*What Kind of Paradise* by Janelle Brown is a smart, suspenseful novel that blends emotional depth with a sharp commentary on privilege, perception, and the secrets we keep. Brown’s writing is engaging and insightful, and she masterfully unravels the layers of her characters’ lives with just the right balance of tension and empathy. The story pulls you in with its intrigue and moral complexity, even if a few plot points feel slightly stretched. Still, it’s a gripping and thoughtful read that keeps you thinking long after it ends! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC which I read in exchange for my honest review.

Five stars for this mysterious, thought-provoking book! I was all-in starting from page one, getting wrapped up in the mystery of Jane and Saul Williams. Along with a captivating mystery, Brown also has the reader considering all sides of the internet looking back at where it all begin while reflecting on how far it has come today. This is a must-read.

Jane and her dad have been living in a remote part of Montana for years following the death of her mom when she was a kid. As Jane gets older, however, she begins to question everything she thought she knew, especially about her dad.

This book, to me, was a mix of "These Silent Woods" and "The Return of Ellie Black". I think the plot was unique enough, but this was also quite the book to be reading with the events of this week in the real world. Jane's discoveries were interesting and yet heartbreaking at the same time. I'm not sure I bought into the role that AI was playing in the 90s, when this took place, but there were definitely many parallels to modern day.

I could not put this book down. Not even kidding. The whole thing was a rollercoaster. The beginning was what drew me in as an off the grid lifestyle unfolded, but I stayed for the action. It all came to such a full circle ending, showing that life isn’t just black and white and she was a direct product of both of her parents.

I'm giving this book 3 stars, BUT. It's not for the story or writing style; it's more the misleading blurb. I went in expecting a thriller and a lot of twists; instead, this was very much a coming of age and growing up story. I did like it, and will read more by Brown (this is my second or third of hers actually) - but man, I'm a mood reader and wouldn't have picked this if the blurb had been accurate!

Tried on audio. Couldn’t do it. Thanks for the opportunity but this book wasn’t for me. 😕 leaving a middle ground three star since I didn’t finish it.

This was fun!! This isn’t much of a mystery, and I don’t think it should be marketed as one (especially not a thriller). It’s more of an interesting examination of our parents and the world we grow up in, and how they shape us. I tore through this! Really fun.

I was expecting a very different book from the description and didn't really enjoy this book. Was expecting more of a culty thriller.

A teenage girl, living in remote Montana with her reclusive father, discovers that her past as she knows it is a lie and sets out to find the truth. I went in thinking this was going to be a thriller, but it is actually more of a coming-of-age novel. Set in the 1990s during the tech boom, this book was oddly nostalgic, and I could not put it down. I can't wait to see what the author puts out next. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this one!

Janelle Brown's novels always deliver, and What Kind of Paradise is no exception! This was a beautifully written, genre-blending coming-of-age story that explores how technology can both save and destroy. The story follows 17-year-old Jane, a girl raised entirely off-grid in a remote Montana cabin by her controlling, survivalist father. Her world is defined by philosophy books, self-reliance, and paranoia about modern society. Jane has never been to school and has barely any interaction with peers her own age. Her only link to the outside world is the occasional trip to a bookstore, but as Jane begins to ask questions and push against the strict boundaries her father has drawn, her story takes a turn. Set against the eerie backdrop of 1990s San Francisco internet culture, Jane uncovers secrets about her family and wrestles with her identity as a new world rapidly unfolds around her. This is a suspenseful drama that builds tension through emotional depth and character development. I truly enjoyed the storytelling and am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I loved this book!! I very much wanted a different ending but the story gripped me a few chapters in and I was hooked all the way through!

I’ve never read Janelle Brown before, but if this is any indication of her work, I’ll be reading more from her. This book is phenomenal. The story-telling; the mixture of scenes from Jane’s perspective, and later from her father; the atmospheric setting of the 90s and the coming of the internet age.

This story was reminiscent of Pieces of Her, but just… better.

Everything about this book was absolutely immersive, from the cabin in the woods of Montana to bookstore in Bozeman to San Francisco and Silicon Valley. As a person that grew up during the rise of the internet, and now obviously seeing where technology has taken us (and is heading), this book was introspective in many ways.

This story went in a direction I didn’t see coming, and was parts psychological thriller, drama, coming-of-age. It’s a story about family, finding your place in the world, and figuring out who you are and can be.

I do wish the ending a bit less abrupt, but because it was kind of told from the perspective of adult Jane looking back and sharing her experience about a particular time in her life, so it made sense to the story, but I guess I just never wanted the story to end, so it felt quickly wrapped up. But honestly, this entire novel was such a good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This wasn't the book I thought it would be when requesting it, and although I think it's a good book, it isn't my kind of book.

This book is a nostalgic blast from the past, transporting us back to the 90s and the early days of the Internet. As I dove into this coming-of-age mystery mashup, I could practically hear my modem dialing up!

