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A review by selendrea
This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This Thing Between Us is a dizzying and at times uncomfortable exploration of grief, feeling burdened by our family history, and abstract, cosmic horror. Moreno is a master at blending conversational sentences that flow like a train of thought with dazzling descriptive prose. This novel has one of my favorite depictions of grief - so raw, infectious, and emotional. I related a lot to Thiago and Vera's relationship and found them to be incredibly realistic as a couple: flawed, yet two pieces of a puzzle that complete one another.
While this is primarily a story about grief, the horror scenes did not disappoint. Additionally, Moreno's exploration of Mexican-American culture, Thiago's difficulty with his heritage, and the underlying political commentary on how media cycles perpetuate victimization was particularly effective and gripping to read.
The first two thirds of this novel were impeccable, and I didn't mind the plot moving in an unexpected way, but I found the ending to be abrupt and confusing. I normally enjoy endings that are left for interpretation, but I feel that Moreno perhaps struggled to wrap up several grandiose ideas in a satisfying way. I was left with the thought: "Style Over Substance." This could have been a more successful ending if it were slightly less vague, in my opinion. Nonetheless, I enjoyed blitzing through This Thing Between Us and it will likely stick with me for a long time.
While this is primarily a story about grief, the horror scenes did not disappoint. Additionally, Moreno's exploration of Mexican-American culture, Thiago's difficulty with his heritage, and the underlying political commentary on how media cycles perpetuate victimization was particularly effective and gripping to read.
The first two thirds of this novel were impeccable, and I didn't mind the plot moving in an unexpected way, but I found the ending to be abrupt and confusing. I normally enjoy endings that are left for interpretation, but I feel that Moreno perhaps struggled to wrap up several grandiose ideas in a satisfying way. I was left with the thought: "Style Over Substance." This could have been a more successful ending if it were slightly less vague, in my opinion. Nonetheless, I enjoyed blitzing through This Thing Between Us and it will likely stick with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail