423 reviews for:

American Elsewhere

Robert Jackson Bennett

3.82 AVERAGE

amazonwoman2025's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

kusine's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

howdyimalex's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

---

A nice lovecraftina time, but fairly grounded. Scifi mystery theatre style stuff. Fun characters and great interactions/set pieces. Some strong chapters with unique ideas about what it means for a creature from another time, another place, another dimension to fall in love with or consider an average American life… in the 50s… extremely literally and forcefully. 

A great double shot after reading library at mount char. 

deswuuu's review against another edition

4.0

---

7.9/10 - this shit cray. very descriptive and gripping. extremely interesting story and took me on twists and turns i did not expect.

zandrsn's review against another edition

4.25

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

itswhatever_89_'s review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

---

The only thing that keeps me from rating this a five star book is that the characters fall flat for me. I do really like Mona. Poor thing spends most of the book in a state of wtf, which is hilariously relatable. For me, there is just something oddly lacking in the characters. I honestly can’t even put my finger on what it is, they just feel kind of hollow. (Which may have even been intentional considering…) Even despite that one glaring issue, I loved this book. Probably one of my favorite reads for the year. You may not even feel the same way and be totally fine with character development. I would still whole heartedly recommend this book. It’s long and twisty and totally worth it. 

cangoerts's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

dcstorystack's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

patrick_n's review against another edition

2.5

mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

jniklaus's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes