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lisfnord's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Is this fine literature? No, it is not. Was it contrived? maybe a bit.
It is an entertaining read that keeps you guessing as you try to figure out where the characters’ stories are going to go. As others have said, there are a lot of characters and they all have their own backstories, but I did not find it at all difficult to keep track. The third book I’ve read by John Marrs, and I think I’ll keep reading more of them.
It is an entertaining read that keeps you guessing as you try to figure out where the characters’ stories are going to go. As others have said, there are a lot of characters and they all have their own backstories, but I did not find it at all difficult to keep track. The third book I’ve read by John Marrs, and I think I’ll keep reading more of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Rape, and Violence
Minor: Drug use, Racism, and Rape
doodlebeanz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I am still very conflicted over this book. Part of me feels that there is a bigger meaning behind it, but another part of me thinks it may just be masquerading as a book with a deeper meaning but it doesn't actually have one. There were so many characters, and at first when you don't know their personalities or how their connected, it was a lot and it felt overwhelming but once the story got properly going, the cast of characters didn't seem as daunting.
I really really liked how the book was broken up into a bunch of side stories that mainly connected. There were a few outliers (Savannah/Ron/Michael/Pyck and her father, Ruth and her psychosis in general, Declan/Matty) that didn't connect back to anything perfectly, but the ones that did connect, I thought were very well written and I did not see many of the connections coming! My favorite story line was definitely Ruth since I love reading about obsessive stalkers with serious mental illnesses (I am a thriller girlie after all, sue me) and I'm upset that we didn't get more on her.She killed her mother and brother, stalked Zak and then eventually killed him too and then just got completely removed from the story. I would've loved to hear more about her time spent in a mental hospital/her trial/etc than hear about Ms Baker and Nicole/Eric's story. My least favorite storyline was obviously Nicole, Eric and Ms Baker. I did not see the twist coming that Eric was Ms Baker's estranged son, and it became suspenseful and tense with his mask falling and showing his true colors to Nicole, but it dragged on for so long and I just wanted to read about any other story (mainly Ruth's lol).
All the storylines were interesting and I really did enjoy reading them for the most part, but damn this book was long for NO reason. Some of the plotlines were drawn out for far too long and it felt like the book could've wrapped up 15+ chapters before it did. Some stories needed longer to wrap up, which is fine, but god was it a SLOG by the end. I am a pretty fast reader, but this book took me 10+ days to finish! I found myself not really gravitating towards it, which was half the battle, until well past the midway point when the characters and stories started connecting. It is definitely a slow book, not much action until the end, but once it got to that point, it was much more enjoyable. In my mind, this book is felt like two separate books. Part 1 I did not care for, but part 2 was WAY better and it definitely caught my attention more. I also listened to the audiobook and I did not enjoy the narrator's voice... oops... that did not help the lack of interest in picking it up either!
Matty and Declan were probably my favorite characters. I loved how they provided such a comedic effect. They were so silly, and had such a sad ending, but it was one of those bittersweet sad endings that made me well up but it was also fitting for them. I also really really liked Tommy and Jake,as a couple and just as friends. I understand that what Jake did was unforgivable and completely altered the course of Tommy's life, but I did enjoy reading them get to know each other and watch as Tommy developed feelings and then it was like a punch to the gut when the twist hit and it turned out that Jake/Stuart was the one that was driving the car that ended up killing his brothers. I was so shook and honestly annoyed bc I really wanted them to get together. I also don't like how Tommy ended up killing Jake... we're not entirely sure if he did or not, it's one of those things that Marrs' decided to leave up to interpretation bc when Tommy goes back to his room, all his stuff is gone... but that to me means he was planning on leaving already and he packed up beforehand, not that he had saved himself from the ocean and then made his way back without leaving puddles of water everywhere?? Idk, I don't love ambiguous endings like that. Not my cup of tea.
The part of me that believes this book has a deeper meaning thinks that the hostel is a symbol for a purgatory type place and that Pyek was some sort of God/higher being. All of these lost souls came to this place and found their ending/new beginning there.They either died in a bad way (Ron - raped Savannah, died of heart attack after leaving hostel. Eric - was a shitty person and pretty much a sociopath who killed his own mother and her caretaker, died in jail. Jane - betrayed Savannah, killed by hitman/her father. Jake, hit and run with Tommy's brothers, drowned... or in the deeper meaning, they moved onto hell) or they started over and got a new lease on life (Savannah, had a baby and realized she doesn't need anyone else, Tommy found Louis and they are living out their dream of traveling together, Nicole and Declan are together and having a baby, Matty died but peacefully and on his own terms). The hostel played some part in all of their demises or their new beginnings, and I can't help but see a deeper meaning in it. Especially the sign that was in the hostel 'Welcome to Wherever You Are'... that SCREAMS 'I'm in purgatory'!!
All in all, this book confuses me. I'm not sure if I liked it. Part of me really, really liked it and another part of me thinks it was drawn out and annoyingly long and just all around boring for the majority of it. I am also not sure if I am a fan of Marrs just yet... I read What Lies Between Us and I hated it. It gave me such extreme anxiety and really affected my mental health. Less for his writing and more for my own state at the time of reading it, but still. I gave this one a try, and I'm still unsure where I stand. I am definitely going to read The One since it is so highly acclaimed and sounds so interesting, and maybe after a THIRD book, I will have a better sense of how I feel about him as a writer!
I really really liked how the book was broken up into a bunch of side stories that mainly connected. There were a few outliers (Savannah/Ron/Michael/Pyck and her father, Ruth and her psychosis in general, Declan/Matty) that didn't connect back to anything perfectly, but the ones that did connect, I thought were very well written and I did not see many of the connections coming! My favorite story line was definitely Ruth since I love reading about obsessive stalkers with serious mental illnesses (I am a thriller girlie after all, sue me) and I'm upset that we didn't get more on her.
All the storylines were interesting and I really did enjoy reading them for the most part, but damn this book was long for NO reason. Some of the plotlines were drawn out for far too long and it felt like the book could've wrapped up 15+ chapters before it did. Some stories needed longer to wrap up, which is fine, but god was it a SLOG by the end. I am a pretty fast reader, but this book took me 10+ days to finish! I found myself not really gravitating towards it, which was half the battle, until well past the midway point when the characters and stories started connecting. It is definitely a slow book, not much action until the end, but once it got to that point, it was much more enjoyable. In my mind, this book is felt like two separate books. Part 1 I did not care for, but part 2 was WAY better and it definitely caught my attention more. I also listened to the audiobook and I did not enjoy the narrator's voice... oops... that did not help the lack of interest in picking it up either!
Matty and Declan were probably my favorite characters. I loved how they provided such a comedic effect. They were so silly, and had such a sad ending, but it was one of those bittersweet sad endings that made me well up but it was also fitting for them. I also really really liked Tommy and Jake,
The part of me that believes this book has a deeper meaning thinks that the hostel is a symbol for a purgatory type place and that Pyek was some sort of God/higher being. All of these lost souls came to this place and found their ending/new beginning there.
All in all, this book confuses me. I'm not sure if I liked it. Part of me really, really liked it and another part of me thinks it was drawn out and annoyingly long and just all around boring for the majority of it. I am also not sure if I am a fan of Marrs just yet... I read What Lies Between Us and I hated it. It gave me such extreme anxiety and really affected my mental health. Less for his writing and more for my own state at the time of reading it, but still. I gave this one a try, and I'm still unsure where I stand. I am definitely going to read The One since it is so highly acclaimed and sounds so interesting, and maybe after a THIRD book, I will have a better sense of how I feel about him as a writer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction and Drug use
kaymmullins's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
shesflippinpages's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
minimicropup's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Setting the Scene: 🇺🇸 A hostel near Venice Beach, California, and surrounding neighbourhoods
POV: We follow the perspectives of various characters – from hostel workers to guests – each with their own past and reasons for being there.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
-Multi-perspective character studies wrapped in a sun-soaked dark destination thriller
-Twisty plots and mysteries with an undercurrent of tragedy, heartbreak, and cringe
-Themes of betrayal, hypocrisy, love, longing, self-discovery, self-reinvention, obsession, judgement, purpose, and acceptance.
----
🐺 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐕
🗣️ Tale-Telling: The third-person narration gave a comprehensive view of complicated interpersonal connections without us having to dwell too deeply in any one characters mind. I found the writing style captivating. Present-day snippets quickly flash to relevant past moments, revealing motivations, fears, and dreams. I was drawn in to each character’s story.
👥 Characters: This story has a large cast. Despite that, I found each character was well-developed and distinct. The interactions felt realistically complex and authentic. I didn’t like every character, but the well-crafted morally grey personas kept me engaged.
🗺️ Ambiance: The hostel was the central hub of the story and was brilliantly portrayed. It’s hard to describe layouts in words and I often wish authors would just include diagrams or maps instead of long-winded descriptions or lists of rooms relative to each other. However, the descriptions provided here were just enough to set the scene without being overwhelming or boring, and it allowed room for interpretation. And the layout stayed consistent, which I’m sure all of us imagination readers appreciate!
🔥 Fuel: The suspense hinged on the characters’ secrets and connections. We are wondering who can be trusted and who is in danger.
🎬 Scenes: The pacing felt quick, with short, sharp chapters. Not all characters’ fates were resolved, adding to the realism – some connections faded, just like in real life. The scenes felt realistic by highlighting the judgmental nature of people and how appearances can be deceiving.. The hostel life was captured with authenticity and insight.
🤓 Random Thoughts: The inclusion of sexual assault (female boss assaulting a male employee ) showed how power dynamics and industry problems that don't always fit the expected gender roles. The overall story had a lot of tragic life situations with a stark realism that hit hard. It gradually went from juicy gossip to 'no, no, nope, too sad, too horrible' for me.
----
Content Heads-Up: Rape. Sexual assault. Attacks, fighting, and gun violence. Medical (injuries/bruising/cuts; cardiovascular; seizure). Sexual content (off-page/mentioned; casual hookups and sex work). Religious abuse. Confinement. Kidnapping. Teen abuse (parental). Obsession. Stalking. Death. Cannabis. Alcohol use. Drug use. Drugging. Car accident (graphic; recall on page). Loss of siblings. Parental rejection. Murder. Body-shaming.
Rep: Gay, bisexual, questioning, and heterosexual characters. White and Black American, and White European characters.
👀 Format: Library Digital
“Reviews are my musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶 refined by my AI bookworm bestie ✨”
POV: We follow the perspectives of various characters – from hostel workers to guests – each with their own past and reasons for being there.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
-Multi-perspective character studies wrapped in a sun-soaked dark destination thriller
-Twisty plots and mysteries with an undercurrent of tragedy, heartbreak, and cringe
-Themes of betrayal, hypocrisy, love, longing, self-discovery, self-reinvention, obsession, judgement, purpose, and acceptance.
----
🐺 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐕
🗣️ Tale-Telling: The third-person narration gave a comprehensive view of complicated interpersonal connections without us having to dwell too deeply in any one characters mind. I found the writing style captivating. Present-day snippets quickly flash to relevant past moments, revealing motivations, fears, and dreams. I was drawn in to each character’s story.
👥 Characters: This story has a large cast. Despite that, I found each character was well-developed and distinct. The interactions felt realistically complex and authentic. I didn’t like every character, but the well-crafted morally grey personas kept me engaged.
🗺️ Ambiance: The hostel was the central hub of the story and was brilliantly portrayed. It’s hard to describe layouts in words and I often wish authors would just include diagrams or maps instead of long-winded descriptions or lists of rooms relative to each other. However, the descriptions provided here were just enough to set the scene without being overwhelming or boring, and it allowed room for interpretation. And the layout stayed consistent, which I’m sure all of us imagination readers appreciate!
🔥 Fuel: The suspense hinged on the characters’ secrets and connections. We are wondering who can be trusted and who is in danger.
🎬 Scenes: The pacing felt quick, with short, sharp chapters. Not all characters’ fates were resolved, adding to the realism – some connections faded, just like in real life. The scenes felt realistic by highlighting the judgmental nature of people and how appearances can be deceiving.. The hostel life was captured with authenticity and insight.
🤓 Random Thoughts: The inclusion of sexual assault (
----
Content Heads-Up: Rape. Sexual assault. Attacks, fighting, and gun violence. Medical (injuries/bruising/cuts; cardiovascular; seizure). Sexual content (off-page/mentioned; casual hookups and sex work). Religious abuse. Confinement. Kidnapping. Teen abuse (parental). Obsession. Stalking. Death. Cannabis. Alcohol use. Drug use. Drugging. Car accident (graphic; recall on page). Loss of siblings. Parental rejection. Murder. Body-shaming.
Rep: Gay, bisexual, questioning, and heterosexual characters. White and Black American, and White European characters.
👀 Format: Library Digital
“Reviews are my musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶 refined by my AI bookworm bestie ✨”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Drug use, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
kalaser's review against another edition
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? N/A
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
asourceoffiction's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There was an interesting set of circumstances leading each group to the hostel in totally different ways. It set things up to be quite intriguing, and there were some stories I particularly wanted to follow (Savannah's, for example).
The pace slowed a little in the middle, which I guess is a pitfall from having so many interlocking stories that needed a lot of background. And I was invested enough to want to know what was happening, but I felt the change in pace.
By the end I was keen to learn how everyone's story was going to wrap up, though it was a little disjointed because of all the different strands. I enjoyed some of the unexpected connections between characters, and some were downright shocking! It was a fun read but the set up took a while to get used to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Drug use, and Rape
norwegianforestreader's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
mapetiteliseuse's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.0
At the centre of this book is a hostel in LA, and group of travelers who have lots to learn about themselves and each other as they all embark on their own version of a “fresh start”
It sounds like a classic “murder mystery” which is exactly what I predicted but was very wrong. The “sun, sea, sex and murder” tag line on the cover sets an inaccurate tone in my opinion, and cheapens the writing. There’s a lot more to this.
The story very subtly but naturally centres on Tommy and Nicole, who find the hostel a central point in their lives for different reasons. They take the lead in shaping the plot as it unfolds from multiple perspectives (not something I often enjoy) as they meet other guests.
There are lots of surprises and minimal predictably which was really refreshing in a thriller.
Although Tommy and Nicole feature heavily in the plot in the present, we learn a lot about their pasts and the past of other hostel residents - which binds together the action into a real page turner.
This isn’t your average “who dunnit” and quite atypical of a thriller, features no crime/police procedural narrative which for me was really refreshing.
In hindsight I don’t like the title*, I think it creates a false idea of the book that could deter people (made me think “summer holiday who dunnit”) but it’s actually quite deep in parts with emotion as well as action - touching on themes of friendship, loyalty and loss.
A lot happens. Sometimes the action is so crammed into a book that it loses credibility and substance, but that didn’t happen here. The twists are plentiful and for me, happened without me anticipating them.
I found it to be unique in both setting and plot; with real character diversity on too
If you’ve enjoyed books like “I know you” (Clare McGowan) then this will be a great next read for you.
*Interestingly I’ve since discovered the book was previously titled “welcome to wherever you are” - I much prefer this.
It sounds like a classic “murder mystery” which is exactly what I predicted but was very wrong. The “sun, sea, sex and murder” tag line on the cover sets an inaccurate tone in my opinion, and cheapens the writing. There’s a lot more to this.
The story very subtly but naturally centres on Tommy and Nicole, who find the hostel a central point in their lives for different reasons. They take the lead in shaping the plot as it unfolds from multiple perspectives (not something I often enjoy) as they meet other guests.
There are lots of surprises and minimal predictably which was really refreshing in a thriller.
Although Tommy and Nicole feature heavily in the plot in the present, we learn a lot about their pasts and the past of other hostel residents - which binds together the action into a real page turner.
This isn’t your average “who dunnit” and quite atypical of a thriller, features no crime/police procedural narrative which for me was really refreshing.
In hindsight I don’t like the title*, I think it creates a false idea of the book that could deter people (made me think “summer holiday who dunnit”) but it’s actually quite deep in parts with emotion as well as action - touching on themes of friendship, loyalty and loss.
A lot happens. Sometimes the action is so crammed into a book that it loses credibility and substance, but that didn’t happen here. The twists are plentiful and for me, happened without me anticipating them.
I found it to be unique in both setting and plot; with real character diversity on too
If you’ve enjoyed books like “I know you” (Clare McGowan) then this will be a great next read for you.
*Interestingly I’ve since discovered the book was previously titled “welcome to wherever you are” - I much prefer this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
At the centre of this book is a hostel in LA, and group of travelers who have lots to learn about themselves and each other as they all embark on their own version of a “fresh start” It sounds like a classic “murder mystery” which is exactly what I predicted but was very wrong. The “sun, sea, sex and murder” tag line on the cover sets an inaccurate tone in my opinion, and cheapens the writing. There’s a lot more to this. The story very subtly but naturally centres on Tommy and Nicole, who find the hostel a central point in their lives for different reasons. They take the lead in shaping the plot as it unfolds from multiple perspectives (not something I often enjoy) as they meet other guests. There are lots of surprises and minimal predictably which was really refreshing in a thriller. Although Tommy and Nicole feature heavily in the plot in the present, we learn a lot about their pasts and the past of other hostel residents - which binds together the action into a real page turner. This isn’t your average “who dunnit” and quite atypical of a thriller, features no crime/police procedural narrative which for me was really refreshing. In hindsight I don’t like the title*, I think it creates a false idea of the book that could deter people (made me think “summer holiday who dunnit”) but it’s actually quite deep in parts with emotion as well as action - touching on themes of friendship, loyalty and loss. A lot happens. Sometimes the action is so crammed into a book that it loses credibility and substance, but that didn’t happen here. The twists are plentiful and for me, happened without me anticipating them. I found it to be unique in both setting and plot; with real character diversity on too If you’ve enjoyed books like “I know you” (Clare McGowan) then this will be a great next read for you. *Interestingly I’ve since discovered the book was previously titled “welcome to wherever you are” - I much prefer this.