From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever…

Not a Drop to Drink (Not a Drop to Drink, #1)

Mindy McGinnis

Start date: April 9, 2014

Finish date: May 1, 2014

Discussion: AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

Discussion leader: Gertie

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 345 topics — 20,914 comments total

AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

* Nominate books for the next discussions! (fall)
By Gertie , Please go nominate books for book club! · 24 posts · 67 views

last updated Sep 18, 2025 08:37AM

* August 2025: Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey
By Gertie , Please go nominate books for book club! · 24 posts · 37 views

last updated Aug 08, 2025 03:48PM

showing 5 of 5 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Mar 29, 2013 Cheer Papworth rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, post-apocalyptic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 4 1/2 STARS: So I have this internal struggle brewing on how to rate this book because honestly it took me a little while to finish it. Upon evaluation, I think it wasn't a "I can't put this book down" kind of read because the plot was a little slow a lot of the time, but what really won me over in the end was the story, the emotionality and the relationships. By the story's end, which I loved, I could really feel the metamorphosis, the change, that happens for Lynn the protagonist and for me, t 4 1/2 STARS: So I have this internal struggle brewing on how to rate this book because honestly it took me a little while to finish it. Upon evaluation, I think it wasn't a "I can't put this book down" kind of read because the plot was a little slow a lot of the time, but what really won me over in the end was the story, the emotionality and the relationships. By the story's end, which I loved, I could really feel the metamorphosis, the change, that happens for Lynn the protagonist and for me, that warrants a 4 1/2 star rating.

Lynn has lived this cloistered life, locked up in the basement of her home with a mother who seems ruthless and cold. As much as Lynn's mother appears brutal and cold hearted towards other survivors, she really just loves her daughter and survival is her only means of expressing it. Water, food, medications, everything is scarce, but water is something Lynn and her mother have in the form of a pond and protecting it is their soul purpose.

(SPOILER ALERT) Lynn goes through her daily survival routine with her mother day after day, month after month, until one day Lynn's mother is shot accidentally by Lynn and subsequently dies. As Lynn navigates her way through life without her mother, she begins to build relationships, first with her neighbor Stebbs and then with Eli, Neva and Lucy. Lucy comes to live with Lynn, something mother never would have approved of and slowly Lynn's heart begins to melt.

In the midst of it all, a band of men make attempts at taking over the pond and they set up a small town nearby. In a world where survival is everything, these men are stockpiling, robbing and kidnapping women as slaves. As trouble brews between Lynn and her new family and the evil men, it quickly becomes apparent that something must be done about it and Lynn is just the gal to do it.

Where other post-apocalyptic books typically take the protagonist on a physical journey, canvassing the country and encountering all types of crazy scenarios, this book takes another angle. Instead, Lynn stands and protects what is hers, including those she loves, but she also learns generosity towards others in need. Lynn isn't always the heroine and she definitely suffers serious loss...the ending isn't tidy and all roses, but I really appreciate that fact. In the end, I feel this story has a great message, especially in the midst of so many PA books that forget about a change of heart and growth of character. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 04, 2013 ☼Bookish in Virginia☼ rated it really liked it

I read quite a few Young Adult books and nearly all are in the adventure/fantasy/scifi genres.

And this year has been pretty disappointing for me as authors have apparently been eying the Romance shelves. Nearly every new book it seems features a sappy love triangle, and author's are having all too many tough heroines melting into quivering Melva Milquetoasts which require some manly dude to step forward and save them.

Gag. I'm so bored with it.

THANKFULLY Mindy McGinnis has saved the end of the ye ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 18, 2013 🥀 Rose 🥀 rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio-book, young-adult, apocalypse

Not a drop to drink wasted no words. A sparsely written story which reflects that of McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize winning The Road. A world where water is lacking and guarded at all costs. A woman and her daughter live and protect the pond on their land. Lynn is 16 and the only person she has ever known. Her mother has taught her to not trust a soul and to kill without question to protect what is theirs. Due to a change in their situation Lynn must learn to reach out to others, learn to trust and o ...more

Like · see review

Mar 28, 2017 Jonathan rated it liked it

So.... water is precious, so precious we need to kill to defend it.... but it rains and rains again and storms and then snows for DAYS with drifts up to your knees. Seems like there should be a fair amount of water around.

Anyway, it was a pretty easy and enjoyable YA novel- A lot of bad things happen.

Like · see review

Sep 30, 2013 Paula Hess rated it it was amazing

An excellent YA dystopian novel.

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Ariel rated it it was amazing

This book was fantastic. It was gritty and real all the way through. The author definitely didn't cater to the whims of teenagers at the expense of the heart of the book. It was dark and gritty all the way through.

Damn good, realistic, all the characters were competant, real, interesting. I can't wait to start the sequel. ...more

Like · see review