There are no spoilers in this review.
I discovered Lauren James a little while ago with her debut, The Next Together and somehow I knew this, this was an author with tons of potential. My instinct seemed to have been right. I really, really had a fantastic time reading The Loneliest Girl Of The Universe and was expecting her newest release to be just as good and, I’m thrilled to say that it delivered.
AN IMAGINATION WITHOUT LIMITS
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If there is something I always deeply admire about Lauren James’, it is her imagination. From her debut to her latest release, she always surprises me with her original, unique ideas and always manages to take me right here with her in these worlds she creates and I love this so much. In The Quiet At The End of The World, she takes us in a near-future where a virus caused global infertility and we follow Lowrie and Shen, the last two youngest people on earth. Lauren James manages to create a believable, chilling world and future with this premise.
Just like in her previous release, The Loneliest Girl At The End of The World, I found the book a little slow to kick off, but it was oh, so worth it. As we discover this new world, its rules and Lowrie and Shen’s lives, we can feel a slow tension building on the background, as if we’re on the edge of something big happening, yet we can’t really see what, as clues are slowly, but certainly inserting themselves into the story. And yes indeed, big things are happening, as Lauren James always manages to deliver a twist that makes my jaw drop as I read and make me consume the last half of the book in the blink of an eye because it’s just that good and I just need to know what happens next.
The Quiet At The End of The World tells the story of Lowrie and Shen, but also includes some articles, snippets from social media accounts of people from our century as they realize the virus spreads, as the world all of a sudden changes. These parallels between these two timelines, as Lowrie reads about the past to understand her present and future, were so well inserted and so developed, too, I felt like I got to understand this future world and how it came to be, too and I really enjoyed it.
FLAWED, GREAT CHARACTERS TO FOLLOW
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Told frow Lowrie’s point of view, The Quiet At The End of The World managed to make me care for her, her friend Shen and their entire family and small, tight community, too. Lowrie was not the perfect main protagonist, nor the perfect person, either. She was flawed, she made mistakes, yet she felt so human and was so endearing, I couldn’t help but root for her and want her to be okay, in the end. I loved how determined and fierce she was, yet also how her anxieties and stress took over and made her a great, believable hero to follow.
Her friend Shen was also endearing and sweet, I appreciated him and his close friendship with Lowrie a whole lot, how their relationship developed and everything else. The family and community was also a big part of the story and it was good to see how close they all were and how each and every one of them had their own thing, too.
Then, there was Mitch, this small robot I can’t not mention in my review, because I ended up having such a soft spot for him and just wish to have a small Mitch as a friend, too.
OVERALL
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Lauren James does it again. With The Quiet At The End of The World, she manages to deliver an original, unique story with twists and turns that surprised me, yet she also managed to make me think about our world, about what it means to be human, too. This book was such a great ride to take and, if you’re a fan of science-fiction, unique stories and want to give Lauren James’ books a try, I’d definitely recommend that one.
Final rating: 4 drops!
The biggest thanks to Walker Books YA for sending me a review copy of this book. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.
Trigger warnings: blood, seizures.
Diversity: Chinese main character, deaf in one ear (Shen). Bisexual main character (Lowrie) and side-character (Maya).
Lauren James, The Quiet At The End of The World, Published by Walker Books, March 7th.
How far would you go to save those you love?
Lowrie and Shen are the youngest people on the planet after a virus caused global infertility. Closeted in a pocket of London and doted upon by a small, ageing community, the pair spend their days mudlarking for artefacts from history and looking for treasure in their once-opulent mansion.
Their idyllic life is torn apart when a secret is uncovered that threatens not only their family but humanity’s entire existence. Lowrie and Shen face an impossible choice: in the quiet at the end of the world, they must decide who to save and who to sacrifice . . .
Did you read The Quiet At The End of The World? Do you want to?
What was the last book that surprised you with its twists and turns? Let me know in comments!
Wonderful review! I loved The Loneliest Girl in the Universe so much, it was such an intense reading experience – so I’m really excited for this one ?
Ahh yay this makes me so happy to hear! I hope you’l love it 🙂
thank you! <3
Another author to add to my TBR pile Marie! Wonderful review and I am happy that your instinct was right 😉
YAY! Thank you so much 😀
The premise of this book is so awesome!! I’m almost running out of books I got for Christmas lol so I’ll have to add this book to my list of ones to pick up. I’m glad you enjoyed it! I’ve been craving a twisty book for a while now. 🙂
Ahhh, this was SUCH a great, twisty kind of book, I hope you’ll love it Madeline 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
This one sounds so fascinating! I’m definitely intrigued! Thanks so much for introducing it to me, Marie! Have a lovely week, sweets! ❤️
Oh you’re so welcome, Kelly, I hope you’ll pick it up sometime! 🙂
Thank you so much! <3
I’m really glad you enjoyed this book Marie, Lauren James is an incredible author and so far I’ve really enjoyed all her books. It’s a shame this one started off a little slow but it seems like that time was used to really develop the characters and the world. Plus it seems like the twist was enough to keep you hooked as well. 🙂 I feel like if it’s anything like the twist in The Loneliest Girl in the Universe I’m going to be hooked too, no matter how slow the story may be.
I did really love The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, would you say this book is better? In terms of the storyline and the twist?
Great review. 🙂 <3
Oh thank you, Beth! I remember you liked The Loneliest Girl, and I think you could really love this one just as well! I think I had a little preference for this one, now that I’m thinking back about it? The twist was even more surprising to me haha 😀
Thank you so much! <3
That’s all right, and ohh now I definitely need to check this book out. I did really enjoy The Loneliest Girl in the Universe so if you think this one was even better hopefully I will too. 🙂
That’s all right. <3
This sounds like an intriguing story! I am especially drawn into learning more about Mitch. Thanks for putting this one on my radar. I’m glad that you enjoyed it! 🙂
Oh you’re so welcome, I hope you’ll read and love it! 🙂 thank you!! <3
This sounds so interesting! I haven’t read any of this author’s work before but it seems like I should! I’m really interested in the premise of them being the two youngest people in the world. I’ve not read the summary of a book like this before without feeling like the plot was like Handmaid’s Tale pt 2 (though that is now coming as well), but this sounds like a really unique approach.
Also that cover! <3
Ahhh I know right, one of my favorites <3
Oh you should give it a try! Lauren James always surprises me with her imagination and her stories 🙂 I hope you’ll try it out and will love it 🙂
Great review, Marie! I haven’t read a Lauren James book yet but this sounds very interesting! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, Raven, I hope this will make you want to give this one a try 😀
Yaaayy! It was so great to read someone else’s review of this! When I scoured Goodreads mine was the first full-length one up, and I keep checking back because I couldn’t wait to see what others thought!
I feel like we picked up on a lot of similar things with the mixed media, the slow start and the following craziness that ensued. 😀 I hope this new novel gets the spotlight that it deserves. After this and Loneliest Girl, I really need to go back and experience The Next Together. 🙂
Also Mitch will forever hold a special place in my heart! <3
I really, really hope this book will get the spotlight it deserves, too, I’m with you on that! and I’m so glad we agree on so much and that you enjoyed this book, too, yay 😀
Mitch. I loved him ahhhh <3
Thank you so much, Becky! <3
I really need to read this! I’ve read none of Lauren’s books and I’m wondering why – they sound incredible!
Ohhh Kyra you should give her books a try, they’re all really, really good 😀
Thank you so much for your comment! <3
I recently read The Knife of Never Letting Go and it felt so unique and original too, and I love when an author can bring something so creative and fresh to the table as well. It sounds like Lauren James does the same. It sounds like you need to be a bit patient as everything starts off but then it gets to be really good and kind of a mind twister as well. Great review x
Oh yes definitely! If it’s a bit slow at first, the rest of the book makes it so worth it. I hope you’ll give it a try!
Thank you ❤️❤️❤️
Oh my gosh, this looks so good. I feel as if it’s not the kind of book I’d normally go for, but I’m so intrigued by it right now and well, I think I might just have to read it. Wonderful review!☺️
This is SUCH a good and surprising book, Olivia, I hope you’ll want to give it a try someday 🙂
Thank you! <3
Great review! I’m planning to read this one soon so I’m really pleased to hear you enjoyed it 🙂
Oh thank you so much, Alex! I’m so happy to hear that, I hope you’ll love it 🙂
I just bought this based on your review! can’t wait to get stuck in. And how cute is the front cover!
Awww this just made my day, thank you!! I hope you’ll love it 🙂
I just finished this book and it was SO SO FAB (also did you know that you are like number two on google when you searcn tne name of this book?). I loved the plot twist but I wish that there had been more exploration of ethics because a lot of things didn’t make sense (like having ham and milk–who was milking the cows?)
Ahhh I’m so happy you liked it, Shanti!! (and what, I had no idea, this is such a cool thing, thank you for letting me know that!!)
I get what you mean and I sometimes feel like this book could have used more pages to explore the world and the way it worked, too, that could have been so interesting 😀