A review by smileysam
Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed this book and tore through it in one sitting. I find it rare that I read something that makes me feel genuinely uneasy and this book conveyed that very well. The first chapter felt like a nightmare that the reader alongside the narrator couldn’t wake up from. There were many instances that gave me that stomach-dropping feeling (the Boxes chapter especially). I know some people complain that not every question is answered, but to me, that almost adds to the narrative and way the story is told throughout the book. I found that the themes of this book felt, unfortunately, very grounded in reality. This felt like a story that could happen, which made it all the more terrifying. 
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