Reviews

Litani by Jess Lourey

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books_in_badgerland's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced

4.0

rachreadreview's review

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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

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challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

holley_cornetto's review

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4.0

Review at GNoH: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/fiction-reviews/book-review-litani-by-jess-lourey

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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**