Author: Kiersten Modglin (duh)
Genre: domestic thriller, suspense
Page Count: 314
Rating: ❤❤❤
Backstory
Hi friends. I'm back with another hot take on the newest books I've read. Meh. I am getting a little sick of using that as an opening line. It's not giving what it's supposed to give. Anyway, I'm back and I'm here with another book by Kiersten Modglin. There isn't much backstory on this one here. I saw it in the list of her books and grabbed it a long with a few other titles of hers. Eventually I'm going to make it through her entire collection, but at the way she writes, I may always be behind. Which is most definitely fine with me. Write away, Mrs. Modglin. Write away! Alright. Let's get started. I know you are dying to know what this one is about. 😁
Synopsis
People go missing at Widow Falls, but none of the staff seem to care. They are forced to live in subpar living conditions with no AC and no cellphone service but the other staff members seem happy enough. Everyone seems to be in on the secret of this little town. Everyone except Sloane who was thrown into the camp in the middle of the season. As she struggles to catch up and fit in with her coworkers, Sloan can't help but feel like the outcast. Things only get worse when she finds the diary of the missing girl under her bed. Apparently this girl was in Sloane's spot before she mysteriously disappeared one day. As Sloane sneaks and reads her diary, she starts to realize that there may be more to Widow Falls than she originally realized.
My Thoughts
Okay so this one threw me for a loop. I kept reading, trying to figure out what was happening. Was Sloane crazy? What actually happened to Landry? Was Claudia evil? I spent the entire book wanting to karate chop Claudia in the throat. I don't know why she irritated me so badly. Her and Gabe. They both burned my biscuit quite a few times. I'm not entirely sure what I thought was going to happen, but that was definitely not it. At this point, I'm not even sure why I was surprised. Kiersten Modglin is pretty much known for leaving you like WTF after you finish reading.
No lie. I had to sit back for a second and let my brain follicles turn and rotate after getting to the end of this one. Like.. Miss Ma'am HOW do you come up with this stuff?
A few Things I Appreciated About This Story:
The subtle hints. There were no big booms and bangs in this story. Instead, there was a slow build. Creepy happening here, confusing happening there. For a second, I was wondering if we were all crazy. Me and Sloane just out here going nuts over a journal of a girl we had never met.
I also enjoyed the references. In order to not give it away, I won't tell exactly how the story ends but I do appreciate how it was all wrapped together. It took what seemed to be a convoluted plot line and turned it into something that is tangible and believable. It shed light on a real problem. I always love stories that use real world elements to tell the tale. It makes the entire thing that much more believe-able.
A Few Things I Did Not Enjoy:
There really were no likeable characters in this entire story. Truly, they all annoyed me. Even Sloane. There were moments where she was incredibly dramatic and annoying. Made it almost hard to read in some spots because I really wanted to reach into the book and be like "SLOANE! GET A GRIP, CHILE!" and slap her across the face.
Side note: how cool would that be to be able to insert yourself into a story for a few seconds? I have a list of story universes I would visit if we were ever given that opportunity.
Another thing I didn't enjoy was the fact that it took a while to get to the point. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy that the hints and the buildup was subtle, but it took FOREVER to get to that point. I almost DNF (did not finish) this one. I had planned to put it down for a bit and then come to it later but then it got good and I stuck with it through the end. Not one of her best titles, but definitely not the worst book I've read. I'm still a fan and I'm still making my way through her work even though I am taking a quick break to read some other works in the meantime.
Overall, this wasn't a bad read. If you're into stories that start slow but end with a bang, then this one is definitely for you. I, however, am inpatient sometimes and I want all the action and all the drama immediately. Which is a bit contradicting sometimes, but what can I say? I like what I like. I can't tell you how many times I've skipped to the ending of certain books just because I couldn't wait to get there organically. I know I know. Don't judge me.
Grab this book if you want to check out the ending. It is a doozy for sure. I think I would like to see this one as a movie. This one and Verity would make for a pretty intense Lifetime movie. Plus, putting it on screen could really hammer home the creepy points. Nothing says creepy like watching things unfold with unsettling music in the background.
I gave this book 3 stars (hearts in this blog) because it is not her best work, but overall it's not a bad book. I didn't mind it. Just be patient and it pays off in the end. That's a pretty decent quote to live by, huh? Just be patient. Whew. That has never been a strong point for me. Just ask my husband and anyone else that knows me well. When I set my mind on something, there is no waiting around or hemming and hawing. It's go-time!
If you do decide to grab this book, you can grab it directly from Kiersten Modglin's Website or you can grab it from my Amazon Affiliate link here
As an Amazon Affiliate, I provide links to the books that I recommend. If you use these links, it allows me to earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Any small amount helps in keeping the Booky Babe up and running.
If you decide to purchase this book, make sure you come back and tell me what you thought about it or join me over on Instagram to continue the conversation. I'd love to know your thoughts. Did you get impatient too? Did Sloane annoy you as much as she annoyed me? How would YOU feel living in a place with no working air conditioning? Let me know your thoughts! But until then:
Happy Reading Babes! ❤