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melissaverasreads's review against another edition
3.0
Let's talk about how you shouldn't take advantage of people to have sex with them: You. Shouldn't. Do. It.
The only reason I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 2 is because the ending was really good. But the romance is trash, and the story itself doesn't have much going for it đ¤ˇđ˝ââ
The only reason I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 2 is because the ending was really good. But the romance is trash, and the story itself doesn't have much going for it đ¤ˇđ˝ââ
za_'s review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.75
While reading, I really wanted to know when this book was written. It talks about the Spanish Flu and there were just so many parallel to COVID. Then, it was written prior to COVId, it shows people are generally the same, and we donât really learn from the past.
The MC leaves her family home after her father and brother kill a German man. She is disgusted by their actions.
She moves in with a women named May and starts seeing who she thinks is the brother of the German man who was killed.
It turns out she was already dead and that the German man she was seeing was the one her family killed and everyone she interacted with was dead.
She tries to convince them to all go to have fun at this jazz club instead of being stuck.
The book was too slow. The uninvited part didnât really make sense or play into it until the very end.
Gave me Great Gatsby vibes and I also donât like that book
lacyk_reads's review against another edition
3.0
We don't read much about the disdain and distrust felt towards German immigrants in the early 1900s. I feel like my high school American history class focused much more on what was happening abroad than what was actually happening in the U.S.
This book is a look in that time - flu was running rampant and killing indiscriminately, underage boys were lying about their age and shipped off to war, immigrants lived in fear of their American neighbors, and everyone else was looking for someone to blame for all the misfortune.
I loved the setting of this book, It was a look inside our past, which I didn't realize existed, but found to be very interesting. There is also supernatural twist, and it was done very well. It wasn't as spooky as what I would have liked, but that's ok.
My biggest beef with this story - and maybe I'm putting too much emphasis on this - was the main character through which we saw this world. She was shallow and an unpredictable narrator sometimes. I couldn't follow her motivations at times and, by the end of the book, still felt I didn't know her.
Regardless, it was an interesting and pretty quick read.
This book is a look in that time - flu was running rampant and killing indiscriminately, underage boys were lying about their age and shipped off to war, immigrants lived in fear of their American neighbors, and everyone else was looking for someone to blame for all the misfortune.
I loved the setting of this book, It was a look inside our past, which I didn't realize existed, but found to be very interesting. There is also supernatural twist, and it was done very well. It wasn't as spooky as what I would have liked, but that's ok.
My biggest beef with this story - and maybe I'm putting too much emphasis on this - was the main character through which we saw this world. She was shallow and an unpredictable narrator sometimes. I couldn't follow her motivations at times and, by the end of the book, still felt I didn't know her.
Regardless, it was an interesting and pretty quick read.
ejharding's review against another edition
5.0
This book broke me. Like actually and fully broke me. I got sucked into the story and it was such an interesting plot for that time period. I have to admit that I was blindsided by the twist but I was deeply moved by it and ended the book in tears.
erincataldi's review against another edition
3.0
Not what I was expecting but I enjoyed it nonetheless. A creepy, gothic, Sixth Sense, WWI type of novel. There was a lot going on really. Ivy, along with all the other women in her family, have the ability to see ghosts. They appear right before a loved one dies and unfortunately for Ivy, she's been seeing a lot of them lately. After her father and brother brutally murder a German merchant for being a "hate mongering kraut," Ivy decides to flee the house and try living on her own. She sheds her cocoon and begins to fly into new, unchartered territory. She is a deeply empathetic person and finds herself helping drive the red cross ambulance across town to pick up influenza patients who seem to be multiplying very night. The historical aspect is intriguing and haunting and the added dimension of ghosts only add to the story and build up to the shocking conclusion. A great, quick read.
mmc6661's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable read that threw quite a twist, a totally unexpected twist to the story ! A story about war, hatred, love and ghosts !
