kitsunebi_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I wish so much that I could give more stars to The Unquiet. I found a kindred spirit with Rinn, I was that weird girl in school, suffering from anxiety. I also found a surprising ghost story. Anymore it's hard for me to find a story that I can't figure out the ending long before I get there, let alone not anticipate "scares". This book left me with my mouth hanging open wondering what the frick? I was so into this book that I dealt with goose bumps and creepy feelings, so much that I started to freak out at normal house noises, even though I was alone, honestly it was broad day light. LOVED IT! Please tell me there's more from Jeannine Garsee in the future. Must read for anyone who wants a scare, perfect for Halloween.
bookishnicole's review against another edition
5.0
What a really terrific book. Surely it isn't one that should be read before bedtime. (I made that mistake when I started reading it). It was a super quick read to move through. Although the resolution of Analiese's secret was a little predictable, I loved the journey getting there. I loved meeting all different characters and seeing how they were all connected and related to each other.
I also loved how Rinn's relationship with Nate was so not insta-love. Sure there was an instant attraction, but it wasn't like Nate was falling over himself to impress her and she wasn't falling over herself to impress him. Their relationship grew as they got to know each other, and how they quipped at each other.
I loved the nicknames of "farmer boy" and "surfer girl" that went back and forth between Rinn and Nate. I loved that he wouldn't take any sass that she threw at him. I liked that their relationship progressed as normally as one could over the span of two months and under the conditions that they faced.
It was interesting to get to see life from Rinn's POV as she talked about battling her bipolar disorder and also getting to see how she handled going of her meds. It was upsetting to see how people doubted her sanity just because of what she had gone through, but it was important for her to go through that I suppose.
I also liked how Rinn stood up for Cecilia when Lacey attacked her verbally. I thought it was also interesting that Rinn was made out to be this tough guy kinda girl who didn't take anything lying down. I liked how her experiences made her stronger in the end and made her fight everything that Annaliese was doing.
I really can't give too much away without giving up this twisted plot, but you may just have to take my word for it that this book was really splendid and I plan on going out and buying as soon as I have to necessary funds.
I also loved how Rinn's relationship with Nate was so not insta-love. Sure there was an instant attraction, but it wasn't like Nate was falling over himself to impress her and she wasn't falling over herself to impress him. Their relationship grew as they got to know each other, and how they quipped at each other.
I loved the nicknames of "farmer boy" and "surfer girl" that went back and forth between Rinn and Nate. I loved that he wouldn't take any sass that she threw at him. I liked that their relationship progressed as normally as one could over the span of two months and under the conditions that they faced.
It was interesting to get to see life from Rinn's POV as she talked about battling her bipolar disorder and also getting to see how she handled going of her meds. It was upsetting to see how people doubted her sanity just because of what she had gone through, but it was important for her to go through that I suppose.
I also liked how Rinn stood up for Cecilia when Lacey attacked her verbally. I thought it was also interesting that Rinn was made out to be this tough guy kinda girl who didn't take anything lying down. I liked how her experiences made her stronger in the end and made her fight everything that Annaliese was doing.
I really can't give too much away without giving up this twisted plot, but you may just have to take my word for it that this book was really splendid and I plan on going out and buying as soon as I have to necessary funds.
novelheartbeat's review against another edition
4.0
Find more reviews by me at Auntie Spinelli Reads
This book was totally creepy! It grabbed my attention right from the beginning and refused to let go. Suspenseful and chilling, I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, wondering what would happen next.
I just want to get something off my mind right now before I go any further: I don't know what's up with killing felines in books lately, but it really needs to stop. It doesn't add anything to the story except outrage (for me, at least) and it's not cool AT ALL. This one wasn't a senseless killing and didn't go in depth very much (although it was mentioned a few too many times), so I was able to continue reading the story and still enjoy it (unlike Origin, which I couldn't even finish). I think that was the biggest negative about this book for me.
Rinn was alright, I suppose. I didn't connect with her too well, but she didn't have any majorly irritating personality flaws. Most of the issues she had were from being bipolar, but I felt like that was portrayed pretty realistically. I didn't care for Nate, though. He was a bit one-dimensional - little to no personality to speak of. Therefore, I didn't care for the romance either. The relationship between Nate and Rinn was just meh, and even annoying at times (say, her friend died and she was thinking about how horny she was?) and I felt nothing for them as a couple.
I didn't really care about any of the characters, to tell you the truth. The only thing I felt for anyone was hatred: Lacy. She was such a bitch! If she was real, I'd knock her teeth out. She was so unabashedly rude, especially to the 'fat' girl (I can't even remember her name now). All in all, the character's personalities just felt inconsistent to me. I don't really know how to explain that, they just were. If that makes any sense. >.<
Despite all that, I still enjoyed this one. The pacing was quite fast because crazy shiz kept happening and I was dying to know what was going on! Strange things were happening to everyone, and everyone was doing strange things...it made me feel a bit crazy just reading it! And the way some things happened, it was hard to tell if it was actually real or if it was Rinn's imagination. The suspense factor was what made this story.
Everything with Annaliese was creepy and haunting! You never knew what was going to happen next. The chilling background story was fabulous, although it was a bit predictable - I guessed a certain person's involvement right away (there was an hint dropped that tipped me off). But I didn't guess the rest, or why Annaliese was after Rinn and her friends.
By the way, that ending - wow! Talk about leaving it wide open. It doesn't say anything about a sequel on Goodreads, but it could definitely be a possibility with the way it left off (as per a typical horror story).
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
This book was totally creepy! It grabbed my attention right from the beginning and refused to let go. Suspenseful and chilling, I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, wondering what would happen next.
I just want to get something off my mind right now before I go any further: I don't know what's up with killing felines in books lately, but it really needs to stop. It doesn't add anything to the story except outrage (for me, at least) and it's not cool AT ALL. This one wasn't a senseless killing and didn't go in depth very much (although it was mentioned a few too many times), so I was able to continue reading the story and still enjoy it (unlike Origin, which I couldn't even finish). I think that was the biggest negative about this book for me.
Rinn was alright, I suppose. I didn't connect with her too well, but she didn't have any majorly irritating personality flaws. Most of the issues she had were from being bipolar, but I felt like that was portrayed pretty realistically. I didn't care for Nate, though. He was a bit one-dimensional - little to no personality to speak of. Therefore, I didn't care for the romance either. The relationship between Nate and Rinn was just meh, and even annoying at times (say, her friend died and she was thinking about how horny she was?) and I felt nothing for them as a couple.
I didn't really care about any of the characters, to tell you the truth. The only thing I felt for anyone was hatred: Lacy. She was such a bitch! If she was real, I'd knock her teeth out. She was so unabashedly rude, especially to the 'fat' girl (I can't even remember her name now). All in all, the character's personalities just felt inconsistent to me. I don't really know how to explain that, they just were. If that makes any sense. >.<
Despite all that, I still enjoyed this one. The pacing was quite fast because crazy shiz kept happening and I was dying to know what was going on! Strange things were happening to everyone, and everyone was doing strange things...it made me feel a bit crazy just reading it! And the way some things happened, it was hard to tell if it was actually real or if it was Rinn's imagination. The suspense factor was what made this story.
Everything with Annaliese was creepy and haunting! You never knew what was going to happen next. The chilling background story was fabulous, although it was a bit predictable - I guessed a certain person's involvement right away (there was an hint dropped that tipped me off). But I didn't guess the rest, or why Annaliese was after Rinn and her friends.
By the way, that ending - wow! Talk about leaving it wide open. It doesn't say anything about a sequel on Goodreads, but it could definitely be a possibility with the way it left off (as per a typical horror story).
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
acozybooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this book!! It had a great spooky/ghost feel to it, just what I was looking for. Rinn and a group of highschool kids are dealing with a haunted tunnel at their school, but Rinn is the only one who believes in it and isnt sure if she is going crazy or if its real. The story line to me stayed on track and kept me interested I couldn't put it down.
The only thing I didn't really like was, her obsession with Annaliese, I know that's what the story was based around but holy smokes, for me it got a bit annoying after awhile.
NOTE: If you looking for a book "about" bipolar this isn't for you, yes Rinn has it and you learn about what she went through with dealing and controlling it. That's about it though, I've seen this as a complaint on a few reviews.
The only thing I didn't really like was, her obsession with Annaliese, I know that's what the story was based around but holy smokes, for me it got a bit annoying after awhile.
NOTE: If you looking for a book "about" bipolar this isn't for you, yes Rinn has it and you learn about what she went through with dealing and controlling it. That's about it though, I've seen this as a complaint on a few reviews.
pikasqueaks's review against another edition
2.0
Have you ever read a book that was a complete and utter train wreck, but for whatever reason, you would feel bad if you stopped reading it? The Unquiet was one of those books for me. I had a hard time committing myself to finishing the book, and mostly it was because it was a NetGalley, and I’d feel bad if I didn’t review it in the end.
The Unquiet is another book that grossly sensationalizes mental illness, turning it into the butt of numerous jokes throughout the story. Rinn is a boring, bland, run-of-the-mill, bratty, “look how angry I am at the world” teenage whose only defining characteristics are that she is The New Girl, and she has a mental illness. She treats her mother like garbage, treats the people around her like they’re disposable, is judgmental, picky, frustrating, and at no time during this book do I stop feeling annoyed at her and start caring about what happens to her. There is absolutely nothing, whatsoever, that makes her the kind of character that I want to follow around for an entire book. Instead of being the strong, loud, bold protagonist she was intended to be, Rinn falls into the trap of being snarky and predictable.
So then we have all of the other characters -- a bunch of snotty little bullies who make fun of one another, their classmates, and at times, Rinn. We’re to believe that this group of “Mean Girls” just accepts Rinn, despite the depths Rinn goes to in order to “stand out.” Somehow, Rinn also doesn’t mind the fact that these girls are incredibly rude and not even very nice to herself -- which makes me wonder... what’s the point? Rinn tries to stop the girls from picking on one of the classmates, but even so, it doesn’t stop her from associating with them.
Rinn also strikes up a romance with the first guy she sees, who just so happens to be the son of her mother’s ex-boyfriend. How coincidental. There is not much to suggest that there is any reason chemistry between the two, aside from a few scenes where they talk, and that alone isn’t enough for me to understand why they were “together” in the first place, if not solely for furthering the plot. The romance is stale, and you’re left to wonder: what are supposed to get out of this? Rinn opens up to him, but again, why?
If it sounds like I’m being hypercritical here, perhaps I am. I take issue with books that grossly sensationalize mental illness, turn them into the butt of a joke, or a plot point related to paranormal or spiritual happenings. There is so little respect paid to people who manage mental illnesses every day, and to have some bratty teenager bouncing around making jokes about how she’s “crazy” and all of the off-putting ALL CAPS I NEED MY MEDS statements, I’m completely put off. It reeks of LiveJournal circa 2003. Not to mention, the explanations of the symptoms of her illness are told in such force that it reads as though she’s reading from an old textbook. The fact that she doesn’t even take her own illness seriously, making glib comments about hallucinations and acting like it’s all one big ol’ joke the whole time is completely off-putting.
But to make matters worse, we don’t get a glimpse of what Rinn was like before. We find out what happened with Rinn and her Grandmother, and we know how heavy a weight she carries with her because of it. But we also don’t get to know the intricacies of her mental illness, we don’t get to know how it started, how she felt, or anything like that. Further on, we find that she actually enjoys her manic episodes. That is, of course, fairly common -- and the reason for that is typically that the person doesn’t even know that there is something wrong. They might not want to ever come down, because it all feels so good. In that aspect, the writer absolutely gets it right. But I’m still not sold on Rinn’s relationship with her mental illness, or her medication routine. But we don’t get to know much about Rinn aside from a few instances where her illness took over her life, and we need to.
The sensationalizing of her illness comes at the cost of ignoring all options to give Rinn some real character. When you spend so much time establishing that a character has a mental illness, and it becomes the defining characteristic, or what comes across as the sole purpose of their existence or being a character in a book, you’ve turned it into a spectacle. You’ve made it into Bipolar Disorder: Look How Quirky It Can Be! Doesn’t Rinn, or any other character, deserve to be known for more than just her mental illness? What truly bothers me is that the author even says that she works for a hospital
Writers, even teenage girls, are more than just one defining characteristic. I beg you to stop making one thing stand out about them, whether it’s a hobby, a quirk, or an event that once happened to them.
The mystery aspect of this, with the ghost and Annaliesse and what was glaringly obvious the entire time. We knew from that start what really happened all those years ago, and that made this a complete and utter flop for me. When a character comes into an on-going situation and fits into it perfectly from the start, you’re selling your entire story short. Things shouldn’t stack up that neatly. There shouldn’t be that much of a coincidence from the very start. We shouldn’t have a clear scope of who “the bad guys” are in the first two chapters alone.
Maybe I’m just growing tired of the new kid fitting in from the start, because it doesn’t mimic reality. Rinn forces herself to hang out with a throng of girls who she doesn’t really get along with. She doesn’t try to find herself a group of people she cares about, she simply snaps at them, bites at them, and forces herself on the outside. Some could argue that’s just the character, but given the rest of her traits, is that realistic?
There are few moments in the book where I felt something -- Tasha’s scene, for example. I don’t think I’ve cringed so hard in my life, imagining it as it unfolded. Some of the scenes where the characters appear “possessed” by Annaliese are captivating, and I believe that’s what pulled me through the remainder of the book.
The Unquiet is another book that grossly sensationalizes mental illness, turning it into the butt of numerous jokes throughout the story. Rinn is a boring, bland, run-of-the-mill, bratty, “look how angry I am at the world” teenage whose only defining characteristics are that she is The New Girl, and she has a mental illness. She treats her mother like garbage, treats the people around her like they’re disposable, is judgmental, picky, frustrating, and at no time during this book do I stop feeling annoyed at her and start caring about what happens to her. There is absolutely nothing, whatsoever, that makes her the kind of character that I want to follow around for an entire book. Instead of being the strong, loud, bold protagonist she was intended to be, Rinn falls into the trap of being snarky and predictable.
So then we have all of the other characters -- a bunch of snotty little bullies who make fun of one another, their classmates, and at times, Rinn. We’re to believe that this group of “Mean Girls” just accepts Rinn, despite the depths Rinn goes to in order to “stand out.” Somehow, Rinn also doesn’t mind the fact that these girls are incredibly rude and not even very nice to herself -- which makes me wonder... what’s the point? Rinn tries to stop the girls from picking on one of the classmates, but even so, it doesn’t stop her from associating with them.
Rinn also strikes up a romance with the first guy she sees, who just so happens to be the son of her mother’s ex-boyfriend. How coincidental. There is not much to suggest that there is any reason chemistry between the two, aside from a few scenes where they talk, and that alone isn’t enough for me to understand why they were “together” in the first place, if not solely for furthering the plot. The romance is stale, and you’re left to wonder: what are supposed to get out of this? Rinn opens up to him, but again, why?
If it sounds like I’m being hypercritical here, perhaps I am. I take issue with books that grossly sensationalize mental illness, turn them into the butt of a joke, or a plot point related to paranormal or spiritual happenings. There is so little respect paid to people who manage mental illnesses every day, and to have some bratty teenager bouncing around making jokes about how she’s “crazy” and all of the off-putting ALL CAPS I NEED MY MEDS statements, I’m completely put off. It reeks of LiveJournal circa 2003. Not to mention, the explanations of the symptoms of her illness are told in such force that it reads as though she’s reading from an old textbook. The fact that she doesn’t even take her own illness seriously, making glib comments about hallucinations and acting like it’s all one big ol’ joke the whole time is completely off-putting.
But to make matters worse, we don’t get a glimpse of what Rinn was like before. We find out what happened with Rinn and her Grandmother, and we know how heavy a weight she carries with her because of it. But we also don’t get to know the intricacies of her mental illness, we don’t get to know how it started, how she felt, or anything like that. Further on, we find that she actually enjoys her manic episodes. That is, of course, fairly common -- and the reason for that is typically that the person doesn’t even know that there is something wrong. They might not want to ever come down, because it all feels so good. In that aspect, the writer absolutely gets it right. But I’m still not sold on Rinn’s relationship with her mental illness, or her medication routine. But we don’t get to know much about Rinn aside from a few instances where her illness took over her life, and we need to.
The sensationalizing of her illness comes at the cost of ignoring all options to give Rinn some real character. When you spend so much time establishing that a character has a mental illness, and it becomes the defining characteristic, or what comes across as the sole purpose of their existence or being a character in a book, you’ve turned it into a spectacle. You’ve made it into Bipolar Disorder: Look How Quirky It Can Be! Doesn’t Rinn, or any other character, deserve to be known for more than just her mental illness? What truly bothers me is that the author even says that she works for a hospital
Writers, even teenage girls, are more than just one defining characteristic. I beg you to stop making one thing stand out about them, whether it’s a hobby, a quirk, or an event that once happened to them.
The mystery aspect of this, with the ghost and Annaliesse and what was glaringly obvious the entire time. We knew from that start what really happened all those years ago, and that made this a complete and utter flop for me. When a character comes into an on-going situation and fits into it perfectly from the start, you’re selling your entire story short. Things shouldn’t stack up that neatly. There shouldn’t be that much of a coincidence from the very start. We shouldn’t have a clear scope of who “the bad guys” are in the first two chapters alone.
Maybe I’m just growing tired of the new kid fitting in from the start, because it doesn’t mimic reality. Rinn forces herself to hang out with a throng of girls who she doesn’t really get along with. She doesn’t try to find herself a group of people she cares about, she simply snaps at them, bites at them, and forces herself on the outside. Some could argue that’s just the character, but given the rest of her traits, is that realistic?
There are few moments in the book where I felt something -- Tasha’s scene, for example. I don’t think I’ve cringed so hard in my life, imagining it as it unfolded. Some of the scenes where the characters appear “possessed” by Annaliese are captivating, and I believe that’s what pulled me through the remainder of the book.
nbrickman's review against another edition
4.0
I can't lie. I wanted to think it was dumb and some of the writing and characters irked me, but it was such a compulsively readable storyline and I couldn't put it down so I gave it a 4. This is not a literary 4, but a damn this was fun to read 4. ;)
emmaghanem's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I originally heard about this book through goodreads in the giveaways. I entered the giveaway because the book 1, had a gorgeous cover, and 2 sounded really good. I really love books that have to do with characters that have some kind of problem, like bi-polar disease, or something like that. It makes the book less YA cliche. I did not win the giveaway, but after I found out about The Unquiet, I heard more and more people talking about it, so I decided to pick it up. I recieved this book as a gift during Christmas time.
The characters were extremely well written. I loved Rinn, and I loved how she did not have a filter, and she would just say whatever was on her mind. I grew very attached to Rinn throughout this book. I loved not only her character, but also her situation, and I'm happy that it got somewhat resolved for her in the end. Nate was also a good characer, and I also enjoyed the fact that he wasn't one of the typical boys in YA. I loved how after Rinn told him about everything, he didn't get scared, and run away, unlike Meg's ex Jared..
Not only did I love the characters, but I loved the plot line. It was spooky, and I liked that a lot about the book. There were some points where I was actually scared, and I had to read a bit of another book, so that I could fall asleep. I think that The Unquiet would make it into my favourites if some of the characters hadn't died. I feel like I wouldn't be able to read it again, because then I would just get sad over the characters again. Not that I won't read it again, because I definitely will, I'm just saying that I won't be able to re-read it like 100 times. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I am wondering if there is supposed to be a sequel maybe? I don't really know. The ending kind of confused me a bit, and I don't know if Jeannine Garsee is setting it up for a second.
We'll see!:)
The characters were extremely well written. I loved Rinn, and I loved how she did not have a filter, and she would just say whatever was on her mind. I grew very attached to Rinn throughout this book. I loved not only her character, but also her situation, and I'm happy that it got somewhat resolved for her in the end. Nate was also a good characer, and I also enjoyed the fact that he wasn't one of the typical boys in YA. I loved how after Rinn told him about everything, he didn't get scared, and run away, unlike Meg's ex Jared..
Not only did I love the characters, but I loved the plot line. It was spooky, and I liked that a lot about the book. There were some points where I was actually scared, and I had to read a bit of another book, so that I could fall asleep. I think that The Unquiet would make it into my favourites if some of the characters hadn't died. I feel like I wouldn't be able to read it again, because then I would just get sad over the characters again. Not that I won't read it again, because I definitely will, I'm just saying that I won't be able to re-read it like 100 times. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I am wondering if there is supposed to be a sequel maybe? I don't really know. The ending kind of confused me a bit, and I don't know if Jeannine Garsee is setting it up for a second.
We'll see!:)
bookishanjali's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
Rinn is Bipolar and due to one of Rinn's episodes she caused the death of her grandmother. Her mom and her pack up and move back to the town in which her mother grew up. She starts school and instantly becomes friends with the popular crowd and even has the cutest guy at school living right next to her. So with all that luck you think this would be a great start to a new beginning, until she learns that the tunnel in her school is haunted and the house she is living in has a very deep connection to the ghost that haunts the tunnel.
For the first 50 or so pages the book was mainly concentrating on Rinn, her settling in to her new place of residence and background on her bipolar disorder. But when the hauntings started and the possessions, deaths, and unfortunate accidents this book got creepy fast. Especially when like me you choose to read it in the middle of the night. What really made me find The Unquiet an enjoyable read was as much as I was loving reading about Rinn and the things that came out of her mouth which by the way the girl doesn't hold back for anyone which was a breath of fresh air, I found the story of Annelise just as intriguing if not more. I was curious about her, who was she, what happened to her that turned her into such an evil spirit, and why was she only attacking a select few of the kids, all these questions kept me engrossed in the book till the very last page.
As for her friends I was not a fan of them, they were so horrible I don't understand how anyone can be friends with girls like that. I did like Nate which is why I found myself hoping nothing bad happens to him since it seemed like everyone who was close to Rinn came to meet some form of tragedy.
Overall Garsee created a spine-chilling ghost story that readers will devour.
Rinn is Bipolar and due to one of Rinn's episodes she caused the death of her grandmother. Her mom and her pack up and move back to the town in which her mother grew up. She starts school and instantly becomes friends with the popular crowd and even has the cutest guy at school living right next to her. So with all that luck you think this would be a great start to a new beginning, until she learns that the tunnel in her school is haunted and the house she is living in has a very deep connection to the ghost that haunts the tunnel.
For the first 50 or so pages the book was mainly concentrating on Rinn, her settling in to her new place of residence and background on her bipolar disorder. But when the hauntings started and the possessions, deaths, and unfortunate accidents this book got creepy fast. Especially when like me you choose to read it in the middle of the night. What really made me find The Unquiet an enjoyable read was as much as I was loving reading about Rinn and the things that came out of her mouth which by the way the girl doesn't hold back for anyone which was a breath of fresh air, I found the story of Annelise just as intriguing if not more. I was curious about her, who was she, what happened to her that turned her into such an evil spirit, and why was she only attacking a select few of the kids, all these questions kept me engrossed in the book till the very last page.
As for her friends I was not a fan of them, they were so horrible I don't understand how anyone can be friends with girls like that. I did like Nate which is why I found myself hoping nothing bad happens to him since it seemed like everyone who was close to Rinn came to meet some form of tragedy.
Overall Garsee created a spine-chilling ghost story that readers will devour.
itssofia's review against another edition
5.0
Ever read a book which once yo put it down, to take a break or have lunch, you feel like you are being watched by one of the characters in it? Well, this is THAT kind of book. So, so creepy! But loved it! :)
bosicbyi's review against another edition
4.0
The Unquiet was a wonderful read. The plot was original and I enjoyed the drama/paranormal aspect. The story and characters were well thought of and written well. I absolutely LOVE urban legends and this book was a great example. I also enjoyed the authors note at the end. I did find myself towards the middle/end just wanting to get the book over with, it dragged a bit for me. However I did enjoy The Unquiet and rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
http://memoriesovertakingme.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-unquiet-by-jeannine-garsee.html
http://memoriesovertakingme.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-unquiet-by-jeannine-garsee.html