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the_reading_lumberjack's review against another edition
3.0
First I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.
While I was intrigued by the story, it still took me awhile to read it. I guess none of the characters really spoke to me. It was definitely an interesting story that kept me coming back for more. But I was certainly glad when it was over and I could move on. I would still recommend it to readers, and I look for growth from the author.
While I was intrigued by the story, it still took me awhile to read it. I guess none of the characters really spoke to me. It was definitely an interesting story that kept me coming back for more. But I was certainly glad when it was over and I could move on. I would still recommend it to readers, and I look for growth from the author.
audreyhoyt00's review against another edition
3.0
ARC provided by Netgalley
The premise is totally bizarre and all of the characters are weird. I saw it being described as a paranormal thriller about a girl who has a twin sister who has lived in the woods all her life. I don't think there's anything paranormal about it and it's barely a thriller, but I mostly enjoyed reading it.
What I liked: The weird characters were interesting and I like small towns with weird secrets. The feral sister in the woods thing seemed unbelievable and I wanted to know how that happened. The mystery of her survival was the one interesting mystery.
What I didn't like: The pacing. There were so many points in the story where things were getting exciting, lots of action, something big was about to happen... and then cutaway to some meandering passage about the past or Jolene's thoughts and feelings for 5 paragraphs. I would forget what was happening when it went back to the action again.
The premise is totally bizarre and all of the characters are weird. I saw it being described as a paranormal thriller about a girl who has a twin sister who has lived in the woods all her life. I don't think there's anything paranormal about it and it's barely a thriller, but I mostly enjoyed reading it.
What I liked: The weird characters were interesting and I like small towns with weird secrets. The feral sister in the woods thing seemed unbelievable and I wanted to know how that happened. The mystery of her survival was the one interesting mystery.
What I didn't like: The pacing. There were so many points in the story where things were getting exciting, lots of action, something big was about to happen... and then cutaway to some meandering passage about the past or Jolene's thoughts and feelings for 5 paragraphs. I would forget what was happening when it went back to the action again.
booknightowl's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children for sending me a copy of Some Kind of Animal for an honest review.
Some kind of Animal is about Jo who's mother disappeared 15 years ago. Jo who lives with her aunt truly believes she has a twin sister who lives in the woods. Every night
Some kind of Animal is about Jo who's mother disappeared 15 years ago. Jo who lives with her aunt truly believes she has a twin sister who lives in the woods. Every night
yousaidokay's review against another edition
3.0
The covered intrigued me right away. I was creeped out just from reading the synopsis and decided this would be a book to read during the day and not night. I loved the small town setting.
Jo is a teenage girl living with her aunt, who has a secret twin sister that lives in the woods. No one knows that Jo has a twin sister, so when she attacks someone, everyone thinks it's Jo. I had guessed that this book would have the plot twist that has been done so many times before: that Jo's sister was just imaginary. I think this plot twist is over done, so I'm glad that it wasn't done here. This book was pretty weird, but interesting.
**Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jo is a teenage girl living with her aunt, who has a secret twin sister that lives in the woods. No one knows that Jo has a twin sister, so when she attacks someone, everyone thinks it's Jo. I had guessed that this book would have the plot twist that has been done so many times before: that Jo's sister was just imaginary. I think this plot twist is over done, so I'm glad that it wasn't done here. This book was pretty weird, but interesting.
**Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
kattheblackbelt's review against another edition
ARC recieved via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the first chapter, I knew this wasn't my kind of thriller. I just couldn't really connect with the girls and for that reason I am choosing to pass up this book. I appreciate the opportunity, but it's just not my cup of tea.
From the first chapter, I knew this wasn't my kind of thriller. I just couldn't really connect with the girls and for that reason I am choosing to pass up this book. I appreciate the opportunity, but it's just not my cup of tea.
lilyp7's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
Jo lives in a small Appalachian town with her aunt, Aggie, in the same place where her mother, whom she never knew, disappeared. Everyone in the city knew her story. Her mother was wild, she "went bad", disappeared, maybe killed by her violent boyfriend, but now people are talking about Jo. Jo, who is always tired, who's falling her grades, who runs alone at night. But Jo isn't her mother, even though she has a secret: a twin sister, Lee, a sister who lives in the wood, who's wild, savage and hate strangers. All the time torn between two existence, two Jos, one normal, the other wild and free, Jo is struggling with her life. When Lee attacks one boy from city and everyone blames Jo, Jo decides to do anything to protect herself and her sister's existence.
I liked how the author write about Jo's conflict about her identity, how she felt trapped in the city, how she looked for answers about her past and her mother's and I could feel the city's sanctimony, its retrograde ideas about women and what they should or shouldn't do. How Savannah tries to find her escape into boys, Jo into woods and her secrets, escaping the town's hearsay, her grandmother and pastor's religion, their need to save "the lost lamb".
Still I couldn't relate so much to the main character and I wish Lee would have been written more extensively. I get Jo's need of freedom, but I found her too impulsive and unrealistic, in some parts. The deahts (in particular the second one) I found...lacking, somehow. Without consequences and I didn't like that. I liked Brandon and his role in the story (both in Jolene's and Jo's) and I found interesting the pastor, but I wish they could have been more developed.
Notwithstanding Some kind of animal is a particular book, a thriller, a mystery and I liked it.
