The Quiet at the End of the World

An interesting take on a dystopian world, whilst humanity is threatened in this book, the two main characters have pretty decent lives (aside from the fact that they’re destined to be the last humans ever). Loneliness is one of my biggest fears, and the concept of being one of the only two people left on earth is truly terrifying. This book was an intriguing take on the dystopian genre, focusing on what would happen if humans became unable to reproduce. It had some twists I honestly didn’t see coming and a really positive attitude towards diversity. Lowrie (the female narrator)… show more.

It's 2109, and Lowrie and Shen are the youngest humans on the planet after an unknown virus made everyone sterile. Raised by a compassionate octogenarian community, they spend their days mudlarking in futuristic London. I love dystopian sci-fi, and this one is gentle, thoughtful with a slow-burn tension. It was difficult to choose a contemporary read, but this one has special resonance because of the disturbing times in which we’re living. There’s enough distance, though, because of the otherness of the setting. A beautiful focus on community values – which is what we all need right now.