This was ... meh. I found that with the last Estelle Laure book I read too, so I think perhaps this author just isn't suited to me. This felt like a knock off of the titles it is compared to; there wasn't much originality and the characters weren't convincing, so I was let down by this.

I have never heard of Estelle Laure or read any of her books, so I went into "Mayhem" without much expectation. She immediately starts off with a bit of a trigger warning/author's note. It was beautifully written and I really appreciated her candidness and words that really spoke to me: "...I know I'm not the only one who clings to stories as salve to smooth over burnt skin..."

And so, I started reading Mayhem. The book starts off with titular character Mayhem coming back to her hometown in California for the first time since she was three years old. Her mother, Roxy, has been in an abusive relationship for the past 13 years and has finally decided that enough is enough. Mayhem finds that she belongs to the celebrity family in town, and that she has a lot to learn about her family history. As the reader, we get short time-lined diary entries of Mayhem's great-great grandmother and up to her mother. These diary entries explain the family history, and of course are perfectly placed into the story to move the story forward. My problem with it though is that nothing would stop Mayhem from reading the whole thing in one go when she first discovered the diaries--- meaning that she should have learned a lot more of her family history in the beginning, thus answering so many of her questions earlier on.

"Mayhem" is a short, fun story. Not only does it take place in the 80s, but it is written like a 90s YA novel- mostly with its two dimensional characterization and obvious coupling. It reminded me of being in middle school and high school, reading Christopher Pike, RL Stine, and the Roswell series by Melinda Metz. Fun, but so contrived.

I have to admit, I didn't watch "The Lost Boys" before reading this book. Knowing that it was similar though, I decided to wait to watch until after I read the book-- kind of hoping that by reading "Mayhem" first, I would enjoy it more. And I did. If you haven't seen "The Lost Boys," and you are looking for the feel of a teenage summer in the late 80s, this book is probably for you. If you have seen "The Lost Boys" though, this book will come off as a rip-off. So many details are the same that it hurts to see- the boardwalk setting, the small Californian town, the video store, the vampire-fighting brothers (even with the same name!). I think that Laure could have made so much of this story more 'hers' without blatantly copying the movie. I would have enjoyed a bit more creativity out of her story-telling.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Estelle Laure is a skillful writer (that author's note in the beginning was AMAZING), and I look forward to seeing more of her work!

"The Lost Boys meets Wilder Girls in this supernatural feminist YA novel.

It's 1987 and unfortunately it's not all Madonna and cherry lip balm. Mayhem Brayburn has always known there was something off about her and her mother, Roxy. Maybe it has to do with Roxy's constant physical pain, or maybe with Mayhem's own irresistible pull to water. Either way, she knows they aren't like everyone else.

But when May's stepfather finally goes too far, Roxy and Mayhem flee to Santa Maria, California, the coastal beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhem's questions about who her mother is, her estranged family, and the mysteries of her own self. There she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and it opens the door to the magic that runs through the female lineage in her family, the very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit and which will change her life for good.

But when she gets wrapped up in the search for the man who has been kidnapping girls from the beach, her life takes another dangerous turn and she is forced to face the price of vigilante justice and to ask herself whether revenge is worth the cost.

From the acclaimed author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back, Estelle Laure offers a riveting and complex story with magical elements about a family of women contending with what appears to be an irreversible destiny, taking control and saying when enough is enough."

I'm all about the nostalgia factor of the 80s and summertime!

Thank you so much to net galley and Wednesday books for sending me a copy of this book! I loved her other book this raging light so much so I was very excited to read this book. I was definitely not disappointed. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat as well as making you fall deep in love with the characters. I can not wait to read more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book for an honest review.

This book follows Mayhem and her mother Roxy who recently left her abusive husband back to her hometown where secrets lay. There Roxy will really find out what being a female Brayburn means.

I really wanted to like this. I liked maybe the first 2 chapters and then it all fell apart for me. I found it slow and not exciting at all. I felt like nothing was happening. The writing was really bland and I wanted something more from this story. It is compared to the outsiders meets The Craft. Two movies that I have never watched so who knows.

I enjoyed this book. I never found myself not wanting to finish it and was surprised at some of the negative reviews.
I do believe the book is geared for YA and I can see why and I thought the supernatural aspect was really neat.

i received an ARC of this story from netgalley for my honest review.

The premise of this book looked very well: feminism, youth, and supernatural abilities. Unfortunately, the slow development and the feeling that not much is happening are totally against him.

I liked the message that the author transmits of not keeping silence and being zero tolerant of violence (there is no justification for it) and even more so knowing that things lived by the writer are placed on it. Even something that is commonly judged is portrayed and that is why the victim refuses to report or do something, the very effect of abuse and its psychological repercussions.

This novel astonished me from the start. From the twisted relationship between Mayhem and her family, to the winding magic that grips the whole book, everything about it was a fun read. Mayhem plays with reality and un-reality at the same time, teetering on the edge of confusion but balancing fabulism in exactly the right way.

The strongest thing about the book for me was Mayhem herself. We learn about her almost symbiotic relationship with her mother, and the abuse they’ve suffered by her step-father, Lyle, at the same time as Mayhem discovers who she really wants to be on the coast of California. I liked narration from her point of view because she was both new to the world and moved about it with ease, making the pacing feel super smooth.

As far as worldbuilding goes… magic abounds in Santa Maria, and of course the Brayburns are at the center of it all. For fear of spoilers, I won’t share exactly what’s involved, but if you’ve seen The Lost Boys you can probably guess (minus the vampires). This was used as a tool to help Mayhem become close to the rest of her family, and I quite liked her relationship with her aunt Elle, Roxy’s sister. There’s also a smidge of romance, as each of the Brayburn women have one true love. I liked Mayhem’s relationship, but I do think the book would have been fine without it.

A couple of other readers have noted direct similarities to The Lost Boys, a movie I haven’t seen but know enough about. I personally don’t have a super one-sided opinion on this, as the book is supposed to be a feminist retelling of sorts focused on matriarchal family lines and the power of women. I forgive any transgressions, but you’ll have to read and form your own opinion.

Overall, an enjoyable reading experience! I finished the book in only a couple of days, as I was desperately invested in Mayhem’s journey and exploring Santa Maria. 4/5 stars.

I have honestly only seen The Lost Boys once so maybe that is why I enjoyed this book so much more than other reviewers. I loved the karmic justice of this book even though to actually be the vehicle of it would be daunting and a moral gray area. Since Mayhem is touted as a feminist retelling of The Lost Boys I would actually like to re-watch it to see the similarities between the two.

Estelle Laure did an amazing job bringing Santa Maria circa 1987 to life. Writing it into a living breathing world that houses magic, the ocean, frivolity, some not quite legal extracurricular activities, danger and a fair share of hard hitting aspects of life. Mayhem is a shining example of not only a coming of age story but also coming into, and to terms with, oneself. The conclusion to the "Sand Snatcher" felt like it should have been... more... after all the build up and the same could be said with the confrontation between Mayhem and her step-father Lyle.

Throughout the book Mayhem struggles to accept her family's legacy, the consequences and the gifts. In her short number of years Mayhem has had to age beyond her years to keep an eye on her mother as well as herself. Once in Santa Maria she slowly discovers what it's like to be a part of something larger than herself as well as a biological and adopted family. I do wish that more time was spent on the background of the Brayburn family other than the diary flashbacks, I think it would help tie in the magical aspects of the book. The other characters could also go for a little more life breathed into them - we get a little bit of an explanation of sorts but not a lot.

If you happen to be a super fan of The Lost Boys you might struggle with this book. There are also several heavy subjects featured in this book - rape, physical & verbal abuse of a minor and adults, suicide and drug use/addiction. I encourage you to read the author's heartfelt note below regarding several of those subjects. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy magic, retellings, coming of age, young adult and urban fantasy. If some of the content bothers you even after reading the author note, you may not enjoy Mayhem. A big thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC copy of Mayhem.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, I really did. I was initially intrigued by the gorgeous cover and description yet when I began reading this novel, I struggled to get into it. The beginning was structured in a way I found confusing and couldn’t pick up the plot at all. Around 50 pages in, I felt as though I did not care for the story at all and ended up just skimming through the book as I just wanted to get it over with. There’s a good chance I picked up this ARC at the wrong time because I happen to be in a major reading slump, so there’s a possibility I may try reading it again when the physical copy comes out. Part of me also found it difficult to read it due to the format of the book that was provided. Hopefully, I’ll be able to write a much competent review then.

What a beautiful, haunting tale! I wasn’t sure what to expect as I’ve never read the author, but quickly I was pulled into her world. Fleeing an abusive relationship, Mayhem and her mother end up in her mother’s hometown in California, where a serial killer is on the loose. As Mayhem learns more about her family’s past, she get pulled into a world of magic and mysterious power. The prose was beautiful, but didn’t distract from the plot and the story. It deals with some heavy issues and does it well. The book is empowering to women without putting down or villainizing all men, which is a difficult balance to find. Overall, a unique and haunting story. One of my favorite reads of the year so far! I would definitely recommend!

Thanks to Net Galley for the e-ARC!

WOMEN LIT

Last week's talk of the town is about rape and how trash men are.

The Twitter #HijaAko trended for days and thanks to the Pinoys and Pinays who continuously uphold women empowerment, men who still resort to the clothing logic and victim blaming were blasted and burned. I can not comprehend how most of the male species remain in believing that a female's item of clothing is synonymous to 'asking for it.' 🙄

With this, I have a fascinating book recommendation which, coincidentally, has the same vibe with women empowerment. Meet Mayhem by Estelle Laure, an upcoming novel that is full of magic, nostalgia, and (just) vengeance.

Mayhem was inspired by The Lost Boys, The Craft, and the #MeToo era. This novel is a riveting and complex story about a family of women contending with what appears to be an irreversible destiny, taking control, and saying when enough is enough.

BOOK SYNOPSIS

It's 1987 and unfortunately it's not all Madonna and cherry lip balm. Mayhem Brayburn has always known there was something off about her and her mother, Roxy. Maybe it has to do with Roxy's constant physical pain, or maybe with Mayhem's own irresistible pull to water. Either way, she knows they aren't like everyone else.

But when May's stepfather finally goes too far, Roxy and Mayhem flee to Santa Maria, California, the coastal beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhem's questions about who her mother is, her estranged family, and the mysteries of her own self. There she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and it opens the door to the magic that runs through the female lineage in her family, the very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit and which will change her life for good.

But when she gets wrapped up in the search for the man who has been kidnapping girls from the beach, her life takes another dangerous turn and she is forced to face the price of vigilante justice and to ask herself whether revenge is worth the cost.

From the acclaimed author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back, Estelle Laure offers a riveting and complex story with magical elements about a family of women contending with what appears to be an irreversible destiny, taking control and saying when enough is enough.

Q: What are your highly recommended women lit/novel?

First, the cover of this book is great! It definitely invites you to pick it up and see what it is about. I think Mayhem's story was tragic but interesting. I kept wanting to read more about her and her ancestors. The plot was engaging for me and I would definitely read more about the people in this universe.
There re some very hard topics that were handled (suicide, murder, abuse) but I think the author handled them well.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This wasn’t for me plain and simple which is kind of sad. It had promise but I DNFed it... The characters and story were bland.

I can't quite put my finger on what was lacking in this book, but it felt like something was missing. I think if the plot and characters had been just a little more fleshed out, the dialogue a little more realistic, this would have easily been a 4 star book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for approving my request to read and review Mayhem by Estelle Laure.
First, I recommend that readers take a moment to read the letter, from the author to the reader, in the beginning. It's a powerful message that allows us to better understand what the themes of the story are and where they came from.

I love the Brayburn women! They are the "superheroes" I've always wished for! And the beautifully gothic feel made for an amazing read.
Mayhem surprised me in the best way! I loved her, as well as the cast of characters we meet throughout the book. The writing style was lyrical and written to create a visual experience. I really enjoyed the realistic relationships, this aspect made the story feel relatable. I loved Mayhem's inner dialogue, we get a feel for who she really is and what she wants.
The pacing kept the story easy to read and made for a quick, submersive reading experience. The tensions and resolutions throughout the book allowed the reader to gracefully transition from one scene to another. I thought the magic system was imaginative and creative, something that many people have probably hoped to do at one time or another. I would love to see this as a duology or trilogy. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Estelle Laure and St. Martin’s Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a bit concerned about this one in the beginning as it is super out of my comfort zone, especially the more fantasy type aspect to it. But I was shocked at how much I was invested into this story and how quickly that I fell into the more out-there aspects of the story. I found this one very well written and I found myself so addicted to the story of Mayhem and her ancestors. It was a quick and immersive read where I was too curious to put it down! Overall, I really quite enjoyed it!

Out July 14th!

I really enjoyed this story. It was a quick read that kept you engaged from page one until the very end.

Mayhem is one of those books that doesn't just have one genre but kind of encompasses them all. There's a coming of age contemporary story, mystery, and just a little bit of magic sprinkled in. Its a story about discovering who you are, going back to your roots, and fighting to move forward instead of being stuck in the past.

Its 1987 and Mayhem and Roxy are returning to her aunt Elle's house in Santa Maria, CA after fleeing Mayhems abusive stepfather. Mayhem soon discovers that her family name holds a lot of weight in the town of Santa Maria and there is more to her family that meets the eye.

Her aunt has three children living with her that she is in the process of adopting, Neve. Kidd and Jason. Together they embark on a investigation to see who is snatching girls from the beach and Mayhem learns the truth about her family history. Estelle Laure takes you on a journey through the ages by including diary entries from Mayhems ancestors that teach and reflect the struggles that Mayhem faces in the book.

This book is unique and wonderfully written and handles abuse, drug use, murder, and suicide without overshadowing the coming of age story but instead shows how these things largely impact your life and you can choose to push past these things and grow or drown yourself in the past.

I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book after reading the other early reviews. In any case, I always try to form my own opinion. Right away, I was drawn into the story, which begins with the abuse suffered by Mayhem and her mother, Roxy, at the hands of Mayhem's stepfather, Lyle. The depiction of domestic abuse felt honest and real. As a survivor of abuse myself, the details were true to life, and often moved me to tears. But the story really comes alive when Mayhem and Roxy return to Santa Maria. There is something about the Brayburns, and Mayhem herself, that she has never known. Something that will ensure that no one ever hurts Mayhem again. I loved the slow reveal of the family secret, and I also really fell for all the characters. Elle and Kidd are so amazing, and I wouldn't mind another book just about Jason and Kidd and their journey! The only problems I had were with the abruptness of the exploration of Mayhem's family power. We are barely given an explanation of the capabilities, and the rest is just kind of insinuated. I thought the ending was fine, if kind of...meh. This book could have really shined if the Brayburn myth and the history of Santa Maria had been more fully fleshed out. Still, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others.
3 stars

I was provided a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley.

This book was SO confusing. I literally had no idea what was really going on at any point.

One of the main issues I had with this book was that the start felt like, I had picked up the book half way through and started reading. It was really confusing, I didn't understand what was going on and it never really became clear.

I really did not gel with the writing. It just wasn't my cup of tea at all. It felt like it was trying too hard to be cool and edgy.

This book is labelled as 'feminist' but apart from the odd comment about not wearing a bra, I didn't really get how it was feminist.

I didn't really understand the characters nor did I really care about them.

There was an attempt at a mystery element which is why I picked the book up in the first place but it just fell a bit flat for me.

It did cover some interesting topics like abuse but I just did not get the magical/ fantastical elements and would have preferred a straight contemporary book

Overall, this really wasn't my cup of tea. I'm sure some people will love it but it didn't do much for me at all

TW: rape, abuse, drugs and suicide