The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold ~ a Review

by MK French

Storms have wreaked havoc on Earth. Liz Flannery stays in an abandoned bookstore in New Jersey where she used to work, trading books for supplies with the few remaining survivors. Another Storm is coming, and Maeve breaks into the store to stay the night. The two butt heads, but Maeve has skills able to repair the shop so it could possibly survive the Storm. While they develop feelings for each other, Maeve’s secrets and Liz’s inner demons come back to haunt them both. Now they're fighting for their lives as their world crumbles.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

January 2025; Delacorte Press; 978-0593899489
audio, ebook, print (320 pages); YA post-apocalyptic

The Storms that hit the country were brutal, involving literal acid rain that harmed and damaged everything it fell on. Liz hides away from the world in the bookstore, still using whatever water and food stores that had been there when she had a fellow coworker staying there with her. It was damaged, but safe enough for ordinary weather conditions. Liz collects stories of survivors who passed through and serves as a message center. Maeve is the daughter of a former NYC superintendent, so she has some practical skills to help repair the shop since Liz refuses to leave. She's caught up in the past as much as Maeve isn't and wants to leave. Other survivors are still out there, and some of them aren't interested in peace, only hoarding potential supplies and resources. Maeve knows some of these survivors, and Liz is still dealing with grief.

With the tight timeline punctuated with glimpses of the past before the first Storm, the story feels almost claustrophobic before the danger ratchets up. Maeve and Liz bring out different sides of each other; Liz needs to push past her comfort zone, and Maeve needs to care about others. The end of the world is a tough place to be, and survival depends on so many factors. In this novel, it's the connections to others that make a difference.

Buy The Last Bookstore on Earth at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever. 

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