I am in a small puddle of befuddle because The Leaving is a VERY VERY ODD BOOK.
I was very excited for it because a) mysteries! and b) creepy cover! and c) missing people stories absolutely intrigue me. (I may or may not have plans to write one so I launched myself at this book in glee for research. Because clearly.) But while I mostly enjoyed the story, it had such a disjointed ending that I feel like I have to leave logic at the door to accept it.
- THE PREMISE
Six kids are kidnapped when they’re 5-years-old…the book takes place 11 years later when they mysteriously return. BUT ONLY 5. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 6TH? NO ONE KNOWS. Plus the 5 returning kids have 0% memories of what happened while they were gone. I loved all the mystery and questions. Usually the amnesia trope and I aren’t friends. But this time? Very well done. Plus I have a horrible memory myself…I barely know what my middle name is. SO RELATABILITY FOR ME IS HIGH.
- 3 VERY DISTINCT NARRATORS
I’m leery of books with multiple POVs, but this was done right huzzah! Their voices were all super distinct. (Plus it’s in 3rd person which is my one-true-love.)- LUCAS: He was a kidnapee (is that even a word? Let’s make it a word) and he was very confused but heartfelt and determined and angry. And I loved him.
- SCARLETT: Also a kidnapee. Her chapters were stuffed with unique formatting and her voice was always confused and whimsical and SO WELL DONE.
- AVERY: Not kidnapped. But her brother was (actually her bro is the one that doesn’t come back). And I have to admit she was my least favourite one, just because the levels of WHINE. And she was so self-involved. Her dramas were #1 in her life.
- UNIQUE FORMATTING
Oh oh I have such a weakness for unique formatting. I think it totally enhances storytelling — like you READ the confusion but you also SEE the confusion. #visualsFTW Sometimes the words are in spirals of panic or shouting or squished or a thumping memory. IT WAS SO VERY COOL.
- LUCAS THO. LUCAS WAS MY FAVOURITE.
Not even gonna deny — he was my adorable little cinnamon roll of mystery and potential violence but also potential cinnamonness. (I’m an eloquent book reviewer, do not doubt this.)
- NEED TO KNOW MORE
I was so very desperate for answers! I NEEDED TO KNOW THE THINGS. That makes the book a solid “I like this” for me and I would nicely throw it at people. Or perhaps gently place it in their hands to recommend, but also throw. Because that’s more fun.
- THE ENDING DISPLEASES ME GREATLY
It’s the kind of book that introduces itself as a contemporary, and then about 80% through goes “HA! NOPE I’M SCI-FI!” I don’t like this. Because I expect the ending to be realistic and when it’s not I’m just confused and unbelieving. #unsatisfied And in CASE you want to know why….spoiler below!
- NOT CONCISE, LIKE AT ALL
It suffers from too many characters. I mean, there are these six missing kids, but only TWO actually are important to the plot. So why bother having so many kids??? And then it’s very very long. 430+ pages of people not knowing anything gets OLD FAST. Repetitive and confusing.
- ROMANCE = NOT WORKING FOR ME
I totally admit that a) humans are confusing, and b) romance isn’t usually my favourite anyway. But I still like a good shippy ship! But in The Leaving I didn’t understand anyone’s relationships. One minute they like someone and get actually goosebumps and butterflies with the memory of a relationship and then…”ACTUALLY I TAKE IT BACK, I DIDN’T LIKE HER EVER I JUST THOUGHT I DID.” Um um um…okay then, sir. Plus, since the book takes place over 2-weeks, I consider it insta-love.
- WORST PARENTING EVER
Obviously everyone would react differently to being united with a child they thought dead for 11 years. But half the parents didn’t even seem to care??? The siblings were all “Oh, you’re back? I don’t even think I like you.” And everyone else was just immediately jumping onto the “How do we get money out of this” train. YOU ARE ALL HORRIBLE AND WUT EVEN.
I did quite like the book and it was addictive…but overly I was disappointed.
I know the review seems pretty negative, but I still actually do recommend this one! BECAUSE LUCAS. And also it’s super intriguing and if you like missing-people stories — than this one is good. Plus the writing was unique and captivating and the characters were complex and intriguing and it had a flare of CREEPY. Which we all love. Don’t even deny it. I’m just sad about the random and disappointing sci-fi-sucker-punch of an ending.
THANK YOU TO BLOOMSBURY AUSTRALIA FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. The Leaving by Tara Altebrando was published June, 2016.
Six were taken. Eleven years later, five come back–with no idea of where they’ve been.
Eleven years ago, six kindergarteners went missing without a trace. After all that time, the people left behind moved on, or tried to.
Until today. Today five of those kids return. They’re sixteen, and they are . . . fine. Scarlett comes home and finds a mom she barely recognizes, and doesn’t really recognize the person she’s supposed to be, either. But she thinks she remembers Lucas. Lucas remembers Scarlett, too, except they’re entirely unable to recall where they’ve been or what happened to them. Neither of them remember the sixth victim, Max. He doesn’t come back. Everyone wants answers. Most of all Max’s sister Avery, who needs to find her brother–dead or alive–and isn’t buying this whole memory-loss story.
(click covers to read reviews)
Oooohhh that cover is really cool. The missing swing really seems to hint at the mystery of this book. I haven’t read it yet (too many fantasy books to read!) but the formatting looks intriguing. I love unique formatting, like in Illuminae.
My memory is kind of weird, because it consists of snapshots, like if someone handed me a photo album, and the photos are all I remember, not necessarily where they were taken, but what I did or something I saw that got my attention, I guess? I don’t know how to explain it (I just confused my brain trying to figure it out). I remember bits of my childhood, and it’s interesting because my first memory is in Thailand when I was two or three at the apartment there. Any memories of Australia before that don’t exist in my brain.
As usual, your photos are lovely! XD
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THE COVER IS SUPER COOL I LOOOOVE THE COLOURS. And yess, it’s kind of ominous with the broken swings and everything. I like.😂 Yes, I’m terrible with my love for creepy things. Ahem. AND YES. I mean, the book isn’t formatted as MUCh as Illuminae, but I so appreciated the arty elements here.
I think I know what you mean! My family also constantly tells me about stuff I did and I’m like “NO I DIDN’T, DEFINITELY NOT”.😂 But you have memories when you were 2?!? LUCKY. I barely remember being 12. -_- Okay, not gonna lie…I barely remember yesterday…
(Thankyou about the photos! :D)
That’s just WOW. I thought it was Sci-Fi! Omg. I read the spoiler cause…well, something I wanted to do. LOL!
Anyway, that’s one of the most annoying endings ever, and I haven’t even read the book. About the Asthma, damn hilarious! 😀
YES IT WAS SO ANNOYING. It was like…almost randomly convenient???? I’m still so confused as to how that was even the ending.😂
Hmmmm…. This sounds a lot like Emmy and Oliver except with memory loss and extra craziness. And I want to know the ending but at the same time I don’t? I am an extremely very forgetful munchkin, to say the least. I forget everything. Example: we were going somewhere when I remembered my book. I went back to get it, grabbed a jacket in case I got cold, and was five minutes away from home when I remembered that the BOOK, not the warm clothing, was my goal. (#oops) BUT I remember (parts of) my childhood. (or that’s what I think. Sometimes I get told that I did stuff and I’m just pretty sure it’s not true because what even?
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OH. I should’ve put Emmy & Oliver down as a comparative title! EPIC FAIL, CAIT.😂 But yes, it’s kiiiiind of like that…except not so much because this one is more like about the publicised part and the amnesia-ish part.
OMG. YOU ARE A TRUE BOOKWORM THOUGH. I honestly remember so little that I’m 99% sure I was kidnapped as a child and had my brain erased. Or maybe I was never a child. Maybe I just am a dragon. #logic
I have like, an okay memory? I’m very good with trivia. But then remembering homework… I usually haveto use post-its and other techniques. Funny story: The other day I had two things to remember so I tied two knots in the handle of my tote bag. I get home and I can remember ONLY ONE THING. #fail. But I have a twin sister and we’re like each other’s memories, we’ll remind each other of things– Shar remembers stuff about our childhood that I don’t and vice versa. (twins are like backup hard drives haha) The amenesia trope can be clever if it’s done well, but otherwise it can be confusing. It is a good way to do worldbuilding though– like I loved the amenisia trope in The Maze Runner. I might not check this book out, but I love your review and pictures!
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My life is basically FULL of post-it-notes. I have so many on my computer screen I can never see my background photos (which are gorgeous mountains currently, so that’s such a shame. LIFE IS SO HARD, OMG.) But that’s nice that Shar is there to remember things for you. :’) My sister TRIES to tell me these things of our childhood but pffffft, IF I DON’T REMEMBER THEM HOW DO I EVEN KNOW SHE’S NOT MAKING IT UP? I’m like 99% sure I was kidnapped and had my mind erased tbh.
(Aww, thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!)
You hit it on the nail. You know that I pretty much disliked the book. Like you said the premise was so interesting, but it was let down by the characters and relationships. It had two things that I nearly always hate in books a love-triangle (of sorts) and Insta love.
Thanks for the review.
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The love triangle was a bit RANDOM. like at the beginning Lucas was all “omg I love Scarlett we’re meant to be together” and then suddenly he’s saying how they always felt weird and uncomfortable? LIKE NO, MATE, YOU ARE NOT BEING CONSISTENT HERE. *collapses* Good thing I loved Lucas or that could’ve gotten annoying fast.😂
Such a great review!! I already said so, I think, but I am very, very excited to read that book. I LOVE the amnesia trope, to be honest, I don’t know there are so many mysteries and the brain is fascinating, isn’t it?! Plus, that unique formatting makes me want to pick up this book EVEN MORE. I’m a bit sad you were disappointed by the ending, though, but I did like Because You’ll Never Meet Me, so I might like that one as well…maybe? I guess I’ll see 🙂
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THE BRAIN IS SO WEIRD AND ENTIRELY FASCINATING. Although I do think this goes a bit more sci-fi with the brain-y amnesia-y stuff, but it’s still super interesting. And it’s DEFINITELY the amnesia trope done well!! *flails* And I do think if you liked BYNMM this one will work for you?! I HOPE.😂
You know I’ve been umming and erring over whether to check this one out. The main verdict is not to worry because let’s face it, I’ve so many books I won’t get around to it for a year anyway. BUT if you think I’d like Because You’ll Never Meet Me in comparison to this then I’m suddenly very much so more intrigued 😮 Because that book was spectacularly weird and I quite liked it. So maybe you’ve convinced me to give this ago *sits in armchair and ponders life*
If you liked Because You’ll Never Meet Me…I think there’s a biiiig chance you’d enjoy this one.😉 JUST TO MAKE LIFE HARD FOR YOU, I’M SORRY BUT I’M NOT EVEN SORRY, KIRSTIE.
NOOOOOOOoooOOoooOooOooo! WHY YOU HAVE TO PUDDLE-OF-BEFUDDLE, BOOK? I was so, so, so, so, so looking forward to this one! In face, I was all ready to request it as an ARC and then… life n’ stuffs prevented it. But I’ve been eyeing it on Amazon daily, and I’ve been hovering over that one-click order button and now… GAH.
I grew up on mysteries and thrillers (of the adult variety, before I discovered YA) and there’s NOOOOOTHING that grates my nerves into tiny chunks of NOPE more than a mystery book which suddenly turns Sci-Fi-Ex-Machina halfway through. CAN YOU NOT? The Man From Primrose Lane by James Renner infamously (and disastrously) did that. (REMEMBER THOSE ALIBIS PEOPLE HAVE? THEY DON’T MATTER, BECAUSE TIME TRAVEL!) And then last weekend I picked up Maureen Johnson’s “The Name of the Star”, because John Green and Leigh Bardugo and E. Lockhart all recommended it at one point or another, and… same thing. It isn’t mystery if it’s sci-fi, okay, dudes? Not that a book can’t be two genres, but it just tends to take the actual mystery aspect right out of it. /endofrant
Oooooh, the disappointment. Although the UNIQUE FORMATTING and Luca might yet get me to press Buy. That and YOUR PICTURES. <3
AND DUDE, I WANT TO READ A MISSING-PERSON BOOK YOU WRITE SO MUCH, IT'D BE IDEAL IF YOU COULD SUDDENLY TURN SCI-FI AND TIME TRAVEL TO THE TIME YOU'VE WRITTEN IT AND GET IT BACK TO ME SO I CAN READ IT IMMEDIATELY, OKAY? Okay. Good. I'll be waiting.
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BUT YOU STILL MIGHT LIKE IT, LEXIE!!! Except….I mean…if the sci-fi thingie bothers you too then maybe you should be cautious.😂 I don’t mind sci-fi books! I just wish they’d START being sci-fi and not randomly do it at the end because they can’t think of a realistic ending??? I don’t like genre surprises. (Actually I struggle with genre combinations anyway so.)
HAHAHHAH LUCA. LUUUUCA. I’M SO GLAD I’VE BRAINWASHED YOU THERE. :’) Although, again, full confession: I called him Luca when writing my review. It’s probably still in the Goodreads version. IS THIS WHY I LIKED LUCAS???? IT’S A NAME-CRUSH ALL OVER AGAIN OMG.
NO SCI-FI WILL BE INVOLVED IN MY MISSING PERSON BOOK BUT THERE IS A PINTEREST BOARD IF THAT HELPS?
I had a good childhood! I remember doing a lot of family stuff, because we’re all pretty close, and my writer cousin is ten months older so #twincousins
I had an excellent childhood too…not that I remember it.😂 FAIL. But the family photos say I enjoyed myself. 😂😂 Omg that’s so cool you have a writer twin cousin!
*SINGS LOUDLY AMNESIA BY 5SOS* “I WISH I COULD WAKE UP WITH AMNESIA!” ahem. sorry, I just really love 5sos. Which means I do love the amnesia trope.
As for whether or not I remember my childhood…..well I remember all the most embarrassing and horrible moments lol. Like the time…….yeah nvm.
Omg, why do the embarrassing/terrible memories stay? BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS LIKE “GOODBYE AND NOPE I AM FLEEING”/?? It’s entirely unfair. But the family photos SAY I had a good childhood even though I don’t remember it.😂
OMG YES. I look at all our family photos and stuff, and there I am, having a heck of a time, enjoying life…….BUT I DON’T REMEMBER THOSE TIMES. AGRH.
Oh I love missing people tropes! Particularly because my second first draft was about that, and I might write another one this time. It’s just sooo intriguing! I love checking out ‘unexplained disappearances’ or ‘unanswered mysteries’ 😂
I am probably notorious for asking you questions but I really need to ask you (not related to this book review but writing in general): how do you know when the idea for a story is ready enough to start writing? I am sooo doubtful with this story so I’m second guessing because other times I write stories without thinking then get burned out, never finish the story, or force myself to finish the story and HATE IT.
Thank you writing angel / book overlord / planet shopper / blogger empress!
IT IS! IT IS! *flails for your writing one too* I especially find it entirely creepy to think of people being kidnapped and escaping/returning too…so. MY WRITER BRAIN IS WORKING OVERTIME.
I actually am going to write a post about that sort of.😂 IT’s A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. In a nutshell: I think it depends? (Horrible answer I know!😂) But for me, I’m an outliner, so I don’t attempt a story until I have a really good outline. Sometimes that’s a year, sometimes it’s 2 months! I just make sure I definitely have enough scenes so I won’t peter out half way through. *nods* (Although tbh I usually end up hating my stories hhahahh, but I keep going and finish, and then the second drafts are always better!)
I’m kinda glad i never picked this one up when I had the chance. xD
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Except you love Because You’ll Never Meet Me?!? So you might like this one. ;D
Maaaaaybe? But BYNMM has more to do with the writing style & the characters. I also knew what I was getting (sort of) when I read that one. I’m not very easily pleased with mystery books either. I’ll give it a shot if I ever stumble upon it somewhere, but I don’t think I’ll go out looking for it.
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Aah, judging from the cover and blurb it seems like a good book! Mystery is always fun to read. But when it does a 180 and turns into Sci-Fi or Fantasy, it makes no sense anymore. I’m sorry to hear that it was an overall disappointing read! I’ll have the rethink this one. Thanks for the review! 🙂
Well, maybe you’ll like it better than I did! 🙂 Like I said, I still recommend it. Just be aware it’s more sci-fi than thriller.😂
Bummer about the ending (I checked the spoiler). Sometimes I think that happens when a writer comes up with a super great premise but can’t think up a conclusion with practical and emotional payoff. So they’re like, “I KNOW. I’ll make the ending a shocking genre-twister.” But if the rest of the book isn’t clearly written in that genre, it just comes across as lazy writing.
😂 I feel like that’s probably the reasoning. hehe. Sometimes we writers do write ourselves into corners right?!? AND I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE LIKE IT!! I just….I don’t like being tossed into sci-fi with no warning.
Ugh it stresses me when a book reads like a certain genre and then towards the end it changes genre and you’re like wut. Also, WHY DIDN’T THE PARENTS AND SIBLINGS CARE?! What is wrong</em? with them?! BUT I do love books with unique formatting and this book does sound intriguing so I think I might just give it a go?
