To clarify from the beginning:
If you’re looking for a thriller about the aftermath of an earthquake, filled with excitement and suspense and action, you will get that only in small doses from this book.
If you’re looking for a thriller that is a character study of how people deal with tragedy and how it affects their behavior, you’ll get much more of that.
Really, I thought this would be more about the former, but ended up being much more focused on the latter.
I have mixed feelings about all of it.
It really was an excellent analysis of how quickly society could deteriorate in the face of a major catastrophe. I felt that several of the incidents were accurately portrayed and would probably recur across the landscape of the affected area.
These descriptions were brutally detailed. I think the author wrote them in such a way to really emphasize the desperation and barbaric behavior. When civil society disappears in an instant, what happens and who survives?
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With that being said, I felt that some points were belabored a bit too much and took me away from the humanity aspect of all of it.
For example, I understand why the author wrote the characters of Beegie and Dessa with the backgrounds each had. They had pasts, secrets that they would never tell anyone in a “normal” situation.
But it’s possible that they both recognized that in each other even without actually acknowledging it.
However, there are certainly some uncomfortable parts of the book. And I’m not sure if they contributed to the overall story or were included to make socially aware observations.
Also be warned, there are a number of potentially triggering topics that are addressed in this book, including (but not limited to) sexual assault, infidelity, and racial bias. It’s a lot to take in, especially considering the harrowing post-catastrophe setting.
Honestly, I felt a little beat up myself when I finished reading this. I was emotionally drained. That’s not to say that I didn’t like the book – I thought it was fine. But at times I felt like it was all “too much.”
I would still recommend it. Just know that you’re not getting a simple post-apocalyptic action thriller – you’re getting a searing look at human nature as well.
As the blurb says, “A propulsive page-turner grounded by unforgettable characters and a deep emotional core, JUST GET HOME will strike a chord with mainstream thriller readers for its legitimately heart-pounding action scenes, and with book club audiences looking for weighty, challenging content.”
For once, that’s totally accurate.
AUTHOR BIO:
Originally from Colorado, Bridget Foley attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television. She worked as an actor and screenwriter before becoming a novelist. She now lives a fiercely creative life with her family in Boise, Idaho.
