incident was over, it was just back to counting cans in the pantry, playing board games and arguing with family. I think this was an ok book but I think it could have been a whole lot more.
November 5, 2017
Hannah knows something bad is coming and that the virus outbreak that's taking people's lives in other areas of the world will soon hit Sydney. So, she prepares for the end of the world by stocking up her pantry and taking her kids out of school. when the virus does reach their city, the family holes up inside their house and tries to survive off of what Hannah has prepared. Then, NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS. This book had a lot of promise but it was so anticlimactic and boring to read. The main character is completely paranoid and I just couldn't stand her. She was rude and annoying and she had no real saving qualities to counteract those ones. Don't bother reading this - it's a snooze.
August 7, 2019
“Shatteringly suspenseful” it was not!! I should know better than to believe cover blurbs.
This was a total bore, starring a neurotic mother and her namby pamby family. I lasted for 249 pages and just couldn’t face another 150. It just dragged on with no end in sight. I didn’t even skim to the conclusion, I hope they all starved to death, except for the cat, Mr Moon. DNF
This was a total bore, starring a neurotic mother and her namby pamby family. I lasted for 249 pages and just couldn’t face another 150. It just dragged on with no end in sight. I didn’t even skim to the conclusion, I hope they all starved to death, except for the cat, Mr Moon. DNF
October 31, 2015
Ordinary: adjective meaning of no special quality or interest. Sums this book up beautifully!
July 15, 2017
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!
Before This is Over shockingly impressed me. It was an impressive story that took the subject of a horrifying epidemic and made it more real, more heartfelt. This novel is not about discovering a cure or vaccine for the virus that is focused on in the story: Manba. It is about a family's journey in saving themselves and keeping themselves sane as they are stuck in their own home, in quarantine, afraid of the outside world and their health being affected. But mostly, it is about a mother named Hannah, and the endless amount of struggles she faces as she tries to keep her loved ones safe.
Amanda Hickie is a phenomenal writer. You can tell because of the way she has written this novel — it has a topic that is often written about in a dystopian fashion, with characters who are trying to stop the disease or hide, but she has taken a different toll on this all. Yes, her protagonist, Hannah, is trying to hide from the disease, but there's nothing hardcore about the story. However, I must admit that Amanda Hickie's writing is hardcore — it is simply brilliant, and I do not think I'll be able to get this story out of my head for a long time. I would even like to classify this under the "contemporary" genre because it just felt so real to me. I was just really satisfied with how everything played out.
You see, you're going to need to spend a little bit of time with this one. It is a slow-moving story, but I never found myself getting bored. I guess it's because I was at the edge of my seat for the entire time I read this. After this, I'm asking myself, "how is it possible that an author has written a book that is so slow-paced yet thrilling at the same time?" I don't think I'll ever get to hear the answer to that question, proving that Hickie's writing is just one-of-a-kind. Normally, I would get bored with something like this, but because the characters and situation were so real, I found myself intrigued for the whole time.
What I loved the most about this family's story is that aside from the virus being spread around the Sydney area, each character had their own struggles as well. Hannah, the mother, is a cancer survivor and a mother of two boys, and you can see throughout the book how this cancer, this sickness, has played a toll on her. She is panicky, anxious, and unaware that there are other things to life than just thinking about the bad things. And by the end of the story, we see her character develop into a strong woman who is willing to care for others (who are not part of her family) and love stronger. I found Hannah to be extremely annoying for the first half of the book, which definitely played a role into the four star rating. I couldn't stand the anxiety in the air of the setting.
We then have Sean, Hannah's husband. I guess we can call him a main character, but he was iffy. Mysterious. Ominous. Whatever word that is a synonym to those. I wish we got to hear his perspective, because I felt like he was more introverted and difficult to understand compared to Hannah. It seemed as if he had something to say. But at the same time, he was a loving father who took in other children who needed his family's help during the spread of Manba. I loved his character, to be quite honest.
What is great about the setting is that we see characters of every age group. We have the adults, as mentioned, and the young boys, Zac and Oscar. Zac is a teenager, and he is a complainer and all, but he does have a soft side and cares for his family. Oscar is the adorable, innocent young boy. We can see how this situation has an effect on the whole family. It's rare to see something like that. Even though the story mainly focuses on Hannah (it is not written in her first-hand perspective, however), we learn a bit about everyone.
I truly felt like this was brilliant. It has a brilliant topic and a brilliant set of characters who are extremely memorable. I felt like I was stuck in the house with the characters for the whole time, and I kept feeling a burst of emotions every instant. I hope Amanda Hickie continues writing books like this — I'm in for more!
*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*
Before This is Over shockingly impressed me. It was an impressive story that took the subject of a horrifying epidemic and made it more real, more heartfelt. This novel is not about discovering a cure or vaccine for the virus that is focused on in the story: Manba. It is about a family's journey in saving themselves and keeping themselves sane as they are stuck in their own home, in quarantine, afraid of the outside world and their health being affected. But mostly, it is about a mother named Hannah, and the endless amount of struggles she faces as she tries to keep her loved ones safe.
Amanda Hickie is a phenomenal writer. You can tell because of the way she has written this novel — it has a topic that is often written about in a dystopian fashion, with characters who are trying to stop the disease or hide, but she has taken a different toll on this all. Yes, her protagonist, Hannah, is trying to hide from the disease, but there's nothing hardcore about the story. However, I must admit that Amanda Hickie's writing is hardcore — it is simply brilliant, and I do not think I'll be able to get this story out of my head for a long time. I would even like to classify this under the "contemporary" genre because it just felt so real to me. I was just really satisfied with how everything played out.
You see, you're going to need to spend a little bit of time with this one. It is a slow-moving story, but I never found myself getting bored. I guess it's because I was at the edge of my seat for the entire time I read this. After this, I'm asking myself, "how is it possible that an author has written a book that is so slow-paced yet thrilling at the same time?" I don't think I'll ever get to hear the answer to that question, proving that Hickie's writing is just one-of-a-kind. Normally, I would get bored with something like this, but because the characters and situation were so real, I found myself intrigued for the whole time.
"She was crying, but not for the beaten face on the TV, or for the two boys whose parents had died. She was crying for things that might never take place. She was crying because every day, everywhere, small tragedies happened and she didn't know how to care about every single one, and so they aggregated and magnified and became incomprehensible" (85).
What I loved the most about this family's story is that aside from the virus being spread around the Sydney area, each character had their own struggles as well. Hannah, the mother, is a cancer survivor and a mother of two boys, and you can see throughout the book how this cancer, this sickness, has played a toll on her. She is panicky, anxious, and unaware that there are other things to life than just thinking about the bad things. And by the end of the story, we see her character develop into a strong woman who is willing to care for others (who are not part of her family) and love stronger. I found Hannah to be extremely annoying for the first half of the book, which definitely played a role into the four star rating. I couldn't stand the anxiety in the air of the setting.
We then have Sean, Hannah's husband. I guess we can call him a main character, but he was iffy. Mysterious. Ominous. Whatever word that is a synonym to those. I wish we got to hear his perspective, because I felt like he was more introverted and difficult to understand compared to Hannah. It seemed as if he had something to say. But at the same time, he was a loving father who took in other children who needed his family's help during the spread of Manba. I loved his character, to be quite honest.
What is great about the setting is that we see characters of every age group. We have the adults, as mentioned, and the young boys, Zac and Oscar. Zac is a teenager, and he is a complainer and all, but he does have a soft side and cares for his family. Oscar is the adorable, innocent young boy. We can see how this situation has an effect on the whole family. It's rare to see something like that. Even though the story mainly focuses on Hannah (it is not written in her first-hand perspective, however), we learn a bit about everyone.
I truly felt like this was brilliant. It has a brilliant topic and a brilliant set of characters who are extremely memorable. I felt like I was stuck in the house with the characters for the whole time, and I kept feeling a burst of emotions every instant. I hope Amanda Hickie continues writing books like this — I'm in for more!
*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*
November 7, 2017
Hannah is first and foremost a survivor. She beat back breast cancer several years before the book begins, and as is often true with cancer survivors, she’s particularly attuned to the smallest nuances of change within her body. That survival has sensitized her to other things and enhanced her fears of many things. She worries a lot about how to ensure her family’s survival should something horrible happen in her community. And then, … something does.
It begins with a small outbreak in Manchester, England, thousands of miles away from Hannah’s home in Sydney, Australia. But she reads about the outbreak, and despite some raised eyebrows and perhaps even raised voices of her husband, Sean, she begins to prepare her family for an eventuality of being forced to survive a deadly flu-like outbreak in her community.
Despite her strong misgivings, she sends her teenage son, Zac, off to a school camp three hours away. Within days of his departure, cases of the deadly virus occur in Australia. And Hannah continues to stockpile supplies and run through scenarios in her mind. Every random cough or sneeze she hears deepens her anxiety.
But Hannah has good reason to be anxious. Law enforcement officials start closing roads, blocking Sydney’s residents inside the city. In desperation Hannah and Sean get around one roadblock and successfully rescue their son, but things continue to worsen with the virus killing thousands of residents a day.
Some reviewers were critical of Hannah because she was unwilling to share without restraint what she had. While the concept of love for one another wasn’t foreign to Hannah, she was above all practical—ever calculating how much food her family was consuming, how much water it was using—ever trying to find ways to safely replenish what they could.
When garbage collection ends, electricity dies, the water is cut, and the Internet is turned off, Hannah yearns for ordinary days and ponders how meaningless had been so many of her hours bent on doing things that were considered normal.
While some reviewers didn’t like her, I was entirely taken. I suspect her earlier battle with cancer had a profound impact on her. It forced her to look at survival more seriously than might otherwise have been the case. Initially, Hannah erects emotional walls around her and her family in an effort to keep a needy world at bay. Eventually forced to take in a three-year-old neighbor orphaned by the virus, she nevertheless insists that the little girl live in quarantine in the family garage for the number of days required to incubate the virus. I’m sure I’m in a minority here, but I frankly cheered for Hannah and praised her practical approach to life in a horrific crisis.
This won’t be an easy book to read; the family ultimate eats a variety of seemingly dreadful things just to stay alive. It will force you to think about our vulnerability to tiny viral creatures we cannot see or touch, but that have the power to kill us by the tens of thousands. It will force you to rethink all the normal things you take for granted. And you’ll seriously wonder how long you could survive a viral pandemic like the one described in the book.
The narration was done by an Australian narrator who did an excellent job. I couldn’t stop reading this, devoting an entire evening to it just to see whether the family would survive.
There are probably flaws in the plot that an epidemiologist would snag early and often, but since I know relatively little about epidemiology and death patterns associated with deadly viruses, this book worked for me.
It begins with a small outbreak in Manchester, England, thousands of miles away from Hannah’s home in Sydney, Australia. But she reads about the outbreak, and despite some raised eyebrows and perhaps even raised voices of her husband, Sean, she begins to prepare her family for an eventuality of being forced to survive a deadly flu-like outbreak in her community.
Despite her strong misgivings, she sends her teenage son, Zac, off to a school camp three hours away. Within days of his departure, cases of the deadly virus occur in Australia. And Hannah continues to stockpile supplies and run through scenarios in her mind. Every random cough or sneeze she hears deepens her anxiety.
But Hannah has good reason to be anxious. Law enforcement officials start closing roads, blocking Sydney’s residents inside the city. In desperation Hannah and Sean get around one roadblock and successfully rescue their son, but things continue to worsen with the virus killing thousands of residents a day.
Some reviewers were critical of Hannah because she was unwilling to share without restraint what she had. While the concept of love for one another wasn’t foreign to Hannah, she was above all practical—ever calculating how much food her family was consuming, how much water it was using—ever trying to find ways to safely replenish what they could.
