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Girl in a Bad Place
Mailee and Cara take care of each other. Mailee is the star of the high school plays; Cara is the stage manager. Mailee can't keep her life together; Cara has enough organizational skills for the both of them.
So when the girls are invited to visit the Haven, a commune in the mountains near their suburban Montana homes, it seems like an adventure. Until Cara starts spending every waking minute there ... and Mailee thinks it's creepy, almost like a cult. When Cara decides she's going to move to the Haven permanently, Mailee knows it's a bad idea. But how far will she go to save her best friend ... from herself?
So when the girls are invited to visit the Haven, a commune in the mountains near their suburban Montana homes, it seems like an adventure. Until Cara starts spending every waking minute there ... and Mailee thinks it's creepy, almost like a cult. When Cara decides she's going to move to the Haven permanently, Mailee knows it's a bad idea. But how far will she go to save her best friend ... from herself?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2017
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February 17, 2024
Commune. A calm word, calling forth images of folks immersed in wilderness; frolicking with forest creatures, blissfully coexisting with Mother Nature. Idyllic, sure; but Mailee certainly didn’t anticipate the sad-looking metal shacks she saw upon arriving at the Haven. No matter how odd and uncharacteristic the visit to this remote area may be; she is determined to be positive; after all, this peculiarity is the only thing Cara has shown interest in all summer.
Mailee never expected a super-celebratory Senior year. The ache of Cara’s loss lingers and her home is still shrouded by a palpable dark cloud of sorrow and anger, sucking up all hope of happiness. Moreover, Mailee has noticed changes in Cara that cause concern. So, even though “…nature is gross. And filled with spiders,” Mailee is willing to make the pilgrimage as pleasant as possible.
The founder, a man dubiously dubbed Firehorse, seems more like a shifty, misogynistic pig than a peace-loving-Earth-boy and everyone else emanates a surreal, suspicious, semi-aggressive vibe. Initially surprised that Cara is smitten; Mailee is soon stunned by her best friend’s frenzied fascination of the creepy cooperative.
Maybe Mailee was willing to—temporarily—omit meat and dairy from her diet as a show of support; but as Cara raves, Mailee researches. The line between commune and cult begins to blur. Against her better judgment, Mailee agrees to attend a celebration at the commune with Cara. Guessing that she will need to provide more than moral support; Mailee has no idea how dangerous and dire the circumstances will be.
A bad place can be literal, figurative, or even both at once. Sometimes, as in Cara’s case, a metaphorical bad place leads to an actual bad place. In the same way that a phrase can mean more than one thing, this keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, compelling conundrum is not just a suspense-filled mystery, but also a survival story. One about learning to live in spite of loss, loyalty, and the immeasurable value of friendship.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Mailee never expected a super-celebratory Senior year. The ache of Cara’s loss lingers and her home is still shrouded by a palpable dark cloud of sorrow and anger, sucking up all hope of happiness. Moreover, Mailee has noticed changes in Cara that cause concern. So, even though “…nature is gross. And filled with spiders,” Mailee is willing to make the pilgrimage as pleasant as possible.
The founder, a man dubiously dubbed Firehorse, seems more like a shifty, misogynistic pig than a peace-loving-Earth-boy and everyone else emanates a surreal, suspicious, semi-aggressive vibe. Initially surprised that Cara is smitten; Mailee is soon stunned by her best friend’s frenzied fascination of the creepy cooperative.
Maybe Mailee was willing to—temporarily—omit meat and dairy from her diet as a show of support; but as Cara raves, Mailee researches. The line between commune and cult begins to blur. Against her better judgment, Mailee agrees to attend a celebration at the commune with Cara. Guessing that she will need to provide more than moral support; Mailee has no idea how dangerous and dire the circumstances will be.
A bad place can be literal, figurative, or even both at once. Sometimes, as in Cara’s case, a metaphorical bad place leads to an actual bad place. In the same way that a phrase can mean more than one thing, this keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, compelling conundrum is not just a suspense-filled mystery, but also a survival story. One about learning to live in spite of loss, loyalty, and the immeasurable value of friendship.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
November 22, 2017
**This book is marketed to middle schoolers and is not age appropriate.**
This book is about two teenage girls, Mailee & Cara, that have been best friends since childhood. It's the summer before their senior year and they are looking forward to fulfilling their lifelong shared dreams. Cara is struggling to find direction in life as she questions who she is and what she truly desires. She is burdened by the loss of her younger sister who died the year before. During her struggle with these emotions, she crosses paths with a woman & child (similar age to her deceased sister) that invite her to visit them at their off-the-grid, living-off-the-land commune in the mountains. After their initial visit, Cara becomes attracted to the life of the people there, making more frequent visits. She isolates herself by detaching more and more from her friends, family & normal activities, and makes a drastic change when she chooses to permanently join the commune by participating in an initiation ceremony. The initiation ceremony turns out to be a human sacrifice that is part of a larger goal to cause social chaos in the world, and she and her friend, Mailee, are chosen to be the victims.
This book contains the following: a lesbian couple is mentioned (pg. 44), New Age philosophies and spirituality is incorporated and encouraged throughout by the commune community, questioning of government, experts and education is encouraged by commune community (e.g. "sometimes those in the farming industry are less aware than those who are outside of it" pg. 84, also pg. 78-79, 89), discussion of losing virginity (pg. 60, 63, 64), there is kissing between Mailee & her boyfriend throughout the book that can be described at times graphically, particularly when she mentions putting her hands up his shirt to feel his smooth skin and abs, God's name is taken in vain frequently. The girls in the book find human remains, see scratch marks on a cellar door from someone trying to claw for help, stained blood on a concrete floor, etc.
The head of the commune community is a middle aged man who has deceived the members into joining him in working as a team to "live off the land & grid", but his true intent for the group is to stage a murder that he hopes will cause society to unravel. He uses a human bone for a belt buckle, places dream catcher tracking devices on his commune members, and he plays the role of a dictator that embodies "do as I say, not as I do." The end of the book is a 3 day camping trip during which Cara's initiation is to take place, but the girls' learn that they are going to be murdered. The final quarter of the book is a capture-escape sequence of the girls' trying to break free. Some of the commune members are murdered. It's unrealistic how the girls' escape - Mailee chooses to contact her boyfriend for help rather than the police. She also takes on the crazy leader and fights him for a gun. When the girls & commune members are eventually free there is no realistic recovery from the trauma. They just "poof" get better and so do all the other commune members. They are able to pick new successful paths in life like it's simple to just move on. The parents play almost no role in the lives of the teenage girls since they make decisions autonomously & the parents don't get involved in the events of the teen's lives.
