If We Survive This

This for me felt like a mixture of the walking dead & the last of us! Flora is stuck in a post-apocalyptic world with her brother Cain alone both her parents dead until one day her brother recovering from a broken leg gets curious & starts messing with the radio where he picks up a signal! He hears his dad voice saying “I’m still here” and he wobble as fast as he can to tell Flora the protective little sister who’s been watching over him since healing from his injury. She’s basically become the sole runner and supplier keeping her and her brother alive! This is the most good news she’s heard since the virus took over and she’s ready to leave all this death behind and reunite with the only parent.. the only safety she has. Now that Cain is healed up they’re ready to take off on the journey to find him. Along the road are the craziest twists and turns, with rabids running everywhere they come along new faces and are faced with decisions, and situations that I know for sure I wouldn’t survive! We do get the luxury of a furry friend accompanying us along the way with this grief driven story as well as Floras mental journey living with OCD in this dangerous post-apocalyptic world! I truly feel this book is so beautifully written and to be able to step into the world of someone struggling with her disorder is enlightening and makes me have so much respect and understanding for it. The characters and their developments and diversity throughout the story is one of my most enjoyable parts and something I felt like I could relate to and find joy in when their worlds were falling apart around them. I felt every single one of Flora’s emotions and this book being able to move me so much made me give it a 5/5 rating it’s definitely a great read especially during the fall season!

The most mundane and flat narration I’ve ever listened to. It took awhile to get used to but somehow I did listen to it in a day.

Though zombie fiction isn’t typically my genre of choice, this book immediately captured my interest—so I gave it a chance.What followed was an emotionally intense journey. Each glimmer of hope was quickly overshadowed by yet another loss or setback, which, while fitting for a post-apocalyptic setting, it left me hoping for some kind of safe haven for the characters.Flora and Cain’s relationship stood out most through the book. Their sibling dynamic was messy and deeply human, driven by a shared sense of duty to protect one another.The ending was unexpected. It left me with a strange combination of hope, sorrow, and uncertainty. The ambiguity of “did they make it?” didn’t quite resonate with me the way I’d hoped.Still, this book delivered a powerful emotional experience—and I’m glad I picked it up.

I really didn’t know what to expect when I picked up If We Survive This, I just knew that I was interested in reading something by Racquel Marie & ✨zombies✨.Wow, was I blown away by the phenomenal & beautiful writing within these pages.If We Survive This is an incredibly emotional read that centers around family and taking care of those you love, even when it feels like you can’t take care of yourself. Did I get teary-eyed reading this? Absolutely.The zombie aspect is also solid and there’s some pretty good bloody scenes. But I think my favorite part about this one is the relatability of Flora & her anxiety. As a person who’s had the same fears as our main character & has obsessed over the thought of death, this book made me feel seen and was oddly comforting.Definitely recommend if you’re in the mood to through some emotions. I will definitely be reading more from Racquel Marie!

Flora and Cain, like the rest of the world around them, have been thrust into a world where they must fight to survive. One day, Flora catches a snippet of a broadcast from her father coming from their family cabin, hours away, in a different part of California.Flora and Cain embark on a trip to the cabin to locate their father. On this trip, they come across Crisanta, a family friend, and Adan, who was traveling with Crisanta. They merge their groups and travel together to the cabin. Along the way, they have many run-ins with the “rabids.” Otherwise known as the infected living dead roaming the land. On the way to the cabin, they take on a side quest. They came across a young teen who is stuck in a dangerous situation with “rabids” and are able to pull her to safety and journey to take her to her parents.I “read” this as an audiobook. I am a sucker for apocalypse / post-apocalyptic times books and this book hit the spot for me. Even though this is a YA book, the descriptive aspect of the attacks with the infected “rabids” is satisfying. I also get a 28 Days Later meets The Walking Dead vibe with this book. The cause of the apocalypse is rabies, yes, rabies. A communicable disease that can be spread from animals to humans. One of the characters is “Biscuit” a 15 year old chihuahua(?) that belongs to Adnan and one of the groups constant worries, other than making sure that she has enough to eat, is whether she is going to die or get bitten by one of the “rabids.”This book alternates between then and now and is all from Flora’s perspective. I don’t know if it is specifically said (because I was listening) but I believe Flora might have OCD and may be a germaphobe(?). I cannot imagine being obsessed with cleanliness and then being thrust into a world where bacteria and viruses are everywhere and there not being the proper methods to dispose of those threats.Listening to this book, there was only one downside for me, the narration. I actually feel bad for giving a bad rating for the narration because the narrator is the author but the narrating was very uninspired. There were some very climactic areas of the book that I didn’t realize were climactic because of how it was being read. Honestly, I usually DNF audiobooks that are drull like this, for me, but I enjoyed the story so much I was actually able to work through the narration issues.

