somarostam's review against another edition
4.0
I knew that this would be some kind of creepy read that bordered on the paranormal genre. But I didn't set my expectations so high. And man, was I wrong!
Penny is stunned when her mother leaves her with her dad and his step-family. But things take another turn when she has to stay with her step mum for a summer renovating a house as old as the town around it. But there's something sinister connected to this house and Penny might be the only one able to tell what it is.
This book didn't start off on such a good note. It was kind-of boring in the beginning and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't get pulled into the story. But towards the middle, the pace picks up and it doesn't slow down. Suspense after horror after creepiness, there's not one dull moment after the middle mark.
I am a great fan of horror films and movies, it's mostly due to the fact that they DON'T scare me. But I was really creeped out with this book and I LOVED it. There's so much background that the author put into this book, it all sounds reasonable and spooky. The plot is multi-dimensional and well thought-out.
Then, there are the characters. Penny was mainly the reason why I gave this book four stars. I just couldn't like her. Although I grew to like her more towards the end, but in the beginning, she was unbearable to me. But my favorite character was definitely April. I LOVED her. She was such a wonderful, three-dimensional character and her role as the step mum was perfect.
There is no romance in this book. There's a potential of one, but you don't know if the author is gonna pursue it or not. The ending was definitely my favorite part. I loved it. And i loved the note on which the events ended. It wasn't cliche or weird. Finally, if you are a fan of the suspense and paranormal genre or you are a genuine horror fan, then this book is for YOU!
Penny is stunned when her mother leaves her with her dad and his step-family. But things take another turn when she has to stay with her step mum for a summer renovating a house as old as the town around it. But there's something sinister connected to this house and Penny might be the only one able to tell what it is.
This book didn't start off on such a good note. It was kind-of boring in the beginning and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't get pulled into the story. But towards the middle, the pace picks up and it doesn't slow down. Suspense after horror after creepiness, there's not one dull moment after the middle mark.
I am a great fan of horror films and movies, it's mostly due to the fact that they DON'T scare me. But I was really creeped out with this book and I LOVED it. There's so much background that the author put into this book, it all sounds reasonable and spooky. The plot is multi-dimensional and well thought-out.
Then, there are the characters. Penny was mainly the reason why I gave this book four stars. I just couldn't like her. Although I grew to like her more towards the end, but in the beginning, she was unbearable to me. But my favorite character was definitely April. I LOVED her. She was such a wonderful, three-dimensional character and her role as the step mum was perfect.
There is no romance in this book. There's a potential of one, but you don't know if the author is gonna pursue it or not. The ending was definitely my favorite part. I loved it. And i loved the note on which the events ended. It wasn't cliche or weird. Finally, if you are a fan of the suspense and paranormal genre or you are a genuine horror fan, then this book is for YOU!
aprater's review against another edition
4.0
Although I wish the ending was more developed, I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story. Thought provoking character development relate able to so many teens.
kbfrantom's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy! How can a mural on a wall be so scary? Penny moves to a house in the woods with her step-mom for two months so they can renovate it and resell it. The house and the woods are haunted. The first chapters are a little confusing and slow but once Penny moves to the house in the woods the story picks up. Definitely going in the Horror section.
madieanne's review against another edition
4.0
wow this was such a page turner !! and that ending…so fucking crazy.
i’m really glad i picked this up.
i’m really glad i picked this up.
kaytay35235's review against another edition
3.0
There are so many questions left unanswered. The writing itself wasn't bad but it never explained some of the most important questions. To me anyway.
hannahcollierrr's review against another edition
4.0
This book can be confusing at time but all in all it is a great read for teens.
just_a_touch_of_bibliomania's review against another edition
3.0
If you like a creepy woods story, I would say that this is one worth reading.
Pros: I loved that the majority of the book takes place in a creepy wood setting, the small town myths, the story of the woods, the house, the ending.
However, I wanted more of what I liked, and I felt like this story got a little redundant at times. I feel like if the kinda romance and some unnecessary chapters had been removed, this book would have hit harder, had better atmosphere, and flowed a bit better.
Pros: I loved that the majority of the book takes place in a creepy wood setting, the small town myths, the story of the woods, the house, the ending.
However, I wanted more of what I liked, and I felt like this story got a little redundant at times. I feel like if the kinda romance and some unnecessary chapters had been removed, this book would have hit harder, had better atmosphere, and flowed a bit better.
lizbtc's review against another edition
4.0
Penny is sent to live with her father, stepmother, and stepbrother.
She ends up spending the summer with her stepmother, as her mother works on flipping an old house in the woods near a small town.
Bad things have happened in that house, in those woods; the locals give them problems; her stepmother is frantic not to lose her investment.
This as a good, scary, haunted house book. The two things I liked best about it: Penny, who is very real in how she handles herself and the situation, neither too brave nor too timid. And, that while there is a local cute guy, this is not a romance, there is no real romance.
I'm so over every book having to also have a romance in it. Can't it just be a scary book (or a mystery or whatever.)
So this: four stars because scary and no romance.
She ends up spending the summer with her stepmother, as her mother works on flipping an old house in the woods near a small town.
Bad things have happened in that house, in those woods; the locals give them problems; her stepmother is frantic not to lose her investment.
This as a good, scary, haunted house book. The two things I liked best about it: Penny, who is very real in how she handles herself and the situation, neither too brave nor too timid. And, that while there is a local cute guy, this is not a romance, there is no real romance.
I'm so over every book having to also have a romance in it. Can't it just be a scary book (or a mystery or whatever.)
So this: four stars because scary and no romance.