I cannot say enough about this book and everyone I've recommended it to is in agreement. I read a lot, always have. I'd graduated from kid stuff and moved onto Stephen King by the time I was 8; there was just never enough for me to read. Now with school, work, & general being-an-adult-stuff I do not read as much as I used to so something has to be really good for me to have that "couldn't put it down" feeling about it , let alone for me to find the time to talk about it with others. I've been soliciting this book to everyone I know since I read it because I truly feel like everyone needs to read it AND I think it would make an amazing movie (if done right, as most books-to-movies aren't). Best thing I've read in years!So. It does start out on a sad note as one reviewer pointed out but I was immediately hooked. I wanted to know, to understand what was happening to Riley. I had to keep going and it picks up right away. A lot of books take awhile for me to get into them -not this one. I actually put my life on hold until I'd finished this book and its sequel. The only way I could stop was once I had to- because there was no more to read. I've been on the edge of my seat waiting for the final installment of this series since. Nothing else is the same. As someone who always predicts EVERYthing I read and watch, I am very pleased to say I did not predict any aspect of this book, nor will I try to for its final installment. Dawson sucks you in, makes you care about the characters down to Riley's sweet dog. She may be an Indie or little-known author, but she shouldn't be. Normally I wouldn't go for anything in this category - despite it being outside my comfort zone, as I said I could not put it down - which has actually made me open my mind to anything and everything. This book has returned my insatiable reading "appetite" that has been long lost. I will likely forever be on the hunt for something even remotely close to as good as this one, but my search will continue nonetheless.I have to say, I'm usually a "grammar police" jerk. I did not even care about the typos I came across in this book I was so into the content. To the grammar critics, get over it and be thankful for the amazing ride that this story offers. To the reviewer who wrote about Riley "having 4 men into her at once" or something of that nature - I do not understand where she's coming from. Read the book and see what I mean. Riley is obviously a hottie, and in a world where everyone who is remaining has lost everything and everyone, it's only human nature to be interested in one another. That was not the focus of this story at all. It does have a bit of a romance side, I suppose you could say -but I HATE romance novels and was not turned off. This book is a perfect mix of adventure, emotional roller-coaster rides with a hint of romance and a ton of good old humanity and what I think is a realistic portrayal of how people would act should they find themselves in this unfortunate circumstance. With the exception of the main character, Riley who is stronger and braver than I (probably most of us) ever could be.Read this and if you are disappointed you can personally take it up with me - I'd actually be shocked and love to hear why! It's really a 2.5 star book for me. It was entertaining, and I feel like I am clearly not the primary intended audience. So I can't judge too harshly. Falls somewhere in the middle of the post-apocalyptic novels I've read. Not the worst, not nearly the best. I felt that there was no takeaway here, and that is supremely disappointing. However, I realize now that this is a book #1 of ?, so who knows how the rest of the series pans out.
