Book Reviews: Bless Your Heart + Ghost Station

 

Do like reading horror? If so, check out my reviews of these 2 new horror books below!  

*eARCs provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate so I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase through one of my links

Bless Your Heart 
By Lindy Ryan

Pub Date: April 9, 2024 (Minotaur Books)

Genre: Horror 

⚠️Check out content warnings here

🔗Book Links:

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Bookshop

🩸Synopsis:

Rise and shine. The Evans women have some undead to kill.

It’s 1999 in Southeast Texas and the Evans women, owners of the only funeral parlor in town, are keeping steady with…normal business. The dead die, you bury them. End of story. That’s how Ducey Evans has done it for the last eighty years, and her progeny―Lenore the experimenter and Grace, Lenore’s soft-hearted daughter, have run Evans Funeral Parlor for the last fifteen years without drama. Ever since That Godawful Mess that left two bodies in the ground and Grace raising her infant daughter Luna, alone.

But when town gossip Mina Jean Murphy’s body is brought in for a regular burial and she rises from the dead instead, it’s clear that the Strigoi―the original vampire―are back. And the Evans women are the ones who need to fight back to protect their town.

As more folks in town turn up dead and Deputy Roger Taylor begins asking way too many questions, Ducey, Lenore, Grace, and now Luna, must take up their blades and figure out who is behind the Strigoi’s return. As the saying goes, what rises up, must go back down. But as unspoken secrets and revelations spill from the past into the present, the Evans family must face that sometimes, the dead aren’t the only things you want to keep buried.

💭 My Thoughts:

Don’t let the cover fool you. Bless Your Heart may feel a little cozy, but it’s also a horror-filled gorefest, and I was here for it! This book gave me “True Blood”, “Night of the Living Dead”, and “From” vibes. I loved the small Texas town setting, the vibrant characters (especially Ducey!), the creepy moments, and the disgusting imagery.

The story centers around Ducey, Lenore, Grace, and Luna Evans. They are a family of ghoul (called Strigoi) hunters. Strigoi are like a cross between vampires and zombies. They are terrifying blood-thirsty creatures. The Evans women are fierce and kick-ass, and I loved reading from all their perspectives. This book did have many perspectives, but it wasn’t confusing or hard to follow in my opinion.

I would’ve given this a higher rating but I wasn’t a fan of the ending. I wanted more from the ending and I didn’t like how certain things played out. It looks like this is the first book in a series though, and I am excited to continue on in this world.

If you like cozy horror mixed with gore and terror, definitely read this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5 stars)

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Ghost Station
By S.A. Barnes

Pub Date: April 9, 2024 (Tor Nightfire)

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi

✍️Also by this author: Dead Silence 

⚠️Check out content warnings here

🔗Book Links:

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Bookshop

🩸Synopsis:

Space exploration can be lonely and isolating.

Psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray has dedicated her life to the study and prevention of ERS—a space-based condition most famous for a case that resulted in the brutal murders of twenty-nine people. When she's assigned to a small exploration crew, she's eager to make a difference. But as they begin to establish residency on an abandoned planet, it becomes clear that crew is hiding something.

While Ophelia focuses on her new role, her crewmates are far more interested in investigating the eerie, ancient planet and unraveling the mystery behind the previous colonizer's hasty departure than opening up to her.

That is, until their pilot is discovered gruesomely murdered. Is this Ophelia’s worst nightmare starting—a wave of violence and mental deterioration from ERS? Or is it something more sinister?

Terrified that history will repeat itself, Ophelia and the crew must work together to figure out what’s happening. But trust is hard to come by… and the crew isn’t the only one keeping secrets.

💭 My Thoughts:

I haven’t read many sci-fi horror books and I think Ghost Station is the first space horror story that I’ve read. It turns out I really enjoy space horror! Ghost Station follows a crew of space explorers (and a psychologist) on an abandoned planet where strange things start occurring. When one of the crew members ends up dead, the remaining crew members seek to find out what happened.

I loved the mystery and the tension that spread throughout this story. I felt claustrophobic and a sense of dread as the story went on. I didn’t have a clue who or what was responsible for the horrific events that took place. The main character, Ophelia, is an unreliable narrator, so I didn’t know whether she had something to do with what was happening or not.

There were some slow parts and I wasn’t a fan of the ending. I liked the build-up but the actual reason for all this stuff happening was kind of odd. It’s just not what I was expecting.

I do love the author’s writing and I will definitely be reading her other books. I’m looking forward to reading more space horror. 👩🏻‍🚀🪐🩸

If you’re a fan of space horror books or you love movies like “Life” or “Solaris,” you should pick up this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75/5 stars)

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Thanks For Reading!

• 
  

Book Reviews: Book, Beast and Crow + Under This Red Rock

 

  Check out my thoughts on these 2 young adult books below!

*eARCs provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate so I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase through one of my links

Book, Beast, and Crow

By Elizabeth Byrne

Pub Date: March 12, 2024 (Quill Tree Books)

Genre: YA Fantasy

🔗Book Links:

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Bookshop 

✍️Also by this author: The Grave Keepers

▪️Synopsis:

Anna Kellogg has always felt different. Growing up in Hartwood, New Jersey—where frequent disappearances are attributed to an urban-legend-like beast who dwells in the walled-in swamp at the center of town—can have that effect on people. But for Anna, it’s more than that. Since she was a child, she’s been plagued by “episodes” where she sees things others can’t see. Feeling different is one thing, but actually being different is another. If it weren’t for her best friend, Olivia, Anna’s not sure where she’d fit in.

But any hopes of having a normal senior year come to a halt when Olivia is attacked in the woods, bitten, and left for dead by a whirling cyclone of claws, fur, and teeth. Though Olivia survives, a sinister entity makes it clear that the mark had been set on Anna…and the miss has set in motion a catastrophic shift that will change Anna and her friends’ lives forever.

With dashes of mythology, fantasy, and suspense, this genre-bending novel from Elizabeth Byrne will leave readers breathless.

My Thoughts:

This book took me forever to read. I found it interesting as I was reading it, but it took me forever to get through. I thought the story was fine, but nothing spectacular.

I would say this is definitely more of a fantasy than a horror story. I didn’t think any part of the book was scary. There’s an alternate world/reality, banshees, talking animals, and beasts. The alternate world had a Narnia-like feel to it.

I liked the friend group in this story, and I especially liked the strong friendship between Anna and Olivia. I enjoy stories that feature female friendships.

I felt the ending was a nice and satisfying conclusion. Overall, this was a decent read that I would recommend to fans of YA fantasy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Under This Red Rock

By Mindy McGinnis

Pub Date: March 19, 2024 (Katherine Tegen Books)

Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller

⚠️Check out content warnings here

🔗Book Links:

Goodreads | StoryGraph | Amazon | Bookshop

✍️Also by this author: A Long Stretch of Bad Days, The Initial Insult 

▪️Synopsis:

Neely’s monsters don’t always follow her rules, so when the little girl under her bed, the man in her closet, and the disembodied voice that shadows her every move become louder, she knows she’s in trouble.

With a history of mental illness in her family, and the suicide of her older brother heavy on her mind, Neely takes a job as a tour guide in the one place her monsters can’t follow—the caverns. There she can find peace. There she can pretend to be normal. There . . . she meets Mila.

Mila is everything Neely isn’t—beautiful, strong, and confident. As the two become closer, Neely’s innocent crush grows into something more. When a midnight staff party exposes Neely to drugs, she follows Mila’s lead . . . only to have her hallucinations escalate.

When Mila is found brutally murdered in the caverns, Neely has to admit that her memories of that night are vague at best. With her monsters now out in the open, and her grip on reality slipping, Neely must figure out who killed Mila . . . and face the possibility that it might have been her.

My Thoughts:

The two words I would use to describe this book are dark and disturbing. In “Under This Red Rock”, McGinnis tackles mental illness, SA, suicide, trauma, death, grief, murder, and the darker side of human nature. I love McGinnis’s writing and I’m always excited when she releases a new book. Her writing is so unique and immersive, and her characters are raw and complex.

This was a dark and bleak read that left me feeling sad. There are so many heavy topics explored and it was hard to read certain parts. I thought Neely was an interesting main character, the ultimate unreliable narrator. She has an undiagnosed mental illness where she has auditory and visual hallucinations. She often has a distorted sense of reality. Could she have been responsible for her new friend’s death? The murder mystery in this book kept me guessing until the end.

This wasn’t my all time favorite book by McGinnis, but I would still recommend it to YA mystery lovers. If you liked McGinnis’s other books, you’ll most likely enjoy this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

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Thanks For Reading!

ARC Review: I'll Never Tell by Catherine McKenzie

*I received an advance readers copy of this book from the publisher for review.  Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for this review copy!  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon affiliate and I may receive a small compensation if you make a purchase through one of my links.

I'll Never Tell

by Catherine McKenzie

Publication Date:  June 1, 2019

by Lake Union Publishing

Genre:  Mystery, Thriller

Pages: 368

Source:  ARC from publisher

What happened to Amanda Holmes?
Twenty years ago, she was found bludgeoned in a rowboat at the MacAllister family’s Camp Macaw. No one was ever charged with the crime.
Now, after their parents’ sudden deaths, the MacAllister siblings return to camp to read the will and decide what to do with the prime real estate the camp occupies. Ryan needs to sell. Margaux hasn’t made up her mind. Mary believes in leaving well enough alone. Kate and Liddie—the twins—have opposing views. And Sean Booth, the groundskeeper, just hopes he still has a home when all is said and done.
But it’s more complicated than a simple vote. The will stipulates that until they unravel the mystery of what happened to Amanda, they can’t settle the estate. Any one of them could have done it, and each one is holding a piece of the puzzle. Will they work together to finally discover the truth, or will their secrets finally tear the family apart?

An intriguing mystery, a summer camp setting, and plenty of dysfunctional family dynamics make I'll Never Tell an enjoyable and entertaining read.

I knew I wanted to read I'll Never Tell when I read the synopsis and it mentioned the story was set in a summer camp. Summer camp settings just seem to add a creepy environment to a story.  While this story isn't really too creepy, it's definitely a great mystery/thriller.     

This story is told from several perspectives, those of: the MacAllister siblings, Sean (the groundskeeper), and certain chapters are told from Amanda's perspective twenty years prior.  Multiple perspectives usually tend to confuse and overwhelm me, but I had no problem following along with the many narratives in this book.  I loved reading from all of these point of views, especially Amanda's perspective.  I also loved the short chapters in this book which I think made this a much faster read for me.

I really liked Catherine McKenzie's writing style, and I thought all the characters were pretty well fleshed out, with some being more relatable and likeable than others. My favorite character was Margeaux, who seemed to be the most reasonable and grounded of the MacAllister siblings.    

I'll Never Tell was a really good mystery with interesting characters and and an intriguing plot.  The mystery in this book kept me guessing, but I was just hoping for a little more from the ending.  It felt a little rushed to me.  

Overall, I'll Never Tell was a good mystery/thriller that I would recommend, and I look forward to reading more from Catherine McKenzie.  

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The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

Riley Sager is definitely an auto-buy author for me.  See below for my thoughts on The Last Time I Lied!

*I received an arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon affiliate and I may receive a small compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on one of my links.

The Last Time I Lied
by Riley Sager
Publication Date:  July 3, 2018
by Dutton

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Pages: 370

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Format: eARC
Goodreads │Amazon │Kindle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 (4.5/5 Stars)

Two Truths and a Lie. The girls played it all the time in their tiny cabin at Camp Nightingale. Vivian, Natalie, Allison, and first-time camper Emma Davis, the youngest of the group. The games ended when Emma sleepily watched the others sneak out of the cabin in the dead of night. The last she--or anyone--saw of them was Vivian closing the cabin door behind her, hushing Emma with a finger pressed to her lips.
Now a rising star in the New York art scene, Emma turns her past into paintings--massive canvases filled with dark leaves and gnarled branches that cover ghostly shapes in white dresses. The paintings catch the attention of Francesca Harris-White, the socialite and wealthy owner of Camp Nightingale. When Francesca implores her to return to the newly reopened camp as a painting instructor, Emma sees an opportunity to try to find out what really happened to her friends.
Yet it's immediately clear that all is not right at Camp Nightingale. Already haunted by memories from fifteen years ago, Emma discovers a security camera pointed directly at her cabin, mounting mistrust from Francesca and, most disturbing of all, cryptic clues Vivian left behind about the camp's twisted origins. As she digs deeper, Emma finds herself sorting through lies from the past while facing threats from both man and nature in the present.
And the closer she gets to the truth about Camp Nightingale, the more she realizes it may come at a deadly price.

It was Emma Davis's first time away at camp when her friends and cabin mates mysteriously disappeared, never to be seen again.  15 years later, Emma is given the chance to go back to Camp Nightingale to be a painting instructor, and she uses this opportunity to find out what really happened to her missing friends.  Will she find out the truth about the night her friends went missing?  

Sager has written another book that I devoured.  It was suspenseful and intriguing.  This book, (as well as his other novel, Final Girls), made me feel like I was watching a horror movie.  The creepy setting of Camp Nightingale really added to the horror movie feel.  Camp Nightingale was like a camp right out of Friday the 13th.  It's eerie at night and bad things happen there, like when Emma's friends go missing.  Emma is an unreliable narrator, and I was constantly wondering if she had something to do with her friends' disappearances.

I loved the glimpses into the past that are given after some chapters.  I got to read what it was like 15 years prior, when Emma's friends went missing.  Sager always has a smooth transition between the past and present time in his books, so things never got confusing.  

I can see this story being turned into a film.  Interesting and vibrant characters, an intriguing mystery, creepy moments, and an unreliable main character all made this book a fun and fast paced read.

Definitely recommend checking this one out!  

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

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The Darkdeep by Ally Condie & Brendan Reichs

I had a fun time reading The Darkdeep!  See below for my thoughts on this middle grade story by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs.

*I received an arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon affiliate and I may receive a small compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on one of my links.

The Darkdeep
by Ally Condie & Brendan Reichs
Publication Date:  October 2, 2018
by Bloomsbury Children's Books

Genre: Middle Grade, Supernatural, Adventure

Pages: 272

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Format: eARC
Goodreads │Amazon │Kindle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 Stars)

When a bullying incident sends twelve-year-old Nico Holland over the edge of a cliff into the icy waters of Still Cove, where no one ever goes, friends Tyler and Ella - and even 'cool kid' Opal -rush to his rescue... only to discover an island hidden in the swirling mists below.
Shrouded by dense trees and murky tides, the island appears uninhabited, although the kids can't quite shake the feeling that something about it is off. Their suspicions grow when they stumble upon an abandoned houseboat with an array of curiosities inside: odd-looking weapons, unnerving portraits, maps to places they've never heard of, and a glass jar containing something completely unidentifiable.
As the group delves deeper into the unknown, their discoveries - and their lives -begin to intertwine in weird and creepy ways. Something ancient has awakened... and it knows their wishes and dreams - and their darkest, most terrible secrets. Do they have what it takes to face the shadowy things that lurk within their own hearts?

I've really been reading a ton of middle grade books lately.  I just think they're quick and interesting reads that make me feel like I'm young again (which is always a good thing!), going on all kinds of adventures.  I had such a fun time reading The Darkdeep.  It was filled with excitement and monsters.  I love me some monsters!  I knew this was a book I wanted to read when I saw the awesome cover and read the synopsis.

This story definitely had a bit of a Stranger Things vibe.  Young kids get caught up in a creepy adventure involving strange creatures.  The scary setting gave the story a very chilling atmosphere that I loved.  The Darkdeep had it's creepy parts but it's not overly frightening, especially since it is a middle grade book.  I felt that the story flowed very well, even though the book is written by two authors.  I've never read anything by Ally Condie before, but I have read and enjoyed Brendan Reich's book, "Nemesis."

This was an easy read and I flew through the story.  I thought all the main characters were well written and interesting, and I enjoyed reading from the perspectives of Nico and Opal.  I really enjoyed the friendships in this book!  I had fun reading about the main group of friends as they got caught up in a crazy adventure.

I believe The Darkdeep is the first in a series, and I look forward to reading the second book.  I think this story is perfect for readers who enjoy eerie and adventurous books.  Even though this is a middle grade book, I think teens and adults will also enjoy it. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

___________________

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Blog Tour: A Room Away From The Wolves by Nova Ren Suma ~Review & Giveaway~

Book Review: The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green

Book Review: Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

Book Review: The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton

The Price Guide To The Occult 
by Leslye Walton
Publication Date: March 13, 2018 
by Candlewick

Genre: Young Adult, Magical Realism, Fantasy

Pages: 288

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Format: eARC
Goodreads │Amazon │Kindle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 Stars)

The Blackburn women are cursed. Ever since the extraordinary witch Rona Blackburn landed on Anathema Island centuries ago and was shunned by the eight "original" settlers, Blackburn witches have been doomed to carry out a brief whirlwind affair with a descendant of the Original Eight. The vengeful curse, however, had unintended side effects: it diluted the Blackburns' supernatural powers. That's perfectly all right with seventeen-year-old Nor Blackburn. All she wants is a quiet, unremarkable life—her powers are blissfully unexceptional, her love life pretty much nonexistent. Nor hopes the curse has played itself out through enough generations that she'll finally be spared the drama. But when a mysterious book comes out promising to cast any spell for the right price, Nor senses a dark storm headed straight for Anathema—and straight for her.

*I received the advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher for review.  This does not affect my opinion or the content of my review.  All thoughts/opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon affiliate and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links.

Book Review: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

Aru Shah and the End of Time 
by Roshani Chokshi
Series:  Pandava Quartet, Book 1
Publication Date: March 27, 2018 
by Rick Riordan Presents

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Format: eARC
Goodreads │Amazon │Kindle

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 (4.5/5 Stars)

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are jetting off to family vacations in exotic locales, she'll be spending her autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to return from her latest archeological trip. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty, traveling to Paris, and having a chauffeur?

One day, three schoolmates show up at Aru's doorstep to catch her in a lie. They don't believe her claim that the museum's Lamp of Bharata is cursed, and they dare Aru to prove it. Just a quick light, Aru thinks. Then she can get herself out of this mess and never ever fib again.

But lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction. Her classmates and beloved mother are frozen in time, and it's up to Aru to save them.

The only way to stop the demon is to find the reincarnations of the five legendary Pandava brothers, protagonists of the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata, and journey through the Kingdom of Death. But how is one girl in Spider-Man pajamas supposed to do all that?

*I received the advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher for review.  This does not affect my opinion or the content of my review.  All thoughts/opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon affiliate and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links.

Review: Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Invictus

by Ryan Graudin

Publication Date:  September 26, 2017

by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre:  Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction

Pages: 465

Source:  Publisher via NetGalley

Format:  eARC

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐1/2 (3.5/5 Stars)

Amazon┃Kindle

*I received the advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher for review.  This does not affect my opinion or the content of my review.  All thoughts/opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon affiliate and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links.

Book Reviews: Ultimate Sacrifice, The Hanging Girl, Follow Me Back

Here are reviews of some books I've read recently.  Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy these books that much.

*I received an advanced reader's copy of these books from the publisher for review.  This does not affect my opinion or the content of my review.  All thoughts/opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon affiliate and (at no cost to you) I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links.

Ultimate Sacrifice by S.E. Green
Publication Date: October 3, 2017 by Oftomes Publishing

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Horror

Pages: 298

Source: Publisher 

Format: eARC
Goodreads │Amazon │Kindle

Rating: ⭐⭐1/2 (2.5/5 Stars)

Synopsis:

Vickie has always lived a quiet, ordinary life in an equally quiet and ordinary small town. Yet one fateful night a child turns up dead in the woods behind her house in a ritualistic slaughter. Vickie and her family are suddenly thrown into a national spotlight. But as the investigation unfolds, she begins to realize her family isn’t so ordinary after all. Evil is inching closer to those she holds dear and Vickie isn't sure who she can ultimately trust.

My Thoughts:

Ultimate Sacrifice was a very strange and disturbing horror tale. 

The main character, Vickie, spends most of the story trying to find the killer of her neighbor's young child. This book deals with cults, ritualistic killings, and just scary stuff, and it was disturbing the way the murder of a young child was described.  It was way too gruesome, even for me! 

I liked the mystery and this was a fast-paced read, but the main character just really got on my nerves.  Vickie is not very smart and she does a lot of stupid things. I just wanted to shout at this character while reading this book because she repeatedly put herself in danger.

I thought the romance between Vickie and her friend was just unnecessary to the story.  I didn't really think a romance was needed and I wish that part was left out.  

I'm sad that I didn't like this book but I am still going to read more from this author because I did enjoy the mystery part of the story.  I own one of her other books and I hope I'll enjoy that one more than this one.

The Hanging Girl by Eileen Cook
Publication Date: October 3, 2017 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Pages: 320

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Format: eARC
Goodreads │Amazon │Kindle

Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5 Stars)

Synopsis:

Skye Thorn has given tarot card readings for years, and now her psychic visions are helping the police find the town’s missing golden girl. It’s no challenge—her readings have always been faked, but this time she has some insider knowledge. The kidnapping was supposed to be easy—no one would get hurt and she’d get the money she needs to start a new life. But a seemingly harmless prank has turned dark, and Skye realizes the people she’s involved with are willing to kill to get what they want and she must discover their true identity before it’s too late.

My Thoughts:

The Hanging Girl by Eileen Cook was a disappointing and unbelievable read. 

I don't want to say too much about the plot because I don't want to give anything away, but this story follows Skye Thorn as she tries to find her missing classmate, Paige. The story is mostly told from Skye's perspective with certain chapters told by Paige's diary entries from when she was held captive. 

The characters in this book were just annoying and I didn't really care about any of them.  Skye was not a very likeable character.  She lied about many things throughout the story and I just did not find her character appealing in any way.  I also found Paige, and Skye's mother, to be unlikeable characters. 

The plot of this book was just crazy.  The story was unbelievable, especially the disappointing ending that just pissed me off.  Also, I figured out the mystery early on and I just found the story to be a big let down.

On the plus side, I did read this book super fast and the story did keep me reading.  I'll probably read the author's other books eventually.

Follow Me Back by A.V. Geiger
Series:  Follow Me Back, Book 1
Publication Date: June 6, 2017 by Sourcebooks Fire

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Pages: 359

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Format: eARC
Goodreads │Amazon │Kindle

Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5 Stars)

Synopsis:

Tessa Hart’s world feels very small. Confined to her bedroom with agoraphobia, her one escape is the online fandom for pop sensation Eric Thorn. When he tweets to his fans, it’s like his speaking directly to her…
Eric Thorn is frightened by his obsessive fans. They take their devotion way too far. It doesn’t help that his PR team keeps posting to encourage their fantasies.
When a fellow pop star is murdered at the hands of a fan, Eric knows he has to do something to shatter his online image fast—like take down one of his top Twitter followers. But Eric’s plan to troll @TessaHeartsEric unexpectedly evolves into an online relationship deeper than either could have imagined. And when the two arrange to meet IRL, what should have made for the world’s best episode of Catfish takes a deadly turn…

My Thoughts: 

I was not having any luck with some of the books I read recently.  Follow Me Back was another disappointment.  Maybe I've just been reading too many YA mystery/thrillers but I just found this book to be underwhelming and unbelievable.

I enjoyed parts of this book.  It was sort of interesting and I liked that the book was told in a unique format, with tweets, text messages, and interrogation transcripts.  However, the main characters grated on my nerves, especially Eric Thorn, who seemed like a narcissistic jerk.  He had no respect for anyone, including his many fans, and I just really disliked his character.  Tessa wasn't as unlikeable as Eric, but I still didn't really care what happened to her.  You would think I would've related to her better, since I've had my own episodes with agoraphobia, but I really didn't find her character to be that interesting.

The relationship between Tessa and Eric was unbelievable and it just annoyed me.  I guess the mystery in this book was done well, but I don't know if I'll be reading the second book in the series.  The ending took a weird turn, so I might have to read the next one just to see what the heck happened.  

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Book Review: Mister Tender's Girl by Carter Wilson

"How Far Are You Willing To Go For Mister Tender?"

Mister Tender's Girl

by Carter Wilson

Publication Date:  February 13, 2018

by Sourcebooks Landmark

Genre:  Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

Pages: 400

Source:  Publisher via NetGalley

Format:  eARC

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 Stars)

Amazon┃Kindle

*I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher for review.  This does not affect my opinion or the content of my review.  All thoughts/opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon affiliate and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links.