Straight to the top of my "Best Books of 2026."
An extraordinary book about a lonely and anxious middle aged woman. News that an asteroid is on a trajectory to hit London and the Home Counties in a few years' time doesn't alarm Cassie as much as it does millions of others because she was brought up by "Preppers." Her father was always prepared for disaster and stockpiled rations and supplies, as well as creating a shelter. Cassie has long had a website to advise others on how to do the same and she's now in regular touch with one of the visitors to her site. It turns out Cy is an expert on asteroids and becomes a key member of a government taskforce. The years pass with Cassie and Cy becoming close virtual friends, and the asteroid is confirmed to be lined up for a direct hit. With the rest of Europe having turned its back on the UK, and the government struggling to come up with a workable plan to relocate millions of people to the north, Cassie has decisions to make about her future. An immensely moving novel that seems worryingly prescient in our troubled times.

This is the third book I’ve read by Carole, they’ve all been wildly different and captivating. This was an easy 5 star for me.

A speculative book that at its heart looks at human connection and finding acceptance. I actually cried twice on my sun lounger, I never cry at books but this one really touched me.

Kit has had an unconventional upbringing living with parents who were preppers/ anti vaxers. Weekends were spend packing and repacking go backs and checking on Haven, their go to place in the event of a catastrophe. The story flits between a gown Kit and the one from her childhood. The grown Kit, still stuck in the past when It’s discovered an asteroid will hit earth and all her preparations have seemingly all been worthless.

This book had the most perfect ending. I can’t wait to read what Carole has planned next!

The book is split into two timelines. In the present it's 4 years from the point of an asteroid being discovered that could have dire consequences while the past explores Cassie’s childhood and difficult life until the two eventually collide towards the end. It's a very entertaining read and points to the many problems in society today without ever being preachy about them. I enjoyed it immensely.

This is Carole's third book:

- The Silence Project
- Scenes From a Tragedy
- The Falling

I have a copy of The Silence Project but haven't read it yet but I definitely will be now. I've been super excited about this one.

It's weird because whilst it's a very everyday story, in the sense that it doesn't take place in some magical fantasy land, there is still an element or a feeling of fantasy/sci-fi about it. But because it's grounded in real life, it feels so familiar.

I'm always intrigued by "doomsdayers". At first it sounds mad that they're stocking up on supplies, practicing their escape routes etc. for an event that, probability wise, won't happen in their lifetime. But then there's this tiny voice that wonders whether they are being sensible.

What I liked here is that Carole hasn't made Cassie into a comic character. The reader isn't making fun of her, we're simply invited into her world, whether we agree with her or not. And her characteristics...I don't want to spoil it but let's just say she has her routines she must stick to, and they could have quite easily become something to laugh at but it's done with such sensitivity.

We only really get to know 3-4 characters across the two timelines, which sounds quite boring but it isn't. She's given us the time to get to know them deeply, which is something you wouldn't be able to do with a large cast of characters. It also adds to the claustrophobic, isolated and unnatural feeling of impending doom.

I'm a pessimist by nature, but when it comes to things like nuclear war or an asteroid etc. I say there's two outcomes (which I'm aware is a black and white way of thinking about it) but either it won't happen, the nuclear bomb won't be launched or the asteroid will fly past, in which case it doesn't matter. Or the bomb will hit you or the asteroid will destroy your land, in which case I won't be aware of it and so won't care.

Whilst there are flashbacks, it's mainly set in 2027 and onwards. Which I thought was clever because it's still enough in the future for it to sound fantastical but it's close enough (I mean, 2027 is in a matter of weeks) for it to be familiar and give the reader food for thought about their own life. I like multiple timelines when done well, and this was doing well and seemed a natural way to tell this story.

Scenes From a Tragedy was so great that I had high hopes for this one. It's very different, in terms of plot and storytelling, but it's just as fascinating to read. It's a fairly simple plot (not a negative), but somehow just her simple use of language makes it sound like the most interesting thing in the world and you're just sucked in straight away and you're absorbed till the end.

What was quite funny is that I was so absorbed in it that I kept forgetting it was a novel and I wanted to talk to people about this incoming disaster as if it were real. Especially as a lot of it was set in and around the London area, which is where I live (about 20 minutes from London), so it felt even more real.

The level of research that she must have done is impressive. I am fascinated by space and I'm a bit of a nerd, but the detail was so thorough that I found myself learning as well as enjoying it.

I mean, on the outside it sounds like quite a depressing book, topic-wise. And yet at the same time, it is really positive. It's got such a sense of hope about it, joy and love.

