Figure Eight

by Calia Read

Dear Selah, Do you remember me? Of course you don’t. So I’m going to give you a refresher course. I’ve known you for years and years. We used to have beautiful conversations. There was no one that knew you better than me. We were handmade for each other. Lately, it’s become achingly obvious you’re miserable. You’ve moved back home to take care of your ailing mother. You’ve been looking for a new job, but that’s not going well. Admit it’s all too much. Everyone around you sees your suffering, but they’re not willing to help you. Everyone but Jackson. He comes into your life at the perfect moment and offers you everything you could a shoulder to lean on, love, and most importantly, hope. But there’s no one that can compare to me. You seem to forget that I’m your figure 8. Your infinity. You try to run, but I will always find you. Yours Truly, Figure 8

Genres: Dark, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Adult

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2017

About the author

Calia Read is the author of the Belgrave Dynasty, The Surviving Time Series, and several other works. She lives in the Midwest and is hard at work on the fourth book in the Belgrave Dynasty.


You can find her constantly on Facebook and Instagram:

http://www.facebook.com/CaliaRead

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ailacread/

Reviews

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuuuck! Wait? Whaaaat?



All right! I confess, the first 40% of the book was very, very slow and I thought I think I'll give this book 2 or maybe 3 stars but then 2nd part came... Pheeew after that I was spinning around like a maniac. I was like OMG what the hell is going on here and I tried to guess how it will end but nothing, I mean nothing prepared to me that mind blowing ending...

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!

I highly recommend it. ;)

[warhawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Psychological Suspense
Type: Standalone
POV: Shifting - Multiple
Rating:




Selah Kerrington moved back to her hometown to take care of her deteriorating mother. The changed of location and lifestyle proved to be difficult for her until she met someone who shared her passion and brought up a hope when she needed the most. However, her path to happiness was paved with obstacles that she needed to navigate around.



I started this book with no preconceived notion because I can't gauge what it's about. But once I started figuring out, I knew I was going to love it because this is my kind of book and not knowing beforehand definitely enhanced my reading.

I feel like an actress putting on a show for some unknown audience.

Selah was overwhelmed by her new life. She had to deal with the ultimate dilemma of doing what's best or what's right and constantly battled with uncertainties. She had her own ups and downs and I liked seeing how she coped with each situation.

“You don’t notice the clouds slowly blocking the light because just for a second you get to think. You think you can beat it, this heaviness pressing you down. You think that you can find yourself. Even if I saw the signs beforehand I don’t know if I would’ve been strong enough to stop it.”

There's not much I can say without giving away anything. But I can say how much I like how things unraveled. I love it when a book made me constantly question everything. It's highly satisfyingly to dissect, analyze and interpret scene to get to the answers.



Figure Eight follows the journey of a woman as she adjusts through the changes in her life. It would appeal to readers who like peeling off layers to find the core of the story.


✠ ஜ ✠ . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . ✠ ஜ ✠


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Jennifer Kyle]

What to do when you loved the writing and storyline UNTIL the big reveal and ending...

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.75 “Am I Crazy? Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“In the end we’re all made up of secrets”.

Well this was one hell of an eye opener and I feel like my mind is not my own right now. I’m confused, saddened, and just down right not okay! I guess this is what happens when you read a Calia Read book and your emotions get tangled up in this Web of uncertainty that takes you to the unknown. So what do you do when something like that happens? You dive right in.

Moving back to your hometown to take care of a mother that’s slowly declining in her mental health, has Selah Kerrington looking for a new job. Being a former elementary school teacher herself, Selah is determined to find a new job and make things better for her mother. But due to her location, those job offers have been deafening radio silent and Selah is beginning to lose the one thing she’s always had. HOPE.



If not finding a job wasn’t enough, Selah has to deal with prying eyes everywhere. From people giving her mother looks on the street to her new mysterious neighbor, Selah is never too far away from gossip. Writing is her therapy but fear of putting her work out there is also a big hurdle for her and when she meets another writer that knows exactly how she feels, Selah embarks on a journey that was filled with more secrets and denials that I could’ve ever dreamed about.



