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.

Oh, I loved this!

It’s mysterious. It’s suspenseful. It’s got the sweetest romance, fabulous friendships, diversity, thrills and a villain who is just the villainy-ist villain to ever villain.

The writing is clever and one reveal had my jaw dropping. I definitely didn’t see it coming.

I was all in on our main characters, but also loved the side characters – and I didn’t want the book to end.

I would happily read the author again!

At first glance, East Henderson is an unassuming little town in Eastern Pennsylvania. But beneath the surface, secrets are hidden that make East Henderson more than it initially appears. Madelyn is a first-year choir teacher who has just landed in East Henderson, and Angie is sixteen years old and has been living in East Henderson all her life. Though the two seem to have nothing in common besides their town of residence, they find themselves entwined in a mystery that has been swept under the rug for years. But as their search gets closer to the truth, the dark underbelly of East Henderson rears its head, and the two young women must risk everything to bring the perpetrator to justice.

This gripping murder mystery expertly connects two disparate characters through one unfortunate woman’s untimely death. Told from the alternating perspectives of Madelyn and Angie, the narrative provides readers with small pieces of information at intervals that keep the story engaging from start to finish. Additionally, each chapter begins with either a quote, an email, or another related anecdote that allows for some of the other characters to have their voices heard, as well. The suspense builds quickly, especially as readers know more about the danger the protagonists are truly in before the characters themselves do.

Though a murder mystery on its surface, the plot includes romantic elements as well as LGBTQIA+ characters, social commentary, misogyny, and paranormal activity. While this seems like a wide range of topics, they all intertwine to create a novel that feels possible despite its fantastical elements. Young adults who appreciate contemporary fiction with a touch of the supernatural will relish this story, especially because of its believable character interactions and quotidian activities. Fast-paced, engaging, and thrilling, this book is an excellent addition to library collections for young and new adult readers.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC

I did not have a good experience with this one. The first couple of chapters were good. I was interested. Unfortunately it just became repetitive. At the 50% mark I was still waiting for anything new or thrilling to happen. There was too much build up and not enough pay off.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest review.

I really liked this book and the writing style, which not only made me pre-order the book but I would gladly read more from this author.

It is the perfect amount of mystery, friendships, and humor.

Good book overall.

Lauren Thoman's second novel, You Shouldn't Be Here, is a mind-blowing, bone-chilling, and completely engrossing thriller. Combining a gripping mystery with a splash of the paranormal, this story kept me hooked from the start.

The plot centers around two main characters: sixteen-year-old Angie Stewart, who hears a mysterious voice in her house, and first-year teacher Madelyn Zhao, who moves to East Henderson, Pennsylvania, searching for her missing cousin. Their separate investigations intertwine, leading them to a dark and dangerous place where secrets are fiercely guarded.

Thoman's excellent storytelling and likeable characters make for a compelling read. The mid-story twist is jaw-dropping, and the finale is a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat experience that cements this book as a 5-star read

3.75 stars
I LOVED Thoman's I'll Stop The World last year and have been waiting with baited breath for her next book to come out. Thank you Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of You Shouldn't Be Here, which publishes this summer.

When I started reading this book, I was immediately hooked by the prologue- I literally wrote down "Amazing! This is how it's done!" LOL, a very promising start! My enthusiasm did fade a little bit as I was reading. Unfortunately the characters did not resonate with me in a meaningful way like they did in I'll Stop The World. I found Madelyn and Alex to be too impulsive and oblivious for their ages (young twenties). ISTW featured teenage characters, and it was understandable for them to act like teenagers- not so with this book. I enjoyed Angie's POVs much more, and if you've read this book, you'll understand the issue with that.

There were also some logistical plot holes throughout the story that made it just a tad too unbelievable. I was not terribly surprised by any twists in the book. Some scenes could have used more/different editing, in my opinion. I also want to mention that this book is NOT a YA/Coming of Age story. Even NA would be a stretch. There are several on-page very violent scenes that may not be appropriate for all ages- I would reserve this book for 18+ readers.

My biggest complaint is that the epigraphs really set the book up to have a big quantum-physical sci-fi aspect about the space-time continuum. This was a factor in the story, but not as big as I was expecting it to be, and it was not really explained in any meaningful way.

Despite that, I still liked this book and generally recommend it to other readers.

An engaging thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Perfectly paced and easy to read, I devoured it within a single seating. (Round off rating at 3.5 stars).

You Shouldn't Be Here truly intrigued me from that premise, unfortunately the execution fell flat for me. It was very slow for anything to start and I didn't find myself intrigued enough to continue reading. I had to DNF this one.

This book surprised me. I wamted to step out of my comfort zone and try new things ajd so i requested this one. I loved it!! I couldnt put it down and it really wasn't anything like I expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lauren Thoman for the eARC.

I hate to say, but I couldn't finish the book. After about 25% through, the hot button topics were just too much for me. I read for enjoyment and a bit of escape into a story to take my mind off the divisiveness in the US, and this one just didn't do it for me. I believe and respect differing opinions - everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course, but I'd rather read apolitical books for my leisure time. I'm sure there are plenty of readers that will enjoy this story, and I did like the premise! I really do my best to stick with a book and give it a fair shot but I just couldn't do it this time.

Maybe spoilers

Pros:
Quick read, very entertaining. The second half was un-put downable! I love the ending and how everything was nicely tied up, and how the bad guy got his comeuppance.

Cons:
What did Ralph have to do with this story? Why was there a not ghost ghost? Those parts were maybe unnecessary and just didn’t add much.

Overall B-/3.5 stars

Mystery thriller with a bit of sci-fi? Yes please! You Shouldn’t Be Here has great twists, diverse characters and an unexpected paranormal/ supernatural element. The FMC is relatable, well-written, and prone to making bad decisions. The antagonist is a bargain-basement Donald Trump- thoroughly unlikeable from start to finish. Themes of friendship, injustice, misogyny and the power of money are explored throughout the book and the writing is both humorous and suspenseful. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC!