If We Survive This out now from Feiwel & Friends; 336 pages
Content Warning: Violence, gore, death, weapons, intrusive thoughts of harm and death
About the Author: “Racquel Marie grew up in Southern California where her passion for storytelling of all kinds was encouraged by her friends and big family. She received a BA in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in gender and sexuality studies from the University of California, Irvine” (Bio from author’s Goodreads profile).
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Flora Braddock Paz must protect her brother, Cain, and stay alive amid a zombie apocalypse. After their father disappears and they receive a message suggesting he may still be alive, Flora and Cain journey from Los Angeles to upstate California in hopes that they can find a safe haven. Flora’s obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors make the journey seem intimidating, and the idea of staying alive almost impossible, but she knows that she must leave all she’s known to secure a better future. Along the way, they remember moments of their last trip up to northern California—before Cain left for college, before their mother died, and before true feelings bubbled to the surface. After running into her old friend and crush, Crisanta, and Crisanta’s new ally Adán, Flora begins to wonder, can she protect everyone, or will sacrifices be made to protect her family first?
I have been waiting for a book like this all year. I’ve never read a YA horror novel before, and I think this book was the perfect introduction to the genre. Marie crafted the most painfully real characters I’ve ever read about—specifically, Flora. Flora has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and I loved the accuracy of the representation. It felt like a gift to watch Flora grow through some of the most difficult situations, from losing her mom to protecting her brother during the apocalypse. I could see how much Flora changed throughout the story, and I loved how her OCD wasn’t magically cured by the end of the novel, but rather something she learns to manage, which makes her stronger. Another thing I adored about this book was the relationship dynamics. Every single relationship was so incredibly realistic that it was almost frustrating seeing their imperfections. I loved watching Flora and Crisanta grow closer; it truly felt like a privilege, and I was rooting for them the entire time. Seeing Cain and Adán’s relationship develop was also sweet, especially because I was not expecting it—it was the best kind of surprise. The “then” and “now” timelines were both so interesting that I’m not sure which one I liked more. There were so many surprises and twists present in both timelines that I just couldn’t put the book down. I was so invested in the characters and the plot that I think I cried for the entire last half of the story. If We Survive This is a book I’ll recommend forever.
Emersen Cooper, Pine Reads Review Writer and Editor