Dry

”When we've lost the strength to save ourselves, we somehow find the strength to save each other.”

FORMAT READ: Audiobook

SIMILAR VIBES: The 5th Wave, The Darkest Minds

READ FOR: post-apocalyptic road trip, thought provoking

READING LEVEL: Level 2-3 out of 5

OVERALL THOUGHTS: 4.75

I know a lot of people don’t really like this book compared to Neal Shusterman’s other works but I actually really loved this. I did have a different expectation regarding the plot when I started reading it and I think that’s why a lot of people might be turned off.

What I knew going in:

- there is a drought

What I did not know going in:

- there are more characters than just Alyssa and her brother

- there’s a bit of a squad/roadtrip/teen survival band thing going on at some point in the story (and I liked it)

- there’s a roadtrip !!

Disclaimer: I really like post-apocalyptic stories to begin with.

The book deals a lot with the different kinds of people or how people would react/survive in times of crisis. And I think the Shusterman’s did a very good job writing that. I don’t want to compare it to his other works because there are different topics that are being tackled and they’re different books.

The plot took a lot of crazy turns and it was just what I was looking for in a post-apocalyptic book about teenagers. I was on the edge the whole time and it was still able to wrap everything up well. I know not everyone is a fan of it but I really liked how these kids ganged up together to survive and they actually did a good job writing their struggles and showing through their experiences the possibilities of what could happen to humanity.

As usual, Shusterman creates a story that could not be far off from our current reality. He present the “what ifs” and does it well.

I have yet to read Unwind but I have read the Arc of a Scythe series and I loved it too. I would recommend not basing your expectations of authors on their other works and basing it on what the book presents itself to be. Some authors may change their writing style based on what a certain book’s goal is.

Dry is a pretty intense book and it is unlike any other post-apocalyptic book I have read. There were honestly parts that I had to stop and count to 10 to get my head straight again.

This is a standalone and a lot of people are saying that they did not connect with the characters. I actually think that even though we are not given in depth discussions or descriptions of each one of them, you progressively get more attached to them as the plot goes on. I actually was able to connect to the characters really well and they all have their reasons for acting the way that they do (which was also clearly written for me).

I hate to be like every other reviewer of this book… but it’s the truth: I felt so thirsty reading this and probably drank a glass of water every few chapters.