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A review by kspear22
The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder by Cookie O'Gorman
4.0
This is one of the longest titles for a book ever, I think. Or maybe it’s just all the long words used. Either way, after reading the description—and having loved Cookie’s debut book—I thought this sounded good. When offered the opportunity to review an early copy, I jumped on it.
This is a strange little book. At its heart is a mystery in need of solving. But that’s all buried underneath the high school life and story of Delilah Doherty. She is the main character. And while she isn’t a nerd, she’s definitely an outcast. This is due to who her mother and aunt are. Somehow, in this small southern town, who they are perceived to be reflects poorly on the teenager in their lives. But what I found to be a bit ridiculous (sorry) was the way one teacher constantly harassed Delilah with nasty comments about her mother. I may no longer be a teen, but I couldn’t fathom this actually taking place and for it to be so expected, overlooked, and allowed. It felt a little over the top. But the rest of it? Not so much. Especially the way in which football players are ‘above the law’ and given passes on every behavior.
As for the mystery, I guessed the truth about that very early on. It’s written there, clear as mud. You just need to read between all the lines. However, the one part I guessed about was never confirmed. The other death must have just been a fluke, even though I assumed THAT was what Ethan had been hiding from. (If you read the story and see the paybacks he pulls off, you’ll know what aspect I mean.)
I found Aunt B’s psychic gift to be a pretty cool addition to the story. It also made me nervous that this was going to turn into a paranormal story at one point. (The “ghost” or creature siting...) Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. Just a really fun, and at times serious, mystery/contemporary.
I loved Delilah. I loved her sass. I loved that she was comfortable with who she is. And Ethan? He’s kind of a typical, brooding male. One with a past that is questionable and makes him seem like more of a bad boy than he truly is. It was clear he didn’t truly murder his sister. There was far more to him than anyone knew. But, I don’t know who I loved more: George or Aunt B. Both are hilarious. I’ll say it’s a tie and admit to them being my favorite characters in the book.
O’Gorman has penned another winner. With the addition of a mysterious death, she turned the typical contemporary into something deeper, more thought-provoking, and fun. It has plenty of humor. Compelling characters. Wit and snark are also definite highlights. Ethan Wilder is perfect for those who like their contemporary reads with a bit more spunk.
This is a strange little book. At its heart is a mystery in need of solving. But that’s all buried underneath the high school life and story of Delilah Doherty. She is the main character. And while she isn’t a nerd, she’s definitely an outcast. This is due to who her mother and aunt are. Somehow, in this small southern town, who they are perceived to be reflects poorly on the teenager in their lives. But what I found to be a bit ridiculous (sorry) was the way one teacher constantly harassed Delilah with nasty comments about her mother. I may no longer be a teen, but I couldn’t fathom this actually taking place and for it to be so expected, overlooked, and allowed. It felt a little over the top. But the rest of it? Not so much. Especially the way in which football players are ‘above the law’ and given passes on every behavior.
As for the mystery, I guessed the truth about that very early on. It’s written there, clear as mud. You just need to read between all the lines. However, the one part I guessed about was never confirmed. The other death must have just been a fluke, even though I assumed THAT was what Ethan had been hiding from. (If you read the story and see the paybacks he pulls off, you’ll know what aspect I mean.)
I found Aunt B’s psychic gift to be a pretty cool addition to the story. It also made me nervous that this was going to turn into a paranormal story at one point. (The “ghost” or creature siting...) Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. Just a really fun, and at times serious, mystery/contemporary.
I loved Delilah. I loved her sass. I loved that she was comfortable with who she is. And Ethan? He’s kind of a typical, brooding male. One with a past that is questionable and makes him seem like more of a bad boy than he truly is. It was clear he didn’t truly murder his sister. There was far more to him than anyone knew. But, I don’t know who I loved more: George or Aunt B. Both are hilarious. I’ll say it’s a tie and admit to them being my favorite characters in the book.
O’Gorman has penned another winner. With the addition of a mysterious death, she turned the typical contemporary into something deeper, more thought-provoking, and fun. It has plenty of humor. Compelling characters. Wit and snark are also definite highlights. Ethan Wilder is perfect for those who like their contemporary reads with a bit more spunk.