kerasalwaysreading's review against another edition
5.0
From beginning to end this book did not let me go! This is a dark and twisted fever dream of secrets and small town tragedy.
“We may have been in pieces, but we were more than the sum of them. We had to be. Otherwise, what did we have left but the pain?”
In the small town of Wolf Ridge, Vermont, Wyatt Green is convinced that every November, the people living there go a little crazy. They all collectively suffer from this sickness that makes them bloodthirsty and craving carnage, either directed towards others or internalized and directed towards ones self.
For as long as she can remember, people in the town die from suicide or commit unspeakable crimes against others, leaving behind an insane body count for such a small place.
“All that violence left behind more than bodies, though, something less tangible but possibly more damaging: embers now growing into thick, hot flames deep down in the center of me.”
Wyatt and her best friend Cash Peters are in the thick of it. Both still healing from the deaths of their own mothers, the two cling to each other. But somewhere along their years of friendship, Wyatt started to feel more than platonic feelings toward Cash. When his pleading and pitiful rejection strikes her in the heart, she begins to form a tentative friendship with a boy he hates. A class project pairs Wyatt with Porter Dawes, and as they get closer, she begins to shed that hard, cold she’ll that she grew from years of being attached at the hip to Cash. And Wyatt both despises and is thrilled by it.
With the town in the middle of another November, Wyatt tries to keep a tight hold to her better judgement while still trying to figure out who killed her mother. This town holds a plethora of secrets and they might be closer to Wyatt than she thinks.
This was PHENOMENAL! I found myself completely drawn to both Wyatt and Cash’s relationship and Wyatt and Porter’s relationship. Even when things are going wrong and characters become generally unlikable, I still had this infatuation bubbling inside of me, not ready to give up hope.
I listened to this on audio and the narration was amazing. The cadence, pace and the deeper notes of the narrator’s voice lent to the downright creepy factor of this book.
“We may have been in pieces, but we were more than the sum of them. We had to be. Otherwise, what did we have left but the pain?”
In the small town of Wolf Ridge, Vermont, Wyatt Green is convinced that every November, the people living there go a little crazy. They all collectively suffer from this sickness that makes them bloodthirsty and craving carnage, either directed towards others or internalized and directed towards ones self.
For as long as she can remember, people in the town die from suicide or commit unspeakable crimes against others, leaving behind an insane body count for such a small place.
“All that violence left behind more than bodies, though, something less tangible but possibly more damaging: embers now growing into thick, hot flames deep down in the center of me.”
Wyatt and her best friend Cash Peters are in the thick of it. Both still healing from the deaths of their own mothers, the two cling to each other. But somewhere along their years of friendship, Wyatt started to feel more than platonic feelings toward Cash. When his pleading and pitiful rejection strikes her in the heart, she begins to form a tentative friendship with a boy he hates. A class project pairs Wyatt with Porter Dawes, and as they get closer, she begins to shed that hard, cold she’ll that she grew from years of being attached at the hip to Cash. And Wyatt both despises and is thrilled by it.
With the town in the middle of another November, Wyatt tries to keep a tight hold to her better judgement while still trying to figure out who killed her mother. This town holds a plethora of secrets and they might be closer to Wyatt than she thinks.
This was PHENOMENAL! I found myself completely drawn to both Wyatt and Cash’s relationship and Wyatt and Porter’s relationship. Even when things are going wrong and characters become generally unlikable, I still had this infatuation bubbling inside of me, not ready to give up hope.
I listened to this on audio and the narration was amazing. The cadence, pace and the deeper notes of the narrator’s voice lent to the downright creepy factor of this book.
gonetoseethelibrarian's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Violence, Child death, Toxic friendship, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Addiction
rorysponhouse's review
2.0
i struggled to get through this. it’s not a bad book by any means but i don’t think it was my specific cup of tea!
pelargonia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hobbitsbooksandbeyond's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
terriblelynne's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ains28's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
melbsreads's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Trigger warnings: death, murder, death of a parent (in the past), violence, blood, car accident, drug use, alcohol abuse, toxic relationship, mental health, attempted rape
This started off so well for me. It was tense and gripping and unsettling and creepy. The story was written in a compelling way and I really liked the concept of the small town and the violence that seems to happen every November, regardless of what people do. I also really liked the idea that it was a combination of horror and thriller and contemporary, but a very HUMAN kind of horror, you know?
And then somewhere along the way it got a little TOO contemporary and a little too real for me. Like, it wasn't BAD. It just became a little too focused on a toxic relationship and a little less horror-y than I wanted it to be and the ending was something of a let down for me personally. But it was still gripping so we'll call it a win.
This started off so well for me. It was tense and gripping and unsettling and creepy. The story was written in a compelling way and I really liked the concept of the small town and the violence that seems to happen every November, regardless of what people do. I also really liked the idea that it was a combination of horror and thriller and contemporary, but a very HUMAN kind of horror, you know?
And then somewhere along the way it got a little TOO contemporary and a little too real for me. Like, it wasn't BAD. It just became a little too focused on a toxic relationship and a little less horror-y than I wanted it to be and the ending was something of a let down for me personally. But it was still gripping so we'll call it a win.
aclopez6's review
3.0
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read an arc version of this book!
The premise of this book drew me in--a mysterious illness that causes an entire town to be consumed by murderous thoughts each November? Intriguing. The book itself is a bit more than that. Somehow, it also feels darker than I anticipated and desired, but that’s a personal preference.
What I did like: there are a sprinkling of newspaper clippings that highlight different deaths--including a teacher killing two toddlers and our main character, Wyatt’s own mother’s murder. Provides some context building while still keeping the story going. I also found the relationship between Wyatt and her dad intriguing, and his character was very supportive.
What I wasn’t a fan of: the characters and some of the writing/use of figurative language. This is all personal preference. This book will be a quick read for many students and they might love it. Personally, I found Wyatt unlikeable and unrelatable. Again, preference-wise, I did not love the overdramatic figurative language used to describe how Wyatt was navigating the trauma of her mom’s death, nor how Wyatt interacted with Quinn or Cash. Cash was especially unlikeable and confusing--his motives and the choices he makes are all over the place, and I wish there was more character development and backstory for him.
Although I did not love this book personally, it was okay enough that I would put it in a school library if offered the opportunity. Still, I would not put it in my classroom library, nor could I see myself recommending this to a student.
The premise of this book drew me in--a mysterious illness that causes an entire town to be consumed by murderous thoughts each November? Intriguing. The book itself is a bit more than that. Somehow, it also feels darker than I anticipated and desired, but that’s a personal preference.
What I did like: there are a sprinkling of newspaper clippings that highlight different deaths--including a teacher killing two toddlers and our main character, Wyatt’s own mother’s murder. Provides some context building while still keeping the story going. I also found the relationship between Wyatt and her dad intriguing, and his character was very supportive.
What I wasn’t a fan of: the characters and some of the writing/use of figurative language. This is all personal preference. This book will be a quick read for many students and they might love it. Personally, I found Wyatt unlikeable and unrelatable. Again, preference-wise, I did not love the overdramatic figurative language used to describe how Wyatt was navigating the trauma of her mom’s death, nor how Wyatt interacted with Quinn or Cash. Cash was especially unlikeable and confusing--his motives and the choices he makes are all over the place, and I wish there was more character development and backstory for him.
Although I did not love this book personally, it was okay enough that I would put it in a school library if offered the opportunity. Still, I would not put it in my classroom library, nor could I see myself recommending this to a student.