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I Don't Belong Here
I can see ghosts.
Living with this “gift” means I don’t relate to many people. My sister, Juan, does not understand me. My parents, Andrea and Ned, don’t listen, and I don’t have any friends. The only ones I can talk to are my Grandmother May and my dog, Amore.
When I meet a tall, alluring boy named Dimitri, he is the kind of understanding friend I never thought I’d have, and I can confide in him. But Dimitri has secrets of his own.
Though I try to live a normal life, I see something I should never have, and I swear to take this secret to my grave. Yet some secrets want out, no matter what.
In a world where I don’t belong, will I end up six feet underground?
Living with this “gift” means I don’t relate to many people. My sister, Juan, does not understand me. My parents, Andrea and Ned, don’t listen, and I don’t have any friends. The only ones I can talk to are my Grandmother May and my dog, Amore.
When I meet a tall, alluring boy named Dimitri, he is the kind of understanding friend I never thought I’d have, and I can confide in him. But Dimitri has secrets of his own.
Though I try to live a normal life, I see something I should never have, and I swear to take this secret to my grave. Yet some secrets want out, no matter what.
In a world where I don’t belong, will I end up six feet underground?
- GenresRomanceParanormal
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2021
1 person is currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Tayla Jean Grossberg
13 books37 followersMermaid. Heroin. Actress. Assassin. Princess. Dragon rider.
Tayla was all of these things as a child (due to her overactive imagination). She grew up on a game ranch in South Africa, between animals such as leopards, buffalo, zebras and giraffes.
She expanded her horizons by travelling America and Europe. Experiences, people she meets, places she visits and animals she loves inspire her to write novels. Now Tayla spends her time reading, writing and going on crazy adventures.
The only thing she can’t do is reach the top shelf.
Tayla was all of these things as a child (due to her overactive imagination). She grew up on a game ranch in South Africa, between animals such as leopards, buffalo, zebras and giraffes.
She expanded her horizons by travelling America and Europe. Experiences, people she meets, places she visits and animals she loves inspire her to write novels. Now Tayla spends her time reading, writing and going on crazy adventures.
The only thing she can’t do is reach the top shelf.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 7, 2021
I don't belong here is a paranormal and teenage love story. I haven't read much paranormal/supernatural content, and since I'm in break the genres barrier phase I was excited to read it.
Charlotte, the protagonist of our novel can see ghosts and the story revolves around here being haunted by one. She meets Dimitri and there's an instant spark, the connection between Dimitri and Charlotte was displayed in a sweet way. The characters of the story are relatable.
The bond between family members, especially grandparents and grandchildren is highlighted in a relatable way. The book talks about the challenges of teenage life, being an introvert and living with a gift of being able to see ghosts.
The book wasn't completely scary, though it did have few scary moments here and there, so i guess readers can pick it without worrying too much.
I think, I Don't Belong Here is a great read for teenage readers, although it can also be enjoyed by others as well. It's a read in one sitting kinda book, so if you're looking for something with a supernatural twist, you can definitely try this one.
I'd like to thank the author, Tayla Jean Grossberg for ARC, I enjoyed reading I Don't Belong Here.
Charlotte, the protagonist of our novel can see ghosts and the story revolves around here being haunted by one. She meets Dimitri and there's an instant spark, the connection between Dimitri and Charlotte was displayed in a sweet way. The characters of the story are relatable.
The bond between family members, especially grandparents and grandchildren is highlighted in a relatable way. The book talks about the challenges of teenage life, being an introvert and living with a gift of being able to see ghosts.
The book wasn't completely scary, though it did have few scary moments here and there, so i guess readers can pick it without worrying too much.
I think, I Don't Belong Here is a great read for teenage readers, although it can also be enjoyed by others as well. It's a read in one sitting kinda book, so if you're looking for something with a supernatural twist, you can definitely try this one.
I'd like to thank the author, Tayla Jean Grossberg for ARC, I enjoyed reading I Don't Belong Here.
September 4, 2021
I just finished I Don't Belong Here.
First off I want to thank the author for gifting me her book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot!
I am a huge fan of both Young Adult books and books with a paranormal theme. So when the author approached me I was immediately sucked in the book by reading the blurb.
The book is about 16 year Charlotte who is visiting her grandmother. Just like her grandmother they both are able to see ghosts. And her grandmother also can read tea leaves. I immediately loved Grandma May. She is one of the best characters in the book and I love her dearly.
That night Charlotte works in a DVD shop. And a boy, Dimitri, comes in. They instantly connect and he gives her his phone number.
They plan a date and he never calls or text her, and she feels ignored.
Her sister is able to convince her to go to a party. But after arriving, seeing a ghost and scaring a boy away - she decides to leave in the middle of the night. She gets lost, decides to climb to the top of a mountain to get cell reception. But is suddenly faced with a man killing a woman. She sees how the woman gets killed, and decides to keep silent. She doesn't help the woman. Just watches in horror. She makes a sound, flees back to her car and decides not to tell anyone about what happened.
Soon after the woman, the ghost, starts to haunt her. She calls her the Red Eyed Lady because she was choked to death. Dimitri comes back into her live and explains why he ignored her. He has a terminally ill brother who he needs to take care off.
I loved how Dimitri and Charlotte grow together. And I liked how even though her sister is a party animal, she truly wants to be there for Charlotte. All of the side characters were wonderfully written and created as well.
The book is written in a peaceful way. It felt very serene while reading it. At first I thought I was slow, but slow in a good way. But that isn't the correct word. It was told softly. Softly and inviting. I really enjoyed it thoroughly.
The only thing that is keeping me from giving it five stars is the plot twist. The plot twist in itself is really good! But the author makes is a bit to obvious. Really early on, or towards the 25/40% of the book you find out what is going to happen. There a a lot of clues in the book. I wish it didn't have so many clues, so that it would have been a real shocker.
The only thing I didn't see coming was, who in the end was the murderer.
If you love ghost stories and YA stories, this book is for you. It's not written in a scary way. I really loved the whole journey the characters went on. And even though I knew what was going to happen. I still enjoyed the book a lot.
4/5 stars for this wonderfully written book!
First off I want to thank the author for gifting me her book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot!
I am a huge fan of both Young Adult books and books with a paranormal theme. So when the author approached me I was immediately sucked in the book by reading the blurb.
The book is about 16 year Charlotte who is visiting her grandmother. Just like her grandmother they both are able to see ghosts. And her grandmother also can read tea leaves. I immediately loved Grandma May. She is one of the best characters in the book and I love her dearly.
That night Charlotte works in a DVD shop. And a boy, Dimitri, comes in. They instantly connect and he gives her his phone number.
They plan a date and he never calls or text her, and she feels ignored.
Her sister is able to convince her to go to a party. But after arriving, seeing a ghost and scaring a boy away - she decides to leave in the middle of the night. She gets lost, decides to climb to the top of a mountain to get cell reception. But is suddenly faced with a man killing a woman. She sees how the woman gets killed, and decides to keep silent. She doesn't help the woman. Just watches in horror. She makes a sound, flees back to her car and decides not to tell anyone about what happened.
Soon after the woman, the ghost, starts to haunt her. She calls her the Red Eyed Lady because she was choked to death. Dimitri comes back into her live and explains why he ignored her. He has a terminally ill brother who he needs to take care off.
I loved how Dimitri and Charlotte grow together. And I liked how even though her sister is a party animal, she truly wants to be there for Charlotte. All of the side characters were wonderfully written and created as well.
The book is written in a peaceful way. It felt very serene while reading it. At first I thought I was slow, but slow in a good way. But that isn't the correct word. It was told softly. Softly and inviting. I really enjoyed it thoroughly.
The only thing that is keeping me from giving it five stars is the plot twist. The plot twist in itself is really good! But the author makes is a bit to obvious. Really early on, or towards the 25/40% of the book you find out what is going to happen. There a a lot of clues in the book. I wish it didn't have so many clues, so that it would have been a real shocker.
The only thing I didn't see coming was, who in the end was the murderer.
If you love ghost stories and YA stories, this book is for you. It's not written in a scary way. I really loved the whole journey the characters went on. And even though I knew what was going to happen. I still enjoyed the book a lot.
4/5 stars for this wonderfully written book!
October 9, 2021
Copy kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
TW: Murder, sexual assault, verbal abuse
What a great way to start off the spooky season than with a ya paranormal book. I must admit, when the author first reached out to me, I thought the book was a contemporary but I was pleasantly surprised when I read the synopsis on Goodreads.
I Don't Belong Here follows main character, Charlotte, a clairvoyant with the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. When she witnesses the murder of a young woman, Charlotte is thrown into a world of danger with a ghost determined on seeking revenge and getting justice for her killing.
Charlotte needs to be brave and strong in order to confront her actions and her past mistakes to help Mia Brooks pass on.
Starting off with characters, I thought all of them seemed a little bit immature and juvenile, even the adults in this book. The characters I had a few issues with were Charlotte's parents who didn't feel developed enough for me to like. Their fights with Charlotte seemed kind of out of nowhere and while they did have good reason e.g., parental concern etc, their arguments for being overprotective seemed a little over the top at times. The only adult I liked was Grandma May, she seemed really cool and I wished she got more time on page.
The main character, Charlotte was probably the one I had the most difficulty connecting with. From the start, I was waiting for me to like her, for me to relate or connect with her and her feelings, but I simply couldn't. There were so many references to "nobody understands me," "I'm a loner, I prefer to be by myself, at home and with my books" and it got to the point where it was repeated so often I was trying to find other elements to her character apart from those aforementioned. I wanted more from her characterisation, I wanted more character depth and more backstory but I felt like I never got it which was why she felt quite surface level to me.
The only characters that I really liked a lot and I thought were developed well were Ethan and Dimitri. Dimitri honestly had more backstory than Charlotte, he had a tough family life, his mother was an alcoholic and his brother was dealing with a terrible form of cancer. You could see how much Dimitri cared for his family and how those family side-stories have influenced him and his relationship to Charlotte and the world as a whole. I also liked how the author described and showed us Ethan's cancer and how that affected everyone in the family. I thought that was shown respectfully and thoughtfully.
Romance wise, this book was really quick with the insta-love. I'm personally not a fan of insta-love, for me it ruins what could've been a really great slow burn romance which is what my personal preference is with fictional works. Charlotte instantly fell in love with Dimitri from the moment he stepped inside the DVD shop she worked at. The speed of it really stumped me, I wanted more development instead of instant infatuation. Dimitri walked into the store, asked for a movie recommendation from Charlotte and then he gave her his phone number. I thought that was really quick and I was constantly questioning why she followed up with that and called him even though she didn't really have a proper conversation with him.
Even as the book continued on, I wanted to see more chemistry between Charlotte and Dimitri. At the end I got more of it however, towards the middle, Charlotte's sister, Yuan asked why she liked Dimitri so much to which she said "He understands me" and that she feels real around him. I could've believed those lines but at that point, I wanted to see how much he understood her rather than being told that he does. I wanted to see that connection we were told about but in the middle part of the book, I didn't really see it, even though I really wanted to. I think that was because of the writing style, I couldn't really get into it which may have been why it was hard for me to connect with the characters and see the chemistry between Dimitri and Charlotte.
My favourite thing about this book though was the relationship between Yuan and Charlotte, I really liked seeing their relationship and how it developed over the duration of the book. I also liked the mystery elements with the Red-eyed Lady and how the plot got resolved at the end. The ending was fast paced and tense and I found myself asking "wait–what?!" so many times, especially in the last 10 or so pages. I still can't believe I didn't pick up on that plot twist. How all those clues and cleverly placed hints went over my head is beyond me.
Overall, this was a short read with a lot of paranormal elements. I would recommend it as a spooky, Halloween read but I must admit, I was left wanting more at times with the chemistry and the characters.
ACTUAL RATING: 2.3 STARS
TW: Murder, sexual assault, verbal abuse
What a great way to start off the spooky season than with a ya paranormal book. I must admit, when the author first reached out to me, I thought the book was a contemporary but I was pleasantly surprised when I read the synopsis on Goodreads.
I Don't Belong Here follows main character, Charlotte, a clairvoyant with the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. When she witnesses the murder of a young woman, Charlotte is thrown into a world of danger with a ghost determined on seeking revenge and getting justice for her killing.
Charlotte needs to be brave and strong in order to confront her actions and her past mistakes to help Mia Brooks pass on.
Starting off with characters, I thought all of them seemed a little bit immature and juvenile, even the adults in this book. The characters I had a few issues with were Charlotte's parents who didn't feel developed enough for me to like. Their fights with Charlotte seemed kind of out of nowhere and while they did have good reason e.g., parental concern etc, their arguments for being overprotective seemed a little over the top at times. The only adult I liked was Grandma May, she seemed really cool and I wished she got more time on page.
The main character, Charlotte was probably the one I had the most difficulty connecting with. From the start, I was waiting for me to like her, for me to relate or connect with her and her feelings, but I simply couldn't. There were so many references to "nobody understands me," "I'm a loner, I prefer to be by myself, at home and with my books" and it got to the point where it was repeated so often I was trying to find other elements to her character apart from those aforementioned. I wanted more from her characterisation, I wanted more character depth and more backstory but I felt like I never got it which was why she felt quite surface level to me.
The only characters that I really liked a lot and I thought were developed well were Ethan and Dimitri. Dimitri honestly had more backstory than Charlotte, he had a tough family life, his mother was an alcoholic and his brother was dealing with a terrible form of cancer. You could see how much Dimitri cared for his family and how those family side-stories have influenced him and his relationship to Charlotte and the world as a whole. I also liked how the author described and showed us Ethan's cancer and how that affected everyone in the family. I thought that was shown respectfully and thoughtfully.
Romance wise, this book was really quick with the insta-love. I'm personally not a fan of insta-love, for me it ruins what could've been a really great slow burn romance which is what my personal preference is with fictional works. Charlotte instantly fell in love with Dimitri from the moment he stepped inside the DVD shop she worked at. The speed of it really stumped me, I wanted more development instead of instant infatuation. Dimitri walked into the store, asked for a movie recommendation from Charlotte and then he gave her his phone number. I thought that was really quick and I was constantly questioning why she followed up with that and called him even though she didn't really have a proper conversation with him.
Even as the book continued on, I wanted to see more chemistry between Charlotte and Dimitri. At the end I got more of it however, towards the middle, Charlotte's sister, Yuan asked why she liked Dimitri so much to which she said "He understands me" and that she feels real around him. I could've believed those lines but at that point, I wanted to see how much he understood her rather than being told that he does. I wanted to see that connection we were told about but in the middle part of the book, I didn't really see it, even though I really wanted to. I think that was because of the writing style, I couldn't really get into it which may have been why it was hard for me to connect with the characters and see the chemistry between Dimitri and Charlotte.
My favourite thing about this book though was the relationship between Yuan and Charlotte, I really liked seeing their relationship and how it developed over the duration of the book. I also liked the mystery elements with the Red-eyed Lady and how the plot got resolved at the end. The ending was fast paced and tense and I found myself asking "wait–what?!" so many times, especially in the last 10 or so pages. I still can't believe I didn't pick up on that plot twist. How all those clues and cleverly placed hints went over my head is beyond me.
Overall, this was a short read with a lot of paranormal elements. I would recommend it as a spooky, Halloween read but I must admit, I was left wanting more at times with the chemistry and the characters.
ACTUAL RATING: 2.3 STARS
July 16, 2021
I Don't Belong Here is about a 16 year old girl called Charlotte who can and always has seen ghosts. She shares this gift with her grandmother who has become somewhat of a mentor to Charlotte. However, the rest of their family don't believe in ghosts and so her time with her grandmother is restricted.
After seeing a horrific crime Charlotte begins seeing a ghost that is far more persistent than usual. With no friends that she can trust and the majority of her family not believing her, Charlotte turns to Demitri. However, he has his own problems.
This is not a genre I normally gravitate towards, but when the author contacted me and I read the blurb it definitely peaked my interest. As much as I loved this story, I did feel it was a little young for me, so I would definitely recommend this to young adults, rather than a 31 year old like myself. However, it can still be enjoyed by older audiences. Personally, I saw one of the big reveals coming, but I was still invested in the book and thoroughly enjoyed it to the very end.
I would describe this book as a supernatural thriller and one that can be read without worrying it may become too scary, though it definitely has it's unsettling moments. I really liked Charlotte and Dimitri as characters and I really did feel a connection between them. I thought the author did a brilliant job at portraying the frustrations that can be felt by parents and their children and sympathised with how misunderstood Charlotte felt by her family. I also enjoyed the relationship between Charlotte and her sister Juan. It was so refreshing to read a book with two sisters who weren't at each other's throats all the time.
Overall a very good book that could be devoured in one sitting on a rainy afternoon. A good book for people who are interested in supernatural elements or who are intrigued by thrillers, but don't want to delve too deeply.
I would normally have given this book 3 stars, but as I feel it is aimed at a younger audience who I think would enjoy it more, I awarded an extra star.
After seeing a horrific crime Charlotte begins seeing a ghost that is far more persistent than usual. With no friends that she can trust and the majority of her family not believing her, Charlotte turns to Demitri. However, he has his own problems.
This is not a genre I normally gravitate towards, but when the author contacted me and I read the blurb it definitely peaked my interest. As much as I loved this story, I did feel it was a little young for me, so I would definitely recommend this to young adults, rather than a 31 year old like myself. However, it can still be enjoyed by older audiences. Personally, I saw one of the big reveals coming, but I was still invested in the book and thoroughly enjoyed it to the very end.
I would describe this book as a supernatural thriller and one that can be read without worrying it may become too scary, though it definitely has it's unsettling moments. I really liked Charlotte and Dimitri as characters and I really did feel a connection between them. I thought the author did a brilliant job at portraying the frustrations that can be felt by parents and their children and sympathised with how misunderstood Charlotte felt by her family. I also enjoyed the relationship between Charlotte and her sister Juan. It was so refreshing to read a book with two sisters who weren't at each other's throats all the time.
Overall a very good book that could be devoured in one sitting on a rainy afternoon. A good book for people who are interested in supernatural elements or who are intrigued by thrillers, but don't want to delve too deeply.
I would normally have given this book 3 stars, but as I feel it is aimed at a younger audience who I think would enjoy it more, I awarded an extra star.
July 11, 2021
What a wonderful YA supernatural read. Once I started I simply could not put it down. The story absorbed me right from the opening: "I was scared. So scared. Terrrified". I immediately wanted to discover the source of this fear. We meet the protagonist Charlotte in the midst of a dangerous kidnapping. Her utter fear is translated into anxiety and suspense for the reader. We are then transported back two months to discover the journey that led to this kidnapping. Along the way, we witness Charlotte's extraordinary ability to see the dead, the wonderful loving support she has with her dear grandma May and the difficulties faced with other family as they fail to understand her or truly listen. It is so frustrating to see Charlotte dismissed as delusional or mentally ill. We become embroiled in the fascinating and haunting story of the model Mia Brooks, whose appearances to Charlotte become more prevalent and frightening. The desire to uncover her story makes this a real page-turner. Alongside this we witness the beauty of a blossoming first love; a loving friendship unlike any other. There are moments that will make you smile, and others that will have you tearing up, with plenty of twists and turns to keep your eyes glued on the pages until the final line.
October 28, 2021
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the premise and overall plot of the story. I am always up for reading a paranormal romance especially those with a ton of drama. This is also a great read if you love seeing strong family dynamics and you're looking to pick up something that is quick and easy.
Despite enjoying many aspects of the book, I don't think this one was for me. I think that I wasn't really invested in anything that happened to the characters and they read VERY young to me. I also think that the plot was quite predictable so a stronger attachment to the characters would have been need to make it worth the read. I'm also not the biggest fan of stories where characters immediately fall in love, I need drama and all the theatrics.
I think that younger demographics may enjoy this one more than I did!
I really enjoyed the premise and overall plot of the story. I am always up for reading a paranormal romance especially those with a ton of drama. This is also a great read if you love seeing strong family dynamics and you're looking to pick up something that is quick and easy.
Despite enjoying many aspects of the book, I don't think this one was for me. I think that I wasn't really invested in anything that happened to the characters and they read VERY young to me. I also think that the plot was quite predictable so a stronger attachment to the characters would have been need to make it worth the read. I'm also not the biggest fan of stories where characters immediately fall in love, I need drama and all the theatrics.
I think that younger demographics may enjoy this one more than I did!
August 25, 2021
I was sent an arc copy of the book in return for an honest review. I would say this is is more suited to young adults. However there are I am sure there are adults who may enjoy it to. There are a few scenes that may act as triggers for some people.
Charlotte has a gift, her Grandmother sees things. When Charlotte sees something terrible occur suddenly her life takes a different turn.
It's quite a quick read short chapters told from either the point of view of Charlotte or Demitri. I was unfortunately quick to spot one of the twists quite early on so not all the big reveals were shockers.
This is a good early attempt.
Charlotte has a gift, her Grandmother sees things. When Charlotte sees something terrible occur suddenly her life takes a different turn.
It's quite a quick read short chapters told from either the point of view of Charlotte or Demitri. I was unfortunately quick to spot one of the twists quite early on so not all the big reveals were shockers.
This is a good early attempt.
July 5, 2021
Thank you Tayla for sending me a eARC of I Don’t Belong Here in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed this book wholeheartedly but lost my train of thought halfway through (my fault). So, I reread the book entirely though I was three fourths done. I really enjoyed the amazing character development and I cannot wait to read your other books in the future! Thank you for giving me the pleasure of reading your book!
April 7, 2022
This ghostly love story was a perfect fit between heavier reads. Tayla Jean Grossberg has a very compelling way of writing that kept me curious throughout. I found this book a good page turner that I completed in just over a week.
Charlotte, the main character, is something of a loner desperate to convey a deep secret to her unbelieving family, but she’s not sure how. The author's understanding of her main character gives great depth to the plot and drives the story well. How the author handles the supporting characters and the events that unfurl makes 'I Don't Belong Here' a very credible story.
I don't want to give too much away about the events in the book. Suffice to say, any fans of a ghostly murder mystery will enjoy this book.
Charlotte, the main character, is something of a loner desperate to convey a deep secret to her unbelieving family, but she’s not sure how. The author's understanding of her main character gives great depth to the plot and drives the story well. How the author handles the supporting characters and the events that unfurl makes 'I Don't Belong Here' a very credible story.
I don't want to give too much away about the events in the book. Suffice to say, any fans of a ghostly murder mystery will enjoy this book.
June 21, 2021
A stunning, absorbing read by Tayla Jean Grossberg.
Charlotte has always been able to see ghosts, just like her Grandma May. Everyone knows that ghosts are harmless and can't do anything to you - or can they? After witnessing something she shouldn't have, Charlotte isn't so sure anymore. Despite her attempts to live a normal life, her cursed gift keeps coming back to haunt her. Literally.
This book deserves a five star rating for being able to capture the reader's attention wholly and sustain the pace of the action until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and recommend those who like YA paranormal books to read it too!
Charlotte has always been able to see ghosts, just like her Grandma May. Everyone knows that ghosts are harmless and can't do anything to you - or can they? After witnessing something she shouldn't have, Charlotte isn't so sure anymore. Despite her attempts to live a normal life, her cursed gift keeps coming back to haunt her. Literally.
This book deserves a five star rating for being able to capture the reader's attention wholly and sustain the pace of the action until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and recommend those who like YA paranormal books to read it too!
October 1, 2021
I was given this book by the author. I can say that the synopsis had me really intrigued about the book. When reading, I really wanted to like the characters, but Charlotte didn't have much development through the story and wasn't exactly my favorite character. While I enjoyed the seeing ghosts premise and the who done it mystery, I was struggling to feel for the characters. I think I just wanted more time with them or possibly more about them in order for me to feel really connected. It also did not help that Dimitri had one chapter of POV and then nothing from him ever again other than from Charlotte's POV. It was really weird not getting more of his perspective.
This book could have been really well done if the characters were a little more developed and the dialogue was tweaked, but I still liked the book and hope that Tayla's other books have these sort of improvements on them!! I am excited to see what her next work holds and thank you again for giving me the chance to read your work!!
This book could have been really well done if the characters were a little more developed and the dialogue was tweaked, but I still liked the book and hope that Tayla's other books have these sort of improvements on them!! I am excited to see what her next work holds and thank you again for giving me the chance to read your work!!
July 4, 2021
I Don't Belong Here by Tayla Jean Grossberg is a fun spooky read that would be perfect for the Halloween season. Charlotte, like her grandmother, has the ability to see ghosts. When one of them starts haunting her, she has to brave her fears and solve a mystery.
I had a really good time reading this book. The spooky parts were really fun to read about, with chilly but not too scary descriptions of ghosts. The writing style shows potential but I found the story a bit repetitive. It was also filled with a lot of unnecessary details that slowed down the story. As for the characters, they were loveable but they felt underdeveloped and too cliché for me, especially Charlotte who fell into the 'not like other girls' trope. Grandma May was the most lively character which made her my favourite. I also enjoyed the family dynamics in the book that allowed character development.
While it definitely won't be making it to my favourites, it was a light read that I think would be a good choice to get out of a reading slump.
I had a really good time reading this book. The spooky parts were really fun to read about, with chilly but not too scary descriptions of ghosts. The writing style shows potential but I found the story a bit repetitive. It was also filled with a lot of unnecessary details that slowed down the story. As for the characters, they were loveable but they felt underdeveloped and too cliché for me, especially Charlotte who fell into the 'not like other girls' trope. Grandma May was the most lively character which made her my favourite. I also enjoyed the family dynamics in the book that allowed character development.
While it definitely won't be making it to my favourites, it was a light read that I think would be a good choice to get out of a reading slump.
October 28, 2021
Summary--> Charlotte has a gift as her grandmother likes to calls it... she can see ghosts. Her parents and sister don't understand her and the only one who she can talk to besides her grandmother his her dog Amore.That is until she meets Dimitri a tall cute guy who is very kind to her who also seems to have some secrets of this own. It's seem she's not the only one keeping secrets.
When Charlotte witnesses something she shouldn't have her life gets turned upside down. A secret she swears to keep to herself doesn't want to stay hidden!
(Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy)
My Thoughts-->This book was such fun YA read! It hooked me with the first line and kept me wondering about what was coming next! I enjoyed seeing Charlotte try and figure out who she is and the ups and downs she had to face with her family. I think one of my favorite things about this book was the family dynamics. I love the relationship between Charlotte and her sister Juan and the support they give eachother. The relationship she has with her mom is one I definitely could relate to lol. I also love how the ghosts were portrayed in this book not overly creepy if that makes sense. Just like a regular person that couldn't be seen. Dimitri was definitely my favorite character and loved how supportive he is with Charlotte. Theres just so much to piece together throughout this book and I loved it. This is definitely a book I recommend Y'all checkout if you love a good suspense book and want something fun to read on Halloween!
I also want to say thank you to the author for sending me an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review!😊
When Charlotte witnesses something she shouldn't have her life gets turned upside down. A secret she swears to keep to herself doesn't want to stay hidden!
(Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy)
My Thoughts-->This book was such fun YA read! It hooked me with the first line and kept me wondering about what was coming next! I enjoyed seeing Charlotte try and figure out who she is and the ups and downs she had to face with her family. I think one of my favorite things about this book was the family dynamics. I love the relationship between Charlotte and her sister Juan and the support they give eachother. The relationship she has with her mom is one I definitely could relate to lol. I also love how the ghosts were portrayed in this book not overly creepy if that makes sense. Just like a regular person that couldn't be seen. Dimitri was definitely my favorite character and loved how supportive he is with Charlotte. Theres just so much to piece together throughout this book and I loved it. This is definitely a book I recommend Y'all checkout if you love a good suspense book and want something fun to read on Halloween!
I also want to say thank you to the author for sending me an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review!😊
August 19, 2022
When I found out what this book was about, I was excited to get to read it. It had some good moments; I enjoyed the relationship between Charlotte and Dimitri. Once I’d gotten most of the way through the book, I did want to find out if it ended the way I thought it was going to.
With this being advertised as a paranormal romance, the twist at the end was not at all surprising. I don’t know if I’ve read too many books like it, but I knew how the book was going to end by about halfway through if I’m feeling generous.
Unfortunately I didn’t like the writing style at all, I found the dialogue to be quite clunky as a contraction was rarely used and it just didn’t read as real. The sentence structure was quite repetitive and the main character fell very neatly into the “I’m not like other girls” character trope. My favourite character was probably Grandmother May, but she seemed a little underutilised.
I really thought I’d enjoy this book more; the Mediator series by Meg Cabot was a firm favourite of mine when I was a teenager. This book just fell so flat though, and just really didn’t do it for me.
With this being advertised as a paranormal romance, the twist at the end was not at all surprising. I don’t know if I’ve read too many books like it, but I knew how the book was going to end by about halfway through if I’m feeling generous.
Unfortunately I didn’t like the writing style at all, I found the dialogue to be quite clunky as a contraction was rarely used and it just didn’t read as real. The sentence structure was quite repetitive and the main character fell very neatly into the “I’m not like other girls” character trope. My favourite character was probably Grandmother May, but she seemed a little underutilised.
I really thought I’d enjoy this book more; the Mediator series by Meg Cabot was a firm favourite of mine when I was a teenager. This book just fell so flat though, and just really didn’t do it for me.
August 30, 2021
Storyline is not unique, however the writer has presented it differently. Giving it a thrilling spin with two big reveals towards the end. Although I could tell what one of the reveal was early on, I appreciate the way it was being concealed by the author's writing style.
Main protagonist, Charlotte is young sixteen year old girl who has a great bond with her younger sister Juan and her grandmother. Both Charlotte and her grandmother can see ghosts. And this story is around that gift and how Charlotte uses it to bring a criminal to justice. I have seen many movies made with similar storyline however this one saddles in human emotions beautifully.
The friendship between Charlotte and Dimitri that grows into love made me cry in the end. I believe the best part about this book is the focus on Charlotte's relationships with her sister, friends, parents, grandmother, Dimitri, and Dimitri's brother. There were too many emotionally charged instances in this book. A lot of sadness. But life is just that - sad with stolen moments of happiness.
Pick this one up for a quick read if you are into the supernatural genre.
Main protagonist, Charlotte is young sixteen year old girl who has a great bond with her younger sister Juan and her grandmother. Both Charlotte and her grandmother can see ghosts. And this story is around that gift and how Charlotte uses it to bring a criminal to justice. I have seen many movies made with similar storyline however this one saddles in human emotions beautifully.
The friendship between Charlotte and Dimitri that grows into love made me cry in the end. I believe the best part about this book is the focus on Charlotte's relationships with her sister, friends, parents, grandmother, Dimitri, and Dimitri's brother. There were too many emotionally charged instances in this book. A lot of sadness. But life is just that - sad with stolen moments of happiness.
Pick this one up for a quick read if you are into the supernatural genre.
January 6, 2023
I Don’t Belong Here is a YA fantasy book with a supernatural theme. To be honest, this isn’t my usual genre and because of this I was very excited to explore it and this book was a great introduction for me.
The story delves into family drama, love and everything in between. I was hooked right from the start and enjoyed it the whole way through.
The story delves into family drama, love and everything in between. I was hooked right from the start and enjoyed it the whole way through.
September 15, 2021
I Don’t Belong Here is a wonderful Young Adult Paranormal Fiction Story. The Author, Tayla Jean Grossberg does a fantastic job through the plot and details within the story. The book follows Charlotte who is a sixteen year old girl with the ability to see ghosts. The author writes like the story is a movie, making things very easy to follow along and telling the emotions and thoughts of the characters.
I found the connection between Charlotte and other characters to be very realistic and loved the budding romance plot between herself and Dimitri. In fact, one of the best things about this book was the excellent way that the characters all tie in together throughout and by the end of the book. The plot twist for the book was excellently done. Clues were left all throughout the book that make it easy to see just how the twist would come about. However, even with all of the clues it is not necessarily something you will guess right away. Every thread created in the story is picked up and tied neatly in ways that are realistic and at some points unexpected.
