Book Review | The In-Between by Rebecca Ansari

Source: Preordered purchase. This is a review of my personal reading experience.

The In-Between is a middle grade horror novel by Rebecca Ansari.

Cooper is lost. Ever since his father left their family three years ago, he has become distant from his friends, constantly annoyed by his little sister, Jess, and completely fed up with the pale, creepy rich girl who moved in next door, who won’t stop staring at him.

So when Cooper learns of an unsolved mystery his sister has discovered online, he welcomes the distraction. It’s the tale of a deadly train crash that occurred a hundred years ago in which one young boy among the dead was never identified. The only distinguishing mark on him was a strange insignia on his suit coat, a symbol no one had seen before or since. Jess is fascinated by the mystery of the unknown child—because she’s seen the insignia. And, she tells Cooper, he has too.

It’s the symbol on the jacket of the girl next door.

As they uncover more information—and mounting evidence of the girl’s seemingly impossible connection to the tragedy—Cooper and Jess begin to wonder if a similar disaster could be heading to their hometown. Thus begins an unforgettable adventure about the forgotten among us and what it means to be seen.

The In-Between is a book you have to STICK WITH! The pay off is worth it in the end.

In The In-Between, Cooper and his sister Jess are trying to solve a mystery they discover on the internet.

Coop and Jess aren't very likeable in the beginning of The In-Between. The family dynamic is a hard one. It makes the kids bitter and they don't get along. Jess has diabetes which I did appreciate seeing here. The characters (and their friends) go through a lot of development in The In-Between, and I wound up loving them all by the end.

Honestly, I considered putting this down which would have been a shame because everything came together beautifully by the end.

The world building and the supernatural setting that was embedded in Chicago was interesting. The In-Between was a really unique ghost story and will probably wind up being one of my favorite middle grade releases from this year.

A quick note - after reading numerous ghostly MG books, I've finally learned MG ghosts usually equal child death. I should have realized this sooner. I loved this book and I highly recommend it; just know - much like Scritch Scratch, it was inspired by a real disaster. 

4/5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐★

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Book Review | We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

Source: Preordered purchase. This is a review of my personal reading experience.

We Begin at the End is a mystery novel by Chris Whitaker.

There are two kinds of families: the ones we are born into and the ones we create.

Walk has never left the coastal California town where he grew up. He may have become the chief of police, but he’s still trying to heal the old wound of having given the testimony that sent his best friend, Vincent King, to prison decades before. Now, thirty years later, Vincent is being released.

Duchess is a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Her mother, Star, grew up with Walk and Vincent. Walk is in overdrive trying to protect them, but Vincent and Star seem bent on sliding deeper into self-destruction. Star always burned bright, but recently that light has dimmed, leaving Duchess to parent not only her mother but her five-year-old brother. At school the other kids make fun of Duchess―her clothes are torn, her hair a mess. But let them throw their sticks, because she’ll throw stones. Rules are for other people. She’s just trying to survive and keep her family together.

A fortysomething-year-old sheriff and a thirteen-year-old girl may not seem to have a lot in common. But they both have come to expect that people will disappoint you, loved ones will leave you, and if you open your heart it will be broken. So when trouble arrives with Vincent King, Walk and Duchess find they will be unable to do anything but usher it in, arms wide closed.

Chris Whitaker has written an extraordinary novel about people who deserve so much more than life serves them. At times devastating, with flashes of humor and hope throughout, it is ultimately an inspiring tale of how the human spirit prevails and how, in the end, love―in all its different guises―wins

This was my first time to read Chris Whitaker. I look forward to reading more from him.

We Begin at the End was beautifully written. The characters were so well developed, flawed, and unforgettable. As much as I loved the characters, I also loved that there was a balance between plot and character. It was so well done.

I listened to the audio for much of this, and the prose and the narrator were a great fit.

It did take time for me to get sucked in, but it was such a well developed novel I'm not sure that's a bad thing.

If you love mysteries and crime novels, I highly recommend We Begin at the End, but I also recommend it for those wanting to explore other genres. 

5/5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Recent Updates and Currently Reading | December 19

It's Christmas week! Are you ready?

I'm not! I still have last minute shopping to do. This has been the worst year for getting behind on things, but I'll get it done.

I'm off of work after tomorrow. I hope to get in some reading this week, but honestly, I'm ready for some board games and Christmas movies!

Finished Reading

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox [DNF] - After I read In a Holidaze last year, I decided I'd pick up a Christmas book each year in December. My pick for this year was The Holiday Swap. Unfortunately it wasn't for me, and I dnf'ed at 51%. Please feel free to share your holiday favorites! I may try a cozy mystery next year.

The In-Between by Rebecca Ansari [⭐⭐⭐⭐★] - I really liked the In-Between. It took a while to pull me in, but I wound up loving it. I'll have a full review out later this week.

The Ash House by Angharad Walker [⭐★★★★] - I didn't like this one. I'm going to put up a full review of this one as well, but it was confusing and not a fun book to read.

Currently Reading

Cackle by Rachel Harrison - I'm really enjoying this one even though there are a lot of spiders in this book!

Ghost in the Headlights by Lindsey Duga - I'm only a few chapters in, but I enjoyed her The Haunting last year so I'm excited to be reading this one.

Added to the TBR

No Beauties or Monsters by Tara Goedjen - No Beauties or Monsters was released last week. It's been a while since I preordered it so I'm going to be going into this one pretty blind.

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This post is being shared as part of Book Date, Unleashing Readers, and Teach Mentor Texts It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Book Review | Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

Source: Preordered purchase. This is a review of my personal reading experience.

Comfort Me With Apples is a new horror novella by Catherynne M. Valente.

Sophia was made for him. Her perfect husband. She can feel it in her bones. He is perfect. Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. Everything is perfect.

It's just that he's away so much. So often. He works so hard. She misses him. And he misses her. He says he does, so it must be true. He is the perfect husband and everything is perfect.

But sometimes Sophia wonders about things. Strange things. Dark things. The look on her husband's face when he comes back from a long business trip. The questions he will not answer. The locked basement she is never allowed to enter. And whenever she asks the neighbors, they can't quite meet her gaze...

But everything is perfect. Isn't it?

I anticipate this review being a struggle to write. I loved this book but was also underwhelmed by this book. I highly recommend it - and - I don't.

I love Catherynne M. Valente. Her writing is so wonderful and her imagination is perfection. I love entering her worlds and reading her words. Comfort Me with Apples was no exception to this. The reading experience - consuming Valente's words - was a wonderful way to spend my afternoon. 

However - this type of allegorical whimsy is hard for me to fully embrace in an adult book. Overall, I enjoyed the writing very much, but I just never connected to the story.

3/5 stars
⭐⭐⭐★★

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Book Review | Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff

Too Bright to See is a middle grade horror novel by Kyle Lukoff.

I normally post the book blurb here, but based on the author's note, I think it's too spoilery for what he hopes people know going into Bug's story.

I haven't managed to keep up with reviews this year, and Too Bright to See is the book to definitely pull me out of my reviewing funk.

I loved, loved, loved this book.

In the author's note at the end of Too Bright to See, the author helps readers describe the book by providing the description he uses:

It's about a kid being haunted by the ghost of their dead uncle into figuring out something important!

That's perfect.

This is a wonderful coming-of-age book that I highly, highly recommend.

All of the stars. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/5 stars

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