Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This one started off quick and interesting. About 50% of the way through it, it slowed down and lost my interest. I didn't like any of the characters (except Alice.) The "twist" left me unbothered. Not a bad book, but definitely not as great as I expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol
mysterious
medium-paced
Parents Weekend started on a high note but ended with a bit of a letdown for me. The premise of five teenagers go missing, and their families come together for the weekend was very intriguing.
I was pulled into the narrative early on, and at first, all the events added to the tension and thrill. However, after a while, the twists and turns felt a bit overdone, and at times the story dragged. That said, there are definitely some great thriller elements here, and I think readers who enjoy multiple POVs and layered mysteries will appreciate this book.
Thank you to Minotaur books for the copy.
I was pulled into the narrative early on, and at first, all the events added to the tension and thrill. However, after a while, the twists and turns felt a bit overdone, and at times the story dragged. That said, there are definitely some great thriller elements here, and I think readers who enjoy multiple POVs and layered mysteries will appreciate this book.
Thank you to Minotaur books for the copy.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
🪨 Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay 🪨
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
During Parents Weekend at a small California college, five students from Campisi Hall vanish without a trace—just as their parents gather for dinner, expecting them to join.
At first, it's shrugged off as typical college behavior. But as hours turn into days, panic sets in, search parties are launched, and the media descends.
Dubbed “The Five,” the missing students spark a frenzy of theories. Did something sinister happen that night—or are their parents’ pasts catching up with them?
This book definitely got my attention with the synopsis and the first part, but I felt it was a little bit slow. I did read it in one sitting, but didn’t feel super connected to the story as I felt some of the major plot points were very predictable. I also felt like there were a loooot of characters which made some parts a bit confusing/not as thought out. I did feel like there was a lot of drama - everyone had secrets - and there were different drama dynamics such as drama between students, within their families, and otherwise. The resolution did make sense, but was quite obvious, and I wish there were more twists and thrills. That said, it was enjoyable and I think would be a good quick beach read.
Read this if you like:
- slow burn mystery
- college/university settings
- detective procedural vibes
Vibes: 🪨🌊📱🤳🚐
Song that matches the vibe: bury a friend by Billie Eilish
Full review including content warnings on my StoryGraph.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Gun violence, Blood, Kidnapping
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
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Entertaining
This book quickly grabbed my attention with the mystery of what happened to the missing girl. Then it became a race to find her classmates. Each of the students’ families had so much drama going on. All of that kept the story interesting. When all of the dots were connected at the end, I felt like I should’ve seen it coming. The breadcrumbs were there. It turned out to be an enjoyable read.
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Stalking
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Alcohol