“Beauty isn’t that which is beautiful, it is that which pleases us.”

White Fox is a beautifully layered YA psychological mystery about sisters, family, and secrets. I loved how this story is told from multiple POVs, but also how the author explores storytelling within the story, which adds a magical dark fairy tale aspect to the already mysterious island setting of Viloxin.

At its simplest this story is about two distant sisters, Manon and Thaïs, wanting to find the mother that abruptly disappeared from their lives 10 years ago. These sisters use her last work, “White Fox” to try to figure out what happened to her. They are piecing together clues, and learning hard truths about people and things they once saw through a mulberry tinted filter. It’s just a great mystery read that is equal parts spooky and magical.

White Fox is just a great read. The mystery is intriguing, and the girls take you on a journey that’s both unexpected and exciting. They turn over so many stones, but you really have no idea what’s valid and what isn’t. It’s an extremely well written mystery, and the setting and the visuals that the author creates with her words is pure magic. I truly loved how this story explores themes of sister relationships and mental illness, but in such a unique ways. I also loved that these sisters are both on their own journey, but also on one together and of learning and building their relationship. It’s like their grief tore them apart originally, but a new form of grief brings them together. A sort of loss of what they thought they knew and who they thought they were. For me it felt like that grief of becoming an adult and losing that wonder of childhood. Maybe we don’t recognize it immediately, but I think many of us think back like “wow things felt so simple and special then.”

It’s just an overall great read. I expected to enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to fall in love.

”She was a complex prism of a woman working her whole life to crush this paper doll vision people had of her. And she mostly failed.”

Kind of strange and very surreal. Which is not a criticism. It’s just hard to fit into any kind of genre box.

As a member of the Faring Society, I received a free e-ARC of this book thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group-Imprint in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

In this novel we are following two sisters, Manon and Thais, as they work to uncover the truth behind their famous mother’s disappearance. They’ve returned to their home island, Viloxin, after being gone for years and living in America. They find their mother’s famous last work, White Fox, which holds the clue to truths about her. Now they can try to find out what really happened to her. But with knowledge comes cold, harsh reality. Are they ready to accept that everything they thought they knew about their lives may be lies?

Y’all, when I read the synopsis for this book, I just HAD to read it. Of course I joined the Faring Society when I had the opportunity because why wouldn’t I?! I love reading spooky stories and psychological thrillers. And let me tell you, parts of this book go there.

The atmosphere of this book really sets the tone. The girls venture back to this island that they haven’t been to since they were children. They haven’t lived in their childhood home in years, and it is described almost as a living entity. It’s creepy but adds to the story in such a necessary way. It almost taunts, but I loved the descriptions of it. Along with the fortress of the childhood home, there are the surrounding woods: Delirium Forest, as it’s called. They’re known for people going in and not coming back out. It was haunting but I was loving the way these areas were described. They were spooky but really created such a vibe that made me want to keep reading.

We’re introduced to so many people on Viloxin and most seem shady or like they’re hiding something. As we come to find out, things are not as they always appear and people are not always who they appear to be. One thing that was frustrating was that, as I said, we were introduced to so many characters and seemingly so many important plot points, and then these plot points would just never be mentioned again. I think we could have done away with so many characters and just focused on a few and really fleshed out their storylines. As it was, we have several characters who seemingly are significant but we never really explore why they’re significant or really go anywhere with them.

I would have liked the ending to have been different. Without going into any details I’ll just say that it wasn’t what I expected.

Overall I enjoyed this book. There were a few things I’d have liked to see changed or improved upon, but it was a good read. I recommend picking this one up. It’s a perfect spooky read for fall! Publication is set for September 22.

Hello Gemmies! I have an exciting book review to share with you today. Please note: I received a digital ARC of this book (via NetGalley) from its publisher in exchange for an honest and fair review.

White Fox by Sara Faring is an eerie and mysterious YA thriller. I was so excited to receive this book to review and I was not disappointed, White Fox is the perfect summer spooky read! It pulls you in from the very first chapter. We find ourselves following two sisters Noni and Tai who embark on a mission to try and figure out what happened to their superstar actress mother Mireille Fox, who disappeared when they were young. Trigger warning, this book contains talk of suicide, murder, dealing with grief, and panic attacks.