I found the book to be quite enjoyable and, in fact, I laughed aloud at some of the moments where Charlotte was being overdramatic rather than thinking things through. I did find that the book took a little bit to get into, and that there were still some editing errors throughout the book. The most confusing part of the story for me at first was the inclusion of Dimitri’s perspective that suddenly disappeared. However, by the end of the story I realized why things had been written in that way and thought it was a nice touch to the story for someone rereading the book. While the book does start off slow, once the action of the book really starts going, it settles into a well-written pace that makes for a single sit book. The book isn’t something to be considered scary for a paranormal book, but is quite enjoyable and has scary moments in its own way.
As for some not so great moments, the book does contain moments of fatphobia with slight comments concerning the weight of the main character, the dog, and some of the ways people are described in the book. Due to that, you should be aware of this in case you find it to be triggering for you. Other than these moments and the slow start to the book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would read it again.
Overall, I would recommend this book to young readers and teenagers. I feel they would thoroughly enjoy the story and this is a great way to get them into paranormal books!
I found the connection between Charlotte and other characters to be very realistic and loved the budding romance plot between herself and Dimitri. In fact, one of the best things about this book was the excellent way that the characters all tie in together throughout and by the end of the book. The plot twist for the book was excellently done. Clues were left all throughout the book that make it easy to see just how the twist would come about. However, even with all of the clues it is not necessarily something you will guess right away. Every thread created in the story is picked up and tied neatly in ways that are realistic and at some points unexpected.
I found the book to be quite enjoyable and, in fact, I laughed aloud at some of the moments where Charlotte was being overdramatic rather than thinking things through. I did find that the book took a little bit to get into, and that there were still some editing errors throughout the book. The most confusing part of the story for me at first was the inclusion of Dimitri’s perspective that suddenly disappeared. However, by the end of the story I realized why things had been written in that way and thought it was a nice touch to the story for someone rereading the book. While the book does start off slow, once the action of the book really starts going, it settles into a well-written pace that makes for a single sit book. The book isn’t something to be considered scary for a paranormal book, but is quite enjoyable and has scary moments in its own way.
As for some not so great moments, the book does contain moments of fatphobia with slight comments concerning the weight of the main character, the dog, and some of the ways people are described in the book. Due to that, you should be aware of this in case you find it to be triggering for you. Other than these moments and the slow start to the book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would read it again.
Overall, I would recommend this book to young readers and teenagers. I feel they would thoroughly enjoy the story and this is a great way to get them into paranormal books!
Read
June 28, 2021I was lucky to be sent an ARC of this YA novel. I am not a young adult, but I really did enjoy this book. It was delightful. It is the story of sixteen year old, Charlotte, who has the ability to see ghosts. Her family don't believe her and they don't understand her. She feels alone. Her Grandmother also has this ability and she is the only one Charlotte is able to talk to and share her feelings with. Until she meets a new friend.
Charlotte is not your average teenager, even without the seeing ghosts thing. She is a bit of a loner, would rather stay at home and read than go out and socialize. You can soon understand why that is.
The story begins near the end and then travels back to explain how she got there. I must admit, I had almost forgotten the first part, when it came back at the end. I was too wrapped up in the story. I had thought that the direction the story was taking was a little obvious, I even wanted to 'hit Charlotte over the head' at times and tell her to wake up and see the reality. But of course that would have spoiled the story. I could even forgive her, thinking that as a teenager, her reactions made perfect sense and maybe it was my 'maturity' that let me into the secret. Spoiler Alert: It could also have been that I have seen "The Sixth Sense" with Bruce Willis.
Through a cleverly thought out plot and writing, the author did have me questioning myself a few times, as to did I really know how it was going to be? Was it that way really? Then the author threw in a twist that surprised me totally.
Charlotte was a very likeable character. I found myself becoming invested in her story. I felt scared for her, sad for her, frustrated at her family with her. Her Grandmother is a character that is also delightful and feels like a big hug.
There is an element of romance in the book, which is sweet. I felt so heartbroken for Charlotte at the end, but it is a beautiful finish to their story.
I think this book will definitely appeal to teenage readers and Adults as well. It wasn't overly frightening, it didn't give me nightmares. I think that is was an interesting story with just the right amount of scary, sweet and sad. It was an easy book to read and I just wanted to keep reading to find out what happened (even though I thought I knew).
If you like ghost stories and romance stories, you will thoroughly enjoy this delightful book.
Charlotte is not your average teenager, even without the seeing ghosts thing. She is a bit of a loner, would rather stay at home and read than go out and socialize. You can soon understand why that is.
The story begins near the end and then travels back to explain how she got there. I must admit, I had almost forgotten the first part, when it came back at the end. I was too wrapped up in the story. I had thought that the direction the story was taking was a little obvious, I even wanted to 'hit Charlotte over the head' at times and tell her to wake up and see the reality. But of course that would have spoiled the story. I could even forgive her, thinking that as a teenager, her reactions made perfect sense and maybe it was my 'maturity' that let me into the secret. Spoiler Alert: It could also have been that I have seen "The Sixth Sense" with Bruce Willis.
Through a cleverly thought out plot and writing, the author did have me questioning myself a few times, as to did I really know how it was going to be? Was it that way really? Then the author threw in a twist that surprised me totally.
Charlotte was a very likeable character. I found myself becoming invested in her story. I felt scared for her, sad for her, frustrated at her family with her. Her Grandmother is a character that is also delightful and feels like a big hug.
There is an element of romance in the book, which is sweet. I felt so heartbroken for Charlotte at the end, but it is a beautiful finish to their story.
I think this book will definitely appeal to teenage readers and Adults as well. It wasn't overly frightening, it didn't give me nightmares. I think that is was an interesting story with just the right amount of scary, sweet and sad. It was an easy book to read and I just wanted to keep reading to find out what happened (even though I thought I knew).
If you like ghost stories and romance stories, you will thoroughly enjoy this delightful book.
July 25, 2021
I DON'T BELONG HERE is a YA paranormal book about 16 year old Charlotte. She has the ability to see ghosts and when she witnesses a horrible crime, a ghost starts haunting her. Because no one in her family, except for her grandmother with whom she can only spend a limited amount of time, believes her she turns to Dimitri, who she just met. But he has problems of his own...
I enjoyed this book very much. It was such a quick and fast-paced read and I found it really hard to put down while reading.
The pacing was good most of the time, I only felt that the middle part might have dragged a little but once I got to the ending that didn't matter anymore because that ending really blew my mind. I don't think I could have guessed it even if I'd tried—I mean I had certain suspicions from the beginning but I didn't really see it coming!
Seeing as this was a paranormal book and the main character has the ability to see ghosts, there were also some scary moments but nothing too unsettling. So if you are, like me, not used to this genre but would like to try it out, this book might be the one.
Apart from this I also really enjoyed the characters, as they were all well developed, as were the relationships between them. Charlotte was very relatable most of the time and Dimitri was just adorable and their friendship/relationship was so well-written. One other relationship that stood out to me specifically was that between Charlotte and Juan as they are sisters and I love reading about sibling relationships, especially if it's not the typical "two siblings always at each other's throats" kind of relationship.
As for the writing style, I have to admit it wasn't the best and there's definitely room for improvement but it didn't particularly limit my enjoyment of the story.
So in conclusion, I enjoyed this book a lot and definitely recommend it. (Although, if you are as easily scared as me, maybe don't read it all alone, late at night, in the dark...)
I enjoyed this book very much. It was such a quick and fast-paced read and I found it really hard to put down while reading.
The pacing was good most of the time, I only felt that the middle part might have dragged a little but once I got to the ending that didn't matter anymore because that ending really blew my mind. I don't think I could have guessed it even if I'd tried—I mean I had certain suspicions from the beginning but I didn't really see it coming!
Seeing as this was a paranormal book and the main character has the ability to see ghosts, there were also some scary moments but nothing too unsettling. So if you are, like me, not used to this genre but would like to try it out, this book might be the one.
Apart from this I also really enjoyed the characters, as they were all well developed, as were the relationships between them. Charlotte was very relatable most of the time and Dimitri was just adorable and their friendship/relationship was so well-written. One other relationship that stood out to me specifically was that between Charlotte and Juan as they are sisters and I love reading about sibling relationships, especially if it's not the typical "two siblings always at each other's throats" kind of relationship.
