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That Night
Hailey wants to know the truth, but there are some secrets that are best left buried…
Hailey is determined to find out all she can about her boyfriend's suicide. She knows Declan wouldn't kill himself, even if she can't remember a lot of what lead up to that fateful night.
Kane, Declan's stepbrother and Hailey's best friend, wants to move past what happened—not dig up bad memories. But the more Hailey searches for information, the more she remembers.
As the truth begins to unravel, Hailey finds herself unveiling secrets she never could have imagined—secrets that have the possibility of ruining everything...
Hailey is determined to find out all she can about her boyfriend's suicide. She knows Declan wouldn't kill himself, even if she can't remember a lot of what lead up to that fateful night.
Kane, Declan's stepbrother and Hailey's best friend, wants to move past what happened—not dig up bad memories. But the more Hailey searches for information, the more she remembers.
As the truth begins to unravel, Hailey finds herself unveiling secrets she never could have imagined—secrets that have the possibility of ruining everything...
298 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2019
54 people are currently reading
2062 people want to read
About the author
Cyn Balog
15 books876 followersCyn Balog is a normal, everyday Jersey Girl who always believed magical things can happen to us when we least expect them. She is author of young adult paranormals FAIRY TALE (2009), SLEEPLESS(2010), STARSTRUCK (2011), TOUCHED (2012), and her most recent release: DEAD RIVER (2013).e. She lives outside Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughters.
She also writes under the pen name Nichola Reilly. Nichola Reilly is Cyn Balog's post-apocalyptic fantasy-writing alter-ego. The first book in her series, DROWNED, will be releasing from Harlequin TEEN sometime in 2014, followed by a sequel, BURIED, in 2015.
She also writes under the pen name Nichola Reilly. Nichola Reilly is Cyn Balog's post-apocalyptic fantasy-writing alter-ego. The first book in her series, DROWNED, will be releasing from Harlequin TEEN sometime in 2014, followed by a sequel, BURIED, in 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
June 26, 2019
Find my review at Carlene Inspired.
That Night follows Hailey as she tries to uncover the truth about what happened to her boyfriend, Declan. He was happy, a believer, it had to be something else. Hailey has selective amnesia though and it is only after she become a pseudo-Nancy Drew that she begins remembering the events leading up to Declan's passing. Kane, her best friend and Declan's step-brother, remains her steadfast friend, but as the truth is revealed it becomes harder for Hailey to distinguish from what is real and what is not.
That Night by Cyn Balog left me feeling sad, like how could any of these people continue to interact as they were after what had happened. How was any of this allowed to happen under the watchful eye of parents and teachers and friends? Oh wait, the parents were absent, school seems to be an afterthought, and no one thought that the strange interactions of one individual were worth mentioning. Is it a gripping story? Absolutely. I didn't catch onto the big twists into quite late into the story, but by then I was already just so sad. Hailey lacks everything she needs to have to be a successful person, it's so painfully obvious, and it's sad to me that she feels like a secondary character even in her own narrative. I couldn't see how everything amounted to what it did, though I admit Hailey was supremely selfish. All her actions should have made someone help seek mental health assistance, not just throw a rug over it.
It feels like this book was meant to be a thriller, but the mental health portion is handled in such an insensitive way that it makes it more of an uncomfortable read rather than a shocking one.
That Night follows Hailey as she tries to uncover the truth about what happened to her boyfriend, Declan. He was happy, a believer, it had to be something else. Hailey has selective amnesia though and it is only after she become a pseudo-Nancy Drew that she begins remembering the events leading up to Declan's passing. Kane, her best friend and Declan's step-brother, remains her steadfast friend, but as the truth is revealed it becomes harder for Hailey to distinguish from what is real and what is not.
That Night by Cyn Balog left me feeling sad, like how could any of these people continue to interact as they were after what had happened. How was any of this allowed to happen under the watchful eye of parents and teachers and friends? Oh wait, the parents were absent, school seems to be an afterthought, and no one thought that the strange interactions of one individual were worth mentioning. Is it a gripping story? Absolutely. I didn't catch onto the big twists into quite late into the story, but by then I was already just so sad. Hailey lacks everything she needs to have to be a successful person, it's so painfully obvious, and it's sad to me that she feels like a secondary character even in her own narrative. I couldn't see how everything amounted to what it did, though I admit Hailey was supremely selfish. All her actions should have made someone help seek mental health assistance, not just throw a rug over it.
It feels like this book was meant to be a thriller, but the mental health portion is handled in such an insensitive way that it makes it more of an uncomfortable read rather than a shocking one.
April 16, 2024
She killed him ahh now it makes sense
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2019
Extending my deepest gratitude to Edelweiss and Sourcebooks Fire for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. However, this does not affect any opinions or feedback stated concerning the book whatsoever.
3 MESSED UP STARS
RTC.
SOME INITIAL REACTIONS:
I DIDN'T HATE IT BUT I DIDN'T LOVE IT EITHER. ALL CAPS TO SHOW HOW SCREWED UP AND JUST DOWNRIGHT MADDENING THE STORY WAS. OCCURRENCES THAT TRANSPIRED IN THIS BOOK FILLED ME WITH SUCH EMOTIONS, WILD AND DEEPLY ENTANGLED. WITHOUT GIVING AWAY SPOILERS, THE BOOK HAS ITS OWN UPS AND DOWNS WHILE IT ADDRESSES PERNICIOUS BEHAVIOR. IT LEFT ME GRIEF-STRICKEN, MAD AND FASCINATED ALL AT THE SAME TIME AND THE ENDING ATE AWAY AT ME COMPLETELY. ALL I CAN SAY AT THE MOMENT IS JUSTICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FAIRLY SERVED.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ACTUAL REVIEW:
Before anything else, I would like to mention some trigger warnings for those who would like to read this book: Death, Self-harm and Sex Without Parents' Consent.
There was something off about this book. I cannot quite pinpoint whether it was the writing, the characters or the story itself. All the time I had been wondering why I found it real hard to expend my time and energy getting right into the story. It was like I was trying to get through an ordeal still in one piece for the better part of it. Ever since I started leafing through its pages, I knew it would likely destroy me and it did. Well, ALMOST. I had let my emotions get the best of me because that person was plain self-serving and insensitive to the point that it just got too much. That one was a hopeless case of a lost cause.
"Love and rage make people do all kinds of things."
The writing was okay but seemed as if it was trying to become something more. Unfortunately, it kind of failed in that attempt. It was a bit grandiose and some parts I deemed to be a little too inconsistent. The timeline between the flashbacks and the present occurrences could be very confusing that there were times I felt the need to go back one chapter behind before moving on to the next parts, mostly to check if that particular section of the story materialized in the past or was still happening at the current time. It was plodding at first, like nothing was really pushing me to read constantly but halfway through the book, I knew something was about to come off and that it would leave me in a daze and completely overwhelmed which kind of explain how it redeemed itself in the end.
"It was his death that made this moment possible. Beauty from suffering."
