The End of the World Running Club: The ultimate race against time post-apocalyptic thriller

Talk about being gripped from the very first page! The End of the World Running Club certainly lives up to its intriguing title.

Ed Hill is never going to win “Father of the Year”, he would much rather leave all parental responsibility to his long suffering wife. He even manages to sleep through the ominous warnings of the night before – well, the night before near total devastation of the world as we know it. But it is only when he is separated from his wife and young children that he suddenly realises how much he loves them and wants to protect them.

Can he run 550 miles to catch up with his family before they disappear from his life forever?

This is an epic tale about how love and determination can make a man attempt a staggering a feat of endurance. It’s also about friendship and loyalty, and how terrible circumstances can lead people to contemplate taking drastic action to survive.

I have just finished this book and absolutely loved it. I would love to see it as a film and also to read a sequel. It is really thought provoking and disturbing at the same time. It covers endurance, anarchy, fear, determination and resilience. Although, at the beginning of the book you don't really like Ed, by the end of it you cannot help be in awe of him! I have chosen this as our next book club read and am confident that it will be a real success. I cannot recommend it highly enough - if you haven't started it yet, you are in for a treat!

I don't often choose to read end of the world books but I was sent a proof copy by the Reading Agency. Really enjoyed it. Found it to be a real page turner.There were a few heart stopping moments, a few genuinely upsetting bits and a satisfying but not saccharine ending.

I was lucky enough to receive an Advance Reading Copy of this book, and was more than intrigued by its premise, even though apocalyptic fiction isn't usually "my thing".
However it is a real thriller of a book which doesn't disappoint, and oh-my-goodness what a beginning it has. It hooks you in right from the start, and after that resistance is futile, as you can barely put it down.
It is one of those books that really does deserve the clichéd description of being a page turner, as the reader is eager to know how it is going to end, and wonders if everything will be resolved satisfactorily
Without wishing to give anything away about the plot, or the twists and turns along the way, Edgar Hill, the somewhat unfit, ill-prepared and unlikely hero of the story is in Edinburgh, whilst his family are in Falmouth, having been evacuated after an asteroid strike. He has to get to them in time, in order to join them on the last ships that are transporting people away from the disaster zone.
Does he succeed? Is it the end of the world as we know it? Ah well, you'll have to read it yourself to discover the answers to these and other questions, but it is a novel which explores self-knowledge, friendship, determination, love, fatherhood, families and the human condition in a post - apocalyptic setting. Oh yes. And running. There's lots of running.
It really is a cracker of a read.
Thanks @eburybooks and @readingagency for giving me the chance to read this.

This book really provoked a range of reactions which in turn deepened our lively discussion. Ranging from 'dire' to 'compelling', this novel wasn't one we would have sought for ourselves, a factor we relish in being part of a reading group. The book has an intensely cynical portrayal of the human character in crisis, some found this sadly believable whereas others found the lack of positive groups of survivors working harmoniously together too grim. The eerily recognisable settings added to the book's strength. The brutal and honest self-awareness of Ed worked for some readers, whereas for others his self absorption at the outset made him a very difficult character to care about. Several members of the group tried a few times to engage with the book but abandoned it. Others found it compelling, with a fast paced narrative that kept you gripped. One described it as "a very alternative Famous Five" which we enjoyed. Essentially it was a novel of human resilience. At times it had a surreal quality, at times plain gruesome. The discussion was really interesting, we score our books as personal reads and also as group discussions, although it scored 3 as a book, for a discussion it scored 4.

Absolutely loved this book! The story pulls you in to a world where humans are pushed to the extremes and how humans respond when faced with the unthinkable. Great storytelling captures the moment perfectly and the story is very realistic. Loved the take on every person has there own story to tell.

A really pacey read that not only kept me reading into the small hours but got me back into my running shoes again. Edgar is completely believable, unheroic in every sense, but you're with him step by step through the bleak landscape that is post-apocalyptic Britain - with faint echoes of Pilgrim's Progress for good measure. Ed and his cronies outwit feral street gangs of Rabbits, a murderous single mum and some very unpleasant pig farmers as well as the horror that is now Manchester in a race against time to make the last boat to safety. Not a book I would have usually chosen but I'm hoping for a sequel. And a film!

Not an easy read.I thought plot a little unbelievable at first but then began to think maybe not
I couldn't wait to finish and then was sorry when I did because I wanted to read more.
Takes one out of the comfort zone and makes you wonder how far you would go to stay with the people you love most. A good book for a reading group as I can see it provoking lively discussion

Talk about being gripped from the very first page! The End of the World Running Club certainly lives up to its intriguing title.

Ed Hill is never going to win “Father of the Year”, he would much rather leave all parental responsibility to his long suffering wife. He even manages to sleep through the ominous warnings of the night before – well, the night before near total devastation of the world as we know it. But it is only when he is separated from his wife and young children that he suddenly realises how much he loves them and wants to protect them.

Can he run 550 miles to catch up with his family before they disappear from his life forever?

This is an epic tale about how love and determination can make a man attempt a staggering a feat of endurance. It’s also about friendship and loyalty, and how terrible circumstances can lead people to contemplate taking drastic action to survive.

The story of an unremarkable man performing a remarkable feat. Edgar was a hero that anyone could connect with and I was willing him to succeed every step of the way. The tension was maintained right to the end. The conclusion was moving, surprising and was a fitting ending to the story. I will encourage others to read this.

I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the devastation drew you in and the pace of the journey itself kept you wanting to read more. Every time Edgar and his companions had an encounter with fellow survivors you were wondering would they have a good outcome or would it be a disaster. There was a good mixture of characters out for their own survival and those who were not afraid to lend a hand. It showed the good and bad side of human nature. Although Ed was a bit useless you couldn't help but grow to like him. As a bit of runner myself I enjoyed the passages about running and how so much of it is in your head. I don't usually read this type of fiction but I am glad I read this one. I think the fact it was in the UK and you had a mental image of what should be there helped. I will never look at the M6 in the same way.

I'm not a fan of dystopic books normally but I found this quite the page turner, I suppose because it's told from the perspective of an ordinary slightly lazy person. I was gripped and thoroughly rooting for our hero all the way through, although it did waver off in one or two spots which I found a little off putting towards the final third. My book group were lucky enough to receive copies of this via Reading Groups for Everyone. Due to unpredictably sad circumstances only 2 others in my book group were able to read this book. Fortunately they both loved it. I was concerned one of them wouldn't be keen on the ending but she thought it fine and indeed thinks it marks a turning point in her as a reader, she thinks she's matured as a reader and liking this book to the end has helped to authenticate that belief! Powerful stuff, eh?

Couldn't put it down! I rarely read fiction but do quite enjoy the occasion foray into an apocalyptic dystopian world. I loved the immediacy of the plot - launching straight into a disaster scenario. Every time I put the book down, I picked it up again and more or less read it straight through. I never thought a selfish overweight drunk and hopeless dad like Edgar would draw me into his world, but I found myself rooting for him all the way. I was also struck by the descriptions of the landscape and how different people reacted to the end of the world as they knew it.
This will make a great reading group book and a good introduction to the genre for people who may shy away from it.

A realistic end of the world scenario and taught, empathic writing, this is a fantastic thriller and reading group choice. I read this book in twenty-four hours I just could not put it down. It remains with you afterwards as you contemplate how you would have reacted in just such a situation. Why do I think it will make a great reading group choice? Because I just cannot wait to discuss it with other people. I can see huge questions and opinions being challenged. I loved having a tarnished hero, who thought he was rubbish; the rag bag assortment of wingmen who accompanied and cajoled him on his 500 mile run to meet his family; the set scenes when they encountered other groups and interacted with them. It all adds up to a deep experience, that reverberates within you and stays buzzing. I too can see this as a TV series. Brilliant

Not my usual choice but a good read, well written - page turning and finished within a few days. So made me try something out of my comfort zone! Scarily realistic scenario, with strong characters and a style of writing that takes the reader right into the story and you feel you're making the journey alongside Ed. Leaves the reader feeling quite disturbed and involved for a few days afterwards, so a powerful read.

Quite a dark read but with enough glimmers of hope so it's not all doom and gloom... there is a sense of optimism despite the traumatic circumstances.

If you enjoyed The Road by Cormac McCarthy you'll definitely enjoy this one.

I wouldn't normally read this genre of book, but I'm so glad I did. It was a thrilling read that had me hooked from the first page.

I could really see this being made into a film or TV drama.

I *loved* this book - I really connected with Edgar and the challenges he faces in not feeling good enough. When he faced every possible hurdle to reach his family I was with him every step of the way. Fantastic.