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kaelaceleste's review
3.0
Super torn on how to rate this one because I really liked parts of it and really, really did not like others lol
I loved the overall theme of uncovering gentrification of the neighborhood. It was super interesting and not something you see super often in YA so I appreciated that. I also really liked the writing style, very easy to get through and casual, and kept my attention despite the plot being slow at times.
The pacing was wayyyy off to me. It felt like nothing happened for huge stretches of time and then the ending was SO ABRUPT with no resolution once the big scary was revealed. I realize that was probably intentional but it left me wanting to know what happened after, almost like it was halfway to being a cliffhanger. A lot happened at once in the last 3-4 chapters which was the part I liked the most - big reveal was great and exciting to read - but then it just...ends.In that way it just felt unfinished.
I also felt like there were a lot of qualities of the characters that ended up being overexplained and then brought back as a sort of "gotcha" later on. Like
Overall though it was creepy and well-written. Especially for a YA horror it was a great haunted house story with some good social commentary, if a little on-the-nose.
I loved the overall theme of uncovering gentrification of the neighborhood. It was super interesting and not something you see super often in YA so I appreciated that. I also really liked the writing style, very easy to get through and casual, and kept my attention despite the plot being slow at times.
The pacing was wayyyy off to me. It felt like nothing happened for huge stretches of time and then the ending was SO ABRUPT with no resolution once the big scary was revealed. I realize that was probably intentional but it left me wanting to know what happened after, almost like it was halfway to being a cliffhanger. A lot happened at once in the last 3-4 chapters which was the part I liked the most - big reveal was great and exciting to read - but then it just...ends.
Spoiler
So we don't get any info on the aftermath, what happened to the bad guys, what happened to her FRIEND IN JAIL? Does her stepdad stop being a huge dick to her and her brother and favoring "his" kid? Am I supposed to not hate Piper now?I also felt like there were a lot of qualities of the characters that ended up being overexplained and then brought back as a sort of "gotcha" later on. Like
Spoiler
the moment that it was mentioned her brother was allergic to everything I knew we'd end up with an accidental peanut butter situation. Same with the anxiety about bed bugs that she just sort of...got over. I also personally found it really annoying and almost off-putting the MC was with getting high and then it also sort of just...petered off? Idk it felt really weird to me. Please go to therapy I'm begging.Overall though it was creepy and well-written. Especially for a YA horror it was a great haunted house story with some good social commentary, if a little on-the-nose.
samarie04's review against another edition
5.0
Jaw dropping
…I’m in utter shock at how it ended. Absolutely in no way saw it coming. I didn’t like how much take there was about weed…like it was almost a plot point. But the story was AMAZING!!
…I’m in utter shock at how it ended. Absolutely in no way saw it coming. I didn’t like how much take there was about weed…like it was almost a plot point. But the story was AMAZING!!
brittonmc1221's review
dark
mysterious
tense
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Classism, Medical content, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Drug use, Death, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Violence
briselli_kels's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
deathcabforkatey's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amberxc12's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wonderful audio narration brings this book to the next level. Another stellar thriller that waits to reveal the mystery until the bitter end.
abbie_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
I started listening to this one by the pool in Gran Canaria and it was fine when my surroundings were sun and palm trees… but then I got home and was back to audiobooking while I walk my dog at 5am in the dark 👀 Definitely gave me the heebie jeebies!
I’ve listened to 4 books by Tiffany D. Jackson now, all up to now thrillers/crime/mystery, so I was intrigued and then impressed by this foray into horror. The atmosphere of unease she creates is superb, and at one point I felt genuinely frightened. I liked that she toes the line between paranormal and real horrors, and at no point did I know where the story was going!
I wasn’t 100% enamoured with Marigold, the main character. She behaves very selfishly at times, including making her best friend commit a felony?? 😂 Tbf, Tamara gives into that way too easily. There’s also a friend she makes in her new town for purely selfish reasons, and then something happens to them and they’re simply never mentioned again. A few little loose strings like that did feel unresolved by the end.
Like I mentioned earlier, White Smoke does a great job balancing creepy horror scares with real life boogeymen - corrupt politicians, laws that target Black and brown people unfairly, racism, mob mentality. Good anxiety rep too! But just a few too many straggling plot points for me to feel totally satisfied.
lostinthelakes's review against another edition
1.75
Absolutely BONKERS "marijuana addiction" and my least favorite haunted house trope
alexandergrantwriter's review
5.0
Very spooky and fun!! The beginning was pretty slow, but the pacing kicked up around the middle and had me rushing to the end to figure out what was going on!! Loved the development of Mari and all the themes discussed throughout the story!! Definitely recommend for a spooky horror story to get you in a fall / Halloween mood!!
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CWs - frequent strong language, drug use / drug addiction
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CWs - frequent strong language, drug use / drug addiction
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