Wow, that last bit was a train wreck. Coding is not my thing, clearly. XD
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SAME. SO MUCH STRESS. Like I don’t mind sci-fi, but I don’t like it when a book randomly twists over there to make the story plausible. *stamps foot* UNIQUE FORMATTING IS LIFE THOUGH.
OMD dude!! I think this might be just the kind of book I love! Confusing and weird and mysterious and odd. My cup of tea or WHAT?! And it even *looks* like the kind I’d love! I have to get my hands on this book soon! Wait, I also have like a gazillion of books waiting in various lockers in the library and baskets in my room…
gahh who cares… one more book is just one more book… one book is not like… uhh… 235 books, right ? one can only be one… whateve..
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AHHHH THIS IS SUCH GOOD NEWS! I’M SUPER GLAD! 😀 *flings book at you* And I’m suuuuure one more book is fine and the rest of your ginormous TBR will not collapse on your head. YOU’LL BE FINE.
I feel like I have a good memory but not a GREAT one. I remember quite a lot of stuff that happened to me as a child (including ALL the awesome books I read–yay!!) but I don’t necessarily remember it all in order. It’s kind of jumbled and squished together.
(But honestly, the books I read as a kid are really some of my most vivid memories. I MUST BE A BOOKWORM.)
Well you’re doing MUCH BETTER THAN ME.😂 I trust like zero of my memories and my family is like “Oh remember this good time you had here” and I’m like “No. I was not there.” IT’S LIKE I HAD THIS ENTIRE CHILDHOOD I DON’T REMEMBER, OMG, WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME. I blame my brain being stuffed with books and pushing all the childhood memories out.😂
This sounds quite interesting, but I know what you mean about books that are supposedly contemporary suddenly turning sci-fi. I once read a book that started in a psychiatric hospital and (I think) ended on an alien spaceship? It seemed to come entirely out of nowhere…
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Omg on an alien spaceship?!? That’s…random.😂 BUT YES! I mean, I do like sci-fi, but I like it to be sci-fi upfront. Genre switches at the end just leave me being a grumpy melon.
….What on earth???
This sounds like a really cool book, with a great premise. But then the ending…WHY?! IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE SO MUCH BETTER! That’s so disappointing.
Just definitely not a plausible ending. 🙁 Which I guess is fine if you’re EXPECTING sci-fi??? But I really wasn’t.
I have a pretty good memory. Although my greatest fear is I will forget something. So when I go places I always take more than I need. I remember most of my childhood. I don’t remeber anything before the age of three though. I just went to the library yesterday and picked up The Leaving. I haven’t started it yet, but the kidnapping sounds interesting. I need to know what happened to the still missing kid. I will start the boom when I finish The Raven Boys. Did I mention I started that! I am almost done with it, and need the next book already. I really like the Welsh history aspect. I can see why you like the series so much. My favorite character so far is Ronan.
ZOMGGGG YOU ARE READING THE RAVEN BOYS?!?!?!? *SCREAMS* OH LEAH. THIS IS THE BEST NEWS OF THE UNIVERSE. AHHHHHHH. Ahem. Ronan is my favourite too. <3 I love and adore Ronan so much I will just explode. The Dream Thieves is like HIS book too so afjdklsafdjfdalkfjds I CANNOT WAIT TILL YOU GET TO IT.
*tries to calm self*
*fails*
AHEM.
I hope you do enjoy The Leaving when you get to it! And YAY that you remember your childhood. I honestly remember like only a handful of things before the age of 12. 😂 I'M TERRIBLE.
I did have a pretty good childhood, my mom used to take us to Mcdonald’s every thursday. Now that I think of it, I would not do that today. I’m also glad my mom was a stay at home mom so I never had to go to daycare, and she just babysat all the neighbor kids. It was like a big play date almost every day. Oh, I finished Raven Boys. I need to get Dream of Thieves, but while I wait I will read The Leaving. I love Raven Boys! I loved the Welsh history aspect *me flailing because I love any and everything history*. Glendower is so interesting, and I hate Mr. Welker.
Strangest thing- I was researching amnesia recently (but I don’t exactly remember when). I don’t mind memory loss in stories, but it must be as plausible as possible.
