Summer Booklist—2019: Nonfiction Edition

Heya, Book cult!

As promised, here’s the Nonfiction booklist to go along with the Summer Booklist: YA Edition & Summer Booklist: Fiction Edition! Summertime is the perfect time to travel through great books.

Here are my top 10 choices for some great nonfiction reading. I came across these while perusing the bookstore and Goodreads!

 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Author: Heather Morris

Amazon

The tale of Lale Sokolov, a Jew, and how it was discovered that he could speak many languages and was thus tasked with permanently tattooing Jews that came into Auschwitz and how he also met the trembling Gita, a woman that he comforted, who stood in line. In that moment, he vowed to not only survive the camp but marry her once this war was over.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Author: Mark Manson

Barnes & Noble

Described as an honest look at the truth about life-that it sucks sometimes, and you just have to say it sucks. There are only so many f*cks that can be given.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

The Diary of a Young Girl

Author: Anne Frank

Goodreads

Considered a beautifully tragic classic follow the diary of a young girl and how she, her family, and another family hid from Nazis during WWII.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

Orange is the New Black

Author: Piper Kerman

Goodreads

The final season of the hit Netflix show is coming soon. Take a chance to read about Piper Kerman’s time in prison because she’d delivered a suitcase filled with drugs and was caught. Honest and eye-opening.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders

Author: Vincent Bugliosi

Amazon

Get a unique inside perspective from the prosecuting attorney himself of one of the most horrifying murders-the Tate-LaBianca murder, carried out by Charles Manson and four of his followers.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops

Author: Jen Campbell

Amazon

Inspired by a tweet comes a book of some of the strangest and funniest things customers have asked or said in bookstores across the globe, like “Did Beatrix Potter ever write a book about dinosaurs?”

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

Era of Ignition: coming of Age in a Time of Rage and Revolution

Author: Amber Tamblyn

Amazon

Personal essays, anecdotes, and opinions from the point of view of well-known actress and feminist, Amber Tamblyn (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Joan of Arcadia). She comes to the front lines to tackle the struggles of womanhood such as sexual assault, reproductive rights, pay parity, and many more.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

Girl, Wash Your Face

Author: Rachel Hollis

Amazon

Inspiring women to stop living lies they thought they had to, Rachel Hollis shares her own and how she broke the barriers and gives advice on how to help women break theirs and help them move forward into their most freeing and happy lives.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

Gold Dust Woman: A Biography of Stevie Nicks

Author: Stephen Davis

Barnes & Noble

A rock-n-roll legend both with Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist, at 69, Stevie Nicks is one of the most iconic and glamorous women that rock has known. GEt an inside look on how she, Fleetwood Mac, and her music rose to the top and how her life had and effect.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries

Author: Neil deGrasse Tyson

Amazon

Fun for those science brains, Tyson compiles some amazing essays about the mysterious cosmos and the intriguing search of life in the universe and so much more. Well known for his accessibility and humor with his writing, Tyson doesn’t hide his excitement about our universe.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

And, maybe you’ve read a few of these or you’ve thought about it and forgot. Who knows, you could be adding some new books to your TBR list! I know I am. LOL. Happy reading!

 

More to come soon…

  -K.

 

Find Me:

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Thoughts? Let’s chat in the comments below!

Summer Booklist –2019: Fiction edition

Hiya, my little book cult!

Like I promised, here’s the fiction list of summer reads! If you haven’t already, take a moment to peek at the Summer Booklist – 2019: YA Edition. If you’ve already gotten to a couple of these that’s awesome! How were they? Have a favorite? Is there one you’d recommend over others?

Creating a booklist is always fun and nifty because not only do I put these up for you, but for myself. I get the chance to put some new book on my ever-growing list. It feeds my inner book-addict and I’m totally okay with that.

Here’s the book list I’ve discovered, partially thanks to Goodreads and partially thanks to my ever-roaming eyeballs in the bookstore.

