As always, Janelle Brown writes so that you enjoy every word! This one was a little different, not as much mystery or romance, but still excellent, and a must read!

Brown's storytelling is both suspenseful and thought-provoking, delving into themes of trust, autonomy, and the complexities of parent-child relationships. As Jane uncovers the layers of her father's deceptions, she grapples with the duality of seeking truth while forging her own path in an unfamiliar world.​

What Kind of Paradise is not just a coming-of-age story but also a reflection on the choices we make in the face of societal change and the personal revolutions that define us. Brown's nuanced writing invites readers to ponder the cost of progress and the enduring quest for personal freedom.​
amazon.com

Verdict: A richly woven narrative that combines elements of mystery, family drama, and historical reflection, What Kind of Paradise is a testament to Janelle Brown's storytelling prowess. Highly recommended for readers seeking an immersive and thought-provoking read.

another banger by janelle, had a great time as usual. tough to talk about without spoilers but suffice to say i will be tuning into whatever she writes next as well

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Like all of the other Janelle Brown books I have read, this was engaging from start to finish.

Jane lives in Montana cabin with her father. They live off the land and philosophy books her father teaches her in lieu of a formal eduction. As she grows into teenager years, she begins to wonder exactly why they live away from everything and where her father goes when he leaves her alone.

I loved this one and could not put it down for the beginning. It’s a coming of age story in an unusual situation, which is always appealing, but there’s so much more to it; crime (which feels like true crime because it’s so realistic), suspense, action, first romance, and unique family relationships, old and new. There’s also a lot of philosophy and conflict about the advantages, and perils, of technology during the dot com boom.

“Faith in the people you adore doesn’t disappear slowing, with each tiny disappointment; instead it collapsed all at once, like the final snowfall that triggers an avalanche when the weight suddenly becomes too much to bear.”

What Kind of Paradise comes out 6/10

FIVE HUNDRED STARS!!! This book is what so many other books strive to be. Hear that, Where the Crawdads Sing? This story is all the feels in the best ways! Every single page is worth reading. No dull, draggy parts. I am still not ready to say goodbye to Jane!! Jane grows up with her dad, mostly off the grid, in the woods of Montana. She has very little experience with the outside world. As she enters her teens, she gets more and more curious and begins asking some questions about where she came from, is her mom really dead, stuff like that. Her dad does something terrible and she becomes an unwitting accessory. What follows is a super-suspenseful thriller/coming of age story that I could not put down and want to pick back up and read again! I have been a huge Janelle Brown fan for a while, Pretty Things is one of my favorite books, but she knocks it out of the park with this one! As I said, I absolutely loved Jane! Each time she did or thought something that made think there was just no way, all was explained and made perfect sense. I rooted SO hard for her. Her father is written so well, that you can still feel for him and the futility of what he thinks he is accomplishing even as he does horrible acts. This story takes place in the early nineties as we are just beginning to experience the impact of the internet and that boundless technology. I was in my early 20's during that time and loved reliving that newness here. Many questions are brought up that I am finding myself asking now in my real life, such as how much AI is too much and how far is it going to go? This may be my favorite book of 2025, and it is only February. Do not let this book languish in your TBR pile!! READ IT!!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Janelle Brown and Random House Publishing Group for this much-loved ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of June 10, 2025.

Very engaging and interesting read. Very well developed and ambitious. Will be recommending to library collection and patrons.

This is a hard one for me to rate. I really enjoyed the first half of this book which follows Jane into discovering her life isn’t what she thought it was. I was reminded of These Silent Woods in the first half but as Jane finds more of herself and connections around her it lost a little steam for me. I just didn’t love how it wrapped up and it missed bit of emotion that I think makes books 5 star vs 4 for me.

Can you ever escape legacy?
Jane has spent all the life she remembers in a cabin in the woods of Montana. Her father tells her very little about her late mother and their former life, instead focusing on homeschooling her in philosophy, survival skills, and self-reliance. He never tells her what he's doing when he goes away for days, but he constantly warns her about technology and its inevitable destructive force on humanity.
One day her father brings home a computer, hoping to use it to further his message, but inadvertently opens up a whole new world and skill and connections for Jane. At 17, all the questions in her mind come to a head, and she finally convinces her father to take her with him on one of his trips, and the trajectory of her life is changed forever.
At what point in trying to keep someone safe from what you believe to be controlling and destructive do you become controlling and destructive?
I absolutely loved Jane's strength and her determination to see things for herself. Jane's family was so broken, yet she always kept her own head above water and survived.
This was my first of Janelle Brown's books, but I will definitely be reading more. It's a brilliant read, that brought up so many questions on the effects pop culture and technology have on who we are as people. I will be buying a copy for my own library, and well as one to donate to the public library where I work. It is a must read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book takes you on a journey of a young woman who is raised by a man who she later comes to realize is not what he seems and there are many secrets he is keeping from her. This book delves into topics including inequality, the ethics of technological advancement, and the cost of chasing success and we see the consequences first hand through Jane's eyes. This was a thought provoking, emotional read that had me routing for Jane but also being distraught for her knowing that some of the scenarios she was being put in were not okay and she was oblivious to stop them.

