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gatoraly's review
5.0
There was a lot of great things about Envy, first and for most this book really made me think. I thought about the story this book itself tells but also thought about how true this could be. Things like what happen in Envy really do actually happen. Everyday. Aside from his fabulous characters I also enjoyed his writing style. It was the first book of his I have read and am considering his adult novels. I'm still really curious and anxious for the next book, but I have no doubts it will be just as good as the first.
drez80's review
4.0
I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway. I didn't realize the book was based on a true cyberbullying case until the end. I am not surprised a girl like Starla would use what happened to try to gain her 15 minutes of fame. The worst part is there really are a lot more tees like her as witnessed in the news recently!
The story was great, and this has become one of my new favorite YA series. I loved the characters, and I cannot wait for the next book.
The story was great, and this has become one of my new favorite YA series. I loved the characters, and I cannot wait for the next book.
duchessofreadin's review
5.0
The death of a local teen sparks controversy. As the police begin investigating, there is more to reveal than first meets the eye. Two twin sisters begin to dig into some of the secrets, but they have secrets of their own. As the town is still healing from a massive accident years before, there seems to be a connection - but no one has yet to connect the dots.
Great read! I absolutely loved this one! I had no idea this series existed until I accidentally came across the audio version on NetGalley. I jumped at the chance to read something from a favorite author. I was not disappointed, even though these are more geared toward teen readers. Highly enjoyable!
I want to thank Gregg Olsen for another fantastic read, as I am never disappointed with his work. Thank you also to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audio copy for my review. All thoughts above are my own.
Great read! I absolutely loved this one! I had no idea this series existed until I accidentally came across the audio version on NetGalley. I jumped at the chance to read something from a favorite author. I was not disappointed, even though these are more geared toward teen readers. Highly enjoyable!
I want to thank Gregg Olsen for another fantastic read, as I am never disappointed with his work. Thank you also to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audio copy for my review. All thoughts above are my own.
kristinajreads's review
3.0
I enjjoyed this book. It was definitely something with a nice story line. I didn't like the texting parts because I could not understand them half of the time, but I definitely enjoyed it and did not see the ending coming, at all!
haleyelisereads's review
4.0
Murder is such a dirty word...
Where do I start with this book ? Should I start with that it kept me up late hours of the night? That it kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end ? That it gave me some of the biggest chills and some of the biggest surprises I have ever read ? Well how about I just start with that Gregg Olsen has put together an intense story of mystery, envy, thrill, and betrayal.
Envy is about a girl Katelyn, Katelyn was just found by her mother, on christmas...in the tub...lifeless with an electrical machine accompanying her. Katelyn had some troubles in life, and wasn't acting herself latey, so when everyone in the small town of Port Gamble find out Katelyn commited suicide it isn't much of a shock. But for twin sisters Hayley and Taylor, they know something isn't right about this, nothing is adding up, and there gonna find out what really happened to katelyn..they don't think it was suicide at all ..they know someone else was involved. Hayley and Taylor are psychic, and while trying to figure out the truths of what happened to their childhood friend Katelyn..they may stumble upon some secrets about themselves...that maybe they would've liked to have never known..
This book was brilliant! It is one of the first YA True Crime books to be released, so the writing style and everything about it is so different, this was such a fresh, new read. All YA books I feel are the same lately and Gregg totally comes bursting in with something new an exciting to add to the YA world!
The characters in this book I feel the word to use for them is, intense. All of them have very intense personalities. Which I for one loved, this book switches around to a lot of different POVs of people that live in the town of Port Gamble, which was amazing since Gregg Olsen was able to do this perfectly without confusing the reader. You get a feel of each individual character and what they think of Katelyn's 'suicide' and as the book flips around to different peoples POV's the story slowly unfolds what truely happened to Katelyn, but no matter how much you think you may have it figured out..nothing will prepare you for what truely happened to Katelyn and what traumatizing events led to her death.
This is a 2011 release you do not want to miss! If you are looking for something new, something shuddersome, then Envy is the read for you.It will keep you up late at night with the lights on.. it will take you to the edge, and push you right over.
Where do I start with this book ? Should I start with that it kept me up late hours of the night? That it kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end ? That it gave me some of the biggest chills and some of the biggest surprises I have ever read ? Well how about I just start with that Gregg Olsen has put together an intense story of mystery, envy, thrill, and betrayal.
