Reviews

Hitze by Victor Jestin

_kristinsworld's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

”Oscar is dead because I watched him die and did nothing.”
On the last night of his family vacation, 17 year old Leo witnesses one of his popular peers in the playground being slowly strangled by the ropes of the swings. How does Leo handle stumbling upon this horrific act? He buries the body on the beach. 

This wasn’t the creepy kid thriller I expected based on the synopsis. It was more of a coming of age story filled with teenage angst, adolescent hormones and way too much time with the main character’s awkward inner thoughts. This book just wasn’t my cup of tea. The beginning had a strong start but eventually fizzled out, losing all of its initial intrigue. Perhaps some of its depth got lost in translation? Listening to the audiobook made this slightly better since I got a kick out of the narrator actually singing all the song lyrics mentioned.

joemc5054's review against another edition

4.0

A great short novella with little critiques. Compactly done, you are amazed at how much is actually happening in this book once you’ve finished it. With an ending that can always be followed up, i hope for a sequel of this in the future.

nitroglycerin's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The heat of the summer. The hormones. The unexpected body. For such a short story this packs a punch.

exhausted__reader's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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? Yes

4.0

the_quail's review against another edition

dark funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Feel like I was not in the right mood to read that. Gonna try next summer again. Rating might change

poppiesforus's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• 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? Yes

3.75

quick read, I liked the way the author represented teens, very realistic. loved it 

tkcarson's review against another edition

emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

chloehm's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

3.0

cabbagecakes's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

katrijn_vm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75