Member Reviews
Rebecca is Autistic and oftentimes absent from school due to her episodes, which means she doesn't have any friends either. She is flabbergasted from sudden and tragic deaths of two of her schoolmates one by one, followed by unexplained videos of them circulating in the internet showing their erratic behaviour right before they died, as if something scared them to death.
Although, the police report ruled it out as a tragic accident, Rebecca noticed the similarities in their deaths such as hallucinations, addressing their dead or presumably non existent relatives and the deceased running away as if being chased by something.
Now, that the only friend/acquaintance "Oz" Rebecca had had, died, sent her spiralling and she frantically began searching for clues and connection among their deaths and the culprit behind it all while struggling to keep her sanity, trying to differentiate between hallucinations and reality. What could drive three high school seniors to their deaths? Whatever or whoever killed those students, will it also unalive Rebecca?
I personally found "Who Haunts You" quite engaging, I was drowned in it and couldn't wait to finish it up and find the real culprit. This book's language is moderate, It is an appropriate read for early adolescents to adults. The plot is a little different than your usual horror. I kinda figured out the culprit quite early in the story, Unfortunately, it lacked jumpscares and spooky context. Otherwise, it was an amazing novella. It is a Horror Mystery Genre.
Wow! Wow! WOW!!
Weird things start to happen at Bex's highschool.
Her classmates start dying. She starts hearing things, seeing things that aren’t really there and, before long, Bex finds herself in the middle of the mystery and the clock is ticking.
Bex has to figure out why her classmates are dying and who is behind this.
I don't usually see a lot of books that have autistic/neurodivergent main characters, in addition to doing it well!!
Wonderful YA horror/ghost story. 😍
Thank you to NetGalley and Off Limits press for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which is available September 2,2023!
First off this is a teen horror novel with autistic rep. I am autistic. The rep at times missed the mark because Female autistics are hard to peg. However looking past that part this story was a phenomenally creepy read. The fast pacing had pauses but those pause built the tension instead of becoming dull and boring.
I think my autistic daughters(all 3 of them) would actually enjoy this book and the audiobook which the narrator, ANNALEE SCOTT, slayed so hard at. She gave this story life!
This was a really good book, that keeps you guessing the whole time
I'd say its a YA Psychological Suspense/Horror Thriller, there are sooo many great elements in this book
Also the atmosphere is great, nice twist, a little bit disturbing, makes you question sooo many things, def keeps your attention and interest plus great characters. I like the family dynamics and the main character's (Rebecca's back story. Well done.
Marked as YA but as an adult, I really enjoyed this book, Never underestimate the mark of a YA book they can still be great reads for adults.
I was so thankful for being able to read this book in advance due to getting the ARC from the publisher and Net Galley. :)
The above is my opinion. It is honest and voluntary.
The quick cut: An Autistic senior finds herself wondering what is going on when 3 of her classmates die.
A real review:
Thank you to Off Limits Press for providing the arc for an honest review.
Being neurodivergent makes you view the world in a different way, but what if that difference helps you catch details others miss? For Bex, that's a reality when 3 of her classmates die in questionable circumstances.
Bex is just another senior trying to make it to graduation when three of her high performing classmates die. Everyone else writes them off as unfortunate tragedies but she sees the connections. Is something nefarious going on?
I wanted to like this story but the ending completely turned me off. It's a quick read and definitely a thrill ride, but in the end Bex is made out to be violent due to her condition. As someone who identifies as neurodivergent, this is the last kind of representation we need.
The ending also feels a bit rushed and not thought out. There are elements that can't be explained by the rationale used and that bothers me so much. It feels sloppy.
A book with the wrong Autistic representation.
My rating: 2 out of 5
A haunting, seemingly paranormal mystery that explores the psychology behind a neurodivergent mind.
Autistic senior student Rebecca "Bex" Koetl is determined to hide away in the school library where she volunteers as part of her education curriculum, where human interaction is limited while still present. When star student, Yunwen Lei, suddenly dies through a freak incident, Bex begins to wonder why that would happen. A week later, it happens to another, and then another follows. Hyper-fixation grips at her and she is determined to find the cause of these deaths, but her family will not hear her words. Facing the obstacles of her autism and an innate need to understand what is happening around her, she comes face to face with the very thing that she was looking for all along - but no one will believe her.
When I first grabbed this book, I had no idea what to expect. This was outside of a genre I normally read, but I was intrigued by the mystery of it all. Needless to say, I read through all of it in one sitting without even realizing I was nearing the end! I found myself highlighting each breadcrumb of information, creating my own theoretical conclusions, and absolutely loving the way each puzzle piece came together.
The way Mark Wheaton structured this storyline was well thought-out, as I was constantly thrown for a loop every time I thought I had the answer. By the time the plot twist came along, I was shocked. It took me a moment to gather myself and think back to each clue presented. It ended with some ambiguity, which makes me question if there will another book to continue the story or if we're meant to take the ending and decide for ourselves what happens afterwards - and I think that's brilliant.
Overall, I would rate this 4.5 stars. It was thrilling, heartbreaking at times, and thought-provoking. If you love puzzles or mysteries or psychological contemplation of any sort, I highly recommend this short novel! I hope you love this story as much as I did!
This was great and is one of my favorite reads this year! I did not see the ending coming and the twists and turns kept me on my toes! This is a well executed thriller that I would HIGHLY recommend. Special Thank You to Mark Wheaton, Off Limits Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
A nice quick read. Short and sweet
The start was a bit confusing for me. I had to read twice to understand what was actually happening.
A fast paced book. The characters were well scripted but I somehow could not connect to them personally.
The main protagonist felt a little confused to me.
The open ending was not satisfying for me.
Thanks for the ARC
Who Haunts You was a fun, thrilling, quick read! I was worried because of the length of the story but it was jam packed and managed to make me feel on the edge of my seat the whole time! I don't think I've never read a story that features a character with autism and the author mentions his autism in the acknowledgements so I thought that was interesting! The only reason why this doesn't get 4 stars is because the ending was rushed and left on a cliffhanger when there was room to write more (according to Goodreads, the book is only approx. 170 pages). I'm still confused whether we just have an unreliable narrator or if the story is true - I would love to get a sequel!
Thank you Netgalley and Off Limits Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This very thrilling read was such a great combination of the supernatural and the world of autism. I was so involved in this book that I read it in one sitting. The author has such a way with writing that I needed to find out what was going on. Then it was revealed the lengths someone would go to; to get what they wanted. The level of psychological torture the victims went through was staggering. The end did not go the way I had thought. A really good read.
WOW.. This did not feel like 170 pages at all.. in the best way possible. I genuinely felt like I was watching a thriller/horror film the entire time rather than just reading/listening to one.
“Who Haunts You” follows the story of Rebecca (aka bexs) who is trying to navigate through her senior year as a neurodivergent (academically, below average) student at a nationally ranked and very competitive high school. After the mysterious deaths of 3 of her classmates, she begins to theorize that this can’t just be a coincidence and there must be a connection. As she continues to try to put the pieces together to try to find a pattern, she begins to fear that she might be the next victim after she experiences a strange/supernatural encounter. Racing against time, she tries to discover the “why” in hopes of preventing her death.
I LOVEEEE Bexs so much. I just want to hug her and tell her that she is not alone. 🥺 She is funny, brave, and incredibly smart (despite her rank at school). As a parent to a child with autism, I really appreciate the research and consideration that Mark Wheaton took in developing Bexs character rather than labeling her with just stereotypical behaviors. Mark mentions in his acknowledgments that he has autism as well and is also a father to someone who is on the spectrum, so it’s really awesome to see that he not only was able to use his own experiences as a neurodivergent individual, but also sought out additional insight and feedback from many others as well.
I received the ARC copy of the book and Audiobook through NetGalley. Annalee Scott does a PHENOMENAL job at narrating and really pulls you into the story. I don’t even like horror movies but she did such a great job at bringing her character to life and the creepy/scary scenes gave me actual goosebumps!!! There was not a single dull moment in this book. This is definitely one I’ll be re-reading/listening to before the year ends!
Thank you to NetGalley and Off Limits Press for the ARC copies. An even bigger thank you to Mark Wheaton for really providing an amazing perspective of what it can be like to live life through the mind of someone who is neurodivergent.
This was a great quick read. The story line keeps you on your toes, it is supernatural, is it prank, is it another student?!?! WHAT IS GOING ON? That is how I felt the whole time reading this. I was very invested in this story. I really enjoyed that Mark Wheaton wrote this from the perspective of a main character with autism. You do not see that very often. I must say one of my favorite parts is when Bex makes a reference about autistic character uses their super autism abilities to figure something out, my mind went straight to Good Doctor (I love that show). Bex takes is on this wild adventure of being unsure what is real and what may be supernatural. My only issue is towards the end of the book, it felt a little rushed. Honestly, that could be a me issue on wanting to know more have more answers. I finished that last part and just went what?!? If I missed something someone, please give me a slap and tell me! If you want a quick read about something spooky read this right here!!
I received an book arc copy of this YA Horror. This short novel was quick and spine chilling.
When three of Rebecca’s classmates die in different ways, she starts looking at them closer after seeing a connection.
Mark Wheaton manages to weave a creative story with an autistic main character, three dead classmates and some spine chilling thrill.
The ending was not what I expected, but could potentially have left room for a second instalment, in my opinion. However, I enjoyed Bex’s adventure to find clues and very much enjoyed her Counsellor’s sense of humor.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Off Limits Press for providing me an advanced readers copy.
Fantastic premise and setting, great main character, overall just a very good experience. I'll be recommending it to horror fans upon release.
Who Haunts You, Mark Wheaton’s upcoming YA thriller, was a great prelude to spooky season. For spoiler purposes, I’m not including content warnings, but I would definitely check them. Thank you NetGalley and Off Limits Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a great prelude for spooky season. The ghostly elements were very well written and Bex’s investigation really added to the atmosphere.
The neurodivergent rep was very well done and so many teens are going to love seeing that in their reading material. Bex was a really interesting character and her thought process helped move the story along. She saw connections that her family and her peers didn’t and that made for a really interesting story.
The ending was a bit underwhelming after all of the build up, but overall a great read. Who Haunts You is available on September 2.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is entirely my own opinion.
This book was exactly what I needed it to be. I alternated between the digital and audiobooks because I could not put it down I had to know what happens next.
The audiobook is one of the best I have listened to this year. The narrator does an absolutely amazing job of keeping you interested in the story. The first time the words "You found me." were spoken my anxiety levels went through the roof and my heart was racing.
I was completely invested in the story right from the first page. Although I did figure out the twist about a chapter or so before the FMC I feel like it was done on purpose.
The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that the ending left me wanting a little more from it.
This book is perfect for the upcoming spooky season. It's a short, fast paced, quick read that's guaranteed to get your heart rate up and have you checking to make sure there is no one looking over your shoulder.
Well done to Mark Wheaton.
This was a fast paced book with some great autism rep. For the majority of the book, I really liked the MC, her experiences and investigating.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that I don't feel we get a proper explanation and the end of the book was a bit of a let down for me. The final line, however, did make me grin. If I understood how everything happened, it would have been even better.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review..
Who Haunts You is a fast-paced book that made me think back to my university psychology courses with a pang of nostalgia. I loved the main character, thought the story was really engaging, and enjoyed the overall story.
My favourite thing about this story was Rebecca. Autistic and neuro-divergent, Bex's character and her development was far from stereotypical, and I appreciated the research he put into his character. She attends a competitive high school, but keeps to herself and hides away in the library. It is rare to see autistic characters as the MC and this is the second book in recent weeks that has happened, so I was glad to see more diversity in the characters. Because I am not autistic, I liked seeing things through Bex's eyes and how she views the world. Gosh, she was so fascinating, and I loved going along with her on this journey as she was trying to discover what was happening with her schoolmates.
Because we get the story from Bex's POV, the story is naturally twisty and convoluted, and it took me awhile to figure out who was guilty. I loved how the author threw in those red herrings and took you down one rabbit hole after another, until I actually had difficulty wondering what was real and what wasn't. The writing style was compelling and fast-paced, and because it was so engaging, I read it in one sitting. Looking back, it was hard to believe it only came in at 170 pages.
The one issue I did have was the ending. It's not that I have an issue with the way it went, it's mostly due to its ambiguous ending, like the author was working so hard to be mysterious. While it did have quite an impact, I felt like it took such a one-eighty turn that I was a bit disappointed. I should have seen it coming though, as there was a lot of talk about Bex becoming too obsessed with what was happening.
Who Haunts You was a fascinating look at the power of psychological persuasion. It was thought provoking, with interesting twist and turns, and had a great main character that I enjoyed tremendously. While I wasn't a fan of the ending, the author manages to pack in so much to this short novel, that I recommend it to anyone interested in a psychological mind bend.
I enjoyed this book. First, I thought the creepiness is related to paranormal then near the end it turned psychological. Story is fast paced, great for YA readers. I guess, I just felt it was rushed at the end. Overall, it's a recommended must-read.
This review contains spoilers and was rated using the CAWPILE method…
Main/Important Characters (6/10):
Rebecca “Bex” Koeltl – has autism, current class rank #401
Glory – Bex’s older sister
Yunwen Lei – current class rank #2; first to die
Julie G – current class rank #1; voted most popular
Darrell Anolik – current class rank #3
Bina Henry - current class rank #14; volunteers at library with Bex
There was a good understanding of Bex’s experience with autism and being neurodivergent. We had good, but brief backstory on the other characters. The only thing missing was Bina’s real motivations at the end.
Atmosphere/Setting (9/10):
The book is set in high school, but bounces around the town that they live in. When listening to the audiobook, the atmosphere is very spooky, meaning the narrator did a fantastic job!
Writing Style (8/10):
I really enjoyed the author’s writing. The “ghostly” voices were easy to distinguish from the thoughts of the main character. The plot was easy to connect together with very few gaps to figure out what was going on.
Plot (7/10):
The plot was very good until the end, when I started questioning what was going on. I was very confused about what happened at the end and left me with more questions than answers.
Intrigue (10/10):
This book kept me at the edge of my seat and I wanted more!
Logic/Relationships (5/10):
The relationship among the characters could have been developed a little more. I felt like there were some parts that fell very flat as we are trying to connect together the pieces of this story, like more backstory on Bina and the ghostly voices.
Enjoyment (7/10):
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would read more by Mark Wheaton!
CAWPILE score = 7.4
Star Rating = 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.