This would have been so much more powerful had this been told from one or maybe two POV, not all the ones we get here. I particularly liked Jonas' voice, his lost feeling as he tries to fit into the world his father has created and the house he's now living in. Noemi just didn't feel as real, to be honest, and I would have loved more about her photography. The mysterious lake and what happened to Link was resolved, but the very end didn't work for me (no spoilers). It all tied up in what felt like a falsely tidy manner, where a little chaos could have worked better.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

This book feels good on paper: an emotional premise, eerie writing, representation, and an excellent ending that ties into thematic ideas. I only wanted more ensemble cast, and maybe a bit less of whatever was going on with the romance.

We Were Restless Things follows the mysterious death of Link Miller by drowning… in the middle of the woods. In various ways, they all hurt from this: Noemi as she grieves for the boy she had feelings for, Amberlyn as she grieves her brother, Gaetan as he grieves his best friend, Lyle her friend, and new kid Jonah as he tries to find a place in their group.

The indisputable best part of this book is the amazing imagery. This book was eerie and the more fantastical chapters are wonderfully written. They rem

Noemi is asexual. This arc was by far my favorite in the book; she processes her sexuality in both healthy and unhealthy ways, depending on the time. The way her feelings about herself and more specifically, how people would perceive her, impacted her relationships hit me hard. When this came up between her and Jonah, it originally struck me as a romantic arc, but it’s really not; the focus remains on her development. I wanted a bit more out of her ending, if anything.

Some very solid positives over here. Unfortunately, this was not a perfect reading experience for me.

First of all, it’s a book that in structure does not pick up until around 50%. Until then, these characters are essentially just getting to know each other. This isn’t technically a problem. On its own.

But besides Noemi, none of these characters feel as if they have a significant or resonant character arc. Who are these characters? I don’t feel as if I quite know. But We Were Restless Things left me craving… more from its ensemble cast.

As we’re talking about the characters, I want to bring up romance. The dynamic between side characters Amberlyn and Lyle (yes, this is sapphic content) is solid and sweet. The other romantic dynamics… were another area. Noemi is, over the course of this book, technically lusted after by three different guys, one dead. Both of her romantic arcs are… frustrating.

Jonah and Noemi are a well-written couple, except when the premise of their relationship is so fundamentally unromantic. Yes, I understand that two stepsiblings who know each other from childhood are very different from two people who meet for the first time at seventeen. I get that. But as someone who has a stepbrother, one, this entire trope is just nasty, and two, this book uncomfortably leans into that element of siblinghood.

On a more positive note, it’s interesting that this book that was comped to The Raven Cycle also contains two main characters whose relationship is not based on kissing, though for very different reasons. It’s one of those accidents that would still make a wonderful essay about parallels.

To be completely fair to this book in criticizing it, I think I partially have shifted in what genres I prefer over the past couple of years. Had I read this at seventeen, high off my Raven Cycle phase, I’m fairly sure I would have enjoyed my experience far more. So if that’s you… this might very well be worth a try. It’s well-written, and though I wanted more from four of the five leads, they’re all likable.

This had some good parts. I just do not think I was the target audience.

“Whether the lake was rainwater or just difficult to find—whether it was a cursed ocean that only existed when certain people were around to perceive it, like the crack of the proverbial tree falling in a forest—the truth of it wouldn’t bring him back.”

Have you ever felt uneasy in a waiting room or a motorway rest area or a wide expanse of wilderness? Have you ever heard about liminal spaces? They are places of transit, places in-between other places and even in-between time. Now that you can get a grasp of the feeling we are talking about, you will understand the essence of this book. We Were Restless Things by Cole Nagamatsu feels exactly like a liminal space, like the very mysterious “lakeless” forest that drowned the protagonist’s friend, Link, and it is deliciously eerie.

Before this novel, Nagamatsu’s short stories had been featured in a great variety of print and online publications. All of her works are, in some way or another, linked to nature and the power and influence it has and will always have over people who dare to immerse themselves in it. We Were Restless Things is Cole Nagamatsu’s first full-length work and it is definitely a novel full of potential. Despite the book presenting the typical minor slips of a debut work, it has the strongest and most wonderfully gripping atmosphere in the YA sphere of the last couple of months. Cole Nagamatsu creates a sense of eeriness that becomes deeply unsettling in the best kind of way, and that is one awfully complex task to fulfil.

The dreamlike, oneiric contemporary fantasy, based in the strength of wilderness is very reminiscent of The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, both relying on the power of nature and the unsettling aura that great expanses of forest give off. Nature is personified to the point where it becomes a character in its own right within the narration, something that is brilliantly disturbing and beautiful. In terms of the writing style, again, Cole Nagamatsu is a very promising author. While there is a somewhat overuse of similes, they do fit beautifully within the style of certain scenes where the fantasy she creates reaches its full capacity. This is especially the case in the fragments of Noemi’s dream journal, where Nagamatsu makes the most of her lyrically descriptive style and creates a whimsical ambience that truly takes your breath away.

In terms of plot and characters, however, the novel does fall a bit flat. The narration does not seem to follow a clear timeline, set of events, or a personal development of the characters, so their actions seem rather pointless and it is hard to know where the narration is going. Even though getting to the bottom of Link’s mysterious drowning is the driving force of the story, the characters do not appear to be excessively worried about it most of the time and so both the rhythm and pace of the narration also slip away. Consequently, the most compelling sections of the novel are those that focus on unravelling the mysteries of the forest and its disappearing lake, but they are spaced out in the narration enough to lose their breathtaking shine. However, the author does makes the most of the narration and dialogue to deal with extraordinarily relevant topics, such as the stages of grieving and accepting someone’s passing, coming to terms with one’s sexuality and the effect abuse can have on people and how they treat others.

Finally, in terms of the characters, the three focalising characters—Noemi, Jonas, and Amberlyn—are, paradoxically, the less rounded. It is quite difficult to establish a connection with either of the three, as their personalities are not developed to their full potential and their flaws, even if realistic, overpower them. At the same time, there is also no real feeling of connection between the characters themselves. Even though they all have varying levels of friendship, their interactions feel stiff and lacking a mutual respect for emotional and personal boundaries. This is especially upsetting in the case of Noemi and Jonas whose relationship is quite difficult to read, since neither Jonas nor Noemi herself seem to respect her sexuality—she is asexual (most likely sex-repulsed). In the case of Amberlyn, who could have been a truly wonderful character, which we can see in the blooming relationship she has with Lyle (Noemi’s best friend), she just feels like a ghost of what she could become. Her chapters do not seem to be connected at all to Noemi’s and Jonas’ and barely add any relevancy to the plot development. However, Link and Gaetan, who take more of a secondary role, steal the spotlight for the most part of the novel. These two characters are beautifully nuanced and mysterious at the same time, which makes the reader want to continue discovering more about their personalities and their past.

All in all, We Were Restless Things is a rather solid debut, despite having its flaws. Cole Nagamatsu is more than well versed in the art of establishing a convincing atmosphere and a setting where the most outstanding events can happen. There is no doubt that there is a bright future ahead of this emerging author, and we cannot wait to read her future works, where we hope nature will have as big of a role as it has in We Were Restless Things. We definitely recommend you answering the calling of the forest and diving into the mysterious lake of Shivery…if you are able to find it, that is, because its eeriness is mind-blowing.

Such an intense and emotionally provocative book. And the cover is super beautiful too--reminiscent of the book's writing.

After falling in love with this cover and recognizing the author as one of the mentors I'd requested a few years back for Pitchwars, I was so excited to receive this arc. I didn't even care what the book was about, I was IN.

I have found myself giving up on books fairly quickly. My TBR is way too big and I don't have much time to waste on books that I do not enjoy. That being said, I had to DNF this at around 45%. I did not feel connected to the characters or the story and I did not feel my time was well spent.

The first thing that struck me was the slow beginning. I pushed through that only to find myself still bored. The structure of the novel did not make sense to me and I was baffled as to what was going on and why. I thought I was getting into something atmospheric and creepy, but I wasn't feeling that at all.

I am so sorry, but I could not continue. Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review this title.

Okay, so!

Hello, bonjour, g'day.

I went into this book blindly, without doing research and going of only what I heard in the bookstagram world.

I heard great things like, it's a great thriller, you'll be holding on to the edge of your seat, it's as good as Karen McManus etc etc.

What I found was entirely the opposite. It was a lot of clunky dialogue between highschool students and about highschool and a death which had been ruled a suicide, but the guy was still sending text messages because he actually drowned in a mysterious vanishing lake....... I just couldn't with this.

For me, the characters were all so similar in their brooding, I could hardly tell them apart.

I'm sorry, I just didn't get it, maybe I wasn't in the right mindset for the book, because I was REALLY looking forward to it.

Oh well, as I always say, not every book is for every reader.

We Were Restless Things first captured my attention with the beautifully crafted cover. The tale itself was mediocre, inviting us into the mysterious death of Link Miller, who had supposedly drowned in a puddle.

I was really excited to be provided this arc that was part mystery and part fantasy. It's a true contemporary fantasy, in that it had mild fantasy elements but reads like a contemporary for 95% of the time. The writing is pretty, if odd at times. Toward the start of the book there's a description of kissing so long "her mouth tasted like raw chicken looked" and I just have no idea what that means. But in other parts of the novel, especially sections discussing dreams, the writing is very pretty.

This book has an ace main character who is in a romantic relationship and there's a lot of discussion about what that means for them and their partner. I am not ace and so I cannot speak to the representation but I loved the on-page representation and discussion. There's also an f/f relationship with POV characters that I can appreciate. A lot of the discussions that take place are important, aka toxic masculinity, male insecurity over body image, sexuality, loss, grief, unrequited feelings, betrayal, guilt, etc. All of these are dealt with in ways that I found to be thoughtful but again these are not things I've lived through so take that with a grain of salt.

This novel embeds the paranormal, fantasy element seamlessly into a normal world, adding intrigue and believability to the plot. There are five core characters, which I felt I came to know very well. Their relationships with each other shift and change slowly but drastically throughout the novel. The story is told from a captivating range of perspectives, including the main characters, an “Unknown” character and some of Noemi’s dreams. I liked the supernatural and mystery elements of the novel so much that I felt the characters’ family issues and relationship dramas were merely obstacles to the action. The fantasy element creates incredible tension but at the end of the novel, the reader knows all of the facts, with the magic of the lake clearly explained, the excitement and suspense are ruined. Unfortunately, there was also some swearing and inappropriate content which made it uncomfortable to read at times.

Cole Nagamatsu writes beautifully, with rich descriptions of the mysterious forest and magical lake wonderfully embellishing the reading experience. The atmosphere is dark and enigmatic, creating an experience similar to that of the final Harry Potter books. Paranormal occurrences are peppered throughout the story, building tension and making for a truly gripping read.

Unfortunately I am unable to offer a review for this book, I managed to read a few chapters of it before I realised that this book is not for me. It would not be fair for me to review it if it is not targeted at my tastes.

Noemi Amato lives at the Lamplight Inn with her mother, Matt Lake, and his son, Jonas in the small town of Shivery, Minnesota. The past year has been difficult; Noemi’s boyfriend, Link Miller is dead. He somehow drowned on dry land and his death is a mystery to his family and Noemi’s circle of friends. The odd circumstances of Link’s death are highlighted by a series of mysterious texts that Noemi receives from “unknown”, who sounds suspiciously like Link. Unknown is familiar with the details of her life and Link’s death.
In many ways, this is a novel about a year in the life of a group of friends. Many of the topics addressed will be familiar to today’s teens. Gaetan Kelly, one of Link’s friends experiences physical abuse at home and sleeps at his friend’s homes to avoid his father. Amberlyn, Link’s sister, is dealing with romantic feelings with Lyle (a female friend). Jonas continually grapples with feelings of not fitting in and being attracted to his almost- stepsister, Noemi.

“We Were Restless Things” seems awkward. That may be because it is difficult for a novel to do so many things well. It is an excellent contemporary novel but it also tries to be an atmospheric dark fantasy/ mystery. There are many beautiful passages that clash with the more mundane aspects of being an American high school student. The novel also takes a very long time to get to the heart of its mystery. How did Link Miller die??

There is one final consideration for school librarians who are considering adding this book to their collection: there is a fair amount of sexual content (none of it very explicit) in the novel. Library Media Specialists should consider their community mores when adding this book to their collection.

We Were Restless Things is a slower, more thoughtfully-paced book than I usually enjoy, but enjoy it I did. The writing was lush and evocative, and the characters were complex and well drawn. I particularly liked the character relationship dynamics in the story, and I think that is where this book really shines. The author is clearly very talented, and I'm excited to see what they write next.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We Were Restless Things first captured my attention with the beautifully crafted cover. The tale itself was mediocre, inviting us into the mysterious death of Link Miller, who had supposedly drowned in a puddle.

