Estelle Laure's "Mayhem" is a captivating novel that weaves a tale of mystery, magic, and family secrets. Set in the coastal town of Santa Maria, California, the story follows Mayhem Brayburn, a young woman grappling with her past and the secrets that have been hidden from her.

Laure's writing is vivid and immersive, painting a vivid picture of the town and its inhabitants. The characters are complex and well-developed, each with their own unique backstory and motivations. Mayhem, the protagonist, is a particularly intriguing character, torn between her desire to belong and her need to escape her troubled past.

The story unfolds at a steady pace, gradually revealing layers of mystery and suspense. The plot twists and turns keep the reader engaged, and the supernatural elements add an extra layer of intrigue. The book explores themes of identity, family, and the power of magic, all of which are handled with sensitivity and nuance.

Overall, "Mayhem" is a well-crafted and enjoyable read. It is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

I am giving this book Switzerland stars (2.5 stars, not good, not bad).

I truly enjoyed the 80s feel to this book (being a 80s baby, it scratched something inside me that felt good).
The pacing was slow and we didn't get a good conclusion of everything.
But the writing was so good, it makes me want to read more from this author.

This book had me at "mashup of The Craft and Lost Boys." Can you imagine a better concept? If 80s cult classics aren't your thing, than perhaps you'll love this story about a magical family of women and how they take control of their destiny and escape a toxic situation. Also the main character's name is Mayhem. How cool is that?

My hopes were high because of the "inspired by The Lost Boys and The Craft", both of which I love, and the promise of some heavy 80s nostalgia... I could see what the author was going for but unfortunately it just ended up being weird (not really in a good way) and underwhelming. I might read some of the author's other works though because the writing was actually pretty good, I just think I got my hopes up too high for this particular story. (PS. I actually read this in 2020 but wasn't able to upload my review then because of health issues)

"Mayhem" by Estelle Laure is a compelling dive into dark family secrets and the supernatural, earning a solid four stars from me. Laure's storytelling grips you from the start with its atmospheric setting and haunting prose, blending elements of mystery and magic seamlessly. I loved the depth of the characters, especially Mayhem herself, whose journey of self-discovery amidst turmoil is both captivating and relatable. While the pacing occasionally slowed, the novel's exploration of trauma, resilience, and the bonds of family kept me engaged throughout. Laure's lyrical writing style and ability to blend gritty realism with supernatural intrigue make "Mayhem" a must-read for fans of dark, atmospheric YA fiction.

I DNF this book. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this book. The MC is struggling with family problems and there's just too many questions that are unanswered.....and for some reason I just feel like all the characters are..... hostile? Guess this book just wasn't for me.

| BOOK REVIEW |

Title: Mayhem
Author: Estelle Laure
Format: 🎧 (E-book ARC received from @wednesdaybooks)
Rating: ✩ ✩

Confession: I have not seen The Lost Boys or The Craft, so many of the references were lost on me. But I don't think that was the only reason that Mayhem didn't work for me.

The first third of the novel was sort of a blur- I wasn't pulled into the story and felt my mind wandering. I was worried that I might have to DNF, but the story picked up and kept my attention for the next third. The cave scene was great!

Ultimately though, the pacing was mixed, I didn't connect with the characters, and the plot was just okay for me.

Key Points:
• Teen magical realism
• Set in the 1980's
• Toxic family dynamics

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Estelle Laure has written an extremely powerful novel with Mayhem. I was beyond impressed with this novel and if it’s any indication of Estelle Laure’s skill, I have a feeling I’m going to love her other books as well.

Mayhem starts off a little slower than I would normally prefer but I never found my interest waning. It features such a unique, well-rounded cast of characters that I couldn’t help but be intrigued by their stories. Mayhem and her mother have lived a colorful life and Mayhem is just looking for a place to belong. Santa Maria and the Brayburns seem like the perfect fit for her from the start. They were definitely hiding things from Mayhem at first (which really annoyed me) but once they opened up and accepted her, it was like she’d always been part of their family.

I will admit, the drugs aspect (it is set in 1987, I get it) wasn’t really my cup of tea but I understand how it played into the story. I felt that Mayhem, Kidd, Neve, and Jason were all forced to grow up at a very young age and that really showed when they were doing some rather questionable things (like mushrooms). There were some rather trippy scenes that I didn’t care for but it’s a minor complaint.

