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You and Me at the End of the World
This is no ordinary apocalypse...
Hannah Ashton wakes up to silence. The entire city around her is empty, except for one other person: Leo Sterling. Leo might be hottest boy ever (and not just because he's the only one left), but he's also too charming, too selfish, and too devastating for his own good, let alone Hannah's.
Stuck with only each other, they explore a world with no parents, no friends, and no school and realize that they can be themselves instead of playing the parts everyone expects of them. Hannah doesn't have to be just an overachieving, music-box-perfect ballerina, and Leo can be more than a slacker, 80s-glam-metal-obsessed guitarist. Leo is a burst of honesty and fun that draws Hannah out, and Hannah's got Leo thinking about someone other than himself for the first time.
Together, they search for answers amid crushing isolation, but while their empty world may appear harmless . . . it's not. Because nothing is quite as it seems, and if Hannah and Leo don't figure out what's going on, they might just be torn apart forever.
Hannah Ashton wakes up to silence. The entire city around her is empty, except for one other person: Leo Sterling. Leo might be hottest boy ever (and not just because he's the only one left), but he's also too charming, too selfish, and too devastating for his own good, let alone Hannah's.
Stuck with only each other, they explore a world with no parents, no friends, and no school and realize that they can be themselves instead of playing the parts everyone expects of them. Hannah doesn't have to be just an overachieving, music-box-perfect ballerina, and Leo can be more than a slacker, 80s-glam-metal-obsessed guitarist. Leo is a burst of honesty and fun that draws Hannah out, and Hannah's got Leo thinking about someone other than himself for the first time.
Together, they search for answers amid crushing isolation, but while their empty world may appear harmless . . . it's not. Because nothing is quite as it seems, and if Hannah and Leo don't figure out what's going on, they might just be torn apart forever.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 20, 2021
179 people are currently reading
12151 people want to read
About the author
Brianna Bourne
3 books175 followersWhen she's not writing, Brianna Bourne works as a stage manager for ballet companies around the world. Originally from Texas, she grew up in Indonesia and Egypt and now lives in England with her husband and their two daughters.
(photo credit: Barnaby Aldrick, www.barnabyaldrick.com)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BriannaBourneYA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianna_bou...
(photo credit: Barnaby Aldrick, www.barnabyaldrick.com)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BriannaBourneYA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianna_bou...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 678 reviews
May 10, 2022
Oh WELL...
If I could describe this book only with emojis it would be this!!!
💓😌😽🍿🥺🥳
I can't decide if I liked this book or I'm disappointed a lil bit - MAYBE BOTH!!!
It was tough to rate this book becuase even though the story is somehow thrilling and refreshing, I was expecting more from it!
Both the character are a lil bit sweet but at the same time their personality are a bit bland!
Both of them wanted something to happen between them but couldn't initiate that!!! Which was super frustrating 😂
The first half was pretty slow and I almost thought of DNFing it! The second half was a fast paced BUT at the same time, the story doesn't make much sense and so many things happened that I couldn't keep track between two scenes!
But, I like the way it ended! Somehow it was nice!! But so much could have done with this story and plotline.
I didn't hate this story- but I didn't adore it either!
Overall, it was a fun read 😸
If I could describe this book only with emojis it would be this!!!
💓😌😽🍿🥺🥳
I can't decide if I liked this book or I'm disappointed a lil bit - MAYBE BOTH!!!
It was tough to rate this book becuase even though the story is somehow thrilling and refreshing, I was expecting more from it!
Both the character are a lil bit sweet but at the same time their personality are a bit bland!
Both of them wanted something to happen between them but couldn't initiate that!!! Which was super frustrating 😂
The first half was pretty slow and I almost thought of DNFing it! The second half was a fast paced BUT at the same time, the story doesn't make much sense and so many things happened that I couldn't keep track between two scenes!
But, I like the way it ended! Somehow it was nice!! But so much could have done with this story and plotline.
I didn't hate this story- but I didn't adore it either!
Overall, it was a fun read 😸
March 3, 2021
If I were to review this book in person, it would mostly be a lot of incoherent, delighted yelling and flailing. I flew through this book in just a few sittings and missed my bedtime two nights in a row because I just HAD to find out what was happening. Without giving too much away, this story has an amazing speculative element that doesn't quite reveal the genre until you get to the end. Which I found amazing and surprising and unusual in the best possible way. I loved how Hannah and Leo had such contrasting personalities, yet that was what drove their attraction and actually gave them the pieces they needed to grow and stretch as people. The romance was beautifully done, with an expertly paced slow build and some legitimately swoony moments. I'm basically going to throw this book at everybody I know as soon as it comes out (in a non-aggressive way), so be warned!!
September 1, 2021
Absolutely poor execution and immaturely written. The main story? Totally different! And I did not find any actual/real apocalypse! Sadly the concept of this book had so much potential but didn't quite deliver what was expected. 😕
March 25, 2021
I finished this one a few months ago and I’m STILL thinking about it. I was hooked from the beginning by the need to know exactly where everyone went, but I was really drawn into the story by the slowly blossoming bond between Hannah and Leo. Their fears, desires, and flaws were so well fleshed out that these characters really sprang off the page for me. By the end, I was so truly invested in their lives that their own personal fates mattered more to me than the question of what happened to everyone else.
But WOW, that ending!! Bourne manages to so beautifully balance the tension of suspenseful external happenings and quiet scenes of character development, and everything comes together in such a natural, incredibly satisfying way - for both the character arcs and the overall plot.
I can’t wait to read everything this author has to offer in the future!
But WOW, that ending!! Bourne manages to so beautifully balance the tension of suspenseful external happenings and quiet scenes of character development, and everything comes together in such a natural, incredibly satisfying way - for both the character arcs and the overall plot.
I can’t wait to read everything this author has to offer in the future!
July 5, 2021
“it’s idiotic. i’ve known leo for two days. #instalove. i’ve seen it. i’ve judged it.”
and i’m judging it now. just because a book points out it’s instalove doesn’t make it any better. i wanted to love this one so much, because the concept sounds so cool!!! you wake up one morning and there’s nobody left on earth and then you find someone and they are Very Attractive™️?? sign me up!! but the plot fell so flat, hit all the clichés on all the wrong notes, and the only thing i truly enjoyed was the romcom he was a punk, she did ballet aspect. but that’s literally… that’s literally the entirety of the character development.
this book was dual pov, and that was actually done super well, i’m usually not a huge fan but it worked in the author’s favor. neither character was favorited. our female character, hannah, does ballet. she does ballet and is honestly so boring. throughout the story, she realizes some painfully obvious things about herself, and it’s a huge plot point, even though i saw it coming from miles away. leo, our male character, is a punk guitarist. the author tried way too hard to make him completely shut out the world, he was constantly like “i cant have feelings”, and honestly was sort of annoying. 90% of his internal monologue is also him literally being sexually attracted to hannah, and though horny teenagers in ya are realistic, it still felt shallow.
the plot was definitely somewhat thrilling, and there was a lot of small moments that were super cool!!! and then the big plot twist came, and i totally predicted it, and it kinda ruined the story for me. the author could have done so many cool things with this story, and it fell so flat.
this really wasn’t for me and i wouldn’t recommend it, but it releases on july 20 if you’re interested in trying it out for yourself!!
content warnings (large spoilers ahead): blood, injury, hospital, coma, car accident, marijuana (mentioned), alcohol (mentioned)
and i’m judging it now. just because a book points out it’s instalove doesn’t make it any better. i wanted to love this one so much, because the concept sounds so cool!!! you wake up one morning and there’s nobody left on earth and then you find someone and they are Very Attractive™️?? sign me up!! but the plot fell so flat, hit all the clichés on all the wrong notes, and the only thing i truly enjoyed was the romcom he was a punk, she did ballet aspect. but that’s literally… that’s literally the entirety of the character development.
this book was dual pov, and that was actually done super well, i’m usually not a huge fan but it worked in the author’s favor. neither character was favorited. our female character, hannah, does ballet. she does ballet and is honestly so boring. throughout the story, she realizes some painfully obvious things about herself, and it’s a huge plot point, even though i saw it coming from miles away. leo, our male character, is a punk guitarist. the author tried way too hard to make him completely shut out the world, he was constantly like “i cant have feelings”, and honestly was sort of annoying. 90% of his internal monologue is also him literally being sexually attracted to hannah, and though horny teenagers in ya are realistic, it still felt shallow.
the plot was definitely somewhat thrilling, and there was a lot of small moments that were super cool!!! and then the big plot twist came, and i totally predicted it, and it kinda ruined the story for me. the author could have done so many cool things with this story, and it fell so flat.
this really wasn’t for me and i wouldn’t recommend it, but it releases on july 20 if you’re interested in trying it out for yourself!!
content warnings (large spoilers ahead): blood, injury, hospital, coma, car accident, marijuana (mentioned), alcohol (mentioned)
December 19, 2020
Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Please excuse me while I try not to JoyPuke all over myself. Absolutely loved it, could not put it down, ignored all of my last weekend before Christmas responsibilities to see it through. Searing, soaring, steamy and dreamy — best paired with a hair metal playlist.
Please excuse me while I try not to JoyPuke all over myself. Absolutely loved it, could not put it down, ignored all of my last weekend before Christmas responsibilities to see it through. Searing, soaring, steamy and dreamy — best paired with a hair metal playlist.
August 22, 2021
It's no exaggeration to say that this book cured my 2021 reading slump, a feat even Ace Of Spades couldn't manage. I fell in love with everything about Leo and Hannah, passing cups of tea with them, jamming out on the Galaxe with them, and surviving the storms with them. I just loved this book.
Leo and Hannah are perfectly opposites of each other, the punk lead singer and the pristine ballet dancer. While trying to navigate the empty world around them, they learn from each other too. The empty world isn't as important to the story as I thought it would be, but I was so invested in Leo and Hannah that I didn't care.
While the empty world may not be the focus, that doesn't mean that it isn't well developed. In reality, it's terrifying, the weather changing at a moments notice, and you may wake up at 11am and discover it's still dark. The mystery of what is happening in this place and the fear of what might happen next brings Leo and Hannah together, in a way that makes sense.
I was never quite sure of what was really happening, as the weather quickly became chaotic and Hannah started losing feeling in her hand. This story was surprisingly scary, and kept me guessing right to end. I did guess some of the story due to a slightly similar book that was released last year, but I think I enjoyed this one more.
Leo and Hannah are perfectly opposites of each other, the punk lead singer and the pristine ballet dancer. While trying to navigate the empty world around them, they learn from each other too. The empty world isn't as important to the story as I thought it would be, but I was so invested in Leo and Hannah that I didn't care.
While the empty world may not be the focus, that doesn't mean that it isn't well developed. In reality, it's terrifying, the weather changing at a moments notice, and you may wake up at 11am and discover it's still dark. The mystery of what is happening in this place and the fear of what might happen next brings Leo and Hannah together, in a way that makes sense.
I was never quite sure of what was really happening, as the weather quickly became chaotic and Hannah started losing feeling in her hand. This story was surprisingly scary, and kept me guessing right to end. I did guess some of the story due to a slightly similar book that was released last year, but I think I enjoyed this one more.
March 10, 2021
I LOVED the story of this engaging #YA dystopian low fantasy novel. It is exactly what it says on the label: a boy and a girl who get to know one another at the literal end of the world.
The novel opens with the unlikely pairing of Leo, a cool and daring rockstar at only 17, and Hannah, who he teases for being too self-contained and calls “Ballet girl”. The unlikely couple have been roaming solo in an emptied out city of Houston, all alone at what appears to be the end of the world until their chance encounter.
Leo encourages Hannah to have fun. “The world is ours! Please tell me you’ve done something fun. Please tell me you’ve left your house.” In fact, Hannah hasn’t. She only met Leo on one of her only dashes into bookstore to grab something to read. Mostly, she hides in her home, scared for her family who has disappeared. Scared for everyone who has vanished. And scared for herself.
The attraction between these two apparent opposites — Hannah who is more prim, tame, structured, and the product of ambitious parents — and Leo, who despite being ultra-cool can’t believe in himself, is instant…and mutual. They grab his old Pontiac and away into a vacated city. NOBODY is anywhere, not even 911 answers.
It’s an adventure, to say the least, and one that is full of blossoming romance but also a weird feeling that both characters have: they’ve been here before.
The novel is told in alternating first person points of view, and author, Brianna Bourne, does a stellar job with both characters. The ending may be a point of discussion with some readers. Some will love it, some may not. But for this reader, the book was a triumph. Begins with a bang and carries you through. I read this fabulous young adult novel quickly and with great delight!
The novel opens with the unlikely pairing of Leo, a cool and daring rockstar at only 17, and Hannah, who he teases for being too self-contained and calls “Ballet girl”. The unlikely couple have been roaming solo in an emptied out city of Houston, all alone at what appears to be the end of the world until their chance encounter.
Leo encourages Hannah to have fun. “The world is ours! Please tell me you’ve done something fun. Please tell me you’ve left your house.” In fact, Hannah hasn’t. She only met Leo on one of her only dashes into bookstore to grab something to read. Mostly, she hides in her home, scared for her family who has disappeared. Scared for everyone who has vanished. And scared for herself.
The attraction between these two apparent opposites — Hannah who is more prim, tame, structured, and the product of ambitious parents — and Leo, who despite being ultra-cool can’t believe in himself, is instant…and mutual. They grab his old Pontiac and away into a vacated city. NOBODY is anywhere, not even 911 answers.
It’s an adventure, to say the least, and one that is full of blossoming romance but also a weird feeling that both characters have: they’ve been here before.
The novel is told in alternating first person points of view, and author, Brianna Bourne, does a stellar job with both characters. The ending may be a point of discussion with some readers. Some will love it, some may not. But for this reader, the book was a triumph. Begins with a bang and carries you through. I read this fabulous young adult novel quickly and with great delight!
October 1, 2021
Yikes.
I am actually embarrassed to have read this book. I was expecting a post-apocalyptic novel, but what I got was one long build up to a make out session.
There's almost zero story, essentially instalove (plus an extra helping of denial!), and lots of butterflies when they make eye contact, "brush shoulders," etc.
The only reason I'm not giving it one star is because there wasn't a sex scene.
Ugh, I am so disappointed that this book did not deliver on its title. I might have to go back and reread How I Live Now, Ashfall, or Tomorrow, When the War Began just to get that sickening saccharine taste out of my metaphorical mouth.
I am actually embarrassed to have read this book. I was expecting a post-apocalyptic novel, but what I got was one long build up to a make out session.
There's almost zero story, essentially instalove (plus an extra helping of denial!), and lots of butterflies when they make eye contact, "brush shoulders," etc.
The only reason I'm not giving it one star is because there wasn't a sex scene.
Ugh, I am so disappointed that this book did not deliver on its title. I might have to go back and reread How I Live Now, Ashfall, or Tomorrow, When the War Began just to get that sickening saccharine taste out of my metaphorical mouth.
September 2, 2021
The world is ours for the taking! You & Me at the End of the World by Brianna Bourne takes, twists, and toys with that little phrase to create a dazzling reading experience like no other. It’s a sweet, rockin', apocalyptic romance that had my full attention and whole heart from the first line to the last. I mean it! The opening scene is in a bookstore. Haha…Ms. Bourne had me at hello.
Once upon a time…a girl and boy wake up alone. I mean alone, alone. The whole city of Houston is empty and silent except for Hannah Ashton (aka Ballet Chick) and Leo freaking Sterling. They have the city to themselves. But how? What happened to everyone else? Theories pile up, hope dwindles, and stranger than strange things begin to happen in this new empty city. Can Hannah and Leo figure out the mystery of what happened? Can you? I know, I know too many questions. Let’s backup and talk about what we do know.
First we have Hannah, a ballerina with the no-hair-out-of-place ballerina bun, rigid posture, and drive to match. Hannah is all about ballet. No distractions allowed. That’s what everyone sees anyway. And then we have the “deliciousness that is Leo Sterling”. He’s got the good looks, the ever present guitar strapped to his back, and the slacker, not a care in the world reputation down pat. The boy is all about fun and distractions. That’s what Leo wants people to see anyway. But Hannah and Leo are much, much more than the roles they play. Aren’t we all? Maybe the last two people in the world can see past the rumors, posturing, and assumptions though. Maybe they can find a balance with each other.
“It’s not often you find someone whose beats per minute matches yours.”
Hannah and Leo, Leo and Hannah. These two characters felt so layered and alive to me. Their highs and lows, faults and funs were all on display! They escaped the emptiness of their world by creating a safe, quiet place together to talk and share and be there for each other. Bourne pulls together a highlight reel of romantic moments here that is just dazzling! OH-MY heart kind of moments! The heat and anticipation and danger all add up and up! I was so caught up in it all. Leo and Hannah’s will-it-or-won’t-it happen chemistry hit me hard. It’s fast and instant, but real and swoony all at the same time. It’s like an 80’s ballad blasting in your heart! I could listen to Leo strum his guitar and Hannah pull words out of the air and create all night long. It’s an intoxicating little bubble of two.
“We experiment with soft touches, our skin whispering together in a thousand small ways. It’s a breathless dance. A brush of the tips of our noses. A nuzzle under her jaw. All the intoxicating tease leading up to a kiss.”
I love the language in this book. It felt like Bourne merged words and music to create her voice and writing style. Movement and sound and fun blended together to form new meanings and words. Like Leo’s signature “shredtastic!” Or lines like “full-on power chord of a smile”. Or the way Leo’s laugh is described as “a whole-body, bright jolt of a thing”. I loved the energy in the words, in the suspense, and in the romance. It was electric!
You & Me at the End of the World brought a new energy to my reading world. A full power blast of passion and creativity. The story reads like a topsy-turvy mystery date that urges you to step out of your day to day patterns and “paint the sky!”
I highly recommend this beautiful book and journey. It’s full of carnival rides, 80s rock, happy trails, and Thunderchicken. Haha…You have to meet Thunderchicken! :) Plus you have to find out what happened. Why are Hannah and Leo the last two people in Houston?
I wouldn’t have missed this read for the world. Hope you don’t either.
October 8, 2021
Cute different I really wanted to know what was going on!!!
January 26, 2021
This book grabbed hold of me and didn’t let go until the very end. Brianna Bourne expertly weaves unforgettable characters with gorgeous prose and a tightly woven plot. Hannah and Leo are the last two people alive in a post-apocalyptic world. Hannah is a type-A ballerina and Leo is a messy rocker with a soft side. They each grow and learn from each other as they try to navigate their new world. I can’t go into any more specifics about the plot because I don’t want to give anything away! I completely fell in love with Hannah, Leo, and this spellbinding novel. Brianna Bourne is a debut author to watch and I can’t wait to get my hands on what she writes next!
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July 19, 2021
This book has a killer hook. Imagine waking up to an empty city. No people. That's what happens to Hannah, until she finds the only other person left in Houston. Leo, the gorgeous bad boy musician who she vaguely knows from school, but would never hang out with. Leo skips school, parties and has a new girl every week. Hannah only dates fellow ballet dancers because they understand that almost all of her time has to be spent practicing to be the best.
It may have taken an end-of-the-world-type event to bring them together, but they're great for each other. Leo encourages Hannah to let loose, and Hannah may actually teach Leo to have real feelings for someone. But first they need to figure out what happened to all the other people.
Bourne is an expert at the tease! This book has super hot chemistry for a ya novel. Leo and Hannah long for each other, but just as soon as they're about to finally explore all their feelings, something happens or one or the other pulls back. Multiple times. But they're so perfect together, that you're just rooting for them to get their act together and end up together, before it's too late. I don't want to spoil anything, but their world keeps getting stranger and stranger, and they both deal with that in different ways.
The pacing is perfection! Bourne takes the readers on a journey from love scene to creepy paranormal scene, giving you just enough to keep you fully invested in the romance and hooked on the mystery! This one is an instant favorite, and I can't believe it's her first book! I'll definitely buy whatever else this author writes.
It may have taken an end-of-the-world-type event to bring them together, but they're great for each other. Leo encourages Hannah to let loose, and Hannah may actually teach Leo to have real feelings for someone. But first they need to figure out what happened to all the other people.
Bourne is an expert at the tease! This book has super hot chemistry for a ya novel. Leo and Hannah long for each other, but just as soon as they're about to finally explore all their feelings, something happens or one or the other pulls back. Multiple times. But they're so perfect together, that you're just rooting for them to get their act together and end up together, before it's too late. I don't want to spoil anything, but their world keeps getting stranger and stranger, and they both deal with that in different ways.
The pacing is perfection! Bourne takes the readers on a journey from love scene to creepy paranormal scene, giving you just enough to keep you fully invested in the romance and hooked on the mystery! This one is an instant favorite, and I can't believe it's her first book! I'll definitely buy whatever else this author writes.
July 31, 2021
Hol-ly crrap i liked this way more than i thought i would
at first i nearly didn't finish it bc it felt like i was reading some wattpad story (more on that in a sec) but i was trapped in a car for twelve hours and this was the only book i had downloaded so i'm actually glad for that
okay so, the romance was so cute and fluffy i really liked the slow burn even if it was a little frustrating
the plot was engaging and kept me guessing and re-guessing which i wasn't expecting! i was scared that we wouldn't get any answers and be left with big plot holes but luckily that wasn't the case
i actually really liked both the characters and i thought they worked well together as a couple
the writing was actually surprisingly poetic at times and the symbolism woven throughout were fun to find and connect
okay back to my earlier comment about it feeling like a wattpad story or something:
leo is described as a "bad boy" (first off i hated that he was straight up called a bad boy in the first place. felt like a sixth grader was writing)
so what makes leo a "bad boy" per se? well, he wears leather, sings in a rock band, has a tattoo, parties, drinks, hooks up with girls, and smokes a crap ton of weed. it was just soo cliche. honestly, if i met a guy like that in real life (as a high schooler in present day) i would ask myself "this guy cannot be for real, right?" i don't even know how to describe it, but i really didn't enjoy that i felt as if his character was a mix of Riverdale characters and any male vampire from Twilight 😑
BUT he's a great character that really doesn't fit that persona at all.
now hannah. classic "good girl" also could be called the classic "always prepared and has a plan mom character that's never done wrong"
(again, she's described directly as being spoiled and perfect) what makes her a "good girl?" well, shes got good grades, is pretty, dances ballet 6 hours a day and is seemingly pretty perfect at it, and she doesn't even curse.
her character was just straight up annoying at some times, especially in the beginning before her character development.
also, (and i will admit i was a little upset to figure this out) i related to her a lot. why was i mad at this you might ask? because i thought she was annoying at first 😑 but i ended up admitting we would be good friends in real life
anyway, it was all just very cliche "bad boy and good girl fall in love"
BUT their character development is REALLY well done. i genuinely enjoyed watching them fall for each other and learn from one another. i was really proud of both of them in the end.
at first i nearly didn't finish it bc it felt like i was reading some wattpad story (more on that in a sec) but i was trapped in a car for twelve hours and this was the only book i had downloaded so i'm actually glad for that
okay so, the romance was so cute and fluffy i really liked the slow burn even if it was a little frustrating
the plot was engaging and kept me guessing and re-guessing which i wasn't expecting! i was scared that we wouldn't get any answers and be left with big plot holes but luckily that wasn't the case
i actually really liked both the characters and i thought they worked well together as a couple
the writing was actually surprisingly poetic at times and the symbolism woven throughout were fun to find and connect
okay back to my earlier comment about it feeling like a wattpad story or something:
leo is described as a "bad boy" (first off i hated that he was straight up called a bad boy in the first place. felt like a sixth grader was writing)
so what makes leo a "bad boy" per se? well, he wears leather, sings in a rock band, has a tattoo, parties, drinks, hooks up with girls, and smokes a crap ton of weed. it was just soo cliche. honestly, if i met a guy like that in real life (as a high schooler in present day) i would ask myself "this guy cannot be for real, right?" i don't even know how to describe it, but i really didn't enjoy that i felt as if his character was a mix of Riverdale characters and any male vampire from Twilight 😑
BUT he's a great character that really doesn't fit that persona at all.
now hannah. classic "good girl" also could be called the classic "always prepared and has a plan mom character that's never done wrong"
(again, she's described directly as being spoiled and perfect) what makes her a "good girl?" well, shes got good grades, is pretty, dances ballet 6 hours a day and is seemingly pretty perfect at it, and she doesn't even curse.
her character was just straight up annoying at some times, especially in the beginning before her character development.
also, (and i will admit i was a little upset to figure this out) i related to her a lot. why was i mad at this you might ask? because i thought she was annoying at first 😑 but i ended up admitting we would be good friends in real life
anyway, it was all just very cliche "bad boy and good girl fall in love"
BUT their character development is REALLY well done. i genuinely enjoyed watching them fall for each other and learn from one another. i was really proud of both of them in the end.
August 3, 2021
(Spoilers ahead!)
Ok, did or did the summary for this book not imply some kind of twisty dystopian/sci-fi romance? Was that just me?!
Anyway, I came to this book expecting said cool, twisty romantic dystopian/sci-fi book. Instead, it’s a slightly less corny version of If I Stay by Gayle Forman, which I hated.
Good:
✨vaguely interesting set up…until it wasn’t anymore.
✨ Romance had some heartfelt moments.
Bad:
— instalove 🤢 — they know each other for 1 1/2 days & by the end they’re ready to move together to LA? TF??
— the plot was as cheesy & bad as If I Stay, but with the added bonus of there are literally no other characters until like, the 79% mark. Also, side note: how are you going to have your characters spew out all these interesting theories (virtual reality! Aliens! Government projects!) and have them be right with their *first* guess (kinda dead)?!
— characters were basically cardboard cutouts of If I Stay. I mean, literally they were into the same hobbies & had the same bad boy/prodigy girl “opposite sides of the track” thing and bleh.
— Hannah’s inner monologue was sprinkled liberally with “I bet the girls Leo usually likes would/would not…” followed by some action inspired by “those girls” and, no. Please stop. ESPECIALLY when that kind of monologuing doesn’t seem to exist in the boy’s POV chapters.
— everything felt miraculously fixed by the end? Hannah talks with her mom about not doing ballet and it’s just…totally fine. Leo realizes his mom wasn’t a great parent but he’s ok with it immediately after the realization. Hannah’s rich parents adore “bad boy” Leo & are 100% happy with his literal overnight presence in their daughter’s life. Leo wants to go to LA to pursue music & surprise, Hannah wants to apply to a creative writing program that is in that exact area & is still accepting applications even though the school year will be over in a month. Lol.
— have I mentioned what a big pet peeve it is of mine when a main character also wants to be a writer? God it’s such a frustratingly self-indulgent thing for an author to do! As a writer myself, it feels like I’m coming to a supposed party & all anybody wants to do is talk shop.
At the end I read the author’s bio, and this *kind of* sounds like fanfiction about her own life? Which would be completely fine, awesome even, if it had a better plot and a better ending. Whew.
Anyway yeah, I didn’t hate this *as much* as If I Stay, but man this whole “afterlife + romance” instalove plot will never be my thing, & I also just don’t appreciate the misleading summary.
Ok, did or did the summary for this book not imply some kind of twisty dystopian/sci-fi romance? Was that just me?!
Anyway, I came to this book expecting said cool, twisty romantic dystopian/sci-fi book. Instead, it’s a slightly less corny version of If I Stay by Gayle Forman, which I hated.
Good:
✨vaguely interesting set up…until it wasn’t anymore.
✨ Romance had some heartfelt moments.
Bad:
— instalove 🤢 — they know each other for 1 1/2 days & by the end they’re ready to move together to LA? TF??
— the plot was as cheesy & bad as If I Stay, but with the added bonus of there are literally no other characters until like, the 79% mark. Also, side note: how are you going to have your characters spew out all these interesting theories (virtual reality! Aliens! Government projects!) and have them be right with their *first* guess (kinda dead)?!
— characters were basically cardboard cutouts of If I Stay. I mean, literally they were into the same hobbies & had the same bad boy/prodigy girl “opposite sides of the track” thing and bleh.
— Hannah’s inner monologue was sprinkled liberally with “I bet the girls Leo usually likes would/would not…” followed by some action inspired by “those girls” and, no. Please stop. ESPECIALLY when that kind of monologuing doesn’t seem to exist in the boy’s POV chapters.
— everything felt miraculously fixed by the end? Hannah talks with her mom about not doing ballet and it’s just…totally fine. Leo realizes his mom wasn’t a great parent but he’s ok with it immediately after the realization. Hannah’s rich parents adore “bad boy” Leo & are 100% happy with his literal overnight presence in their daughter’s life. Leo wants to go to LA to pursue music & surprise, Hannah wants to apply to a creative writing program that is in that exact area & is still accepting applications even though the school year will be over in a month. Lol.
— have I mentioned what a big pet peeve it is of mine when a main character also wants to be a writer? God it’s such a frustratingly self-indulgent thing for an author to do! As a writer myself, it feels like I’m coming to a supposed party & all anybody wants to do is talk shop.
At the end I read the author’s bio, and this *kind of* sounds like fanfiction about her own life? Which would be completely fine, awesome even, if it had a better plot and a better ending. Whew.
Anyway yeah, I didn’t hate this *as much* as If I Stay, but man this whole “afterlife + romance” instalove plot will never be my thing, & I also just don’t appreciate the misleading summary.
August 4, 2021
he was a punk bf and she did ballet gf in an apocalypse
February 27, 2022
This was so adorable, oh my gosh <33
September 12, 2021
This book blew me away. Slow-burn romance is my weakness, and there is plenty of it between Hannah and Leo and their sizzling chemistry. The speculative fiction elements (Hannah and Leo discover that they are the only two people on earth, and they must unravel the mystery surrounding this unfathomable truth) were so fresh and inventively constructed. I reveled in the author's immersive, evocative writing style, and the end pretty much exploded my brain in the best possible way. I loved this genre-bending beauty--I cannot recommend it enough. I am now waiting impatiently to read everything that Brianna Bourne writes next. A stunning debut.
May 5, 2021
Loved this book! It's a totally new take on the boy-meets-girl trope combining a bit of a dystopia, mystery and first-love. It won me over with its fast-paced plot, intriguing setting and lovable characters. Sweet, smart, and fun. Highly recommend for all young-ish readers!
January 28, 2022
4 stars!
I honestly did not see that ending coming if it wasn’t for that ending it would’ve been a 3 star book for me. The characters were okey the plot was fine too. It was just dragged out a bit at some points. I literally skipped entire pages sometimes just to get to the good stuff
I honestly did not see that ending coming if it wasn’t for that ending it would’ve been a 3 star book for me. The characters were okey the plot was fine too. It was just dragged out a bit at some points. I literally skipped entire pages sometimes just to get to the good stuff
August 5, 2021
3.5⭐
It's not that I didn't like it, it's just I would've loved it more as a teenager!! It was super cute to read tho...
It's not that I didn't like it, it's just I would've loved it more as a teenager!! It was super cute to read tho...
January 25, 2022
I LOVE IT. SO MUCH. I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO READ THIS AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
March 10, 2021
At the start of You & Me At the End of the World, high school student and ballet dancer Hannah finds herself in a book store in Houston. It’s been five days since she woke up to find herself completely alone in the city. Confused and still trying to process what happened, Hannah finds comfort in the bookstore that was owned by a friend of the family. While in the bookstore she hears music coming from the shop next door and peeks in to see a classmate, Leo Sterling, playing guitar. Hannah is scared and then intrigued to see another person.
Hannah and Leo bond while trying to navigate their attraction to each other in a stressful situation. They explore empty Houston by cruising around in Leo’s car, but it’s not all fun and games because right away they notice strange things happening. Shadows lurk in corners, the weather is unusually violent and a heavy feeling of instability cover both of the teenagers.
I’m already a huge fan of any post apocalyptic stories and I really enjoyed the twist at the end of the novel. However, the twist isn’t what makes this book so special. The slow buildup of the romance between the two teens is not only realistic but handled really delicately. Falling in love in the middle of what looks like a world changing event may not be on the minds of most but I think author Brianna Bourne lets the story unfold naturally. Bourne also weaves teenage anxiety in the story with Hannah obsessively dancing every time a scary event happens. As the tension in the book builds, Hannah finds herself questioning everything about her own life and interests as it relates to what people expect her to do compared to what she actually wants to do. You & Me At the End of the World is an entertaining novel that shows just how young love and a brief encounter can transform a life.
Note: This is a young adult novel and there are mentions of marijuana use and Hannah shows signs of OCD with her dancing.
For more reviews: https://thisblisslife.com/tag/books/
Hannah and Leo bond while trying to navigate their attraction to each other in a stressful situation. They explore empty Houston by cruising around in Leo’s car, but it’s not all fun and games because right away they notice strange things happening. Shadows lurk in corners, the weather is unusually violent and a heavy feeling of instability cover both of the teenagers.
I’m already a huge fan of any post apocalyptic stories and I really enjoyed the twist at the end of the novel. However, the twist isn’t what makes this book so special. The slow buildup of the romance between the two teens is not only realistic but handled really delicately. Falling in love in the middle of what looks like a world changing event may not be on the minds of most but I think author Brianna Bourne lets the story unfold naturally. Bourne also weaves teenage anxiety in the story with Hannah obsessively dancing every time a scary event happens. As the tension in the book builds, Hannah finds herself questioning everything about her own life and interests as it relates to what people expect her to do compared to what she actually wants to do. You & Me At the End of the World is an entertaining novel that shows just how young love and a brief encounter can transform a life.
Note: This is a young adult novel and there are mentions of marijuana use and Hannah shows signs of OCD with her dancing.
For more reviews: https://thisblisslife.com/tag/books/
July 24, 2021
Having read a few ‘end of the world’ novels recently, You & Me at the End of the World is by far the best. It differs from the others in that the ‘end’ has already happened, there is no prior panic, no what-ifs… Hannah and Leo wake up one day and realise they are the only ones left in their city. We see their journey towards understanding what has happened and where everyone has gone.
I read this in just over a day, which proves to me that it is engaging, and I didn’t want to put it down (my reading has been a bit slower lately, taking me about a week per book usually).
I found the main characters of Hannah and Leo to be relatable and realistic, their thoughts and actions plausible given their circumstances. The insight into each character’s mental health and method of ‘coping’ was intriguing, including how they came to understand and help each other, their personalities complimenting the other, even though they came from very different backgrounds and perspectives.
I really enjoyed the pace of the plot and thought it was fantastic. I don’t want to give too much away but seeing the characters grow and boost each other as people, along with the ‘will they won’t they’ in terms of romance, and the outcome when they understand everything that has happened to them was excellent.
This is a fantastically entertaining read that you can easily lose yourself in and not want to put it down.
Thank you to Harriet Dunlea at Scholastic UK for the arc to review.
I read this in just over a day, which proves to me that it is engaging, and I didn’t want to put it down (my reading has been a bit slower lately, taking me about a week per book usually).
I found the main characters of Hannah and Leo to be relatable and realistic, their thoughts and actions plausible given their circumstances. The insight into each character’s mental health and method of ‘coping’ was intriguing, including how they came to understand and help each other, their personalities complimenting the other, even though they came from very different backgrounds and perspectives.
I really enjoyed the pace of the plot and thought it was fantastic. I don’t want to give too much away but seeing the characters grow and boost each other as people, along with the ‘will they won’t they’ in terms of romance, and the outcome when they understand everything that has happened to them was excellent.
This is a fantastically entertaining read that you can easily lose yourself in and not want to put it down.
Thank you to Harriet Dunlea at Scholastic UK for the arc to review.
December 19, 2021
DNF 23%
It's the end of the world you two, there's more important things to do than get it on.
It's the end of the world you two, there's more important things to do than get it on.
May 27, 2022
okayy i did now expect any of what happened to happen but this book & the characters genuinely made me so happy. i love hannah and leo smm and the love they have for eachother is so sweet i wanna cry 🫶🏼
January 15, 2022
Loved the storyline, characters and moments they had together. Easy read but so worth it!
July 7, 2021
It looks as though most reviewers other than me really loved this book. I enjoyed the premise of two adolescents seemingly facing the end of the world together, but the story lost my interest about halfway through and I had to force myself to finish it. Sorry! I just couldn't stop thinking about why the main characters never gave each other more than a passing glance before all of this happened and what exactly they had in common. I also felt so frustrated that it took a near tragedy to get them to face the truth about themselves, but perhaps that is true to life. The book opens as Hannah Ashton contends with a world that is all-too silent. She has no idea where her parents or everyone else has gone or why the streets are so empty of their usual traffic. After all, Houston is typically bustling as its citizens head various places. While exploring Literary Devices, a local bookstore, in search of reading material to pass the time, Hannah hears music coming from the next door store. She follows her ears to the source, which turns out to be Leo Sterling, a guitarist for a local band. Although the two of them attend the same high school, they run in different circles, and Leo regards her as nothing more than Ballet Chick while all she knows of him is that he has a reputation as a heartbreaker. Both have theories about what's happened with the most likely one being that both of them are dead. Having no one else around, they decide to spend time together and explore the city, each one sharing special spots and secrets with the other. Leo realizes that he's his own worst enemy due to his unreliability and his cavalier treatment of others, and Hannah finally admits that her dancing brings her no joy and is actually her mother's dream. Instead, she loves writing. For me, the book loses steam once the truth about what's been happening in Hannah's world is revealed. The author cleverly embeds hints all along, but the book's conclusion and easy resolution of all the problems left me disappointed. Maybe I have just read too many YA titles in which a Good Girl meets a Bad Boy, and everything changes for both of them. Or perhaps I'm just an inveterate cynic.
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