What do you think?
Rate this book
The Marvelous
*Running Time => 10 hrs. and 4 mins.*
From the author of 'Let’s Talk About Love' and 'If It Makes You Happy', this exuberant YA Novel follows six teens locked together in a mansion, contending for a life-changing cash prize in a competition run by a reclusive heiress.
Everyone thinks they know Jewel Van Hanen. Heiress turned actress turned social media darling who created the massively popular video-sharing app, Golden Rule.
After mysteriously disappearing for a year, Jewel makes her dramatic return with an announcement: she has chosen a few lucky Golden Rule users to spend an unforgettable weekend at her private estate. But once they arrive, Jewel ingeniously flips the script: the guests are now players in an elaborate estate-wide game. And she’s tailored every challenge and obstacle to test whether they have what it takes to win - at any cost.
Told from the perspective of three dazzling players - Nicole: the new queen of Golden Rule; Luna: Jewel’s biggest fan; and Stella: a brilliant outsider - this novel will charm its way into your heart and keep you guessing how it all ends because money isn’t the only thing at stake.
©2021 Annie Camill Clark (P)2021 Tantor
From the author of 'Let’s Talk About Love' and 'If It Makes You Happy', this exuberant YA Novel follows six teens locked together in a mansion, contending for a life-changing cash prize in a competition run by a reclusive heiress.
Everyone thinks they know Jewel Van Hanen. Heiress turned actress turned social media darling who created the massively popular video-sharing app, Golden Rule.
After mysteriously disappearing for a year, Jewel makes her dramatic return with an announcement: she has chosen a few lucky Golden Rule users to spend an unforgettable weekend at her private estate. But once they arrive, Jewel ingeniously flips the script: the guests are now players in an elaborate estate-wide game. And she’s tailored every challenge and obstacle to test whether they have what it takes to win - at any cost.
Told from the perspective of three dazzling players - Nicole: the new queen of Golden Rule; Luna: Jewel’s biggest fan; and Stella: a brilliant outsider - this novel will charm its way into your heart and keep you guessing how it all ends because money isn’t the only thing at stake.
©2021 Annie Camill Clark (P)2021 Tantor
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 8, 2021
30 people are currently reading
3131 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
December 18, 2021
The Marvelous sweeps you away in this intoxicating story about influencer culture and fame, parasocial relationships and a wild mystery, all in the context of a competition/game show. And yet. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Some things didn't land for me.
- Follows three Black girls: Nicole, Stella, and Luna, who are invited to a weekend away at a filthy rich social media darling and video-sharing app owner's estate. However, the girls later discover that it isn't just a weekend away, but they are now part of a competition in which they can win a massive cash prize -- though things are not what they seem.
- Go into this book without looking anything up! That's what I did and I really enjoyed the twists and turns.
- This book is quite unlike anything I've read; it's character-driven and has mystery elements. The atmosphere is drawn taut and there's so much delicious suspense.
- I really enjoyed the thematic elements of the story, like how it explores influencer culture, social media, boundaries, how authenticity is a performance, and the implications of parasocial relationships.
- While I liked the book well enough and enjoyed my time reading it, I'm not quite sure if some of the moments landed for me. I think this is a good book, but felt the ending a little underwhelming? Parts of the book felt a little incohesive, and Stella and Luna's character arcs unfortunately didn't quite satisfy me.
Content warning: mentions of death of parents, parental emotional abuse, anti-fat microaggressions (challenged in-text), kidnapping
- Follows three Black girls: Nicole, Stella, and Luna, who are invited to a weekend away at a filthy rich social media darling and video-sharing app owner's estate. However, the girls later discover that it isn't just a weekend away, but they are now part of a competition in which they can win a massive cash prize -- though things are not what they seem.
- Go into this book without looking anything up! That's what I did and I really enjoyed the twists and turns.
- This book is quite unlike anything I've read; it's character-driven and has mystery elements. The atmosphere is drawn taut and there's so much delicious suspense.
- I really enjoyed the thematic elements of the story, like how it explores influencer culture, social media, boundaries, how authenticity is a performance, and the implications of parasocial relationships.
- While I liked the book well enough and enjoyed my time reading it, I'm not quite sure if some of the moments landed for me. I think this is a good book, but felt the ending a little underwhelming? Parts of the book felt a little incohesive, and Stella and Luna's character arcs unfortunately didn't quite satisfy me.
Content warning: mentions of death of parents, parental emotional abuse, anti-fat microaggressions (challenged in-text), kidnapping
July 2, 2021
Book 192 of 2021
3.5 ✨
3.5 ✨
Want to read
March 12, 2021March 11, 2021: When the author said this story has witty banter, puzzles, and Black, queer, and fat kids being kids...my immediate instinct was to hype it up.
May 20, 2021
3.5 stars.
Claire Kann's The Marvelous shows what happens when four followers of a popular social media app get invited to the founder’s house for a weekend, and discover they’re in for more than they could ever imagine.
Jewel Van Hanen has always been in the public eye. As an heiress and actress her every move was captured, so it seemed only natural that she’d create a video-sharing app. Golden Rule becomes extremely popular—and then Jewel disappeared for a year. No one knows where she went.
But now she’s back and has decided to make a splash by inviting four of Golden Rule’s followers to her private estate for the weekend. And when they arrive, they realize it’s not quite the weekend they imagined—Jewel has planned for a series of challenges and puzzles and obstacles that will require every last ounce of cunning and intelligence they have. But is money the only thing at stake?
The Marvelous was a really interesting story told from the perspective of three of the followers. (Why not all four followers I'll never understand.) The concept of the book reminded me a little of the idea behind Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in that an eccentric person lets people into their world. But no Oompa Loompas here, lol.
My challenge with the story is that there were a lot of unanswered questions. Many plot points were introduced or mentioned and then never touched on again. But at its core, the book was an interesting exploration of the ever-changing world of social media as well as a fun challenge for those who love puzzles and riddles.
My thanks to Storygram Tours, Swoon Reads, and Fierce Reads for allowing me to be part of the tour for The Marvelous , and for sending me a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!
The book publishes 6/8.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Claire Kann's The Marvelous shows what happens when four followers of a popular social media app get invited to the founder’s house for a weekend, and discover they’re in for more than they could ever imagine.
Jewel Van Hanen has always been in the public eye. As an heiress and actress her every move was captured, so it seemed only natural that she’d create a video-sharing app. Golden Rule becomes extremely popular—and then Jewel disappeared for a year. No one knows where she went.
But now she’s back and has decided to make a splash by inviting four of Golden Rule’s followers to her private estate for the weekend. And when they arrive, they realize it’s not quite the weekend they imagined—Jewel has planned for a series of challenges and puzzles and obstacles that will require every last ounce of cunning and intelligence they have. But is money the only thing at stake?
The Marvelous was a really interesting story told from the perspective of three of the followers. (Why not all four followers I'll never understand.) The concept of the book reminded me a little of the idea behind Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in that an eccentric person lets people into their world. But no Oompa Loompas here, lol.
My challenge with the story is that there were a lot of unanswered questions. Many plot points were introduced or mentioned and then never touched on again. But at its core, the book was an interesting exploration of the ever-changing world of social media as well as a fun challenge for those who love puzzles and riddles.
My thanks to Storygram Tours, Swoon Reads, and Fierce Reads for allowing me to be part of the tour for The Marvelous , and for sending me a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!
The book publishes 6/8.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
June 6, 2021
Trigger Warnings: Confinement, panic attacks, death of a parent, emotional abuse, manipulation, fatphobia, food insecurity, grief, gun violence, kidnapping
I swear, Claire Kann can do no wrong. I’ve read and loved her previous two books (Let’s Talk About Love and If It Makes You Happy), so when The Marvelous was first announced, I already knew that I just had to get my hands on this book! And spoiler alert, I loved this one too, so here we go!
