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Not If You Were the Last Vampire On Earth
She was it. The last surviving human in a plague brought on by her own kind. The biological warfare was meant to wipe out vampires and their human/vampire hybrid offspring they call vamps, but it didn't stop there. It got everyone. Now she roams the deserted city, living each day and wondering if there's a point to making it to the next.
Until she's not alone. He's the first person she's spoken to in four years. But he's a vamp and everything she's been taught is telling her to run. However, the thought of being alone again makes her hesitate. When you find someone else after being in complete isolation for years, does it matter that he's a vamp? And what happens when you fall completely in love with your mortal enemy? Surely, it's not the end of the world...again.
This is a new adult novel intended for a mature audience due to some sensual scenes and language.
Until she's not alone. He's the first person she's spoken to in four years. But he's a vamp and everything she's been taught is telling her to run. However, the thought of being alone again makes her hesitate. When you find someone else after being in complete isolation for years, does it matter that he's a vamp? And what happens when you fall completely in love with your mortal enemy? Surely, it's not the end of the world...again.
This is a new adult novel intended for a mature audience due to some sensual scenes and language.
282 pages, Paperback
Published March 26, 2016
16 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
About the author
Cara Coe
5 books90 followersCara Coe is a Houston, Texan native, a wife, a mother of three, a librarian, a traveler (when she can), a recipe follower, a home provider to an English sheepdog abandoned at her library, a lover of books, an okay driver, and above all- the part of her that permeates everything else in her life- a dreamer. She began writing when her family got their first computer at 9 years old and the only program available to use on it was a word processor. Turning her imagination into words soon filled all of her free time and she hasn't looked back since. The Hidden Princess is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
nevermind
December 12, 2019DNF @ 38%
This is actually well-written, and trying its damnedest to be interesting, but unfortunately I'm finding this book a little dull. I don't know why I should be reading about the time in high school a player played Tasha, because since the human population is wiped out, it isn't really relevant. I also don't need to know tons of minute details about the dead person whose home Tasha is using in order for her to create a painting about them. The characters are only so-so. I tend to like my vamps with a bit more bite. It's not you, book, it's me.
This is actually well-written, and trying its damnedest to be interesting, but unfortunately I'm finding this book a little dull. I don't know why I should be reading about the time in high school a player played Tasha, because since the human population is wiped out, it isn't really relevant. I also don't need to know tons of minute details about the dead person whose home Tasha is using in order for her to create a painting about them. The characters are only so-so. I tend to like my vamps with a bit more bite. It's not you, book, it's me.
April 3, 2017
I really liked this book! But I wanted more :(
June 3, 2016
The day you called me,” he said, keeping his eyes on mine. “That first day. I changed everything about me to make room for you. I sat by that stupid phone for months.
Simply put, this was a gorgeous piece of Dystopian Urban Fantasy fiction with an IR twist.
The character development was excellent, and the worldbuilding was in 3D color, giving the reader a fantastic view of Tasha & Alex's "brave new world."
My only issue was with the cliffhanger.. While it was somewhat satisfying, I'm still hungry for more...
Note to the Author: While you are plotting and cranking out the next installment in this excellent series, please consider a novella to satisfy our hunger..
Giving this one: 4.5 stars for excellence...
Simply put, this was a gorgeous piece of Dystopian Urban Fantasy fiction with an IR twist.
The character development was excellent, and the worldbuilding was in 3D color, giving the reader a fantastic view of Tasha & Alex's "brave new world."
My only issue was with the cliffhanger.. While it was somewhat satisfying, I'm still hungry for more...
Note to the Author: While you are plotting and cranking out the next installment in this excellent series, please consider a novella to satisfy our hunger..
Giving this one: 4.5 stars for excellence...
December 7, 2016
An Unexpected Gem
So I've always been a big fan of vampire lore and novels, as well as dystopian stories and movies. This book is somewhat of a hybrid between the two genres that's wrapped in a "romance" bow. To quickly summarize, the world has found out about the existence of vampires as well as their hybrid children with humans..which they call "vamps." The government comes up with a pathogen that is supposed to wipe them out. But in a twist the "cure" actually kills off humans as well which wipes out the population.
Fast forward several years, and you find Tasha who has been surviving alone in Phoenix that believes that she is the only person left. On a whim she decides to call the phone number from an 80's song...and Alex answers the line.
What I liked about this story is that each of the characters stood up well on their own. I was equally interested in both of their backstories and felt invested in both of their well-being by the end. I also thoroughly liked Tasha as a heroine. She was no push over and she held her own in most situations that came her way, even when things weren't going in her favor. I'm a fan of strong/intelligent heroines in books, and Tasha didn't disappoint. I also appreciated the fact that despite this being a romance, the harsh reality of them being stuck in this post-apocalyptic setting wasn't brushed aside. And on the flip side, I also appreciated that even though this was billed as dystopian novel...you still got a lot of sweet moments between both H/h.
I felt like the world building and the initial pace of the book was actually done really well, and I also really appreciated the action that was included throughout.
There was only one gripe that I had, which was the ending. And that mostly is because I felt like it was somewhat rushed. The rest of the story built up at a reasonable speed...but if felt like happened in the blink of an eye...and then left you with somewhat of a cliffhanger. Perhaps this is because the book seemed to be setting us up for the next one, so I'm going to hope we'll get to learn more about both the in the sequel.
So I've always been a big fan of vampire lore and novels, as well as dystopian stories and movies. This book is somewhat of a hybrid between the two genres that's wrapped in a "romance" bow. To quickly summarize, the world has found out about the existence of vampires as well as their hybrid children with humans..which they call "vamps." The government comes up with a pathogen that is supposed to wipe them out. But in a twist the "cure" actually kills off humans as well which wipes out the population.
Fast forward several years, and you find Tasha who has been surviving alone in Phoenix that believes that she is the only person left. On a whim she decides to call the phone number from an 80's song...and Alex answers the line.
What I liked about this story is that each of the characters stood up well on their own. I was equally interested in both of their backstories and felt invested in both of their well-being by the end. I also thoroughly liked Tasha as a heroine. She was no push over and she held her own in most situations that came her way, even when things weren't going in her favor. I'm a fan of strong/intelligent heroines in books, and Tasha didn't disappoint. I also appreciated the fact that despite this being a romance, the harsh reality of them being stuck in this post-apocalyptic setting wasn't brushed aside. And on the flip side, I also appreciated that even though this was billed as dystopian novel...you still got a lot of sweet moments between both H/h.
I felt like the world building and the initial pace of the book was actually done really well, and I also really appreciated the action that was included throughout.
There was only one gripe that I had, which was the ending. And that mostly is because I felt like it was somewhat rushed. The rest of the story built up at a reasonable speed...but if felt like happened in the blink of an eye...and then left you with somewhat of a cliffhanger. Perhaps this is because the book seemed to be setting us up for the next one, so I'm going to hope we'll get to learn more about both the in the sequel.
June 25, 2016
An unexpected little gem. It has a good pace, easy dialogues, not too much drama and told in dual POVs. The focus is more on the development of the relationship between the two MCs and not so much on the surrounding. So if you are expecting a sweeping story on the post-apocalyptic world or the war between species where the two MCs are caught in, this is not really it. This is, first and foremost, a love story.
The story is about Tasha, a human survivor living alone with her 3 dogs in the aftermath of a purging of species that went awry. The story is set in the "future" in a time vampires, vamps (hybrid of human-vampire) and humans lived together. But, overcome by prejudice and fear, humans developed a virus that is supposed to flush out the vampires and vamps. Unfortunately, humans were also affected and the human race was also inadvertently killed off.
So due to loneliness and on a random urge to call out using a phone number she got from an 80's hit song (and i actually googled that to find out more) her call was picked up by Alex, a young researcher who's living a few states away. They started calling each other daily and one day when they decided to meet, he had to tell her his secret: he's a vamp. Tasha was furious that she fell for a vamp because she's been brought up to be prejudiced towards his kind. But eventually she realized that her feelings for him is most important.
There is a strong message on overcoming prejudice and hypocrisy in this story. I like that the main characters themselves are of mixed parentage which is not often featured in stories like these. Tasha's behaviour can come across as harsh as she has a mean temper that she lashes put to Alex often, usually caused by her prejudice and skewed opinion on his kind. Alex is shown as a more laid-back, calm and logical person. Together they complement one another.
The ending is a bit of a fade-out though it is not exactly a cliffhanger. We are left to think that they both will be together from then on and lead a safe and happy life on their own.
