thank you netgalley for the e-arc. i know of thoman's writing from being eternally online, and i love her work. i thought she did the podcast transcript sections really well, and it connected nicely into the story. using media (podcasts, tweets, journal entries, reddit posts) is sometimes difficult to do but this was done well. i think the social and political aspects will divide readers but it didn't bother me.

The story centres around East Henderson, Pennsylvania and the strange goings on where people just disappear, but no one will talk about it.

Angie has lived here all her life and starts to find life interesting when she hears a ghost, but no one will believe her and she can't figure out what the ghost wants.

Madelyn moves here to start her teaching job, she also hopes to find out what happened to her cousin, who has mysteriously disappeared but in doing so comes across more than she bargains for.

What a brilliant mystery, with some great twists and turns. The characters are adorable, I really loved them and was invested in finding out what was going on with them.

I love the use of articles, emails, clips, etc at the beginning of each chapter to give a little more insight into the plot and the two points of view from Angie and Madelyn and their experiences.

It is quite dark in places and as the trigger warning mentions, the book does cover some difficult situations, but I think it is handled very well and is needed for the plot to enhance characterisation.
I really enjoyed immersing myself in this world and was a little sad when it ended.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Loved the prologue! Hooked me from the start but slowly started to drag after that. Dual POVs (which is a plus in my book). I always enjoyed when different stories intertwine and mesh together, and this book did it well. The twists were executed well. The romance definitely overpowered the mystery/thriller aspect, which also made it feel more YA in some points of the book. The ending came together a little too well and too fast, almost rushed. I recommend if you enjoy YA and romance with elements of a thriller novel!

This book had an intriguing start but felt a bit odd at the end. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the MC but I liked most of the other characters. The way the story closes sort of made it seem like it wasn’t too difficult to find out the truth and I guess I was hoping it would be more realistic. Still, the mystery was intriguing and I thought it was a solid read. 3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

You Shouldn't Be Here by Lauren Thoman was such a suspenseful story.
The story kept me hooked and had me guessing the entire time.

Lauren Thoman’s “You Shouldn’t Be Here” weaves an intricate web of secrets and eerie occurrences, drawing readers into a world where the mundane collides with the supernatural. Set in the seemingly unremarkable town of East Henderson, Pennsylvania, the story introduces two strangers whose paths intersect in unexpected ways.

Thoman’s narrative style is both evocative and immersive. She skillfully captures the essence of mystery and suspense, allowing readers to feel the chill of unseen forces at play. The mysterious voice that 16-year-old Angie Stewart hears in her house becomes a haunting presence, and Thoman’s prose heightens the tension. The town of East Henderson itself feels like a character, shrouded in secrets and memories that refuse to fade. As readers delve deeper, they’ll appreciate Thoman’s ability to create an unsettling atmosphere that lingers long after the final page.

The plot unfolds gradually, revealing layers of intrigue. Angie’s quest to understand the enigmatic voice and Madelyn Zhao’s determination to uncover her cousin’s disappearance converge in unexpected ways. Thoman masterfully balances the dual perspectives, allowing readers to piece together the puzzle alongside the characters. The pacing keeps readers engaged, with revelations and twists that maintain the suspense. Angie and Madelyn are well-crafted protagonists, each with their own vulnerabilities and strengths. Their growth throughout the novel adds depth, making their journeys compelling and relatable.

“You Shouldn’t Be Here” delivers on its promise of a thrilling and twisty ride. The interconnected secrets, hidden motives, and the looming danger create a sense of urgency. Thoman’s ability to maintain suspense while gradually revealing the truth is commendable and readers will find themselves eagerly turning pages to unravel the mysteries.

Whether you’re a fan of supernatural elements or simply enjoy a well-crafted mystery, this novel offers a satisfying blend of both. Lauren Thoman’s storytelling prowess shines, leaving readers with a lingering sense of unease and a desire for more.

Told in alternating chapters between Angie and Madelyn (strangers), as they both investigate mysterious happenings.

I think for the plot here, the alternating viewpoints wasn't the best. We didn't get enough intrigue from either character early on to really keep their parts interesting.

This one wasn’t it for me. I prefer my books to not have political aspects and real world issues trying to way one way or the other. This book follows a rich villain, so if rich people aren’t your thing then this book isn’t it. This book also features romance throughout the book, I personally prefer minimal romance in my thrillers. I’m here for the slashing and thrashing not the kissing. Overall, this book without those aspects wouldn’t be too bad. It was kinda of a slow burn.

I enjoyed this. It was engagingly written and there were a lot of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. The book is well-plotted and moves quite quickly; it never felt slow or like it was dragging. There were also some really clever and interesting ideas in it, and the romance element was quite sweet.

Personally, I felt like the ghost aspect could have been worked through better – again, there were some really interesting ideas around it, but I found it a bit muddled. The ending, too, felt a bit disjointed.

But overall I did enjoy reading it – it was something different and I’d definitely consider reading something by this author again in the future. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Violence, murder, blood, gun violence, head injuries, hospital scenes, attempted rape, threats and intimidation, missing persons case, organised crime.

