What kind of paradise is a whirlwind coming of age story, exploring themes of personal identity, unconditional love, and what it means to keep the secrets of those we love. With prose that is at once descriptive and fast-paced, the pages fly by. Where is the line between keeping our children protected from outside influences, and keeping them prisoner? When do we make our own original ideas, form our own moral compass separate from what we have been raised to believe as absolute truth? Jane and her father explore all of these questions in a story that draws you in and doesn't let go.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy.

When I picked up Janelle Brown's new book, I anticipated it being a fairly straightforward thriller; WHAT KIND OF PARADISE is definitely a thriller but in the most surprising ways. Jane has spent almost her entire life living in an isolated cabin in the woods of Montana, with her father, who homeschools her by teaching her esoteric philosophers and poets. After an initially exciting--and afterward terrifying--trip to Seattle, Jane starts to question everything she thought she new about her life, her father, and even herself. The big picture story is a battle between the tech revolution of the late nineties and the anti-tech movement that Jane's father is leading. More importantly, though, is a story about a young woman who has every last piece of her world upended and must make a decision about what path she wants to take, to forge her own existence.

What Kind of Paradise is out June 10, 2025

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5)

Release Date: June 10, 2025

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book from @netgalley and boy, it did not disappoint. I know it’s *cruel* to give a 5 ⭐️ review to a book that isn’t released yet - but yall, buckle up. This book will be one of THE books this year - it is exceptional. This contemporary fiction - coming of age - deep dive into technology and culture - hits all the right notes. It’s VERY VERY good. Pre-order it if you can!

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What Kind of Paradise is a twisty novel from Janelle Brown that I couldn’t stop reading. Jane stayed in my thoughts for days after I finished this book. I loved the character development. Janelle Brown is fantastic with that! This story was believable, heart wrenching, unsettling and suspenseful in every way. I wanted even more and didn't want this one to end! Major book hangover. Thank you NetGalley!

I am so excited to have received an ARC of What Kind of Paradise from NetGalley. Janelle Brown is one of my very favorite authors. Her writing captures all of the intricacies and awkwardness of the human condition, and I’ve loved every one of her books from start to finish.

In What Kind of Paradise, Jane is coming of age in the 90's off the grid in Montana with a paranoid father whose behavior is becoming increasingly erratic as he tries to spread his luddite theories while also maintaining their reclusivity. Keep in mind that this is occurring during the dotcom era. As Jane grapples with feelings of isolation, identity, self-discovery, and devotion to the only parent she's ever known, she begins to suspect things are not as they seem. When presented with an opportunity to leave their home and possibly escape her reclusive life, she takes it. While you can predict where Jane’s story is going, it’s a devastating and heartwarming-adjacent journey getting there. It's impossible to not feel empathy for Jane's situation and her ever-evolving feelings of parental adoration, disillusionment, and rejection. As always, a Janelle Brown character has left a lasting impression on me and I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Such a captivating read! I felt so many different emotions during this book... It was well written and researched. Highly recommend

I really did enjoy the book—the settings were excellent and you really could see how it would feel like being isolated in Montana. I liked the switch to early internet start up culture.

There were some odd mistakes though—“two buck chuck” came out in 2002, Clorox wipes and the Sims in 2000. The Sims is having a whole 25th anniversary event which made it stand out more.

Perhaps it because I am the same age as Jane/Esme but these errors were pretty glaring.

A coming-of-age story set in the 90s during the internet boom, this novel follows Jane, a teenager raised in the middle of the woods by her brilliant and hermitic father. As Jane nears adulthood, she grapples with exploring the world outside of their isolated cabin and learning to think for herself—even as she realizes her father (who has always zealously spouted the evils of technology) may not be the man she has always idolized.

Once I started reading this book, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! I admired Jane’s tenacity to discover the truth, and identified with her struggle to stay true to her family but also forge her own path and identity. I enjoyed how it felt fast-paced but we still got to see Jane’s character development throughout.

What a nostalgic trip back to the 90s with the latest by Janelle Brown! I love her books so I was so excited to dive into her newest. WHAT KIND OF PARADISE travels the ready back to the late 90s when the internet is about to explode... as well as some other things (hint hint). Loosely based on the story of the Unabomber, I had a hard time putting this one down. I thought it was going to be a thriller at first, but while there is a solid mystery running through the center, I think the novel is a big genre-defying.

Jane, our narrator, is a 17 year old girl growing up off the grid in Montana with her Dad. She is sheltered and secluded from the world, that is until her Dad brings home a TV and a computer which she sneaks looks at when he's away. There, the world opens up to her, but once her father founds out, all things go to hell. Taking us on a whirlwind adventure, Jane sets off to figure out life as both an adult and possibly a fugitive at the same time. The book is so well-written and sad and heartfelt. Another great novel from Brown and I can't wait for more.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This might just be a five-star read for me. I found even more to love about Janelle Brown in this one, seriously so good! I always know it's a good book when I stay up late reading it!

Jane is a fantastic main character, her personality and background living in the remote setting is so well-developed and believable throughout. You can't help but root for her, not to mention you also can't help but root AGAINST her father.

I admire Jane's journey and her attitude to keep pushing into a new life, despite how scary and "unknown" the future would be if she broke away from the life she knew in Montana. Her story becomes equal parts heart-breaking, thrilling, and captivating.

Brown packs a lot of story into a little more than 360 pages, with an ending that ties a bow on the whole thing. I expect this book and it's story to stand out over time rather than fall into the abyss of the novels I read throughout the year. I will definitely be recommending this one to fellow readers, friends, and family.

What Kind of Paradise is a nail-biting novel from Janelle Brown that I couldn’t put down. The protagonist, Jane, stayed with me for days as I rooted for her twists and turns. It was expertly written with character development that had a balance of empathy and critical examination.

Jane, a teenager in remote Montana, begins to question her entire life which has been warped by her father. The pacing of the novel is masterful, slowly building a sense of dread as Jane pieces together her narrative in her father’s words. Brown perfectly captures Jane as a naive teenager and her father, her only teacher, as an academic brilliance and his disillusionment with modern society.

What Kind of Paradise was believable, unsettling and suspenseful in every possible way and left me wanting more.

Not to get spoilerish in this post but wow this book really drew me in. From finding out the truth about the girls dad to how everything gets resolved it was all wild. Tbh i want more like a novella sequel or a whole full length novel it was such good writing I want more.

This book will make you think! Is technology all it’s cracked up to be? Are we sacrificing things we will regret? Loved the characters and was drawn right in!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

5⭐️ my first Janelle Brown book, just Wow! This is a must read! Set in rural Montana, teenager Jane lives with her off the grid dad Adam, isolated from the world. Homeschooled and raised without a mom, she’s soon to be 18 and starts to question everything. Where does her dad disappear to and what is in his locked room and desk? A series of events leaves Jane alone and searching in Silicon Valley for answers and the life she was denied.

Beautiful writing, puts you right there in the wilds of Montana and in the birth of tech in Silicone Valley.
The story is engaging, tense and mysterious at times, a real page turner. One of my favorites books this year and I’m sure for 2025!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for my honest review

TL;DR: the latest from Brown is surprisingly prescient in its exploration of silicon valley, public anger at the 1%, and survivalist living in the face of an overreaching government. It's really well done, and the character work is so strong. Not to mention I found myself on the edge of my seat most of the book. The author continues to be one of the best when it comes to writing complicated, nuanced mother/daughter relationships. This is a home run.

Absolutely amazing. I don't even have words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. The plot, the characters... so so good.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a good story but for some reason I had a hard time getting into it. Overall I just felt sad for Jane/Esme. I liked the television references and Lionel was probably my favorite character.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Janelle Brown is quickly becoming one of my favorite mystery/thriller authors. Her novels continue to get better and better and this latest offering is no exception.

A book influencer I love was raving about this book, so I immediately requested an ARC, having no clue what this was about. I devoured this book!! It was perfectly executed, the pacing was spot on, and the characters had so much depth and nuance. Somehow this is the first book I've read by Janelle Brown, but definitely not my last. Her writing was deeply researched, gripping and suspensful. I especially enjoyed reading about the early days of the internet, being a teen myself in the late-nineties and visiting endless chat rooms. This book really captivated me and I didn't want it to end. Can't wait to tell everyone to read this book when it releases in June 2025. Thank you NetGalley for the early digital copy.

I loved this and was hooked from the very beginning! The MC was great, teetering between being self sufficient and smart to also being naive based on her isolated upbringing. I found this to be a slow burn mystery, with excellent writing and story to keep me invested. The book tells you upfront what the inevitable end will be, and then takes its time telling the story.

It’s always fun to revisit a time from my childhood like the 90s when the internet and technology were just becoming popular. The use of this time period was very interesting, and it did make me think about how readily available information is now vs then.

Overall a very solid story that kept me invested with great characters and an interesting plot that I recommend!