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daisyhamilton's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
magyklyxdelish's review
3.5
This was a good quick read. I was thoroughly invested enough to finish it in one sitting.
I feel like it came close to being an emotional read, but the plot just shied away from it. I feel like it could have been darker or deeper emotionally. But I think that’s a personal preference and I can’t really fault the author for that.
I also felt like the end wrapped up a little too neatly with a bow. Overall though, this was a good read to get me out of my slump!
I feel like it came close to being an emotional read, but the plot just shied away from it. I feel like it could have been darker or deeper emotionally. But I think that’s a personal preference and I can’t really fault the author for that.
I also felt like the end wrapped up a little too neatly with a bow. Overall though, this was a good read to get me out of my slump!
boooo's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I really wanted to enjoy this but unfortunately I couldn’t. I didn’t necessarily understand the plot because so much was going on. At first I liked where the story was going but then I got confused because it seemed like a romance but it definitely wasn’t. Also toward the end said love interest completely disappeared from the plot. There also wasn’t much closure to the epilogue and I was left feeling confused. I did like the writing style but unfortunately the plot didn’t do it for me.
bookswithemii's review
4.0
Thank you to @netgalley, @regalhousepublishing & @crissajeanchappell for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re looking for a quick read, this is the book for you! This book is a story about a girl named Reece that got kidnapped as a child by her father. She’s tired of keeping secrets and starts looking for answers
I really enjoyed the story and I’m happy to have discovered another great author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’re looking for a quick read, this is the book for you! This book is a story about a girl named Reece that got kidnapped as a child by her father. She’s tired of keeping secrets and starts looking for answers
I really enjoyed the story and I’m happy to have discovered another great author
pamela_xo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
faye_v's review
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
megs2kool's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
booknerdykim's review
5.0
First of all, a huge shoutout to the amazing folks who granted me early access to this ARC – diving into it before the January 16th release was an absolute privilege!
Let me introduce you to the characters in this rollercoaster of a story. First up, there's Reece, a teenager constantly on the move with her dad, evading the clutches of apparently bad guys. It's a tough hand for a teenager – unable to relish the essence of freedom and possession. The bitter twist is her ignorance due to these circumstances, a reality I hate and I can’t help but blame her Father for that.
Yet, amidst the turmoil, what captivated me about Reece was her unwavering love and wholehearted protection of her mysterious Father. She’s such a good kid, and her dad is undoubtedly fortunate to have such a resilient and loving daughter. The whole emotional rollercoaster just adds this deep layer to the story, making Reece's journey even more gripping.
Now, enter Shawn Bryants, who initially struck me as peculiar. The way he dove headfirst into loving Reece? Like, way too fast for comfort. But, you know, love's this crazy thing where time just seems to vanish. What's kinda cool, though, is that Shawn becomes Reece's escape hatch from reality. It's like, in his weirdness, she finds a breather from the craziness around her. It adds this interesting twist, showing how sometimes the people who seem a bit offbeat can be exactly what we need for a reality break.
The mention of Spirited Away had me genuinely thrilled – it's like discovering the author's shared love for anime added an extra layer of connection!
The story had me hooked for a solid four to five hours, clicking eagerly for the next page. Yet, when I reached that 100%, my immediate thought was, "Wait, that's it?" I craved more, wanting the narrative to unfold further, revealing even more intense scenes.
Having relished the experience of "Sun Don't Shine," I'm now eagerly anticipating more literary gems from this author.
Let me introduce you to the characters in this rollercoaster of a story. First up, there's Reece, a teenager constantly on the move with her dad, evading the clutches of apparently bad guys. It's a tough hand for a teenager – unable to relish the essence of freedom and possession. The bitter twist is her ignorance due to these circumstances, a reality I hate and I can’t help but blame her Father for that.
Yet, amidst the turmoil, what captivated me about Reece was her unwavering love and wholehearted protection of her mysterious Father. She’s such a good kid, and her dad is undoubtedly fortunate to have such a resilient and loving daughter. The whole emotional rollercoaster just adds this deep layer to the story, making Reece's journey even more gripping.
Now, enter Shawn Bryants, who initially struck me as peculiar. The way he dove headfirst into loving Reece? Like, way too fast for comfort. But, you know, love's this crazy thing where time just seems to vanish. What's kinda cool, though, is that Shawn becomes Reece's escape hatch from reality. It's like, in his weirdness, she finds a breather from the craziness around her. It adds this interesting twist, showing how sometimes the people who seem a bit offbeat can be exactly what we need for a reality break.
The mention of Spirited Away had me genuinely thrilled – it's like discovering the author's shared love for anime added an extra layer of connection!
