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Echo Bridge
For popular theater star Courtney Valance, high school was a breeze. Beautiful, talented, and driven, she was the envy of her classmates and the prized girlfriend of Belknap Country Day’s most eligible bachelor, Ted Parker. But that was before Ted’s best friend, Hugh, was found dead. Before Courtney went missing. Before the clothes she was last seen in washed up on the banks of the Souhegan River.
Now everyone believes Courtney is dead, too—and her eligible bachelor is the number one murder suspect. Before the day of Ted’s trial, Courtney’s sister Anna receives a mysterious package with a note in Courtney’s handwriting. Does that mean Courtney could still be alive?
One thing is Courtney’s picturesque life was not what it seemed. She needed an escape…and that’s exactly what she got.
This book contains mature themes.
Praise for Echo
“…O’Toole dares the reader not to look away from the lessons written in blood—rumor, trauma, privilege, justice, sexuality—that adolescence teaches….I defy you to put Echo Bridge down.” – Laura Goode, author of Sister Mischief
Now everyone believes Courtney is dead, too—and her eligible bachelor is the number one murder suspect. Before the day of Ted’s trial, Courtney’s sister Anna receives a mysterious package with a note in Courtney’s handwriting. Does that mean Courtney could still be alive?
One thing is Courtney’s picturesque life was not what it seemed. She needed an escape…and that’s exactly what she got.
This book contains mature themes.
Praise for Echo
“…O’Toole dares the reader not to look away from the lessons written in blood—rumor, trauma, privilege, justice, sexuality—that adolescence teaches….I defy you to put Echo Bridge down.” – Laura Goode, author of Sister Mischief
- GenresContemporary
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2014
1 person is currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Kristen O'Toole
1 book3 followersKristen O'Toole studied creative writing at Bates College and Columbia University. Echo Bridge is her first book. She lives in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 15, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Full Fathom Five and NetGalley.)
17-year-old Courtney is raped by her boyfriend’s best friend (Hugh) whilst at a party, but can’t confess what happened to anyone, especially when Hugh claims that he will tell people she wanted it.
How can Courtney find peace after what Hugh did to her? And will Hugh do the same to someone else before she can stop him?
This was an interesting story, but the pace was a little slow.
Courtney was an interesting character, and I felt really sorry for her. I understood why she felt like she couldn’t tell anyone about the rape, but I really wished that she could have done something about Hugh before he raped anyone else.
The storyline in this was good, and I liked the mystery element of how the girls would pay Hugh back. The pacing did feel a little slow though, and I would have liked for it to have been a bit quicker.
There was some romance in this, but not a lot. The story was much more focused on the rape and its consequences rather than romance.
The ending to this delivered a couple of surprise twists which were good. This book was enjoyable overall; I just wanted things to move a bit quicker.
6.5 out of 10
17-year-old Courtney is raped by her boyfriend’s best friend (Hugh) whilst at a party, but can’t confess what happened to anyone, especially when Hugh claims that he will tell people she wanted it.
How can Courtney find peace after what Hugh did to her? And will Hugh do the same to someone else before she can stop him?
This was an interesting story, but the pace was a little slow.
Courtney was an interesting character, and I felt really sorry for her. I understood why she felt like she couldn’t tell anyone about the rape, but I really wished that she could have done something about Hugh before he raped anyone else.
The storyline in this was good, and I liked the mystery element of how the girls would pay Hugh back. The pacing did feel a little slow though, and I would have liked for it to have been a bit quicker.
There was some romance in this, but not a lot. The story was much more focused on the rape and its consequences rather than romance.
The ending to this delivered a couple of surprise twists which were good. This book was enjoyable overall; I just wanted things to move a bit quicker.
6.5 out of 10
January 3, 2016
I received this free from the publishers via NetGalley
Courtney Valance is popular, beautiful, and talented. She is a theatre star and she is the girlfriend of Ted Parker. She is envied by many. Then one night, her life changes and it ends in misery, shame and murder.
Echo Bridge starts with Courtney's sister. Courtney is missing, presumed dead. Her boyfriend Ted Parker is up on murder charges, along with the murder of his friend Hugh. Nobody really knows what has happened, they seemed so in love, the ideal couple. Before the trial, her sister, Anna receives a package and a note in Courtney's handwriting. The book then goes on to explain what happened to Courtney in her POV.
I would like to put a trigger warning for rape on my review, and this book.
Rape is a delicate topic, and it is a topic which many authors could get wrong and slut shame and victim blame. Echo Bridge is a book which focus on the rape culture in society. While the ending was unsatisfactory for me, Courtney felt trapped and felt like everyone was against her and nobody would believed her (There were specific mentions of the coach covering it up). However, I just wish she could maybe have told her parents and done more to let people know to stop it happening to others who were in a vulnerable position. That was my main issue, it just seemed like at the end, there weren't really much change in people's perceptions of rape, but maybe that was the point. Overall, I think the author captured rape culture excellently, she didn't sugar coat it, she laid it out straight, about people's perceptions of rape victims and victim blaming, especially in small towns.
I always had an iffy feeling about her boyfriend Ted and I took an instant dislike to him. He was a horrible human being, as was his friend Hugh. Courtney was a character I admired, she was scared, but eventually she stood up for herself, it was just a shame she had to disappear because she felt she had no other option. There were some excellent character growth as well.
I would not recommend this book for younger teens due to some of the content.
Overall, an important book which focuses on the issue of rape culture.
Courtney Valance is popular, beautiful, and talented. She is a theatre star and she is the girlfriend of Ted Parker. She is envied by many. Then one night, her life changes and it ends in misery, shame and murder.
Echo Bridge starts with Courtney's sister. Courtney is missing, presumed dead. Her boyfriend Ted Parker is up on murder charges, along with the murder of his friend Hugh. Nobody really knows what has happened, they seemed so in love, the ideal couple. Before the trial, her sister, Anna receives a package and a note in Courtney's handwriting. The book then goes on to explain what happened to Courtney in her POV.
I would like to put a trigger warning for rape on my review, and this book.
Rape is a delicate topic, and it is a topic which many authors could get wrong and slut shame and victim blame. Echo Bridge is a book which focus on the rape culture in society. While the ending was unsatisfactory for me, Courtney felt trapped and felt like everyone was against her and nobody would believed her (There were specific mentions of the coach covering it up). However, I just wish she could maybe have told her parents and done more to let people know to stop it happening to others who were in a vulnerable position. That was my main issue, it just seemed like at the end, there weren't really much change in people's perceptions of rape, but maybe that was the point. Overall, I think the author captured rape culture excellently, she didn't sugar coat it, she laid it out straight, about people's perceptions of rape victims and victim blaming, especially in small towns.
I always had an iffy feeling about her boyfriend Ted and I took an instant dislike to him. He was a horrible human being, as was his friend Hugh. Courtney was a character I admired, she was scared, but eventually she stood up for herself, it was just a shame she had to disappear because she felt she had no other option. There were some excellent character growth as well.
I would not recommend this book for younger teens due to some of the content.
Overall, an important book which focuses on the issue of rape culture.
October 6, 2014
Echo Bridge is one of those books you read and wish it didn't end where it did. Not because it was a bad story, because trust me it really wasn't and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but more because I wanted to know more about what happened after everything went on.
I'd like to start this review but embracing the cover, I don't often do this with books but really look at the creepiness of the cover. It already sets a mood, something covers these days struggle with and you can almost feel the ominous vibes pouring from it!
Echo Bridge starts out a little unconventionally, you are introduced to Anna who is in a bit of an emotional rut after the knowledge she has lost her younger sister Courtney. You feel a little for Anna, life got in her way a bit like it does for all of us and she wasn't there when her sister reached out. You can feel her pain and wonder what happened to Courtney. I love the fact this book starts at the end really with Anna. We are then taken on a ride to how things came to be from Courtney's point of view. Her relationship with her friends and boy friend. The drama and find sometimes we find allies in the strangest of places or friend circles.
This book has a lot of tension and emotion. You feel for Courtney even though at times you also feel how superficial she is. I had certain feelings about some of the characters and was right about those feelings, but also didn't see other things coming.
I think Echo Bridge really does have a great pace, I wasn't bored and the book kept me reading almost with a morbid curiosity at times. It was hard to put down and I read this in 1 day over 2 sittings. Do not be put off that this is marketed under a YA/Young Adult genre. I feel many people will enjoy this book, true it isn't as graphic as it could be (But you wouldn't expect it to be with it being a YA), but the message is still very clear with this book. I would say I don't feel this would be suitable for younger teens due to the content.
A thoroughly enjoyable book with a good conclusion and most of the ends tied up. I'd have just liked a 'what happens next' really with regards to what Anna would do. This is why my review is a 4, although in honesty it is more of a 4.5. A really good YA thriller and thoroughly recommended by me!
Review also featured on my blog - http://www.bewitchedbooks.co.uk/
I'd like to start this review but embracing the cover, I don't often do this with books but really look at the creepiness of the cover. It already sets a mood, something covers these days struggle with and you can almost feel the ominous vibes pouring from it!
Echo Bridge starts out a little unconventionally, you are introduced to Anna who is in a bit of an emotional rut after the knowledge she has lost her younger sister Courtney. You feel a little for Anna, life got in her way a bit like it does for all of us and she wasn't there when her sister reached out. You can feel her pain and wonder what happened to Courtney. I love the fact this book starts at the end really with Anna. We are then taken on a ride to how things came to be from Courtney's point of view. Her relationship with her friends and boy friend. The drama and find sometimes we find allies in the strangest of places or friend circles.
This book has a lot of tension and emotion. You feel for Courtney even though at times you also feel how superficial she is. I had certain feelings about some of the characters and was right about those feelings, but also didn't see other things coming.
I think Echo Bridge really does have a great pace, I wasn't bored and the book kept me reading almost with a morbid curiosity at times. It was hard to put down and I read this in 1 day over 2 sittings. Do not be put off that this is marketed under a YA/Young Adult genre. I feel many people will enjoy this book, true it isn't as graphic as it could be (But you wouldn't expect it to be with it being a YA), but the message is still very clear with this book. I would say I don't feel this would be suitable for younger teens due to the content.
A thoroughly enjoyable book with a good conclusion and most of the ends tied up. I'd have just liked a 'what happens next' really with regards to what Anna would do. This is why my review is a 4, although in honesty it is more of a 4.5. A really good YA thriller and thoroughly recommended by me!
Review also featured on my blog - http://www.bewitchedbooks.co.uk/
October 27, 2014
Echo Bridge has an original premise and I haven’t read many similar books in the YA genre. The novel has several twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. I didn’t love the ending, just because I wanted to know a little more about what happened after the big climax.
Echo Bridge has a horrifying premise: one of the school’s golden boys is poised to get away with raping Courtney. The offender is the best friend of Courtney’s boyfriend and Courtney doesn’t know how to come forward. As Courtney digs deeper, she finds that she’s not the only victim and that a cover-up has been going on for some time.
I enjoyed Echo Bridge and I connected with Courtney. A few of her actions were hard to understand, but I could still sympathize with her. The boys in the book were truly vial and I was hoping for Courtney and her newfound friends to take them down. The novel is suspenseful and I only found the middle to drag a bit.
The book was enjoyable, but I felt like too much was revealed early on. The ending was a little out there too and I’m not sure if understand why Courtney chose the path she did.
I’d recommend Echo Bridge to fans of YA suspense and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
Echo Bridge has a horrifying premise: one of the school’s golden boys is poised to get away with raping Courtney. The offender is the best friend of Courtney’s boyfriend and Courtney doesn’t know how to come forward. As Courtney digs deeper, she finds that she’s not the only victim and that a cover-up has been going on for some time.
I enjoyed Echo Bridge and I connected with Courtney. A few of her actions were hard to understand, but I could still sympathize with her. The boys in the book were truly vial and I was hoping for Courtney and her newfound friends to take them down. The novel is suspenseful and I only found the middle to drag a bit.
The book was enjoyable, but I felt like too much was revealed early on. The ending was a little out there too and I’m not sure if understand why Courtney chose the path she did.
I’d recommend Echo Bridge to fans of YA suspense and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
October 15, 2014
REVIEW: ECHO BRIDGE
This intriguing YA suspense peels off the veneer of an upscale private secondary school, and unflinching stares behind the masks of adolescence's "best and brightest." The twists and turns certainly kept me riveted and on edge throughout. I predict ECHO BRIDGE to be a YA favorite.
This intriguing YA suspense peels off the veneer of an upscale private secondary school, and unflinching stares behind the masks of adolescence's "best and brightest." The twists and turns certainly kept me riveted and on edge throughout. I predict ECHO BRIDGE to be a YA favorite.
December 29, 2014
Excellent read. The ending feels a little rushed, but it will leave you wondering on the possibilities...
December 21, 2014
Echo Bridge delivers on the suspense. The author places a premium on the character to engross the reader into the story. All is not what it seems. I rate this book a five-star read!
February 24, 2015
awesome!
Great read...keeps you guessing all the way through. Would love to read a sequel! After all Courtney needs to come back.
Great read...keeps you guessing all the way through. Would love to read a sequel! After all Courtney needs to come back.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews