asintheriver's Reviews (173)

This book was great! I am usually more of a thriller/crime reader, this was a breath of fresh air. The characters are so fun, no one is written in a way that tells their whole story. So you just want more. I am excited for the second book (hurry up May!). The love story is easy to love and even though you get the the typical tropes of romance novels its in a real way, a way that doesn't make you hate it. I love the descriptions of people and places, learning little bits of culture, all while learning hat change can come in the most unexpected ways from the most unexpected people.

I'm adding more Emiko Jean to my TBR list. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This one was weird.

The story starts out kinda of odd then continues to fumble through a murky plot, 2d characters, and face plants into an ending.

It’s an easy read so I’ll give it that. Took less than 2 hours to finish.

I’m not sure what I thought this book was about but it was not weird snake charmer, bible thumping, cult.

We open with what seems like the middle of a different book. What happened to the roommate? Why was that even brought up when it had nothing to do with the story?

Why did everyone seems scummy from the beginning to the reader but so shiny and perfect to Emily?

I felt like I was reading a script for a really bad Freeform show.

I gave it three stars because I finished it and because it mentioned two of my favorite places. Boston and Dauphine Island.

Wouldn’t necessarily recommend.

2.5 ⭐'s

Maybe because I was reading this during an insomnia episode but this book was quiet strange.

The main characters, Mikey (your narrator), Henna(the love interest), Jared (the best friend), Nathan(the new kid), and Mel (Mikeys sister) are all high school seniors, somewhere in Washington. Im going to guess the king/snohomish county area by the way the describe the land scape.

They are normal kids, all except Jared who is a 1/4 God. The town they live in is a mysterious place were vampires once roam, zombie deer, and bright blue lights. It seems once you reach adulthood or maybe become a parent, idk it was not made very clear, that you "forget" that strange things in town happen.

Currently the mysterious happenings are the Indie kids(mostly names Finn and Satchell, like there are multiples) are being attacked by the Immortals.....no one explains who they are. This is also not the main point of the story but a very confusing hum in the background. But they are killed by a bright light? or Stabbing? again this is not explained.

Jared (the 1/4 God) is a the God of Cats. So he attracts all felines and is able to heal them. Which is also never explained but he uses light from his hands. His dad is running against Mikeys mom for a US House of Representatives Seat after the death of the incumbent. His dad seems like a nice guy who just runs because he has an opposing view point. Dont really know anything else about him.

Mel (Mikeys Sister) is battling an eating disorder that actual killed her for 3 minutes. She was brought back to life and seems to be on the mend with one minor blip that Miley has to hand feed her sushi? She was held back a year due to her health and starts dating a doctor (she is 19) that she meet when Mikey and Henna were in an accident when a deer collided with their car. Said deer later become a zombie for no apparent reason other than to say there is a deer zombie.

Mikey (your narator) has horrible OCD that seems to have been an issue for many years. Because his mom is in politics she seems to brush it and Mels health issues under the rug until literally the middle of the book. Where she goes all Momma Bear, her words not mine, and wants him to get treatment. He cleans himself and gets stuck in loops that cause him to be trapped in a pattern of washing drying washing drying till someone physically stops him. He is in love with his longtime friend Henna, who seems to be a normal high school girl finding her rhythm and being a good friend. There really is nothing too spectacular about her character. Mikey so badly wants to be in a relationship with her that he develops tunnel vision that Nathan (the new kid) is in lover with her, he isn't he is love with Jared (they are both gay), everyone for some reason finds it better to hide this from Mikey instead of tell him so Mikey spirals constantly about it.

Nathan is lack luster and not really that important he is more a filler and a shit stirrer but not on his own accord. Mainly just what Mikey thinks in his head.

The book has very open conversations about mental health, eating disorders, and a queer storyline which is wonderful. It is approached in a way that makes you feel like the "Taboo" of it all is not there. They are close friends who love each other no matter what. Which seems super healthy and wonderful that gets a 5/5 for me.

The rest of the story seems like a fever dream in 2x speed. There is really no resolution to the book which makes me think it was suppose to have a sequel? Between glowing eyed drunk cops, dead alternative kids, parents with amnesia, and zombie animals. I couldn't tell if it was suppose to me a YA fantasy/magic or a coming of age story.

Its a quick read simple to get through.

Drivel is the best word for this book. I spent much of my time thinking “wtf is this? Why did she write this book? Do these people get more interesting or is this just a vapid sex fever dream for this dull Lowen?”

Yikes on bikes was this book bad. Between the lack luster characters, the disconnected story line, the boring attempt at suspense. You would get these horribly traumatic events shoved in your face with absolutely no resolution or attachment to the story at all. Read at your own risk, trigger warning for death, death of children, violent acts, mistreatment of the disabled. The list can go on and on.

It took me a week to read because I just kept getting bored. The last 50 pages are Colleen panic writing suspense and a “twist”. I have no idea why this book has such glowing reviews. By the 4th chapter you know what is happening, and the rest is just filler that’s is just unnecessary.

I am begging some of these authors to write a female protagonist that isn’t obsessed with a shallow marginally attractive man who is so dense and far removed. Jeremys character does nothing for the story. If she would have removed him from the book and made it about Lowen and Varity, the plot could have been more on the Secret Window, Shutter Island side. Which would have changed this book for the better. Maybe write a thriller/suspense without romance? Without cheating? Without making your female lead look weak minded and incapable of their own thoughts and feelings?

It bounces around a lot, there is no cohesive story telling. However it is very interesting and I felt as though I was viewing life from a different lens. I think it should be read by anyone who understands that the world looks different for everyone.

Short read, but very interesting and insightful on a world I new nothing about.