LOVED THIS BOOK! I could visualize the characters and wanted to be friends with them. It also had a number of plot twists that I was never expecting which made me laugh and yell out loud. For anyone who has encountered and gone up against a powerful, narcissistic person, you’ll enjoy this book even more.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of You Shouldn't Be Here by Lauren Thoman.
This is an example where dual POV's work. Started off a little slow for me, but the ending made up for it. it did come off as a more of a YA, but i am not too mad about that, considering i like a YA every now and then.

4/5⭐️

Loved it!

Twisty, twisty! This book follows the conjunction of sixteen year old Angie who starts experiencing spooky occurrences at her home and Madelyn who is on the quest for the truth about the disappearance of her cousin.

The way the author has woven the two characters into this plotline was flawless. The plot and concept were good and I enjoyed the author's writing style as well. There were also layers of romance and paranormal happenings, all of which kept me guessing throughout.
In the beginning, it was a bit slow as the story took time to unfold and develop but then it picks up pace pretty quickly culminating in an ending that I just did not see coming!

Overall, a very engaging and interesting read, discovered a new favorite author. Will definitely pick up the other book by Lauren Thoman as well. A must read if you like your thrillers to take you on a wild ride.

I received an ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed I'll Stop the World, so I was stoked to get a copy of this book. It didn't quite work for me though. Even though it's Adult Fiction and the story feels Adult, it read as YA to me. I can't put my finger on exactly why. The book moved along so quickly, and I couldn't put it down a lot of the time, but the resolutions felt way too out there and wild for me. The villain felt a bit comic book villain vibes. Just not for me, but I'll definitely read her next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!

Madelyn moves to another state, in an attempt to find her missing cousin, who she only knew for a couple of months. Not only does she have limited information about her cousin, but no one else seems to care that she’s missing.

Angie, a teenager with a single dad, is investigating what she thinks to be a ghost in, her house. While also trying to convince her best friend Bas, that she isn’t crazy.

Two stories of strangers who seemingly have no connection to one another, find a way of weaving together. A thrilling story with many secrets and a vile villian!

The story was fast paced with a very intriguing plot. I was not expecting all the twists, they kept me turning the pages! I liked how the author intertwined genres. There’s thriller/suspense, paranormal and even a little romcom! The characters were fun (especially Sygyzy and Potato) and I absolutely loved the diversity❤️

It was a good read and I definitely recommend reading it when it’s released!!

I don't know what it says about me but ghosty thrillers set in boring towns is just the thing I love to read.

This book follows 16 year old Angie Stewart and she heard a ghost!... but why?! Angie and teacher Madelyn Zhao go looking for her missing cousin that no one wants to talk about. I really like how the author kept me in the story with little twists and the final dark place. I just goosebumped re-thinking about the ending.

I don’t even know where to start! Let’s just say it’s after 1 am and I am still awake because I could not rest until I finished this book!

This book has it all. Suspense, mystery, romance, ghosts, secrets, humor. Whew, what a read.

Madelyn moves to a new town in search for a family member who has gone missing, and uncovers all types of things! Meanwhile another girl goes missing and Madelyn is determined to find out how/if the two cases are related.

One of the twists literally had me sit up straight and say WHAT?!

This is a thriller you absolutely will want to leave. Highly recommend!!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my advanced copy!!

You Shouldn’t Be Here is a great slow burn. A thriller/mystery with a dash of romcom and paranormal. Relatable characters that you can’t help but to root for in the end.

Thank Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

When I read the synopsis, I wasn't sure what to expect. I really liked the writing and the story line. It was fast paced enough that it kept me engaged. I liked that the story was different than any other mystery I've read. I did not see the plot twists coming and those definitely took me by surprise. The author made the characters relatable, which I liked. Looking back, the way it ended was kind of predictable but over all I really enjoyed this book. I would read more from this author again and I would definitely recommend this book.

"You Shouldn't Be Here" grabs readers from the start with its eerie premise and unexpected twists. Thoman expertly weaves Angie's haunting experiences with Madelyn's investigation, delivering a gripping read filled with mystery and suspense.

Despite a slow start, the gradual tension buildup leads to an unputdownable narrative. Thoman's clever writing and well-developed characters, including a despicable yet intriguing villain, add depth to the story.

While the dual POVs and timelines may initially confuse, they ultimately enhance the plot. With surprises that will leave readers gasping, laughing, and on the edge of their seats, "You Shouldn't Be Here" is a must-read for mystery fans craving unexpected twists.

I seem to be an outlier but I could not get into this book. I read quite a few chapters but finally DNFed it because I was dreading picking it up each time. I could not believe any of the actions of the main characters and they all seemed very cliched.

I read a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.

At first I wasn’t so sure about this book. I thought it was just your average run of the mill thriller. But then the twists started and wooo doggie! This was unlike any supernatural thriller I have ever read and it was refreshing! It’s gotta be hard to write a thriller these days, I feel like everything’s been done at least ten times. But You Shouldn’t Be Here is completely new territory and I loved it.

The characters are likable, sure they make a couple questionable decisions, but that’s par for the course with a thriller. The twists were all surprising and new. I think what I liked most about this book is the Eastern PA setting though, because it’s where I grew up and I love to see the word “hoagie” in a book. I’m kidding, kinda. This book had a lot to like, including strong female characters, an annoying yet lovable dog, and some romance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC. You Shouldn’t Be Here releases in July 2024!

Two families seeking answers come together to solve a mystery. With a slow start, things do get interesting as Madelyn continues to question what happened to her cousin. Lauren Thoman creates a thick plot that unravels little by little with subtle clues intertwined. The characters are very likable and intriguing. A nice mystery that was easy to read and very enjoyable.

Wow!! I loved this book! The mystery, the suspense, the romance, the friendships, and so many unexpected twists! There were a couple of instances where I audibly gasped. And moments where I laughed out loud. It was fast-paced and kept me guessing throughout. I loved the romance that was tied into the story but also that it didn’t take over the plot. The paranormal aspect added another layer of intrigue that had me on the edge of my seat!

My only complaint is that the pacing was a tad slow in the beginning and the dual POVs and timelines took me a few chapters to understand, but once I did this book was unputdownable.

The characters were well developed and the story was action packed and engaging. I really enjoyed how everything tied up at the end and there were no questions left unanswered. I highly recommend this novel and hope to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

Enjoyed the diverse characters, the plot, and the intertwining of stories and timelines. On the fence about one twist, epilogue completely ruined another one for me because it made me question how it made sense.

Overall, enjoyed the book for the most part and would read another from the author.

Full review will be up at https://bookedallnight.wordpress.com/

I really enjoyed this story. So many secrets and a lot of twists. A definite recommend.

Thanks netgalley and publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of You Shouldn't Be Here by Lauren Thoman. You know that great feeling of starting a book and loving it immediately? That’s the feeling I got from You Shouldn't Be Here, and I couldn’t stop reading. Madelyn was a marvelous, sympathetic character, and I loved her awkwardness and low-key romance. She made some poor choices that showed she was fallible and endearingly real. I enjoyed the friendship between Angie and Bas and how he never stopped missing her. Knowing who a ‘bad guy’ was from the start didn’t stop me from suspecting other characters of being involved too. If you’re looking for a book you will race through, with an intriguing story and characters, this book is for you!

Madelyn moves to a new town to find her missing cousin

Each chapter starts with a social media post or article about the local villainous megalomaniac who runs the town, Doug Raymond. He’s rich, powerful and anyone that questions his motives seem to disappear

Madelyn comes to town to try and find her cousin Piper, knowing that Doug Raymond her old boss must know something

We also get to know teen bff’s Angie and Bas who seem to be dealing with a ghost, haunting Angie

It took 240 pages for something thrilling to happen - huge build up, and too slow for me

Some strong representation: the nonbinary character Syzygy and a liberal opinion on the 2nd amendment

This is a slow burn suspense with some romance, and a sliver of paranormal

I’m not a paranormal or romance fan, so this area wasn’t my cup of tea. I am a huge suspense fan, and I know that a build up is vital, but this dragged for me. The romantic element also took its time and felt kinda YA, so perhaps this book would be popular with a younger audience

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for access to this eBook ARC in exchange for my honest review

This book is the true definition of a slow burn, but the second half makes up for it with the intricate weaving of storylines. The mix of genres was also interesting - a mystery/thriller with a hint of romance & some paranormal aspects. There were times where the book felt a bit YA since some of the main characters are kids, but it also gave off Nancy Drew style vibes - which I’m totally here for. The author did a great job of really making you despise the villain, Douglas. His racism and pure ignorance was hard to read without cringing. While some of the twists are predictable, the story keeps you intrigued enough to want to know how all the pieces fit together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The prologue in this book starts out with a bang! It had me hooked immediately.

You Shouldn’t Be Here follows two POVs; 16 year old Angie who is convinced there’s a ghost in her house and Madelyn Zhao who arrives to town to find her missing cousin. The way these two stories intertwine was like nothing I’ve seen before.

I absolutely loved the first twist that connects the two characters. At times, the story did feel a little YA with the dialogue and the ways some of the characters were acting. The romance seemed like it happened too quickly and kinda took me out of the creepiness of the story. The ending also wrapped up a little too conveniently.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend the book. I love when authors bend genres to bring unique twists. 3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!