As far as the Lost Boys and Craft similarities, I can’t actually speak to those because I have never seen either. Mayhem can stand by itself though without those comparisons. It’s got some historical fiction aspects, some horror, and some fantasy. It really has a little bit of everything for the picky readers out there.

Overall, Mayhem is not my usual read but I’m glad I decided to step out of my comfort zone with this one. I will be checking out more of Estelle Laure’s work here in the future.

"Mayhem" by Estelle Laure is a dark and atmospheric young adult novel that blends elements of magical realism with coming-of-age themes. While the book has its strengths, I found it to be a somewhat underwhelming read.

One of the notable aspects of the story is the author's ability to create a haunting and atmospheric setting. The small town of Santa Maria is vividly portrayed, with its eerie secrets and a sense of foreboding that permeates throughout the narrative. The incorporation of magical elements adds an intriguing layer to the plot, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.

However, despite the promising premise, I felt that the execution fell short in some areas. The pacing of the story was uneven, with certain parts dragging on while others seemed rushed. This affected the overall flow and made it challenging to fully engage with the plot. Additionally, the character development felt lacking, and I struggled to connect with the main protagonist, Mayhem. While her journey of self-discovery and empowerment is an important aspect of the story, it didn't resonate with me as much as I had hoped. Furthermore, the writing style, though descriptive, occasionally veered into melodrama and overly poetic language. While this may appeal to some readers, I found it distracting at times and it detracted from the overall impact of the narrative.

Despite my reservations, I appreciate Estelle Laure's attempt to tackle important themes such as family, mental health, and the power of self-acceptance. The underlying messages and the exploration of generational trauma added depth to the story.

In conclusion, "Mayhem" offers a captivating premise and explores meaningful themes, but it falls short in terms of pacing, character development, and occasionally, the writing style. While it didn't fully meet my expectations, I believe that readers who enjoy atmospheric and magical coming-of-age stories may still find elements to appreciate in Estelle Laure's novel.

This book is not something I usually read, but I loved it. The little band of characters was interesting. I couldn't put it down. I did a tour stop for this on my old book blog.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. It's a little slow paced for my liking, Although there were components of the story that I did like: magic, the aesthetic, and the fact that we have a female protagonist, I simply think that this novel is not for me.

this was an okay book, left me wanting a little bit more than what i got. will read from this author again

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I liked the description and cover but after 10% I had to DNF. I’m sure other readers will enjoy. I’m very grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy.

I loved the premise, but it ultimately fell flat for me as I didn't connect with the characters and the pacing was off.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. I love the Lost Boys movie, and liked the similarities in this book. There are enough differences throughout the book, so you don't have to worry about them being too similar. This book was enjoyable to read. I liked following the characters, and the storyline. It was a little predictable, but that is okay. I think the book could have been longer and more fleshed out. If you like Lost Boys, and YA fantasy you should give this a read.

really wanted to like this book a lot more. The Lost Boys references were too exact to enjoy, the Frog brothers, the sax player on the beach, the hideout. Every time there was a reference it took me right out of the story…it was distracting.

Brayburns, she would say. In my town, we were the legends.

I wanted to know more history about the Brayburns, more fleshed out. This book would have been more enjoyable and unique without mentioning The Lost Boys so directly.

This book was beautifully rendered and well plotted. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and have been recommending it to my students. I didn't come in with any references to The Lost Boys and so wasn't biased by that connection. This was a fun, fast read.

Okay so Mayhem was about a girl coming home to rejoin her family after a tragedy drove her mother to leave and start over somewhere new. What she hasn't been told is that her family is full of secrets including one that impacts her as the latest girl in the Brayburn line.

The family seems to have the power to control water but also feels slightly vampiric, I know it's been compared to the Lost Boys but there were a few moments that were pretty confusing in the book. I did love the story that felt pretty magical but I was confused at certain times by what was actually happening in the book. The writing was good and I am looking forward to seeing what else Estelle Laure brings to the table.

Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy!

Really amazing read. The story behind Mayhem and how her and her mom thrived against her stepdads abuse was crazy. This has become a favorite read of mine,