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A review by theknitterwithabook
Penpal by Dathan Auerbach
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.
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.