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Anyone? #1
Anyone?
Young Adult, Apocalyptic, Survival, Horror
The end of the world? That’s the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters and deep philosophical exercises in school. No need to sweat it. So when sixteen-year-old Tess’s doomsday-dad builds a bomb shelter in their suburban backyard, everyone thinks he’s gone crazy….
…Until fire rains down from the sky, sinking whole cities into colossal craters and setting much of the world ablaze.
Tess’s dad gives her a few short minutes to gather her emergency bag and her freaked-out kitten, then leads her outside and into the underground shelter. Terrified, the last thing she expects is for him to leave her there all alone, but he has no choice—he must find her missing brother.
Before leaving, he makes Tess promise to keep the hatch door shut, not to open it for anyone but him, and to stay put until he returns.
But he forgot to tell her one thing: What is she supposed to do if he never comes back?
The end of the world? That’s the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters and deep philosophical exercises in school. No need to sweat it. So when sixteen-year-old Tess’s doomsday-dad builds a bomb shelter in their suburban backyard, everyone thinks he’s gone crazy….
…Until fire rains down from the sky, sinking whole cities into colossal craters and setting much of the world ablaze.
Tess’s dad gives her a few short minutes to gather her emergency bag and her freaked-out kitten, then leads her outside and into the underground shelter. Terrified, the last thing she expects is for him to leave her there all alone, but he has no choice—he must find her missing brother.
Before leaving, he makes Tess promise to keep the hatch door shut, not to open it for anyone but him, and to stay put until he returns.
But he forgot to tell her one thing: What is she supposed to do if he never comes back?
326 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2014
143 people are currently reading
1529 people want to read
About the author
Angela Scott
14 books568 followersI hear voices. Tiny fictional people sit on my shoulders and whisper their stories in my ear. Instead of medicating myself, I decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. I’m not crazy. I’m an author.
For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West—and loving it. My zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, I wouldn’t suggest it.
I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of my love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn’t require math. I can’t spell, and grammar is my arch nemesis. But they gave me the degree, and there are no take backs.
As a child, I never sucked on a pacifier; I chewed on a pencil. I’ve been writing that long. It has only been the past few years that I’ve pursued it professionally, forged relationships with other like-minded individuals, and determined to make a career out of it.
For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West—and loving it. My zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, I wouldn’t suggest it.
I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of my love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn’t require math. I can’t spell, and grammar is my arch nemesis. But they gave me the degree, and there are no take backs.
As a child, I never sucked on a pacifier; I chewed on a pencil. I’ve been writing that long. It has only been the past few years that I’ve pursued it professionally, forged relationships with other like-minded individuals, and determined to make a career out of it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
November 29, 2014
Ok, when I do a review, I dont copy and paste the excerpt of the book nor give too much info of the story, so if your waiting to find spoilers go to the next review or better yet, buy the book!!
When I finished this book, I send to the author an email, asking her if this book will have a sequel, I must admit that my tone was a little desperate!
Why?...
Because this story blew my mind!! Since page one, you're pulled in to an extraordinary story, fast-paced with such a narrative power, and the writing is impeccable!
What I loved about the story?
1. I love that you have a lot of questions and so few answers, I went through all the book guessing, imagining, making assumptions, until I get to the last page and I found myself literally screaming "NO, NO, NOO"
2. The heroine has a Cat!
3. Cole, Cole, Cole, I love Him
What I didn't like?
1. Tess, I know she's a young heroine, but some times I really wanted to slap her, I didn't feel related with her, but Hey! This is nothing, it doesn't ruin the book, it's only my personal opinion.
So, I higly recommend this book to any reader, it's a clean story, so you can read it with your tween.
This author is now on my "Must Read" list!!
I received a ARC copy from the Author in return for an HONEST review
When I finished this book, I send to the author an email, asking her if this book will have a sequel, I must admit that my tone was a little desperate!
Why?...
Because this story blew my mind!! Since page one, you're pulled in to an extraordinary story, fast-paced with such a narrative power, and the writing is impeccable!
What I loved about the story?
1. I love that you have a lot of questions and so few answers, I went through all the book guessing, imagining, making assumptions, until I get to the last page and I found myself literally screaming "NO, NO, NOO"
2. The heroine has a Cat!
3. Cole, Cole, Cole, I love Him
What I didn't like?
1. Tess, I know she's a young heroine, but some times I really wanted to slap her, I didn't feel related with her, but Hey! This is nothing, it doesn't ruin the book, it's only my personal opinion.
So, I higly recommend this book to any reader, it's a clean story, so you can read it with your tween.
This author is now on my "Must Read" list!!
I received a ARC copy from the Author in return for an HONEST review
December 5, 2014
There were several things I loved about this book. First is Tess. She really is a teenager and Angela Scott did a great job of portraying her as such. Second is Cole. An interesting character with an interesting view of the world now that there’s no one around for miles. Third, I loved the tension between them. There’s an incredible love/hate relationship that sparks in all the best ways. Fourth, I loved the cat as an important character. Last, I loved the adventure and the mystery of what happened. The mystery of what happened is reminiscent of The Road… No one really knows. There are hints at possibilities, but it’s never really discovered. Of course, Tess’s main worry is finding her Dad and brother. The why of what happened doesn’t matter to her.
There are other things that sat wrong with me. Okay, really only one thing… The ending. Poof! No answers. Not to who or what Cole is, not to what exactly happened (this is a double-edged sword with me), and not to where the government is. Why is the weather freaky all of a sudden? I’m usually all for ambiguity, but there’s a certain limit that I can handle. There should be answers to most of the questions that come up during the book, but I was left with only an answer to why the ONLY animal still alive is Tess’s kitten. I contacted Angela to find out if there would be a series because that was the only possible explanation to leave so many open questions. She replied that no, this isn’t a series (though she hasn’t dismissed possibly coming back to write more about this world some other time).
This book pulled me along and I couldn’t put it down. When I did put it down, it was not with kindness. I still think about the story–about Tess and Cole–but most of it is disappointment that I don’t know the answers to so many questions.
There are other things that sat wrong with me. Okay, really only one thing… The ending. Poof! No answers. Not to who or what Cole is, not to what exactly happened (this is a double-edged sword with me), and not to where the government is. Why is the weather freaky all of a sudden? I’m usually all for ambiguity, but there’s a certain limit that I can handle. There should be answers to most of the questions that come up during the book, but I was left with only an answer to why the ONLY animal still alive is Tess’s kitten. I contacted Angela to find out if there would be a series because that was the only possible explanation to leave so many open questions. She replied that no, this isn’t a series (though she hasn’t dismissed possibly coming back to write more about this world some other time).
This book pulled me along and I couldn’t put it down. When I did put it down, it was not with kindness. I still think about the story–about Tess and Cole–but most of it is disappointment that I don’t know the answers to so many questions.
November 24, 2014
Anyone? Anyone? Hello?
This book is so fun! 4.5 out of 5 stars for me!
The author sent me an e-arc for my honest review and it was so fun!
The apocalypse is happening in this book and its basically a race from the beginning to end. I love the way Angela Scott always has you guessing in this book! I just could not stop reading it! The characters are fun, though I took a half of a point off for not building them up, especially Tess in the beginning. She was a little flat for a while. However, Scott writes a funny book with a few pop culture references and a kitten side kick! :)
I don't want to write too much, because I don't want to spoil anything!! JUST READ IT!
Definitely check it out when it comes out this December!
Thank you Angela Scott for the EARC, i loved it! :)
November 2, 2014
Angela Scott can do no wrong. I have devoured all of her novels and Anyone? Is no exception. When 16-year-old Tess’ world starts falling apart, literally, her doomsday survivalist dad ushers her into a bunker in her backyard. He orders her to stay put until he returns while he goes to get her brother. He promises her he’ll just be a few hours not to let anyone in any circumstances. The problem is, he never comes back. After two months she finally decides to go find him herself but she’s not ready for what the world has become.
Tess is a great character. Her thoughts and actions resembled that of an average 16-year-old girl and how she might really handle a situation like this. Nothing felt fake or forced about her. Fairly early on in the story we meet Cole. I love Cole. Every author needs a Cole. He is fun, sarcastic, mysterious and tries to protect Tess from everything happening around them. The weather seems to be their enemy. They experience Extreme weather and all four seasons in just days. Tornadoes, electrical storms, heat that is so hot it burns your skin in seconds. While the idea of the apocalypse may be very popular right now, Angela Scott has made the story very original and fresh. I don’t feel as if I know what’s coming every second. I was left holding my breath to see what happens next. I am eagerly anticipating her next book.
