nixbix_reads's review against another edition
3.0
This was a difficult read. I really struggled to get into into this at the start, and really needed force myself to read it. However, once I had hit 25%, I was hooked. I wanted to know what happened in Litani, and what made it such a strange place. In spite of that, I felt that the story was disjointed & confusing, and I never really connected with any of the characters.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
haydene14's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
amomwholovestoread23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
books_in_badgerland's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Litani is a small Minnesota town with a cloud of doom hovering over it. After Frankie Jubilee's father passes away, she moves back to Litani to live with her mom, a county prosecutor who puts all of her energy into protecting her town's children. Frankie quickly senses something is afoot and starts digging to uncover secrets that may involve her own family.
This book pulled me in right away. I needed answers. What happened to Frankie's dad? Why does her mom keep her at a distance? What is The Game? I whipped through this book and really enjoyed it. As a thriller reader, books can get quite dark, and I appreciate when authors can let some good characters remain good. It warms my little black heart.
I love Lourey's writing. Her midwestern jargon and bits of sass feel wonderfully familiar. I love that her author notes are in the beginning to set us up for what's to come. I'm excited to get to Bloodlines and Unspeakable Things ASAP.
⭐️RATING⭐️: I really liked it! (4⭐️)
This book pulled me in right away. I needed answers. What happened to Frankie's dad? Why does her mom keep her at a distance? What is The Game? I whipped through this book and really enjoyed it. As a thriller reader, books can get quite dark, and I appreciate when authors can let some good characters remain good. It warms my little black heart.
I love Lourey's writing. Her midwestern jargon and bits of sass feel wonderfully familiar. I love that her author notes are in the beginning to set us up for what's to come. I'm excited to get to Bloodlines and Unspeakable Things ASAP.
⭐️RATING⭐️: I really liked it! (4⭐️)
rachreadreview's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
4/5
- Synopsis: “In the summer of '84, fourteen-year-old Frankie Jubilee is shuttled off to Litani, Minnesota, to live with her estranged mother, a county prosecutor she barely knows. From the start, Frankie senses something uneasy going on in the small town. The locals whisper about The Game, and her mother warns her to stay out of the woods and away from adults. When a bullying gang of girls invites Frankie to The Game, she accepts, determined to find out what's really going on in Litani. She's not the only one becoming paranoid. Hysteria burns through the community. Dark secrets emerge. And Frankie fears that, even in the bright light of day, she might be living among monsters.”
- This book really deals with some heavy/dark subjects so it’s definitely not for everyone. But wow. Less of a thriller and more of a drama, but it still had me stressed and on the edge of my seat, turning pages because I needed to know what happened next. I enjoy the way Lourey builds tension - I thought that same with “Quarry Girls.” And the way that she describes the 80s Midwest really makes you feel like you’re there. That being said, I think I might need a bit of a break and something lighter before I read the next one of hers on my shelf!
mthereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
holley_cornetto's review against another edition
4.0
Review at GNoH: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/fiction-reviews/book-review-litani-by-jess-lourey
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was just a fantastic book. I feel odd saying that since the subject deals with childhood sexual abuse, but the book was just so well written. The plot is heartbreaking and disturbing (and based on true events). The characters are well developed and interesting. The setting (the late 80s small town) felt realistic. I'll be thinking about this book for a while to come.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
This was just a fantastic book. I feel odd saying that since the subject deals with childhood sexual abuse, but the book was just so well written. The plot is heartbreaking and disturbing (and based on true events). The characters are well developed and interesting. The setting (the late 80s small town) felt realistic. I'll be thinking about this book for a while to come.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
ktpendleton's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
schadmad's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5