Envy is about a girl Katelyn, Katelyn was just found by her mother, on christmas...in the tub...lifeless with an electrical machine accompanying her. Katelyn had some troubles in life, and wasn't acting herself latey, so when everyone in the small town of Port Gamble find out Katelyn commited suicide it isn't much of a shock. But for twin sisters Hayley and Taylor, they know something isn't right about this, nothing is adding up, and there gonna find out what really happened to katelyn..they don't think it was suicide at all ..they know someone else was involved. Hayley and Taylor are psychic, and while trying to figure out the truths of what happened to their childhood friend Katelyn..they may stumble upon some secrets about themselves...that maybe they would've liked to have never known..
This book was brilliant! It is one of the first YA True Crime books to be released, so the writing style and everything about it is so different, this was such a fresh, new read. All YA books I feel are the same lately and Gregg totally comes bursting in with something new an exciting to add to the YA world!
The characters in this book I feel the word to use for them is, intense. All of them have very intense personalities. Which I for one loved, this book switches around to a lot of different POVs of people that live in the town of Port Gamble, which was amazing since Gregg Olsen was able to do this perfectly without confusing the reader. You get a feel of each individual character and what they think of Katelyn's 'suicide' and as the book flips around to different peoples POV's the story slowly unfolds what truely happened to Katelyn, but no matter how much you think you may have it figured out..nothing will prepare you for what truely happened to Katelyn and what traumatizing events led to her death.
This is a 2011 release you do not want to miss! If you are looking for something new, something shuddersome, then Envy is the read for you.It will keep you up late at night with the lights on.. it will take you to the edge, and push you right over.
audreychamaine's review
3.0
On Christmas night, Katelyn dies in the bathtub, electrocuted by an espresso machine. Her death is ruled accidental by the authorities, mostly to save the family further grief, but most people think it was a suicide. Twin psychics Hayley and Taylor get a weird vibe about the death, though, and think that something larger was at work. Either Katelyn was murdered, or she was driven to suicide. Either way, the twins want to use their peculiar powers to bring justice to their former friend.
The blurb on the back of the ARC describes this story as inspired by a “ripped-from-the-headlines” crime. I actually remember reading the story it was inspired by when it happened. What is at work here is cyberbullying, and the pain and trauma it causes victims today. The original true story involved a mother and daughter who created a fake teen boy Myspace page, and used it to bully a young girl into committing suicide. The story isn’t exactly copied in this book, so you may still be surprised by what transpires, but it is equally sad and terrible.
While I liked this book, I felt like it somehow never quite gelled for me. This is Olsen’s first attempt at writing a young adult novel, and it showed. It seemed like at times it tried too hard to use current lingo and teen references, and they didn’t quite sit right. Olsen has been a true crime writer, and the pacing and storytelling really reflects that background. Throwing in the extra paranormal subplot overpowered the message of the book at times, and was sometimes distracting from the larger plot at play. I actually think this would have been a more solid novel sans the paranormal aspects, but it seems that the twins’ powers will be a throughline in the rest of the series.
I will more than likely continue reading this series in the future, and I think that Olsen will be able to hone his YA writing skills to result in a book and style that is more true to the genre, and sounds more authentic. I recommend this to fans of true crime, or people who have an interest in bullying and cyber crime.
The blurb on the back of the ARC describes this story as inspired by a “ripped-from-the-headlines” crime. I actually remember reading the story it was inspired by when it happened. What is at work here is cyberbullying, and the pain and trauma it causes victims today. The original true story involved a mother and daughter who created a fake teen boy Myspace page, and used it to bully a young girl into committing suicide. The story isn’t exactly copied in this book, so you may still be surprised by what transpires, but it is equally sad and terrible.
While I liked this book, I felt like it somehow never quite gelled for me. This is Olsen’s first attempt at writing a young adult novel, and it showed. It seemed like at times it tried too hard to use current lingo and teen references, and they didn’t quite sit right. Olsen has been a true crime writer, and the pacing and storytelling really reflects that background. Throwing in the extra paranormal subplot overpowered the message of the book at times, and was sometimes distracting from the larger plot at play. I actually think this would have been a more solid novel sans the paranormal aspects, but it seems that the twins’ powers will be a throughline in the rest of the series.
I will more than likely continue reading this series in the future, and I think that Olsen will be able to hone his YA writing skills to result in a book and style that is more true to the genre, and sounds more authentic. I recommend this to fans of true crime, or people who have an interest in bullying and cyber crime.
ori_gina_lity's review
3.0
Envy, the first in Olsen’s Empty Coffin series features twin sisters Hayley and Taylor Ryan as they unravel distant childhood friend Katelyn Berkely’s questionable death on Christmas Eve. With their own vague scrap with a near death experience as children and the subtle incorporation of the twins’ unearthly sleuthing skills readers will be attracted to the modern Nancy Drew duo.
Based on the real life suicide of thirteen year-old Missourian Megan Meier that made headlines in 2006, Olsen incorporates the steadily growing number of cases involving online threats, from cyberbullying teenagers and parents alike to make for an educational and hopefully impacting read. Instead of the mystery gracefully unfolding, bits and pieces are disjointedly discovered, and while that is potentially confusing, the author manages to string you along till the very end. The youthful characters are reflections of the typical media-brainwashed teenager, the constant brand-name dropping of “in” products, clothing and trends sets the heroines up to be very materialistic, and I hope that these stereotypes, while needed to tell this particular story, are taken down a notch in future editions of Hayley and Taylor’s adventures.
That being said, the twins’ mysterious development of paranormal abilities as babies does guarantee readers picking up book two when it is released this coming fall, as will the abrupt ending alluding to the presence of new conflicts and ghostly dangers to come. Overall, Olsen was able to tackle a very serious and contemporary topic in an edgy, direct way that teens will rip through!
Based on the real life suicide of thirteen year-old Missourian Megan Meier that made headlines in 2006, Olsen incorporates the steadily growing number of cases involving online threats, from cyberbullying teenagers and parents alike to make for an educational and hopefully impacting read. Instead of the mystery gracefully unfolding, bits and pieces are disjointedly discovered, and while that is potentially confusing, the author manages to string you along till the very end. The youthful characters are reflections of the typical media-brainwashed teenager, the constant brand-name dropping of “in” products, clothing and trends sets the heroines up to be very materialistic, and I hope that these stereotypes, while needed to tell this particular story, are taken down a notch in future editions of Hayley and Taylor’s adventures.
That being said, the twins’ mysterious development of paranormal abilities as babies does guarantee readers picking up book two when it is released this coming fall, as will the abrupt ending alluding to the presence of new conflicts and ghostly dangers to come. Overall, Olsen was able to tackle a very serious and contemporary topic in an edgy, direct way that teens will rip through!
ambi925's review
5.0
I was hooked from page one!!!!!!! I love this book and don't think I can wait a year for the second one. Everytime I thought it couldn't get any better something else happened. Of course there are unanswered questions that I will have to wait and see in the next book. But oh my god I love this book!!!!!!!!!!
rainmisoa's review
2.0
Well, this book was a HUGH disappointment. I first picked up this book at the library because I have been seeing it around the book community. No one really gave a proper review for it so I had no idea what it was about. I guess you could say I picked this up sort of on a whim. The cover looked gorgeous as well. (Shut up. I like pretty covers...) When I finally decided to sit down and read the synopsis, I was genuinely surprised to see that it was a mystery/thriller book. Now, if you know me, you already know that's not my kind of book. I'm not into thrillers because they are boring to me. I have no problem with those of you who like it. We all have different taste in books. However, for me, it's just not one of my favorite genres. Well, I didn't let that stop me from reading the book. After all I read Killing Britney by Sean Olin and liked it, what makes me think I wouldn't like this one as well? ...I shall tell you... I did NOT like this book. Not one bit. Here's why: The majority of the book was dull as hell. Nothing interesting happens until you get to page 222. Everything else about the book was showing petty girls liking superficial things and that just doesn't do it for me. I really hate reading about high schoolers who only want to be at the top. It's been done before and it's stupid. Just a head's up... this might turn into a rant review so... you have been warned.
