Reviews

The Night of the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson

chardesty22's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense

jkjoy_books's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars rounded up

I found this book to be quite enjoyable. It tells the story of a mystery in a town twenty years ago involving three girls who went missing after a sleepover. One girl, Leah, survived. As the anniversary of the incident approaches, one of the missing girl’s brothers decides to make a documentary about it, which brings Leah back into the past. Throughout the story, Leah starts receiving messages that add an element of intrigue. The ending was surprisingly satisfying. However, I think that more could have been explored regarding the development of the characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

msluna0422's review against another edition

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4.0

Kerry Wilkinson's "Sleepover #1: The Night of the Sleepover" is a psychological thriller that explores the mysteries of the past and the lasting impact of secrets.

The story kicks off with a captivating premise: Leah and her three closest friends decide to have a slumber party filled with laughter, pizza, and teenage antics. However, the following morning, Leah awakens to find herself alone, with her friends inexplicably gone. Fast forward two decades, and Leah is still grappling with the unanswered questions and the whispers that have haunted her since that mysterious night. A documentary is in the works to uncover the truth, but unsettling anonymous emails arrive in Leah's inbox, urging her to "stop them." These messages suggest that someone is determined to keep the past hidden.

The book has received diverse reviews, and it's easy to see why. Kerry Wilkinson has a talent for crafting a suspenseful and fast-paced plot that keeps readers engaged. The enigma surrounding the sleepover and the anonymous emails create a sense of urgency and intrigue that propels the narrative forward. Nevertheless, the ending may be polarizing for some readers, as it takes unexpected turns that not everyone might appreciate.

The characters, particularly Leah, are thoughtfully developed, and the dual timeline narration adds depth to the story, enabling readers to understand how the past has shaped the characters' lives. Leah's personal growth and her relationships with those around her are notable elements of the story.

One aspect that could be improved is that the novel tends to drag in certain parts, with occasional repetition that could have been condensed to maintain a more consistent pace.

It's worth noting that "Sleepover #1" appears to be the first installment of a series. Whether that's exciting or daunting depends on your perspective, but it's a factor to consider when deciding whether to embark on this journey.

In conclusion, "Sleepover #1: The Night of the Sleepover" offers a blend of suspense, character development, and interpersonal drama, making it a worthwhile read for enthusiasts of psychological thrillers. The verdict on the ending may vary among readers, and the prospect of a sequel might influence your decision to delve into this tale. Without revealing any spoilers, I would rate this book a solid 3.5 stars, recognizing the intriguing setup and well-crafted characters while considering the divisive conclusion.

booknerdykim's review against another edition

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5.0

I snagged an ARC of the book "After The Sleepover" and, while gearing up to read it, I noticed it's labeled as Book 2 on Goodreads. Unsure if it’s a standalone, I decided to read “The Night Of The Sleepover” anyway.

When I delved into the first page, I wasn't completely hooked – had to give it a second go due to some unfamiliar words, probably because the author is London-based. Yet, with every flip of the pages, I found myself in awe, wrestling with questions about the three missing girls and why Leah ended up as the lone survivor.

Just when I believed I was unraveling the truth and had the suspect pegged, bam! Plot twist alert! As soon as I grasped who the actual culprit was, this icy tingle shot through me, and my arm hair stood on end – complete goosebumps. Seriously, that unexpected twist left me in a total "Wow!" moment.

This is my first dive into the psychothriller genre, and I'm genuinely grateful I stumbled upon this book. The way everything unfolded had me hooked, and I'm eagerly gearing up to delve into 'After The Sleepover.' Kudos to Kerry Wilkinson for a job well done in crafting this gripping story!

lime_lacroix's review against another edition

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5.0

I enjoyed this book a lot.

It was a slow burn, which normally makes it hard for me to get into, but this one kept me engaged well.

I liked Leah (MC) and felt like I had the 'correct' feelings towards each of the other characters as well. When I feel this way, it always makes me think the author wrote the characters well and gave them distinct voices. sometimes when you're reading, all the characters feel and sound the same, and they didn't here.

I definitely didn't guess the twist....which is another thing I usually do. Sometimes these mystery/thrillers are very predictable and you can tell where the author is trying to 'trick' or lead you and I was completely wrong with this one.