3.5 stars
Jo lives in a small Appalachian town with her aunt, Aggie, in the same place where her mother, whom she never knew, disappeared. Everyone in the city knew her story. Her mother was wild, she "went bad", disappeared, maybe killed by her violent boyfriend, but now people are talking about Jo. Jo, who is always tired, who's falling her grades, who runs alone at night. But Jo isn't her mother, even though she has a secret: a twin sister, Lee, a sister who lives in the wood, who's wild, savage and hate strangers. All the time torn between two existence, two Jos, one normal, the other wild and free, Jo is struggling with her life. When Lee attacks one boy from city and everyone blames Jo, Jo decides to do anything to protect herself and her sister's existence.
I liked how the author write about Jo's conflict about her identity, how she felt trapped in the city, how she looked for answers about her past and her mother's and I could feel the city's sanctimony, its retrograde ideas about women and what they should or shouldn't do. How Savannah tries to find her escape into boys, Jo into woods and her secrets, escaping the town's hearsay, her grandmother and pastor's religion, their need to save "the lost lamb".
Still I couldn't relate so much to the main character and I wish Lee would have been written more extensively. I get Jo's need of freedom, but I found her too impulsive and unrealistic, in some parts. The deahts (in particular the second one) I found...lacking, somehow. Without consequences and I didn't like that. I liked Brandon and his role in the story (both in Jolene's and Jo's) and I found interesting the pastor, but I wish they could have been more developed.
Notwithstanding Some kind of animal is a particular book, a thriller, a mystery and I liked it.
3.5 stars
kkjduke's review against another edition
ARC recieved via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the first chapter, I knew this wasn't my kind of thriller. I just couldn't really connect with the girls and for that reason I am choosing to pass up this book. I appreciate the opportunity, but it's just not my cup of tea.
From the first chapter, I knew this wasn't my kind of thriller. I just couldn't really connect with the girls and for that reason I am choosing to pass up this book. I appreciate the opportunity, but it's just not my cup of tea.
madalinsowden's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
This book focuses on Jo and her secret twin sister Lee. Lee has always lived in the woods with Jo sneaking out to be with her at nights. When Lee hurts someone in town, the townspeople assume it was Jo, and from there she was to decide what to do to keep herself and her sister safe.
I really enjoyed this book. It was super fast paced and I didn't want to put it down. I had to know what was going to happen, and I definitely wasn't expecting the different twists and turns that the story took. I felt connected to Jo, and I loved getting to know Lee and see her personality come out a little more as the story went on. I especially liked how dark and gritty the story was...again, it was unexpected and I really enjoyed that.
My only complaint was the ending, I feel like it was a little rushed. I also feel like there were a few things that happened that should've been taken more seriously, but were kind of brushed over. But again, I really enjoyed this and I would definitely recommend it for it's uniqueness and it's quickness.
This book focuses on Jo and her secret twin sister Lee. Lee has always lived in the woods with Jo sneaking out to be with her at nights. When Lee hurts someone in town, the townspeople assume it was Jo, and from there she was to decide what to do to keep herself and her sister safe.
I really enjoyed this book. It was super fast paced and I didn't want to put it down. I had to know what was going to happen, and I definitely wasn't expecting the different twists and turns that the story took. I felt connected to Jo, and I loved getting to know Lee and see her personality come out a little more as the story went on. I especially liked how dark and gritty the story was...again, it was unexpected and I really enjoyed that.
My only complaint was the ending, I feel like it was a little rushed. I also feel like there were a few things that happened that should've been taken more seriously, but were kind of brushed over. But again, I really enjoyed this and I would definitely recommend it for it's uniqueness and it's quickness.
booksandcoffeerequired's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
samanthaisonline's review against another edition
3.0
Jo has a twin sister who lives in the woods. Nobody else knows about her sister, who runs wild and eats animals raw. But when Lee attacks Jo's crush, Jo's world spirals out of control.
I have to admit, I read this book in one sitting. It is extremely fast-paced and has some interesting thoughts. I loved the atmosphere. The plot, however, I did not enjoy as much.
Firstly, it felt like it had a lot of woman-hate. Jo is vocally against her best friend, Savannah, being with boys. (And while they are fifteen, and I agree a bit young to be doing that, it's more the way Jo talks about it that rubs me the wrong way.)
Additionally, there was so much potential. Jo and Lee are compelling characters, the small-town vibe is something I'm always into, and the interpersonal relationships could have been so interesting. But there was a point (read: the thing with Clayton near the end and what we learn about Jo and Lee's mother) where I couldn't suspend my disbelief. Jo barely cared about leaving behind her aunt and, though we're told Savannah is her best friend, she sure doesn't act like it.
The fact that they get to ride off into the sunset after Murdering A Guy is just so weird to me. That thing with Clayton could have so easily not been part of the book. Also, the entire Henry thing is dropped so quickly.
Overall, this book did not live up to its potential.
(Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free eArc in exchange for an honest review.)
I have to admit, I read this book in one sitting. It is extremely fast-paced and has some interesting thoughts. I loved the atmosphere. The plot, however, I did not enjoy as much.
Firstly, it felt like it had a lot of woman-hate. Jo is vocally against her best friend, Savannah, being with boys. (And while they are fifteen, and I agree a bit young to be doing that, it's more the way Jo talks about it that rubs me the wrong way.)
Additionally, there was so much potential. Jo and Lee are compelling characters, the small-town vibe is something I'm always into, and the interpersonal relationships could have been so interesting. But there was a point (read: the thing with Clayton near the end and what we learn about Jo and Lee's mother) where I couldn't suspend my disbelief. Jo barely cared about leaving behind her aunt and, though we're told Savannah is her best friend, she sure doesn't act like it.
Overall, this book did not live up to its potential.
(Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free eArc in exchange for an honest review.)