Jordyn Emma Hause

I loved this book at first. A cute story turned creepy fast. I enjoyed the female lead’s photography hobby. The plot went to a place where I didn't think it would be able to come back around full circle, and yet it did. The creeps intensified, and I almost actually enjoyed the ending. Then when I sit back and ponder this read, I realize it is one of those where the resolution is: none of it even happened in the first place. These make me fume. If only it concluded in any other manner. Although I understand the implication. Excluding the ending and the most cliche of cliche affairs [not to mention straight-up awkward sex scenes], I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

“What he didn’t understand was that we weren’t choosing this. Not anymore, anyway. The first time Simone threw up, she made that choice. And no one else made me go on my bikini diet. But after a while, our eating disorders messed with our brains. They became something we didn’t have control over. Something we couldn’t stop by ourselves even if we wanted to.” Elizabeth is a 16-year-old girl lost in her eating disorder. She gets admitted into treatment after a high school rally stunt goes wrong, and she gets injured. While in treatment, Elizabeth realizes all she is missing out on, including her peer’s true colors. Bullies and jealous boys; a mother concerned for her daughter's success. Elizabeth has to navigate all of this and an eating disorder. A very knowledgeable and to-the-point outlook on anorexia. The plot was somewhat difficult to relate to, but I had to remind myself that I'm not 16 anymore. When I put myself back into that mindset, it struck me. My mother wasn't exactly the type like Elizabeth's, but reading this brought to light the toxicity that had lingered in my adolescence. I just swept it under the rug and labeled it as if she cared about my health and well-being. I felt as though the dialog used became repetitive and 2-D. Although very informative, I took a lot of excellently written short quotes away from this read. I wished there would have been more character development and attention to detail. There were parts that I loved so much, and I knew there could have been so much more. I was waiting for the climax of the story; it ended up being underwhelming in a way. I would recommend this to the YA reader, struggling with mental health or not. It loses some of its intensity to the older reader (At least in my opinion!). Overall, I feel good to have read this book.

"Some days are worse than others, my love, some days better than most." Bee would have never thought that her holiday to France would end with a bomb blowing up her tour bus. Her father, Bish Ortley, got the heart-wrenching call no father wants to receive; though Bee came out of it without a scratch, it was, without a doubt, traumatizing. Bish was a cop on suspension, with alcoholism he refuses to admit. His ex-wife is now married off and newly pregnant with her new husband. What Bish now had on his hands was not only a gruesome tragedy that took lives and limbs; but a sticky, messy situation. One that he would, unfortunately, become involved in personally. The issue at hand was international, maybe even a terrorist attack. Everyone is asking the same question, why blow up a busload of British kids? What’s the motive? Was it meant for them, or simply the wrong place at the wrong time? Instantly I was hooked. Character development was top-tier, and the pacing was good. Although, the story seemed to lose its grasp quickly. I did find myself bored at multiple points throughout the story. It, however, held up. I felt drawn back to it. The ending was not predictable (at least for me), and it upheld my expectations. The messages told throughout this mystery are one of the reasons I enjoy it so much. Forcing me to delve into topics I don’t think about myself often. The ending taught me how important it is not to let your misery overcome you. Bad things will happen that are inevitable. You are allowed to be sad, angry, etc. You are allowed to feel your emotions, but don’t allow them to drive you into a hole. Some things are simply not preventable, even going back in time won’t change the force of fate.

“cooling down Cheerwine with a fire extinguisher,” Rex McClendon, Leif Nelson, and Alicia Boykins are a best-friend trio enjoying summer: 1992 before freshman year starts at Bleak Creek High. Eager to enter -and win- that year's film festival with their horror masterpiece "Polter-Dog", they take every opportunity they've got to get the perfect shot. Only, their cinematic plans go awry during a public cookout, and that's the last straw for Alicia's parents. She gets sent to a private reformatory school for young delinquents, in hopes to improve her attitude and keep her out of trouble. Unbeknownst to her parents, this school is merely a front for the headmaster Wayne Whitewood's mysterious deeds. Over the past decade, there have been several "accidental" deaths of students at the school. Strangely enough, the public doesn't seem to bat an eye at this, and no investigations take place. Rex and Leif won't let anything happen to their best friend Alicia, not if they can help it. Janine Blitstein is a recent NYU film school graduate who is traveling to Bleak Creek in hopes to shoot a documentary, and spending time visiting her Gam Gam. Trying to find a subject to revolve the documentary around, Janine is compelled to this Whitewood School she hears the locals mention. After some research, she stumbles on the newspaper articles that cover the horrendous "accidents" that took place at Whitewood over the past decade. Something is not right. She now knows what the subject of her documentary will be, and is eager to discover and expose the truth. I really, really enjoyed this book! I'm not sure I've read a book as lightning fast as I did with this one, once I got started I could not put it down. The multiple storylines were so entertaining and wholesome. I loved how this book could get me so enveloped in the story that I got chills when things got real creepy. The storytelling was just awesome. The little Rhett and Link details sprinkled throughout the story really made me smile, too. I think even if you didn't know who Rhett and Link are, you'd enjoy this book, but if you do it makes it just that much better.

"I can crawl inside my head where nothing hurts." Michelle is a 14-year-old girl escaping her drug-addicted mother to New York. Only, she did not find her best friend and the pink houses she looked forward to in New York. I read this story in a day; I couldn't put it down, keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I could not relate to this story at all. I couldn't even imagine going through what Michelle did. Heart-wrenching. What would I do if I was in trouble? Such a great read from start to finish. I have 0 complaints; an excellently written story.

"Nobody truly knows me, but I suppose that's the way it is for everyone. Or at least I hope so. We seem to have the tendency to put on a front in the best interest of ourselves, but eventually these fronts weld themselves to us until we no longer recognize our own soul in the mirror." At first, I was skeptical. The plot was slow to develop, and the characters were very 2D. But it all came together very excellently well in the end. A fantastic, dramatic, emotional read. tic, emotional read.

“If the others heard me talking out loud they would think that I am crazy. But since I am not, I do not care.” Having never read anything by Hemingway, this was a great introduction. I love books that make me put myself in the main character's shoes, especially when they are going through a huge struggle. It made me nervous almost, trying to think of everything Santiago went through in this book. I never could have done what he did, considering as well his condition and age. It's unbelievable and inspiring.

“Acceptance doesn't mean you like something, doesn't mean you're comfortable with it. But it does mean that you acknowledge it for what it is.” I enjoyed this book above and beyond any other one I have read based on eating disorders. It left me crying at parts throughout, and it all built up at the end. It was refreshing to feel neither happy nor completely distraught. Extremely accurate and exciting to read.

"He wanted to be the biggest ever caught," he said. Then he leaned in, pointing at my notebook. "If you publish this story, ultimately you are giving him what he wanted. And by talking to you I guess I am, too. This is what he wanted. This story to be told, in this way." A Jaw-dropping true story of an international crime lord. I was astonished by what I learned from this read. From the grey areas of US laws to cybercrime, and murder for hire, there was never a point during this story where I was bored. This was chilling. Makes me want to read more non-fiction and true crime for sure.

“Whenever I am unable to walk, climb out sail away from the world, I have learned to shut it out.” “Wonder is involuntary. It is not something I choose, but rather I wonder because I simply cannot let it be.” It is a rather watered-down take on philosophy, nevertheless a comforting, conversational read. I enjoyed the parallels drawn between physical exploration and inward exploration. Silence is indeed important, and the excerpts taken from philosophers were well-placed. Kagge’s perspective on silence is fascinating. This is an afternoon read, especially if you are eager to dip your toes into philosophy. Very light, but will still cause you to stretch your mind.