A high-concept, high-octane affair ... The conceit is undoubtedly clever and well executed, but what makes The Last One such a page-turner is Zoo herself: practical, tough-minded and appealing Guardian Clever in its concept and gripping in its delivery. This propulsive book is for everyone who ever thought reality television signalled the end of the world. Haunting, moving, and remarkable -- Karen Joy Fowler, Booker-shortlisted author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves The Last One seamlessly melds two of our contemporary obsessions -- the threat of global catastrophe; the staged drama of reality TV -- into a fiercely imagined tale of the human psyche under stress. An uncompromising, thought-provoking debut -- Justin Cronin, author of international bestseller The Passage Taut, tense and at times almost unbearably real, The Last One is both a compelling read, and a terrifyingly believable evocation of survival against the odds -- Ruth Ware, author of international bestseller In a Dark, Dark Wood Alexandra Oliva's apocalyptic thriller The Last One poses another deeply relevant question: How is reality created and perpetuated by the media? Oliva brilliantly scrutinizes the recorded (and heavily revised) narratives we believe, and the last 100 pages will have the reader constantly guessing just what Zoo is capable of doing to find her way back home. Washington Post Page-turning and deeply unsettling. -- Rosamund Lupton, author of international bestseller Sister Tense and gorgeous and so damn clever. I loved every second. -- Lauren Beukes, author of international bestseller The Shining Girls Clever in the best sense: Oliva is able to skewer reality show culture and dystopian tropes while never letting concept or critique become more important than a good yarn. The novel is thoroughly steeped in its times-the use of a Reddit-like forum plays a key plot role-but unlike other dystopian novels, it doesn't so much use contemporary times to warn us about potential future collapse as it shows what impact our times have on the ways we think about identity and human relationships. An astute and compelling entry into the post-apocalypse genre Kirkus Gripping portrayal of an ordinary person's evolving survival instincts as she realizes she can't trust the reality she sees Booklist

A graduate of Yale University, Alexandra Oliva grew up in a small town deep in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School University and undertook intensive wilderness survival training while researching The Last One. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their brindled mutt, Codex. The Last One is her first novel.