Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for the digital ARC!

This book did not pull me in right away. It took a second for me to get into it. It was rather dull to start. What got me interested was the stunning cover of this book. I read the book description and was wanting more and felt compelled to read it but was left still wanting more after reading.

There seemed to be too many characters to keep track of and keep up with most of the time. The author it seems even had a hard time keeping track of what was going on with all the characters and the gritty details being given.

Even with too many characters and sometimes too many details – it felt like something was missing overall. The book seemed to lack something altogether.

Amanda Linsmeier is a great author, and I would be interested to see what she does next.

Six of Sorrow is a fast-paced mix of a thriller and a southern gothic for teens. In it, 16 year old Iz must contend with new and old secrets that want to consume her and her friends. Every year, she celebrates her birth day on the same day that the island town celebrates Sorrow Day, to honor the witch that allegedly founded the town and might grant wishes. She used to celebrate with her five best friends, in a grand party, since all six share a birthday, but about three years ago, the group splintered, leaving only her best friend Reuel on Iz's side. But this year, after celebrating their birthday, Reuel disappears, bringing the girls back together. Reuel comes back, changed and sick, and it quickly becomes clear that the girls are being hunted and, it might have something to do with their shared birthday and a certain legendary witch.
I really enjoyed this. The range of the characters was fun; they were all pretty easy to tell apart because they were all given such defined personalities. The way that Linsmeier built tension was very well-done, and she leaves just enough pieces that you can start to solve the mystery along side Iz and the girls. And plenty of foreshadowing that only becomes obvious once you have all the pieces. The atmosphere is really well done in their spooky little town and as a whole, this was a fun read.

Listen. The cover of this book is the reason I requested it on NetGalley. It's so pretty, right? Don't let that influence you though, because as far as I can tell there is literally no connection to the actually story. And the cover is the only good thing about it.

Now, the story? It was... fine. The concept was good and the framework was there but the execution was... not good. I refuse to say "well, it's YA, so it should be an easier read", or whatever bullshit people might say. High schoolers read Shakespeare, they can read a well-written book with more descriptive words than Terra Cotta, umber, sepia-brown, and burnt sienna to describe skin tones. Maybe even give us *something* about your diverse group of characters that means something other than "I better make sure I have a burnt sienna person to meet a self-imposed DEI quota". All 6 of the girls could have been the same girl; there was no depth, no differentiation, no development. One was rich, one was poor. One liked art, one like literature. Two were cheerleaders. One was goth (I guess, I mean she wore all black and wrote poetry, so...?) and one wore pink all the time. They all had weird-ass indescribable names. Idk. I just did not care about any of the girls.

Then there were the moms. What in the actual f.....? These women were not only completely worthless, they were so, terribly, annoyingly, STUPID. They not only caused the trouble their 16 year old daughters were dealing with but they did NOTHING to help and in fact made it worse by not working with them and trying to send them all home separately while they worked out a plan even though the girls knew they needed to stick together and already had a well-researched and reasonable plan?! This could have been such a great moment of mother-daughter solidarity, and could have given the moms redemption for what they did 20+ years ago that started this all, but instead they just don't. do. anything? And don't even check in with the girls until morning? Fucking dumb.

And that's not even talking about Isabeau's mom's alcoholism and adultery and how that's all some weird after-school special-type storyline that just gets neatly wrapped in a bow at the end.

Anyway, my copy was an ARC, so maybe some errors and typos were fixed before going to print but there were some glaring issues that were so easy to fact check in 30 seconds right from my phone, I wonder how the editor has a job. For example, I'm not even from Louisiana, have never been, but I do have Google Maps, so I'm curious... what island ferry would drop you off at Toulouse Street in NOLA? Do you live in the Mississippi River? Also Frenchman Street should be Frenchmen Street, amiright? All the history of Voodoo in NOLA and all the metaphysical/magic shops you could imagine and you send these girls to a white woman named Melissa's crystal shop for advice? Weird. Anyway.

Guys, I did not like this book. I don't recommend it and I am truly sad about it. I really think it could have been something if it didn't sound like it was written by a 15 year old. Our kids are not stupid. Don't write for them like they are. Also, plenty of adults enjoy reading YA because of the stories/themes, not because they want to be talked down to by someone with a 64 count box of Crayolas in from of them who thinks you have to say "verdigris green" because apparently no one knows what verdigris is without your help.

Prepare to be captivated by the bone-chilling tale of Six of Sorrow by Amanda Linsmeier. This gripping story will have you anxiously peeking under beds and exploring the shadowy depths of your closets as the spine-tingling twists unravel before your eyes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC.

When I read the blurb comparing this a bit to Yellow Jackets my interest was piqued. Unfortunately, Six of Sorrow just didn't meet the expectations I had for it going in. I can't put my finger on it, but this book just wasn't for me.

This book was unable to pull my focus from the start even though the synopsis sounded right up my alley. DNF at 23% it just wasn’t for me.

I absolutely adored Linsmeier's debut and her sophomore book did not disappoint! I was so excited for the premise-- the initial vibes reminded me a touch of THE VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED, one of my favorite horror movies-- and the small town setting and creepy festival was just chef's kiss!

3.5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I really wished I could rate this one higher, but alas. The magical plot got a little away from Linsmeier and it feels like she wrote herself into a corner. It wasn't really explained what happened to the mothers; what they did, why they broke apart, how they all had daughters on the same day in different parts of the world only to converge in the same town with said daughters. The demon plot was introduced and solved within like 2 chapters with no actual reason why/how.

What worked: The friendship and bond between the girls. When they got together, you could see how their personalities clashed to tear them apart, but also why they love each other so deeply.

Took me awhile to formulate thoughts on this one. I didn't dislike it necessarily, but I also didn't love it. I felt like there were pieces of the story missing, and the ending seemed a bit rushed. I did, however, enjoy the great atmosphere of dread and unease Linsmeier builds up. And while the main comp for Six of Sorrow is Yellowjackets (which I'll admit I haven't seen), I got some real Jennifer's Body vibes at times. Especially the creepy scene of Reuel's return, appearing in Isabeau's room and getting sick. Very reminiscent.

My biggest issue with Six of Sorrow stems from the characters. Maybe it was just me, but six girls felt like too many. Aside from Isabeau, Reuel, and Georgina, the other three girls came off almost entirely as cardboard cutouts--I couldn't even remember Cori and August's names half the time, and even now I have a hard time telling their characters apart because they were kinda just there. There was very little development aside from Isabeau and even that felt flat.

And the moms. They were the worst part of the book. Not only did they feel like a random addition to the plot, but they're completely useless in the grand scheme of things, and actually ended up making the situation worse (not to metion severly negligent, and that's not even considering Isabeau's mom's alcoholism).

I also couldn't help feeling like the story was unfinished; not that it had a dissatisfying ending, more like there were plot threads that were brought up and then dropped unanswered. Like the girls' disappearences: where did they actually go? It's never really explained, only that they're 'taken.' And what happened to Georgina's nails? Why was Reuel acting different than the others? I would have loved to learn more about the town's lore and the origin of the "entity", especially considering how intertwined it all is with the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for this arc copy to read and review.

A mysterious and fast-paced teen horror that’s perfect for summer!

On the town of Sorrow’s name day—a celebration honoring their founding and the mysterious witch who gave the town its name—six estranged best friends also celebrate their 16th birthday. When something goes horribly wrong that night and one of them goes missing, they will have to set aside their differences and come back together to figure out what happened—especially after she returns sick with no memory of what happened. After another one of them is taken, the race is on to try and find out what is hunting them before it gets to them all first.

>> ❤️ What I loved: Fast-paced story with some great (and gross) horror elements. The sweet, romantic sapphic side plot was also very cute! This was definitely written for the Young Adult demographic, and I could easily see recommending to a lot of my students in the 13-15 year old age range who like darker stories and/or mystery.
>> 💔 What I didn’t love: While I liked this books brevity, for me it did leave some things underdeveloped, especially with the characters. There are a lot of issues raised with the main cast and their friendships, plus great potential to deal with some family issues, but it’s all brushed over pretty quickly to keep the plot moving. One of the group of 6 is barely a part of the story—she could have not been there, and it wouldn’t have made a difference. I would have also personally liked some more description in the story to set the tone—it was definitely horror, but I think more detail about the setting and appearance would have helped me to feel more immersed in the spooky-ness of it all.

I think many Young Adult readers of horror will enjoy *Six of Sorrow*, especially those looking for a diverse cast of characters and a shorter length novel.

**Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5 (3-3.5)**

**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers**
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Linsmeier, and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press , for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

I'll admit that I am not the intended audience of this book. I requested this book because it sounded like something my students would devour, and, after finishing the novel, I feel certain that my students will. Tonally, this reminded me of 'Pretty Little Liars,' but I think that 'Six of Sorrow' is the better work because Linsmeier excels at establishing an unsettling atmosphere that will grip even reluctant readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Isabeau, Reuel, Solaina, Georgina, August, and Cori were all born on the same day. They were best friends....until they weren't. After Reuel goes missing on their 16th birthday, the girls start to rebuild their friendship. When Reuel returns, wracked with a sickness that only seems to get worse, the girls set out to discover what really happened.