This was the first book I have read by Carole Hailey, and I was intrigued by the description: prepping is an apt topic currently.
What a great story it was! I loved the comparisons of the 'now' and 'then' timelines, and how a family can get so wrapped up conspiracy.
Tragically, it seemed so relevant though, and thought provoking - how would a country deal with an impending disaster on a scale such as this?

I would love to read more from Carole Hailey and I will recommend this to my friends.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

A standout favourite of 2026. This extraordinary story captured my heart and imagination, and was captivating from start to finish. This is such a thought-provoking, life affirming novel, which touched my heart in so many ways.

The basics:

The story is told through a dual timeline which I felt allowed some mystery for the reader, character progression and then tense yet thought provoking scenes as the asteroid loomed closer to Earth. The present is a countdown over 4 years from the point of the asteroid being discovered, while the past explores Cassie’s childhood and life until the two eventually collide towards the end.

The story is very much character driven, so if you love watching a personal journey unfold and experience their highs and lows, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this one too. The looming asteroid is obviously a big part of the plot but I felt we were following Cassie’s journey slightly more which was a superb choice because Carole has perfectly crafted her main character who feels so authentic, interesting, layered and loveable.

Pacing wise, it’s in the medium zone. At 400 pages there’s a lot to unpack which allows Carole to explore each storyline in depth and great care. I never felt it was slow and the story allowed us to follow the life of Cassie in detail as well as providing us with the science behind the asteroid which will change England forever.

The book covers a variety of genres, cleverly appealing to so many different readers. There’s of course the science/space elements which are exactly why we’re following Cassie. With the mystery of the asteroid unfolding throughout the story we actually ‘get to know’ this asteroid and how it’s come to now be firing towards Earth bringing devastation and destruction. There’s a very mild and platonic love potential - I really enjoyed how gentle this was as it never felt distracting or dominating of the plot and joyfully bought tenderness and hope to the story. It explores politics in a way I’d never imagine expected - allowing the reader to feel immersed in the unfolding panic around the country and how the consequences of the asteroid could be felt around the world, planning for mass-migration, how the rich can buy their way out of trouble, and how the underworld exploits people wanting to flee the danger. It’s all so incredibly thought out and I was so impressed with Carole’s plotting of this book.

The deeper bits: (No direct spoilers, but plot discussions below so avoid if you want to head in blind!)

On a personal note, I was so tremendously impressed with the portrayal of Cassie’s OCD. This storyline took me by surprise and only perked my interest more (it happens quite early on). I have lived with OCD for years - Not the kind where the cans are lined up nicely in the fridge; a loud and chronic condition which impacts daily life, causes anxiety and affects the way you live. I’ve not read any other fiction books where OCD is explored in depth within a main character and this knocked me off my feet. Quite quickly I could tell just how much research Carole must’ve put into this as I recognised a number of Cassie’s thoughts and behaviours. It really can take over your life, and for Cassie it does. It’s extremely sad at times and it made me feel so much warmer and emphatic towards her. Carole explores everything from where the OCD began in her life, how it eventually dominates her life and how she copes. Bravo for such an incredible, respectful and accurate portrayal Carole. The visibility and representation is entirely appreciated.

From the point where Cassie meets Kit, this is exactly where I knew this would not only be a five star read, but a favourite of 2026. The story transforms at this moment for me and is layered with hope, tenderness, meaningful purpose in Cassie’s life, and love. I wept from the moment they met and multiple times thereafter. The way Carole brings such overwhelming emotion and sentiments to Cassie’s life after a tough journey so far, filled my heart with joy. It showed me a brand new side to Carole’s writing, and I was so impressed with the power it had over me. Some beautiful moments of love during very dark times for the South of England. It opened the story up for a beautiful new arc in Cassie’s story which I think all readers will be hoping for.

Overall, I have nothing but praise for this story. It’s dramatic, fascinating, thought provoking, sad and hopeful. I loved it and is a standout of the year. Well done Carole. A masterpiece.

Oh wow, I absolutely loved "The Falling" by Carole Hailey. It's completely different to "The Silence Project" which is one of the other two books of hers but still an excellent book by the way. In some ways, this book reminded me of the film "Don't Look Up" which deals with an impending asteroid crashing into earth (but that was dealt with in a comedic way). This book though shows you the other side, how a prepper family can cause anxiety and mental health problems, always preparing for a disaster and not able to get on with the rest of their lives. Aside from this, I loved the relationships that developed between the main characters even though they were in the most unusual circumstances.

I will continue to recommend this book to others.

I fell in love with Cassie from the beginning, I loved Cassie’s story. I took her to my heart instantly. I enjoyed the story of the asteroid too, well it was fascinating and factually informative. I asked to read this book and i am so happy I did, and was able to.
Carole Hailey is consistently brilliant.
I wish Cassie, Cy and Kit were real people, I would love to meet them.
Five stars.

4.5⭐️

This story broke my heart and put it back together so many times, taking me on a real emotional journey.

The underlying concept of what happens to a child who grew up with a prepper parent when, as an adult, a possible asteroid strike really does threaten the “end of the world” (or in this case the area of Great Britain where she lives) was really intriguing.

My heart bled for this poor little girl almost traumatised into ocd from growing up with a father so obsessed with being prepared for the end of the world. It was fascinating to read about the many ways that her life was impacted, while also following along with the future timeline and watching her as a midlife woman trying to assimilate to the idea that all her fathers, and therefore also her, fears were being realised and tracking how the world deals with an approaching catastrophe.

This was all already incredibly interesting and emotional, but when you add in a developing online friendship/relationship with one of the task force and then the fantastic family dynamic seen when she takes in a traumatised preteen, it all came together to make an absolutely fascinating, at times emotionally devastating, story.

This is one of those books that left me staring at the wall, and that is always a great sign!

Absolutely brilliant book! I was completely drawn in and read the whole thing in one afternoon. The characters were so well written and the premise was just amazing. Highly recommended.

Cassie is certainly living unconventionally, in both childhood and adulthood.
Cassie is written in a thoroughly relatable way, with her parents beliefs setting the groundwork for her lonely existance as an adult.
As disaster looms for the Earth, Cassies character really develops, especially when she meets Kit, and you find yourself willing her on to safety, freedom and happiness.
An absolute page turner the whole way through and one of the best of the genre I have ever read.
Five stars in not enough!

I’m not usually a fan of dystopian books as I find there is often too much focus on imagined misery and surviving against the odds but I do believe in challenging my preconceptions and reading outside my comfort zones and in this case, I’m so glad I did. The protagonist in this book is a middle aged woman called Cassie. From an unprivileged background, she had been brought up by an eccentric family who believed in preparing for the apocalypse by having a bunker supplied with enough food and water to see them through. Homeschooled and suffering from an obsessive compulsive disorder, she has limited social skills but when a powerful asteroid is predicted to hit the planet with devastating consequences to the South of England and London, Cassie finds that her ability to plan and prepare for the apocalypse is helpful. Cassie’s story is told across two timelines - the current day countdown to the impact, and the story of her upbringing and her life with her parents. Living on her own in the impact zone, she appears to accept her fate and is largely protected from the societal collapse around her until she befriends a young girl who has escaped from a criminal gang meant to transport her and her father to a safe country. Cassie also forms an online relationship with a member of the government task force working on the resettlement and recovery programme.

This is a surprisingly uplifting book with a highly relatable protagonist and some interesting points of reflection regarding the massive task of resettling the whole of London and the South of England from the centre of impact in a world where everybody is mainly focused on themselves and their survival. A great book club book and one of the best books I have read this year.

This might be one of the best books I have read this year. Carole Hailey has written something impactful, beautiful and propulsive and I know this is a story that will stay with me for a long time.
Cassie has always grown up in a preppers’ household. Her parents had a secure garage stock piled with everything they would need to survive any emergency. Every weekend was spent practising emergency manoeuvres and checking equipment. This understandably had a huge toll on Cassie’s mental health, leaving her with OCD and health anxieties. She feels responsible for keeping everybody safe and informed about potential danger.

Now Cassie is an adult and still keeping herself to herself. The world has learnt that an asteroid is scheduled to collide with the Earth and Cassie’s website about preparing for disaster has never been busier.
Governments across the potential impact zone are making huge decisions about relocating people hundreds of miles away to a safer place. People are fleeing the UK, heading to Africa or Russia where they will be safer. It was interesting to see the rapid rise in new religions who think this is a sign from God, as well as the conspiracy theorists everywhere saying there is no asteroid, but governments are trying to destroy communities.

Cassie finds a strange kind of purpose in amongst all of this. The crisis that she’s been planning for all her life is finally here and she’s not completely alone.

A word of warning- this isn’t the story for everybody, especially in the current climate. It is pretty hard hitting, and if you are anxious hearing the current news about stock piling etc, maybe leave this for another time. Ultimately, it’s a story of love and found family