Category: Book Review

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Review: Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

After the death of his best friend, Andrew is haunted by literal and metaphorical specters that push him to search for answers. The secrets he uncovers are old and bloody, and the journey to find the truth shows him secrets about himself as well.

My impressions:

When I saw the description of this book, which included the phrase “queer Southern Gothic” I immediately added it to my hold list at the library. It sounded like just my sort of thing, and it absolutely delivered on that promise. Fantastic prose and heartbreakingly real characters make this book a can’t-miss read.

As an avid fan of southern gothics, I particularly appreciate when a book strikes the perfect balance of spookiness and romanticism, and this book does exactly that. Additionally, there’s an air of dark academia with this one that manages to crossover well with the overall gothic vibe.

I highly recommend this book for fans of gothics, lovers of Appalachian lore, and readers of ghost stories everywhere. It’ll make you gasp, smile, cry, and sleep with the lights on before all is said and done.

Happy reading!

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Review: A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

A year after the death of her girlfriend, Felicity Morrow returns to the boarding school they both attended. Despite her newfound caution towards the occult, she is soon embroiled in another student’s fascination with the legends surrounding the school, and the alleged witches who died there.

My impressions:

Stylistically lush and lovely, this book was impossible to put down. Add to that the wonderful narration in the audiobook and this made for a beautiful reading experience. The characters were compelling, and following their arcs was a real pleasure.

As for the twist, which I won’t reveal, I think it will be equally enjoyable for readers who figure it out as for those who are taken by surprise. Lee does an excellent job of foreshadowing without being too obvious, allowing readers to piece things together, whether in hindsight or as the plot unfolds.

Fans of dark academia such as We Were Villains or The Secret History who perhaps long for something with a similar vibe and snappier pacing may well enjoy this book, which I feel avoids some of the pitfalls of the subgenre. Less meandering than it’s compatriots, yet still every inch as character driven, this book is a good choice for old and new fans of the genre alike.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Perfect Stranger, by Megan Miranda

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

In the wake of a career disaster, Leah runs into her old friend Emmy, and the two decide to get a place together in quiet rural Pennsylvania. Leah gets a teaching position there, hoping to hide from her past. However, when Emmy vanishes, she begins unearthing disturbing secrets about her enigmatic friend. Did she really know Emmy at all?

My impressions:

As a dedicated fan of Megan Miranda’s work, I’m surprised it took me so long to get around to reading this book. In classic Miranda fashion, the characters and audience both are confronted with clues that challenge what they think they know, and as the story unfolds, it’s clear that you can’t assume anyone is telling the truth.

I must admit, I’m a big fan of this particular brand of mystery novel. The delicate midpoint between literary mysteries like Big Little Lies and old fashioned pulp detective stories, the sub genre Miranda inhabits is one of a tightrope act, balancing fast paced thrills with character arcs that would be just as at home in a much longer book. To maintain that kind of balance between dense, meaty narratives and the rollercoaster thrill casual and dedicated readers alike seek out takes a level of skill that is impressive.

As Emmy’s secrets unspool under the persistent tugging of Leah’s curiosity, readers are bound to find themselves tangled in the story and happy to be so. Readers who enjoy Ruth Ware and Megan Collins are bound to enjoy this twisty mystery.

Happy Reading!

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Review: The Woods are Always Watching, by Stephanie Perkins

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Two girls go camping in the woods, hoping to repair the unraveling threads of their fraying friendship. Unbeknownst to them, there are worse things lingering in the woods than just bears.

My impressions:

I was pleasantly surprised that this book was quite a bit less slasher-y than Perkins’s last book I’d read, “Someone is in Your House.” I like her writing style, but I wasn’t keen on another slasher. This, however, was far more in the suspense and thriller vein, which I feel lends itself better to character development and audience investment.

One of my favorite things about this book is that it managed to have humor and levity despite the incredibly disturbing content, which made the book feel quite a bit less heavy than it might have otherwise.

I do think the aforementioned disturbing content perhaps should’ve warranted a trigger warning from the publisher. I know that’s not a standard thing in the book industry, but I think if a YA novel is going to have a level of violence that would absolutely be rated R if it were a movie, there should be some kind of warning for younger readers. As someone who often read above my age range as a kid, I tend to notice when I come across something that would’ve likely freaked me the hell out as a kid. I do think it would be useful if books had a system like movie ratings or ESRB ratings, not to prohibit kids from reading what they want, but to give them an idea of what to expect in terms of how explicit something will be.

Ok I’ll get off my soap box now. All in all I think this was a really interesting read with a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy classic campfire stories and 80s horror movies, you’ll probably enjoy this book as well.

Happy Reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Ghost Tree, by Christina Henry

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Two girls are found dead in the placid town of Smith’s Hollow, and no one seems to be making much progress on solving their murders. When fourteen year old Lauren starts having visions about a monster and her four year old brother starts making strange predictions, Lauren begins to wonder if not everything in her hometown is what it seems.

My impressions:

If you want to read something that will haunt you, this book will do the trick. This was my first time reading a Christina Henry book, and I didn’t know what to expect, but having read this, I think it’s safe to say I’m adding the author’s other works to my reading list immediately.