 

Elevation

Author: Stephen King

Simon & Schuster

In the small town of Castel Rock, where a good majority of King’s stories take place, Scott discovers he’s losing weight and a few other strange things too. And sure, losing weight seems like a great thing, but when he notices that he weighs the same no matter how much he tries to put on. Other strange happenings occur that bring together unlikely alliances as well as bring out the best in those who have only ever indulged in the worst of themselves.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

California Girls

Author: Susan Mallery

Amazon

That California sun is very beautiful after three sisters get dumped in the same week. In the style, only Susan Mallery can bring, Finola, Zennie, and Ali together and they’ll do one of the hardest things ever. Start over. Finola recovers from an affair that her husband was having that’s gone public. Zennie’s decided she doesn’t need anybody, but when she takes up being a surrogate for her best friends it turns out that being pregnant is a lot lonelier than she thought. For Ali, nothing’s hurt worse than her wedding being called off at the last second, but when Daniel keep showing up “for support” she begins to wonder if maybe it was good that the wedding was called off.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

Providence

Author: Caroline Kepnes

Penguin Random House

Growing up together, Jon and Chloe know each other in a way that only they understand, but they’ve never found the right words to come out with their true feelings. Then Jon disappears suddenly and just when Chloe feels like she can move on he returns. He’s not the same as he was and is struggling with both his identity and this uncontrollable power he now possesses. Rushing to protect Chloe, he discovers that he’s being tracked by a detective that’s fascinated and obsessed by a string of vigilante killing that seems to be connected him. Lines are blurred and feelings are explored between unrequited passion and complete obsession.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

When We Left Cuba

Author: Chanel Cleeton

Goodreads

The Cuban Revolution took every from Beatriz Perez—her family, her people, country. On a mission of revenge, she’ll go undercover, infiltrating Fidel Castro’s inner circle. It’s all threatened when she’s caught up in a forbidden affair and she must make a choice between her past and future.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

Stillhouse Lake

Author: Rachel Caine

Amazon

Discovering your husband’s ultimate secret is that he’s a serial is bound to get you to make some serious life changes. Gwen Royal did just that becoming Gwen Proctor. With her ex now in prison, she starts her life over on Stillhouse Lake, still trying to get out of the spotlight of stalkers and internet trolls and just when she starts to get a sense of normalcy back and a body turns up in the lake and threatening letters begin to arrive. After everything, she’s gone through she’s learned how to fight and she’ll never stop. She’ll do whatever it takes to protect her kids and herself.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Author: Stuart Turton

At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle with be killed—again. She’s been murdered hundreds of times and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. He must solve Evelyn’s murder to have any chance of saving her, but nothing and nobody is what they seem.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

Sea of Memories

Author: Fiona Valpy

Goodreads

When Kendra visits her grandmother, Ella, who only has one request of her. Write down her story before she forgets. Her story of the summer in 1937 on the beautiful Ile de Re and when she met Christophe. When war breaks out she’s forced to return home to volunteer and she drifts away from who she was on Ile de Re with Christophe and wonders if she would ever find her way back.

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

Big Little Lies

Author: Liane Moriarty

Barnes and Noble

A murder…or a tragic accident? Or is it just parent behaving badly. Whatever the case, someone is dead and Madeline, Celeste, and Jane at the center of it but how when they lead such different lives?

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

The Mister

Author: E. L. James

Penguin Random House

Maxim has everything he’s ever wanted until he met Alessia. She’s a mystery luring him in. She’s musically gifted but harbors a past she doesn’t want anybody involved with. Maxim, dealing with the struggles of inheriting his family’s wealth and all of the responsibilities that come with it. On top of that, he’s determined to protect Alessia from whatever it is that’s threatening her. Both of them are hiding secrets, but what’ll happen when they all come out?

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

The Unhoneymooners

Author: Christina Lauren

Simon & Schuster

Olive is unlucky in her career, in love…in everything. Ami, her sister, is the luckiest person in the world. From how she met her fiancé to how she won an all-expense paid wedding, Olive can’t wait for the wedding to be over. The worst part of the wedding is that she’s forced to spend time with her sworn enemy and best man, Ethan. The two put their differences aside when the wedding party gets food poisoning and a free vacation in paradise is up for grabs. But when Olive unexpectedly runs into her future boss she plummets herself and Ethan into a crazy white lie and tells her boss she and Ethan are just married. It seems she’s unluckier than ever before…or is she, in fact, luckier than ever?

Goodreads       Barnes & Noble          Amazon

 

There you have it! Ten fiction books to add to that summer reading list. There’s some romance, history, mystery, suspense, and drama. Keep a lookout for the nonfiction booklist coming soon!

More to come soon…

  -K.

 

Find Me:

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Thoughts? Have a book on your TBR Summer List? Let’s chat in the comments below!

Summer Booklist – 2019: YA Edition

Hello, my book lovers!

It’s that time of year! I have the summer recommendations for YA reads! Some are brand spanking new and others I really just wanted to suggest because I hear such amazing things. In any case, here are some books to add to your TBR list! Get your read on this summer!

 

The Past of Other Things That Should Stay Buried

Author: Shaun David Hutchinson

Goodreads

Spending time with the dead is all well and good until they start talking. When Dino’s ex-best friend July dies unexpectedly and then comes back to life the two must work together to figure what is going on and they end also explore how their friendship came to such a horrible end.

Goodreads                   Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

 

The Haunted

Author: Danielle Vega

Penguin Random House

Hendricks and her family move to a new town for a new start and the fixer-upper they move into is notorious for being haunted. She doesn’t believe it until unexplainable and terrifying things start happening. With the help of the mysterious boy next door, she is going to take out the ghosts before they take her out.

Goodreads                   Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

 

The Last Magician & The Devil’s Thief

Author: Lisa Maxwell

Esta has an affinity for time traveling. In modern-day New York magic is all but gone. It’s this special ability that allows her to go back in time and hopefully help all Mageus, like her, by stealing a powerful book. Trained as a thief since a very young age, she feels confident that this will be a piece of cake. But, when she discovers secrets and crosses paths with the devilish magician, Harte Darrigan the job gets more complicated and the lines become blurred.

#1: Goodreads                  Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

#2: Goodreads                   Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

 

Stepsister

Author: Jennifer Donnelly

Goodreads

Isabelle has done so much to try and fit in. She’s struggled to live up to her mother’s impossible expectations. She even cut off her toes to fit into a glass slipper so that she could win the prince, but he was madly in love with her sister, the one who really fit the slipper. Now she is filled with shame. A plain girl in a world of vanity, she wants more than this and if there’s one thing for sure it’s that it takes more than heartache to break a girl.

Goodreads                   Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

 

Hope and Other Punchlines

Author: Julie Buxbaum

Goodreads

Abbi is the center of famous meme ‘Baby Hope’ showing her as a baby holding a red balloon as the south tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing behind her on 9/11. Now seventeen, she is hoping for some anonymity while she works as a counselor at Knights Day Camp. Then she meets Noah and it seems that hope is dashed, but he believes it’s fate that’s brought them together. The two of them work together to ask the hard questions regarding that photo of ‘Baby Hope’ but they may not be ready for the answers.

Goodreads                   Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

 

Wicked Saints

Author: Emily A. Duncan

Goodreads

A girl who can speak to gods, a prince in danger, and a boy who harbors a dangerous secret must kill the king to end a brutal war. In the midst of this mission, a deadly romance threatens to tips the scales of light and dark.

Goodreads                   Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

 

The Center of the Universe

Author: Ria Voros

Grace and her mother, GG couldn’t be more different. Grace is into astrophysics and GG is into her as a news anchor. Then one day, GG disappears. Grace’s whole life is turned upside down and she works to uncover what happened to her. When she begins to uncover pieces of her mother’s long-lost past she starts to wonder that GG wasn’t taken but she just left? If so, why?

Goodreads                   Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

 

The Lost Coast

Author: Amy Rose Capetta

Goodreads

Believing she and her mom came to Tempest, California on a whimsical trip, Danny discovers that a group called the Grays who throw around terms like queer and witches like they’re normal and every day, though they startle her, have actually cast a spell on her to bring her to them. They believe she can help bring the most powerful of them back. Imogen has been missing for a while and Danny doesn’t get far in finding her before strange and scary things that put her in harm’s way begin happening.

Goodreads                   Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

 

These Witches Don’t Burn

Author: Isabel Sterling

Goodreads

Hannah’s a witch. The real deal. She can control the four elements, but she must keep that to herself. But when dark blood magic happens at the end-of-the-year bonfire she must team up with the last person she wants to: her ex-girlfriend, Veronica. Then she meets a new girl, Morgan who’s a ballerina and her life gets even more complicated. Amid trying to find and defeat the Blood Witch causing problems all over town while trying to date is no easy feat.

Goodreads                   Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

 

Broken Throne

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Goodreads

Calling all Red Queen fans!

