Title: Instructions for the End of the World Author: Jamie Kain
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: December 8, 2015
Rating:
He prepared their family for every natural disaster known to man—except for the one that struck.
When Nicole Reed’s father forces her family to move to a remote area of the Sierra Foothills, one without any modern conveniences, her life is completely turned upside down.
It’s not that Nicole isn’t tough. She’s learned how to hunt, and she knows how to build things—she’s been preparing for the worst-case scenario for what seems like forever.
But when she and her sister, Izzy, are left alone in this remote landscape to fend for themselves, her skills are put to the ultimate test. She’s fine for a while, but then food begins to run out, the pipes begin to crack, and forest fires start to inch closer every day.
When Wolf, a handsome boy from the neighboring community, offers to help, Nicole feels conflicted. She can take care of herself. But things have begun to get desperate, and there’s something about this boy she can’t shake.
As feelings develop between these two—feelings Nicole knows her father would never allow once he returns—she must make a decision. With her family falling apart, will she choose to continue preparing for tomorrow’s disasters, or will she take a chance and start living for today?
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: Instructions for the End of the World, Jamie Kain
Instructions for the End of the World by Jamie Kain is a book that certainly has a fantastic sounding synopsis and the cover is quite stunning. Sometimes when I read a synopsis for a book or even find the cover to be appealing, I am immediately drawn in. Sadly, the plot of this book took forever to move forward, which I didn’t appreciate. I did enjoy the forest setting, though, which was probably why I continued reading. However, this book is overly unrealistic and hard to believe, which really affected my enjoyment of the novel.
❀ Very Slow-Paced
Unfortunately, the plot of Instructions for the End of the World is very slow-paced. The characters took forever to develop, and the story seemed sort of flat. Judging by the summary, I expected this book to be super fast-paced and exciting. However, nothing major really occurred in this book, and it became sort of boring after a while.
❀ An Incredible Setting
Instructions for the End of the World does, however, have an incredible setting. The book takes place in an empty forest, where Nicole and Izzy’s father forced the family to move to. I’ve always enjoyed forest settings, because they are the perfect backdrop for all sorts of things to take place. What I enjoyed even more about this forest was the fact that there is a group of people basically hiding in it. This aspect of the book did actually surprise me, and it was what kept me reading on.
❀ Unrealistic
Though Instructions for the End of the World has an interesting setting, it is overly unrealistic. I understand that this book is fictional, but I was honestly rolling my eyes at this book because it is way too unrealistic to even appreciate the rest of the story. I mean, sure the kids could be abandoned, but who moves to a forest that just so happens to be already occupied by other people and tells their kids that it is all to learn survival skills? There were so many elements in this book that I just couldn’t handle because they were so irrational.
❀ Hard to Enjoy
Instructions for the End of the World by Jamie Kain has a slow moving plot and characters that take forever to develop, yet an intriguing and mysterious setting that I really enjoyed. However, this book is extremely unrealistic, which I found pretty unenjoyable. If you are able to open your mind to the plot of this story, then I feel like you would appreciate this book and find that it is the right fit for you.
Quotes: Instructions for the End of the World, Jamie Kain
“I understand the balance nature seeks—the need for the hawk to eat the hare—but I have never felt at peace with its harshness. I don’t begin to understand why life, so excruciatingly fragile, so breathtaking in its delicate beauty, can be destroyed with such ease.”
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, novice New Yorker, & professional bibliophile.
The synopsis you shared really intrigued me, but after reading the full review, I think I’ll give it a miss! Great review!
TheDonkeyInvasion – A Bookish Blog!
I felt the same way! I am so disappointed that I didn’t like this book. Everything was slow, and the characters were kind of bland.
Yes. It was just really lacking, wasn’t it?
Oh, and here’s
My Review
just in case you would like to check it out. 🙂
Awe, it’s sad that you didn’t enjoy the book :/
I’ve never heard of this book before but seeing it now the cover is stunning and the title really drew me in. (End of the World? WAT) But slow-paced stories definitely aren’t my thing. I probably won’t be picking it up.
Great review! 🙂
This book does sound like it has the right storyline to really grab you. If you do pick it up, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Well, that is unfortunate! I think that, pretty cover or no, I am going to have to pass up on this one. A slow-paced story isn’t something that I can handle unless the plot is INCREDIBLY good and the characters INCREDIBLY well-written. SO this one is a pass for me!
I agree with you. If the writing is so fantastic that it adds to a slow and suspenseful read, then I am all in!
This book sounds great!
I just read this one and I was so disappointed. The parents were ridiculous and I can’t believe they even had kids. I also thought this book would focus on them trying to survive more. But it ended up being about two teenagers just waiting for their parents to come home. Like you said, nothing really happened and the ending was a big nothing. Great review.
I know, right? I was waiting for something to happen and then nothing ever did!
What a waste of a great concept! I was drawn in by the blurb and then I read your review and was left super disappointed.
Such a let down wasn’t it? I totally agree with the slow pacing and the unrealistic elements to the story and it’s what left me really disappointed in the read.
I’d never heard of this book before, but the cover is gorgeous, and the title piqued my interest.
However, slow-paced novels aren’t my cup of tea so I’m not likely to pick it up.
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