How to Survive Everything: A Novel

Dive into a chilling and darkly comic thriller with Ewan Morrison's *How to Survive Everything*, a novel that explores the terrifying potential of familial obsession and the collapse of societal norms. Longlisted for the 2021 McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year and Shortlisted for the 2021 Bookmark Book of the Year Prize, this thought-provoking read marks Morrison's highly anticipated American debut, drawing comparisons to the works of Emily St. John Mandel, Lionel Shriver, and Richard Powers. Critically acclaimed Scottish novelist Ewan Morrison, known for his sharp social commentary and unflinching portrayal of contemporary issues, delivers a gripping narrative through the eyes of Haley Cooper Crowe. Haley, a teenage girl caught in a web of her father's apocalyptic anxieties, finds herself abruptly ripped from her familiar life when he abducts her and her brother, Ben, spiriting them away to his isolated survivalist compound. He is convinced that a new, even more devastating pandemic is on the horizon, a threat from which only his secluded haven can offer sanctuary. Confined and cut off from the outside world, Haley and Ben are forced to navigate their father's increasingly paranoid worldview. The stark contrast between their normal life with their mother and the rigid, survival-focused existence within the compound creates a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere. The question that hangs heavy in the air is whether their father's fears are grounded in reality or fueled by a conspiracy-obsessed imagination spiraling out of control. Haley, a resourceful and resilient protagonist, emerges as the heart of the story. Her voice, as praised by Diane Cook, author of the Booker Prize-nominated *The New Wilderness*, resonates long after the final page is turned. She becomes a record-keeper, meticulously documenting the unraveling of her family and the world as she knows it. Her struggle to maintain her sanity and protect her brother in the face of mounting uncertainty is both heartbreaking and inspiring. *How to Survive Everything* is more than just a suspenseful thriller; it's a sharp exploration of family dynamics, societal anxieties, and the lengths to which people will go to protect those they love or what they *think* they love. Morrison masterfully blends dark humor with chilling realism, creating a narrative that is both unsettling and compulsively readable. The novel taps into contemporary anxieties surrounding pandemics, societal collapse, and the pervasive influence of conspiracy theories, making it a relevant and timely read. The novel's strength lies in its exploration of fractured family relationships amid chaos, posing difficult questions about trust, loyalty, and the very definition of survival. This paperback edition from Harper Perennial, with its 368 pages, is the perfect book to get your teeth into. Weighting just 272g and published in 2022, it won't strain your arms when reading in bed. Prepare to be captivated by Haley's unforgettable voice as she navigates a world teetering on the brink. *How to Survive Everything* is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction, suspenseful thrillers, and stories that explore the complexities of the human condition.