As for the writing style, I have to admit it wasn't the best and there's definitely room for improvement but it didn't particularly limit my enjoyment of the story.
So in conclusion, I enjoyed this book a lot and definitely recommend it. (Although, if you are as easily scared as me, maybe don't read it all alone, late at night, in the dark...)
July 15, 2021
I was kindly asked by the author to read I Don't Belong Here and post an honest review of my thoughts on this book:
This book is a wonderful option to read to get over a reading slump. I am a relatively slow reader and was still able to get over half way done in one day and finish it the next. Tayla does a wonderful job of creating an immersive experience for the reader by providing an extremely grabbing hook. I normally steer clear of all things horror and thriller. However, this book generally had a good mix of paranormal plot points with a sprinkling of intense and heart-pounding thrills.
There were a few times where I got a bit caught up with the dialogue. What I mean by this, is there aren't many contractions in some of the dialogue which makes it read a bit stiffly. Another component of the story that I wasn't expecting but got used to is how the main character, Charlotte, calls her parents by their first name in the narration. Once I understood who she was talking about, it was no longer a hindrance to my reading sessions. I also have a formatting note: every chapter starts off with Charlotte's name to announce to the reader that she is narrating that chapter. This would make perfect sense if this was a true, dual POV story. However, I only found one chapter in the beginning of the book where the narrator isn't Charlotte. I felt like I knew the truth to part of the mystery aspect, but the last chapters were still a great surprise. Tayla did a fantastic job at withholding information for the main mystery that contributed to the thriller element of this story.
Overall, this was fun, quick read that got me out of my genre comfort zone. I enjoyed the immense character growth Charlotte encounters throughout the entire story, the loving connection she shares with her sister and grandmother, and how the overall mystery played out.
This book is a wonderful option to read to get over a reading slump. I am a relatively slow reader and was still able to get over half way done in one day and finish it the next. Tayla does a wonderful job of creating an immersive experience for the reader by providing an extremely grabbing hook. I normally steer clear of all things horror and thriller. However, this book generally had a good mix of paranormal plot points with a sprinkling of intense and heart-pounding thrills.
There were a few times where I got a bit caught up with the dialogue. What I mean by this, is there aren't many contractions in some of the dialogue which makes it read a bit stiffly. Another component of the story that I wasn't expecting but got used to is how the main character, Charlotte, calls her parents by their first name in the narration. Once I understood who she was talking about, it was no longer a hindrance to my reading sessions. I also have a formatting note: every chapter starts off with Charlotte's name to announce to the reader that she is narrating that chapter. This would make perfect sense if this was a true, dual POV story. However, I only found one chapter in the beginning of the book where the narrator isn't Charlotte. I felt like I knew the truth to part of the mystery aspect, but the last chapters were still a great surprise. Tayla did a fantastic job at withholding information for the main mystery that contributed to the thriller element of this story.
Overall, this was fun, quick read that got me out of my genre comfort zone. I enjoyed the immense character growth Charlotte encounters throughout the entire story, the loving connection she shares with her sister and grandmother, and how the overall mystery played out.
July 15, 2021
Something special happened this week, I had the opportunity to read Tayla's novel and it was an absolutely lovely read!
I Don't Belong Here presents us Charlotte, the special girl who can see ghosts. She faces several situations connected to the supernatural that disconnect her from her family, who do not believe she has a gift. She can only confide in her grandmother, with whom she has a very honest and sincere relationship, since she is the only family member that also has certain supernatural abilities.The conversations between the two women are wonderful and paint a beautiful connection between the two of them.
When Charlotte's grandmother warns her she is about to meet somebody very special, Charlotte suddenly befriends a kind boy by the name of Dimitri. They become close to one another and teach each other valuable lessons of bravery.
Charlotte is very relatable to the young girls that might read this book. She is introverted, shy, self-conscious at times, scared to confide in people, perhaps a bit gullible. But she is also ready to push away from her own comfort, she is kind and smart.
Dimitri is a trusting and supporting friend that everybody deserves and wishes for. He is helpful and has a good heart, even though he hurts inside.
They are both written with such care, such detail. As is the entire story. I Don't Belong Here keeps growing. It never lets us down. It keeps us on the edge of the seat and tells us "You can't leave me now!"
With Tayla's gripping storytelling, I truly did NOT want to leave the story or see it end at all. Running out of positive adjectives to use that would describe this book, I simply have to say I enjoyed it so much and would suggest it to quite anyone.
Thank you, Tayla!
I Don't Belong Here presents us Charlotte, the special girl who can see ghosts. She faces several situations connected to the supernatural that disconnect her from her family, who do not believe she has a gift. She can only confide in her grandmother, with whom she has a very honest and sincere relationship, since she is the only family member that also has certain supernatural abilities.The conversations between the two women are wonderful and paint a beautiful connection between the two of them.
When Charlotte's grandmother warns her she is about to meet somebody very special, Charlotte suddenly befriends a kind boy by the name of Dimitri. They become close to one another and teach each other valuable lessons of bravery.
Charlotte is very relatable to the young girls that might read this book. She is introverted, shy, self-conscious at times, scared to confide in people, perhaps a bit gullible. But she is also ready to push away from her own comfort, she is kind and smart.
Dimitri is a trusting and supporting friend that everybody deserves and wishes for. He is helpful and has a good heart, even though he hurts inside.
They are both written with such care, such detail. As is the entire story. I Don't Belong Here keeps growing. It never lets us down. It keeps us on the edge of the seat and tells us "You can't leave me now!"
With Tayla's gripping storytelling, I truly did NOT want to leave the story or see it end at all. Running out of positive adjectives to use that would describe this book, I simply have to say I enjoyed it so much and would suggest it to quite anyone.
Thank you, Tayla!
July 22, 2021
REVIEW:
The story of the book I don't belong here revolves around a sixteen year old young Charlotte, who can see ghost and the only one person who believes her, in her entire family is her Grandmother May. Since no one understands her gift, Charlotte chooses to remain to herself. Then she meets sweet, mysterious Dimitri. Charlotte witnesses a woman being murdered by a man, but she couldn't help her because she was very afraid to face problems. While she chose to keep it as a secret the woman who got murdered began to haunt her as a ghost. Slowly Charlotte decides to fight back her fear, to face the problems and to show courage.
The book got into an unexpected twist which caught me by surprise and I don't want to ruin the suspense.
The book gives the perfect experience of first love, sister bonding, family drama, experience of a cancer patient and super natural elements to readers.
MY REVIEW:
Thank you Tayla Jean Grossberg for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
I was so happy and excited to complete it and meanwhile I'm a little sad about the ending. I really loved the friendship between Charlotte and her sister Juan, also the relation between her and her Grandmother May. Little dog Amore also played few rolls which caught my attention. The book has a perfect plot for YA, supernatural elements. This is my first time to read a YA, horror book and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. The one thing I need to mention is, the repetition of lines which annoyed me a little. Except for the repetition of lines the book is perfect. The story comes to a theme of bravery.
I would like to recommend this book to everyone and specially for the ones who is suffering from the reading slump, this book is very helpful to get rid of slump (personal experience 🤧)
The story of the book I don't belong here revolves around a sixteen year old young Charlotte, who can see ghost and the only one person who believes her, in her entire family is her Grandmother May. Since no one understands her gift, Charlotte chooses to remain to herself. Then she meets sweet, mysterious Dimitri. Charlotte witnesses a woman being murdered by a man, but she couldn't help her because she was very afraid to face problems. While she chose to keep it as a secret the woman who got murdered began to haunt her as a ghost. Slowly Charlotte decides to fight back her fear, to face the problems and to show courage.
The book got into an unexpected twist which caught me by surprise and I don't want to ruin the suspense.
The book gives the perfect experience of first love, sister bonding, family drama, experience of a cancer patient and super natural elements to readers.
MY REVIEW:
Thank you Tayla Jean Grossberg for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
I was so happy and excited to complete it and meanwhile I'm a little sad about the ending. I really loved the friendship between Charlotte and her sister Juan, also the relation between her and her Grandmother May. Little dog Amore also played few rolls which caught my attention. The book has a perfect plot for YA, supernatural elements. This is my first time to read a YA, horror book and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. The one thing I need to mention is, the repetition of lines which annoyed me a little. Except for the repetition of lines the book is perfect. The story comes to a theme of bravery.
I would like to recommend this book to everyone and specially for the ones who is suffering from the reading slump, this book is very helpful to get rid of slump (personal experience 🤧)
July 10, 2021
👻I received this book from Tayla Jean Grossberg to read & review. The following review is my opinion.
👻Charlotte is a sixteen-year-old with the ability to see ghosts, a family trait from her grandma. Sadly, her grandma is the only one who believes her when incidents arise.
👻Having a tight relationship with her sister, Charlotte agrees to drive her to a party. Her sister ends up staying overnight while Charlotte heads home. She ends up witnessing a murder on the way there.
👻Charlotte is pretty much a loner so she keeps the murder to herself & tries to deal with the oddities that happen after the fact. Her parents have a tendency to not believe her when she goes to them. She finds a kindred spirit in Dimitri. He is there for her without judgment but misses important dates as well.
👻Life gets messy while Charlotte learns how to deal with her unusual ability. Ghostly events and mayhem follow her around like a puppy.
👻I love, love, love this book! 💕It deals with many issues including feeling like the black sheep, the paranormal, family dynamics, young love, murder, alcoholism, cancer, & death. Although that sounds heavy, it isn’t. The book is so well written that it all blends together seamlessly without seeming over the top.
👻I encourage you to read I Don’t Belong Here. I read it in one day. I was enthralled in the story & couldn’t put it down until I finished. I shocked myself by figuring out a couple of things which isn’t typical for me. This didn’t take away from the story though. It is a fantastic read!
Read more book reviews at latishaslowkeylife.com
October 20, 2021
Alright, this book grabbed at my heart and I’m still recovering.
The author reached out to me asking if I would be interested in reading her book and leaving a review, which of course I would!
I gave this book 4 ⭐️s because this really is a great story. I was intrigued from the first page and had to continue and discover what the heck was going on! It was fast paced, once you recovered from an event it just continued on with the next which I really enjoyed. Books like these I can’t do the long slow pace getting to answers. I need some kind of clue or answer pretty frequently. Yet, I was still in shock at the last few chapters. She did a great job of giving you hints to put pieces together yet keeping you on your toes the entire read.
Now, characters. I struggled to connect with our main girl Charlotte, which is partly why this isn’t 5 ⭐️s for me. However, I really did connect with the development of Charlotte’s relationships. Specifically Juan, Grandma May & Dimitri.
My absolute favorite character was Dimitri. He was the most mysterious and wholesome character, I was constantly trying to figure him out and genuinely enjoyed all the chapters he was in. He added a lot to the story that really made it enjoyable especially with all the chaos going on around Charlotte.
This is definitely a spooky story, which I wasn’t exactly ready for when I agreed to read it. My husband found it very amusing the first “spooky” scene and I ended up jumping. Definitely don’t read right before bed if you’re a wimp like me 😋
Over all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
The author reached out to me asking if I would be interested in reading her book and leaving a review, which of course I would!
I gave this book 4 ⭐️s because this really is a great story. I was intrigued from the first page and had to continue and discover what the heck was going on! It was fast paced, once you recovered from an event it just continued on with the next which I really enjoyed. Books like these I can’t do the long slow pace getting to answers. I need some kind of clue or answer pretty frequently. Yet, I was still in shock at the last few chapters. She did a great job of giving you hints to put pieces together yet keeping you on your toes the entire read.
Now, characters. I struggled to connect with our main girl Charlotte, which is partly why this isn’t 5 ⭐️s for me. However, I really did connect with the development of Charlotte’s relationships. Specifically Juan, Grandma May & Dimitri.
My absolute favorite character was Dimitri. He was the most mysterious and wholesome character, I was constantly trying to figure him out and genuinely enjoyed all the chapters he was in. He added a lot to the story that really made it enjoyable especially with all the chaos going on around Charlotte.
This is definitely a spooky story, which I wasn’t exactly ready for when I agreed to read it. My husband found it very amusing the first “spooky” scene and I ended up jumping. Definitely don’t read right before bed if you’re a wimp like me 😋
Over all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
July 13, 2021
Charlotte can see ghosts and no one really understands, except Grandma May. Since no one understands her gift, Charlotte chooses to remain to herself, that is after she meets sweet, mysterious Dimitri. Amidst there budding friendship, Charlotte witnesses something she was never supposed to see and her world changes. Swearing to not tell a soul, she attempts to go back to her normal life but doesn’t realize that her secret can come back to haunt her.
Tayla Jean Grossberg weaved the story perfectly. The story caught my attention instantly and I began to fall in love her writing style. The book starts with Charlotte in a dangerous situation. It then jumps back a few months to deliver the entire story. With every page that I read, I got more eager to know why got Charlotte in that situation and what would happen after.
The book had family drama, some first love, and some “believe in yourself”. It’s the perfect recipe for a YA supernatural book. The thriller/horror theme kept me on the edge of the seat and refused to let me put down the book. (Which is surprising, because i tend to stay away from any book contains even a little bit of horror) The book was an easy, fast paced read, that actually kept me engaged and it is safe to say that this book is one of my favorites of the year.
Thank you Tayla Jean Grossberg for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and words were of my own opinion.
Tayla Jean Grossberg weaved the story perfectly. The story caught my attention instantly and I began to fall in love her writing style. The book starts with Charlotte in a dangerous situation. It then jumps back a few months to deliver the entire story. With every page that I read, I got more eager to know why got Charlotte in that situation and what would happen after.
The book had family drama, some first love, and some “believe in yourself”. It’s the perfect recipe for a YA supernatural book. The thriller/horror theme kept me on the edge of the seat and refused to let me put down the book. (Which is surprising, because i tend to stay away from any book contains even a little bit of horror) The book was an easy, fast paced read, that actually kept me engaged and it is safe to say that this book is one of my favorites of the year.
Thank you Tayla Jean Grossberg for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and words were of my own opinion.
July 15, 2021
Thank you to the author Tayla Jean Grossberg for providing an e-copy in exhange for my honest review.
Most readers will remember the big dramatic confession in a certain movie where the quiet dramatic music builds up until the actor whispers "I see dead people" It's kind of like that, only much better.
Charlotte has always been able to see ghosts and the only person who believes her is her Grandma May whom she inherited this "gift" from. For this and other reasons Charlotte finds it hard to connect to her family or many other people though she does her best to live with her reality mostly alone every day. Until one day, everything changes. Stumbling on a secret she really shouldn't know involving the one thing she can't hide from. How will she manage to get out of this alive?
I Don't Belong Here is a compulsively addicting story once you allow yourself to fall into the story. That is not something I can honestly say about many of the paranormal books being released these days, but Grossberg has an undeniable gift for spinning a story that wiggles in to your mind and nags until well after the last page. With characters that begin to feel like friends and a slow build up of suspense this book is sure to please any paranormal thriller buff.
I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next. Tayla Jean Grossberg is definitely a name you're not going to want to forget!
Most readers will remember the big dramatic confession in a certain movie where the quiet dramatic music builds up until the actor whispers "I see dead people" It's kind of like that, only much better.
Charlotte has always been able to see ghosts and the only person who believes her is her Grandma May whom she inherited this "gift" from. For this and other reasons Charlotte finds it hard to connect to her family or many other people though she does her best to live with her reality mostly alone every day. Until one day, everything changes. Stumbling on a secret she really shouldn't know involving the one thing she can't hide from. How will she manage to get out of this alive?
I Don't Belong Here is a compulsively addicting story once you allow yourself to fall into the story. That is not something I can honestly say about many of the paranormal books being released these days, but Grossberg has an undeniable gift for spinning a story that wiggles in to your mind and nags until well after the last page. With characters that begin to feel like friends and a slow build up of suspense this book is sure to please any paranormal thriller buff.
I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next. Tayla Jean Grossberg is definitely a name you're not going to want to forget!
August 24, 2021
📚📚.... Book review.... 📚📚
"Being brave does not mean you don’t get scared. It just means you have the courage to stand up to what scares you." Dimitri’s words replayed in my head, and I held onto them like a sailor would hold onto his life vest.
