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elizabethhollar 's review for:
If I Stopped Haunting You
by Colby Wilkens
Edit: I've lowered the rating to 1 star after TAAF recently released a report that Colby Wilkens's claims of Cherokee and Choctaw ancestry cannot be verified. Lots of Americans have some sort of "family myth" about an ancestor being from a nation, but that becomes particularly harmful when it's 1) hasn't been proved, 2) appropriated/used as a core part of that person's identity, and 3) used for marketing and profit. There are real Native American authors to read and support!
October 2024:
I was SO excited for this book because who wouldn’t want to read a book set in a haunted castle in Scottland??? The premise just sounded awesome.
If I Stopped Haunting You follows Penelope, an Indigenous writer who has been experiencing some tough times lately. She hasn’t produced a book in over 5 years and the whole literary world hates her after a public spat she initiated at a book convention.
The other side of this spat belongs to Neil, another Indigenous writer who had no problems lately. Penelope can’t stand the sight of him because she believes he’s had no problems in his life for two reasons: he is a man and he looks Indigenous. Penelope has struggled her whole life with people saying she isn’t Indigenous enough because her skin tone is white.
Lets start with the pros: setting, location, and writing. I really liked Colby Wilkens writing. It was easy, but I didn’t feel lazy. I have Wilkens’ next ARC on my kindle, and even though I didn’t enjoy this one much, I will be reading her next. Of course, the setting and location were great. I enjoyed the spookiness of the castle, but I wish we got to see Scottland more.
Now for the cons: The characters and the plot. I didn’t like Penelope and I only kind of liked Neil. I didn’t like the decisions that were made and I didn’t like how Penelope treated Neil. The whole reason her feud with Neil began was so dumb and I couldn’t believe someone could dislike someone so much because of such a pointless reason. I also didn’t enjoy how insta-lusty the relationship between Pen and Neil was. There was no longing, no love, no pining. Instead, Pen absolutely hates Neil on day one and wants to jump his bones on day two. Some people may enjoy that kind of romance, but I want there to be some substance in the relationship.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 2024:
I was SO excited for this book because who wouldn’t want to read a book set in a haunted castle in Scottland??? The premise just sounded awesome.
If I Stopped Haunting You follows Penelope, an Indigenous writer who has been experiencing some tough times lately. She hasn’t produced a book in over 5 years and the whole literary world hates her after a public spat she initiated at a book convention.
The other side of this spat belongs to Neil, another Indigenous writer who had no problems lately. Penelope can’t stand the sight of him because she believes he’s had no problems in his life for two reasons: he is a man and he looks Indigenous. Penelope has struggled her whole life with people saying she isn’t Indigenous enough because her skin tone is white.
Lets start with the pros: setting, location, and writing. I really liked Colby Wilkens writing. It was easy, but I didn’t feel lazy. I have Wilkens’ next ARC on my kindle, and even though I didn’t enjoy this one much, I will be reading her next. Of course, the setting and location were great. I enjoyed the spookiness of the castle, but I wish we got to see Scottland more.
Now for the cons: The characters and the plot. I didn’t like Penelope and I only kind of liked Neil. I didn’t like the decisions that were made and I didn’t like how Penelope treated Neil. The whole reason her feud with Neil began was so dumb and I couldn’t believe someone could dislike someone so much because of such a pointless reason. I also didn’t enjoy how insta-lusty the relationship between Pen and Neil was. There was no longing, no love, no pining. Instead, Pen absolutely hates Neil on day one and wants to jump his bones on day two. Some people may enjoy that kind of romance, but I want there to be some substance in the relationship.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.