Civilization breaks down after a devastating plague, and former musician Chris Price is making his way home to reunite with his family in Bath, England.

This is a love story, as the subtitle indicates, and I am not generally a fan of romance. It's a quiet book, a different take on the post-apocalyptic story with more rebuilding and less violence. It's competently done, but it doesn't shine. The writing lacks rhythm, and the characters seem to blur together. ( )

As a slightly crazy obsessed fan of PA, I picked up Breakdown the moment I saw it. One thing often missing in post-apocalyptic novels is the ‘what happens after’ effect – sure, the tension and action are high during a pandemic, but what is the emotional effect on those left behind, and how do they move on with their lives?

Starting with a prologue in January 2000, a global pandemic smacks down the population of New York, changing the life of Chris in an instant. Estranged from his family and friends in the UK, Chris finds himself suddenly and unexpectedly alone in a world turned on its head.

Breakdown is the story of the fall-out of the epidemic, six years on. Life is fundamentally changed, trading and bartering is back in vogue and families stick together, living in the same house and working together to survive day-to-day life.

The unique side of Breakdown is in exploring the emotional toll of the epidemic that has changed the world and the dynamics of friendships and family relationships. Emotion is high, loyalties are radically changed and priorities have been re-assessed.

What I particularly loved about this book are the characters. They are damaged, changed and, against all odds, positive people – not only trying to survive but thrive. Family bonds are strong, love is more meaningful and the basic things in life are what the characters live and strive for.

Breakdown ends strongly, with high emotion, and although I’m too tough to cry (no tear ducts on zombies!), I couldn’t put this book down. If you want a PA book that has heart and soul, Breakdown is the book for you.

My favourite quote: ''Another part of me, dead. More of me is dead than alive. That's how I feel. I switch off and run on autopilot. Don't think, don't feel. Until something finally kills me and I'm done.'' ( )

I have a weak spot for post-apocalyptic novels, so when I was offered a free review copy for this book, I jumped at it. I was not disappointed.
What makes this particular book work so well is the pacing. The readers are thrown into the remnant of a world we vaguely recognize, but we don’t know all the facts. We know a plague caused all the damage, but we don’t really know what that means. Slowly, through the main character’s (Chris) recollections, we begin to get a sense of how wrong things actually became. That feeling of not quite having all the information creates a great unease that propels the reader to turn the pages.
More than the actual plague and everything that comes after it, what draws the reader is the character development and the very familiar relationships. We see Chris beginning as a haunted man, a shadow of a real human, and we see Pauline, a sensitive person who does her best to keep things together throughout the chaos, evolving and growing closer, healing each other.
The writing was spotless and engaging, the author’s voice fresh yet with a bit of bite. I had a hard time putting the story down after I began to see all the connecting threads that guide us, and Chris, to the end.
Highly recommend it. ( )