What I loved about the book: Nagamatsu writes beautifully, creating images that make you feel you are in the setting and soaking up the surroundings. A broad representation of characters are represented and Nagamatsu creates a suspenseful fantasy that leaves me wondering what is beyond and ahead of the protagonist Noemi's, adventures.

What I didn't enjoy as much: Although I did find many parts of the novel suspenseful, I felt there was a lack of plot. Sometimes characters appeared sidetracked and dialogue didn't sound relevant or believable in parts. Most of the romance was focused on Noemi. All of the boys introduced had crushes on her, which again didn't feel believable or add to her character as a whole.

Overall, this was an interesting and entertaining read.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for sharing this ARC in exchange my honest review.

“We Were Restless Things” by Cole Nagamatsu is a Young Adult fantasy novel. It follows several teenagers on a journey to solve the mysterious death of Lincoln Miller. Link drowned on dry land in the woods. The police never found a water source, but Noemi has. When Jonas comes to live with his dad in Shivery, he is drawn into the search for answers. Together with their friends, they face the dangers of the impossible lake.

This novel embeds the paranormal, fantasy element seamlessly into a normal world, adding intrigue and believability to the plot. There are five core characters, which I felt I came to know very well. Their relationships with each other shift and change slowly but drastically throughout the novel. The story is told from a captivating range of perspectives, including the main characters, an “Unknown” character and some of Noemi’s dreams. I liked the supernatural and mystery elements of the novel so much that I felt the characters’ family issues and relationship dramas were merely obstacles to the action. The fantasy element creates incredible tension but at the end of the novel, the reader knows all of the facts, with the magic of the lake clearly explained, the excitement and suspense are ruined. Unfortunately, there was also some swearing and inappropriate content which made it uncomfortable to read at times.

Cole Nagamatsu writes beautifully, with rich descriptions of the mysterious forest and magical lake wonderfully embellishing the reading experience. The atmosphere is dark and enigmatic, creating an experience similar to that of the final Harry Potter books. Paranormal occurrences are peppered throughout the story, building tension and making for a truly gripping read.

This book cover is GORGEOUS and that is what first drew me to it. The synopsis sounded intriguing and the book was also compared to The Raven Boys, which is one of my favorite books. This book was as lyrical and whimsical as I expected it to be and overall, I enjoyed it.

My favourite character was Noemi, and I looked forward to reading through her perspective the most. I really loved Link as well, even though he was dead. The writing style was lush and imaginative; the metaphors were beautiful. It was like reading a dream. I also loved reading the dream journal entries. They were beautiful and nonsensical (in a good way). They were definitely my favorite parts of the book!

This book came across more as a character study, which is not necessary a bad thing. The dream journal entries told us a lot about Noemi as a character, but did nothing to move the plot forward. I didn't see the point of Jonas having his own POV chapters since he spent most of his time with Noemi anyway. Though I think I might be a bit biased in my dislike for Jonas POV chapters because I found him particularly irritating. Amber seemed like a nice person but her chapters added absolutely nothing to the plot at all, though we did get to learn a bit more about her. Still, I thought that Lyle and Amber were pale echos when compared to Link and Gate, both of whom were strong characters I really liked.

Sometimes even Noemi's "not like other girls" narrative got a bit hard to read about. Even though I liked Noemi, I found it hard to believe that she's fun and quirky and different and that literally every boy in the story was in love with her. I did not like Noemi and Jonas' relationship AT ALL. I thought it was a bit unhealthy and that Jonas was pushy. It felt like Noemi was often rushed into making decisions that she wasn't ready to make yet because Jonas would constantly start with his "woe is me" monologue.

Overall, I enjoyed it and I thought that the writing was beautiful. I am a character-driven reader, so I didn't mind that the book had little plot.

I had high hopes going into this book. It is a contemporary fantasy, but I did not understand the fantasy aspect. I felt like the characters were very 2 dimensional, I did not connect with them and wanted more. The first 25% of the novel, I was very into it. Opening the story I wanted to know more about everything, I was craving to find out what happened to Link. I might have been going into this thinking it was more of a contemporary thriller and I think that’s were it fell flat. As the book kept going on it just kept falling flat and I started to not care about what was happening. I still will describe the book to others and let them choose to read it or not, but I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

This was such a unique look into a murder mystery. I don't think I've ever read one with a fantasy twist. It was definitely interesting and well-written.

