Title: Everything Under The Sun
Author: Jessica Redmerski
Genre: YA/NA Crossover; Dystopian
Rating: 5 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
Thais Fenwick was eleven-years-old when civilization fell, devastated by a virus that killed off the majority of the world’s population. For seven years, Thais and her family lived in a community of survivors deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. But when her town is attacked by raiders, she and her blind sister are taken away to the East-Central Territory where she is destined to live the cruel and unjust kind of life her late mother warned her about.
Atticus Hunt is a troubled soldier in Lexington City who has spent the past seven years trying to conform to the vicious nature of men in a post-apocalyptic society. He knows that in order to survive, he must abandon his morals and his conscience and become like those he is surrounded by. But when he meets Thais, morals and conscience win out over conformity, and he risks his rank and his life to help her. They escape the city and set out together on a long and perilous journey to find safety in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Struggling to survive in a world without electricity, food, shelter, and clean water, Atticus and Thais shed their fear of growing too close, and they fall hopelessly in love. But can love survive in such dark times, or is it fated to die with them?
This is my first time reading a book by Jessica Redmerski, but I seroiusly doubt it’ll be my last. This book was just downright amazing. The world building was spectacular, the characters were intriguing, the pacing was perfect, and the story was sublime. Seriously, I’m struggling to find words to express how good this was.
First off, the book is extremely long (600+ pages) but it doesn’t feel that way. Instead, I wouldn’t have minded if the book was longer. And don’t let the cover (which looks all innocent and sweet) dupe you, because the story is anything but innocent and sweet.
Years ago, civilization ended. The end of the world, in the form of a virus. Thais has lived with her family and other survivors deep in the Appalachian Mountains, but then raiders attack their village, and Thais’ world, once again, falls apart. She meets Atticus, a man who is conflicted about the choices he was forced to make, and who, against all odds, risks his rank and life to help her. Together, they go on a dangerous journey that could cost them their lives… Or that will give them the one thing they most crave for: freedom.
Thais started off a little weak, struggling with life after the near end of the world, but oh boy, did she grow and change and evolve throughout this book! Atticus is so flawed yet so strong, and Thais brought out the best in him, and he brought out the best in her. It’s rare to come across a match this great, but you can find it here.
So, to anyone who reads and enjoys dystopian books, and even those who don’t but who like a solid romance story… I wholeheartedly recommnd Everything Under The Sun. Give it a shot, and don’t be afraid of the high page count, it’s more than worth it.
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Author and occasional philosopher and monologist, Ken La Salle’s passion is intense humor, meaningful drama, and finding answers to the questions that define our lives. Ken La Salle grew up in Santa Ana, California and has remained in the surrounding area his entire life. He was raised with strong, blue collar roots, which have given his writing a progressive and environmentalist view. You can find a growing number of his books and performances available online. Find out more about Ken on his website at 
