The disjointed narrative stopped me from fully connecting with this one, but the prose was decent enough. Challenging read, and not in a good way.

I really wanted to like this one but the characters fell a little flat for me. The MC was pretty unlikable and there were other characters that were brought in and then didn’t do much. It was kind of a struggle to get through, which was disappointing for me!

The story centers around the murder of Karlie Richards, a beloved and popular student. It's told in dual timelines from multiple POVs, including Karlie's freshman year roommate Joy in the past and present. I enjoyed this slow-burn mystery as it unravelled, but I was left wanting more at the end. I would have loved to have seen the characters merge in a more meaningful way at the end.

This one was not a home run for me. I agree with so many of the other reviews that it started out great, but really just lost momentum and interest about 30% of the way in. I kept going and finished, and it did sort of redeem itself towards the end, but it just wasn't really....engaging.

I was really intrigued by this book thinking it would be a mystery book, the beginning really sucked me in but as I continued I had a hard time picking it up. I enjoyed the background story of Joy and what sparked her to start investigating the murder again, though I felt like this book was more a bunch of short stories of each person who was connected with Karlie and how she affected their lives. Unfortunately this book just was not it for me.

The cogs of the wheel stop turning about a quarter of the way in, and it feels stuck in mud after that. There are several plotlines that don't seem connected to the main, which gives it a kitchen sink feeling. Likely a good for you, not for me scenario.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exhange for an honest review

DNF at 25%. I was in the mood for a thriller and thought this might be the right read however it didn’t work for me. Too slow moving and too many perspectives. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

Just in case you needed another cautionary tale about getting mixed up with a cult-like religion, here’s Bright and Tender Dark.

This is a tense literary mystery that is very successful in some ways and not so successful in others.

This is a slow burn mystery that is less about whodunit than why, and for the most part that aspect of the story works well. It’s also lyrically, beautifully written, equal parts wry and quietly observant.

Structurally there are some misses, most having to do with the fact that the book has far too many different POVs. While I appreciate and author who can tell a story from multiple perspectives, there are simply too many of them here, particularly noticeable and cumbersome to the narrative with those that are ancillary to the plot. Some don’t have much to distinguish them from one another in terms of voice and tone.

There’s a lot of ick to this one as well, and it factors into the solve in a way that is unfortunately far more realistic than many mystery solves but also deeply depressing and in many ways, resultant in a fairly unsatisfying conclusion.

The cultish church stuff is creepy but a good plot line, and probably would have made for a better complete narrative had it been more critical to the story’s big reveal. That said, I did appreciate the weaving together of two mysteries here in a sense, and the idea that someone might be themselves embroiled in a mystery that puts them in danger but won’t necessarily be the reason they’re ultimately murdered.

All of that said, I think this was just too bleak for me, or at least the wrong kind of bleak, as it leans far more toward the hopeless and the “wow, but people are monsters” stuff than toward the macabre, eeriness I prefer in literary and academic mysteries.

The overuse of multiple and often indistinguishable POVs also badly muddied the story, though Pearson’s elegant writing made up for a lot of that in terms of my overall enjoyment of the book.

I'm often one who wants more characterization out of thrillers, and this book is a perfect fit for those of us who are deeply interested in the psychology of the characters surrounding crime. We meet many different characters with disparate motivations and perspectives with a depth you don't often find in other thrillers that often employ the same device. We see the ripples of consequences crime creates and the way our lives absorb and form around the trauma we experience.

This novel was provided in exchange for an unbiased review via NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you for this opportunity.

So well written a book of literary fiction.that kept me turning the pages.JoannaPearson really wove a edge of your seat thriller an author I will be recommending.#netgalley #bloomsbury

You know how some books you can’t decide how you feel about it after reading? This is that for me. I think it is misgenred - part literary mystery, part character study, and a look into dark academia t doesn’t really fit into a typical genre. There was a lot of characters who didn’t need a POV that stopped this from having an enjoyable ending. With that said, the prose is beautiul and there are overarcing themes that carry throughout.

I am so thankful to the publisher, NetGalley, and the Author for granting me advanced access to this one before June 11, 2024. This one wasn't for me, but I am still really thankful for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This is one of those books that may suffer in readership by being outside typical categories. Those looking for a traditional thriller will not find it here. What readers will find, instead, is a layered and fascinating novel of a young woman's murder, the people surrounding her, and how events unfolded before and after the killing. The publisher's note about the book (clearly categorizing it as a "literary mystery") and the comp titles provided (including Notes on an Execution) are apt. I found this to be a fascinating book. I appreciated the interweaving of stories and the sense of foreboding that was often evoked. There were moments when I found it a bit challenging to situate myself in the story (given the shifts and time and narrator) but the author oriented me enough that this wasn't much of a problem. The writing and storytelling are both strong, and it's definitely a book I will recommend (with clear advice about what readers are getting into!).

Bright and Tender Dark is not a thriller. It is a beautifully written literary mystery about the dark side of academia, religious cults, and the uncertainty of youth. It is an in-depth character study of a group of young people and the baggage they carry. It begins with the murder of a very popular girl on a NC college campus and ends 20 years later with long sought after answers. It is truly at times Bright and Tender and Dark.

A well written but rather disjointed thriller that tends to play into unnecessary subplots that don’t add much to the narrative.

A very interesting premise. I think it worked, for the most part, but it's important to know that this is much more of a character study than a mystery. I enjoyed the dual POV and the multiple elements that were woven in (think Reddit posts, newspaper articles). I thought the author did a good job setting us up to know who the deceased was, but there were a few too many side characters/plots for me to rate this any higher.

A beautiful literary mystery - one of the first books in ages to keep me up past midnight reading.

"Bright and Tender Dark" is a captivating debut novel by Joanna Pearson that intertwines mystery, drama, and an exploration of human nature in a compelling and nuanced narrative. The story centers around the unsolved murder of Karlie Richards, a charismatic college student found brutally murdered in her campus apartment just after Y2K. The novel jumps between the year 1999 and 2019, delving into the lives of those who knew Karlie - as well as those who were merely fascinated by her.

Joy, Karlie’s freshman year roommate, is now a middle-aged woman going through a divorce and still living in the same college town. When she discovers a 20-year-old letter from Karlie, Joy becomes convinced that the man imprisoned for the murder was wrongfully convicted. Her quest to uncover the truth leads her into the dark world of Internet conspiracy theorists and true crime subreddits, but it's impossible to know if she's on a wild goose chase, or actually getting close to the truth.

The novel’s strength lies in its rich character development and the intricate weaving of their backstories. Pearson skillfully navigates multiple points of view, including Joy’s obsessive investigation; KC, the transgender night manager of the building where Karlie was killed; Sheri, the mother of the man serving time for the murder; and more, including Joy's son, Joy and Karlie's predatory professor, and the boy who loved Karlie. Each character is deeply flawed and profoundly human, adding layers of complexity to the story. I felt like I really connected to and understood these characters and their motivations.

Pearson’s writing is both lyrical and precise, capturing the essence of the late 90s and the modern age of Reddit threads and online obsession. The novel explores the enduring impact of unresolved trauma on a community. It also delves into the psychological urge to protect and exploit what we cannot have, making it a thought-provoking read.

One of the standout aspects of the novel is how it balances the suspense of a murder mystery with the depth of literary fiction. The story is not solely about solving the crime but about understanding the ripple effects of Karlie’s death on everyone involved. Pearson’s ability to blend these elements seamlessly makes "Bright and Tender Dark" a standout debut.

While the narrative may not follow the traditional structure of a thriller, it is engrossing and thought-provoking. Do not go into this book expecting a neat popcorn thriller, where a dead body shows up on page five and you're left racing through action-packed pages with twist after twist. The slow unraveling of secrets and the gradual piecing together of the truth is so rewarding. For fans of literary mysteries with rich character studies and intricate plots, "Bright and Tender Dark" is a must-read.

Overall, "Bright and Tender Dark" is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that explores the complexities of human nature and the enduring impact of unresolved trauma. It’s a promising debut from Joanna Pearson that will leave readers reflecting on its themes long after they turn the last page.

Thank you to Joanna Pearson and Bloomsbury for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is out 6/4!

Through the passing people coming through the school, and a handful of others touched by Carly, we learn about what happened to this young woman…

I found the story style unique and was definitely caught up by the range of characters and events that happen, but this was just okay for me. Too many characters that are okay with the mundane, too many who see something strange but don’t say anything or investigate in any capacity..

Ultimately, this was enjoyable. I absolutely love the array of different voices, declaring their little connections to this dead girl. I will absolutely say that I strongly felt the need to keep reading to find out what happens at the end. There was so much mystery surrounding Carly, a girl who is known to haunt the college campus she attended, the place she died…

This one has way too many religious references for me to consider it enjoyable and I wouldnt consider this one much of a thriller or suspense.

I really struggled to want to read this book. The premise sounded amazing, but the writing style just was not for me. It was very hard to keep up with and connect with the characters. The ending was ok only because I found out what happened.