I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong

To preface my review, horror is not a typical genre for me so I might get creeped out easier than folks who read/watch it frequently. And yes, this book gave me all the creepy feels. I flew through it hoping to calm my racing heart sooner than later, which of course had me finishing tge book right before bed... As all books I've read by Kelley Armstrong are, this was well written and chock full of her unique combination of suspense, logic, and self awareness. Great book. Emotional at times, horrifying at others, engaging always.
#bookreview #2024 #netgalley #horror #haunting

I will be the first to tell you I am a Kelley Armstrong fan, while I wouldn't say that makes me biased, I seem to be the right audience.
Horror however is one genre that normally kicks me out of reading, but I'll be Waiting gave me the creepy crawly vibe right to the end.
We have ghosts and ominous creaking, a history of bad juju, representation done in a great way, and a ton of Canadian Easter eggs. For adults who loved 'are you afraid of the dark' and sleepless nights of ghost stories. This one is for you!

Thanks to St. Martins Press ans Netgalley for the advanced copy. All my opinions are my own.

Well, she did it again. She made me question everything I thought I believed and made me cower in the dark like a child. For most horror connoisseurs, this will likely be light fare, but for a big old wimp like me? It was terrifying.

You may ask, "Why read it then?" But when Kelley writes it, I read it. One of my favourite things about Kelley's writing is that it's never just one thing. It's not just a horror novel but a tragic love story. Its characters that are as complex as they are flawed. The characters are multifaceted and beautifully throughout. For a stand-alone novel, you feel like you've known Nicola for years. The reveal of her past and the less than PG things that happened in it was masterfully done. If you're a fan of horror or like dipping your toes in like me, check this out!

This was such an amazing, wild ride that I loved every minute of! Not Armstrong's usual book for sure and maybe that is also what made it so much fun. I loved being kept on the edge of my seat, not always knowing what was happening and wavering back and forth between what I thought to be true with what was actually true. This was just so engaging and I couldn't get enough. Truly, another wonderful read by this author.

This book was absolutely phenomenal! I had no idea what was coming next, and I loved every moment of it. Normally, I can see exactly where things are headed, but in this book, I was completely thrown for a loop. The characters were incredibly written and the plot just kept the twists coming. What a wonderfully written book! I definitely would read anything else that she wrote and thoroughly recommend any horror or thriller lover to read her as well.

I went through different stages of enjoyment with this book. I loved it at first, thought it was a nice, quick read. But about 60% of the way through I started to get annoyed with Nic's narration because she asked endless questions, sometimes talking in circles which I found somewhat hard to follow. I also thought the multiple séances were a bit dull and repetitive, with them ending almost as soon as they started. And for a so called expert, Dr. Cirillo seemed like he didn't really understand ghosts/spirits/whatever. Seemed like he was changing definitions to fit what was currently happening. But the ending brought me back to really enjoying it and I was actually surprised with the reveal.

This book grabs you and does not let you go! You are continually drawn back into the plot as you move through this book. I stayed up far longer than I should have because I could not put this book down! Recommended if you like spooks and haunts!

I’ve read several books by this author and she knows how to hook you. Highly recommend if you like books about ghosts, possession and hauntings. This was such an amazing read, loved these characters and this story and I had a blast reading it! Thank you Netgalley for my copy!

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read an ARC of I’ll Be Waiting!

I’ll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong is her second horror novel. I loved that one so much! Trying to reach the ghost of her late husband while being tired of having to work with fake psychics, Nic asks the help of Doctor Cirillo to finally lay Anton to rest. As any Armstrong novel, the plot was clever and well thought out, and the mystery surrounding Nic’s past was intriguing. Between the past and the present, the story was interesting, leaving me guessing until the end! I love the fact that Kelley Armstrong is writing among many genres, and I can’t wait for her next horror novel!

good ghost story and dealing with the loss of someone. Loved the séance and what happened in the past was also dealt with both of their pasts. Loved the family and figuring out what really happened in the woods.

Full disclosure- when I first started reading this, there was a moment I did think I'd have to put it on the shelf and come back to it later. The first part is extremely sad, and since I lost my brother less than six months ago, I thought this might be just a little too close to home right now.... but i powered through the sad part and was glad I did. I felt horrible for Nic at times, wanting desperately to believe there was SOMETHING after death, especially since she was essentially staring her own mortality in the face. There were some creepy moments in this one, but nothing unbearable. I 100% did NOT see the end coming, not right up until it happened. I have really enjoyed mysteries and thrillers with a supernatural twist lately, so this was the perfect book for me right now. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end, especially the parts of Nic's teenage years. The ending was the best that I think the author could write, all things considered. I really loved her writing style, the web she weaves with words. I've not read anything by Kelley Armstrong before, but do plan to keep an eye out for future titles!

"I'll Be Waiting" reminds me a bit of Jane Austen's "Persuasion." An attraction exists, then is seemingly gone, only to reappear years later. That's what happened to Nic and Anton, except their happy ending didn't last for long. Despite both of them thinking she would probably die first of cystic fibrosis complications, it didn't happen that way.

Nic gets caught in a cycle of wanting to hear from Anton "from beyond the grave," as they say. She even seeks help: just one more psychic, please. Finally someone who appears to be the ideal psychic appears. Nic will stop her endless search after she hears his opinion.

And that's when the book gets really exciting. Is anyone being honest with Nic? Are any of these other people really who they say they are?

"I'll Be Waiting" is well-written and Nic--who has her own big secret-- seems likeable. The "woo-woo" parts will scare the pants off of you and make you feel as if you're there. I thought it was a lot different from Kelley Armstrong's "Rip Through Time" series, which I really enjoyed as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader's copy of "I'll Be Waiting."

As a fan of Kelley Armstrong I couldn't wait to read I'll Be Waiting. I love her ability to hook you and keep you wanting more, and
I'll Be Waiting was no exception.
Nicola Laughton has always known her life will be cut short, since her diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis she didn't dare to hope or dream for love or a future. But then came Anton who has promised to love her and be there until the very end, little did she know that the end would be his as her beloved dies before her in a car crash. As if that wasn't enough witnesses claim to see him hovering over her promising her he will be waiting for her, making headlines of terminally ill woman holding her dying husband as he promises to wait on the other side. Suddenly she is hounded by psychics and spiritualist promising her closure. Trying to help her friends and family hire a reputable medium in the hopes of helping Nicola. But they do not realize that this isn't her first time contacting the dead, and when her nightmares are unleased and they discover a dead body, their only concern is how to get out alive themselves.
I really loved the characters in this book, the story was creepy and unexpected, I couldn't wait to see how this story would play out
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of my favorite authors but I was still unsure of what to expect going in. So I was
Excited that l liked this story so much.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ & 1/2 stars rounded up to four

If you are a fan of horror, there is plenty of that in Kelley Armstrong’s I’ll be waiting.

There were aspects of the story I really enjoyed, such as the romance between Anton and Nicola.

It was interesting to me to see how the protagonist dealt with having cystic fibrosis.

I had some difficulty falling into the book, and as I read on I thought the plot could have progressed faster at points. I was also unable to buy into an important plot element when it was revealed.

All in all, a solid horror story. I could see this being made into a movie one day.

To be published October 1, 2024
St. Martin’s Press

#supernatural #horror #haunted #spirits #seance #Romance #cysticfibrosis #murder #haunted #kelleyarmstrong #arc #netgalley #Stmartinspress
#Brightbookreviews #Goodreads

I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong is a book that will remind you why you love ghost stories and horror novels! This was honestly such a thrilling read! If you're a fan of the genre, then this book is a must-have! If you like Armstrong's other work and want to give horror a try, this will be an excellent choice to start with!

Some great opening chapters do an excellent job getting readers emotionally invested in our main character Nicola and the friends & family trying to support her after the unexpected loss of her husband. From there, I literally could not put this book down if I wanted to. The suspense, the reveals, and the twists all had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I finished late enough at night that trying to sleep afterwards was a fraught endeavor, but in that delicious way that comes from being scared from a good story! If you like horror books you know exactly what I mean. I was spooked but I absolutely loved it.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the cast of characters. There wasn't so much time spent on getting to know side characters, but what was there was really compelling! Which made me even more scared waiting for anything to happen to someone. Nicola is the best character, which I appreciate since she is our narrator. I love her personality so much. The loss of her husband is so tragic, and it's especially hard for her since she never expected to outlive him. I definitely liked the hints at her past being slowly revealed. No spoilers, but that was woven in throughout the book well and really upped the stakes as she starts to wonder about what really happened.

I can't say enough how hooked I was. So many little elements and details of this book will send chills down your spine. I couldn't get over how unsettled I was feeling as the plot went on knowing something was seriously wrong but not knowing what exactly it was. And I loved how unsettled Nicola was feeling. The eeriness was palpable. It all culminates in a such a well-crafted ending that I can only extend my sincerest compliments to Kelley Armstrong! This is a masterfully written book!

