thewizardofbooks's reviews
1232 reviews
Tell Me What Really Happened by Chelsea Sedoti
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
“She used to tell me, “Never apologize for taking up space in the world.”
Four interrogation rooms and four first person accounts of a camping trip gone incredibly wrong. Tell Me What Really Happened is a fast paced thriller, full of twists and a semblance of the supernatural.
The story picks up in a police station with a leading question and four teenagers attempting to recount how their night ended there and what happened to the fifth camper. Maylee, someone who wants to be remembered for any reason, girlfriend of John, and wannabe influencer, is missing and no one seems to know what happened.
So who are the other campers?
There’s Petra, a know-it-all, quick witted girl who is always prepared and always in control. Nolan, a believer of the supernatural, specifically Bigfoots (yes that’s plural). John, vice president of the Student Council and an all around popular guy (though he wouldn’t define himself that way). Abigail, a surprise addition to the trip, invited by Maylee, and someone who is quite familiar with the woods.
As each of the characters explain what happened, viewpoints conflict and the reader is left wondering who, if anyone, is reliable.
A little jarring at first, but easily read, the book is formatted like an audio transcript, just dialogue. There is no filler or description that is not directly spoken by one of the four witnesses as they lay out what happened. The teenagers do give details which build the world, and generally their language and manner of speaking is realistic. Most of the time it does feel as if someone is truly telling a story but there are bits and pieces that didn’t make sense in dialogue and as I read I kept thinking, no one really talks like this, or at least, teenagers don’t. Don’t get me wrong though, the fast pace of the book didn’t keep me too hung up on the language and the isolated setting had me genuinely feeling creeped out a few times.
Beyond language, the formatting didn’t leave a lot of room for connecting with the characters, and I never really cared about what would happen to them. (Except maybe John, who was falsely accused of a crime in the past and is being accused of something now. It’s a look at racism and how being black means there are often obstacles to jump over that others wouldn’t have.) All of the characters had their flaws and none of them were really likable.
The pace of the book kept me invested in the outcome and flipping pages as fast as I could. Sedoti’s style is great for those who may get easily distracted when reading or those who want something to speed through. It’s unique, thrilling, and mildly unpredictable. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a multiple perspective YA thriller.
LGBTQ+ Representation -
Spoiler
- Abigail is thought to be a Lesbian though this identity is never outright said. Maylee and Petra were exes and Maylee is potentially bisexual but definitely queer.I received a digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Murder, Gun violence, Alcohol, and Racism
Royal Blood by Aimée Carter
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Royal Blood was a pleasant surprise hit. I went in expecting royalty, murder and a splash of chaos and that was exactly what I got (with slightly more chaos).
The twists and turns of the plot kept me genuinely guessing the outcome and the character growth was honest and well thought out. I really appreciated the sort of “found family” Evan found herself in (even if they technically were related to her).
Carter writes about some delicate topics with sensitivity but also with a bluntness that was truly welcomed. This book gets emotional in places but doesn’t get bogged down with it nor do the character’s emotions feel overshadowed by anything else.
It is an onion of a book with layers of romance, thriller, mystery, and family drama. It’s about Evan as she learns to accept herself and how to open up and welcome in those who could be good friends if she let them.
I’m looking forward to future installments in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
Love and Other Scams by Philip Ellis
Beyond the general romantic plotline, Love and Other Scams is full of wit, chemistry and some slight law breaking. It doesn’t really have any spice, so if that’s what you’re looking for in a romance this might not be the book for you. But, it does have some great shenanigans, banter, and feel good family moments.
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was the perfect morally grey romance where two con artists decide to join forces and swap a priceless engagement ring for a fake. Full of some of my favorite tropes (Only one bed, Fake Dating), this book tugged at my heart strings and made me root for Cat and Jake until the very end.
Of course, in these types of books there is always a communication problem. One where if the characters just talked to each other, the main “conflict” wouldn’t be as big. Cat and Jake both have their own issues and reasons why they need money and that certainly adds to their miscommunication.
Beyond the general romantic plotline, Love and Other Scams is full of wit, chemistry and some slight law breaking. It doesn’t really have any spice, so if that’s what you’re looking for in a romance this might not be the book for you. But, it does have some great shenanigans, banter, and feel good family moments.
Occulted by Amy Rose, Ryan Estrada
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Occulted is first and foremost about abuse. It's a horrifying account of belittlement and how people can so easily fall prey to a corrupt power structure. I sped through this graphic novel, shedding a few tears at the portrayal of Amy's childhood and more than a few times wanting to reach through the pages to protect her.
The art style complimented the story in a really wonderful way, with the simplicity of the characters and finer details where it counted most.
Over all I really enjoyed this graphic memoir, though I would have preferred a bit more length with a more rounded ending.
The art style complimented the story in a really wonderful way, with the simplicity of the characters and finer details where it counted most.
Over all I really enjoyed this graphic memoir, though I would have preferred a bit more length with a more rounded ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse