This is the Way the World Ends is an action-packed and unputdownable thriller. Against all odds, autistic scholarship student Waverly is offered a Cinderella moment- switch with a classmate to attend an elite school masquerade. Waverly and her best friends Pari and Frank have never been widely accepted at their school. But tonight, they will need to use all of their skills to survive a cutthroat masquerade ball. Waverly must also decide how to deal with her ex-girlfriend who has reappeared. As the night goes on, deadly secrets are revealed and Waverly and her friends must fight to escape the school. 

I really enjoyed This is the Way the World Ends. While the plot and villains were a little extreme at times, my favorite part was the fantastic characters. Waverly, Max, and Pari were my three favorite characters! I loved how Waverly’s autism was depicted including: masking, tools she uses, and what her experience throughout school has been. There is lots of LGBTQ+ rep (bisexual, lesbian) and disability rep (Pari uses a cane/chronic pain, Waverly’s mom has MS). The pacing was fast, but it makes you feel like you’re frantically running around the school with the characters. There are plenty of tense and scary moments, along with flashbacks to a calmer past. This book was a very fun, queer, autistic, and fast-paced read! If you love books that make you feel like you're in an escape room with a ticking clock, check this out! 

Readers who enjoy Wendy Heard (She’s Too Pretty To Burn), Diana Urban (These Deadly Games), and Karen M. McManus (Nothing More to Tell) should definitely read this book. 

Thank you so much to Jen Wilde, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.