Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

Series: You, #2

Publication date: February 23, 2016

Publisher: Atria

Genres: Adult, Thriller

Format: eARC

Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review

Pages: 448
Rating: ★★★.5/5

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 In the compulsively readable follow-up to her widely acclaimed debut novel, You, Caroline Kepnes weaves a tale that Booklist calls “the love child of Holden Caulfield and Patrick Bateman.”

Hidden Bodies marks the return of a voice that Stephen King described as original and hypnotic, and through the divisive and charmingly sociopathic character of Joe Goldberg, Kepnes satirizes and dissects our culture, blending suspense with scathing wit.

Joe Goldberg is no stranger to hiding bodies. In the past ten years, this thirty-something has buried four of them, collateral damage in his quest for love. Now he’s heading west to Los Angeles, the city of second chances, determined to put his past behind him.

In Hollywood, Joe blends in effortlessly with the other young upstarts. He eats guac, works in a bookstore, and flirts with a journalist neighbor. But while others seem fixated on their own reflections, Joe can’t stop looking over his shoulder. The problem with hidden bodies is that they don’t always stay that way. They re-emerge, like dark thoughts, multiplying and threatening to destroy what Joe wants most: truelove. And when he finds it in a darkened room in Soho House, he’s more desperate than ever to keep his secrets buried. He doesn’t want to hurt his new girlfriend—he wants to be with her forever. But if she ever finds out what he’s done, he may not have a choice...

Unfortunately my review of the first book in the series; You is in Danish but it was one of my favorite reads of last year! I absolutely loved it and I was surprised by the amount of literature in the book I mean Joe Goldberg, our main character, works in a bookstore and loves to read! I basically loved that we liked Joe and didn't like Beck. You definitely need to have read You before Hidden Bodies, I'm not sure how much sense some of it is going to make if you haven't.

I thought You was a standalone so I was very surprised when I found out that it was a duology - as far as I know she only have a two-book deal. I'm quite happy that I was able to get my hands on an eARC of Hidden Bodies though - even though I wish I could have listened to it as an audiobook instead. I think this series is the perfect one for audiobooks!

As you know, Hidden Bodies is about Joe Goldberg. It hasn't shifted in narrators and for that I am grateful! This one takes place in Los Angeles opposed to New York and I'm going to come straight out and tell you guys; You is so much better! Joe of course goes after Amy Adams, as you'd expected from the ending of You. Their relationship is nothing like the one he had with Beck - but I still didn't like her.
Hidden Bodies is just as poetic as the first one and I just love the writing style! It's hauntingly beautiful so of course I highlighted the heck out of this one! He managed to write a story in 6 words;

She waves. She goes. The end. 

I kept reading these 6 words over and over. Even though it's now completely out of context it's more beautiful. Ofcourse some will be cynical about it, but that line is what I like the best about this series. The ability Kepnes has to write the creepiest story, with a compelling main character, and the book is still hauntingly beautiful - who does that?

Even though I wasn't Joe's biggest fan in this one, I loved watching him grow! He experiences love and he's definitely, well almost, a changed man. I also enjoyed learning more about him, for example;

I've never harmed an animal; I can't imagine being that sort of monster.

He somehow rates animals higher than humans! Because obviously he's killed a lot of people but he would never stoop so low as to kill, or even harm, an animal. I for one find that quite funny.

What I really missed in this one was all the literary goodness we got in You. I wanted the bookstore, I wanted literary discussions, I wanted books! I was expected by the lack of it when you compare it to You. There's next to nothing when it comes to literary references and it saddens me.

Going through my notes I made while reading Hidden Bodies have me laughing out loud. The last 15-20% is all WHAT!?... WHAT!? etc. Well, I'm going to warn you in advance. It's what, 50 pages?, of plot twists! I didn't know what was going on half the time and reading this on the bus made for quite an embarrassing ride. It's all worth it to read the last 20 percent of the books, it's quite literally a roller coaster ride and it's a crazy one!

I'm trying to be pretty vague about what happens in this one since these books are just better to read knowing as little as possible! So, it's worth the read, but You is much better.

Moth Girls by Anne Cassidy

Series: N/A, Standalone

Publication date: January 7, 2016

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Genres: YA, Thriller

Format: Paperback, review copy

Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review

Pages: 284
Rating: ★★★/5

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Helplessly drawn like moths to the light, two girls go missing in an evocative and gripping tale . . .

They called them the Moth Girls because they were attracted to the house. They were drawn to it. Or at least that is what is written in the newspapers that Mandy reads on the anniversary of when her two best friends went missing. Five years have passed since Petra and Tina were determined to explore the dilapidated house on Princess Street. But what started off as a dare ended with the two girls vanishing. As Mandy's memories of the disappearance of her two friends are ignited once again, disturbing details will resurface in her mind.

An emotional thriller that explores our deepest, darkest fears. How far would you go to find your two lost friends? 

I love thrillers but I'm somehow always disappointed in YA thrillers. This one didn't stand out from the crowd. I apologize in advance for my review, but Mandy touched some nerves.

It's not like I had high expectations for Moth Girls, I was expecting a good page-turning thriller and what I got wasn't exactly that. I read it in two sittings, but after I'd read 100 pages I put it down and didn't think about it for nearly a week and then I remembered that I should probably go ahead and finish it. Funny thing is that I didn't remember that much about the story when I picked it up again - nothing was memorable.

I'm sitting here trying to write a review and I literally have nothing to say about this book. I am quite indifferent to it so looking for words for a review is like trying to grab the air - quite pointless. I'm going to try anyway since I've finished it and feel like I should do my best!

Mandy, Mandy, Mandy. She's our narrator and the most annoying person I've come across this year. She keeps blaming herself for their disappearance - which she really shouldn't. She keeps blaming herself for not telling anybody they went into the house - which she probably should have done, but done is done. And she keep on living in that time - she tries getting new friends but she gets easily attached and, well, you know how that ends.
After learning more about the girls' friendship I don't know why Mandy even bothered befriending them - or rather tried to. Petra has a bunch of problems at home which result in her being a bitch for a lack of better word. I understand her behaviour against Mandy to a certain degree but seriously? It gets old quickly. Tina tries to be friends with both of them and ultimately choose Petra and we know that didn't go well.
Mandy was never actually a part of their little group but she've grown up believing that she was. I thought the three of them were actually best friends and then she, Mandy, was left behind to pick up the pieces. That is not how it is. She was always on the edge and she chose not to go with them and she blames herself for years afterwards. I want more mature and confident characters in YA, not these delusional ones I keep reading about!

Moth Girls is a quite mediocre read. I found the characters lacking in almost every way and I wasn't at all interested in the story. It wasn't exactly predictable but it wasn't captivating either. I was a bit disappointed with the ending since I'd feared that it would end the way it did. The only thing I can say without spoiling everything for you is that I found Mandy's, our main character, actions quite childish and she should've told someone!

I believe I've gotten the point across; I'm not happy with this book.

Cloud 9 by Alex Campbell

Series: N/A, Standalone

Publication date: September 3, 2015

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Genres: YA, Thriller, Futuristic

Format: Paperback, review copy

Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review

Pages: 325
Rating: ★★★.5/5

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If there was a wonder-drug to make you feel happier, would you take it?

With no side effects, Leata is the perfectly safe pick-me-up!

What if everyone you knew had been taking it for years - your teachers, your friends, your family?

Leata - helping the country feel more positive! 

What if your dad was dead-set against the drug and the corporation behind it?

Not all questions bring the answers we need! 

What if he died? What if you begin to suspect he was killed? What if you've lived your whole life believing in something - only to find out it's a lie?

Life's short. Enjoy it! 

Last year I read and reviewed Land by Alex Campbell, you can read my review here. 

To be honest I didn't think I'd ever end up writing this review. This was definitely an anticipated read, but after I'd read 30 pages I was ready to throw the book across the room. I decided to put it down for the time being and pick it up another time - usually I don't pick the book up again. I picked it up a few days ago and maybe the time was just right, but the day after I'd finished the book and I'd definitely enjoyed it.

The narrator 

Cloud 9 is told in a quite peculiar way. Even though there's alternate chapters saying 'him' and 'her' it's still told from a third person narrator although towards the end it switches back and forth between first person and third person quite a lot. Nevertheless, you can easily tell Tom, him, and Hope, her, from each other since the narrator somehow alters his voice. It's quite hard to explain, and I'm confused by it myself. The reason I wanted to tell you is because I find it odd that there's this illusion that it's told from two first person narrators through out the entire book even though it's actually a third person narrator so the two main character shouldn't actually have voices, but they do, somehow.

Leata, the wonder-drug 

I thought I'd tell you a bit about the drug some people, or most people, in Cloud 9 take. Somehow it makes you happy but it's not antidepressant. It doesn't help everyone, you should preferably start taking it before you're in double-figures or something like that. Basically the younger you are when you start taking it, the better it works.
I think Hope's obsession with Leata, and I really think it's an obsession since she wears clothes from Leata and with their slogans, she's a Leata sponsored blogger and she just keeps pushing it on people! Her obsession with Leata is maybe a bit much, but again, I get it after I got to know her better. I still think it's a bit overdone though.

I find this pill quite intriguing and it's basically the main reason I wanted to read this book. I still find it quite intriguing but like Allegiant; once you know the truth, you can't ever see it the same way.

Characters, Tom and Hope 

So, our two main characters are Tom and Hope. Hope is pro Leata and Tom is against. I definitely like that we see two sides instead of e.g. two people pro Leata or two people against Leata. We get to see what life is like with and without - and there's definitely a difference!

It was Hope who made me want to throw the book across the room. All she cares about is her numbers - that is the amount of followers or subscribers she has at any given moment. She's sooo shallow and she just annoyed me! When I read it the second time, because I started from the beginning once again, I was still annoyed with her, but I knew what was coming. After reading some more and getting to know Hope I understand why she is so shallow and I get it. I actually started to feel really sorry for her and definitely didn't expect that!
I think her character development is one of the greatest I've ever come across. I practically hated the Hope we meet in the beginning and I love the person she becomes in the end. She's definitely a strong woman in the end who knows how to stand up for herself and I've even come to admire her. Yes, it's that big a change!

Tom I'm a bit indifferent to. I like him, and on the other hand I feel like he's just a way to keep the story going. His dad committed suicide, or that's what the people behind Leata wants you, and everyone else, to believe. He wants to find out what it is his father was killed for and that's basically what drives the whole story. His mission, and soon-to-be Hope's mission, is to find this big side-effect, or something like that, to Leata.
Now, two days after finishing the book and with a bunch of notes I seriously have nothing to say about him.. Sorry.

As with every other young adult book, there's a love interest, and like every other YA book, you know it's going to be the two main characters. Even though I knew they were going to end up together, I still approve. They balance each other out and I love that they have a history. They knew each other when they were toddlers and when the story begins they haven't talked in years. Nevertheless, they're cute together and seeing them grow together was great!

The story 

To be honest I really don't have that much to say about the story. It wasn't an unputdownable book, it wasn't that enticing and it really didn't keep me on the edge of my seat. I also felt like a lot could've been left out.
I still finished the book though, but I really don't think it's anything special. It was a great experience though - just like any other book.


Lastly, I just wanted to say that I won't keep any of you from reading it! I can totally see a lot of people loving this, since it is YA and reminds me a lot of a dystopian world or just basic sci-fi. It's not that it's not a good book - it's just didn't do it for me.

When I Was Me by Hilary Freeman

Series: N/A, Standalone

Publication date: September 3, 2015
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Genres: YA, Thriller
Format: Physical review copy
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Pages: 262
Rating: ★★★/5

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If you can't trust yourself, then who can you trust?

When Ella wakes up one Monday morning, she discovers that she is not herself and that her life is not her own.

She looks different, her friends are no longer her friends and her existence has been erased from the internet. Ella worries she has gone mad - especially as nobody else thinks that anything weird has happened. What has gone wrong with her life? How can Ella piece it all together?

A tense and dark psychological thriller full of unexpected twists and turns about the random events and decisions that make us who we are.

I'm going to keep this on the shorter side since I don't have that much to say about the book. 

When I Was Me is told by Ella, our main character. She is 17-years-old and her life is not what it seems. The line that sums up the entire book is; you have memories of things that haven't happened, but no memory of the things that have?. That's basically what the whole book is about.

When I Was Me starts with a prologue which, just like every other prologue, confused me. And then the first chapter begins with; Something isn't right. I didn't like the way I was confused by the prologue, because it wasn't 'good' confused it was 'bored and I have no idea what's going on'-confused
I was expecting a lot of mystery and a lot of confusion since the book is about a girl having 'memories of things that haven't happened and no memory of things that have' but I was just bored to be honest. I went into this thinking it would keep me hooked until I turned the last page but I didn't find it at all hard to put down.
Often I find the main characters frustrating in YA literature but I was quite indifferent to Ella.
So, to summarize; I was bored and indifferent throughout the majority of the book.

