Post COVID this book hit hard about the what could have been had things continued. Despite the presence of a world ending pandemic this book is definitively character driven. It's about the resilience of people, found family, hope, and living whilst surviving.

I really appreciated the multi-POV perspective, getting to know a wide range of people to truly come to understand the world they inhabit. There are connections made throughout and Emily St. John Mandel expertly guides us to them through an intricately created tapestry of words that builds a bleak world but one that has hope for the future.

I felt emotional throughout especially as we built to the end which is so quiet and introspective.

Don't expect an action packed post-apocalyptic novel, this is a beautifully created, character driven narrative that is so full of humanity despite the world having basically ended.

It's taken me a while to read this but I'm so glad I've got there finally and loved it as much as I hoped I would.