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The Book of Sam
The Book of Sam is the story of the unchosen one, a kid with no prophecy to fulfill who ventures to Hell, a fantastical world of falling cities and strange creatures, in search of his best friend.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 14, 2020
This book had the potential to be brilliant: the world of Hell was so intricately worked out and very vivid, and the basic story line – a bullied boy, with no self-confidence and a head full of fantasy books prepared to give up his life to save the only person who made his life worth living – almost guaranteed to be a winner.
But, the whole book felt a bit too rushed. I would just get used to one scene, one aspect of Hell, one new character, yet another demi-god (demi-daemon?) – and everything would change again. Trials and tribulations fell over each other to make Sam’s quest to find and rescue Harper impossible – yet each time there would be a miraculous twist and Sam would bounce back, somehow always knowing where to go next. I lost my way several times, trying to make sense of it all.
I really liked Sam, and his new companions, Hollingshead (human female) and Thorlton (incubus). Thorlton reminded me of Dobbie, from Harry Potter – just as cute (in an ugly sort of way) and as loyal and steadfast. Sam did evolve from a very sad and pathetic individual at the start of the book (thanks to his unfeeling parents and his bullying at school) into someone you could almost see as a genuine hero by the end.
I found the use of the terms succubus, incubus, banshee, cipher etc quite disconcerting, as the creatures in this version of Hell had nothing to do with the figures from normal fantasy folklore after whom they were named. I would have preferred that the author invented new names for the races of Hell denizens, so I didn’t have to consider whether or not Thorlton would suddenly try to seduce Hollingshead.
There was too much content in this book to work in 280 pages – it could have easily become an epic trilogy. Often padding in a book can be annoying, but this story suffered from there not being enough of it.
Over all, it was an enjoyable book, but not a great one. The author has an excellent imagination, and I hope he will write more.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
But, the whole book felt a bit too rushed. I would just get used to one scene, one aspect of Hell, one new character, yet another demi-god (demi-daemon?) – and everything would change again. Trials and tribulations fell over each other to make Sam’s quest to find and rescue Harper impossible – yet each time there would be a miraculous twist and Sam would bounce back, somehow always knowing where to go next. I lost my way several times, trying to make sense of it all.
I really liked Sam, and his new companions, Hollingshead (human female) and Thorlton (incubus). Thorlton reminded me of Dobbie, from Harry Potter – just as cute (in an ugly sort of way) and as loyal and steadfast. Sam did evolve from a very sad and pathetic individual at the start of the book (thanks to his unfeeling parents and his bullying at school) into someone you could almost see as a genuine hero by the end.
I found the use of the terms succubus, incubus, banshee, cipher etc quite disconcerting, as the creatures in this version of Hell had nothing to do with the figures from normal fantasy folklore after whom they were named. I would have preferred that the author invented new names for the races of Hell denizens, so I didn’t have to consider whether or not Thorlton would suddenly try to seduce Hollingshead.
There was too much content in this book to work in 280 pages – it could have easily become an epic trilogy. Often padding in a book can be annoying, but this story suffered from there not being enough of it.
Over all, it was an enjoyable book, but not a great one. The author has an excellent imagination, and I hope he will write more.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 30, 2023
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book is set first in the U.S. and then in Hell, I really liked the blurb and I thought it was going to be great, however, unfortunately, this was not my cup of tea, but I pushed through and finished it to see if my thoughts would change. Sam and Harper are friends, but Sam is a bit of a loser and gets bullied a lot. He loves Harper and decides to tell her one night over dinner, but she goes into his uncle's office and a demon arrives in the shop, Harper is then dragged off to Hell and Sam has to go get her back.
I immediately had an issue with the setting of this book, the author's note at the start of the book makes you think it will be set in the 90s, but it isn't, and that note really didn't make sense to me, it still doesn't. The writing style and the actual setting wasn't bad though, I had an issue with the pacing and I really thought that a lot of things were too obvious, there wasn't enough suspense, I knew what was going to happen before it did, and it just generally didn't grab me.
I did enjoy Thorlton's character though, I think it was my favourite part of the book. However, Sam, Harpen, Hollinshead, Moscow and others just were not very good characters, they were boring, they didn't really have much going for them and I wasn't interested in them in the least.
Overall, I didn't enjoy this book, I pushed my way through, but it didn't get any better, I found it boring and it didn't feel like it was going anywhere. It seems like this story is not over, I would be inclined to read the second book if there is one, but I really don't fancy going through that again, so I'm probably going to give it a miss. It wasn't a bad book and I can see why others would really enjoy it, it just wasn't for me. It was fairly info-dumpy and at the same time badly lacking in character development, setting, plot and pacing. I gave it 2 stars.
This book is set first in the U.S. and then in Hell, I really liked the blurb and I thought it was going to be great, however, unfortunately, this was not my cup of tea, but I pushed through and finished it to see if my thoughts would change. Sam and Harper are friends, but Sam is a bit of a loser and gets bullied a lot. He loves Harper and decides to tell her one night over dinner, but she goes into his uncle's office and a demon arrives in the shop, Harper is then dragged off to Hell and Sam has to go get her back.
I immediately had an issue with the setting of this book, the author's note at the start of the book makes you think it will be set in the 90s, but it isn't, and that note really didn't make sense to me, it still doesn't. The writing style and the actual setting wasn't bad though, I had an issue with the pacing and I really thought that a lot of things were too obvious, there wasn't enough suspense, I knew what was going to happen before it did, and it just generally didn't grab me.
I did enjoy Thorlton's character though, I think it was my favourite part of the book. However, Sam, Harpen, Hollinshead, Moscow and others just were not very good characters, they were boring, they didn't really have much going for them and I wasn't interested in them in the least.
Overall, I didn't enjoy this book, I pushed my way through, but it didn't get any better, I found it boring and it didn't feel like it was going anywhere. It seems like this story is not over, I would be inclined to read the second book if there is one, but I really don't fancy going through that again, so I'm probably going to give it a miss. It wasn't a bad book and I can see why others would really enjoy it, it just wasn't for me. It was fairly info-dumpy and at the same time badly lacking in character development, setting, plot and pacing. I gave it 2 stars.
August 24, 2020
Thank you to Dundurn Press for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3/5 stars.
I liked the premise and concept of this book. This kid, Sam, who’s honestly pretty pathetic, goes on a quest into Hell to rescue Harper, his best friend and the girl he loves. While there, Sam often relies on other characters to take charge and fight. In the end, he did grow as a character by finally standing up for himself instead of hiding in the background. Unfortunately, I didn’t really like Sam. I didn’t connect with him at all. I felt like the author tried so hard to show that he was just a completely average person, that he made him unbelievable in the role of hero by the end.
I also didn’t really buy into the relationships in this book. Sam and Harper’s relationship struck me as a decent friendship, but I didn’t believe that either of them had real feelings of anything more for each other. I also didn’t think it was necessary for Sam to be declaring his love for Hollinshead by the end of the book. There was really nothing to their relationship and I had a hard time believing in it.
One thing I did like about the book was the vivid imagery that the author used. The descriptions of the different places in Hell were quite striking and they seemed well thought out.
I would have liked to see the same care taken with the descriptions of the setting put into enforcing the characters’ growth and relationships.
3/5 stars.
I liked the premise and concept of this book. This kid, Sam, who’s honestly pretty pathetic, goes on a quest into Hell to rescue Harper, his best friend and the girl he loves. While there, Sam often relies on other characters to take charge and fight. In the end, he did grow as a character by finally standing up for himself instead of hiding in the background. Unfortunately, I didn’t really like Sam. I didn’t connect with him at all. I felt like the author tried so hard to show that he was just a completely average person, that he made him unbelievable in the role of hero by the end.
I also didn’t really buy into the relationships in this book. Sam and Harper’s relationship struck me as a decent friendship, but I didn’t believe that either of them had real feelings of anything more for each other. I also didn’t think it was necessary for Sam to be declaring his love for Hollinshead by the end of the book. There was really nothing to their relationship and I had a hard time believing in it.
One thing I did like about the book was the vivid imagery that the author used. The descriptions of the different places in Hell were quite striking and they seemed well thought out.
I would have liked to see the same care taken with the descriptions of the setting put into enforcing the characters’ growth and relationships.
June 9, 2020
Very Bland Story
I was quite interested in the story of The Book of Sam by Rob Shapiro. A story of a bullied kid that ends up going to the depths of Hell to save his one friend! It sounded like a fantastic story that a bullied kid could relate to, and make a fantastic YA novel. I was sorely disappointed.
This read was daunting even though the page count was below 300. The writing style was decent, but the characters felt very plastic, not fleshed out, and I didn’t really grow to like any of them. Many times I felt like Rob was borrowing ideas from other great fantasy stories. However, the execution was poor.
I really didn’t even want to finish this novel, and I really hope that another one doesn’t make it to press. With that said if there are any forthcoming “Sam” novels I will pass. I just couldn’t get into the headspace of any of the characters. I even tried to think as I did when I was a bullied teen, and it still didn’t resonate.
Overall, I felt like The Book of Sam was a very poor YA fantasy novel. The writing was fair, the story was sloppy, character development was very poor, and I simply wanted the book to end. I wouldn’t suggest this book to anyone personally, but possibly it may be a beacon of hope for a young teen or preteen to read.
All in all, I give The Book of Sam 2 ⭐️’s out of 5 ⭐️’s. It was not a great read, but I can honor the concept. The writing was alright as well, not great, but okay. I will not read another entry in this series if another arises though. Honestly, to say the least it was a bore.
I do want to thank #netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I have done my very best to provide a fair and honest review. Also, thank you to #dundurnpress and #robshapiro #thebookofsam
I was quite interested in the story of The Book of Sam by Rob Shapiro. A story of a bullied kid that ends up going to the depths of Hell to save his one friend! It sounded like a fantastic story that a bullied kid could relate to, and make a fantastic YA novel. I was sorely disappointed.
This read was daunting even though the page count was below 300. The writing style was decent, but the characters felt very plastic, not fleshed out, and I didn’t really grow to like any of them. Many times I felt like Rob was borrowing ideas from other great fantasy stories. However, the execution was poor.
I really didn’t even want to finish this novel, and I really hope that another one doesn’t make it to press. With that said if there are any forthcoming “Sam” novels I will pass. I just couldn’t get into the headspace of any of the characters. I even tried to think as I did when I was a bullied teen, and it still didn’t resonate.
Overall, I felt like The Book of Sam was a very poor YA fantasy novel. The writing was fair, the story was sloppy, character development was very poor, and I simply wanted the book to end. I wouldn’t suggest this book to anyone personally, but possibly it may be a beacon of hope for a young teen or preteen to read.
All in all, I give The Book of Sam 2 ⭐️’s out of 5 ⭐️’s. It was not a great read, but I can honor the concept. The writing was alright as well, not great, but okay. I will not read another entry in this series if another arises though. Honestly, to say the least it was a bore.
I do want to thank #netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I have done my very best to provide a fair and honest review. Also, thank you to #dundurnpress and #robshapiro #thebookofsam
April 20, 2021
I received an ARC in change of an honest review through NetGalley, all the opinions are my own. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
When I first read the synopsis of this book I was marveled by it! It sounded like a great story idea and who doesn't love a book about hell and demons?
The story follows Sam, a teenager boy that gets his best friend/one-sided crush, Harper, sent to hell by mistake and he makes it his quest to go to hell after her. In there he meets Thorlton a friendly demon that decides to help him and Hollinshead, a human girl.
Sam goes with the plan of bringing back to life Stolas a demon known to be a hero in order to ask him for his help and save Harper. However things don't go as he planned and maybe sometimes heroes are in reality villains.
My problem with this book started from the moment where Stolas appeared. I was quite enjoying the book until that point but from then on it felt like Sam kept making the wrong decisions and that there was something wrong with the pace of this book. I also wasn't a big fan of Moscow even though I think he's the type of character that you're supposed to like.
The only character that I found quite "cute" in a way and that actually had a personality was Thorlton, as for the rest of the cast they all felt very "empty" and I couldn't empathize with them.
The ending wasn't exactly what I had predicted but I liked it more like this. It made it more interesting and unpredictable.
All in all it was a mediocre but still enjoyable supernatural book.
When I first read the synopsis of this book I was marveled by it! It sounded like a great story idea and who doesn't love a book about hell and demons?
The story follows Sam, a teenager boy that gets his best friend/one-sided crush, Harper, sent to hell by mistake and he makes it his quest to go to hell after her. In there he meets Thorlton a friendly demon that decides to help him and Hollinshead, a human girl.
Sam goes with the plan of bringing back to life Stolas a demon known to be a hero in order to ask him for his help and save Harper. However things don't go as he planned and maybe sometimes heroes are in reality villains.
My problem with this book started from the moment where Stolas appeared. I was quite enjoying the book until that point but from then on it felt like Sam kept making the wrong decisions and that there was something wrong with the pace of this book. I also wasn't a big fan of Moscow even though I think he's the type of character that you're supposed to like.
The only character that I found quite "cute" in a way and that actually had a personality was Thorlton, as for the rest of the cast they all felt very "empty" and I couldn't empathize with them.
The ending wasn't exactly what I had predicted but I liked it more like this. It made it more interesting and unpredictable.
All in all it was a mediocre but still enjoyable supernatural book.
May 20, 2020
THE BOOK OF SAM is a rollercoaster adventure that’s as funny and relatable as it is earnest in showing how a teenage boy will go through literal Hell to save the girl he loves.
Sam isn’t the archetypal hero, in fact the sixteen year-old Toronto native would probably be considered the exact opposite. The quintessential middle, middle child of five, his father’s admitted least favorite, and an easy target of school bullies, his salvation comes mostly from his beloved Uncle Bear’s antiquarium and his best friend Harper. But when Harper accidentally summons a demon and is dragged to the underworld thanks to one of Bear’s forbidden trinkets, it’s up to Sam to find her.
Through an increasingly perilous journey in a hellscape straight out of a Hieronymus Bosch painting, Sam learns that in the end it’s not the choices you make when facing evil that’ll change you, but the demons you befriended along the way.
*I received an Advanced Readers' Copy (ARC) of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Sam isn’t the archetypal hero, in fact the sixteen year-old Toronto native would probably be considered the exact opposite. The quintessential middle, middle child of five, his father’s admitted least favorite, and an easy target of school bullies, his salvation comes mostly from his beloved Uncle Bear’s antiquarium and his best friend Harper. But when Harper accidentally summons a demon and is dragged to the underworld thanks to one of Bear’s forbidden trinkets, it’s up to Sam to find her.
Through an increasingly perilous journey in a hellscape straight out of a Hieronymus Bosch painting, Sam learns that in the end it’s not the choices you make when facing evil that’ll change you, but the demons you befriended along the way.
*I received an Advanced Readers' Copy (ARC) of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2020
I received this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. Overall this was not a bad story, but it was also not a story that is noteworthy. I just felt that I could not really feel anything for Sam or the other characters. I did like the aspect of the bullied kid finding his self confidence to do what is needed to save his friends. I did think that the secondary relationship was not necessary at all in this book and was forced into the story.
December 20, 2020
I really enjoyed this. The author creates a unique and detailed fantasy world and his characters, though lacking a little depth, a relatable and interesting.
July 2, 2020
One hell of a thrill ride and everything I needed!!!
Full of thrills, and chills; complex storyline, and even more complex characterizations. Everything about this novel screamed my name, but i liked it more than i thought i could have!!
Amazing writing, fluid and easy to follow. Series of events flowed together perfectly!!
An amazing edition to every readers shelf!!
Full of thrills, and chills; complex storyline, and even more complex characterizations. Everything about this novel screamed my name, but i liked it more than i thought i could have!!
Amazing writing, fluid and easy to follow. Series of events flowed together perfectly!!
An amazing edition to every readers shelf!!
January 26, 2020
No spoilers review!
First off, I loved this book. The story was everything I wanted it to be. The world that was described was so vivid that I felt completely immersed in this world and it was different from other explains of Hell. All the demons and creatures that the main character Sam has to face were extremely interesting because you never knew if that demon or creature was good or bad or if they would betray Sam. And lastly, the character development for Sam was brilliant. Throughout the book you just see him get constantly pushed down but he never loses his kind heart and eventually gains a beautiful confidence. I can't wait for the sequel to come back.
First off, I loved this book. The story was everything I wanted it to be. The world that was described was so vivid that I felt completely immersed in this world and it was different from other explains of Hell. All the demons and creatures that the main character Sam has to face were extremely interesting because you never knew if that demon or creature was good or bad or if they would betray Sam. And lastly, the character development for Sam was brilliant. Throughout the book you just see him get constantly pushed down but he never loses his kind heart and eventually gains a beautiful confidence. I can't wait for the sequel to come back.
May 20, 2020
I got this ARC through Netgalley for reviewing purposes, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Overall 2,5 stars.
The book isn't bad, but it isn't the best either. It didn't capture me, but I didn't mind continuing on with it. I didn't love anything about the book, but again I didn't hate anything either. Some things did annoy me, but that was it. I guess to me the book was just okay. I probably won't read this again, but that's just me. I would definitely still recommend this book to other people. I'm just really critical, and don't "like" most of the books that I read.
The Book of Sam is about 16 year old Sam Sullinger, he is an average teenage boy, who is an introvert, insecure and shy. The only friend he has is also the girl he has a secret crush on. He is an outcast and gets bullied by everybody at school, at the behest of the popular boy Kyle whom has made it his life mission to ruin Sams life. And if Kyle isn't trying to ruin his life, then his father is right there ready to belittle him.
When he finally gets ready to confess his feelings to Harper his best friend, shit hits the fan. And with barely anybody willing to help, he does something he never thought he would do, he takes it upon himself to do whatever he can to save Harper.
The story starts of fast paced, which I liked. We quickly gets to know about the main character Sam, and his life, and we are also quickly thrown into the journey of going to hell. But some things about it did annoy me. The thing is that Sam goes to hell with no apparent plan as to how or what he should do to save Harper. Like a desperate naive 16 year old teen, he just throws himself headfirst into trouble, without really thinking, which on one hand I do understand, but on the other I found it really stupid
How do you expect to save someone from hell by only bringing a couple of books, one knife and a snack. He could at least have brought water, a flashlight and perhaps a first aid kit, not that my suggestions are that much better than what he brought along lol.
