I honestly enjoyed this book a lot. When I wasn't listening to it, I kept thinking about it. The world-building made you feel like you were with the characters. I was initially worried about how it would end, but I'm glad it didn't end most predictably. The amount of grief and depression Beck feels throughout the book and those who have experienced a similar loss could relate to her desire to be okay. I recommend this book to those who like a mystery with real feelings.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book hooked me from the very first chapter. This book was strange and unlike anything I have ever read before. It wasn't as spooky as Gould's debut, but it still had a creepy, suspenseful feeling that made me want to keep reading. I felt like I was solving the mystery of the town of Backravel along with Beck.

I'm very glad this book was sapphic like Gould's first YA novel, and I think the romance was executed better in this book. It felt quiet and didn't overshadow the central mystery of the book, but it was still important to both main girls' character developments. I also liked that the book focused on the relationship between two sisters, Beck and Riley, but I wish that relationship had been developed better. I felt that Beck treated Riley badly throughout the whole book, without much improvement to show her character arc.

I would recommend this book for fans of Stranger Things and will definitely read more from Courtney Gould.

A supernatural mystery about two sisters and their absent mother who they thought was dead. I had a hard time getting into this one, maybe it just wasn't the style/genre for me but the cover is stunning and I would definitely recommend it for fans of Liselle Sambury's Delicious monsters. Good on audio narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Beck and Riley Birsching have been grieving the death of their mother. They are set to move to their father's home but then Beck receives a letter in the mail in her mother's handwriting stating "come and find me" in a town called Backravel in Arizona. Their mother was a troubled investigative journalist who as it turns out had gone to Backravel many times over the years.

When the two sisters arrive, they notice that the town has not cars, no cemeteries, and no churches. None of the inhabitants seem to remember how they got there. Bec is determined to find out why her mother kept coming back her and beings to find herself lost in Backravel. The only ones who seem to know what is happening is the towns leader and his daughter.

This started strongly for me, and I was intrigued by the creepy town. Something is not quite right there, so many things seem off and I enjoyed this about the book. The author blends many genres into this YA book: mystery, science fiction, romance, and horror(ish) elements. ho provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

It is on the slower side and as I had both the book and the audiobook, I found myself turning to the audiobook more as I enjoyed the narration. Courtney Gould can write and excelled at created a creepy strange town. It has a history, and I was desperate to know what it was. I was also invested in learning what was happening and why their mother kept coming back to this town. I loved her book "The dead and the dark" and had high hopes for this one, perhaps my hopes were too high.

Well written, creepy, and mysterious.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for the audio ARC. Unfortunately, this was just a drag for me. I could not pay attention or get into the story because I was beyond bored.