The characters were oh so naughty and full of mischief. There was someone (I wouldn't dare say who as it is better to go into this blind) I incessantly found extremely exasperating due to that person's oppressing amount of immaturity and insecurity where everyone seemed to be at fault but not that person. Going through such dialogues involving stupid decisions mounting to complications, pitying oneself, jealousy over someone's talents, inability to admit one's shortcomings and loving someone rigorously can be way too tiring at times but I am glad I was able to pull through at the end despite these things. I admit some characters were dumber than I thought they could possibly be while some were portrayed as someone unblemished yet inadvertently wavered from their seemingly steadfast beliefs, devotion and principles which was pretty much the same as being dumb as well. And again, I could not handle the insane level of insensitivity depicted within this book that did not fail to gradually invoke indignation until it was brimming inside my chest. Balog toyed with my emotions with her sick morally grey characters and boy, was it brilliant!
"..but sometimes the most innocent mistake can cause two people to stop heading in one direction and begin moving in another direction entirely."
One of the only few things I had trouble dealing with was the lack of guidance from parents, how oblivious they were to their children's consequential needs and major issues in life.It is so agonizing to accept the fact that some parents tend to miss out entirely on reaching out to their children and on making them feel worthy of being loved and to spend time with. Nowadays, some parents tend to forget while some others are still ignorant that children are vulnerable to their surroundings. When left unattended, they can be morally unstable that they decide to take matters on their own just to get what would satiate their hunger or needs no matter the cost, even if it means going over the edge of their moral boundaries. This book should very well serve as an eye-opener to all the parents out there. Be informed. Be educated. Be responsive to their emotional needs. Also, real friends do not condone another friend's apparent wrongdoings. Meanwhile, I liked the way the therapist methodically performed a somehow effective way of letting the patient deal with her burders on her own which helped improve her self-worth and increase her chances of disclosing repressed memories and facing hard truths and accepting them as they were.
"These days, I can’t remember what fun feels like. I run to escape. It’s not fun. It’s a matter of life and death."
The book discourses such heavy matters about pain, wrath, loss, betrayal, acceptance, loyalty, ignominious morality, grief, insecurities, selfishness, repressed memories, personal iniquities, teenage sex, absence of parental involvement, constant seeking of others' attention, relentless need to feel loved and accepted, lack of self-worth, how unrestrained love can sometimes be the cause of one's demise and how strenuous moving on can be.
3 MESSED UP STARS
RTC.
SOME INITIAL REACTIONS:
I DIDN'T HATE IT BUT I DIDN'T LOVE IT EITHER. ALL CAPS TO SHOW HOW SCREWED UP AND JUST DOWNRIGHT MADDENING THE STORY WAS. OCCURRENCES THAT TRANSPIRED IN THIS BOOK FILLED ME WITH SUCH EMOTIONS, WILD AND DEEPLY ENTANGLED. WITHOUT GIVING AWAY SPOILERS, THE BOOK HAS ITS OWN UPS AND DOWNS WHILE IT ADDRESSES PERNICIOUS BEHAVIOR. IT LEFT ME GRIEF-STRICKEN, MAD AND FASCINATED ALL AT THE SAME TIME AND THE ENDING ATE AWAY AT ME COMPLETELY. ALL I CAN SAY AT THE MOMENT IS JUSTICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FAIRLY SERVED.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ACTUAL REVIEW:
Before anything else, I would like to mention some trigger warnings for those who would like to read this book: Death, Self-harm and Sex Without Parents' Consent.
There was something off about this book. I cannot quite pinpoint whether it was the writing, the characters or the story itself. All the time I had been wondering why I found it real hard to expend my time and energy getting right into the story. It was like I was trying to get through an ordeal still in one piece for the better part of it. Ever since I started leafing through its pages, I knew it would likely destroy me and it did. Well, ALMOST. I had let my emotions get the best of me because that person was plain self-serving and insensitive to the point that it just got too much. That one was a hopeless case of a lost cause.
"Love and rage make people do all kinds of things."
The writing was okay but seemed as if it was trying to become something more. Unfortunately, it kind of failed in that attempt. It was a bit grandiose and some parts I deemed to be a little too inconsistent. The timeline between the flashbacks and the present occurrences could be very confusing that there were times I felt the need to go back one chapter behind before moving on to the next parts, mostly to check if that particular section of the story materialized in the past or was still happening at the current time. It was plodding at first, like nothing was really pushing me to read constantly but halfway through the book, I knew something was about to come off and that it would leave me in a daze and completely overwhelmed which kind of explain how it redeemed itself in the end.
"It was his death that made this moment possible. Beauty from suffering."
The characters were oh so naughty and full of mischief. There was someone (I wouldn't dare say who as it is better to go into this blind) I incessantly found extremely exasperating due to that person's oppressing amount of immaturity and insecurity where everyone seemed to be at fault but not that person. Going through such dialogues involving stupid decisions mounting to complications, pitying oneself, jealousy over someone's talents, inability to admit one's shortcomings and loving someone rigorously can be way too tiring at times but I am glad I was able to pull through at the end despite these things. I admit some characters were dumber than I thought they could possibly be while some were portrayed as someone unblemished yet inadvertently wavered from their seemingly steadfast beliefs, devotion and principles which was pretty much the same as being dumb as well. And again, I could not handle the insane level of insensitivity depicted within this book that did not fail to gradually invoke indignation until it was brimming inside my chest. Balog toyed with my emotions with her sick morally grey characters and boy, was it brilliant!
"..but sometimes the most innocent mistake can cause two people to stop heading in one direction and begin moving in another direction entirely."
One of the only few things I had trouble dealing with was the lack of guidance from parents, how oblivious they were to their children's consequential needs and major issues in life.It is so agonizing to accept the fact that some parents tend to miss out entirely on reaching out to their children and on making them feel worthy of being loved and to spend time with. Nowadays, some parents tend to forget while some others are still ignorant that children are vulnerable to their surroundings. When left unattended, they can be morally unstable that they decide to take matters on their own just to get what would satiate their hunger or needs no matter the cost, even if it means going over the edge of their moral boundaries. This book should very well serve as an eye-opener to all the parents out there. Be informed. Be educated. Be responsive to their emotional needs. Also, real friends do not condone another friend's apparent wrongdoings. Meanwhile, I liked the way the therapist methodically performed a somehow effective way of letting the patient deal with her burders on her own which helped improve her self-worth and increase her chances of disclosing repressed memories and facing hard truths and accepting them as they were.
"These days, I can’t remember what fun feels like. I run to escape. It’s not fun. It’s a matter of life and death."
The book discourses such heavy matters about pain, wrath, loss, betrayal, acceptance, loyalty, ignominious morality, grief, insecurities, selfishness, repressed memories, personal iniquities, teenage sex, absence of parental involvement, constant seeking of others' attention, relentless need to feel loved and accepted, lack of self-worth, how unrestrained love can sometimes be the cause of one's demise and how strenuous moving on can be.
June 26, 2019
I'm just really tired of books where It's exhausting. Other than that, it was... okay? The was revealed a little bit too late in the story for how important it ended up being, and since it was really only there for the twist at the end (which, as established, tiring), it just seemed sort of unnecessary. Honestly the whole book seemed sort of unnecessary. Did we really need another one?
March 27, 2019
Hailey’s boyfriend Declan committed suicide and she just can’t move on with her life, even one year later. Declan’s step-brother Kane has a hold on Hailey, even though he dates Luisa off and on. Told in flashback and present day, Cyn Balog weaves a tale of love, hate, jealousy, and teen angst. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.
