Book Review: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

The Other Life
Author: Susanne Winnacker
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian
Release Date: February 1st 2012 (UK)/May 2012 (US)
Review Source: Loaned from Dark Readers blog
Available: Amazon
(UK cover is pictured on left)

Summary: (from goodreads) 3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life. 98,409,602 seconds since the heavy, steel door had fallen shut and sealed us off from the world 

Sherry has lived with her family in a sealed bunker since things went wrong up above. But when they run out of food, Sherry and her dad must venture outside. There they find a world of devastation, desolation...and the Weepers: savage, mutant killers.

When Sherry's dad is snatched, she joins forces with gorgeous but troubled Joshua - an Avenger, determined to destroy the Weepers.

But can Sherry keep her family and Joshua safe, when his desire for vengeance threatens them all?

Thanks to my really good friend Casey over at Dark Readers blog, she sent her ARC of The Other Life over so I could read it. I knew that if Casey was willing to mail a book to me across the planet, then this was a book I needed to read. Well The Other Life is great, pulls you in immediately as soon as you begin reading it. When a book I begin to read can play out in my head like a Hollywood blockbuster movie, then the book is WIN with me. I can totally see this whole book on the big screen. It would give movies like I Am Legend a run for their money. This Dystopian novel is well crafted and has all the elements it should to be great. The plot gives us action, mystery, thriller, gore and even romance. You have to have some romance when everything around you is so out of whack. I like that Susanne wrote not just great characters but she also gives us important flashbacks. Again I stress when you can picture this as a movie in your head or even as something that what if it happens in the future, you have a well written book. 

The Other Life begins with a countdown from Sherry. Sherry lives in a bunker with her family. They have been down there in the bunker for over 3 years and Sherry has been counting the seconds until they can get out. Everyone had to evacuate to a bunker at the same time when things went wrong on land. Now the problem is that Sherry lost her grandfather in the bunker, he in a freezer and well they just figured out they have also run out of food and its not time to come out of the bunker yet. Finally Sherry and her Dad muster the courage and decide they will open up and see if they can or are able to search for food. They also lost communication through radio with their neighboring bunker friends so they have no idea what outside is like and if its safe. Sherry can't believe her eyes, Los Angeles is in shambles. Everything has either been blown up or looks haunted. Sherry and her Dad begin to look for food and come up to a supermarket or whats left of it. They hope to find anything they can eat in here. Well what they didn't expect was that Sherry's Dad would be taken and now has disappeared leaving Sherry alone and scared, some thing's there. You have to read this book when it comes out, I don't want to give away anymore. Yes there is a swoon-worth boy in the book and you will love him right off the bat. Joshua will be a key point in Sherry's survival and her families too. 

The Other Life will be released first in the UK then in May here in the US. Mark you calender, because you will want to own a copy of this book. I'm hoping there will be a second installment because where this book left off there better be!! 

(US Cover)