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A review by mari1532
A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I would like to thank Netgalley and RB Media for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I first heard about this book on Instagram and after reading the synopsis and a few reviews I was desperate to get my hands on a copy of this book.
Synopsis: Mira and Layla are best friends and high school seniors taking a road trip for spring break to check out the colleges to which they have applied. Visiting New York, and Nashville, they are headed to Chicago before returning home.
Mira's motivation for the trip is to help Layla make an impression with her dream university which has waitlisted her for their photography program while in Chicago.
Layla's goal is to get Mira out of the house and perhaps take her mind off her grief.
However, fate has different plans for Mira and Layla. When their car breaks down just outside the little town in Indiana they are forced to stay at the Wildwood Motel while Mira's car is repaired. When strange things start to happen to Mira the girls must solve the mystery of what is happening with the help of another hotel guest and a few hotel employees. As Mira and Layla begin to unravel the menacing history of Room 9 it might already be too late.
Thoughts: The last hour of this book was insane in the best possible way for a book with a mystery component. I sat with my mouth agape as the plot unfolded and I can honestly say that until events unfolded I had no idea what was coming.
This book is a bit of a slow burn with regard to the resolution of the mystery, but it did not feel as if the plot was dragging along to the resolution. The dual viewpoints of Layla and Mira's experiences really held my attention. I also really liked how Metoui was able to weave typical teenage worries with, the experience of being children of immigrant parents, and the struggles of coming into one's own. Layla and Mira felt three-dimensional and were well-constructed characters that you were rooting for throughout the book. It was also really great how in the audiobook they were each given their own voice actor. Both of whom really brought the characters to life.
If you enjoy suspense-filled, mystery books with teenage angst and a friends-to-lovers story arch I highly recommend this book.
I first heard about this book on Instagram and after reading the synopsis and a few reviews I was desperate to get my hands on a copy of this book.
Synopsis: Mira and Layla are best friends and high school seniors taking a road trip for spring break to check out the colleges to which they have applied. Visiting New York, and Nashville, they are headed to Chicago before returning home.
Mira's motivation for the trip is to help Layla make an impression with her dream university which has waitlisted her for their photography program while in Chicago.
Layla's goal is to get Mira out of the house and perhaps take her mind off her grief.
However, fate has different plans for Mira and Layla. When their car breaks down just outside the little town in Indiana they are forced to stay at the Wildwood Motel while Mira's car is repaired. When strange things start to happen to Mira the girls must solve the mystery of what is happening with the help of another hotel guest and a few hotel employees. As Mira and Layla begin to unravel the menacing history of Room 9 it might already be too late.
Thoughts: The last hour of this book was insane in the best possible way for a book with a mystery component. I sat with my mouth agape as the plot unfolded and I can honestly say that until events unfolded I had no idea what was coming.
This book is a bit of a slow burn with regard to the resolution of the mystery, but it did not feel as if the plot was dragging along to the resolution. The dual viewpoints of Layla and Mira's experiences really held my attention. I also really liked how Metoui was able to weave typical teenage worries with, the experience of being children of immigrant parents, and the struggles of coming into one's own. Layla and Mira felt three-dimensional and were well-constructed characters that you were rooting for throughout the book. It was also really great how in the audiobook they were each given their own voice actor. Both of whom really brought the characters to life.
If you enjoy suspense-filled, mystery books with teenage angst and a friends-to-lovers story arch I highly recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, Child death, and Death of parent