This book is about two teenage girls, Mailee & Cara, that have been best friends since childhood. It's the summer before their senior year and they are looking forward to fulfilling their lifelong shared dreams. Cara is struggling to find direction in life as she questions who she is and what she truly desires. She is burdened by the loss of her younger sister who died the year before. During her struggle with these emotions, she crosses paths with a woman & child (similar age to her deceased sister) that invite her to visit them at their off-the-grid, living-off-the-land commune in the mountains. After their initial visit, Cara becomes attracted to the life of the people there, making more frequent visits. She isolates herself by detaching more and more from her friends, family & normal activities, and makes a drastic change when she chooses to permanently join the commune by participating in an initiation ceremony. The initiation ceremony turns out to be a human sacrifice that is part of a larger goal to cause social chaos in the world, and she and her friend, Mailee, are chosen to be the victims.
This book contains the following: a lesbian couple is mentioned (pg. 44), New Age philosophies and spirituality is incorporated and encouraged throughout by the commune community, questioning of government, experts and education is encouraged by commune community (e.g. "sometimes those in the farming industry are less aware than those who are outside of it" pg. 84, also pg. 78-79, 89), discussion of losing virginity (pg. 60, 63, 64), there is kissing between Mailee & her boyfriend throughout the book that can be described at times graphically, particularly when she mentions putting her hands up his shirt to feel his smooth skin and abs, God's name is taken in vain frequently. The girls in the book find human remains, see scratch marks on a cellar door from someone trying to claw for help, stained blood on a concrete floor, etc.
The head of the commune community is a middle aged man who has deceived the members into joining him in working as a team to "live off the land & grid", but his true intent for the group is to stage a murder that he hopes will cause society to unravel. He uses a human bone for a belt buckle, places dream catcher tracking devices on his commune members, and he plays the role of a dictator that embodies "do as I say, not as I do." The end of the book is a 3 day camping trip during which Cara's initiation is to take place, but the girls' learn that they are going to be murdered. The final quarter of the book is a capture-escape sequence of the girls' trying to break free. Some of the commune members are murdered. It's unrealistic how the girls' escape - Mailee chooses to contact her boyfriend for help rather than the police. She also takes on the crazy leader and fights him for a gun. When the girls & commune members are eventually free there is no realistic recovery from the trauma. They just "poof" get better and so do all the other commune members. They are able to pick new successful paths in life like it's simple to just move on. The parents play almost no role in the lives of the teenage girls since they make decisions autonomously & the parents don't get involved in the events of the teen's lives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2018
Hey, do you like cults? If the answer to that is a big, fat YES in all caps and highlighted in yellow, then this is the book for you.
Girl in a Bad Place is a thriller that, though not the most well written, is very entertaining... and about a cult. Raise your hand if that's not something you read everyday (*raises hand*). Personally, I really liked that it focused on such an unusual, though interesting topic, and I praise the author for choosing something original.
Aside from that, though, nothing else in this entire book was special or different. Nothing else whatsoever made it stand out from other books. The main character, Mailee, was perfectly OK at first, but then she became annoying and almost unbearably cheesy and cliche as the story progressed. Her best friend, Cara, wasn't much better. I didn't understand the reasoning behind the decisions she made, and it felt like the author made no attempt to explain. Also, at one point, Cara suddenly changed her mind about something that she had been firm about previously, and it struck me as completely unbelievable and sort of rushed.
Most of the book was, in fact, unbelievable. Many of the characters' actions likely wouldn't have lead to as successful an outcome as they did. The storyline, in my opinion, had a lot of potential because of its unusual topic, but all of it was sadly wasted in this book.
The writing was very simple and basic. At first, I kind of liked that because it made me read the book faster. As I continued on, however, my feelings on the writing just kind of morphed into resentment. There was no evidence whatsoever of "show not tell" in this book. Overall, it seemed like the writer liked taking the easy way out, proven by the lack of good character development and a realistic ending.
All in all, I wouldn't recommend this to many people. However, if you're looking for a short, relatively entertaining thriller without much depth to it, then this is the book for you.
Girl in a Bad Place is a thriller that, though not the most well written, is very entertaining... and about a cult. Raise your hand if that's not something you read everyday (*raises hand*). Personally, I really liked that it focused on such an unusual, though interesting topic, and I praise the author for choosing something original.
Aside from that, though, nothing else in this entire book was special or different. Nothing else whatsoever made it stand out from other books. The main character, Mailee, was perfectly OK at first, but then she became annoying and almost unbearably cheesy and cliche as the story progressed. Her best friend, Cara, wasn't much better. I didn't understand the reasoning behind the decisions she made, and it felt like the author made no attempt to explain. Also, at one point, Cara suddenly changed her mind about something that she had been firm about previously, and it struck me as completely unbelievable and sort of rushed.
Most of the book was, in fact, unbelievable. Many of the characters' actions likely wouldn't have lead to as successful an outcome as they did. The storyline, in my opinion, had a lot of potential because of its unusual topic, but all of it was sadly wasted in this book.
The writing was very simple and basic. At first, I kind of liked that because it made me read the book faster. As I continued on, however, my feelings on the writing just kind of morphed into resentment. There was no evidence whatsoever of "show not tell" in this book. Overall, it seemed like the writer liked taking the easy way out, proven by the lack of good character development and a realistic ending.
All in all, I wouldn't recommend this to many people. However, if you're looking for a short, relatively entertaining thriller without much depth to it, then this is the book for you.
August 24, 2019
This was shitty ass good.
This follows the story of Cara and Mailee, who are bestest of friends. Mailee always wanted to be an actress while Cara always wanted to be a stage Manager.
One day they meet this cute little girl, Avalon in the mall named who is with her mother named Alexa.
So Alexa invites them to their commune. So Cara agrees to visit the commune but after visiting that commune she starts to obsess about that commune.
But one day all of a sudden, Cara decides to join that fucking Commune and she being a fucked up bitch wants Mailee to be there. There Mailee and Cara finds out that the commune is basically a cult and they all are gonna be killed by their crazy ass motherfucking leader. Cara and Mailee has to save them selves as well as all the others too.
This follows the story of Cara and Mailee, who are bestest of friends. Mailee always wanted to be an actress while Cara always wanted to be a stage Manager.