Nicola is going to do just one more seance to see if it's possible to contact her late husband. And you absolutely do not want to miss finding out how this seance goes!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kelley Armstrong for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite storytellers, and this is no exception. Not a huge fan of time travel, this had me enthralled! I'm SO tickled that she's finally getting some info from "home", this is turning out to be a lovely and sweet series!

Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a child, Nicola Laughton grew up battling and appreciative of every breath taken. Medical and technical advances led her to successfully live into her thirties, wherein she reconnected and fell in love with Anton Novak.

Unfortunately, an unexpected, fatal car crash claims Anton’s life only a few years into their marriage, leaving Nicola widowed and reeling. Worse yet, the last few intimate moments Nicola had with him were captured and publicized with an emphasis put on Nicola as a “terminally ill woman holding onto her dying husband.”

In pursuit of closure, Nicola seeks guidance from multiple spiritual advisors, seeking solace in their empty promises of healing. To bring her back from the brink of desperation, her family and friends seek out the help of a scientific medium, a professor specializing in parapsychology.

After renting the beach house Anton’s family once owned and shared many happy memories in, Nicola is accompanied by two friends and the medium to try and contact Anton’s spirit. Rather quickly spooky and ominous things are observed; accompanied by the odd circumstances, Nicola begins having hellish nightmares, triggering long buried memories. Memories dying to get out.

I really like that this book is paving a way for more recognition towards cystic fibrosis through the female main character Nicola. This is an extremely serious disorder that does not get spoken about or understood often enough.

The insights into Nicola’s background and the subtle hints of the future events were expertly crafted, making for a gripping tale. Additionally, the captivating narrative held my attention consistently, leaving me welcoming and eager for each new plot twist; the unexpected turns in the story kept me intrigued and wholly invested in the outcome.

Despite encountering supernatural occurrences, I found it concerning how easily Nic’s loyalty to her husband seemed to shift during the story. This may have been intentional to keep readers guessing, but it was a noticeable aspect. Nic’s perspective on life is complex, particularly considering her cystic fibrosis diagnosis and the uncertainty it brings. She cherishes simple pleasures like witnessing sunsets and sunrises yet grapples with feelings of loss and disillusionment after her husband’s passing. This inner turmoil may contribute to her tendency to be influenced by those around her.

Overall, this was a well-crafted horror novel, with hints of paranormal elements, and I would highly recommend it for anyone seeking a thrilling read. This captivating story is guaranteed to evoke a strong range of emotions—from spine-tingling chills to edge-of-your-seat tension and heartstring-tugging suspense!

I would like to express my profound gratitude to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Kelley Armstrong for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Nicola Laughton was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child so she never expected to live to be an adult. Then medical advances extended her life and she’s now in her thirties. She was reintroduced to Anton, someone she knew from school and they married but he died in a car accident just a few months later. His last words to her, “I’ll be waiting for you.”

Someone at the scene reported the story to the press only that person claimed Anton’s ghost actually uttered the words. Since his death Nicola has been going down a rabbit hole of consulting with mediums and spiritualists attempting to make contact with Anton.

To try to get her past this obsession Nicola’s brother and two best friends hire a renowned medium and professor and they rent a house once owned by Anton’s family for a series of seances in a last ditch effort to contact him. Then strange things start to happen. Truths emerge. Part of Nicola’s past comes to the forefront. And then the first body appears.

OK, this is going to sound very unkind. I probably shouldn’t even think it, much less say it t. But here goes. Nicola is going to join Anton in the whatever-comes-next fairly soon. Obviously she’s horribly distraught and misses him desperately, but why doesn’t she just live whatever time she’s got left for both of them and call it a day? And get some therapy. Jeez.

So, I also didn’t buy that she was so suspicious of Anton and not, um, everyone else? She’s awfully naive to have started and be running what I presume is a successful business.

The book was not bad at all, though things got a bit convoluted in the closing pages and I wasn’t sure I grasped exactly what was happening, but I got enough that I wasn’t worried about it. And any decent lawyer will get over a million for her easy.

Okay so it starts a bit sad BUT it gets better. Um I could t read this once it got dark cause I'm a scaredy cat and jump at any little noise. That being said, I loved it. I'm definitely recommending and adding this to my spooky season list