Janelle Brown delivers a bold and unforgettable exploration of the complex dynamics between parents and children, the role of technology, and the bittersweet journey from innocence to adulthood. The writing is poignant and heartfelt. I didn’t want to put this down!

What Kind of Paradise will make you ponder the impact of tech on society and the lengths we go to protect our loved ones. This nuanced, thought-provoking read is a must!

What Kind of Paradise was my first Janelle Brown book and it did not disappoint. I went into this blind and am so glad that I did.

Jane was raised in the remote wilderness of Montana with her father after her mother died in an accident. Jane doesn't know much other than their little cabin and a few stores in town when they go for supplies. She has one friend that is also homeschooled. Her dad preaches the bad side of technology. However, one day he shows up with a computer and a modem. Once connected to the outside world Jane starts to see that there is so much more available to her.

In a series of events Jane's life is turned upside down. Leaving the only home she has ever known she is thrown into the current world and technology. She has to learn if things are real or what her dad thought was real.

This book was beautifully written, all of the parts offering a different insight into Jane's life. If you enjoyed These Silent Woods and The Scent Keeper I think you would also enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of What Kind of Paradise for an honest review.

I've enjoyed the author's prior books so was so excited to get a copy of What Kind of Paradise early! Unfortunately, I seem to be in the minority with not loving this one! The writing is strong, and there are moments of intrigue and build up that kept me reading, but I found myself struggling with the pacing. Some parts moved too quickly, while others felt drawn out, making it hard for me to stay engaged. I also wanted to feel more of the emotional weight behind Jane’s journey, but something about the way it unfolded left me feeling at a distance. There were definitely some plot holes, and I was a bit bored learning about Jane's work - I wanted more of her past life! Overall, I struggled to connect with the main character, and everything seemed to fall into place a little too easily, which took away any real sense of suspense. Eager to see what the author does next though! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

What a fantastic reminder of how much I love Janelle Brown’s writing. What Kind of Paradise is, at its core, a mystery, but it is also a sweeping exploration of one girl’s unusual life and the dark undercurrents that led to everything she knows.

Jane grew up in a cabin in the woods in Montana with her dad. They were almost entirely cut off from the outside world, with him constantly explaining the evils of technological advancement as well as having regular drills of what to do if and when the FBI came looking for them.

As Jane gets older and has a bit more exposure to the outside world, she begins to question whether her father’s rules and views are actually aligned with her own beliefs. After discovering paperwork in her dad’s study that makes her question everything, Jane sets off for San Francisco on her own and finds herself surrounded by start-ups focused on exactly the type of technological advancement she has been taught to fear.

I was so impressed with how huge this story felt while still only being about Jane. The section set in Montana was so different from that set in San Francisco but they were each so well developed in terms of setting and characters. I felt wholly immersed in both worlds and enjoyed them each equally.

The focus on the possible evils of technology felt so timely but I loved that it was explored at a time when the internet was just getting started. The arguments on each side are still so relevant and it was such an interesting study of someone who saw the downside to the internet so early vs. the people working so hard to expand what it could do. Plopping Jane in the middle, who had been spoon-fed one perspective all her life, was fascinating.

This story had so many layers and explored so many themes. It’s hard to try to capture it all in one review, so I’ll just say read it.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

We start by following Jane and her father who live in an isolated cabin in the woods in Montana. The story is based in the mid-1990s and Jane believes that she lost her mom when she was a child and so her father moved them to a small town. Jane’s dad doesn’t talk about his past and Jane knows little about herself. As Jane starts to question her dad and her surroundings, pieces of the past start to click into place leading to a wild ride and testing her loyalties.

As I mentioned, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader, copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

This story follows 17-year-old Jane as she navigates her life from complete isolation in a cabin in the woods of Montana where she lives with her father, to a catastrophic event that changes her life, to discovering her new identity in the world she was hidden away from.
This novel was rich in character, had a strongly executed plot and purposeful ideas about the power of AI and the fine line between genius and madness. Jane is so sheltered and believes everything her fanatical father tells her. His manifesto about the coming of doomsday because of AI is his obsession and Jane gets entangled in a serious crime because of his beliefs.

I flew through this complex, provocative novel that challenged my own ideas about the future of the computer mind.

I could not put this book down, and didn’t want it to end. It had Tomorrow,, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and The Great Alone vibes. This is the story of Jane and her father, who live in off the grid in Montana in the 80s and 90s. As Jane grows older, she begins to question her father’s motives for being a recluse, especially as she discovers clues in their cabin. On one fateful outing, Jane inadvertently commits a crime, and also becomes an accomplice to her father’s crime. When they are separated, Jane has no choice but to go and explore her past and her father’s past in hopes of stopping him from committing more crimes. This is a suspenseful, coming of age novel with a thoughtful plot, great character development and immersive setting.