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Skipping Sideways #1
Some Laneys Died
“No matter how hard it gets, there’s always a version of you who can fight a little longer.”
Laney’s world collapsed when she caught her dad cheating. He begged her not to tell, but she did. Her family fell apart and regret consumes her, especially when she learns every decision she makes spawns a new universe for the opposite choice.
If only she could skip sideways to the Laney who didn’t tell.
But her only escape is through her imagination, until a news story blurs the lines between worlds. Two girls were murdered at the same time and same place as her father’s adulterous act. Strange events lead Laney to believe their bones are connected to her and the sister she always wanted.
Laney now has another decision to make. Some Laneys say yes, while others say no; some live and some die.And some skip between worlds.
Laney’s world collapsed when she caught her dad cheating. He begged her not to tell, but she did. Her family fell apart and regret consumes her, especially when she learns every decision she makes spawns a new universe for the opposite choice.
If only she could skip sideways to the Laney who didn’t tell.
But her only escape is through her imagination, until a news story blurs the lines between worlds. Two girls were murdered at the same time and same place as her father’s adulterous act. Strange events lead Laney to believe their bones are connected to her and the sister she always wanted.
Laney now has another decision to make. Some Laneys say yes, while others say no; some live and some die.And some skip between worlds.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2020
8 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
Brooke Skipstone
5 books74 followersBrooke Skipstone is a multi-award-winning author who lives in Alaska where she watches the mountains change colors with the seasons from her balcony. Where she feels the constant rush toward winter as the sunlight wanes for six months of the year, seven minutes each day, bringing crushing cold that lingers even as the sun climbs again. Where the burst of life during summer is urgent under twenty-four-hour daylight, lush and decadent. Where fish swim hundreds of miles up rivers past bear claws and nets and wheels and lines of rubber-clad combat fishers, arriving humped and ragged, dying as they spawn. Where danger from the land and its animals exhilarates the senses, forcing her to appreciate the difference between life and death. Where the edge between is sometimes too alluring.
The Queering is her fifth novel. Visit her website at https://www.brookeskipstone.com for information about her first four novels—The Moonstone Girls, Crystal's House of Queers, Some Laneys Died, and Someone To Kiss My Scars.
The Queering is her fifth novel. Visit her website at https://www.brookeskipstone.com for information about her first four novels—The Moonstone Girls, Crystal's House of Queers, Some Laneys Died, and Someone To Kiss My Scars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 2, 2020
A mind-bending alternate realities thriller...
Author Brooke Skipstone weaves a very suspenseful and gripping thriller with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a compelling coming-of-age science fiction thriller with alternate realities in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a unique thriller that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class science fiction thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery, thriller and suspense will want it.
There’s no doubt that Some Laneys Died: A Skipping Sideways Thriller by Brooke Skipstone is an exceptionally well written book. However, it must be said that this story is not for the faint-hearted. The author’s script at times is razor-sharp and will cut deep into the emotions of its reader. The book deals with some very serious issues. As the author states, ‘This book contains scenes of violence, sexual situations, and suicide.’ However, it also contains ‘scenes of love, resilience, joy, hope, and redemption.’ Highly recommended.
Author Brooke Skipstone weaves a very suspenseful and gripping thriller with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a compelling coming-of-age science fiction thriller with alternate realities in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a unique thriller that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class science fiction thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery, thriller and suspense will want it.
There’s no doubt that Some Laneys Died: A Skipping Sideways Thriller by Brooke Skipstone is an exceptionally well written book. However, it must be said that this story is not for the faint-hearted. The author’s script at times is razor-sharp and will cut deep into the emotions of its reader. The book deals with some very serious issues. As the author states, ‘This book contains scenes of violence, sexual situations, and suicide.’ However, it also contains ‘scenes of love, resilience, joy, hope, and redemption.’ Highly recommended.
October 30, 2020
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
In all honesty, this book messed around with my head. With its discussion of parallel universes and alternate realities where things did and did not happen, Some Laneys Died made me question my own existence and the reality of our universe. I often had to do a double take to work out what did and did not happen in book's main storyline and I had to reflect back on what I previously read. All in all, it was definitely a learning experience and I don't think I ever received such a throwback to my physics lessons since this book came into my life.
Some Laneys Died follows main character Laney who, after walking into a very intimate moment with her father and his lover, regrets causing the collapse of her family. If only she could turn back time and change that moment and everything that happened afterwards. The only way she can escape her misery is through discovering more about a murdered body, killed not so far away and at the same time as where she caught her dad. Somehow, Laney cannot shake the feeling that those bones are somehow connected to her and the sister she always wanted. Laney takes a trip across multiple universes to discover the truth and uncovers dangerous secrets that threaten to change the whole world that she knows.
And what a trip she took. With all the time jumps and the alternate realities, I'm not going to lie, I did get confused a bit with what actually happened in conjunction to what didn't happen. As a result, that really did make it hard for me to fall in love with this book. I just couldn't get into the feel of it easily neither with the alternate realities nor with the characters.
Characters are usually easy for me to fall in love with if well-written and well-rounded. What I found was that there were so many characters that, although flawed, didn't really stand out on the page for me. Rather than feel sorry or empathetic for the dad, I felt rather annoyed by his actions throughout the entirety of the novel. The same thing goes with Gibbs, I was meant to feel remorse for her after everything she has been through but honestly, as bad as it may sound, I didn't feel anything for her character either. I suppose this was the result of my lack of connection with story line though, I wish I could find something to relate to, something that would've made me enjoy reading about her more. I must admit, the sad backstory for her was what really bumped my review rating up though and made me enjoy reading about her narrative arc. She has gone through hell and back but her resilience really shone through. I wish the same could've been said about the main character. I found her to be probably the most mature out of all the characters since the adults all had messy and complicated lives that they seemingly couldn't return back to normal.
It kind of annoyed me though, why did Laney have to be so mature? These were adult problems that the adults honestly should've been able to deal with rather than a teenage girl who can open up universes. If I'm being completely truthful, the whole plot could have been resolved if the adults just took more responsibility for their actions rather than enact short-term and ignorant solutions. It wasn't on Laney to solve or fix but she did it anyway because her mum, dad and Gibbs just couldn't have a meaningful and open conversation about it with one another. That's what annoyed me the most out of everything I reckon, which definitely dampened my thoughts and opinions about Some Laneys Died
All in all, great story idea but the characters really let me down.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.3 STARS
In all honesty, this book messed around with my head. With its discussion of parallel universes and alternate realities where things did and did not happen, Some Laneys Died made me question my own existence and the reality of our universe. I often had to do a double take to work out what did and did not happen in book's main storyline and I had to reflect back on what I previously read. All in all, it was definitely a learning experience and I don't think I ever received such a throwback to my physics lessons since this book came into my life.
Some Laneys Died follows main character Laney who, after walking into a very intimate moment with her father and his lover, regrets causing the collapse of her family. If only she could turn back time and change that moment and everything that happened afterwards. The only way she can escape her misery is through discovering more about a murdered body, killed not so far away and at the same time as where she caught her dad. Somehow, Laney cannot shake the feeling that those bones are somehow connected to her and the sister she always wanted. Laney takes a trip across multiple universes to discover the truth and uncovers dangerous secrets that threaten to change the whole world that she knows.
And what a trip she took. With all the time jumps and the alternate realities, I'm not going to lie, I did get confused a bit with what actually happened in conjunction to what didn't happen. As a result, that really did make it hard for me to fall in love with this book. I just couldn't get into the feel of it easily neither with the alternate realities nor with the characters.
Characters are usually easy for me to fall in love with if well-written and well-rounded. What I found was that there were so many characters that, although flawed, didn't really stand out on the page for me. Rather than feel sorry or empathetic for the dad, I felt rather annoyed by his actions throughout the entirety of the novel. The same thing goes with Gibbs, I was meant to feel remorse for her after everything she has been through but honestly, as bad as it may sound, I didn't feel anything for her character either. I suppose this was the result of my lack of connection with story line though, I wish I could find something to relate to, something that would've made me enjoy reading about her more. I must admit, the sad backstory for her was what really bumped my review rating up though and made me enjoy reading about her narrative arc. She has gone through hell and back but her resilience really shone through. I wish the same could've been said about the main character. I found her to be probably the most mature out of all the characters since the adults all had messy and complicated lives that they seemingly couldn't return back to normal.
It kind of annoyed me though, why did Laney have to be so mature? These were adult problems that the adults honestly should've been able to deal with rather than a teenage girl who can open up universes. If I'm being completely truthful, the whole plot could have been resolved if the adults just took more responsibility for their actions rather than enact short-term and ignorant solutions. It wasn't on Laney to solve or fix but she did it anyway because her mum, dad and Gibbs just couldn't have a meaningful and open conversation about it with one another. That's what annoyed me the most out of everything I reckon, which definitely dampened my thoughts and opinions about Some Laneys Died
All in all, great story idea but the characters really let me down.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.3 STARS
September 5, 2021
I have to admit at first, I was excited to read this book as sounded like a murder mystery, especially when two tween twin skeletons were found but then the book took the weirdest turn and I have to admit it was one of the most confusing books I have read in a long time. It did take me a while to connect with the book and slowly wrap my mind around the book and story as a whole. In this book, we have lots of parallel universes and in one universe we have Laney and of course in multiple universes Laneys and when an incident occurs, the universes start to collide and split, and soon things from the other universes are coinciding and crashing into the main Laney's universe and she is losing time and feels like she is going crazy and I have to admit, you do feel that as the reader too that you are going crazy as I seriously tried hard to stay on the same page as the author but several moments I was like Huh? I am so confused. In parts of this book, it reminded me of a cross between Lovely Bones and the Time Traveller's Wife. If you love science fiction crossed with mystery and you understand the sciencey background of universes and split parallels etc, then you may enjoy this but for me, it was just a tad too much - therefore it is a borderline 3Ps read for me.
August 11, 2020
I just can't finish this book. There are so many problems with it. As far as the plot, it's basically nothing like what the synopsis says. As I was reading I kept checking it and wondering when we were going to get to what I had thought would be the point of the book.
This book is basically a philosophical physics course about the multiverse and the possibility of leakage between universes. So it's very out there. It's interesting on some level, but at some point it the repetition on this theme becomes obnoxious.
I also had to look for more information about the author because I started to suspect she was probably very young. Seeing that she was homeschooled explained what appeared to be misconceptions about the way actual human beings work. This is partially based on the strange things people do in the book, the odd conversations people have, and the ways people interact with each other. Probably the biggest example is that one of the big things that happens in the book revolves around an incident where teenage girls apparently masturbate with vibrators in front of each other and record it to be shared publicly. And that incident is referenced repeatedly in a myriad of ways. There is also a lot of reference to sex in general, including BDSM and stepsibling..interactions.
Don't pick this up thinking that this is a murder mystery. It's not.
This book is basically a philosophical physics course about the multiverse and the possibility of leakage between universes. So it's very out there. It's interesting on some level, but at some point it the repetition on this theme becomes obnoxious.
I also had to look for more information about the author because I started to suspect she was probably very young. Seeing that she was homeschooled explained what appeared to be misconceptions about the way actual human beings work. This is partially based on the strange things people do in the book, the odd conversations people have, and the ways people interact with each other. Probably the biggest example is that one of the big things that happens in the book revolves around an incident where teenage girls apparently masturbate with vibrators in front of each other and record it to be shared publicly. And that incident is referenced repeatedly in a myriad of ways. There is also a lot of reference to sex in general, including BDSM and stepsibling..interactions.
Don't pick this up thinking that this is a murder mystery. It's not.
July 3, 2020
Laney caught her dad cheating and he begged her not to tell. Upset and angry, she told her mum and since that day Laney is filled with regret about her decision. She writes version after version of how differently things may have turned out according to the choices she could have made.
At first it seems to be just a fictional outpouring of her grief as she tries to deal with what happened but when she hears the news that two girls were murdered at the same time and place as where the events of her past took place, she starts to believe it is all linked.
Quantum physics and parallel universes admittedly make my head hurt but the explanations provided by Laney’s mother, an expert in the field, helped me understand it enough to grasp the book’s concept. Following Laney through different versions of herself and her worlds depending on the butterfly effect of choices she made was deliciously dizzying sensation. I’m really looking forward to the next in the series!
Try this if you enjoy a fast paced book that makes you twist and turn the possibilities over in your mind.
Avoid this is you prefer twists and turns to be more traditionally written.
At first it seems to be just a fictional outpouring of her grief as she tries to deal with what happened but when she hears the news that two girls were murdered at the same time and place as where the events of her past took place, she starts to believe it is all linked.
Quantum physics and parallel universes admittedly make my head hurt but the explanations provided by Laney’s mother, an expert in the field, helped me understand it enough to grasp the book’s concept. Following Laney through different versions of herself and her worlds depending on the butterfly effect of choices she made was deliciously dizzying sensation. I’m really looking forward to the next in the series!
Try this if you enjoy a fast paced book that makes you twist and turn the possibilities over in your mind.
Avoid this is you prefer twists and turns to be more traditionally written.
July 18, 2020
Skipstone’s enthralling latest chronicles the tale of a teenager whose destiny is curiously intertwined with someone else from another universe.
It was Delaney’s dad’s cheating that led to her parents’ divorce, but she blamed herself for telling on her dad. Trying to deal with the trauma of her parent’s separation, Delaney started imagining different versions of the same situation in which she never told on her dad and the divorce never happened. The discovery of two murdered girls’ bodies made Delaney realize her past is connected to the case.
While narrating Delaney’s story, Skipstone’s focus stays on the subtle strangeness of life, the unseen connections between the complete strangers, and finding hope in the middle of despair. This is a dark thriller filled with elements of quantum physics and concept of parallel universes. The way Delaney’s worlds imitate each other offers emotional quotient to the story.
This is a fascinating read.
It was Delaney’s dad’s cheating that led to her parents’ divorce, but she blamed herself for telling on her dad. Trying to deal with the trauma of her parent’s separation, Delaney started imagining different versions of the same situation in which she never told on her dad and the divorce never happened. The discovery of two murdered girls’ bodies made Delaney realize her past is connected to the case.
While narrating Delaney’s story, Skipstone’s focus stays on the subtle strangeness of life, the unseen connections between the complete strangers, and finding hope in the middle of despair. This is a dark thriller filled with elements of quantum physics and concept of parallel universes. The way Delaney’s worlds imitate each other offers emotional quotient to the story.
This is a fascinating read.
July 27, 2020
The book has an interesting concept and I enjoyed the parts of the book focused on ‘skipping’ but I could not get into the book. I did not like the writing style, the dialogue was weird and awkward between the characters and too much focus was on drama – especially between the adults in the book who made the main character look mature.
Although I liked when the character talked about alternative universes/choices and jumping between them, I did feel like in the second half of the book there was so much action and the main character was skipping a lot more and yet there was no explanation for it given, I was confused on how things were so easily falling into place.
1/5
Although I liked when the character talked about alternative universes/choices and jumping between them, I did feel like in the second half of the book there was so much action and the main character was skipping a lot more and yet there was no explanation for it given, I was confused on how things were so easily falling into place.
1/5
August 10, 2020
Let me start this review by saying: this was by far the most confusing yet intriguing books I ever read.
I loved the concept of this book, being able to skip into alternate universes. I have never read a book with such a storyline, but I really loved it.
The book does deal with very heavy topics, but all these topics were handled very well.
Skipstone's writing style is very beautiful and easy to get through, which is why I flew through the book once I started.
I'll definitely check out Skipstone's first book and am very excited for the second book in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Skipstone Publishing for giving me the chance to read this amazing book.
I loved the concept of this book, being able to skip into alternate universes. I have never read a book with such a storyline, but I really loved it.
The book does deal with very heavy topics, but all these topics were handled very well.
Skipstone's writing style is very beautiful and easy to get through, which is why I flew through the book once I started.
I'll definitely check out Skipstone's first book and am very excited for the second book in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Skipstone Publishing for giving me the chance to read this amazing book.
August 19, 2020
This book was FANTASTIC! My mind is left all screwy and I love it. Laney was a great character. I was drawn in from the very start. I read Brooke Skipstone's first book and loved it as well. She does the magical realism thing so good. This story had dimension skipping. My brain hurt, but I love when I have to really think. She seems to have a way of completely absorbing me into her stories. I can't wait to read what she decides to write in the future.
August 13, 2020
Yeahhh— I really wanted to like this
And truthfully, it’s not that I didn’t, per say... the concept itself is right up my alley, so I truly enjoyed the parts that were heavy on dimension “skipping”, as this book calls it. I��m a big fan of multiverse stories, paradox theory, all of that. I also love YA— when they’re good.
But...
(And it’s definitely a large qualifier)
At ~25-40%, the author really started to let her biases show. The following dog whistles went off:
— kink/sexuality shaming; I was a pretty prudish 16 year old, but I didn’t have the kind of utter disgust and horror that Laney does for discovering her mom’s toy drawer. Like, I get it, it’s always a weird event when you’re a teenager and you have the revelation that your parents fuck, but the way in which the character is written really rubbed me the wrong way.
There’s actually an entire part of the plot that centers Laney and two other girls from school filming each other masturbating with a vibrator— which in and of itself is absurd and just not something that actually happens???— but the way it’s written, has so much shame in it, that I was not only frustrated with the fact that this was (an “important”, nonetheless) part of the plot in the first place, but also frustrated that the author was suggesting that young women should be ashamed of their sexuality. It was just weird, y’all. Definitely made me uncomfortable. It could be very possible that this was the author’s intent, but I kind of doubt it.
— addiction shaming; they seemed particularly focused on weed for some reason, despite its legality in many places, and there being little evidence to support it being addictive in the way that actual substance abusers struggle with.
Laney’s father’s girlfriend struggles with addiction issues, but the only substances that the author names are alcohol (totally valid) and weed (why???). She has miscarried in the past, according to the author, due to this substance abuse. She was also fired because she smoked weed at her job inside... who does that? And look, weed, like other things, is not for everyone, and that’s fine. But to have it be the main struggle for someone who’s supposedly an addict was weird.
It’s just silly. If she’s an alcoholic, say she’s an alcoholic. There’s not nearly enough scientific research to suggest that weed usage during pregnancy causes miscarriages, and there certainly is enough research out there for the consensus to be that weed is no more addictive than caffeine (technically caffeine is more addictive...)
The way that Laney’s perspective on these issues is written really gives off the impression that the author is letting her personal feelings on the subject of sexuality and cannabis usage show, which is fine, it’s her book, but it really alienated me as a reader who both has some kinks in her sexual preferences, and also, to be transparent, uses a lot of weed both recreationally and medicinally, someone who also worked in the legal cannabis industry for many years.
— casual racism; Laney’s friends flash “gang signs” ( the author’s words 😒🧐) in photos. She also goes out of her way to describe a black or brown (we don’t know because Laney literally describes him as something to the effect of, “could be African-American, could be middle eastern”) boy working at the camping/outdoors store. It’s just always a bad look when all of the white characters are not described exclusively by the color of their skin and then the one BIPOC shows up and that’s their leading descriptor.
There are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book which is so, so, so, so great! Seriously, more authors/publishers need to do this. What’s strange is that some of the bigger triggering themes were not listed in this warning, and in all honestly, the trigger warning is strangely broad. Like, if you’re going to warn us, you should be specific.
“This book contains scenes of violence, sexual situations, and suicide.” Really doesn’t cover it, imo. There’s a sexual assault scene that will honestly probably haunt me and it would’ve been nice to get a heads up.
Listing both ‘violence’ and ‘sexual situations’ is not enough, nor helpful. If you really care about a reader being triggered, say what it actually is, don’t beat around the damn bush... not to mention the, ya know, incest.... why on earth is that not listed?
I know that this is an ARC and hopefully enough people will talk about these issues, but this overall, these were big negative marks for me that had me, mid-read, docking it from 4 stars to 3 within the span of maybe 20 pages.
Overall, I just really didn’t connect to a lot of the writing style. The dialogue felt particularly forced. Never at any point did I feel I was being narrated to by an actual teenager. It gave me, “I’m a cool, hip 30-to-40-something who totally knows how teens interact nowadays,” vibes, but they really, truly don’t. Like, at all.
It’s a 4/5-star concept with 2/3-star execution 🤷🏻♀️
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC**
And truthfully, it’s not that I didn’t, per say... the concept itself is right up my alley, so I truly enjoyed the parts that were heavy on dimension “skipping”, as this book calls it. I��m a big fan of multiverse stories, paradox theory, all of that. I also love YA— when they’re good.
But...
(And it’s definitely a large qualifier)
At ~25-40%, the author really started to let her biases show. The following dog whistles went off:
— kink/sexuality shaming; I was a pretty prudish 16 year old, but I didn’t have the kind of utter disgust and horror that Laney does for discovering her mom’s toy drawer. Like, I get it, it’s always a weird event when you’re a teenager and you have the revelation that your parents fuck, but the way in which the character is written really rubbed me the wrong way.
There’s actually an entire part of the plot that centers Laney and two other girls from school filming each other masturbating with a vibrator— which in and of itself is absurd and just not something that actually happens???— but the way it’s written, has so much shame in it, that I was not only frustrated with the fact that this was (an “important”, nonetheless) part of the plot in the first place, but also frustrated that the author was suggesting that young women should be ashamed of their sexuality. It was just weird, y’all. Definitely made me uncomfortable. It could be very possible that this was the author’s intent, but I kind of doubt it.
— addiction shaming; they seemed particularly focused on weed for some reason, despite its legality in many places, and there being little evidence to support it being addictive in the way that actual substance abusers struggle with.
Laney’s father’s girlfriend struggles with addiction issues, but the only substances that the author names are alcohol (totally valid) and weed (why???). She has miscarried in the past, according to the author, due to this substance abuse. She was also fired because she smoked weed at her job inside... who does that? And look, weed, like other things, is not for everyone, and that’s fine. But to have it be the main struggle for someone who’s supposedly an addict was weird.
It’s just silly. If she’s an alcoholic, say she’s an alcoholic. There’s not nearly enough scientific research to suggest that weed usage during pregnancy causes miscarriages, and there certainly is enough research out there for the consensus to be that weed is no more addictive than caffeine (technically caffeine is more addictive...)
The way that Laney’s perspective on these issues is written really gives off the impression that the author is letting her personal feelings on the subject of sexuality and cannabis usage show, which is fine, it’s her book, but it really alienated me as a reader who both has some kinks in her sexual preferences, and also, to be transparent, uses a lot of weed both recreationally and medicinally, someone who also worked in the legal cannabis industry for many years.
— casual racism; Laney’s friends flash “gang signs” ( the author’s words 😒🧐) in photos. She also goes out of her way to describe a black or brown (we don’t know because Laney literally describes him as something to the effect of, “could be African-American, could be middle eastern”) boy working at the camping/outdoors store. It’s just always a bad look when all of the white characters are not described exclusively by the color of their skin and then the one BIPOC shows up and that’s their leading descriptor.
There are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book which is so, so, so, so great! Seriously, more authors/publishers need to do this. What’s strange is that some of the bigger triggering themes were not listed in this warning, and in all honestly, the trigger warning is strangely broad. Like, if you’re going to warn us, you should be specific.
“This book contains scenes of violence, sexual situations, and suicide.” Really doesn’t cover it, imo. There’s a sexual assault scene that will honestly probably haunt me and it would’ve been nice to get a heads up.
Listing both ‘violence’ and ‘sexual situations’ is not enough, nor helpful. If you really care about a reader being triggered, say what it actually is, don’t beat around the damn bush... not to mention the, ya know, incest.... why on earth is that not listed?
I know that this is an ARC and hopefully enough people will talk about these issues, but this overall, these were big negative marks for me that had me, mid-read, docking it from 4 stars to 3 within the span of maybe 20 pages.
Overall, I just really didn’t connect to a lot of the writing style. The dialogue felt particularly forced. Never at any point did I feel I was being narrated to by an actual teenager. It gave me, “I’m a cool, hip 30-to-40-something who totally knows how teens interact nowadays,” vibes, but they really, truly don’t. Like, at all.
It’s a 4/5-star concept with 2/3-star execution 🤷🏻♀️
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC**
July 22, 2020
Nous vous êtes-vous jamais demandé à quoi votre vie aurait ressemblée si vous aviez décidé d’une chose plutôt qu’une autre ? Que se serait-il passé si vous aviez effectué d’autres choix, de meilleurs choix ? Ces questions envahissent l’esprit de Léa et refusent de la quitter. Pourtant, quand l’imaginaire prend le pas sur la réalité, quand les frontières du réel se font de plus en plus floues, Léa se voit contrainte d’affronter une vérité à laquelle elle ne peut se soustraire.
Lorsqu’elle n’était qu’une enfant, Léa fit un choix, le choix de l’innocence, un choix parmi tant d’autres, une choix sans importance. Pourtant, elle réalise bien vite que nos choix ne sont pas aussi insignifiants que l’on pourrait le croire et déterminent avec force notre présent tout comme notre avenir.
Dans sa quête de compréhension, accompagnée de son compagnon de route Jag, Léa va affronter son passé, renouer des liens qu’elle pensait défaits, plonger à pieds joints dans ses visions pour tenter d’y voir plus clair et enfin trouver des réponses à ses questions restées trop longtemps sans réponse. Dans ce nouveau roman, Brooke Skipstone parvient une fois encore à capturer l’attention du lecteur dans une histoire à la fois complexe, déstabilisante et passionnante.
Have you ever wondered what your life would have been like if you had decided on one thing over another? What would have happened if you had made other choices, better choices? These questions invade Lea's mind and refuse to leave her. Yet when the imagination takes over from reality, when the boundaries of reality become increasingly blurred, Léa finds herself forced to confront a truth she cannot escape.
When she was just a child, Léa made a choice, the choice of innocence, a choice among so many others, a choice without consequence. Yet she soon realized that our choices are not as insignificant as one might think, and they powerfully determine our present as well as our future.
In her quest for understanding, accompanied by her travelling companion Jag, Léa will confront her past, renew ties she thought were broken, plunge headlong into her visions to try to see more clearly and finally find answers to her questions that have remained unanswered for too long. In this new novel, Brooke Skipstone once again manages to capture the reader's attention in a story that is at once complex, unsettling and exciting.
Lorsqu’elle n’était qu’une enfant, Léa fit un choix, le choix de l’innocence, un choix parmi tant d’autres, une choix sans importance. Pourtant, elle réalise bien vite que nos choix ne sont pas aussi insignifiants que l’on pourrait le croire et déterminent avec force notre présent tout comme notre avenir.
Dans sa quête de compréhension, accompagnée de son compagnon de route Jag, Léa va affronter son passé, renouer des liens qu’elle pensait défaits, plonger à pieds joints dans ses visions pour tenter d’y voir plus clair et enfin trouver des réponses à ses questions restées trop longtemps sans réponse. Dans ce nouveau roman, Brooke Skipstone parvient une fois encore à capturer l’attention du lecteur dans une histoire à la fois complexe, déstabilisante et passionnante.
Have you ever wondered what your life would have been like if you had decided on one thing over another? What would have happened if you had made other choices, better choices? These questions invade Lea's mind and refuse to leave her. Yet when the imagination takes over from reality, when the boundaries of reality become increasingly blurred, Léa finds herself forced to confront a truth she cannot escape.
When she was just a child, Léa made a choice, the choice of innocence, a choice among so many others, a choice without consequence. Yet she soon realized that our choices are not as insignificant as one might think, and they powerfully determine our present as well as our future.
In her quest for understanding, accompanied by her travelling companion Jag, Léa will confront her past, renew ties she thought were broken, plunge headlong into her visions to try to see more clearly and finally find answers to her questions that have remained unanswered for too long. In this new novel, Brooke Skipstone once again manages to capture the reader's attention in a story that is at once complex, unsettling and exciting.
August 22, 2020
Recieved via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have conflicting feelings about this book.
The premise is incredibly interesting. The main focus is around choices and multiple realities that are created through these choices. This concept plus a murder mystery? I was sold!
However, the execution wasn't as great as it could have been. The first half was pretty solid, building intrigue and questions around the main mystery. I didn't like the hypersexualization - it didn't feel like I was reading a 16-year-old at all - but the main points were engaging enough that I kept reading. The failings began as explanations began.
Too much exposition - there were so many moments were Laney is retelling what has already happened or the notion that had been suggested was then reiterated more explicitly. There were moments that were meant to be weighed but mostly just felt like a waste of time. There were plot points that didn't make sense at all and the concept of 'skipping' between different versions of Laney ultimately meant that at one point, there were two Laneys existing. Then there was the twin that somehow has a body despite not having a body in the current world that she is existing in.
Jagger is a cool character, but the introduction scene where one of the only BIPOC characters is introduced reads like a token written by a white woman. Laney literally says the words 'I don't notice colour'. It felt like Skipstone wanted to address racism but in the most blatant and inoffensive to the character currently as possible. That isn't to mention that he is only introduced at the 50% mark and yet he is basically insta-loved and ends up being far too willing to go along with the craziness this random girl he thought was cute brought with her.
The story extended longer than it needed to be, with extra chapters that seem like they're trying to wrap things up but really there isn't much of a build up or payoff with any of them.
I'm really disappointed with this read. I started with such excitement and eagerness and it quickly became reading to be finished.
I have conflicting feelings about this book.
The premise is incredibly interesting. The main focus is around choices and multiple realities that are created through these choices. This concept plus a murder mystery? I was sold!
However, the execution wasn't as great as it could have been. The first half was pretty solid, building intrigue and questions around the main mystery. I didn't like the hypersexualization - it didn't feel like I was reading a 16-year-old at all - but the main points were engaging enough that I kept reading. The failings began as explanations began.
Too much exposition - there were so many moments were Laney is retelling what has already happened or the notion that had been suggested was then reiterated more explicitly. There were moments that were meant to be weighed but mostly just felt like a waste of time. There were plot points that didn't make sense at all and the concept of 'skipping' between different versions of Laney ultimately meant that at one point, there were two Laneys existing. Then there was the twin that somehow has a body despite not having a body in the current world that she is existing in.
Jagger is a cool character, but the introduction scene where one of the only BIPOC characters is introduced reads like a token written by a white woman. Laney literally says the words 'I don't notice colour'. It felt like Skipstone wanted to address racism but in the most blatant and inoffensive to the character currently as possible. That isn't to mention that he is only introduced at the 50% mark and yet he is basically insta-loved and ends up being far too willing to go along with the craziness this random girl he thought was cute brought with her.
The story extended longer than it needed to be, with extra chapters that seem like they're trying to wrap things up but really there isn't much of a build up or payoff with any of them.
I'm really disappointed with this read. I started with such excitement and eagerness and it quickly became reading to be finished.
July 2, 2020
Skipstone returns with this first installment in the Skipping Sideways thrillers series which combines a dash of science fiction and quantum physics, a troubled yet fierce heroine, heart-pounding tension, and a mystery shocking enough to leave readers turning pages fast.
It’s been three years since Laney caught her dad cheating on her mom and her parents’ subsequent separation, but the little girl inside her finds it hard to come to terms with the idea of living without her dad. Writing different versions of the fateful day has been only a coping mechanism for Laney until she comes across the theory of skipping universes in quantum physics. As the line between the reality and imagination blurs, the danger to her own life becomes too real to ignore.
As the story unfolds, Skipstone efficiently maintains a crackling pace, keeping the tension high. The narrative is swiftly paced but may require more careful reading, especially later in the story as Skipstone introduces layers of multiple characters and new worlds. Laney’s character shines as the dauntless heroine, and readers will find themselves rooting for her as she struggles to deal with her conflicting emotions and shocking new secrets unraveling in her life.
Skipstone’s ability to blend physics and science fiction with elements of thriller and suspense results in an enthralling story about a teenager just discovering her real identity. This captivating, suspenseful novel will leave young adult readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.
This is a stunner.
It’s been three years since Laney caught her dad cheating on her mom and her parents’ subsequent separation, but the little girl inside her finds it hard to come to terms with the idea of living without her dad. Writing different versions of the fateful day has been only a coping mechanism for Laney until she comes across the theory of skipping universes in quantum physics. As the line between the reality and imagination blurs, the danger to her own life becomes too real to ignore.
As the story unfolds, Skipstone efficiently maintains a crackling pace, keeping the tension high. The narrative is swiftly paced but may require more careful reading, especially later in the story as Skipstone introduces layers of multiple characters and new worlds. Laney’s character shines as the dauntless heroine, and readers will find themselves rooting for her as she struggles to deal with her conflicting emotions and shocking new secrets unraveling in her life.
Skipstone’s ability to blend physics and science fiction with elements of thriller and suspense results in an enthralling story about a teenager just discovering her real identity. This captivating, suspenseful novel will leave young adult readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.
This is a stunner.
June 29, 2020
Thanks to the publisher for providing a digital ARC of Some Laneys Died in exchange for an honest review.
I'm going to be honest with you guys, this book is messy and complex and was 100% the right book for me, but I can totally see it not being the right book for other people. I've been obsessed with multi-verse books basically my whole existence and this one was no exception. Laney feels like such a fully formed protagonist, the world and her family is so wonderfully fleshed out, and I love the way multi-verse theory is explained. I will say, I found the middle section of this book a tad lagging and some of the end bits felt unnecessary but I know a lot of people will likely disagree with me. I just happen to be a fan of more open ended, just after the height of action endings but I know a lot of readers who love it when books gradually work down so you get to know exactly where the characters end up so I'm not sure if that's honestly much of a negative, it's more of a preference thing.
Basically, if you grew up rereading Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me an unhealthy amount of times, this is going to be right up your alley.
TW: Repeated depictions of sexual and physical assult, PTSD, suicide & suicidal thoughts
I'm going to be honest with you guys, this book is messy and complex and was 100% the right book for me, but I can totally see it not being the right book for other people. I've been obsessed with multi-verse books basically my whole existence and this one was no exception. Laney feels like such a fully formed protagonist, the world and her family is so wonderfully fleshed out, and I love the way multi-verse theory is explained. I will say, I found the middle section of this book a tad lagging and some of the end bits felt unnecessary but I know a lot of people will likely disagree with me. I just happen to be a fan of more open ended, just after the height of action endings but I know a lot of readers who love it when books gradually work down so you get to know exactly where the characters end up so I'm not sure if that's honestly much of a negative, it's more of a preference thing.
Basically, if you grew up rereading Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me an unhealthy amount of times, this is going to be right up your alley.
TW: Repeated depictions of sexual and physical assult, PTSD, suicide & suicidal thoughts
July 15, 2020
If you have read and enjoyed Brooke Skipstone’s first novel, you will find in Some Laneys Died some of the elements that undoubtedly make Brooke Skipstone’s writing so catchy : a good dose of intricate family drama background, teenage characters willing to sort out their own issues, graphic scenes, plenty of strong female characters, and – my personal favourite – a vivid travelling experience through some parts of the US countryside.
Be aware that this novel can be triggering as there are scenes involving sexual violence.
Buckle up, because you’re in for quite the travel ! Laney is obsessed by a choice she did three years ago and blames herself for her parents’ divorce. As her mother tells her about the multiverse theory, she starts to imagine the other worlds where other Laneys make other choices. She soon discovers that it’s more than just a theory, and learns to use her new ability to skip between worlds. Which doesn’t spare her from going through her own issues with her family, step-family, fellow highschoolers and soon the mystery of a double murder…
This novel is especially for you if you like multi-layered stories and enjoy the thrill of characters fighting for their lives in every of those universes.
Be aware that this novel can be triggering as there are scenes involving sexual violence.
Buckle up, because you’re in for quite the travel ! Laney is obsessed by a choice she did three years ago and blames herself for her parents’ divorce. As her mother tells her about the multiverse theory, she starts to imagine the other worlds where other Laneys make other choices. She soon discovers that it’s more than just a theory, and learns to use her new ability to skip between worlds. Which doesn’t spare her from going through her own issues with her family, step-family, fellow highschoolers and soon the mystery of a double murder…
This novel is especially for you if you like multi-layered stories and enjoy the thrill of characters fighting for their lives in every of those universes.
August 7, 2020
Wow. I am still trying to catch my breath after finishing this one.
So first of all this took me a couple of chapters to get into it. Once it hooked me however, it did not let go.
I love this weird sciencey aspect to the thriller that makes me think. It’s a fun new twist on a genre I didn’t think was possible. It’s a very unique plot. Each choice laney makes or doesn’t make creates an alternate universe where the opposite happened. Add in some family drama, teen love, and a sadistic killer and you got yourself one heck of a book.
One of the things I’m most picky about when it comes to reading is the pacing. This may have taken me a min to get into but it was because of the sciencey aspect not because of the pacing. It didn’t feel like a slow burn. The pacing was quick and after a while it felt like every chapter was leaving me with more questions I was aching to get the answers to.
This was a whirlwind experience and I’m glad to have read this book. I can’t wait to read the second. This is definitely a must for any thriller aficionado’s shelf.
So first of all this took me a couple of chapters to get into it. Once it hooked me however, it did not let go.
I love this weird sciencey aspect to the thriller that makes me think. It’s a fun new twist on a genre I didn’t think was possible. It’s a very unique plot. Each choice laney makes or doesn’t make creates an alternate universe where the opposite happened. Add in some family drama, teen love, and a sadistic killer and you got yourself one heck of a book.
One of the things I’m most picky about when it comes to reading is the pacing. This may have taken me a min to get into but it was because of the sciencey aspect not because of the pacing. It didn’t feel like a slow burn. The pacing was quick and after a while it felt like every chapter was leaving me with more questions I was aching to get the answers to.
This was a whirlwind experience and I’m glad to have read this book. I can’t wait to read the second. This is definitely a must for any thriller aficionado’s shelf.
July 11, 2020
Some Laneys Died is an amazing read. At the core of the story, is a teen struggling with the breakup of her parents which she blames on herself. She has few friends and a brilliant physicist mother who Laney believes is waiting until Laney is in college before having serious conversations with her. But what makes this story unique is the splitting of universes every time Laney (or anyone) make a decision. The Laney who didn't expose her father's affair exists in another world where her father still lives with her and Mom. Laney wants to skip to that other universe. However, an event occurred before the story begins—the skeletons of two sisters are found in a park near where Laney found her father having sex. How this event relates to Laney's struggles to find herself—and her sister—blow the reader's mind away. What a unique read!
July 30, 2020
It’s a first for everything I guess. This is the first time when I just don’t know how I feel about a book. Did I like it? Did I dislike it? I feel both at the same time. I did like the idea behind the story. Different universes for every choice we make? How crazy is that idea? If you really think about it you make hundreds thousands f choices every single day and every little choice you make creates another universe. Truky mind-bending.
But the story was confusing with Laney’s skipping and I actually didn’t like Laney that much. She just doesn’t feel like a 16 years old girl and that just made the story less real somehow...
I’m giving 3 stars becuase I’m glad I found this book and got the chance to read it but it didn’t blow mind.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.
But the story was confusing with Laney’s skipping and I actually didn’t like Laney that much. She just doesn’t feel like a 16 years old girl and that just made the story less real somehow...
I’m giving 3 stars becuase I’m glad I found this book and got the chance to read it but it didn’t blow mind.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.
July 12, 2020
“So far today, I’ve created seventy-three new universes . . .” That opening line sure caught my attention and the rest of the story kept me enthralled for the next several hours. Barely stopping to catch my breath, I finished this book in less than a day. Each chapter ends with a surprise or cliffhanger or new bit of information which forces the reader to keep turning pages. Laney discovers horrible secrets about her past as she tries to restore a relationship with her father. She literally fights for her life, but along the way finds love and an ability to skip among versions of herself in different worlds. Spellbinding!
July 6, 2020
Some Laneys Died is an unforgettable read, that messes with the readers head and their grip on reality a little. Absolutely brilliant.
September 4, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers, Skipstone, for granting me access to a most puzzling read that had me scratching my head in equal confusion and wonder.
Having finished, I’m still not entirely sure I’ve grasped some of the finer points of the concept. I found myself reading, then having to pause to actually digest what I’d read and try to work it out/link to what I already knew. I would liken reading this to me trying to solve a Rubik’s cube...I know there’s a knack to it whereby everything flows seamlessly, but I work in fits and starts without really getting anywhere, then by a freak occurrence something will slot into place and it’s done.
When I started reading I wondered what was true and what was in our character Laney’s imagination. She writes stories about alternate universes where different characters sharing her name experience different things. She interacts with people who reference events she thought were dreams which seem to have really taken place. Piece by piece she starts to realise some of these events are merging. This idea of alternate universes and time frames may make more sense to students of maths or physics.
The story as such is not a pleasant one. Laney reads a story about two skeletons found in the woods, dated to a time that she recalls finding her father having sex with an old girlfriend. She is fascinated by what she recalls of that incident and is convinced that the skeletons are the bodies of her and her twin sister (a twin who doesn’t exist in the story we start) who were killed by a sadistic pair of brothers - one of whom is friends with her now. The Laney we follow is switching experiences/times in order to hunt the person who in another time/place killed her and tortured then killed her sister.
For every choice there’s a range of possibilities. Watching Laney try to manipulate her experiences was intriguing. I confess to not always following Laney’s thought process, and the book seemed to give some conflicting messages about addiction and sexuality, but as a whole it was a read I’d recommend.
Having finished, I’m still not entirely sure I’ve grasped some of the finer points of the concept. I found myself reading, then having to pause to actually digest what I’d read and try to work it out/link to what I already knew. I would liken reading this to me trying to solve a Rubik’s cube...I know there’s a knack to it whereby everything flows seamlessly, but I work in fits and starts without really getting anywhere, then by a freak occurrence something will slot into place and it’s done.
When I started reading I wondered what was true and what was in our character Laney’s imagination. She writes stories about alternate universes where different characters sharing her name experience different things. She interacts with people who reference events she thought were dreams which seem to have really taken place. Piece by piece she starts to realise some of these events are merging. This idea of alternate universes and time frames may make more sense to students of maths or physics.
The story as such is not a pleasant one. Laney reads a story about two skeletons found in the woods, dated to a time that she recalls finding her father having sex with an old girlfriend. She is fascinated by what she recalls of that incident and is convinced that the skeletons are the bodies of her and her twin sister (a twin who doesn’t exist in the story we start) who were killed by a sadistic pair of brothers - one of whom is friends with her now. The Laney we follow is switching experiences/times in order to hunt the person who in another time/place killed her and tortured then killed her sister.
For every choice there’s a range of possibilities. Watching Laney try to manipulate her experiences was intriguing. I confess to not always following Laney’s thought process, and the book seemed to give some conflicting messages about addiction and sexuality, but as a whole it was a read I’d recommend.
July 26, 2020
Actual rating: 2.5⭐
This captured my attention because of the cover and the seemingly interesting synopsis of the book. I love books with multiverse theme on it. I automatically add books with this theme on my tbr. So I was very happy to see this on the 'Read Now' section of netgalley and immediately got it.
Laney, a daughter of a physicist, writes down a lot of what-ifs in her life to somehow cope on her guilt and issues. This book has a sci-fi and mystery element on it as visions or memories of other Laney kept intruding on her life.
It could have been a good book if not of too many themes forcefully squeezed into this book. For a young adult book, it has a lot of uncomfortable or sensitive stuff on it. It made me disconnected on the story. Also, the 'skipping universe' thing is not believable to me. The characters are not consistent and did absurd things that doesn't make sense at all.
My main problem is Laney. She was not relatable at all.
This book should come with trigger/content warnings and needs a lot of it. I'm not sure if there were but since it's a mystery, I dove in blind. My bad.
It was a chaotic read for me. I guess it just didn't work for me.
Thanks for netgalley, the publisher and author for making this available for review.
This captured my attention because of the cover and the seemingly interesting synopsis of the book. I love books with multiverse theme on it. I automatically add books with this theme on my tbr. So I was very happy to see this on the 'Read Now' section of netgalley and immediately got it.
Laney, a daughter of a physicist, writes down a lot of what-ifs in her life to somehow cope on her guilt and issues. This book has a sci-fi and mystery element on it as visions or memories of other Laney kept intruding on her life.
It could have been a good book if not of too many themes forcefully squeezed into this book. For a young adult book, it has a lot of uncomfortable or sensitive stuff on it. It made me disconnected on the story. Also, the 'skipping universe' thing is not believable to me. The characters are not consistent and did absurd things that doesn't make sense at all.
My main problem is Laney. She was not relatable at all.
This book should come with trigger/content warnings and needs a lot of it. I'm not sure if there were but since it's a mystery, I dove in blind. My bad.
It was a chaotic read for me. I guess it just didn't work for me.
Thanks for netgalley, the publisher and author for making this available for review.
June 14, 2023
3 ⭐
Thanks to the author for provide the ARC for a honest review
At first it was hard to get into the story because of the amount of information it has, and because I'm not used to read thriller books. But the more I read, the more I wanted to know about parallel worlds and how the choices we make can lead us to certain situations.
On the other hand, I was a little disappointed and confused with the ending but maybe it will be explained more detailed in the second book.
In conclusion, Some Laney's Died is a very interesting and catchy book that has topics like multiverse, science, rape, etc.
By the way, I can't wait to read the second book 🙀
Thanks to the author for provide the ARC for a honest review
At first it was hard to get into the story because of the amount of information it has, and because I'm not used to read thriller books. But the more I read, the more I wanted to know about parallel worlds and how the choices we make can lead us to certain situations.
On the other hand, I was a little disappointed and confused with the ending but maybe it will be explained more detailed in the second book.
In conclusion, Some Laney's Died is a very interesting and catchy book that has topics like multiverse, science, rape, etc.
By the way, I can't wait to read the second book 🙀
March 22, 2024
DNF’d at 40%
When Laney was 13 years old, she saw her father having sex with someone who wasn’t her mother. Her father begged her not to tell anyone, but Laney immediately told her mother what she’d seen, which directly led to her parents breaking up. In the three years since that day Laney has become obsessed with the idea of alternate universes where different choices lead to vastly different outcomes. Now she’s 16, the lines between universes have started to blur, and Laney is finding that she’s able to skip between the timelines.
This is a really interesting concept for a book, and I was really hoping and expecting to like this one! I’m genuinely disappointed that I didn’t.
Laney’s obsession with timelines, universes, and what she saw three years ago, makes complete sense. She was traumatised and hasn’t been able to effectively deal with that. But her only other personality trait outside of this up to this point in the book is a tendency to jump to conclusions. What little actual presence she had, I didn’t really like. If Laney had been developed more, and had been given more personality outside of her trauma, then that would’ve improved this book tremendously.
I liked Laney’s mother a lot less than I liked Laney herself. One of the first things the reader is shown, as in this is the very first chapter, is a conversation that Laney and her mother have one year after the Incident™. Laney tells her mother that she’s been obsessing over what she could’ve done differently that day. Instead of reassuring her daughter that she did the right thing, or that Laney not saying anything that time would only have delayed the inevitable and that the affair would’ve eventually come to light anyway, she went into detail about how the many worlds theory works and reinforced Laney’s obsession with what-ifs. Which is the exact worst thing she could’ve done. In what else I read, her interactions with her daughter did not read like that of a healthy mother-daughter relationship. It rubbed me up the wrong way. To be fair, that might have been Skipstone’s intention, but I didn’t get the impression that it was.
This book has trigger warnings at the start, which is a very good thing! Every book should do this! I’m very glad that Skipstone included this, and I hope that doing this becomes industry standard very soon. However, not every potential trigger that crops up in this book is in that opening list. That there were any is better than nothing, but two major things that are in this book weren’t mentioned: incest and sexual assualt. Laney is assaulted and nearly raped by someone she trusted, and her stepbrother is constantly leering at her and trying to get her to sleep with him. Incest squicks me out, and I would’ve appreciated a warning for it. If either of these things were triggers for me, then reading these things could’ve been actively harmful, rather than just deeply uncomfortable.
Aside from these incidents, the rest of the book is also overly and unrealistically sexual. I freely admit that I’m asexual and my sexual experience is non-existent. I still doubt that many allosexual straight girls can say that, when they were 16, they decided to film each other masturbating at a sleepover and then freely shared those videos around. That scenario Just Doesn’t Happen.
All of this was making me want to stop reading, but I usually try to read at least half of arcs before DNF’ing. But then Laney said some casually racist shit and I could not bring myself to read the next page, so here we are.
I received an e-arc of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
When Laney was 13 years old, she saw her father having sex with someone who wasn’t her mother. Her father begged her not to tell anyone, but Laney immediately told her mother what she’d seen, which directly led to her parents breaking up. In the three years since that day Laney has become obsessed with the idea of alternate universes where different choices lead to vastly different outcomes. Now she’s 16, the lines between universes have started to blur, and Laney is finding that she’s able to skip between the timelines.
This is a really interesting concept for a book, and I was really hoping and expecting to like this one! I’m genuinely disappointed that I didn’t.
Laney’s obsession with timelines, universes, and what she saw three years ago, makes complete sense. She was traumatised and hasn’t been able to effectively deal with that. But her only other personality trait outside of this up to this point in the book is a tendency to jump to conclusions. What little actual presence she had, I didn’t really like. If Laney had been developed more, and had been given more personality outside of her trauma, then that would’ve improved this book tremendously.
I liked Laney’s mother a lot less than I liked Laney herself. One of the first things the reader is shown, as in this is the very first chapter, is a conversation that Laney and her mother have one year after the Incident™. Laney tells her mother that she’s been obsessing over what she could’ve done differently that day. Instead of reassuring her daughter that she did the right thing, or that Laney not saying anything that time would only have delayed the inevitable and that the affair would’ve eventually come to light anyway, she went into detail about how the many worlds theory works and reinforced Laney’s obsession with what-ifs. Which is the exact worst thing she could’ve done. In what else I read, her interactions with her daughter did not read like that of a healthy mother-daughter relationship. It rubbed me up the wrong way. To be fair, that might have been Skipstone’s intention, but I didn’t get the impression that it was.
This book has trigger warnings at the start, which is a very good thing! Every book should do this! I’m very glad that Skipstone included this, and I hope that doing this becomes industry standard very soon. However, not every potential trigger that crops up in this book is in that opening list. That there were any is better than nothing, but two major things that are in this book weren’t mentioned: incest and sexual assualt. Laney is assaulted and nearly raped by someone she trusted, and her stepbrother is constantly leering at her and trying to get her to sleep with him. Incest squicks me out, and I would’ve appreciated a warning for it. If either of these things were triggers for me, then reading these things could’ve been actively harmful, rather than just deeply uncomfortable.
Aside from these incidents, the rest of the book is also overly and unrealistically sexual. I freely admit that I’m asexual and my sexual experience is non-existent. I still doubt that many allosexual straight girls can say that, when they were 16, they decided to film each other masturbating at a sleepover and then freely shared those videos around. That scenario Just Doesn’t Happen.
All of this was making me want to stop reading, but I usually try to read at least half of arcs before DNF’ing. But then Laney said some casually racist shit and I could not bring myself to read the next page, so here we are.
I received an e-arc of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
July 12, 2020
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Some Laneys Died is a sci-fi thriller about decisions, their consequences and the guilt about choosing the wrong path
The book follows 16-year-old Delaney West, who caught her father cheating when she was just 13. She told her mother and has regretted her decision ever since, imagining countless other ways it could've gone. When she learns that every decision she makes creates a new universe, where she chose something else, Laney wonders if it's possible to skip to a different universe and change her world.
I enjoyed the concept of decisions creating parallel universes, it opens the possibilities to tell a story through the lens of decisions and consequences with a sci-fi thriller twist and is what originally drew me to the book. The premise intrigued me but sadly, it didn't really deliver for me.
The skipping between different universes was confusing, and not just in a way where a certain level of confusion draws the reader into the confusion of the main character. There were multiple passages that I had to read twice and even then I wasn't sure what had actually happened. This led to me being unable to fully grasp the plot and orient myself within the story world which ultimately made it hard to care about the events and characters. Maybe this could be fixed within the formatting to make flashbacks/skips more visually distinct.
I disliked Delaney, her characterization felt inconsistent at times and I had trouble believing that she would so readily accept all the strange events and changes in her life. One example of this is her immediately trusting her father's new girlfriend, it made it feel like more of a plot-device and less like genuine characterization, I would have expected Laney to be more suspicious and generally less naive.
Another gripe I had, which is mostly based on personal preference, was the amount of sexual content, which was a lot more than I had expected. It felt strange to have Delaney, who is supposed to be 16 and seems fairly naive and innocent throughout the book, be put into very sexual situations, some of them very dark and traumatic. To me, there was a disconnect between her character, age and the sexual content which ended up making me uncomfortable at times.
I did however like the basic character constellations. I liked the functions within the plot that the characters like Delaney's mum or her step-brother Eddie had, I just wished they'd been more nuanced and complex.
Sadly, I was not the biggest fan of the writing, which might be a personal style preference, but some descriptions were either too cliché or just bland and I never fully got into the rhythm of the story.
Overall, I felt that Some Laneys Died might have benefitted from at least another round of edits to truly bring out the potential the premise has. Ultimately this was a 2,5 star read for me.
Some Laneys Died is a sci-fi thriller about decisions, their consequences and the guilt about choosing the wrong path
The book follows 16-year-old Delaney West, who caught her father cheating when she was just 13. She told her mother and has regretted her decision ever since, imagining countless other ways it could've gone. When she learns that every decision she makes creates a new universe, where she chose something else, Laney wonders if it's possible to skip to a different universe and change her world.
I enjoyed the concept of decisions creating parallel universes, it opens the possibilities to tell a story through the lens of decisions and consequences with a sci-fi thriller twist and is what originally drew me to the book. The premise intrigued me but sadly, it didn't really deliver for me.
The skipping between different universes was confusing, and not just in a way where a certain level of confusion draws the reader into the confusion of the main character. There were multiple passages that I had to read twice and even then I wasn't sure what had actually happened. This led to me being unable to fully grasp the plot and orient myself within the story world which ultimately made it hard to care about the events and characters. Maybe this could be fixed within the formatting to make flashbacks/skips more visually distinct.
I disliked Delaney, her characterization felt inconsistent at times and I had trouble believing that she would so readily accept all the strange events and changes in her life. One example of this is her immediately trusting her father's new girlfriend, it made it feel like more of a plot-device and less like genuine characterization, I would have expected Laney to be more suspicious and generally less naive.
Another gripe I had, which is mostly based on personal preference, was the amount of sexual content, which was a lot more than I had expected. It felt strange to have Delaney, who is supposed to be 16 and seems fairly naive and innocent throughout the book, be put into very sexual situations, some of them very dark and traumatic. To me, there was a disconnect between her character, age and the sexual content which ended up making me uncomfortable at times.
I did however like the basic character constellations. I liked the functions within the plot that the characters like Delaney's mum or her step-brother Eddie had, I just wished they'd been more nuanced and complex.
Sadly, I was not the biggest fan of the writing, which might be a personal style preference, but some descriptions were either too cliché or just bland and I never fully got into the rhythm of the story.
Overall, I felt that Some Laneys Died might have benefitted from at least another round of edits to truly bring out the potential the premise has. Ultimately this was a 2,5 star read for me.
July 11, 2020
I'm flittering between 3.5/4 stars for this book and I'm not quite sure which one to settle on. I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about it, only going off a very brief blurb and to be honest, I feel like this is definitely the best way to read this book.
What did I like?
- I really enjoyed how Brooke combined both a typical YA mystery with a science fiction element and how it was so intricately woven into the plotline. At first, I really didn't like this and I spent the first half of the book convinced our main character Laney had some kind of mental health disorder and these other dimensions were something she created in her head to help her cope with past trauma.
- Brooke has a way with words and storytelling. I have also reviewed her other book (link below) and I was also blown away then with her storytelling. Brooke definitely doesn't shy away from writing about difficult topics and she does with both bluntness and consideration. It's a rare talent.
- Laney was such a powerful character. She had a lot going on in her family life and the details that were considered were shown graciously.
I think my issue with this book is that I found it all so confusing. I still left the book not really 100% sure what on earth was going on with all these jumping from different times. I think a better explanation was needed or some clarity should have been given. And the fact the people around her seemed to take this information so...well was odd to me. If someone in my family told me they were skipping between dimensions, it would take me a lot to believe them. They all about knelt down and shook her hand. For that reason, the book was hard to read and to follow. I felt more confused reading it than I would have going into a typical science fiction novel and judging from the cover, I didn't expect this aspect of the book at all.
Overall, if you have the time to properly focus on this book, it's definitely the one for you.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Link to my other review for Brooke's debut: Someone To Kiss My Scars
What did I like?
- I really enjoyed how Brooke combined both a typical YA mystery with a science fiction element and how it was so intricately woven into the plotline. At first, I really didn't like this and I spent the first half of the book convinced our main character Laney had some kind of mental health disorder and these other dimensions were something she created in her head to help her cope with past trauma.
- Brooke has a way with words and storytelling. I have also reviewed her other book (link below) and I was also blown away then with her storytelling. Brooke definitely doesn't shy away from writing about difficult topics and she does with both bluntness and consideration. It's a rare talent.
- Laney was such a powerful character. She had a lot going on in her family life and the details that were considered were shown graciously.
I think my issue with this book is that I found it all so confusing. I still left the book not really 100% sure what on earth was going on with all these jumping from different times. I think a better explanation was needed or some clarity should have been given. And the fact the people around her seemed to take this information so...well was odd to me. If someone in my family told me they were skipping between dimensions, it would take me a lot to believe them. They all about knelt down and shook her hand. For that reason, the book was hard to read and to follow. I felt more confused reading it than I would have going into a typical science fiction novel and judging from the cover, I didn't expect this aspect of the book at all.
Overall, if you have the time to properly focus on this book, it's definitely the one for you.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Link to my other review for Brooke's debut: Someone To Kiss My Scars
November 19, 2020
Thank you Netgalley, Skipstone Publishing (publisher), and Brooke Skipstone (author) for giving me early access to this book via an E-ARC in exchange for my impartial review.
I was drawn in by the title and cover of this book. They came together in a way that really piqued my interest! Then I read the blurb - that was what drew me in. I couldn't wait to dive in and devour all that this book had to offer. Was it worth it? Yes it was. Absolutely.
TW: The preface to the book offers readers a trigger warning, and for good reason. This book is packed with loads of sexual content, descriptions of violence and murder, and other grimy stuff. If you're faint hearted, you might want to skip this one.
Laney's big bad decision that set everything off is her deciding to tell her mom that she found her dad having sex with another woman, and she was just 13. She's 16 at the start of the book and she's had to live with that guilt and regret for 3 years. There are other little decisions that make up the multiple parallel universes.
There are so many things brought together in the freshest and most original way in this book. We see the main character, Laney, dealing with feelings of regret and living with the fallout of our choices. Throw in a mix of alternate/parallel universes, and a murder mystery, and you've got "Some Laneys Died".
The author did a great job of blending these elements together in this fast paced book. I was lost and didn't know what was going on half the time, but I was able to get back on track towards the end.
I love the originality of the book's premise and will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author. If you're a lover of YA, SciFi novels, and murder mysteries, do check this out!
I was drawn in by the title and cover of this book. They came together in a way that really piqued my interest! Then I read the blurb - that was what drew me in. I couldn't wait to dive in and devour all that this book had to offer. Was it worth it? Yes it was. Absolutely.
TW: The preface to the book offers readers a trigger warning, and for good reason. This book is packed with loads of sexual content, descriptions of violence and murder, and other grimy stuff. If you're faint hearted, you might want to skip this one.
Laney's big bad decision that set everything off is her deciding to tell her mom that she found her dad having sex with another woman, and she was just 13. She's 16 at the start of the book and she's had to live with that guilt and regret for 3 years. There are other little decisions that make up the multiple parallel universes.
There are so many things brought together in the freshest and most original way in this book. We see the main character, Laney, dealing with feelings of regret and living with the fallout of our choices. Throw in a mix of alternate/parallel universes, and a murder mystery, and you've got "Some Laneys Died".
The author did a great job of blending these elements together in this fast paced book. I was lost and didn't know what was going on half the time, but I was able to get back on track towards the end.
I love the originality of the book's premise and will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author. If you're a lover of YA, SciFi novels, and murder mysteries, do check this out!
July 2, 2020
3/5 stars
“Some Laneys Died” by Brooke Skipstone is a young adult science fiction/thriller about a teenage girl who was faced with a decision years ago that consumes her. Delaney West caught her father cheating on her mother three years ago and she strongly regrets telling her mother to this day. This regret has made her believe how each decision we make in our lives creates different universes with different versions of ourselves. This leads to a very twisty sci-fi thriller where we see how each decision effect Delaney and how in some universes Delaney actually died.
This book was very a good read. Each page had me wanting more. Even though at times the explanations of the different universes were lengthy but in my opinion still didn’t make sense at some points. There were points in the story where the plot dragged on and the story became slow, but there were also points where this book was a page turner. The main character Delaney was described as very smart, but her personality stopped at that one trait. I never felt myself relating to her or even rooting for her.
This book was a little all over the place. In a sense I didn’t understand where the plot was going at points and I felt as if there wasn’t any direction. It was still enjoyable, but the main mystery or thriller aspects of the book were very confusing at times. There were parts of the book I really enjoyed, but some parts did bore me and I wished would be over.
-This book was sent to me for review through netgalley-
“Some Laneys Died” by Brooke Skipstone is a young adult science fiction/thriller about a teenage girl who was faced with a decision years ago that consumes her. Delaney West caught her father cheating on her mother three years ago and she strongly regrets telling her mother to this day. This regret has made her believe how each decision we make in our lives creates different universes with different versions of ourselves. This leads to a very twisty sci-fi thriller where we see how each decision effect Delaney and how in some universes Delaney actually died.
This book was very a good read. Each page had me wanting more. Even though at times the explanations of the different universes were lengthy but in my opinion still didn’t make sense at some points. There were points in the story where the plot dragged on and the story became slow, but there were also points where this book was a page turner. The main character Delaney was described as very smart, but her personality stopped at that one trait. I never felt myself relating to her or even rooting for her.
This book was a little all over the place. In a sense I didn’t understand where the plot was going at points and I felt as if there wasn’t any direction. It was still enjoyable, but the main mystery or thriller aspects of the book were very confusing at times. There were parts of the book I really enjoyed, but some parts did bore me and I wished would be over.
-This book was sent to me for review through netgalley-
August 27, 2020
**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review**
I really, really, really wanted to like this book, but it was too much.
The trigger warning at the beginning of the book is nowhere near specific enough.
The concept is a good one, but execution is so lacking that only the concept is what allows me to give it one star.
The dialogue feels as if a 40-something woman is trying to hard to be "hip" with "Gen Z" (I have no clue how old the author is or anything about her background, this is just how it reads). It also felt as if the author was constantly trying to push her world views onto the reader, especially her views on sex, drugs and race.
The book is both far too padded and yet I still don't have enough info at times, there's just no balance in how the information is given. There's an old saying that good characters can save a bad plot, but bad characters can kill a good plot. This book had neither good characters or good plot. This feels like a first draft that went straight to the printer rather than undergoing a good edit.
Overall, the book just tries too hard. I really think this concept would work as a TV series, but as a book it just fails.
I really, really, really wanted to like this book, but it was too much.
The trigger warning at the beginning of the book is nowhere near specific enough.
The concept is a good one, but execution is so lacking that only the concept is what allows me to give it one star.
The dialogue feels as if a 40-something woman is trying to hard to be "hip" with "Gen Z" (I have no clue how old the author is or anything about her background, this is just how it reads). It also felt as if the author was constantly trying to push her world views onto the reader, especially her views on sex, drugs and race.
The book is both far too padded and yet I still don't have enough info at times, there's just no balance in how the information is given. There's an old saying that good characters can save a bad plot, but bad characters can kill a good plot. This book had neither good characters or good plot. This feels like a first draft that went straight to the printer rather than undergoing a good edit.
Overall, the book just tries too hard. I really think this concept would work as a TV series, but as a book it just fails.
July 12, 2020
I was a fan of Brooke Skipstone's first book, Someone to Kiss My Scars. And now, I'm a fan of Brooke Skipstone in general. Some Laneys Died proves that Brooke Skipstone is more than a one-trick pony. Though her characters are once again wonderfully layered and complex, the story is completely different. I'm impressed at how she integrated a technical theory of multiple universes into a young adult drama, ultimately making it a thriller you don't want to put down.
Laney seems so real, with real emotions, real insecurities, real mistakes, and real challenges. Though the story has lots of feel-good moments, it is more about raw emotion that doesn't walk on eggshells when dealing with real-life atrocities, like sexual abuse and murder. That being said, it comes with a graphic content warning, but the content isn't graphic for the sake of being graphic; it's graphic because life can be graphic. So, if you want a book that makes you think and makes you feel, then Some Laneys Died is for you.
Laney seems so real, with real emotions, real insecurities, real mistakes, and real challenges. Though the story has lots of feel-good moments, it is more about raw emotion that doesn't walk on eggshells when dealing with real-life atrocities, like sexual abuse and murder. That being said, it comes with a graphic content warning, but the content isn't graphic for the sake of being graphic; it's graphic because life can be graphic. So, if you want a book that makes you think and makes you feel, then Some Laneys Died is for you.
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