Whoa! The earth is polluted and damaged by war (crumbling cities, radioactive rain). The former United States isolated itself from the rest of the world and formed a dystopic patriarchy, a la Gilead in Atwood's Handsmaid's Tale. But then, Vanna Lombare started the Venus Rebellion, which overthrew the patriarchy and replaced it with, essentially, the inverse; men have no rights whatsoever and live and serve at the mercy of women - or perhaps are simply enslaved at milk farms. Out with the old dystopia, in with the new dystopia!
Post-apocalyptic, dystopic, harsh, violent world.
Love Ward, as an orphan, grew up in a Ward Home and was automatically conscripted into the Venus Guard when she came of age, to serve until she pays off her debt to the New Republic of America. She is stationed in the Dallas sentinel and looks forward to ranking up and finishing her service. Old Dallas, like all former cities, is a crumbling remnant of what it used to be, having barely survived the bombs in the first collapse, polluted, reeking, and vile.
Cris "Chaos" Coleman is a member of Arden, a Tribe of self-sufficient farm-folk who live out in the more-or-less unpolluted countryside, many hours outside of Dallas. Two or three times a year, she and her mother (a retired veteran of the Venus Guard), bring crops and furs to Dallas to trade for credits. Of course they do not bring Cris's brothers or father; it is far too dangerous for men.
A chance encounter with Love during such a trip to Dallas, and surely that is that.
Except, all is not as it seems in the NRA, and rot and corruption throw Love and Cris deep into unexpected horrors. Neither sees themself as a hero - but heroes arise during desperate times.
This is well done and compelling. It is shockingly violent - it is a dystopia, after all - but it also a believable enemies to lovers romance; the MCs start out actually fighting each other, but, as they are forced to rely on each other through horrific events, trust, friendship, and eventually love develops. It was not an "easy" read; not everything goes right. I may have mentioned that it is a dystopia.
It ends in a good place. Great events have occurred. The future looks brighter. Our heroes have each other. Things will be different. Somehow. I'd read more in this world, if Woods chooses to write more, but this is just fine as a standalone novel.
(This is the second novel I've read by Poppy Wood. I loved Treasured, and this one seemed interesting - and it did not disappoint in any way. She's a fine writer - and I look forward to reading more by her. Seems to write a lot of paranormal tales...)