When the end of the world is imminent, what do you choose to do with the time you have left?
In this heart-wrenching and deeply emotional novel by T. J. Klune, two older men climb into a camper and race toward Washington State. There is mention of a box and there is mention of a promise, but beyond that the reader only knows there is a deep sense of urgency, and that the couple will not stop if time will allow them to reach their destination. And with the Earth and her citizens literally and figuratively falling apart all around them, there is no guarantee they will make it.
When the truth behind the journey is finally revealed in the last chapters, it lands with devastating clarity. The emotional weight that has been quietly building throughout the story suddenly makes sense, reframing everything that came before.
I didn’t cry when I finished this book. Instead, I just sat there feeling stunned and heavy, thinking about the characters and replaying key moments in my mind. The ending is so beautiful that it is truly heartbreaking. This is the kind of story that stays with you long after you stop listening.
The writing is superb, and the story was obviously painstakingly crafted. All of the characters the couple meet along their journey feel real and fully formed. Every depiction of the physical world transports you there, making you feel as though the events are unfolding around you.
The production is gorgeous, with lovely and meaningful music before and after the novel, and excellent pacing both between and within the chapters. The sound quality is also excellent.
I cannot compliment the narrator, Kirt Graves, enough for his perfect portrayal of the aging married couple and the many people they encounter along their urgent journey. His performance is sincere without being overwrought, balancing the heavy emotional weight of the story beautifully.
Fans of deeply human relationships, end-of-the-world stories, and richly developed characters will love this book.
5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.
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