One moment Juniper Reese existed, and the next she vanished into thin air.
This is how it feels for Lavender, her twin, when she receives the call that Juniper didn’t show up to her job one morning. Still adjusting to Juniper’s cross-country move to run from the ghosts of their mother’s death, Lavender knows something is wrong — but she also knows her sister is still alive.
As she follows Juniper’s footsteps in an unfamiliar town, she begins to uncover a plot that seems to suggest her sister was being stalked before her disappearance. Now it’s on her to find Juniper before time runs out and convince those around her that her disappearance wasn’t an attempt to “get away.”
What she doesn’t know is that she’s being watched by someone who just realized perfection came twice. He begins to hone in on Lavender, his attention never satisfied until he can have them both for himself.
Will Lavender be able to find her sister before time runs out? Or will she be the next target in an obsession gone wrong?
I am a story coach, author, and gatherer of creative bones. I’ve been writing online for twenty years, which is basically an entire lifetime.
It’s at least long enough for me to find my voice, over and over again, in new ways and in new forms that require an element of bravery. Terry Tempest Williams is right: every single time I’ve uncovered a deeper piece of me, the unearthing has required a betrayal.
This is the alchemic part of creativity — The part that breeds magic and breathes form into being. Guiding you through the underworld of your story to uncover the bones of your past and how these make up the story of who you are in this flesh and bone is what I am here to do. It’s simple, really. We bury a lot. And because we bury, we forget.
And because we forget, we become incoherent.
Remembering births the coherence — a deeper understanding of your story, your creativity, your intuition, and your voice.
It’s always been about story for me. Every single thing I’ve ever done has the hint of narrative. Writing stories as spells for healing, leading others in the excavation of their own story-bones, listening for the whisper of a beginning for the next one I’m supposed to share, and inhaling as many books as physically possible is basically how I spend my days.
Welcome to this new chapter of discovery. I’m glad you’re here.
May you remember who you are. May you find the bones of your story and learn the song they need to breathe again. And may the ashes of what was reveal your true name.
I flew through this book. The first part explains one twin’s pov and then the other. First up Lavender talking about Juniper, her twin. They are identical but have not been on stable ground with their relationship for a while, missing out on the “twin bond”. So her sister doesn’t show up at her school and she hops a flight to Providence.
The author describes Juniper as a meticulous neat orderly teacher. Is it out of character for her to no show ? Nope so she needs to be found.
The last part begins the cat and mouse. Three different suspects are brought up. It’s now Juniper talking about her ordeal and her pov gives away the bad guy.
Throughout the book they both share very specific quotes from their mother who has died. That was a little weird for me- that the mother had so much wisdom to pass on to the two teenagers and that they remembered so vividly.
A worthy read despite having some flaws with actual police procedures dealing with missing people. I’m a huge mystery and true crime lover so it was a little bothersome.
I flew through this book. The first part explains one twin’s pov and then the other. First up Lavender talking about Juniper, her twin. They are identical but have not been on stable ground with their relationship for a while, missing out on the “twin bond”. So her sister doesn’t show up at her school and she hops a flight to Providence.
The author describes Juniper as a meticulous neat orderly teacher. Is it out of character for her to no show ? Nope so she needs to be found.
The last part begins the cat and mouse. Three different suspects are brought up. It’s now Juniper talking about her ordeal and her pov gives away the bad guy.
Throughout the book they both share very specific quotes from their mother who has died. That was a little weird for me- that the mother had so much wisdom to pass on to the two teenagers and that they remembered so vividly.
A worthy read despite having some flaws with actual police procedures dealing with missing people. I’m a huge mystery and true crime lover so it was a little bothersome
Curious Obsession was written so well in my eyes that I found myself with goosebumps upon goosebumps as it felt so stinking real. Seriously though, you should have seen me that night out on the deck checking on my outside kitty, I was sure someone was there LOL! Since this is one hell of a suspenseful ride, I'm going to make this as vague as possible because going in blind is the best way to go as far as I'm concerned. Lavender & Juniper are twins, and we all know that twins definitely have a stronger bond than most so when Juniper disappears one day, Lavender goes to see what she can find out, and while she knows something isn't right, she knows her twin is still alive. Lavender isn't leaving this creepy place without her sister so off she goes, however, she's a twin, and there's a villian excited to find out there are two. The twists were coming in hot & kept me on the edge of my seat with heart pounding as Lavender is in a race against time, so will she find her twin before it's too late?! You know what to do to find out as I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
High School teacher Juniper Reese is missing. Her twin sister Lavender is called and she travels cross country to find out what is going on. As with many missing person cases, it takes a while for authority figures to agree that she's missing. But over the course of the book, evidence is revealed that Juniper is in a very serious situation.
The first half of the book builds some nice tension as Lavender looks for her sister. It can get a bit repetitious and at one point I wished things were moving more quickly. There's also a nice dichotomy between the fear Lavender feels for her sister and the romantic feelings she's experiencing for one of her sister's colleagues.
This is a book with building tensions which typically mean there should be some payoff at some point. Unfortunately, I found the second half disappointing as I waited for the big moment. The flashback to what happened to Juniper in the days leading up to her abduction slowed things down with more repetition that filled in some minor details but spent too much time on unnecessary details in the school. I did enjoy how their mother was involved in the story..this was my favorite part. I also thought the stalker aspect well done. I could feel the tension and eyes on them. I did find myself wanting to know more about the stalker or maybe more on how he got away with it.
The story is told in multiple point of views. It feels strange to say I liked Lavender over Juniper, but I did. Juniper and others around her made so many mistakes it totally annoyed me.
There were aspects I liked about this book, and things I thought could have been better. The writing is good and there's a nice tension to the story, the stalker is definitely creepy, and there are some romantic elements that I enjoyed. But there were also other aspects that bugged me, so I'm giving this three and a half stars.
This was a fantastic read. I did it all in one day! The characters drew me in and the story would not let me go. I could not stop reading it was that good. You will fall in love with Lavender and Juniper and really care what happens to them. The story is crafted with great care to lead you along and have you wondering what if. This will also scare you into wondering how secure you are in this world we live in now. Enjoy!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Elora Ramirez’s Curious Obsession is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the dark and twisted depths of obsession and identity. This novel captivates readers with its intense narrative and well-drawn characters, making it a standout in the genre.
This story centers around Lavender Reese, who is thrust into a nightmare when her twin sister, Juniper, mysteriously disappears. Lavender, convinced that Juniper is still alive, embarks on a desperate search to uncover the truth. As she retraces her sister’s steps in an unfamiliar town, she discovers that Juniper was being stalked before her disappearance.
Ramirez excels in creating complex and relatable characters. Lavender’s determination and vulnerability make her a compelling protagonist. Her journey is fraught with emotional turmoil and suspense, drawing readers into her quest. The antagonist’s chilling obsession adds a layer of psychological tension that keeps the reader on edge. The supporting characters, each with their own secrets and motives, enrich the narrative and add depth to the mystery.
The author’s writing is evocative and immersive, capturing the eerie atmosphere of the setting and the psychological strain on the characters. Ramirez’s use of suspense and pacing is masterful, ensuring that the tension never lets up. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, enhancing the authenticity of the characters and their interactions.
Curious Obsession explores themes of identity, obsession, and the unbreakable bond between siblings. It delves into the psychological impact of being watched and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones. The novel also examines the idea of perfection and the dangers of idealizing others.
Curious Obsession is a compelling and chilling read that keeps readers guessing. Ramirez’s ability to weave a complex plot with rich character development makes this book a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. This novel’s exploration of dark themes and its relentless suspense ensure that it will linger in the minds of readers long after they turn the final page.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with strong female leads, intricate plots, and unexpected twists. Curious Obsession is a testament to Elora Ramirez’s talent for crafting suspenseful and emotionally resonant stories.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephane's Book Reports.
One moment Juniper Reese existed, and the next she vanished into thin air. This is how it feels for Lavender, her twin, when she receives the call that Juniper didn't show up to her job one morning. Still adjusting to Juniper's cross-country move to run from the ghosts of their mother's death, Lavender knows somethings is wrong- but she also knows her sister is still alive. As she follows Juniper's footsteps in an unfamiliar town, she begins to uncover a plot that seems to suggest her sister was being stalked before her disappearance. Now it's on her to find Juniper before time runs out and convince those around her that her disappearance wasn't an attempt to "get away." What she doesn't know is that she's being watched by someone who just realized perfection came twice. He begins to hone in on Lavender, his attention never satisfied until he can have them both for himself. Will Lavender be able to find her sister before time runs out? Or will she be the next target in an obsession gone wrong?
You probably won't be putting this book down once you pick it up. Your going to fall so in love with Lavender and Juniper and have mercy there is a stalker that made me an absolute nervous wreck. I do not really want to go into the story as I feel like you are better off going in to it blind. This is a fantastic book that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.
A fast-paced thriller that will have you turning pages and checking to make sure your windows are locked! Highly recommend for fans of Megan Miranda or Louisa Luna.
This book is probably for you if: You like your books fast-paced, you like to feel shivers down your spine, you like the plot to get right to the point, you like to watch characters following their intuition and instincts.
This book may not be for you if: You prefer your books to spend more time developing all the chacters (I found all except the main two characters to be a little one-dimensional), or you are sensitive to content about stalking or parental death.
This book was such a wonderful thriller and I loved the twist and turns all throughout the novel. I think my favorite part was definitely Junipers chapters. I did not expect any of the things we learned to have happened. Such a well written plot and character development was alright, the only person I really saw development from was Jasper and Lavender.
This book while yes a great thriller and mystery, I felt as if Simon’s character was just extremely weird and I’m not quite sure why, but he just threw some things off for me which is why I rated this 4 instead of 5 stars. The novel was enticing and I did not want to put it down, at all. And I will say I was confused about why Juniper didn’t report it
I do definitely recommend this book for anybody who loves a thriller and mystery.