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Blink
When Josh was four, a little girl named Rachel was kidnapped and never found. Twelve years later, Chatham Clairborne appears, apparently on the hunt for her runaway sister. But Josh suspects she is also tied to the mystery of Rachel.
Josh falls for Chatham, but Chatham remains elusive. He can't tell if she's lying or not. But he's sure that once he finds out the truth about her, he will be able to unlock the mystery of Rachel's disappearance--and find out who the true Chatham Clairborne is.
But will he discover the truth in time? And does he really want to know what the truth is?
-- "Journal"
Josh falls for Chatham, but Chatham remains elusive. He can't tell if she's lying or not. But he's sure that once he finds out the truth about her, he will be able to unlock the mystery of Rachel's disappearance--and find out who the true Chatham Clairborne is.
But will he discover the truth in time? And does he really want to know what the truth is?
-- "Journal"
344 pages, ebook
First published May 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 1, 2018
GRADE: A
Oh Sasha Dawn, how did I not know you existed before BLINK?
When Josh was four, a four-year-old girl disappeared from the beach. Twelve years later Rachel is still missing. Josh now spends his free time watching his four-year-old twin sisters while trying to keep his mother’s abusive ex from violating the restraining order with an invitation from his mother. When new girl Chantham comes to town looking for her runaway sister, Josh falls hard and fast. Chantham’s sister Savannah may just have the clues to Rachel’s presumed death.
BLINK was such an enjoyable read. Dawn pulled me into the mystery so tightly I was able to overlook the insta-love, some not too twisty twists and a complicated conclusion. I think some readers will be turned off by what I overlooked, but I truly enjoyed the BLINK story and reading experience as well as Dawn’s writing.
Josh has a lot of flaws. Big ones. He has so much anger he’s verbally abusive to his mother Rosie, though she is also to him. He’s angry, makes foolish decisions (running drugs as a favor and provoking his former stepfather) and can be his own worst enemy. He also takes wonderful care of his sisters, is clever and responsible, someone for whom to root. Chatham is secretive and loose with the truth, but also makes good decisions. She comes across her mistrust honestly and I could understand why she wasn’t always forthright.
Chatham and Josh experienced the same abuse and domestic violence, so I could understand the insta-love at finding a soulmate to mirror that feelings and experiences.
I’m going to check out Dawn’s other books to see what I’ve been missing.
Oh Sasha Dawn, how did I not know you existed before BLINK?
When Josh was four, a four-year-old girl disappeared from the beach. Twelve years later Rachel is still missing. Josh now spends his free time watching his four-year-old twin sisters while trying to keep his mother’s abusive ex from violating the restraining order with an invitation from his mother. When new girl Chantham comes to town looking for her runaway sister, Josh falls hard and fast. Chantham’s sister Savannah may just have the clues to Rachel’s presumed death.
BLINK was such an enjoyable read. Dawn pulled me into the mystery so tightly I was able to overlook the insta-love, some not too twisty twists and a complicated conclusion. I think some readers will be turned off by what I overlooked, but I truly enjoyed the BLINK story and reading experience as well as Dawn’s writing.
Josh has a lot of flaws. Big ones. He has so much anger he’s verbally abusive to his mother Rosie, though she is also to him. He’s angry, makes foolish decisions (running drugs as a favor and provoking his former stepfather) and can be his own worst enemy. He also takes wonderful care of his sisters, is clever and responsible, someone for whom to root. Chatham is secretive and loose with the truth, but also makes good decisions. She comes across her mistrust honestly and I could understand why she wasn’t always forthright.
Chatham and Josh experienced the same abuse and domestic violence, so I could understand the insta-love at finding a soulmate to mirror that feelings and experiences.
I’m going to check out Dawn’s other books to see what I’ve been missing.
November 19, 2017
Another YA winner for me! When sixteen-year-old Josh meets pretty newcomer, Chatham on the beach one day, he is smitten and taken in by her story of the disappearance of her sister, Savannah who has apparently run away to this very town. Adding to the mystery is the long-ago abduction of a local girl, Rachel, whose disappearance is still in the minds of the townspeople as a child's bones are discovered. And yet another layer is the story of Josh and his mother, Rosie who is a single mother to her son and her two young daughters fathered by the abusive ex-husband, Damien who is still stalking and scaring the family. This novel moves at breath-taking speed as Josh must unravel the mystery of the sometimes-elusive Chatham and keep his own family safe while he continues to remain a high school student bent on a college scholarship for football. Realistic and often gritty, this novel will tug at your heart-strings while keeping you up at night trying to save this young man and his family from peril. A must read!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
March 17, 2018
Blink was a mystery that pulled me in right away and kept me wanting to know more until the end.
Josh lives in Sugar Creek, a small town in Illinois. His mother had him young and their relationship is really toxic. Josh has to take care of his twin sisters while his mom works, which is a lot. He is also trying to get through school and maybe get a football scholarship. Josh is protective of his sisters. Their father is abusive and they have a protection order. The problem is that his mom keeps letting him back in.
Josh has been obsessed with the story of Rachel, a girl who went missing from the area when he was younger. Something makes him think about her a lot. One day, he meets a new girl at the beach. Chatham tells him that she's there looking for her sister, Savannah, who ran away. Josh is drawn to Chatham. So much so that he becomes even more obsessive about her. She starts to tell him a bit about her life and he realizes that they've both dealt with abuse. It connects them. Chatham stays in town and they become closer, but she's still keeping things from him. Josh falls for her and starts helping her try to find Savannah. Savannah told Chatham that their foster parents had a girl under the floorboards in the stable. There are little things that Savannah remembered about Sugar Creek and that's why she was going there. Chatham also had dreams about a train station, which connects back to Rachel.
Most of the book is clues trying to figure out who each of these girls are and how they connect to Sugar Creek. There is some romance/sex. Also, there are warnings for anyone who can't read about abuse. There is quite a bit of physical and emotinal abuse in the book.
I ended up enjoying this and parts of it were hard to put down. It's hard to like many people in the book, but I still wanted to know everything.
I gave Blink 4 stars. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy for review.
Josh lives in Sugar Creek, a small town in Illinois. His mother had him young and their relationship is really toxic. Josh has to take care of his twin sisters while his mom works, which is a lot. He is also trying to get through school and maybe get a football scholarship. Josh is protective of his sisters. Their father is abusive and they have a protection order. The problem is that his mom keeps letting him back in.
Josh has been obsessed with the story of Rachel, a girl who went missing from the area when he was younger. Something makes him think about her a lot. One day, he meets a new girl at the beach. Chatham tells him that she's there looking for her sister, Savannah, who ran away. Josh is drawn to Chatham. So much so that he becomes even more obsessive about her. She starts to tell him a bit about her life and he realizes that they've both dealt with abuse. It connects them. Chatham stays in town and they become closer, but she's still keeping things from him. Josh falls for her and starts helping her try to find Savannah. Savannah told Chatham that their foster parents had a girl under the floorboards in the stable. There are little things that Savannah remembered about Sugar Creek and that's why she was going there. Chatham also had dreams about a train station, which connects back to Rachel.
Most of the book is clues trying to figure out who each of these girls are and how they connect to Sugar Creek. There is some romance/sex. Also, there are warnings for anyone who can't read about abuse. There is quite a bit of physical and emotinal abuse in the book.
I ended up enjoying this and parts of it were hard to put down. It's hard to like many people in the book, but I still wanted to know everything.
I gave Blink 4 stars. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy for review.
August 7, 2018
Blink by Sasha Dawn, 333 pages. Carolrhoda Lab, 2018. $18.
Language: R (100+ swears, 50+ ‘f’); Mature Content: R (drug use, sexual activity ); Violence: PG-13 (physical abuse)
HS - OPTIONAL
Josh spends most of his time split between football practice and taking care of his 4-year old twin sisters, Margaret and Caroline, until he meets Chatham Claiborne and then all he wants to do is spend time with her. She’s new in town and says she’s looking for her sister who she believes ran away. Josh wants to jump in with both feet to help her, but her story doesn’t quite add up. To further complicate his life, his stepfather is hanging around again, despite the restraining order, and it looks as though his mom is going to fall for his so-called charms again. Josh doesn’t want to stick around for the fallout but feels the need to protect his sisters.
This was a pretty gloomy read and the abuse was hard to take. I didn’t like the characters much and found it difficult to connect with them. Overall it was an average read, at best. Initially the mystery caught my attention but the resolution was clear early on, and at times, it was overly dramatic. It does wrap-up nicely though, and if you have students that like realistic fiction, with some intense romance, they may enjoy this read, but know your audience because the language is over the top and the mature content is treated casually. (see ratings).
Reviewer: RB
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Language: R (100+ swears, 50+ ‘f’); Mature Content: R (drug use, sexual activity ); Violence: PG-13 (physical abuse)
HS - OPTIONAL
Josh spends most of his time split between football practice and taking care of his 4-year old twin sisters, Margaret and Caroline, until he meets Chatham Claiborne and then all he wants to do is spend time with her. She’s new in town and says she’s looking for her sister who she believes ran away. Josh wants to jump in with both feet to help her, but her story doesn’t quite add up. To further complicate his life, his stepfather is hanging around again, despite the restraining order, and it looks as though his mom is going to fall for his so-called charms again. Josh doesn’t want to stick around for the fallout but feels the need to protect his sisters.
This was a pretty gloomy read and the abuse was hard to take. I didn’t like the characters much and found it difficult to connect with them. Overall it was an average read, at best. Initially the mystery caught my attention but the resolution was clear early on, and at times, it was overly dramatic. It does wrap-up nicely though, and if you have students that like realistic fiction, with some intense romance, they may enjoy this read, but know your audience because the language is over the top and the mature content is treated casually. (see ratings).
Reviewer: RB
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Read
October 7, 2019It was a very suspenseful and exiting storyline.
July 26, 2021
Wow I really thought I wasn’t going to like this book! There were just cringe moments early on but I quickly got invested in the story. Worth sticking it out!
March 26, 2018
Chatham Claiborne is unlike any other girl that Josh has met. She’s feisty, secretive, and mysterious. Josh falls hard for Chatham. But then news starts to resurface about the murder of a young girl by the name of Rachel that happened 12 years prior. Josh starts suspecting that maybe Chatham had something to do with it or that maybe she knew something. Will Josh find out the truth in time?
Opinion:
I must admit, I had high expectations for this book. While I know it’s not good to judge a book by its cover, I do it all the time. The cover art on this book was incredible, and frequently, great cover art means a great book is behind its slip. I’m happy to say that was the case with Blink.
Blink was an incredible thriller/mystery that kept me hooked through the whole story. There was never a dull moment, and I was quickly flipping through the pages, eager to read more. I haven’t had a book capture me this way in a long time.
The main character, Josh, was one that was easy to sympathize with. He had a rough past, but he didn’t let it define him. It was a very admirable trait to read about. He didn’t let his past get to him, but instead he moved on and tried to be better. I loved the way his whole character was written – kind and brave, but also vulnerable and emotional. It felt like the perfect combination, and it was written believably.
Chatham, the main supporting character, was also excellently written. I loved her attitude and how she always had her guard up. The best moments were when she would slightly let her guard down around Josh. Though she was frequently suspicious and made me question her motives nearly every chapter, she was written in a way that she was not only intriguing, but she was also not annoying when she would withhold information from the reader.
The author was very skilled in writing. She filled the book with emotion and suspense. I was glued to the pages and dreaded when I had to set the book down. There were only a few typos here and there in the book, and most of the time they weren’t very noticeable. I still can’t get over the way this book gripped me and wouldn’t let go. It’s been a long time since a book has really connected with me like that, and I’ve greatly missed the feeling.
I feel like I could rave about this book for hours, so I’ll end my review on this last note: Blink is an incredible, well-written, thrilling mystery that is perfect for any mature reader looking for an entertaining and suspenseful read.
Reviewed by a LitPick Student Book Reviewer, Age 18
Opinion:
I must admit, I had high expectations for this book. While I know it’s not good to judge a book by its cover, I do it all the time. The cover art on this book was incredible, and frequently, great cover art means a great book is behind its slip. I’m happy to say that was the case with Blink.
Blink was an incredible thriller/mystery that kept me hooked through the whole story. There was never a dull moment, and I was quickly flipping through the pages, eager to read more. I haven’t had a book capture me this way in a long time.
The main character, Josh, was one that was easy to sympathize with. He had a rough past, but he didn’t let it define him. It was a very admirable trait to read about. He didn’t let his past get to him, but instead he moved on and tried to be better. I loved the way his whole character was written – kind and brave, but also vulnerable and emotional. It felt like the perfect combination, and it was written believably.
Chatham, the main supporting character, was also excellently written. I loved her attitude and how she always had her guard up. The best moments were when she would slightly let her guard down around Josh. Though she was frequently suspicious and made me question her motives nearly every chapter, she was written in a way that she was not only intriguing, but she was also not annoying when she would withhold information from the reader.
The author was very skilled in writing. She filled the book with emotion and suspense. I was glued to the pages and dreaded when I had to set the book down. There were only a few typos here and there in the book, and most of the time they weren’t very noticeable. I still can’t get over the way this book gripped me and wouldn’t let go. It’s been a long time since a book has really connected with me like that, and I’ve greatly missed the feeling.
I feel like I could rave about this book for hours, so I’ll end my review on this last note: Blink is an incredible, well-written, thrilling mystery that is perfect for any mature reader looking for an entertaining and suspenseful read.
Reviewed by a LitPick Student Book Reviewer, Age 18
September 23, 2019
Because of the description on the back of the book, I thought this was going to be a sexy mystery novel. I mean, I guess it was? Honestly, the word that sums up this book is just “meh”. The first half of the book, and the falling action was so boring that I could barely focus. It was just a lot of Josh whining and expositing. I didn’t really care for Chatham, mostly because of her name, but also because I just didn’t really care about her. I didn’t feel any chemistry between her and Josh, and I just didn’t care. I was a lot more interested in Josh’s family drama than anything else. But there was one very graphic foreplay scene that was 10x worse than anything from that cowboy romance novel I read. I did not see it coming or appreciate it. But the plot starts up halfway through the book, and it’s dependent on Josh remembering Chatham’s obscure sentence fragments and piecing them together. Do you really think a 16 year old boy would remember any of that crap? There were a couple of cliches, like the “love interest uses full name” from The Fault in Our Stars, and the sexy Scrabble one from Pretty Little Liars. But what makes me even angrier is that the sexy scrabble cliche was actually a plot point! I figured out that Chatham was actually Rachel, what a shocking surprise. There were too many weird and obscure plot points to keep up with, and it was still super boring for the vast majority of the story. I didn’t like how all the characters had to be connected in this giant web, and I just didn’t care about it. The only reason I’m giving it two stars is because the parts that actually had some action made my heart pump, just a little bit. I just wanted the main character to figure everything out, and I just wanted to be done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2020
Teenagers have a lot to balance- family responsibilities, social life, grades. In Blink, Josh has more on his plate than most; his mom dates one abusive man after another, he cares for his four-year-old twin sisters due to his absent mother, all while trying to keep his spot as the starting quarterback of his high school football team in order to get a college scholarship. As if Josh’s life is not hectic enough, Chatham Clairborne mysteriously appears in town and changes his life forever. She is searching for her runaway sister, while also discovering vague details about her childhood. Together, Chatham is reunited with her sibling, her past is clarified, and Josh’s life becomes that of a normal teenager.
This novel includes every element that would captivate both teenagers and adults. It involves suspense when Josh is not sure of where he is going to live, romance when he gets into a relationship with Chatham, and mystery when Josh helps to solve Chatham’s confusing background. Add in the town’s missing person’s case- the disappearance of a little girl over a decade prior- and this story is filled with the perfect amount of twists and turns without overwhelming the reader. There are also many topics that are relevant to that of a teenager; drug use, sex, teen pregnancy, alcoholism and references to social media such a Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. Even if the reader cannot relate to the main character and his struggles, they will enjoy experiencing his problems from a distance and how he was able to change his life for the better.
This novel includes every element that would captivate both teenagers and adults. It involves suspense when Josh is not sure of where he is going to live, romance when he gets into a relationship with Chatham, and mystery when Josh helps to solve Chatham’s confusing background. Add in the town’s missing person’s case- the disappearance of a little girl over a decade prior- and this story is filled with the perfect amount of twists and turns without overwhelming the reader. There are also many topics that are relevant to that of a teenager; drug use, sex, teen pregnancy, alcoholism and references to social media such a Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. Even if the reader cannot relate to the main character and his struggles, they will enjoy experiencing his problems from a distance and how he was able to change his life for the better.
August 13, 2018
After a slow start, this book kept me on the edge of my seat to the very last page. When Chatham Claiborne shows up in his small town, Josh falls for her immediately. He has a tough home life with a mom who keeps winding up with abusive guys and shouldering the responsibility of care for his twin sisters. Chatham is a mystery. She said she and her parents have come to look for her sister who has run away. It turns out that --and many other tales she tells--is a lie. Who is Chatham? Where is her family? How does this new mystery tie in with Rachel Barton who disappeared 14 years ago? Watch Josh grow up in front of your eyes because of the Chatham Claiborne mystery.
October 4, 2018
This book had a very unique problem, the main character seems much too mature and pragmatic for anyone his age. Another fatal flaw (for me) was the excessive use of profanity throughout the book. If I wanted to hear (or read) the F-word every one second I would read song lyrics, sit at a local high school, or ride the subway. Adding profanity to a book is not a good way to sell or to open up to a wider audience, it's a cheap trick. It only works when appropriately used with specific types of characters and within specific settings.
October 21, 2026
Blink by Sasha Dawn is an interesting and thought-provoking book that keeps readers engaged while exploring important themes and emotions. The story makes you think about the characters’ choices and how their experiences affect the way they see the world. The writing makes it easy to connect with the story, and it encourages readers to look deeper into the meaning behind the events. Overall, Blink is a memorable read that leaves readers with something to think about even after finishing the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2019
My Review: This one was very hurtful in the abuse section and man was it hard to get through. I don't think this book is for everyone but it is a testiment to how bad things can get. And it really scares me becuase my 14 year old walks to the bus stop and walk home alone. This was a well paces story but I just couldn't connect with any of the characters at all. And the story was just a little to dark for my tastes but as I said I think it has to deal with me being a mom.
July 14, 2018
The book had a very open idea which made the book feel like it was all over the place. Even though it was going all over the place, I still felt a need to keep reading so I could finally figure out what happened with the kidnapping. The boy was in a place in his life where he hit rock bottom and I felt bad for him soI kept reading to make sure he was able to get through it.
March 3, 2019
rating: 4.5/5
This was soo good! I loved how in the end everything eventually worked out: Chatham/Rachel got back together with Josh (I'm assuming) Damien gets locked up, and the mystery is solved. This book was so good, and it leaves me looking for a sequel.
This was soo good! I loved how in the end everything eventually worked out: Chatham/Rachel got back together with Josh (I'm assuming) Damien gets locked up, and the mystery is solved. This book was so good, and it leaves me looking for a sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2019
The book was amazing. It has SOME language but if you don't mind that it's pretty amazing. It has lot's of action while still adding so much description that it feels that you're actually there. 13/10 would recommend to frendos.
May 15, 2019
This is a book of many moods--gritty, tough, romantic, and suspenseful. I especially liked the push-pull poignancy of young love. Loved Josh's internal monologue--very well told from a male POV. Strong adult thriller-like themes with a lot of twists and believable teen dialogue.
December 8, 2020
This was the first YA I've read since "Bella" and her adventures. Didn't make it to 1/2 of the book. Sad that there were so many F-bombs, not totally necessary to the story. Too many questions that I didn't really care if i got answers.
June 26, 2022
Two thumbs up for the mystery. Two thumbs down for Josh's character, even if he did redeem himself by the end.
Content notes: pervasive harsh profanity, detailed sexual situations, drug use, instances of physical and mental abuse.
Content notes: pervasive harsh profanity, detailed sexual situations, drug use, instances of physical and mental abuse.
June 7, 2018
Great plot with a great twist at the end, however I didn't like how it was super cheesy at some parts.
March 14, 2019
A solid mystery thriller that had me interested from the beginning until the end. The conclusion got a little confusing at one point, but then it all came together and made sense.
June 21, 2019
What a puzzle of a mystery. Several different times I thought I had figured it out. Actually took me to the very end to put all the pieces together.
July 31, 2019
It's a fairly decent read, even with a twist I saw coming after page 10. Nothing too bad here, nothing spectacular, but a decent enough mystery.
January 12, 2020
Excellent book. Domestic Abuse brought up. I guessed the ending when we meet a main character, but enjoyed the heart and “a main character doing the smart thing.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this somewhat suspenseful story about a couple of teenagers in very difficult life circumstances. It held my attention quite well. I will look for other books by this author.
January 6, 2021
This was an easy read! Loved the twists and turns!
October 14, 2021
I hate to say it but I couldn't even finish it. I really really tried to push through it but I just couldn't.
December 26, 2021
a LOT darker than i was expecting
& we could all see the big reveal from the booklet summary
BUT seeing the rest of pieces fall into place was new & interesting
& we could all see the big reveal from the booklet summary
BUT seeing the rest of pieces fall into place was new & interesting
February 17, 2026
3.75⭐️ this book was written by my creative writing teacher and we had to read this for an assignment. i actually thoroughly enjoyed this.
November 19, 2017
I found myself disturbed by Joshua's home life and that sense of disquiet overshadowed a lot of the rest of the story for me. It seems obvious that we are supposed to be unhappy with his mom and former stepfather so Dawn did a good job of weaving some low level dread throughout most of the book, but that didn't make the book as enjoyable for me. I also was not taken with Chatham as a character. Something about her didn't connect for me so I had little interest in finding out her secrets, feeling invested in them, or cheering on her relationship with Joshua. Instead, it felt to me like she was using him toward her own ends most of the time. I can chalk all of those issue up to the book just not working for me, specifically, but I actually have a serious issue with the transformation of Joshua's mom from abuse-enabler to someone who I think is supposed to be sympathetic as a character. Overall, it just wasn't a fun read for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews