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A review by chronicallybookish
You Should Have Seen This Coming by Shani Michelle
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I absolutely love mysteries/thrillers that have a little paranormal aspect. I think this niche genre is having a spike in YA right now, and I am here for it!
YSHSTC follows two girls with supernatural abilities—one who can see the future, and one who can see the past. When their paths collide, Cassie (the future-seer) gets kidnapped, and it’s up to Hayden (past-seer) to team up with Cassie’s best friends in order to save her.
I flew through this book. I read 60% in one sitting, and I only put it down because it was after midnight. It was the perfect mix of mystery and suspense without really getting creepy, making it a great read for younger YA readers and older ones. Cassie and Hayden both had distinct, loveable personalities that drew me into their narrations. Getting snippets from Cassie’s POV (I’d say the book is 70% Hayden, 30% Cassie) made the stakes feel so much higher because I, as the reader, had been in her head and felt all the more invested in her for it.
I loved how the supernatural aspects were woven into the narrative and plot. Despite there being visions and empaths and paranormal abilities, the mystery and the plot felt grounded. Sometimes authors (especially debuts) can lean too heavily on these supernatural aspects and turn them into crutches, but I think this book was stronger for those aspects. It was never used as a deus ex machina.
The mystery itself was engaging, and kept me guessing without the true culprit feeling as if they came out of left field. It was nothing truly groundbreaking, and it’s a plot I’ve read before, but it was well done. There were plenty of red-herrings, but they never felt like red-herrings. There were several suspects at all times, and that really kept me engaged and had me thinking about the book even when I wasn’t reading. I actually dreamed about this book, my subconscious was so absorbed in figuring out the whodunnit.
All in all, this was a fun, engaging, and suspenseful read that I highly recommend for anyone looking for a good mystery.
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I absolutely love mysteries/thrillers that have a little paranormal aspect. I think this niche genre is having a spike in YA right now, and I am here for it!
YSHSTC follows two girls with supernatural abilities—one who can see the future, and one who can see the past. When their paths collide, Cassie (the future-seer) gets kidnapped, and it’s up to Hayden (past-seer) to team up with Cassie’s best friends in order to save her.
I flew through this book. I read 60% in one sitting, and I only put it down because it was after midnight. It was the perfect mix of mystery and suspense without really getting creepy, making it a great read for younger YA readers and older ones. Cassie and Hayden both had distinct, loveable personalities that drew me into their narrations. Getting snippets from Cassie’s POV (I’d say the book is 70% Hayden, 30% Cassie) made the stakes feel so much higher because I, as the reader, had been in her head and felt all the more invested in her for it.
I loved how the supernatural aspects were woven into the narrative and plot. Despite there being visions and empaths and paranormal abilities, the mystery and the plot felt grounded. Sometimes authors (especially debuts) can lean too heavily on these supernatural aspects and turn them into crutches, but I think this book was stronger for those aspects. It was never used as a deus ex machina.
The mystery itself was engaging, and kept me guessing without the true culprit feeling as if they came out of left field. It was nothing truly groundbreaking, and it’s a plot I’ve read before, but it was well done. There were plenty of red-herrings, but they never felt like red-herrings. There were several suspects at all times, and that really kept me engaged and had me thinking about the book even when I wasn’t reading. I actually dreamed about this book, my subconscious was so absorbed in figuring out the whodunnit.
All in all, this was a fun, engaging, and suspenseful read that I highly recommend for anyone looking for a good mystery.