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A review by starzy
Mayhem by Estelle Laure
3.0
It's the 80s, and we follow Mayhem and her mother who have just moved back to the mother's family home after escaping an abusive relationship. Mayhem soon comes to realise that there's more to their family than she ever would have thought. This book promises 80s vibes, mystery and magic and has heavy nods to the 80s cult classic 'The Lost Boys'.
Let me start off by saying that 'The Lost Boys' is my favourite movie.
I was clearly excited by this book when I received an email offering me access to an ARC... but overall I was left with mixed feelings.
I enjoyed the writing, general vibes of the book, and some aspects of the story. The book also felt very nostalgic which does make me question who this book is for as it is a YA but how many current teens will feel nostalgic about the 80s? I personally didn't live through the 80s but I felt that nostalgia having grown up on 80s movies and having had such a love for 'The Lost Boys' since I was fourteen.
Then the last page of this book happened which completely lost me. There is so much present within this book which was ripped directly from the film to an extent it was uncomfortable. The last page of this book featured a quote directly from 'The Lost Boys' which really had NOTHING to do with this book and was given to a different character (but still one from the movie) which added insult to injury.
Honestly removing the quote and the presence of the brothers within this book (or leaving them at one brief cameo) probably would have left me with much more positive feelings overall but I've had a hard time getting past it to enjoy everything else this book had to offer.
I think for now I'm settling on a rating of 2.5.
Let me start off by saying that 'The Lost Boys' is my favourite movie.
I was clearly excited by this book when I received an email offering me access to an ARC... but overall I was left with mixed feelings.
I enjoyed the writing, general vibes of the book, and some aspects of the story. The book also felt very nostalgic which does make me question who this book is for as it is a YA but how many current teens will feel nostalgic about the 80s? I personally didn't live through the 80s but I felt that nostalgia having grown up on 80s movies and having had such a love for 'The Lost Boys' since I was fourteen.
Then the last page of this book happened which completely lost me. There is so much present within this book which was ripped directly from the film to an extent it was uncomfortable. The last page of this book featured a quote directly from 'The Lost Boys' which really had NOTHING to do with this book and was given to a different character (but still one from the movie) which added insult to injury.
Honestly removing the quote and the presence of the brothers within this book (or leaving them at one brief cameo) probably would have left me with much more positive feelings overall but I've had a hard time getting past it to enjoy everything else this book had to offer.
I think for now I'm settling on a rating of 2.5.