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Exit Ghost
Following the death of her father, Nora Abrams and her mother, Jane, move into a new house on the grounds of Meadow Creek State Park. It doesn't take long for the pair to realize that they are not alone. With their feelings dismissed as grief and paranoia, the Abrams are left feeling isolated.
With no one to turn to, Jane and Nora must take matters into their own hands to get to the root of their home's haunting.
With no one to turn to, Jane and Nora must take matters into their own hands to get to the root of their home's haunting.
164 pages, Paperback
Published January 3, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 18, 2018
I'm a huge fan of ghost stories, particularly haunted house stories. And as someone who likes to support independent/self-published authors (since I've read some great self-published books), I thought I'd give this book a try. The story follows a mother and daughter, Jane and Nora who move to a new house in Meadow Creek State Park, and Nora's father's death. In typical haunted house fashion, Nora and Jane start to experience paranormal happenings, a shadow man, and strange noises. It leads Nora to investigate the mystery behind the haunting (digging for info at the library and enlisting her classmates for ghost hunting help). As for what I liked: the relationship between Nora and Jane seemed realistic as did the dialogue; the mystery of the house and reveal was clear and wrapped up well.
And for the not so great things (and I hate writing negative reviews, especially for newer, independent authors): like some self-published books I've read, this one falls on the side of what gives self-published works a bad rep. This felt like I was reading an early draft of a story which could've been further developed and polished. That said, the writing quality left me disconnected from the characters and the setting, whereas in a horror novel fraught with emotion, I want to be immersed. As for the concept, I also felt this story was a standard ghost/haunted house story without any original, memorable twist. Overall, while a promising start which could've been fleshed out with more drafts and critique, this version of Exit Ghost was a disappointment.
And for the not so great things (and I hate writing negative reviews, especially for newer, independent authors): like some self-published books I've read, this one falls on the side of what gives self-published works a bad rep. This felt like I was reading an early draft of a story which could've been further developed and polished. That said, the writing quality left me disconnected from the characters and the setting, whereas in a horror novel fraught with emotion, I want to be immersed. As for the concept, I also felt this story was a standard ghost/haunted house story without any original, memorable twist. Overall, while a promising start which could've been fleshed out with more drafts and critique, this version of Exit Ghost was a disappointment.
August 2, 2018
In my journey of rereading quick/shorter books I loved to catch up with my reading goal, I picked up Exit Ghost by Lexi Vranick again. I read it the first time earlier this year and I loved it then. I read it in one day this time and I loved it as much as I did then.
I admitted in my first review (included at the end of this second one) that I'm friends with the author and I won't deny my bias for her and her writing. I've always thought she was a great writer, even before we actually became friends. I don't believe that my bias towards Lexi has affected my review or my feelings on this book in any way.
After the death of her father, Nora Abrams and her mother move to a house in Meadow Creek State Park. The first night they stay there, Nora and the daughter of Jane Abrams friend Jacqueline see a Shadow Man. Thinking it's an actual intruder they call the police but of course, he disappears before they get there. During the next few days more things happen that they can't explain. Footsteps, banging, the power going out (of course, that's not exactly paranormal), and more.
Nora takes matters into her own hands and begins to do her own research about the history of the house and the land surrounding it. The things that she discover only make her more determined to get to the bottom of the things going on inside her home.
I live in a haunted house. I've experienced the same things that Nora experiences in her house (and then some). I've had the same thoughts that Nora has had. To me, the fact that I can truly understand what Nora is feeling (minus the death of a father, although I did have to deal with my father moving out), makes everything in this book hit so close to home.
Is it cliché? Yes – but the thing about it is that even though what happens is cliché, especially the actual hauntings with footsteps, banging, and shadows, it's exactly what happens. It's realistic. It's what happens when you live in a haunted house. Not every haunted house has walls that bleed blood or ghosts that attack. Most haunted houses are just this. Footsteps, shadows, noises you can't explain.
Could it be better? Yes. Every single book can be better. I would have loved if it was longer, if it was more drawn out. But that's selfish because that's just because I wanted more of Nora and Jane.
I stand by everything I said in my original review and I stand by the fact that I love this book and can't wait for the next installment of the Exit Ghost series.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: March 02, 2018
I will not deny that I have a bias towards Lexi Vranick’s writing. I have been a fan (and friend) for years so I love everything that Lexi had ever written in the history of her writing. Exit Ghost is no different! It took me a month to read it - solely because I didn’t want it to end so I put it off... and kept putting it off.
I live in a haunted house and I’ve been ghost hunting and Lexi handles it in a way that’s realistic and the writing makes you feel like you’re actually witnessing some of the events.
I’m (not so) patiently awaiting the next in this series and anything else that Lexi Vranick puts out.
I admitted in my first review (included at the end of this second one) that I'm friends with the author and I won't deny my bias for her and her writing. I've always thought she was a great writer, even before we actually became friends. I don't believe that my bias towards Lexi has affected my review or my feelings on this book in any way.
After the death of her father, Nora Abrams and her mother move to a house in Meadow Creek State Park. The first night they stay there, Nora and the daughter of Jane Abrams friend Jacqueline see a Shadow Man. Thinking it's an actual intruder they call the police but of course, he disappears before they get there. During the next few days more things happen that they can't explain. Footsteps, banging, the power going out (of course, that's not exactly paranormal), and more.
Nora takes matters into her own hands and begins to do her own research about the history of the house and the land surrounding it. The things that she discover only make her more determined to get to the bottom of the things going on inside her home.
I live in a haunted house. I've experienced the same things that Nora experiences in her house (and then some). I've had the same thoughts that Nora has had. To me, the fact that I can truly understand what Nora is feeling (minus the death of a father, although I did have to deal with my father moving out), makes everything in this book hit so close to home.
Is it cliché? Yes – but the thing about it is that even though what happens is cliché, especially the actual hauntings with footsteps, banging, and shadows, it's exactly what happens. It's realistic. It's what happens when you live in a haunted house. Not every haunted house has walls that bleed blood or ghosts that attack. Most haunted houses are just this. Footsteps, shadows, noises you can't explain.
Could it be better? Yes. Every single book can be better. I would have loved if it was longer, if it was more drawn out. But that's selfish because that's just because I wanted more of Nora and Jane.
I stand by everything I said in my original review and I stand by the fact that I love this book and can't wait for the next installment of the Exit Ghost series.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: March 02, 2018
I will not deny that I have a bias towards Lexi Vranick’s writing. I have been a fan (and friend) for years so I love everything that Lexi had ever written in the history of her writing. Exit Ghost is no different! It took me a month to read it - solely because I didn’t want it to end so I put it off... and kept putting it off.
I live in a haunted house and I’ve been ghost hunting and Lexi handles it in a way that’s realistic and the writing makes you feel like you’re actually witnessing some of the events.
I’m (not so) patiently awaiting the next in this series and anything else that Lexi Vranick puts out.
April 22, 2019
Exit Ghost follows Jane - and her daughter, Nora - as she settles into a new house after the death of her husband. When strange things start to happen (noises, shadows), Jane and Nora aren't certain if their grief is to blame, or if this new house may actually be haunted.
This already trim book was formatted in such a way (large margins, spaces between paragraphs) that it was more like a short story or novelette. It appears (from the BOOK ONE on the cover and the way the story itself ended) that this was the first book in what will be a series of stories about Jane and Nora's adventures with the paranormal, which I thought was cool.
Things I liked: Jane and Nora's relationship. Lexi Vranick's overall descriptions of the settings and actions of the characters. A black cat named Poe. The fact that even though this ghost story lacked a suspenseful buildup/climax, it was fun and almost felt like a guilty pleasure Halloween episode of a television show (which is something you crave sometimes).
Things I didn't like: While there were rich descriptions of the character's surroundings, I felt like I knew nothing about the characters themselves and, at times, Aiden and Lucas became interchangeable to me. The amount of errors in this - it almost felt like I'd accidentally gotten a first draft of the story before anyone had gone over it a second time.
I'll definitely be picking up more by Lexi - I've already pre-ordered her extended edition of Ready Aim Fire: A Poetry Collection and have high hopes!
(This has nothing to do with Exit Ghost, but Lexi is one of the most supportive people in the writing community <3)
This already trim book was formatted in such a way (large margins, spaces between paragraphs) that it was more like a short story or novelette. It appears (from the BOOK ONE on the cover and the way the story itself ended) that this was the first book in what will be a series of stories about Jane and Nora's adventures with the paranormal, which I thought was cool.
Things I liked: Jane and Nora's relationship. Lexi Vranick's overall descriptions of the settings and actions of the characters. A black cat named Poe. The fact that even though this ghost story lacked a suspenseful buildup/climax, it was fun and almost felt like a guilty pleasure Halloween episode of a television show (which is something you crave sometimes).
Things I didn't like: While there were rich descriptions of the character's surroundings, I felt like I knew nothing about the characters themselves and, at times, Aiden and Lucas became interchangeable to me. The amount of errors in this - it almost felt like I'd accidentally gotten a first draft of the story before anyone had gone over it a second time.
I'll definitely be picking up more by Lexi - I've already pre-ordered her extended edition of Ready Aim Fire: A Poetry Collection and have high hopes!
(This has nothing to do with Exit Ghost, but Lexi is one of the most supportive people in the writing community <3)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews