Hi fiction lover! I’m here with another book review—to tell you all about why you should pick up All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown. You won’t regret reading this charming story that will still make your heart race with anticipation! Don’t worry by the way, I still plan on reviewing some fanfiction works. I am going to be looking for some interesting fanfics. Let me know if you have any recommendations. Anyway, let’s dive straight into All That’s Left in the World.
All That’s Left in the World Impressions
The novel is described as a “postapocalyptic, queer YA adventure romance.” So when I first stumbled upon it, I knew it was the one for me. It’s kind of like locking eyes with a cute guy in the grocery store. You don’t know anything about him, but all you know is that you must have him.
Anyway, let’s dive into it without giving away too much. Andrew and Jamie are the main characters, and they speak from a dual perspective. When I say that I’m a fan of dual perspective, I really mean it. And it was done so well here, the characters sounding distinct, the pacing well executed, and the secrets withheld making me feel like I was always on the edge of my seat.
Andrew is so funny, somehow holding onto his humor even in the middle of the apocalypse—a deadly pathogen wiping out the majority of humanity. Andrew is a theater kid in the best sense, referencing pop culture in times when I would be like I might die tomorrow, I’m not going to try to be funny. Andrew’s humor isn’t forced, and he has a grit to him that shows evidently why he’s survived so long by himself.
Jamie, on the other hand, is soft and sweet. I loved seeing him gain confidence after meeting Andrew. As he finds someone to fight for, he learns to wield his weapons—and not just his gun. He’s a bit less confident in his identity than Andrew, and that made me want to hug him and say that it’s totally okay to feel conflicted!
To Convince You Even More!
Although there are several scary moments and escapes from death, I was pleasantly surprised by the hopeful tone of the novel. Even when the boys are severely injured (I’m looking at the leg in the shocking opening, although there are other riveting instances), I never saw them completely lose faith in coming out on the other side. It was refreshing to see a dystopian that didn’t overly harp on the “everything is dead and gone” aspect. Even when yes, the superflu wiped out their loved ones and everything they knew and cherished.
I thought I would never want to read a novel about a pandemic, after experiencing Covid for these last several years. But Brown proved me wrong. This was completely refreshing. And even with the thought that this might happen in the future, a new superflu isn’t completely out of the question, I still enjoyed it without feeling depressed. Like I mentioned, this story is more hopeful than anything.
This book made me want to scream at the survivors who try to hurt Jamie and Andrew, and cheer for the characters who give them kindness—namely an eclectic old lady and a mousy girl who both show that a superflu can’t wipe out all the good in the world.
I’d say that Andrew and Jamie are the couple that dystopian YA needed. What do you think? Do you think you might give All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown a read? The second book of the series, The Only Light Left Burning, is already out! I’m definitely going to be picking that up soon. Let me know if you’d like me to review that next? Click here for more book reviews!
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