A haunting thriller that will have you emotional.
I’m finding it hard to review this book. On one hand, this is a beautifully written and heartbreaking story that will have you captivated from page one. On the other hand, this was so bleak that there were moments I had to put it down and walk away for a moment! This book is a strange, wonderful mix of thriller and contemporary and it blew me away!
What Beauty There Is is the story of two young and damaged teenagers: Jack and Ava. Jack is in a tough spot after his mother dies and he’s left to fend for his younger brother, Matty. They have no money and, soon, they’ll have no home if Jack can’t find some funds fast. Ava is a quiet girl who keeps her head down and swears to herself that she’ll never care for anyone. Unbeknowst to both of them, they have a connection beyond a chance meeting at school: both of their fathers were involved in a heist years ago. Jack’s father ended up in prison after hiding their ill-gotten gains from Ava’s dangerous dad. Now both Jack and Ava’s father are on the hunt for the money and Ava is caught in the middle.
You all know that I love a book with well-written and complex characters. This novel has that in spades! Both Jack and Ava are fascinating to watch as they maneuver their complicated worlds. They have a lot of layers and you can’t help but become attached to them almost as soon as you meet them. Jack is such a wonderful big brother, even if doesn’t always make the best of choices. Ava makes me want to hug her, though I wouldn’t, because she doesn’t like being touched. They’ve both gone through far too much and had to grow up far too quickly. Their struggles, their decision… it’s all heartbreaking to watch yet it’s impossible to look away. I just want to pluck Jack, Matty, and Ava out of this book and protect them 😭
I think my favorite part of this book, though, was the writing. Cory Anderson has an incredible way with words! The way the novel is written makes it feel so visceral, so real, that you feel as though you are inside her story! There are so many beautiful phrases that make you take a pause to sit and think. I love when books can do that 💕 And it’s all so vivid and evocative that it paints a picture in your mind. Now, mind you, it is a very dark picture! As I mentioned before, this is a very bleak story, with a lot of trigger warnings that I highly suggest you check out before diving into this book. I don’t have very many triggers, but I still found myself needing to take breaks because it was just making me so sad 😅 This is a book that may not work for everyone because of that, but it will definitely make you feel something. I will say I wasn’t aware that this was the first in a series and I didn’t really like where it ended… but not to the point where I won’t be checking out the next one!
Final thoughts: This is an incredibly written story that blends a heart pounding thriller with a heart breaking contemporary. It’s evocative, beautifully crafted, and a thrill to read. The characters are so real they practically leap off the page and you can’t help but want to save them from their pursuers and themselves. This is a very bleak story, though, so I would suggest checking trigger warnings before you give this one a go. If you enjoy your young adult thrillers on the darker side and with plenty of nuance and layers, I think you would enjoy What Beauty There Is!
What Beauty There Is is the story of two young and damaged teenagers: Jack and Ava. Jack is in a tough spot after his mother dies and he’s left to fend for his younger brother, Matty. They have no money and, soon, they’ll have no home if Jack can’t find some funds fast. Ava is a quiet girl who keeps her head down and swears to herself that she’ll never care for anyone. Unbeknowst to both of them, they have a connection beyond a chance meeting at school: both of their fathers were involved in a heist years ago. Jack’s father ended up in prison after hiding their ill-gotten gains from Ava’s dangerous dad. Now both Jack and Ava’s father are on the hunt for the money and Ava is caught in the middle.
You all know that I love a book with well-written and complex characters. This novel has that in spades! Both Jack and Ava are fascinating to watch as they maneuver their complicated worlds. They have a lot of layers and you can’t help but become attached to them almost as soon as you meet them. Jack is such a wonderful big brother, even if doesn’t always make the best of choices. Ava makes me want to hug her, though I wouldn’t, because she doesn’t like being touched. They’ve both gone through far too much and had to grow up far too quickly. Their struggles, their decision… it’s all heartbreaking to watch yet it’s impossible to look away. I just want to pluck Jack, Matty, and Ava out of this book and protect them 😭
I think my favorite part of this book, though, was the writing. Cory Anderson has an incredible way with words! The way the novel is written makes it feel so visceral, so real, that you feel as though you are inside her story! There are so many beautiful phrases that make you take a pause to sit and think. I love when books can do that 💕 And it’s all so vivid and evocative that it paints a picture in your mind. Now, mind you, it is a very dark picture! As I mentioned before, this is a very bleak story, with a lot of trigger warnings that I highly suggest you check out before diving into this book. I don’t have very many triggers, but I still found myself needing to take breaks because it was just making me so sad 😅 This is a book that may not work for everyone because of that, but it will definitely make you feel something. I will say I wasn’t aware that this was the first in a series and I didn’t really like where it ended… but not to the point where I won’t be checking out the next one!
Final thoughts: This is an incredibly written story that blends a heart pounding thriller with a heart breaking contemporary. It’s evocative, beautifully crafted, and a thrill to read. The characters are so real they practically leap off the page and you can’t help but want to save them from their pursuers and themselves. This is a very bleak story, though, so I would suggest checking trigger warnings before you give this one a go. If you enjoy your young adult thrillers on the darker side and with plenty of nuance and layers, I think you would enjoy What Beauty There Is!