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The Getaway
Welcome to the funnest spot around . . .
Jay is living his best life at Karloff Country, one of the world’s most famous resorts. He’s got his family, his crew, and an incredible after-school job at the property’s main theme park. Life isn’t so great for the rest of the world, but when people come here to vacation, it’s to get away from all that.
As things outside get worse, trouble starts seeping into Karloff. First, Jay’s friend Connie and her family disappear in the middle of the night and no one will talk about it. Then the richest and most powerful families start arriving, only... they aren’t leaving. Unknown to the employees, the resort has been selling shares in an end-of-the-world oasis. The best of the best at the end of days. And in order to deliver the top-notch customer service the wealthy clientele paid for, the employees will be at their total beck and call.
Whether they like it or not.
Yet Karloff Country didn’t count on Jay and his crew--and just how far they’ll go to find out the truth and save themselves. But what’s more dangerous: the monster you know in your home or the unknown nightmare outside the walls?
Jay is living his best life at Karloff Country, one of the world’s most famous resorts. He’s got his family, his crew, and an incredible after-school job at the property’s main theme park. Life isn’t so great for the rest of the world, but when people come here to vacation, it’s to get away from all that.
As things outside get worse, trouble starts seeping into Karloff. First, Jay’s friend Connie and her family disappear in the middle of the night and no one will talk about it. Then the richest and most powerful families start arriving, only... they aren’t leaving. Unknown to the employees, the resort has been selling shares in an end-of-the-world oasis. The best of the best at the end of days. And in order to deliver the top-notch customer service the wealthy clientele paid for, the employees will be at their total beck and call.
Whether they like it or not.
Yet Karloff Country didn’t count on Jay and his crew--and just how far they’ll go to find out the truth and save themselves. But what’s more dangerous: the monster you know in your home or the unknown nightmare outside the walls?
416 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2022
312 people are currently reading
13890 people want to read
About the author
Lamar Giles
32 books619 followersLamar "L. R." Giles writes books for teens and adults. FAKE ID, his debut Young Adult Thriller, will be published by HarperCollins in 2014. He is represented by Jamie Weiss Chilton of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency and resides in Chesapeake, VA with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 872 reviews
March 5, 2022
me on my way to read some YA Horror
UPDATE: Okay not quite horror, but definitely has some horrific elements! It’s probably more speculative/dystopian fiction, featuring four Black teenagers who live in a “corporate community”, like the ones Disney and Amazon have been proposing as of late. There’s a lot of smart commentary and a really interesting premise, though an excess of violence and torture that might turn off some readers. Will do a full review closer to the pub, but I’d recommend it for people who enjoyed the darker episodes of Black Mirror, as long as you’re not currently suffering trauma fatigue.
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
UPDATE: Okay not quite horror, but definitely has some horrific elements! It’s probably more speculative/dystopian fiction, featuring four Black teenagers who live in a “corporate community”, like the ones Disney and Amazon have been proposing as of late. There’s a lot of smart commentary and a really interesting premise, though an excess of violence and torture that might turn off some readers. Will do a full review closer to the pub, but I’d recommend it for people who enjoyed the darker episodes of Black Mirror, as long as you’re not currently suffering trauma fatigue.
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
February 7, 2025
Definitely dug this diabolical dystopia with its real, raw emotion & dialogue that zings.
Even more importantly, "my" students love, love, love THE GETAWAY.
Even more importantly, "my" students love, love, love THE GETAWAY.
October 27, 2022
SPOOKTOBER IS WANING, BUT WE STILL GOT SOME JUICE
September 29, 2022
4.5* ugh this was gooooood, I really think I need to give more YA horror a chance because I had so much fun with this. It was super creepy, dystopian, felt like a Black Mirror episode with a heavy dose of reality woven through. Definitely recommend this to all ages and readers.
Thank you to I read YA for sending me a free copy.
Thank you to I read YA for sending me a free copy.
November 16, 2022
The Getaway shocked me. People have compared it to a Black Mirror episode and they’re right. This story is horrifying and unforgiving, and so, so good.
We follow several Black characters: Jay most of the time, but also Zeke and Connie. We also follow Jay’s crush Seychelle, who is mixed-race and the technical heir to the great Karloff Country, aka an amusement park not unlike Disney World where everyone can escape the chaos of a slightly apocalyptic world for a little while.
but what happens when things start to go…wrong?
