Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Pharmacist by Rachelle Atalla! This book was hugely atmospheric, it was tense and unnerving, mysterious and claustrophobic. The beginning was definitely a standout in this book, but I felt like it lost its way a bit towards the end. I think there was just too much left unanswered for my tastes: I wanted more answers I think, even though I do understand the choice to keep everything mysterious.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release date: 12 May 2022.

Pages: 353

Representation: NA.

Trigger warnings: Abduction, abortion, suicide, drug abuse, sexual assault, physical assault, mention of rape, miscarriage, birth, infertility, indirect mention of eugenics.

Summary: Wolfe remembers a time before the Bunker when life was about meeting friends for coffee, fresh air and freedom. She knows she's only there because she's needed; the bankers, politicians and other important people wouldn't be able to survive without doctors and a Pharmacist. When their leader starts to ask for favours from her, will she betray those she knows? Are creature comforts worth anothers' life? How far will she go to survive in a world where survival means a life locked underground?

The pharmacist is a surprisingly heavy read that conjures multiple emotions mixed like a cocktail of prescriptions.

It's always challenging to write about characters that are enclosed or trapped. We learn just enough about the Bunker so that everything makes sense, but not enough so that we have the whole story; it gives the entire book an air of intrigue and mystery as we wonder when or if we're ever going to learn more. It helps give the story the suspense to push it forward and adds to the atmosphere.

Wolfe is a complicated character; she understands she's only in the Bunker because she got lucky, but she seems willing to risk her place a lot. Everything she does seems to go against what she thinks she's meant to do. I liked her, even if I didn't always agree with her. I was incredibly pleasantly surprised to see that she didn't fall into the "chosen one" trope of dystopian genres; it added to her likeability and the readers' ability to relate to her. She was enough being an ordinary citizen, and I liked that. She was realistic enough that I cared about her and wanted to see where her story ended.

The plot was interesting but didn't feel like it had any high stakes despite what was happening. I wasn't invested in it. I knew what it was trying to be, with its mysterious, two-faced leader and blatant dictatorship, but it just missed the mark. I think this was because everything felt segmented; the plot points were lined up one after the other, like a neat list ready to be checked off. It broke the flow of Wolfes story up. It didn't help that the author used no punctuation to indicate speech, this is a personal preference, but it made it seem blocky and harder to read.

It was still a fun, exciting read. I didn't struggle through it, but it wasn't something that I couldn't wait to keep reading. I'd reread it if I had the urge.

Shining glory: The descriptions made it so easy to visualise the Bunker, and helped intensify the claustrophobia the characters were experiencing. The narrative was extreme well written.

Fatal flaw: Each plot point starts and ends within a chapter or two despite everything that happens. Rather than a flowing story, it feels more fragmented.

Read this if: You like a dystopian thriller that isn't afraid to deal with complex subjects and want to escape the "chosen one" theme that runs through the genre.

Skip this if: You struggle with complex topics. You want a read that feels full and flows through from beginning to end. You want plot points that come full circle, with a beginning, middle and end that explains everything. You prefer writing that uses quotation marks to signify speech.

I am a sucker for a post apocalyptic journey and this novel seriously had potential but was quite lacking towards the end.

The Pharmacist is a dark tale that describes it atmosphere well. We tell a tale of survival in human nature that treads the line between escapism and hope. This isn't an easy read and was definitely uncomfortable in parts but this is the tension and foreboding that the writer tried to convey.

This was a good novel, but that's all it was. It was bleak and full of hopelessness but it tended to drag in its attempt to bring you down.

I'm not really sure how to feel about The Pharmacist and I don't think I liked it.
I expected something different and the book didn't deliver.
Some people would probably like this one but I sadly didn't.
I just found it really depressing and boring, maybe I read this at the wrong time...
Thank you netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Not my usual genre but im grateful I was chosen to receive a early read as I found Rachelle Atallas penmanship completely captivating.
Set in a post-apocalyptic existence in a purpose built bunker waiting on the world to’heal’ the chosen applicants live an extremely basic life ruled by a leader who lives in luxurious quarters and armed soldiers who roam the rest of the bunker ensuring compliance of the rules.
The people are identified only by their surname and allocated positions according to their professions in their previous life. The main character, Wolfe, is a pharmacist who is responsible for dispensing medicines prescribed by Dr Stirling and the two of them have a close association. Wolfe is also assigned an assistant to help during the day shift.
We follow the daily struggle as the people become increasingly vulnerable and their sanity is pushed to the limits.
Very interesting although it is completely disturbing too but I would highly recommend this book to all readers who have an open mind on the future of our world.

An interesting premise that started off strong, The Pharmacist explores an underground bunker in which a population voluntarily chose to join to save themselves from a nuclear attack. Unfortunately I had to knock off stars because there are simply so many questions that never get answered, leading to a unsatisfactory and oddly rushed/disjointed ending. Recommend as a quick read, but it’s such a wasted opportunity.

An interesting idea of what would happen if selected people were living in a secure bunker while a nuclear disaster unfolded above them. A range of useful people and families, none too young or too old were thrown together to live out their lives in apparent safety. Strict rations of food, clothing and other supplies ensured a problematic existence. Wolfe, the pharmacist was much in demand as she administered the vital medication to the needy inhabitants. The story itself focused on her few friendships but I felt these could have developed in a different direction. Without any spoilers, I was disappointed with the ending and felt it somewhat fizzled out. Maybe that was the point? Maybe a sequel is on the cards? Sadly, I felt quite unfulfilled with the ending but the book itself was thought provoking and interesting.

I found this book impossible to put down and intriguing from the start. The writer did an excellent job of portraying the claustrophobia of people living in an underground bunker. I could really feel the sense of being trapped.
The story unsurprisingly centred around one of the pharmacists based in the bunker. Through her, we learn of the hardships they face, the mental strain of living this way and the lengths people will go to in order to make life better for themselves.
I would have liked a bit more information on how they came to be there, although we do get enough snippets to patch together an idea. I think the point is to keep the focus on the events and people of the bunker. I found myself asking numerous times, how I would have survived. Or what decisions I would have made.
It’s not an up and down twisty turny thriller. More a gradual build up of tension and dread, until the climax of the story at the end.
I think this is a really interesting debut, well worth a read and will look out for this author again.

This was a book that really kept me interested. Set in a bunker the characters were all really well-written and you really get a feel of the claustrophobia of living in such a limited space and all the restrictions it entails. Highly recommended.

This book was intriguing and very strange set in some distopian future following a nuclear fallout. The story was gripping with strong characters but it ended leaving me wishing for more and expecting a different outcome. Well worth reading though.

This book has shades of 1984 and Lord of The Flies. Also reminiscent of video games like Fallout and Bioshock, the atmosphere is so vivid. It immediately drew me into the world, so much so that I had dreams about being in the bunker - so Rachelle Atalla must be doing something right.
The story follows, Sarah, the titular pharmacist spends her days giving out anti-depressants to those living in the bunker, survivors of an unnamed apocalyptic event. When she catches the eye of the mysterious leader of the bunker, her world begins to disintegrate as she is forced to come to terms with just what she will do to survive.
I couldn't put the book down. I was left many questions which I loved. I have found my mind wandering back to the world since I finished the book, questioning what happened to this world, and how the leader rose to their position. It is definitely a book I will read again and one I will recommend to friends. An absolute must for fans of the books and video games I mentioned.

In The Pharmacist, we are witnessing the day to day life of Sarah Wolfe, one of the pharmacists inside ‘the bunker’. In this bunker, an unknown number of people are seeking shelter while the outside world is healing from the aftermath of a nuclear war. A mysterious leader is in charge of the bunker, in which the inhabitants seem packed, with little to do but work, eat and sleep. Paranoia and mental problems are increasing. Wolfe in general has a boring, repetitive life until she is noticed by the leader, whose behaviour becomes more and more erratic, and who starts demanding things from her in exchange for small favours. The question is how far Wolfe is willing to go to satisfy the leader’s requests.

The basic idea of the book is very comparable to what Hugh Howey did with Wool, combined with some of the Snowpiercer series. The claustrophobic and mysterious environment is very similar and several other elements seem to be borrowed from either one of these series as well. Through the eyes of Wolfe, the reader witnesses everyday life inside the bunker, which on itself is rather dull. But the narrative voice of Wolfe is attractive and there are many questions to be answered, which is intriguing. Rachelle Atalla has put a lot of detail into the story, which allows to get a good picture of the environment inside the bunker, and of the issues people deal with. The details, and the monotonous life people lead, make this a slow story with hardly any action, but that doesn’t bother at all. It actually contributes to the general atmosphere. The biggest, and at first only, annoyance is the absence of speech marks in Attala’s writing.

The Pharmacist is attractively written and the moral disintegration of the inhabitants due to their unwilling isolation and their not knowing how the outside is doing, is well developed. Wolfe is an interesting person to follow. Nevertheless, the book is not completely satisfying. There are a lot of questions raised (about what happened before, about the bunker, about the leader, about why so many unqualified people were selected to join) and you expect some answers. But as the book progresses, the story starts spinning in circles and doesn’t evolve. There are almost no answers given and the abrupt ending is naive and rushed. It feels like a sequel is needed, but the ending suggests this is not the plan. I liked the general idea of the book, the premises, the pace, the atmosphere that was conveyed, but was disappointed in the final quarter in which I expected answers and an original outcome, which didn’t happen.

Thank you, NetGalley, for letting me read this book.

The book opens with a really shocking scene, described with incredible acceptance by Wolfe, the pharmacist of the title.

Wolfe is part of a community led by a charismatic but problematic leader, living in a bunker below ground because of what we assume is nuclear war. The community is struggling, living on liquid food pouches, dispirited, unhealthy. As a pharmacist, Wolfe administers everyone's medication - which means she knows everyone's health secrets.

Wolfe herself builds alliances - wih Dr Stirling, with the mysterious Canavan, and with Levitt - and comes to the attention of the leader.