I received a review copy from the publisher in return for an honest review and all opinions expressed on my own
Tess is a great character. Her thoughts and actions resembled that of an average 16-year-old girl and how she might really handle a situation like this. Nothing felt fake or forced about her. Fairly early on in the story we meet Cole. I love Cole. Every author needs a Cole. He is fun, sarcastic, mysterious and tries to protect Tess from everything happening around them. The weather seems to be their enemy. They experience Extreme weather and all four seasons in just days. Tornadoes, electrical storms, heat that is so hot it burns your skin in seconds. While the idea of the apocalypse may be very popular right now, Angela Scott has made the story very original and fresh. I don’t feel as if I know what’s coming every second. I was left holding my breath to see what happens next. I am eagerly anticipating her next book.
I received a review copy from the publisher in return for an honest review and all opinions expressed on my own
September 30, 2016
Wow wow wow. I had so much fun reading this. It ended so suddenly and I'm not ready for it to be over yet! I need a sequel so bad. I'm still so confused about many things. Is Cole real or not? Where is Tess now? Will she die? What in the world is going on? I'm absolutely shocked at how much I liked this book. It ended up being much more than I first anticipated. I recommend.
Please, I need a second book.
Please, I need a second book.
November 24, 2014
I loved everything about Anyone?. From the title posed as a question, to the fantastic cover, to the carefully crafted characters, to the pace, and finally, to the amazingly satisfying - yet mystifying - ending.
Because I subscribe to the author's newsletters, I read the first chapter of this book months ago. At least, it seems like that long ago. And it wouldn't leave my brain. Every now and then, I would wonder what happened to Tess. Did her dad come back for her? Did he find Tess' brother? What exactly happened on the surface to force her underground? So, I was ecstatic when I discovered that Angela Scott was looking for bloggers to read and review this book for its release.
I'll be up front and admit that this review is going to be difficult to write simply because while I want to brag about this book and entice you to read it, I don't want to spoil it for you either. There are twists and turns along the way, and what a bummer it would be if I was to slip up and spoil it for you. So, I'll tread carefully.
I'll start with Tess, our protagonist. She is the only character we meet for a long time. And, that's okay. Because it gives us time to get to know her. Though I admit I didn't care for her at first. She starts out as a bit of a whiny teenager who can't seem to make decisions for herself. But, as all good characters should, she matures right before our eyes, and becomes more independent and grown up. Is it due to her friendship with Cole? Or due to her father's military experience and preparedness? Or simply because she was a strong character to begin with, but it took a natural disaster of epic proportions for her to realize it?
From the very first page, I didn't want to put the book down. There was always something happening. Even when there wasn't a strange weather phenomenon to escape from, Tess was getting to know Cole or simply figuring out how to survive, which was new to her. There really wasn't a dull moment. Every moment is there for a reason without slowing the pace whatsoever.
There are so many reasons to pick up this book and read it, so I urge you to do just that!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Because I subscribe to the author's newsletters, I read the first chapter of this book months ago. At least, it seems like that long ago. And it wouldn't leave my brain. Every now and then, I would wonder what happened to Tess. Did her dad come back for her? Did he find Tess' brother? What exactly happened on the surface to force her underground? So, I was ecstatic when I discovered that Angela Scott was looking for bloggers to read and review this book for its release.
I'll be up front and admit that this review is going to be difficult to write simply because while I want to brag about this book and entice you to read it, I don't want to spoil it for you either. There are twists and turns along the way, and what a bummer it would be if I was to slip up and spoil it for you. So, I'll tread carefully.
I'll start with Tess, our protagonist. She is the only character we meet for a long time. And, that's okay. Because it gives us time to get to know her. Though I admit I didn't care for her at first. She starts out as a bit of a whiny teenager who can't seem to make decisions for herself. But, as all good characters should, she matures right before our eyes, and becomes more independent and grown up. Is it due to her friendship with Cole? Or due to her father's military experience and preparedness? Or simply because she was a strong character to begin with, but it took a natural disaster of epic proportions for her to realize it?
From the very first page, I didn't want to put the book down. There was always something happening. Even when there wasn't a strange weather phenomenon to escape from, Tess was getting to know Cole or simply figuring out how to survive, which was new to her. There really wasn't a dull moment. Every moment is there for a reason without slowing the pace whatsoever.
There are so many reasons to pick up this book and read it, so I urge you to do just that!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
November 18, 2014
I received an advance copy from the author for review. I have read all of Angela's books, and it's hard to pick one as a favorite. This one easily battles for the top spot though!
Tess is a typical teenager with typical teenage problems, until the day that she finds her world literally falling apart. The book opens with explosions rocking the city in which she lives, and her father telling her to get out of the house and into the fallout shelter that has been his obsession for the past few years. Telling Tess to stay in the shelter until he comes back, he races off to find Tess's rebellious brother.
The book follows her journey through the next few months alone in the small shelter with her pet cat as her only companion, then through a perilous journey to try to reunite with her family. Angela does an amazing job putting the reader into the mind of this young girl as she deals with numerous post-apocalyptic challenges as she makes her arduous trek to a remote mountain resort where she believes her father took refuge. I found myself caught up in the "just one more chapter!" trap many times so I could find out how she overcomes the next obstacle thrown in her path. This is typical of Ms. Scott's books, as she has a wonderful way of drawing the reader into the worlds she creates. They are so real, so well fleshed out, that it becomes easy to lose yourself. Several nights I found myself looking at the clock in shock, realizing that once again I would have to boost my caffeine intake the next day to compensate for lost sleep.
My only complaint about the book, besides the lost slumber, is that there had better be a sequel or I'll go crazy!
Tess is a typical teenager with typical teenage problems, until the day that she finds her world literally falling apart. The book opens with explosions rocking the city in which she lives, and her father telling her to get out of the house and into the fallout shelter that has been his obsession for the past few years. Telling Tess to stay in the shelter until he comes back, he races off to find Tess's rebellious brother.
The book follows her journey through the next few months alone in the small shelter with her pet cat as her only companion, then through a perilous journey to try to reunite with her family. Angela does an amazing job putting the reader into the mind of this young girl as she deals with numerous post-apocalyptic challenges as she makes her arduous trek to a remote mountain resort where she believes her father took refuge. I found myself caught up in the "just one more chapter!" trap many times so I could find out how she overcomes the next obstacle thrown in her path. This is typical of Ms. Scott's books, as she has a wonderful way of drawing the reader into the worlds she creates. They are so real, so well fleshed out, that it becomes easy to lose yourself. Several nights I found myself looking at the clock in shock, realizing that once again I would have to boost my caffeine intake the next day to compensate for lost sleep.
My only complaint about the book, besides the lost slumber, is that there had better be a sequel or I'll go crazy!
December 25, 2014
While I enjoy this author's writing style, I was never able to connect with her young character, Tess; and I never understood the hot-cold dynamics between her and Cole. I kinda guessed what was going on with Cole (but we never get an answer), but the book ends without many threads resolved (possibly, this is the start of a series?). So many unanswered questions, especially regarding Cole, why her dad didn't find time to return for her after her brother was safe, and a few other things I won't mention due to spoiling the story. The abrupt ending left me feeling frustrated.
July 28, 2021
2.5 Stars
Tess is woken in the middle of the night by her dad. The world is in chaos outside (the book never explains exactly what it was), and her dad takes her to their bomb shelter and tells her to stay put until he comes for her. As the blurb already said, he doesn't come back, and Tess struggles with whether to stay or go out to look for him. When she finally does go out of the shelter, the world she'd known has changed and there is no living being in sight. The rest of the book follows her and a mysterious guy she meets named Cole as they search for her family, or any remaining survivors for that matter, and try to figure out what happened.
Not one of my favorites, I have to admit. I love books that make you love the characters, but the few characters that appeared weren't too likable. Tess was a little frustrating. I guess I can't blame her. Given the circumstances, she probably did a good job surviving. However, her character seemed really immature (even though I'm not much older than her), and you don't see much growth in her over the course of the book. Cole was also not a character I liked. I found them both annoying sometimes.
Overall, I guess it was okay. It did keep me reading till 2 am, but I do that with most books I read, sometimes staying up till sunrise if it's really good. I'll probably finish the series just to see how it all plays out. I'm also really curious to see who Cole really is, albeit I have my guesses. If you have a totally great series just waiting to be read on your shelf, I definitely recommend going for that series instead of this one. However, if you're bored or have nothing else to do, this book may not be so bad.
Tess is woken in the middle of the night by her dad. The world is in chaos outside (the book never explains exactly what it was), and her dad takes her to their bomb shelter and tells her to stay put until he comes for her. As the blurb already said, he doesn't come back, and Tess struggles with whether to stay or go out to look for him. When she finally does go out of the shelter, the world she'd known has changed and there is no living being in sight. The rest of the book follows her and a mysterious guy she meets named Cole as they search for her family, or any remaining survivors for that matter, and try to figure out what happened.
Not one of my favorites, I have to admit. I love books that make you love the characters, but the few characters that appeared weren't too likable. Tess was a little frustrating. I guess I can't blame her. Given the circumstances, she probably did a good job surviving. However, her character seemed really immature (even though I'm not much older than her), and you don't see much growth in her over the course of the book. Cole was also not a character I liked. I found them both annoying sometimes.
Overall, I guess it was okay. It did keep me reading till 2 am, but I do that with most books I read, sometimes staying up till sunrise if it's really good. I'll probably finish the series just to see how it all plays out. I'm also really curious to see who Cole really is, albeit I have my guesses. If you have a totally great series just waiting to be read on your shelf, I definitely recommend going for that series instead of this one. However, if you're bored or have nothing else to do, this book may not be so bad.
January 22, 2015
I would like to thank the author for providing me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Doing so does not sway my review in any way.
I just finished reading this book and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around much of it. Set in modern times, a catastrophic event has occurred, leaving the world as we know it in an apocalyptic chain reaction of many incredible and unexplained incidents. From the onset of the major event until a few months afterwards, Tess was holed up in a shelter made by her prepper father. The majority of the book is about her getting to her father, several miles away, with the assistance of a stranger she meets along the way, Cole.
I pretty much figured out who Cole was from the start, but the reader never gets a definitive answer on it. There are many other things that are left with loose ends that makes me wonder if there is going to be a followup book to this one. If there isn't, than as a reader, I feel very slighted. Cole is quite the free spirit but he also provides the comic relief needed when times are so tough that you need to lose focus for fear of losing oneself. Tess, while butting heads with Cole most of the time, is every bit the seventeen year old she should be.
The author provides us a world that 99.9% of the population has disappeared by the time Tess comes out of the shelter. No animals are around other than her cat which she had taken into the shelter with her. There are not even birds to be heard. What has happened to all the people? Where are all the animals? What are the crazy weather patterns being experienced? So many questions with some being answered while others never really touched on.
A good book in this day and age where preppers even have their own show, personal faith is being questioned and teens have a more direct say about things that effect them. This book shows the survival skills a person needs to overcome obstacles and that apocalyptic events are not always man made. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good what if book.
I just finished reading this book and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around much of it. Set in modern times, a catastrophic event has occurred, leaving the world as we know it in an apocalyptic chain reaction of many incredible and unexplained incidents. From the onset of the major event until a few months afterwards, Tess was holed up in a shelter made by her prepper father. The majority of the book is about her getting to her father, several miles away, with the assistance of a stranger she meets along the way, Cole.
I pretty much figured out who Cole was from the start, but the reader never gets a definitive answer on it. There are many other things that are left with loose ends that makes me wonder if there is going to be a followup book to this one. If there isn't, than as a reader, I feel very slighted. Cole is quite the free spirit but he also provides the comic relief needed when times are so tough that you need to lose focus for fear of losing oneself. Tess, while butting heads with Cole most of the time, is every bit the seventeen year old she should be.
The author provides us a world that 99.9% of the population has disappeared by the time Tess comes out of the shelter. No animals are around other than her cat which she had taken into the shelter with her. There are not even birds to be heard. What has happened to all the people? Where are all the animals? What are the crazy weather patterns being experienced? So many questions with some being answered while others never really touched on.
A good book in this day and age where preppers even have their own show, personal faith is being questioned and teens have a more direct say about things that effect them. This book shows the survival skills a person needs to overcome obstacles and that apocalyptic events are not always man made. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good what if book.
December 31, 2015
I would like to thank the author for providing me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Doing so does not sway my review in any way.I just finished reading this book and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around much of it. Set in modern times, a catastrophic event has occurred, leaving the world as we know it in an apocalyptic chain reaction of many incredible and unexplained incidents. From the onset of the major event until a few months afterwards, Tess was holed up in a shelter made by her prepper father. The majority of the book is about her getting to her father, several miles away, with the assistance of a stranger she meets along the way, Cole.I pretty much figured out who Cole was from the start, but the reader never gets a definitive answer on it. There are many other things that are left with loose ends that makes me wonder if there is going to be a followup book to this one. If there isn't, than as a reader, I feel very slighted. Cole is quite the free spirit but he also provides the comic relief needed when times are so tough that you need to lose focus for fear of losing oneself. Tess, while butting heads with Cole most of the time, is every bit the seventeen year old she should be.The author provides us a world that 99.9% of the population has disappeared by the time Tess comes out of the shelter. No animals are around other than her cat which she had taken into the shelter with her. There are not even birds to be heard. What has happened to all the people? Where are all the animals? What are the crazy weather patterns being experienced? So many questions with some being answered while others never really touched on.A good book in this day and age where preppers even have their own show, personal faith is being questioned and teens have a more direct say about things that effect them. This book shows the survival skills a person needs to overcome obstacles and that apocalyptic events are not always man made. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good what if book.
July 21, 2015
(Possible Spoiler) I really wanted to give this book 5 stars but...
#1. It was a little slow in the beginning for me and I put it down. But it kept nagging at me to give it a chance, so I picked it back up determined to see it through and also because the ratings were pretty good. Unfortunately for me I didn't actually read the comments under the ratings.
#2. It grew on me till I couldn't put it down. Unfortunately when I reached the end (I checked before I started the book and as far as I could tell this was a standalone book. Some of the other comments have confirmed this for me. I hate starting an incomplete series, then having to wait and wait for the next book.) I was completely dumbfounded when I reached ---THE END---. What the H#$%? Am I stupid? Did I miss something? Is my kindle version missing a chapter? I fell in love with this book and then....nothing. Where are all the answers? I cant believe the author is going to leave me like this, so that means I must be an idiot and somehow missed all the clues, answers, whatever. Maybe I don't have the imagination necessary to read between the lines...blah, blah, blah. I am babbling. Does anyone know the answers? Maybe we aren't supposed to know, like the ending of Shutter Island (was he crazy or wasn't he? At least you had a 50% chance of being right and all the relevant information to make that choice). But if anyone knows anything, such as maybe there will be a sequel, or even your own interpretation I would welcome that information.
I did like this book until the last page. If I had taken my frustration and I admit, anger at the ending into account I would have given it one star, but I didn't.
PS Did anyone notice that Cole repeated Tess's comment (when she was with the other kid that Cole couldn't see) about "apple and bacon", but Tess herself did not notice it. I kept expecting it to hit her but nothing was mentioned. I feel like I should have understood what happened there, but I didn't.
#1. It was a little slow in the beginning for me and I put it down. But it kept nagging at me to give it a chance, so I picked it back up determined to see it through and also because the ratings were pretty good. Unfortunately for me I didn't actually read the comments under the ratings.
#2. It grew on me till I couldn't put it down. Unfortunately when I reached the end (I checked before I started the book and as far as I could tell this was a standalone book. Some of the other comments have confirmed this for me. I hate starting an incomplete series, then having to wait and wait for the next book.) I was completely dumbfounded when I reached ---THE END---. What the H#$%? Am I stupid? Did I miss something? Is my kindle version missing a chapter? I fell in love with this book and then....nothing. Where are all the answers? I cant believe the author is going to leave me like this, so that means I must be an idiot and somehow missed all the clues, answers, whatever. Maybe I don't have the imagination necessary to read between the lines...blah, blah, blah. I am babbling. Does anyone know the answers? Maybe we aren't supposed to know, like the ending of Shutter Island (was he crazy or wasn't he? At least you had a 50% chance of being right and all the relevant information to make that choice). But if anyone knows anything, such as maybe there will be a sequel, or even your own interpretation I would welcome that information.
I did like this book until the last page. If I had taken my frustration and I admit, anger at the ending into account I would have given it one star, but I didn't.
PS Did anyone notice that Cole repeated Tess's comment (when she was with the other kid that Cole couldn't see) about "apple and bacon", but Tess herself did not notice it. I kept expecting it to hit her but nothing was mentioned. I feel like I should have understood what happened there, but I didn't.
September 9, 2015
This book fell into the same trap that every single YA "novel" from a self-pubbed author that I've read this year has fallen into. It tells 3/4 of a story, and very well I might add, but leaves all the interesting parts dangling without resolution. I get that the author wants to get two books out of the story because it's twice the revenue, and hopefully more readers, but not at the expense of the first book. She might leave a few hints at the end of the story about Cole's background, but without more information it makes the very last chapter utterly confusing, and the whole book a waste of time.
I'm also frustrated with the author for adding additional line breaks between every sentence. It's horrible to read. She's clearly trying to stretch out her page count to maximise Kindle Select income, and sacrificing my reader experience as a result.
This could have been a great story. I really loved the characters, even the silly girl crush that Tess has on Cole. But nothing went anywhere. It's like we were chasing these dangled strings that led us into a brick wall - surprise - and left me frustrated and full of questions that I couldn't answer. This approach works well in carefully crafted novels, where there are enough clues along the way for the reader to fill in the blanks and draw their own conclusion, but none of that happened here.
I'm sticking to standalone YA novels from now on because so few writers know how to craft a multi-novel story arc.
I'm also frustrated with the author for adding additional line breaks between every sentence. It's horrible to read. She's clearly trying to stretch out her page count to maximise Kindle Select income, and sacrificing my reader experience as a result.
This could have been a great story. I really loved the characters, even the silly girl crush that Tess has on Cole. But nothing went anywhere. It's like we were chasing these dangled strings that led us into a brick wall - surprise - and left me frustrated and full of questions that I couldn't answer. This approach works well in carefully crafted novels, where there are enough clues along the way for the reader to fill in the blanks and draw their own conclusion, but none of that happened here.
I'm sticking to standalone YA novels from now on because so few writers know how to craft a multi-novel story arc.
May 5, 2015
Someone compared this to the masterpiece, The Road, which compelled me to write this review. No, it's not The Road. It's not even a fluffy teeny bopper version of The Road. I couldn't let that comparison stand unchallenged.
I'm surprised by all the high ratings. Teenaged young women are amazing, intelligent, resilient--the main character, who fits into this age group, was far from any of those qualities. The story both ends and begins too abruptly. There's little explanation as to what happened. There's not even enough resolution to warrant a sequel, which I suspect is coming.
So, why did I read it? I'm asking myself that same question. My rule is give the author at least 50 pages before chucking it and I went well beyond that. I believe there was some well created cliffhanger at about my cut off point. I also seem to give books I've purchased much more forgiveness. And here lies the true reason I read this. I accidentally purchased it with a misplaced click of my Kindle.
I hate to pan an author, but I believe she will survive. There is an obvious following. If you'd like to delve deeper into apocalyptic literature check out The Stand (King), Swan Song (McCammon), or Margaret Atwood's MaddAddam Trilogy. Therein you will find brilliance.
I'm surprised by all the high ratings. Teenaged young women are amazing, intelligent, resilient--the main character, who fits into this age group, was far from any of those qualities. The story both ends and begins too abruptly. There's little explanation as to what happened. There's not even enough resolution to warrant a sequel, which I suspect is coming.
So, why did I read it? I'm asking myself that same question. My rule is give the author at least 50 pages before chucking it and I went well beyond that. I believe there was some well created cliffhanger at about my cut off point. I also seem to give books I've purchased much more forgiveness. And here lies the true reason I read this. I accidentally purchased it with a misplaced click of my Kindle.
I hate to pan an author, but I believe she will survive. There is an obvious following. If you'd like to delve deeper into apocalyptic literature check out The Stand (King), Swan Song (McCammon), or Margaret Atwood's MaddAddam Trilogy. Therein you will find brilliance.
June 19, 2025
3 Punkte für die erste Hälfte, 5 Punkte für die zweite Hälfte.
Und für gute und schlechte Zeiten wünsche ich mir meinen eigenen Cole.
Mit einer Fortsetzung der Geschichte hätte ich nicht gerechnet, für mich hat das Buch sehr überzeugend geendet, ich freue mich trotzdem...
Team Cole!
Und für gute und schlechte Zeiten wünsche ich mir meinen eigenen Cole.
Mit einer Fortsetzung der Geschichte hätte ich nicht gerechnet, für mich hat das Buch sehr überzeugend geendet, ich freue mich trotzdem...
Team Cole!
July 11, 2017
This is another one that has been on my list since the dinosaurs roamed and another one that I'm a bit iffy about. The premise was pretty cool until about 3/4 of the way through the book and then it took some kind of paranormal route...I think. Maybe that's what the author meant to happen. Let the reader come to their own conclusion, but honestly it seems unfulfilling to me somehow. Normally I'm used to most dystopian novels being series reads. This was a stand alone with an ending that was making you guess. If you really looked at it, you could say it had an "End of days..Jesus is coming back" feel to it. It was an ok read with some pretty funny quotes, but the ending with it being so jacked up didn't do it for me.
December 5, 2016
No matter how many end-of-the-world books I read, I never seem to get sick of them.
This one is about sixteen-year-old Tess, who is shaken awake by her father in the middle of the night and led to his bomb shelter. He tells her not to open the door until he comes back, so she waits . . . and waits . . . and waits. Several weeks after her father left, she can’t wait anymore. Tess opens the door and discovers that everyone in her city has vanished.
Throughout the book, the reader is kept just as clueless as Tess. She doesn’t know what happened to the world or where all the people went. I loved trying to puzzle out the mystery with the characters. The twists in the story are surprising. I didn’t see most of them coming. Once the plot gets moving, it goes quickly. Tess is constantly in danger. There’s some crazy weather and a disease that she may or may not have been exposed to . . .
Tess eventually does come across a few other people. One of them, Cole, is a strange dude. He’s completely in love with the apocalypse and thrilled that he can do anything he wants. There’s a big difference between his personality and Tess’s. Cole would be happy if he never saw another person again. Tess is obsessed with finding her father and brother. She’s convinced that the people will come back, and Cole will get in trouble for breaking into their houses and stealing their stuff. Tess and Cole make an unusual pair.
There are a few issues that kept me from completely enjoying Anyone?. First, there are typos, which always distract me. I also thought the story took a long time to get going. Like I said at the start of the review, I have read a lot of post-apocalyptic fiction. The beginning of Anyone? isn’t very original. The story does get more original as it goes on, but I spent a huge chunk of time wondering if the book was going to break out of the post-apocalyptic stereotypical formula.
In addition to waiting for the original bits, I spent most of the book wondering where this story was set. For the majority of the novel, we’re only told “American west.” As someone who has spent her entire life in the American west, I know that it has an extremely diverse landscape. I wasn’t sure which version of “American west” I was supposed to be picturing. Eventually, we find out that the characters are in Utah, but I needed to know that right away.
My biggest issue with the book is the ending. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but I didn’t buy it. It’s rushed and abrupt. I hope there’s a sequel. I have so many questions.
I flew through Anyone? because the characters are engaging, but I was let down by the ending.
I was given a free copy of this book as part of the #ReadIndie Challenge. This does not influence my review.
This one is about sixteen-year-old Tess, who is shaken awake by her father in the middle of the night and led to his bomb shelter. He tells her not to open the door until he comes back, so she waits . . . and waits . . . and waits. Several weeks after her father left, she can’t wait anymore. Tess opens the door and discovers that everyone in her city has vanished.
Throughout the book, the reader is kept just as clueless as Tess. She doesn’t know what happened to the world or where all the people went. I loved trying to puzzle out the mystery with the characters. The twists in the story are surprising. I didn’t see most of them coming. Once the plot gets moving, it goes quickly. Tess is constantly in danger. There’s some crazy weather and a disease that she may or may not have been exposed to . . .
Tess eventually does come across a few other people. One of them, Cole, is a strange dude. He’s completely in love with the apocalypse and thrilled that he can do anything he wants. There’s a big difference between his personality and Tess’s. Cole would be happy if he never saw another person again. Tess is obsessed with finding her father and brother. She’s convinced that the people will come back, and Cole will get in trouble for breaking into their houses and stealing their stuff. Tess and Cole make an unusual pair.
There are a few issues that kept me from completely enjoying Anyone?. First, there are typos, which always distract me. I also thought the story took a long time to get going. Like I said at the start of the review, I have read a lot of post-apocalyptic fiction. The beginning of Anyone? isn’t very original. The story does get more original as it goes on, but I spent a huge chunk of time wondering if the book was going to break out of the post-apocalyptic stereotypical formula.
In addition to waiting for the original bits, I spent most of the book wondering where this story was set. For the majority of the novel, we’re only told “American west.” As someone who has spent her entire life in the American west, I know that it has an extremely diverse landscape. I wasn’t sure which version of “American west” I was supposed to be picturing. Eventually, we find out that the characters are in Utah, but I needed to know that right away.
My biggest issue with the book is the ending. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but I didn’t buy it. It’s rushed and abrupt. I hope there’s a sequel. I have so many questions.
I flew through Anyone? because the characters are engaging, but I was let down by the ending.
I was given a free copy of this book as part of the #ReadIndie Challenge. This does not influence my review.
January 9, 2015
The Story-
It was a normal night when the booming began. Sixteen-year-old Tess was grabbed by her father and taken outside to their bomb shelter. He leaves her there to go find her brother. Left alone, with only her kitten Callie, Tess waits, but her Father never returns. She can only wonder at what has happened. After several months in the shelter Tess ventures out to find an empty world, no animal and no humans.
Where is everyone? She wanders and finally comes across Cole, a twenty something guy whose been surviving on his own. He is handsome and rugged with an amazing tattoo of wings on his back. Tess also recovers her old cell phone, and after charging it listens to a message her father left right after the disaster. He tells her where to go to find him. Even though its been months, Tess decides she's going after him. Cole vows to get her to her father.
Along the way Tess tries desperately to figure out what happened to everyone, and Cole has no answers. Strange atmospheric conditions plaque them and contaminated water makes life a challenge. When Tess's hair begins falling out she knows that if she doesn't find her father soon, she never will.
My Thoughts-
Ah, one of my favorite things, an end of the world disaster book, and this one scored points. Why? Well, I'm going to have to go into SPOILERS, so watch out. At first I thought the book would take part in the bomb shelter, but surprise, the author only has Tess in there as long as necessary to wonder what is happening in the outside world. Once she gets out the mystery of where everybody went blew my mind. I kept thinking she'd find out, but again the author does a great job of pulling the reader along and only revealing hints along the way. When a big chunk of info is revealed mid-story it only caused me to wonder, what the heck happened. We find out what happened to the people, but not what caused the disaster, at least yet. And what happened to the people and animals is awful. Great visuals.
And know the part that has me hoping for a second book- the relationship between Cole and Tess. The entire book it is obvious that there is sexual tension between the two, but Cole firmly keeps them apart and makes Tess understand that he is not going there. He says it is because he's older, but you begin to wonder. And then, nobody seems to be able to see Tess and Cole together. At first you can come up with logical reasons, but the very last chapter blows that away and left me thinking- Who or what is Cole? Loved this book and I want more. 4.5 stars!
It was a normal night when the booming began. Sixteen-year-old Tess was grabbed by her father and taken outside to their bomb shelter. He leaves her there to go find her brother. Left alone, with only her kitten Callie, Tess waits, but her Father never returns. She can only wonder at what has happened. After several months in the shelter Tess ventures out to find an empty world, no animal and no humans.
Where is everyone? She wanders and finally comes across Cole, a twenty something guy whose been surviving on his own. He is handsome and rugged with an amazing tattoo of wings on his back. Tess also recovers her old cell phone, and after charging it listens to a message her father left right after the disaster. He tells her where to go to find him. Even though its been months, Tess decides she's going after him. Cole vows to get her to her father.
Along the way Tess tries desperately to figure out what happened to everyone, and Cole has no answers. Strange atmospheric conditions plaque them and contaminated water makes life a challenge. When Tess's hair begins falling out she knows that if she doesn't find her father soon, she never will.
My Thoughts-
Ah, one of my favorite things, an end of the world disaster book, and this one scored points. Why? Well, I'm going to have to go into SPOILERS, so watch out. At first I thought the book would take part in the bomb shelter, but surprise, the author only has Tess in there as long as necessary to wonder what is happening in the outside world. Once she gets out the mystery of where everybody went blew my mind. I kept thinking she'd find out, but again the author does a great job of pulling the reader along and only revealing hints along the way. When a big chunk of info is revealed mid-story it only caused me to wonder, what the heck happened. We find out what happened to the people, but not what caused the disaster, at least yet. And what happened to the people and animals is awful. Great visuals.
And know the part that has me hoping for a second book- the relationship between Cole and Tess. The entire book it is obvious that there is sexual tension between the two, but Cole firmly keeps them apart and makes Tess understand that he is not going there. He says it is because he's older, but you begin to wonder. And then, nobody seems to be able to see Tess and Cole together. At first you can come up with logical reasons, but the very last chapter blows that away and left me thinking- Who or what is Cole? Loved this book and I want more. 4.5 stars!
October 13, 2015
I'm halfway through...I'm going to finish it, but I've been sorely tempted not to. I'll do it, though, to read this mysterious last chapter people keep referring to.
The writing is mostly fine. I try not to read self-published books but this one apparently slipped through. The writing really is okay, though.
It's Tess...and Cole. I hate them. Both of them. This means the only tolerable character is the cat.
Cole repeatedly refers to Tess as a "kid." He's in his 20's. Guys that age don't talk like that. Not REPEATEDLY. They might say "you're too young." But "kid"? No. Sorry, but no. And he does it so much I want to kill him. For some reason, Tess doesn't mind being called a kid, though. No...she hates that he seems okay with this new world. But not once does she ever say "shut the f--- up, Cole! I'm 17, which is hardly a kid age. And the world being what it is? Yeah, no...I'm not a kid, so stop treating me like one." Nope. She seems totally cool with his stupid comments.
Otherwise, Cole is way more tolerable than Tess. She asks him questions...over and over again. To the point where COLE actually tells her she asks the same questions repeatedly.
You know what my biggest problem with Tess is, though? She can't make up her god damned mind about Cole. He tells her he didn't like working for "the man" and he's doing okay in this post-apocalyptic world. And she just assumes that means he's totally fine with what happened. And she then tries to get away from him in her disgust. Uhhh...no Tess. He never said what happened was cool. What he said was that he preferred a slower way of living, essentially. HUGE F----ING DIFFERENCE! He is helping you find your family and repeatedly saves your life. Only an idiot would react the way she did. And I therefore seem her TSTL.
I can only assume that these five star reviews are being left only by her devoted fans. It doesn't seem like a mix of random readers. I was swayed to read this because of all these glowing reviews. I had reservations and I should have relied on my instinct. I don't like this book and feel as though I wasted an audible credit.
To the author: you've got talent, but you still need to keep working. This book is not ready for big publication. Sorry.
The writing is mostly fine. I try not to read self-published books but this one apparently slipped through. The writing really is okay, though.
It's Tess...and Cole. I hate them. Both of them. This means the only tolerable character is the cat.
Cole repeatedly refers to Tess as a "kid." He's in his 20's. Guys that age don't talk like that. Not REPEATEDLY. They might say "you're too young." But "kid"? No. Sorry, but no. And he does it so much I want to kill him. For some reason, Tess doesn't mind being called a kid, though. No...she hates that he seems okay with this new world. But not once does she ever say "shut the f--- up, Cole! I'm 17, which is hardly a kid age. And the world being what it is? Yeah, no...I'm not a kid, so stop treating me like one." Nope. She seems totally cool with his stupid comments.
Otherwise, Cole is way more tolerable than Tess. She asks him questions...over and over again. To the point where COLE actually tells her she asks the same questions repeatedly.
You know what my biggest problem with Tess is, though? She can't make up her god damned mind about Cole. He tells her he didn't like working for "the man" and he's doing okay in this post-apocalyptic world. And she just assumes that means he's totally fine with what happened. And she then tries to get away from him in her disgust. Uhhh...no Tess. He never said what happened was cool. What he said was that he preferred a slower way of living, essentially. HUGE F----ING DIFFERENCE! He is helping you find your family and repeatedly saves your life. Only an idiot would react the way she did. And I therefore seem her TSTL.
I can only assume that these five star reviews are being left only by her devoted fans. It doesn't seem like a mix of random readers. I was swayed to read this because of all these glowing reviews. I had reservations and I should have relied on my instinct. I don't like this book and feel as though I wasted an audible credit.
To the author: you've got talent, but you still need to keep working. This book is not ready for big publication. Sorry.
April 16, 2016
Still Reeling from Anyone?! -4.5 stars...
I listened to the audio version of this last week and I'm still pondering over this book today! This is the perfect book for a buddy or group read. If I would have known it raised so many questions, I would have definitely read this one with a friend so we could bounce theories back and forth.
The story starts off with all hell breaking lose with fire etc. raining from the sky and Tess and her dad are running for the bunker that he's built in their back yard. Her brother, Toby, though is nowhere around so Tess's dad leaves her there to go find him. After weeks living in the bunker and they don't return, Tess decides to venture outside for supplies and to find a way to contact her dad. Along the way she befriends another survivor, Cole, who helps her find her dad....
I thoroughly enjoyed the main plot of the story and the narrator of the audio was great but I think it would have been good without a couple of the twists and added confusion that the author threw in toward the end. They really just created more questions which wouldn't have been so bad if they were actually answered. (*Minor Spoilers*) I'm still asking myself today: Wtf was up with the ending? Was Cole real or not real? Why couldn't Cole see the guy at the mall and vice-versa? Why couldn't anyone at the bunker see Cole? Why was Tess affected and Cole wasn't? Why was Callie the kitten unaffected? What prevented Tess's dad & her brother Toby from coming back for her at the beginning? What caused Tess's dad to start preparing for "doomsday?" Who were the other "doomsday preparers" that Tess's dad was affiliated with at the mountain bunker? What part did the government play and why? And the list goes on....
So yeah, if you are planning to read or listen to this, do it with a buddy or else drive yourself nuts trying to analyze it on your own!
I listened to the audio version of this last week and I'm still pondering over this book today! This is the perfect book for a buddy or group read. If I would have known it raised so many questions, I would have definitely read this one with a friend so we could bounce theories back and forth.
The story starts off with all hell breaking lose with fire etc. raining from the sky and Tess and her dad are running for the bunker that he's built in their back yard. Her brother, Toby, though is nowhere around so Tess's dad leaves her there to go find him. After weeks living in the bunker and they don't return, Tess decides to venture outside for supplies and to find a way to contact her dad. Along the way she befriends another survivor, Cole, who helps her find her dad....
I thoroughly enjoyed the main plot of the story and the narrator of the audio was great but I think it would have been good without a couple of the twists and added confusion that the author threw in toward the end. They really just created more questions which wouldn't have been so bad if they were actually answered. (*Minor Spoilers*) I'm still asking myself today: Wtf was up with the ending? Was Cole real or not real? Why couldn't Cole see the guy at the mall and vice-versa? Why couldn't anyone at the bunker see Cole? Why was Tess affected and Cole wasn't? Why was Callie the kitten unaffected? What prevented Tess's dad & her brother Toby from coming back for her at the beginning? What caused Tess's dad to start preparing for "doomsday?" Who were the other "doomsday preparers" that Tess's dad was affiliated with at the mountain bunker? What part did the government play and why? And the list goes on....
So yeah, if you are planning to read or listen to this, do it with a buddy or else drive yourself nuts trying to analyze it on your own!
November 5, 2014
**Disclaimer - I was given an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review**
I wanted to rate this book 3.5 stars but goodreads wouldn't let me so I rounded up and gave it 4 stars. I have read a couple of Ms. Scott's zombie westerns. They were fun so I liked her on Facebook so that I would know when she wrote something new. Anyone? is nothing like those other books. From the start I didn't want to put it down and when I had to and couldn't get back to it right away I found myself thinking about it. There are very few characters in this story but she has managed to make me care about them all. I also couldn't wait to find out what the disaster was exactly and while nothing new, it was still satisfying. For most of the book I kept thinking I knew what was going on then something would happen to make me question it all. It definitely kept me guessing. The reaction our protagonist has to the situation is genuine and I feel like it is how someone really would react. I felt her loneliness, desperation and claustrophobia. I kept thinking of how I would react in that situation. It is always the sign of a good book when I put myself in the characters shoes.
I have one complaint. What I feel is a plot hole that I am not completely able to get past and therefore could not rate this book higher.
**Warning - minor spoiler**
Why would her father send someone to get her from the bunker and not teach them the Morse code signal? Why wouldn't he leave his son with the good guys long enough to get his daughter? It was never believable to me that he wouldn't have gone back to her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to others! Thanks for reading my review!
I wanted to rate this book 3.5 stars but goodreads wouldn't let me so I rounded up and gave it 4 stars. I have read a couple of Ms. Scott's zombie westerns. They were fun so I liked her on Facebook so that I would know when she wrote something new. Anyone? is nothing like those other books. From the start I didn't want to put it down and when I had to and couldn't get back to it right away I found myself thinking about it. There are very few characters in this story but she has managed to make me care about them all. I also couldn't wait to find out what the disaster was exactly and while nothing new, it was still satisfying. For most of the book I kept thinking I knew what was going on then something would happen to make me question it all. It definitely kept me guessing. The reaction our protagonist has to the situation is genuine and I feel like it is how someone really would react. I felt her loneliness, desperation and claustrophobia. I kept thinking of how I would react in that situation. It is always the sign of a good book when I put myself in the characters shoes.
I have one complaint. What I feel is a plot hole that I am not completely able to get past and therefore could not rate this book higher.
**Warning - minor spoiler**
Why would her father send someone to get her from the bunker and not teach them the Morse code signal? Why wouldn't he leave his son with the good guys long enough to get his daughter? It was never believable to me that he wouldn't have gone back to her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to others! Thanks for reading my review!
December 2, 2015
I occasionally read YA novels when they sound cool. (See "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness...amazing.) This one sounded cool, but fell way, way short.
1. MC bitches about not having cellular service...over and over. But then proceeds to listen to her voicemail. What? Voicemail is stored on the carriers voicemail servers, not the phone.
2. Freakin' this and freakin' that. Shut up with the freakin' stuff. Either say fucking, or don't say a fucking thing. (See what I did there?) It's either fucking cool, or it's just cool. Freakin' cool is fucking stupid.
3. I couldn't tell if this was a young adult book, or a book written by a young adult.
4. A cat is a major concern during an apocalyptic event? The MC seriously freaks about a cat and it's well-being? What in hell is a cat going to do for you in times like that other than be a boring companion?
5. Father tells daughter "When I come back to get you, I'll tap your name in morse code on the door. ONLY open it if this happens." Father sends people to get his daughter instead of going himself, they just bang on the door. No yelling her name, no morse code, just banging. The reasoning for this; "They don't know morse code." WTF. Couldn't teach them a few letters if it meant saving your daughters life?
6. Too much stupidity. Skip this one.
1. MC bitches about not having cellular service...over and over. But then proceeds to listen to her voicemail. What? Voicemail is stored on the carriers voicemail servers, not the phone.
2. Freakin' this and freakin' that. Shut up with the freakin' stuff. Either say fucking, or don't say a fucking thing. (See what I did there?) It's either fucking cool, or it's just cool. Freakin' cool is fucking stupid.
3. I couldn't tell if this was a young adult book, or a book written by a young adult.
4. A cat is a major concern during an apocalyptic event? The MC seriously freaks about a cat and it's well-being? What in hell is a cat going to do for you in times like that other than be a boring companion?
5. Father tells daughter "When I come back to get you, I'll tap your name in morse code on the door. ONLY open it if this happens." Father sends people to get his daughter instead of going himself, they just bang on the door. No yelling her name, no morse code, just banging. The reasoning for this; "They don't know morse code." WTF. Couldn't teach them a few letters if it meant saving your daughters life?
6. Too much stupidity. Skip this one.
May 12, 2015
2.5 stars. Anyone? Has a great premise and, a teenage protagonist that actually sounds like a teenager (if not slightly younger sometimes). Tess is told by her dad to stay in the bunker he built until he comes back for her. Something cataclysmic and, unexplained is going on outside. He says he'll be back once he finds her brother. So, for about two months Tess waits along with her cat Callie. When she gets the courage to leave... She finds no one. Until she meets Cole. I guess I figured there would be a little action? If Tess and (we find out later) her father, brother, and other people survived, why wouldn't others? Sure rampant destruction and natural disaster seem to have devastated the country. But, besides one sick teenage boy Tess never sees anyone else. Cole... I am not too sure what he was. There seemed to be some guardian angel, (or just angel) stuff going on. Tess got petulant sometimes. We never actually knew what happened to case everything or, what Cole was. The ending was a little.. Disappointing. But, I would read a sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2015
A great book, a great use of words. I would recommend it to both young adults, as well as older ones. From beginning to end, it kept me reading. It was by no means predictable.
I loved Tess, and yes she is the whiny, wishy-washy teenager in the end of the world. Her "soldier/prepper" Father goes off in search of the brother, telling her to stay put, and indeed she does, until a couple of months go by, where she comes out to find everyone gone. She does run into Cole, who we really don't get, but at least the dialogue is interesting.
I am not posting spoilers, because this was a copy in exchange for a review, so that would not be fair to blow it for other people. I would spend the money tho, it was worth it if I was going to purchase it.
I loved Tess, and yes she is the whiny, wishy-washy teenager in the end of the world. Her "soldier/prepper" Father goes off in search of the brother, telling her to stay put, and indeed she does, until a couple of months go by, where she comes out to find everyone gone. She does run into Cole, who we really don't get, but at least the dialogue is interesting.
I am not posting spoilers, because this was a copy in exchange for a review, so that would not be fair to blow it for other people. I would spend the money tho, it was worth it if I was going to purchase it.
April 18, 2015
I liked it until...
I was really getting a feel for this book and the characters...then the story just ended. It was like the writer got bored and just finished it quickly. The ending came with no real explanation and I think there was more to tell and learn about the characters. Very disappointed.
I was really getting a feel for this book and the characters...then the story just ended. It was like the writer got bored and just finished it quickly. The ending came with no real explanation and I think there was more to tell and learn about the characters. Very disappointed.
September 18, 2017
The moment I discovered this book And read the synopsis, I was hooked. Not only because I have an undying love for anything apocalyptic/dystopic (because I do), but also because our main character's dad happens to be a prepper.
Now if you knew me personally, you would know why that instantly catches my eye. But since you lot don't, I'll explain. I'm a little On the crazy side myself and I have also begun to low key prep, not like in the backyard insanity, more of a trying MRE's to see which ones I like and putting away some important supplies like extra water, food, flashlights, etc. away in my attic. You know, just in case. That way I'm prepared for the zombie apocalypse, but also prepared for the far more reasonable and (since I live in New England) far more likely event of a terrible blizzard that knocks our power out for days and buries beneath feet of snow.
Obviously, any story about someone who's a little unhinged and prepares for the apocalypse, only to have the world basically end and for that person to suddenly not be crazy anymore... well I'm INTO that. (Especially because I find that a lot of books that deal with apocalyptic events at like no one's ever heard of that idea before, such as people in zombie stuff having no clue what zombies are (isn't that kind of a THING in pop culture? How do you not know that those are zombies? So it's wonderful to find a book where someone isn't completely baffled by an apocalypse, or at least where the possibility of one is addressed. Obviously none of us think that it'll randomly happen, but at the very least, there's all sorts of speculative fiction about in tons of different medias to at least get us thinking...)
Anyway, about the actual book:
In the "About the Author" section, Angela mentions that "grammar is her arch nemesis," and sadly, there are a few moments where that is obvious in this book. To be precise, I found five grammatical errors (see bottom of review), and normally, things like that would really unhinge men, and detach me from the story, but this book was so captivating, I didn't even care.
The whole idea of the story is captivating, and it starts off with a bang. We immediately jump into action and get our introduction to our characters as they're trying to run and hide for their lives. It's a thrilling and exciting introduction, and a great way to immediately hook your reader (and it worked.) After that, I was eager to see what happened, what Tess would do, and to find out what the hell was going on out there in the world. And also, as a reader, I like to know the "why" of things, and generally it frustrates me to have an apocalyptic event take place, but no proper explanation of what really happened or why that thing happened. However, this is written from Tess's point of view, and being that she hid in her underground bunker for the worst of the chaos, and has no clue what went down, it didn't bother me that I didn't get all those answers, because she didn't know them either, so in essence, I thought that was a very clever way to leave to questions open without frustrating your reader. It also makes for a good reveal process, because we learn what happens as Tess does, which eliminates info-dumping issues, because Tess trying to figure out what happened is a natural and important part of the story.
And on the subject of Tess, for the most part, I really did enjoy her. Often, you get heroines that a lot of people deem TSTL (too stupid to live), and while I usually try to be forgiving, it's nice to have a heroine with some survival and self-preservation instinct, who does things like readying a weapon when exploring a potentially dangerous situation, and who stocks up on supplies because they could be useful. It was also an interesting dynamic to see our heroine be the one who was serious, and to have the make role be filled by someone who was less serious and approached things in a more juvenile way (since it's generally the other way around). And in no way was Cole TSTL, he just has a much more casual attitude about things than Tess, but I think they complement each other nicely.
Cole really was my favourite character in this book, so much so that I found myself doing that thing where I wish a fictional character was real, because I have a huge crush on them. I enjoyed his laid back and somewhat childish approach to the whole situation, because I feel like that's how I'd more than likely approach an apocalypse too. Fuck it, let's have fun, the rules don't apply anymore, so might as well enjoy yourself. That said though, when shit got serious, Cole buckled down and managed it very well. And on top of it, he's a secret sweetie, taking care of tEss when she needed it, and teaching her to lighten up a little to ease some of her stress and worry, even his interactions with Callie, they had me melting. Cole was so awesome, and genuinely tried to be a good person despite the crazy ass circumstances, and I found myself shipping Tess and Cole HARDCORE. (On that note, I also appreciate that their relationship developed in a reasonable manner and didn't immediately fall prey to the inst-love cliche.)
Callie was also a great character. I loved her, if for no other reason, than come an apocalypse, my cat would be my little survival buddy (as he's unusually well suited to that sort of thing. I already take him places and walk him on a leash. 100% true, he goes everywhere with me, Like a dog. Except he's a cat. And he's the coolest cat ever.) So any scene that Callie was part of made me super happy.
All in all, everything about the book was awesome, but possibly my favourite aspect (besides anything Cole related) was the suspense of the later parts. There were moments that had me questioning reality, wondering what was real, what wasn't, if I had a serious case of unreliable narrator on my hands, if Tess was going crazy, and ultimately, wondering what the hell was going on. I think that suspenseful element of not being quite sure what's happening, and having to wonder if Tess is crazy or if something supernatural is afoot really adds to the story and gives it that something special. Because there are plenty of great stories about surviving an apocalypse, but as great as they are, they're ultimately very similar in that they're all just survival stories. But for me anyway, this extra mystery/suspense element to ANYONE? separated it from the pack of apocalyptic survival stories and elevated it to it's own special place, which might be one of the reasons I love this story so much.
And THAT. ENDING. (Shit had me kinda messed up, not gonna lie.)
I need the sequel, and I need that shit yesterday. Is ANYONE ELSE? here yet?
GRAMMATICAL NOTES:
1) p. 25 - phrase "starting my decent," should be "descent," with an "s"
2) p. 39 - phrase "optical allusion," should be "optical illusion," with an "i"
3) p. 128 - phrase "brush threw it" uses wrong spelling, should be "through"
4) p. 216 - phrase "train cars wasn't" uses incorrect tense, should be "train cars weren't"
5) p. 263 - ""I promise" uses extra set of quotation marks
I mean really though, they're just simple little mistakes, and definitely aren't serious enough or copious enough to diminish the quality of the book. I just happen to be kind of a grammar freak, so I have a specific eye for these sorts of things...
Now if you knew me personally, you would know why that instantly catches my eye. But since you lot don't, I'll explain. I'm a little On the crazy side myself and I have also begun to low key prep, not like in the backyard insanity, more of a trying MRE's to see which ones I like and putting away some important supplies like extra water, food, flashlights, etc. away in my attic. You know, just in case. That way I'm prepared for the zombie apocalypse, but also prepared for the far more reasonable and (since I live in New England) far more likely event of a terrible blizzard that knocks our power out for days and buries beneath feet of snow.
Obviously, any story about someone who's a little unhinged and prepares for the apocalypse, only to have the world basically end and for that person to suddenly not be crazy anymore... well I'm INTO that. (Especially because I find that a lot of books that deal with apocalyptic events at like no one's ever heard of that idea before, such as people in zombie stuff having no clue what zombies are (isn't that kind of a THING in pop culture? How do you not know that those are zombies? So it's wonderful to find a book where someone isn't completely baffled by an apocalypse, or at least where the possibility of one is addressed. Obviously none of us think that it'll randomly happen, but at the very least, there's all sorts of speculative fiction about in tons of different medias to at least get us thinking...)
Anyway, about the actual book:
In the "About the Author" section, Angela mentions that "grammar is her arch nemesis," and sadly, there are a few moments where that is obvious in this book. To be precise, I found five grammatical errors (see bottom of review), and normally, things like that would really unhinge men, and detach me from the story, but this book was so captivating, I didn't even care.
The whole idea of the story is captivating, and it starts off with a bang. We immediately jump into action and get our introduction to our characters as they're trying to run and hide for their lives. It's a thrilling and exciting introduction, and a great way to immediately hook your reader (and it worked.) After that, I was eager to see what happened, what Tess would do, and to find out what the hell was going on out there in the world. And also, as a reader, I like to know the "why" of things, and generally it frustrates me to have an apocalyptic event take place, but no proper explanation of what really happened or why that thing happened. However, this is written from Tess's point of view, and being that she hid in her underground bunker for the worst of the chaos, and has no clue what went down, it didn't bother me that I didn't get all those answers, because she didn't know them either, so in essence, I thought that was a very clever way to leave to questions open without frustrating your reader. It also makes for a good reveal process, because we learn what happens as Tess does, which eliminates info-dumping issues, because Tess trying to figure out what happened is a natural and important part of the story.
And on the subject of Tess, for the most part, I really did enjoy her. Often, you get heroines that a lot of people deem TSTL (too stupid to live), and while I usually try to be forgiving, it's nice to have a heroine with some survival and self-preservation instinct, who does things like readying a weapon when exploring a potentially dangerous situation, and who stocks up on supplies because they could be useful. It was also an interesting dynamic to see our heroine be the one who was serious, and to have the make role be filled by someone who was less serious and approached things in a more juvenile way (since it's generally the other way around). And in no way was Cole TSTL, he just has a much more casual attitude about things than Tess, but I think they complement each other nicely.
Cole really was my favourite character in this book, so much so that I found myself doing that thing where I wish a fictional character was real, because I have a huge crush on them. I enjoyed his laid back and somewhat childish approach to the whole situation, because I feel like that's how I'd more than likely approach an apocalypse too. Fuck it, let's have fun, the rules don't apply anymore, so might as well enjoy yourself. That said though, when shit got serious, Cole buckled down and managed it very well. And on top of it, he's a secret sweetie, taking care of tEss when she needed it, and teaching her to lighten up a little to ease some of her stress and worry, even his interactions with Callie, they had me melting. Cole was so awesome, and genuinely tried to be a good person despite the crazy ass circumstances, and I found myself shipping Tess and Cole HARDCORE. (On that note, I also appreciate that their relationship developed in a reasonable manner and didn't immediately fall prey to the inst-love cliche.)
Callie was also a great character. I loved her, if for no other reason, than come an apocalypse, my cat would be my little survival buddy (as he's unusually well suited to that sort of thing. I already take him places and walk him on a leash. 100% true, he goes everywhere with me, Like a dog. Except he's a cat. And he's the coolest cat ever.) So any scene that Callie was part of made me super happy.
All in all, everything about the book was awesome, but possibly my favourite aspect (besides anything Cole related) was the suspense of the later parts. There were moments that had me questioning reality, wondering what was real, what wasn't, if I had a serious case of unreliable narrator on my hands, if Tess was going crazy, and ultimately, wondering what the hell was going on. I think that suspenseful element of not being quite sure what's happening, and having to wonder if Tess is crazy or if something supernatural is afoot really adds to the story and gives it that something special. Because there are plenty of great stories about surviving an apocalypse, but as great as they are, they're ultimately very similar in that they're all just survival stories. But for me anyway, this extra mystery/suspense element to ANYONE? separated it from the pack of apocalyptic survival stories and elevated it to it's own special place, which might be one of the reasons I love this story so much.
And THAT. ENDING. (Shit had me kinda messed up, not gonna lie.)
I need the sequel, and I need that shit yesterday. Is ANYONE ELSE? here yet?
GRAMMATICAL NOTES:
1) p. 25 - phrase "starting my decent," should be "descent," with an "s"
2) p. 39 - phrase "optical allusion," should be "optical illusion," with an "i"
3) p. 128 - phrase "brush threw it" uses wrong spelling, should be "through"
4) p. 216 - phrase "train cars wasn't" uses incorrect tense, should be "train cars weren't"
5) p. 263 - ""I promise" uses extra set of quotation marks
I mean really though, they're just simple little mistakes, and definitely aren't serious enough or copious enough to diminish the quality of the book. I just happen to be kind of a grammar freak, so I have a specific eye for these sorts of things...
June 15, 2017
Awful. I couldn't even finish the sample because it just dragged on and the writing needs a lot of work.
December 26, 2015
So relieved when I found out there will be a sequel. Because I NEED TO KNOW MORE AND THE STORY CAN'T JUST END WHERE IT DID.
December 23, 2015
Mad stupid.
October 18, 2023
Anyone?
Anyone Series, Book 1
By: Angela Scott
Narrated by: Shannon Nicole Locke
Uniquely horrifying and thought provoking !
Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed: 10-18-23
Tess did what her father told her, she stayed in the bomb shelter and waited for him to come back with her brother … but he didn’t. Forced to go out on her own into a word vastly changed, this beautifully written, thought provoking story is at times heart warming, at times heartbreaking, and times horrifying as Tess ventures out searching for her family. The plot is well crafted, with a generous dose of mystery that kept this kept listener enthralled and guessing through the many twists, surprises, and “edge of your seat moments” along the way. This story has also really has made me think. The characters, though few are throughly defined, unique and interesting! The more I got to know them, the more I felt drawn to them! Their dialogue was cleverly written, managing not only to be throughly descriptive, but humorous whenever a “tension breaker” was needed, because after all, in a Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic world, we ALL would need well placed tension breakers, and our author delivered them brilliantly! Speaking of brilliant delivery, the narration bringing these characters, and this story to life was exactly that! Beautifully clear, consistent, engaging and emotionally on point with voicing choices perfectly suited to each character! This was my first listen of this type, but it won’t be my last! I can’t wait for more in this series! Five enthralling stars!
Anyone Series, Book 1
By: Angela Scott
Narrated by: Shannon Nicole Locke
Uniquely horrifying and thought provoking !
Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed: 10-18-23
Tess did what her father told her, she stayed in the bomb shelter and waited for him to come back with her brother … but he didn’t. Forced to go out on her own into a word vastly changed, this beautifully written, thought provoking story is at times heart warming, at times heartbreaking, and times horrifying as Tess ventures out searching for her family. The plot is well crafted, with a generous dose of mystery that kept this kept listener enthralled and guessing through the many twists, surprises, and “edge of your seat moments” along the way. This story has also really has made me think. The characters, though few are throughly defined, unique and interesting! The more I got to know them, the more I felt drawn to them! Their dialogue was cleverly written, managing not only to be throughly descriptive, but humorous whenever a “tension breaker” was needed, because after all, in a Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic world, we ALL would need well placed tension breakers, and our author delivered them brilliantly! Speaking of brilliant delivery, the narration bringing these characters, and this story to life was exactly that! Beautifully clear, consistent, engaging and emotionally on point with voicing choices perfectly suited to each character! This was my first listen of this type, but it won’t be my last! I can’t wait for more in this series! Five enthralling stars!
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