I'm excited to read there books by Kerry Wilkinson. Thank you to her, the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read the ARC of The Night of the Sleepover.

crhbrault's review against another edition

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3.0

This story has a lot of twists. It was a bit slow with the back and forth but it was good overall, with an entertaining writing style.

msluna422's review against another edition

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4.0

Kerry Wilkinson's "Sleepover #1: The Night of the Sleepover" is a psychological thriller that explores the mysteries of the past and the lasting impact of secrets.

The story kicks off with a captivating premise: Leah and her three closest friends decide to have a slumber party filled with laughter, pizza, and teenage antics. However, the following morning, Leah awakens to find herself alone, with her friends inexplicably gone. Fast forward two decades, and Leah is still grappling with the unanswered questions and the whispers that have haunted her since that mysterious night. A documentary is in the works to uncover the truth, but unsettling anonymous emails arrive in Leah's inbox, urging her to "stop them." These messages suggest that someone is determined to keep the past hidden.

The book has received diverse reviews, and it's easy to see why. Kerry Wilkinson has a talent for crafting a suspenseful and fast-paced plot that keeps readers engaged. The enigma surrounding the sleepover and the anonymous emails create a sense of urgency and intrigue that propels the narrative forward. Nevertheless, the ending may be polarizing for some readers, as it takes unexpected turns that not everyone might appreciate.

The characters, particularly Leah, are thoughtfully developed, and the dual timeline narration adds depth to the story, enabling readers to understand how the past has shaped the characters' lives. Leah's personal growth and her relationships with those around her are notable elements of the story.

One aspect that could be improved is that the novel tends to drag in certain parts, with occasional repetition that could have been condensed to maintain a more consistent pace.

It's worth noting that "Sleepover #1" appears to be the first installment of a series. Whether that's exciting or daunting depends on your perspective, but it's a factor to consider when deciding whether to embark on this journey.

In conclusion, "Sleepover #1: The Night of the Sleepover" offers a blend of suspense, character development, and interpersonal drama, making it a worthwhile read for enthusiasts of psychological thrillers. The verdict on the ending may vary among readers, and the prospect of a sequel might influence your decision to delve into this tale. Without revealing any spoilers, I would rate this book a solid 3.5 stars, recognizing the intriguing setup and well-crafted characters while considering the divisive conclusion.

hknust's review against another edition

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5.0

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
OMG!! This book was amazing! I was enjoying it throughout the whole thing but the ending had me shocked!! There were plenty of twists and turns the whole time and pointing fingers to so many people who could’ve done it, I hadn’t had any idea how it would end and then when I thought I had gotten to the reveal, there was another shocker! This book was so good and the ending made it amazing!! Highly recommended!

pandafan7's review against another edition

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3.0

Nearly twenty-five years ago, Leah and her 3 friends had a sleepover. The next morning, Leah woke up to find that her 3 friends were missing. What happened to the girls that night? A documentary filmmaker is determined to uncover the truth about what really happened that night. Leah starts to get threatening anonymous emails telling her to find a way to stop the documentary. Who is sending these anonymous emails? Does that person know something about what happened the night of the sleepover?

This story is told in dual timelines. It jumps back and forth between the night of the sleepover and the present day. I found it to be an interesting read, but it was an extremely slow burn. Kerry Wilkinson tends to deliver more twists and turns throughout his books, but in this one, the twists and turns don’t happen until about 75% into the book. I did enjoy the ending and am interested in reading the sequel.

The audiobook was narrated by Olivia Darnely. I enjoyed her voicing of Leah as a teenager and as an adult. It was easy to determine the difference between the two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!

brunettebookstagirl's review against another edition

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4.0

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture Audio and Kerry Wilkinson for this eArc.

Such an addictive story! Here we meet Leah, a girl with a troubled past, who finds herself left after her 3 friends suddenly disappear.

This well crafted thriller takes you on an adventure of twists and deception, just when you think you know what happened - someone changes the narrative! I couldn't put it down! Definitely bingeable!

A very clever ending that I totally didn't see coming... and I can't wait to find out what happens next in the sequel!!