One day they meet this cute little girl, Avalon in the mall named who is with her mother named Alexa.
So Alexa invites them to their commune. So Cara agrees to visit the commune but after visiting that commune she starts to obsess about that commune.
But one day all of a sudden, Cara decides to join that fucking Commune and she being a fucked up bitch wants Mailee to be there. There Mailee and Cara finds out that the commune is basically a cult and they all are gonna be killed by their crazy ass motherfucking leader. Cara and Mailee has to save them selves as well as all the others too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2019
Персонажи все описаны очень хорошо. Прямо понятны их поступки, переживания, эмоции и характеры. Довольно интересные и необычные герои.
Мне нравится, как пишет Кейтлин Уорд. Вроде бы ничего особенно, книжки у нее крошечные, но вот цепляет чем-то, интересно.
Это притом, что я обычно очень не люблю тему сект, прямо избегаю ее. Но тут все как-то было сбалансировано: есть и романтика, и дружба, и переживания за подругу. Не полностью вся книга посвящена секте, а все линии сюжета аккуратно переплетается.
Может, конечно, после More Than This by Jay McLean мне вообще любая книга покажется шедевром, но, по-моему, это очень даже интересная и достойная история.
Мне нравится, как пишет Кейтлин Уорд. Вроде бы ничего особенно, книжки у нее крошечные, но вот цепляет чем-то, интересно.
Это притом, что я обычно очень не люблю тему сект, прямо избегаю ее. Но тут все как-то было сбалансировано: есть и романтика, и дружба, и переживания за подругу. Не полностью вся книга посвящена секте, а все линии сюжета аккуратно переплетается.
Может, конечно, после More Than This by Jay McLean мне вообще любая книга покажется шедевром, но, по-моему, это очень даже интересная и достойная история.
December 12, 2017
Check out this, other reviews, and more fun bookish things on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
***Actual Rating: 3.5/5 Stars***
Girl in a Bad Place is one of those fantastic, heart pounding sounding stories about a teenage girl who gets sucked into a cult and doesn't seem to understand exactly what is going on or what she has gotten herself into. It's a story full of friendship, mystery, and a thriller, all wrapped up into a fun book that you'll want to read through all in one sitting.
Girl in a Bad Place tells the story of Mailee and Cara - two best friends who are always there for each other and who are always looking out for one another, whether it be about school plays (which they love taking part in), boys, or family drama. The two of them tell each other everything and are more or less inseparable - at least, until Cara decides that she and Mailee are going to take a trip into Haven - a small, off-the-grid community full of a very small amount of people who grow their own food and take care of themselves. This community is led by Firehorse, a middle-aged man who claims he takes care of those who follow him and his beliefs.
Firehorse seems strange to Mailee and her boyfriend, especially since they don't particularly believe what he tells them.
Cara enjoys her time there, but Mailee and her boyfriend are quite skeptical and don't really want much to do with the place - it gives them the creeps - especially the fingernail scratch marks in the root cellar door and the story that one of the residents of Haven have told Mailee...
So when Mailee hears that Cara has been going up there without her, she gets concerned - she wants to protect her best friend, but she doesn't seem to really want to hear it. She loves Haven and she feels safe there, so she has no interest in Mailee's concerns. The two of them start to drift apart as Cara spends more and more time there, and eventually, she tells Mailee that she plans on moving to the Haven and becoming a full member of the community, which causes Mailee to become even more concerned.
When Cara invites Mailee to the Haven's harvest party, which will also double as Cara's initiation ceremony, she is prepared to talk her friend out of what she is doing, get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Haven, and walk out of there and back into her life, saying goodbye to Haven forever. Unfortunately, it doesn't go as planned, and Mailee ends up on a hike with the group, and stumbles across more than she had bargained for.
Even though I thought it was a good story overall, there were a lot of things about Girl in a Bad Place that kind of irked me, and I thought the characters were a bit flat and not all that interesting. I understand that this book was a very plot-driven story because of the whole mystery that takes over, but at the same time, I really found myself wanting something more from it.
I did enjoy the whole friendship aspect of the book - Cara and Mailee were pretty close at the beginning of the book, and it was kind of sad to watch them drift apart over their difference of opinion about Haven.
I have to say I sided more with Mailee from the very beginning of the book, and I knew that Cara's character had to be stubborn and somewhat blind to what was going on around her in order for the plot to work, but I don't understand how Cara couldn't possibly understand that she was getting involved in a cult. It wasn't subtle in the slightest, and there were so many hints that she should have been able to pick up on from the very beginning (then again, that's true of real life, too - isn't it?). Mailee tried her hardest to save her friend from becoming involved, and she did whatever it would take to get her out of there once she was fully committed to becoming a member of Haven.
Mailee's character was actually pretty brave, especially after she discovered the secrets that Firehorse kept hidden from everyone at the Haven. He wasn't at all who he claimed to be, and Mailee still fought for her best friend, putting herself into a dangerous situation in order to save her.
Girl in a Bad Place is a great read if you are really into books that deal with cults and mysteries, and if you like thrillers, you might want to check this one out. I'm glad I had the chance to read it, because it really was a good story, and I loved how much there was in terms of friendship. I only wished I had been able to connect with the characters a bit better, because I think that would have made the story that much more enriching for me.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
***Actual Rating: 3.5/5 Stars***
Girl in a Bad Place is one of those fantastic, heart pounding sounding stories about a teenage girl who gets sucked into a cult and doesn't seem to understand exactly what is going on or what she has gotten herself into. It's a story full of friendship, mystery, and a thriller, all wrapped up into a fun book that you'll want to read through all in one sitting.
Girl in a Bad Place tells the story of Mailee and Cara - two best friends who are always there for each other and who are always looking out for one another, whether it be about school plays (which they love taking part in), boys, or family drama. The two of them tell each other everything and are more or less inseparable - at least, until Cara decides that she and Mailee are going to take a trip into Haven - a small, off-the-grid community full of a very small amount of people who grow their own food and take care of themselves. This community is led by Firehorse, a middle-aged man who claims he takes care of those who follow him and his beliefs.
"'Do you want to continue down a path of emptiness, or do you want to help bring order to this chaotic earth?'"
Firehorse seems strange to Mailee and her boyfriend, especially since they don't particularly believe what he tells them.
Cara enjoys her time there, but Mailee and her boyfriend are quite skeptical and don't really want much to do with the place - it gives them the creeps - especially the fingernail scratch marks in the root cellar door and the story that one of the residents of Haven have told Mailee...
So when Mailee hears that Cara has been going up there without her, she gets concerned - she wants to protect her best friend, but she doesn't seem to really want to hear it. She loves Haven and she feels safe there, so she has no interest in Mailee's concerns. The two of them start to drift apart as Cara spends more and more time there, and eventually, she tells Mailee that she plans on moving to the Haven and becoming a full member of the community, which causes Mailee to become even more concerned.
"There are millions of books and articles and TV shows that tell you how much it sucks to go through a breakup with a boyfriend, but no one prepares you for the pain of the moment when your best friend stops needing you."
When Cara invites Mailee to the Haven's harvest party, which will also double as Cara's initiation ceremony, she is prepared to talk her friend out of what she is doing, get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Haven, and walk out of there and back into her life, saying goodbye to Haven forever. Unfortunately, it doesn't go as planned, and Mailee ends up on a hike with the group, and stumbles across more than she had bargained for.
Even though I thought it was a good story overall, there were a lot of things about Girl in a Bad Place that kind of irked me, and I thought the characters were a bit flat and not all that interesting. I understand that this book was a very plot-driven story because of the whole mystery that takes over, but at the same time, I really found myself wanting something more from it.
I did enjoy the whole friendship aspect of the book - Cara and Mailee were pretty close at the beginning of the book, and it was kind of sad to watch them drift apart over their difference of opinion about Haven.
I have to say I sided more with Mailee from the very beginning of the book, and I knew that Cara's character had to be stubborn and somewhat blind to what was going on around her in order for the plot to work, but I don't understand how Cara couldn't possibly understand that she was getting involved in a cult. It wasn't subtle in the slightest, and there were so many hints that she should have been able to pick up on from the very beginning (then again, that's true of real life, too - isn't it?). Mailee tried her hardest to save her friend from becoming involved, and she did whatever it would take to get her out of there once she was fully committed to becoming a member of Haven.
Mailee's character was actually pretty brave, especially after she discovered the secrets that Firehorse kept hidden from everyone at the Haven. He wasn't at all who he claimed to be, and Mailee still fought for her best friend, putting herself into a dangerous situation in order to save her.
Girl in a Bad Place is a great read if you are really into books that deal with cults and mysteries, and if you like thrillers, you might want to check this one out. I'm glad I had the chance to read it, because it really was a good story, and I loved how much there was in terms of friendship. I only wished I had been able to connect with the characters a bit better, because I think that would have made the story that much more enriching for me.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
August 18, 2021
This book is just… so bad. I know it’s YA and is probably too young for me but I don’t feel like that’s a good excuse when there are plenty of good YA novels.
First off: writing style. This book is written how I’d expect a chapter book for children to be written, not teens. The first person writing style is extremely annoying, and the author describes everything in a way that felt dumbed down. Basically, the writing style is very amateur and juvenile and reads like bad fan fiction.
Second: THE CHARACTERS. These characters are SO unrealistic and unlikeable. The main character is insufferable in how much she complains about everything (nature, spiders, cleaning her room), and these things are not only mentioned once, but at LEAST 5 times each (ironic that I included this, as this review is just me complaining). Her big dream of being an actress (along with her constantly saying just how good of an actress she is) is grating. The MC has a serious case of being self-centered (do we really need to argue about how her friend wasn’t there for her big cast announcement when they’re running for their lives?).
The “antagonist” of the book’s grand plan makes absolutely no sense and is barely explained. It’s like he’s a bizarre D-grade ripoff of Charles Manson. Also, it’s very convenient how a stick thin 17 year old (this is how the author describes our protagonist) can fight off a grown man who’s holding an assault rifle within a minute or so. Totally makes him seem extra intimidating and scary (/s).
Third: The way the main character views the “cult/commune” is almost laughable. This book (not just the MC either) views things like veganism and caring about the environment as if anyone who does these things is a psycho hippie cult member. Oh no, the members are vegan! So scary! It’s just… a massive reach that that’s seemingly the biggest red flag for MC and her boyfriend about the cult. That specifically left a bad taste in my mouth and I’m not even vegan, because it’s so insulting to people that are. Sustainable farming is not insane!
The only positive thing I can say about this book is that it was a very quick read, and that’s the only reason I finished it.
First off: writing style. This book is written how I’d expect a chapter book for children to be written, not teens. The first person writing style is extremely annoying, and the author describes everything in a way that felt dumbed down. Basically, the writing style is very amateur and juvenile and reads like bad fan fiction.
Second: THE CHARACTERS. These characters are SO unrealistic and unlikeable. The main character is insufferable in how much she complains about everything (nature, spiders, cleaning her room), and these things are not only mentioned once, but at LEAST 5 times each (ironic that I included this, as this review is just me complaining). Her big dream of being an actress (along with her constantly saying just how good of an actress she is) is grating. The MC has a serious case of being self-centered (do we really need to argue about how her friend wasn’t there for her big cast announcement when they’re running for their lives?).
The “antagonist” of the book’s grand plan makes absolutely no sense and is barely explained. It’s like he’s a bizarre D-grade ripoff of Charles Manson. Also, it’s very convenient how a stick thin 17 year old (this is how the author describes our protagonist) can fight off a grown man who’s holding an assault rifle within a minute or so. Totally makes him seem extra intimidating and scary (/s).
Third: The way the main character views the “cult/commune” is almost laughable. This book (not just the MC either) views things like veganism and caring about the environment as if anyone who does these things is a psycho hippie cult member. Oh no, the members are vegan! So scary! It’s just… a massive reach that that’s seemingly the biggest red flag for MC and her boyfriend about the cult. That specifically left a bad taste in my mouth and I’m not even vegan, because it’s so insulting to people that are. Sustainable farming is not insane!
The only positive thing I can say about this book is that it was a very quick read, and that’s the only reason I finished it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2019
Mailee becomes concerned when her best friend Cara is drawn in by a commune in the woods. Cult is a better word. Can Mailee her friend before Cara is lost to the group?
My thought while reading GIRL IN A BAD PLACE, “I shouldn’t enjoy this book as much as I do.” Kaitlin Ward’s writing is mediocre at best, the plot predictable, yet I was drawn into Mailee’s narration. Insecure, she relies on Cara to feel confident and complete. When Cara begins distancing herself and turning her attentions toward The Haven, Mailee won’t let go. Under other circumstances, the breach of boundaries could be concerning, but if you ever find yourself falling for a cult, you want a Mailee in your life.
I related to Mailee being an indoor person and her fear of bugs, and was glad to see an female character with theses characteristics. Although I’m a feminist and like strong women, I’m a fan of people being who they are, whether stereotypically girl or take no prisoners brave. Mailee is no shrinking violet. She’s tough, much tougher than me, when she needs to be and braver than her fear of spiders.
I didn’t want GIRL IN A BAD PLACE to end and truly likes both Mailee and Cara.
My thought while reading GIRL IN A BAD PLACE, “I shouldn’t enjoy this book as much as I do.” Kaitlin Ward’s writing is mediocre at best, the plot predictable, yet I was drawn into Mailee’s narration. Insecure, she relies on Cara to feel confident and complete. When Cara begins distancing herself and turning her attentions toward The Haven, Mailee won’t let go. Under other circumstances, the breach of boundaries could be concerning, but if you ever find yourself falling for a cult, you want a Mailee in your life.
I related to Mailee being an indoor person and her fear of bugs, and was glad to see an female character with theses characteristics. Although I’m a feminist and like strong women, I’m a fan of people being who they are, whether stereotypically girl or take no prisoners brave. Mailee is no shrinking violet. She’s tough, much tougher than me, when she needs to be and braver than her fear of spiders.
I didn’t want GIRL IN A BAD PLACE to end and truly likes both Mailee and Cara.
March 5, 2018
This book kept you thinking all throughout. I do wish the author would have "hid" the truth better because you do see the ending coming. But overall it was very suspenseful and a good read.
December 5, 2020
So this book was pretty good, but I do have a few niggly issues! It was VERY predictable. It felt like a horror movie when you're screaming "Noooo!" at the main character because their decisions are so predictably stupid! I also feel like there were a lot more opportunities for the author to make this a bit creepier? And a bit more tense? Maybe another 100 pages of building up to the ending? But that's just my opinion!
May 26, 2018
This book is literally AMAZING!!! It keeps you on the edge of your seat because you think one thing's gonna happen but something TOTALLY different ends up happening instead. I would recommend this book to anyone who'd be willing to read it!
June 5, 2018
The message behind this book is certainly valuable: be aware of what you are getting into and don't be too trusting of strangers. All teen girls should know this. However, the premise of the book is SO unrealistic. A senior in high school drops everything in her near perfect life to join a commune? Yeah, no one is going to relate to this.
I definitely enjoyed the writing, but I still can't get over the content.
I definitely enjoyed the writing, but I still can't get over the content.
October 21, 2017
Despite having one of the worst titles ever, the book wasn't terrible. Not a ringing endorsement but the main character was likable enough. The girls definitely needed a librarian in their life who could teach them to think critically and verify information.
September 6, 2018
This was a really good book and I couldn't put it down! It was super suspenseful and I enjoyed it. It was a shorter, quicker read.
November 16, 2018
I came for a sensationalist thriller, and while that's in there, this is mostly a story about two best friends and a schism growing between them in such a devastating way I almost cried reading it. Everything felt so real, and the fact that Mailee was watching her lifelong best friend pull away through no fault of her own and not even really in a way where you could pinpoint how to stop it made me feel as helpless as she was. Their friendship was SO GOOD, and I know this because I bonded with them almost on sight. Within a few pages, I felt like I'd known them for years.
Now, with regard to the thrill portion: a lot of times in a book like this you might start thinking, "Why are they making these dumb choices?" but every single time, it would make total sense reading it until Mailee realized afterward that she should have done something different, and I'd be like, "Oh...right! Why didn't we see that before?" I suppose because you get so caught up in acute concern for a friend that you don't pay attention to larger context. (and that extends to an almost throwaway line near the end, where she says ).
The only thing I thought unrealistic was the catalyst for the climax, when
But aside from that, no complaints. This IS very much a "teens take care of themselves, kick ass and need no parental supervision ever" kind of story, but sometimes you just really want that in a book. Complete with a solid epilogue.
Also, because I don't know where else to put this, I want to say that I really loved Mailee's boyfriend, Gavin. What a class act that guy was, such a reasonable sounding board, and protective without being controlling. Unlike Cara's tool-friend, who does not deserve the courtesy of the prefix "boy" on account of him seeming to be concerned about Cara's behavior at the beginning only for it to turn out that he's mostly concerned it'll hurt his chances of getting laid. And on THAT note, what a good and refreshing entry to the genre that addresses the idea of getting physical, but doesn't actually have it occur even though the main characters are already seniors.
Now, with regard to the thrill portion: a lot of times in a book like this you might start thinking, "Why are they making these dumb choices?" but every single time, it would make total sense reading it until Mailee realized afterward that she should have done something different, and I'd be like, "Oh...right! Why didn't we see that before?" I suppose because you get so caught up in acute concern for a friend that you don't pay attention to larger context. (and that extends to an almost throwaway line near the end, where she says ).
The only thing I thought unrealistic was the catalyst for the climax, when
But aside from that, no complaints. This IS very much a "teens take care of themselves, kick ass and need no parental supervision ever" kind of story, but sometimes you just really want that in a book. Complete with a solid epilogue.
Also, because I don't know where else to put this, I want to say that I really loved Mailee's boyfriend, Gavin. What a class act that guy was, such a reasonable sounding board, and protective without being controlling. Unlike Cara's tool-friend, who does not deserve the courtesy of the prefix "boy" on account of him seeming to be concerned about Cara's behavior at the beginning only for it to turn out that he's mostly concerned it'll hurt his chances of getting laid. And on THAT note, what a good and refreshing entry to the genre that addresses the idea of getting physical, but doesn't actually have it occur even though the main characters are already seniors.
October 9, 2020
I really liked this book, it's a nice light read. I almost wished the book had been told through Cara's perspective, or maybe a duel perspective, but most of the issues I had with Mailee as a character were resolved pretty quickly. She grew on me very fast, and I'm glad I kept reading.
I know this isn't the main point of the book, but I thought it was a really nice example of background LGBT representation. One of Mailee and Cara's friends has a girlfriend, and it's never treated like a big or shocking deal. They treat her and her girlfriend just like every other friend, or couple, in the book, no one's homophobic to them, and I thought that was nice.
I didn't realize that this book was targeted at middle schoolers until after I checked it out, but I'm really glad I read it anyway. This book sends a lot of good messages for younger people. Things like cultural appropriation, and the importance of consent are briefly touched on, but handled well.
The overall messages it displays is to not trust everything strangers tell you, and to do thorough, independent research, from more than one source before forming an opinion on, or committing to something. I think both of these are very good things to teach, especially today.
In short, it's a nice book and worth the read.
I know this isn't the main point of the book, but I thought it was a really nice example of background LGBT representation. One of Mailee and Cara's friends has a girlfriend, and it's never treated like a big or shocking deal. They treat her and her girlfriend just like every other friend, or couple, in the book, no one's homophobic to them, and I thought that was nice.
I didn't realize that this book was targeted at middle schoolers until after I checked it out, but I'm really glad I read it anyway. This book sends a lot of good messages for younger people. Things like cultural appropriation, and the importance of consent are briefly touched on, but handled well.
The overall messages it displays is to not trust everything strangers tell you, and to do thorough, independent research, from more than one source before forming an opinion on, or committing to something. I think both of these are very good things to teach, especially today.
In short, it's a nice book and worth the read.
February 20, 2019
Oh. My. God. I started reading and couldn't put the book down. This book had a creepy vibe throughout the whole story and for some reason, I enjoyed that. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries. Loved it.
April 17, 2025
So since Charlotte wants me to make reviews once again, i'll start now. So I actually lived this book considering I just finished it. But Kaitlin Ward HAS MY HEART TIED UP with this book. AND THE THEATER CAMP!? I LOVE THEATRE BRO. But considering it also has my 2 biggest interests in the world, nature and theatre..DUH! I love this book so much it's actually amazing, so much so I would read this 365 TIMES!
September 8, 2020
It was a good book but didn't really get exciting until it was near the end.
October 14, 2020
3.5 stars. Not as good as "Lie To Me," which I rated 4, but it was okay.
November 3, 2022
I got this at the Book Fair at my school for my classroom. I always read the books first. I really liked this one. Probably reading level of JH, but the content would be good for HS as well.
March 23, 2025
Definitely a more YA read, but it was good for a change of pace for me. Nice twists and thrill at the end.
July 6, 2018
A pretty solid YA adventure read with a nice female friendship through-line.
June 13, 2019
as much as i enjoyed the concept and details of this book, there were a few parts that didn’t go straight into appealing my little book-loving heart and mind. i love the story, however, and all stories that involve cults can take an interesting turn, but this particular story confused me a little bit. as good of a plot twist that it had towards the end, it struck me as kind of weird. now, it’s hard to explain, but this book is recommended to you readers from me, but keep in mind it isn’t the most amazing book ever.
December 10, 2018
** spoiler alert ** The book "Girl in a Bad Place" is a novel written by Kaitlin Ward. The two main characters of this book (Mailee and Cara) are two best friends who live a normal teenage life, about to go into their senior year of high school. Mailee is an aspiring actor, and Cara just helps on the side. Mailee and Cara were too peas in a pod, never separated. They even made a scrap book about what they plan on doing in the future. However, something is holding them back from that accomplishment. Cara's younger sister had died in a car crash when she was only seven years old. Cara was in the car when it happened, but she was only mildly injured. Cara blamed herself for the car crash, and Mailee became the only thing that supported her, the only thing keeping Cara going. Cara's parents fell into a deep downfall of misery after their youngest daughter passed, so they were not able to lift Cara up when she needed it.
Mailee and Cara go shopping at the local mall before school starts up again, and encounter two new people they have never seen in the city before. Cara introduces herself, but Mailee is hesitant. After introducing herself, Cara learns that the woman's name was Alexa. And she had a daughter named Avalon. Cara took a particular liking to Avalon, and became emotionally attached to her. Avalon describes a place called "The Haven". This place she describes is just what the name suggests. A place of sanctuary, where those who don't want to be involved with the outside world live. Alexa offers for Cara and Mailee to visit, and without hesitation Cara agrees (without asking Mailee about her opinion on all of this).
Gavin, Mailee's boyfriend, tries to convince Mailee not to go, but Mailee disagrees with him. She wants to stay with Cara, to protect her. So Gavin offers to go with the two girls. Mailee agrees after hours of arguing and they visit The Haven the next day. The group of friends arrive at the secluded location, and they are all introduced to Firehorse, the "chief" of The Haven. Firehorse explains to the three about how this place is sacred to his people, and no one from the outside world visits, only very rarely. Cara falls in love with the sanctuary, and returns multiple times, the majority of which Mailee also attends. However Gavin became suspicious and stopped visiting after two trips. During the third trip, Mailee meets a woman from the Haven.
The woman Mailee met explains to her why outsiders don't visit. According to the woman, a young girl was ordered by Firehorse to clear out the ice locker located in his cabin. The girl became trapped under the trap door leading to the locker, and froze to death. After discovering this information, Mailee decides to research the Haven, using a business card Firehorse had given her to visit the Haven's website. She discovers that Firehorse's methods are extremely manipulative and dangerous, as he exposes the residents to many rituals involving "spiritual activity" as the website worded it.
Mailee asks Firehorse about this, only leading into more suspicion on her part (as Firehorse continued to avoid the question). Mailee decides to enroll in acting camp, as her and Cara always did every summer; for the second to last week of summer. However Cara decides not to go, as she had "other things to do". When Mailee returns from the camp, she discovers that Cara had been spending every waking moment of Mailee's absence at The Haven with Avalon and Alexa. After discovering this, Cara and Mailee get into a massive fight, and separate for two days. After the two days end (and Mailee's excessive apologies as well as texts), Cara invites Mailee to The Haven one last time. Mailee agrees, later on much to her regret.
When Mailee tries to travel to The Haven, the remote location's muddy and rocky terrain ends up wrecking her car, and she has to walk the rest of the way. When she finally arrives at The Haven, Cara delivers the news that she wants to move in with the people of The Haven. After this revelation, Gavin texts Mailee; sending her more information about Firehorse. Gavin discovers that Firehorse is a well known member of a gang; in fact, he had killed many people before founding the Haven and going undercover. Mailee tries to warn Cara about this fact, but instead Cara completely interrupts her and begs Mailee to join her on the hiking trail with the members of the Haven, before Cara is officially admitted into the Haven. Mailee agrees, but ends up avoiding telling Cara until later on during the hike to their campsite.
Once Mailee finally gets a chance to tell Cara about Firehorse's past, it's close to midnight. When Mailee tells Cara, someone is overheard outside of their tent. They discover it's Firehorse, not only with a rifle, but with a network connector. This confirmed Mailee's suspicions, as Firehorse had previously mentioned that the Haven not only had no connection to the outside world, but that there was no signal for Mailee to contact her parents and tell them about the camping trip. Cara and Mailee pretent to fall back asleep, but end up leaving the tent about an hour later to try to get back to Mailee's stranded car. When the two friends end up escaping, Firehorse notices in the morning that they are missing and sends someone after Cara and Mailee.
On their route to escape, Mailee stumbles upon something severely disturbing; a dead corpse. The one of the girl that froze to death in the ice locker. Cara and Mailee quickly move on from this dark discovery, and finally reach the Haven. That is when the two realize that the hiking trail wasn't a four day long trip; it only took twenty minutes to get back to the Haven. They had been walking in circles this entire time. This only worsens Cara and Mailee's unsettlement, but they trek on. Once Mailee reaches her car, the two friends realize that there is a pistol arched on the back of Mailee's head. And the weilder is none other than Alexa, Avalon's beloved mother.
Avalon threatens Cara, and she is instructed not to move an inch, otherwise Mailee will get a bullet straight through her quivering skull. Cara bursts into tears as Mailee is dragged away from her best friend. Mailee is locked in a stone shack she had encountered on the way to the Haven. During her escape. Maille realizes that she was locked in a shack with blood stains all over the concrete wall. After Mailee escapes, she returns to the Haven and rescues Cara. That didn't stop Firehorse from chasing the small group. Once they escape, Mailee explains to her parents where she has been for the past few days. Worry struck, they call the police and Firehorse is finally arrested. After all of the drama ends between Mailee and Cara, they once more become best friends, and Cara chooses to never doubt Mailee again.
Mailee and Cara go shopping at the local mall before school starts up again, and encounter two new people they have never seen in the city before. Cara introduces herself, but Mailee is hesitant. After introducing herself, Cara learns that the woman's name was Alexa. And she had a daughter named Avalon. Cara took a particular liking to Avalon, and became emotionally attached to her. Avalon describes a place called "The Haven". This place she describes is just what the name suggests. A place of sanctuary, where those who don't want to be involved with the outside world live. Alexa offers for Cara and Mailee to visit, and without hesitation Cara agrees (without asking Mailee about her opinion on all of this).
Gavin, Mailee's boyfriend, tries to convince Mailee not to go, but Mailee disagrees with him. She wants to stay with Cara, to protect her. So Gavin offers to go with the two girls. Mailee agrees after hours of arguing and they visit The Haven the next day. The group of friends arrive at the secluded location, and they are all introduced to Firehorse, the "chief" of The Haven. Firehorse explains to the three about how this place is sacred to his people, and no one from the outside world visits, only very rarely. Cara falls in love with the sanctuary, and returns multiple times, the majority of which Mailee also attends. However Gavin became suspicious and stopped visiting after two trips. During the third trip, Mailee meets a woman from the Haven.
The woman Mailee met explains to her why outsiders don't visit. According to the woman, a young girl was ordered by Firehorse to clear out the ice locker located in his cabin. The girl became trapped under the trap door leading to the locker, and froze to death. After discovering this information, Mailee decides to research the Haven, using a business card Firehorse had given her to visit the Haven's website. She discovers that Firehorse's methods are extremely manipulative and dangerous, as he exposes the residents to many rituals involving "spiritual activity" as the website worded it.
Mailee asks Firehorse about this, only leading into more suspicion on her part (as Firehorse continued to avoid the question). Mailee decides to enroll in acting camp, as her and Cara always did every summer; for the second to last week of summer. However Cara decides not to go, as she had "other things to do". When Mailee returns from the camp, she discovers that Cara had been spending every waking moment of Mailee's absence at The Haven with Avalon and Alexa. After discovering this, Cara and Mailee get into a massive fight, and separate for two days. After the two days end (and Mailee's excessive apologies as well as texts), Cara invites Mailee to The Haven one last time. Mailee agrees, later on much to her regret.
When Mailee tries to travel to The Haven, the remote location's muddy and rocky terrain ends up wrecking her car, and she has to walk the rest of the way. When she finally arrives at The Haven, Cara delivers the news that she wants to move in with the people of The Haven. After this revelation, Gavin texts Mailee; sending her more information about Firehorse. Gavin discovers that Firehorse is a well known member of a gang; in fact, he had killed many people before founding the Haven and going undercover. Mailee tries to warn Cara about this fact, but instead Cara completely interrupts her and begs Mailee to join her on the hiking trail with the members of the Haven, before Cara is officially admitted into the Haven. Mailee agrees, but ends up avoiding telling Cara until later on during the hike to their campsite.
Once Mailee finally gets a chance to tell Cara about Firehorse's past, it's close to midnight. When Mailee tells Cara, someone is overheard outside of their tent. They discover it's Firehorse, not only with a rifle, but with a network connector. This confirmed Mailee's suspicions, as Firehorse had previously mentioned that the Haven not only had no connection to the outside world, but that there was no signal for Mailee to contact her parents and tell them about the camping trip. Cara and Mailee pretent to fall back asleep, but end up leaving the tent about an hour later to try to get back to Mailee's stranded car. When the two friends end up escaping, Firehorse notices in the morning that they are missing and sends someone after Cara and Mailee.
On their route to escape, Mailee stumbles upon something severely disturbing; a dead corpse. The one of the girl that froze to death in the ice locker. Cara and Mailee quickly move on from this dark discovery, and finally reach the Haven. That is when the two realize that the hiking trail wasn't a four day long trip; it only took twenty minutes to get back to the Haven. They had been walking in circles this entire time. This only worsens Cara and Mailee's unsettlement, but they trek on. Once Mailee reaches her car, the two friends realize that there is a pistol arched on the back of Mailee's head. And the weilder is none other than Alexa, Avalon's beloved mother.
Avalon threatens Cara, and she is instructed not to move an inch, otherwise Mailee will get a bullet straight through her quivering skull. Cara bursts into tears as Mailee is dragged away from her best friend. Mailee is locked in a stone shack she had encountered on the way to the Haven. During her escape. Maille realizes that she was locked in a shack with blood stains all over the concrete wall. After Mailee escapes, she returns to the Haven and rescues Cara. That didn't stop Firehorse from chasing the small group. Once they escape, Mailee explains to her parents where she has been for the past few days. Worry struck, they call the police and Firehorse is finally arrested. After all of the drama ends between Mailee and Cara, they once more become best friends, and Cara chooses to never doubt Mailee again.
January 25, 2019
This book is about two best friends, Mailee and Cara they do everything together they are like sisters. Cara decides to take Mailee to a haven that is all natural and organic. That trip was supposed t be a one time deal but Cara keeps visiting. Cara lets this haven come into her life but the haven becomes more like a cult as Mailee learns more about it. Cara lets this be in her life too much and decides to move to the haven. Mailee thinks this is a bad idea. She might be right. This book is very suspenseful but the plot picks up little slow but then the whole book keeps you on your toes. This book will keep you reading for hours and hours. This book is very good and I could read it again and again.
April 27, 2019
(Gonna give a quick review on this since I’m just trying to review every book I read this year.) Just woah. The whole cult thing in this book took me by surprise. It was quite scary and took me through a rollercoaster of fear. Some of it was more rushed than others and somewhat unrealistic. But, it was still a cool read.
November 29, 2017
Awesome Book! This book really made my heart race! I would definitely recommend this book!
September 1, 2022
I would rate it 3.5 stars. It is a good book. If you are looking for a book that is different, this is the book I would recommend.
January 7, 2018
2.5 out of 5 Stars
"When things end, there's supposed to be a reason. A catalyst. Something you can look back on later when you need an explanation. Even if it doesn't make you feel any better."
Overview
Let me preface this review by saying that my copy of Girl in a Bad Place is an uncorrected proof, so I am sure there were things in this version that were cut out of the finalized piece.
Mailee and Cara are best friends. Like, the BEST of best friends. Cara is an organized, down-to-earth, and skeptical girl dating a popular jock. Mailee is a super messy, starry-eyed, gullible girl dating a farmer boy. The two have a lot of opposites, but that seems to be what makes their years-long friendship work so well. Sadly, Cara's younger sister Harper died in a car accident two years prior, and it tore her family apart. Cara has never fully recovered from the tragedy. Mailee has the "perfect" happy family and home life, but she too feels the loss of Harper as she considered her a little sister. One day, Cara and Mailee meet a strange little girl named Avalon and her young mother at the mall. The mother tells the girls about her peaceful commune called the Haven, and Mailee is shocked to see how interested Cara is in hearing about the weird hippie community.
Cara convinces Mailee to go visit the Haven, and the girls, accompanied by their boyfriends, make the long trip deep into the country of Montana. Mailee and the boyfriends are all quite put off by the strangeness of the commune life (vegans, pacifists, shack-dwellers) and the imposing yet charming leader of the Haven, Firehorse.
After the visit, Mailee is sure Cara's curiosity will be quenched, but she is surprised to find that Cara very much enjoyed her visit there and plans to return. Cara seems almost obsessed with Avalon and even mentions how much the girl reminds her of her deceased little sister.
It's pretty obvious by now, but Cara decides to join the commune and Mailee is determined to make her change her mind.
Pet Peeves
I am giving this book the benefit of the doubt due to my copy being an uncorrected proof, but there were some definite issues that I noticed in the story. I found Girl in a Bad Place to be a very predictable 'thriller' with a frustratingly gullible main character and an underwhelming reveal of the villain's motivation. I found that Mailee was likable enough, but her impressive ability to never employ the use of critical-thinking made me start to hate her a little.
Praise
I thought one of the best things about Girl in a Bad Place was solid pieces of advice thrown in here and there. Like how Cara's stupid jerk boyfriend pressures her about sex and so she breaks up with him. And how Mailee is completely there for her after the breakup and tells her that no one should ever pressure her into something she doesn't feel comfortable with. Or how having life goals and aspirations is great but you are allowed to change and grow despite older goals.
Final Thought
Girl in a Bad Place is an easy read that is interesting enough if you don't have anything better to read, but not one that I would really recommend overall.
"When things end, there's supposed to be a reason. A catalyst. Something you can look back on later when you need an explanation. Even if it doesn't make you feel any better."
Overview
Let me preface this review by saying that my copy of Girl in a Bad Place is an uncorrected proof, so I am sure there were things in this version that were cut out of the finalized piece.
Mailee and Cara are best friends. Like, the BEST of best friends. Cara is an organized, down-to-earth, and skeptical girl dating a popular jock. Mailee is a super messy, starry-eyed, gullible girl dating a farmer boy. The two have a lot of opposites, but that seems to be what makes their years-long friendship work so well. Sadly, Cara's younger sister Harper died in a car accident two years prior, and it tore her family apart. Cara has never fully recovered from the tragedy. Mailee has the "perfect" happy family and home life, but she too feels the loss of Harper as she considered her a little sister. One day, Cara and Mailee meet a strange little girl named Avalon and her young mother at the mall. The mother tells the girls about her peaceful commune called the Haven, and Mailee is shocked to see how interested Cara is in hearing about the weird hippie community.
Cara convinces Mailee to go visit the Haven, and the girls, accompanied by their boyfriends, make the long trip deep into the country of Montana. Mailee and the boyfriends are all quite put off by the strangeness of the commune life (vegans, pacifists, shack-dwellers) and the imposing yet charming leader of the Haven, Firehorse.
After the visit, Mailee is sure Cara's curiosity will be quenched, but she is surprised to find that Cara very much enjoyed her visit there and plans to return. Cara seems almost obsessed with Avalon and even mentions how much the girl reminds her of her deceased little sister.
It's pretty obvious by now, but Cara decides to join the commune and Mailee is determined to make her change her mind.
Pet Peeves
I am giving this book the benefit of the doubt due to my copy being an uncorrected proof, but there were some definite issues that I noticed in the story. I found Girl in a Bad Place to be a very predictable 'thriller' with a frustratingly gullible main character and an underwhelming reveal of the villain's motivation. I found that Mailee was likable enough, but her impressive ability to never employ the use of critical-thinking made me start to hate her a little.
Praise
I thought one of the best things about Girl in a Bad Place was solid pieces of advice thrown in here and there. Like how Cara's stupid jerk boyfriend pressures her about sex and so she breaks up with him. And how Mailee is completely there for her after the breakup and tells her that no one should ever pressure her into something she doesn't feel comfortable with. Or how having life goals and aspirations is great but you are allowed to change and grow despite older goals.
Final Thought
Girl in a Bad Place is an easy read that is interesting enough if you don't have anything better to read, but not one that I would really recommend overall.
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