Jewel is a favorite author of mine, and I devour anything she writes that I can get my hands on, but this was not it for me. I suspect she knew this bJewel is a favorite author of mine, and I devour anything she writes that I can get my hands on, but this was not it for me. I suspect she knew this book would be controversial and accepted in various ways, and I respect her for having the guts to write it, I just couldn’t get on board with a couple of things, and while I will keep any major spoilers in tags, if you’re wanting to go in completely blind without any sense of what this book is about, you should stop reading this review right here. If you’re on the fence, check out other reviewers content/trope warnings before diving in. If I had done that, I think I would have just skipped this one.
For disclosure purposes, I purchased an audiobook copy of this book as it was released earlier than the kindle and print formats, so I am not providing feedback from a gifted, advance review copy.
The first issue I had with the book happens in the first and second chapters, so I don’t consider it a spoiler to discuss, but again, please stop here if you want to know absolutely nothing about this book before diving in. Our couple starts out not a couple, as Indigo is 10 years old and Milo is 18. Jewel is a fantastic author, and I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt that she did not intend to set up the narrative as it comes across. What I assume we are supposed to sense is a protective, platonic bond that grows into something romantic MANY YEARS down the road, but the information included in these chapters being stacked the way that they are gives off major grooming vibes.
Indigo gives us some inner monologue into how she has a major crush on Milo, and following the funeral of her adoptive mother, Milo takes indie to his living quarters to care for her until her adoptive father has some time to process what has happened. This chapter includes snippets where Milo begins to undress and change in front of her (no nudity below the waist) before heading to another room, which then prompts Indigo to remember “how she saw his penis and testicles over the summer through the wetness of his swimsuit” (this almost exact phrasing is used more than once), followed by Indigo feeling scared and lonely, unable to sleep due to her grief, and Milo crawls into bed with her to hold her through the night. These are all innocent pieces of information separately, but pieced together in the flow that they are written, as a mother of a 10 year old girl made me sick to my stomach. I cannot image how none of Jewel’s Alpha/Beta readers or editors caught this, assuming there were these early readers included?
There is a trope later on once the book has made good headway that will definitely be a make or break for some readers: (view spoiler)[OW/cheating, depending on how you look at it (hide spoiler)] I won’t get into spoilers here, as this feels more personal preference than actually problematic material, but I was so exhausted with Milo’s shenanigans and Indigo being a doormat by the end of this book that I had to sit on my thoughts before reviewing. If you have a specific questions about this portion of the story, feel free to message me for discussion.
I’m so disappointed that this wasn’t the book I’ve been anticipating for months, but we all won’t connect with every book our favorite authors write. Aside from the disappointment of the initial set up of the relationship, I’ll be cautiously anticipating Jewel’s next release.
Redemption is the first entry in a new series that I will gladly continue on with! I found myself completely immersed within the3.5 stars rounded to 4
Redemption is the first entry in a new series that I will gladly continue on with! I found myself completely immersed within the Indigenous culture, the Taos Pueblo setting, and the character arcs. My only quibble is that this really isn’t a mystery, and I typically expect some sort of suspenseful unknown to further the plot of a police procedural. The suspense is there, no doubt, but we know from almost the very beginning who the culprit is and basically why they are doing what they are doing. However, this could be tailored to the need to create a sense of place and deeper characterization of the cast that will come back in future books, so I’d like to see what the author does with a true mystery in the future. This book is structured with a multi-pov told in short, snappy chapters, which I loved. If you haven’t snagged your Amazon First Reads choice for August 2023 yet, this is a great choice!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
I’ve read a few books from this author and, while not my favorite, I really enjoyed What Never Happened! The pacingMurder in paradise, you say?
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I’ve read a few books from this author and, while not my favorite, I really enjoyed What Never Happened! The pacing is a bit of a slow burn for the first half, but if you can stick with it, the plot is complex and the ending did manage to surprise me. Please note there is the inclusion of Covid in the story, as the early days and onset might be triggering for some. I found it cleverly used as a way to insert a claustrophobic sense on the island as the story continues on. If you’re looking for a unique read, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
"Steeped in mythology, The Girl Next Door is a tale of omens, morbid bloodlines, revenge, and forbidden love that takes root in the darkest of hearts."Steeped in mythology, The Girl Next Door is a tale of omens, morbid bloodlines, revenge, and forbidden love that takes root in the darkest of hearts. This gothic tale is perfect for fans of Stranger Things, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the early ’90s The Last Vampire series by Christopher Pike."
5 stars for the compulsive nature of the story, 3 stars for the execution, so settling on a 4 star rating. Guys, this was WILD. If you're looking for 5 stars for the compulsive nature of the story, 3 stars for the execution, so settling on a 4 star rating. Guys, this was WILD. If you're looking for a fast paced, palate cleansing thriller, this is it. ...more
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