March 31, 2019
Ever since the pair of them were young, Hailey and Kane have been inseparable and the best of friends. They were also each other's first when they were fifteen. It happened, and they never talked about it again. The pair though they were considered in different cliques as Kane was the boy everyone wanted and Hailey was one of the normal they were still friends. Then summer happened, and Kane's dad got married, and he acquired a new stepbrother who was a couple of years older than him - Declan. All of a sudden everyone wanted a piece of Declan and Hailey fell hard for him. The pair started dating, and Kane began dating Hailey's on/off again friend Luisa. Then fast forward a year later, and it's Valentine's day, and Declan is found dead. He supposedly has committed suicide. The book fast forwards to a year after the incident and Hailey is trying to settle back into normal life and routine when Declan's mother gives her a box of his stuff. Inside is a photograph which states "It ends here now." This propels Hailey into trying to figure out what happened as the Declan she remembers would never have committed suicide. Along the way, we learn that Hailey has selective amnesia and can't remember a few months leading up to the incident. Will Hailey be ready to learn the awful truth and that her fairytale romance of Declan wasn't all roses and happiness and that sometimes the truth is better off hidden? That Night was a long YA read but worth the suspense at the end and makes you question two things, what would you do to protect the one you love if they were in trouble and do we know the ones we love, their deep dark secrets and skeletons in their closets?
February 21, 2019
Compelling ~ Unpredictable ~ Engrossing
tl; dr: Teen falls in love and learns love might not be enough.
That night is like a teen romance novel written by Gillian Flynn. The book is part thriller, part YA, part mystery, part meditation on love. I don't want to give too much away. I actually hadn't even read the blurb when I picked up the book. I am so glad that I went into this book without preparation. The fast-paced plotting ensures you won't be lost long. Balog's writing is crisp and her character creation efficient. You immediately get into the story, and find a great desire to understand who did what. This page-turner has broad appeal, certainly, but underlying the thriller like plotting, the story is about the fragility of the heart of young women. Society makes girls feel love is a certain way, and that can bring many woman to the brink.
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seema Rao Write : Instagram| Blog| Twitter|
tl; dr: Teen falls in love and learns love might not be enough.
That night is like a teen romance novel written by Gillian Flynn. The book is part thriller, part YA, part mystery, part meditation on love. I don't want to give too much away. I actually hadn't even read the blurb when I picked up the book. I am so glad that I went into this book without preparation. The fast-paced plotting ensures you won't be lost long. Balog's writing is crisp and her character creation efficient. You immediately get into the story, and find a great desire to understand who did what. This page-turner has broad appeal, certainly, but underlying the thriller like plotting, the story is about the fragility of the heart of young women. Society makes girls feel love is a certain way, and that can bring many woman to the brink.
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seema Rao Write : Instagram| Blog| Twitter|
March 28, 2019
Powerful and disturbing, #ThatNight by Cyn Balog was a nail biting suspense voiced from the perspective of Hailey, a teenager dealing with the aftermath of her boyfriend Declan's suicide.
I read this with so many churning emotions, from sympathy to shock. Hailey, clearly grieving the overwhelming loss and trying to piece back her memories after a stint at a rehab, recounts the days before the suicide and the present as she suspects there is something more sinister about Declan's death. And, she thinks Kane, her best friend and Declan's stepbrother, knows more than he's telling her.
The author does such a great job of setting up the characters. Kane and his girlfriend, Luisa, are central to the story. While I thought Kane was a man-whore and Luisa kind of a bitch, those impressions constantly changed as their true characters came to light.
I read this with growing horror, page by page, as Hailey's memories return and she confronts the shocking truth. The final chapter seemed almost anticlimactic compared to the mic drop when Hailey figures it all out.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of #ThatNight and kudos to an amazing author for carrying the story so brilliantly from first page to final reveal.
I read this with so many churning emotions, from sympathy to shock. Hailey, clearly grieving the overwhelming loss and trying to piece back her memories after a stint at a rehab, recounts the days before the suicide and the present as she suspects there is something more sinister about Declan's death. And, she thinks Kane, her best friend and Declan's stepbrother, knows more than he's telling her.
The author does such a great job of setting up the characters. Kane and his girlfriend, Luisa, are central to the story. While I thought Kane was a man-whore and Luisa kind of a bitch, those impressions constantly changed as their true characters came to light.
I read this with growing horror, page by page, as Hailey's memories return and she confronts the shocking truth. The final chapter seemed almost anticlimactic compared to the mic drop when Hailey figures it all out.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of #ThatNight and kudos to an amazing author for carrying the story so brilliantly from first page to final reveal.
June 1, 2019
characters & development : 3.5/5
pacing: 4/4
actual substance of the story: 4/5
romance and/or significant friendships: 3/4
the writing: 4.5/5
creatvity: 2/2
-3 points for all the bad stuff Hailey did that made me uncomfortable. just personal taste
18/25 | 3.6 STARS
trigger warnings (i should do these often): death of a loved one, sex on page, drunk blackouts, cheating on significant other, suicide, self-harm
A year has passed since the death of Hailey’s boyfriend, Declan. This had a really negative impact on her social life and mental health. She’s no longer the president of Key Club, she’s been caught with alcohol in school twice, and shes been fooling around with random guys for the sole purpose of proving to herself that she can still feel.
After Declan’s alleged suicide, she was sent to some sort of mental institution (I think. Either that or just the counseling) and the medicine that she was given did detrimental things to her memory. She could no longer remember the day of and the days leading up to the death of Declan. She starts to contemplate what really happened to Declan with the reluctant help of Declan’s stepbrother and Hailey’s best friend, Kane.
I did not like Kane. He was gross, treated girls like walking body parts, and too carefree. But I could see him gradually maturing through the book so that was good.
The plot-twist was pretty shocking and I read the last 20% of this book with my eyebrows crinkled. So the suspense? It’s at upper levels.
This book had the kind of chapters with alternating timelines—one that was the days leading up to Declan’s death, and then the present time, around a year after his death. I don’t typically like this kind of format, but the timing was perfect.
Hailey doesn’t have much of a personality, and I found it difficult to sympathize with her. Let’s talk about some of the messed up things she did:
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
➤ cheated on Declan! I did not like this, and she tried justifying it way too often.
➤ slept with Kane just for the sake of sleeping with Kane! Now, I’m not slut-shaming, and this isn’t exactly “messed up.” I just found it hilarious how Kane and Hailey had no sexual tension whatsoever, but one day when they were 15 (FIFTEEN), Kane was just like, “lmao you want to do a sex?” and Hailey was like, “sure 💁♀️.” SIS WHAT? Then when they were done, she was like, “that was stupid lmaoooaoao. what’s the hype?” I was lost. I also had the idea that the FBI would bust down my door at any minute for reading that scene. Not to mention, it was in the firST 10% OF THE BOOK. Jesus Christ.
➤ killed somebody! lmao. I didn’t know how to feel about this. Hailey imagined that she was hurting someone else, not even intending to kill someone, but seconds later she realized that she murdered Declan, and she was like [😳]. Like, did she have some mental issues? Should I sympathize with her? Hm.
pacing: 4/4
actual substance of the story: 4/5
romance and/or significant friendships: 3/4
the writing: 4.5/5
creatvity: 2/2
-3 points for all the bad stuff Hailey did that made me uncomfortable. just personal taste
18/25 | 3.6 STARS
trigger warnings (i should do these often): death of a loved one, sex on page, drunk blackouts, cheating on significant other, suicide, self-harm
A year has passed since the death of Hailey’s boyfriend, Declan. This had a really negative impact on her social life and mental health. She’s no longer the president of Key Club, she’s been caught with alcohol in school twice, and shes been fooling around with random guys for the sole purpose of proving to herself that she can still feel.
After Declan’s alleged suicide, she was sent to some sort of mental institution (I think. Either that or just the counseling) and the medicine that she was given did detrimental things to her memory. She could no longer remember the day of and the days leading up to the death of Declan. She starts to contemplate what really happened to Declan with the reluctant help of Declan’s stepbrother and Hailey’s best friend, Kane.
I did not like Kane. He was gross, treated girls like walking body parts, and too carefree. But I could see him gradually maturing through the book so that was good.
The plot-twist was pretty shocking and I read the last 20% of this book with my eyebrows crinkled. So the suspense? It’s at upper levels.
This book had the kind of chapters with alternating timelines—one that was the days leading up to Declan’s death, and then the present time, around a year after his death. I don’t typically like this kind of format, but the timing was perfect.
Hailey doesn’t have much of a personality, and I found it difficult to sympathize with her. Let’s talk about some of the messed up things she did:
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
➤ cheated on Declan! I did not like this, and she tried justifying it way too often.
➤ slept with Kane just for the sake of sleeping with Kane! Now, I’m not slut-shaming, and this isn’t exactly “messed up.” I just found it hilarious how Kane and Hailey had no sexual tension whatsoever, but one day when they were 15 (FIFTEEN), Kane was just like, “lmao you want to do a sex?” and Hailey was like, “sure 💁♀️.” SIS WHAT? Then when they were done, she was like, “that was stupid lmaoooaoao. what’s the hype?” I was lost. I also had the idea that the FBI would bust down my door at any minute for reading that scene. Not to mention, it was in the firST 10% OF THE BOOK. Jesus Christ.
➤ killed somebody! lmao. I didn’t know how to feel about this. Hailey imagined that she was hurting someone else, not even intending to kill someone, but seconds later she realized that she murdered Declan, and she was like [😳]. Like, did she have some mental issues? Should I sympathize with her? Hm.
August 7, 2019
***Spoilers included***
“You’re the first. And you may be the most intense. I may never feel the things I felt for you again. But even the smallest action can bend us in ways so that we don’t go back [. . .] What I’m saying is, you can’t be the last” (292).
This is my third Cyn Balong book. I loved Unnatural Deeds, giving it 4 stars at the time, but still considering rereading it (which would make me want to bump it to 5), and appreciating Alone for what Balog was going for. I haven’t read any of her fantasy work, so when I write of her as an author or compare her works, it’s only about her thrillers, not her entire body.
Plot: Hailey has been trying to recover from the “suicide” of her boyfriend, Declan for a year. She has suffered selective memory loss and believes it’s because the death wasn’t a suicide. Declan’s stepbrother and Hailey’s first sexual encounter/childhood friend, Kane (Cain allusion? Declan is definitely more of an Abel) wants to date her, but she’s still missing Declan and Kane also has a girlfriend, Luisa (and sorry, but I can’t imagine any beautiful, popular girl with that name). As she investigates, Kane professes his love, gets annoyed with Hailey for not wanting him back, and goes back with Luisa. Hailey finds out that she killed Declan and Kane made it look like a suicide to protect her, then tells her he can’t be that guy for her anymore. The book ends with Hailey beginning community college and having a new boyfriend, but still kind of talking to Declan in her head even though she didn’t do that the rest of the book….
Out of the three books I’ve read, it’s clear that Balog is interested in exploring what happens when the “nice girls” snap: the naïve, outsiders-looking-in, girl-next-door types who are unaware of their beauty/magnetism and do not have strong senses of selves. In all of the books I have read, boys/relationships with them are catalysts for mental illness to emerge, leading to destruction, but never really towards themselves. Though each of her books have issues, I have to respect an author who lets her female heroine destroy when she is wronged without it destroying herself. Sure, all the protagonists seem “messed up,” but it is always also messed up what is done to them. Eye for an eye justice, baby! I’m always going to root for a Gone Girl style of revenge (although as a teacher I do reflect on the implications of an author putting YA out there that does this, but I also never plan on having a daughter!) At the end of each book I’ve read, the character embraces her madness, settling into what it can offer and letting go of the past. I could see this as a poststructural move-challenging and shaking up what it means to be a YA protagonist, but maybe I’ll write about it at some point, so that idea is MINE.
Other thoughts I had in no particular order:
• It’s interesting how emotionally lacking Hailey is since by the end of the book, she states she was in love with both Kane and Declan. I wonder if it was Balog’s choice, or laziness, but it could have been more effective. Reading her perspective was dull at times because it felt like a list of “this happened to me, then this did.”
• The book was entertaining overall despite Hailey’s dull personality. I read it while on a plane that had free movies, but wanted to see what happened. With that said, maybe it’s because I’ve read previous Balog or that I am not the target audience, but I knew Hailey did it early on.
• It was interesting reading about a guy who was such a devout Catholic. Where I am from, the most religiously devout people were the Baptists and Catholics were lax on their faith, mostly going to church on holidays and often dabbling in teen sex.
• I liked that Hailey didn’t have a “thing”-she wasn’t exceptional at anything except maybe getting boys to obsess over her. YA readers need more representation of that (and maybe some who aren’t actually crazy…). I appreciated how logical she could be, especially when she tells readers she can’t be discounted from suspects (162). Plus, she hated Harry Potter, which may be the thing I respect most in someone (254).
• Whereas Hailey was dull, the characterization of Declan was vivid: “Declan may have had only one mode—happy—but it was of a thousand different colors, like a rainbow, each hue different and beautiful in its own way” (95). Balog wrote of her males more vividly in Unnatural Deeds as well, possibly because the POVs were of the females in love with them. But even the boys’ dialogue is better: “You know I’ve always wanted this” (129).
• Why was Declan considered a “Weeks” boy when he didn’t become part of Kane’s family until high school (he was a junior!) It didn’t seem to fit with Kane’s resistance to him being part of the family, and there was no explanation why Declan would adopt a new last name (even unofficially) when he was so close to his father.
• The entire “love” Kane had for Hailey was underdeveloped. I bought that he always had a crush on her and her actions towards him made him feel rejected, but then why would he go with Luisa? I thought maybe he was just leading her on, but then he says he’s her Gatsby and she’ll always be his first? So, she’s like a drug, but then why go with Luisa? Also, if Hailey liked him, why didn’t she kill him too?! I did like the Gatsby references, though.
• Why the hell would Kane’s mom make Hailey clean his room?! Yes, effective for plot, but pretty degrading.
• I don’t believe someone like Kane could effectively mask a murder as a suicide. That part of the book was just sloppy writing.
• The ending doesn’t make any sense. Why is she talking to dead Declan when she hasn’t exhibited any of behavior of missing him to that extent until then? In Unnatural Deeds that behavior made sense. The ending was also anticlimactic. She could have killed Kane, or at least killed him earlier in the book and hallucinated him until the end. Maybe Balog was in a time crunch, or perhaps her ideas are getting stale.
• The writing style is very easy, but also unremarkable for the most part. I love to pull quotations to enhance my reviews, but Balog’s works don’t warrant much of it.
Final note: This book reminded me of a less compelling version of Roz Nay’s Our Little Secret (which I gave 5 stars to), so if you liked this book, try Nay’s!
“You’re the first. And you may be the most intense. I may never feel the things I felt for you again. But even the smallest action can bend us in ways so that we don’t go back [. . .] What I’m saying is, you can’t be the last” (292).
This is my third Cyn Balong book. I loved Unnatural Deeds, giving it 4 stars at the time, but still considering rereading it (which would make me want to bump it to 5), and appreciating Alone for what Balog was going for. I haven’t read any of her fantasy work, so when I write of her as an author or compare her works, it’s only about her thrillers, not her entire body.
Plot: Hailey has been trying to recover from the “suicide” of her boyfriend, Declan for a year. She has suffered selective memory loss and believes it’s because the death wasn’t a suicide. Declan’s stepbrother and Hailey’s first sexual encounter/childhood friend, Kane (Cain allusion? Declan is definitely more of an Abel) wants to date her, but she’s still missing Declan and Kane also has a girlfriend, Luisa (and sorry, but I can’t imagine any beautiful, popular girl with that name). As she investigates, Kane professes his love, gets annoyed with Hailey for not wanting him back, and goes back with Luisa. Hailey finds out that she killed Declan and Kane made it look like a suicide to protect her, then tells her he can’t be that guy for her anymore. The book ends with Hailey beginning community college and having a new boyfriend, but still kind of talking to Declan in her head even though she didn’t do that the rest of the book….
Out of the three books I’ve read, it’s clear that Balog is interested in exploring what happens when the “nice girls” snap: the naïve, outsiders-looking-in, girl-next-door types who are unaware of their beauty/magnetism and do not have strong senses of selves. In all of the books I have read, boys/relationships with them are catalysts for mental illness to emerge, leading to destruction, but never really towards themselves. Though each of her books have issues, I have to respect an author who lets her female heroine destroy when she is wronged without it destroying herself. Sure, all the protagonists seem “messed up,” but it is always also messed up what is done to them. Eye for an eye justice, baby! I’m always going to root for a Gone Girl style of revenge (although as a teacher I do reflect on the implications of an author putting YA out there that does this, but I also never plan on having a daughter!) At the end of each book I’ve read, the character embraces her madness, settling into what it can offer and letting go of the past. I could see this as a poststructural move-challenging and shaking up what it means to be a YA protagonist, but maybe I’ll write about it at some point, so that idea is MINE.
Other thoughts I had in no particular order:
• It’s interesting how emotionally lacking Hailey is since by the end of the book, she states she was in love with both Kane and Declan. I wonder if it was Balog’s choice, or laziness, but it could have been more effective. Reading her perspective was dull at times because it felt like a list of “this happened to me, then this did.”
• The book was entertaining overall despite Hailey’s dull personality. I read it while on a plane that had free movies, but wanted to see what happened. With that said, maybe it’s because I’ve read previous Balog or that I am not the target audience, but I knew Hailey did it early on.
• It was interesting reading about a guy who was such a devout Catholic. Where I am from, the most religiously devout people were the Baptists and Catholics were lax on their faith, mostly going to church on holidays and often dabbling in teen sex.
• I liked that Hailey didn’t have a “thing”-she wasn’t exceptional at anything except maybe getting boys to obsess over her. YA readers need more representation of that (and maybe some who aren’t actually crazy…). I appreciated how logical she could be, especially when she tells readers she can’t be discounted from suspects (162). Plus, she hated Harry Potter, which may be the thing I respect most in someone (254).
• Whereas Hailey was dull, the characterization of Declan was vivid: “Declan may have had only one mode—happy—but it was of a thousand different colors, like a rainbow, each hue different and beautiful in its own way” (95). Balog wrote of her males more vividly in Unnatural Deeds as well, possibly because the POVs were of the females in love with them. But even the boys’ dialogue is better: “You know I’ve always wanted this” (129).
• Why was Declan considered a “Weeks” boy when he didn’t become part of Kane’s family until high school (he was a junior!) It didn’t seem to fit with Kane’s resistance to him being part of the family, and there was no explanation why Declan would adopt a new last name (even unofficially) when he was so close to his father.
• The entire “love” Kane had for Hailey was underdeveloped. I bought that he always had a crush on her and her actions towards him made him feel rejected, but then why would he go with Luisa? I thought maybe he was just leading her on, but then he says he’s her Gatsby and she’ll always be his first? So, she’s like a drug, but then why go with Luisa? Also, if Hailey liked him, why didn’t she kill him too?! I did like the Gatsby references, though.
• Why the hell would Kane’s mom make Hailey clean his room?! Yes, effective for plot, but pretty degrading.
• I don’t believe someone like Kane could effectively mask a murder as a suicide. That part of the book was just sloppy writing.
• The ending doesn’t make any sense. Why is she talking to dead Declan when she hasn’t exhibited any of behavior of missing him to that extent until then? In Unnatural Deeds that behavior made sense. The ending was also anticlimactic. She could have killed Kane, or at least killed him earlier in the book and hallucinated him until the end. Maybe Balog was in a time crunch, or perhaps her ideas are getting stale.
• The writing style is very easy, but also unremarkable for the most part. I love to pull quotations to enhance my reviews, but Balog’s works don’t warrant much of it.
Final note: This book reminded me of a less compelling version of Roz Nay’s Our Little Secret (which I gave 5 stars to), so if you liked this book, try Nay’s!
Read
December 2, 2019DNF close to the end. I skipped ahead to find out what happened but this book was just TOO depressing to continue. I don't know what it was about this book because I feel like I've read similar books but yeah I guess the emotions were too real. I will say it was VERY engrossing trying to figure out what the heck went on as I was reading, so 5* for that. No rating otherwise cuz it wouldn't be fair.
June 8, 2019
4.5 STARS
“Why would Declan, Hailey’s perfect boyfriend, kill himself?” she perpetually asks herself. She mourns with booze and therapy, including months in a psych hospital. As the anniversary draws near, Hailey convinces her best friend Kane, Declan’s stepbrother, to her fill in the pieces of her missing memory, from Christmas to Declan’s death on Valentine’s Day. The closer Hailey comes to remembering, the more unbalanced she feels.
THAT NIGHT is a dysfunctional relationship lalapalooza from friendships built on using one another to enmeshment to possibly murder. Cyn Balog’s slow burn had me staying up late to follow the clues. Why is Kane so secretive? Why does Hailey’s BFF hate her? What led up to Declan’s suicide? Why did he kill himself? How reliable is Hailey’s narration?
Hailey had many layers. Before Declan died her identity was as his girlfriend. Then she became Mourning Girlfriend. Because her parents didn’t model a healthy relationship, Hailey had no idea of how to be a partner. Neither did Declan. As she remembered what she had forgotten, she shows a different side of herself.
I needed to ponder what I thought of Declan and Kane. The good guy isn’t always what he seems, nor is the bad guy. Each had strong positive and negative attributes, as did Hailey.
The ending surprised me, not because I hadn’t considered it, but because of the details. I wouldn’t have closed THAT NIGHT in the way Balog did, but she’s the writer and she penned a fabulous book. My only pet peeve is that the priest disclosed to Hailey his discussions with Declan. Anyone who’s watched an episode of Law&Order knows that’s a no-no.
“Why would Declan, Hailey’s perfect boyfriend, kill himself?” she perpetually asks herself. She mourns with booze and therapy, including months in a psych hospital. As the anniversary draws near, Hailey convinces her best friend Kane, Declan’s stepbrother, to her fill in the pieces of her missing memory, from Christmas to Declan’s death on Valentine’s Day. The closer Hailey comes to remembering, the more unbalanced she feels.
THAT NIGHT is a dysfunctional relationship lalapalooza from friendships built on using one another to enmeshment to possibly murder. Cyn Balog’s slow burn had me staying up late to follow the clues. Why is Kane so secretive? Why does Hailey’s BFF hate her? What led up to Declan’s suicide? Why did he kill himself? How reliable is Hailey’s narration?
Hailey had many layers. Before Declan died her identity was as his girlfriend. Then she became Mourning Girlfriend. Because her parents didn’t model a healthy relationship, Hailey had no idea of how to be a partner. Neither did Declan. As she remembered what she had forgotten, she shows a different side of herself.
I needed to ponder what I thought of Declan and Kane. The good guy isn’t always what he seems, nor is the bad guy. Each had strong positive and negative attributes, as did Hailey.
The ending surprised me, not because I hadn’t considered it, but because of the details. I wouldn’t have closed THAT NIGHT in the way Balog did, but she’s the writer and she penned a fabulous book. My only pet peeve is that the priest disclosed to Hailey his discussions with Declan. Anyone who’s watched an episode of Law&Order knows that’s a no-no.
March 15, 2019
TW: Suicide, self-harm
Oh yes. I couldn't put it down till I finish it. This books is so crazy, the characters so messed up. And again, I couldn't stop reading it once I started. The main character, Hailey, just lost her boyfriend and is trying to survive this big trauma. After some months on medication, she is back and ready to know exactly what happened with Declan. What she knows, deeply in her heart, is that he wouldn't kill himself... But she forgot a lot. All she remembers is that they loved each other, so much. He said they would be forever. What now?
Yes. I really like YA thrillers, even if I don't like adolescent drama that much, and it's constant in this one. But I really cared about the plot. Not much for the characters, to be honest, but it kept my attention. I was so curious about the end! Had so many theories about everything! But when that came I just... Bleh. Not the biggest surprise. Was not super disappointing tho, but I was expecting something more.
I would recommend it if you enjoy books like "One of Us is Lying", "Wintergirls" and young adult thrillers in general. But again: heavy topics.
Oh yes. I couldn't put it down till I finish it. This books is so crazy, the characters so messed up. And again, I couldn't stop reading it once I started. The main character, Hailey, just lost her boyfriend and is trying to survive this big trauma. After some months on medication, she is back and ready to know exactly what happened with Declan. What she knows, deeply in her heart, is that he wouldn't kill himself... But she forgot a lot. All she remembers is that they loved each other, so much. He said they would be forever. What now?
Yes. I really like YA thrillers, even if I don't like adolescent drama that much, and it's constant in this one. But I really cared about the plot. Not much for the characters, to be honest, but it kept my attention. I was so curious about the end! Had so many theories about everything! But when that came I just... Bleh. Not the biggest surprise. Was not super disappointing tho, but I was expecting something more.
I would recommend it if you enjoy books like "One of Us is Lying", "Wintergirls" and young adult thrillers in general. But again: heavy topics.
May 4, 2019
10th&up.
Add a star if you cannot get enough of unreliable narrators or you enjoy reading about teenage relationships & emotions at their most toxic, but for me, this story just made me kinda tired.
This DRC was obtained through Netgalley, with thanks to Sourcebooks Fire, in exchange for an honest review.
Add a star if you cannot get enough of unreliable narrators or you enjoy reading about teenage relationships & emotions at their most toxic, but for me, this story just made me kinda tired.
This DRC was obtained through Netgalley, with thanks to Sourcebooks Fire, in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2024
I thought this was supposed to be a spooky thriller vibe. instead i got depressed 😂😂 Hailey was a fucking nut job of a fmc. smh. i really thought this was something totally different than what it was 💀
May 12, 2020
Okay for a YA book. Lots of plot holes and things that didn’t make sense... 🧐
December 12, 2019
Возможны спойлеры!
Гм… Ну, да. Можно понять, почему у книги такой невпечатляющий рейтинг.
Начало интересное, загадочное. В середине меня уже колотило от поступков героев (особенно Деклана), но я, в то же время, думала о том, как хорошо их автор прописывает, если их поступки для меня как личное предательство. И тут… конец.
Я всю книгу думала, что убийца – Кейн (ну, уж очень он мутный), и мне казалось, что детектив слишком банальный. Но, честно, уж лучше бы он был банальным, чем таким, каким оказался.
Это все так… неправильно. Я не знаю. Детективы и триллеры редко удачно заканчиваются, но тут как-то с концом все особо плохо. Мне совершенно не понравилось, и я прямо расстроилась. Потому что изначально читать было интересно, хоть и смущали меня отношения Хейли и Кейна, а также одержимость Деклана Богом.
Мне нравилось, как автор в весьма небольшой книге хорошо прописала взаимодействия персонажей. Ненормальные (если присмотреться) отношения Хейли и Кейна, и некую одержимость Деклана и Хейли друг другом. Они возвели друг друга на недостижимый пьедестал, не веря в то, что они оба – просто люди. Что-то во всем этом есть (и я тоже очень долго относилась к Деклану как к святому, поэтому его поступки и стали для меня словно личным предательством, я искренне была на него обижена).
Автор часто говорит (притом, что повествование от лица Хейли), что она чувствует себя никем. И, в итоге, вспомнив все, девушка поняла, что даже в своей собственной истории она словно второстепенный персонаж (как для Деклана, так и для Кейна). Это тоже очень печально, и я опять же впечатлена способностью автора прописывать героев.
Но конец… все перечеркнул. Такое ощущение, что автор оправдывает то, что произошло, считая это правильной местью. И хотя я была зла на большинство героев за их поступки и где-то на уровне подсознания даже думала, что Деклан заслужил самоубийства, разочаровавшись в себе (хоть я и понимаю, что это неправильно), но я не могу смириться с концом. Чему, в итоге, учит эта книга? Убивать, если тебя обидели?
Автор упорно старалась показать нам, что Хейли действительно «никакая». И она и получилась у нее никакой (не знаю, считать это плюсом или минусом), я даже довольно долго не могла подобрать ни одного слова для ее описания.
И да, как и всех рецензентов, меня откровенно покоробило то, что книга начинается с рассказа о том, как пятнадцатилетние Хейли и Кейн от скуки занялись сексом. Кейн просто сидел, играл в приставку, и говорит: «Хочешь заняться сексом?». Хейли: «Гм, ну, давай». Они разделись, аккуратно сложив в стопочку свои вещи, легли, он два раза тыкнулся в нее, пока она думала о том, что ему теперь придется стирать простыни, и все. Встали, оделись. Я была слегка в шоке и недоумении. Интересный способ начать книгу.
В общем, часть книги мне действительно понравилась, я поняла, что, в общем-то, пыталась донести до нас автор. Но финал и некоторые моменты – это что-то с чем-то. И не в хорошем смысле.
Издание на русском языке: Я бы почитала другие книги автора, их все так хвалят. Но в этой я не уверенна. Вышла она давно, а читателей у нее так мало. Да и рейтинг так себе.
Итоговая оценка: 5/10
Гм… Ну, да. Можно понять, почему у книги такой невпечатляющий рейтинг.
Начало интересное, загадочное. В середине меня уже колотило от поступков героев (особенно Деклана), но я, в то же время, думала о том, как хорошо их автор прописывает, если их поступки для меня как личное предательство. И тут… конец.
Я всю книгу думала, что убийца – Кейн (ну, уж очень он мутный), и мне казалось, что детектив слишком банальный. Но, честно, уж лучше бы он был банальным, чем таким, каким оказался.
Это все так… неправильно. Я не знаю. Детективы и триллеры редко удачно заканчиваются, но тут как-то с концом все особо плохо. Мне совершенно не понравилось, и я прямо расстроилась. Потому что изначально читать было интересно, хоть и смущали меня отношения Хейли и Кейна, а также одержимость Деклана Богом.
Мне нравилось, как автор в весьма небольшой книге хорошо прописала взаимодействия персонажей. Ненормальные (если присмотреться) отношения Хейли и Кейна, и некую одержимость Деклана и Хейли друг другом. Они возвели друг друга на недостижимый пьедестал, не веря в то, что они оба – просто люди. Что-то во всем этом есть (и я тоже очень долго относилась к Деклану как к святому, поэтому его поступки и стали для меня словно личным предательством, я искренне была на него обижена).
Автор часто говорит (притом, что повествование от лица Хейли), что она чувствует себя никем. И, в итоге, вспомнив все, девушка поняла, что даже в своей собственной истории она словно второстепенный персонаж (как для Деклана, так и для Кейна). Это тоже очень печально, и я опять же впечатлена способностью автора прописывать героев.
Но конец… все перечеркнул. Такое ощущение, что автор оправдывает то, что произошло, считая это правильной местью. И хотя я была зла на большинство героев за их поступки и где-то на уровне подсознания даже думала, что Деклан заслужил самоубийства, разочаровавшись в себе (хоть я и понимаю, что это неправильно), но я не могу смириться с концом. Чему, в итоге, учит эта книга? Убивать, если тебя обидели?
Автор упорно старалась показать нам, что Хейли действительно «никакая». И она и получилась у нее никакой (не знаю, считать это плюсом или минусом), я даже довольно долго не могла подобрать ни одного слова для ее описания.
И да, как и всех рецензентов, меня откровенно покоробило то, что книга начинается с рассказа о том, как пятнадцатилетние Хейли и Кейн от скуки занялись сексом. Кейн просто сидел, играл в приставку, и говорит: «Хочешь заняться сексом?». Хейли: «Гм, ну, давай». Они разделись, аккуратно сложив в стопочку свои вещи, легли, он два раза тыкнулся в нее, пока она думала о том, что ему теперь придется стирать простыни, и все. Встали, оделись. Я была слегка в шоке и недоумении. Интересный способ начать книгу.
В общем, часть книги мне действительно понравилась, я поняла, что, в общем-то, пыталась донести до нас автор. Но финал и некоторые моменты – это что-то с чем-то. И не в хорошем смысле.
Издание на русском языке: Я бы почитала другие книги автора, их все так хвалят. Но в этой я не уверенна. Вышла она давно, а читателей у нее так мало. Да и рейтинг так себе.
Итоговая оценка: 5/10
February 26, 2019
Title: that night
Author: Cyn Balog
genre: YA
Netgalley
pages: 320
book synopsis
Hailey wants to know the truth, but there are some secrets that are best left buried…
Hailey is determined to find out all she can about her boyfriend's suicide. She knows Declan wouldn't kill himself, even if she can't remember a lot of what lead up to that fateful night.
Kane, Declan's stepbrother and Hailey's best friend, wants to move past what happened—not dig up bad memories. But the more Hailey searches for information, the more she remembers.
As the truth begins to unravel, Hailey finds herself unveiling secrets she never could have imagined—secrets that have the possibility of ruining everything.
my thoughts
rating: 2
Would I recommend it : no
will I read any more by this author: yes
I was so looking forward to this one since I liked her other one Alone, but sadly it wasn't meant to be, right from the start it went from liking and felling sorry for Hailey to just plain not felling any thing for her , and all the time felling sorry for her best friend Kane and wounding why was he still friends with her, the more I read the more i started thinking what if Declan's suicide wasn't a suicide , what if it was murder , and I wanted to know if I was right or not, but the more I read the more I begin to see that Hailey wasn't a nice friend or even a girlfriend , and the end wasn't that much of a surprise with that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting read and review it exchange for my honest opinion.
Author: Cyn Balog
genre: YA
Netgalley
pages: 320
book synopsis
Hailey wants to know the truth, but there are some secrets that are best left buried…
Hailey is determined to find out all she can about her boyfriend's suicide. She knows Declan wouldn't kill himself, even if she can't remember a lot of what lead up to that fateful night.
Kane, Declan's stepbrother and Hailey's best friend, wants to move past what happened—not dig up bad memories. But the more Hailey searches for information, the more she remembers.
As the truth begins to unravel, Hailey finds herself unveiling secrets she never could have imagined—secrets that have the possibility of ruining everything.
my thoughts
rating: 2
Would I recommend it : no
will I read any more by this author: yes
I was so looking forward to this one since I liked her other one Alone, but sadly it wasn't meant to be, right from the start it went from liking and felling sorry for Hailey to just plain not felling any thing for her , and all the time felling sorry for her best friend Kane and wounding why was he still friends with her, the more I read the more i started thinking what if Declan's suicide wasn't a suicide , what if it was murder , and I wanted to know if I was right or not, but the more I read the more I begin to see that Hailey wasn't a nice friend or even a girlfriend , and the end wasn't that much of a surprise with that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting read and review it exchange for my honest opinion.
September 20, 2019
Most audiences love the thrill and excitement that a mystery book has to offer. Many readers are drawn to the suspense and ongoing search for a resolution that authors like to incorporate into their writing. Books such as award winning novel, "One of Us Is Lying" by Karen McManus, often have deep plot twists that further the reader’s interests in the writing. "That Night" by Cyn Balog includes both the thrill and excitement of a mystery, while also including the jaw dropping and attention grabbing plot twists that everybody loves. Balog generates a compelling novel that keeps the audience hungry for more.
"That Night" by Cyn Balog is a great example of a contemporary, young adult mystery that uses an emotional factor to pull the reader in. Hailey, a normal teenage girl, is suffering from the one year anniversary of her boyfriend’s suicide. But when she starts questioning the truth behind Declan’s death, she uncovers secrets that lead to the real reason behind Declan’s supposed “suicide”. Hailey has selective amnesia, which means that her brain had blocked out most of the memories surrounding and leading up to the incident. So when Hailey starts digging for answers, her brain starts recalling some of the memories she didn’t know she had. Hailey’s best friend and Declan’s stepbrother Kane, tries his best to keep her from revisiting the past. However this makes Hailey more curious to see what Kane could possibly be hiding from her. She continues digging, and becomes invested into a constant investigation for a true conclusion. Dirty lies and secrets start unfolding in front of Hailey’s eyes, as she begins to see that the past was more complicated than she had originally thought.
