Author: Trish Doller
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Bloomsbury (June 2, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Book Description:
Eighteen-year-old Arcadia wants adventure. Living in a tiny Florida town with her dad and four-year-old brother, Cadie spends most of her time working, going to school, and taking care of her family. So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. They invite her and friend to join them on a road trip, and it's just the risk she's been craving-the opportunity to escape. But what starts out as a fun, sexy journey quickly becomes dangerous when she discovers that one of them is not at all who he claims to be. One of them has deadly intentions.
A road trip fling turns terrifying in this contemporary story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
As soon as I saw Trish's name attached to that premises, I just knew I had to read this.
I have always said that there needs to be more thrillers and mystery reads in the YA genre and this is one of those that was so well done that you can't help but want others to read it.
The characters were engaging, the plot line terrifying, and the premises one that we don't like to think about, but that sadly, happens more often than we want to believe. A young girl, bored with her life, making stupid choices just to have a little fun, a little adventure in her life. The consequences for those choices were hard ones. Ones that changed her life forever.
I had a hard time deciding if I liked Cadie or not at times. I found myself wanting to shout at her through the pages because of how stupid she was being but I also felt for her too. I felt her responsibilities, her struggles, and her loss. It's hard not liking someone that has a heart as good as her's, stupid decisions aside.
I liked the intense feel this novel took at times when you just knew something was going to happen without knowing exactly what that something would be. You knew one of these boys, or possibly even both were not who they seemed to be and that feeling only escalated as more and more clues of things that had happened in their past and recently, were uncovered.
Overall I liked this read. It was fun, it was fast, and it was heart pounding. Trish did a really good job making it realistically frightening in its simplicity and design. So believable that it was unbelievable that someone could be that stupid, naive, and so very lost and yet, you know that it happens all the time.
I truly enjoyed this and look forward to reading more from this author because she truly does have some original stories out that are worth every minute of reading them.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review*
Id like to read this. I am loving more and more YA suspense
ReplyDeleteI really am too, we need more of them!
DeleteI agree, more mysteries and thrillers in YA please! I keep hearing great things about this, so I can't wait to get my hands on it. Glad you enjoyed it! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lauren, I hope you end up liking it too.
DeleteThanks for sharing. I do want to read more mysteries and thrillers in the YA genre. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a good one if you're interested in the genre.
DeleteThis was my least favorite Trish Doller book I think. I really struggled with Cadie as well because of how stupid she was throughout the book. I did enjoy the mystery part of it even though it was predictable. In the end, this was one of those fun books. But I'm going to have nightmares about alligators for the rest of my life.
ReplyDeleteLovely review, Ali!
Yes the alligator part was really creepy!
DeleteI haven't read a book by this author but I am looking for something different. Especially in the YA thriller genre. There really isn't that many around that really grip you. I will keep a look out for this one. Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Emma!
DeleteI think I'm going to struggle with Cadie and her stupid decisions Ali, but I'm too curious to pass this one up entirely, so I think as long as I know she makes poor choices going in, I'll be better off:) Fantastic review!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jenny and really, other than that, this was a good read.
DeleteI like how there are more choices for YA mysteries and thrillers now. I hope it continues to grow. I'm not sure if I can handle the MC's stupid mistakes, but I might order this one for my students.
ReplyDeleteI think your students will really like it ;)
DeleteTerrifying plot? Bring it on! It's not often that you get them in YA fiction... And whoever a fictional character gets you to the point where you want to scream at her through the pages - yeah, that's clever writing indeed! Amazing review :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a scary concept for sure, especially since I have young girls and I would hate for them to make the choices the protagonist did in this.
DeleteAs I was reading the blur and your review, I was reminded of the book Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick which I really enjoyed. Does this have maybe a similar vibe? I think you read it too? The mystery sounds very intriguing here.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Ali : )
Kind of Kim although I liked Black Ice way more than I did this one. ;)
DeleteI've heard that people struggled with liking the protagonist and I can see why. Hopefully I'll end up liking her when I read this one? Thanks for the review :D
ReplyDeleteYeah her choices were hard to stomach.
DeleteOh man. It sounds like it has its moments, but over all not too excited about this book now. Sad, coz I really like this author.
ReplyDeleteI do too but this wasn't her best work. ;)
DeleteGah. I am such a sucker for thrillers and mysteries, so this sounds exactly up my alley Ali! It's a shame the characters were a bit unlikeable at times, but I guess that makes them more realistic, you know? Definitely looking forward to this haunting story. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ♥
ReplyDeleteThat is very true, you have a fabulous point. It did make her seem very real.
DeleteI had the same feelings about Cadie. It's been a while since I've read this and I'm still not sure about her. On the other hand, I thought the twist was actually incredibly predictable. But I liked the writing and the general feel of the whole book. Awesome review, Ali! <3
ReplyDeleteIt was predictable but still creepy. ;)
DeleteIt's difficult to have a character like that but the story sounds really well done so it's quite interesting to see that.
ReplyDeleteIt was well done even if it was predictable at times.
DeleteIf you slap a book, do the characters feel it?
ReplyDelete~ Deep thoughts by Christy. lol. Hm hm hmmm ... not sure I can deal with this one anytime soon, but perhaps in the future.
Sometimes I wish they would. :P
DeleteI've seen mixed reviews about this one, I still want to give it a go though - the premise has me so excited for it! I'm not sure if I would like Cadie too much, I can't deal with stupid heroines :( <3 Benish | Feminist Reflections
ReplyDeleteShe did have her likable moments, she wasn't all bad.
DeleteI couldn't agree more that there needs to be more thrillers within YA. I am still on the fence about this one. Everything about the synopsis appeals to me, but I have seen a lot of mixed reviews.
ReplyDeleteYeah I can completely understand that. :)
DeleteI definitely think you would have a problem with her Heidi.
ReplyDeleteYou know I hate stupid characters that do stupid things but this doesn't sound too bad.
ReplyDeleteLOL, it might irritate you though. ;)
DeleteI've read at least one book by this author before and enjoyed it... but this sounds a bit dark for my tastes and characters I want to shout at / shake into reason, are usually a turn-off for me. I might give this one a miss for now. Nice review!
ReplyDeleteThanks Annette. :D
DeleteHehe..besides the stupid characters this sounds good. I love a good thriller and that feeling of your heart racing. Totally agree we need more of this in YA.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely did have that part down. ;)
DeleteThere do need to be more YA mysteries! I'd never read this if it was adult, sounds too creepy. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I'd probably spend the whole book yelling at her too. I hate stupid main characters!
ReplyDeleteMe too Molly, they are hard to love and make it hard to love the story, no matter how well written it is.
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