California by Edan Lepucki

In a post-collapse America where civilization has unraveled, Cal and Frida escape to the wilderness, seeking safety and meaning in a world stripped bare. But when Frida discovers she’s pregnant, their fragile peace fractures — forcing them to venture into a mysterious settlement whose secrets are darker than they imagined. Both a love story and a haunting vision of survival, California explores what remains of hope, trust, and humanity when the world falls apart.