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rmarcin's review against another edition
4.0
Mirrorland is a creepy tale of twin sisters, El and Cat. When El is presumed dead after her sailboat sinks, Cat returns to "the Mirror House". She dreads returning to the house where she and her twin lived with their mother and grandfather. She hasn't been back in 12 years. She returns to find Ross, El's husband, grieving. As she moves through the house, she relives the fantasy of Mirrorland created by the twins, remembering all the characters and the secrets.
Cat is convinced that El is alive, but the evidence doesn't support her theory. As Cat receives sinister notes and clues, she isn't sure what to believe.
This is a novel filled with dark secrets-and it also has a nod to "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King.
Cat is convinced that El is alive, but the evidence doesn't support her theory. As Cat receives sinister notes and clues, she isn't sure what to believe.
This is a novel filled with dark secrets-and it also has a nod to "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King.
goldbs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
staystitchy's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you so much to Scribner and Simon and Schuster for sending me this ARC for a review. This book will be published on April 20!
I love stories about twins and this is one a hell of a story! Mirrorland is actually very scary! It’s the kind of story that weasels it way so far into your brain you can’t shake it off. It’s also the kind of book that will give you whiplash, keep you guessing and rethinking even after you’ve finished it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The first part is a little slow and there’s a lot to learn about these twins, but I promise it’s worth it. Carole Johnstone just goes and throws a little something something in there and bam I was completely hooked. I even found myself reading pages twice because I just couldn’t believe what was happening. This is sure to be a major hit and I would LOVE to see it adapted as a film or tv series.
I love stories about twins and this is one a hell of a story! Mirrorland is actually very scary! It’s the kind of story that weasels it way so far into your brain you can’t shake it off. It’s also the kind of book that will give you whiplash, keep you guessing and rethinking even after you’ve finished it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The first part is a little slow and there’s a lot to learn about these twins, but I promise it’s worth it. Carole Johnstone just goes and throws a little something something in there and bam I was completely hooked. I even found myself reading pages twice because I just couldn’t believe what was happening. This is sure to be a major hit and I would LOVE to see it adapted as a film or tv series.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
This book is right up my reading wheelhouse. Thus the reason I was really excited to read it. I would classify this book as a psychological thriller but it was more on the milder side for me. Why I say this is because the first third of the story, I felt like I was more just kind of in the action of reading the book but not nothing was grabbing me and making me engaged with it. The pacing and intensity did pick up the further I got into the story. Something changed and the latter half of the story was a different vibe. I was into it and could not stop reading.
Mirrorland sounded like both a nightmare and intriguing place. It is no wonder that El and Cat were torn about Mirrorland. It was filled with an evil pirate, Blackbeard, and Clown to name a few but it also had good people like Mouse.
Now that El is missing, Cat will be forced to revisit Mirrorland. She will have to confront her fears if she wants to learn the truth about what happened to her sister. I will tell you that I did not see how this story was going to play out until the author wanted me to. This is so refreshing as it has been a while since I have been stumped about the plot of the story. It is hard to believe that this book is Carole Johnstone's debut novel. She already is showing she is a force to be reckoned with her debut novel, Mirrorland!
Mirrorland sounded like both a nightmare and intriguing place. It is no wonder that El and Cat were torn about Mirrorland. It was filled with an evil pirate, Blackbeard, and Clown to name a few but it also had good people like Mouse.
Now that El is missing, Cat will be forced to revisit Mirrorland. She will have to confront her fears if she wants to learn the truth about what happened to her sister. I will tell you that I did not see how this story was going to play out until the author wanted me to. This is so refreshing as it has been a while since I have been stumped about the plot of the story. It is hard to believe that this book is Carole Johnstone's debut novel. She already is showing she is a force to be reckoned with her debut novel, Mirrorland!
nicjohnston's review against another edition
3.0
Mirrorland is a smart debut. Twisty and well written, it has some of the most tense plotting and dialogue that I’ve come across in quite some time. It really does grab you such that you need to unravel the whole tale over a couple of chunky sittings.
It does however have some flaws. The first third is a little heavy with tales of childhood ‘games’, which later have context but initially come across as bordering on magical realism (which isn’t for me). Once I had a grip of where we were headed, I enjoyed the book a lot more. It also maybe takes the plot and it’s journey a couple of steps too far, but the ending very much brings the strands together.
It is a hugely enjoyable read and very sure footed. A rounded up 3.5*
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in consideration of an honest review.
It does however have some flaws. The first third is a little heavy with tales of childhood ‘games’, which later have context but initially come across as bordering on magical realism (which isn’t for me). Once I had a grip of where we were headed, I enjoyed the book a lot more. It also maybe takes the plot and it’s journey a couple of steps too far, but the ending very much brings the strands together.
It is a hugely enjoyable read and very sure footed. A rounded up 3.5*
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in consideration of an honest review.
sarah_u's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️ probably would've been better reading instead of listening to the audiobook
kyndrawr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sharkattak13's review against another edition
5.0
Took me a little bit to get into it but, once your hooked, you can’t put it down.
gellyreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think the main things I enjoy about this book are the way that it examines abuse and how it affects people and how well spaced out plot reveals are. This book has made me realize just how much I think I hate last minute twists in books that think they're clever, or make no sense, or just try to trick the reader. Although, you could argue that this book attempts to do that with the reveal that El is alive and that Mouse is their sister. I was really annoyed that the book FINALLY convinced me that El was dead when we got her ashes and we saw Cat's grief, so when she was revealed to be alive, I won't lie, my petty ass made me lower this from a 5 to a 4 star book. I enjoy the way this handled dark topics and generational trauma. This book is not for the faint of heart or a light read, but if you're in the mood for it, I think it is worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Incest, Alcoholism, Violence, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, and Drug use