When garbage collection ends, electricity dies, the water is cut, and the Internet is turned off, Hannah yearns for ordinary days and ponders how meaningless had been so many of her hours bent on doing things that were considered normal.
While some reviewers didn’t like her, I was entirely taken. I suspect her earlier battle with cancer had a profound impact on her. It forced her to look at survival more seriously than might otherwise have been the case. Initially, Hannah erects emotional walls around her and her family in an effort to keep a needy world at bay. Eventually forced to take in a three-year-old neighbor orphaned by the virus, she nevertheless insists that the little girl live in quarantine in the family garage for the number of days required to incubate the virus. I’m sure I’m in a minority here, but I frankly cheered for Hannah and praised her practical approach to life in a horrific crisis.
This won’t be an easy book to read; the family ultimate eats a variety of seemingly dreadful things just to stay alive. It will force you to think about our vulnerability to tiny viral creatures we cannot see or touch, but that have the power to kill us by the tens of thousands. It will force you to rethink all the normal things you take for granted. And you’ll seriously wonder how long you could survive a viral pandemic like the one described in the book.
The narration was done by an Australian narrator who did an excellent job. I couldn’t stop reading this, devoting an entire evening to it just to see whether the family would survive.
There are probably flaws in the plot that an epidemiologist would snag early and often, but since I know relatively little about epidemiology and death patterns associated with deadly viruses, this book worked for me.
August 3, 2017
Note: This book has also been published under the title "Before This Is Over".
This is the story of a viral pandemic outbreak and how it affects one Sydney family. Hannah is a breast cancer survivor who is hyper-paranoid about her family’s health. As soon as the first reports emerge of a new illness in Thailand and the UK, she starts stockpiling food and supplies ready to quarantine the family. As the illness spreads it becomes apparent that she has made the right call, but even so the rapid breakdown of society will bring challenges that she hadn’t anticipated.
It’s hard to know how to rate this one. On the one hand I read it in a few hours, barely stopping, unable to put it down. And I was so immersed in it that when my husband turned on the TV news, I looked up expecting to see an update on fatalities around the world. Much as when I read “Still Alice” and was convinced that I had Alzheimer’s, when I read this I felt like I was waiting out a global pandemic in the safety of my home and I was mentally thanking myself for my book hoarding habit and thinking of all the board games we never get round to playing.
So, it sucked me in and took me along for a ride. Which is generally the mark of a good book. And yet. Its focus is very internal. It’s about Hannah’s day-to-day worries: how will she make the food stretch? What is her responsibility to her neighbours? How to shelter the kids from the realities of what’s out there?
There isn’t much of the broader picture and this is what I itched to know. The entire city of Sydney gets put into quarantine. Besides being unlikely that this could happen, did it work to stop the infection spreading elsewhere? No idea. While initially Hannah’s internal focus is gripping and has a sense of slow dread, eventually it gets a little mundane and I started to actively dislike Hannah and her determination to save her family but to hell with the rest of the world. It covers similar territory to Carla Buckley's "The Things That Keep Us Here", but I thought that was a better book.
This is the story of a viral pandemic outbreak and how it affects one Sydney family. Hannah is a breast cancer survivor who is hyper-paranoid about her family’s health. As soon as the first reports emerge of a new illness in Thailand and the UK, she starts stockpiling food and supplies ready to quarantine the family. As the illness spreads it becomes apparent that she has made the right call, but even so the rapid breakdown of society will bring challenges that she hadn’t anticipated.
It’s hard to know how to rate this one. On the one hand I read it in a few hours, barely stopping, unable to put it down. And I was so immersed in it that when my husband turned on the TV news, I looked up expecting to see an update on fatalities around the world. Much as when I read “Still Alice” and was convinced that I had Alzheimer’s, when I read this I felt like I was waiting out a global pandemic in the safety of my home and I was mentally thanking myself for my book hoarding habit and thinking of all the board games we never get round to playing.
So, it sucked me in and took me along for a ride. Which is generally the mark of a good book. And yet. Its focus is very internal. It’s about Hannah’s day-to-day worries: how will she make the food stretch? What is her responsibility to her neighbours? How to shelter the kids from the realities of what’s out there?
There isn’t much of the broader picture and this is what I itched to know. The entire city of Sydney gets put into quarantine. Besides being unlikely that this could happen, did it work to stop the infection spreading elsewhere? No idea. While initially Hannah’s internal focus is gripping and has a sense of slow dread, eventually it gets a little mundane and I started to actively dislike Hannah and her determination to save her family but to hell with the rest of the world. It covers similar territory to Carla Buckley's "The Things That Keep Us Here", but I thought that was a better book.
January 25, 2018
A disappointing book in many ways. An epidemic takes over the world and this story focuses on what one family does to get through it. The kind of interesting part is that the mother, who is the main character, had cancer eight years previously and is now paranoid about any kind of risk to her family. When news of an epidemic starts, she begins to panic and seems paranoid to everyone until what she fears comes to pass.
Now that could potentially be an interesting story but there is no plot and the main character herself is not likeable at all. I finished the book because I was reviewing it but I disliked the mother and would rather have been anywhere else but in that house.
By the end, maybe there was some attempt to show that she had learnt to let go of her paranoia a bit but it didn't really come through. I mean, if you're going to be paranoid, at least do it well. Stock up properly and get provisions that will last. Be like Branch in Trolls. Now there's a character who gets my respect.
I spent most of the book hoping she would get the disease and from many of the comments on Goodreads, so did most people. I imagine the book was signed up because Hickie was a debut author and so could get a cheap deal, and the topic was easy to market. It would be easy to turn into a movie too.
Skip this one.
Now that could potentially be an interesting story but there is no plot and the main character herself is not likeable at all. I finished the book because I was reviewing it but I disliked the mother and would rather have been anywhere else but in that house.
By the end, maybe there was some attempt to show that she had learnt to let go of her paranoia a bit but it didn't really come through. I mean, if you're going to be paranoid, at least do it well. Stock up properly and get provisions that will last. Be like Branch in Trolls. Now there's a character who gets my respect.
I spent most of the book hoping she would get the disease and from many of the comments on Goodreads, so did most people. I imagine the book was signed up because Hickie was a debut author and so could get a cheap deal, and the topic was easy to market. It would be easy to turn into a movie too.
Skip this one.
October 5, 2017
Before this is over Amanda Hickey-4* Net galley (out)
Hannah worries. Alot. The Manba virus is spreading and she wants to do everything she can to protect her family. Her husband thinks she is being over cautious until her plans come to fruition in that she has stocks of food and is keeping their youngest child Oscar away from school for fear of him catching it from one of the other children. The other son , Zac, is away on a school trip and although away from any cases, Hannah is still worried. This is a well written book and gets you thinking “what if”. Few people think about how much everyday things have been handled by others- change for example and this brings to life how a germ could be spread and how the public react- generally in a bad way but always those who are willing to help others. the good , the bad and the downright ugly rear their heads in this rather unusual tale of survival. Of being selfish and selflessness when called for, of love and family and community. A highly enjoyable read.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
Hannah worries. Alot. The Manba virus is spreading and she wants to do everything she can to protect her family. Her husband thinks she is being over cautious until her plans come to fruition in that she has stocks of food and is keeping their youngest child Oscar away from school for fear of him catching it from one of the other children. The other son , Zac, is away on a school trip and although away from any cases, Hannah is still worried. This is a well written book and gets you thinking “what if”. Few people think about how much everyday things have been handled by others- change for example and this brings to life how a germ could be spread and how the public react- generally in a bad way but always those who are willing to help others. the good , the bad and the downright ugly rear their heads in this rather unusual tale of survival. Of being selfish and selflessness when called for, of love and family and community. A highly enjoyable read.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
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