What happens when the thinly veiled racism and classism come out in full force? I don’t want to go into details but let’s just say that the oasis that is Karloff Country? Yeah, it’s only an oasis for some people. As Jay and his friends unravel mysteries and conspiracies and plots galore, they will be forced to reckon with terrors beyond imagination.
anyways I really loved this book.
It’s interesting because this book is actually mixed-media, which I didn’t realize before picking it up! Anyways, I loved the Black representation and the heavy discussion of elitism, racism, and classism against the backdrop of a dystopian society and a “perfect” theme park. I also loved how Seychelle was mixed-race??? Like, she had to deal with the racism from her white grandfather and those around her, and I think that her identity was certainly dealt with a lot of care and nuance*.
*i say this as someone who is mixed
I have to admit: this book does not hold back from its horror. And I really loved that? It’s not a scary book, in the way that we usually think of horror. No, its horror is rooted in real-world issues and that’s what makes this book so brilliant and so terrifying. You watch as Jay struggles to keep his crew together while trying to come to terms with what is happening around him. We hear so much in real-life about the audacity of the rich white and what they do and have done in the past. I think that this book takes that concept and runs with it.
I’m just so, so impressed at how incredible of a story this is. It’s a thriller and a horror, dashed with so much excellent commentary, with atmosphere and plot twists that I haven’t experienced in a book for a while. As October comes upon us, I implore you to READ THIS BOOK! It’s 100% the most underrated book I’ve read so far this year, and it’s the perfect read that’s not scary, but it is horrifying. That being said, please be aware that there is a lot of violence, racism, implied animal cruelty, etc. in this story.
Overall, I am so, so impressed with this book. It honestly reminds me why we need more POC in publishing: they can give us such powerful, nuanced stories like these.
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
a dystopian theme park ft. Black kids? of course i’m reading this
We follow several Black characters: Jay most of the time, but also Zeke and Connie. We also follow Jay’s crush Seychelle, who is mixed-race and the technical heir to the great Karloff Country, aka an amusement park not unlike Disney World where everyone can escape the chaos of a slightly apocalyptic world for a little while.
but what happens when things start to go…wrong?
What happens when the thinly veiled racism and classism come out in full force? I don’t want to go into details but let’s just say that the oasis that is Karloff Country? Yeah, it’s only an oasis for some people. As Jay and his friends unravel mysteries and conspiracies and plots galore, they will be forced to reckon with terrors beyond imagination.
anyways I really loved this book.
It’s interesting because this book is actually mixed-media, which I didn’t realize before picking it up! Anyways, I loved the Black representation and the heavy discussion of elitism, racism, and classism against the backdrop of a dystopian society and a “perfect” theme park. I also loved how Seychelle was mixed-race??? Like, she had to deal with the racism from her white grandfather and those around her, and I think that her identity was certainly dealt with a lot of care and nuance*.
*i say this as someone who is mixed
I have to admit: this book does not hold back from its horror. And I really loved that? It’s not a scary book, in the way that we usually think of horror. No, its horror is rooted in real-world issues and that’s what makes this book so brilliant and so terrifying. You watch as Jay struggles to keep his crew together while trying to come to terms with what is happening around him. We hear so much in real-life about the audacity of the rich white and what they do and have done in the past. I think that this book takes that concept and runs with it.
I’m just so, so impressed at how incredible of a story this is. It’s a thriller and a horror, dashed with so much excellent commentary, with atmosphere and plot twists that I haven’t experienced in a book for a while. As October comes upon us, I implore you to READ THIS BOOK! It’s 100% the most underrated book I’ve read so far this year, and it’s the perfect read that’s not scary, but it is horrifying. That being said, please be aware that there is a lot of violence, racism, implied animal cruelty, etc. in this story.
Overall, I am so, so impressed with this book. It honestly reminds me why we need more POC in publishing: they can give us such powerful, nuanced stories like these.
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
a dystopian theme park ft. Black kids? of course i’m reading this
November 5, 2025
The cover of this books borrows a lot of visual elements from a certain wave of horror that the book doesn't belong to unless you squint just so, given that it's a YA dystopian it was probably a good thing or I wouldn't have been eager to pick it up.
