Reviews

Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

magicmikel's review against another edition

5.0

Not to be dramatic, but I think this is one of the best books I've ever read. I know reviews are all over the place, but this book was such a unique experience. Super glad I gave it a chance.

maria_rose_188's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

irlposer's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

elyseabrooke's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was so uniquely written. Often we see stories that are set in the present and have some flashbacks which then reveal the secret the main character harbors and I feel exhausted with those troupes. This took a new approach and it hit the mark. With the whole story being memories which intertwine, you are lead through in the same way the main character was. You find different pieces along the way and it doesn’t take long for the image of the puzzle to begin forming, causing a growing sense of dread and sadness. Though you are lead to what essentially happened, there are still some details which leave it up to your imagination and it was these thoughts that kept me up at night. 

I also must applaud the author for his writing style. Every word was intentional and mellifluous and I am looking forward to reading more of his work.   

littlehauntedlibrary's review against another edition

4.0

4/5⭐️

From reading reviews, I like a lot of the things that low reviewers didn't.

-told mostly through memories
-jumbled timeline
-straight to the point, almost mechanical style writing.
-each section reads like a campfire story or urban legend to tell your friends in the dark.

The subject matter/"scary" premise is one that I enjoy reading about because if it happened to me in real life I would sh*t bricks. Not supernatural, no haunting, just humans being so incredibly horrible with no reason.

madisondelius's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

heidikoo1's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

elinjohanna's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

theknitterwithabook's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Well, this was disappointing...

I was told this would be the creepiest book ever and I was to expect the hair on my arms to rise.

Nope. 

It was very mild at best. Some sentences were creepy but we never got to the end of the idea. It would start being creepy but it was dropped just as fast. So many loose ends. I am left with questions but no answers and no nightmares. 

I didn't like that the timeline was all over the place with no clear indication that there had been a jump in time. One paragraph would be when the MC was 6, then the other was when he was 12, then back to 8 and then 15, ... and it was never clearly stated, it was implied that he was now older/younger, you had to deduct it. The fact that we spent so much time reading about his school experiences and learning about other friends without it bringing anything to the story.

It feels like there was something more to the story. The mother's reaction like she knew who the stalker was, her reaction to Josh's family like they were linked in more ways than just being friends. 

Maybe it's a vibe thing. Maybe I have no triggers. Maybe I've read scarier books. 

It wasn't bad, it's definitely more of an ambiance type of book. You don't read it for the plot.

geesecheese's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0