Kelly Wilhelm

I'll preface this review by saying that while I have read a lot of Stephen King, this is the first book I've read with this cast of characters, as I have not read the other entries in this series. I did not enjoy this book. I know others have said it, but the constant breaks from the events of the story to go on long-winded irrelevant political tirades were jarring and honestly, dull. The same repetitive rhetoric that permeates every aspect of our daily lives in the modern era. Regardless of your positions, I think it's fine for a story to have political angles if it's relevant and enriches the story. This was not that. It was a series of jarring interruptions that ground the pacing to a hault and pulled me out of what was happening in the story. It felt like a sermon/revenge fantasy with the occasional story element thrown in. Now onto Holly herself. This book was my first introduction to Holly as a character, and she felt...fake, for lack of a better description. Holly always does everything perfect and prudent. Holly never texts while driving. Holly always picks up her cigarette butts. Holly always wears a mask. Holly looks down her nose at everyone who isn't as perfect and correct as she always is all the time. She felt completely unrelateable. Like Gallant from Goofus and Gallant. I hate to say it, but beyond just disliking the book, I would actually describe it as unpleasant to read. Even the Constant Readers might want to give this one a skip.