The Naturals
Ratings166
Average rating3.9
I was so excited to read this book when I bought the whole series. It actually gets better as you read the rest of the books, it's a good introduction. I hate love triangles tho, why does Jennifer Lynn Barnes always include love triangles in her books
Sorry for the rambling that will 100% be happening. I am wayyy to giddy and sleep-deprived for this right now - HOWEVER you know when you start reading and you're just immediately immersed and you can NOT put it down? That's exactly what this book does! or at least for me ... i know not everyone has the same tastes or reacts to things the same way. BUT THE PLOT TWISTTTT - I totally fell for it and I couldn't be happier
this book is so good and it's like this perfect combination of Criminal Minds (well maybe NCIS is more accurate but CM was the 1st one I thought of so - hnstly u could probably put any good crime show...) + well actually I cant really think of a good example right now - maybe SoC bc of the dysfunctional characters that somehow work relatively well together??
first of all hooray for me because this is book numero 100 for the year!! the first time i've read over double digits in a year like omg go meee
3.75
this was a pretty standard ya book for the most part; really enjoyed the fbi parts, the romance not so much (it was mostly cringy). the last 30 pages were good so I bumped the rating up and I will give the series a chance! yeah it's not perfect but I'm trying not to be harsh on ya, especially since this one was mostly readable and not too youngish
rating- 5/5
An emotion reader, a deception specialist, a statistician who could not be allowed to ingest coffee, and two profilers who can crawl into the heads of killers
did not expect a YA crime novel to hook me in
YA mystery is literally THE childhood genre right up there with YA dystopian.
nostalgia
transported back in time
very good pacing, writing and short chapters
crafted perfectly
“Personally, I wouldn't mind taking out an ad in the paper or hiring a skywriter to announce that he and Locke were outsmarted by three bored teenagers.”
found family
The love triangle is SO 2015.
BUT I ABSOLUTELY ATE IT UP.
Michael had never made any secret of the fact that he was pursuing me. Dean had fought any attraction he felt for me every step of the way.
Criminal Minds meets YA story. It was a great time read but at times it felt like the FMC was just insufferable. She complained about everyone but in the end, I didn't expect the killer to be who it was. When you connect the clues throughout, it made sense but when I first read it, I was completely clueless.
3.8/5
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a captivating YA mystery novel that seamlessly blends thrilling suspense with a touch of the superhuman. This book really had me constantly flipping through the pages because of its fast pacing and engaging story.
The diversity represented within the group of characters is refreshingly modern and relatable. Hailing from various ethnic backgrounds and walks of life, they feel like real teenagers you might encounter rather than book characters. Their differing personalities and abilities not only make for an engaging dynamic but also provide an X-Men-esque vibe that adds a layer of intrigue.
While I enjoyed central plot, I could have done without the romantic love triangle subplot. These clichéd romantic entanglements often feel like forced distractions in an otherwise tightly woven mystery narrative. Thankfully, Barnes more than made up for it with bone-chilling interludes told from the UNSUB's perspective. These disturbing glimpses into a psycho upped the tension and made me dread the fate of Cassie each turn of the page.
Speaking of dread, the ending completely blindsided me. Just when I thought I had all the clues pieced together, Barnes pulled the rug out from under me with a jaw-dropping revelation that reframed everything. However, it also felt a tad rushed and anticlimactic, and it still left me desperate to dive into the next book and hopefully I could unravel the unanswered questions that lingers in my mind.
Do note that The Naturals doesn't shy away from mature subject matter. There are graphic depictions of torture, murder, and other violent crimes, which some readers may too disturbing or triggering. However, for fans of gritty crime media like Criminal Minds or the CSI, you'll surely have an exhilarating experience going into this book.
Overall, this is a must-read for anyone seeking an electrifying take on the YA mystery thriller genre. Just like me, you'll find yourself wanting to reach for the second book as soon as possible.
4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved this book. It was like The Darkest Powers trilogy meets criminal minds.
3.5 stars. I had some problems with it but overall a quick and enjoyable read !
this was fun. definitely ya. definitely not groundbreaking. definitely published in the 2010's. it was entertaining but im not necessarily on the edge of my seat to read the rest immediately.
I honestly loved it!!! It did feel like it was missing something which is why it's only getting 4 stars, but it has me reaching for the next book! Definitely gives me Criminal Minds vibe and the twist at the end for sure left me speechless because I wasn't expecting it!!!
It was an enjoyable book to read. It was written a while ago and has lots of those tropes I don't enjoy that were popular at the time. Like two boys who are in love with the same girl. I had a hard time differentiating between them as well. Only Sloane was really different from the other characters, the rest were very much the same to me.
I did like reading it and it really wasn't a long book but it just felt like there was no substance.
This was a fabulous read, fast-paced and gritty to my heart's content. Perfect as a palate cleanser between other longer series, literary fiction, fantasy, and assorted romance stories. Blew through in a day! Now the other books
Truly a fast-paced action packed YA novel for people who like crime, psychology and crime thrillers. Although the “you” part is mildly scary as one might think the writer / character is talking to “you” the reader but it works out for worse or for good in the favor of the book as it keeps it interesting and provides another perspective about the killer.