“You don’t notice the clouds slowly blocking the light because just for a second you get to think. You think you can beat it, this heaviness pressing you down. You think that you can find yourself. Even if I saw the signs beforehand I don’t know if I would’ve been strong enough to stop it”.

I will admit the first half of the book didn’t quite pull me in as I was hoping. I spent a good portion trying to figure out what the heck was going to happen and I had all these theories swirling around in my head to the point where I felt like I was losing it.

Then I got to part two and I thought to myself:



I really don’t want to give anything away with this but I will say that I really liked how the author delivered the execution of the plot. We were meant to feel a certain way and while I wasn’t a fan of feeling like I needed to be in a mental institution, this author certainly knew how to get her point across. I think if you’re a fan of mysterious stories that will make you think outside of the box, this one is most definitely for you guys.

Now as for that ending:

[Nazanin · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 Stars

"The truth is a powerful thing. When it’s suppressed for such a long time and then suddenly set free, it doesn’t come quietly; it attacks you from the inside out, forcing you to feel every last lie and deception you were holding onto."

Holy Crap!! This book is amazing, fantastic, wonderful, PHENOMENAL! I loved each page, each, paragraph, each sentence, each word of it! this book made my day or maybe week! I’ve finished it but I can not stop thinking about it! this story is told in such a way that you will not want to put it down for a sec. such a mystery! The story starts a little bit slow but after first part, it draws all of your attention. This book will keep you on edge at all the times. When I was reading it, I knew something was wrong but I didn’t know what and to be honest, I didn’t realize it until the final part. And such an ending! Actually I didn’t think it ends that way! So my jaw dropped when I was reading its epilogue!

[CC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Selah Kerrington is a 33 year-old elementary school teacher who returns home to care for her sick mother. Always having been a quiet and rather introspective person, Selah becomes aware of stares and hushed whispers from strangers who observe the signs. In keeping her focus on her mother’s well-being, Selah tries to do the best she can as provider and protector from interlopers but she also has her own demons she is trying to keep at bay.

“There are very few places in the world where I feel comfortable. Places where I can really be myself.”

Being a creative person, Selah’s passion is reading and wants to be a writer. After establishing a connection with Jackson, another member on an online writing site, they agree to meet and form a friendship. The male attention is a welcomed distraction and it serves to curb Selah’s loneliness but as she begins to want more, it becomes complicated.

“In the end we’re all made up of secrets.”

Adding to Selah’s stress is a neighbor who seems to be eerily aware of her activities. While she knows being discreet is the obvious way to deter questions and onlookers, Selah is determined to get answers of her own and the path she takes is the one that feels right to her.

“The truth is a powerful thing. When it’s suppressed for such a long time and then suddenly set free, it doesn’t come quietly.”

From the first page, the tension slowly builds as questions arise and suspicions mount. With varying perspectives, the plot flows in such a way that purposefully jigs and jags yet remains steady and portentous. With Selah, her character is one that has many relatable elements, as she is a woman who wants balance in her life yet she feels the weight of her own emotions and fears. Additionally, the secondary characters are just as convincing and each serve a purpose in Selah’s life and are intricately weaved into this taut and compelling narrative.

In starting this book, I wasn’t sure what to completely expect but it exceeded my expectations, as Calia Read successfully writes a convincing story in a truthful and challenging manner. For those seeking a story with a range of emotion, mystery, psychological elements and twists, I highly recommend Figure Eight.





*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey!*



For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

My second book by Calia Read and again she has blown my mind with this story. It got my attention right from the start even though I wasn't sure where it was leading and with it's multiple pov which I'm not a fan of but with story it made perfect sense. Fast paced with twists and turns emotionally packed had me wondering what was real and what wasn't. At one point I got cocky thinking I had it all figured out just to realize I was totally wrong! I couldn't put it down I kept going over what I'd read looking for clues but I should know better than to try and beat this authors mind when it comes to her psychological books. The ending was a revelation but the epilogue was not what I was expecting I honestly don't even know how I feel about it maybe in a way I understand it.

I'm so glad I read this book without spoilers because I usually like knowing what I'm getting into but with this one I'm glad I didn't. I'm off to a good start with my first book of the year hopefully it will bring me luck.❤️

"Everyone needs to acknowledge that everyone is fucked up. Everyone is broken. Everyone is going through their own shit. And that's ok."

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um, quick question... WTF DID I JUST READ?!

This book has been the biggest mind fuck since I read Prisoned by Marni Mann.

It starts out slow and confusing. I was bored. I didn't really care what happened. But one of my blog girls loved it so I figured I would stick it out.

Then things took a turn for the crazy. I thought I was going to pull my hair out, I tell you. This was the most frustrating thing I've ever read. I had theories and concepts but nothing was adding up (though in the end I was partially right about one thing.).

Then it got intense and mad and I needed to throw my effing phone because I didn't understand. There were too many pieces of the story not fitting together.

Then I was kind of let down by the twist, to be completely honest. All of this insane BS, the anxiety I was put through and really? That's what we get? Okay. I don't know yet if it was brilliant or if I hate it.

And for the love of God, I have SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS I THINK I'M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND.

Definitely a gutsy move for the author to end it how she did but I totally understand. This is quite the book... if you think you can handle it, go for it! It's not one you'll forget for a long, long time.

No rating because what are stars? I don't even know up from down right now.

*edited* I guess 3 stars is a safe bet - didn't love it, but didn't hate it (much). Some stuff I thought was extremely well executed but others seemed off. I still have a billion and one unanswered questions and feel like there's no closure. It's a mind fuck sure but you can't just leave everything unanswered just to call it a mind fuck. When I think back on this I'm actually a little angry because of that.

Oh and somewhere along the way this got classified as a dark romance on Goodreads? That's false. I'd say psychological thriller is more accurate.

Enjoy loves!

[Dilek VT]

Oh, this is so not what I wanted...
There is no love story or an obsessive lover/stalker in it, which was what I expected... The blurb sounded like that (to me)...
No stalker / no obsessive lover--> Hence, no deal!



So, maybe later...

[Linathebookaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was totally not my usual read but OMG! What an a amazing book. I had no idea what would happen next. What a complex storyline. Amazing twists and turns and a refreshing plot that will have you guessing till the end!
Full review to come...

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 mind fuck stars

Say what?

This book is one of the biggest mind-fucks I've read, and that's saying something in and of itself.

I swear, the entire time that I was reading this book, my mind was scrambling over itself trying to get to the core of the story, so kudos to Read for that. It's one of those books that you'd either love, or hate, because there is no middle ground with it.

Selah, a 33 year old aspiring writer, and a lonely woman hungry for someone to understand and love her, meets a man online, and quickly falls in love with him, but there is an ailing mother she has to take care of, and a job she needs to find, and also there is the man living opposite to her house that just might be a serial killer.

Don't believe me. Just go along with Selah, because she certainly thinks so.

I won't talk too much about this book, because it's one of those that you need to experience, rather than be spoiled with. But I'll say as much, that ending I did not see coming.



It was a great read, and completely kept me on my toes right until the reveal, and maybe I had too many books like this, but I kind of saw that, or at least got some of it correct. The entire build-up if fantastic, and Read does a brilliant job of writing the climax, even if the ending did catch me off guard.

Do I recommend this? Oh hell yes. Definitely give it a go if you want to question everything in your life.

[Leo (Queen of the Rants and Spoilers) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crazy.

