Things to do Before the End of the World -Emily Barr @penguinukbooks #thewritereads #theultimatetour

About the book

Timely and powerful; the new coming-of-age thriller from the bestselling author of The One Memory of Flora Banks.

1. Live your best life.
2. Uncover family secrets.
3. Trust no one

What would you do when you hear the news that humans have done such damage to the earth that there might only be a limited amount of safe air left – a year’s worth at most?
You’d work through your bucket list, heal rifts, do everything you’ve never been brave enough to do before?

Olivia is struggling to do any of this. What it is she truly wants to do? Who do she wants to be?

Then out of the blue comes contact from a long-lost cousin Olivia didn’t even know existed. Natasha is everything Olivia wants to be and more.
And as the girls meet up for a long, hot last summer, Olivia finds Natasha’s ease and self-confidence having an effect on her.

But Natasha definitely isn’t everything she first appears to be . . .

I walked home. I kept hearing footsteps behind me, but every time I turned around, no one was there.

About the author

THE ONE MEMORY OF FLORA BANKS published in 2017 was Emily Barr’s first novel for young adults and was a global hit, publishing in 27 languages. Before that, she worked as a journalist in London but always hankered after a quiet room and a book to write. She went travelling for a year, which gave her an idea for a novel set in the world of backpackers in Asia. This became BACKPACK, an adult thriller which won the WH Smith New Talent Award, and she has since written eleven more adult novels published in the UK and around the world. She lives in Cornwall with her husband and their children.

My thoughts

Thank you to the Write Reads for my invitation to the ultimate blog tour and for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

Olivia has just found out along with everyone else her life is likely to end in nine months. The air is running out and ‘The Creep’ as it has been named is coming. Olivia is a quiet girl and she is in love with another girl called Zoe and she writes to her but never sends the messages. Then she finds out that her Dad had a brother who has recently died and that she has a cousin Natasha who lives in America.

Natasha is the complete opposite of Olivia and she tries to encourage Olivia to be braver, which she struggles with. Her Mum and Stepfather decide that they should all take a trip to Europe, for what what will probably be their last summer together. Olivia is happy to go along, she then finds out that Natasha is coming to Europe for the summer too. This makes her anxious but feels that she can’t prevent her from coming but what will it mean for her ?

I really enjoyed this story, it was fast paced and kept me interested. I felt sorry for Olivia who not only is anxious and insecure about herself but she is living with the knowledge that her short life could soon be over. Natasha made my heckles go up immediately, I just didn’t trust her and the further the book progresses I knew I was right to have this feeling! I won’t give anymore away but this is a great read. I loved Olivia’s teenage angst and how she grows as a person in an unimaginable situation. There is a lot of secrets and deception and I really enjoyed the travel to Madrid and Paris. A pacey book with a lot to absorb but very entertaining.

4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