cristinareading's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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hardcover_hazel's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

"The living room is empty. Empty as a ditch a girl might have fallen into."

Girls of little hope had me intrigued. Three girls disappear into the woods and only two come back, covered in blood with no memory of what happened. 

"All she knows for sure is that one of her best friends is missing, and the other wants her to lie about it"

We travel across different thoughts with each chapter the perspective of a range of characters. The missing girl, Kat, has diary entries from the past we follow along with. 

"Sometimes it seems that's all getting older is: just a slow accumulation of damage"

This book is listed as horror fiction and the twist (and a scene or two with gore) is so. good. Please check the trigger warnings before reading as lots of blood tends to be mentioned šŸ©· 

"Even the trees, she feels, are aware of her footsteps pressing the soil against their roots"

I didn't expect the twist. Starting out as a murder mystery, it expands into something more, something wild, that forever changes the town of Little Hope. 

"Blood mixes with her saliva, creating a perfect map of her"

I loved this so much šŸ„° thank you to Johnathan Ball Publishers for the giveaway I won with this book šŸ©·āœØ

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grunbean's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A book that canā€™t be put down. I think as expecting a spooky and quirky story - I picked this up near the YA section of my local bookstore. It is SO much more than that.

Iā€™m not sure how to summarise it. You NEED to read it yourself if youā€™re at all into mysteries and horror and the dread of growing up. It is gore galore, so it could be a bit much for those who donā€™t have much of a stomach for that.

I dearly wish this combination of authors will collaborate again! 

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natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Have you ever read a book that was both eerie and grotesque, yet soo utterly fascinating you were unable to put it down? Well, thatā€™s what Girls of Little Hope was for meā€” a fabulously weird and unexpectedly compelling YA Horror from writing duo Sam Beckbessinger and Dale Halvorsen. Which perfectly captures the anxiety, angst and (relatable) growing pains of adolescence, but with a much needed (and surprisingly bloody) supernatural twist thatā€™s guaranteed to keep even the most seasoned Horror fans on their toes. 

Set in a small California town during the 1990s, Girls of Little Hope follows the mystery and aftermath of the disappearance of three girls (Donna, Rae and Kat) and the strange circumstances surrounding Donna and Raeā€™s return three days later: naked, covered in blood and with no memory of what happenedā€¦

I loved every deliciously creepy second of this! Iā€™m not usually a huge Horror reader, but the atmospheric and expertly detailed, small town setting (complete with sinister undercurrent) and compelling, misfit characters had me utterly hooked. 

Donna, the first character weā€™re introduced to is portrayed as quite impulsive and the most vocal of the trio but her sense of loyalty, compassion and long hidden vulnerabilities really made her one of my favourite characters. 

Rae, our other ā€œsurvivorā€ is resident ā€˜good girlā€™ who comes from a respectable, church going family whoā€™s perceived perfection and conservative values have forced Rae into a suffocating state of repression and self loathing that was truly heart breaking to watch unravel. 

Kat, our amateur sleuth and budding journalist is the only character whose POV is told via journal entries which really added a sense of intimacy and allowed us to explore their deep bond of friendship in such exquisite detail. 

We also get to explore Katā€™s mum Marybethā€™s POV, whose complicated mother-daughter relationship juxtaposes perfectly with Katā€™s innermost thoughts and really captures the flaws and nuances that really make up this fascinating, formidable and surprisingly three dimensional supporting character. 

As well as Katā€™s diary entries, weā€™re also treated to newspaper articles and Riot Grrl-esque ā€˜Zine pages, which cleverly immerses us in the history of Little Hope, its supernatural goings on and the angsty 90s high school experience without the pace slowing down or becoming too info dumpy. 

I canā€™t say much else without spoiling the plot but, if you love shockingly twisty, House of Hollow meets Stranger Things style Horror, or books that scream ā€œWe are the weirdos misterā€, then you definitely need to add this to your TBR just check TWs beforehand.

Also, a huge thank you to Kabriya over at Titan Books for the incredible proof. 




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