Thank you to Wendy Wunder, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love the cover so much, and I wanted to love the story just as much, but unfortunately, I didn't.

I couldn't connect with Mia. I didn't like the writing. The author was trying too hard to sound like a teenager. It did not work for me at all. Maybe I am just too old to read this one.

I am sad that I have to DNF.
I only read the first few chapters and I lost interest in Maya and the story.
I couldn't get into this book. I couldn't connect with Maya.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This YA coming-of-age novel about a 17 year old girl deftly handles all the issues here, including mental health, first time sex, college applications, parental angst and others. Maya can hear everyone’s thoughts and feels overwhelmed by everything. Read this to find out how she gets help and realizes she is not alone. I enjoyed this very much and felt drawn to the characters. Wendy Wunder has done a great job developing the cast of characters and the dialogue feels contemporary.
Thanks to #netgalley, #wednesdaybooks and the author for this ARC ebook to read.

I didn't love the prologue but I'm glad I stuck with it because the rest of the book was a fresh and quirky read.

I enjoyed the concept and the characters, but I felt something was missing. The potential was there and i think so people will really enjoy it.

I absolutely devoured this book and have recommended it to so many people. It was incredible! Such a fun story.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Mysterious Ways" by Wendy Wunder is a fascinating exploration of teenage life, infused with humor, depth, and a touch of the extraordinary. The story centers around Maya, a teenager with a unique ability that allows her to hear the thoughts of others, which profoundly shapes her character and outlook on life. This book is set in the mind of a Gen Z teenager, which means that it is absolutely overflowing with teenage angst as well as (relatively) current slang. This is definitely a bold choice as some of the language/slang being used will be outdated in a few years and older readers may not really be able to connect with Maya and her perspective. As an older Gen Z person, I even thought some of the slang/humor in the book was a bit much, though it does feel relatively authentic for a young teenager. Maya is a 17-year-old, but she does think/act a bit younger than that, which is why I think this book would do well with younger YA readers, or even with a MG audience.

From the outset, the book captures the chaotic and often humorous nature of a teenage girl's mind. Wunder's portrayal of Maya is both amusing and authentic, making you feel as though you are experiencing the tumultuous world of adolescence firsthand. Maya's journey is both inspiring and complex. Her ability to hear thoughts gives her strong opinions, which sometimes verge on jadedness. This trait plays a crucial role in her development and interactions with others. I did appreciate Maya’s character growth throughout the book, specifically towards the end. Maya’s supernatural abilities were quite unique and made the story even more engaging and added some nice depth to the plot.

As stated earlier, older readers may not be able to connect as well with Maya as the portrayal of Gen Z characters seemed to be a bit overly stereotypical as well as lacking in nuance. There were times when I just had to take a break because I found Maya and her perspective to be a bit annoying and overwhelming. Despite these shortcomings, I did still enjoy the humor for the most part, which kept me invested throughout, especially with the ending. The ending of "Mysterious Ways" is unexpected and may not satisfy all readers, but it remains true to the complex and often unpredictable nature of life.

Overall, "Mysterious Ways" is a book that, despite its imperfections, provides a memorable and engaging read. Its blend of humor, real-life issues, and the supernatural makes it a unique addition to the genre of young adult fiction. It just wasn’t the right fit for me, though I’m sure younger YA readers would absolutely love this book.

Sadly I DNF’ed this about 15% in. It felt all over the place and I wasn’t connecting with the main character. Her quirks didn’t make her interesting enough and the chapter size/how they jumped around just made this too difficult to become invested in.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such an interesting delve into teenagers' minds. It was done in a really creative way. Seeing how Maya grew throughout the book was inspiring. It was an interesting reaction as she revealed her talent to people. It would have been better if there was a little more nuance and someone was reacting or guessing her talent. Overall, it was a downhearted view on humanity and the fate of the world with a bit of hope at the end. Just enough to keep going! I received this book from netgalley as an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I found this book to be a bit of a roller coaster. The main character, Maya, is a mind-reading teenager who has been committed to a mental hospital and is being released. She isn't looking forward to going back to high school and her parents are worried about her.

The book starts off with a lot of rambling to jam in various meandering political beliefs, beefs, and philosophies (what some angry reviewers on Goodreads called woke, but mostly seemed pussy hat progressive to me). Maya has a ton of knowledge about politics of the 70s and 80s that she seemed unlikely to possess; I just don't think even a kid who can hear other people's thoughts would be listening in to hear about Reagan and Phyllis Schlafly and the Moral Majority. It would have been more realistic to have her considering current events instead of thinking so insistently about other eras.

Maya can also beam thoughts into people's minds, though she hardly ever does this and almost never when it seems like she should. Her parents own a record store and every time she uses her mind control powers, she sets the thoughts she sends to some song from a previous era. I thought maybe there would be some sort of mix tape theme in the book but it kind of tapered off, though music did play a role at the end.

There were several overdone, stereotypical teen book bits (cool friend who's into fashion, hot boy who falls for main character, clueless dad, hippie mom) that made it feel like seven old manuscripts got put into a blender with a new plot and some "zany" dialogue. There was the boy who knows all of the 70s songs the girl knows because of course, and the friend who gets jealous when her divorced mom starts dating again. There were also a ton of characters and I had to keep searching to remember who was who when a name from several chapters ago was thrown in without warning.

Despite that, I did warm to Maya and her friend Lucy about halfway through, so I kept reading. The payoff didn't do much for me and I wouldn't necessarily seek out other books from the same author. This one could have benefited from some strong editing, especially cutting out some of the bit characters and long rambling paragraphs. I think this had the potential to be a fun read layered with some interesting aspects about mental health and teenage relationships, but sadly, it never ended up having a singular point of view.

A wonderfully quirky and heartwarming journey that's just the perfect blend of humor and life's big questions. Trust me, you'll love the whimsical ride and the unexpected twists!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Great book! I could not put the book down once I begun reading it. Excited for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Wendy Wunder's "Maya Knows Everything" is an absolute must-read! It was so good - the humor and the relationships. All of it was just what I needed after bawling reading another book. This sharp and hilarious coming-of-age novel brilliantly captures the essence of teenage angst and the burden of knowing too much. Maya, our omniscient protagonist, brings a fresh and intriguing twist to the genre, making every page a delightful blend of wit and heart. Wunder’s writing is both poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, perfect for fans of John Green and Nicola Yoon. As Maya navigates her unique abilities and the complexities of new relationships, you'll find yourself deeply invested in her journey. It's a thought-provoking, feel-good read that tackles heavy themes with a light touch.

The premise of this book is so good but it’s written in such a stereotypical typical manner. There was no flow to the plot and it was a lot of descriptive paragraphs that did nothing for the story as a whole. I found the dialogue questionable, as the things said in this book are nothing like how people in real life would talk. Thank you for the Arc, I tried. Also the cover could use some work as well.

In Wendy Wunder's "Mysterious Ways," readers immerse themselves in the life of Maya, a seventeen-year-old with the uncanny ability to know everything about everyone instantly. This gift, both a marvel and a curse, propels Maya into a journey of self-discovery amidst the complexities of identity, mental health, and human nature.

As Maya grapples with her extraordinary talent at Whispering Pines Psychiatric Facility, she faces the challenge of forming genuine connections while burdened with knowing everyone's secrets. Encountering a boy who piques her interest, Maya confronts the limits of her abilities and wrestles with the notion of whether there can be such a thing as too much knowledge.

Wunder skillfully intertwines real-world issues with the supernatural, exploring themes like bullying, social struggles, and self-doubt inherent in adolescence. The characters are intricately developed, each dealing with personal demons that add richness to the narrative.

While some elements of Maya's story may test believability, Wunder's portrayal of teenage challenges and personal growth remains relatable and engaging. The plot, filled with twists and emotional depth, captivates readers until the final pages.

"Mysterious Ways" offers a thought-provoking take on knowledge, perception, and the human experience, making it a compelling read for fans of contemporary young adult fiction. It provides a fresh perspective on the trials of growing up in a world where excessive knowledge can become a burden rather than a gift.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC!

Wanting to be generous and offer this two stars because the idea of this novel is incredibly strong. A girl walking through life with the ability to hear the thoughts of other people? Fun, and potentially incredibly heartfelt. I also loved that it attempted to put an emphasis on those who battle with mental health, and a variety of other tender subjects this premise could lend itself to extremely well.

Unfortunately, nothing about Maya as a main character felt authentic, and any attempt at addressing larger, deeply important social issues wasn't met with any humanity or nuance at all. It all just felt like stereotype salad. In fact, it read as if it were talking down to readers at times (especially teens and millennials—the target YA audience), and that wound up being something that really bothered me.

I haven't read anything by Wendy prior to this, but I would be interested to go back and pick up some of her earlier YA novels because she's a very gifted writer. The execution of this, unfortunately, fell so, so flat for me.

3.5 stars because I loved the premise - all-knowing? check! able to read minds? check! worried about loving and being loved because of how different she is? you got it - check!

But for some reason, I couldn't get into this as much as I had hoped. The voice didn't draw me in which was surprising considering the nature of the story. It took me a long time to finish it, unfortunately.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review.

I'd like to express my gratitude to Wednesday Books for providing me with the ARC for review.

While the main character aimed to adopt a Gen Z-like voice, it came across as more derisive than genuine. Although she frequently went on rants, they didn't contribute substantially to the narrative. It's possible that her character develops further later in the story, but I wasn't compelled to continue reading. Additionally, the chapter narrated from the dog's perspective had a strikingly similar tone to that of the main character.

(Thank you to Wednesday Books for the eARC to review.)

Unfortunately, I stopped reading this at the 13% mark. After reading the prologue and eight chapters, the overall tone wasn't what I expected. The main character's voice attempted to sound like a Gen Z-er but felt more mocking than anything. She ranted a lot but didn't add anything to the conversation; maybe she does later in the story, but it didn't interest me to continue reading it. Also, the chapter from her dog's POV had a very similar voice to the main character.