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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
Rating:5/5
Pub Date: 10/11/22
I was gifted an eARC of this book for my honest review.
I always wondered how I would handle a trauma like Sayers had to. I thought of myself as someone who was strong enough to handle anything. Do you think you could handle having your life ripped away from you and never knowing again if you will ever see the people you loved?
I started to read this book then I stopped not because it was awful but because I was not in the right state of mind for it, and I am so happy that I waited. WOW this book was amazing, and so emotionally damaging but in a way that really opens some part of you and helps you to be more understanding to people who have been dealing with trauma in their life.
I hated Sayers in the beginning of the book, I thought he was a spoiled rich alphahole. Then I wanted to pick him up, and just hold him in my arms and tell him that everything will be alright. Robin Roe did a fantastic job really bringing her MC from being someone who is loved/hated to someone that is more understanding and willing to help others around him. Sayers really did change his life for the better after that traumatic experience, and we get to watch the aftermath of that trauma and how he was able to overcome it. For me Sayers character growth was the best that I have read all year.
While reading this book you might feel anger for the actions of Sayers in the beginning to grief & heartache. From having joy to having overwhelming doom & suspense of not knowing what is to come. From being afraid & wanting to comfort those who were attacked in this book. I cannot express all the emotions I had while reading this book, but I can tell you that I cried and not just once a few times for all the pain, fearfulness, to the happiness at the end of this book.
I really loved how this book didn't just focus on the trauma that Sayers went through but also the aftermath of the trauma. The hardships that he had to overcome after being set free and having to return to his life was really an eye opener for me.
I can't say too much more without giving out any spoilers so I will just stop right here.
I want to Thank Robin Roe for allowing me the opportunity to review this amazing book. This book was on Goodreads Most Anticipated YA Books for the Fall List, and I can tell you without a doubt I know why it was. This is a book that I hope all YA, mystery thriller, suspense lovers will pick up and read. I do not think you will be disappointed.
Pub Date: 10/11/22
I was gifted an eARC of this book for my honest review.
I always wondered how I would handle a trauma like Sayers had to. I thought of myself as someone who was strong enough to handle anything. Do you think you could handle having your life ripped away from you and never knowing again if you will ever see the people you loved?
I started to read this book then I stopped not because it was awful but because I was not in the right state of mind for it, and I am so happy that I waited. WOW this book was amazing, and so emotionally damaging but in a way that really opens some part of you and helps you to be more understanding to people who have been dealing with trauma in their life.
I hated Sayers in the beginning of the book, I thought he was a spoiled rich alphahole. Then I wanted to pick him up, and just hold him in my arms and tell him that everything will be alright. Robin Roe did a fantastic job really bringing her MC from being someone who is loved/hated to someone that is more understanding and willing to help others around him. Sayers really did change his life for the better after that traumatic experience, and we get to watch the aftermath of that trauma and how he was able to overcome it. For me Sayers character growth was the best that I have read all year.
While reading this book you might feel anger for the actions of Sayers in the beginning to grief & heartache. From having joy to having overwhelming doom & suspense of not knowing what is to come. From being afraid & wanting to comfort those who were attacked in this book. I cannot express all the emotions I had while reading this book, but I can tell you that I cried and not just once a few times for all the pain, fearfulness, to the happiness at the end of this book.
I really loved how this book didn't just focus on the trauma that Sayers went through but also the aftermath of the trauma. The hardships that he had to overcome after being set free and having to return to his life was really an eye opener for me.
I can't say too much more without giving out any spoilers so I will just stop right here.
I want to Thank Robin Roe for allowing me the opportunity to review this amazing book. This book was on Goodreads Most Anticipated YA Books for the Fall List, and I can tell you without a doubt I know why it was. This is a book that I hope all YA, mystery thriller, suspense lovers will pick up and read. I do not think you will be disappointed.
God, I wish I liked this one more. I get what the author was trying to do, especially with the author's note, but it felt 100 pages too long and repetitive throughout the whole story.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought that the captivity chapters were the most skillfully written and the rest of the book was kind of unbearable in terms of flat characters with disjointed narratives and unclear motivations. Also the use of Catholicism and the themes of humility/penance felt shoehorned in and just made me uncomfortable. Frankly, I don't think it's super responsible to be telling teens that their trauma is God's way of making them a better person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very reminiscent of Room, this is a dark mystery novel that's a real page turner. While Sayers is wholly unlikeable at first, we grow to empathize with him as he finds himself trapped in a bunker-like prison. I had some issues with the portrayals of mental health throughout, but it was interesting that the reader also isn't cognizant of how much time has passed in his captivity. I did enjoy how Sayers evolves as a character and learns from the mistakes of his past, I just wish that we got to see him seek treatment after this harrowing experience.
This book is perfectly and beautifully written. While I consider this a longer book, I flew through it. Even though it is a bit slower, I never found myself bored. I always wanted to read the next chapter and find out what was going to happen next. You meet Sayers and as the blurb describes, he has everything - money and popularity. While not directly a bully, he is just as bad for not stopping or standing up to the aggressors he is around. You know this book is about him getting kidnapped, so you start to theorize how and by whom this will happen. The kidnapper has an interesting story which leads to Sayers trying to find the perfect way to survive - but at what cost? When he starts to believe his kidnappers lies, it makes coming back to reality that much more difficult. Such a great read, I highly recommend!
This is the story of 16 year old Sayers Wayte.
Sayers has had a very privileged, very comfortable life.
On the night of homecoming that will all change and everything he thought he knew about himself and others will go up in flames.
What he endures will change him forever.
This story is about courage, redemption, and strength.
I'll be honest and say I was surprised by the depth of this book for being YA thriller/horror.
The story kept twisting and turning, but it kept a perfect pace the whole way.
It definitely kept me guessing and at the end when all the questions are answered, it will make you think!
This was truly a powerful book. One that I'd recommend to anyone YA and up.
It had everything you could want in a thriller or horror book!
I absolutely loved it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Once again thank you to Robin Roe for sending me a gorgeous hardcover copy of this book in exchange for a review. I love your writing style and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.
Sayers has had a very privileged, very comfortable life.
On the night of homecoming that will all change and everything he thought he knew about himself and others will go up in flames.
What he endures will change him forever.
This story is about courage, redemption, and strength.
I'll be honest and say I was surprised by the depth of this book for being YA thriller/horror.
The story kept twisting and turning, but it kept a perfect pace the whole way.
It definitely kept me guessing and at the end when all the questions are answered, it will make you think!
This was truly a powerful book. One that I'd recommend to anyone YA and up.
It had everything you could want in a thriller or horror book!
I absolutely loved it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Once again thank you to Robin Roe for sending me a gorgeous hardcover copy of this book in exchange for a review. I love your writing style and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m drawn to a story the explores the psychological impact of an event on someone and that’s exactly what Dark Room Etiquette does. This is a book of three parts. First it eases us into things gently, letting the reader get to know the characters (who, for the most part, are pretty disgusting people) and then suddenly it’s explodes into an edge of your seat thriller that is tense, fascinating and horrific in places. Then as suddenly as that hits, it’s gone! And you are left with the aftermath. What I love is that you share this emotional journey with our main character - the indifference, the horrors, the confusion. It touches on many issues, mental health, bullying, Stockholm syndrome, sexual assault, religion, class and more and although that sounds like a lot, I at no point felt bombarded. This was a great read and despite being a huge book, I tore through it because I was so invested in the outcome. The afterword is a worthwhile read aswell.
Three stars because the author made a few weird choices here. In the afterward he mentions how he wanted to focus on hope and the fact that your trauma is not defining you. Yet, Sayers never goes to therapy and his recovery journey is based off of religion and self-medication with weed and overusing his prescribed anxiety meds. He doesn’t have social support, his mom acts super weird, basically abandons him while he’s having flashbacks and nightmares??? What the fuck. I didn’t like the last third of the book at all. The first one thrid was honestly boring, and the middle felt so repetutive and long that it made me almost quit. I appreciate the unlikeable main character and his journey felt believable for most of the book, especially those in which he’s kept captive. However, the first half of the book just feels like endless, disorienting day/nightmare and it’s frustrating and boring. Like, I get that it was supposed to be but I found that to be just a bit too in your face. This book could’ve been at least 100 pages shorter and still the message would be clear. Overall, I felt like it was a great idea and not so great execution.
read as part of keeping my head above water aka reading 2022 releases in the actual 2022
read as part of keeping my head above water aka reading 2022 releases in the actual 2022
dark
emotional
reflective
tense