I enjoyed this book, but I wanted more from it. I felt that the mystery of why the girls kept getting sick needed more development. It felt rushed and not fleshed out as much as I wanted. I was also curious as to why the sickness affected the girls differently. I had more questions than answers after reading the book. Overall, though, it was a fun read. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you so much for the ARC, life got a little in the way so I was a little late to reading this book.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous, it was mainly the reason for the immediate add to my list. Unfortunately, the story did not hold my interest for long. The pace felt slow to me and I couldn't bond with any of the characters.
I am certain I would have enjoyed this story a lot more if I read it when I was younger.

A story of six girls all born on the same day—best of friends. Until a secret breaks them apart. The small town of Sorrow holds a magic no one quite understands, but the townsfolk celebrate the witch who created it, burning wishes and hoping for magic to bring them to life. With blood oaths, premonitions, strong female friendships, an LGBTQ+ cast, and mysterious disappearances, SIX OF SORROW gives Riverdale meets Practical Magic with all the angst and yearning of being a teenager plus accidental magic on a large scale. For all the witches out there, for every teenager struggling with identity or grief, for anyone simply wanting to get a glimpse of their younger years, this story is for you. A 10/10–Linsmeier’s writing is a force to be reckoned with.

I kind of loved this one but wished there was more to it? I adored the characters, even though motivations were kind of lacking for me. It really is a nice ode to girlhood, and the Practical Magic touch made me so happy!

Thank you to the publishing team and PRH audio for free review copies!
I went in hoping for some dark edgy Yellowjackets themes but did not quite get that... but this is an interesting, is somewhat unfulfilling, YA read. I think some of what did not quite work for me is that this is YA that feels forced into a writing style/story that never all comes together. The writing/dialogue at times felt out of sync with how youth today talk and the directions the plot took with side plots felt less developed and not quite cohesive with the main plot.
However I am always interested in stories with mystery, small town dark secret themes, and the idea that we can't stop writing/talking about, and living in a world, where young women are in trouble, harmed by others, and yet somehow also more than capable of saving themselves and taking the world on (fascinating how we keep writing these stories... I can hope it inspires young readers to say yes let's take on the world).

LISTEN!!! This is my FAVORITE BOOK!

🩷🩷BOOK REVIEW!!🩷🩷
#sixofsorrow by @amandalinsmeier

@netgalley OMG! I am so happy I downloaded this!! If you liked books such as #practicalmagic and #thecraft or #goosebumps and/or #witchythings THEN YOU ARE IN FOR A TREAT!!!!

Six best friends born on the same day, moms that hide their previous friendships and all attending the same school encounter evil for the first time. Though they lost touch one day for reasons unknown, 2 of the girls remained inseparable - Reuel and Izzy. They head to the cemetery in the town of Sorrow to celebrate. Gifts are traded and a blood pact is made - to remain best friends forever. Spilled blood in Sorrows cemetery awakens true evil. That night, Reuel disappears without any evidence of a fight. Izzy is traumatized.
All 6 friends finally come together to find Reuel but they didn’t have to look for to long. Reuel shows up. On the verge of death, dehydration, and the stench of a rotting corpse the girls reform their bond to find out what happened! Why did Reuel leave and come back? Why is she sickly ill? And why does another one of their friends disappear 🫠

I GIVE 6 STARS OUT OF 5!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#netgalleyreadathon #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreads #netgalleyarc #ilovebooks #ilovebooks📚 #bookrecsofinstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookreviewersofinstagram #booknerdigans #booklover #kindle #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #ilovebooks #bookrecsofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookloversofinstagram #booknerds #booknerdcommunity #bookishengagement #booksilove #ilovebooksmorethanpeople #bookstagramfeature #horror

I did really enjoy this book, but it felt like it was lacking something. The mystery/horror aspect was too linear and clean-cut for my taste.

Six of Sorrows, set in Sorrow, Louisiana which name derives from an old witch, tells the story of six girls whom all share a birthday. One by one these girls go missing and when they finally return, they all have this mysterious illness.

First of all, this cover is GORGEOUS! It definitely is the thing that drew me in. Throw in the fact that it’s being compared to Yellowjackets and I’m sold. However, this story was just fine for me. Nothing too exciting or new. Often times the dialogue felt unauthentic, many characters I found truly annoying, and the ending was wrapped up all too quickly. It did give me original Pretty Little Liars vibe with the secrets to be uncovered but I was left wanting so much more.

I don’t hate that I read it but I also didn’t love it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for the digital ARC!

When you combine a small town with deep ties between children who have splintered over time, it's bound to be an engaging story. Adding in the horror elements only deepens that connection, an ominous, almost physical thing. An excellent YA horror novel, with a fantastic cover too.