The lore of Smith’s Hollow weaves together seamlessly with the unfolding story, with the buried secrets of the town informing the events as they happen. By turns both heartbreaking and terrifying, it’s impossible to look away as the macabre plot descends.

Fans of Rose Szabo and Silvia Moreno-Garcia are likely to enjoy this deeply creepy fantasy horror tale.

Happy Reading!

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Review: That Weekend, by Kara Thomas

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

When Claire wakes up alone and bloody, separated from the friends she went camping with, she knows something terrible must have happened. But why can’t she remember anything?

My impressions:

Although I haven’t been reading as much YA lately, I’ve read some Kara Thomas before and I enjoyed it, so I knew I wanted to check this book out. It didn’t disappoint, delivering on the promise of Thomas’s characteristic bold twists and knife edge suspense.

Fans of Karen McManus and Stephanie Perkins should definitely consider checking out this book, as well as Thomas’s other works. It has the perfect balance of suspense and interpersonal drama, weaving the two together to keep the audience invested in all the characters. I definitely recommend this one for a quick thriller fix.

Happy Reading!

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Review: The Lies You Told, by Harriet Tyce

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

When Sadie Roper moves back into her childhood home and enrolls her daughter in the same school she herself once attended, she has plenty of misgivings. Her memories of school are not happy ones, nor are her memories of the home she once shared with her cold mother.

My impressions:

This book was a proper thriller, with plenty of tense moments and discoveries that will keep both you and the characters on the edge of your seats. I actually caught myself gasping out loud and clapping a hand to my chest in shock at one point.

If you’re looking for a good suspenseful domestic thriller, this book is a good choice. Fans of Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere will probably enjoy the fascinating ensemble of characters in this book.

Happy reading!

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Review: The Wicked Girls, by Alex Marwood

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Two little girls became fast friends, and on that same day, killed someone. Years later, they run into each other again despite all odds and a court order to steer clear of each other. What’s more, there’s a serial killer on the loose.

My impressions:

While the story itself was compelling and full of twists, I found the book a bit difficult to read. I’m well aware that this genre is full of violence against women, missing girls and dead ones. However, this book had a seemingly unusual amount of specifically sexually motivated violence, despite the fact that (minor spoiler coming here) the murder that makes up the backstory of the two protagonists is actually really more of an accident and a panicked cover up.

There’s certainly plenty of suspense, and the author writes with the same carefully unfolding style as Tana French and Lisa Jewell. If you can stomach the actual content of the story, the panache with which it is told will be, if not entirely worth it, pretty darn close. At the very least, it made me interested enough in the author’s style to want to read another of her books soon.

I recommend this one if you have a strong stomach and want a bit of a hard boiled case. Fans of Karin Slaughter will probably be able to handle this one just fine.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Last House on Needless Street, by Catriona Ward

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

What do a reclusive man, a Bible reading cat, and a teenage girl who isn’t allowed to leave the house have in common? Needless Street. Something is off about Needless Street, though, and it will take all of these peculiar characters and more to suss out the truth.

My impressions:

It’s difficult to properly explain the things I loved most about this book without entirely spoiling the ending, so I’ll just say this: question every assumption you have while reading it. This is not your average thriller, rather, it has layers upon layers of tightly woven together clues.

Personally, I couldn’t help being intrigued by this book from the moment I saw the cover. It looked spooky and whimsical, the cat catching my attention before my eyes drifted up to the review quoted at the top of the book, wherein Stephen King referred to the book as a “nerve-shredder.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but that got my attention. Something that visually reminded me of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s middle grade novels was clearly more than met the eye- and clearly much scarier than the whimsical cover implied. I knew immediately that I had to read it.

The novel itself is just as full of contrasts as the cover. By turns both whimsical (I know I know I keep using this word) and disturbing, this book demanded to be read in one sitting, and I was powerless to resist. Do yourself a favor and read this one ASAP!

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Don’t Tell a Soul, by Kirsten Miller

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Described as Rebecca meets Truly Devious, this gothic mystery features a tenacious protagonist named Bram and a possibly cursed, possibly haunted house. Bram goes to live with her uncle in his infamously creepy house, determined to unearth the truth of what really happened there.

My impressions:

Absolutely one of my favorite books I’ve read this year, this one really captured my imagination. Without spoiling too much, I want to say there was at least one twist so beautifully done that I found myself grinning ear to ear at the reveal, feeling clever for suspecting it and gratified that the story took such a satisfying turn.

If you love classic gothic authors like Daphne DuMaurier and Shirley Jackson, you’ll want to give this book a read. It’s a true love letter to the greats of the genre, and while it takes a modern spin on things, it still feels like a satisfyingly classic story. After all, it’s a tale as old as time: a girl in a spooky old house, a mystery to solve, and things that go bump in the night.

I highly recommend this book, which pairs well with a big cozy blanket and a dark night. If you’re reading on a phone or ereader, feel free to turn off all the lights and get swept away.

Happy reading!