The ultimate collection of novellas of the deadly and dazzling world of Norta. Catch up with characters after the events of War Storm in this beautifully put-together collection. Also contains additional content such as maps, flags and bonus scenes. If you aren’t able to let go of Mare Barrow and her world then pick this one up!

Goodreads                   Barnes & Noble                      Amazon

 

Be on the lookout for the Fiction and Nonfiction lists coming soon!

More to come soon…

  -K.

 

Find Me:

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Thoughts? Have some summer reads you want to share?

The Comet Cometh and Taketh Away (Riverdale: The Day Before – A Book Review)

Riverdale: The Day Before (Riverdale #1)

Author: Micol Ostow

Published: 2018

On Goodreads

Amazon

My Rating:

Rated S for secrets, the kind that ripples with grand cause and effect, leaving behind carnage in its wake. This is only the beginning.

 

We were separate but intertwined in ways we’d never see coming. Small, stupid butterflies, blindly flapping our wings. (p. 5)

Archie Andrews has been disappearing to who-knows-where, causing a growing distance between him and his best friend, Jughead. Jughead Jones is struggling after his mom leaves with his little sister, leaving him behind with his drunken father.

Betty Cooper is thriving at her internship at Hello, Giggles in LA. Her possible big break is an interview with the prestigious and royal Veronica Lodge, but it’ll take a lot of elbow grease to get a comment from the heiress. Veronica’s life couldn’t be more perfect, but perfection is fragile and life as she knows it is about to shatter.

 

This is a prequel novel based on the hit CW show, Riverdale. It’s a fun and quick read to feed your need for the core four: Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica. Before Jason Blossom’s body was found in Sweetwater River there was already turmoil brewing in Riverdale and outside of it. Secrets had gripped the town and these four tight in its fingers.

Resetera

I enjoyed this more than I thought, but not to the extent that I’m losing my mind over it. It was quirky and read exactly as if I was watching a mini-series of the show. The tone was just dead on and I could visualize everything perfectly. I’ve also read Betty’s story in here in one of the short comics, but the comparison of the written versus the comic is intriguing. Nearly on the dot, but subtly different. The transitions between each character were pretty cut and dry, but not in the sense of stale bread. LOL. It was just succinct and neat. Like scene cuts. Not noticeable. Very nice.

BuzzFeed

Side Note: I still think Jason Blossom is alive. I don’t know how he would be, but I don’t for a second think he’s actually dead.

 

One of my utmost favorite things about this is that I got to get into the core four’s heads! You don’t really get that with the TV show. You get the surface tension and emotions. In the book, it’s so much deeper, and from each of their POVs no less. And yes, Archie really was that dumbstruck by Ms. Grundy. And yes, I meant dumbstruck, not love-struck. Poor ginger. Still, love him (and that fiery hair) though. It’s just one aspect that really drew me in. That and at the end of every chapter there was a snippet and/or clip previewing what’s to come on the show.

 

Overall

Not a half bad read. Really. If you love Riverdale then go ahead and read this. Sure, you’re not missing out on much, but it is fun and nifty to see what it was like the day before Riverdale was shaken to its core. Also, the cover art is phenomenal! Completely striking with Archie’s profile and creepy with the never-ending trees where one could get lost and never be found. Just chilling.

 

Quotables:

“Son, when you’re my age, dead is kind of the default. You learn to push through it. Try it.” (Mr. Andrews to Archie, p. 43)

“I’m not an idiot. I know that everything that happened to my dad, happened because of him. Because of his choices and his behavior. He wasn’t some innocent victim. No, he wasn’t innocent. But he was my father, and despite all the BS, I still loved him.” (Jughead, p. 233)

More to come soon…

  -K.

 

P.S. Song today? Airplanes Pt. 2 by B. O. B. feat Hayley Williams and Eminem.

 

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Thoughts? Let’s chat in the comments below.

Summer Reads – Nonfiction Edition

Hello, precious bookworms,

June has been filled with a few book lists. Why? Because summer is upon us and that means days that you’ll spend lounging around, reading a great book, or many great books.