The story is about Tasha, a human survivor living alone with her 3 dogs in the aftermath of a purging of species that went awry. The story is set in the "future" in a time vampires, vamps (hybrid of human-vampire) and humans lived together. But, overcome by prejudice and fear, humans developed a virus that is supposed to flush out the vampires and vamps. Unfortunately, humans were also affected and the human race was also inadvertently killed off.
So due to loneliness and on a random urge to call out using a phone number she got from an 80's hit song (and i actually googled that to find out more) her call was picked up by Alex, a young researcher who's living a few states away. They started calling each other daily and one day when they decided to meet, he had to tell her his secret: he's a vamp. Tasha was furious that she fell for a vamp because she's been brought up to be prejudiced towards his kind. But eventually she realized that her feelings for him is most important.
There is a strong message on overcoming prejudice and hypocrisy in this story. I like that the main characters themselves are of mixed parentage which is not often featured in stories like these. Tasha's behaviour can come across as harsh as she has a mean temper that she lashes put to Alex often, usually caused by her prejudice and skewed opinion on his kind. Alex is shown as a more laid-back, calm and logical person. Together they complement one another.
The ending is a bit of a fade-out though it is not exactly a cliffhanger. We are left to think that they both will be together from then on and lead a safe and happy life on their own.
June 3, 2016
review to come
February 15, 2019
Good AMBW romance between a nice vampire and a kind girl. The apocalyptic touch is enjoyable.
Here is the link to my booktrailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdxZx...
Here is the link to my booktrailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdxZx...
July 18, 2017
3.5 stars
Tasha's and Alex' relationship developed way too fast and I couldn't feel a real connection between those two. And I wasn't loving them as I wanted to. Additionally I was never sucked into their lifes and world, the world-building was a just a little too flat although I really liked Coe's ideas! This could've been way better, the story simply was too light. But I loved that both characters were biracial, like me Alex was half European and half Asian, whereas Tasha had a white father and a black mother.
The story definitely wasn't clean but more in the tamer side when it comes to descriptions. Nevertheless Tasha and Alex had some hot scenes, jusg without the direct mentioning of body parts. Cara Coe played around those words pretty well without using flowery metaphors or something like that. I liked it.
Overall nice read, but nothing that will stay with me for a longer period of time. The ending was open enough for a sequel, but not too open to need a sequel to set me as ease. :)
Tasha's and Alex' relationship developed way too fast and I couldn't feel a real connection between those two. And I wasn't loving them as I wanted to. Additionally I was never sucked into their lifes and world, the world-building was a just a little too flat although I really liked Coe's ideas! This could've been way better, the story simply was too light. But I loved that both characters were biracial, like me Alex was half European and half Asian, whereas Tasha had a white father and a black mother.
The story definitely wasn't clean but more in the tamer side when it comes to descriptions. Nevertheless Tasha and Alex had some hot scenes, jusg without the direct mentioning of body parts. Cara Coe played around those words pretty well without using flowery metaphors or something like that. I liked it.
Overall nice read, but nothing that will stay with me for a longer period of time. The ending was open enough for a sequel, but not too open to need a sequel to set me as ease. :)
May 7, 2024
I try not to read books that were written before 2017 but i’m so glad I gave this one a chance 🥹
April 15, 2016
Oooh soooo sweet
Post apocalyptic romance between two young beings....one sexy Vamp and a beautiful young woman...and that silly Tommy Tutone's one hit wonder...867-5309....Tasha dialed that number for months until one fine day...Alex answered....two souls who couldn't live together because of what society imposed...vamps and human do not mix...well Tasha doesn't follow society rules...so once Alex rescues her from a very certain death...it was love at first bite....I hope there is a follow-up...even though this is probably written for younger adults...anyone can enjoy it.
Post apocalyptic romance between two young beings....one sexy Vamp and a beautiful young woman...and that silly Tommy Tutone's one hit wonder...867-5309....Tasha dialed that number for months until one fine day...Alex answered....two souls who couldn't live together because of what society imposed...vamps and human do not mix...well Tasha doesn't follow society rules...so once Alex rescues her from a very certain death...it was love at first bite....I hope there is a follow-up...even though this is probably written for younger adults...anyone can enjoy it.
March 31, 2021
'Not my cup of tea' is probably the easiest way to say it.
The first half of the book is a very unprobeable 'what if' fantasy, with the setting that doesn't make much sense, but kind of makes you feel 'well, not every story has to be logical and believable'.
The fact that humanity died off but cities and houses in them were mostly left intact is a nice fantasy but feels weird.
Then part of the 'unbelievable' setting gets reversed and you kind of think 'duh', but also it's not this kind of big reveal that suddenly makes everything make sense, more like a very faint and obvious attempt at it, which also turns into a pretty big downer. And the last 30 percent of the book is just very mleh.
The unbelievable setting of the first half of the book was not comfortable, but at least it was kind of charming an interesting. The events of the last 40-30% of the book took this charming-ness away and turned this into a very banal and unpleasant post-apocaliptic story, is what I'm trying to say.
I also felt more repulsed every time this book tried to played on emotions, as it felt fake, and the main character's random outbursts were annoying.
The first half of the book is a very unprobeable 'what if' fantasy, with the setting that doesn't make much sense, but kind of makes you feel 'well, not every story has to be logical and believable'.
The fact that humanity died off but cities and houses in them were mostly left intact is a nice fantasy but feels weird.
Then part of the 'unbelievable' setting gets reversed and you kind of think 'duh', but also it's not this kind of big reveal that suddenly makes everything make sense, more like a very faint and obvious attempt at it, which also turns into a pretty big downer. And the last 30 percent of the book is just very mleh.
The unbelievable setting of the first half of the book was not comfortable, but at least it was kind of charming an interesting. The events of the last 40-30% of the book took this charming-ness away and turned this into a very banal and unpleasant post-apocaliptic story, is what I'm trying to say.
I also felt more repulsed every time this book tried to played on emotions, as it felt fake, and the main character's random outbursts were annoying.
May 30, 2025
Not If You Were the Last Vampire On Earth by Cara Coe is the second book I have read by this author. The other book, Birdie, could not be more different than Not If You Were the Last Vampire On Earth! Birdie is a quirky coming of age love story about identity with issues related to family dynamics. Not If You Were the Last Vampire On Earth is a dystopian, love story involving the last woman on Earth and a vampire. Life as we know has ended in an event called the Sweep. For a while, vampires and humans existed uneasily until using biological warfare humans tried to wipe out the vampires only to destroy EVERYONE. Tasha has been alone for a few years spending her time exploring, surviving and randomly calling the same phone number but with different area codes. Imagine her surprise when one day someone answers. Alex and Tasha conduct a telephone relationship without disclosing too much information. Is Alex the person he seems to be over the phone? While slow-moving in some places, I enjoyed the dystopian view of the world Ms. Coe created (like the Walking Dead but with vampires). In addition, there was enough tension (romantic and conflict driven) and action to hold my attention.
https://theretiredreader.com/f/not-if...
https://theretiredreader.com/f/not-if...
September 3, 2021
This is a first time read for me with this author, and I am very happy to have stumbled upon her. This book was such a fun read, and I loved every minute of Tasha and Alex's story. This is a well written hidden gem that I plan to read again.
Tasha and Alex are one of the few left after a man made plague has wiped out society. Towns are ravaged and destroyed due to Vampires and Humans killing off each other. One of the many days Tasha is alone with her 3 dogs exploring abandon homes she picks up a landline dialing for fun and actually gets someone. That someone is Alex. An awkward start but a brief relief to their constant loneliness they soon make the calls daily as they get to know each other. As the story progresses Alex and Tasha form a connection, and find solace within each other in this newly post apocalyptic world.
Tasha and Alex are one of the few left after a man made plague has wiped out society. Towns are ravaged and destroyed due to Vampires and Humans killing off each other. One of the many days Tasha is alone with her 3 dogs exploring abandon homes she picks up a landline dialing for fun and actually gets someone. That someone is Alex. An awkward start but a brief relief to their constant loneliness they soon make the calls daily as they get to know each other. As the story progresses Alex and Tasha form a connection, and find solace within each other in this newly post apocalyptic world.
September 12, 2017
My friend told me about this book and I was very amused, and then I read it... and I loved it. The story takes places over several months though it doesn't drag on so it doesn't feel like months and months are passing. You think one problem is the big concern... and then something else comes up. It was a quick read, only taking me a few days to finish, and one I enjoyed. Nice idea, nice plot and great story.
