Kara's Reviews > All the Water in the World: A Novel

This one is heartbreaking and horrifying, and it was so well done. It reminded me of Station Eleven, but it also has shades of Parable of the Sower in how it tackles survival and resilience.

Nonie is such a sympathetic main character, and her voice really carried the story for me. The flashbacks were seamless and added depth—they never felt like interruptions but instead enriched what was happening in the present.

I also appreciated how the book didn’t sugarcoat anything. The dangers of a flooded world and the breakdown of authority are portrayed in a way that feels terrifyingly plausible. At the same time, the group’s dedication to preserving knowledge and finding a purpose beyond survival kept the story from being too bleak.

This is one of the best cli-fi books I’ve read in a while. It’s not just about the big, apocalyptic changes but also the small, human moments of connection and perseverance. It’s definitely a heavy read, but there’s just enough hope to make it feel worth it. A solid five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press!