Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend

Dan and Mara are excited about their two-week vacation to a brand new resort on a private island in the Bahamas. But almost as soon as they arrive, the sun explodes, leaving them and all the other people on the island stranded in the dark. Things quickly devolve into chaos. The inhabitants quickly break into separate and opposing groups as supplies are hoarded by the wealthiest and Dan, who has always been a slacker with bit of a low opinion of himself, is shocked to find himself the reluctant leader of a rebellion by the rest who oppose them..

Zero Stars Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer is his debut novel and what an exciting, addicting debut it is. In many ways, this is a very dark tale with some shocking events but Wassmer lightens it show more with a strain of humour running through it. The characters are well-drawn on both sides of the class divide and Dan makes for a flawed but very likeable anti-hero. I did find the ending somewhat bittersweet but, overall, I loved this one. Definitely a fun read, perfect for fans of Jason Pargin or, really, anyone who enjoys a dystopian tale but with some laugh-out-loud moments.

I received an audiobook of this novel from Netgalley and RBmedia in exchange for an honest review. It’s narrated by Stephen R Thorne who does an amazing job of giving individual voices to a large and diverse cast of characters. show less

I went into this book thinking it would be a bit shallow and dry and more focused on humor. I was taken by surprise and hit in the feels.

From crying tears from laughing to wanting to smack the characters myself to wanting to cry with the protagonist, I went through all the emotions with this one. Get prepared for a literal rollercoaster.

This book is FUNNY. There isn’t a ton of spice and triggers aren’t simply pushed for the sake of shock. Every single scene, bit of text, and word serves a purpose. It is clear that a lot of heart, passion, and soul went into the making of this book.

I am so excited to see if this wonderful author publishes any more books in the future, as this one was a slam dunk for me. It changes my expectations for show more satire, comedy, and entertaining books in general. show less

I can't seem to write this review using anything but clichés, so here goes. Holy cow, what a ride! I was really looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint. How the heck is this a debut novel? Because it. Was. Amazing!

We have the extremely reluctant hero Dan, and his brave and reactionary girlfriend Mara, who take a 2-week vacation at a new all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas. Little did they know that events would soon throw them into an apocalyptic class-divided fascist society as they all worry and wait for the end of the world. Both Dan and Mara are totally likable and believable. I loved how Mara made Dan want to be a better person, and Mara believed in Dan just as he was. It's written from Dan's POV, and thank goodness show more he has a sense of humor. There's a lot of observational writing, which I enjoyed. Dan's voice and personality put me in mind of the main character from Alas, Babylon (Randy), who was also a reluctant but ultimately effective post-apocalyptic anti-hero. Bit of a slacker but very smart and decent at heart, who would do almost anything to make sure those he loved were safe.

This is not a criticism but it was hard to pin down exactly what this book wants to be, it's like a few different books in one. Wry observational humor, apocalyptic drama, action-packed fight for survival, critical social commentary, romance and human relationships, and a bit of a puzzle, all wrapped up in a big beautiful package. It morphed a lot over the course of the book, and not once was I bored. I pondered where it was going, multiple times, and trust me when I tell you to avoid spoilers before reading.

This is a sarcastic and absurd and tragic and hopeful story that will keep you guessing all along the way. I'll be looking forward to more from this new author in the future! Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC of this story in exchange for my objective review. show less

This is a hilarious and yet interesting look at a world-ending event while away on vacation. How does a random group of strangers survive after witnessing the death of our sun?

I loved our main character. I did this as an audio and it really brought out the story and the characters. Dan was not a great boyfriend but I couldn't help but love him. Mara was feisty and yet so empathetic. They were a cute couple to adventure with through the apocalypse!

But the breakdown of this island and the social order of things was so funny and, yet, scary. I absolutely loved it! It felt realistic but kept things light, at times, so it didn't get too deep. The story did the perfect juggle - keeping it entertaining while making you really think. The show more twists were interesting and the reveal was so good! I really loved this one, highly recommend the audio!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. show less

This title--how can you not want to read this? I admit it took a couple tries from the library, but once I was deep into Dan and Mara's trip after the sun melts/explodes, I couldn't stop reading. It moves from the survival of the fittest where Building A takes control to help maintain order (they say) to Dan's ascension to a hero of sorts with the backing of a deli owner from Jersey. The twist, though, is right out of a sci fi/horror story and made me think. The reactions of the resort guests are more Lord of the Flies than Susan Beth Pfieffer, but boy, the characters played their roles well.

Dan and his girlfriend Mara are on an uneventful vacation at a Bahamian island resort when the sun disappears. Immediately, communications with the outside world cease and social norms collapse. The resort's wealthiest guests, led by sugary multilevel marketing guru Lilyanna, seize control of the power station and food supply and inaugurate a quasi-fascist regime. The desperate have-nots in this new order inexplicably look to Dan for leadership. Can he, a meek, self-doubting working stiff, rise to the occasion?

MJ Wassmer’s Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend covers a lot of satiric ground, taking on toxic masculinity, reality television, and evangelical Christianity, among other topics. The writing is very clever, but the humor is very dark. show more Readers with delicate sensibilities should be forewarned that, despite the novel’s cheery cover and cheeky title, violence and death play prominent roles in the narrative.

The novel started off slowly, but once it got going, it held my attention completely. Highly recommended to those who are up for it. show less

I really liked this one! It does remind me of Kevin Wilson's Nothing to See here. I don't get the comparisons to White Lotus besides it being set in a resort, but I have to say I don't watch the show, so maybe? In any case, I like the humor and the main character who does not feel/act like/talk like a hero. There was some reflection on masculinity. A lot of the plot was absurd, but I was not reading for the realism, so that was fine with me.