The Premonitions Club is a highly original, genre-bending YA novel that delves into psychic abilities, family secrets, surveillance, and information control.
The story follows teen Liv Hall, who moves into her grandfather’s house in Hyde Park, NY, after his death and her parents’ divorce. As she investigates his cluttered attic with her friends—Jaxon, her crush with hidden psychic ability; Forester, a cute neighbor; Winnie, her childhood friend; and Nebony, the popular social media influencer—Liv uncovers secret boxes labeled “DO NOT OPEN.” These contain decades of letters addressed to the “Premonitions Bureau,” documenting psychic predictions from the late ’60s to early ’90s, many of which came true. When Nebony posts about their findings on Instagram, it triggers unwanted attention from a covert organization determined to suppress psychic phenomena. As the teens decode prophecies and discover their own psychic gifts, they race against time to evade sinister forces.
The story, centered on a real “Premonitions Bureau” that collected psychic letters from 1968–1993, features historical elements and fascinating real-life prophets and events. The story is told in a multi-POV structure with perspectives alternating between Liv, the main protagonist, and the other teens—Winnie, Jaxon, Forester, Nebony, and Matty. The transitions between POVs are seamless and easy to follow, creating a multilayered narrative where readers get to delve into the psyche of each character and experience their self-discovery, romantic inclinations, and psychic insights alongside them.
The characters are all interesting and relatable. However, because of the many POVs and the fast-paced narrative, some of the connections and conflicts between characters are not overly developed. The slow-burn romance between Liv and Jaxon is the most developed relationship and is a heartfelt respite from all the escalating tension. With such a diverse range of characters/perspectives, the character arcs are really varied by the end!
There are compelling themes explored throughout this story, including the concept of fate vs. free will, organized surveillance, and more common YA themes of belonging and identity struggles. When the teens discover that some of the premonition letters came true and begin to awaken their own psychic talents, it sparks a discussion amongst them as to whether the future is predetermined—or can be rewritten. Jaxon has the strongest clairvoyant visions but also has an overwhelming sense that if acted upon in time, the premonitions can be altered—how his theory plays out is unpredictable and rarely ends with entirely positive outcomes. To make matters even more complicated, each character has their own relatable adolescent struggle (on top of all the escalating danger they face)—sexual identity, crushes, family dynamics, mental health, learning disabilities, and the need for acceptance!
The pacing is pretty relentless from start to finish. If you’re listening to the audiobook, it’s recommended to listen at a slower speed, not only because of the fast-paced, twisty narrative, but also because of the fascinating details about psychic abilities, auras, premonition dreams, and real-world predictions that came to pass. The story culminates in a high-stakes, thrilling climax that includes a lot of reveals and intricate details—you’ll want to read the last chapters carefully to fully grasp everything. After the thrilling climax, the final chapters feel a bit rushed, quickly detailing what happens next for the characters, followed by an encrypted transmission that poses more questions than answers and may leave readers unsatisfied. Having said that, with this open-ended conclusion, there’s the possibility to expand this book into an exciting series!
Overall, The Premonitions Club is an emotionally charged YA paranormal thriller, perfect for fans of Stranger Things and The Inheritance Games. This book’s inclusion of complex and fascinating subject matter makes it suitable for not just YA readers but also adults. Those who enjoy conspiracy-driven, psychic-centered stories with romance and engaging teenage introspection will love this book!