But you understand what I'm getting at? Sam doesn't really plan anything, he just does things and hopes for the best. He is 16 years old and desperate to save his best friend from hell, with no life experience. All he has to help him navigate hell is, the books he used to read as a child about hell and his hero Stolas. And a thing he forgets is that the books are just stories, it doesn't mean that it's the truth.
Anyhow along the way Sam finds other companions that helps him with finding Harper. One of the companions is pretty useless, at least most of the time, but I did like that character, he was very endering to me. The other one at least has a brain and knows how to fight, as for Sam himself, he is also quite useless and naive. Sometimes I wondered if Sam was even using his brain, but I might just be too harsh on him. We do get some character development from Sam, which is nice. Sam goes from being insecure and pretty much useless to a more confident and strong minded person. It does take a while, due to how big his insecurities are. Actually it takes almost the whole book before there is any real character development with Sam, and I still found him pretty useless.
The world building of Hell is described differently than other stories. It's not just a burning pit and people being tortured by Satan. For some reason I visualised hell, as the wild west. And I don't know why, but I imagined that some of the demons looked like Randall Boggs, the chameleon from Monsters Inc, wearing, cowboy gear, you know the cowboy hat, boots and gun holsters, or maybe I'm just thinking of Rango. Matter of fact I visualised the characters from Monsters Inc as the demons in this book, for some unknown reason, and of course they all looked like cowboys in my head. Which is utterly ridiculous, since they aren't actually described as looking anything similar to the Monsters Inc characters.
The demons in this world are also described completely different to what the "norm" is. They look different, though some demons do look somewhat similar to what we are "used" to demons looking like, e.g horns on their heads, evil, enjoys pain. In this book the demons aren't all just evil, there are good ones too. They are slaves, lovers, friends, they work at bars, they own small shops ect.
The book has an open ending bordering on a cliffhanger, which I don't mind too much. At the moment this is a stand alone, but in the future it might possibly turn into a trilogy (I asked on Goodreads and that was the answer Shapiro gave)
If it does become a trilogy then I will definitely be reading the next books :)!
The demon Thorlton, in my head I imagined Mike Warzowski but with two eyes. Actually everybody of the same race as Thorlton, I visualised as Mike Warzowski. The females I just imagined with brown hair with bangs and pigtails. I would post a picture but I don't know how to.
Overall 2,5 stars.
The book isn't bad, but it isn't the best either. It didn't capture me, but I didn't mind continuing on with it. I didn't love anything about the book, but again I didn't hate anything either. Some things did annoy me, but that was it. I guess to me the book was just okay. I probably won't read this again, but that's just me. I would definitely still recommend this book to other people. I'm just really critical, and don't "like" most of the books that I read.
The Book of Sam is about 16 year old Sam Sullinger, he is an average teenage boy, who is an introvert, insecure and shy. The only friend he has is also the girl he has a secret crush on. He is an outcast and gets bullied by everybody at school, at the behest of the popular boy Kyle whom has made it his life mission to ruin Sams life. And if Kyle isn't trying to ruin his life, then his father is right there ready to belittle him.
When he finally gets ready to confess his feelings to Harper his best friend, shit hits the fan. And with barely anybody willing to help, he does something he never thought he would do, he takes it upon himself to do whatever he can to save Harper.
The story starts of fast paced, which I liked. We quickly gets to know about the main character Sam, and his life, and we are also quickly thrown into the journey of going to hell. But some things about it did annoy me. The thing is that Sam goes to hell with no apparent plan as to how or what he should do to save Harper. Like a desperate naive 16 year old teen, he just throws himself headfirst into trouble, without really thinking, which on one hand I do understand, but on the other I found it really stupid
How do you expect to save someone from hell by only bringing a couple of books, one knife and a snack. He could at least have brought water, a flashlight and perhaps a first aid kit, not that my suggestions are that much better than what he brought along lol.
But you understand what I'm getting at? Sam doesn't really plan anything, he just does things and hopes for the best. He is 16 years old and desperate to save his best friend from hell, with no life experience. All he has to help him navigate hell is, the books he used to read as a child about hell and his hero Stolas. And a thing he forgets is that the books are just stories, it doesn't mean that it's the truth.
Anyhow along the way Sam finds other companions that helps him with finding Harper. One of the companions is pretty useless, at least most of the time, but I did like that character, he was very endering to me. The other one at least has a brain and knows how to fight, as for Sam himself, he is also quite useless and naive. Sometimes I wondered if Sam was even using his brain, but I might just be too harsh on him. We do get some character development from Sam, which is nice. Sam goes from being insecure and pretty much useless to a more confident and strong minded person. It does take a while, due to how big his insecurities are. Actually it takes almost the whole book before there is any real character development with Sam, and I still found him pretty useless.
The world building of Hell is described differently than other stories. It's not just a burning pit and people being tortured by Satan. For some reason I visualised hell, as the wild west. And I don't know why, but I imagined that some of the demons looked like Randall Boggs, the chameleon from Monsters Inc, wearing, cowboy gear, you know the cowboy hat, boots and gun holsters, or maybe I'm just thinking of Rango. Matter of fact I visualised the characters from Monsters Inc as the demons in this book, for some unknown reason, and of course they all looked like cowboys in my head. Which is utterly ridiculous, since they aren't actually described as looking anything similar to the Monsters Inc characters.
The demons in this world are also described completely different to what the "norm" is. They look different, though some demons do look somewhat similar to what we are "used" to demons looking like, e.g horns on their heads, evil, enjoys pain. In this book the demons aren't all just evil, there are good ones too. They are slaves, lovers, friends, they work at bars, they own small shops ect.
The book has an open ending bordering on a cliffhanger, which I don't mind too much. At the moment this is a stand alone, but in the future it might possibly turn into a trilogy (I asked on Goodreads and that was the answer Shapiro gave)
If it does become a trilogy then I will definitely be reading the next books :)!
The demon Thorlton, in my head I imagined Mike Warzowski but with two eyes. Actually everybody of the same race as Thorlton, I visualised as Mike Warzowski. The females I just imagined with brown hair with bangs and pigtails. I would post a picture but I don't know how to.
April 14, 2021
What does one obsessed with legacy do when faced with the prospect of being forgotten? One writes their own book, of course.
Excerpt from the Truth About Stolas, Written by M.W.F.R.
You want a book that thrills you to your very core? That keeps you on your toes, and doesn't let you leave until you've turned the very last page?
Search no more, for this is such a book!
One of my top '20 reads, The Book of Sam is an amazing story about a young boy, who travels to Hell in order to find and bring back his best friend and crush. During this impossible, suicidal, and dangerous journey, he meets demons, bounty hunters, and even the hero of his dreams. But things are never as they seem - worse, in Hell, they're even more lethal. And trust should be rarely given no matter the person and what you believe of them. In the words of uncle Bear, there's no one perfectly good in any world. And peace, in Hell, was never an option...
Honestly I loved this book so much, I think I read it twice before putting it down just to take a breath. The characters and their complexity, the action, the suspense. The horror it gives off the pages, existing like a subtle but quite tangible being. I'm not one for horror, to be honest, but there are exceptions sometimes that just beg me to ignore that fact - this book was one of them.
Not only that, but it showed how much a person can hide behind their daily facade. A scrawny, abused kid can rock a sword, but chooses not to - if he did, those bullies may have thought twice before bothering him. A wild, hostile girl may be looking for a companion, a friend, some love and affection. An ugly demon may be the sweetest and most loyal creature you can meet, while a famous hero and his deeds may just be the front behind which a tyrant is lurking. One lone author can turn the world and its beliefs on their heads, using only ink and paper - the true power of the written word.
"A great storyteller can sell any story, Sam. They're just words, but someone who feels wronged will find purpose in mere words."
I went through so many emotion while reading Sam's story. I laughed at Thorlton's shenanigans. Cried near the end of the book for him and Moscow. Cheered for Sam during the siege, and screamed in outrage for the empire of lies Stolas had built. I'm still not a hundred percent sure Harper is the right choice for Sam, but that's none of my business - honestly, I'd rather have him back, no matter which girl he'll choose.
Speaking of that, I really want to see more of Sam and his journey to growing up. I imagine him turning into a warlord for Hell or taking the place of one of the fallen greater demons. One can only hope. Mr. Shapiro, I beg you, do not leave us hanging there!
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com
Excerpt from the Truth About Stolas, Written by M.W.F.R.
You want a book that thrills you to your very core? That keeps you on your toes, and doesn't let you leave until you've turned the very last page?
Search no more, for this is such a book!
One of my top '20 reads, The Book of Sam is an amazing story about a young boy, who travels to Hell in order to find and bring back his best friend and crush. During this impossible, suicidal, and dangerous journey, he meets demons, bounty hunters, and even the hero of his dreams. But things are never as they seem - worse, in Hell, they're even more lethal. And trust should be rarely given no matter the person and what you believe of them. In the words of uncle Bear, there's no one perfectly good in any world. And peace, in Hell, was never an option...
Honestly I loved this book so much, I think I read it twice before putting it down just to take a breath. The characters and their complexity, the action, the suspense. The horror it gives off the pages, existing like a subtle but quite tangible being. I'm not one for horror, to be honest, but there are exceptions sometimes that just beg me to ignore that fact - this book was one of them.
Not only that, but it showed how much a person can hide behind their daily facade. A scrawny, abused kid can rock a sword, but chooses not to - if he did, those bullies may have thought twice before bothering him. A wild, hostile girl may be looking for a companion, a friend, some love and affection. An ugly demon may be the sweetest and most loyal creature you can meet, while a famous hero and his deeds may just be the front behind which a tyrant is lurking. One lone author can turn the world and its beliefs on their heads, using only ink and paper - the true power of the written word.
"A great storyteller can sell any story, Sam. They're just words, but someone who feels wronged will find purpose in mere words."
I went through so many emotion while reading Sam's story. I laughed at Thorlton's shenanigans. Cried near the end of the book for him and Moscow. Cheered for Sam during the siege, and screamed in outrage for the empire of lies Stolas had built. I'm still not a hundred percent sure Harper is the right choice for Sam, but that's none of my business - honestly, I'd rather have him back, no matter which girl he'll choose.
Speaking of that, I really want to see more of Sam and his journey to growing up. I imagine him turning into a warlord for Hell or taking the place of one of the fallen greater demons. One can only hope. Mr. Shapiro, I beg you, do not leave us hanging there!
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy for review.
I enjoyed this one more than I expected. Sam is our unchosen hero. He is honestly, quite inept at almost everything. He floats by in the background at school, and at home, and is repeatedly saved by his friend Harper. His only refuge is his uncle's shop full of items from his many adventures. Sam finds solace in a collection of books called The Books of Hell, especially in the Book of Stolas. To him Stolas is the ultimate underdog. Born a slave in Hell, Stolas rises above his masters to unify Hell, or so Sam believes. After a rather scathingly, embarrassing event at school he hides out at his uncle's shop. While planning a dinner for him and Harper, they stumble upon his uncle's hidden treasure room. A stranger comes and Harper gets sucked into Hell. Tired of waiting for a hero, Sam decides it's up to him to venture through Hell and rescue Harper.
Hell is unlike any version you are thinking of here. It is massively varied, and has a complex social structure, It is a safe haven for various demon species that have been kicked out of their homeland. There are also human slaves among them. I loved the way the author created this elaborate Hellscape. Some of the towns were very Wild West in their depictions. Along the way Sam falls in with Hollinshead, a human slave for Pazuzu, and Thurlton. Now, one would expect Sam to do some growing and develop a sense of heroics along the way. This, unfortunately doesn't really ever happen. He stumbles his way through Hell, and honestly doesn't do much except muck everything up, until the very end of course. At some point you get the sense of a looming love triangle in the making, and the building blocks are there, but it never really develops. The ending is fairly open ended with a set up for a sequel. It's a very quick, fun read overall. The setting is honestly one of the better aspects of this story, and really makes the book what it is. If there is a sequel I would be interested to see where it goes and hopefully see a bit more character development.
I enjoyed this one more than I expected. Sam is our unchosen hero. He is honestly, quite inept at almost everything. He floats by in the background at school, and at home, and is repeatedly saved by his friend Harper. His only refuge is his uncle's shop full of items from his many adventures. Sam finds solace in a collection of books called The Books of Hell, especially in the Book of Stolas. To him Stolas is the ultimate underdog. Born a slave in Hell, Stolas rises above his masters to unify Hell, or so Sam believes. After a rather scathingly, embarrassing event at school he hides out at his uncle's shop. While planning a dinner for him and Harper, they stumble upon his uncle's hidden treasure room. A stranger comes and Harper gets sucked into Hell. Tired of waiting for a hero, Sam decides it's up to him to venture through Hell and rescue Harper.
Hell is unlike any version you are thinking of here. It is massively varied, and has a complex social structure, It is a safe haven for various demon species that have been kicked out of their homeland. There are also human slaves among them. I loved the way the author created this elaborate Hellscape. Some of the towns were very Wild West in their depictions. Along the way Sam falls in with Hollinshead, a human slave for Pazuzu, and Thurlton. Now, one would expect Sam to do some growing and develop a sense of heroics along the way. This, unfortunately doesn't really ever happen. He stumbles his way through Hell, and honestly doesn't do much except muck everything up, until the very end of course. At some point you get the sense of a looming love triangle in the making, and the building blocks are there, but it never really develops. The ending is fairly open ended with a set up for a sequel. It's a very quick, fun read overall. The setting is honestly one of the better aspects of this story, and really makes the book what it is. If there is a sequel I would be interested to see where it goes and hopefully see a bit more character development.
June 26, 2020
***I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*** The Book Of Sam is a young adult fantasy novel about a boy who’s victim to harsh bullying at school and relentless criticism from his father at home, which leaves him hopeless and doubtful all the time. His only source of happiness is his friend who he’s secretly in love with and the Cloaked Atlas, a shop run by his Uncle Bear which houses strange and ancient artifacts he’s collected. Sam’s courage and his faith in himself is put to the test when his friend, Harper, gets kidnapped by the residents of Hell, and he decides to go there to save her, battling the demons that reside there and making some friends as well as foes along the way. The Book Of Sam was the kind of novel that I had desperately been looking for without knowing it, and didn’t realize that I had found it after I was done reading it in merely two days. It was splendidly enjoyable and undoubtedly admirable. I loved every bit of it, and the fact that it was lighthearted and still managed to be the kind of story that keeps you on your toes (as in, quite thrilling) was so awe-worthy. The characters were just so easily likable, especially Sam and Hollinshead (I hope I’m spelling her name right) and Uncle Bear. Their character development was smooth beyond words, and the writing style was oh-so-amazing! I had no idea I was in for a hell of a ride when I decided to start reading this book, and now I’m really, really happy I did. It exceeded my expectations more than words can define.
April 18, 2020
Read my full review here: https://lifesanovelty.blogspot.com/20...
Rating: 2.5 rounded up to 3
Opinions: The Book of Sam was precisely okay. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but there wasn't anything fantastic about it either. It was average, mediocre, standard. Every element - characters, setting, plot, themes, writing style - was 50% engaging, resonating, and satisfying, which is enough to finish the book but not enough to love it. What else is there to say? I'm glad I read it but I definitely won't read it again.
My Favourite Thing: For me, the writing style was the most compelling element. Imagery was an abundant device in The Book of Sam. Shapiro did not hold back describing anything, no matter how beautiful or how bloody it was. My senses were stimulated and my face was cringing at the accurate and consistent world building. Shapiro's imagery and style was the most immersive element of The Book of Sam!
My Least Favourite Thing: The reason The Book of Sam is average in my eyes is because there was plot but no story. The absence of a story arc disengaged me and made it difficult to see character development, themes, and other features necessary in a good book. In my opinion, not much of the book was meaningful or essential.
Rating: 2.5 rounded up to 3
Opinions: The Book of Sam was precisely okay. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but there wasn't anything fantastic about it either. It was average, mediocre, standard. Every element - characters, setting, plot, themes, writing style - was 50% engaging, resonating, and satisfying, which is enough to finish the book but not enough to love it. What else is there to say? I'm glad I read it but I definitely won't read it again.
My Favourite Thing: For me, the writing style was the most compelling element. Imagery was an abundant device in The Book of Sam. Shapiro did not hold back describing anything, no matter how beautiful or how bloody it was. My senses were stimulated and my face was cringing at the accurate and consistent world building. Shapiro's imagery and style was the most immersive element of The Book of Sam!
My Least Favourite Thing: The reason The Book of Sam is average in my eyes is because there was plot but no story. The absence of a story arc disengaged me and made it difficult to see character development, themes, and other features necessary in a good book. In my opinion, not much of the book was meaningful or essential.
March 31, 2020
I have to say, I did like this book. I waited to start it for a while, but I liked it. I was hesitant about the whole "journey to Hell" aspect since similar things have been done a lot, but the world-building in this one was very different and very creative. I thought the characters were also really strong, too. I didn't think that Sam was a great character, but he was well-developed and I was dedicated to the others. I didn't find any plot holes either. Despite all of these good things, I didn't really get into the book. I don't know why, I thought it was good, but I didn't feel like it was my type of book.
I would mainly recommend this book to people who like traditional heroes' journeys and fantasy in general. I've read a lot of "storybook come true" books and I felt like this is good for people who like those too. I give this book a mediocre rating not because it's a bad book, but because I didn't connect with it. I did like the book, I just didn't love it enough to rate it higher.
I would mainly recommend this book to people who like traditional heroes' journeys and fantasy in general. I've read a lot of "storybook come true" books and I felt like this is good for people who like those too. I give this book a mediocre rating not because it's a bad book, but because I didn't connect with it. I did like the book, I just didn't love it enough to rate it higher.
May 1, 2020
I was given an ARC of The Book of Sam via Dundurn and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.
I truly can't think of anything wrong or problematic about The Book of Sam. It's not a bad book, exactly, but it's also not good. The Book of Sam has a really fun prose and the first 50 pages or so set in real-world Toronto were great, but from there on out the story felt more like a serial.
A bad thing happens. Three pages go by. It's resolved. Two pages go by. A bad thing happens. Rinse and repeat.
It's a story, yes, but there isn't much of a plot structure for what should be the book's most interesting and gripping section. Normally, I'd give a book like this a 50% but with a story like the one The Book of Sam attempts to tell putting such an emphasis on hero-tropes and arches, I couldn't help but feel hit over the head with how little of a character arc Sam actually had. The plot happens to Sam, not the other way around. Sometimes, that's fine but a hero's job is to impact their story. Sam is a passive character and it made it a passive read.
I truly can't think of anything wrong or problematic about The Book of Sam. It's not a bad book, exactly, but it's also not good. The Book of Sam has a really fun prose and the first 50 pages or so set in real-world Toronto were great, but from there on out the story felt more like a serial.
A bad thing happens. Three pages go by. It's resolved. Two pages go by. A bad thing happens. Rinse and repeat.
It's a story, yes, but there isn't much of a plot structure for what should be the book's most interesting and gripping section. Normally, I'd give a book like this a 50% but with a story like the one The Book of Sam attempts to tell putting such an emphasis on hero-tropes and arches, I couldn't help but feel hit over the head with how little of a character arc Sam actually had. The plot happens to Sam, not the other way around. Sometimes, that's fine but a hero's job is to impact their story. Sam is a passive character and it made it a passive read.
August 21, 2020
ARC provided by Dundurn Press and Rob Shapiro via Edelweiss+ and NetGalley. All opinions are mine and freely given.
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08-21: 'The Book of Sam' by Rob Shapiro is a "hell-bound fantasy starring demons, damsels, and an unlikely hero."
If you're anything like me, that simple tagline is more than enough to make you want to read the book. I jumped at the chance for a copy, but sadly.. it was a disappointment.
After finishing the book, as per usual.. I began to do a little research on it. Of course, I discovered it had been a Wattpad story. Had I known that, I would have probably looked long and hard at the decision to read it, but I try not to let too much in the way of preconceived beliefs get in my way. There certainly are exceptions to my personal rule of Wattpad, however.. about seventy percent of the books with Wattpad origins I've read, have been.. let's just say, not to my liking.
In this story, we follow sixteen-year-old Sam.. a kid who suffers abuse from most of his peers and suffers under the weight of his father, a man who sees greatness in Sam's siblings and nothing in him. Sam pretty much has one friend, a girl he crushes on named Harper.. that at some point in his miserable childhood just designated herself his faithful protector.
As a kid who seems to do everything wrong, Sam gets an idea from his Uncle to sweep Harper off her feet and confess his feelings for her. A toxic mixture of curiosity, fear, and the need to please lead to the kidnapping of the girl he loves, as she's dragged into Hell. Literally. But unwilling to let her go, he decides to go after her.
I know.. I know what you're thinking. It sounds like an exciting adventure fraught with danger, the opportunity for wildly creative hellscapes, fantastical elements of magic and demon lore, all in search of his best friend.
Certainly there is danger.. there are a couple of interesting world-building moments, though mostly even in the cases they're explained rather extensively, they're still not explained all that well. They read instead, like half-formed visual ideas and as with most of the book, I felt the author simply lacked the imagination and language to truly breathe life into them.
The dialogue is mostly terrible, which in hindsight.. knowing that the author is a TV writer that has dabbled in film, I'm unsurprised. Long have I lamented the weak dialogue work in these areas. There are barely more than a handful of popular TV and film writers who I feel understand how we interact well enough to convey it in dialogue, a few more probably who are lesser known, but this is an area that strong authors have always done well with. It's almost like novelists.. good novelists.. just have an extra muscle somewhere everyone else is missing.
Though Sam's backstory is in theory, meant to be sad.. and some of the characters we meet along the way even have what should be tragic backstories, the author presented them in a way that meant little to me. He failed to make me care even a little if any of the main characters would succeed in their goals.
Yet, Shapiro isn't unable to convey those feelings entirely. He just fails to apply them to those who should matter most in the story. I cared very much about how things would turn out for a little incubus named Thorlton and even a little for a bigger one named Moscow.
I'm a big fan of stories told in this kind of world, so there was a lot of potential for me to love this book. The execution just wasn't there. I feel like if the author could shake the mindset of images he can show us on screen and learn to flex some muscle with words, he could maybe reach another level with his writing.. but that's purely conjecture on my part. Maybe this is all he's got.
From a technical standpoint, it's fine.. though, I've never seen so many 'and' sentences back to back in a book. That felt odd and a lot like the way the kids wrote in my grade school, but whatever. It's not a book filled with glaring errors in novel writing or anything. It just falls very flat for me. Maybe you'll be more forgiving.
PURCHASE LINKS: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSAMILLION | GOOGLEPLAY BOOKS | INDIGO | KOBO | WATERSTONES
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08-20: It has actually taken me a few days to read this, largely because I'm bored and keep staring at it like an annoying neighbor. lol
08-17: Only about 10% into the book and already feeling bad for Sam.. geez.. people can be so awful to each other.
08-16: So curious about this one..
April 3, 2021
Sam is picked on and treated badly at school. At home he is the one sibling that hasn't peaked as the others have and his father likes to remind him he is nothing. His uncle Bear and partner Raymond seem to be the only ones to have his back, except for the girl he is in love with, Harper.
Harper is headed to Paris for an exchange program and Sam finally finds the nerve to plan a "non-date" dinner and a movie so he can tell her he loves her. Everything is going well until she convinces him to open Uncle Bear's secret room and she accidentally lets out a demon, Moloch, who through a sequence of events steals her to Hell.
It is Sam's job to save her.
First he has to convince his Uncle Bear he can do it. Then he must find the demon Stolas, who once upon a time saved the demons of Hell. What Sam didn't know was the story was ended before Stolas was betrayed and sent to the Mines of Bephegor.
I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Harper is headed to Paris for an exchange program and Sam finally finds the nerve to plan a "non-date" dinner and a movie so he can tell her he loves her. Everything is going well until she convinces him to open Uncle Bear's secret room and she accidentally lets out a demon, Moloch, who through a sequence of events steals her to Hell.
It is Sam's job to save her.
First he has to convince his Uncle Bear he can do it. Then he must find the demon Stolas, who once upon a time saved the demons of Hell. What Sam didn't know was the story was ended before Stolas was betrayed and sent to the Mines of Bephegor.
I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2020
Sam is a shy, introvert guy who’s in love with is best friend, Harper but he never told her. And now he wants to, before it’s too late.
But things don’t exactly go as planned and she ends up in hell.
Now he wants to save her, even if that means going to hell as well...
That plot reminded me of chilling adventures of Sabrina.
I liked the story, it’s catchy and the fact that Sam is ready to overcome his fears to bring back his friend and love interest is amazing, and I wasn’t ready for the turn of events and that ending ! Unexpected. The only thing that bothers me is how quick the actions takes place at the beginning of the book. I want to know if there’s gonna be a sequel?!
But things don’t exactly go as planned and she ends up in hell.
Now he wants to save her, even if that means going to hell as well...
That plot reminded me of chilling adventures of Sabrina.
I liked the story, it’s catchy and the fact that Sam is ready to overcome his fears to bring back his friend and love interest is amazing, and I wasn’t ready for the turn of events and that ending ! Unexpected. The only thing that bothers me is how quick the actions takes place at the beginning of the book. I want to know if there’s gonna be a sequel?!
June 11, 2024
I can see why not everyone has a favorable rating of this book, but I actually quite enjoyed it. The world was fascinating and felt pretty fleshed out to me. The writing was a bit confusing at times, and I'm still a bit confused about how Hollinshead betrayed Sam (if someone could explain it to me, that would be great), and I really didn't think Sam and Hollinshead had that much romantic chemistry compared to him and Harper, but it didn't take away from the experience too much. I really hope there's a sequel, as it seems to be hinting that way. Although there is room for improvement, this is a solid debut novel to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2020
A young boy travels to hel to save his best friend.
This was an interesting story. I feel that it was overwhelmingly just sad. From what his new friend he meets in hel has gone through all the way to the ending was just sad. Some stories leave you feeling uplifted and happy, but this one leaves you wanting the author to release the next book in the series immediately so you can reach a happy conclusion.
This was an interesting story. I feel that it was overwhelmingly just sad. From what his new friend he meets in hel has gone through all the way to the ending was just sad. Some stories leave you feeling uplifted and happy, but this one leaves you wanting the author to release the next book in the series immediately so you can reach a happy conclusion.
June 19, 2023
Another dnf for me. I have no clue how I heard of this book, the storyline is very interesting, but there’s no depth. Things kept happening without any reasoning. We were introduced to characters without any warning or explanation. It felt like a story written by a VERY inexperienced reader who gave as little details as possible
July 1, 2020
Thank you to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Book of Sam is an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride through a uniquely fantastical Hell. This is not the religious underworld you think it is. A cross-section between multiple worlds, Shapiro’s Hell delivers a complex kingdom filled with diverse creatures of every moral shade. The vivid descriptions give the world a sense of realness while still being blanketed in obscure images like red-tinged skies and ash-covered streets.
Compared to this dark, exciting world, our “hero” Sam is a bit underwhelming, albeit purposefully so. Described numerous times as a failure who is “not really good at stuff”, this book becomes a journey of both courage and heart. The classic hope-conquers-fear mantra is alive and well here. Aided by an unruly (far more interesting) cast of characters, Sam manages to completely botch several “missions” needing near constant rescue himself. The secondary characters are so intriguing and well developed that I often wished one of them were the protagonist, but Sam won me over by the end of the book.
The pacing of this book is brisk to say the least, which can be very exciting particularly in YA. Unfortunately, this book reads a bit like a road trip full of little pit-stop adventures. I would have liked to see more depth and detail to tease out the story and make it fuller. Additionally, for a book this short, there are a lot of named characters. Many of these characters exist for only a page or two and could simply have been “a beggar” or “her daughter”. The blunt writing here lends itself more to Middle Grade fiction and I think this could have been much more successful (with a younger protagonist) in that level.
Fair warning: this book has a cliffhanger ending. I was not aware that this is a planned series upon my initial request of this book. However, I am intrigued enough by the world building and characters to read the next book.
The Book of Sam is an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride through a uniquely fantastical Hell. This is not the religious underworld you think it is. A cross-section between multiple worlds, Shapiro’s Hell delivers a complex kingdom filled with diverse creatures of every moral shade. The vivid descriptions give the world a sense of realness while still being blanketed in obscure images like red-tinged skies and ash-covered streets.
Compared to this dark, exciting world, our “hero” Sam is a bit underwhelming, albeit purposefully so. Described numerous times as a failure who is “not really good at stuff”, this book becomes a journey of both courage and heart. The classic hope-conquers-fear mantra is alive and well here. Aided by an unruly (far more interesting) cast of characters, Sam manages to completely botch several “missions” needing near constant rescue himself. The secondary characters are so intriguing and well developed that I often wished one of them were the protagonist, but Sam won me over by the end of the book.
The pacing of this book is brisk to say the least, which can be very exciting particularly in YA. Unfortunately, this book reads a bit like a road trip full of little pit-stop adventures. I would have liked to see more depth and detail to tease out the story and make it fuller. Additionally, for a book this short, there are a lot of named characters. Many of these characters exist for only a page or two and could simply have been “a beggar” or “her daughter”. The blunt writing here lends itself more to Middle Grade fiction and I think this could have been much more successful (with a younger protagonist) in that level.
Fair warning: this book has a cliffhanger ending. I was not aware that this is a planned series upon my initial request of this book. However, I am intrigued enough by the world building and characters to read the next book.
October 1, 2020
Shapiro's debut is by turns thrilling, hilarious, and heartbreaking, as Sam treks through hell (literally) to find his childhood best friend / crush after a romantic gesture gone wrong. The question isn't so much as "what happens?" as it is "when is book 2 coming out!?"
December 6, 2024
I overall thought this story was ok. So much empathy felt for Sam and what he was going through, but ultimately the story dragged on and on for me. It had a great premise but it just needed a little something extra to push it into exciting for me.
November 1, 2020
meh.. wasn't for me
December 5, 2020
I liked it
October 7, 2020
Smart, heartfelt. Loved this novel.
And loved talking about it with the author:
https://anchor.fm/samantha-cutrara/ep...
And loved talking about it with the author:
https://anchor.fm/samantha-cutrara/ep...
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