It's the End of the World and I Feel Fine???

TITLE: We Burned So Bright

AUTHOR: T.J. Klune

PUBLISHER: Tor Books

PUBLISHING DATE: April 28, 2026

PAGES: 176   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: The road stretched out before them. No other cars, just the headlights on the blacktop. Above, the cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky….

Husbands Don and Rodney have lived a good long life. Together they’ve experienced the highest highs of love and family, and lows so low that they felt like the end of the world. 

Now, the world is ending for real. A wandering black hole is coming for Earth and in a month everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone. 

Suddenly, after 40 years together, Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over. 

On the road they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how—impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals, and new friends. 

And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough. 

Is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?

MY THOUGHTS: Having absolutely adored two previous works by this author and given he created one of my favorite characters ever (I'm looking at you Lucy), I knew I had to read this short novella. I'm glad I did.

The story centers around Don and Rodney, who have been married for over 40 years.  There is a black hole which is rapidly approaching Earth and everyone has known for over a year that the end is near.  Don and Rodney have one last task they want to complete before it is too late, so they hop into their old RV to travel across the US.  Pretty early on it is pretty evident what the task is but I don't want to be any more specific as it could be viewed as a spoiler.

Along the way, they encounter all sorts of individuals, including some hippies in a field in Ohio, a young lady on a farm who are making sure her loved one don't suffer while waiting, and a nice old woman who manages to help them make the last few miles of their trip. As they travel, the reader learns a lot about Don and Rodney and how this marriage of opposites has managed to last so long. 

I loved everything about this book.  Don and Rodney are two totally different people but together, they are beautifully cohesive. At times their journey is laid-back, and you see some sparks of fun and other times, it is stressful and their survival instincts really kick in.    

For me, reading a Klune book is like wrapping up in a warm blanket on a cool evening and being comforted by a glass of whiskey.  And only Klune could make the end of the world be both scary and gratifying.  While the world ending is an awful thing to ponder, I honestly think there would be an immense amount of comfort of everyone going at once.  While reading this book, I thought about it a lot and believe I could handle it if my loved ones and my pups all embraced each other and went out at the same time.  Hats off to Klune for delivering such a diverse, thought-provoking book!

MY RATING: 5 PAWS