I think the comparison to The Hazel Wood does this book a disservice - both main characters are likeable and the black character isn't there just to prop them up and be insulted, so it's already leagues better. My reading this was DESPITE the comparison, because The Hazel Wood was not a pleasant read and I would never recommend reading it.

I think this should also have been marketed at Lovecraftian horror, since all the negative reviews hate that aspect despite it being interesting and fun during the book. Who doesn't love cosmic horror? There's tentacles on cover it kind of gives you an idea of what you're getting into.

The only complaint is that this book felt vaguely juvenile at places, but since it's a YA with 16yr old protagonists I let that go, that's to be expected. The LGBT rep with Connie felt rough at the beginning, but eventually she got into the swing of it where it wasn't awkward to read.




Spoiler




Also people not liking the ending is wild to me, who doesn't love unexplained unhappy ambiguous endings.






(It also explains to me how Adelle lived so long with scissors in her neck. I love the potential of the horror continuing and them actually having a fake victory.)