I liked that our characters weren't heroes, no "I'm super pretty but I think I'm average and nobody likes me" chosen ones here, these kids are just trying to make it through the day in what starts out as a fairly boring dystopia. Several scenes in this book are bone chilling in how plausible they feel and it was often a deeply uncomfortable read, precisely because it was so easy to imagine behaving exactly like the characters.
I liked that our characters weren't heroes, no "I'm super pretty but I think I'm average and nobody likes me" chosen ones here, these kids are just trying to make it through the day in what starts out as a fairly boring dystopia. Several scenes in this book are bone chilling in how plausible they feel and it was often a deeply uncomfortable read, precisely because it was so easy to imagine behaving exactly like the characters.
September 23, 2022
The Getaway was a mixed bag for me. I liked the premise and the exploration of race and other social issues through this lens — very timely, particularly with exposés of billionaires attempting to secure their own private futures in space (lmao) while the rest of us burn. However, I felt the constant perspective switching weakened the narrative, and as the end approached the book began just racing through plot points without bothering to land *anywhere* long enough to let what was happening make any kind of impact. A lot of slow burn setup without the payoff.
April 11, 2023
Unfortunately, I skimmed a lot of this towards the middle. Not because this is a bad story, but because it was making me very angry.
I read to forget about the systematic racism in my country, and unfortunately this book brought it all to the forefront.
The plot is interesting, and it will keep you entertained.
I read to forget about the systematic racism in my country, and unfortunately this book brought it all to the forefront.
The plot is interesting, and it will keep you entertained.
October 31, 2022
The concept was so intriguing but the writing just made me feel so detached from the characters, it was almost written as tell me what happened rather than show me.
I wish more emotive language was used to really show me how dire the situation really was.
I feel like this really would have benefited from being told as 7 straight days from hell rather than “3 months went by” because what happened in those 3 months??
I wish more emotive language was used to really show me how dire the situation really was.
I feel like this really would have benefited from being told as 7 straight days from hell rather than “3 months went by” because what happened in those 3 months??
January 19, 2023
Super solid YA dystopian horror/suspense that makes me never want to go back to Disney World. The pacing felt a bit off to me personally and I wanted to get to know the main characters better, but overall a good time!
Read in this reading vlog: https://youtu.be/nsMUs_e9s8A
Read in this reading vlog: https://youtu.be/nsMUs_e9s8A
September 22, 2025
From Dreamland to Dystopia!
Story 5/5
Narration 5/5
The Getaway by Lamar Giles is a phenomenal nightmarish dystopia!
Jay thought he was living in the best place in the United States, Karloff Country, the ultimate amusement park, surrounded by family and friends. While the outside world was plagued by famine and chaos, inside Karloff Country everything seemed perfect. Until it wasn’t. With growing horror, Jay discovered that everything he knew was an illusion. The paradise of Karloff Country quickly unraveled into a living hell for him and for those who worked there.
I found the story to be very well written, with a perfectly balanced pace that kept me hooked from start to finish. The action was gripping, the plot twists kept me on edge, and the characters were impressively well developed. I truly hope a talented director will one day bring this book to the big screen. I highly recommend it, and I’ll definitely be reading more from Lamar Giles.
Story 5/5
Narration 5/5
The Getaway by Lamar Giles is a phenomenal nightmarish dystopia!
Jay thought he was living in the best place in the United States, Karloff Country, the ultimate amusement park, surrounded by family and friends. While the outside world was plagued by famine and chaos, inside Karloff Country everything seemed perfect. Until it wasn’t. With growing horror, Jay discovered that everything he knew was an illusion. The paradise of Karloff Country quickly unraveled into a living hell for him and for those who worked there.
I found the story to be very well written, with a perfectly balanced pace that kept me hooked from start to finish. The action was gripping, the plot twists kept me on edge, and the characters were impressively well developed. I truly hope a talented director will one day bring this book to the big screen. I highly recommend it, and I’ll definitely be reading more from Lamar Giles.
October 16, 2022
Never work at Disneyland during a complete societal collapse. Jay works and lives in Karloff Country with his friends, a resort park extremely similar to Disneyland. But then one of his friends goes missing, new holidaymakers start moving in and new rules come into place that have deadly consequences.
This is an extremely violent story for YA, with many moments that really shocked me. But it felt realistic, painting a picture of a society built on racism descending right back into what it knows best. I liked that we got to see a lot of the different sides of the situation through snippets from Jay's friends, Connie, Zeke and Sechelle, who's the granddaughter of the founder.
I think this story mashed up elements from Disneyland, The Truman Show and Stepford Wives incredibly well, painting an extremely bleak but unfortunately very believable picture of what could happen during the event of a societal collapse. This story is fast paced without ever feeling rushed, and I loved finally reading YA Dystopia with a diverse cast of characters.
This is an extremely violent story for YA, with many moments that really shocked me. But it felt realistic, painting a picture of a society built on racism descending right back into what it knows best. I liked that we got to see a lot of the different sides of the situation through snippets from Jay's friends, Connie, Zeke and Sechelle, who's the granddaughter of the founder.
I think this story mashed up elements from Disneyland, The Truman Show and Stepford Wives incredibly well, painting an extremely bleak but unfortunately very believable picture of what could happen during the event of a societal collapse. This story is fast paced without ever feeling rushed, and I loved finally reading YA Dystopia with a diverse cast of characters.
April 16, 2023
It tore at my heart and had me in a choke-hold during the second half. It was incredibly uncomfortable to read at times, but so well constructed story-wise.
August 2, 2024
I was intrigued by the premise of this one and the first hundred pages or so did hook me in. The plot gets a little wild, with one or 2 many betrayals and tangents which leave the plot a little mangled. On the whole I enjoyed it though, Big "Get out" mixed with " The Purge" vibes. But not sure if I would reccommend
In a world on the brink of economical ruin, there is a remote holiday resort for the richest of the rich to unwind. But when the apocalypse happens those privileged people become permanent residents. And the employees are turned in to slaves for the rich, with fatal consequences for disobeying. Jay and his friends join the underground resistance to end the suffering. But will they be able to?
In a world on the brink of economical ruin, there is a remote holiday resort for the richest of the rich to unwind. But when the apocalypse happens those privileged people become permanent residents. And the employees are turned in to slaves for the rich, with fatal consequences for disobeying. Jay and his friends join the underground resistance to end the suffering. But will they be able to?
September 4, 2022
Mini blurb: A Black teen and his friends living in a corporate community/utopian enclave surrounded by a crumbling world find themselves and their families to be pawns in a horrible game, and set to uncover the secrets of their alleged paradise and fight its elite, while not even knowing if there's anything left for them outside its walls.
***
Rated 3.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to Scholastic for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
The Getaway is a compulsively readable post-apocalyptic (or better, apocalypse-adjacent) dystopian thriller with a twist...since neither the main characters (and their families and friends), nor the reader, know to what extent the world outside Karloff Country is crumbling - the only thing the residents know is that they're safe inside the enclave, and are supposed to be grateful and to deem themselves lucky for being there. Everyone both lives and works inside KC, including main character Jay and his friends Zeke and Connie (all Black), while Jay's crush Seychelle (mixed race) is the heir of the Karloff empire, if only her white grandfather can stop despising her long enough to actually pass the baton. Things in KC are subtly (or not so subtly) wrong from the start, but everyone takes them in stride (or more like, do their best to), until shit openly hits the fan, and the racism and classism barely contained under the surface burst in the open in horrible, elite-sanctioned ways (think...our world, only worse. Far worse. For now).
The Getaway is a wake-up call of a book with a friendship-and-family core. A cautionary tale with a thriller edge. An adventure at the end of the world (or of the world as we know it?) with a honest and hopeful, if not bow-tied, ending. Even if the real action only occurs in the last chapters and I didn't fall head-over-heels for the characters (I did like them though!), I enjoyed the story and the message, and I'm sure teens will get a kick (and hopefully a call to action) out of it.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
***
Rated 3.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to Scholastic for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
The Getaway is a compulsively readable post-apocalyptic (or better, apocalypse-adjacent) dystopian thriller with a twist...since neither the main characters (and their families and friends), nor the reader, know to what extent the world outside Karloff Country is crumbling - the only thing the residents know is that they're safe inside the enclave, and are supposed to be grateful and to deem themselves lucky for being there. Everyone both lives and works inside KC, including main character Jay and his friends Zeke and Connie (all Black), while Jay's crush Seychelle (mixed race) is the heir of the Karloff empire, if only her white grandfather can stop despising her long enough to actually pass the baton. Things in KC are subtly (or not so subtly) wrong from the start, but everyone takes them in stride (or more like, do their best to), until shit openly hits the fan, and the racism and classism barely contained under the surface burst in the open in horrible, elite-sanctioned ways (think...our world, only worse. Far worse. For now).
The Getaway is a wake-up call of a book with a friendship-and-family core. A cautionary tale with a thriller edge. An adventure at the end of the world (or of the world as we know it?) with a honest and hopeful, if not bow-tied, ending. Even if the real action only occurs in the last chapters and I didn't fall head-over-heels for the characters (I did like them though!), I enjoyed the story and the message, and I'm sure teens will get a kick (and hopefully a call to action) out of it.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
September 6, 2022
Get ready to NEVER look at amusement parks or resorts the same way again!
If the world was in total chaos today (more so than it’s currant state of insanity) and you had the choice to go ANYWHERE outside of your home, where would you want to go?
It’s a no brainer for me, or well it was before I read this book. I should have known better. Especially with this creepy cover. Seeking refuge at the world’s biggest & most well renown amusement park resort as a live in employee cannot all be fun and games. Especially in the mist of the world ending. With big money and big business there it is bound to have some corruption. This dystopian novel captures all out current day realities of climate change, food shortages, and the wage gap and ramps it up to terrifying levels. This is one heck of a dark book that keeps you guessing. This author held no punches and when I say this book gave me nightmares… listen I won’t be visiting any of the funnest places around anytime soon!
If the world was in total chaos today (more so than it’s currant state of insanity) and you had the choice to go ANYWHERE outside of your home, where would you want to go?
It’s a no brainer for me, or well it was before I read this book. I should have known better. Especially with this creepy cover. Seeking refuge at the world’s biggest & most well renown amusement park resort as a live in employee cannot all be fun and games. Especially in the mist of the world ending. With big money and big business there it is bound to have some corruption. This dystopian novel captures all out current day realities of climate change, food shortages, and the wage gap and ramps it up to terrifying levels. This is one heck of a dark book that keeps you guessing. This author held no punches and when I say this book gave me nightmares… listen I won’t be visiting any of the funnest places around anytime soon!
September 12, 2025
3.5 Stars!
I'm not sure what to say about this book.
Is it a Thriller?
Is it a Mystery?
Is it a Horror?
Is it Dystopian?
I think it's probably best to go into this book blind. I never knew where this story was going. I do think it was overly long but I still enjoyed it. I think this would make a great TV show..probably a better show than book.
I recommend it to even people who usually read YA, I kept forgetting it was YA. I will definitely be reading more by Lamar Giles in the future.
I'm not sure what to say about this book.
Is it a Thriller?
Is it a Mystery?
Is it a Horror?
Is it Dystopian?
I think it's probably best to go into this book blind. I never knew where this story was going. I do think it was overly long but I still enjoyed it. I think this would make a great TV show..probably a better show than book.
I recommend it to even people who usually read YA, I kept forgetting it was YA. I will definitely be reading more by Lamar Giles in the future.
October 25, 2024
I enjoyed this very much with the apocalyptic and dystopian feel of this but I was very back and forth with this. One minute I loved it and the other I was ready for it to be over. It was just a very slow building up and I was starting to get antsy, but once you get past the beginning you at hooked into the storyline.
But honestly this book shocked me and disgusted me, these people were horrible and was so glad they got their karma at the end because they honestly deserved the worst of the worst.
I felt bad for the kids at the end because even though they are free now, they lost so much in the process and are all going their separate ways.
Wished I loved this a more than I did but it was still good nonetheless.
But honestly this book shocked me and disgusted me, these people were horrible and was so glad they got their karma at the end because they honestly deserved the worst of the worst.
I felt bad for the kids at the end because even though they are free now, they lost so much in the process and are all going their separate ways.
Wished I loved this a more than I did but it was still good nonetheless.
October 4, 2022
The Getaway is what I think some of us call social horror? It's about Jay, who has already kind of been through dystopia before the book starts. It takes place in the somewhat near future - there are food shortages all around the world, but Jay is lucky enough to live in Karloff Country, which is basically Disneyworld. It's self-contained, with the workers living in neighborhoods on the theme park's campus, and there are even vertical food storage silos to keep everyone inside fed. Jay and both his parents work for the company, as do all his friends and their parents. Except their one friend, who is a Karloff that maybe isn't treated the same as all of the others because she's mixed, but she's still the heir to the Karloff throne.
Their life is already a little on the eerie side, but Jay is just grateful to have food to eat. That is, until one of his friends goes missing, and then the park and all the residences go into lockdown.
Things get weird, quick, and basically it becomes a class and race struggle within the park, with a very clear power divide.
I can't say too much about the plot because it is a horror novel and I wouldn't want to spoil any reveals. But the story itself was really good. There's a lovable cast of characters, a decent amount of actually horrifying horror, and good commentary on the state of our world and how people of different races and classes experience tragedies and shortages differently.
I'm glad to have another Black horror novel to recommend to kids at work, especially boys!!
Their life is already a little on the eerie side, but Jay is just grateful to have food to eat. That is, until one of his friends goes missing, and then the park and all the residences go into lockdown.
Things get weird, quick, and basically it becomes a class and race struggle within the park, with a very clear power divide.
I can't say too much about the plot because it is a horror novel and I wouldn't want to spoil any reveals. But the story itself was really good. There's a lovable cast of characters, a decent amount of actually horrifying horror, and good commentary on the state of our world and how people of different races and classes experience tragedies and shortages differently.
I'm glad to have another Black horror novel to recommend to kids at work, especially boys!!
October 1, 2022
Fans of Jordan Peele and The Black Mirror will love this YA dystopian horror book.
🎡
Karloff Country is home to the funnest spot around and it’s where high school senior, Jay, and his friends work. The world has deteriorated, as it’s set in the not-so-distant-future where there are food shortages, starvation, and climate change. As the world becomes end of days, the resort starts offering up employees at the guests’ beck and call, but they didn’t count on Jay and his friends who are decidedly not okay with what they’re being asked to do. They want the truth as well and will do anything to get it.
🎡
Giles has something special here. The horror is subtle, but does build throughout the novel It also was a great commentary on racism, classism and capitalism, as well as what modern day slavery would look like. The cover alone will have kids picking it up, but they’ll devour it until the startling end. This would make a fantastic movie as well!
CW: classism, racism, death, torture, hospitalization, violence
Kind of slow for me personally. 3.25 ⭐️
🎡
Karloff Country is home to the funnest spot around and it’s where high school senior, Jay, and his friends work. The world has deteriorated, as it’s set in the not-so-distant-future where there are food shortages, starvation, and climate change. As the world becomes end of days, the resort starts offering up employees at the guests’ beck and call, but they didn’t count on Jay and his friends who are decidedly not okay with what they’re being asked to do. They want the truth as well and will do anything to get it.
🎡
Giles has something special here. The horror is subtle, but does build throughout the novel It also was a great commentary on racism, classism and capitalism, as well as what modern day slavery would look like. The cover alone will have kids picking it up, but they’ll devour it until the startling end. This would make a fantastic movie as well!
CW: classism, racism, death, torture, hospitalization, violence
Kind of slow for me personally. 3.25 ⭐️
October 19, 2022
Confirmed via painful experimentation: YA fiction isn’t for me. (And literally, it is not FOR me, middle-aged parent that I am!) Can’t stand to have everything spelled out in excruciating detail, being entrusted to interpret/extrapolate precisely nothing on my own. And I know The Kids Today find me and my fellow Gen Xers cringe-worthy, because every week there is some stupid article reporting on (for example, this past week) how a survey of kids 16-29 reveals that the following emojis are only used by old people. Not that anyone has asked, but I find young adults, collectively, equally cringe-inducing—and if these characters are passable representations of them, take that cringe and double it. Bring on the geriatric literature. I’m here for it.
September 13, 2022
wow. I'm shook. SHOOOK. this was so, so good. reading this was like watching a Jordan Peele movie. the tension grips you from the very first page and it just keeps building until the plot really drops and all hell breaks loose. the characters, the pacing, the action, the plot twists...all excellent. cannot wait to bully all my friends into reading this one.
December 23, 2023
I was pulled into this world right away and found myself attached to the main characters within the first two chapters. A story of friendship, family, survival, racism and classism that was beautiful and uncomfortable to read at times.
To me it was a bit slow in the middle, but when the action started it was full speed ahead. The ending left me with a broken heart. This isn't a story I'll forget any time soon
To me it was a bit slow in the middle, but when the action started it was full speed ahead. The ending left me with a broken heart. This isn't a story I'll forget any time soon
September 27, 2024
I will have to write a real review tomorrow but I had to finish reading this tonight. Why haven't I seen this book on any "gimme your dystopian recs" lists?! This was shocking. Stomach turning. Wow. I'm going to have nightmares. Loved it and might buy this guy's entire library now.
*DO find a list of trigger warnings. This was rough. In a good way if you're into it, but it might be too much for some readers.
*DO find a list of trigger warnings. This was rough. In a good way if you're into it, but it might be too much for some readers.
January 11, 2023
3.5 stars
this was recommended to me by a very nice librarian after i told them i like horror so i checked it out. i admit i was a little lost in the beginning thinking it was gonna be dumb ya nonsense but was sold when the plot really started going then couldnt put the book down. total black mirror vibes if they made an episode about the worst case scenario with disney.
i feel like this would have benefited from being either split into multiple books or being longer. there were several interesting concepts thrown together that dont really get proper time to shine before moving on to the next thing at breakneck speeds. there is lots of themes having to do with race, class, capitalism, environmentalism, and more issues while also parodying customer service work and the whole idea of disney and also every apocalyptic trope you can think of including high tech weapons, viruses, and even cannibalism. its just a lot to throw around in a 400 page story that doesnt really start popping off until over 100 pages in. also the ending felt kind of rushed.
something i particularly… dont want to say enjoyed but i cant think of another word… thought was well done maybe? was how the author wrote gore. i dont often feel squeamish when reading gore but the descriptions of certain deaths in this book were pretty disturbing. it made the stakes seem much higher and made the characters fear feel more warranted.
anyway, this was a fun quick read. gonna go watch defunctland
edit with spoilers:
also!!! after sleeping on it i remembered like a ton of plot holes? like why did barnabus ask jay for a tour of the park and ask him pointed questions about the supply as if jay was at all important to his plans? also he called seychelle pollyanna during his villain monologue and then never explained who pollyanna is? and how did seychelle know about the cannibalism bc she wasnt there when connie explained that? and why did zekes dad refuse to leave or believe anyone that it wasnt safe when he was supposed to be conspiracy theorist number one against the park? the whole ending was a mess now that i think about it tbh
this was recommended to me by a very nice librarian after i told them i like horror so i checked it out. i admit i was a little lost in the beginning thinking it was gonna be dumb ya nonsense but was sold when the plot really started going then couldnt put the book down. total black mirror vibes if they made an episode about the worst case scenario with disney.
i feel like this would have benefited from being either split into multiple books or being longer. there were several interesting concepts thrown together that dont really get proper time to shine before moving on to the next thing at breakneck speeds. there is lots of themes having to do with race, class, capitalism, environmentalism, and more issues while also parodying customer service work and the whole idea of disney and also every apocalyptic trope you can think of including high tech weapons, viruses, and even cannibalism. its just a lot to throw around in a 400 page story that doesnt really start popping off until over 100 pages in. also the ending felt kind of rushed.
something i particularly… dont want to say enjoyed but i cant think of another word… thought was well done maybe? was how the author wrote gore. i dont often feel squeamish when reading gore but the descriptions of certain deaths in this book were pretty disturbing. it made the stakes seem much higher and made the characters fear feel more warranted.
anyway, this was a fun quick read. gonna go watch defunctland
edit with spoilers:
also!!! after sleeping on it i remembered like a ton of plot holes? like why did barnabus ask jay for a tour of the park and ask him pointed questions about the supply as if jay was at all important to his plans? also he called seychelle pollyanna during his villain monologue and then never explained who pollyanna is? and how did seychelle know about the cannibalism bc she wasnt there when connie explained that? and why did zekes dad refuse to leave or believe anyone that it wasnt safe when he was supposed to be conspiracy theorist number one against the park? the whole ending was a mess now that i think about it tbh
October 7, 2022
If you're into YA social horror - or even adult social horror - and you're a fan of dystopian settings, I highly recommend THE GETAWAY. Think: Disney World meets Black Mirror.
This is the first book I've read from Lamar Giles and now he's on my list of authors to watch, so I'll be seeing what other books he has that I can get my hands on.
THE GETAWAY is filled with all sorts of messed up, wrong things that make you go, "WHAT?!" Lamar shines a big spotlight on racism, artificial intelligence, and the wealthy and privileged.
My only small issue with the book was its pacing. I appreciated the buildup in the beginning and most of the middle, but would have appreciated it more if it matched the faster pace of the second half of the middle part and all the way through the end. The suspense was always there, though, which is why it's not a huge deal for me. This is a high four-star rating (4.75 if I gave those sorts of ratings).
Would love to see this book get more of the love it deserves!
This is the first book I've read from Lamar Giles and now he's on my list of authors to watch, so I'll be seeing what other books he has that I can get my hands on.
THE GETAWAY is filled with all sorts of messed up, wrong things that make you go, "WHAT?!" Lamar shines a big spotlight on racism, artificial intelligence, and the wealthy and privileged.
My only small issue with the book was its pacing. I appreciated the buildup in the beginning and most of the middle, but would have appreciated it more if it matched the faster pace of the second half of the middle part and all the way through the end. The suspense was always there, though, which is why it's not a huge deal for me. This is a high four-star rating (4.75 if I gave those sorts of ratings).
Would love to see this book get more of the love it deserves!
January 22, 2025
3.5*
The concept of this story was great, and the execution was pretty good too, but there were a few things I didn't love. First of all, the villain (I won't say their name bc spoilers) felt a little underdeveloped. There could have been more building of his character throughout the story because, until the twist, the character seemed a little irrelevant and blended into the background but not in the way that I would have preferred. The only other real issue I had was the candy drug thing that seemed a little too convenient for the plot. It just felt awkward, almost like it didn't belong if that makes any sense. BUT!! Again this was an amazing concept and the story itself was super interesting. The way Giles writes about the pressing social issues present in the book was def my favorite part.
Sorry this is kind of a messy review but hopefully it's somewhat understandable😭
Also one more thing: I wasn't a huge fan of the multiple POVs and the ending felt a bit rushed...but this was 100% one of the better books I've had to read for school :)
The concept of this story was great, and the execution was pretty good too, but there were a few things I didn't love. First of all, the villain (I won't say their name bc spoilers) felt a little underdeveloped. There could have been more building of his character throughout the story because, until the twist, the character seemed a little irrelevant and blended into the background but not in the way that I would have preferred. The only other real issue I had was the candy drug thing that seemed a little too convenient for the plot. It just felt awkward, almost like it didn't belong if that makes any sense. BUT!! Again this was an amazing concept and the story itself was super interesting. The way Giles writes about the pressing social issues present in the book was def my favorite part.
Sorry this is kind of a messy review but hopefully it's somewhat understandable😭
Also one more thing: I wasn't a huge fan of the multiple POVs and the ending felt a bit rushed...but this was 100% one of the better books I've had to read for school :)
August 14, 2023
I managed to completely miss that this is young adult dystopian horror. Serves me right for checking it out based on the cover alone.
The plot basics have us following 4 teens living in Karloff Country (think Disney World but in the West-ish, maybe Colorado or Wyoming) in the near future as climate change has created a dystopian world outside the safe gates of the ongoing amusement park. Philosophically, the plot examines all aspects of systemic racism as it exists historically, today, and in this future dystopian landscape. It works well as a young adult book, with simplified characters, dialog, and plot points. I think I would have loved this had it been written for adult audiences with more nuanced/developed characters and dialog. Giles still manages to bring the creepiness and horror but in a way meant for younger audiences. I'm torn on how I feel about the length (reads long in the middle with 400 pages) and the ending.
The plot basics have us following 4 teens living in Karloff Country (think Disney World but in the West-ish, maybe Colorado or Wyoming) in the near future as climate change has created a dystopian world outside the safe gates of the ongoing amusement park. Philosophically, the plot examines all aspects of systemic racism as it exists historically, today, and in this future dystopian landscape. It works well as a young adult book, with simplified characters, dialog, and plot points. I think I would have loved this had it been written for adult audiences with more nuanced/developed characters and dialog. Giles still manages to bring the creepiness and horror but in a way meant for younger audiences. I'm torn on how I feel about the length (reads long in the middle with 400 pages) and the ending.
November 3, 2023
I loved everything about this.
I finished it in one day, insisted my husband read it and recommended it to a friend.
This is a perfect blend of smart dystopian and WTF thriller.
I finished it in one day, insisted my husband read it and recommended it to a friend.
This is a perfect blend of smart dystopian and WTF thriller.
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