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lwhite0889's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mmpickart's review against another edition
3.0
This is a great horror book for middle school horror fans starting to enter the YA genre. As an adult reader, I wanted it to be a little bit scarier but the premise of the plot is still very enjoyable. And I was pleasantly surprised by the creepy twist of an ending!
monomoon_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
apple0loving0shinigami's review against another edition
3.0
Lovecraft would be so proud If he knew that his horrendous legacy lives on even in modern YA novels.
The Book of Living Secrets is a Lovecraftian mess. In the best way possible.
I know I’ve said I was surprised by a book, that my expectations were completely subverted, many times before. But my oh my, I DID NOT expect The Book of Living Secrets to be like… like it is. I expected something very, very different. Something entirely different. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but somehow, it’s not a good thing either.
My thoughts on this book are all over the place. I’ll try to be coherent-
The Book of Living Secrets follows the story of Adelle and Connie, inseparable best friends, and fans of the occult.
They live normal teenage lives, doing normal teenager stuff. Adelle and Connie are described to be very different, but honestly, when I was reading their povs, I couldn’t distinguish them, save for their different names. But different though they supposedly are, they share a burning passion for a little-known Gothic romance novel, “Moira.”
*cue the most overrated YA trope*
A mysterious man transports them to their favorite book.
*gasp*
But things are not as they remember them.
Everything is… strange?
There’s a tentacle monster? There are weirdos in masks? Lots of people go missing? There’s a mysterious voice calling out from the abyss?
But the strangest thing of all is the fact that the characters are not like they imagined them to be. Oh no, the side characters from “Moira” quickly became their crushes/best friends/etc. And the protagonists, Severin and Moira, are a huge disappointment.
Lovecraftian monsters lurk in the shadows. Adelle and Connie struggle to return to their world, but they also want to save the characters from their favorite book.
There is nothing more I could say about the plot without spoiling the book, so I should just get on with my incoherent rambling.
The book was rushed.
Pacing? What pacing?
It should have been longer, way longer.
Character development? What character development?
I needed more. Moooore content. Mooore of the story to make it feel “complete.”
The first chapter made me want to DNF the book. It was completely childish and boring. But I’m glad I stuck to the end because heck… what was that? That was some good tentacle crazy slime – would even make Lovecraft shiver.
So yeah, If you want some YA Lovecraftian madness and If you have no expectations at all, this book is for you.
The Book of Living Secrets is a Lovecraftian mess. In the best way possible.
I know I’ve said I was surprised by a book, that my expectations were completely subverted, many times before. But my oh my, I DID NOT expect The Book of Living Secrets to be like… like it is. I expected something very, very different. Something entirely different. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but somehow, it’s not a good thing either.
My thoughts on this book are all over the place. I’ll try to be coherent-
The Book of Living Secrets follows the story of Adelle and Connie, inseparable best friends, and fans of the occult.
They live normal teenage lives, doing normal teenager stuff. Adelle and Connie are described to be very different, but honestly, when I was reading their povs, I couldn’t distinguish them, save for their different names. But different though they supposedly are, they share a burning passion for a little-known Gothic romance novel, “Moira.”
*cue the most overrated YA trope*
A mysterious man transports them to their favorite book.
*gasp*
But things are not as they remember them.
Everything is… strange?
There’s a tentacle monster? There are weirdos in masks? Lots of people go missing? There’s a mysterious voice calling out from the abyss?
But the strangest thing of all is the fact that the characters are not like they imagined them to be. Oh no, the side characters from “Moira” quickly became their crushes/best friends/etc. And the protagonists, Severin and Moira, are a huge disappointment.
Lovecraftian monsters lurk in the shadows. Adelle and Connie struggle to return to their world, but they also want to save the characters from their favorite book.
There is nothing more I could say about the plot without spoiling the book, so I should just get on with my incoherent rambling.
The book was rushed.
Pacing? What pacing?
It should have been longer, way longer.
Character development? What character development?
I needed more. Moooore content. Mooore of the story to make it feel “complete.”
The first chapter made me want to DNF the book. It was completely childish and boring. But I’m glad I stuck to the end because heck… what was that? That was some good tentacle crazy slime – would even make Lovecraft shiver.
So yeah, If you want some YA Lovecraftian madness and If you have no expectations at all, this book is for you.
gothamvorona's review against another edition
3.0
2.5*
Ok, so I was actually pretty disappointed with this book. While some things are due to the Author, I think the major problems I have with this are because of Marketing issues.
When I first heard of this book, I loved the premise. The premise I don't think matches what the actual book is about. Main issue is this is like a Lovecraftian Gothic Historical Fantasy book not a Dark Gothic Fantasy/Horror book which is what the synopsis gave to the reader. I don't think it can be accurately reviewed because while Lovecraftian is a subgenre of Horror it really is like its own little thing ya know. Lovecraftian is also very conflicting with people either loving it or hating it. Personally, I love it but I know many people who steer clear of it. Going into this book, I wasn't pleased with not knowing it was Lovecraftian inspired. It fell kind of flat after that revelation.
The characters themselves, I only really liked one. The others were pretty boring in my opinion but that doesn't mean they weren't well written. I will say they were because they still made me feel something even if it was negative. The ending though, sadly (and I do want to apologize for this cause I don't wanna be mean) sucked quite a bit. It was confusing, I didn't really understand it nor did I care for it. If there is supposed to be a second book, the ending didn't make me feel like picking it up. Like whatsoever.
I try not to be too harsh with my reviews and I don't mean to be with this one but I think the author could really improve these areas in their upcoming books. They had such a unique concept and I think they could have done an amazing job with it if they had flushed it out more.
Overall, I think you should still pick it up because you may like it but know that the synopsis doesn't do the book justice.
Ok, so I was actually pretty disappointed with this book. While some things are due to the Author, I think the major problems I have with this are because of Marketing issues.
When I first heard of this book, I loved the premise. The premise I don't think matches what the actual book is about. Main issue is this is like a Lovecraftian Gothic Historical Fantasy book not a Dark Gothic Fantasy/Horror book which is what the synopsis gave to the reader. I don't think it can be accurately reviewed because while Lovecraftian is a subgenre of Horror it really is like its own little thing ya know. Lovecraftian is also very conflicting with people either loving it or hating it. Personally, I love it but I know many people who steer clear of it. Going into this book, I wasn't pleased with not knowing it was Lovecraftian inspired. It fell kind of flat after that revelation.
The characters themselves, I only really liked one. The others were pretty boring in my opinion but that doesn't mean they weren't well written. I will say they were because they still made me feel something even if it was negative. The ending though, sadly (and I do want to apologize for this cause I don't wanna be mean) sucked quite a bit. It was confusing, I didn't really understand it nor did I care for it. If there is supposed to be a second book, the ending didn't make me feel like picking it up. Like whatsoever.
I try not to be too harsh with my reviews and I don't mean to be with this one but I think the author could really improve these areas in their upcoming books. They had such a unique concept and I think they could have done an amazing job with it if they had flushed it out more.
Overall, I think you should still pick it up because you may like it but know that the synopsis doesn't do the book justice.
nicolealycia's review against another edition
3.0
Normally I’m a big Madeleine Roux fan… this book was just so weird though.
I loved the concept, two best friends playing with magic and ending up in the middle of their favorite book except everything it wrong …
But the execution wasn’t great in my opinion and I kept finding my mind drifting off while I was reading it and things didn’t always flow great.
Maybe it just wasn’t the time to read it for me but I just thought the whole book was really weird. And then the ending was so abrupt but there could be another book now based on how it ended and I don’t know …
Weird is the best way I can think to sum up this book so I’m just going to say it again… it was a weird one.
I loved the concept, two best friends playing with magic and ending up in the middle of their favorite book except everything it wrong …
But the execution wasn’t great in my opinion and I kept finding my mind drifting off while I was reading it and things didn’t always flow great.
Maybe it just wasn’t the time to read it for me but I just thought the whole book was really weird. And then the ending was so abrupt but there could be another book now based on how it ended and I don’t know …
Weird is the best way I can think to sum up this book so I’m just going to say it again… it was a weird one.
the_castle_library's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
What a great adventure this was to read! I wish there was more following this book, but it is an epic standalone! It was full of twists and turns: fun, romantic, thrilling, and sad.
Two best friends have a shared love for a book, "Moira". They have tried contacting the Author for book signings, meet and greets, or just for coffee to talk about the book and if there are plans for anything else from that world, but no one has been able to contact her and her address isn't listed anywhere, even though she lives in the same city, Boston.
Edelle is outgoing, a dreamer, and a romantic, whereas Connie plays it safe, a tomboy, and practical. Edelle has been hanging out at a local shop, Witch's Eye Emporium, more than usual lately and has become close with the proprietor. He has filled Adelle's dreamer head with promises that he can transport her into the world of "Moira" and she takes the bait hook, line, and sinker and drags Connie into it too.
Once they get there, everything is out of sorts. Nothing is blissful and romantic and the characters aren't who they appeared to be in the story either. They have to figure out what has happened to change their beloved book and try to set it right.
My rating for romance is 💖
Two best friends have a shared love for a book, "Moira". They have tried contacting the Author for book signings, meet and greets, or just for coffee to talk about the book and if there are plans for anything else from that world, but no one has been able to contact her and her address isn't listed anywhere, even though she lives in the same city, Boston.
Edelle is outgoing, a dreamer, and a romantic, whereas Connie plays it safe, a tomboy, and practical. Edelle has been hanging out at a local shop, Witch's Eye Emporium, more than usual lately and has become close with the proprietor. He has filled Adelle's dreamer head with promises that he can transport her into the world of "Moira" and she takes the bait hook, line, and sinker and drags Connie into it too.
Once they get there, everything is out of sorts. Nothing is blissful and romantic and the characters aren't who they appeared to be in the story either. They have to figure out what has happened to change their beloved book and try to set it right.
My rating for romance is 💖
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
jess_carterby31's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
jenn0811's review against another edition
2.0
1.5⭐️ rounded up. Not much to say about this book honestly . Was pretty bored through most of it.