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Blackout
Some secrets are best left forgotten.
When Allie Castillo wakes up after a terrible car accident, with head injuries and zero recollection of who she is or what happened, one thing haunts the edges of her the crash may not have been an accident.
Her body still bruised, she returns to a life she doesn’t recall, to a house that’s unfamiliar, and to a family that doesn’t feel like her own. School is another minefield―her boyfriend wants his girl back, her best friend wants to carry on their old partying ways, and the mysterious guy at the back of the classroom wants nothing more than to unlock the door to her forgotten memories.
As Allie learns about her notorious past, she grows to dislike who she was pre-accident. She’s determined to change, determined not to repeat the same mistakes. But when her life is put in jeopardy once more, Allie realizes that her only chance at survival is to remember who she used to be―even if that means abandoning who she wants to become.
When Allie Castillo wakes up after a terrible car accident, with head injuries and zero recollection of who she is or what happened, one thing haunts the edges of her the crash may not have been an accident.
Her body still bruised, she returns to a life she doesn’t recall, to a house that’s unfamiliar, and to a family that doesn’t feel like her own. School is another minefield―her boyfriend wants his girl back, her best friend wants to carry on their old partying ways, and the mysterious guy at the back of the classroom wants nothing more than to unlock the door to her forgotten memories.
As Allie learns about her notorious past, she grows to dislike who she was pre-accident. She’s determined to change, determined not to repeat the same mistakes. But when her life is put in jeopardy once more, Allie realizes that her only chance at survival is to remember who she used to be―even if that means abandoning who she wants to become.
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2022
14 people are currently reading
7006 people want to read
About the author
K. Monroe
5 books92 followersK. Monroe grew up in small town Saskatchewan, and began sharing her work online at the age of fourteen. She attended college in Vancouver, where she earned an Associate Certificate in graphic design. When she’s not writing, you can find her brainstorming ideas, singing along to every song in her music library, and fantasizing about decorating her dream apartment. BLACKOUT is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
February 8, 2022
oh hey, it's my book!
UPDATE 02/08/22: BLACKOUT is available online and in stores now, grab yourself a copy today! <3
https://books.wattpad.com/shop/p/blac...
UPDATE 02/08/22: BLACKOUT is available online and in stores now, grab yourself a copy today! <3
https://books.wattpad.com/shop/p/blac...
Want to read
December 23, 2021ARC received! Thank you, Wattpad Books.
This sounds interesting to me. I'll bite!
This sounds interesting to me. I'll bite!
September 9, 2021
3.5 ⭐
Blackout is a nice, atmospheric YA thriller/mystery that was written quite well and was fast and easy to read. It does have several typical YA tropes that some people may not like, but nothing you can’t expect based on the genre and the premise.
I personally enjoyed it quite a bit. It was fun but with a deeper note to it. It made me think about what I would do in the MC’s position, and that’s always a huge plus.
If you want to see my much more in depth review, you can check it out on my book blog NovelOnMyMind.
Thank you to Wattpad Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Blackout by K. Monroe in exchange for an honest review.
❤️️ ❤️️ ❤️️
Blackout is a nice, atmospheric YA thriller/mystery that was written quite well and was fast and easy to read. It does have several typical YA tropes that some people may not like, but nothing you can’t expect based on the genre and the premise.
I personally enjoyed it quite a bit. It was fun but with a deeper note to it. It made me think about what I would do in the MC’s position, and that’s always a huge plus.
If you want to see my much more in depth review, you can check it out on my book blog NovelOnMyMind.
Thank you to Wattpad Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Blackout by K. Monroe in exchange for an honest review.
❤️️ ❤️️ ❤️️
October 15, 2021
I have received this ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Blackout was such a good mystery book to dive into. In it, you will meet Allie Castillo. She doesn't remember much about her past self due to waking up with amnesia but she can definitely tell something is off. Whether it's feeling weird within her own family or close group of friends. She has this feeling in the back of her head that stuff isn't matching up. There are signs that things aren't what they seem but she doesn't know who to trust either.
With each twist and turn, I was very suspicious of basically everyone. Especially in the beginning. Things just weren't adding up to me and I wanted to figure out who was lying to her face constantly. Once we got little clues, it still took me forever to put the whole puzzle together. I did get who did it before the big reveal.. but the reason why just seemed so wild to me.
In the end, I'm not sure what's going to happen next for Allie but I'm excited that she's getting out of this town. She needs better friends too so hopefully she can make better choices in a new place.
Blackout was such a good mystery book to dive into. In it, you will meet Allie Castillo. She doesn't remember much about her past self due to waking up with amnesia but she can definitely tell something is off. Whether it's feeling weird within her own family or close group of friends. She has this feeling in the back of her head that stuff isn't matching up. There are signs that things aren't what they seem but she doesn't know who to trust either.
With each twist and turn, I was very suspicious of basically everyone. Especially in the beginning. Things just weren't adding up to me and I wanted to figure out who was lying to her face constantly. Once we got little clues, it still took me forever to put the whole puzzle together. I did get who did it before the big reveal.. but the reason why just seemed so wild to me.
In the end, I'm not sure what's going to happen next for Allie but I'm excited that she's getting out of this town. She needs better friends too so hopefully she can make better choices in a new place.
February 16, 2022
this is a blackout stan account and i refuse to hear anything negative about this book ever
May 5, 2022
2.5 stars
If this isn't the most lukewarm mystery/thriller I've ever read, I don't know what is.
It started off well, kept me somewhat invested throughout the first third of the book, but soon the story started to drag and everything went downhill.
But the worst thing is: halfway through the book, MC figures out who the villian is and spends the rest of the book collecting evidence so she could prove it.
I mean, what??? And why? Aren't thrillers supposed to be waiting for the last few pages to do the whole "grand reveal" thing?
Underwhelming and disappointing.
If this isn't the most lukewarm mystery/thriller I've ever read, I don't know what is.
It started off well, kept me somewhat invested throughout the first third of the book, but soon the story started to drag and everything went downhill.
But the worst thing is: halfway through the book, MC figures out who the villian is and spends the rest of the book collecting evidence so she could prove it.
I mean, what??? And why? Aren't thrillers supposed to be waiting for the last few pages to do the whole "grand reveal" thing?
Underwhelming and disappointing.
November 4, 2023
the ending hurt me so good.. again
these characters (2) have stolen my heart for so long that now i can't believe i have my own copy in my hands. the setting provokes me to go to pender falls and have a walk by the woods near the clearing when crime counts drop to zero. we got more depth into allie's character (and others as well) and i couldn't love more how flawed and real she is. i just love the way the author writes, i've been following her work since.. forever, it seems, and she's never ceased to amaze me. now i need her other books to get published because i want them all lined up on my shelf.
"You know," I muse. "You're the only one who always calls me Alina. Why is that?"
"Hm." He runs his fingers down the length of my arm, before murmuring. "I suppose I wanted something that was mine."
mild spoilers - lord have mercy for my soul after reading alina and mason's new scenes, this is not a romance at all and barely has a little bit of it but you can watch me having a meltdown every time they breathed the same air, somebody sedate me right now
these characters (2) have stolen my heart for so long that now i can't believe i have my own copy in my hands. the setting provokes me to go to pender falls and have a walk by the woods near the clearing when crime counts drop to zero. we got more depth into allie's character (and others as well) and i couldn't love more how flawed and real she is. i just love the way the author writes, i've been following her work since.. forever, it seems, and she's never ceased to amaze me. now i need her other books to get published because i want them all lined up on my shelf.
"You know," I muse. "You're the only one who always calls me Alina. Why is that?"
"Hm." He runs his fingers down the length of my arm, before murmuring. "I suppose I wanted something that was mine."
mild spoilers - lord have mercy for my soul after reading alina and mason's new scenes, this is not a romance at all and barely has a little bit of it but you can watch me having a meltdown every time they breathed the same air, somebody sedate me right now
October 27, 2021
After a terrible car accident Allie is left with amnesia that leaves her picking up all the missing pieces of her life.
She returns to her new life with her three best friends, one being her boyfriend, and more secrets than she can keep up with. Who was she before the accident? If it was even an accident..
Reuniting with her past Allie goes on a path to discover what really happened...was she really such a terrible person as everyone seems to think? As she continues to get flashbacks the pieces of that night slowly start to come back. Still Allie is left feeling helpless and as if someone may be watching her..or maybe she is just imagining things....
the part I enjoyed most was how the environment was described, the small town they lived in was painted beautifully.
This novel was easy to get into and hard to put down. The book leaves you wanting to know what really happened and all of Allies secrets to be revealed.
Can Allie trust her past or is there something more sinister brewing?
I just wanted say a big thank you to wattpad books and net galley for giving me the opportunity to read this incredible ya thriller! I throughly enjoyed reading it and I am excited for more people to read it! Thank you also to K. Monroe for this amazing novel!!
This will be posted on goodreads!!
She returns to her new life with her three best friends, one being her boyfriend, and more secrets than she can keep up with. Who was she before the accident? If it was even an accident..
Reuniting with her past Allie goes on a path to discover what really happened...was she really such a terrible person as everyone seems to think? As she continues to get flashbacks the pieces of that night slowly start to come back. Still Allie is left feeling helpless and as if someone may be watching her..or maybe she is just imagining things....
the part I enjoyed most was how the environment was described, the small town they lived in was painted beautifully.
This novel was easy to get into and hard to put down. The book leaves you wanting to know what really happened and all of Allies secrets to be revealed.
Can Allie trust her past or is there something more sinister brewing?
I just wanted say a big thank you to wattpad books and net galley for giving me the opportunity to read this incredible ya thriller! I throughly enjoyed reading it and I am excited for more people to read it! Thank you also to K. Monroe for this amazing novel!!
This will be posted on goodreads!!
January 16, 2022
Rating: 4 stars
Blackout is a YA mystery thriller set in a small town and tells the story of Alina Castillo who wakes up with no memory after a car accident. It's been a long time since I've read YA thrillers but this one reminded me why I used to read them before.
Alina Castillo (Allie) is known for being one of those popular girls in High School with her best friend Zoe & her boyfriend Damien. In every teen story, we usually hate those popular teens that are known for their bad behavior but are still worshipped. This time around we get into Allie's head right after her accident and she's completely lost about everything.
Allie has no recollection of who she used to be, of her family, or even her best friends. She has to go back to a home she no longer remembers. She feels like she was put in a body that wasn't her own. I loved that we got her thoughts on this accident and her feelings on how she felt very lonely and out of place in this small town. While she's trying to understand the relationship she has with people around her, fragments of her memory start to come back and make her question whether her accident was truly an accident.
This story had a great suspenseful atmosphere to it and with the small-town setting, it truly felt like I was there. Yes, even though the story and twist were a bit predictable, I would still recommend this book to any YA thriller lovers! It's very easy to get into & you will enjoy reading about these complex and flawed teenagers.
The thing that surprised me was the romance in the end and I thought it was super realistic. Usually, in YA books, the MC ends up with one love interest even after the trauma she goes through. However, Blackout really does stand out on its own for showing the importance of recovery after such a traumatic event and I really appreciated it. I loved that Allie chose to find herself and learn to trust again after everything that went down. She chose herself instead of settling down again in another relationship which is something we need to see more in YA books.
If you loved Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout , you will love Blackout by K. Monroe :D
Thank you so much to Wattpads & the author for sending this physical arc my way <3
Blackout is a YA mystery thriller set in a small town and tells the story of Alina Castillo who wakes up with no memory after a car accident. It's been a long time since I've read YA thrillers but this one reminded me why I used to read them before.
Alina Castillo (Allie) is known for being one of those popular girls in High School with her best friend Zoe & her boyfriend Damien. In every teen story, we usually hate those popular teens that are known for their bad behavior but are still worshipped. This time around we get into Allie's head right after her accident and she's completely lost about everything.
Allie has no recollection of who she used to be, of her family, or even her best friends. She has to go back to a home she no longer remembers. She feels like she was put in a body that wasn't her own. I loved that we got her thoughts on this accident and her feelings on how she felt very lonely and out of place in this small town. While she's trying to understand the relationship she has with people around her, fragments of her memory start to come back and make her question whether her accident was truly an accident.
This story had a great suspenseful atmosphere to it and with the small-town setting, it truly felt like I was there. Yes, even though the story and twist were a bit predictable, I would still recommend this book to any YA thriller lovers! It's very easy to get into & you will enjoy reading about these complex and flawed teenagers.
The thing that surprised me was the romance in the end and I thought it was super realistic. Usually, in YA books, the MC ends up with one love interest even after the trauma she goes through. However, Blackout really does stand out on its own for showing the importance of recovery after such a traumatic event and I really appreciated it. I loved that Allie chose to find herself and learn to trust again after everything that went down. She chose herself instead of settling down again in another relationship which is something we need to see more in YA books.
If you loved Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout , you will love Blackout by K. Monroe :D
Thank you so much to Wattpads & the author for sending this physical arc my way <3
November 26, 2021
BRAVA
This roller coaster mystery will grip you from chapter one until the bitter end. Leaving you flipping pages, unbelieving that could really be the end of Allie’s story.
The clues and little snippets here and there really bring this one full circle. Jealousy, lies, betrayal, and teen angst are all wrapped up in this knock-out debut novel.
“I suppose I wanted something that was mine.”
I read the synopsis on a whim, honestly. It wasn’t one I’d been looking out for. Especially since I had just come down off a mystery/triller streak in October. But I am so flipping glad I did, this book seriously delivered. The twists and turns felt timed perfectly. The fragments of memories she gets during her recuperation felt very organic, nothing felt forced for the sake of the story. This journey of self discovery, and what happened the night she lost her memories, is one you do not want to miss.
Who do you trust? When you don’t even trust yourself?
Thank you WattPad Books and NetGalley for an advanced eARC! This review is being left voluntarily, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
This roller coaster mystery will grip you from chapter one until the bitter end. Leaving you flipping pages, unbelieving that could really be the end of Allie’s story.
The clues and little snippets here and there really bring this one full circle. Jealousy, lies, betrayal, and teen angst are all wrapped up in this knock-out debut novel.
“I suppose I wanted something that was mine.”
I read the synopsis on a whim, honestly. It wasn’t one I’d been looking out for. Especially since I had just come down off a mystery/triller streak in October. But I am so flipping glad I did, this book seriously delivered. The twists and turns felt timed perfectly. The fragments of memories she gets during her recuperation felt very organic, nothing felt forced for the sake of the story. This journey of self discovery, and what happened the night she lost her memories, is one you do not want to miss.
Who do you trust? When you don’t even trust yourself?
Thank you WattPad Books and NetGalley for an advanced eARC! This review is being left voluntarily, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
July 29, 2022
Allie has woken up after being in a coma, but the thing is she doesn't remember anything. She ended up with amnesia after being told she was in a single car accident and crashed into a tree. She was found with alcohol and it looks like a careless drunken accident, however, there was no alcohol in her system. The police know things aren't adding up, but with Allie not remembering and no one coming forward, things are at a standstill. Like most books with the amnesia trope, our main character when she gets back to her real life- discovers that she wasn't part of a nice crowd and hates the way she treated others. What happens though, when she realizes that her so-called friends are keeping dark secrets and that this may be a case of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer as the truth about what happened to Allie starts to unravel as she experiences flashbacks of that fateful night. Blackout is a good YA thriller read and will keep readers on their toes.
February 9, 2022
Real Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Well, I’d like to say I was blown away by this book, but I wasn’t. It’s not that it was bad; it’s more that it was rather average for the genre and it’s been done before. That’s not to say that I’m not exactly tired of this trope, because I’m not. I love stories having to do with amnesia. I guess that’s because I’ve experienced blackouts of my own, both from vices and from medical causes throughout my life, and reading about the same topic never stops fascinating me.
The book is well-written for the target demographic, though I don’t expect it to transcend that demographic like other books in the same genre and target demographic have over the years. The plot and characterizations are just a bit too juvenile for that.
But for a young adult psychological suspense thriller, it’s an all right read.
Well, I’d like to say I was blown away by this book, but I wasn’t. It’s not that it was bad; it’s more that it was rather average for the genre and it’s been done before. That’s not to say that I’m not exactly tired of this trope, because I’m not. I love stories having to do with amnesia. I guess that’s because I’ve experienced blackouts of my own, both from vices and from medical causes throughout my life, and reading about the same topic never stops fascinating me.
The book is well-written for the target demographic, though I don’t expect it to transcend that demographic like other books in the same genre and target demographic have over the years. The plot and characterizations are just a bit too juvenile for that.
But for a young adult psychological suspense thriller, it’s an all right read.
November 1, 2021
Thank you netgalley and wattpad for giving me an earc in exchange for an honest review.
This slow burn ya mystery was a pleasure to read. I enjoyed it a lot but I think what really stands out to me was how well developed I felt like the main character, Alina, and her thoughts/feelings were. I felt like I was her while I was reading this book and it was a ride. A fun ride, and a really difficult ride, one where only your heart is trustworthy ;p
This book is definitely slow burning and it was a bit predictable but between getting to know the characters and the beautiful setting I found myself not minding one bit. It’s definitely worth the enjoyment.
It flowed really well for me and I can’t wait to recommend it.
This slow burn ya mystery was a pleasure to read. I enjoyed it a lot but I think what really stands out to me was how well developed I felt like the main character, Alina, and her thoughts/feelings were. I felt like I was her while I was reading this book and it was a ride. A fun ride, and a really difficult ride, one where only your heart is trustworthy ;p
This book is definitely slow burning and it was a bit predictable but between getting to know the characters and the beautiful setting I found myself not minding one bit. It’s definitely worth the enjoyment.
It flowed really well for me and I can’t wait to recommend it.
September 18, 2021
Ehhhh. It was okay I guess 🙃
I had a LOT of trouble getting into this one. I don’t know what it was, but I think it’s a mixture of several things. The generic nature of the plot, the lack of high stakes, the overall feeling that this is something I’ve read before a million times. Don’t get me wrong, I realize nothing is truly *original* anymore because everything has been done before. But I could not shake the feeling I was basically rereading another one of these YA thrillers that was basically identical to at least 5 that I’ve read before in the past. I love a good thriller, went through a thriller phase where I read and and all thrillers. This did not stand out at all whatsoever, and basically rehashed what I’ve read a million times already. I realize nothing is truly original anymore since everything has been done at this point, but with successful thrillers, there’s always some sort of unique touch that makes it stand out. Whether it’s standout characterization, an extra inventive twist, high stakes, or an overwhelming sense of urgency, those are the thrillers that stand out. This was not even close to that.
The ending was also so damn predictable I almost laughed. You know when you think they couldn’t possibly end it that way because it’s too obvious so surely they wouldn’t do that, just for it to be exactly that? If you want your thriller to stand out, at the very least make the ending a harder for us to guess. That’s the whole selling point of a good thriller; the fact that it keeps you guessing on who is behind it all. If you screw up the big reveal there’s not much left going for you then.
Lastly, isn’t the fault of the author or book but the formatting of this netgalley arc was soooooo bad. Like the worst I have ever experienced in my 30+ arcs I’ve reviewed. It was so terrible but as soon as I opened page one I instantly debated not even trying this and having my first non completion of an arc ever. I could not truly accurately review this book because the terrible formatting was so distracting that I skimmed at least half this book. Netgalley requesters beware!
2.5 rounded up to a very generous 3 stars. I debated with a 2/5 but that just didn’t sit right with me, partially due to the fact that I skimmed so much of this because I just could not take the formatting.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
I had a LOT of trouble getting into this one. I don’t know what it was, but I think it’s a mixture of several things. The generic nature of the plot, the lack of high stakes, the overall feeling that this is something I’ve read before a million times. Don’t get me wrong, I realize nothing is truly *original* anymore because everything has been done before. But I could not shake the feeling I was basically rereading another one of these YA thrillers that was basically identical to at least 5 that I’ve read before in the past. I love a good thriller, went through a thriller phase where I read and and all thrillers. This did not stand out at all whatsoever, and basically rehashed what I’ve read a million times already. I realize nothing is truly original anymore since everything has been done at this point, but with successful thrillers, there’s always some sort of unique touch that makes it stand out. Whether it’s standout characterization, an extra inventive twist, high stakes, or an overwhelming sense of urgency, those are the thrillers that stand out. This was not even close to that.
The ending was also so damn predictable I almost laughed. You know when you think they couldn’t possibly end it that way because it’s too obvious so surely they wouldn’t do that, just for it to be exactly that? If you want your thriller to stand out, at the very least make the ending a harder for us to guess. That’s the whole selling point of a good thriller; the fact that it keeps you guessing on who is behind it all. If you screw up the big reveal there’s not much left going for you then.
Lastly, isn’t the fault of the author or book but the formatting of this netgalley arc was soooooo bad. Like the worst I have ever experienced in my 30+ arcs I’ve reviewed. It was so terrible but as soon as I opened page one I instantly debated not even trying this and having my first non completion of an arc ever. I could not truly accurately review this book because the terrible formatting was so distracting that I skimmed at least half this book. Netgalley requesters beware!
2.5 rounded up to a very generous 3 stars. I debated with a 2/5 but that just didn’t sit right with me, partially due to the fact that I skimmed so much of this because I just could not take the formatting.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
October 18, 2021
This was an interesting thriller, with the twist of the main character having lost her memory of an accident that may not have been so accidental. We follow Allie as she tries to piece together what happened and realizes that she may not have been a great person in her past.
This is pretty quick paced and had an interesting mystery of what really happened in January, plus what secrets Allie may have been keeping from everyone. I did think the clues were pretty clear as to who had a role in what happened and the ending wasn't too much of a surprise. Even so, there were some intense moments and a cute beginning of a romance between Allie and Mason.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book and all opinions are my own. Thank you to Wattpad Books and Edelweiss for the copy.
This is pretty quick paced and had an interesting mystery of what really happened in January, plus what secrets Allie may have been keeping from everyone. I did think the clues were pretty clear as to who had a role in what happened and the ending wasn't too much of a surprise. Even so, there were some intense moments and a cute beginning of a romance between Allie and Mason.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book and all opinions are my own. Thank you to Wattpad Books and Edelweiss for the copy.
August 9, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Blackout in exchange for an honest review.
Blackout starts off strong, but I think it loses a lot of it's momentum as it progresses for the sake of spending time highlighting characters and their relationships instead. That's not necessarily a bad thing and I know some readers will definitely appreciate it, but the description made me think it was more mystery than romance and I was a bit let down. I was still interested enough to want to find out what was happening, but I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to.
Blackout starts off strong, but I think it loses a lot of it's momentum as it progresses for the sake of spending time highlighting characters and their relationships instead. That's not necessarily a bad thing and I know some readers will definitely appreciate it, but the description made me think it was more mystery than romance and I was a bit let down. I was still interested enough to want to find out what was happening, but I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to.
October 20, 2021
Blackout is a mystery/thriller YA that tells the story of Alina (Allie) Castillo, a popular teenager who ends up losing her memory after a car accident. As if it wasn't enough that she doesn't remember anything about her life, she also discovers that her car accident may not have been a simple accident.
As a YA, there are several typical things of the category, but I must confess that I was positively surprised. I thought it was very good. It's easy and fast to read, the mystery was good, the apprehension that Allie didn't know who she could and couldn't trust… And when the mystery really starts, I couldn't stop reading until the end.
One thing I found interesting (and positive!) was that the romance had everything set to happen. But unlike many YA with this trope (the girl with the mysterious/quiet guy), Allie chooses to focus on herself and on her recovery. That was pretty good, because we're used to see the protagonist jumping in romances right after (or even during) going through a trauma, without giving time to heal from what happened.
If you're into mystery/thriller YA, I think you'll like Blackout a lot. It's a bit predictable, and I couldn't quite understand the motivation of certain people involved, but it's worth reading.
I just hope they fix the formatting before release, because it was really hard to read (I know it's not the author's fault, it's was netgalley's formatting, so I didn't consider it in my review).
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a YA, there are several typical things of the category, but I must confess that I was positively surprised. I thought it was very good. It's easy and fast to read, the mystery was good, the apprehension that Allie didn't know who she could and couldn't trust… And when the mystery really starts, I couldn't stop reading until the end.
One thing I found interesting (and positive!) was that the romance had everything set to happen. But unlike many YA with this trope (the girl with the mysterious/quiet guy), Allie chooses to focus on herself and on her recovery. That was pretty good, because we're used to see the protagonist jumping in romances right after (or even during) going through a trauma, without giving time to heal from what happened.
If you're into mystery/thriller YA, I think you'll like Blackout a lot. It's a bit predictable, and I couldn't quite understand the motivation of certain people involved, but it's worth reading.
I just hope they fix the formatting before release, because it was really hard to read (I know it's not the author's fault, it's was netgalley's formatting, so I didn't consider it in my review).
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2021
A big thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for allowing me to read this ARC.
I won’t get into a recap or synopsis of the book because I feel that it is well covered between the author and reviews.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the internal struggle that the MC has throughout. Her dilemma of knowing and doing what’s right is constantly at battle with finding out what kind of person she has been in the past.
I didn’t love all of the characters, but they all played a role in getting to the conclusion. The rekindling of an old friendship was a familiar, but welcome element in this story.
This is definitely a real life possible book. It had me thinking what I would do. I could not put it down. Thank had to know how it was all going to end.
I loved all the details the author gave without getting wordy. A big thank you to the author for giving me more to the story after the culmination of the plot! I have no unanswered questions.
This would make a great movie.
This is a great YA thriller, and I would recommend it to fans of the genre.
I won’t get into a recap or synopsis of the book because I feel that it is well covered between the author and reviews.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the internal struggle that the MC has throughout. Her dilemma of knowing and doing what’s right is constantly at battle with finding out what kind of person she has been in the past.
I didn’t love all of the characters, but they all played a role in getting to the conclusion. The rekindling of an old friendship was a familiar, but welcome element in this story.
This is definitely a real life possible book. It had me thinking what I would do. I could not put it down. Thank had to know how it was all going to end.
I loved all the details the author gave without getting wordy. A big thank you to the author for giving me more to the story after the culmination of the plot! I have no unanswered questions.
This would make a great movie.
This is a great YA thriller, and I would recommend it to fans of the genre.
February 10, 2022
I cannot imagine having your memory wiped clean. Not being able to recognize your mother, your sister, your home! Your voice feels foreign, and you have no idea what type of person you were before the accident. Before you lost your memories. Flickers of the accident keep coming back. You have the feeling there is something more that happened, you just cannot remember. It feels sinister and dark. The police are still questioning you. Your friends are not people you would want to surround yourself with. They must be nice; they were your friends...right? Everything feels off, tilted, and you are trying to remember. As more details start coming to light Allie is finally able to piece together some of the mystery. Will she be able to do it fast enough before it is too late?
I love an attention grabbing atmospheric read! Blackout is that and so much more. It is twisty and leaves you questioning everyone's motives. You know who is involved, you just need to know why. K. Monroe does a stellar job of developing characters who throw you back into the jaws of high school. The cliques, the mind games, the competition, I just want to say I am so glad I am out of there. If you are in the mood for a dark, fly through the pages read, this is the one for you. Thank you to K. Monroe, Wattpad Books, and Storygram Tours for sending me this spinechilling read!
I love an attention grabbing atmospheric read! Blackout is that and so much more. It is twisty and leaves you questioning everyone's motives. You know who is involved, you just need to know why. K. Monroe does a stellar job of developing characters who throw you back into the jaws of high school. The cliques, the mind games, the competition, I just want to say I am so glad I am out of there. If you are in the mood for a dark, fly through the pages read, this is the one for you. Thank you to K. Monroe, Wattpad Books, and Storygram Tours for sending me this spinechilling read!
April 17, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the eARC of this book.
I don’t know what I expected going into this book… but that’s mostly because I didn’t read the synopsis. But, I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t read many mysteries/thrillers and I really enjoyed this. It was predictable in some moments and shocking in others, and the characters were written so well! And a big part of the suspense came from how Allie had to navigate her life after getting complete amnesia.
I read this book in about 12 hours, give or take. I couldn’t put it down and it was probably 02:30/03:00 when I finished it. I was so drawn in and I wanted to get to the ending to find out what really happened.
One singular reason, that trumps them all, that you should read this book? That would be Mason. He was by far my favorite character and even though I questioned his intentions a few times (mystery book, what else could I do?) he was really the highlight for me. He was caring and sweet, and the complete opposite of what I thought he would be, but I absolutely adored him.
The only thing that made me rate this book 4/5 stars is the ending. I loved the conclusion to the storyline… but the ending was kind of disappointing. But, I think the ending left it open for more if K Monroe ever decided to write a sequel. I’m holding out hope that she does because I want more Mason.
I really liked this book, and I enjoyed reading it. I would definitely recommend it, especially for those who want a good mystery, especially a mystery with the Amnesia trope.
I don’t know what I expected going into this book… but that’s mostly because I didn’t read the synopsis. But, I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t read many mysteries/thrillers and I really enjoyed this. It was predictable in some moments and shocking in others, and the characters were written so well! And a big part of the suspense came from how Allie had to navigate her life after getting complete amnesia.
I read this book in about 12 hours, give or take. I couldn’t put it down and it was probably 02:30/03:00 when I finished it. I was so drawn in and I wanted to get to the ending to find out what really happened.
One singular reason, that trumps them all, that you should read this book? That would be Mason. He was by far my favorite character and even though I questioned his intentions a few times (mystery book, what else could I do?) he was really the highlight for me. He was caring and sweet, and the complete opposite of what I thought he would be, but I absolutely adored him.
The only thing that made me rate this book 4/5 stars is the ending. I loved the conclusion to the storyline… but the ending was kind of disappointing. But, I think the ending left it open for more if K Monroe ever decided to write a sequel. I’m holding out hope that she does because I want more Mason.
I really liked this book, and I enjoyed reading it. I would definitely recommend it, especially for those who want a good mystery, especially a mystery with the Amnesia trope.
June 28, 2021
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this book, and this is definitely a YA Thriller to look out for! The mystery surrounding Allie's memory loss is incredibly intriguing--but what made this story so memorable to me were the characters themselves. Learning who Allie was before the accident, as well as who her friends were and who she can/should trust, was enthralling from the start. On top of that, the romance was perfect--we were given just enough to truly root for the couple, but not so much that it ever distracted from the main plot. Also: THE SETTING! It's so beautifully described and atmospheric, and I totally pictured this like a movie the whole way through.
A strong, tightly-plotted debut. I'd recommend this story to anyone interested in teen thrillers and morally grey characters. I hope to see many more novels from K. Monroe! 🥰
A strong, tightly-plotted debut. I'd recommend this story to anyone interested in teen thrillers and morally grey characters. I hope to see many more novels from K. Monroe! 🥰
August 24, 2022
4.5 rounded up for Goodreads
I'm not normally a huge fan of thrillers/mysteries, but this one definitely sucked me in. The way K. Monroe builds up the suspense to the reveal with small hints that keep you guessing was so fun to read throughout the book.
This book tells the story of a young woman who is suffering from amnesia following a horrific car accident she was in, however, people's stories, the site of the accident, and flashbacks to that night aren't adding up. We are following our victim's perspective and uncover things right alongside her.
This story was a solid 5 stars for me until the very end which felt rushed following how much build up and detail the rest of the book had.
I'm not normally a huge fan of thrillers/mysteries, but this one definitely sucked me in. The way K. Monroe builds up the suspense to the reveal with small hints that keep you guessing was so fun to read throughout the book.
This book tells the story of a young woman who is suffering from amnesia following a horrific car accident she was in, however, people's stories, the site of the accident, and flashbacks to that night aren't adding up. We are following our victim's perspective and uncover things right alongside her.
This story was a solid 5 stars for me until the very end which felt rushed following how much build up and detail the rest of the book had.
January 17, 2022
Final Rating: 2.5
This YA thriller had an interesting premise...I do love a good amnesia plot...but I'm just gonna get right to it. The reviews I've read that mention this being "unputdownable" or "fast paced" or "riveting" I simply cannot relate. I actually felt quite bored and felt like the story was fairly predictable on many levels.
This, unfortunately, was not the right fit for me, but I find this to be a running theme with me and YA mystery/thrillers. They are either 5 star amazing (looking at you A Good Girl's Guide to Murder) or they feel very young and predictable.
This YA thriller had an interesting premise...I do love a good amnesia plot...but I'm just gonna get right to it. The reviews I've read that mention this being "unputdownable" or "fast paced" or "riveting" I simply cannot relate. I actually felt quite bored and felt like the story was fairly predictable on many levels.
This, unfortunately, was not the right fit for me, but I find this to be a running theme with me and YA mystery/thrillers. They are either 5 star amazing (looking at you A Good Girl's Guide to Murder) or they feel very young and predictable.
February 1, 2022
This book was okay. Not great, not awful, just middle of the line okay. I was interested enough to keep reading, but at no point was I "omg, I have to know what happens!" The characters were kind of bland, cardboard cutouts, each one hiding something as Allie fought to get her memory back. All in all I wasn't impressed. This book was definitely for the younger side of YA, minus the drinking. 3 stars.
January 20, 2022
3.75✨
I thought this was really good for a YA thriller! It had hooks at the end of every chapter (verrrrry Wattpad style!!) and pacing was great.
There isn’t a big twist, even the story premise REALLY sets you up like there could be one. I guess that’s my one critique.
Otherwise it’s simple, straightforward to read & at less than 300 pages who can ask for more!
I thought this was really good for a YA thriller! It had hooks at the end of every chapter (verrrrry Wattpad style!!) and pacing was great.
There isn’t a big twist, even the story premise REALLY sets you up like there could be one. I guess that’s my one critique.
Otherwise it’s simple, straightforward to read & at less than 300 pages who can ask for more!
October 31, 2021
I received a copy of this book directly from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not one to read a lot of thrillers, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was a nice mix of Thriller, Romance, and a lot of dark high school drama. It was fun to follow along with the main character, Allie as she tried to navigate the unfamiliar remnants of her life pre-amnesia, and figure out what really happened the night of her car accident.
The characters were well-written, as was the narrative overall. The story flowed effortlessly, and it was easy to empathize with Allie, despite slowly figuring out that she wasn't a terribly good person pre-accident. The romance between Allie and Mason was heartwarming and tense, and a tiny bit heartbreaking.
For a debut novel, this one was stellar, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
I'm not one to read a lot of thrillers, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was a nice mix of Thriller, Romance, and a lot of dark high school drama. It was fun to follow along with the main character, Allie as she tried to navigate the unfamiliar remnants of her life pre-amnesia, and figure out what really happened the night of her car accident.
The characters were well-written, as was the narrative overall. The story flowed effortlessly, and it was easy to empathize with Allie, despite slowly figuring out that she wasn't a terribly good person pre-accident. The romance between Allie and Mason was heartwarming and tense, and a tiny bit heartbreaking.
For a debut novel, this one was stellar, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
July 23, 2023
This book starts like a few others, so much that I had to stop and check my library if I already had read it under another name.
Aside from that, it started interesting, there were some well written parts, but halfway I found myself losing interest. I started skipping big chunks and I may have as well dropped it or skipped to the very end. The ending itself was so predictable, again - similar to very other YA mistery ending and so unrealistic.
Aside from that, it started interesting, there were some well written parts, but halfway I found myself losing interest. I started skipping big chunks and I may have as well dropped it or skipped to the very end. The ending itself was so predictable, again - similar to very other YA mistery ending and so unrealistic.
August 15, 2023
WOW JUST WOW!!!
I found this book at my local dollar store and has to be one of my top favorite books!! I now want to read more books from this author. I was hooked from chapter one and found it hard to put this down. It was a very easy read and a page turner for sure!
I found this book at my local dollar store and has to be one of my top favorite books!! I now want to read more books from this author. I was hooked from chapter one and found it hard to put this down. It was a very easy read and a page turner for sure!
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January 15, 2022Oops. For some reason Goodreads said I read this book, but I didn't...
April 24, 2022
This would make a great YA movie!!! This was a fast read and a great story. I loved the twists it had.
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