The story had me hooked for a solid four to five hours, clicking eagerly for the next page. Yet, when I reached that 100%, my immediate thought was, "Wait, that's it?" I craved more, wanting the narrative to unfold further, revealing even more intense scenes.
Having relished the experience of "Sun Don't Shine," I'm now eagerly anticipating more literary gems from this author.
librabri's review
4.0
Rated 4/5.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book and read it in a few hours. This is a YA thriller type of read.
Reece had such a rough childhood, yet she cared so deeply for her father that put her in all sorts of situations. I am happy that she had an ending that she deserved.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book and read it in a few hours. This is a YA thriller type of read.
Reece had such a rough childhood, yet she cared so deeply for her father that put her in all sorts of situations. I am happy that she had an ending that she deserved.
lisaluvsliterature's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is an author that I love. She hasn’t had a book out in a while, so as soon as I heard about this one I was so excited! And once again she did not disappoint!
I was hooked from the first page. I felt the excitement at getting a new book by an author that I knew would make me feel all the feels. At first Reece doesn’t necessarily know that her father kidnapped her exactly. She thinks that he took her, but he has told her it is to keep her safe from the bad people and that her mom is dead. Which is easy for her to believe based on her last memory of her mother laying on their floor with one of her legs at a strange angle and not moving.
Of course as she’s gotten older she’s begun to wonder exactly what is true though. If every detail her father has given her is true or just to keep her quiet and following what he says. Even though they basically live in a very cheap run down motel at the moment, she is still basically what you’d consider homeless since they don’t really have the money to keep paying, and there is always the threat they may have to leave and go live in the van every time something spooks her father. They have to search through dumpsters for things to sell to get money as her dad currently has no job. She has to steal from the convenience store for her dad, and to get food she has learned tricks with vending machines. Her clothes are worn and taped together, and even when they find new shoes in the dumpsters in good condition her father makes her sell them, doesn’t let her have them to replace her own worn out shoes.
But then one of the newer residents at the hotel seems to recognize her, and suddenly she learns more about her past and her mother. Between those residents and the boy she meets and strikes up a friendship, as well as what looks like an undercover cop hanging around her school seemingly watching her, she gets online at a school library computer and starts researching both herself and her mother. Her father is doing things she doesn’t want to think about in order to help them keep their room, and he explodes at her more than he’s ever done when he finds her talking to the new boy, and she ends up locking herself in the bathroom that night. Her past and stealing tendencies just to get by lead to a mix up with her new friendship with Shawn and his family. It’s heartbreaking when it happens, even as understandable it was for her to do it.
In the end we do get a happy ending for Reece. The only thing that I wish for is more about how that goes, but otherwise I was blown away by the story, and can’t wait to add this one to my school library as soon as I can!
I was hooked from the first page. I felt the excitement at getting a new book by an author that I knew would make me feel all the feels. At first Reece doesn’t necessarily know that her father kidnapped her exactly. She thinks that he took her, but he has told her it is to keep her safe from the bad people and that her mom is dead. Which is easy for her to believe based on her last memory of her mother laying on their floor with one of her legs at a strange angle and not moving.
Of course as she’s gotten older she’s begun to wonder exactly what is true though. If every detail her father has given her is true or just to keep her quiet and following what he says. Even though they basically live in a very cheap run down motel at the moment, she is still basically what you’d consider homeless since they don’t really have the money to keep paying, and there is always the threat they may have to leave and go live in the van every time something spooks her father. They have to search through dumpsters for things to sell to get money as her dad currently has no job. She has to steal from the convenience store for her dad, and to get food she has learned tricks with vending machines. Her clothes are worn and taped together, and even when they find new shoes in the dumpsters in good condition her father makes her sell them, doesn’t let her have them to replace her own worn out shoes.
But then one of the newer residents at the hotel seems to recognize her, and suddenly she learns more about her past and her mother. Between those residents and the boy she meets and strikes up a friendship, as well as what looks like an undercover cop hanging around her school seemingly watching her, she gets online at a school library computer and starts researching both herself and her mother. Her father is doing things she doesn’t want to think about in order to help them keep their room, and he explodes at her more than he’s ever done when he finds her talking to the new boy, and she ends up locking herself in the bathroom that night. Her past and stealing tendencies just to get by lead to a mix up with her new friendship with Shawn and his family. It’s heartbreaking when it happens, even as understandable it was for her to do it.
In the end we do get a happy ending for Reece. The only thing that I wish for is more about how that goes, but otherwise I was blown away by the story, and can’t wait to add this one to my school library as soon as I can!