White Fox is not your average mystery, it is a bit of a slow burn mixed with a coming of age story, and big pharma shenanigans all rolled into one. I believe the slow burn is purposely done to help set the tone of the book (the action really starts to pick up at the 50% mark). Each page unveils a small piece of the mystery by providing clues and divulging disturbing occurrences from the point of view from the two sisters Noni and Tai. The plot also constantly gets interrupted with additional information on their mother's disappearance, provided in the form of a missing film manuscript and newspaper articles. You need to try and decipher what the clues in the script and articles mean. I found myself wrapped up in the vivid imagery that made up this dark, mystical, and atmospheric world. It all works together to keep you off balance as you read on. I could never quite guess what was going on or where the bread crumbs were leading. It left me on edge and wanting to learn more about why these things were happening.

I enjoyed the overall aesthetic, writing style, and the imagery depicted throughout White Fox. The island and forest where a lot of the scenes take place were practically a character all on their own. White Fox is more of a mystery/plot driven story than a character driven story if that makes sense. And again I think Sara Faring has done this purposely. We really get to know Noni and Tai but I never felt a real connection to any of the other characters. Everyone else seems to have a secret agenda or be underhanded, and it all adds to the uncomfortable and unnerving feeling you get while reading. You really don't know who to trust until the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique reading experience. If you enjoy mysteries, technological thrillers with a sci-fi twist, and sisterhood, then go read this book. This gem published by Imprint is set to release on September 22, 2020 and is available for pre-order from all major booksellers. I give White Fox 4 out of 5 gems. I cannot wait for this story to be out in the world for all to read and enjoy. Happy Reading!

White Fox is an eerie and intriguing story the story kept me hooked. It isn't like your traditional thriller tbh, and weaves in a variety of genres if I'm not wrong. Navigating the lives of two sisters after the mysterious disappearance of her uber famous mother, Tai and Manon are lured back to their Mediterranean island house and discover secrets long buried.

I could somehow guess about the truth of a person by the middle of the book but the way the author kept us on the loop with new clues on each page - that was interesting. The story went round and round, giving us immense clues, and all the while also telling us about the story of a lady who was desired by so many and a company with power that hid so much.

The sister relationship was also very profound - it wasn't perfect but messy and full of little sisterly fights and jealousies. Tai and Manon are very different - while Tai is an Instagram influencer, Manon is more on the silent side. And yet, their love for each other is portrayed through the ways they look out for each other. I think the author also portrayed anxiety and coping after a period of grief really well. Tai focused her grief onto her social media and Manon simply pushed herself back behind the screens. It was good.

The atmospheric setting of the book, and the fairy tale like script that was mentioned in between, both added immensely to the aesthetic of the story. The White Fox script that the sisters found was very creepy, I won't lie. It told such a great story, and I loved the fact that the author also wove in newspaper articles in between. This really added so much essence and layers to the story.

Overall, this book was a joy ride. It kept me hooked and intrigued throughout, and the author uses a lot of twists and turns, something that I really enjoy. The story also focused on so many important themes - anxiety, the things that people in power do, the ways that a supposed film star is looked at and desired, the complexity of the mind. It was the climax that I'm not a big fan of, as it seemed too much like a fantasy. But overall, I enjoyed this story and for the uniqueness of it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC. At 6% in, I stopped reading this book. Unfortunately I could not get into it. I think some readers will enjoy the atmospheric setting and plot. This is a right book for some readers, but was not the right book for me at this time. Will try again another time.

White Fox by Sara Faring is a young adult mystery, following two girls as they look for their missing mother ten years after her disappearance.

An exciting novel that is an unexpected thrill as it lures in the reader.

Slow & Steady
What Faring does very well with White Fox is the pacing. It is a steady journey for the reader, one that opens with the girls and builds up their personalities, reflecting on the loss of their mother. Their mother just vanished in the night without a word, and now the girls who have been living in America for years return home to their Mediterranean island, left with a clue that their mother may be alive.

There is much tension in the story not only surrounding the girls and how different they are, but also the idea of this mysterious script that went missing at the same time as their mother. However, what is more, is the fact that in his final days, their father claimed to have seen her standing in the woods that surround their home.

There is so much rising tension in the story to make it intriguing. Faring builds up the mysterious and chilling atmosphere not only by putting the characters on a volcanic island but also by her details and descriptions. White Fox is itself sounds mysterious, and the forest by their house, calling it the Delirium Forest, allows the eerie atmosphere to resonate off the pages.

Interludes
However, while Faring has a great atmosphere and steady pace, there are times when the story is less than engaging and times when it shines.

The interludes featuring pieces of the script are the most noteworthy aspects of the story. They paint a fantastical look at their mother’s life and the men in it. It is up to the girls to decipher the meaning of the text, and the reader is intrigued by it as well.

The script of White Fox is the most curious part of the storytelling because it gives the reader an idea of who their mother was and guided the girls on their journey to discover just who their mother was. They were too young to know her and now they are discovering they did not know her at all. Once again, this leads to a notable rise in tension and mystery, building up the eerie atmosphere.

Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that Faring has a way with language and storytelling, and it was ingenious of her to reference her previous novel The Tenth Girl, but her characterization is lacking. Manon and Thaïs are wholly unlikable, making the reader unable to connect to them genuinely. Yes, the reader can sympathize with them, but overall, their dynamic, the built-up resentment between the two characters, and how they belittle one another takes sibling discord to another level. It just prevents the reader from really investing in them.

Nevertheless, they do grow as characters which the reader can appreciate, and coupled with the mystery, White Fox is a compelling narrative.

Thank you Imprint and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book. I was drawn into the mystery of the actual story and the mysterious screen play left behind by the missing mother. I thought Manon and Tai balanced each other well as the two main characters. I also really enjoyed a "multi media" layout where we got different POVs for each chapter sprinkled with media interviews and a screen play. I was kind of let down by the ending honestly. I wish it was more mystical or something, I don't know. It was pretty predictable in my opinion.

I just had to know what happened to Manon’s and Thai’s mother. This one will keep you turning pages to the end!

I didn't entirely connect with the characters (and I have strong feelings about them), however, the plot was something else. It was strange and puzzling. Plus the way the story was told—with parts of a movie script, newspaper articles, and interviews interwoven into the book—made it both unnerving and atmospheric in the right moments.

This book was okay. I really struggled getting into it. The story is an interesting concept, two sisters trying to discover what happened to their mother. The chapters rotate through the perspectives of the sisters and I sometimes would forget who was who. The ending was interesting but it was just hard to get there.

White Fox is all about 2 sisters, and their famous actress mom that disappeared and is presumed dead. It does have a slow start, and even though the chapters were the viewpoints of both sisters, it was hard to differentiate between them. I really didn't keep my interest.

I tried on several occasions to read this book but I kept getting distracted and that is never a good sign for me when I try to read a book. It just couldn't keep me wanting to know what happened next.

This is a mystery but it’s pretty unique. The story follows two sisters trying to figure out what happened to their mom who went missing when they were children. It alternates between each of their perspectives, a movie manuscript, and occasionally adding in a news article or things like that. The latter is a little inconsistent. We lose it towards the end but I think I would prefer it if it was carried all the way through.

I really enjoyed the plot. It was interesting and unexpected, but I never got attached to any of the characters. The island in which the story takes place and it’s culture is well developed. It’s familiar but also slightly strange. The characters, however, are mainly plot devices aside from the sisters. They appear then disappear and we never hear from them again. Also, some of their behaviors seem out of character but is never explained. Is it because the main characters misunderstood them? Did they have some other motivation? It becomes too obvious that they’re just there to transition another character to the next scene. If you like character driven stories this might not be your favorite. I also loved the author’s writing style, aside from some cringey moments at the start. I will definitely read more of her work.

This was an okay read. I enjoyed it but also didn't like what I did with The Cruel Prince. This book is about Manon and Thais' famous mother who disappeared when they were young and are now searching for her also her project, White Fox. The summary sounded great but not what I was expecting. I loved the author's choice of adding both sister's pov. I kind of enjoyed the author's writing but didn't think it was wow. I did enjoy the dark setting that this book took place in. The author did well with describing the setting because it brought that dark vibes for this thriller book. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning but then went fast at the end.

The main characters in this book are Manon and Thais. I didn't feel connected to either sister as much but felt more connected to them in the ending. My favorite character was Thais because she was an influencer that didn't really want to be one and just wanted to find her mom. Between the two sisters, I think this one developed the most. Also, I was expecting some romance in this book. There were some brief ones but didn't focus on it. I was hoping that one of the sisters would get a lover. I did enjoy the side characters in this book though. They weren't in the shadows of the novel and brought a lot to the story.

Even though this book was kind of bland, I did enjoy the ending. It was a little hard to get into the story in the beginning but glad to read this book. I was expecting more in the novel but we will see what changes are made in the final copy. This is recommended to those who love dark reads and/or thrillers.

White Fox by Sarah Faring is a mystery , I think? I had a hard time with this book and it wasn't my favorite from this The story revolves around two sisters trying to figure out what happened to their mom who disappeared when they were young.

There are multiple perspectives and parts of the novel are epistolary including a movie transcript and news articles.

The book was confusing to follow . I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it didn't do it for me.

This is an eerie story with a touch of horror. Two sister are atill wondering what became of their mother. She disappeared ten years ago. Their father says he doesn't know what happened but he's passed on now. One sister thinks she's dead. One thinks she's alive. Who's right?

Macmillan's Publishing Group and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published on September 22nd.

Their mother was an actress and when they finally arrive back home after the death of their father, they find part of a script. It's called the White Fox and it based on an old fairy tale. However, it's not complete. They begin to wonder if their mother is the white fox and has gone back to the wild but decide that's too silly.

Their Uncle Teddy is taking care of them now and they think he's like a teddy bear.He's sweet and kind. But behind that facade, he's more of a grizzly bear. When they discover that, there only choice is to run and the only place to hide is in the forest. He's relentless as a hunter and he finds them. They run again. And they find their mother...

Unputdownable. Mixing sci fi , mystery , gothic and thriller all in one this is the story of two sisters trying to fund out the truth of their mother’s disappearance . Taking place on a mysterious utopia sounding island this novel is original and thrilling

Trigger Warnings: Death of a Parent, Misogynistic Language, Mentions of Suicide, Self-Harm, Kidnapping, Mentions of Prostitution, Underage Drinking, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Mentions of Stalking, Physical Violence, Minor Character Death

Why You Should Read It: White Fox was a ride from start to finish. Straight out of the gate we're told that the main characters' mother disappeared 10 years ago, and like that's already got you hooked, right? Because she's a big name actress on a tiny island and her husband is a big name pharmaceutical developer. How can she just disappear? Then Noni (Manon) and Tai (Thaïs) return to their childhood home on the island of Viloxin for a retrospective of their mother's work. And suddenly all the clues of where their mother's gone are possibly right there around them, so of course they have to go looking for it, right? And what happens next is like holy shit, guys.
I wasn't sure how much I was going to like this book. NetGalley suggested it to me, probably because I read (and enjoyed) Harrow Lake, which has a pretty similar premise - teenage girl has famous actress mother who disappeared when she was a child and finds herself on the trail of what might have happened to her when she goes to a place from her family's past. Other than that one sentences, though, these books are completely different. But they're both so good in their own unique and incredible ways. Just like I couldn't hype of Harrow Lake enough, I can't hype this one enough either. When September 22 comes around, I hope each and every one of you will be scrambling for this book because it is so, so worth it.

Why You Should Have It in Your Library: So the problem with this section is there are so many awesome books, and even more awesome books are coming out all the time, and I keep telling you to buy them. And I'm not going to stop now. You have to buy this book for your YA collection, guys. It's wonderfully written, it's a compelling story, and one of the great things about thrillers is they tend to keep people reading because it's so easy to find another book that "sounds kinda like that other one I liked." Definitely add this to your purchase list for September. You won't regret it.

I’ve very sad to admit I will not be finishing this one. Got about 30% into it and am having a difficult time focusing on the plot. The shifting POVS and leaping from prose to transcripts to scripts is really taking me out of the story. I love the atmosphere and world building but some of the details seem to fantastic to be be buy.