mehsi's review
5.0
“The Girls Are Never Gone” – a spooky read that I really enjoyed!
A spooky tale about a girl going for a vacation to renovate a spooky building, meeting friends, getting a romance, seeing ghosts, and oh yes, tons more! It was fantastic.
The spookiness and the mystery? Super well done. At first things were just pretty quiet, but as we learn more and see more things do get very hairy and scary. And wet. So wet. The ghosts really like that water. Or well, one of them especially does. We get flickering lights (classic), weird noises (classic), a ghost coming from the ceiling (oh welp), muddy water everywhere (nope), damp smells (nope), scary noises and doors opening on their own (run run run), and there is more. I was definitely spooked out many times and so this was a perfect read for Halloween. Plus, the mystery was perfection. We slowly get more and more puzzle pieces on what has happened in this house. What is happening in this house. Why. And what is next. I have to say there was one revelation that made me very pissed and made me want to throw that person into the freaking lake. WHAT is wrong with you? We do learn some things that may add to understanding, but for most I was just pissed. How it all came together and how the ending was just one big banger. YAS!
The romance? Love love love it! I loved how these girls talked. How they tried to make things work, but also set boundaries. We read about cute kisses and fun evenings just lying next to each other. Read about them having fun talking about their favourite shows. It was a bit instalove, but I didn’t mind it that much as I normally do. XD They just had such chemistry that I was rooting hard for them and that the ghosts wouldn’t be able to break them up.
Absolutely love love the rep on diabetes. I don’t have diabetes myself, but I do know how important it is to get more diversity and various reps in stories. We see how our MC has a pump and how she checks her levels with an app (or if her adorable dog has a good moment, that as well). We read how she has an emergency kit. How she has everything ready to get the pump working or clean it up. We read on her having to change the position of the pump. And more. Plus, I also loved the girl our MC was crushing on because she went to do research, made sure to keep her eyes peeled in case of something happening and making sure that she has snacks or drinks present just in case.
Bonus points to the adorable dog. I am always happy to get some good boys and girls in the story and this one was just the best.
But one big SAD SAD thing was that we barely got any podcast. We get a podcast before and after, but those are pretty small and other than that we do read that she is working on it and releasing them, but do we get to see them? No. Not at all. I get that we follow along on her mystery hunting, but I would still have liked to see the podcast. Plus, I am sure there could have been extra things added to the podcast. I was really looking forward to the podcast, that is one of the biggest reasons I bought the book. I love a book with a podcast element (and that comes from a girl who is not big on podcasts, mostly because my ADHD).
But despite the disappointing almost no podcast… I had tons of fun with this one. It was spooky as heck.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
A spooky tale about a girl going for a vacation to renovate a spooky building, meeting friends, getting a romance, seeing ghosts, and oh yes, tons more! It was fantastic.
The spookiness and the mystery? Super well done. At first things were just pretty quiet, but as we learn more and see more things do get very hairy and scary. And wet. So wet. The ghosts really like that water. Or well, one of them especially does. We get flickering lights (classic), weird noises (classic), a ghost coming from the ceiling (oh welp), muddy water everywhere (nope), damp smells (nope), scary noises and doors opening on their own (run run run), and there is more. I was definitely spooked out many times and so this was a perfect read for Halloween. Plus, the mystery was perfection. We slowly get more and more puzzle pieces on what has happened in this house. What is happening in this house. Why. And what is next. I have to say there was one revelation that made me very pissed and made me want to throw that person into the freaking lake. WHAT is wrong with you? We do learn some things that may add to understanding, but for most I was just pissed. How it all came together and how the ending was just one big banger. YAS!
The romance? Love love love it! I loved how these girls talked. How they tried to make things work, but also set boundaries. We read about cute kisses and fun evenings just lying next to each other. Read about them having fun talking about their favourite shows. It was a bit instalove, but I didn’t mind it that much as I normally do. XD They just had such chemistry that I was rooting hard for them and that the ghosts wouldn’t be able to break them up.
Absolutely love love the rep on diabetes. I don’t have diabetes myself, but I do know how important it is to get more diversity and various reps in stories. We see how our MC has a pump and how she checks her levels with an app (or if her adorable dog has a good moment, that as well). We read how she has an emergency kit. How she has everything ready to get the pump working or clean it up. We read on her having to change the position of the pump. And more. Plus, I also loved the girl our MC was crushing on because she went to do research, made sure to keep her eyes peeled in case of something happening and making sure that she has snacks or drinks present just in case.
Bonus points to the adorable dog. I am always happy to get some good boys and girls in the story and this one was just the best.
But one big SAD SAD thing was that we barely got any podcast. We get a podcast before and after, but those are pretty small and other than that we do read that she is working on it and releasing them, but do we get to see them? No. Not at all. I get that we follow along on her mystery hunting, but I would still have liked to see the podcast. Plus, I am sure there could have been extra things added to the podcast. I was really looking forward to the podcast, that is one of the biggest reasons I bought the book. I love a book with a podcast element (and that comes from a girl who is not big on podcasts, mostly because my ADHD).
But despite the disappointing almost no podcast… I had tons of fun with this one. It was spooky as heck.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
letjollyread's review against another edition
2.0
I liked it for the dog and the cute romance between the two girls but I wish it was written in a way that really scared me. I was a little paranoid, but not scared.
popthebutterfly's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and then bought my own ebook copy. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Girls Are Never Gone
Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: T1 Diabetes bisexual MC, Service dog, Puerto Rican lesbian side character, F/f romance
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, paranormal, mystery, thriller
Genre: YA Paranormal Mystery
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 336
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, slight animal gore, death, Underage alcohol consumption, Slight religion talk)
Explanation of CWs: Just an FYI, the animal gore seen in this book is just from the skeletal remains of other, long-dead animals. The religion talk is also very slight and in passing.
Synopsis: Dare Chase doesn’t believe in ghosts.
Privately, she’s a supernatural skeptic. But publicly, she’s keeping her doubts to herself—because she’s the voice of Attachments, her brand-new paranormal investigation podcast, and she needs her ghost-loving listeners to tune in.
That’s what brings her to Arrington Estate. Thirty years ago, teenager Atheleen Bell drowned in Arrington’s lake, and legend says her spirit haunts the estate. Dare’s more interested in the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death—circumstances that she believes point to a living culprit, not the supernatural. Still, she’s vowed to keep an open mind as she investigates, even if she’s pretty sure what she’ll find.
But Arrington is full of surprises. Good ones like Quinn, the cute daughter of the house’s new owner. And baffling ones like the threatening messages left scrawled in paint on Quinn’s walls, the ghastly face that appears behind Dare’s own in the mirror, and the unnatural current that nearly drowns their friend Holly in the lake. As Dare is drawn deeper into the mysteries of Arrington, she’ll have to rethink the boundaries of what is possible. Because if something is lurking in the lake…it might not be willing to let her go.
Review: I really liked this book. I thought that the story of all was very entertaining and it definitely provided the Spooks I needed to get into the Halloween spirit. I also liked the bond between all of the girls and I really liked the sapphic romance. I thought that the World building and character development were really well done and the writing was marvelous, although I might be a bit biased because this is one of my favorite authors.
The only real issues I had with the book is that there or two distinct monsters that I felt needed a little bit more development on the page but also the ending was a little abstract in what happened. We don't have the real motives behind the monsters, which you can argue makes for a really good monster, but we also don't have a clear cut ending to the story which is kind of giving me hope that maybe in the future there will be a sequel because I need to know. And if you have read this book then you know what I need to know.
Verdict: It was so good.
Book: The Girls Are Never Gone
Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: T1 Diabetes bisexual MC, Service dog, Puerto Rican lesbian side character, F/f romance
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, paranormal, mystery, thriller
Genre: YA Paranormal Mystery
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 336
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, slight animal gore, death, Underage alcohol consumption, Slight religion talk)
Explanation of CWs: Just an FYI, the animal gore seen in this book is just from the skeletal remains of other, long-dead animals. The religion talk is also very slight and in passing.
Synopsis: Dare Chase doesn’t believe in ghosts.
Privately, she’s a supernatural skeptic. But publicly, she’s keeping her doubts to herself—because she’s the voice of Attachments, her brand-new paranormal investigation podcast, and she needs her ghost-loving listeners to tune in.
That’s what brings her to Arrington Estate. Thirty years ago, teenager Atheleen Bell drowned in Arrington’s lake, and legend says her spirit haunts the estate. Dare’s more interested in the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death—circumstances that she believes point to a living culprit, not the supernatural. Still, she’s vowed to keep an open mind as she investigates, even if she’s pretty sure what she’ll find.
But Arrington is full of surprises. Good ones like Quinn, the cute daughter of the house’s new owner. And baffling ones like the threatening messages left scrawled in paint on Quinn’s walls, the ghastly face that appears behind Dare’s own in the mirror, and the unnatural current that nearly drowns their friend Holly in the lake. As Dare is drawn deeper into the mysteries of Arrington, she’ll have to rethink the boundaries of what is possible. Because if something is lurking in the lake…it might not be willing to let her go.
Review: I really liked this book. I thought that the story of all was very entertaining and it definitely provided the Spooks I needed to get into the Halloween spirit. I also liked the bond between all of the girls and I really liked the sapphic romance. I thought that the World building and character development were really well done and the writing was marvelous, although I might be a bit biased because this is one of my favorite authors.
The only real issues I had with the book is that there or two distinct monsters that I felt needed a little bit more development on the page but also the ending was a little abstract in what happened. We don't have the real motives behind the monsters, which you can argue makes for a really good monster, but we also don't have a clear cut ending to the story which is kind of giving me hope that maybe in the future there will be a sequel because I need to know. And if you have read this book then you know what I need to know.
Verdict: It was so good.
leah_dawn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
annawilson's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
skyethereader's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. It had some good scary parts. Waffles was adorable. The ending though.... Uurgh!
ryannbrian's review against another edition
4.0
I’m currently really into queer horror and this book was perfect. I loved the diabetes rep and the fairly true depiction of a sapphic romance where it all feels fast and intense. I also liked the ghost elements and the slow build up of supernatural elements. The ending was really good, and I love how it’s left open, I really hope we get a second follow up book set in the future with a new set of characters having to bring back the older character for help. I also enjoyed the female friendship in the book, and some of the best moments were just seeing Holly Quinn and Dare having fun together and supporting one another.
jackalope_hope's review against another edition
3.0
Objectively, I think this is a 3.5, but I had so much fun listening to it that I'm rounding up to a 4.
This has major Nancy Drew x The Magnus Archives vibes. I love the friendship group that forms in the book between Dare, Quinn, and Holly. I also like how this book really leaned into its horror elements.
I think that some themes and questions raised in the epilogue were interesting, but weren't as fully explored in the story as I think they could have been, particularly. One of the characters also had motivations that didn't make sense. I had figured out the twist around her already, but her actions didn't make sense based on what we were told her goal was. I also think some of the stakes didn't matter; .
This has major Nancy Drew x The Magnus Archives vibes. I love the friendship group that forms in the book between Dare, Quinn, and Holly. I also like how this book really leaned into its horror elements.
I think that some themes and questions raised in the epilogue were interesting, but weren't as fully explored in the story as I think they could have been, particularly
Spoiler
the bit about how the town overlooked the deaths at Arrington because the girls were all outsidersSpoiler
e.g., when Dare is trapped in a garage and at risk of a low blood sugar episode without her supplies, but then is released immediately, so the danger never really matterslittleversailles's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5