After reading the synopsis I think I was expecting something along the lines of Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington - a book I read and absolutely loved last year. That one is actually about a girl who has to lives. She wakes up, live her life, goes to sleep, wakes up and lives her other life throughout the book. It's so interesting and I wish When I Was Me had more in common with Between the Lives but I can't say they have anything at all.

SPOILER The theory is that Ella's subconsciousness has somehow landed in an alternate universe and I was quite exited about that in the beginning as it is quite interesting and NEW, BUT I quickly found it bland, I guess, and I wish the story had taken another turn instead - I have no idea where to though! SPOILER

As always a little non-spoilery comment on the ending; it surprised me and it was probably my favorite part of the entire book. I found it nerve-wracking and thought-provoking and just plain exciting. I also love how there's more endings than one! Yes, there is and it's definitely my absolute favorite part of the book. To say I was surprised is an understatement.

I had expected a tense and dark psychological thriller but that was not what I received. I didn't connect with the main character, I didn't find the story intriguing or interesting and it really didn't want to keep me reading. All the things I usually love about psychological thrillers were missing in When I Was Me. The ending was pretty good though, as you can probably tell from my excitement above, but other than that, not so much.
If you decide to read the book I seriosuly hope you enjoy it more than I did!

Monsters by Emerald Fennell

Series: N/A, Standalone

Publication date: September 3, 2015

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Genres: Thriller

Format: eArc

Source: The publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Pages: 288

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A blackly comic tale about two children you would never want to meet.

Set in the Cornish town of Fowey, all is not as idyllic as the beautiful seaside town might seem. The body of a young woman is discovered in the nets of a fishing boat. It is established that the woman was murdered. Most are shocked and horrified. But there is somebody who is not - a twelve-year-old girl. She is delighted; she loves murders. Soon she is questioning the inhabitants of the town in her own personal investigation. But it is a bit boring on her own. Then Miles Giffard, a similarly odd twelve-year-old boy, arrives in Fowey with his mother, and they start investigating together. Oh, and also playing games that re-enact the murders. Just for fun, you understand...

A book about two twelve-year-olds that is definitely not for kids.

I was invited to read this and I probably wouldn’t have read it if I hadn’t been invited. The summary sounds quite intriguing but the book has left me speechless.

I think the beginning is my favorite part of the entire book; What do to monsters do when they pass each other in the forest? Smile.

Monsters is told from the perspective of a neglected 12-year-old girl.

The main character is a girl, she’s 12 years old and an orphan. In the beginning we’re clearly told that her parents died in a boating accident three years prior. Our main character does not have an easy life; her parents were definitely not loving parents and her grandmother has no idea how to take care of her. Her grandmother made her read the violent bits in gory books out loud to her. Our main character always spends her summer in Cornwall with her Aunt Maria and Uncle Frederick – who are not happy to see her either.

She doesn’t really know how things function and she’s quite macabre and peculiar. When she grows up she’d like to marry her teacher and even though she likes her school she sometimes think it would be better if someone burned the place to the ground.

I didn’t really like the main character at all, I found her way too peculiar and odd for my taste. I did sympathize with her though and I think it’s quite sad that she had to deal with all that growing up and possibly for the rest of her life but it still didn’t make me like her

Our main character makes a friend while she’s at her Aunt’s and Uncle’s place. His name is Miles and he’s just as odd as peculiar as the main character. Miles mother is quite obsessed with him and won’t leave him out of her sight. He always gets what he wants though, spoiled as he is, even though he never speaks up to her.

I didn’t like Miles, he is quite scary and he’s definitely not a good friend to our main character – even though he’s the only friend she has.

I think the first 20% of the story is information dumping. You get to know the main character’s life story, all the gory details and who everyone is. I didn’t really remember a ton since it’s quite a lot of information at once and I’m definitely not a fan of that.

The setting was quite thrilling but that’s really all there is to say about it. The focus lies on the story at hand instead of how it looks and I had a hard time imagining how the scene looked like.

The ending.. It was good, I’ll give you that. I’d thought long and hard about who the murderer might be and I was actually right, if I’d stuck with my first choice, but I was seriously surprised by how it all played out – and a bit sad. But you’ll see why for yourself if you decide to read it.

As you can probably gather I wasn’t that impressed with Monsters. The story sounds intriguing but the characters are hard to love and it’s hard to imagine the story. I settled on a solid 3 berry rating since I did finish it and I was interested in finding the murderer. And the ending did surprise me!