The fact that you don’t remember when you were researching amnesia IS GLORIOUS IRONY.😂 *gives you cake* YOU ARE WONDERFUL. Also YES. It’s an interesting trope, but not plausible for this story sadly. :/
I would have been willing to read this…if not for your non-spoilery comments on the ending. Endings can make or break a book for me so already I was iffy. And then you said it went from contemporary to sci-fi and I was like nope.nope.nope! So yeah, I read the spoilery stuff and I’m glad I won’t be reading this because that ending would piss me off. Oh and before I go: YAY for 3rd person POV!! It ALWAYS surprises me when people say they dislike 3rd person, it’s THE BEST EVER. Lovely review my dear ♥
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OMG I’M SUPER GLAD YOU ARE A FAN OF 3RD PERSON!! *hi fives* I get surprised when people say they don’t like it either…like…whyyy??? hUMANS. WHERE ARE YOUR PRIORITIES. *hugs the 3rd person books*
Ahem. Anyway. yes that ending was…odd.😂 I just feel like it should’ve had sci-fi vibes from the beginning if it was going to be sci-fi.
THAT COVER IS TERRIFYING. O_O
I love missing memory things if they’re done well. It’s actually one of my favorite things. 😀 I just think this one sounds too scary for me. XD
Aww, that’s too bad it disappointed you. :-/ I hate that. From the sound of it, I would totally have expected it to be sci-fi from the start, but I can see how if you weren’t expecting it that would feel lame. 😛
Love your photography as always! <3
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OH OH! And I LOVE third-person and it’s the only way to tell a story, almost. It’s the best. ^_^ I actually usually dislike first-person. Unless it’s really well done. (There are always exceptions, aren’t there? XD) Except I’m turning traitor and writing a 1st-person book which I”ve never done before. Oops. XD
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SAME. I used to only write in 1st and now I NEVER WRITE IN 1st. And there are exceptions (aka Maggie Marvellous Stiefvater <3) but mostly I really like 3rd person better always! *HI FIVES*
Eeep, yes. Maybe I should've paid more attention to things and I would've picked up that it was going to be sci-fi? BUT IT READ LIKE A CONTEMPORARY THRILLER AND I AM THE CONFUSED. *cries*
The second you said it was about kids that go missing I was like “ALIEENNSS” I didn’t read the spoiler tag but I assume that’s what’s going on. That’s my guess anyway, and I love mysteries so probably I will still enjoy this. If only for the crazy formatting. It reminds me of Shel Silverstein. Who I’m not sure if she (he?) is famous but I vaguely remember reading their poems in grade school. But it also might be a Canadian thing, I’m not going to examine it too deeply.
It’s too bad it ended up being disappoint though 🙁
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HAHAHAHHAHA. Okay one of the parents IS an alien theorist if that makes you feel better.😂 I’ve heard of Shel Silverstein but not read any of their work. OMG BUT I LOVE UNIQUE FORMATTING. IT IS MY FAVOURITE. I WOULD BE A MONSTER OF GLEE IF ALL BOOKS WERE UNIQUELY FORMATTED. (I take it you haven’t read Illuminae? That book is the QUEEN of unique formatting. :’)
Illuminae is on my ever growing TBR. I think part of me thinks if I wait long enough all the books will be out and I can binge read them.
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I don’t know if I like the amnesia trope. I haven’t really read that many books in that vein. I guess it could work if it’s done well, with plausible reasons. (This book’s reasons sound… iffy.) I really liked The Adoration of Jenna Fox, though. The reasons for the amnesia there made sense.
I have a bad short-term memory; I think I’ve probably mentioned that before… but I can’t quite remember. 😉
The plausibility of the amnesia just…didn’t work for me.😂 Jenna Fox DID make more sense although I sadly didn’t love that one so much. GAH. I’M SORRY. And I do like Mara Dyer’s use of the trope! And I feel like I’ve read tons of others BUT CANNOT THINK OF THEM RIGHT NOW WHICH IS IRONY ISN’T IT?!
This sounds really interesting. The mystery and the formatting. I don’t think I’ve read a book with different formatting. I’m not sure I’ve read an amnesia trope either? Or not much of it, if I have.
But gosh those parents sound awful and the siblings too. How could one stand that?! How can they call themselves parents?
OMG ASHLEY I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE GLORIOUSNESS THAT IS CALLED ILLUMINAE *throws it at you* Seriously you neeeeeed to try it!!😂 hehe. I love unique formatting! It always makes me like the book better. :’)
BUT I KNOW RIGHT?!? Their parent card needs be revoked omg.
DUUUUUUUUUUDE I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BOOK FORMATTED WITH WEIRD TEXT LIKE THAT IT’S SO WEIRD IT’S SO COOOOOLL OMG. <3 *hugs it* I literally get so many ideas into this head of mine about formatting in books and how everything has to be "proper" but now I think publishers are branching out more AND THIS IS A VERY GOOD THING. <3 because I for one LOOOOVE unique formatting and things in books. it's exactly like you said: YOU CAN SEE IT. *nods nods*
wow that ending sounds really lame XD JUST WOW OKAY. ALSO ASDFGHJKJHGFD FREAKING CRACKING UP AT YOUR MEMORY COMMENTS. like omg me too. *wipes tears* I have SUCH a terrible memory. SO AMNESIA BOOKS = FUN. I HAVE NO BACKSTORY HOWEVER I’M BECOMING VERY INTERESTED IN YOURS, LOVELY CHARACTER WITH NO BRAIN. I may or may not (hahah may) be including TONNNSSS of amnesia in a future book?? BUT DON’T WORRY, I’LL DO IT WELL. 😉
lucas sounds like a darling gah <3
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IT IS SO SO SUPER COOL. And omg I really need to talk to you about Illuminae then. 😉 It has the BEST unique formatting you have ever seen in YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. GO READ IT ABBIEE, YOU KNOW YOU DESPERATELY WANT TO. Ahem. But anyway. I kind of dream of writing a book that can have cool formatting. #goals 😂 THE SEEING PART IS JUST SO EPIC. It makes the story be something you hear/absorb, but also something you can visually get emotion from too. *nod nod*
YES WE CAN BOTH WRITE AMNESIA STORIES BECAUSE WE HAVE LIFE EXPERIENCE. If we remember to write these stories, which, let’s face it, is doubtful.😂
yeah, I won’t be adding this one to my TBR. i hate books that are weirdly formatted (ahem Shatter Me). I guess it takes some time to get used to them?? better luck with your next read Cait!! 🙂
Curious Daisy (@curious_daisy) recently posted…Glorious Spring Book Haul!!
I totally understand! I do love unique formatting myself, hehe, but that ending…eh. 😖
I agree with pretty much everything here!
(Spoiler!!)
Avery and Lucus was a very big NOOO from me
I just don’t GET why Avery and Lucas were a thing!???? Like Lucas was SO all over Scarlett at the beginning??? And then suddenly he’s like “lol nope I didn’t actually feel anything”. WUT.
I have a horrible memory, heck I can’t even remember the story of any book after a few days! I like the amnesia trope, if it is done well. AND SCI-FI I’M SO EXCITED. I will check this out in its confusing glory!
Books with unique formatting is LIFE. I admire them more rather than reading the story *cough* The Ask and The Answer *cough, cough*
(I absolutely loved The Ask and The Answer though? After I had finished reading it, I flipped back to read the book again.)
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SAME WITH ME. I can’t even remember last week let alone, like, my childhood. Sheesh. Amnesia tropes are wonderfully relatable. 😂 AHem. AND YES THE UNIQUE FORMATTING JUST IS GLORIOUS. (Omg I haven’t read The Ask and the Answer yet! I only read book 1 and I’M STILL CRYING BECAUSE MANCHEE.)
I love the cool formatting, but that disappointing, confusing ending would just make me stabby. I decided to just read your spoiler and be done with it. 🙂
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Hehehe. Fair enough!😂 The unique formatting is SO SO GOOD THOUGH. I wish more books did that!
Oh dear. I was REALLY excited about this one (I love thrillers) and was literally petting this in the bookstore yesterday, contemplating buying it (I bought Summer Days and Summer Nights instead). I will probably still read it, but I HATE when a book turns sci-fi at the end…I personally think that a twist contemporary can be more disturbing and have more of an impact than a sci-fi or fantasy can, because it’s more plausible (and let’s face it, some of the most disturbing things that happen are caused by humans and humans alone). This was a great review, Cait!
YES I SO TOTALLY AGREE!! I really like twisted/warped contemporary thrillers.😂 When there’s an unrealistic sci-fi conclusion my brain immediately skips over being freaked because, eh, it can’t happen. I LIKE TO BE FREAKED OUT SOMETIMES.😂
Hmm…I honestly don’t know what to think of this. I am the kind of person who thrives on logic and facts and picks a book apart when it has even the smallest inconsistency, so it makes me a bit worried to hear that this is a bit uncohesive and illogical. The unique formatting and the premise are intriguing though. *sighs* Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous review! <3
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YES. I like logic too *nods* And I don’t like books that kind of do that genre switch at the end? It just always throws me. AGH. The unique formatting was so. much. win though.
AHHHHH so nearly clicked on the spoilers. But I was good.
And omg I didn’t realise that it had cool formatting, that’s a ginormous bonus in my book. Well, in the book. Love it!!
CAKE FOR YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR RESTRAIN. *claps* 😂 But isn’t cool formatting the best, right?!? I always love it. :’)
Wow – the formatting does look interesting. Although sad to hear you didn’t enjoy the ending, I hate it when books pull a total 180 and suddenly you don’t even know what you are reading anymore.
With that in mind, not sure if I will be picking this book up. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Agh, yes, it’s very disorientating, right?!? But most of the book was good, so at least there’s that!!😂
I am trying to think if I have ever read a book with amnesia in it, but oops… I just got through reading one, but I can’t tell you which one because you might want to read it, and it is a sequel, and it would spoil tne first book. But then again would you remember I told you? O.o Ha ha. I have a very good memory. My first memory was of being in my crib and looking out through tne open door at my grandmother shitting in her chair and blowing kisses to me. I was told I had to have been younger than three. I remember a lot of things my son doesn’t, but a lot of that comes from the fact that ihe is not very observant and I don’t think he forms a memory to remember. That makes sense, right? I hate books that turn out to not be the genre that you think. Like the one story we both read that, at least in the first book, did not turn out to be the Fantasy book it was promoted as. When it turned out tne magic wasn’t really magic I was more than miffed. XD
My memory is so bad I don’t remember JUST BASICALLY ANYTHING. #awkward 😂 It’s weird because I feel like I am rather detailed orientated? But I think my brain just deletes things to make room for all the books I read…or at least that’s my excuse. OR WHO KNOWS MAYBE I WAS KIDNAPPED BY ALIENS, WE CAN NEVER BE SURE.
and YES. Like I don’t mind sci-fi, I just want to know it’s that upfront, right?!?
This one sounds kind of odd. I really want to give it a try and see what I think. 😛
EXCELLENT DECISION. *nods* I did ultimately like it, just not the ending.😂
Seems interesting.
IT IS. 😀
Wait WHAT. The parents didn’t even CARE? That was kiiiiind of the reason I was looking forward to reading this, or at least putting it on my TBR or something. I mean how can you not CARE THAT YOUR CHILDREN CAME BACK. The heck!
Other than that, I’m still kind of intrigued that this turned into a sci-fi novel (then again I’m not surprised). But yeah, I could see that it would involve accepting a lot of what’s going on. I need my books to be somewhat logically explained, so I probably wouldn’t like the ending either :/
I DON’T KNOW. THE PARENTS WERE ALL SO MESSED UP. None of them just really seemed that fussed?? Like, I mean, I’d be THE worst parent ever, but I would be probably gluing myself to my child and sobbing all the time. AHem.
You kind of lost me at the idea of the worst parenting ever. I know it happens an AWFUL lot in YA but I can’t stand it anymore. Yes, there are some parents like that but it’s too convenient and does not happen that often in real life!! Ugh! I recently read a book where the romance wasn’t working for me and that wasn’t nice really either. I do like the sound of the premise and the fact that the suspense kept you turning pages but this one doesn’t sound like something for me…
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I just wanted to say thank you for writing your blog piece, I read the book for the Teen Fiction Reading Group I run (in Blackwell’s Bookshop Oxford, UK, you would love us if you ever were able to visit) nearly two months ago so members of my group could borrow my copy and for the life of me I couldn’t remember the ending. You have helped remind me what happened and saved me from looking silly in front of the other members of the gorup… so thank you again!
Oh you are most welcome! Glad to be helpful haha.😂
I actually totally agree with you about the ending. It was so..empty (lol..?) like i didnt get the answers i wanted, leaving me frustrated. it was like, how can the 5 kids with no memory solve the mystery when the police investigated before??? but like it did make sense, although the asthma thing was a total plot twist.
i was wondering what your thoughts are about the theme of this book. like the one idea/message that the book revolves around.
I have no idea if I missed it in the book or if it even said it but where does this story take place?