Sun Don't Shine

by Crissa-Jean Chappell

Sixteen-year-old Reece is an expert at keeping secrets. She has to be, since her father abducted her ten years ago. For as long as she can remember, she’ s been on the run, sneaking food out of the dumpster and sleeping in the woods. Every time she moves, the same rules apply— cut your hair, change your name, and, above all, don’ t let anybody get too close. Reece has no choice except to obey Dad’ s orders. When Reece meets her first real friend, a boy named Shawn, she begins to realize that everyone else has secrets too. And the deadliest secret of all is the one her father has kept from her all these years.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2024

About the author

Crissa-Jean Chappell was born in Miami and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her debut young adult novel, TOTAL CONSTANT ORDER (HarperTeen) is a NYPL Book For The Teen Age and a VOYA Perfect Ten. Chappell’s second novel, NARC (Flux Books) is currently optioned for film. MORE THAN GOOD ENOUGH (Flux Books) is a Florida Book Awards medalist, which Kirkus calls, "compelling and emotionally nuanced." Chappell's newest YA novel is SNOWBIRDS (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). “…an engrossing mystery,” School Library Journal. Next up: SUN DON’T SHINE (Fitzroy Books, spring 2024). She holds a PhD and MFA from the University of Miami and has taught creative writing and cinema studies for over fifteen years. When she misses South Florida, she talks to the parrots in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a meaningful quick read! I wasn't really sure what to expect going into it but the premise sounded too interesting to pass up and I like to get out of my book comfort zone sometimes.

Reece has been living on the run with her dad for 10 years. Now a teen who yearns to be free, it's getting harder to stay under the radar. Her father is a constant roadblock as she attempts to blossom into her own young woman. She's used to being a "we" not a "she", but she's realizing she may have been misled all this time. Forming a new friendship helps her begin to look back at all she's been through, and once she starts questioning the things once held sacred, life can never be the same.

This was everything. Blisteringly honest about the reality of poverty while also being full of hope. This character felt so real that I'm going to miss her. The author did an absolutely amazing job building these characters, especially in such a short novel.

It didn't have any fluff or an agenda, such as adding specific politics or social issues in, just because the author feels like it. The bare bones honesty was what made it compulsively readable and refreshing while you were internally cringing at the life of this poor girl and you're just rooting for her so hard. I could not put it down. I can't wait to read more from the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book is about a teen girl and her dad. As she comes of age, she starts to rebel against their lifestyle: she no longer wants to hide from people, steal things, and Dumpster dive. It is rather predictable and not wholly plausible, but that’s okay. The point is to watch this train wreck of a premise resolve itself, and it does a good job at maintaining suspense and interest.

Quite a few editing errors. The biggest one was failing to recognize Dumpster as a registered trademark.

Language: Some moderate language
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: Mild
Harm to Animals: None
Harm to Children: kidnapping, neglect
Other (Triggers): theft, lying/con jobs, substance abuse, homelessness

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Sun Don’t Shine is a compelling ya thriller and I couldn’t put it down.

This book is about Reece, a sixteen year-old, who was abducted by her father when she was little. I loved following the main character as she navigated the life her father created for her and was rooting for her throughout the entire book.

I found Reece to be a relatively relatable character, even though I didn’t share her same hardships growing up. The situations Reece found herself in felt realistic as did the relationships and character interactions she had.

I really enjoyed the outcome of this story as everything wrapped up nicely, but didn’t feel overly rushed. The book has a nice pace throughout and it was a quick, easy read.

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw, gritty, uncomfortable at times but with glimmers of hope throughout. Reminiscent of Kathleen Glasgow, I loved this story of Reece and her dad’s relationship coming to a dramatic conclusion.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick read (read it in a few hours) but I enjoyed it. It didn’t feel rushed in any way and it kept me reading. I feel like Reece really is a relatable character who is just overall lost, as most of us felt in high school - although her situation was different. Quick read that keeps you wanting more.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Read:
I’m not sure that this is a solid 4 stars but it’s not a 3 star. A quick read and I enjoyed it for what it was. It was a little clunky in formatting and the dialogue, but I did enjoy Reece’s story overall.

[katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i feel very lucky to have been able to read an ARC of this. i thoroughly enjoyed it. i read it in one sitting and although its a quick read, i really loved reece and her story and i'm very happy with the with the way it all played out for her!! i always worry there won’t be any background/detail to characters in shorter novels but i could completely empathise with reece and enjoyed exploring her relationships and her truth.

[Kim Scarlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, a huge shoutout to the amazing folks who granted me early access to this ARC – diving into it before the January 16th release was an absolute privilege!

Let me introduce you to the characters in this rollercoaster of a story. First up, there's Reece, a teenager constantly on the move with her dad, evading the clutches of apparently bad guys. It's a tough hand for a teenager – unable to relish the essence of freedom and possession. The bitter twist is her ignorance due to these circumstances, a reality I hate and I can’t help but blame her Father for that.

Yet, amidst the turmoil, what captivated me about Reece was her unwavering love and wholehearted protection of her mysterious Father. She’s such a good kid, and her dad is undoubtedly fortunate to have such a resilient and loving daughter. The whole emotional rollercoaster just adds this deep layer to the story, making Reece's journey even more gripping.

Now, enter Shawn Bryants, who initially struck me as peculiar. The way he dove headfirst into loving Reece? Like, way too fast for comfort. But, you know, love's this crazy thing where time just seems to vanish. What's kinda cool, though, is that Shawn becomes Reece's escape hatch from reality. It's like, in his weirdness, she finds a breather from the craziness around her. It adds this interesting twist, showing how sometimes the people who seem a bit offbeat can be exactly what we need for a reality break.

The mention of Spirited Away had me genuinely thrilled – it's like discovering the author's shared love for anime added an extra layer of connection!

The story had me hooked for a solid four to five hours, clicking eagerly for the next page. Yet, when I reached that 100%, my immediate thought was, "Wait, that's it?" I craved more, wanting the narrative to unfold further, revealing even more intense scenes.

Having relished the experience of "Sun Don't Shine," I'm now eagerly anticipating more literary gems from this author.

[Adelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! It was really interesting to watch the main character discover who she was and I loved seeing how she took matters into her own hands to get away from her father.

[Mrs_R_Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Fitzroy Books for allowing me to read an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Reece is tired of the secrets, the lying, and her dad's excessive rules. Her father took her from their house one night, claiming that they had to run and hide from "the bad guys." but she has known for some time that her dad is the bad guy. He forces her to change her appearance every time they move. He has taught her how to steal and makes her dig through dumpsters for food and items that they can sell on ebay. She is tired of their life on the run. She longs for the truth and some freedom to just be a normal teenager. But does she have the courage to find the truth for herself?

Content Warnings: domestic abuse, child abuse, kidnapping, homelessness, some bad language

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE SUN DON’T SHINE is an unrealistic look at a homeless teen on the run with her father since he kidnapped her a decade earlier.

Reece didn’t come across as authentic to me. Though she had been brainwashed by her father and had a bit of Stockholm syndrome, her survival instincts seemed to be lacking. Though she was hungry, she often didn’t take opportunities to eat. Though she was dirty and smelled, she forgot to wash (in the school bathroom).

I found it difficult to believe a cute, rich guy would fall for a girl who was dirty and smelled. That doesn’t happen in real life.

[Yolanda | yolandaannmarie.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Regal House Publishing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Sun Don’t Shine releases January 16, 2024

This is a succinct story about a girl who was kidnapped by her own father and grew up thinking that her mother was dead. For 10 years, they’ve been living a homeless life, bouncing between motels and the woods, and dumpster diving, until Reece makes a friend and starts to deviate from her father’s set of rules.

I wouldn’t really call this a mystery, but there is a nice little happy ending to look forward to.
I enjoyed the writing and would be interested in seeing what this new-to-me author writes next!

cw: some physical abuse involving a child

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley, Crissa-Jean Chappell and Regal House Publishing for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4 ⭐ - this was such a quick read, although I'm super, super late with my review. (Sorry 🫣)

Reece was abducted by her father as a little girl. Now, 10 years later - she's tired of keeping secrets and wants more answers.. is everything she's been told by her father the truth?

This story while being short, kept me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, will she be able to meet people from her old life?

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an author that I love. She hasn’t had a book out in a while, so as soon as I heard about this one I was so excited! And once again she did not disappoint!

I was hooked from the first page. I felt the excitement at getting a new book by an author that I knew would make me feel all the feels. At first Reece doesn’t necessarily know that her father kidnapped her exactly. She thinks that he took her, but he has told her it is to keep her safe from the bad people and that her mom is dead. Which is easy for her to believe based on her last memory of her mother laying on their floor with one of her legs at a strange angle and not moving.

Of course as she’s gotten older she’s begun to wonder exactly what is true though. If every detail her father has given her is true or just to keep her quiet and following what he says. Even though they basically live in a very cheap run down motel at the moment, she is still basically what you’d consider homeless since they don’t really have the money to keep paying, and there is always the threat they may have to leave and go live in the van every time something spooks her father. They have to search through dumpsters for things to sell to get money as her dad currently has no job. She has to steal from the convenience store for her dad, and to get food she has learned tricks with vending machines. Her clothes are worn and taped together, and even when they find new shoes in the dumpsters in good condition her father makes her sell them, doesn’t let her have them to replace her own worn out shoes.

But then one of the newer residents at the hotel seems to recognize her, and suddenly she learns more about her past and her mother. Between those residents and the boy she meets and strikes up a friendship, as well as what looks like an undercover cop hanging around her school seemingly watching her, she gets online at a school library computer and starts researching both herself and her mother. Her father is doing things she doesn’t want to think about in order to help them keep their room, and he explodes at her more than he’s ever done when he finds her talking to the new boy, and she ends up locking herself in the bathroom that night. Her past and stealing tendencies just to get by lead to a mix up with her new friendship with Shawn and his family. It’s heartbreaking when it happens, even as understandable it was for her to do it.

In the end we do get a happy ending for Reece. The only thing that I wish for is more about how that goes, but otherwise I was blown away by the story, and can’t wait to add this one to my school library as soon as I can!

Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.

[AllyP Reads Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's an okay book. The story is good but the characters are very inconsistent and not very engaging, and the dialogue is terrible. At one point the MC and her boyfriend are in a fight and she says "you have to let me explain", but then when he tells her to explain all she says is a passive aggressive "I'm sorry my life isn't perfect like yours." Like, are you going to explain or not? He's been nothing but supportive so you can't finally be willing to tell someone why you have to live your life the way you do, but instead throw a pity party that's just going to further the argument. It gets the story no where.

[Brianna Neikam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 4/5.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book and read it in a few hours. This is a YA thriller type of read.
Reece had such a rough childhood, yet she cared so deeply for her father that put her in all sorts of situations. I am happy that she had an ending that she deserved.

[Kayla Daas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, I did not care much for this book. I found it poorly written compared to most of the other books I've read this year so far.
#SunDontShine #NetGalley

[Elaine LaBonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sun Don’t Shine is the story of a little girl who is kidnapped and abused by her father until she finds friendship with a teenage boy a decade later. As a lifelong Miami resident, Her best skill is stealing at sixteen. Her dad trained her to steal for him. Reese lives in a van with her dad when available. Otherwise, they slept in any area where the police wouldn’t discover them. Her dad enforces three fundamental rules with strictness. You may be shocked to see what they are. Dad answers every question with, “Because I said so!” and expects obedience without explanation. There are no exceptions or discussions to the rules. The story is amazingly realistic.

Reese and Shawn Bryant are in the early stages of a romantic relationship. Reese met Shawn in high school at sixteen. Shawn fell for her immediately. Reese liked him but couldn’t tell him because she couldn’t show him how she lived. She was sure he wouldn’t accept her. Can a young adult recover from abusive parents?

Sun Don’t Shine is a Growing-Up Story of Self-Confidence: Teens must trust themselves and their caregivers before trying something new. Reese risks when she feels she’s safe. She’s fed up with secrecy and seeks answers. Thank you, NetGalley and Fitzroy Books, for the advance review copy. My opinions are voluntary and honest. 

As a child, Chappell lived in Miami and watched as it changed. It used to be home to kids known as wharf rats, but now it’s a popular spot for vacationers from all over the world. Her writings about Miami and her friends made her known as the “girl who writes about teenagers.” An NYPL Teen Book and a VOYA Perfect Ten, Total Constant Order, is her first book for young adults.

This manuscript has no significant flaws and has received five stars. Young adults 12 and older are the book’s target audience. Sun Don’t Shine is for all young adults, but kids will relate more to abuse, neglect, and hardship if they have lived with them. The act of identifying oneself can have a healing effect on an individual. The primary target for readership is teen and young adult homelessness and poverty.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the concern, protectiveness, and twisted reasonings behind love weave into a grabbing tale with bite.

Reece has been running away from the 'bad' men with her father for almost as long as she can remember. From tents to vans, her homes last only as long as her father feels its safe. Their current residence, a cheap hotel in Florida, has offered a real bed and steady schooling for a couple of years...until she breaks her father's rules and begins to have a friend. Questions arise, and as she seeks the answers, the weave of secrets unravels.

This story had me engaged from beginning to end. Reece's living situation comes across naturally while carrying the required rawness to make the difficulties clear. She sympathetic despite her razor-sharp edges. The relationship with her father stays on edge, making her views of him understandable while still carrying a sense of wrongness to build tension and suspicion. There is violence, hints of drug abuse, hints of child abuse and more, but none of it tiptoes past what even upper middle graders can handle. Still, it keeps the reader at the edge of their seat and plays along the edge of a true thriller without completely crossing that line. In that sense, it isn't a true thriller but more of an edgy contemporary with a dash of mystery and plenty of dark secrets.

It was no problem to get caught up in this story and root for Reece as she untangles her life to discover the lies underneath. The writing is smooth, keeps the pacing high, and brings the scenes across in all the right ways. There are more than a few logic hiccups, but these fade under the well-paced plot and desire for Reece to discover the truth. The end loosened on this end and didn't quite pull through with as much finesse, but the end pulls most threads together to leave the needed hope and satisfaction after the storm. And, of course, a bit of food for thought.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sun Don't Shine is the story of sixteen-year-old Reece who has been on the run with her father for the past ten years. They've survived by stealing out of dumpsters, sleeping wherever they can, and doing their best to get through each difficult day. But their situation is made all the more complicated by the fact that they're on the run because Reece's father *kidnapped* her and faked their deaths, and when Reece both makes a new friend and finds out that her mother is alive and has been looking for her all these years, she'll have to make some difficult choices. As awful as her life with her father has been, she loves him deeply and can't bring herself to leave, even as she starts to really comprehend the gravity of what he did to her by taking her away.

One of the reasons this book was so difficult for me was because I found myself being pulled between feeling *major* frustration with Reece for not turning her father in/clueing someone into their situation, while still feeling deeply, deeply sympathetic to her. How could a teenager bring themselves to "betray" the parent they love, even if their parent was in the wrong? Her hesitation made perfect sense, even if I desperately wanted her to do whatever necessary to get out of her horrible circumstances ASAP.

While I have conflicting thoughts about the ending of the novel and how things were tied up, Sun Don't Shine is a book unlike any other that I've read and I think it will stay with me for quite a long time.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Fitzroy books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Anjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book begins as if the story is already on the move, and we are to catch the plot as it progresses. This is not a bad thing. Even though I expected the ending I got, it was still a decent read. I found the lead protagonist endearing, even with the hard shell she has to wear to protect herself (or maybe because of it).
Reece and her father have been on the run. She does not know the exact details as to why that might be so. She also has fractured memories of the day they first left the only home she remembers, but they are not of much help to her.
Things are changing with her father becoming increasingly unreliable and even violent. She also makes a friend who might turn out to be something more, something she has expressly been prohibited from doing.
Things move quickly, and the story flies by. It is not an easy tale to process, but it is believable in its own way.
I might not recommend this book to my older nieces, but older children who have already read books with hard lives may not find this too hard to read. There is no explicit content in it, something that could have made this book a little unsavoury.
I would like to try more books by the author if I get the chance.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in a day as I quickly became engrossed in Reece’s life.

Reece is sixteen, and she has been living on the run with her dad for ten years. They’ve lived out of his van, slept in the woods, and eaten out of the dumpster. Now, they live in a roach-infested Miami motel.

But Reece meets Shawn, a boy who seems to really care about her. This is, of course, against her dad’s rules. She’s not allowed to get close to anyone. Reece finally questions what she and her dad are running from. As she digs deeper, she is shocked at what she finds.

The writing is simple yet effective. As Reece is only sixteen, you readily feel her emotions and what it might be like for a young girl to be living this kind of nomad life. I thought the ending brought up interesting questions - like how Reece would feel towards her dad once the truth comes out, whether she is now his protector, whether she can trust the people she’s with, and the story she’s been told.

Though it doesn’t go deep into the heart of issues, it stirs up many emotions and feelings. It’s a story that made me wonder how many teens live this way. It will tug at your heart.

Thank you author @crissachappell for this gifted copy.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

"Sun Don't Shine" by Crissa-Jean Chappell is a quick, compelling read that navigates the complexities of teenage life, mystery, and unexpected romance. The novel follows Reece, a relatable character who, despite her unique circumstances, mirrors the sense of being lost that many of us experienced in high school.

The book is very fast and quick-paced, only taking place in a few days. This pace definitely worked well for the thriller aspect of the book, but the romance definitely felt rushed in such a short time frame. I was engaged throughout, especially with Reece's relatability and the exploration of her struggles, making it a quick yet satisfying read that leaves readers wanting more.

With the fast paced and shortness of the book, I did experience a bit of a lack of investment in the characters and a disconnection from the writing style. I also found the distinction between the present and the flashbacks of Reece’s childhood difficult to differentiate.

Overall, the rollercoaster of emotions and the mystery/plot kept me invested in the story.
If you're in the mood for a fast-paced read with elements of mystery and romance, this book might just be the perfect addition to your reading list.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put down this radiant, engrossing story of a girl who was abducted by her father from her supposedly dead mother a decade before. Over those long, confused years, the two of them have lived in dilapidated motel rooms, existing on scraps of food, often hungry, finding clothes in dumpsters, running from some unnamed persecution. Because Reece’ s father cannot keep even the lowest job, the clever girl has leaned to steal. But at 16, sporadically enrolled in schools, Reece begins cautiously to reveal and question her peculiar life to friends and teachers, suspecting that her mother might not be dead and may indeed be looking for her. Yet searching library computers for information seems a betrayal of her father who is the only family she has known. Written with perception and lyrical observation, Reece’s story is that of a young girl fighting for her life and the truth while risking all she has known for someone, who if she is alive, may not want her. SUN DON’T SHINE is a gorgeous novel of a girl calling on strengths and moral truths she did not know she had and finding them.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sun Don't Shine is a heart felt YA drama with a mystery element. A fast read taking me a few hours at a guess with enough draw that it kept me reading from beginning to end without a break. Your heart (Especially if you are a mother like me) can't help but feel for Reece and everything she's been through. I loved the characters, even her Dad. I wish at times we had more of a back story on him as I felt it would have maybe helped us understand it all a bit more. The 'explanation' near the end (I won't say more I don't give spoilers) didn't really give me enough. The ending was a little bit too 'put together' for my liking. After such a climax and HUGE decision for Reece I felt it was a little too short/quick.

My reason for the 3.5 stars and not anything higher was namely I hoped there would be more mystery. I kind of worked a few things out earlier on. I also felt the 'darker' side of things felt a little undeveloped, but this could have been because it was a YA. Still, I've read some brutal YA. More of a YA/Drama/General Fiction in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Regal House Publishing, Fitzroy Books for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reece is a teenage girl living a strange, peripatetic lifestyle with her father. They are constantly on the move, and there is a need for secrecy that is frequently re-emphasised, so it is virtually impossible for Reece to get close to others.

Although she hates their way of life, and questions some of the stories that her father has told her to explain away their need to keep moving, Reece does love her father very much. In fact she is a remarkably well-adjusted and kind girl, since managing most teenagers under such circumstances would be downright impossible for the majority of parents...

When Reece meets Shawn, their relationship deepens quickly. Perhaps too quickly. But then again, that is often the way of things with adolescents. While Shawn comes across as a little quirky, Reece is highly relatable, and the reader inevitably finds herself rooting for her. This is an engaging mystery, with a likeable MC. All in all, an easy read.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently just finished reading "Sun Don't Shine." I found it to be an okay read.

The story follows a young girl who has secrets and rules to follow. She thinks she is on the run from the "bad guys" as her father puts it. She struggles with who she is and everything around her. She has so many questions and no answers from all the lies she is being given. She goes on a journey to find out the truth.

Overall, it was an okay read. I felt the pacing was a bit uneven. There were moments where the narrative felt rushed, and I wished for more development in certain plot points and characters like Shawn.

Despite this, "Sun Don't Shine" is a good novella that explores themes of family, identity, and resilience. While it had its flaws, it is an engaging read that will leave you thinking long after you turn the final page.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read "Sun Don't Shine."

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Valley for this read!

I was immediately drawn to this cover; they say you can't judge a book by its cover, but I think in this case you can. This was a quick and easy read--great for those looking to get some last minute books in for their 2023 book challenge. More than that, the writing was compelling and the plot engrossing. I couldn't put it down and had finished it within 24hrs.

I haven't read too much YA lately, but I love a good mystery, so I went for it... and it did not disappoint. I was in my feelings with this one; the main character, Reece, felt familiar and I found myself empathizing and rooting for her through every obstacle she faced. I do wish it was longer, but that just tells me this was a good novel!

If I keep going, I'll spoil it, so I'll just say, give it a try and let me know what you think!

[Melissa (honeybee.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sun Don't Shine is an intriguing and compelling YA thriller that is hard to put down. It is a short book so you can definitely binge this one in one sitting. It is based on abduction by a parent so be careful if that is a trigger for you. The author did a good job with it !

Reece was definitely relatable, she went through so much. This book explores lots of different hardships and makes you think about how you would act in this situation. It is a scary thought as I am sure a lot of children out there are actually clueless about being abducted and just go through life never realizing it. It's a scary reality.

The story was well done, the plot was intriguing but the ending left me feeling a little underwhelmed as I would've like a conclusion that was more developed.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @regalhousepublishing & @crissajeanchappell for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Poppy Havoc]

Just finished "Sun Don't Shine." Reece's secret-filled world had me hooked from the start. Characters like her mysterious dad and quirky motel neighbors added depth, but pacing felt off, especially in Reece's connection with Shawn.

The plot got a bit predictable, and Reece's "not like other girls" vibe seemed clichéd. Despite its flaws, the novella explores family, identity, and resilience. Reece's journey, though a tad rushed, lingers, prompting contemplation on the mysteries we harbor in the ordinary.

In a nutshell, worth a read if you're into quick, thought-provoking mysteries. Shoutout to Netgalley for the chance to dive into this one. 📖✨ #BookReview #SunDontShine #QuickTake #BookThoughts #MysteryNovel #NetgalleyReads