What do you think?
Rate this book
Eternal Feud #1
Reunion At Walnut Cherryville
This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN:: B00BXTDW0M
Johnny Cockit accidently murdered a man when he was ten years old, which is why he was sent to Sonoran Correctional High School, a gender-segregated boarding school located in Phoenix, Arizona. Two months before graduation, Johnny and his friends are drugged and abducted by Walnut Cherryville secret watchers during an afternoon counseling session. Making decisions about the future has never felt important until the students are forced to work in a remote produce factory owned by the vengeful Quinton family. Walnut Cherryville is no ordinary factory; it’s the Quintons’ futuristic desert village governed by the principle that people live better-quality lives when they don’t make their own decisions. To ease the burden of life’s basic yet complicated choices, the government limits misdirection by choosing every citizen’s career path and lifestyle. Johnny and his friends plot an escape but must avoid being recaptured because abandonment of the village is a crime punishable by death. In a scandalous turn of events narrated by Johnny and his delinquent friends Vincent, Laura, and Collins, they discover that the reason they were captured roots back to an ancient family feud between the Cockit and Quinton families.
Due to strong sexuality, this book is intended for young adults ages 14 and up.
Johnny Cockit accidently murdered a man when he was ten years old, which is why he was sent to Sonoran Correctional High School, a gender-segregated boarding school located in Phoenix, Arizona. Two months before graduation, Johnny and his friends are drugged and abducted by Walnut Cherryville secret watchers during an afternoon counseling session. Making decisions about the future has never felt important until the students are forced to work in a remote produce factory owned by the vengeful Quinton family. Walnut Cherryville is no ordinary factory; it’s the Quintons’ futuristic desert village governed by the principle that people live better-quality lives when they don’t make their own decisions. To ease the burden of life’s basic yet complicated choices, the government limits misdirection by choosing every citizen’s career path and lifestyle. Johnny and his friends plot an escape but must avoid being recaptured because abandonment of the village is a crime punishable by death. In a scandalous turn of events narrated by Johnny and his delinquent friends Vincent, Laura, and Collins, they discover that the reason they were captured roots back to an ancient family feud between the Cockit and Quinton families.
Due to strong sexuality, this book is intended for young adults ages 14 and up.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2013
7 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Salem
2 books22 followersThe Eternal Feud Series:
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville, a third-prize winner in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards, is my first published novel. The sequel, Revenge of Rivals, was released in 2015.
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville, a third-prize winner in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards, is my first published novel. The sequel, Revenge of Rivals, was released in 2015.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 24, 2016
(Downloaded for free from Smashwords.com - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view... )
This was a story about a group of teenagers getting kidnapped, and taken to a place called Walnut Cherryville, where the idea was that they were given jobs and taught to live in a peaceful society.
We had several main characters in this book, and we found out more about each of them as the story went along. I found this a bit confusing at first, until I realised that each chapter was a different point of view!
The storyline in this was partly about the kids trying to escape Walnut Cherryville, and partly about the awful things that went on there, such as corporal punishment in the form of electric chairs and such.
The ending to this had a bit of a paranormal twist which I wasn’t expecting.
6 out of 10
“Welcome to Walnut Cherryville.”
This was a story about a group of teenagers getting kidnapped, and taken to a place called Walnut Cherryville, where the idea was that they were given jobs and taught to live in a peaceful society.
We had several main characters in this book, and we found out more about each of them as the story went along. I found this a bit confusing at first, until I realised that each chapter was a different point of view!
The storyline in this was partly about the kids trying to escape Walnut Cherryville, and partly about the awful things that went on there, such as corporal punishment in the form of electric chairs and such.
The ending to this had a bit of a paranormal twist which I wasn’t expecting.
6 out of 10
July 22, 2016
I received a copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review. I felt detached from this novel throughout reading, and there were a number of reasons that made this book one I'd be unlikely to recommend.
Firstly, the style was fragmented. Jumping from viewpoint to viewpoint I found it challenging to work out how people connected or what was happening.
Secondly, the scenario itself was quite unlikely. Places such as this do not simply disappear from existence. I can't imagine somewhere so technologically advanced would take such delight in the primitive care/punishments it does.
Thirdly, I didn't see much to like in any of the characters. The bonds between them were easily severed and they were all inherently selfish.
The casual violence throughout was gratuitous and didn't seem to link to events.
Lastly, the ending was like some Lynch-esque dream sequence. Odd, really odd, and rather nasty in undertone.
I know some people will love this, but I'm not one of them!
Firstly, the style was fragmented. Jumping from viewpoint to viewpoint I found it challenging to work out how people connected or what was happening.
Secondly, the scenario itself was quite unlikely. Places such as this do not simply disappear from existence. I can't imagine somewhere so technologically advanced would take such delight in the primitive care/punishments it does.
Thirdly, I didn't see much to like in any of the characters. The bonds between them were easily severed and they were all inherently selfish.
The casual violence throughout was gratuitous and didn't seem to link to events.
Lastly, the ending was like some Lynch-esque dream sequence. Odd, really odd, and rather nasty in undertone.
I know some people will love this, but I'm not one of them!
March 26, 2016
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by the lovely Lauren Salem
This was one really enjoyable read and quite different from the other YA thrillers I've read before. I was intrigued right from the beginning and it felt like the pages kept turning themselves.
The characters were great but my favorite was undoubtedly Laura. She was strong and a realist through and through. I liked the rest of the characters as well because they were all different and it's always awesome to read about such diverse personalities. But for me Laura and Collins were the most well developed characters throughout the book. I loved how the story was told through the point of views of the different characters. And it was amazing how they all had a very distinct styles of thinking, thanks to which I was never confused whose POV a chapter was from in the middle of chapters.
This was a very fast paced story but the only problem I faced was that there were moments when too much happened all at once and it was a tad bit difficult to keep track of everything and understand what exactly was happening . But once I was able to catch up again, I found myself liking the book more. I found some of the events a little unbelievable and far fetched but this being a dystopian novel, I cannot expect a lot of credibility. Also I really would have liked to know a bit more about the ancient feud because it was talked about very little in the book but I guess it's kept under wraps to be revealed in the next book.
Now I wouldn't call RAWC a real dystopian...but it was rather a mix of different genres - romance, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, dystopian. ...but I didn't really mind it.
The best thing about this book however had to be the writing. Really, Lauren Salem has a very unique style of writing. It isn't overly complicated but rather straight forward, funny and interesting.
This book had some positive as well as negative aspects. But despite it's shortcomings, I am really interested to know what happens next and am quite looking forward to the nest book.
My Rating : ★★★1/2
Visit My Blog
This was one really enjoyable read and quite different from the other YA thrillers I've read before. I was intrigued right from the beginning and it felt like the pages kept turning themselves.
The characters were great but my favorite was undoubtedly Laura. She was strong and a realist through and through. I liked the rest of the characters as well because they were all different and it's always awesome to read about such diverse personalities. But for me Laura and Collins were the most well developed characters throughout the book. I loved how the story was told through the point of views of the different characters. And it was amazing how they all had a very distinct styles of thinking, thanks to which I was never confused whose POV a chapter was from in the middle of chapters.
This was a very fast paced story but the only problem I faced was that there were moments when too much happened all at once and it was a tad bit difficult to keep track of everything and understand what exactly was happening . But once I was able to catch up again, I found myself liking the book more. I found some of the events a little unbelievable and far fetched but this being a dystopian novel, I cannot expect a lot of credibility. Also I really would have liked to know a bit more about the ancient feud because it was talked about very little in the book but I guess it's kept under wraps to be revealed in the next book.
Now I wouldn't call RAWC a real dystopian...but it was rather a mix of different genres - romance, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, dystopian. ...but I didn't really mind it.
The best thing about this book however had to be the writing. Really, Lauren Salem has a very unique style of writing. It isn't overly complicated but rather straight forward, funny and interesting.
This book had some positive as well as negative aspects. But despite it's shortcomings, I am really interested to know what happens next and am quite looking forward to the nest book.
My Rating : ★★★1/2
Visit My Blog
October 12, 2016
I received a copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting read. The characters were okay. I really liked Laura. I think she was my favourite. The story was very interesting. However, it was slow paced and it was boring at times. I hope book 2 is better than this one. Overall, a good read.
This was an interesting read. The characters were okay. I really liked Laura. I think she was my favourite. The story was very interesting. However, it was slow paced and it was boring at times. I hope book 2 is better than this one. Overall, a good read.
February 26, 2016
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville is a young adult adventure, filled with outrageous scenarios and erratic character behavior. Sexual situations and strong language do not transform a young adult book into new adult or adult fiction, often it merely makes the book inappropriate for the demographic most likely to enjoy the read. I feel this is the case with RAWC; the teen characters, fast pace, and meandering storyline would likely captivate a youthful reader.
I consider RAWC a character driven novel, the author did a great job defining each character. They all have distinctive personalities and detailed, albeit far-fetched backstories. Unfortunately, there isn't a good balance of character development, world building, and plot flow. There is lots of fat that could have been trimmed off this read and replaced with relevant happenings.
IMO the book is not a true dystopian. Sure there's a commune ran by a sadistic mother/son duo but the society is circumstantial and the details are forced. Actually RAWC is more of a genre cocktail: dystopian, romance, sci-fi, fantasy... My biggest complaint with this is that the story's world is not adequately built to support the wild developments. For example, I'll entertain perception filter paperclips and immortality but the author needs to establish the fantasy world first; magic is a reasonable explanation for those things not advanced technology!
Although I did not love the content, I do think the story was articulately written. I didn't have to reread sentences to understand what the author was saying. There weren't repetitive words or phrases; nor word gimmicks (i.e. murmurs, shuck). RAWC is definitely a unique read, I think it would be very entertaining for the right reader.
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville is currently free on kindle, nook, and smashwords. Thank you to the author, Lauren Salem, for providing the links for read and review.
I consider RAWC a character driven novel, the author did a great job defining each character. They all have distinctive personalities and detailed, albeit far-fetched backstories. Unfortunately, there isn't a good balance of character development, world building, and plot flow. There is lots of fat that could have been trimmed off this read and replaced with relevant happenings.
IMO the book is not a true dystopian. Sure there's a commune ran by a sadistic mother/son duo but the society is circumstantial and the details are forced. Actually RAWC is more of a genre cocktail: dystopian, romance, sci-fi, fantasy... My biggest complaint with this is that the story's world is not adequately built to support the wild developments. For example, I'll entertain perception filter paperclips and immortality but the author needs to establish the fantasy world first; magic is a reasonable explanation for those things not advanced technology!
Although I did not love the content, I do think the story was articulately written. I didn't have to reread sentences to understand what the author was saying. There weren't repetitive words or phrases; nor word gimmicks (i.e. murmurs, shuck). RAWC is definitely a unique read, I think it would be very entertaining for the right reader.
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville is currently free on kindle, nook, and smashwords. Thank you to the author, Lauren Salem, for providing the links for read and review.
April 8, 2013
Great read! Friends from a private high school for non-conforming young men and women are abducted and taken to a futuristic commune where the government makes all of the important decisions for you - and kills you if you stray. Great character development especially Collins and Laura. Laced with a hint of 21at Century Gulliver's Travels. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an unusual weekend read.
July 17, 2016
(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)
It took me a while to get interested in this, so the start of it felt really slow. Although it wasn't quite so bad as the book progressed, the issue was still there for me unfortunately.
The book felt rather long because of the issues I had with the pacing, so there were times where it dragged, and there were times where I felt a bit bored. Overall though, it was an okay read.
It took me a while to get interested in this, so the start of it felt really slow. Although it wasn't quite so bad as the book progressed, the issue was still there for me unfortunately.
The book felt rather long because of the issues I had with the pacing, so there were times where it dragged, and there were times where I felt a bit bored. Overall though, it was an okay read.
April 24, 2014
Between the convergence of the different character storylines and the twists and turns throughout the plot – I couldn’t put this book down! I’m excited to read how Lauren further develops the characters. I am so impressed that this is only her first book. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a fun read!
February 20, 2016
i received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story fails on so many counts, where to start?
Dystopia is one of my favourite genres. I'm always looking for new series and usually I find some aspect to enjoy. The synopsis suggested a great premise with potential for a developing plot, mystery and compelling reading. It even suggested complex themes and a strong central character on a journey of self discovery.
Not only does it not deliver as a dystopian novel, it fails on almost every level of basic writing skills. The writer has an extensive vocabulary and some good language skills but these do not translate to the writing of good fiction. (Syntax and vocabulary saves this book from one star)
The characters are one dimensional, the dialogue is flat and at times cringe worthy. There is no emotion in any of what can only be described as verbal exchanges rather than dialogue. Character development is clumsy. The prose and dialogue is awkward and badly contrived to advance the plot. The flashbacks provide a little insight to the characters motivations, but are poorly written, superficial and clumsy. Of all the characters, only Laura is vaguely believable, but that's only in comparison to the emptiness of the other characters. Appallingly, the main character is the most bland and least defined.
The story plods along as the writer describes events rather than having them unfold. There is no tension, no intensity. The characters are moved around like pieces on a chess board.
The bits that have stayed with me are the most laughable and incongruous. Footprints example, when Collins driving a truck is key to the group escaping, the reader is told that he has never driven a vehicle before, can't even finfpd the park brake. The idea that another truck driver would accept this as normal, not become suspicious and would drive the truck for him while Collins sat in the passenger seat is totally incongruous within this society obsessed with productivity and everybody working.
Collins' background is unbelievable. Supposedly he became retired and frustrated caring for his grandma so he tried to murder her. A little research by the author would have shown that somebody paralysed from the waist down as his grandma was, has complete control of their upper body and can cook, clean, feed, clothe, wash and, with the exception of the most personal of cares, look after herself. why not have the grandma have had a stroke? Then Collins woukd have needed to have done those things for her, without the need for those most personal of cares, and would have generated the frustration needed for Collins to act as he did. Details like this are important. They convey authenticity. But then, authenticity is what this book lacks.
This story fails on so many counts, where to start?
Dystopia is one of my favourite genres. I'm always looking for new series and usually I find some aspect to enjoy. The synopsis suggested a great premise with potential for a developing plot, mystery and compelling reading. It even suggested complex themes and a strong central character on a journey of self discovery.
Not only does it not deliver as a dystopian novel, it fails on almost every level of basic writing skills. The writer has an extensive vocabulary and some good language skills but these do not translate to the writing of good fiction. (Syntax and vocabulary saves this book from one star)
The characters are one dimensional, the dialogue is flat and at times cringe worthy. There is no emotion in any of what can only be described as verbal exchanges rather than dialogue. Character development is clumsy. The prose and dialogue is awkward and badly contrived to advance the plot. The flashbacks provide a little insight to the characters motivations, but are poorly written, superficial and clumsy. Of all the characters, only Laura is vaguely believable, but that's only in comparison to the emptiness of the other characters. Appallingly, the main character is the most bland and least defined.
The story plods along as the writer describes events rather than having them unfold. There is no tension, no intensity. The characters are moved around like pieces on a chess board.
The bits that have stayed with me are the most laughable and incongruous. Footprints example, when Collins driving a truck is key to the group escaping, the reader is told that he has never driven a vehicle before, can't even finfpd the park brake. The idea that another truck driver would accept this as normal, not become suspicious and would drive the truck for him while Collins sat in the passenger seat is totally incongruous within this society obsessed with productivity and everybody working.
Collins' background is unbelievable. Supposedly he became retired and frustrated caring for his grandma so he tried to murder her. A little research by the author would have shown that somebody paralysed from the waist down as his grandma was, has complete control of their upper body and can cook, clean, feed, clothe, wash and, with the exception of the most personal of cares, look after herself. why not have the grandma have had a stroke? Then Collins woukd have needed to have done those things for her, without the need for those most personal of cares, and would have generated the frustration needed for Collins to act as he did. Details like this are important. They convey authenticity. But then, authenticity is what this book lacks.
August 28, 2016
*Thanks to the author for providing a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars
This was a unique story with its original dystopian plot. The idea of the village assigning them jobs randomly so they don't have to worry about making decisions was interesting.
'People don't know what they actually want to do with their lives. The point of Walnut Cherryville is to create a stress - free environment where all the decisions are made for people. If you ask anyone who's lived here for several years, they'll tell you how great it is not to be burdened with making life's tough choices .'
'What could be better than a life where you don't have to worry about anything?'
The TV show thing was pretty brutal, but I didn't get how it worked with the audience though. We don't get to know how exactly they were brainwashed into enjoying it.
The writing seemed pretty flat to me--probably because of the lack of emotion and a deeper insight into their minds. And that made the story seem dull and the characters underdeveloped, where the author could've taken advantage of the multiple perspectives. The lack of emotion became even more evident as the story progressed, and it was surprising how the characters' reaction to shocking situations was so blunt.
I appreciated that there were flashbacks to the characters' previous lives - before the correctional school, and how they ended up there. I did not, however, like how
I didn't get the romance, probably because we don't actually see when the sympathy had turned into romantic feelings, or why even he'd like her - I, for one, couldn't sympathise with her even after that character development. So
The last chapter hardly made sense--and ended in a cliffhanger. So, got to get to the sequel now.
Thanks to the mods for the buddy read opportunity: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
3.5 stars
This was a unique story with its original dystopian plot. The idea of the village assigning them jobs randomly so they don't have to worry about making decisions was interesting.
'People don't know what they actually want to do with their lives. The point of Walnut Cherryville is to create a stress - free environment where all the decisions are made for people. If you ask anyone who's lived here for several years, they'll tell you how great it is not to be burdened with making life's tough choices .'
'What could be better than a life where you don't have to worry about anything?'
The TV show thing was pretty brutal, but I didn't get how it worked with the audience though. We don't get to know how exactly they were brainwashed into enjoying it.
The writing seemed pretty flat to me--probably because of the lack of emotion and a deeper insight into their minds. And that made the story seem dull and the characters underdeveloped, where the author could've taken advantage of the multiple perspectives. The lack of emotion became even more evident as the story progressed, and it was surprising how the characters' reaction to shocking situations was so blunt.
I appreciated that there were flashbacks to the characters' previous lives - before the correctional school, and how they ended up there. I did not, however, like how
I didn't get the romance, probably because we don't actually see when the sympathy had turned into romantic feelings, or why even he'd like her - I, for one, couldn't sympathise with her even after that character development. So
The last chapter hardly made sense--and ended in a cliffhanger. So, got to get to the sequel now.
Thanks to the mods for the buddy read opportunity: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
August 5, 2015
You can also find this review on my blog Seamless Reader.
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville was one unique and very interesting read. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it. By the end I had no other option but to take a moment to gather myself and try to form coherent thoughts. It was a very odd story. And I did have a few problems with said oddness, but I also liked quite a few aspects of it.
Sometimes, when books have really crazy plots, things can get hectic and sometimes hard to follow. Everything just needs to be a bit more balanced out. Otherwise things might get a bit too crazy or hard to follow. I think this was my main, and probably biggest issue with this book. But in spite of that, I couldn’t stop reading. Which is why I’m so conflicted as to how I should rate it! Teenage delinquents,kidnappings, secluded community with psychopathic and controlling leaders, all sounds like some pretty intriguing stuff to me. And frankly it was. Like I said, I was glued to the pages. Unfortunately, there was just so much going on all at once that my mind was just reeling. Had things been more evened out, I would have enjoyed this crazy ride of a book a lot more.
As for the characters, I did like how distinct each one was from the other and how well you could tell apart their POVs because they each had their own story and thrilling background of messed up and unfortunate memories that shaped each one so uniquely. However, I didn’t particularly enjoy how they all expressed themselves. Their thoughts and dialogues felt a bit a bit scattered which ultimately made them seem a bit flat.
Despite the issues I had with this book, I still think it was a good read. The descriptions were always very vivid, it was fast paced and it will have you intrigued. Not to mention that crazy and quite shocking ending that will leave you wanting to know what happens next.
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville was one unique and very interesting read. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it. By the end I had no other option but to take a moment to gather myself and try to form coherent thoughts. It was a very odd story. And I did have a few problems with said oddness, but I also liked quite a few aspects of it.
Sometimes, when books have really crazy plots, things can get hectic and sometimes hard to follow. Everything just needs to be a bit more balanced out. Otherwise things might get a bit too crazy or hard to follow. I think this was my main, and probably biggest issue with this book. But in spite of that, I couldn’t stop reading. Which is why I’m so conflicted as to how I should rate it! Teenage delinquents,kidnappings, secluded community with psychopathic and controlling leaders, all sounds like some pretty intriguing stuff to me. And frankly it was. Like I said, I was glued to the pages. Unfortunately, there was just so much going on all at once that my mind was just reeling. Had things been more evened out, I would have enjoyed this crazy ride of a book a lot more.
As for the characters, I did like how distinct each one was from the other and how well you could tell apart their POVs because they each had their own story and thrilling background of messed up and unfortunate memories that shaped each one so uniquely. However, I didn’t particularly enjoy how they all expressed themselves. Their thoughts and dialogues felt a bit a bit scattered which ultimately made them seem a bit flat.
Despite the issues I had with this book, I still think it was a good read. The descriptions were always very vivid, it was fast paced and it will have you intrigued. Not to mention that crazy and quite shocking ending that will leave you wanting to know what happens next.
April 4, 2016
What made me curious and start to read this book is because of the plot. When I got the book I started reading a few pages and it kept me going. I didn't notice that I was in Chapter 2 already. I stopped because I need to read my other books. So after chapter 2 weeks I got to read it again.
There are 4 main characters in the book namely Johnny, Collins, Vincent and Laura. I'm going to introduce them to you and tell them why I liked and hate them. Let's get started! :D
Johnny - He's the main character of the story. A very kind man and can survive under different circumstances. Values friendship highly and he'll do what it takes to fulfill he's promises. I like it how Johnny acts towards his friends. He's one of my #FriendshipGoals. What I hate about him is that he's too kind and trusting. he can get killed for that.
Collins - The clown of the group. He's always up for fun and can be stupid at all times(not unless he's going to be killed he gets smart. :p ). But beware when his brains work. His attitude of being optimistic is good but if he panics he really is annoying and can be selfish.
Vincent - The geek of thee trio. The punk and quiet one not to mention he's really a smart lad. when he loves someone he's really serious about it, falls deep to add it up. He's my most favorite character in the series. <3 *P.S - Love makes you stupid. :P
Laura - A beautiful and trustworthy woman. Her past hinders her strength thus rendering her weak. Practical type and can find her way out of troubles.
Every character represents a kid or a person in real life. No matter what's our status in life we all have our own darkness to face. Hoping that one day the sun will finally come up and bask in the happiness of the light it gives.
There are 4 main characters in the book namely Johnny, Collins, Vincent and Laura. I'm going to introduce them to you and tell them why I liked and hate them. Let's get started! :D
Johnny - He's the main character of the story. A very kind man and can survive under different circumstances. Values friendship highly and he'll do what it takes to fulfill he's promises. I like it how Johnny acts towards his friends. He's one of my #FriendshipGoals. What I hate about him is that he's too kind and trusting. he can get killed for that.
Collins - The clown of the group. He's always up for fun and can be stupid at all times(not unless he's going to be killed he gets smart. :p ). But beware when his brains work. His attitude of being optimistic is good but if he panics he really is annoying and can be selfish.
Vincent - The geek of thee trio. The punk and quiet one not to mention he's really a smart lad. when he loves someone he's really serious about it, falls deep to add it up. He's my most favorite character in the series. <3 *P.S - Love makes you stupid. :P
Laura - A beautiful and trustworthy woman. Her past hinders her strength thus rendering her weak. Practical type and can find her way out of troubles.
Every character represents a kid or a person in real life. No matter what's our status in life we all have our own darkness to face. Hoping that one day the sun will finally come up and bask in the happiness of the light it gives.
August 11, 2015
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the lovely Lauren Salem.
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville was an interesting read. I was very much into the whole plot with The Walnut Cherryville factory. I thought it was very original and a good fiction read because it was not only fast to read, but so much happened that you wanted to keep reading to figure out what happens next. The plot was easy to latch on to and understand, until the end. I was a little confused. I wish Ms.Salem had gone and given us more information about the ancient feud because you only really hear about it at the end of the book. Hopefully, the next book goes more into detail.
My favorite character was Laura, but I had different things I liked about each because there was a lot of diversity between each main character. I don’t mean by race or looks, but more personality wise. Lauren did a great job of making them so different but uniting them rough times. Laura was my favorite because she, in my opinion, a realist.She knew what she had to do to survive even if it hurt the ones she loved.
Inappropriate humor was a big thing in RAWC. Some moments were funny and made sense, but others ruined serious moments.
There were also lots of twists that you did and did not see coming, depending on who was narrating that chapter. I loved having the different insights too. It came in handy in learning more about Walnut Cherryville.
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville was an all around simple read that any teenager could pick up and find something they love about it.
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville was an interesting read. I was very much into the whole plot with The Walnut Cherryville factory. I thought it was very original and a good fiction read because it was not only fast to read, but so much happened that you wanted to keep reading to figure out what happens next. The plot was easy to latch on to and understand, until the end. I was a little confused. I wish Ms.Salem had gone and given us more information about the ancient feud because you only really hear about it at the end of the book. Hopefully, the next book goes more into detail.
My favorite character was Laura, but I had different things I liked about each because there was a lot of diversity between each main character. I don’t mean by race or looks, but more personality wise. Lauren did a great job of making them so different but uniting them rough times. Laura was my favorite because she, in my opinion, a realist.She knew what she had to do to survive even if it hurt the ones she loved.
Inappropriate humor was a big thing in RAWC. Some moments were funny and made sense, but others ruined serious moments.
There were also lots of twists that you did and did not see coming, depending on who was narrating that chapter. I loved having the different insights too. It came in handy in learning more about Walnut Cherryville.
Reunion at Walnut Cherryville was an all around simple read that any teenager could pick up and find something they love about it.
November 30, 2013
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
Reunion At Walnut Cherryville is written chapter by chapter through the different perspectives of the main characters, which I really enjoyed. I found the first half of the book to be very entertaining and well written, however by the end of the book the dialogue between characters seemed forced at times, and almost too wordy.
The world of Walnut Cherryville is a unique one, almost an attempt at a utopian society, controlled by one family. At the very end of this book, we learn of the connection between one of the characters, and the family that rules the town which sets the series up perfectly for book two.
Reunion At Walnut Cherryville is written chapter by chapter through the different perspectives of the main characters, which I really enjoyed. I found the first half of the book to be very entertaining and well written, however by the end of the book the dialogue between characters seemed forced at times, and almost too wordy.
The world of Walnut Cherryville is a unique one, almost an attempt at a utopian society, controlled by one family. At the very end of this book, we learn of the connection between one of the characters, and the family that rules the town which sets the series up perfectly for book two.
July 8, 2014
Following a group of teenagers that are abducted and sent to a new society called Walnut Cherryville where they are all assigned jobs and are not permitted to leave, this book does a good job with the strangers in a strange land theme. The characters working together and plotting how to get out of their situation is done well, and there are some nice touches with the odd reality they have landed in. I do wish the ending, which takes the story to another level, didn't feel so rushed. There were hints to the story building to this, but it seemed like it was shoved into the last two pages of the book.
October 31, 2013
I was lucky enough to win this book from Goodreads!
I found this to be an interesting read. Not what I was expecting but I enjoyed it just the same. Nothing like a good family feud to read about. I would and have recommended the book to friends!
I found this to be an interesting read. Not what I was expecting but I enjoyed it just the same. Nothing like a good family feud to read about. I would and have recommended the book to friends!
June 30, 2013
I do know the author IRL but I was delighted with this book. I really liked it and am looking forward to the next book.
September 21, 2013
1st in a series. This author's first book. I didn't think it was great but it wasn't terrible either. Some of it was off the wall and parts were predictable.
Read
February 21, 2018What made me curious and start to read this book is because of the plot. When I got the book I started reading a few pages and it kept me going. I didn’t notice that I was in Chapter 2 already. I stopped because I need to read my other books. So after chapter 2 weeks I got to read it again.
Every character represents a kid or a person in real life. No matter what’s our status in life we all have our own darkness to face. Hoping that one day the sun will finally come up and bask in the happiness of the light it gives.
Full review on my blog: https://tesairiesbookreads.wordpress....
Every character represents a kid or a person in real life. No matter what’s our status in life we all have our own darkness to face. Hoping that one day the sun will finally come up and bask in the happiness of the light it gives.
Full review on my blog: https://tesairiesbookreads.wordpress....
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews