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killmoore_'s review
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Penpal is a story that takes us on a journey into the past as a man works to unravel the mystery of his lost friend and the unsettling experiences of his childhood. It is dripping with dread, and each story leaves you feeling like maaaybe you should check to make sure the doors are locked one more time before heading to bed.
What makes Penpal successful for me is what we are left without. We never see the monster. In fact, there is a significant section of this book that works to shut down the idea of our villain as the Boogeyman - he's just a man.
On its own, Penpal is horrific, but as a parent myself with 2 boys in the age range of our MC, it is absolutely gut wrenching.
I'm not giving this 5 stars simply because of the format - it reads very much like a nosleep post (which it is) and tends to be a bit wordy and disconnected at points. However, if nosleep is your jam, or maybe you just want to read something that will leave you sick to your stomach, Penpal is the perfect novel for you.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
ivymaew's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Blood, Dementia, and Car accident
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Torture, Violence, and Murder
morbidmyrna's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Kidnapping, Grief, and Stalking
finleyfrogreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Dementia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Pedophilia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cursing
katiieecat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Pedophilia, Blood, Dementia, Stalking, and Car accident
erica_reads_things's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Blood, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Dementia
falchionm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, and Car accident
aykdanroyd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, Dementia, and Car accident
Minor: Animal death and Bullying