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minimicropup's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Abashed, foolish, anguished
After graduating high school a group of girls and their classmates head to Palm Keys to celebrate. We observe the resulting events through the POV of a recent graduate who feels a like an outsider.
🇺🇸 Set at a fictional resort/vacay rental area on Palm Key Island, Florida, USA in July.
🐺Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags🐕
🤨 This read like how adults imagine teen girls AND like it was meant for younger teens but written by a parent trying too hard?
🤣 We have statements about how many followers a character has and how that means they can get any guy they want... generalize much? Not how it works.
🥸 At the same time they read how younger teens imagine being 17-19 years old. We have “omg cute boy, squeal!!!!” And “omg I HAVE to get laid tn” fronting paired with a "good girl resists temptation" character that was cheesy and immature. I kept accidentally picturing everyone as way younger than they were supposed to be.
🤖 Although the writing style is imaginative, it's also weird. Someone will ask a question so there's dialogue, and in the middle of it there are actions (like changing clothes or musing) between answering a question. So I imagined it like everyone stood around mid conversation waiting for an answer. Are they robots? Felt that way when actions were placed awkwardly in the dialogue.
👍 The characters are caricatures with slight differences and at first I felt like it would all be too predictable. Maybe, but the tropey or token characters have depth and development throughout, especially as the situation gets more dire. I like that we focused on one POV and know her "secrets" ahead of time, so baiting/omission doesn't drive the suspense.
🏠🫥 The rental property is a main feature, but I had trouble with the world building for the layout. Maybe I lost track, but I'm pretty sure some characters were on the second floor bedrooms, then later we are told they went downstairs to their bedrooms (on the first floor). Over time it was like this big 2 story house was shrinking and I lost sense of where all the rooms and yards were in relation to each other.
🤣 We have statements about how many followers a character has and how that means they can get any guy they want... generalize much? Not how it works.
🥸 At the same time they read how younger teens imagine being 17-19 years old. We have “omg cute boy, squeal!!!!” And “omg I HAVE to get laid tn” fronting paired with a "good girl resists temptation" character that was cheesy and immature. I kept accidentally picturing everyone as way younger than they were supposed to be.
🤖 Although the writing style is imaginative, it's also weird. Someone will ask a question so there's dialogue, and in the middle of it there are actions (like changing clothes or musing) between answering a question. So I imagined it like everyone stood around mid conversation waiting for an answer. Are they robots? Felt that way when actions were placed awkwardly in the dialogue.
👍 The characters are caricatures with slight differences and at first I felt like it would all be too predictable. Maybe, but the tropey or token characters have depth and development throughout, especially as the situation gets more dire. I like that we focused on one POV and know her "secrets" ahead of time, so baiting/omission doesn't drive the suspense.
🏠🫥 The rental property is a main feature, but I had trouble with the world building for the layout. Maybe I lost track, but I'm pretty sure some characters were on the second floor bedrooms, then later we are told they went downstairs to their bedrooms (on the first floor). Over time it was like this big 2 story house was shrinking and I lost sense of where all the rooms and yards were in relation to each other.
👍 I feel like I've been complaining too much - I liked the premise of the plot and suspense. That kept me hooked!
😃 Most of the suspense is formed gradually. At first because some friends went off together and we aren't sure the circumstances, then we find out some history about the rental house. It isn't slow paced but is mostly a suggestive horror for the first 75% or so with lots of friendship and relationship drama paired with scary tales in the dark/spooky games before we get into any real action. I loved that, but if you prefer your horrors more visceral and up front it could be dull.
😃 Most of the suspense is formed gradually. At first because some friends went off together and we aren't sure the circumstances, then we find out some history about the rental house. It isn't slow paced but is mostly a suggestive horror for the first 75% or so with lots of friendship and relationship drama paired with scary tales in the dark/spooky games before we get into any real action. I loved that, but if you prefer your horrors more visceral and up front it could be dull.
Mood Reading Match Up:
- Popcorn new adult suggestive horror/thriller
- Island vacay gone wrong with dark and stormy night isolation
- Swipe of not-like-the-other-boys and frenemy drama/romance
- Whodunnit murder mystery with fight-for-your-life action
Content Heads-Up: Alcohol (partying, self medicating, binge drinking). Natural disaster (hurricane). Suicide (recall, discussion). Confinement/kidnapping. Mental illness (antipsychotic treatment).
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Suicide
Minor: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
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