This book is hard to encapsulate because it's a kind of story I don't see very often in YA.

We Were Restless Things is not plot-driven. The mystery of Link's drowning-on-land unravels not through clever detective work or unexpected twists, but rather in the strange minutiae of the lives of the people he left behind. Noemi, the prickly girl he loved. Jonas, the boy who never knew him, now living in Noemi's house. Amberlyn, Link's sweet-tempered sister.

This is ultimately a slow-burn story propelled by characters and atmosphere. I found Cole Nagamatsu's prose so beautifully evocative: the moon is eyelash thin, but the strange lake sprawls huge as memory. Worry and insecurity sow thistles in one's lungs. Each word feels precisely placed—and what the book lacks in action, it makes up in elegiac lyricism.

"He was unraveled memory, a history and a heart broken open, left new and naked."

If you've read A House at the Bottom of a Lake, I think you'll be familiar with the peculiar dread that haunts Noemi and her friends (and in turn, me) as they venture back to the disappearing lake where Link died.

This book also reminds me a LOT of Sarah Rees Brennan (her Lynburn Legacy series in particular) and Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Boys. Here, the characters live in the fictional town of Shivery, where strange creatures dwell in the forests and special festivals are held every winter solstice. Our protagonist is a quirky girl who takes no bullshit (like Kami and Blue), and she's accompanied by flawed, angry, insecure boys (who've definitely taken a few pages outta the Ronan Lynch/Jared Lynburn handbook).

I'm not opposed to meandering, character-driven stories, but it's ultimately a 3-star read for me because I didn't really love or connect with any of the characters. (Blue and her boys didn't do it for me, and neither do Noemi and hers—sorry!) I also found it baffling and a little unnecessary that literally ALL the dude characters in the book catch some form of feels for Noemi.

What sorta pheromones this girl be putting out and can we bottle some for personal use, asking for a friend??

Last thing I'll say is that it was pretty damn cool to read an asexual character (Noemi's ace) and have some wlw goodness on the side too.

This book was beautiful. Beautiful characters. Beautiful narration. Great writing altogether.

I loved the cover of this book. And the title. So, it LOOKED good before even cracking it open or reading the cover summary. I requested it at random as I was going through requesting books, and I'm so glad I came across this one.

This follows a group of teens, with two teens, Noemi and Jonas at the center of it all. There's a mysterious lake that they try to figure out all while coping with death and love and their senses of self. It's mysterious and suspenseful.

This is the type of book I would refer to as a quiet book. I feel like the narration is slow and measured in a way that makes it quiet, but it sucks you in. The narration definitely outweighs the dialogue, which makes all the talking that much more important. I feel like a ratio like this is difficult to achieve sometimes, but this book did it!

Nagamatsu was able to really develop every single one of these characters. There were no characters who got less attention than the other when it came to development. We got to see all their stories unfold. I think the characters were my favorite part of the novel. But this story was told so well. I loved it.

The beautiful cover, mention of a drowning on dry land, and the victim contacting his friend from beyond the grave were what drew me to this book.  I'm always intrigued by the supernatural.

It's not exactly what I expected.  The writing is incredibly lyrical and flows with some beautiful passages and vivid descriptions.  Noemi is quirky, creative, and loyal - all qualities I admire about her - and handles a conversation about asexuality brilliantly.  I'd expected the storyline to lean more heavily on the mystery of Link's death, the strange texts Noemi receives from someone claiming to be him, and the disappearing lake.  All of that was part of the plot, but another very large portion is made up of the three (four, really) characters in love with Noemi (which seemed a bit excessive) and her feelings about them.  At times, it seemed as if I was reading two different stories.  The POVs primarily rotate between Noemi and Jonah, but the inclusion of Amberlyn's POV in a few chapters puzzled me since they didn't add anything to the plot.

Each of these characters experience grief in different ways, and some of their conversations are emotionally heavy and brutally honest.  They'll make you think.  One character has an especially difficult life that tugs at the heartstrings, and I just wanted to hug him. 

With an unusual storyline, poetic writing, and slower pace, there's much to enjoy about this book, but I wouldn't recommend it to readers looking for an action-packed thriller as it sways more toward contemporary fantasy.  

