So, I feel it is only fair to preface this review with the disclaimer that I am currently, both at the time of the review and at the time of the actual reading of the book, under the influence of high doseages of pain medication -- after a mishap with my wisdom teeth removal. I'm told, by my loving boyfriend, that I tend to repeat myself and make strange, paranoid statements while I'm under the influence of such medication, and while I'm not entirely positive he's not fishing for control of the remote today (ugh, more football), I may as well include the warning just in case I do back and read this later and get confused at my own stupidity. 
 Moving on. 
 First off, EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE, oddly enough, really has very little at all to do with the apocalypse. If you're picking this up expecting a teen dystopian or an end-times thriller, stop before you embark any further because this novel is pure and true realistic fiction, without a doubt. This isn't one of those novels where a ton of things happen, with loads of plot twists and cliff-hangers that leave you flipping ahead pages to learn more. However, it is a pretty decent look at the inner dialogue of an awkward teenage boy as he struggles to find himself, his faith, and the meaning of his life after the death of his mother. (Not quite as exciting, at least for what I was looking to read while riding the pain-killer high, but if I knew what I was getting into, I'm sure I would have appreciated it a bit more, for sure). 
 So, Phillip is a semi-nerdy high school sophomore who sticks pretty closely with his two best semi-nerdy friends in a low-key high school kind of life. Everything changes for Phillip when he meets Rebekah, an "unconventionally hot" Christian girl who seems to actually be interested in him, as more than a friend. 
 Phillip doesn't have a lot of experience with religion, except that he remembers his mother had become nearly fanatical into church before her death, prompting her outspoken atheist father to become even more adamant that his children escape indoctrination. Not only does Phillip want to start going to church to impress this new girl, he also has to hide his new interest from his father, to avoid further problems at home. 
 As Phillip gets further involved with Rebekah and with his newly discovered church life, he begins to question everything about himself, his faith, his family, and his friends. Is this new interest in church really about God, or is it only about trying to keep a girl who may or may not really be interested in him as more than a conversion project? Does Phillip really know who he is at all, and is church really going to be the place to "find himself?" 
 I think the novel really did start out strong, sucking me in almost immediately with its wit and honesty. Phillip was a realistic character, I think, working through teenage doubts and insecurities in ways that might make sense for a high school sophomore, even if my twenty-something self shakes my head in disbelief a time or two. 
 As the story progressed, though, it almost felt like it things started to fall apart -- unless, of course, these are the narcotics speaking -- which I admit, may be the case at least a little. Whereas the first half of the book had me excited to flip ahead, by the end I can't deny that I was cheating a little -- skimming sentences a time or two hoping to get on with things to see what finally happened. Granted, I've never been a teenage boy before. Maybe life really is this disjointed for them? Could be. Who am I to judge? 
 If you're looking for an introspective character-driven novel about a boy working through his personal confusions with regards to religion, family, and friendship, give this one a chance. I didn't find the ending to be entirely gratifying, but I can't deny that the author has a certain charm in his story-telling that would definitely make me consider reading more from him in the future.