This was definitely an interesting read for me in another way considering I worked at Microsoft for several years and while it wasn't during the time frame of this book, I found myself more invested in the story because of it.

This book reminded me of the book "The Mosquito Coast" by Paul Theroux in some parts so I suggest giving that one a read if you loved this book and are looking for something similar.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story pulled me in from the beginning and kept me invested the entire time. I could not guess what would lie ahead for these characters and I got emotionally invested in Jane. Such a brave, smart character. My only recommendation is to reel in some of the vocabulary. While I enjoy learning new words, I would have been frustrated reading this book in any other format other than electronic where I have access to the dictionary attached to my Kindle app.

This book will be one of my favorites from 2025. You're drawn in from the beginning, with Jane living with her father in the woods, starting to question what life will be like once she grows up. She starts seeing inconsistencies with what her father has told her about the past. could be a great book club read and definitely a perfect summer read.

Immediately I was drawn into Jane's story, both in the isolated cabin and what happens when the internet opens her eyes to other worlds and other truths about who she is. While there is some suspense, this is more about her journey and about the philosophical issues that she and the world are facing about the dangers of the internet and the lack of connection to people and nature. She is faced with some hard choices as she discovers who her father is and how to deal with that as he becomes a wanted man. compelling story on a lot of levels.

My student will enjoy this combo mystery, coming of age story filled with lots of local details and history of san francisco and the start of the internet.
Well researched. Easy to read and absorbing. 4.5

I don’t know what I expected this book to be, but it was so much more than that.

I’m left speechless after finishing What Kind of Paradise. It read almost like a memoir, and it left me to pause after, contemplating the world around me and how I exist within it.

The story is gripping, the writing is fantastic, and ultimately I think this book NEEDS to be read in the times we’re in as a society constantly connected to the world through computers and technology.

While the extreme nature of some of the philosophies within this book are not to be taken lightly, the overall outcome lends an eye into where we’ve been and where technology has taken us. Being mindful of the power, both good and bad, of the digital age is a step in the direction of what can be a cohesive existence with our almost-too-smart smart phones and healthy disconnect that allows us to never forget the world around us, its beauty, and the imperative connection we as humans need to maintain for our mental and physical health.

This is one I’ll read again.

Thank you Net Galley and Random House for this ARC and the privilege of leaving an honest review.

THIS will be a hit this summer, I just know. This author is becoming an auto buy author for me. I couldn't wait until June to read. I needed something that I could fly through, and this fit the bill exactly. Jane is a young teen living off the grid in Montana with her Dad. All of sudden, things aren't adding up for her--is she really Jane? Is her Mom really dead? How can she escape rural Montana? When her Dad takes her along on a trip to Seattle, she sense it's her chance to find out more about who she is, and it starts her on a journey. I loved the mid 90's references, as well as Jane's character. I could not put this down. Definitely don't miss this hit!

An interesting read but just not for me. I couldn’t get into this book. I was so intrigued by the summary but it felt flat for me.

Jane’s life if a lie. She grows up off the grid with her Dad. Who teaches her and doesn’t send her to school. The foreshadowing for this book is spot on. You can definitely tell where it’s going. The premise was good. Just couldn’t get into it. The first half was so slow for me. I could barely get through it. It does pick up in the end. The ending was good!

Jane, a 17-year-old female, has only known a life with her father in the isolated mountains of Montana. Restricted from the outside world, she is indoctrinated by her father's anti-technology stance and her only connection to the outside world is the occasional trip to the nearest bookstore, where she has a friendship with the owner's daughter. One day, her father lets her accompany him on one of his secret trips and disaster ensues, leaving her stranded in a big city, naive to modern society in the early 1990's.
As a teen in the 90's, I was able to relate to her excitement for emerging technology and her love for the "X Files." I really liked Jane and was rooting for her the entire story. The story was intense and kept me up well past my bedtime. Lionel was also a great character!
A 5 ⭐ read!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the eARC.

Our protagonist Jane has really been through a lot. She is a marvelous main character and easy to root for. Her father is a believable villain whom we love to hate. Jane is inspiring as she tries to maintain a positive attitude and embrace an unknown future. In Brown's expert hands, the novel is captivating and immersive. The ending ties things up very nicely.

Please note: while some of Brown's other novels are more firmly in the suspense or thriller territory, I would describe this one as general commercial fiction or women's fiction.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

I love that her books are so immersive. The amount of detail and depth to her stories and characters is unmatched. You know when you start a book of hers that you’ll get a well thought out and planned book with an ending that will leave you speechless. Loved it