Milo and Marcos at the End of the World audiobook

Milo and Marcos at the End of the World is a cute love story, covering heavy topics like anxiety, internal homophobia, and how to acknowledge your sexuality while being gay.Milo’s almost frantic voice, seeped through with anxiety and humor, was a pleasure to read, and I loved how both boys felt they were different when they met as fourteen-year-olds, developing feelings for each other while watching Golden Girls. Marcos, as an atheist but with very religious parents, and Milo, who had always been the reliable and responsible church-going boy.The tone of the first part of the book reminded me of Simon James Greene’s books and Fin & Rye & Fireflies and therefore, will put a smile on the faces of those authors’ fans while the same tone downsizes all the bad things happening in this story simultaneously. But even though this story feels hysterical and humorous at times, the bad things do happen, and the second part of the book is grimmer and frightening. I felt for Marcos, who wanted to come out so badly, and sometimes I wanted to scream at Milo. But it’s so easy for me to judge him as I’ve never been in his situation, and I hate knowing there are still so many people in the world who feel they can’t come out because of their religion or conservative/judgmental family/people.Don’t expect this story to be a dystopian one. Yes, Mother Nature seems out of control, but it’s not a major plotline. In my opinion, Milo and Marcos at the End of the World is a classic queer contemporary story, more or less using a metaphor to show us that despite what happens, it’s okay to be who you want to be and who you want to be with.Overall, I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to those who love a rather sweet, sometimes feverish, and even funny story, wrapping heavy stuff, and don’t get triggered that easily by life dominated by (toxic) religion.Follow me on Instagram

This book really stunned me, in that it was nothing like what I expected, captured many nuanced depths of religious guilt as it relates to queerness, and tells a beautiful, but painful queer love story. I literally read the entire book in one sitting, about 4 hours. The protagonist struggles extensively with accepting his queerness due to the homophobia his parents and the Church inflict upon him. This struggle is exasterbated by the fact that every time the MC and love interest have an intense moment, such as their first meeting, their first slow dance, etc, a freak accident happens such as a meteor striking the love interests car, or a sinkhole opening on the road in front of them. These coincidences add up, and serve to convince the main character that maybe God is punishing him for being gay.I thought the way the author wrote about the main characters religious struggle as well as the effects of being queer in a small, religious town was beautiful. It was so nuanced and heart wrenching. Though there are moments of joy between the protagonist and love interest, I would not say this story highlights queer joy at all--whether you look for that in a book will definitely impact your enjoyment. Personally, I like reading all ranges of stories, from the joyful to the tragic, so it wasn't a con for me.The relationship between the two boys is very well written; both characters have different beliefs and motivations, and their relationship is messy and authentic in a way that only queer relationships can be written. The main character is struggling with his religious guilt, while the love interest is an atheist with diehard religious parents. Following their journey made me so angry for both sides, because both have such valid points and experiences, but ultimately the very fact that they exist as queer people with different viewpoints on being out and what sacrifices they're willing to make to be together makes their relationship difficult.‼️Slight spoilers in this paragraph‼️ I do wish the ending was more developed; I'm not sure I'm a huge fan on the overall message/execution of the apocalypse as a literary device. Was the point that God was going after them for being gay and they just decided not to care?? Was is a set of freak accidents?? This was probably left more open-ended on purpose, but I would like more care given to this narrative as I think it could be interpreted as a message about the community that isn't very good. I also think, despite leaving it open-ended, we just weren't left with enough information to even make good judgements on what message the author was trying to send. IDK maybe I'm just dumb and it flew over my head, but if it flew over my head as a 19 year old, what are the 14 year old readers going to think?? Overall, even though I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, I thought this book was phenomenal. The writing was so good, the characters were all so well written, I loved the relationship between Milo and Marcos, and I thought Milo's struggle with religion and their very religious setting was amazing. I will definitely be talking about this book on my page :) 4.5 stars.

My favourite genre, confused anxious gays having to deal with their problems. This story deals with the anxiety of parental exceptions and homophobia when you're part of a Christian Church, which isn't something I've read before but it was really interesting.Adding in the strange weather, earthquakes and literal meteors that keep happening whenever Milo and Marcos, this book makes for strange reading which I always love. Milo met Marcos a couple of years ago at camp, but Marcos left suddenly without explanation, and the question of why haunted Milo until Marcos suddenly turned up at his school.Milo is a little annoying, he's almost painfully gay and he actually worries that Marcos, the guy who willingly watch Golden Girls with him every single night, might actually be straight. I both loved him but also could understand why Marcos found him so frustrating at times, as Marcos is further along in his journey than Milo.Although the blurb talks only about the natural disasters, this story is really about coming to terms with being gay, the Christian Church, and homophobic parents. It's angsty, a little painful, but ultimately heartwarming and uplifting.

As a queer person with religious trauma, this book is interesting to say the least. The main character's devotion to christianity is a little much at times, so I'd steer clear if you aren't comfortable reading about that stuff. The love interest and the best friend aren't super religious and there are talks about how religion isn't great or isn't for everyone, so that's something it keep in mind. Other than that, I really enjoyed it. It reeled me in and I literally read it in like six hours because I just needed to know what happened next. There were discussions of internalized homophobia and racism and how problematic organized religion can be. I can't speak on how the racism was addressed, but I do think these explorations of internalized homophobia and seeing the main character's progression in that and how getting out of that mindset isn't a linear progression. For the apocalypse aspect, I think I got the wrong impression on what that would look like? I feel like the beginning was a little misleading in that aspect, but as the story progressed I understood what was really happening. It was definitely a very creative route to go and it certainly kept things interesting. The story almost had a Shakespeare vibes to it. Like a mix of Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest which was great for me as a Shakespeare enthusiast. Maybe that's why I read it all in one go. Either way, I do think that people will have a Time reading this book. It's a lot different from the Two Princes Podcast (which the author also apparently wrote), but I'd say it's still pretty good.

4.5/5I don’t want to say this took me by surprise since I didn’t really have any expectations going in, but it did. The examination of internalized homophobia here is what really makes this stand out from other YA contemporary books, for me at least. It’s honest and sad. But the book balances itself well, because even despite that struggle, there is a tenderness present in the pages, in Milo and Marcos’ romance, in the friendship and support of Van, and in the learning to accept and be proud of who you are even if it seems like the world is against it. A fantastic debut, and I hope this author writes more!

This is a very cute love story that covers mental health issues, religion, love, and ultimately reminds us to just be ourselves. It’s okay to be whoever you want to be. I’m not going to lie, I fell in love with Milo INSTANTLY. He’s adorable and I just want to hold him and tell him that it’s all going to be okay. I think this book will be a crutch for a lot of queer people that come from a strong religious background/household and are looking for answers on how to balance religion and sexuality. Loved it. Definitely add this to your summer reading list!TW: strong religious beliefs in the characters/religious trauma. Thank you to Pride Book Tours for having me on the tour for this one!

This book kept my eyes glued to its pages from start to finish ! Milo and Marcos at the End of the World wasn't what I was expecting. I knew it would include religious brainwashing and homophobic parents, but I wasn't expecting the religion-related conversations to take such a big part of the story. It was also a window to the absurd (for me) life of American Evangelicals, the ones whose whole life revolves around their church.The book isn't too dark or opressive, despite the ominous background. Marcos is the main reason for it: I loved him, he is optimistic, defiant, funny, hides his insecurities behind humor and determination, and is not willing to allow his horrible father to dictate his life. Val is another character who made me smile: a force of nature, she broke away from the religious indoctrination of the church and doesn't let anyone mess with her.Milo was a love/hate character. I liked how he started adjusting his worldview and breaking away from his chains as his feelings for Marcos grew, but sometimes he was so hesitant, scared and prioritizing his parents' "beliefs" that made me want to scream at him. I know it isn't his fault, he is a kid brainwashed from birth essentially. And that's important to the story, that these horrible people become parents and pass down their hate to their kids.The relationship between Milo and Marcos is wholesome. Cute, swoony, teen love, but also messy, full of mistakes. Despite that, it's honest and their feelings for each other come out every time on top of every obstacle life (or to be precise, their parents) put in their way.I liked the ending. It didn't give a redemption arc to the parents (which would be unrealistic), but made the stakes so high for them (after the hurricane incident and what nearly happened to their kids) to understand that they should be grateful their kids are happy and try to understand them a bit more. It's not perfect, it's not even good, but it's a baby step. Well, at least for three of the four parents. Marcos' dad is irredeemable and the final chapter is also the end of his marriage.I loved this story, and I'm curious what Kevin Christopher Snipes will write next !

4.5* “I’m going to prove to you once and for all that God doesn’t care if two boys fall in love.” **TW for homophobia and religious traumaThis was such a lovely story! At first, I was a bit surprised because it is decidedly contemporary, and not really the apocalyptic fare I'd assumed. But that ended up being just fine, because I really fell in love with the story I got!Milo has spent three years trying to forget he ever met Marcos. He's also been spending those years denying any feelings he experiences, namely those that have to do with his attraction to men. He mainly sticks with his bestie Van, and his church crowd, and the denial has been... well I wouldn't say it's working, obviously, but he's been existing, for the most part. But who pops up as the town new kid? Marcos, of course! Forcing Milo to deal not only with the hurt he faced when Marcos left camp without a word to him three years prior, but also the reemergence of the feelings he had for Marco, too.I could probably spend a full year writing about why I am so seethingly angry at Milo's family and church. But I am sure most of you get the gist. Milo has spend a large portion of his life feeling like he's doing something wrong, that he's "sinning", just because he likes guys. Milo's family and church should be thrilled that he is a kind person who contributes a lot to their communities. But Milo is doing everything in his power to make sure no one ever finds out that his feelings exist.Easier said than done, of course. Marcos is such a wonderful guy, such a light, that Milo ends up forgiving him, and he and Van welcome Marcos into their social circle. Soon, those old feelings are back, and bigger than ever. But every time Milo seems to acquiesce to his feelings just a little, disaster strikes. Literal, natural disaster. Milo, because of all the absurd religious rhetoric he's been fed his entire life, can't help but think perhaps this is the doing of his deity, smiting both boys for loving each other.The overarching message of this story is, of course, a good one. I'd not be enamored with this story otherwise, so you can rest assured that the religious trauma that Milo is going through is handled with care. Milo coming to terms with how he wants to move forward is obviously the biggest plot point here. He knows, despite his best efforts to deny it, that he will eventually have to either abandon hope of a future with Marcos, or come to terms with incurring his parents' (and potentially his church's) wrath.And here's the biggest thing to take away: no person should ever have to make those decisions. But they do, because a lot of parts of society are still complete and total garbage, and this is the unfortunate world we live in. My heart broke over and over and over for Milo and Marcos both. There are a lot of issues with both of their families (again, these are handled very well and delicately), as well as faith crises for both. I loved that they had Van to count on too, as she had already figured out the toxicity of the church, and therefore didn't worry about the ramifications.The ending was... a little out there for me, but still, the story as a whole was wonderful. It was a love story, yes, but also a great story about two young men growing up and being able to have their own agency. Bottom Line: Absolutely lovely and heart wrenching story about... well, like the quote says, two boys falling in love.You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

I received an ARC from Edelweiss TW: casual racism/colonialism, internalized homophobia (religious), conservative religious prejudice/homophobia, bullying/harassment, slurs, hate crime, threat of conversion therapy4.6Milo is a good, quiet Christian boy ready to finish out his senior year the same way- unnoticed and simple. But that plan seems to go up in smoke when someone from his past suddenly, impossibly reappears. Because once, three years ago, Milo learned something about himself that could have ruined everything, and pretending it never happened is the only thing keeping him moving forward. Marcos, and the time they spent together, is enough to fill Milo with terror- and something else better ignored- but there's more danger too. Because it seems like every time they get close, a natural disaster happens.This book! Oh my God. This book. This book is so well written, so emotional, so heart wrenchingly real. I loved every single second of getting to read this story- the upsetting, the hopeful, all of it.The energy of this story, the vibe of the characters and their insurmountable odds, it all felt timeless. It reminded me a lot of the queer theatre scene in the 80s, and I think that's a testament to how human, how connected this whole thing is. These are issues that aren't quite as in vogue to parade about anymore, but it doesn't mean that this messiness, the fear, doesn't still permeate the queer community. It felt lived and it felt human, and I think this book will resonate with so many people, of so many ages.And what keeps that heavy, old soul energy from bringing this book into solidly weighty territory is the beautiful, adorable romance between the characters. The romance too feels genuine, and from the start it truly feels earth moving, because it's more than just a romance arc, it's discovery, it's exploration, it's choice.I also really loved how the pacing was done. With the romance, I liked the decision to show the flashback all in one chunk, and the way that it breaks up the past and the present. And beyond that, the drama and the stakes are dealt with well, and the story moves along at a constant rate that means things never lag.The only thing for me, was that I wanted it just a little more heavy and disaster filled. The ending felt a tad Wizard of Oz, and I was holding out for even more disaster- though what we do get is pretty intense. But that's me."Maybe a God who roots for love is the only God worth believing in."I loved this book! What a fantastic exploration of these characters and their internalized biases, what a fabulous, heartbreaking story. I honestly want everyone to read this one.Pre-review commentsCan I just say: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Keine Ahnung, wann ich zuletzt ein Buch in einem Rutsch weggelesen habe, aber hier ging es nicht anders. Die Figuren waren super und die Story hat mich einfach gefangen genommen. Obwohl ich die Thematik um Religion immer sehr schwierig finde, wurde das hier gut und nicht allzu unrealistisch umgesetzt. Natürlich hasse ich trotzdem 95% der Erwachsenen in dem Buch.CW: (internalisierte) Homophobie, religiöser Fanatismus, Mobbing

I enjoyed the characters in this novel, and coming from a conservative religious and cultural background could relate quite well to the internal strife that that creates. Although it does actually deal with dark topics, Snipes is able to offset it very well with humour, not always in the direct sense, but it is very effective. I was engaged throughout the novel. I am looking forward to this author hopefully producing some more works in the future.(view spoiler)[I very much liked the way the book ended, but admit I was concerned before the dream sequence was confirmed that the book was going go to full on science fiction which I thought would have detracted from the mood and message I believed the story was trying to bring across. So I was glad it did end the way it did as I think that did better justice to the story. (hide spoiler)]

I don't feel that this was ground breaking, but I did identify with a lot of the religion/shame issues that both Milo and Marcos had to deal with. That probably enhanced my enjoyment. I did expect this to be a kind of dystopian/sci-fi sort of thing, however it's not that at all. I thought we were going there at one point, but it's really a contemporary YA romance.

I got an arc from @harper360ya, so thank you so much!!! 🥰I started and finished this in the same day, i was definitely not so sure about it at the start following Milo's point of view. But he grew on me like Van and Marcos do as well!! The friendship Milo and Van have was so lovely to see, and the way they are friends and the way they are good and trying to be better people. Milo's Christianity is a whole point to this book so if you have religious tramua, this might be a trigger for you as it is does double down on it a few times. There is internalised homophobia as well. I did not expect the world things were happening the way they went down. But i was not disappointed to say the least. It was a lovely read to have and i am so glad i got the opportunity to read this!!! There is miscommunication where they do not talk about their feelings and assuming it all. I loved the growth we got to see with Milo.