lisawreading's review against another edition
5.0
It's not often that a book so successfully combines a subtle, eerie ghost story with compelling historical fiction, but The Uninvited really pulls it off. Set during the 1918 flu epidemic in a small Illinois town dominated by anti-German, anti-foreigner agitation, the book captures the fear caused by the deaths of so many, on the battlefields overseas and at home from illness. The plot builds, adding tension and complications, until a really stunning final third that ties it all together just marvelously. Highly recommended.
kdurham2's review against another edition
3.0
check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Ivy Rowan runs from home after she finds out that her brother and father have murdered someone. Ivy runs to an old classmate's widow's home and along the way encounters an interesting set of characters.
This book is one of those that has quite the interesting twist and it definitely added to the book and if I had enjoyed it more, it would be one of those to reread to see if I could have caught the clues faster.
As I said before I love historical fiction and I loved reading the thoughts of Americans and how they were treating their German neighbors at this time; interesting to see friendly neighbors turn into enemies.
Ivy Rowan runs from home after she finds out that her brother and father have murdered someone. Ivy runs to an old classmate's widow's home and along the way encounters an interesting set of characters.
This book is one of those that has quite the interesting twist and it definitely added to the book and if I had enjoyed it more, it would be one of those to reread to see if I could have caught the clues faster.
As I said before I love historical fiction and I loved reading the thoughts of Americans and how they were treating their German neighbors at this time; interesting to see friendly neighbors turn into enemies.
betwixt_the_pages's review against another edition
5.0
Twenty-five year old Ivy Rowan rises from her bed after being struck by the flu, only to discover the world has been torn apart in just a few short days.
But Ivyâs life-long giftâor curseâremains. For she sees the uninvited onesâghosts of loved ones who appear to her, unasked, unwelcomed, for they always herald impending death. On that October evening in 1918 she sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in her motherâs chair. An hour later, she learns her younger brother and father have killed a young German out of retaliation for the death of Ivyâs older brother Billy in the Great War.
Horrified, she leaves home, to discover the flu has caused utter panic and the rules governing society have broken down. Ivy is drawn into this new world of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people live for the day, because they could be stricken by nightfall. But as her âuninvited guestsâ begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life will be torn apart once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-worldly revelations about to unfold.
- - - - -
Rating: 5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: LOVE the paranormal aspect of this book; I caught on to the âbig revealâ but this didn't change my enjoyment of the book; all the secrets come together in a beautiful, heartbreaking crescendo; I love how much âgirl powerâ the MC spouts off; as always, Cat Winters blew me away
If I had to choose a favorite Cat Winters novel right this second, I'd pick this one of those I've read (which, admittedly, are only two so far. Don't worry, thoughâI intend to fix this!) Regardless, of the two I've read, THIS ONE is my favorite... And I'm pretty sure the paranormal aspect had a LOT to do with this, if I'm being honest.
Cat Winters, from what I've read, blends the historically accurate with her own flair for poltergeists...and this one answered so many more questions about the WHY and the HOW of this weird in-between world than I felt the last one I read by her did. In fact, this book is all about the why and the how of ghostsâespecially in Ivy's world. I had a ton of fun watching as Ivy âspread her wingsâ and found her own way to fly amidst the griefs and struggles of the town, in the midst of the Spanish Influenza... In the midst of everything she faces throughout. Ivy is a warrior, and I enjoyed watching her don her battle axe to take charge of her own life. The plot is, while not necessarily âaction-packed,â still quick-moving and often surprising in its direction. Each page kept me enthralled, on the edge of my seat, needing to know what happened next. Needing to know what was lying just around the bend.
The characters found throughout are vibrant, strong-willed, and determined to live life to the fullestâwhich is something I think we tend to forget, in our lives today. Not everything's a guarantee. Tomorrow isn't always promised. There are so many other awesome, moral-driven moments in this book, I found my sense of self shifting and altering like the turning of the pagesâoften quickly, and without warning. The best sort of read, in other wordsâthe kind that leaves readers not only thinking, but breathless with sudden epiphany.