Imagine The Walking Dead that follows a group of teenagers and young adults, led by an anxious, neurodivergent teen. Not only must she fight off zombie-like “rabids,” but also deal with her own inner battles.This story follows Flora and her injured brother Cain, after a rabies mutation sweeps the world. With their mother dead and their father gone ahead to prep a remote cabin, Flora is left to protect them both. She’s anxious, OCD, and emotionally raw—but stronger than anyone, including herself, realizes.Told through dual timelines, —"Now" and "Then"—the book reflects on the family’s past and the emotional depth behind each character’s choices and behaviors. This is not just a survival story; it’s a powerful coming-of-age narrative about identity, trauma, resilience, and the lengths one will go to, to survive.I enjoyed the character development throughout, and the range of representation present in this story. Neurodivergent, LGBTQ+/trans, and Hispanic characters are featured. Everyone has their own story, and it’s rewarding to watch them grow, bond, and survive together.I received the audiobook via NetGalley and RBMedia. It is narrated by the author. The structure was clear and easy to follow, and I appreciated hearing the story in the Author’s own voice. With that said, the narration did feel a bit monotone at times, but that could have been intentionally to show how Flora chose to be withdrawn, and unemotional, as she had been thought to be too emotional by others in her past.Despite this, this story was a compelling and emotional read. I finished this story days ago and continue to think about several different scenes that display the humanity that is still present despite the apocalypse like situation.If you enjoy character-driven dystopian fiction with strong themes of identity, survival, and growth, this one is worth the read, regardless of your age

4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5⭐️If We Survive This is a story of hope and love, survival and grief during a zombie style apocalypse. In a future where rabies has mutated and causes people to turn and feast upon each other, Flora faces the apocalypse head on in an attempt to keep her brother safe. Her plans to escape the LA valley with him to their childhood vacation cabin become more complicated when she runs into her childhood crush and her new companion. The poignant writing style is delivered in a beautifully dry performance by the author herself in the audiobook. This book was captivating, emotional, and believable. The only thing that kept it from being a perfect score for me is my own personal struggles with gore descriptions—but I wouldn’t think that this book is anything other than what people who read this sub genre more would be used to. I enjoyed the exploration of sexuality and mental illness in an apocalypse setting. It caused the book to equal parts plot driven and character study.I would absolutely recommend this book.**ALC provided by NetGalley and Recorded Books. All opinions expressed are my own.**

This book absolutely broke my heart. It was brutal, raw, and full of gut-wrenching moments that made me thankful our world isn’t a zombie apocalypse. It reminded me of "28 Days Later" with its intense and bloody scenes. But what hit me hardest was how the burden of survival fell on kids. Flora, the main character, is fierce, but you can tell it didn’t come easy. She’s just a teen forced to toughen up because the world fell apart around her.As someone who deals with intrusive thoughts about worst-case scenarios, I related deeply to Flora’s constant fear. It felt unfair for someone so young to carry that kind of anxiety. And watching her fight to stay alive, while grieving the loss of almost everyone she knew, was both heartbreaking and inspiring.The journey she and her brother take is full of moral questions. The characters have to make impossible choices, and I liked how the book didn’t shy away from showing their struggles with what’s right and wrong. The queer love story was a sweet bright spot among all the darkness.My only challenge was with the audiobook narrator. I usually love audiobooks, but this one felt flat and monotonous. I understand Flora’s numbness, but the narration could have shown more emotion to match the intense story.Overall, was a powerful, sad, but hopeful story about surviving the worst and fighting for the people you love—even when the world feels like it’s ending.

