Tiffany Jackson's books have been on my to-read radar for a while, and after reading White Smoke I cannot wait to pick up her other works. Because I get the impression this is not actually Jackson at her best. Don't get me wrong. This is a good read. Mari's voice is strong and authentic and perfectly captures her headspace. A sense of unease permeates the pages, and there are some excellent bits of anxiety inducing tension and creepiness. And while part of me was impatient for Mari to get her act together and figure out she was in a haunted house and/or talk to someone, I could completely understand--and buy--why it took her so long to do either. Maybe the newly blended but not yet fully functional family, moving to a new town in which something is amiss trope is well trod in horror, but it works. Add in Mari's past trauma and occasionally unreliable narration and the scene is set for a claustrophobic nightmare.

But of course, the horror here is not just supernatural but also societal--and very much grounded in reality. The two tracts of the story are ultimately blended together in a late book plot twist, which is where Jackson kind of lost me. I mean, the twist is decent, but I don't know how believable it really is. Suspension of disbelief is definitely required here--and the explanation for the twist does not feel fully developed. It's all a bit of a stretch.

I think the problem basically boils down to a pacing issue. For me, a lot of the book was slow and even repetitive. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop and the story to really get going. And then it does! ...Aaand it ends. Seriously, I found myself swiping through the back matter several times because I could not accept that there was nothing left to read. I also found myself verifying that this was not actually a partial ARC. I kind of get where Jackson was going with the abrupt cut away, but it left me feeling unfulfilled. (All that waiting only to be denied!) I would have liked to have seen the twist happen earlier in the story so that we'd get to see everything that is going to come next for Mari. But then that's not the story Jackson was setting out to tell, and I can accept that.

Because ultimately, this is a story of a traumatized girl becoming more than her trauma--and maybe--hopefully--finding purpose beyond it. Yes, there's interpersonal relationships, potentially haunted houses, and systematic racism to deal with, but Mari's development is the heart of this book. And it's worth reading.

Holy guacamole Tiffany D. Jackson does it again. I never read suspense or books with serious unreliable narrators; they just aren't my cup of tea except for Jackson. Every single one of her titles consistently hooks me in even when I'm spooked and unnerved. This one did not disappoint, I'm still processing the ending and the potential consequences. Do yourself a favor and read this book, and everything else she's published. Thanks to NetGalley and Katherine Tegan Books for the honor of a digital arc of this marvelous title.

Marigold and her family are looking for a fresh start when they move to Cedarville, but they quickly become mixed up in some old grudges that threaten their sanity and lives. Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Overdosing, Bedbugs, Compulsive Thoughts, Riots

This book is great contemporary horror. I would put this in the hands of any high schooler looking for a spooky read because yes, it is very spooky. I may have slept with my hallway light on after finishing it. But even more than it's creepy factor, it exceeds in creating characters that young adults will absolutely relate to. The dialogue between characters and the glimpses into Mari's thought patterns show that Tiffany Jackson has tapped into the ups and downs of being a teenager with anxiety, compulsive thoughts, and a high school crush.

My only critique is the pacing was a little off some of the scary bits in the middle felt repetitive. I would have loved to dive into the ending of the story a little deeper, but I have a feeling that kind of ending is a signature of Tiffany Jackson's. Will definitely read more of her work in the future!

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Whenever an author ventures from their typical genre, it can either be disastrous or wonderful. When I saw that Tiffany D. Jackson wrote a horror novel, I was certainly intrigued since I adored Monday’s Not Coming. Overall, Jackson’s risk of writing a new genre paid off in my opinion because White Smoke was a fantastically chilling horror novel!

Just a heads up, it is a good idea to check all the trigger warnings for this book on The Storygraph or whatever website you use because there are many. Just to name a few, the book discusses addiction, anxiety, and has a relatively vivid description of an overdose. Again, please check all the content warnings before reading! I will be discussing anxiety a little in this review.

So, the book starts out with our protagonist, Marigold, and her family moving to a new house. Mari is not too happy about the move, but is trying to prove to her mother that she is stable, since part of the reason they had to move in the first place stems from Mari’s struggle with anxiety. Oh, and to make this transition even more difficult, Mari’s new husband, Alec, and his 10-year-old daughter, Piper, move in with them too.

So what’s the catch? Well, the new house they moved into might just be haunted. Mari is the last person who wants to admit this, but strange things keep happening, such as doors opening and closing on their own, lights being turned on or off when no one is home, and objects mysteriously moving or going missing. As if that is not enough to deal with, Mari suspects that The Sterling Foundation, who’s founder owns the house her family moved into, may not be as enthusiastic about restoring their city as they seem to be. However, Mari is almost powerless to solve these problems if she wants her mom to trust her again.

One aspect of this novel that I ended up really enjoying was that Mari has anxiety. Many authors will mention that a character has anxiety, but that never really affects the character, but Mari’s anxiety affects almost every aspect of her life. It is refreshing to read about a character who not only received professional help for an anxiety diagnosis, but who also wasn’t miraculously cured. Mari’s anxiety and the way she relates to it and copes with it throughout the novel really add depth and sincerity to Mari’s character.

I don’t read many horror novels, but when I do, they typically don’t feel really scary to me. However, this novel had the opposite effect on me! It had me checking closets and looking behind shower curtains. I really felt like Jackson transitioned to the horror genre flawlessly.

Additionally, Jackson wrote a compelling backstory for the town Mari moved to and added other aspects to the story that make you question Mari’s reliability at times. Every good horror story has a local myth or legend and White Smoke does not disappoint. Trust me, when you discover the history of the house Mari moved to, you will have chills too!

Finally, while the ending of the novel was a little abrupt, I enjoyed the twist. It maybe wasn’t necessarily the most original plot twist, but the descriptions made it feel more lifelike and Jackson adds another, smaller twist that is quite unexpected. All in all, this was a quick and fun, yet disturbing read. Whether you’re a fan of Tiffany D. Jackson already or not, you will definitely want to pick up a copy of this book!

Holy wow!!! This story was super fast paced and the plot was incredibly interesting. I really liked the characters and how each of them are very real and have their flaws.

“Change is good. Change is necessary. Change is needed.”

This book was described as a Get Out meets The Haunting of Hill House but i think it actually rings closer to another social commentary movie that came out a few years ago - I won’t say it hear because it ties in with some spoilery stuff when the plot picks up. I liked how a lot of the characters weren’t necessarily all good or all bad, and the author does a really good job of making you suspicious of everyone than revealing the real truths of people. This was social commentary and creepy mystery all rolled into one. The only note I have would be the ending. I literally flipped through my e-copy and I’m still half convinced I missed a page or something. Still, don’t go in expecting what this is being touted as - it exists as its own thing and is all the better for it!

This book was very creepy. I may or may not have been nervous walking to my bathroom at night after reading a few chapters.

The pacing of this book is excellent. Although the ending was a bit sudden and I wished we were given a few more answers.

Weaving societal issues into a horror novel is difficult, but somehow the author pulled it off. I’m not sure that I’ve read a book that hits on gentrification and certainly not as deftly as this one does.

I do wish that it had gone a bit further in wrapping up the commentary (which may have been doable if the ending wasn’t so abrupt), but overall I had a lot of fun reading this book!

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well done the character were well developed. The author kept you on the edge of your seat. I felt she made you feel for them

A horror story with mental health rep, social commentary, and a believable set of characters. I did not love the ending but this story is unfortunately stuck in my brain (all the creepy parts!)

White Smoke is terrifying, unique, and topical, wrapped up in a satisfying ghost story... that maybe isn't a ghost story? Is Mari's house haunted or is there something deeper and more nefarious happening in this town? Tiffany Jackson does a skillful job of exploring both possibilities. Horror doesn't always have to be supernatural. Jackson also deftly explores substance use disorder, recovery, and the mental health challenges left in the aftermath. Recommended for general purchase for all YA collections, and especially where Tiffany Jackson's mysteries are popular.

I absolutely loved this YA horror. It embodies everything a good horror story has- plenty of spooks and scares encompassed by strong characters and an exploration of societal issues. Highly recommended.