Gregg Olsen greatly disappointed me with this book. I read how he was praised for being such a fantastic mystery/thriller writer so I was a bit intrigued. And certainly, the premise to this book is amazing! I like the idea and I would have loved to see how it all come about... if it was done correctly. First, the writing style was not to my liking. The majority of the story was way too wordy. Half way through a sentence, you would have to go back and re-read a certain scene because Olsen took too long describing what a piece of furniture looked like. He dragged on certain parts of the book that could have been easily cut out to create a smoother, flowing pace. Also, when he tried writing scenes with teenagers... it came off as ridiculous. Not that teens don't act like that, I know they do, but it just came off as weird and not very appealing. Another thing was... it was unbelievably boring! For example, instead of focusing on the issue of how Katelyn died, the book focused on high school drama, boy troubles, superficial nonsense that had absolutely nothing to do with the plot. Things started to unravel around the 180 page-mark and only became interesting at page 222. That is too bloody long into the book to keep the reader invested in your story, Olsen. You needed to balance it out a bit better. *Sighs* The story had potential... it just fell flat for me. Even the ending to it all was anti-climatic... what... really? Ugh! DX
I. Hate. The. Main. Characters. They were the most shallow characters out of the entire bunch. (Well, except maybe for Starla. She was pretty bad, too. More on her later.) Hayley and Taylor are twin sisters that have some kind of psychic powers that let them tap into anything they get their hands on (that was a crappy description but this book doesn't deserve my articulate abilities). My gripe with them is that, even though they have these powers, all they seem to focus on are what people are wearing, judging how people live their lives, hanging around dumbasses that should be dropped like a pile of crap, and penises. If that wasn't enough, they treated their father like shit all of the bloody time! What the hell was up with that!? He was a very gentle, caring man and all they seem to do was insult him. You want to know what pisses me off more than this? The fact that they did it behind his back and in a conniving way! Jesus, leave your father alone! What has he ever done to you!? Plus, they chat speak! What kind of unintelligent being still does that!? Too bloody lazy to type out the full word? Whenever I read those parts, I felt like tearing my eyes out! I don't see how anyone can understand that type of writing. Another thing that I did not like about these two were how interchangeable they were as characters. I know they are twins and all... but no twins are EXACTLY alike. For example, it was said that Hayley was the shy, intellectual whilst Taylor was the more outspoken and quick to jump to conclusions. However, there were times in the book where Hayley was outspoken (and full of it) and stupid whilst Taylor was the one being quiet and observant. They switched personalities so many times that I was never able to tell which one was which. It was confusing and annoying and that's why I hate these two with a passion (among the other reasons I started above).
You know how normally the side characters save the book for me? Well, not this time! All of the side characters suck!!! (Except three but they were so minor that I can't consider them as worthy of giving this book a higher rating.) There was Katelyn, the girl who died and everyone is trying to figure out how she died. She was pathetic. Plain and simple. She lowered herself for her so called "friend" just so she could be just as popular and pretty. Pathetic. Then there was Starla, the so called "friend." I. Hate. This. Bitch. With. A. Burning. Passion. She was the epitome of "stereotypical popular girl who has people worshiping the ground she walks on." I can't handle this girl. Her friend just died and she couldn't care less! Bah! Terrible person! Her mother was no different! Just as messed up as she is and her brother is going to grow up to be a serial killer because they don't bloody pay attention to what he is doing! Only wrapped up into there own little world! DX Then there's Beth, the twins friend, and honestly... I don't know WHY anyone would be friends with her. She just like Starla except for the "outcast" side. Nothing is good about her: superficial, stupid, egotistical, heartless, etc. Moira, the reporter, same as all the other characters. Valerie, twins' mother, was okay but she didn't do anything amazing to stand out. The only three characters that I liked were Ryan (twins' father, Savannah (linguistics researcher), and Shania (Colton's, the Hayley's boyfriend who was... meh, mother). They were the only ones with true heart and character. They were the only three who actually DID something in the book. I would say more but that's going into spoiler territory. I just admire them so much because in this novel where everyone was jealous of everyone else, where all they seem to care about are things of this world, where kicking back and doing nothing seems to be the norm, these three were strong enough to climb above the rest and actually DO something of value. They were the ones who made this book interesting. I just wish they did it sooner so I wouldn't have had to sit through this dull book.
I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to be over and done with this crap. It took way longer than it needed to be and I feel that my brain is dead because I had to sit through the entire ordeal. What a waste of my time. I am not a happy reader right now. The only reason why this gets a two instead of a one is because I was getting into the story towards the end. But other than that... no. I just can't. The story turned out to be predictable for the most part, the characters were stupid, the execution was poor, and the writing was a joke. I'm sorry to those who really enjoyed this book. I just really disliked what took place or, rather, how poorly it was executed. The premise was phenomenal so props for Olsen to thinking that up. He just needs to try a bit harder at creating a truly well-worth mystery novel. That... or I should just stay away from genres that are not my forte. All-in-all, if you are curious enough, I say check this one out of the library first. I can't guarantee you will like this one. The sequel comes out next fall but I think I'm going to skip out on that one. *Nods* Yeah... I'm just not that interested in finding out what happens next... perhaps you will. For now, I will just go wash my brain out.
Gregg Olsen greatly disappointed me with this book. I read how he was praised for being such a fantastic mystery/thriller writer so I was a bit intrigued. And certainly, the premise to this book is amazing! I like the idea and I would have loved to see how it all come about... if it was done correctly. First, the writing style was not to my liking. The majority of the story was way too wordy. Half way through a sentence, you would have to go back and re-read a certain scene because Olsen took too long describing what a piece of furniture looked like. He dragged on certain parts of the book that could have been easily cut out to create a smoother, flowing pace. Also, when he tried writing scenes with teenagers... it came off as ridiculous. Not that teens don't act like that, I know they do, but it just came off as weird and not very appealing. Another thing was... it was unbelievably boring! For example, instead of focusing on the issue of how Katelyn died, the book focused on high school drama, boy troubles, superficial nonsense that had absolutely nothing to do with the plot. Things started to unravel around the 180 page-mark and only became interesting at page 222. That is too bloody long into the book to keep the reader invested in your story, Olsen. You needed to balance it out a bit better. *Sighs* The story had potential... it just fell flat for me. Even the ending to it all was anti-climatic... what... really? Ugh! DX
I. Hate. The. Main. Characters. They were the most shallow characters out of the entire bunch. (Well, except maybe for Starla. She was pretty bad, too. More on her later.) Hayley and Taylor are twin sisters that have some kind of psychic powers that let them tap into anything they get their hands on (that was a crappy description but this book doesn't deserve my articulate abilities). My gripe with them is that, even though they have these powers, all they seem to focus on are what people are wearing, judging how people live their lives, hanging around dumbasses that should be dropped like a pile of crap, and penises. If that wasn't enough, they treated their father like shit all of the bloody time! What the hell was up with that!? He was a very gentle, caring man and all they seem to do was insult him. You want to know what pisses me off more than this? The fact that they did it behind his back and in a conniving way! Jesus, leave your father alone! What has he ever done to you!? Plus, they chat speak! What kind of unintelligent being still does that!? Too bloody lazy to type out the full word? Whenever I read those parts, I felt like tearing my eyes out! I don't see how anyone can understand that type of writing. Another thing that I did not like about these two were how interchangeable they were as characters. I know they are twins and all... but no twins are EXACTLY alike. For example, it was said that Hayley was the shy, intellectual whilst Taylor was the more outspoken and quick to jump to conclusions. However, there were times in the book where Hayley was outspoken (and full of it) and stupid whilst Taylor was the one being quiet and observant. They switched personalities so many times that I was never able to tell which one was which. It was confusing and annoying and that's why I hate these two with a passion (among the other reasons I started above).
You know how normally the side characters save the book for me? Well, not this time! All of the side characters suck!!! (Except three but they were so minor that I can't consider them as worthy of giving this book a higher rating.) There was Katelyn, the girl who died and everyone is trying to figure out how she died. She was pathetic. Plain and simple. She lowered herself for her so called "friend" just so she could be just as popular and pretty. Pathetic. Then there was Starla, the so called "friend." I. Hate. This. Bitch. With. A. Burning. Passion. She was the epitome of "stereotypical popular girl who has people worshiping the ground she walks on." I can't handle this girl. Her friend just died and she couldn't care less! Bah! Terrible person! Her mother was no different! Just as messed up as she is and her brother is going to grow up to be a serial killer because they don't bloody pay attention to what he is doing! Only wrapped up into there own little world! DX Then there's Beth, the twins friend, and honestly... I don't know WHY anyone would be friends with her. She just like Starla except for the "outcast" side. Nothing is good about her: superficial, stupid, egotistical, heartless, etc. Moira, the reporter, same as all the other characters. Valerie, twins' mother, was okay but she didn't do anything amazing to stand out. The only three characters that I liked were Ryan (twins' father, Savannah (linguistics researcher), and Shania (Colton's, the Hayley's boyfriend who was... meh, mother). They were the only ones with true heart and character. They were the only three who actually DID something in the book. I would say more but that's going into spoiler territory. I just admire them so much because in this novel where everyone was jealous of everyone else, where all they seem to care about are things of this world, where kicking back and doing nothing seems to be the norm, these three were strong enough to climb above the rest and actually DO something of value. They were the ones who made this book interesting. I just wish they did it sooner so I wouldn't have had to sit through this dull book.
I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to be over and done with this crap. It took way longer than it needed to be and I feel that my brain is dead because I had to sit through the entire ordeal. What a waste of my time. I am not a happy reader right now. The only reason why this gets a two instead of a one is because I was getting into the story towards the end. But other than that... no. I just can't. The story turned out to be predictable for the most part, the characters were stupid, the execution was poor, and the writing was a joke. I'm sorry to those who really enjoyed this book. I just really disliked what took place or, rather, how poorly it was executed. The premise was phenomenal so props for Olsen to thinking that up. He just needs to try a bit harder at creating a truly well-worth mystery novel. That... or I should just stay away from genres that are not my forte. All-in-all, if you are curious enough, I say check this one out of the library first. I can't guarantee you will like this one. The sequel comes out next fall but I think I'm going to skip out on that one. *Nods* Yeah... I'm just not that interested in finding out what happens next... perhaps you will. For now, I will just go wash my brain out.