Had I finished “Dry” a few months ago, I would’ve felt the story’s events – the consequences of the “Tap-Out” – unfolded too quickly. But then April 28th happened. Spain and Portugal were plunged into darkness, without electricity or communication for nearly half a day and, while no major incidents occurred, I could feel panic slowly settle in. I’m not one to overreact, but I’d bet another day without power, calls, texts, or internet, and we would start to see chaos.

“Dry” by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman is a young adult cli-fi novel set in California. The story follows teenager Alyssa Morrow, whose ordinary life is suddenly disrupted when the taps literally run dry. As local communities descend into chaos and desperation in the manic search for water, Alyssa finds herself in a difficult situation, needing to make hard decisions to protect her younger brother, Garret. As the situation escalates, Alyssa, Garret, and a handful of unlikely companions must embark on a dangerous journey through a landscape where societal rules have quickly dissolved.

The book tells a survival story, exploring how people react when pushed to their limits and basic resources become the ultimate currency. It’s not an apocalyptic narrative, which makes its portrayal of societal fragility even more compelling. However, while I acknowledge I’m probably not the target reader for this book, and my judgment might be skewed, I have two key criticisms that impact my overall rating. First, I found the story arc predictable and anticlimactic at times. Second, the characters felt like they were pulled directly from a YA playbook—you’ve got your prepper, your rebel, the nice girl, and so on. Ultimately, a book that began with a compelling premise ended up feeling quite generic within its genre.

Factoring everything in, I’d give “Dry” a 6 out of 10. It could be a worthwhile read if you’re new to cli-fi and looking for an accessible entry point. However, for those more familiar with the genre, there are more impactful options available.

– S –