Summary: The drought- or the Tap-Out- in California has been going on for a while now. Don’t water the lawn, no filling the pool, no long showers. But  when the taps run dry, Alyssa’s quiet suburban neighborhood becomes a war zone of desperation. Neighbors and families turn against one another in the hunt for water. When her parents don’t return from their own search and Alyssa and her brother’s lives are threatened, Alyssa must make impossible choices, including trusting her geeky, survival-guide expert of a neighbor Kelton, if they want to survive.

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

My Thoughts:  

Since Neal Shusterman’s Scythe and Thunderhead are easily two of my favorite 2018 reads, I was highly anticipating Neal and Jarrod Shusterman’s Dry. Before jumping into some longer thoughts, I’m happy to say that Dry met my expectations and more. I absolutely loved the world-building and characters.

Going into the book, I thought we would just get Alyssa’s perspective. But how could I forget Scythe and Thunderhead’s storytelling? Dry features Alyssa, Kelton, and their company’s perspectives- I don’t want to name them all for the sake of spoilers. The variety of different perspectives was especially interesting when it came to their pasts, their survival strategies, and figuring out  who could be trusted. There are also snapshots of outside characters who may or may not come into play throughout the story. I just loved the interconnectedness of it all.

It’s crazy to think that Dry simply takes place over a few days because of how quickly things turn upside down. Let’s hope I never have to go to Costco and get a pack of bottled water ripped out of my hands. Action fans will definitely love Dry, as Alyssa and Kelton must act on their instincts quickly in order to survive.

And yes, I know that I’ve become a bit of a fast reader, but Dry is truly a fast-paced, page-turning read. Genre-wise, I would classify Dry as a thriller or near-dystopian, but the more and more I read, the more it felt almost contemporary-like. The fictional California drought set within the book felt real, as Alyssa and company describe the human and environmental factors that led to water becoming an even more sacred resource. It made me think about the action we could all take to ensure that a situation like Dry doesn’t happen.

Overall, Dry is a thrilling fall release that’s more than important to read. Even if it made me incredibly thirsty while reading.

This review is based on an advance reader’s copy. Receiving this copy did not affect my thoughts or opinion.

I am highly anticipating The Toll, the final book in the Arc of a Scythe trilogy, and would love to see Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman co-author more together.

 Is Dry on your TBR? What are some of your favorite Neal Shusterman books? Share in the comments!