There is, of course, romance at play...but MAHGOSH, the romance! I was rooting for these characters the entire way through. I did catch onto the âbig revealâ at about the 70% markâso about 15% sooner than the book was set up to tell us all about. This in no way altered my enjoyment of the read, though! I only had the vaguest of suspicions...and was conflicted, to be honest, between two or three different âplot twistsâ I thought might happen.
Once again, Cat Winters has knocked my feet from under me and left me floundering. I really enjoyed watching the story blend the paranormal with the every day...and do it so beautifully. The plot twist, while I caught on at the 70% mark, I feel is still surprising enough that most readers will be caught unawares. I recommend to lovers of diverse reads, historical fiction, and ghostly hauntings. I can't wait to dive into my next Cat Winters' book; I'm sure I won't be disappointed!
But Ivyâs life-long giftâor curseâremains. For she sees the uninvited onesâghosts of loved ones who appear to her, unasked, unwelcomed, for they always herald impending death. On that October evening in 1918 she sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in her motherâs chair. An hour later, she learns her younger brother and father have killed a young German out of retaliation for the death of Ivyâs older brother Billy in the Great War.
Horrified, she leaves home, to discover the flu has caused utter panic and the rules governing society have broken down. Ivy is drawn into this new world of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people live for the day, because they could be stricken by nightfall. But as her âuninvited guestsâ begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life will be torn apart once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-worldly revelations about to unfold.
- - - - -
Rating: 5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: LOVE the paranormal aspect of this book; I caught on to the âbig revealâ but this didn't change my enjoyment of the book; all the secrets come together in a beautiful, heartbreaking crescendo; I love how much âgirl powerâ the MC spouts off; as always, Cat Winters blew me away
âOne of my brothers just lost his life in France, though, and my family is ... um ...â I braced my hands on my hips. âWell, weâre not doing well. Iâve decided to head out into the world and live my own life now. Sort ofââ I forced a smile to my faceââ burst out of my cocoon, so to speak.â
May merely blinked in response at first, but then she arched a dark eyebrow and said, âYou picked one hell of a time to spread your wings, little butterfly.â
If I had to choose a favorite Cat Winters novel right this second, I'd pick this one of those I've read (which, admittedly, are only two so far. Don't worry, thoughâI intend to fix this!) Regardless, of the two I've read, THIS ONE is my favorite... And I'm pretty sure the paranormal aspect had a LOT to do with this, if I'm being honest.
Cat Winters, from what I've read, blends the historically accurate with her own flair for poltergeists...and this one answered so many more questions about the WHY and the HOW of this weird in-between world than I felt the last one I read by her did. In fact, this book is all about the why and the how of ghostsâespecially in Ivy's world. I had a ton of fun watching as Ivy âspread her wingsâ and found her own way to fly amidst the griefs and struggles of the town, in the midst of the Spanish Influenza... In the midst of everything she faces throughout. Ivy is a warrior, and I enjoyed watching her don her battle axe to take charge of her own life. The plot is, while not necessarily âaction-packed,â still quick-moving and often surprising in its direction. Each page kept me enthralled, on the edge of my seat, needing to know what happened next. Needing to know what was lying just around the bend.
Nela lowered her face. âIâm just a stupid woman, Ivy. And a foreigner at that.â
âPoppycock!â as my granny Letty would have said.â I raised my chin. âIâve been driving my familyâs trucks and tractors since I was fifteen years old, and not once did my womb or my breasts get in the way of steering and braking.â
The characters found throughout are vibrant, strong-willed, and determined to live life to the fullestâwhich is something I think we tend to forget, in our lives today. Not everything's a guarantee. Tomorrow isn't always promised. There are so many other awesome, moral-driven moments in this book, I found my sense of self shifting and altering like the turning of the pagesâoften quickly, and without warning. The best sort of read, in other wordsâthe kind that leaves readers not only thinking, but breathless with sudden epiphany.