If We Survive This is the third book I’ve read by this author. I’m also a big zombie fan so it was a win win choice. First thing that took my attention is how fast this author has gotten so good. Flora is a teenager who should be celebrating milestones like her 18th birthday, prom, and graduation but instead is fighting for her life against a world of rabids and evil humans. She is also trying her best to watch out for her older brother, Cain, who sometimes seems more vulnerable in this new life.I love when books take a running leap into a story, especially when it’s meant to be scary or suspenseful. When we join Flora and Cain, a year has gone by since the rabies mutation began to devastate the population so the horror is now ever present. They are managing alone in their family home but decide that survival means taking a risk and leaving for a better place. This hellish road trip toggles back and forth with a family trip to a cabin that took place in the past during more innocuous times.This author never writes about just the subject at hand. That’s what I love best about her books. Flora fears the world, the micro details of daily life. Her brain captures the possible dangers and sends everything to worst case scenarios. Though she struggles, she still finds joy in her family, her fashion art, and the world at large. But in the present, all of those fears are real. Death and loss are the here and now. The give and take of the sibling relationship is strongly written as well. Of course, Flora and Cain love each other but the dynamics between siblings can be complicated too. The book has action, violence, and some Queer romance. Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of dystopian worlds, zombie/pandemic stories, sibling YA mains, and young adult characters struggling but also finding meaning in life.

This book is more about companionship than zombies/rabids. The ending was very dull. The characters were well written for teenagers, but were pretty annoying, especially towards the end. The only one I really loved was biscuit.

(Advance Listening Copy (ALC) courtesy of NetGalley and RBmedia/Recorded Books.)I can't 5⭐ this hard enough.VERY important note: There is a precious little old dog in this book, and the second she was introduced, I emphatically announced, “If this dog dies, I'm rating this one star. Full stop.” Refer to the above star rating for the outcome.The rep in this story is phenomenal. I loved the Latinx representation and the natural interspersing of Spanish dialogue — nothing forced. The queer representation is just as refreshing. The romance feels real and complicated, not sanitized, not overly melodramatic. Just authentically teen, even as the world ends.There’s also a reveal involving a trans character that’s done in such a natural, low-key way: not a big moment, just another part of who this person is. It’s not the point of the story, but it’s there, and it matters. And it’s really damn cool to see.Flora’s OCD and intrusive thoughts were probably my favorite part of the book. Brutally realistic, incredibly woven into the narrative. Mental health doesn’t disappear just because you’re busy surviving zombies, and this book gets that.Flora has realistic flaws. She holds grudges. She’s petulant sometimes. She thinks she knows best and that relying on others will get people killed. But she also loves fiercely, even when she tries not to.Where the ending seemed to be going almost lost me. It seemed like we were going to take a nosedive from 5 ⭐ to 1⭐… No spoilers: just check my final rating for the verdict.🎧AUDIO-SPECIFIC:The narration was low-key and perfect for the story. Narrated by the author, and honestly? She nails it. Flora’s delivery is flat, but purposefully so. This is Flora’s POV: she tries to stay numb, to hold herself steady, to shut out the chaos. It never broke immersion, in fact, it made it stronger.TL;DR: A brutal, beautiful story of found family, queer love, and survival. The wholesome and the bitter, the heartbreak and the healing. This book earns every tear it wrings from you.

I am here for a zombie apocalypse dystopian YA queer book! Think The Walking Dead meets The Last of Us meets Yellowjackets meets All That's Left in the World. 🧟‍♀️💔🛻If We Survive This wrecked me, in the best, most cathartic, “I laughed and then sobbed into my hoodie” kind of way. Part zombie apocalypse, part introspective coming of age journey, Racquel Marie somehow blended gore, grief, sibling love, OCD, and a sprinkle of sapphic romance into a story that felt heartbreakingly real… even while people were, you know, getting their faces chewed off.We follow Flora, who in the “then” timeline is just a bright, anxious, stylish teen with big dreams of design school. In the “now,” she’s a hardened survivor who knows how to run, hide, and keep her brother Cain alive, even when her own mind feels like it’s turning against her. Flora’s OCD is portrayed with searing accuracy. Her intrusive thoughts, fears, and spiraling were raw and relatable in a way that made my chest physically ache. As someone who is neurodivergent with OCD, I felt like Racquel Marie did such a fantastic job at portraying a character, especially a young woman, with OCD and anxiety and intrusive thoughts. I felt so seen!I loved the dual timeline structure because it gave the book this haunting before and after quality, showing how the apocalypse reshapes not just the world, but the people in it. Think The Walking Dead meets All That’s Left in the World, with a dash of The Honeys weirdness and a focus on the people more than the monsters.And oh, the sibling dynamics. Flora and Cain’s relationship is messy and fierce and filled with that exact kind of love where you’d absolutely risk your life for the other person, but also maybe yell at them for touching your stuff. Their bond is the soul of the story. Add in a quiet queer romance, a sweet dog (Biscuit!), found family vibes, and a lingering sense of dread that someone isn’t making it out alive? Yeah, this book got me.Yes, it’s technically horror. Yes, there’s blood (so much blood), and yes, I might’ve gagged once or twice. But more than that, it’s about fear. About what it means to live with anxiety, to survive when you didn’t think you could, to run even when you're tired, and to fight even when you're scared.If you're here for a character driven apocalypse with big feels, messed up people trying their best, and a main character who will burrow into your heart and refuse to leave, If We Survive This is your next read. Just maybe don’t eat while reading.🧟‍♀️🏕️🩸

If We Survive This completely pulled me in from the very first page. What I appreciated most was how much heart Racquel Marie poured into this story. It’s not just another survival or "zombie" book; it’s something much more intimate, layered, and beautifully written. The emotional depth of the characters, paired with the constant undercurrent of danger, created a reading experience that had me literally reading while on the treadmill, adrenaline pumping, unable to put it down. The dual timeline structure was incredibly effective. The shifts between “then” and “now” made the character development feel authentic and earned. Seeing the main character evolve from her younger, more naive self into a grown woman with a much deeper understanding of herself and the world around her made the stakes feel personal and real. The contrast between these timelines was one of the book’s biggest strengths. Pacing-wise, the structure was smart. Longer chapters early on allowed the world-building and relationships to fully develop, while the shorter, faster chapters toward the end heightened the tension and urgency perfectly. By the time the romance really began to unfold, the pacing gave me space to fully invest in the emotional side of the story, without feeling overshadowed by the action. The LGBTQIA+ representation was handled with care and authenticity. The diversity of the characters felt organic, never performative, and their identities were simply part of who they were, which made their stories even more meaningful. On top of that, the plot twists and, oftentimes, unreliable narrator kept me questioning everything and everyone. I was never sure who to trust, which only added to the tension and emotional pull of the story. If We Survive This is a rare kind of survival novel, one that balances action, heart, and character-driven storytelling with incredible skill.

Terrifying look at a world with zombies around every corner after an outbreak of a rabies mutation. The characters were interesting and I found that they were well-developed but somewhat unlikeable, particularly Flora with her hero complex. There was plenty of LGBTQ+ representation (I don’t think there were any straight characters except for her parents who weren’t really in this) and it definitely leans more YA coming of age than horror despite the zombies but I enjoyed the story.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Flora and Cain, while fraught with typical sibling problems and even more issues due to the zombie apocalypse, they are still ride or die for each other. I wasn't a fan of the other two characters that were brought into the story, or the romance that formed between them and the siblings. But I kind of just skimmed past those parts. There is a dog, and I am going to spoil one part.... read ahead at your own risk.... it lives. your welcome.I think this is more a survival story vs horror, but it was enjoyable and fast paced. And even though the ending was a bit ambiguous, I overall had a good time reading the story.

This story will certainly appeal to fans of movies & books with zombie or apocalyptic storylines. I really enjoyed reading about the resilience and survival of this brother and sister duo.Flora & Cain are on a mission to survive and find their dad who has been missing for weeks. With “rabids” at every turn, they strengthen their bond, & begin their journey with a couple of friends. Throughout their journey, they try their best not to get bitten by rabids, have a lot of self discovery, & navigate through everyday teenage issues such as high school crushes, sexual identity & challenging sibling dynamics.I loved the narration in the audiobook, and was in awe to discover that author was also the narrator. It takes a special kind of talent to narrate in general, & even more so to narrate your own work. Racquel Marie simply nailed it!Overall a solid read that is perfect for fans of YA, slow burn, apocalypse stories. I especially love the separate underlying love stories taking place with the main characters & their potential significant others. The alternating timelines between before the outbreak & after was relevant & significant as it showed the family dynamics. Thank you RBMedia and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

Reading Journal DetailsBook: If We Survive This by Racquel MarieFormat Read: Audiobook (~9 hours, 5 minutes long)My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)My Quick Take ReviewExceedingly character-driven and emotionally grounded, If We Survive This offers a unique take on the zombie genre—referred to as "rabids" in the story—with strong mental health representation. A slower middle and a desire for more survivor-on-survivor conflict holds it back slightly, but it's still a very worthy read for fans of introspective survival stories.Some Key Features🧟 Rabies mutation zombies🌈 LGBT representation🧠 Highly introspective🐕 Biscuit the dog🧬 Sibling dynamics🩸 Zombie killingMy Full ReviewIf We Survive This really shines by focusing more on the depth of its characters rather than just outer chaos, making it stand out nicely in the world of zombies. The story switches between two timelines, before and after the rabies mutation turns everything upside down for the human population, thereby giving a great perspective on how things changed.Mainly, it's Flora's story, and I think the author did an admirable job showcasing her struggles in a way that is both genuine and respectful. Flora's OCD, internal battles, and overall emotional journey are all handled with care and insight, making her a relatable and lovable character. I also really appreciated how thoughtfully the book weaves in biracial and LGBT themes, treating them with the same grace and authenticity.That said, there was a bit of a slow patch in the middle where things felt sluggish, and I found it harder to stay fully engaged at times. Luckily, the story picks up again in the final third, and that renewed momentum kept me hooked all the way to the end.If I could wish for one thing, it would be a little more external conflict. More interaction or tension with other survivors. The internal struggles were really rich and deeply meaningful, but the story's focus on survival alone kept it feeling a bit more like a "wait and see" rather than a full on "end of the world" chaos that I love in apocalyptic stories.I always enjoy when the author themselves narrates their own audiobook. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of amazing narrators whose voices I purposefully seek out all the time, but there's something extra special about hearing the author bringing their own story to life. You can truly feel the heart and soul of the book in Racquel Marie's narration.

This book very much gave off “The Walking Dead” vibes, which I loved! If you love the show you will absolutely love this!I didn’t really see how it was like “Yellowjackets” though, which isn’t a huge deal, I was just expecting more of that show’s vibe.This was written so well! I underlined so many lines! It was so descriptive. You could really picture everything Flora was seeing and felt the character’s fear or any emotions they may have had.There were lines I laughed at, was grossed out at and was scared at. I was on edge the whole entire time while reading! In a good way.I really liked all of the characters and thought they were super unique and they stood out to me!It went back and forth between the past and present, and seeing Flora and Cain’s dynamics between their parents and them was so special. I love a good sibling story, and this provided. The bond they shared was so good to read about, even if they kept things from each other at times. I preferred the present chapters better, but the past chapters tied in perfectly to the story!It had drama and angst as well between the characters in just the right amount! I loved the found family aspect of it all. It made my chest feel warm and fuzzy.I loved Cain and Adán together! Adán was honestly my favorite character. I warmed to him the minute I met him and he just kept getting better and better the more we got to know him! It took a little too long for Crisanta and Flora to get together which made me sad. The pining was great at first don’t get me wrong, but by the end I just wanted them to be together. We didn’t see a lot of it, and I was hoping for more.Flora had OCD, which I don’t see in books very often. I know it is around and I am probably just not reading ones where it is talked about, but it was a very prevalent part of the story and it blended in very well! It wasn’t forced and it tied into Flora’s character and her surroundings.Wow! What an ending! My heart was pounding so hard! I teared up. I almost wanted JUST a little bit more because it can’t end like that!! But at the same time, it also wrapped up in such a good way for an apocalyptic novel that it made sense as an ending. Honestly I’d read a second book if there ever was one. I don’t want to leave these characters!With the ending being a little rushed and it being open ended, and the fact that the plot was a little slow for me at times is why I gave this 4 stars instead of 5, but otherwise I really enjoyed it!Even the acknowledgments were really sweet and well written!Thank you NetGalley!

Thank you Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Flora is living in the aftermath of a global outbreak of rabies, this outbreak has turned people into zombie like rabids. She has her brother Cain are alone after their mother died and their dad left to find a safer place. Flora can’t stay in their area as there are to many painful memories and rabids she recognizes. They set out for their family cabin that is more secluded and the place their father was headed. Is he still there? Danger is around every corner and her and Cain will have to learn who they can trust on their journey. As they journey they’ll also face hard truths and painful memories from the last time they traveled to the cabin. Can they make it there safely? If they do what will they find? Fast paced with tons of intrigue! Family drama, romance, gruesome, gory, and real! If you’re a fan of queer dystopian novels Racquel Marie’s If We Survive This is absolutely worth reading!!