When the Floods Came

In a near-future Britain devastated by a virus and floods, 22-year-old Roza Polanski lives with her family in an abandoned Birmingham tower block. Their isolated existence maintains a semblance of normal family life, with home schooling and daily routines, even as the outside world remains largely empty of human life. The arrival of a mysterious stranger disrupts their careful equilibrium, forcing Roza and her siblings to question everything they know about their past and present circumstances. Their parents' tales of the time before the virus take on new significance as the family faces choices about their future. The novel combines elements of dystopian fiction with an intimate family story set against the backdrop of environmental collapse and societal breakdown. Through its exploration of memory, trust, and survival, the narrative examines how people maintain hope and humanity in a radically altered world.

Readers found this post-apocalyptic novel slower-paced and more character-driven than expected, focusing on family dynamics rather than action. Many appreciated Morrall's detailed world-building and the realistic portrayal of everyday life after a devastating virus. Readers liked: - The intimate family relationships - Natural dialogue between characters - Subtle building of tension - The Birmingham, UK setting Readers disliked: - Slow start with delayed plot development - Limited explanation of the virus and its effects - Abrupt ending that left questions unanswered - Some found the main character Roza naive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon UK: 3.9/5 (50+ reviews) Several reviews noted the book reads more like literary fiction than typical dystopian fare. One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Don't expect The Walking Dead - this is a quiet study of human nature and family bonds in isolation."

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The Book of M by Peng Shepherd A woman searches for her missing husband in a world where people's shadows disappear, taking their memories with them and leaving civilization in ruins.

The Wall by John Lanchester A guard protects a coastal wall in a future Britain transformed by climate change, where rising seas have reshaped society and survival.

The End We Start From by Megan Hunter A mother navigates survival with her newborn in a submerged London as environmental collapse forces people northward.

Memory of Water by Emmi Itäranta A tea master's daughter preserves ancient traditions in a future world where water scarcity has reshaped human civilization and government control.

📚 Published in 2016, this dystopian novel is set in a future Birmingham, England that has been largely abandoned after a devastating virus. 🦠 The virus in the story, known as "Hoffman's," specifically targeted young adults and teenagers, echoing real historical pandemics that disproportionately affected certain age groups. ✍️ Author Clare Morrall was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2003 for her debut novel "Astonishing Splashes of Colour." 🏢 The novel features the iconic Rotunda building in Birmingham as a central location, which in reality is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. 🌍 The book explores themes of isolation and survival in a world where technology still functions but human contact has become rare - a premise that gained new relevance during the real-world COVID-19 pandemic.