All That’s Left In The World – Erik J.Brown – reviewed by Prisha
Trigger Warning: this book contains death, a pandemic, and violence
I know that despite COVID ending years ago, we’re all sick of pandemics and world spread viruses, but trust me – Eric J. Brown’s book All That’s Left in the World is worth every moment spent reading it. It’s a queer post-apocalyptic road trip of story of two boys finding each other an unforgiving, mostly uninhabited America, catching feelings along the way. I couldn’t put this book down, and when I did finish it, I found myself rereading it, and recommending it to anyone and everyone.
The story kicks off with Andrew walking into a bear trap and almost losing his leg, then stumbling into a little sanctuary Jamie had claimed for himself. Jamie hesitantly lets Andrew stay at his house, if only to take care of him, but it becomes increasingly obvious that the two need each other – not just to survive the harsh world the super-flu left behind, but also face the dangers posed by the meager population of survivors left behind. The more time they spend together, the further their relationship deepens, helping each other heal, emotionally, mentally, and physically, and becoming something more than just friends.
One of my favorite things about this book is how naturally the slow-burn queer romance is woven into the dystopian storyline. Instead of forcing romance into moments where it wouldn’t make sense in the “we need to survive but let’s make out instead” nonsense, it develops through small, meaningful interactions. Despite most dystopian novels focusing on survival and action, All That’s Left in the World doesn’t lose sight of its characters humanity; the chemistry is authentic, with moments of humour, vulnerability, and warmth despite their situation.
What’s more, Andrew and Jamie are only teenagers, and they’re written as teenagers, not mature children, and not immature adults, just teenagers, letting us as an audience relate to them on a deeper level. They’re both individual characters with their own voices and personalities: Andrew being a reckless and sarcastic guy with humor as his coping mechanism, while Jamie is cautious and level, making their relationship dynamic; the way they balance each other out is everything I live for.
Ultimately, All That’s Left in the World is a refreshing and heartfelt addition to both the queer romance and dystopian genres. Whether it’s action, romance, or both that you want, this book will deliver. I read a lot, but this book made it into my list of comfort books by page one.
