They may win the battle, but the war is far from over. I love that there is no sequel planned, even though there are no fairytale endings for our characters. The world these characters live in is dangerous and wild.

Yes, it was unexpected and broke my heart, but I love it when authors aren’t afraid to be real. That part of the premise makes absolute sense even though the reason for the water shortage in the USA is unclear–see below. Lynn is very careful with her heart, something Eli understands and respects even as he works to melt her heart little by little.Ī war over water is very interesting, and I love how McGinnis claims that most wars are really over water, not religion, and that propaganda to keep the people uninformed was rampant in the media. I especially love the slow-building sweetness of the romance between Lynn and Eli. The story reads quickly, and I had a difficult time putting it down. They all have their own baggage and weaknesses and are perfectly flawed, something that I always LOVE in my characters. Other characters such as Stebbs (the gruff neighbor), Lauren (Lynn’s mother), Neva, Eli–are equally well-drawn. She learns that she is stronger with others than she is by herself.

I love how she slowly learns to trust–and even love–other people. In her whole life, she’s only met one other person–a gruff older neighbor who keeps his distance but seems to be watching out for Lynn and her mother. She’s tough and unpolished and knows almost nothing of the world outside the home she grew up in. Every day is a struggle to survive, and Lynn will defend what’s hers until her dying breath.

In a world where clean water is precious, Lynn and her mother use any means necessary to guard their small pond. SUMMARY: Sixteen-year old Lynn and her mother have known nothing but survival.

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis