Reviews

The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

livinliterary's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The story follows Jake Livingston, a Black teenager who can see ghosts, as he navigates the challenges of high school while dealing with his unsettling ability. Jake's life takes a darker turn when he encounters the vengeful spirit of Sawyer Doon, a school shooter who has a sinister agenda from beyond the grave.

Jake's character is compelling, providing a fresh perspective as a Black, queer protagonist facing both supernatural and real-world horrors.

The book occasionally suffers from a somewhat uneven pacing and a plot that can feel disjointed at times. Some characters could have been more fleshed out, and certain plot points might have benefitted from deeper exploration.

The resolution of the story might feel a bit abrupt to some , leaving a desire for more development in certain plot areas. If you enjoy stories that delve into the supernatural while addressing important social issues, this book is definitely worth adding to your reading list.

jpipe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

triplebriiii's review against another edition

2.75

Something was just.... missing. It was like a beautiful fruit bowl. But when you go to eat the fruit they turn out to just be styrofoam. 

katenbooks's review against another edition

3.0

this book was pretty damn good!! i’ll admit i thought the first two acts were pretty slow, but the third act was so worth it. i love the dynamic between jake and sawyer, the characters were written so well.

thebookdreamersalley's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

queen_bri0110's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Bullying, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, and Murder

Minor: Racism

krysa_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kim_j_dare's review against another edition

2.0

Great cover, great premise, and a lot of original elements. Unfortunately, the pacing and overall execution fell flat. A little more exposition would have gone a long way.

Thanks to Edelweiss and Putnam for the electronic ARC.

bjww34's review against another edition

i'm just not in the mood for spooky stuff rn- i definitely want to pick it up again later

l1ttlel1braryn00k's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0