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A review by debi_g
This is How it Happened by Paula Stokes
3.0
I received an ARC on Independent Bookstore Day, and was surprised to see that the main event of the book takes place on my home turf of Lake Saint Louis. That used to happen when I lived in Napa, but nobody sets novels in the western exurbs of St. Louis, so I appreciated that even if it was modified for the book.
The story is realistic. The plot contains important issues. The national park setting and work are both lovely aspects. The references to a physically competitive TV program are well-suited. The love interest is endearing. The inescapable reach of the internet is represented with accuracy. The story is engrossing.
In spite of the lengthy list of positive attributes, this novel also has shortcomings. The pacing is uneven and the timeline is unnecessarily stretched. The police investigation is downplayed. The parents and best friend are one-dimensional. The dialogue often sounds idealistic or otherwise false.
Overall, I liked this book but I didn't love it. It's memorable and interesting enough to recommend it to my students and find out what they think of it.
The story is realistic. The plot contains important issues. The national park setting and work are both lovely aspects. The references to a physically competitive TV program are well-suited. The love interest is endearing. The inescapable reach of the internet is represented with accuracy. The story is engrossing.
In spite of the lengthy list of positive attributes, this novel also has shortcomings. The pacing is uneven and the timeline is unnecessarily stretched. The police investigation is downplayed. The parents and best friend are one-dimensional. The dialogue often sounds idealistic or otherwise false.
Overall, I liked this book but I didn't love it. It's memorable and interesting enough to recommend it to my students and find out what they think of it.