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was drawn to this book by the beautiful cover and the blurb. Drowning on dry land? The CSI/Criminal Minds fan in me was intrigued. Coming-of-age in the wake of a death? Sounds like the kind of post-traumatic growth/mental health representation I live for. Indeed, the beginning was great.

Nagamatsu is an incredibly talented writer, especially in terms of imagery and description. The metaphors were fresh and lush, the scenes lively. Indeed without this, I doubt I would have finished the book.

The representation of an asexual character was refreshing, although I’ll go into what I wish was different about it later.

Other than that, the more I read, the more let-down I felt. I wanted to give this a good rating, especially since the author is a debut, but I couldn’t in good conscience give it more than a 2/5 stars.

What I wish was different: To start, the names were unique, in the bad pulls-me-out-of-the-story because I’m trying to pronounce them/understand them way. (i.e. Cesca, from Francesca, so probably pronounced Chesca. Noemi, girl Lyle, Gaetan, the last name Lake, despite the Lake being a big metaphor).

The imagery really was beautiful, but after a while made the story drag. Part of that was the dependence of the book on the imagery, with little plot/tension/characterization driving the story. The dialogue was just mediocre. There was nothing I really needed to keep reading to find out (its apparent very early on the lake is some fantastical thing, so what more is there to learn?). Similarly, I didn’t understand why I should care about any of the characters. Jonas was the closest I came to feeling for someone, but Link, for example, or even Noemi, I honestly didn’t care much about them. Part of that is they don’t seem to have concrete, tangible goals they are trying to accomplish.

I loved that the story took place in Minnesota, since I am from there as well. Shivery, MN was a great place name (its cold all the time here) but Galaxie was another too-on-the-nose metaphor/name.

Speaking of the asexual representation, while I appreciated it, and thought it was refreshing in the midst of a romance plot, some of the language used made me cringe. Over time, I understood it, but at the beginning it felt like the problematic trope of kissing/etc-despite-not-liking-it and not saying anything/saying no, as a reinforcement of women not stating, and sticking to, their boundaries.

As for the dream sequences, these felt unnecessary and aggressively literary. A former creative writing teacher of mine used to say that all parts/sentences should “do work” i.e. characterize, push the plot forward, or reveal themes. From the description it feels like these are supposed to be thematic, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out how or why. Similarly, what’s the point, thematically, of the book? I can maybe see the argument for “learning to love ourselves”, but how is this any different than any other book? And for the power of our desires? How does this appear? Also what desires? Part of what this book was lacking were concrete goals/desires for the characters to achieve besides the nebulous “find out about the lake”.

All in all, the author is, no doubt, incredibly talented, especially with imagery. I wish I enjoyed this book more, and perhaps would have if it stopped at about 1/4 of the way through.

What could be better than a strange mystery? Not much! I was really looking forward to this book as it seemed like a book I would really enjoy. A paranormal mystery, a death and mysterious messages? Sign me up! I couldn’t wait. Unfortunately, this book really did not work for me. It just didn’t read the way I would have liked, and I struggled all the way through it.

Mind you, I like books that are slow paced. Some of my favorite books are slow paced, but this book was slow paced and it had issues in it that I couldn’t bring myself to like above what I did. The first issue with the slow pace is there should at least be some sense of plot. There was none. This book meandered all over the place and didn’t seem to have much consistency. If it lacks plot it should delve into characters. Yet, it doesn’t do that either. In fact it was light on all those things as well. The slowness made the work even harder to get into.

I struggled with the writing style a bit. I wasn’t loving it, and I felt that some of the dialogue was stilted and not to my tastes. I didn’t enjoy those parts. I didn’t enjoy how the characters were crafted for the most part either. I felt most of them were flat and wanting more depth from them. I liked that different sexualities were explored, and truly appreciated the representation, but it wasn’t enough.

I did enjoy the creepy vibe that the book was giving off though. That was one of the few things that it had going for it. It felt creepy, but sadly, fell short. It didn’t keep me entertained and it didn’t keep me interested. Not to mention it flipped through so much time that it felt awkward to the extreme. I did not enjoy that at all. Time skips are fine if done well, and these just didn’t work for me.

Overall, the book didn’t work. I wish it had, but apparently this one just wasn’t for me.