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm.... what to say?
Everybody needs to decide if they want to read this book. I read it. It was ok. I kept reading because I wanted to see how it would end, but now that I'm done, I'm kinda disappointed.
I hate books with no romance... and no happy end.
The different POVs will confuse many readers. I don't know if the writing with Calia's books is always like that, or if it's Selah's way of telling the story, but I had the feeling that a good editor would've made things a bit better!
The only character I felt sorry for in the end was Noah. But I'm also happy for him - he can now go look for his happily ever after elsewhere! ☺
It was a weird book with weird chapters and weird people and a very weird mood all through it.
Now I'm not sure if I will ever read Unravel ☺
But please, don't be scared - READ IT if you're not afraid of something a bit different - and weird. ☺

[Michelle Tikal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book where you read and read and you think everything is great and then BAM you realize nothing, and I mean nothing, is as it seems? You know the complete and total mindf*ck read where you have to double back to look for clues and try to find what you missed or where things went wrong? These are some of my favorites. They make me feel a little crazy myself for not seeing more, not feeling more, not having that intuition that something more is going on and yet, when you find out that you have been fooled all along, when you are in total and utter shock, you still feel a little giddy that the author got you so good, that they are so talented they could hide the truth right there in plain sight, that they are so clever they can basically tell two completely different stories at the same time right under your nose. Figure Eight just so happens to be one of these books and while I feel a little slow and gullible, I am so immensely impressed with Calia Read for pulling the wool over my unsuspecting eyes and slipping little tidbits right past me.

What starts out as a seemingly simple story of a woman who selflessly takes on too much and has a hard time coping with the burden of it all is an interesting one that keeps you engaged and connected to the characters. Once you start to uncover things and realize that there are whole other levels to this story going on though, it is virtually impossible to put down. I became so mesmerized and thirsty for clues that when I didn't have the time to read, you know when real life creeps in, I found myself sneaking pages or even sentences here and there just to hold off my cravings for more for just a tiny bit longer until I could finally and fully immerse myself back into the story.

A story that seems pretty cut and dry with just a touch of mystery quickly morphs into a huge conundrum where you are looking for answers as to not only who is Figure Eight, but also what exactly happened, and where does all of this information fit? We open with some shady individuals and quite a few questions and things only get more and more tangled, twisted, and convoluted from there. An intriguing puzzle that very slowly comes together piece by tiny piece, but only if you look hard enough and only to get more involved and leave you even more confused and suspicious than ever before.

Absolutely everyone in this book is suspect, not a single character can be trusted, and nothing, not a single thing, is as it seems. You will question everything; what is real and what is not, who is trustworthy and who is not, what is possible and what isn't, and quite possibly even your own sanity.

Figure Eight is one of those books you are going want to turn right back around and read all over again to find out what little clues and nuances you missed the first time around and experience the story from the entirely new outlook you now have. An electrifying, riveting, mind game that is guaranteed to leave your jaw on the floor. If you have an eagle eye, love to be surprised, and are begging for the psychological ride of your life, you do not want to miss Figure Eight.

[Yiota Misiou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Θα κρατήσω μόνο αυτό από όλο το βιβλίο λέγοντας, μακάρι να τελείωνε εδώ...

"You want to tell her to hold on a bit longer. You want to tell her that she’s lucky because much worse things are happening in the world to people. Yet that’s the thing about pain; it’s equal opportunity and yet never strikes every person the same.


I whisper into your ear that what needs to change is everyone. Everyone needs to acknowledge that everyone is fucked up. Everyone is broken. Everyone is going through their own shit. And that’s okay."
Το τέλος ήταν απογοητευτικό!

[Lana *Best left alone with books and snacks* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really confused as to the point this book tried to make. Was it that mentally ill people have it hard? No shit! I would've never guessed it without you slapping me in the face with it. Seriously. The only thing accomplished by that ending was making me regret the emotional investement I've already put in this story to begin with because I thought it was going somewhere. Anywhere.

The only justification I have for my rating is because of the big reveal being something else completely from what I expected, this added a star to overall rating for me.

Over and out

[Vanessa (nessreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

5+++++ Stars!!!

There are so many things running through my head right now that I can't even deal! This book. THIS! BOOK! Damn, it f***ed with my mind. Half of the time I didn't even know what was going on. The twists and turns, kept my head spinning. This book will keep you guessing until the very end.

This book consumed me. It sucked me in, it crawled under my skin and embedded itself in my bones. The words weaved themselves in my veins and flowed through my blood. This book made my heart beat ferociously. It brought out so many emotions. It angered me and at times I felt hate. I wanted to throw punches left-and-right! This book was heartbreaking, boy did it hurt me.

I know I'm not doing a very good job with this review. I wish I could tell you the part when my heart was in my throat. I wish I could tell you the exact moment when I had to stop and clutch my kindle. I wish that I could tell you the precise moment where the words ripped my heart and the tears wouldn't stop. I wish I could tell you so many things, but you have to keep in mind that it is crucial for me not to give anything away. I can't, I can't, I can't. And I'm not sorry because this book deserves to be experienced in its entirety.

Calia Read is a wizard. The way she takes words and creates these characters and their world is extraordinary. The way her mind works is nonetheless exquisite. I will devour anything and everything she writes.

I wholeheartedly hope that I did somewhat of an alright job in saying why you must read this book. I can't say it enough, I wish I could shout from the rooftop, yell it through a megaphone to READ THIS BOOK! If you do, strap on because you're in for one hell of a ride.

[Mirjam · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me Figure Eight was quite un-expecting. I loved the story! It has a sad poignant message that had me choked up a number of times. I’m sure that it will get to everyone reading the book.
The first part of the book was strangely boring but still I could not stop reading, it had a feel of imminent danger lurking. And suddenly the writing became so engrossing that I could not put it down. I loved the way the author was able to deliver on characterisations and describing surroundings. I could almost smell the house.

Selah Kerrington, 33, a shy and quiet person who is an elementary school teacher, moves back home to take care of her sick mother. She both wants and hates that she has to look after her mother and does all she can to be her mother’s provider and sitter.
While doing so she also tries to have a life for her own as well.
I was happy with the ending, but then the epilogue happened and that just blew me away!
Told in alternating POV’s it is a compelling story that left me exhausted and a bit sad.



I strongly suggest to read Figure Eight with no knowledge of it's content or maybe only the blurb. Do not try to read up and know what is going to happen. Just go in and get acquaintance with Selah and her life.
This is my first Calla Read book and it will definitely not be my last.
One more thing, if you’re looking for a book with sex, skip this one. There is NONE!! Yes, that is right! NONE!! But this book was just fucking amazing and I highly recommend it!

The two white masks: one smiling and the other sad like a chemical imbalance

                 

['Q' aka CoCo · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read the blurb, I got really excited. It sounded like some crazy stalker guy from Selah's past was going to make a reappearance in her life. After starting the book, it wasn't immediately obvious that this wasn't the case, but it was becoming clearer that this mystery voice didn't mean her any harm. That was fine--it wasn't the dark psychological suspense I was expecting, but I slogged through anyway, though it was slow going...very slow going.

At about 40%, Selah has a conversation with Jackson.
I want to shake him for his silence, yet simultaneously cover my hands with my ears. Because I have a feeling that what he's going to tell me is a big reason he's been so distant with me.
"What I say could change everything between us."
Then he opens his mouth and tells me everything.
But of course the reader isn't told, and I'm starting to think this is one of those books that drags on for far too long, and I'm starting to lose interest. And I was right. There are a bunch of instances like this, where we're given just a snippet and then left hanging. (Also, the "cover my hands with my ears" is one of many mistakes like that found in the book.)

While I will give kudos for the twist because I wasn't expecting it, I will also say that I thought it was dumb. Who the mystery voice turned out to be made me angry instead of giving me that wow, that's so brilliant! feeling, and the ending was a letdown as well.

The one positive I will say is that this book described anxiety perfectly--the way it takes over, the war one wages with one's own mind. That part was really well done, but in my opinion, the rest of it was more boring than suspenseful.

[Beatrix · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really loved this author's The Surviving Trace so naturally I wanted to read more from her.

Sadly, I didn't like this. The writing was great, but the book was just not my cup of tea, I was reading it just to get to the big reveal, and when it happened I was left disappointed.

[talon smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

She did it. Calia did it again. She got me. This girl got me all shook up right to my core. She got me moved in and situated into my nice, new cozy corner, rocking away very nervously. She even supplied me the cozy straight jacket and blindfold.

“The truth is a powerful thing. When it’s suppressed for such a long time and then suddenly set free, it doesn’t come quietly; it attacks you from the inside out, forcing you to feel every last lie and deception you were holding onto. No matter how painful is is.”

Calia’s writing is something all of us as readers can agree on. Whether it’s Unravel or one of her Sloan Brothers book, this girl has got it going on. So, to say I am surprised with the way Figure 8 was written would be a lie because let’s face it: I’m not.

I expected it. But it isn’t just impeccable writing that is in Figure Eight. No, no, no, that would be way too easy for Calia. It’s chilling, eerie, and suspenseful. There were times where I was so creeped out I put the book down because I had goose bumps on my neck and then there were times where my breathing was deep and fast that I had to get myself together because no one likes a hot mess. Figure Eight was just an intense read but that’s putting it lightly. Very lightly.

Figure Eight included so many twists and turns that I legitimately had no idea what was going to happen next. Basically, I can’t tell you anything about the actual book, story line, etc. I can say that the characters are not what you think. Their lives are not what you think. Nothing is really what you think, don’t even bother. Just…let it happen. Let the book happen and enjoy it. With Calia’s books the best thing that you can do is go in blind. Absorb everything she has written out so neatly and tidy for you. It all adds up, I promise you it does.

If anyone can give you heart palpitations and wrong guesses and insane theories that drive you crazy at night it’s Calia Read. I even got emotional because what Calia is trying to portray to us within this book is beautiful and broken all at the same time. It’s real and it’s raw. Make sure you have something to drink in your corner, you’ll get thirsty.

[Dri ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 EU ESTOU SEM PALAVRAS!!!
CHOCADA E ENCARANDO O TETO DO MEU QUARTO stars!

Livro bem escrito apesar de eu achar um pouquinho cansativa a narrativa e ficar confusa a princípio com os 3 povs inseridos na trama...
Mas a curiosidade foi maior que tudo, sendo assim segui em frente e não me arrependi! Final surpreendente!!!
Recomendo pra quem gosta de um bom suspense!

[Butthisbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn.

Review to come.

[Donna ~ The Romance Cover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Figure Eight by Calia Read
3.5 stars!!!

“Well, your nest is getting ready to fall. So it’s either fall or fly. Little bird that I love the most, what are you going to do?”

As ever, Calia Read’s writing was impeccable, this author never fails to draw me into a story and hold me captive for its entirety. Calia Read’s words are like poetry, where you feel the timbre, the resonance and are lulled into the melody the more you read. That has not changed.

“You seem to forget that I’m your figure eight. Your infinity. You try to run but I will always find you.”

I really cannot go into details about this book, because everything is a spoiler. When a book is all about the suspense, intrigue and build up, the author spends a remarkable amount of time and effort to bring you to that precipice. That feeling of balancing on the edge of a cliff and you are impatiently waiting for the author to give you that final nudge over. This was how I felt throughout this whole book. I was waiting for that push, that nudge, but all I felt was a whisper.

“DIDN’T I TELL you that there’s a dark side to love? Well, you’re getting ready to experience that and you don’t even realize it. Yet.”

Calia Read delivers a book that confuses you, it infuriates you, it has your brain running a mile a minute frantically trying to decipher what the hell is going on. You will find yourself going back over things, dissecting every little morsel, replaying, analysing and after all that spent energy you will still be no closer to understanding what the hell is going on. For that, I applaud the author, she had me hoodwinked from the very start. I had many ideas of what was transpiring between the pages, none of which were right, some ideas were on the right track but none fit the bill completely.

“Let that blood flow and listen carefully to the walls. They’ll start to whisper to you and if you’re lucky those whispers will transform into screams. You’ll hear the honesty and truth that you need. All because of the color of blood.”

I will be honest and say the first fifty percent was a little hard going, sometimes being confused for so long gets a little tiring and I wished that the author had maybe thrown us a little bone a little earlier on, but none the less, I still kept those pages turning. I did find I had to be in the right frame of mind to read this one, I needed to be alert, so bedtime reading for this one was definitely out the question. The last half of this book was faster paced, clues are coming at you, but you don’t realise that they are clues until the end and then it all makes sense.

“See? Levels of affection. To know them is to love them. And to love them is to hate them.”

I hardly ever disagree with the way that an author ends a book, it is their prerogative, their story to tell, it is what their characters dictate, but sometimes an ending screams at me and this was one of those instances. In fact, I had two on the trot…totally unheard of. I understood it, but didn’t like it, I resonated with it, but still didn’t like it. This is most probably personal preference, was it predictable, hell no, but it was what Calia Read does best. Calia Read delivered a book that will shock you, the reveals are cleverly done, the book written in some amazing point of views, the story of which a lot of people can and will empathise with. Cleverly plotted, brilliantly executed, fantastically written but for me personally, the ending killed it, up until that very last chapter, it would have been a solid 4.5 stars.

www.theromancecover.com

[Cézanne Hayden-Dilbert]

"Selah, not so long ago you needed me. You relied on me. I was your comfort. Your escape. But you left me. Patiently, I’ve been waiting for you to come back. You haven’t."

The moment I finished Figure Eight I knew I would have a book hangover. This was one of the most complex and intriguing books that I have ever read. When it was all over, I wondered what on earth did I just read. Was everything as I thought it was?  This book not only got to me emotionally and mentally, it made me want to re-read it the moment I finished.

"You seem to forget that I’m your figure eight. Your infinity. You try to run but I will always find you."

I honestly did not know what to expect of this story. The synopsis doesn't give much away but it made me curious. I was immediately intrigued by the characters and their complex relationships with each other. Selah was a character that I empathized with. I understood her on base level. She wasn't the person to ask for help, she was the person that tried to tackle things on her own. Each relationship in her  life was uniquely different. I became so wrapped up in her story, that I didn't realize how quickly I was devouring this book. I enjoyed how the story unfolded. It had some intense moments and an eeriness wrapped into the storytelling.

I have discovered that from a distance it is incredibly easy to read people. In the shadows, people don’t notice you. They let their guard down.

There is so so much I want to say about this book. I loved the way Calia Reed crafted this story. Her writing was brilliant and the dual points of view enhanced the suspense of the story. I didn't know who to trust or who to suspect. This story and subject matter got to me.  There were so many layers to this book. Each new piece and each new layer, kept me glued to the pages and kept me guessing.  I had many suspicions and theories while I was reading. When I thought I figured out the plot, there was another twists. There is much more to this story, but I would not want to spoil a minute of it. I highly recommend Figure Eight. Go in blindly and get yourself ready for this brilliant read.

"In the end we’re all made up of secrets."

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog]

I'm so excited for this book :)) <33


 

  

[Livros A Go-Go ~Joyci ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5
Sabe aquele livro que mexe com a sua cabeça e depois você precisa de dias para processar tudo que leu? É esse! Ele te confunde, é difícil de devorar de uma só vez, te cansa mas compensa por tudo através do final e epílogo. É surpreendente.

Selah está de volta à sua cidade natal para cuidar da mãe que está sofrendo de depressão. Entre a luta para arrumar um novo emprego, vigiar os passos da mãe e manter sua própria saúde intacta diante de tantas pressões, ela encontra alento no seu hobby: escrever histórias em um fórum online, local também onde conhece Jackson, um dos seguidores dela na rede social e com quem ela passa a trocar mensagens e telefonemas até o relacionamento extrapolar o meio virtual e ganhar a vida real.
Jackson traz a ela uma luz ao fim do túnel e esperança diante dos problemas que surgem no caminho por conta da fase em que sua vida se encontra e mostrará a Selah.

"Meu último presente foi o que você precisava. Mas você mal o notou. Você estava muito ocupada com o seu desespero."

Já no início do livro você é informado que algo grave ocorreu. A partir disso submergimos no mundo da protagonista, seus problemas e também em um dos pov's mais sedutores e envolventes que já li. Este em especial só no final se revela e é o responsável por você ler a livro inteiro aguardando ele aparecer e dar mais dicas para entendermos e procurarmos uma maneira de Selah resolver sua vida.

"Eu me sinto como uma atriz inserida em um espetáculo para uma platéia desconhecida."...

Confesso que no início encontrei-me um pouco confusa com os três pontos de vista do livro, fato agravado pela diagramação simples do ebook. Quando uma das vozes mudava, muitas vezes só depois do parágrafo inteiro é que você me dava conta de que havia mudado realmente e eu teria mais um avanço de informações no complexo quebra cabeças que é essa história. Ao final considerei esse até mesmo um artifício bom para essa trama, intensificou a experiencia de ler especificamente esse livro, que por sinal foi o primeira da autora Calia Read que li.
E o final...é maravilhosa-mente chocante!

A capa​ do livro representa perfeitamente a história de Selah. Ela está em uma tormenta e algo não está certo. É obscuro e a verdade está além das ondas revoltas, ela se encontra nas profundezas e até chegar lá muitos fatos deverão ser dissecados e interpretados para serem verdadeiramente revelados. São ondas e ondas até a calmaria chegar, e ela é chocante.
O bom da sinopse é que ela não revela nada e isso é mais que especial nesse livro. Deve-se ler às escuras para mergulhar de cabeça na vida de Selah.

Arc gentilmente cedido pela autora e Wordsmith Publicity. Obrigada.

[Christine (Shh Moms Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Wow...that's really what comes to mind when I think of this book. With Calia Read's signature mind fuckery, I was blown away. Once the story took off, I couldn't wrap my arms around anything and questioned every single thing. Totally unexpected and addictive, Figure Eight will keep you guessing until the very end.
This is a hard book to review without spoiling anything so just read it and be blown away by this author's writing and storytelling.
The underlying message within this story is heartbreakingly sad and pulled at my heartstrings and I think this is a book that will truly affect everyone.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I have to admit I didn't know what to expect as from the first page I thought that Selah - the main female character was a serial murderer or something as for why else would they interview a year later. The book then jumped to prior the incident, and in that prologue, we weren't given much as an indication of what Selah had done. In the book, we meet Selah who has left her job as a teacher and come home to look after her mother who is sick and has dementia/Alzheimer's. Selah has been looking for a job but nothing is sticking, and years ago she joined a writing site as she has always had the dream of being an author. Selah gets an email from someone on the site, and they start communicating. This leads to a meeting and an eventual relationship between the pair Selah and Jared. Selah also has a new neighbor who has moved across the street whom she is suspicious of; her mother swears he is good, but Selah knows something is off about her new neighbor Noah. The book continues with Selah's everyday life until one day while out job searching, she arrives home to discover her mother is missing. One thing leads to another, and various police visits, Selah's mother is still missing, and things aren't looking up for Selah. Is someone out to get her and what happened to her mother? Then the major twist arrives in the novel and OMG when it did; I was like WTF - it was one twist that I didn't see coming, but then after I finished the book I could imagine it as the similar twist has been used before in horror/thriller movies. It was this twist that made the book for me a 5P rating. If you love Thrillers and Psychological books, then you will love Figure Eight by Calia Read. A book that once you have finished will leave you thinking about everything you have just read and going back over everything to try and connect the dots - see if there were any clues and warnings.

[Lily Flower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally confused

This book is different from the books I have read. Different story and characters. From beginning I knew there is something wrong with characters and knew which character was suffering.
This story it's not love story just to let you know. You need to take your chances here.