AT THE END OF THE WORLD

A looming apocalypse leads a family to heal their estrangement.

Seventeen-year-old Aisha’s older sister, June, left home three years ago, trying to escape the emotional burden of dealing with her mother’s depression and strict rules. The quick succession of family tragedies—the deaths of Aisha’s father and maternal grandparents and uncle—affected each of them in different ways. Now, with a devastating asteroid set to collide with Earth and put an end to humanity, Aisha and her mother set out to find June. Walter, Aisha’s boyfriend, along with his parents and a stray cat they name Fleabag, join mother and daughter in a road trip across Malaysia. They meander, making pivotal pit stops that reflect cherished memories and support the characters’ emotional journeys. Once they find June, feelings of grief, abandonment, and simmering resentment surface, but they slowly give way to understanding and reconciliation. Aisha’s family is Muslim and cued Malay; Walter’s presents as Chinese and South Asian in heritage. The heartfelt writing evocatively portrays the complex emotions within close relationships; the bewildering sense of loss in not being able to experience a full life is thoughtfully expressed by both Walter and Aisha. The characters seem so resigned to their impending deaths, however, that framing the story around an apocalyptic event feels unnecessary. Though the situations are easily resolved and some of the metaphors feel overdone, the different landscapes and cultural touches give readers a glimpse of a rich and historied land.

A quietly reflective novel enveloped in hope.