Jewel Van Hanen, heiress and creator of the video sharing app Golden Rule, has been MIA for the last year. Now Jewel’s had returned with an exclusive offer: four users will be invited to Golden Weekend, an all expenses paid trip to her private estate. Little do the users know that this isn’t a lavish party weekend, instead Jewel has created a series of puzzles and obstacles that aren’t just mentally grueling. The guests quickly learn that the cash prize isn’t the only thing that they are fighting for.
I’m going to be real honest, for the majority of this book, I oscillated between a constant state of anger and confusion. I am a person who STRUGGLES with riddles and wordplay thanks to the way that I process things, so the majority of this book made zero sense. It was infuriating. That being said, I still found myself tearing through the pages. I was addicted to the games, the stakes, and all of the terrible decisions in between. That’s all I will say about the plot because y’all really need to experience this WTF scenario for yourselves.
Now let’s talk about characters. There’s a full cast of characters here, so it takes several chapters to catch up to speed. However, once you do, each of the characters are fully developed and have their own personality and characteristics that really sets them apart.
My favorite characters were Nicole and Stella. I said what I said. Nicole made me want to jump through the page and protect her in warmth and love. The majority of the characters are Black. The only character’s ethnicity that is ambiguous is Harrow’s, which is never confirmed. Back to Nicole. She’s tall, Black, fat, and suffers from food insecurity. As a person who also suffered from food security when I was younger, the scenes when she breaks down the biases of food insecurity were some of the most difficult to read.
Back to Stella. Stella is incredibly intelligent. That is obvious from when she sets foot on the private estate. That being said, what comes out of Stella’s mouth is definitely not what anyone wants to hear and those who write her off do a disservice for the book. I will continue to sing her high praises and after everything, maybe you will too.
I’ve read so many locked room mysteries and Clue like books, but I promise you that this one puts a fresh spin on those formulaic stories that you grew up with. It’s about time that we get an author like Kann who truly breathes a fresh air into this type of trope and gives me characters that I can actually see myself in. Furthermore, it’s about time that this isn’t only done in the context of white people. This isn’t a Get Out situation. Bravo Kann. This book is so clever. Your move.
Thank you to Swoon Reads for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
I swear, Claire Kann can do no wrong. I’ve read and loved her previous two books (Let’s Talk About Love and If It Makes You Happy), so when The Marvelous was first announced, I already knew that I just had to get my hands on this book! And spoiler alert, I loved this one too, so here we go!
Jewel Van Hanen, heiress and creator of the video sharing app Golden Rule, has been MIA for the last year. Now Jewel’s had returned with an exclusive offer: four users will be invited to Golden Weekend, an all expenses paid trip to her private estate. Little do the users know that this isn’t a lavish party weekend, instead Jewel has created a series of puzzles and obstacles that aren’t just mentally grueling. The guests quickly learn that the cash prize isn’t the only thing that they are fighting for.
I’m going to be real honest, for the majority of this book, I oscillated between a constant state of anger and confusion. I am a person who STRUGGLES with riddles and wordplay thanks to the way that I process things, so the majority of this book made zero sense. It was infuriating. That being said, I still found myself tearing through the pages. I was addicted to the games, the stakes, and all of the terrible decisions in between. That’s all I will say about the plot because y’all really need to experience this WTF scenario for yourselves.
Now let’s talk about characters. There’s a full cast of characters here, so it takes several chapters to catch up to speed. However, once you do, each of the characters are fully developed and have their own personality and characteristics that really sets them apart.
My favorite characters were Nicole and Stella. I said what I said. Nicole made me want to jump through the page and protect her in warmth and love. The majority of the characters are Black. The only character’s ethnicity that is ambiguous is Harrow’s, which is never confirmed. Back to Nicole. She’s tall, Black, fat, and suffers from food insecurity. As a person who also suffered from food security when I was younger, the scenes when she breaks down the biases of food insecurity were some of the most difficult to read.
Back to Stella. Stella is incredibly intelligent. That is obvious from when she sets foot on the private estate. That being said, what comes out of Stella’s mouth is definitely not what anyone wants to hear and those who write her off do a disservice for the book. I will continue to sing her high praises and after everything, maybe you will too.
I’ve read so many locked room mysteries and Clue like books, but I promise you that this one puts a fresh spin on those formulaic stories that you grew up with. It’s about time that we get an author like Kann who truly breathes a fresh air into this type of trope and gives me characters that I can actually see myself in. Furthermore, it’s about time that this isn’t only done in the context of white people. This isn’t a Get Out situation. Bravo Kann. This book is so clever. Your move.
Thank you to Swoon Reads for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
June 29, 2021
I'm unfortunately going to be dnfing this one at the 20% mark. This book is a bit too confusing for my taste. However, the characterization, witty banter, and atmosphere are top notch. So I still recommend The Marvelous to all the mystery fans out there!
(Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.)
(Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.)
October 23, 2021
actual rating: 4.5 stars
rep: plus-sized black MC, black SCs
the ingenuity of the concept of the golden weekend, and the subsequent mysteries that unraveled has a brilliant conclusion. i wasn’t expecting such an ending from all the books that i’ve read which involved an insane estate with contraptions abound.
invited to the final golden weekend are stella, luna, harlow and nicole. with luna comes alex, her best friend, because she’s still a minor. a sixth player named francis was added in the last minute. these six will have a weekend to solve the riddle and play the games. the final two will split a million dollars between themselves. secrets are kept, alliances were created.
i kind of liked that there weren’t any huge betrayals. instead, the marvelous created a warm feeling amongst the six players. as they solve the puzzles, each one of them started to slowly gain the trust of the rest.
each character felt distinct in their own ways. a cast of six would normally feel overwhelming to follow but claire kann did a fantastic job in separating their voices yet created a harmoniousness with their different personalities. also, instead of just focusing on how each character performed in each game, the author fleshed out their character based on their family situations and current lifestyle which added more layers to each of them.
to many, stella can be sharp-tongued and sarcastic. she has the type of personality that some people would absolutely hate from the first sentence uttered from stella’s mouth but i liked how she contrasted everyone else. stella’s mind works fast and she often think out of the box while playing games. she’s always trying to outwit the mastermind behind the game. smothered by her parents’ overprotectiveness, stella takes this weekend to express herself.
as a founder of the goldspiracy, luna is obsessed with the app. golden rule is her life and meeting jewel, creator of the app, is a dream that she never thought would come true. at fifteen years old, luna tends to up jewel on a pedestal. she desires to win the game and would do anything to achieve that. she might be young but luna isn’t one to be underestimated. her thing with alex is adorable. there’s a friends-to-almost-lovers situation going on between the two of them. alex is always looking after luna and making sure her head stays on earth instead of in the clouds.
nicole’s life isn’t going that great. aspiring to be an actress, nicole made use of the golden rule to gain camera experience and to build her audience base. with the app banning hate speech and bullying, nicole felt relatively safe to express herself as an outspoken plus-sized Black female. throughout the game, nicole’s the mom. whenever someone needed some comfort and caring, nicole is there to provide. francis and nicole have something going on as well. despite her openness, nicole don’t often think that people would fall for her so watching her realise that francis actually likes her was freaking amazing.
out of everyone, harlow pops up less but her presence holds a great significance as this story progresses. like luna, harlow idolised jewel at first but things changed when she faced some terrible consequences in the name of this game.
i absolutely loved jewel’s house: a maze of books in a grand library, a room filled with a variety of cats, a wardrobe filled with clothes for any occasion and more. it’s the kind of house that would be perfect for high-stake games with rooms upon rooms to explore. mysteries are meant to happen in places like that.
the ending was not what i had anticipated so it was a pleasant surprise. i don’t want to spoil anything but i loved it. these six found their own paths and roles in the game. for once i could actually follow the clues and connect the dots while reading a mystery novel. some parts might be a little too obvious but it didn’t diminish my enjoyment a single bit.
rep: plus-sized black MC, black SCs
the ingenuity of the concept of the golden weekend, and the subsequent mysteries that unraveled has a brilliant conclusion. i wasn’t expecting such an ending from all the books that i’ve read which involved an insane estate with contraptions abound.
invited to the final golden weekend are stella, luna, harlow and nicole. with luna comes alex, her best friend, because she’s still a minor. a sixth player named francis was added in the last minute. these six will have a weekend to solve the riddle and play the games. the final two will split a million dollars between themselves. secrets are kept, alliances were created.
i kind of liked that there weren’t any huge betrayals. instead, the marvelous created a warm feeling amongst the six players. as they solve the puzzles, each one of them started to slowly gain the trust of the rest.
each character felt distinct in their own ways. a cast of six would normally feel overwhelming to follow but claire kann did a fantastic job in separating their voices yet created a harmoniousness with their different personalities. also, instead of just focusing on how each character performed in each game, the author fleshed out their character based on their family situations and current lifestyle which added more layers to each of them.
to many, stella can be sharp-tongued and sarcastic. she has the type of personality that some people would absolutely hate from the first sentence uttered from stella’s mouth but i liked how she contrasted everyone else. stella’s mind works fast and she often think out of the box while playing games. she’s always trying to outwit the mastermind behind the game. smothered by her parents’ overprotectiveness, stella takes this weekend to express herself.
as a founder of the goldspiracy, luna is obsessed with the app. golden rule is her life and meeting jewel, creator of the app, is a dream that she never thought would come true. at fifteen years old, luna tends to up jewel on a pedestal. she desires to win the game and would do anything to achieve that. she might be young but luna isn’t one to be underestimated. her thing with alex is adorable. there’s a friends-to-almost-lovers situation going on between the two of them. alex is always looking after luna and making sure her head stays on earth instead of in the clouds.
nicole’s life isn’t going that great. aspiring to be an actress, nicole made use of the golden rule to gain camera experience and to build her audience base. with the app banning hate speech and bullying, nicole felt relatively safe to express herself as an outspoken plus-sized Black female. throughout the game, nicole’s the mom. whenever someone needed some comfort and caring, nicole is there to provide. francis and nicole have something going on as well. despite her openness, nicole don’t often think that people would fall for her so watching her realise that francis actually likes her was freaking amazing.
out of everyone, harlow pops up less but her presence holds a great significance as this story progresses. like luna, harlow idolised jewel at first but things changed when she faced some terrible consequences in the name of this game.
i absolutely loved jewel’s house: a maze of books in a grand library, a room filled with a variety of cats, a wardrobe filled with clothes for any occasion and more. it’s the kind of house that would be perfect for high-stake games with rooms upon rooms to explore. mysteries are meant to happen in places like that.
the ending was not what i had anticipated so it was a pleasant surprise. i don’t want to spoil anything but i loved it. these six found their own paths and roles in the game. for once i could actually follow the clues and connect the dots while reading a mystery novel. some parts might be a little too obvious but it didn’t diminish my enjoyment a single bit.
June 8, 2021
So I enjoyed the book I’ve read by this author before, If It Makes You Happy, and when I heard about this one, I signed up right away! This one was a little different from the one I’d already read, and from what I know of her books so far. While it was a contemporary and definitely fits into a #ownvoices category, it had a bit of a mystery to it as well. But in a really fun way. It was almost like a horror movie, except it wasn’t filled with murder or anything. Just some dangerous or scary situations, missing people, a big prize at the end, and lots of secrets and intrigue. And honestly, that was right up my alley! It kept me guessing though, the whole way through, not knowing just how far the game might really end up going. And the little bits we knew about each of the characters made it definitely even more edge of your seat as you read.
I loved that all of the characters were diverse. Even the rich/famous person wasn’t just a Paris Hilton wannabe. Now I kind of thought maybe there was more to Jewel’s story than we got, and even though we did get more, it didn’t quite go down one of the paths I thought it might. Although I kind of thought it might be what happened though. I don’t want to say anymore because the mystery in this is definitely part of why you should read it. As I mentioned, all the characters had really unique personalities, some that came off as abrupt and totally different than what I would have expected based on their background. But I also liked the way they may have grown as the weekend went on, and the connections they all made with each other. Another great story from Claire Kann!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
I loved that all of the characters were diverse. Even the rich/famous person wasn’t just a Paris Hilton wannabe. Now I kind of thought maybe there was more to Jewel’s story than we got, and even though we did get more, it didn’t quite go down one of the paths I thought it might. Although I kind of thought it might be what happened though. I don’t want to say anymore because the mystery in this is definitely part of why you should read it. As I mentioned, all the characters had really unique personalities, some that came off as abrupt and totally different than what I would have expected based on their background. But I also liked the way they may have grown as the weekend went on, and the connections they all made with each other. Another great story from Claire Kann!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
June 26, 2021
Wow. I could not get into this at all. I tried so hard and even went back and read certain paragraphs several times, but I just wasn't the least bit interested. Surprising because the plot sounds like a modern day Willy Wonka and the game aspect gave me Caraval & Inheritance Games vibes. Unfortunately, this was just not a hit for me and I spent the last half of the book waiting for it to be over.
My biggest problem with this book is that I had a lot of difficulty telling the characters apart. Stella, Luna, and the other one whose name I now forget seemed too similar in my brain and I constantly had to go back to remember who was who. There were no distinct voices. Maybe Jewel was distinct enough, but even the game runner herself seemed similar to the players.
Another big problem is that I just didn't get it. I didn't even understand what game they were playing, how to decipher clues, and what role the Golden Rule had in all of this. It was just really confusing.
I tried, guys. I tried. I wanted to like this since Let's Talk About Love was a pleasant surprise for me, but this was just not for me.
My biggest problem with this book is that I had a lot of difficulty telling the characters apart. Stella, Luna, and the other one whose name I now forget seemed too similar in my brain and I constantly had to go back to remember who was who. There were no distinct voices. Maybe Jewel was distinct enough, but even the game runner herself seemed similar to the players.
Another big problem is that I just didn't get it. I didn't even understand what game they were playing, how to decipher clues, and what role the Golden Rule had in all of this. It was just really confusing.
I tried, guys. I tried. I wanted to like this since Let's Talk About Love was a pleasant surprise for me, but this was just not for me.
June 15, 2021
Full Review on The Candid Cover
The Marvelous by Claire Kann is mystifying story about a game that does not go as expected. Set during a competition in its reclusive creator’s mansion, this one is filled with puzzles and unique challenges. I enjoyed all three narrators, and the eerie atmosphere the author has created makes the story jump off the page. This is a great read for those looking for a contemporary with an exciting twist.
❀ HIGH-STAKES GAME
After Jewel, the creator of a popular video-sharing app, suddenly disappears, she returns to the platform to announce that she has selected a group of users to come to her mansion for the weekend. However, when the guests arrive at Golden Weekend, Jewel reveals that they must play her elaborate game, promising cryptic puzzles, two winners, and one million dollars. Nothing in the game is as it seems, and the players find the stakes slowly getting higher.
❀ THREE NARRATORS
This book contains three narrators, and I enjoyed each of them. Luna is Jewel’s biggest fan, and she has experience cracking her codes. Nicole is one of the app’s most popular creators, and she has a big heart. The third is not as obvious a choice: Stella a mysterious new user. She was my favourite to follow because of her sense of humour. The multiple narrators are effective because they provide each of the players’ perspectives of the game, and of each other. All three players have their own reasons for competing, and their voices are distinct, which I appreciated.
❀ MYSTERIOUS ATMOSPHERE
What makes the book compelling is its mysterious atmosphere. Claire Kann has done an outstanding job setting the tone of Jewel’s mansion with her elaborate puzzles and themed rooms, and there is always the feeling that something is off. Something about this book gave me Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibes, so I’m sure fans of this story will enjoy reading about Golden Weekend and its mysterious creator.
❀ A UNIQUE STORY
The Marvelous by Claire Kann is a unique story about an eerie competition. I loved the cryptic puzzles throughout the book, and all three main characters are well-developed. What I especially enjoyed is the atmosphere the author creates, making for an immersive reading experience. Those looking for a thrilling contemporary will not want to miss this one.
The Marvelous by Claire Kann is mystifying story about a game that does not go as expected. Set during a competition in its reclusive creator’s mansion, this one is filled with puzzles and unique challenges. I enjoyed all three narrators, and the eerie atmosphere the author has created makes the story jump off the page. This is a great read for those looking for a contemporary with an exciting twist.
❀ HIGH-STAKES GAME
After Jewel, the creator of a popular video-sharing app, suddenly disappears, she returns to the platform to announce that she has selected a group of users to come to her mansion for the weekend. However, when the guests arrive at Golden Weekend, Jewel reveals that they must play her elaborate game, promising cryptic puzzles, two winners, and one million dollars. Nothing in the game is as it seems, and the players find the stakes slowly getting higher.
❀ THREE NARRATORS
This book contains three narrators, and I enjoyed each of them. Luna is Jewel’s biggest fan, and she has experience cracking her codes. Nicole is one of the app’s most popular creators, and she has a big heart. The third is not as obvious a choice: Stella a mysterious new user. She was my favourite to follow because of her sense of humour. The multiple narrators are effective because they provide each of the players’ perspectives of the game, and of each other. All three players have their own reasons for competing, and their voices are distinct, which I appreciated.
❀ MYSTERIOUS ATMOSPHERE
What makes the book compelling is its mysterious atmosphere. Claire Kann has done an outstanding job setting the tone of Jewel’s mansion with her elaborate puzzles and themed rooms, and there is always the feeling that something is off. Something about this book gave me Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibes, so I’m sure fans of this story will enjoy reading about Golden Weekend and its mysterious creator.
❀ A UNIQUE STORY
The Marvelous by Claire Kann is a unique story about an eerie competition. I loved the cryptic puzzles throughout the book, and all three main characters are well-developed. What I especially enjoyed is the atmosphere the author creates, making for an immersive reading experience. Those looking for a thrilling contemporary will not want to miss this one.
January 11, 2023
How far are you willing to go to get what you want?
Umm... underrated YA brilliance!
The Marvelous is an extraordinary intertextual puzzle that will keep readers guessing and gasping along with the characters.
Claire Kann is a sharp and versatile author and Joniece Abbott-Pratt a talented audiobook narrator, the perfect choice for this novel.
Umm... underrated YA brilliance!
The Marvelous is an extraordinary intertextual puzzle that will keep readers guessing and gasping along with the characters.
Claire Kann is a sharp and versatile author and Joniece Abbott-Pratt a talented audiobook narrator, the perfect choice for this novel.
May 7, 2021
4.5 Stars
Content Warnings at end of review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Fierce Reads for an arc of this book!
Six young people are chosen off a social media app by the creator to come spend a Golden Weekend with her. This is the 10th Golden Weekend that the mysterious Jewel has hosted since founding her vloging app, Golden Rule, but everyone can tell that this one is different. When the participants get there, they are thrown into a mysterious competitions filled with riddles and teamwork to compete for one of two possible half a million dollar prizes, but not everything is how it seems.
This was a whirlwind! It alternated between three different POVs as well as information from the Social Media app, so it was a little bit of a mixed media story as well. I truly loved the experience of this book. It is very heavy on the Willy Wonka themes, and the mysterious benefactor--Jewel, is such an interesting character! I wish we had been given some POV chapters for her because I cannot even begin to imagine what could be going on in her mind during this!
The narrators are all super unreliable because they are very sneaky and hide parts of the truth. It made for such an interesting read. I loved all the riddles and challenges that were thrown in and I was definitely trying to follow the bread crumb trail to predict the ending, but I gotta say I was off more often than I was on. I really loved this writing style and the humor imbedded throughout this story!
Pub Date: June 8, 2021
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
Content Warnings at end of review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Fierce Reads for an arc of this book!
Six young people are chosen off a social media app by the creator to come spend a Golden Weekend with her. This is the 10th Golden Weekend that the mysterious Jewel has hosted since founding her vloging app, Golden Rule, but everyone can tell that this one is different. When the participants get there, they are thrown into a mysterious competitions filled with riddles and teamwork to compete for one of two possible half a million dollar prizes, but not everything is how it seems.
This was a whirlwind! It alternated between three different POVs as well as information from the Social Media app, so it was a little bit of a mixed media story as well. I truly loved the experience of this book. It is very heavy on the Willy Wonka themes, and the mysterious benefactor--Jewel, is such an interesting character! I wish we had been given some POV chapters for her because I cannot even begin to imagine what could be going on in her mind during this!
The narrators are all super unreliable because they are very sneaky and hide parts of the truth. It made for such an interesting read. I loved all the riddles and challenges that were thrown in and I was definitely trying to follow the bread crumb trail to predict the ending, but I gotta say I was off more often than I was on. I really loved this writing style and the humor imbedded throughout this story!
Pub Date: June 8, 2021
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
October 10, 2021
I have never been so confused when I finished a book. As much as I wanted to love this one, I legitimately don't even know or understand more than half of this book. Maybe part of that's on me for trying to listen to two audios with multiple POVs instead of just finishing one then starting the other but I think this book and narration has multiple flaws as well.
Speaking strictly for the audio, the narrator had little to no tone change for the different characters and that combined with the rapid POV changes made it incredibly difficult to follow who the heck was talking at what points.
For the actual story, it's all based on this social media platform and it's creator, Jewel. Jewel invites 6 Golden Rule users for a fancy weekend away where they can win money, except it's filled with competitions and riddles and references that are impossible for the reading to keep up with. The only way the game is won is by obscure references to Jewel that were never actually told. Maybe if there had been chapters or a prologue from Jewel's POV it would've worked, but as it was written, it's hard af to follow.
Then there's the fact that there's 6 competitors but only 3 get a POV? Why them? Even after finishing I don't understand why each person was chosen for the weekend nor what made the three so special as to get a POV.
As a whole, this book is not very good. There's nothing problematic about it which is why I'm giving it 2 stars vs 1, but it was a hot mess. There is some fun banter and great rep, but none of it amounted to anything comprehensible for the reader.
Speaking strictly for the audio, the narrator had little to no tone change for the different characters and that combined with the rapid POV changes made it incredibly difficult to follow who the heck was talking at what points.
For the actual story, it's all based on this social media platform and it's creator, Jewel. Jewel invites 6 Golden Rule users for a fancy weekend away where they can win money, except it's filled with competitions and riddles and references that are impossible for the reading to keep up with. The only way the game is won is by obscure references to Jewel that were never actually told. Maybe if there had been chapters or a prologue from Jewel's POV it would've worked, but as it was written, it's hard af to follow.
Then there's the fact that there's 6 competitors but only 3 get a POV? Why them? Even after finishing I don't understand why each person was chosen for the weekend nor what made the three so special as to get a POV.
As a whole, this book is not very good. There's nothing problematic about it which is why I'm giving it 2 stars vs 1, but it was a hot mess. There is some fun banter and great rep, but none of it amounted to anything comprehensible for the reader.
June 13, 2021
This book was THE INHERITANCE GAMES meets WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. It had riddles, dangerous adventures, and lots of money on the line.
I think I expected more from this book which is why I was so unsatisfied by the ending. It was not a bad book; I just thought things were going to go differently than they did.
The beginning was fun because I was trying to figure out what was happening and who of the participants I could trust. It felt like each character had something to hide and I was convinced something sinister was going to happen. The real reasons behind each character's actions and thoughts turned out to be much less exciting.
However, I did enjoy trying to solve the riddle. It was twisty and fun and Kann did a great job of weaving all the clues together. Also, she threw in plenty of curveballs to keep me on my toes. I know I wouldn't have lasted as a participant in this game so props to these characters.
Overall, I expected more from this book, but it still had many positives to it. I just wish things could have played out a little differently.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blog • Instagram • Twitter
I think I expected more from this book which is why I was so unsatisfied by the ending. It was not a bad book; I just thought things were going to go differently than they did.
The beginning was fun because I was trying to figure out what was happening and who of the participants I could trust. It felt like each character had something to hide and I was convinced something sinister was going to happen. The real reasons behind each character's actions and thoughts turned out to be much less exciting.
However, I did enjoy trying to solve the riddle. It was twisty and fun and Kann did a great job of weaving all the clues together. Also, she threw in plenty of curveballs to keep me on my toes. I know I wouldn't have lasted as a participant in this game so props to these characters.
Overall, I expected more from this book, but it still had many positives to it. I just wish things could have played out a little differently.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blog • Instagram • Twitter
April 1, 2021
I was provided an ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I won't even try to summarize this book because, in my opinion, it's just so much better to know next to nothing about it and just jump in.
This was a true roller-coaster of so many things. I really loved everything about it. It read a bit like a thriller at times but it very much isn't one. It's a great puzzle book with amazing characters and lovely storytelling.
It was such an eclectic group of characters that came together so beautifully in this very atmospheric house.
I honestly don't really know what to say. I don't want to reveal too much and I have zero criticism to make. I simply loved it. Everything about it. I finished it over a month ago and it's still with me and my thoughts...
I won't even try to summarize this book because, in my opinion, it's just so much better to know next to nothing about it and just jump in.
This was a true roller-coaster of so many things. I really loved everything about it. It read a bit like a thriller at times but it very much isn't one. It's a great puzzle book with amazing characters and lovely storytelling.
It was such an eclectic group of characters that came together so beautifully in this very atmospheric house.
I honestly don't really know what to say. I don't want to reveal too much and I have zero criticism to make. I simply loved it. Everything about it. I finished it over a month ago and it's still with me and my thoughts...
June 10, 2021
Full Review & Blog Tour: https://rueisreadingcorner.blogspot.c...
3.5/5
Jewel Van Hanen has always been in the eye of the public whether it's as an actress, heiress, or creator of a famous app, Golden Rule. After suddenly disappearing for a year, she returns to the public with unexpected news.
Four of Golden Rule's users will be invited to Jewel's private house (mansion) for a weekend of excitement. But when the four lucky people arrive, they realize that it's not quite how they would have imagined.
Instead of a chill weekend hanging out, the contestants are now thrown into a wild game that brings out unexpected talents from each person. To beat the mastermind of the game, Jewel, they must all work together to win the prize of one million dollars.
The first I'd say 70% of the story was slow and I was a little confused on some of the plot and characters but the last part was SO exciting and I was hooked. I absolutely couldn't put the last part down.
What I was a little confused about was that the story was told from only three out of the four contestant's perspectives. I thought it may have been fun to see the fourth contestant's point of view during the weekend.
Overall, The Marvelous was a book that had many twists and riddles to solve from the beginning of the weekend. I enjoyed seeing time pass and would say to try it if you can hold out the first half of the book.
**Thank you so much to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for sending me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!**
3.5/5
Jewel Van Hanen has always been in the eye of the public whether it's as an actress, heiress, or creator of a famous app, Golden Rule. After suddenly disappearing for a year, she returns to the public with unexpected news.
Four of Golden Rule's users will be invited to Jewel's private house (mansion) for a weekend of excitement. But when the four lucky people arrive, they realize that it's not quite how they would have imagined.
Instead of a chill weekend hanging out, the contestants are now thrown into a wild game that brings out unexpected talents from each person. To beat the mastermind of the game, Jewel, they must all work together to win the prize of one million dollars.
The first I'd say 70% of the story was slow and I was a little confused on some of the plot and characters but the last part was SO exciting and I was hooked. I absolutely couldn't put the last part down.
What I was a little confused about was that the story was told from only three out of the four contestant's perspectives. I thought it may have been fun to see the fourth contestant's point of view during the weekend.
Overall, The Marvelous was a book that had many twists and riddles to solve from the beginning of the weekend. I enjoyed seeing time pass and would say to try it if you can hold out the first half of the book.
**Thank you so much to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for sending me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!**
January 8, 2022
This was giving me some serious Westing Game vibes, but a little more spooky-ooky... I'm not quite sure if it was the perfect mix of things for me. Overall i did like our three POV characters; Nicole, Stella, and Luna. I think because the riddles were so much I wasn't as invested in trying to play along and I think wanting to solve the clues is a big part of enjoying the book? Because I wasn't I definitely felt that the story didn't come together quite the way i wanted it to for me personally. Ultimately I think the ending was satisfying, and I'm happy that the book wasn't overly long. But for a three day experience I think it would have been hard for any book to really blow me away. I'm happy that the children have a solid fun time, for me this definitely straddled the border of simply okay and a solid fun time.
April 27, 2022
2.5-3 stars
This is a genre I normally wouldn't read, but I was intrigued and thought listening to it on audio might help. I spent most of the book super confused on what was happening. The challenges were supposed to have an air of mystery, but I feel like the background of the person in charge of the whole thing wasn't explained enough to help the reader understand why the challenges were structured in a certain way. I also had a really hard time differentiating between the characters. The narrator sounded the same for all 3 POVs, so it was difficult to tell who was talking at any given time. I think the premise had the opportunity to be interesting, but this fell super flat for me.
This is a genre I normally wouldn't read, but I was intrigued and thought listening to it on audio might help. I spent most of the book super confused on what was happening. The challenges were supposed to have an air of mystery, but I feel like the background of the person in charge of the whole thing wasn't explained enough to help the reader understand why the challenges were structured in a certain way. I also had a really hard time differentiating between the characters. The narrator sounded the same for all 3 POVs, so it was difficult to tell who was talking at any given time. I think the premise had the opportunity to be interesting, but this fell super flat for me.
August 20, 2021
How omniscient of you to make assumptions about me, a total stranger, based on a painstakingly curated online presence.
I can honestly say I have never read a book like this. It was interesting and intriguing.
I love the concept, the extravagance of the setting, the dramatics of the game, and the characters.
Still the book is really hard to rate for me because it went very different than I expected, there were a lot of scenes left out that would have been interesting and it was hard to follow at times (follow the logic of how characters are solving the mysteries and follow what exactly is happening) .
But all in all I'm glad I got to read it.
Resting isn't wasting time. That's capitalism talking - break the cycle.
May 30, 2025
Why was everybody so mean? I couldn't root for or care enough about any of the characters, partly because it became hard to even differentiate them since they were so similar. Nicole was the character I liked the best, but I still ended up finding her annoying. The plot and "game" were weak and weren't enough to carry me along either. I was just so annoyed with everything. Especially Jewel. Why were all these people falling over her? Because she's rich? She's nasty and psychologically tortured someone for saying mean things about her on the internet years ago. Nobody cared enough about that for me.
May 10, 2021
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: bad parents, child abandonment, burying alive
4.5
Golden Weekend is as famous as it is mysterious- a weekend in the famous Jewel, actor and developer of the Golden Rule app, that always ends with the lucky invites leaving with everything they need. But this Golden Weekend is meant to be the last one, as Jewel decides to step away from the app all together. Most of the invitees are famous on the app, but the addition of Stella, with only one video to her name, and the mysterious final invitee, things may be more than what they see. And that's without the game itself- The Cruelest Jewel. It isn't long before they start to question what is the game and what isn't, and why Jewel invited them to play it.
This is my first Claire Kann book and, man, it was so much fun! The mystery of the game, wrapped up with the weird escape the room, puzzle game feeling of the game itself, was impossible to tear myself away from.
A lot of the time this book felt like I was watching a movie or playing a game myself, in a way that really, really worked. I got pulled into the clues and ominous hints immediately, as if I had to be the one to figure them out, and the way Kann writes makes the whole thing so easy to picture. Honestly, I would love if this book actually did become a movie- a teen, Black Knives Out is exactly what we need.
Part of the reason the vibe of this book works so well is because the pacing is perfect. You get a real sense of dread because of the way things are laid out, the feeling that you're missing things without the hole being large enough to slow everything down, the tension mixes with the more light hearted bits to craft this into the perfect non-over the top sort of story.
The characters always make the book, so I have to talk about them. I will say, I 100% hated Stella when I started this book, because she was written so awkwardly, and she felt forced. But as the book continues I think her quirks got a little less forced and she did grow on me. The choice to let her have small sections of narration via video worked really well for that as well. You don't spent equal time with each person, but they still have distinct personalities and voices, and I loved getting to jump from POV to POV and spend time with each.
The only character I feel absolutely nothing for is Francis. Other than being a mystery guest and saying cryptic things I don't feel like he had any personality, and so the romance involving him felt bland and started making it feel as if he was just there for that angle instead of being a character in his own right.
Romance in general is not really on the menu in this book, sometimes in good ways and sometimes bad. I didn't care for the romance that did actually rise to the top, as I said, but there was also a possible romance near the beginning that I was uncertain about but grew on me, only to not be taken in that direction. I was a little disappointed because that option could have been really nice, but I do super appreciate friendship never being looked at as a downgrade, and two people with the ability to be attracted to each other not getting together by default.
I have some questions about some of the things that happen in this book, and while it was a unique read it wasn't completely a unique premise or one not easy to guess the ending of, but over all I really enjoyed this book and I'm certain a lot of other readers are going to fall for it too.
TW: bad parents, child abandonment, burying alive
4.5
Golden Weekend is as famous as it is mysterious- a weekend in the famous Jewel, actor and developer of the Golden Rule app, that always ends with the lucky invites leaving with everything they need. But this Golden Weekend is meant to be the last one, as Jewel decides to step away from the app all together. Most of the invitees are famous on the app, but the addition of Stella, with only one video to her name, and the mysterious final invitee, things may be more than what they see. And that's without the game itself- The Cruelest Jewel. It isn't long before they start to question what is the game and what isn't, and why Jewel invited them to play it.
This is my first Claire Kann book and, man, it was so much fun! The mystery of the game, wrapped up with the weird escape the room, puzzle game feeling of the game itself, was impossible to tear myself away from.
A lot of the time this book felt like I was watching a movie or playing a game myself, in a way that really, really worked. I got pulled into the clues and ominous hints immediately, as if I had to be the one to figure them out, and the way Kann writes makes the whole thing so easy to picture. Honestly, I would love if this book actually did become a movie- a teen, Black Knives Out is exactly what we need.
Part of the reason the vibe of this book works so well is because the pacing is perfect. You get a real sense of dread because of the way things are laid out, the feeling that you're missing things without the hole being large enough to slow everything down, the tension mixes with the more light hearted bits to craft this into the perfect non-over the top sort of story.
The characters always make the book, so I have to talk about them. I will say, I 100% hated Stella when I started this book, because she was written so awkwardly, and she felt forced. But as the book continues I think her quirks got a little less forced and she did grow on me. The choice to let her have small sections of narration via video worked really well for that as well. You don't spent equal time with each person, but they still have distinct personalities and voices, and I loved getting to jump from POV to POV and spend time with each.
The only character I feel absolutely nothing for is Francis. Other than being a mystery guest and saying cryptic things I don't feel like he had any personality, and so the romance involving him felt bland and started making it feel as if he was just there for that angle instead of being a character in his own right.
Romance in general is not really on the menu in this book, sometimes in good ways and sometimes bad. I didn't care for the romance that did actually rise to the top, as I said, but there was also a possible romance near the beginning that I was uncertain about but grew on me, only to not be taken in that direction. I was a little disappointed because that option could have been really nice, but I do super appreciate friendship never being looked at as a downgrade, and two people with the ability to be attracted to each other not getting together by default.
I have some questions about some of the things that happen in this book, and while it was a unique read it wasn't completely a unique premise or one not easy to guess the ending of, but over all I really enjoyed this book and I'm certain a lot of other readers are going to fall for it too.
June 10, 2021
I received an advanced copy of The Marvelous through NetGalley so I could share my review with you!
Stella, Lucy, Nicole, Harlowe, Alex, and Francis were all invited to Golden Weekend X, an extremely exclusive retreat hosted by one of the biggest celebrities of their generation. Jewel Van Hanen, eccentric heiress and founder of the ridiculously popular social media app, “Golden Rule,” has selected the six of them to come play an elaborate game on her estate, with the potential to win a million-dollar cash prize. Jewel created Golden Rule as a place for people to share their stories and truths in a video format that demands accountability and honesty from her users. But, honesty is far from guaranteed at Golden Weekend X, and the puzzles are more dangerous than anyone would’ve expected. If the six competitors want to win, they will have to work together to solve riddles, and piece together the story that Jewel wants them each to tell.
You can get your copy of The Marvelous today from Swoon Reads!
Authenticity, public/private lives, and influencer culture collide in this thrilling new novel! I’ve read both of Claire Kann’s previous works, so when I saw that she would be releasing something so different from her other novels, I had to pick up a copy. I adored both of Kann’s contemporary novels, and was delighted by how well her writing translated into a thriller! Her integration of social media into the story was quite skillful, and Golden Rule felt like it could be an actual app on my phone today. While reading The Marvelous, I felt like I was trying to solve the puzzles right along with the characters. Each riddle and hint pulled me deeper into the story, keeping me guessing until the very last page!
My Recommendation-
If you love mystery stories jam-packed with puzzles to solve, you need to pick up a copy of The Marvelous! I would especially recommend this book to fans of One of Us is Lying and Ace of Spades!
Stella, Lucy, Nicole, Harlowe, Alex, and Francis were all invited to Golden Weekend X, an extremely exclusive retreat hosted by one of the biggest celebrities of their generation. Jewel Van Hanen, eccentric heiress and founder of the ridiculously popular social media app, “Golden Rule,” has selected the six of them to come play an elaborate game on her estate, with the potential to win a million-dollar cash prize. Jewel created Golden Rule as a place for people to share their stories and truths in a video format that demands accountability and honesty from her users. But, honesty is far from guaranteed at Golden Weekend X, and the puzzles are more dangerous than anyone would’ve expected. If the six competitors want to win, they will have to work together to solve riddles, and piece together the story that Jewel wants them each to tell.
You can get your copy of The Marvelous today from Swoon Reads!
Authenticity, public/private lives, and influencer culture collide in this thrilling new novel! I’ve read both of Claire Kann’s previous works, so when I saw that she would be releasing something so different from her other novels, I had to pick up a copy. I adored both of Kann’s contemporary novels, and was delighted by how well her writing translated into a thriller! Her integration of social media into the story was quite skillful, and Golden Rule felt like it could be an actual app on my phone today. While reading The Marvelous, I felt like I was trying to solve the puzzles right along with the characters. Each riddle and hint pulled me deeper into the story, keeping me guessing until the very last page!
My Recommendation-
If you love mystery stories jam-packed with puzzles to solve, you need to pick up a copy of The Marvelous! I would especially recommend this book to fans of One of Us is Lying and Ace of Spades!
February 12, 2021
3.5* The Marvelous reminded me of a modern-day Willy Wonka with teens competing for a grand prize, puzzles galore, and a reclusive celebrity mastermind. There were a lot of pieces that I enjoyed, but there were some parts that felt too manipulative and/or unrealistic that threw me out of the story. I do think teens who grew up on stories like the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and other puzzle heavy stories will like this grown up version featuring a diverse cast and celebrity connection.
Jewel Van Hanen is a celebrity that created a popular social media platform called the Golden Rule before disappearing for a year. Now she's back and inviting a select group of Golden Rule users to her home for one special weekend. Once the teens arrive, they quickly learn that they are now the participants in a game Jewel created, and only two of them can win the grand prize. The teens will have to solve puzzles, collect clues, and decide who to trust in this weekend away turned high-stakes contest.
The narrative is split among three players- Nicole who has meticulously established herself as the new queen of Golden Rule with her video skits, Luna who is Jewel's biggest fan and runs a conspiracy group devoted to solving Jewel's online puzzles, and Stella who is a total unknown in the Golden Rule world. Each of them plays a main role in the weekend's adventures, and it was great to see how their relationship progressed throughout the book.
I liked having the narrative split between Nicole, Luna, and Stella, but it totally threw me off that Harlow, the other Golden Rule user invited to participate, didn't narrate any of the story. The plot is set up to be about the four Golden Rule users, but the story is really just about Nicole, Luna and Stella with Harlow as a very minor character. They could have easily changed the plot to be about 3 users and then added Harlow in as a late player like Francis which would have kept the storyline the same and made more sense considering her role in the story.
I'm still very unsure how I feel about Jewel. She's either a normal person playing a game, which doesn't play out based on how intense some of the challenges get and how she acted toward Nicole at the beginning, or she's slightly deranged, which doesn't seem to fit the individual conversations she has with the girls during the weekend and how the story wraps up. She tries to explain herself at the end, but it still felt very weird to me. Maybe it just to goes to show that Willy Wonka doesn't really play out well in modern times.
Jewel Van Hanen is a celebrity that created a popular social media platform called the Golden Rule before disappearing for a year. Now she's back and inviting a select group of Golden Rule users to her home for one special weekend. Once the teens arrive, they quickly learn that they are now the participants in a game Jewel created, and only two of them can win the grand prize. The teens will have to solve puzzles, collect clues, and decide who to trust in this weekend away turned high-stakes contest.
The narrative is split among three players- Nicole who has meticulously established herself as the new queen of Golden Rule with her video skits, Luna who is Jewel's biggest fan and runs a conspiracy group devoted to solving Jewel's online puzzles, and Stella who is a total unknown in the Golden Rule world. Each of them plays a main role in the weekend's adventures, and it was great to see how their relationship progressed throughout the book.
I liked having the narrative split between Nicole, Luna, and Stella, but it totally threw me off that Harlow, the other Golden Rule user invited to participate, didn't narrate any of the story. The plot is set up to be about the four Golden Rule users, but the story is really just about Nicole, Luna and Stella with Harlow as a very minor character. They could have easily changed the plot to be about 3 users and then added Harlow in as a late player like Francis which would have kept the storyline the same and made more sense considering her role in the story.
I'm still very unsure how I feel about Jewel. She's either a normal person playing a game, which doesn't play out based on how intense some of the challenges get and how she acted toward Nicole at the beginning, or she's slightly deranged, which doesn't seem to fit the individual conversations she has with the girls during the weekend and how the story wraps up. She tries to explain herself at the end, but it still felt very weird to me. Maybe it just to goes to show that Willy Wonka doesn't really play out well in modern times.
October 5, 2021
First Reaction: What did I just read???
Second Reaction: At least I finished this so I don’t need to read it anymore🙄
I really don’t even know how to review this one. It’s VERY confusing and the characters are all over the place and underdeveloped. The book talks about characters growing at the end, but they are all EXACTLY the same as the beginning of the book.
The big mystery makes NO SENSE. I could not really follow the clues or the “recipe” that’s repeatedly referenced. Even in the big monologue explanation at the end, I was still mostly thinking I have no clue what they are revealing and don’t care at allllllll what happens.
I was worried when I started this one and saw it was a 3.5 rating. That’s really low for a typical Goodreads book. I feel bad that I can’t compliment anything about this one. Maybe it just made more sense in the author’s head but didn’t translate well for the reader? I don’t know 🤷♀️ Just avoid this one and pick up one of the higher rated YA mystery novels instead.
Second Reaction: At least I finished this so I don’t need to read it anymore🙄
I really don’t even know how to review this one. It’s VERY confusing and the characters are all over the place and underdeveloped. The book talks about characters growing at the end, but they are all EXACTLY the same as the beginning of the book.
The big mystery makes NO SENSE. I could not really follow the clues or the “recipe” that’s repeatedly referenced. Even in the big monologue explanation at the end, I was still mostly thinking I have no clue what they are revealing and don’t care at allllllll what happens.
I was worried when I started this one and saw it was a 3.5 rating. That’s really low for a typical Goodreads book. I feel bad that I can’t compliment anything about this one. Maybe it just made more sense in the author’s head but didn’t translate well for the reader? I don’t know 🤷♀️ Just avoid this one and pick up one of the higher rated YA mystery novels instead.
March 9, 2021
Jewel Van Hanen created a video diary app several years ago called Golden Rule. Since then, she's held 9 weekend retreats on her estate for a very select few group of users. But a year ago, she dropped out of the public eye. Now she's back with a new weekend, but this one's different. It will be a weekend filled with puzzles and games and at the end, two winners will receive a big cash prize. Told through the POV of three of the six competitors, The Marvelous will keep you on your toes with nonstop riddles and action.
I didn't enjoy it. First, the name doesn't make a lot of sense...unless I missed something, which is entirely likely considering just how many rhyming riddles were in this book. The beginning is set up with Jewel taking this mysterious hiatus, but there's no real reason given for it. Nicole's parents died and it's set up to be kind of mysterious (or, at least, the info is hidden), but never revealed. Luna lives with her sister, but her mom is still alive, but no background is given. Plus she has Alex with some kind of weird relationship that's never really explained. Stella is a prisoner in her own home where she's homeschooled and her parents won't let her out of the house. A reason is given, but it's flimsy. The book starts with 4 users selected to play, but the story is only told through 3 of them and the other one is...just there. The Willy Wonka house of horrors was dumb and unbelievable. Finally, the ending, the reason behind all of this just...makes zero sense.
Do not recommend.
I didn't enjoy it. First, the name doesn't make a lot of sense...unless I missed something, which is entirely likely considering just how many rhyming riddles were in this book. The beginning is set up with Jewel taking this mysterious hiatus, but there's no real reason given for it. Nicole's parents died and it's set up to be kind of mysterious (or, at least, the info is hidden), but never revealed. Luna lives with her sister, but her mom is still alive, but no background is given. Plus she has Alex with some kind of weird relationship that's never really explained. Stella is a prisoner in her own home where she's homeschooled and her parents won't let her out of the house. A reason is given, but it's flimsy. The book starts with 4 users selected to play, but the story is only told through 3 of them and the other one is...just there. The Willy Wonka house of horrors was dumb and unbelievable. Finally, the ending, the reason behind all of this just...makes zero sense.
Do not recommend.
June 8, 2022
Trippy
I have to start off by saying this isn’t my kind of book. I don’t care for the fantasy genre. This story felt a lot like a Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland mashup. Once I put aside my reservations, I realized how invested I had become. I just had to know what the outcome would be. While I thought it was a weird story, it was still very interesting. The riddles and mind games were so confusing. I couldn’t wait for them to be solved. I spent most of the book thinking Stella was the most obnoxious character ever, only to love her in the end. This was a creative, fantastical read.
I have to start off by saying this isn’t my kind of book. I don’t care for the fantasy genre. This story felt a lot like a Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland mashup. Once I put aside my reservations, I realized how invested I had become. I just had to know what the outcome would be. While I thought it was a weird story, it was still very interesting. The riddles and mind games were so confusing. I couldn’t wait for them to be solved. I spent most of the book thinking Stella was the most obnoxious character ever, only to love her in the end. This was a creative, fantastical read.
November 27, 2021
Hrmmm. 2.5 stars, rounded up because I just love the concept--even if the execution wasn't there for me. Concept-wise, the book reminds me of The Westing Game (which I LOVE) meets the puzzle/scavenger hunt aspects of Ready Player One (which I really enjoyed). Execution-wise... not so much.
The Marvelous is about six people--mostly teens--playing in a game hosted by Jewel Van Hanen, an extremely wealthy social media influencer, app designer, and actress. After being "randomly" selected by Jewel on the app she created, all six players must work together to solve Jewel's nonsensical game within the weekend in order to win one of two $500,000 prizes. As time goes on, the stakes get higher, and the players learn that Jewel's game may not be all that it seems.
The biggest pitfall for this book, in my opinion, was the choice in narration. The book is told "from the perspective of" three of the six players: Nicole, Luna, and Stella. However, everything is actually told from a *relative* limited third-person point-of-view, and this third-person narrative voice doesn't actually change much as we "move" from character to character. Sure, we see different interior thoughts depending on which character is the focus of a specific section, but the narrative voice itself was static. There were a couple places--primarily when the characters were remembering painful memories or experiencing symptoms of anxiety--where the narrative voice felt much more personal, but otherwise, nothing changed. Sometimes, if all the characters were present in a scene, it would take me a couple paragraphs to even realize who we were supposed to be following at that point.
Additionally, while I think the goal of this book was to be third-person *limited* (as mentioned briefly above), since we're only supposed to follow three characters, there were numerous points where we veered slightly into someone else's thoughts as well. A scene from Nicole's perspective would mention how Luna was feeling; a scene from Stella's perspective would mention how both she and Harlow felt about something; etc. This moved the narration into a much more omniscient style--which was only exacerbated by the fact that the characters CONSTANTLY knew things that weren't shared with the audience. If this was first-person, of course, we would know anything the characters thought. And even in a close third-person limited, we would know basically everything the characters thought. But there were SO MANY POINTS--almost always in Stella's scenes--where we would be told a character would make a connection or realize something, but then they would just think "Wow, interesting" without sharing the connection with the audience. In other words, the narrator was intentionally withholding information from the audience--information that we KNEW the characters now had.
This is one of the most frustrating parts of using third-person omniscient narration in mysteries/thrillers/multi-perspective books: when information is intentionally denied from the audience, suspense is not built. Instead, the final reveals feel cheaper, because we are knowingly working with less information than the characters. Successful mysteries/thrillers/etc. come from being able to solve everything with the characters--and even trying to outsmart the characters! But when you're set up to fail with an unfinished deck in the first place... It's just not satisfying. You can piece together SOME of what's about to happen, sure. And you could probably have IDEAS of what's going on. (Here, for example, I had a vague idea of how things were going to play out, even though it was legitimately impossible for me to piece together the whole story on my own.) But an "aHA, here is the information you were denied!!!" reveal will always be less successful than a "here is how all the information you were given actually comes together!!!" reveal.
Anyway, this was more of a writing/craft rant than a book review, but I stand by my thoughts. Had this book actually stuck to third-person LIMITED--and most definitely if it had used first-person--I think I would have really liked it, because the concept really is something I enjoy. But alas...
The Marvelous is about six people--mostly teens--playing in a game hosted by Jewel Van Hanen, an extremely wealthy social media influencer, app designer, and actress. After being "randomly" selected by Jewel on the app she created, all six players must work together to solve Jewel's nonsensical game within the weekend in order to win one of two $500,000 prizes. As time goes on, the stakes get higher, and the players learn that Jewel's game may not be all that it seems.
The biggest pitfall for this book, in my opinion, was the choice in narration. The book is told "from the perspective of" three of the six players: Nicole, Luna, and Stella. However, everything is actually told from a *relative* limited third-person point-of-view, and this third-person narrative voice doesn't actually change much as we "move" from character to character. Sure, we see different interior thoughts depending on which character is the focus of a specific section, but the narrative voice itself was static. There were a couple places--primarily when the characters were remembering painful memories or experiencing symptoms of anxiety--where the narrative voice felt much more personal, but otherwise, nothing changed. Sometimes, if all the characters were present in a scene, it would take me a couple paragraphs to even realize who we were supposed to be following at that point.
Additionally, while I think the goal of this book was to be third-person *limited* (as mentioned briefly above), since we're only supposed to follow three characters, there were numerous points where we veered slightly into someone else's thoughts as well. A scene from Nicole's perspective would mention how Luna was feeling; a scene from Stella's perspective would mention how both she and Harlow felt about something; etc. This moved the narration into a much more omniscient style--which was only exacerbated by the fact that the characters CONSTANTLY knew things that weren't shared with the audience. If this was first-person, of course, we would know anything the characters thought. And even in a close third-person limited, we would know basically everything the characters thought. But there were SO MANY POINTS--almost always in Stella's scenes--where we would be told a character would make a connection or realize something, but then they would just think "Wow, interesting" without sharing the connection with the audience. In other words, the narrator was intentionally withholding information from the audience--information that we KNEW the characters now had.
This is one of the most frustrating parts of using third-person omniscient narration in mysteries/thrillers/multi-perspective books: when information is intentionally denied from the audience, suspense is not built. Instead, the final reveals feel cheaper, because we are knowingly working with less information than the characters. Successful mysteries/thrillers/etc. come from being able to solve everything with the characters--and even trying to outsmart the characters! But when you're set up to fail with an unfinished deck in the first place... It's just not satisfying. You can piece together SOME of what's about to happen, sure. And you could probably have IDEAS of what's going on. (Here, for example, I had a vague idea of how things were going to play out, even though it was legitimately impossible for me to piece together the whole story on my own.) But an "aHA, here is the information you were denied!!!" reveal will always be less successful than a "here is how all the information you were given actually comes together!!!" reveal.
Anyway, this was more of a writing/craft rant than a book review, but I stand by my thoughts. Had this book actually stuck to third-person LIMITED--and most definitely if it had used first-person--I think I would have really liked it, because the concept really is something I enjoy. But alas...
May 12, 2021
Trigger warnings:
I really don't know how to feel about this book. I thought the premise had so much potential, but it didn't meet all of my expectations. It took me a long time to get into the story and to really feel compelled by it all. It may be a case of "it's not you, it's me", though? Still need to think about that one.
Full review coming soon :)
A million thanks to the publisher for sending me an e-ARC through Edelweiss. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
I really don't know how to feel about this book. I thought the premise had so much potential, but it didn't meet all of my expectations. It took me a long time to get into the story and to really feel compelled by it all. It may be a case of "it's not you, it's me", though? Still need to think about that one.
Full review coming soon :)
A million thanks to the publisher for sending me an e-ARC through Edelweiss. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
November 20, 2021
Oh man, this was a really fun read. It was kind of like The Inheritance Games plus Ready Player One. Very well thought out and the plot was very engaging. I really loved how distinctive each character's voice was, and they were all unique and compelling. There were several parts that made me laugh out loud. It sounds like Kann is setting up for a sequel, but I think the ending was perfect as is, and it doesn't need a companion book.
Definitely recommend. Also, Stella was the best character ever.
Definitely recommend. Also, Stella was the best character ever.
September 23, 2023
I read this via audiobook. Jewell Van Hanen, the creator and face of the most popular video sharing social media app, Golden Rule, invites six users to spend time at her mansion for a weekend. The guests have no idea that they are about to be put through a series of escape room like tasks and games with a big money pay out for whoever makes it to the end. I thought this book had really good representation but not enough details to put together the backstories to connect all the pieces. Even though Joniece Abbott-Pratt is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, there being 3 POVs and only one narrator led to the narrative becoming muddled and confused at times. There was a riddle aspect that I think would have also been better in a physical format. I felt like it took a lot time to get somewhere and then the ending was a little abrupt. Overall, this was an okay read to me but I’ll definitely read more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews