A Song For A New Day, by Sarah Pinsker.

[rachelmanija]

A Song for a New Day review here.

A pandemic causes permanent social distancing in the US. Yes really.

There are two main characters, both queer women, but romance is secondary to worldbuilding and character development. The book had probably the best beginning I've read all year, but the second two-thirds were less strong.

ETA: Er, and it's actually Monday where I am. Aspect of the pandemic apocalypse which Pinsker did not predict: the total loss of the ability to know what day it is.

Comments

[rachelmanija]

Hard to say. For me it wasn't. The social distancing was going on long past the time when the pandemic was over, so it was about fear of human contact fueled for political reasons rather than there being any realistic reason to be afraid - in other words, the exact opposite of the current situation despite surface similarities.

[monanotlisa]

Aha — thanks; that helps!