Heather

I'll start this out by this book definitely was problematic in its portrayal of mental health. I probably should have started with a different one of hers, but Shutter Island is an all time favorite so it definitely seemed my vibe. However that's on me for jumping into a book in a psychiatric ward without thinking it wouldn't use the mental health as a fear tactic. So I'm just going to rate on enjoyability aside from that. 

It was a very fun journey and kept you guessing. The twist was a little obvious but still had some shocks. It was a fast read & a good thriller. 

I was not getting sucked into the story and did not feel like continuing 

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC!

Honestly I'm having the toughest time rating this book. I keep going back and forth on a higher and lower rating. Why? Because this really should have been a 5 star book but there are some major issues that prevent it. That honestly almost hurts the rating more than if a book was mediocre because it could have been a real stand out. 

Let's start with the good. This is really unique being written as a “tell all” after a true crime case goes terribly wrong. The MC Jane is such a lovable character, I had a hard time seeing how it could go wrong and the whole world would hate her. The rest of her true crime family I loved too. Such fun characters and such a unique way of telling a story. I especially loved the Florida story at the beginning, honestly was more interesting almost than Delphine. 

Some of the imperfections I can't point out without spoilers. However the biggest one is the twist. It's glaringly in your face with hints from the very beginning. It honestly made the end a let down after so much build up. 

The biggest issue is this is based on a real case, one that the perpetrator hasn't even been convicted. Honestly this was a bad move in my opinion and what keeps making me almost pull the rating lower, though I enjoyed the book a lot. The whole book is about the true crime community and what can go right or wrong with them helping in cases. It's a risky move to make a book mirror things in a case that isn't closed. I feel like if you couldn't make up a case on your own, go way back in a case that's long closed. 

Also just on a personal note, I get grief is a major point of the book and why you do what you do. But personally I hate it as a trope in books. It's just triggering and I didn't love that. 

I know that's a lot of bad for a 4 star rating. Like I said that's why I'm struggling rating this so much. I absolutely adored the book I wanted it to be 5 stars. However these issues were so glaring it just ended up making it frustrating. So do I recommend reading it? Probably but go in knowing you probably will guess the twist and there are some problematic elements. 

I mean really it was Ethan?!?! Like that wasn't obvious in the first 10 minutes of the series. Could have been amazing, loved every book but then it gets ruined with such a freaking obvious killer. I mean really Ethan?!?! Come on Sara Shepard!

I was the most interested in the book during the 1902 parts. Then I got excited flashing to present day, but the rules are is they still have to live like 1902? Ok could be cool I guess... But it's not, it makes no sense. Maybe it gets better toward the end but I was too far in and nothing was happening. Plus it felt way too much like The September House without any intrigue to bring me in or make me want to finish, so I decided to DNF. 

This was literally the perfect cozy fantasy. It was like a warm hug in a book. It was cute, charming, and relaxing. I loved the characters, I loved the town, and I loved the story. Plus Caz and Meep, literally my favorite parts. If you want a fun little escape from reality, this is it!

This was a weird one for sure. Honestly for the whole first half I didn't even know if I liked it, it was definitely giving Grady Hendrix who I am not a fan of. 

However, in the end I really appreciated it's uniqueness and feel like it's one that will stick with me. 

And regardless of how it ended, Katherine I will stay hating 😂 she was awful. However, I adored Margaret and Edie and Fredricka so much. 

It's one of those I really can't explain it but read it yourself. It's definitely atmospheric and has a good element of horror. 

Got bored of the story & library loan expired and had no desire to renew. 

This book was simultaneously one of the toughest reads I have read and one of the best books I've read.

I will be thinking of this one for years to come. 

This was a work of fiction, but the history was real, the school itself was based on a real school (which closed in the past 20 years), Boot Hill was real, and though none of the characters exist they all existed in some form through history. 

I am so angry how recent this history was based on, my own parents were alive in 1950. I'm so angry a school like this existed. I'm so angry that so much of this happened and still happens even if it's to a lesser extent now. Honestly this book is a must read to get a good level of anger of just how unjust everything can be. 

I loved the characters so much. Robert, Redbone, Gloria, Blue, will certainly stick with me. Their stories were tragic and beautiful all at the same time. 

The ghost story element was a perfect addition to this horror book. But the true horrors? Well the worst monsters are always human. 

I held this book to read for Black History Month and truly couldn't have picked a better one. As of now this will probably be my book of the year. If you haven't read this, read it now. Even if you don't like horror. Trust me it's worth it!

It's a good entertaining book. Very little horror, but a thriller. Many parts seem more complex than they are and make it feel empty. However overall relatively enjoyable.

Absolutely hated this book

That was BEAUTIFUL! I am a deep lover of fairytales and to get to dive deep into a fairytale as an adult was just beautiful. It felt like watching The Neverending Story again as a kid and just being entranced. I adored this story so much, the characters, and the romance. Would I have loved more? More books, more story, more world building? Of course! But isn't that the tell of a good book telling just enough to leave you wanting more but not too much to leave you burnt out? I loved getting to experience a one-off fairytale. Plus it's set in West Virginia which really is made for a fairytale. It's a place that has become dear to my heart through the years. 

I was unsure of this book because of a lot of mixed reviews. However, my favorite genre is dystopian and my second favorite is a murder mystery. This being both combined meant I took the chance. I am so glad I did. I am genuinely confused by the bad reviews. 

The entire journey was such an amazing dystopian novel. I loved the world, the technology, the characters. It wasn't a long book but the world building was perfection.  

The touch of murder mystery really added to it. I absolutely loved the journey and the ending. I was worried I wouldn't after some of the ratings. I remember throwing my book at the end of Under the Dome back over a decade ago. Screaming the ending ruined the whole journey, which is funny now I find that ending quite funny and realistic. This was a great journey and a great ending. 

I especially loved Emory. I really related to her. I also ask far too many questions and am far too curious for my own good. I love that her being different was her biggest strength in the end. 

I definitely must read the other two books from this author now. I didn't want this book to end and I hate it's over, which always means it was a great book. One of my top reads of the year!

Good but did not hold my attention as much as the Maze Runner. And it's a story about random people not really how WICKED is formed even though it leads you to believe it is.

This book started a little slow but I loved The Lake by the author so I pushed through. It picked up and I was really enjoying the journey. It's your standard who dun it? I stayed unsure who everyone was & still was surprised by the twist at the end. But THE END. what?? Or should I say lack there of, it just left you frustrated & ruined the journey. 

This book was a 5 star read all the way up until the last couple of chapters which brought it to a 4. 

The good:
- A very creative premise that was unlike anything I have read. It was definitely a twist on your normal thriller. It did have a similar premise to two TV shows I've seen: An episode of American Horror Stories and a season of Search Party. None had been completely like this though. 
- I caught onto part of the twist but didn't catch in on the whole thing until it was revealed. 
- I really loved the story and was very invested in it. It kept me thinking about it even when I put the book down. 

The bad:
- The ending was exceptionally rushed compared to the story. I really wanted it to last a little longer and be a little more. 
- The “why” of it all is never revealed. It doesn't have to be but I wanted a bit more on Grace. 
- The bonus epilogue I found pointless, it didn't added much the story. 

I would highly recommend this though if you love a good horror/thriller and are tired of the same plot. This was eerie and different. The ending isn't perfect but it also does wrap up, which is important to me. 

Thanks NetGalley & Ticking Clock Press for approving this ARC. All opinions are honest and my own. 

This was a great fast read, that definitely had me hooked. It kept me guessing & some twists I saw and some I didn't. Really enjoyed this book!

Favorite book EVER!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.

This was a wild ride and definitely a bit different than a normal thriller. I absolutely loved Poe was a podcast host and that was mixed in. The author note mentioned there would be QR codes with video clips that unfortunately weren't in the ARC. I'm sure that will be a cool addition too. 

I can't say much without giving things away but this kept my attention the whole time. The twists weren't too twisty but I liked them all a lot and didn't feel they needed to be. 

I mean really Tris died?? I mean that just sums up this review. But the book just wasn't that good. It definitely should have been 2. We still don't really know what the outside world feels like. I don't have any connection to Tris sacrificing herself for the GDs. The compound seemed to give them a fine life. It's just a jumbled mess at the end & the end sucks. I loved this series but this book sucks!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. 

This book has left me a bit torn. First off, I went in expecting a spooky horror book. Sure I knew it was a kidnapping but it had a creepy cult, serial killer, that cover? In the end it felt very police procedural. Now, don't get me wrong I love this but my expectations were off. And I feel like there was room for more horror, especially in the old mansion, the old distillery, the old orphanage, the old amusement park... But all of those places just didn't feel fleshed out. 

Which takes me to my other issues, there was a LOT going on. A lot of characters, a lot of storylines, a lot of rabbit holes. However once again none of them felt totally fleshed out. There were a lot of loose ends at the end I felt never got answered. 

This would be an absolutely brilliant TV series though. To flesh out the storylines, to expand on the spooky settings, and to bring some more horror into it. 

Overall though, it was fast-paced and I enjoyed it. Though it did take me a whole week to read it, which is slow for me. So clearly wasn't fully captivating me.

I think it was so close to great it annoys me more. It really has all the bones to be something amazing but it just wasn't quite there in my opinion. 

3.5/5.00 

This is a really good read for the summer and definitely a thriller that kept me hooked. I am glad I read it. 

Why the lower rating then?

It's pretty predictable, I figured out all the twists before they were revealed. However I still wanted to know the end. 

The dual POV is confusing. I read this very slowly compared to normal because I kept having to flip back pages to figure out who was talking. 

The characters aren't redeemable at all, they really are awful. And it almost got to the point you hated them so much it wasn't as enjoyable. 

I didn't love the ending - it left it feeling like it was the end of a TV show season with another season coming. 

All that said - there's definitely some flaws in the book but I would still say it's worth reading. I did enjoy the setting being tropical and it still kept me interested to the end. 

I'll start this review by saying Blake Crouch is one of my favorite authors. Wayward Pines is one of my top 5 series I've ever read. Also, apocalyptic and dystopian novels are my all time favorite genre... So to say I have a complicated relationship with Run by Blake Crouch is an understatement. This book has been on my TBR since 2011, so I was so excited to read this ARC of the re-release from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group. 

So why so complicated? Because I did not enjoy reading this book at all but also I can respect the artistry in that. This book is deeply uncomfortable to read. It's frantic the entire time. But at the same time that's the point, Crouch brings you a bit too much into the action. 

The first half is pure chaos, but again the point, and the second half almost makes me want to raise my rating because the story becomes beautiful. 

However, I have to stick to my 2.5/5 because though I almost DNF multiple times, I still wanted to see the end. Had it been another author? I never would have continued. 

I get what Crouch was doing with the frantic chaos, but I know him as an author so well I believe he could have conveyed that and still made it an enjoyable read. I was dying for a new apocalyptic read because I feel after 2020 they vanished because it feels a bit too real. This one wasn't an escape, it left me stressed in the pacing, no chapters, and chaotic writing. 

Maybe it will be for you, but unfortunately I'm just glad it is over and can't get a recommendation from me.  

What did I just read? Genuinely I have no idea. 

It was a world ending book which is what drew me in. I adore that genre. And honestly I did love the slow burn world build dread. 

However I thought it was leading up to some big finish and the finish... It was exactly as I predicted and also answered nothing. 

I wanted to love this so much and though many times I got tempted to DNF because nothing was happening, I also had to know what happened. Honestly wish I hadn't. 

Thank you NetGalley and FlatIron Books for the ARC.

I haven't been a big romance fan in years but when I saw this as a BOTM with a Gothic house full of deadly games I knew I wanted to read it.

I absolutely devoured this book and loved every bit. The romance was great, the games were great, the fantasy was great. This really felt like an adult version of a 2000s YA novel. 

There was a great storyline with just enough romance mixed in. Plus the romance enhanced the story and fit well. 

The only reason for 4.75 instead of 5 stars is that I figured out the ending pretty early on. It didn't ruin the journey though. Can't wait for the next one!