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Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend

A Novel

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

"Worst Vacation Ever—Five Stars, Would Recommend." — Grady Hendrix, New York Times bestselling author of How to Sell a Haunted House

White Lotus meets Kevin Wilson in this whip-smart social satire about a man who finds himself trapped on an island resort after the sun explodes, and suddenly must choose whether to save himself from the chaos, or help the fellow guests make it off the island alive...

Vacation Checklist: Pack swim trunks. Apply sunscreen. Survive the apocalypse?

Professional underachiever Dan Foster is finally taking a vacation. Sure, his life has been average at best, and yeah, he's never quite lived up to his potential. But after a few Miller Lites in paradise with his girlfriend, Mara, things are starting to look up.

Then the sun explodes.

With the island resort suddenly plunged into darkness (he really should've sprung for the travel insurance), Dan's holiday goes from bad to worse when elite guests stage a coup and commandeer supplies. As temperatures drop and class tensions rise, revolution begins to brew on the island, and Dan accidentally becomes a beacon of hope for the surviving vacationers. But when one six-person plane is discovered that could get them back to the mainland, Dan realizes he has a choice to make.

Does he escape the island with Mara? Or does he stay and fight to become the most unlikely hero of the end of the world?

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    • Library Journal

      Starred review from May 1, 2024

      DEBUT Wassmer rockets onto the scene with a life-or-death action-packed debut. As Dan and Mara vacation at a resort in the Bahamas, the sun warms them until that sun explodes. Launched into darkness and confusion, resort guests are left to fend for themselves, quickly forming alliances and hoarding resources. It's no laughing matter, but Wassmer will make readers laugh out loud anyway, especially when an influencer and pyramid-schemer takes her position as the resort's overlord, complete with an intense security detail. Protagonist Dan has a quick wit, and the other characters are so well-developed that the realism in their interactions is smile-inducing. The novel is a romp and a page-turner, but it also has a great deal of pathos. Wassmer explores different kinds of masculinity and the nature of romantic relationships, while Dan struggles to find his purpose and inner strength and contends with what "success" means in a person's life. VERDICT Wassmer's debut novel succeeds in being the opposite of its title. He might become a new favorite for fans of John Scalzi and David Wong (a.k.a. Jason Pargin).--Laura Stein

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      July 1, 2024
      Imagine you're enjoying a day on the beach when suddenly the sun explodes. That's just what happens to Dan and Mara as they are trying to enjoy their island resort vacation. Readers are immersed in chaos from the very first page, as the disappearance of the sun throws the world into darkness and panic ensues among the resort guests. As Dan and Mara face escalating chaos, Mara's concern for her mother's dialysis adds emotional depth to their fight for survival. Throughout the story, debut author Wassmer maintains a sense of tension and intrigue that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages. From the mysterious disappearance of the sun to the escalating environmental threats such as perpetual winter and concerns about freezing to death, every plot twist is expertly executed, keeping readers guessing until the very end. This is a must-read for fans of disaster fiction and character-driven narratives alike. With its captivating plot, finely crafted characters, and skillful pacing, readers will be eager to discover whether Dan emerges as the unexpected hero and saves the day.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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  • English

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