I was so BEYOND excited for this review. A thriller centered around queer kids who actually like each other? Sign me up! I expected a massacre at a summer camp thriller, and was thoroughly disappointed. I got a slow paced story with an unhealthy queer relationship and an annoying main character. Not to mention the ending ruined the whole book for me! Maybe it would have been three stars if that ended better.
Cherry and Sloan were trauma-bonded, yes, but their relationship was so entirely toxic. It lasted less than a week and they experienced a horrible experience and were all like “oh yes, we’re soulmates and I can’t be without you”. And maybe that’s my own opinion about clingy ass relationships, but Sloan literally stopped talking to EVERYONE in her life except for Cherry. She was gaslit by everyone, not to mention, which caused her to go utterly psychopathic.
And then all for that for her to go kill Cherry because she understood it all??? Like what ? I didn’t even understand it, it was all too much too fast.
Maybe if the book was more focused on the mystery and less on the clingy relationship (noticed some very similar traits in the book to those I have witnessed who are very toxic people) and the haziness. I miss Natasha Preston. As much as I really enjoyed the concept, I just didn’t appreciate the execution.
Thank you Penguin Teen Publishing and Bookishfirst for the ARC, I had a blast reading and reviewing, even if I didn’t enjoy the book all together.
Cherry and Sloan were trauma-bonded, yes, but their relationship was so entirely toxic. It lasted less than a week and they experienced a horrible experience and were all like “oh yes, we’re soulmates and I can’t be without you”. And maybe that’s my own opinion about clingy ass relationships, but Sloan literally stopped talking to EVERYONE in her life except for Cherry. She was gaslit by everyone, not to mention, which caused her to go utterly psychopathic.
And then all for that for her to go kill Cherry because she understood it all??? Like what ? I didn’t even understand it, it was all too much too fast.
Maybe if the book was more focused on the mystery and less on the clingy relationship (noticed some very similar traits in the book to those I have witnessed who are very toxic people) and the haziness. I miss Natasha Preston. As much as I really enjoyed the concept, I just didn’t appreciate the execution.
Thank you Penguin Teen Publishing and Bookishfirst for the ARC, I had a blast reading and reviewing, even if I didn’t enjoy the book all together.