cover199726-mediumFrom Goodreads: “Set in a world where a virus stalks our male population, The End of Men is an electrifying and unforgettable debut from a remarkable new talent that asks: what would our world truly look like without men?
Only men are affected by the virus; only women have the power to save us all.
The year is 2025, and a mysterious virus has broken out in Scotland–a lethal illness that seems to affect only men. When Dr. Amanda MacLean reports this phenomenon, she is dismissed as hysterical. By the time her warning is heeded, it is too late. The virus becomes a global pandemic–and a political one. The victims are all men. The world becomes alien–a women’s world.
In The End of Men, Christina Sweeney-Baird creates an unforgettable tale of loss, resilience and hope.”

 

My Review

This was such a good book, and not as hard to read as I thought it might be, considering Covid -19. In fact it makes the current pandemic seem like nothing to worry about at all.

As the above synopsis mentions, the virus begins in Scotland when men are dying from a mysterious, but deadly illness. Only one A&E doctor, Amanda Maclean, is concerned about it and tries desperately to inform the authorities, but to no avail. They just think she’s a hysterical woman overacting to a harmless virus. Little do they, and the rest of the world know, that it’s actually a devastating virus that is going to change the world forever! As the virus spreads the story is told by different women and a couple of men, around the world giving a devastating insight in to how the virus is affecting everyone.

I really enjoyed following these women’s stories through the worst aspects of the virus right through to the life after the virus. I loved the way the author showed all aspects of their emotions and how some of them coped, or didn’t cope with their personal situations.  I kept putting myself in their situations thinking who I was most like, and how I would respond, not very well!

The characters are like the best were Amanda Maclean the A&E doctor in Scotland, Maria a Journalist in San Francisco, Dawn a civil servant in London, Elizabeth an American scientist based in London and Helen a wife and mother in Penrith in England.

At times the book reminded me of Station Eleven, in a good way though as I loved that book. It’s not as brutal or as creepy thank goodness, no weird prophet roaming around in this pandemic!! 😱

I definitely recommend this one if you enjoy dystopian novels.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my digital ARC.