I’ve already gotten the YA Edition and the Fiction Edition up. I bring you my final list this month and that is the Nonfiction list.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Author: Neil deGrasse Tyson

On the NYT Bestsellers List, get a fast lane knowledge on the cosmos, because who has time to contemplate them lately? I wish I had the time, especially now that it’s summer, the perfect time for looking at the stars. Questions you’ve always wondered about like, the nature of space and time and how does the universe fit within us, are answered and in a timely fashion. Whether on the bus on your way to work or on a lunch break, you’ll get your moment to think about the meaning of life or at least the search for planets. I don’t read much nonfiction. I much prefer the YA genre, but this book is on my list.

Amazon

Hillbilly Elegy

Author: J.D. Vance

A powerful analysis of a culture in crisis and the disintegration of the demographic of white working-class Americans. I feel like this is a touchy subject, yet one that should, and is, discussed wonderfully in this book. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about this bestseller. Vance’s story is personal and passionate from the POV of him and his family, starting in postwar America with his grandparents and moving forward through the change of America from there.

Amazon

BRAVE

Author: Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan, a powerful, feminist icon, was born into one cult and came of age in another, more prominent one—Hollywood. If you’ve kept up with this woman then you know she has no filter and that makes her powerful. She’s stood alongside women who have suffered from abuse and harassment. She stands with them and in this memoir, she shares her own experiences as only one actress who’s lived under constant exposure from the spotlight and over-sexualization. Here, she speaks up, no, she shouts and screams. This powerful book reaches out and encourages men and women to step up and be strong and be brave. Expect expletives, folks. This is another book on my list that I want to read. I am a big fan of Rose and ever since she’s comes forward and been loud and strong about her stance in Hollywood I’ve loved her even more.

Amazon

The Last Black Unicorn

Author: Tiffany Haddish

A stand-up comedian, and breakout actress, Tiffany Haddish brings something brand new to memoir.  Edgy, hysterical and no holding back with her personal essays. From one of the poorest neighborhoods of South Central Los Angeles, she learned to survive by making people laugh. Through tough times, Tiffany kept her dream alive, something she found worth living for: comedy. These accounts of how she was brought up is unique and filled with laughs as well as showing how humble and grateful she is for being able to get her dream.

Amazon

#NeverAgain: A New Generation Draws the Line

Author: David Hogg, Lauren Hogg

On February 14, 2018, David and his sister Lauren Hogg went to school and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. They believed it was going to be like any other day. It wasn’t. That day, the school experienced a shooting and by the next morning seventeen classmates and faculty were dead. David and Lauren have joined the movement for this to end, that never again should something this terrifying happen again. Never again should kids be afraid to go to school These siblings step forward with this manifesto with strong voices, they’re saying, Enough.

Amazon

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

Author: Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert shares her unique wisdom and perspective on creativity. She goes over the attitudes, approaches and habits we need and what fuels our creativity. Encouraging for us to find what makes us sparkle, our ‘strange jewels’, in yourself. Whether embarking on a dream or infusing it with everyday life, this gem is sure to open you up in ways you didn’t think of.

Amazon

In Cold Blood

Author: Truman Capote

For those who love the true crime variety, Truman follows the story of two men who murdered the Clutter family. No motive. Almost no clues led to the killers. With incredible empathy and suspense, Truman follows the murder, investigation, trial and execution. This insight to American just and violence is shudder worthy.

Amazon

There you have it, loves. You’ve got YA, Fiction, and Nonfiction. A wide variety. I know I’ve been expanding my interests lately and I’ve been surprised a few times. What are you reading this summer?

More to come soon…

-K.

Find Me:

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Thought? Tell me in the comments below.

Summer Reads – Fiction Edition

Happy summer, booknerds!

Hope you are all doing well and that the weather is beautiful. I told you I had a few extra lists this month. I’ve done the YA list already – which you can find here. This is the Summer Read Fiction Edition. I wanted to pick up a variety to attract a variety of you lovely readers as well as pique some new interests.

 

Circe

Author: Madeline Miller

This NY Times bestseller brings to life a new and more in depth tale about the daughter of the Titan, Helios: Circe, and how she became one of the most powerful witches in history. That she isn’t as evil as she’s made out to be and just wants to protect those she cares about. With the power to transform rivals into beasts and more, she’ll go against the gods and humans. I’m a big lover of Greek mythology, so this one is definitely on my to-read list. This also comes from the same author who wrote The Song of Achilles.

Amazon

 

The Outsider

Author: Stephen King

If you’ve got horror in your bones and love a good paranormal-y twist then pick this up. On the NY Times Bestseller list, this story circles around the murder of a kid. While the authorities are sure they know who it is, the coach of the kid’s little league team, he has an alibi, and a good one, plus more people turn up dead. But, the killer looked like him? How? Get addicted to this brand new story by the King-man.

Amazon

 

Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

On and off the bestseller’s list, this action packed ride will have you hanging on. This is currently up on my reading queue and I can’t wait to read it. For gamers and anybody that loves clinging on to an adventure with a BIG endgame, read this. Exciting and fulfilling…so I hear. Also, a movie that’s recently come out this year.

Amazon

 

Noir

Author: Christopher Moore

If you love noir, dicks (private dicks…damn it, detectives, people), and hella good comedy then this is for you. I love Christopher Moore and I was really excited to hear about this novel. Love at first sight, a UFO, a plane crash, and the kidnapping of Cheese after a scheme gone bad. Sammy Tiffin, the bartender of a hopping gin joint, has his work cut out for him.

Amazon

 

Sinless

Author: Sarah Tarkoff

Calling all dystopian lovers! Those who are good are graced with beauty while those who are considered bad suffer from disfigurement or death. When important information is stumbled upon battle breaks out and it becomes hard to distinguish the good from the evil.

Amazon

 

 

These are only a couple spanning the many genres to choose from as well as a few of the most popular I’ve heard about.

 

More to come soon…

 

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Thoughts? Tell me in the comments below.

Eyes of Fire (Summer of Fear – A Book Review)

Summer of Fear

Author: Lois Duncan

Published: 1983

On Goodreads

My Rating: 

 

Rachel’s not jealous of her beautiful cousin. But she is afraid.

Cousin Julia comes to live with Rachel and her family after a terrible car accident. Slowly, inch by inch, Julia is taking over Rachel’s life. She takes her bedroom, her boyfriend, and soon enough her family. Everybody thinks Rachel is jealous, but that’s not it at all. There’s something dark about Julia, and Rachel’s terrified.

 

This book was a quick read. It is. Rather short. I finished it in three hours. I really enjoyed it even though a page was missing. LOL. I will never know what happened on the first page of chapter five. Kidding. I can probably buy a new copy of the book. This one I got out at a library sale. Those things are freaking gold mines. Anyway…a fantastic read. Classic, cult, and edgy from the same author of I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Rachel is that ultimate final girl that—I hope I’m not the only one—you miss in horror movies these days. While everyone falls under Julia’s spell, she’s determined to get to the bottom of it. There’s heartbreak and even that panic inducing feeling. It wasn’t strong, but this dark and mystical story was a great page turner. Duncan does so well at building up to her great reveal. She always gets you with that twist. When everybody turns on Rachel, she fights back. And let me tell you, that was intense. That feeling of isolation that she gets trapped in is nothing compared to what could possibly happen to her.

I really clung on to the additional element of witch lore and magic. From having read a more horror novel last time, this was fresh to me. Witches of late have appeared more as agents of good, but not in this story. This book really touches on the bit that witches can be evil, too. There are upsides and dark sides of the supernatural and it was pretty cool to see the dark side.

The attention to detail was wonderful. Not too much, but enough that the imagery was perfect, reminding me that this is set before the era of cell phones and DVDs. For many these days I’m sure your’e saying, “WHAT!?”. Yup, those days existed folks. After all, this was done in the eighties. Duncan’s writing really captured that without seeming overboard. I really liked it.

A favorite summer read of mine, but I believe Lois Duncan is great at creating a story like that. It’s the deadly story that gets you wanting summer. What kidn of story does that!? LOL. This one did, for me. Utterly original and, like I said already, classic. I’d really like to have the rest of the collection. So, do you read it because you like paranormal stories and horror? Yes! Do you read this because I say so? Well, that’d be cool, but I haven’t mastered the ability of manipulation so you’ll have to decid that for yourself.

 

Quotables

“It’s crazy, isn’t it, thinking you’ll never have anything but two brothers and then finally, at your age, getting a sister.” (Mike to Julia, p. 18)

“When you lose touch with youth, you grow old fast.” (Professor Jarvis to Julia, p. 56)

 

More to come soon…

-K.

 

P.S. Song today? Summer Sunshine by The Corrs.

 

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