Thank you Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer Publishing for an eARC ♥️

The story follows two strangers, Angie and Madelyn, who find themselves entangled in a web of mysteries and secrets in a small town in Pennsylvania.

Angie, a curious and determined individual, begins to experience strange and unexplainable occurrences in her home, hinting at a supernatural presence. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she becomes increasingly entangled in a world of eerie events and unexplained phenomena.

Meanwhile, Madelyn, a driven and resourceful teacher, is determined to uncover the truth behind her cousin's disappearance, which has left a dark cloud over the town. Her investigation leads her down a rabbit hole of secrets, lies, and deceit, forcing her to confront the town's dark underbelly.

As Angie and Madelyn continue their separate investigations, their paths keep crossing, leading to unexpected revelations and a complex web of connections. The author masterfully weaves together elements of mystery, suspense, and the paranormal, creating a intricate and engaging puzzle that keeps everyone on the edge of their seats.

The writing is polished, the characters are well-developed and relatable, and the tension builds steadily, culminating in a thrilling conclusion. Lauren Thoman’s use of language is descriptive and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the small town and its inhabitants.🔥

An interesting murder mystery with a touch of paranormal activity and psychological thriller. Really enjoyed the character development throughout this story. Not so much a whodunnit as that part is obvious, but a look at the detective work of multiple individuals in the story.

Teen Angie Stewart starts hearing a mysterious voice in her home but no one else can hear it. Teacher Madelyn Zhao just got a new job and home but is trying to find out what happened to her missing cousin. Two strangers are searching for clues that seem to point towards the same place.

I liked this one because you’re not really sure if it’s a ghost story or thriller or a bit of both. Some of the characters felt interchangeable to me and confused me at times but I got it straight towards the end. There’s definitely some surprises. The bad guy is a very typical evil corporate type which is a cliche I enjoy!

You Shouldn’t Be Here comes out 8/1.

I really loved her first book so I was excited to dive into this one. Unfortunately I struggled to get into it. The pace was slow and I just wasn’t connecting with the characters and I felt frustrated reading it.

There was so much heart and mystery with her first book and I really wish I felt that with this one.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me.

I did like the main storyline, and there were also some humorous moments and dialogue in it that I enjoyed, but that was about it.

I was too distracted by the obvious political and social commentary to get into the story. I am pretty neutral when it comes to politics, and I don't really care what people's political beliefs are in general, but one thing I really don't like is when someone is trying to shove their beliefs down my throat. So that was pretty disappointing to me because I think otherwise it would have been an enjoyable book.

There was also one point where the main character, whose last name is Zhao, is asked how to pronounce it, and she says something like "It's pronounced Zhao." I know that in the story, the person heard it audibly, and she does go on to spell it phonetically afterwards, but in writing it just looked pretentious.

I also wasn't a fan of how the chapters were structured, with quotes at the beginning of every one and the constant switching back and forth with years and characters. It was a little confusing to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a free copy of this book for an honest review.

2.5 stars and DNF at 60%. This was just not for me. It seemed like a good idea but the execution just wasn't there. It seemed like the book had to include every single hot button issue for no real reason and only hindered the plot.

Two strangers search for the truth behind bizarre occurrences no one else dares to discuss—only to discover that they’re connected by secrets that could destroy them both

A solid mystery/thriller. I enjoyed the tension and the plot twitss.

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t get into it enough to enjoy it. It’s really slow to start, it seems like every hot topic is included, but that adds nothing to the plot? Yeah, just wasn’t for me.

★★½ ROUNDED DOWN ⬇️⭐️
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I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great ride! An amazing villain, diversity, friendship, romance, and suspense!
Smart writing and I wanted it to continue! Also, glad to see this as an Amazon first reads pick!

Sixteen year old Angie begins hearing voices in her home, voices only she can hear. On a quest to prove there are ghosts in her home, she begins to question her trust in those closest to her. Meanwhile, Madelyn Zhao has just moved into her newly rented home with a strict, off-putting landlord. In a new town, starting a new teaching job and the intent to begin her own personal investigation of her missing relative, she begins to fear for her own safety.

This was an interesting take on a paranormal mystery. It starts off and stays strong with a dual timeline and unique characters. The author did an excellent job of weaving two separate stories together while keeping the reader guessing and fully invested.The ending was good, although a little far-fetched while tying everything together in a neat little bow. The only thing I could have done without was the epilogue where it seemed to switch to a young adult novel with the dialogue and the characters' thoughts and actions, almost like it didn't belong. Overall, this was a solid read, and I give it three and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer, for this ARC.

This book is so intriguing that I finished it in one day. While it was a bit of a slow burn I really enjoyed the characters and seeing how things pieced together. The story is told from alternating POVs of teenager, Angie and first- year teacher Madelyn. I loved how their stories meshed together and thought this plot was unique. This book has a little bit of everything: thriller, mystery, suspense, romance, and paranormal. There were a few twists that were very shocking and the ending tied things up nicely. A very enjoyable read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.