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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
This book was so good. Gut-wrenching but still able to end with hope. The way this author describes traumatic events and the aftermath makes you lose yourself in the book.
This book had me hooked from the synopsis. This book reminds me what it's like to root for, hate, love, and pity a main character of a story. This book starts with the main character, Saye, leaving a sour taste in your mouth but by the end you become his biggest fan. Robin Roe does an AMAZING job of not having certain characters appear all that much but invoking intense emotion with every decision certain characters make. The chapters were bit shorter and had simpler writing than I usually like but overall a very good book with some moments that leave you on the edge of your seat, make you frown with sorrow, and leave a small smile on your face for Saye's small victories. Overall recommend to anyone wanting to read :)
This book was phenomenally written. I haven’t felt this attached to, invested in, or triggered by characters this much since reading We Begin At the End, which is easily my favorite book of all time at this point.
Sayer’s character development had me on a rollercoaster because it was so difficult NOT to feel anxious and horrible for the predicament he found himself in after being someone I despised early on. The subject matter of overcoming trauma is something so vital for young readers to understand and familiarize themselves with to break the cycles and negative stigma on mental health.
I loved this. I wish it had been around when I was younger. It’s a fast-paced and unsettling read, but it’ll really tug at your heartstrings and you’ll come out different for it as a reader, in a positive way.
Sayer’s character development had me on a rollercoaster because it was so difficult NOT to feel anxious and horrible for the predicament he found himself in after being someone I despised early on. The subject matter of overcoming trauma is something so vital for young readers to understand and familiarize themselves with to break the cycles and negative stigma on mental health.
I loved this. I wish it had been around when I was younger. It’s a fast-paced and unsettling read, but it’ll really tug at your heartstrings and you’ll come out different for it as a reader, in a positive way.
Covered a lot of ground for one book. A little too creepy in the first half. And a bit rushed through everything the second half was trying to cover.
Thank you to HarperTeen and Libro.fm for the audiobook.
Thank you to HarperTeen and Libro.fm for the audiobook.
Sayers "Saye" Wayte has everything he could imagine. He lives in a ridiculously nice house, has a hefty inheritance waiting for him, is the most popular kid in school, and can get away with anything. While he and some of his less-than-stellar friends tend to use that to their advantage, everyone else sees Saye as a pretty good kid. After a night that quickly gets out of control, Saye decides to skip school and go on the art field trip with his friend Luke. However, on his way home, he ends up having car trouble. A strange man helps him out and leaves when Saye asks him to. However, he returns moments later and kidnaps Saye.
Saye is trapped in a small house and is confined to his room and the living room, neither of which seem to have aged in years. During his time, he must learn what it takes to survive, even if he forgets parts of himself along the way.
I loved every moment of A List of Cages, and I was so excited when I was given an ARC of this one. Roe's first book was heavy, and I knew that this one would be no different. I knew a bit about this one going in, but I was going in blind for the most part. Dark Room Etiquette is harrowing yet gripping, and it refused to let me go. There were moments when I had to put the book down for a bit and come back, but I still wanted to know what happened in the end.
If you even consider reading this, please check out the trigger warnings under the spoiler tab at the end of this review. I am happy to discuss any of them in more detail. Dark Room Etiquette releases October 11th!
TW:
Saye is trapped in a small house and is confined to his room and the living room, neither of which seem to have aged in years. During his time, he must learn what it takes to survive, even if he forgets parts of himself along the way.
I loved every moment of A List of Cages, and I was so excited when I was given an ARC of this one. Roe's first book was heavy, and I knew that this one would be no different. I knew a bit about this one going in, but I was going in blind for the most part. Dark Room Etiquette is harrowing yet gripping, and it refused to let me go. There were moments when I had to put the book down for a bit and come back, but I still wanted to know what happened in the end.
Spoiler
I loved how the author decided to not end the book after Saye was freed, and she elected to include his healing process. This showed just how much he had grown after all that had happened, and we got to see many of the side characters' true selves.If you even consider reading this, please check out the trigger warnings under the spoiler tab at the end of this review. I am happy to discuss any of them in more detail. Dark Room Etiquette releases October 11th!
TW:
Spoiler
kidnapping, abduction of a minor, psychological torture, abuse, sexual assault, violence, bullying, brainwashing, horror, death
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was so excited to see Robin Roe had a new book coming out. I loved A List of Cages and have been waiting to see more from her since then. Dark Room Etiquette is a book that runs you through every single emotion you can think of and then some. I started off the book hating the main character and by the end of it, I just wanted to give him a hug. I haven't stopped thinking about the book since I finished it and keep getting mad that no one else I know has read it. There are so many layers to the story and it is written so you never quite know what is going on or what to believe. My anxiety was rampant throughout but I think that can be attributed to the way the story was written and part of the point. It was so so good.
Thank you to Let's Talk Books Promo for an early gifted copy of this book. Dark Room Etiquette is out now and please come find me after you read it so we can talk.
Thank you to Let's Talk Books Promo for an early gifted copy of this book. Dark Room Etiquette is out now and please come find me after you read it so we can talk.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have no words. This was my first full read of 2023 and it was just incredible. A sensational purview of trauma and the ways it alters the brain, as well as the range of ways trauma presents in different individuals. I simply cannot describe how the author’s way of writing made me feel like I was spinning around and falling with the main character. It was hard to tell who he was but also not difficult at all.
Incredible❤️
Incredible❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism
Minor: Biphobia, Fatphobia, Infidelity