August 29, 2024
Love is Blind meets I am Legend
I enjoyed this book thoroughly!! It is a post apocalyptic romance in a world where vampires and human have been nearly wiped out by their own hubris and the FMC is alone and finds a connection with the only other survivor (seemingly) at the end of a telephone. There are some logical parts where you have to suspend your belief but the book was so well done that you can overlook it. It is a slow burn book that has ecerything.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly!! It is a post apocalyptic romance in a world where vampires and human have been nearly wiped out by their own hubris and the FMC is alone and finds a connection with the only other survivor (seemingly) at the end of a telephone. There are some logical parts where you have to suspend your belief but the book was so well done that you can overlook it. It is a slow burn book that has ecerything.
March 2, 2019
Ms Coe, I truly enjoyed this engaging tale of destined love. There is a freshness to these tropes of true love, vampires and end of worldness. I also enjoyed that each character had a reason to be there including Mowgli, Bagheera and Baloo, glad he got better...thought for a minute he'd become a Vamp. I hope you have as much satisfaction writing the next story as I read you did with this one.
September 12, 2018
Great
This book was awesome. I really loved the writing. It wasn't predictable. There were surprises and I was honestly slack jaw. I mean I it had me blushing and giggling. I will def read another book by this author.
This book was awesome. I really loved the writing. It wasn't predictable. There were surprises and I was honestly slack jaw. I mean I it had me blushing and giggling. I will def read another book by this author.
May 26, 2019
Sci fi romance
I love sci fi romances but only good ones. After reading a sample, I knew this one was a gem and I was not disappointed.
I love sci fi romances but only good ones. After reading a sample, I knew this one was a gem and I was not disappointed.
March 7, 2025
Wasnt what i anticipated bad but it wasnt bad
January 13, 2017
This book is a Post-Apocalyptic Vampire Romance Gem! I found it by chance while looking for something different to read. If The Walking Dead and Vampire Diaries had a baby, you'd get Not If You Were The Last Vampire On Earth. The fact that is was an Interracial Romance, only made it all the more appealing. Cara Coe had me hooked from the very first page. I was so immersed in this dystopian world she created that I had a huge book hangover afterwards. It was just the change of pace I needed. I've been stuck in a book rut lately. But now I'm left wanting more. She left the book with an open ended HEA. So, there is definitely room to turn this gem into a series. I hope she does! Also, FYI Cara Coe is also the author of
She wrote it under the pen name M.C. Carr. If you loved that book you should read this one stat!
She wrote it under the pen name M.C. Carr. If you loved that book you should read this one stat!
May 11, 2017
I can't imagine a more perfectly imperfect love story, that just happened to be post apocalyptic vampire apocalypse (what a mouth full!). Tasha has survived a man made virus created to wipe out vampires and their day walking offspring. But the virus mutated, killing off humans as well. Tasha is a spunky young woman who has lost a lot in the time before, and is trying to cope with being the last living person. Until she dials a number from a catchy song, with the most unexpected life altering results. Tasha and Alex for lack of a better term, just completed each other. Alex was brave and sweet even when Tasha was being her irrationally stubborn self. And Tasha was loyal and accepting when Alex needed loving guidance. These two had an unexpected and emotionally taxing adventure, but I would love to see what they might get into next. It was more than I expected, and was everything I love in a story.
July 24, 2016
This entire book centered on the shallow relationship between two very 2-D characters. I thought it would have more horror and gore being a plague-ridden dystopian plot but... instead the author inundated us with soft-core porn scenes that were so out of place and random I felt compelled to skip over all of them. To top it off, every time anything remotely bad happened a magical solution appeared...as a result the plot felt contrived and awkward. I was looking for another book like "Warm Bodies" and wound up disappointed. What I got instead was a trivial, shallow romance that most teens seem infatuated with lately.
July 14, 2016
Loved this love story in the post plague USA. Well written characters I would love to read more about this world. This could definitely be the first in a series.
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
February 6, 2017
An enjoyable romance. It was mostly from Tasha's POV but I did like the fact that Alex's POV was sprinkled in few times. I do hope that she writes another book to continue Alex's and Tasha's story.
I won this book from goodreads!!!
I won this book from goodreads!!!
April 18, 2017
Wow
Enjoyed this story a lot. Tasha and Alex pulled at my heartstrings. Loved the theme and premise overall. Do yourself a favor and read this one guys
Enjoyed this story a lot. Tasha and Alex pulled at my heartstrings. Loved the theme and premise overall. Do yourself a favor and read this one guys
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September 14, 2017I love that the dogs were a focus and taken care of. I also feel like this book is a bit incomplete, but I really really enjoyed this book
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews