This mostly tipped past what I thought would be typical of a story like this with the characters being more earnest and interesting than expected. Unlike most, more thriller-esk takes on pandemic books, the reader is placed in a pretty isolated and limited perspective. We really don’t know more than the few main characters we follow from start to finish. There is no insight from outsiders gleaned, outside of the characters directly receiving the information verbally. It makes for an effective, more nuanced narrative of something that somewhat stretches incredulity—especially when you simply have to suspend disbelief, as no information is ever forthcoming about the world.

This also didn’t blow me away like some readers though. The plot is pretty much exactly what you’d expect. I’m not sure a surprising event really occurs, aside from a few character interactions that feel psychologically driven. Plot wise, it’s pretty close to not much happens and it’s slow paced with these beats.

3.5 rounded up