Tiffany D. Jackson has done it again! I am so glad that she is a fan of horror and hope that she plans to write in this genre in the future. What makes this an amazing book is that, yes, she has nailed some extremely creepy haunted house scenes, but the real horror lies in the evil that people do and get away with because they have the means and the ruthlessness. AND THEN that ending! I was truly shocked.

Mari is fresh out of rehab, and she and her blended family have just been accepted into a brand new residency program. They get to live in a house rent free which will be their gateway to financial freedom. The only problem is their new (old) house is haunted which throws Mari's recovery in to turmoil and her anxiety into overdrive. Things start disappearing, bad smells plague her room, and suspiciously no one is allowed in the basement. What's worse is that no one in her family believes her. First of all, this book cover is beautiful. Secondly, I could not put this book down! I found myself on the edge of my seat, dying to know what happened next. As soon as I started reading this I knew I would love it, and I started recommending it left and right. It’s rare that I read a book this fast, but I HAD to know how it ended. I was so surprised, and I think you will be too. The characters were authentic and amazingly fleshed out, especially Mari herself. Finally, I now think I have a real fear of bedbugs thanks to this book. Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I will continue to recommend this book.

Definitely a creepy book at times and I really enjoyed the twist at the end! It was a book I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens next. The end was a little…unfulfilling, but in a good way.

After reading Grown last summer, i did NOT expect a horror story from Ms. Jackson...and she didn’t let down. Not only was it a horror story, it was a story that was a reflection on society, how those with money can do whatever they want, regardless of the ramifications and how those who survive day to day, live with a constant struggle. I felt as if the ending was left too open. Could there be a follow up, which would be more of an expose? Possible. I did enjoy the story, kept me guessing until the end

I love Tiffany D. Jackson and loved the boo, but the ending felt unfinished to me. I kept clicking on my kindle thinking I was missing something. That is the only reason I do not give it a 5. . Loved the fact the book explores everything from drug abuse, to anxiety to gentrification but the ending left me wanting more. I did love the twist though, but once again; after the twist, it felt unfinished

Ok, so it pains me to say this but...this was a total miss for me.

I've loved all of Tiffany D. Jackson's work (GROWN was one of my Top 10 last year), but I could not get into WHITE SMOKE. While there was nuanced exploration of some of Jackson's repeated themes about trauma faced by Black children and the need for believing them, the ghost aspect lost me. I found myself skimming the last 20% to get to the end.

Highly recommend starting with GROWN or ALLEGEDLY instead if you're new to Jackson's work.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC in exchange for this review.

Let me start by saying—I wasn’t entirely sure how I would like this book. It’s not my usual choice, but I’ve heard great things about Tiffany D Jackson and have it a try.

I’m so glad I did. This book is excellent. On the surface it’s a scary story—creaks in the night, Marigold seeing figures in her room, and a lot more spooky happenings. But this story has *layers* to it. Recovery, blended family, forgiveness, change, gardening and it even touches on historical wrongs and perceptions in small-town life.
There is so much to like about this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an ARC copy of this book!

Disclaimer: I got this book in exchange for. an honest review.

Perfect for fans of The Haunting of Hill House X Get Out

I'm not typically a fan of horror books or the genre but I actually liked this one! Marigold is a young girl whose family/step-fam relocates due to an incident that occurred in her past. Everything came together seamlessly by the end and this is perfect for fans of either the show or the movie!

Marigold and her blended family are moving from California to a small Midwestern town called Cedarville for a fresh start. Mari left with her name in ruins after a bad OD and the entire family needed a fresh start. Marigold lives with her Mama, Stepdad Alec, Stepsister Piper, and Brother Sammy. All whose lives were affected by the choices she made. But as she starts to find friends and “normalcy” in Cedarville; she soon realizes this town ANYTHING but normal. Her house is labeled haunted, Piper has an imaginary friend (Ms. Suga) that turns out to have horrible intentions, and the town’s owners are corrupt, and every person in the town is a player in their game without ever knowing. Super abrupt ending and left you with soooo many questions, but still a major thriller and SUPER spooky. Would not recommend for late night reading 👻😬😳