In many ways, this is a lockdown novel. The claustrophobia, the frustration, the attempts to find something meaningful in a narrow life - we all experienced some of this during lockdown. Many of us are still experiencing it. This gave the book added poignancy for me.

This is also a book about choices, about the things we will do to protect ourselves and those we care about.

I found this a gripping read. It left me with lots of questions. It's going to stay with me for a long time.

3.5 rounded up.

This is a post apocalyptic tale told from the perspective of Sarah Wolfe, one of the pharmacists in the bunker. She does what she can to help while waiting for the world to heal whilst the inmates do the best to survive below. She is closest to Dr Stirling, her assistant Levitt and artist Canavan and she needs those allies as it becomes a place of watchful confinement, obvious claustrophobia and increasing paranoia especially from leader ND and the dangers intensify. How far is it possible for Wolfe to avoid it and how far is she prepared to go?

This is a well written dark tale and you feel as if you are in the bunker with Wolfe and the others it’s so well described. At times Wolfe feels very separate from the narrative which is probably a deliberate means in order to survive. The novel asks many pertinent questions about human nature as we see it at its lowest common denominator as well as the highest. On occasions it seems a bit superficial but again this is possibly deliberate in order to suggest detachment. It’s a good examination of the corruption of power not just from the leader but others too. You feel at times as if you are treading a balancing line between cruelty and megalomania versus the joy of some escapist activities and symbols of hope. It’s most definitely not an easy read nor is it meant to be. In places some things make me feel uncomfortable, it’s full of foreboding, there is tension by the bucket load with an accompanying feeling of hopelessness.

Overall, I can see that it’s good, it’s different but do I enjoy it? I’m not sure you can enjoy a novel as bleak as this but you can appreciate what it’s suggesting and saying.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC.
The Pharmacist is a dystopian novel reminiscent of the "Wool" series. Set in near future the world is they know remains in an ambiguous state following a disaster. The chosen survivors are the former elite or those who offer the most to a potential future society.
Wolfe is our protagonist, one of the bunkers pharmacists who spends her days doling out medication and advice to the bunker's inhabitants. A seemingly small favour pulls her in to the web of the leader and .

I found this to be an enjoyable read. Atalla creates a claustrophobic and dismal setting within the bunker as we watch the characters going through their monotonous daily lives while trying to maintain their sanity. She paints a particularly vivid grim picture of the violence and mental issues that would be expected in such a society although there a few warmer and lovely moments that show that humanity still exists.

Gripping!
I love a post-apocalyptic read and this did not disappoint. The idea of living in an underground bunker with no privacy and little joys is one that distills proper fear in me! Atalla writes with such nuance that it felt claustrophobic and tense and the sense of foreboding was present throughout the whole book!

I wasn't always routing for Wolfe, but I understood her actions. And there were great side characters, particularly the Mrs Foer and Levitt. There was also a glimmer of hope running throughout the book, which was needed, though no spoilers here!!

Recommended, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review.

I gave this book a real go but I had to give up at around 50%. It is a possibly post apocalyptic but it’s never really explained (at least in the first half) book where a sub section of the population live in a bunker, where they eat baby food and are ruled over by the Leader who is clearly a bit of a wrong ‘un. I don’t mind a bleak book but this was relentless. The characters were very unlikeable. Possibly the action picked up, but I don’t feel like I should have to read half a book before anything happened - not when I’m not even getting some great characterisation or word building to make up for it. This might be good for other people, but not for me.

The tagline was not wrong- it was indeed a gripping read! Reminiscent of Hugh Howey's "Wool", but on a more elitist level in terms of selection of the occupants, the pharmacist finds herself in a world where food is liquid, medications are heavily guarded and life is divided.
I would have liked a bit more of an explanation as to why the bunker was divided by the line of the wall and why people rarely strayed across that line but the vagaries in the set up of their society do lead you to leap to your own conclusions which almost certainly inform the way in which you read the book and relate to the characters.
Full of clever details about a life spent waiting to begin again this is a real page turner.

What would you do to survive? That's the question at the heart of this intriguing dystopia.

There has (possibly) been a nuclear war and the lucky few are in a bunker. They may have once been famous or rich or influential but in the bunker they are surnames in boilersuits, living off pouches and sleeping in bunks. Sexual violence and suicide are rife and paranoia growing. Wolfe is a pharmacist, spending her days dolling out anti depressants, marking out the days on a calendar. But when she asks for one small favour she gets pulled into the dark centre of power and soon finds that her own survival depends on her compliance - and she has to ask herself, how far is she willing to go to keep herself and those she loves alive?

This is a compelling, bleak book, claustrophobic and beautifully realised. Highly recommended.

This book was quite captivating and had an interesting premise of a society trapped in an underground bunker. I enjoyed the consideration given to the dynamics of those inside and the lives they had to leave behind to be there. Whilst I felt the narrative flirted with some quite interesting interesting subjects such as rationing, leadership and repopulation, I felt that it did not get any further than flirting and I would have loved to see a more in-depth exploration of these matters. A good read overall and one I would take on holiday to read on a beach!