This novel is packed with intense thoughts and perspective from Hailey, that give the reader a realistic idea of the true pain she was facing. Her thoughts and flashbacks showed the mental instability that was influencing her mind and represented the deep meaning behind each scene. Cyn Balog wanted the main character to be conflicted with obvious mental issues that started to appear once Hailey was positive it wasn’t suicide that killed Declan. With Hailey constantly struggling to fit in, Kane tried his best to divert her energy into a more positive living. But the more Kane tried distracting Hailey from the past, the more suspicion arose that he was keeping secrets from her. Luisa, Kane’s girlfriend also plays an important role in this story as she is involved with the outrageous scandals that are later revealed in the novel. Luisa and Kane are the classic, attractive, popular couple that are usually together because it’s easy. Throughout the novel we see them constantly trying to force their way into a perfect relationship. However we see that their relationship is exposed to the twisted lies told in their past. Hailey knew that Declan, a happy and easygoing spirit, couldn’t have committed suicide. Declan was devoted to his religion and was always peaceful and content. He was often the peacemaker of the four and balanced the atmosphere between them. With Declan’s absence, it shows the true relationships between the group. The author was able to create a relatable cast of characters while still giving a unique spin on each of their personalities.
This novel is an extremely captivating and relatable story but there are a couple of aspects I would alter to enhance the story’s affect on the readers. The entire book is a climactic journey that keeps the reader wanting more. However the ending, which is such a huge aspect of the plot is revealed way too late in the book. I feel that this information should have been announced earlier in order to explain the plot in more detail and give the reader a solid conclusion. I also think that although the perspective of Hailey was very detailed and realistic, the jumps from the past to the present were, at often times confusing and misleading. We see Hailey’s perspective alter between memories of before the incident and present day experiences after it. This means that throughout the book, the reader’s are getting a view into Hailey’s mind before and after Declan’s death. I think that Balog wanted to do this in order to reveal and foreshadow some of the events that happened leading to Declan’s death, without having to bluntly state them. This however, created a more chaotic and messy plotline that complicated the fluidity of the writing. These are just some suggestions that may have helped the reader advance their understanding of the characters and background of the book.
"That Night" by Cyn Balog is a strongly recommended book for avid young adult readers who love the thrill and excitement of mystery. It holds all the aspects needed to have a solid plot while also adding deep spins that make the reader connect with the book.
October 19, 2019
Review can be found on my blog here: https://booksonthebookshelf.wordpress...
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book.
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This book was such a gripping read. I loved how the story unfolded bit by bit, and left you wanting to know more about what truly happened. Did Declan kill himself? Was Declan murdered? Is something darker and more sinister at play? I was flipping through the pages wanting to know more, and was unable to put this book down.
This book is full of secrets, lies, deception, love and friendship. The story is told from alternating timelines, both then and now. I enjoyed how the timelines jumped back and forth and I enjoyed reading about the then moments and finding out what happened. What you learn will shock you, and I for one was not expecting what was revealed. Great book and I look forward to reading more by this author.
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book.
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This book was such a gripping read. I loved how the story unfolded bit by bit, and left you wanting to know more about what truly happened. Did Declan kill himself? Was Declan murdered? Is something darker and more sinister at play? I was flipping through the pages wanting to know more, and was unable to put this book down.
This book is full of secrets, lies, deception, love and friendship. The story is told from alternating timelines, both then and now. I enjoyed how the timelines jumped back and forth and I enjoyed reading about the then moments and finding out what happened. What you learn will shock you, and I for one was not expecting what was revealed. Great book and I look forward to reading more by this author.
June 5, 2019
This suspenseful tale of an alleged suicide kept me glued to the pages to find out if Hailey's theories about Declan's suicide were true. The predictability was there, I suspected the real situation early on, but Cyn continuously moved the thread, pushing me in different directions enough to keep me hooked into the story. This book was a dark funhouse of shifting characters and personalities which ended up leaving me satisfied with the ride.
January 6, 2020
I liked this book. I love the back and forth between the before and after even though it can be a bit confusing at first you get used to it. The main point of the book is that Declan liked himself but did he really? I had my money on Kane and Luisa. But of course, it turned out to be Hailey. Finding this out didn't really surprise me unfortunately but it did make sense. Some chapters were so heartbreaking that I had a hard time finishing. Especially when Hailey discovered Luisa and Declan together. I'm satisfied that most of the chapters pulled at my heartstrings because if it didn't I probably would've put the book down. Other than that, good read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2021
Unfortunately, this is one of those books where I had an unfortunate meeting with the author. And I have to tell you that it wasn't a good interaction. I spent a lot of time trying to separate the art from the artist and let me tell you that was super hard. Teen suicide, murder mystery this was pretty dark. I did actually enjoy it for the most part. But parts of it was just kind of slow.
August 23, 2024
The whole entire book was full of twists and turns, and my emotions definitely followed those turns throughout the duration of this book. The ending was so unimaginable and unexpected that my jaw was open the entire time. I even cried. This book is definitely going to be one that'll be on my mind for a long long time.
June 25, 2019
3.5 stars
What the literal heck did I just binge read?
What the literal heck did I just binge read?
June 17, 2019
THIS.WAS.SO.GOOD!
August 5, 2019
Very scary kind of ending 😮
October 9, 2024
Idk I just didn’t really like it at all. The ending was bad too. 2/5 and im being generous
April 24, 2023
Lots of twists but got real complex at the end.
May 13, 2019
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Full review over on my blog now!
MY DUDES. I love a good mystery book, a what happened, a whodunnit, I LOVE THEM. So when I read the blurb of this book on Netgalley, I was immediately like "I need to read this book." And I wasn't disappointed. Drawn in by the opening chapter, I found myself wanting to know more about Declan and why he did commit suicide. The character building in this book was a breath of fresh air. I have recently read a book with two dimensional characters and this book was quite literally the opposite. The characters in this book had so much depth and so much potential, and a lot of it was lived up too. I liked who I was supposed to like, I hated who I was supposed to hate, the lines got blurred, I loved everyone, I hated everyone. I loved it.
Reading this book, I found myself really buying what the author was selling for the most part. The only thing I didn't really like about this book was the lack of parental input. I would've wanted to see more of the relationships with the parents being developed further, whether that be Declan and Kane's parents or Hailey's own. I wanted to gather their input of the situation at hand and whether they suspected something further went into Declan's death than a simple, unexplained suicide.
Full review over on my blog now!
MY DUDES. I love a good mystery book, a what happened, a whodunnit, I LOVE THEM. So when I read the blurb of this book on Netgalley, I was immediately like "I need to read this book." And I wasn't disappointed. Drawn in by the opening chapter, I found myself wanting to know more about Declan and why he did commit suicide. The character building in this book was a breath of fresh air. I have recently read a book with two dimensional characters and this book was quite literally the opposite. The characters in this book had so much depth and so much potential, and a lot of it was lived up too. I liked who I was supposed to like, I hated who I was supposed to hate, the lines got blurred, I loved everyone, I hated everyone. I loved it.
Reading this book, I found myself really buying what the author was selling for the most part. The only thing I didn't really like about this book was the lack of parental input. I would've wanted to see more of the relationships with the parents being developed further, whether that be Declan and Kane's parents or Hailey's own. I wanted to gather their input of the situation at hand and whether they suspected something further went into Declan's death than a simple, unexplained suicide.
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