This unique thriller paranormal mystery is written by @tayla.jean.grossberg
"I don't belong here" is a book describing about a girl who can see what others can't and her struggle with the world. Our lead Charlotte can see ghosts and her family and friends can't. It's a story about struggle. About how sometimes you don't know your own worth. It's a beautiful story full of mystery, suspense, it's a little bit scary and filled with love. The ending is so unexpected.
I personally love this book because i related to Charlotte so much. Except off course i can't see ghosts. But i know the struggle when no one believes you. I know what it feels when no one can understand you, when you like your own company over others, when you don't know your own worth.
This story was so heart touching. I enjoyed every bit of it. don't tell anyone but i even cried in the end. In the beginning of the book i was kinda upset with the writer about the love interest and his ways, but the end shocked me. And the part which i enjoyed the most was Halloween. Because that's my favourite holiday.
I give it 5/5 🌟.I would like to recommend everyone to atleast read it once.
"Being brave does not mean you don’t get scared. It just means you have the courage to stand up to what scares you." Dimitri’s words replayed in my head, and I held onto them like a sailor would hold onto his life vest.
This unique thriller paranormal mystery is written by @tayla.jean.grossberg
"I don't belong here" is a book describing about a girl who can see what others can't and her struggle with the world. Our lead Charlotte can see ghosts and her family and friends can't. It's a story about struggle. About how sometimes you don't know your own worth. It's a beautiful story full of mystery, suspense, it's a little bit scary and filled with love. The ending is so unexpected.
I personally love this book because i related to Charlotte so much. Except off course i can't see ghosts. But i know the struggle when no one believes you. I know what it feels when no one can understand you, when you like your own company over others, when you don't know your own worth.
This story was so heart touching. I enjoyed every bit of it. don't tell anyone but i even cried in the end. In the beginning of the book i was kinda upset with the writer about the love interest and his ways, but the end shocked me. And the part which i enjoyed the most was Halloween. Because that's my favourite holiday.
I give it 5/5 🌟.I would like to recommend everyone to atleast read it once.
October 8, 2021
Thank you, Tayla Jean Grossberg for an ARC to review!
This is no way affected my review.
Charlotte was born with a special power: she can see ghosts. It is a gift that is passed down every other generation. As it goes, the only one who understands Charlotte, is her Grandma. Until, she meets Dimitri. It is an inst love relationship that grows from hardships shared. Life is really great after she meets Dimitri...for a while. Charlotte then witness a murder. Instead of telling anyone, she keeps it a secret. The killer is free and the woman he murdered will not rest, even as a ghost.
I liked most aspects of this story. Charlotte was a relatable and down to Earth character. She is funny, sweet, and snarky. Dimitri is a boy that we can all. Their love was adorable. I'm not usually an insta-love person, but they grew closer together by sharing hardships and time. Even, the sister was a likeable character. She was sassy and protective. The best type of side character!
I didn't like that this book wasn't scary. It had all the makings to be, but it was a little slow paced for me to find it scary. I loved that normally ghosts can't touch you, but this one can! It made it for a wild ride because the discovery was shocking.
Overall, this book was amazing! I loved the journey and characters. I think it's a good read for anyone who loves supernatural or paranormal reads. It has a great love story, and a creepy mystery.
This is no way affected my review.
Charlotte was born with a special power: she can see ghosts. It is a gift that is passed down every other generation. As it goes, the only one who understands Charlotte, is her Grandma. Until, she meets Dimitri. It is an inst love relationship that grows from hardships shared. Life is really great after she meets Dimitri...for a while. Charlotte then witness a murder. Instead of telling anyone, she keeps it a secret. The killer is free and the woman he murdered will not rest, even as a ghost.
I liked most aspects of this story. Charlotte was a relatable and down to Earth character. She is funny, sweet, and snarky. Dimitri is a boy that we can all. Their love was adorable. I'm not usually an insta-love person, but they grew closer together by sharing hardships and time. Even, the sister was a likeable character. She was sassy and protective. The best type of side character!
I didn't like that this book wasn't scary. It had all the makings to be, but it was a little slow paced for me to find it scary. I loved that normally ghosts can't touch you, but this one can! It made it for a wild ride because the discovery was shocking.
Overall, this book was amazing! I loved the journey and characters. I think it's a good read for anyone who loves supernatural or paranormal reads. It has a great love story, and a creepy mystery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2021
It's the story of a girl with a gift, Charlotte. She can see ghosts. For obvious reasons nobody believes her ability and rather accuse her of lying. Eventually she stops talking about it, but she doesn’t stop seeing them. The only person who believes her gift is her grandma, who was also gifted with this ability.
Charlotte likes to be alone and read her novels rather than partying and roaming around with friends like her sister Juan; and thus she has no friend. But then Dimitri came. And also came her worst nightmare.
One day while returning from am old ranch she spotted a woman being killed by a man. The woman saw her & begged her for help but she was too frightened to do anything. That man killed her & when he saw charlotte over there, he tried to catch her but somehow she fled. She told none about that incident and tried to forget everything. But things kept worsening day by day.
She could see the ghost of that woman everywhere. The woman would try to say something to her but she couldn’t figure it out. The only friend she had to talk about this was Dimitri. He believed him. He gave him courage & support. She began to love him.
It's the story of trust, friendship, love & something unusual to our everyday world. The book was worth reading. Dimitri's secret came to me as a shock.
Charlotte likes to be alone and read her novels rather than partying and roaming around with friends like her sister Juan; and thus she has no friend. But then Dimitri came. And also came her worst nightmare.
One day while returning from am old ranch she spotted a woman being killed by a man. The woman saw her & begged her for help but she was too frightened to do anything. That man killed her & when he saw charlotte over there, he tried to catch her but somehow she fled. She told none about that incident and tried to forget everything. But things kept worsening day by day.
She could see the ghost of that woman everywhere. The woman would try to say something to her but she couldn’t figure it out. The only friend she had to talk about this was Dimitri. He believed him. He gave him courage & support. She began to love him.
It's the story of trust, friendship, love & something unusual to our everyday world. The book was worth reading. Dimitri's secret came to me as a shock.
August 20, 2021
This was quite the interesting paranormal YA story!
First, I want to compliment the author on tone. Tayla has great tone throughout the entire novel. A YA story like this one can sometimes be hit or miss with tone and setting, but Tayla really nailed it. The story follows Charlotte, a teenager with the gift to see ghosts.
Second, I enjoyed the connected between Charlotte and her grandmother. Getting this gift from her meant Charlotte had an ally in this and I think that's important for someone Charlotte's age. That was also a super easy and great way to have a magical gift get passed down, so the world building here was easily done.
Third, the story had great character development and I really enjoyed Demitri. He added that extra touch and provided support. Their dynamic just... worked.
If I could suggest one thing to the author, it would be expanding the dialog a little. There were certain areas where it felt a little stiff, pressurized, when conversations should feel natural among characters. I would also suggest reviewing the very beginning as this seemed to have a slow start, but once it picked up, it really picked up. Overall, this was an easy and captivating read. If you enjoy paranormal and spooky stories, pick up I Don't Belong Here ASAP!
*I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
First, I want to compliment the author on tone. Tayla has great tone throughout the entire novel. A YA story like this one can sometimes be hit or miss with tone and setting, but Tayla really nailed it. The story follows Charlotte, a teenager with the gift to see ghosts.
Second, I enjoyed the connected between Charlotte and her grandmother. Getting this gift from her meant Charlotte had an ally in this and I think that's important for someone Charlotte's age. That was also a super easy and great way to have a magical gift get passed down, so the world building here was easily done.
Third, the story had great character development and I really enjoyed Demitri. He added that extra touch and provided support. Their dynamic just... worked.
If I could suggest one thing to the author, it would be expanding the dialog a little. There were certain areas where it felt a little stiff, pressurized, when conversations should feel natural among characters. I would also suggest reviewing the very beginning as this seemed to have a slow start, but once it picked up, it really picked up. Overall, this was an easy and captivating read. If you enjoy paranormal and spooky stories, pick up I Don't Belong Here ASAP!
*I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
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