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Obsession
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Expected 24 Jan 13Abby had the perfect suburban life: shopping sprees at the mall, a pool in her backyard, a dream bedroom, a best friend… That is, until her family moved to the backwoods of Wisconsin.
Abby plans to prove this backwoods dump is no place for a thirteen-year-old. So when her parents hire a carpenter and his son, Greg, she hangs out with the older boy to make her parents worry. But Greg turns out to be a total creep, and although Abby tells him she doesn’t like him, he continues to make her life miserable, watching her, trying to get close to her, threatening her.
What’s creepier is the mysterious brown-haired girl that keeps appearing and disappearing without saying a word. When Abby finds the girl's old diary in the outbuilding, she learns that they share a common enemy, Greg.
Will they share the same fate too?
Abby plans to prove this backwoods dump is no place for a thirteen-year-old. So when her parents hire a carpenter and his son, Greg, she hangs out with the older boy to make her parents worry. But Greg turns out to be a total creep, and although Abby tells him she doesn’t like him, he continues to make her life miserable, watching her, trying to get close to her, threatening her.
What’s creepier is the mysterious brown-haired girl that keeps appearing and disappearing without saying a word. When Abby finds the girl's old diary in the outbuilding, she learns that they share a common enemy, Greg.
Will they share the same fate too?
154 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2013
2 people are currently reading
2048 people want to read
About the author
JoAnne Keltner
11 books114 followersJoAnne Keltner is the author of YA Paranormal novels Obsession (Musa Publishing, 2013 ed.), Goth Girl Virgin Queen (Solstice Publishing, 2015), Possessed (2019, Pagan Light Book 1), and Spellbound (2019, Pagan Light Book 2). She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she enjoys gardening, baking, and spending time with family. Every evening you will find her obsessively streaming popular TV shows. She is currently working on the next Pagan Light series book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 1, 2016
I was given this book through a giveaway on this site-in exchange for an honest review.
First off, when it came in the mail, I thought the cover was gorgeous (which means a lot since ultimately I want to pass it on to my middle school students) and the size was nice (not intimidating). I must admit I'm backed up on reading some of my giveaway books but this one was read before the others-right after opening the package.
This book was very visual, I could see and feel everything. Although I must admit, I do not think there was a "slap you in the face" moment of shock with plot twists or anything-this none the less-did not ruin the story for me. I do wish the author would've maybe jumped between the two girls (past and present) per chapter or switched between the different perspectives. There was a lot more story that could've been told such as the mother's odd behavior or what was going through Greg's mind. But with that said, enough was given that it still made for a fast paced, suspenseful read. To say I devoured this book would be an understatement.
After finishing it today, I happily handed it off to a student to read! It's clean, suspenseful and absorbing! I'll be looking into others by this author!Thank you so much!
First off, when it came in the mail, I thought the cover was gorgeous (which means a lot since ultimately I want to pass it on to my middle school students) and the size was nice (not intimidating). I must admit I'm backed up on reading some of my giveaway books but this one was read before the others-right after opening the package.
This book was very visual, I could see and feel everything. Although I must admit, I do not think there was a "slap you in the face" moment of shock with plot twists or anything-this none the less-did not ruin the story for me. I do wish the author would've maybe jumped between the two girls (past and present) per chapter or switched between the different perspectives. There was a lot more story that could've been told such as the mother's odd behavior or what was going through Greg's mind. But with that said, enough was given that it still made for a fast paced, suspenseful read. To say I devoured this book would be an understatement.
After finishing it today, I happily handed it off to a student to read! It's clean, suspenseful and absorbing! I'll be looking into others by this author!Thank you so much!
November 16, 2013
I was given Obsession for exchange of an honest review.
As I sat down to begin reading, my thirteen year old daughter sat beside me, and decided to read my book over my shoulder. As I would flip the pages on my kindle, she would complain that she wasn’t finished yet. So, I decided to do something I’ve never done with my review books, I let her read the book first.
Just so you know, my beautiful daughter does not read unless it’s on her Ipod:) She finished the book in three days, and absolutely loved it! Her words were, “I can relate with Abby, and Gregg gave me the creeps.” She wouldn’t stop talking about it all day.
As for me, I read Obsession the following evening, and I can see why she liked it. It was spooky and mysterious, the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re not alone. The story was fast paced and very engaging. Something that’s important when you what a teenager to stay interested from beginning to end.
Even though this book is geared toward teen, I still enjoyed it and I want to Thank JoAnne Keltner for getting my daughter to read AND finish a book!
As I sat down to begin reading, my thirteen year old daughter sat beside me, and decided to read my book over my shoulder. As I would flip the pages on my kindle, she would complain that she wasn’t finished yet. So, I decided to do something I’ve never done with my review books, I let her read the book first.
Just so you know, my beautiful daughter does not read unless it’s on her Ipod:) She finished the book in three days, and absolutely loved it! Her words were, “I can relate with Abby, and Gregg gave me the creeps.” She wouldn’t stop talking about it all day.
As for me, I read Obsession the following evening, and I can see why she liked it. It was spooky and mysterious, the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re not alone. The story was fast paced and very engaging. Something that’s important when you what a teenager to stay interested from beginning to end.
Even though this book is geared toward teen, I still enjoyed it and I want to Thank JoAnne Keltner for getting my daughter to read AND finish a book!
July 3, 2017
Spine-tingling and eerie from beginning to end, this is a quick read to satisfy YA paranormal fans who love a slight amount of horror too.
Abby isn't thrilled about the family move to 'the sticks'. She'd rather be with her best friend, shopping at the mall than watching her parents attempt to turn a half-built house into a dream. But soon her social life becomes the least of her worries.
At around 180 pages, this is a quick read, but it's one that packs a punch. Abby is a thirteen-year-old girl with a bit of an attitude, but then her older sister isn't a super kind soul either. This book caught me a little off guard, at first. It is a YA novel--which, as the plot goes along, fits perfectly--but Abby herself comes across a little young and hit me more as a good fit for an upper middle grade story. There are a few things the author touches on which fit the tweeny age group, and I'm not sure they really added anything to the plot or Abby's character. Luckily, this 'age' issue is irrelevant as trouble nears and the real problem looms over Abby's head like a dark omen.
There are twists and turns but most of them aren't unexpected. Still, that's not necessary to keep the tension high. It's clear what the evil is, but the author keeps the reader on the edge of the seat until the very end. It's easy to fear for Abby and wonder if she'll somehow manage to escape the fate laid out for her. She's level-headed--although her parents aren't--and her actions make sense for the most part. This makes the story even spookier as she tries to escape from a danger she senses is there, but keeps ramming into walls, which have been built by her own stupidity. So bonus points to Abby on that!
Summed up, this is a quick, thrilling read which is sure to delight younger YA fans and keep their knuckles white as they grip these pages until that very last page.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed reading it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
Abby isn't thrilled about the family move to 'the sticks'. She'd rather be with her best friend, shopping at the mall than watching her parents attempt to turn a half-built house into a dream. But soon her social life becomes the least of her worries.
At around 180 pages, this is a quick read, but it's one that packs a punch. Abby is a thirteen-year-old girl with a bit of an attitude, but then her older sister isn't a super kind soul either. This book caught me a little off guard, at first. It is a YA novel--which, as the plot goes along, fits perfectly--but Abby herself comes across a little young and hit me more as a good fit for an upper middle grade story. There are a few things the author touches on which fit the tweeny age group, and I'm not sure they really added anything to the plot or Abby's character. Luckily, this 'age' issue is irrelevant as trouble nears and the real problem looms over Abby's head like a dark omen.
There are twists and turns but most of them aren't unexpected. Still, that's not necessary to keep the tension high. It's clear what the evil is, but the author keeps the reader on the edge of the seat until the very end. It's easy to fear for Abby and wonder if she'll somehow manage to escape the fate laid out for her. She's level-headed--although her parents aren't--and her actions make sense for the most part. This makes the story even spookier as she tries to escape from a danger she senses is there, but keeps ramming into walls, which have been built by her own stupidity. So bonus points to Abby on that!
Summed up, this is a quick, thrilling read which is sure to delight younger YA fans and keep their knuckles white as they grip these pages until that very last page.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed reading it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
November 25, 2013
I liked this book on so many levels. First of all, I am a huge fan of descriptive writing and from the moment Abby Calloway pulls up to her new house and "the Honda shakes and vibrates as its tires crunch over gravel and bounce over potholes," I am hooked. As a voracious reader and writer myself, I know how difficult it is to hold back and do the hard work involved with really inviting readers into the world of a book. The tendency is to skip over some of those small elements in order to get to the ACTION! But it's that subtle layering of details that creates the world the reader will enter. I think that the often-tedious job of relaying those details is what separates a good book from an outstanding one and I applaud the author's patience and sustained effort.
Next, the story itself: suspenseful! At points in this story (my fellow readers know exactly what I'm talking about here), my heart was racing and I had to stop and take a deep, calming breath. I found myself totally invested in the fate of these characters and, on a deeper lever, I kept pondering the book's premise: trust your instincts. I thinks that idea is not only the central point of the story but a vitally important aspect of this book.
I've often though YA authors have a harder task than writers of other genres. Not only are they charged with the task of entertaining, but also inspiring and teaching teen readers. The message here is clear and vital: if a person seems like a creep, go with your gut and steer clear of that person! It's a lesson we can't teach our children and teens often enough. When we adults raise our kids, we want them to be adept at the social graces and "nice" to everyone. But instincts are there for a reason and we all need to pay attention when we sense something doesn't seem right. Kudos to JoAnne Keltner for reinforcing this important message while providing us with a wild, entertaining, rollercoaster ride of a tale!
Next, the story itself: suspenseful! At points in this story (my fellow readers know exactly what I'm talking about here), my heart was racing and I had to stop and take a deep, calming breath. I found myself totally invested in the fate of these characters and, on a deeper lever, I kept pondering the book's premise: trust your instincts. I thinks that idea is not only the central point of the story but a vitally important aspect of this book.
I've often though YA authors have a harder task than writers of other genres. Not only are they charged with the task of entertaining, but also inspiring and teaching teen readers. The message here is clear and vital: if a person seems like a creep, go with your gut and steer clear of that person! It's a lesson we can't teach our children and teens often enough. When we adults raise our kids, we want them to be adept at the social graces and "nice" to everyone. But instincts are there for a reason and we all need to pay attention when we sense something doesn't seem right. Kudos to JoAnne Keltner for reinforcing this important message while providing us with a wild, entertaining, rollercoaster ride of a tale!
June 10, 2014
This is an interesting and action-filled story. Tweens who like mysteries with a touch of the supernatural will enjoy it a lot. The tension level is very nicely honed and that will keep young readers turning pages with much eagerness. I have created a bibliographic record so libraries will be more inclined to purchase and add it to their collections.
June 9, 2014
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I really enjoyed reading this story. It's not a keep you on the edge of your seat suspense, but it was enough of a mystery that it kept me turning the pages. Good writing, good dialogue, good character development...an all-around good read.
I really enjoyed reading this story. It's not a keep you on the edge of your seat suspense, but it was enough of a mystery that it kept me turning the pages. Good writing, good dialogue, good character development...an all-around good read.
November 4, 2015
Loved the story, the plot, and the way it came into play. Very good story well written, i enjoyed reading it.
Want to read
February 3, 2016Review coming soon.
June 22, 2017
When Abby’s parents buy a new house in Wisconsin, the whole family packs up their suburban Illinois life and moves to the sticks. Unhappy and alienated from her older sister, Abby is alone and depressed. When Abby’s parents hire a father/son handyman service to help finish the renovations to the new house, Abby sees this as a chance to try and convince her parents that leaving Schaumburg was a bad idea. Except, the bad idea has less to do with convincing her parents and more to do with the father/son crew. She can’t seem to get away from either of them and she finds them lurking in places on the property and in the house where they shouldn’t be.
Plus, she’s seeing a girl on the property but they are fleeting glimpses. When Abby tries to follow the girl or find her, the girl is gone. After watching her open the door to the locked garage, Abby knows something strange is happening. When she finds the girl’s journal in one of the pieces of furniture stored in the garage, Abby knows that her entire family is in danger but doesn’t know how to convince anyone.
Obsession is a spine chilling young adult novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. The book is engaging and pulled me in from the very beginning. The author uses vivid imagery to compliment the story and I felt like I was Abby’s sidekick. I was able to easily visualize the setting, the characters, the events as they unfolded. The world building and character development were well done.
Abby’s character is a typical teen – dramatic, moody, bored. Her character wasn’t like that throughout the whole book though, and Abby was written quite well. I’m sure my teenage self would have gotten along with her since I got along with almost everyone – still do, in fact. She’s not a perfect character either, making the story a bit more realistic. Abby doesn’t make the best decisions during certain parts of the book but that makes her human.
I wish the author would have explored the murals by Abby’s mother a bit more. The readers learn the reasons behind the murals but they aren’t really tied back into the story. Also, what type of town notices that an entire family moves but doesn’t question the fact that they left the entire contents of the house – furniture, clothing, décor, etc?
I enjoy the author’s writing style; it is very conversational. The dialogue was believable and interesting. The book is a suspenseful, fast paced, well-written young adult paranormal novel.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided to me by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Plus, she’s seeing a girl on the property but they are fleeting glimpses. When Abby tries to follow the girl or find her, the girl is gone. After watching her open the door to the locked garage, Abby knows something strange is happening. When she finds the girl’s journal in one of the pieces of furniture stored in the garage, Abby knows that her entire family is in danger but doesn’t know how to convince anyone.
Obsession is a spine chilling young adult novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. The book is engaging and pulled me in from the very beginning. The author uses vivid imagery to compliment the story and I felt like I was Abby’s sidekick. I was able to easily visualize the setting, the characters, the events as they unfolded. The world building and character development were well done.
Abby’s character is a typical teen – dramatic, moody, bored. Her character wasn’t like that throughout the whole book though, and Abby was written quite well. I’m sure my teenage self would have gotten along with her since I got along with almost everyone – still do, in fact. She’s not a perfect character either, making the story a bit more realistic. Abby doesn’t make the best decisions during certain parts of the book but that makes her human.
I wish the author would have explored the murals by Abby’s mother a bit more. The readers learn the reasons behind the murals but they aren’t really tied back into the story. Also, what type of town notices that an entire family moves but doesn’t question the fact that they left the entire contents of the house – furniture, clothing, décor, etc?
I enjoy the author’s writing style; it is very conversational. The dialogue was believable and interesting. The book is a suspenseful, fast paced, well-written young adult paranormal novel.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided to me by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 26, 2015
Obsession is a charming first book by JoAnne Keltner aimed directly at young girls facing family challenges. The heroine is 13-year-old Abby Calloway whose family has just left their home in Schaumburg and moved to a house in the backwoods of Wisconsin. Abby doesn’t take well to the move that separated her from her friends and plunked her down in a house that’s only half-built—one bathroom that is unfinished and doesn’t even have a tub, sink, or toilet.
Yet her mother is obsessed with painting murals on the walls, which pretty much leaves Abby and her sister Katie on their own. Katie is five years older, and all she and Abby do is fight. Then Katie, old enough to work, leaves for a waitress job several miles away. With Abbey’s truck driver dad gone on a job, Abby can only reach out to her friend Jess back home using her mother’s cell phone. But with phone minutes being a precious commodity, even that avenue of escape is limited.
Abby must face life on her own. And LIFE comes at her fast in the form of a first period, a creepy boy, a strange ghost of a girl her age, and learning her way around the country roads, to the store, woodlands, and a lake.
The strange girl Abby sees is in fact a ghost. With Abby being the only one who can see this misty soul, it becomes her challenge to discover why the ghost girl is still hanging around and why the creepy boy and his father, construction workers on the house, take so much longer to finish the roof and inside floors than they should.
The book has a very Nancy Drew feel to its story, but it adds just enough dark edges to fit the current young adult fashion in fiction. Very satisfying story, ending, and characters. And it is well-suited to the young girls of today.
August 9, 2014
I won my signed copy of Obsession by JoAnne Keltner through GoodReads FirstReads, and I loved it! It's about 13 year old Abby moving from Illinois to Wisconsin with her family. They move into a half-finished home that Abby instantly hates. While Abby's dad and uncle are making repairs on the roof a carpenter and his 16 year old son stop to offer their services and help them finish the house. Abby hates the half-finished house and the small backwoods town and desperately wants to move back to her old house and her friends, so she devises a plan to get her parents to move back to Illinois. Abby begins her plan by befriending the carpenter's son, Greg, hoping her parents will worry that he's too old for her and on a childish whim somehow find it reason enough to move back home. But Greg turns out to be a creep and Abby has trouble getting him to leave her alone. Then Abby learns the former tenants of her new house mysteriously disappeared, leaving all their belongings behind. Abby then starts seeing a young girl come and go mysteriously on the property leading her to find the diary of the former tenants young daughter, Debbie Holt. Abby reads the diary and finds out that Greg and his equally creepy father worked for the Holt's and that Greg also bothered Debbie, and Abby wonders if Greg did something to her. This is a wonderfully engrossing mystery, that grabs you instantly from page one all the way to the finish, making it extremely hard to put down! It took me all of two days to read!
January 6, 2014
I won this book in a giveaway and I was surprised to find a note from the author herself. I really enjoyed this book. I like how the author describes everything, especially the characters and objects. For example "There's a thin layer of white dust between my bare feet and the plywood floor. It's dry and slippery, like the bottom of a floured pizza." I also like how you don't expect that the carpenter and his son killed the Holt family and that they were planning to try and hurt Abby's family. I also thought that the carpenter and his son would at least kill one member of Abby's family but I'm glad everyone got out just fine when they were held hostage. I recommend this book to anybody who likes paranormal books and books that involve crime or diaries. It's also a very good book for teens and older. I also like how the book looks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2016
I received this book through Goodreads giveaway.
I didn't realize this was a young adult book. It was a quick read. Would have finished it sooner but was already reading another novel when I received Obsession in the mail.
It's a quick read because it's not particularly long. But it also was engaging, kept me wanting to know what was happening next. I love how "visual" it was written. Very descriptive. I could clearly visualize the scenes and what was happening.
I loved the typical teenager mad about change and how her rebellion to get back to what she considers her real home became a mystery. Very good read. Nicely done. Look forward to reading or recommending other books by Keltner.
I didn't realize this was a young adult book. It was a quick read. Would have finished it sooner but was already reading another novel when I received Obsession in the mail.
It's a quick read because it's not particularly long. But it also was engaging, kept me wanting to know what was happening next. I love how "visual" it was written. Very descriptive. I could clearly visualize the scenes and what was happening.
I loved the typical teenager mad about change and how her rebellion to get back to what she considers her real home became a mystery. Very good read. Nicely done. Look forward to reading or recommending other books by Keltner.
May 11, 2015
A very well YA written novella. A young women and her family move into a home that the previous owners mysteriously vanish. Her family are slowly fixing up the home when a construction worker and his son volunteer to help at half his normal fee. The book goes on mysterious things happening. Abby figures that too many things are not adding up. By the end of the book, Ally figures out the mystery.
I would recommend this as an YA book appropriate for all ages.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I would recommend this as an YA book appropriate for all ages.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2013
Obsession becomes just that - an obsession! Once I began reading this story, even as an adult, I had difficulty putting it down. Abby's troubles and tribulations, and her responses to them, remind me vividly of what it was like to be in that stage between child and grown-up. Tweens will definitely be able to identify with Abby. The author has developed the characters and the story line so well that it is hard to believe that this is her first book. I am hoping for many more to come!
August 16, 2014
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed it very much. It was a quick read that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could read so I could find out what happened. I am very glad I won this book. I have won other books from Goodreads, but this is my first autographed copy- and the author even personalized it for me. I thought that was great :-) I loved the mention of Portillo's in the book too!
September 22, 2016
My students love Obsession, what more could I ask. They're reading, they like it, and want more. My students could visualize what was occurring in the story as they read. That was a big plus. I also enjoyed the book, from the cover art to the ease of reading the story. It flows beautifully, is suspenseful, and worth the read. Congratulations of a great story. Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for a copy of Obsession. My students and I look forward to more by Jo Anne Keltner.
August 30, 2016
I was given this book for an honest review.
The book was great! I really enjoyed the family and thought, for the most part, the sisters acted like typical sisters. I have always liked a ghost story and liked how this one was done. It was a quick read! I haven't read this author before and will definitely be checking out what else Joanne Keltner has to offer!!
The book was great! I really enjoyed the family and thought, for the most part, the sisters acted like typical sisters. I have always liked a ghost story and liked how this one was done. It was a quick read! I haven't read this author before and will definitely be checking out what else Joanne Keltner has to offer!!
September 3, 2014
This was a short read, but a tightly written story. Even though it was obviously written for readers younger than I am, the story was able to keep my attention from beginning to end. There is never a dull moment and the story progressed at a rapid speed. The ending was a good one and thoroughly wrapped up.
*I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
*I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
October 25, 2015
I received this book for free from Goodreads first reads program.
This is a really fun creepy book. It is a fast but very suspenseful read and hard to put down. The main character Abby is very easy to relate to, which makes the book all the more creepy when mysterious things start happening at her new home. This is the perfect book to read before Halloween.
This is a really fun creepy book. It is a fast but very suspenseful read and hard to put down. The main character Abby is very easy to relate to, which makes the book all the more creepy when mysterious things start happening at her new home. This is the perfect book to read before Halloween.
February 13, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. It was a very quick read that had me on the edge of my seat! Great story! I look forward to more from JoAnne Keltner!
I won this through the first reads giveaways on Goodreads, thank you!
I won this through the first reads giveaways on Goodreads, thank you!
July 19, 2014
I was very interested in this novel as well as the author when I was paroozing through the current First Reads giveaways. I was absolutely appalled while reading, but certainly entertained. Keltner covers a subject many women are afraid of, having an obsessed stalker. A wonderful novel!
November 12, 2014
a very good read. this is a mystery that moves along real fast. I loved the way the ending.
June 23, 2014
I liked this book, I wanted more from Debbie but everything unfolded in a great way - I saw half of the end...
It kept me engaged and I wished it was longer...
It kept me engaged and I wished it was longer...
March 26, 2014
I received this book in the giveaway. Loved it. Short but kept you interested throughout. Loved all the specific details she used throughout the book.
First signed book I have ever had!!
First signed book I have ever had!!
February 5, 2015
I won this book from goodreads. I loved this book. The first page caught my interest and I wasn't able to put it down until I finished it. It is very well written.
January 10, 2016
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
Here it is.
I really loved this book and would highly recommend it, if your looking for a really good suspense book.
Here it is.
I really loved this book and would highly recommend it, if your looking for a really good suspense book.
June 3, 2017
Abby moves to Wisconsin with her family and she hates it there. She is stuck out in the middle of nowhere with no friends and a family that is more focused on what they want instead of what Abby wants. Abby is determined to do anything to get her parents to move back to Illinois. One of them is befriending an older boy, Greg, who is helping his dad fix Abby's new house. She realizes he's a total creep and rebuffs him. Abby soon finds herself trying to avoid Greg and solving a mystery about the family that used to live in their new house. A diary that she finds links Greg and his dad to the previous family.
I have to say, I was annoyed with Abby and her mom. Abby's older sister was rarely home, and her dad traveled a lot for his job. This left Abby with her mom. Abby's mom spent most of her time fixing the house, leaving Abby to do whatever she wanted. All the warning signs were there but Abby's mom ignored it. She'd rather have the creepy kid and his dad around to help fix the house than kick them to the curb and protect her daughter. When things started getting bad, Abby refused to tell her family about it. Even when she calls her sister for help, she refuses to tell her sister what is wrong. To be fair, I doubt her sister would have believed her if she told the truth. They were not close at all and her sister thought she was a pain in the butt. It all came down to this family having ZERO communication with each other.
The one thing that really bothered me was how the town ignored the fact that a whole family up and disappeared overnight. It's written off as "Oh, they're known to have moved around a lot so that's probably what they did". People who move around a lot don't leave EVERYTHING behind without saying anything to anyone. No matter how I look at it, it's suspicious!
Overall, I didn't like any of the characters. You find out pretty early on what happened to the previous family even though Abby doesn't make the connection until the end. I seriously don't understand why it never crossed Abby's mind to call 911 at the end.
Another thing I thought I should mention is that I'm not sure if teens these days will understand what Abby's mom meant when she told Abby that her friend isn't in their network so she shouldn't call her.
I have to say, I was annoyed with Abby and her mom. Abby's older sister was rarely home, and her dad traveled a lot for his job. This left Abby with her mom. Abby's mom spent most of her time fixing the house, leaving Abby to do whatever she wanted. All the warning signs were there but Abby's mom ignored it. She'd rather have the creepy kid and his dad around to help fix the house than kick them to the curb and protect her daughter. When things started getting bad, Abby refused to tell her family about it. Even when she calls her sister for help, she refuses to tell her sister what is wrong. To be fair, I doubt her sister would have believed her if she told the truth. They were not close at all and her sister thought she was a pain in the butt. It all came down to this family having ZERO communication with each other.
The one thing that really bothered me was how the town ignored the fact that a whole family up and disappeared overnight. It's written off as "Oh, they're known to have moved around a lot so that's probably what they did". People who move around a lot don't leave EVERYTHING behind without saying anything to anyone. No matter how I look at it, it's suspicious!
Overall, I didn't like any of the characters. You find out pretty early on what happened to the previous family even though Abby doesn't make the connection until the end. I seriously don't understand why it never crossed Abby's mind to call 911 at the end.
Another thing I thought I should mention is that I'm not sure if teens these days will understand what Abby's mom meant when she told Abby that her friend isn't in their network so she shouldn't call her.
March 26, 2018
Personally, I only liked this at a 2 star level, but I recognize that this a good, decently written book with a solid, if not light and fast paced, plot. It kept me interested enough to keep going and was somewhat enjoyable. So I'm going to give this a diplomatic 3 stars.
November 11, 2023
I was lucky enough to win a signed copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway and finally got around to reading it.
I actually, sorta-enjoyed this book for what it was: A short, sweet thriller about a 13-year-old girl named Abby and the young girl who haunts her family's new property. The writing was descriptive but easy to read, and the main story simple.
If there's one main thing to complain about, it's the lack of character development. The only character we get to know is Abby, and she spends pretty much the whole book complaining about wanting to move back to their old home; Then, when she finally comes up with a plan that gets her back for a week, she spends THAT whole week complaining about wanting to go back to her new one. Teenage girl or not, that got annoying - even if I could see it as realistic behavior. The other characters seem to only really be there to move the plot forward. I can't name any of them that I liked...besides the dog, Carl.
Greg is one creepy fellow. There is something seriously wrong with him that he can't seem to understand that 'no' means 'no'. That he's not nearly as attractive as he seems to think he is. He's the creepy psychotic stalker you never want to have. His father's no picnic, either. Once again, though, there's no character growth. He's just a stereotypical villain and Debbie - the ghost girl - is the stereotypical dead girl victim there to warn away the villain's 'newest' victim before it's too late. What little we learn about 'her' comes through mostly in the very short, fragmented entries she'd written in her diary before her death. A diary that Abby eventually finds. Said journal turns out to be, once again, more plot-oriented than working characterization.
The ending was nice, if not a bit rushed. It's kind of hard to say. The whole book moves pretty quickly. Its ending also seemed a little 'too-good-to-be-true'. But then again, that could be me bringing in too much personal perspective.
I recommend this for someone looking for a short, quick read. I finished it in a couple of hours, and I don't regret having read it. Middle school to high school students might get the most out of it, but it doesn't alienate adult readers. If my commentary above didn't turn you off the book, it just might be perfect for you. I thank the author for a fun read.
I actually, sorta-enjoyed this book for what it was: A short, sweet thriller about a 13-year-old girl named Abby and the young girl who haunts her family's new property. The writing was descriptive but easy to read, and the main story simple.
If there's one main thing to complain about, it's the lack of character development. The only character we get to know is Abby, and she spends pretty much the whole book complaining about wanting to move back to their old home; Then, when she finally comes up with a plan that gets her back for a week, she spends THAT whole week complaining about wanting to go back to her new one. Teenage girl or not, that got annoying - even if I could see it as realistic behavior. The other characters seem to only really be there to move the plot forward. I can't name any of them that I liked...besides the dog, Carl.
Greg is one creepy fellow. There is something seriously wrong with him that he can't seem to understand that 'no' means 'no'. That he's not nearly as attractive as he seems to think he is. He's the creepy psychotic stalker you never want to have. His father's no picnic, either. Once again, though, there's no character growth. He's just a stereotypical villain and Debbie - the ghost girl - is the stereotypical dead girl victim there to warn away the villain's 'newest' victim before it's too late. What little we learn about 'her' comes through mostly in the very short, fragmented entries she'd written in her diary before her death. A diary that Abby eventually finds. Said journal turns out to be, once again, more plot-oriented than working characterization.
The ending was nice, if not a bit rushed. It's kind of hard to say. The whole book moves pretty quickly. Its ending also seemed a little 'too-good-to-be-true'. But then again, that could be me bringing in too much personal perspective.
I recommend this for someone looking for a short, quick read. I finished it in a couple of hours, and I don't regret having read it. Middle school to high school students might get the most out of it, but it doesn't alienate adult readers. If my commentary above didn't turn you off the book, it just might be perfect for you. I thank the author for a fun read.
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