There is, of course, romance at play...but MAHGOSH, the romance! I was rooting for these characters the entire way through. I did catch onto the âbig revealâ at about the 70% markâso about 15% sooner than the book was set up to tell us all about. This in no way altered my enjoyment of the read, though! I only had the vaguest of suspicions...and was conflicted, to be honest, between two or three different âplot twistsâ I thought might happen.
âBut this is not the fantastical land of liberty that people portray in stories. The melting pot does nothing but scald and blister right now.â
Once again, Cat Winters has knocked my feet from under me and left me floundering. I really enjoyed watching the story blend the paranormal with the every day...and do it so beautifully. The plot twist, while I caught on at the 70% mark, I feel is still surprising enough that most readers will be caught unawares. I recommend to lovers of diverse reads, historical fiction, and ghostly hauntings. I can't wait to dive into my next Cat Winters' book; I'm sure I won't be disappointed!
em_harring's review against another edition
2.0
Per FTC guidelines: I received this book as a digital arc from Edelweiss. I'm not being paid for my review; everything I write is 100% honestly how I felt.
I had high expectations for this book, which seems to be my downfall 80% of the time.
I read Winters' novel In the Shadow of Blackbirds and really enjoyed the atmosphere she created within the novel. It was spooky, haunting, and still somehow realistic even with its fantastical moments. At times it was eerie and gruesome--my favourite pairing. Upon reading the synopsis to this book, I was like "Awesome, another great atmospheric novel to read."
It fell flat. So flat.
The tone and presence I liked so much in Shadow just wasn't in this novel. The elements she had weaved throughout it were heavily influenced by the romance that took over the entire novel. By the end of the novel, I knew why everything had felt foggy and almost whimsically dreamy, which ended up working, but I still didn't feel the environment as much as I felt it in Shadow.
The strongest aspect of the book is the end when everything comes together. All of your questions are answered and it's actually really well done. What killed this book for me was just the romance between Ivy and the German. I didn't buy it. I didn't feel it at all. None of the characters seemed awfully developed, including Ivy. They had bodies, and they had dressing, but they had nothing underneath. No life.
I will say, I did love the jazz club. I thought that was a nice touch and probably one of the spaces in the book that felt the most atmospheric to me.
So, The Uninvited gets about a 2.5 from me. I can think of a handful atmospheric, haunting, ghost films or novels that achieve the same 'twist' ending, but with more heart and emotion.
I had high expectations for this book, which seems to be my downfall 80% of the time.
I read Winters' novel In the Shadow of Blackbirds and really enjoyed the atmosphere she created within the novel. It was spooky, haunting, and still somehow realistic even with its fantastical moments. At times it was eerie and gruesome--my favourite pairing. Upon reading the synopsis to this book, I was like "Awesome, another great atmospheric novel to read."
It fell flat. So flat.
The tone and presence I liked so much in Shadow just wasn't in this novel. The elements she had weaved throughout it were heavily influenced by the romance that took over the entire novel. By the end of the novel, I knew why everything had felt foggy and almost whimsically dreamy, which ended up working, but I still didn't feel the environment as much as I felt it in Shadow.
The strongest aspect of the book is the end when everything comes together. All of your questions are answered and it's actually really well done. What killed this book for me was just the romance between Ivy and the German. I didn't buy it. I didn't feel it at all. None of the characters seemed awfully developed, including Ivy. They had bodies, and they had dressing, but they had nothing underneath. No life.
I will say, I did love the jazz club. I thought that was a nice touch and probably one of the spaces in the book that felt the most atmospheric to me.
So, The Uninvited gets about a 2.5 from me. I can think of a handful atmospheric, haunting, ghost films or novels that achieve the same 'twist' ending, but with more heart and emotion.