Tag: Psychological

Book Review

Don’t Let the Forest In

TheShelfLife

Don’t Let the Forest In by CG Drews

Publication Date: October 2024| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Not a book everyone will love, but those who do will fall deep into the characters and their monsters.

4.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Andrew finds solace in Thomas and his twin sister Dove. They are what get him through days at Wickwood Academy. Andrew finds balance with Thomas’s drawings of the dark and twisty fairytale stories he writes. When arriving back at school, Thomas learns his parents are missing with a bloody mess left behind. As he pulls away from everyone, Andrew realizes that Thomas is not only fighting internal monsters, but actual monsters of his drawings come to life.

My Analysis: This is not a book that everyone will enjoy, you have to be willing to tolerate the slow pace and really getting to know the deeper minds of the characters in order to fully appreciate it. I think this particularly applies to the general YA reader population. The style of writing is very artistic as well, with a TON of imagery throughout. That being said, I thought it was great. I was a little skeptical at first, but once I got into it I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The way the author describes some of Andrews thoughts is truly mesmerizing. The depth of Andrew and Thomas’s relationship toward one another…chef’s kiss. There are some trigger warnings to be aware of, which are also presented at the start: depiction of eating disorders, self-harm, and quite a bit of blood/gore. There is a solid twist towards the end that I did not see coming, but very much appreciated. If you’re looking for something hauntingly beautiful and deep with a touch of psychological thriller, you need to read this one. Side note, it’s a perfect book to read for the fall season.

Book Review

The Return of Ellie Black

TheShelfLife

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

Publication Date: May 2024

Overall Verdict: A solid thriller that will keep you guessing and make your heart wrench for the characters. An adult novel with YA crossover potential. Recommended!

5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Detective Chelsey Calhoun has been trying her entire career to help find missing girls, in hopes of finding closure for her sister who had gone missing when they were teens. When a cold case of Chelsey’s is suddenly active again with the reappearance of Ellie Black who vanished two years ago, she begins to dive deeper into what happened. As she questions Ellie however, it becomes clear that she is not sharing all the information about what has happened to her.

My Analysis: This is an adult novel, but absolutely has the ability to be of interest (and appropriate where applicable) for older YA readers. Content warning there is non-graphic depictions of sexual abuse. You are given both the detectives perspective as well as the teen who had been missing, so YA readers can still make a connection. It is a fast-paced thriller and I like how the author connected the dots through multiple perspectives. There are some interesting twists (one of which I wasn’t totally a fan of, but it worked) that really keep you wanting more. I do wish that the ending had been expanded upon. I get where the author wanted to cut things off, but I wanted to know more about the aftermath of things. Overall if you are a fan of thrillers, particularly missing persons/kidnapping plots, you need to read this one.

Book Review

Tender Beasts

TheShelfLife

Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

Publication Date: February 2024 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Intense psychological thriller that shows the intricacies of family and how far they will go to support one another.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Sunny has 4 siblings, one of whom is being charged with murder. Her mothers dying wish was for her to be the leader of the family, but her older sister takes on the role before she could even start. When an increasing number of murders rock the private school that her family owns and attends, Sunny dives deeper into uncovering the killer. Working with her accused brother who she barely knows, they look to discover family secrets that have long been buried.

My Analysis: This is a solid psychological thriller/horror book. The focus is definitely on the Behre family, their secrets, and how far they will go to better themselves and protect one another. Even though this book is filled with murder, not a ton really happens throughout, but at the same time it still works well in keeping you guessing and interested. There is an entity that is worshiped, and the author does a nice job of making the reader question reality vs supernatural elements. On that note, the author does provide a list of triggers at the beginning of the book that people may find helpful. My favorite part of the novel was the deceased mothers journal entries from when she was a teen that are dispersed throughout. It was a nice way to give some necessary background information and helped to keep any reveals well-timed. If you liked Delicious Monsters, you’ll definitely like this one as well. It has a very similar vibe, although a very different story. If you’re into psychological thrillers and family drama, this one is for you.