📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

You Shouldn't Be Here
By Lauren Thoman
Publication Date: July 9, 2024

📚MY RATING:

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

📚THE SYNOPSIS:

When sixteen-year-old Angie Stewart starts hearing a mysterious voice in her house, she’s thrilled at the possibility of a ghost. Finally, something interesting is happening in her boring hometown of East Henderson, Pennsylvania. But why is she the only one who can hear it? And what does it want from her?

Meanwhile, first-year teacher Madelyn Zhao just got the keys to her new home, which is located close to her job, within walking distance of a dog park—and, most importantly, in the town where her cousin went missing several years ago. No one in East Henderson wants to talk about what happened, but Madelyn is determined to find answers.

As the two strangers search for clues, their investigations begin to point toward the same dark place. But by the time they realize that the truth could be deadly, it’s too late to turn back. And someone out there will stop at nothing to make sure their secrets stay buried.

📚MY REVIEW:

This book has been waiting on my NetGalley shelf for WAY too long. I knew there was a paranormal aspect to it, and those books have the potential to freak me out, so I sometimes hesitate in picking them up. But today, the sun was brightly streaming into my living room and I figured I could at least start reading it and see how it felt before the sun began to set...

Somehow, the next thing I knew, nearly 3 hours had gone by and I was absolutely loving this book, so I had to keep reading! I read it all in one sitting! Yes, there's a fairly big paranormal theme throughout...But there's also a love story, several mysteries I knew would eventually converge, multiple POVs, a villain to hate, and wonderful characters to root for. This was just such a fun read, with some twists I didn't see coming, and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for gifting me this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this book!!

#YouShouldntBeHere #LaurenThoman #NetGalley #bookreviews #bookrecommendations

"You Shouldn't Be Here" by Lauren Thoman is an exceptional debut novel that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, suspense, and psychological intrigue. Thoman's storytelling prowess shines through in this gripping tale, capturing readers' attention from the very first page and holding it tight until the shocking conclusion.

At the heart of "You Shouldn't Be Here" is a compelling mystery that unfolds with skillful precision. Thoman expertly weaves together multiple narrative threads, each one adding depth and complexity to the central enigma. As the story progresses, secrets are revealed, alliances shift, and the tension mounts to a fever pitch, keeping readers guessing until the final, breathtaking reveal.

The characters in "You Shouldn't Be Here" are vividly drawn and utterly captivating. From the enigmatic protagonist to the colorful cast of supporting players, each character feels fully realized and imbued with depth and nuance. Thoman's keen insight into the human psyche allows her to explore the complexities of her characters' motivations and relationships, adding layers of intrigue and emotion to the narrative.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its atmospheric setting, which serves as the perfect backdrop for the unfolding drama. Thoman's evocative prose brings the small town of Cedar Springs to life, immersing readers in its eerie charm and dark secrets. The sense of place is palpable, lending an additional layer of tension and suspense to the story.

Moreover, "You Shouldn't Be Here" is distinguished by its masterful pacing and impeccable plotting. Thoman skillfully balances moments of high drama with quieter, introspective scenes, creating a narrative rhythm that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The twists and turns of the plot are expertly executed, leading to a series of shocking revelations that will leave readers breathless.

In addition to its gripping plot and well-drawn characters, "You Shouldn't Be Here" also explores deeper themes of identity, betrayal, and the consequences of the past. Thoman's nuanced exploration of these themes adds depth and resonance to the story, elevating it beyond mere suspense fiction and into the realm of literary excellence.

In conclusion, "You Shouldn't Be Here" by Lauren Thoman is a riveting and emotionally resonant thriller that heralds the arrival of a major new talent in the genre. With its compelling characters, atmospheric setting, and masterful plotting, it is a novel that will linger in the minds of readers long after the final page is turned. Fans of suspenseful fiction and psychological thrillers alike will find much to love in this stunning debut.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

This book sank it's teeth in to me super quickly!! They way the stories of the two main protagonists are tied together is done masterfully. I do wish the pacing of the first half of the book was a little quicker and it dragged just a little.

I LOVE LAUREN THOMAN!! This book knocked it out of the park again, just like her first book, I'll Stop the World. I lost a lot of sleep because I couldn't put this read down. I don't want to give too much away, but think thriller/mystery with a hint of sci-fi and WTF. The vibes were very similar to I'll Stop the World in that it was an intriguing and easy read with fun plot points and twists. There were a lot of chapters, but the chapters were short, so it didn't feel like reading a long book. I liked how she created character development through contemporary methods of communication (email, text, etc) at the beginning of each chapter. It allowed for the story to unfold without a lot of exposition. The twists were great, and honestly kept me guessing. The only thing I found somewhat disappointing about this book was the end. I felt like it was rushed and things weren't explained well. There was a section in the Epilogue where the characters started getting into quantum physics, and it was shut down as, "these characters will have a deeper conversation about this later". I wanted them to expand on this and theorize about the happenings of the book more. It felt too "let's tie this up in a simple bow", and I felt like it didn't do justice to the characters or the incredible book I just read. I still highly recommend this read though!

Wild turns and shocking twists. I was totally captivated, although I could have done without the romance. I loved the mystery and the villain.

I received this book as an ARC read for free via NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I found myself trying to be Nancy Drew and figure out exactly what happened and how each of the characters were connected. Some parts I ended up piecing together, I had suspicions about others but thought that I had to be wrong, and then one piece I’m still trying to figure out how it could happen. That’s the beauty of fiction…letting your imagination take control!

This was a great time and definitely worth getting to relive my Nancy Drew memories ❤️

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for sending me an ARC of this book.
“…the universe is not fond of careful planning. It’s going to mess with you, whether or not either of you wants it to. Those are the rules”
This is a combination of genres that caught my attention, immediately. I loved the paranormal aspect of the story and the relationships that formed; all driven by the selfishness of one individual. I wanted Doug to hurt as badly as he had hurt so many others, and I think this delivered! 4.5 stars!

Part mystery, part ghost story, I found the plot masterfully done. the author has a knack for connecting the dots in such a deliberate way that every guess I had was right, but also not QUITE right. I absolutely loved how everything unfolded and wove together. I find of lot of mystery books are more plot-based than character-based and this matched that. Still, it had very enjoyable and diverse characters. My one gripe is the abundance of brands dropped in this book. Some I knew and some I did not. It pulled me out of the story sometimes wanting to look things up or figure things out. I worry that with time these descriptions will become even more obscure and take away from the book, which would be unfortunate because it is a truly unique and engaging story!

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.

This book had me hooked from the start! When Angie starts hearing those spooky voices in her house, I thought, "Here we go, classic ghost story!" But Thoman had some surprises up her sleeve! The plot twists were unexpected and kept me on my toes!

The way Thoman weaves together Angie's story with Madelyn's investigation is masterful. I thought I had it all figured out, but I was pleasantly surprised! 🙀 And can we talk about the villain? So despicable, but in the best way possible. Those tweets and quotes at the beginning of each chapter added an extra layer of intrigue!

And let's not forget about the characters! Angie and Madelyn felt like close friends by the end of the book. And Raymond? Such a shady character, but Thoman develops him so cleverly. The hints she drops about him? Pure genius!

Now, onto the slight drawbacks. The pacing in the first half was a bit slow, but don't let that deter you! The tension builds gradually, and once it picks up, you won't be able to put the book down!

"You Shouldn't Be Here" is a gripping read with plenty of surprises. Thoman's writing is engaging, and I'm curious to check out her other book and hopefully even more works in future. If you enjoy mysteries with unexpected twists, give this one a shot! It's a solid 4-star read!

Really good! Loved the authors first book so I was really excited for this one. The feel is different but I fell in love with the characters in both point of views. Ending was so so good. Thank you NetGalley for this arc

You Shouldn't Be Here takes readers on a gripping journey through the complexities of missing people and a murder mystery. The narrative unfolds with an unexpected twist as it delves into the perspective of the a woman looking for answers since her cousin went missing. The antagonist is crafted with such disdainful depth that readers can't help but loathe him, adding a compelling layer to the story.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is the inclusion of ghostly elements, which adds an eerie and captivating dimension to the plot. However, while the story boasts several compelling characters, not all receive the same level of development. This lack of character depth can sometimes leave readers feeling disconnected from certain individuals within the narrative.

Despite this, the book keeps readers on their toes with its numerous twists and turns. Each unexpected development adds to the suspense, making it difficult to put the book down. While not every aspect of the story may resonate with every reader, those who enjoy a thrilling mystery with a touch of the supernatural will find plenty to love in You Shouldn't Be Here.

A uniquely modern 'ghost' story. Madelyn has started a new job in the new town of East Henderson. She meet cutes with Alex a fellow teacher at the Junior High and her dog Potato is settling in nicely to their new home despite their fussy landlord's rules.

No one but Madelyn knows she's really here to solve the mystery of the sudden disappearance of her cousin Piper.

Angie Stewart starts to hear a voice in her house, a woman's voice but neither her father nor her best friend Bas believe her. Her attempts to record the voice lead her down an unexpected and deadly path.

A distinctly divergent tale of unsolved disappearances and dating in the modern era.

This thriller felt a bit basic and straightforward, for all of its twists and weird happenings. I appreciated the social commentary behind the moustache-twirling villain (not really a spoiler), but he seemed too inept and backwater to get away with everything he managed. Though I think in many ways that's the point: evil is banal and 'stupid' and yet it can often dictate reality for so many people. I think the characters were fairly well-developed, though, and I loved the dog Potato (who was fine!) and best friend Syzygy.

Ok so I went into this thinking ooooo a paranormal ghost story in a house love it. But it was soooo much more than that. I loved the mystery woven in but the story building was a lot at times. Overall pretty solid book I would label it as YA more than Adult thriller or paranormal fic just because of how its written but I really liked it.

This was a solid dual POV plot!
The first 40% was a little too slow for me and some sections seemed like they could be cut out - but the remaining 60% made up for it.

I personally love when mystery/thrillers have a little dash of sci-fi/paranormal without going full horror. So I enjoyed the ghost story and how the different characters story lines eventually tied into each other. It was very smooth and unexpected!

The characters did make it feel a little YA at times. Madelyn and Angie both annoyed me with their silly choices and dramatic reactions to things but not because they weren’t good characters. If anything they made me cringe because I know that's exactly how I acted at 16 and 23.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'm excited to check out more books by Lauren Thoman.

Great thriller filled with twists. that kept me guessing. I loved this and hope to read more by this author. This book is a great addition to any thriller fan's reading list.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book felt a little slow to start, but once it got going I really enjoyed it. I didn’t love the main character or her narrative, but I did enjoy the story and appreciated the LGBTQ representation. Overall, a good read with a twist I didn’t see coming!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

You Shouldn’t Be Here is a thriller centering on Madelyn, a first-year choir director, whose cousin went missing, and Angie, a 16 year old student, who hears a woman in her house that no one else can hear.

I was hooked from the very first sentence. I really liked how each chapter started with an excerpt from a tweet, an internal memo, email, etc. and enjoyed the cast of characters. Madelyn and Alex were my favorites. But that’s pretty much all I can because I can’t say anything else regarding what I loved about this book without giving anything away. Just know that it is a total page turner and a wild ride. I didn’t want to put it down. It had me stressed out but also laughing. I LOVED this!!

WOOHOO, my first five star read of the year! I loved the multiple timelines and the supernatural element. Lately I've been very into organized crime so this piqued my interest right away. I also appreciate hearing the experience/perspective of having last names from other languages and the description of how it should be pronounced in its native language - that was helpful for me! Madelyn's non-stop hunt for answers for her cousin she hasn't met was beautiful. I absolutely loved this novel and the ending.