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Where Echoes Die
Beck Birsching has been adrift since the death of her mother, a brilliant but troubled investigative reporter. She finds herself unable to stop herself from slipping into memories of happier days, clamoring for a time when things were normal. So when a mysterious letter in her mother’s handwriting arrives in the mail with the words Come and find me, pointing to a town called Backravel, Beck hopes that it may hold the answers.
But when Beck and her sister Riley arrive in Backravel, Arizona it’s clear that there’s something off about the town. There are no cars, no cemeteries, no churches. The town is a mix of dilapidated military structures and new, shiny buildings, all overseen by the town’s gleaming treatment center high on a plateau. No one seems to remember when they got there, and the only people who seem to know more than they’re letting on is the town’s enigmatic leader and his daughter, Avery.
As the sisters search for answers about their mother, Beck and Avery become more drawn together, and their unexpected connection brings up emotions Beck has buried since her mother’s death. Beck is desperate to hold onto the way things used to be, and when she starts losing herself in Backravel and its connection to her mother, will there be a way for Beck to pull herself out?
In her sophomore novel Courtney Gould draws readers into the haunting town of Backravel and explores grief, the weight of not letting go of the past, first love, and the bonds between sisters, mothers and daughters.
But when Beck and her sister Riley arrive in Backravel, Arizona it’s clear that there’s something off about the town. There are no cars, no cemeteries, no churches. The town is a mix of dilapidated military structures and new, shiny buildings, all overseen by the town’s gleaming treatment center high on a plateau. No one seems to remember when they got there, and the only people who seem to know more than they’re letting on is the town’s enigmatic leader and his daughter, Avery.
As the sisters search for answers about their mother, Beck and Avery become more drawn together, and their unexpected connection brings up emotions Beck has buried since her mother’s death. Beck is desperate to hold onto the way things used to be, and when she starts losing herself in Backravel and its connection to her mother, will there be a way for Beck to pull herself out?
In her sophomore novel Courtney Gould draws readers into the haunting town of Backravel and explores grief, the weight of not letting go of the past, first love, and the bonds between sisters, mothers and daughters.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2023
110 people are currently reading
16713 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Gould
6 books911 followersCourtney Gould is the author of The Dead and the Dark, Where Echoes Die, and the forthcoming What the Woods Took. She writes books about queer girls, ghosts, and things that go bump in the night. She graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a degree in Creative Writing and Publishing and now lives in Salem, OR where she continues to write love letters to small towns and haunted places.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 731 reviews
June 6, 2025
**3.5-stars**
After their mother's death, 17-year old, Beck, and her 15-year old sister, Riley, are supposed to go live with their Dad and his new partner in Texas. Before they go, Beck has something she needs to do.
Concocting a story of staying with a friend and her Grandmother for a bit of a vacation, Beck and Riley are free to take some time and travel where they want. Beck's plan is to go to the town of Backravel, Arizona, to find some answers about her Mom's mysterious final months of life.
Their Mom was an investigative reporter who became obsessed with Backravel. She traveled there frequently. At times it felt like she was choosing Backravel over them.
Beck is determined to find out why.
As they arrive in Backravel, it's clear that something is up with this town. The people are strange and treating them even more strangely. They're strongly urged not to take their car to town and there's no cemeteries or churches.
The girls settle in to their rented trailer, a place where their Mom had stayed previously, and Beck digs into her investigation. She's keeping her true goals from her sister, so in a way is continuing in the path of her Mom before her.
The town has a charismatic leader, Ricky, who runs a treatment center everyone seems to attend. Beck sets her sights on getting to the bottom of this center, these treatments and Ricky himself.
Beck befriends Ricky's daughter, Avery, and gains a lot of new information that way. In the meantime, she also ends up falling for Avery and confiding in her in unexpected ways.
This was an interesting story. I liked the set-up and the vibe of this creepy little town. The concept made me think of a few other things. For example, it reminded me of A History of Wild Places, mostly because of the remote town that felt like a cult, or commune. I did like the mystery of that.
Also, the treatments that were talked about that Ricky performs for the citizens, it made me think of Scientology, like auditing that is performed on members. I was super interested in figuring out what was happening there.
Eventually though, I started to get bored with it and then it went in a direction that I just didn't really care for; the twists. Put another way, while I enjoyed the mystery, I didn't enjoy what the answer ended up being.
However, that is 100% a personal taste issue. Gould's writing is great. The sense of place and, as I mentioned, overall mystery were well done. I did really enjoy The Dead and the Dark by this author, so I think this is just a case of this one not really matching my preferences as far as tropes go.
I did listen to the audiobook and would recommend that as a format choice. The narration is excellent. I felt it fit the tone of the story very well.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I'm glad I had the chance to read this one and will definitely be continuing to pick up Gould's work!
After their mother's death, 17-year old, Beck, and her 15-year old sister, Riley, are supposed to go live with their Dad and his new partner in Texas. Before they go, Beck has something she needs to do.
Concocting a story of staying with a friend and her Grandmother for a bit of a vacation, Beck and Riley are free to take some time and travel where they want. Beck's plan is to go to the town of Backravel, Arizona, to find some answers about her Mom's mysterious final months of life.
Their Mom was an investigative reporter who became obsessed with Backravel. She traveled there frequently. At times it felt like she was choosing Backravel over them.
Beck is determined to find out why.
As they arrive in Backravel, it's clear that something is up with this town. The people are strange and treating them even more strangely. They're strongly urged not to take their car to town and there's no cemeteries or churches.
The girls settle in to their rented trailer, a place where their Mom had stayed previously, and Beck digs into her investigation. She's keeping her true goals from her sister, so in a way is continuing in the path of her Mom before her.
The town has a charismatic leader, Ricky, who runs a treatment center everyone seems to attend. Beck sets her sights on getting to the bottom of this center, these treatments and Ricky himself.
Beck befriends Ricky's daughter, Avery, and gains a lot of new information that way. In the meantime, she also ends up falling for Avery and confiding in her in unexpected ways.
This was an interesting story. I liked the set-up and the vibe of this creepy little town. The concept made me think of a few other things. For example, it reminded me of A History of Wild Places, mostly because of the remote town that felt like a cult, or commune. I did like the mystery of that.
Also, the treatments that were talked about that Ricky performs for the citizens, it made me think of Scientology, like auditing that is performed on members. I was super interested in figuring out what was happening there.
Eventually though, I started to get bored with it and then it went in a direction that I just didn't really care for; the twists. Put another way, while I enjoyed the mystery, I didn't enjoy what the answer ended up being.
However, that is 100% a personal taste issue. Gould's writing is great. The sense of place and, as I mentioned, overall mystery were well done. I did really enjoy The Dead and the Dark by this author, so I think this is just a case of this one not really matching my preferences as far as tropes go.
I did listen to the audiobook and would recommend that as a format choice. The narration is excellent. I felt it fit the tone of the story very well.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I'm glad I had the chance to read this one and will definitely be continuing to pick up Gould's work!
January 6, 2023
3.5 is rounded up to my head is extremely hurting and the main reason is not my terrible new year hangover, this book truly burned my last precious brain cells with its complex structure stars!
I feel a little numb! I think book hangover term might be real! I’m suffering from it!
Courtney Gould is so intelligent, brilliant author creating creepiest, most mind numbing, complicated, surrealist universes! I liked her previous work! “When Echoes Die” is also interesting and extremely intriguing work contains different genres like mystery, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, romance!
It’s a little slow burn and characters are not much likable but Backravel - the mysterious Arizona town of the city has its own ominous, tempting, secretive character that draws you into its black hole!
You want to learn more about its big mystery! When was it founded? Why it looks like a ghost town? Was it initially military testing site? Why there’s no animal, no church and no cemetery in the town? Why everybody rejects driving a car? And what’s the purpose of the treatment center? Who is the mysterious Ricky working on treatment center?
Sisters Beck and Riley decide to have a vacation without informing their father before moving to Texas to live with him. Their mother has passed away and Beck has a secret agenda to choose Backravel/ Arizona as their vacation place. Because that’s the last place her mother was insisting to come to at several times before she died because of brain tumor. She was investigative journalist and she tried to solve a big mystery about this town, leaving bunch of inconsistent notes like breadcrumbs behind.
Beck wants to solve the entire mystery and finish what her mother started by coming here, digging out, talking with the people! As soon as she starts asking questions, her path crosses with town’s young tour leader Avery and her mysterious father Ricky who seems like treating the entire population of townies!
Everybody seems keeping secrets, spiraling, acting like robots! As Beck digs out deeper, she realizes by coming to this town she just stepped into very dangerous zone where she could not return back!
Overall: the town’s big mystery and its unfolding were truly interesting! I couldn’t connect with the characters! But it was still smart, intriguing, unconventional novel!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press /Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
I feel a little numb! I think book hangover term might be real! I’m suffering from it!
Courtney Gould is so intelligent, brilliant author creating creepiest, most mind numbing, complicated, surrealist universes! I liked her previous work! “When Echoes Die” is also interesting and extremely intriguing work contains different genres like mystery, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, romance!
It’s a little slow burn and characters are not much likable but Backravel - the mysterious Arizona town of the city has its own ominous, tempting, secretive character that draws you into its black hole!
You want to learn more about its big mystery! When was it founded? Why it looks like a ghost town? Was it initially military testing site? Why there’s no animal, no church and no cemetery in the town? Why everybody rejects driving a car? And what’s the purpose of the treatment center? Who is the mysterious Ricky working on treatment center?
Sisters Beck and Riley decide to have a vacation without informing their father before moving to Texas to live with him. Their mother has passed away and Beck has a secret agenda to choose Backravel/ Arizona as their vacation place. Because that’s the last place her mother was insisting to come to at several times before she died because of brain tumor. She was investigative journalist and she tried to solve a big mystery about this town, leaving bunch of inconsistent notes like breadcrumbs behind.
Beck wants to solve the entire mystery and finish what her mother started by coming here, digging out, talking with the people! As soon as she starts asking questions, her path crosses with town’s young tour leader Avery and her mysterious father Ricky who seems like treating the entire population of townies!
Everybody seems keeping secrets, spiraling, acting like robots! As Beck digs out deeper, she realizes by coming to this town she just stepped into very dangerous zone where she could not return back!
Overall: the town’s big mystery and its unfolding were truly interesting! I couldn’t connect with the characters! But it was still smart, intriguing, unconventional novel!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press /Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
February 22, 2023
↠ 5 stars
Courtney Gould has written another sapphic masterpiece, about strange towns, sisterhood, and the relentless hold of grief. Wandering the backroads south to Arizona, Gould draws us into the mind of Beck Birsching, a grieving young girl trying to piece together the legacy of her deceased mother while struggling to keep herself together. Where Echoes Die breaches the past to prove the longevity of grief upon generations, and the universal struggle of the human experience. Courtney Gould continues to amaze me and I'll be reading any and everything she does next.
Full review will be posted closer to publication on my blog!
Courtney Gould has written another sapphic masterpiece, about strange towns, sisterhood, and the relentless hold of grief. Wandering the backroads south to Arizona, Gould draws us into the mind of Beck Birsching, a grieving young girl trying to piece together the legacy of her deceased mother while struggling to keep herself together. Where Echoes Die breaches the past to prove the longevity of grief upon generations, and the universal struggle of the human experience. Courtney Gould continues to amaze me and I'll be reading any and everything she does next.
Full review will be posted closer to publication on my blog!
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September 20, 2022UPDATE 9/20/22
So much has changed in the last year! WHERE ECHOES DIE will be released on 6/20/2023. I cannot wait for you all to read Beck and Avery's story as they fight grief, loss, and time itself. Stay tuned!
Another one that I wrote!
ECHO SUNSET is my second novel, and I am so excited to share it with the world. This one is about a teen girl and her little sister who, in the wake of their troubled mother's death, travel to a little Arizona town she was obsessed with to better understand her. When they arrive, nothing is what it seems, and they're forced to confront their mother's legacy, their own all-consuming grief, and the terrifying prospect of moving on. Also, as always, there are lesbians. I truly hope that this book means something to you, and I am excited for people to begin reading it. I will not be checking this page, so I have included important information here.
I have very little information to present at the moment, but as we get closer to release, the link below will be your best resource. For content warnings, official synopsis, cover, and preorder information, please visit my website at https://gouldbooks.com/echo-sunset
So much has changed in the last year! WHERE ECHOES DIE will be released on 6/20/2023. I cannot wait for you all to read Beck and Avery's story as they fight grief, loss, and time itself. Stay tuned!
Another one that I wrote!
ECHO SUNSET is my second novel, and I am so excited to share it with the world. This one is about a teen girl and her little sister who, in the wake of their troubled mother's death, travel to a little Arizona town she was obsessed with to better understand her. When they arrive, nothing is what it seems, and they're forced to confront their mother's legacy, their own all-consuming grief, and the terrifying prospect of moving on. Also, as always, there are lesbians. I truly hope that this book means something to you, and I am excited for people to begin reading it. I will not be checking this page, so I have included important information here.
I have very little information to present at the moment, but as we get closer to release, the link below will be your best resource. For content warnings, official synopsis, cover, and preorder information, please visit my website at https://gouldbooks.com/echo-sunset
June 26, 2023
4.5 stars
This book was my best read of the last week. I was first introduced to Courtney Gould through her 2021 novel ( The Dead and the Dark) but this novel confirms she has a fan. Now this is a YA horror novel that features a queer romance that explores two teenage sisters( Beck and Riley) trying to figure out their mother's obsession with an Arizona town.
Frankly, I like odd and baffling encounters and very eyebrow-raising things to occur to my characters. Courtney Gould builds an atmosphere like my nephews build forts in their backyard. Since many of you have never met my nephews and cannot see the comparison. It just means that it is done very well.
So this book was a real winner for me. Newcomers to Where Echoes Die must follow the dangling yarn and be patient. All will be revealed but there is a slight chance we will all need a support group afterwards.
Where Echoes Die is definitely going to be a favorite book of 2023!
Publication Date 20/06/23
Goodreads Review 25/06/23
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book was my best read of the last week. I was first introduced to Courtney Gould through her 2021 novel ( The Dead and the Dark) but this novel confirms she has a fan. Now this is a YA horror novel that features a queer romance that explores two teenage sisters( Beck and Riley) trying to figure out their mother's obsession with an Arizona town.
Frankly, I like odd and baffling encounters and very eyebrow-raising things to occur to my characters. Courtney Gould builds an atmosphere like my nephews build forts in their backyard. Since many of you have never met my nephews and cannot see the comparison. It just means that it is done very well.
So this book was a real winner for me. Newcomers to Where Echoes Die must follow the dangling yarn and be patient. All will be revealed but there is a slight chance we will all need a support group afterwards.
Where Echoes Die is definitely going to be a favorite book of 2023!
Publication Date 20/06/23
Goodreads Review 25/06/23
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 21, 2023
Courtney Gould can WRITE.
WHERE ECHOES DIE is a totally mesmerizing story written in Gould's gorgeous prose. I was completely drawn into the town of Backravel, Arizona-- a place where there are no cars, cemeteries, or churches. It seems like a picturesque place built among worn military structures. But Beck's mom started out writing an article on Backravel and eventually the town consumed her until her death. Now Beck and her sister Riley are spending two weeks in Backravel for a supposed vacation. But for Beck, it's so much more: she has to know why she lost her mom to Backravel.
This is an amazing fantasy tale that explores grief in deep and beautiful ways. The methods Beck uses to deal with her mom's death are not always healthy, but they are nuanced and touching. ECHOES is haunting in so many ways. Time just seems to move differently in Backravel. It's a mystical place, though not necessarily a good one. Gould uses the stark desert landscape to her advantage, creating an atmospheric story that is truly creepy and unsettling. You can feel Backravel as you read--see it, imagine the characters, sense the heat rising off the car-less streets.
The story dragged just a little for me slightly after the halfway mark. I needed Beck to be better to Riley, to communicate more, and things to move just a little faster. Otherwise, this was a great read. A wonderful spooky fantasy page-turner with a sapphic bent.
I received a copy of this book from Wednesday Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
WHERE ECHOES DIE is a totally mesmerizing story written in Gould's gorgeous prose. I was completely drawn into the town of Backravel, Arizona-- a place where there are no cars, cemeteries, or churches. It seems like a picturesque place built among worn military structures. But Beck's mom started out writing an article on Backravel and eventually the town consumed her until her death. Now Beck and her sister Riley are spending two weeks in Backravel for a supposed vacation. But for Beck, it's so much more: she has to know why she lost her mom to Backravel.
This is an amazing fantasy tale that explores grief in deep and beautiful ways. The methods Beck uses to deal with her mom's death are not always healthy, but they are nuanced and touching. ECHOES is haunting in so many ways. Time just seems to move differently in Backravel. It's a mystical place, though not necessarily a good one. Gould uses the stark desert landscape to her advantage, creating an atmospheric story that is truly creepy and unsettling. You can feel Backravel as you read--see it, imagine the characters, sense the heat rising off the car-less streets.
The story dragged just a little for me slightly after the halfway mark. I needed Beck to be better to Riley, to communicate more, and things to move just a little faster. Otherwise, this was a great read. A wonderful spooky fantasy page-turner with a sapphic bent.
I received a copy of this book from Wednesday Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
October 25, 2023
Huh. It was so good until the end…
July 22, 2023
4/5 🌟
First, I’d like to thank the author, Courtney Gould, and St. Martin’s press for donating this book to Goodreads for promotional giveaway.
Next I’d like to thank Goodreads for sponsoring the giveaways and allowing us bookaholics a chance to read unreleased books and put our 2 cents in.
This book was a bit odd and I was worried it would be much sadder than I was prepared for, but it wasn’t. Because the book didn’t wreck me emotionally is the reason why I’m giving it a 4/5.
The book is mostly about Rebecca, Beck, Birching dealing with the loss of her mother, trying to cope with that loss, trying to heal and move on but she just isn’t ready to.
Her younger sister Riley is a bit more resilient and hated the way her mother had become obsessed with the strange things happening town of Backravel, AZ. Riley was ready to move on to the next chapter of her life. Moving to Texas to live with her dad and his new wife, Julie.
Ellery Birching the mother is a journalist that gets drawn into the weird backwater town of Backravel because of the reports of some of the strange things that had happened to people while visiting that town. Her inquisitive mind wanted answers and to get to the bottom of what was happening. In between her many, many visits to Backravel; Ellery is diagnosed with a brain tumor and begins to use the “treatment center” in that town.
Backravel is town in Arizona the government used for weapons testing. While the military was there, a strange component of the soil was found. A mineral that can manipulate time by turning back the time with a procedure called “unspooling”.
When visiting Backravel, if you stay too long you become violently ill to the point of death if you are not unspooled.
Ricky Carnes is the mayor of the town and is obsessed with finding the main source of the mineral so that he can turn back time far enough to get his son back. A son that died from the illness of Backravel before they learned about unspooling.
Beck receives a letter from Backravel while she’s packing up the house to prepare for her and Riley’s move to Texas. The letter is in her mother’s handwriting and all it says is “Come find me” along with a flyer for the upcoming celebration of Backravel Days. Beck begins concocting a way to get to Backravel for 2 weeks before moving on to Texas.
Things don’t go as well as Beck had hoped for the Birching girls. But, Beck does meet her first love, Avery Carnes.
Warnings ⚠️ to be aware of: grief, loss of a family member, and emotional abuse at the hands of a family member, intense descriptions of mental illness, PTSD, and memory loss. For a more detailed description of sensitive content you can visit gould-books.com/books/wed.
First, I’d like to thank the author, Courtney Gould, and St. Martin’s press for donating this book to Goodreads for promotional giveaway.
Next I’d like to thank Goodreads for sponsoring the giveaways and allowing us bookaholics a chance to read unreleased books and put our 2 cents in.
This book was a bit odd and I was worried it would be much sadder than I was prepared for, but it wasn’t. Because the book didn’t wreck me emotionally is the reason why I’m giving it a 4/5.
The book is mostly about Rebecca, Beck, Birching dealing with the loss of her mother, trying to cope with that loss, trying to heal and move on but she just isn’t ready to.
Her younger sister Riley is a bit more resilient and hated the way her mother had become obsessed with the strange things happening town of Backravel, AZ. Riley was ready to move on to the next chapter of her life. Moving to Texas to live with her dad and his new wife, Julie.
Ellery Birching the mother is a journalist that gets drawn into the weird backwater town of Backravel because of the reports of some of the strange things that had happened to people while visiting that town. Her inquisitive mind wanted answers and to get to the bottom of what was happening. In between her many, many visits to Backravel; Ellery is diagnosed with a brain tumor and begins to use the “treatment center” in that town.
Backravel is town in Arizona the government used for weapons testing. While the military was there, a strange component of the soil was found. A mineral that can manipulate time by turning back the time with a procedure called “unspooling”.
When visiting Backravel, if you stay too long you become violently ill to the point of death if you are not unspooled.
Ricky Carnes is the mayor of the town and is obsessed with finding the main source of the mineral so that he can turn back time far enough to get his son back. A son that died from the illness of Backravel before they learned about unspooling.
Beck receives a letter from Backravel while she’s packing up the house to prepare for her and Riley’s move to Texas. The letter is in her mother’s handwriting and all it says is “Come find me” along with a flyer for the upcoming celebration of Backravel Days. Beck begins concocting a way to get to Backravel for 2 weeks before moving on to Texas.
Things don’t go as well as Beck had hoped for the Birching girls. But, Beck does meet her first love, Avery Carnes.
Warnings ⚠️ to be aware of: grief, loss of a family member, and emotional abuse at the hands of a family member, intense descriptions of mental illness, PTSD, and memory loss. For a more detailed description of sensitive content you can visit gould-books.com/books/wed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2023
Wow! This one had me hooked from page 1, certainly did not want to put it down but work got in the way!
Quick Synopsis: Beck and Riley have just lost their mother and are on their way to live with their father in Texas but along the way they make a 2 week pitstop in a small town in the desert called Backravel. Ellery ,the girl's mom, a journalist, was in the midst of writing an article about the town and had made several visits, so they want to see what all the fuss was about. Once they get there things just aren't what they seem. I'm all in at this point!
What I really liked about this one was the town and people within it. It gave off that perfect creepy vibe and had that mystery element with a twinge of sci fi mixed in that was done really well. Not giving anything more away, you need to pick it up for yourself. No spoilers here! Even though I could write all day about what went down.
There were only two minor quibbles I had(very minor):
1. When going into a bit of the backstory with Ellery, one sentence she was referred to by Beck as their mother and the next as Ellery. It confused me at the beginning because I thought they were two separate characters. I just had to pause a few times before it sunk in. Then I got used to it.
2. I would have loved to have the ending a bit longer and the delved more into the history of the town. It all happened so fast I got whiplash. But loved the idea of it especially once the festival started and afterwards. I'm just a sucker for history of weird towns, so that's just a me thing.
Again, this did not ruin anything for me as it was IMO excellent and something much different and unique to read.
One thing to note it is considered YA, which I normally don't read. I had requested this solely on the description alone and I personally wouldn't have picked it up had I known, but I think it caters to all audiences very well. Me being one for sure! I will be checking out this author's other works in the very near future.
Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for a chance at this advanced copy for an honest review
Quick Synopsis: Beck and Riley have just lost their mother and are on their way to live with their father in Texas but along the way they make a 2 week pitstop in a small town in the desert called Backravel. Ellery ,the girl's mom, a journalist, was in the midst of writing an article about the town and had made several visits, so they want to see what all the fuss was about. Once they get there things just aren't what they seem. I'm all in at this point!
What I really liked about this one was the town and people within it. It gave off that perfect creepy vibe and had that mystery element with a twinge of sci fi mixed in that was done really well. Not giving anything more away, you need to pick it up for yourself. No spoilers here! Even though I could write all day about what went down.
There were only two minor quibbles I had(very minor):
1. When going into a bit of the backstory with Ellery, one sentence she was referred to by Beck as their mother and the next as Ellery. It confused me at the beginning because I thought they were two separate characters. I just had to pause a few times before it sunk in. Then I got used to it.
2. I would have loved to have the ending a bit longer and the delved more into the history of the town. It all happened so fast I got whiplash. But loved the idea of it especially once the festival started and afterwards. I'm just a sucker for history of weird towns, so that's just a me thing.
Again, this did not ruin anything for me as it was IMO excellent and something much different and unique to read.
One thing to note it is considered YA, which I normally don't read. I had requested this solely on the description alone and I personally wouldn't have picked it up had I known, but I think it caters to all audiences very well. Me being one for sure! I will be checking out this author's other works in the very near future.
Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for a chance at this advanced copy for an honest review
January 21, 2024
this grief-soaked sapphic mystery had me in its grip from beginning to end. i fucking adore courtney gould's writing.
sisters, reeling from the loss of their mother, arrive in the strange small town that their mom had spent years investigating before she died. older sister beck is secretly determined to unravel the mysteries of backravel, arizona.
the premise is so irresistibly intriguing, and the more i learned, the more engaged i became. townsfolk suffer from strange slips from reality and loss of memory? the town has no churches, no cemeteries, no cars, no animals? an enormous "treatment center" overlooks the small desert community?? WHAT IS UP WITH THIS CREEPY PLACE?
and while trying to make sense of the mystery, the deeper elements of the story knocked me off my feet. raw grief and harsh resistance to accepting loss. the fear of losing those you love is paralyzing.
my only gripe with this novel is that i wanted more answers. ambiguity is fine, but there are so many fascinating facets of backravel and its timeless occupants. i wanted to sink my teeth deeper into their stories and better understand the mechanics of their fucked up little town.
the twists are also fairly anticlimactic and predictable, but i still enjoyed them!
there's a touch of sapphic romance, which i thought was really lovely. two girls lost in time, inexplicably finding one another. it's beautiful! i just wanted to know more about love interest avery.
this book has a lot of things in common with the dead and the dark, which i also adored. gould is a wordsmith who knows how to weave a mystery, and i love the way she balances gritty emotions with subtle supernatural stirrings. this one also brilliantly captures the loneliness of the wide open desert. super well done.
sisters, reeling from the loss of their mother, arrive in the strange small town that their mom had spent years investigating before she died. older sister beck is secretly determined to unravel the mysteries of backravel, arizona.
the premise is so irresistibly intriguing, and the more i learned, the more engaged i became. townsfolk suffer from strange slips from reality and loss of memory? the town has no churches, no cemeteries, no cars, no animals? an enormous "treatment center" overlooks the small desert community?? WHAT IS UP WITH THIS CREEPY PLACE?
and while trying to make sense of the mystery, the deeper elements of the story knocked me off my feet. raw grief and harsh resistance to accepting loss. the fear of losing those you love is paralyzing.
my only gripe with this novel is that i wanted more answers. ambiguity is fine, but there are so many fascinating facets of backravel and its timeless occupants. i wanted to sink my teeth deeper into their stories and better understand the mechanics of their fucked up little town.
the twists are also fairly anticlimactic and predictable, but i still enjoyed them!
there's a touch of sapphic romance, which i thought was really lovely. two girls lost in time, inexplicably finding one another. it's beautiful! i just wanted to know more about love interest avery.
this book has a lot of things in common with the dead and the dark, which i also adored. gould is a wordsmith who knows how to weave a mystery, and i love the way she balances gritty emotions with subtle supernatural stirrings. this one also brilliantly captures the loneliness of the wide open desert. super well done.
June 22, 2023
Backravel, a place, before her death that Becks mother often visited. The place that is the origin of the letter Becks receives after her mothers death, the letter that says, find me. Flailing from grief, dreading living with her father and his wife, she takes her younger sister and heads for Backravel. She hopes to find why her mother found this place so special that she would leave her two young daughters to frequently visit this town. When the girls arrive at Backravel, they find a town with no cemeteries, no churches, no people walking about. The couple who show them to the trailer they will stay in, seem strange. Everything about this town seems strange. Beck doesnt know just how strange it will get.
When I first started reading this I thought Stepford Wives, but I was wrong. Though there were a few similarities, there were many, many strange differences A novel about a daughters search for the mother she wants to know more about, about time, what it means to different people. what one will give to be able to manipulate it. If one is looking for something different, this will fill the ticket.
Listened to the audio which was well narrated.
When I first started reading this I thought Stepford Wives, but I was wrong. Though there were a few similarities, there were many, many strange differences A novel about a daughters search for the mother she wants to know more about, about time, what it means to different people. what one will give to be able to manipulate it. If one is looking for something different, this will fill the ticket.
Listened to the audio which was well narrated.
June 21, 2023
Happy release week!
Thanks to Netgalley, and Wednesday Books at St. Martin's Press for a copy of this to review; it'll be out June 20th.
An eerie desert town that draws people to it again and again, with citizens held under the sway of an enigmatic leader and strange goings-on.
I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't...this? For one thing, the plot leans much more sci-fi and speculative than YA horror as I had thought requesting this (the characters are from Washington so I grabbed it for that, too), and there are stronger cult vibes than I cared for. Comparisons to Don't Worry, Darling are apt in many places.
Protagonist Beck is unlikeable to begin with, and doesn't become any better. The first several chapters didn't pull me in, and the pacing left much to be desired. Unreliable narration and time losses pepper the plot, but I never found myself invested in why. I find Stepford Wives \ zombification of the masses plots uncomfortable, too, so a lot about this simply wasn't my jam.
If you want a YA sci-fi timey-wimey mystery with some sapphic romance, this might be for you.
Thanks to Netgalley, and Wednesday Books at St. Martin's Press for a copy of this to review; it'll be out June 20th.
An eerie desert town that draws people to it again and again, with citizens held under the sway of an enigmatic leader and strange goings-on.
I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't...this? For one thing, the plot leans much more sci-fi and speculative than YA horror as I had thought requesting this (the characters are from Washington so I grabbed it for that, too), and there are stronger cult vibes than I cared for. Comparisons to Don't Worry, Darling are apt in many places.
Protagonist Beck is unlikeable to begin with, and doesn't become any better. The first several chapters didn't pull me in, and the pacing left much to be desired. Unreliable narration and time losses pepper the plot, but I never found myself invested in why. I find Stepford Wives \ zombification of the masses plots uncomfortable, too, so a lot about this simply wasn't my jam.
If you want a YA sci-fi timey-wimey mystery with some sapphic romance, this might be for you.
October 2, 2023
“Where Echoes Die” by Courtney Gould is a sci-fi YA queer book that I had hoped to like. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.
Beck Birsching is 17 when her mom dies. She receives a letter afterwards from her mom telling her to come and find her. Beck lies to her dad and with her sister Riley, decides to head to Backravel, Arizona, where her mom spent the last few years writing an investigative report. Riley doesn’t know the real reason for the trip and believes they’re just going on vacation before moving to Texas with their dad.
The town is strange and the people are even more strange. They don’t drive cars and there are no pets or churches or cemeteries. What this book has going for it is that it’s atmospheric and creepy and weird. Gould was wonderful with the little details that made me uncomfortable while reading.
There’s a mystery and while I liked it for the most part, but the ending left me confused. I was expecting to get the answers but there’s still a lot left unexplained by the end.
There’s also a side romance with Avery, the leader of the town’s daughter. I wasn’t thrilled with the romance and would not read this if you’re looking for any romance as it’s very underdeveloped. The town of Backravel plays with time and memories and the romance was a victim of that so it seemed rather pointless.
I may have liked this more if I had liked Beck more. She starts the trip by lying and does so until the end. It takes her sister almost dying before she lets the truth come out and I found that hard to accept while rooting for her.
I recommend Gould’s “The Dead and the Dark” over this one.
I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beck Birsching is 17 when her mom dies. She receives a letter afterwards from her mom telling her to come and find her. Beck lies to her dad and with her sister Riley, decides to head to Backravel, Arizona, where her mom spent the last few years writing an investigative report. Riley doesn’t know the real reason for the trip and believes they’re just going on vacation before moving to Texas with their dad.
The town is strange and the people are even more strange. They don’t drive cars and there are no pets or churches or cemeteries. What this book has going for it is that it’s atmospheric and creepy and weird. Gould was wonderful with the little details that made me uncomfortable while reading.
There’s a mystery and while I liked it for the most part, but the ending left me confused. I was expecting to get the answers but there’s still a lot left unexplained by the end.
There’s also a side romance with Avery, the leader of the town’s daughter. I wasn’t thrilled with the romance and would not read this if you’re looking for any romance as it’s very underdeveloped. The town of Backravel plays with time and memories and the romance was a victim of that so it seemed rather pointless.
I may have liked this more if I had liked Beck more. She starts the trip by lying and does so until the end. It takes her sister almost dying before she lets the truth come out and I found that hard to accept while rooting for her.
I recommend Gould’s “The Dead and the Dark” over this one.
I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2023
This isn't doing it for me the way The Dead and the Dark did it for me :/
The concept is everything I could want. The town itself is such a fascinating setting. In my mind I was picturing Strangerville from the Sims 4. Also, Courney Gould has been blessed with the best cover artist, her books are just stunning.
However, the main character was really unlikeable and frustrating. Beck and Riley's predicament leaves me with a lot of questions. Like, why are we supposed to buy into them being in this town under the guise of being on a vacation when Beck does everything she can to not spend time with Riley... not even a believable lie to tell her. I also wish it would've gone deeper exploring/explaining the town and it's mysteries. And I wasn't feeling the romance in this one.
I'd also recommend going into this expecting a sapphic mystery story, I was definitely thinking more horror vibes but it leaned a bit more towards sci-fi.
thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc!
The release date is June 20!
The concept is everything I could want. The town itself is such a fascinating setting. In my mind I was picturing Strangerville from the Sims 4. Also, Courney Gould has been blessed with the best cover artist, her books are just stunning.
However, the main character was really unlikeable and frustrating. Beck and Riley's predicament leaves me with a lot of questions. Like, why are we supposed to buy into them being in this town under the guise of being on a vacation when Beck does everything she can to not spend time with Riley... not even a believable lie to tell her. I also wish it would've gone deeper exploring/explaining the town and it's mysteries. And I wasn't feeling the romance in this one.
I'd also recommend going into this expecting a sapphic mystery story, I was definitely thinking more horror vibes but it leaned a bit more towards sci-fi.
thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc!
The release date is June 20!
January 6, 2023
Rep: lesbian mc & li
CWs: death of a parent
CWs: death of a parent
March 29, 2023
how does one even come up with this?? holy shit-
January 5, 2023
Stunning cover! I could look at it all day.
Beck has been feeling lost after her mother's death. One day a mysterious letter came in saying to Come and Find Me. The letter led to a little town called Backravel. The exact same town her mom was investigating before her death. So Beck, along with her sister Riley, traveled to this mysterious town to do some investigating of their own. Along the way, Beck found out that this odd town has been holding a major secret. A life-changing secret.
I love the premise and idea. I like the twist/big reveal at the end. But was not a fan of the protagonist. It's hard to fully enjoy a novel when I just don't care about the main character. She repeatedly lied to her sister and dragged her along, even though she had stated she didn't want to stay in the weird town. Also, I had some issues with the pacing.
Overall, an interesting and decent read. If you're interested in YA sapphic mystery novel with some sci-fi elements. Give this novel a try.
***I would like to thank NetGalley, Courtney Gould (the author), St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for graciously sending me a copy to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.**
Beck has been feeling lost after her mother's death. One day a mysterious letter came in saying to Come and Find Me. The letter led to a little town called Backravel. The exact same town her mom was investigating before her death. So Beck, along with her sister Riley, traveled to this mysterious town to do some investigating of their own. Along the way, Beck found out that this odd town has been holding a major secret. A life-changing secret.
I love the premise and idea. I like the twist/big reveal at the end. But was not a fan of the protagonist. It's hard to fully enjoy a novel when I just don't care about the main character. She repeatedly lied to her sister and dragged her along, even though she had stated she didn't want to stay in the weird town. Also, I had some issues with the pacing.
Overall, an interesting and decent read. If you're interested in YA sapphic mystery novel with some sci-fi elements. Give this novel a try.
***I would like to thank NetGalley, Courtney Gould (the author), St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for graciously sending me a copy to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.**
January 7, 2023
i thought that i would start where echoes die this morning before i got out of bed and i was so completely sucked in that i couldn't put it down to even go make a coffee. i devoured it in a single sitting and my mind is absolutely reeling. i will definitely be writing a full review closer to the pub date!!
August 15, 2023
I haven't read Courtney Gould before, and I couldn't wait to see what Where Echoes Die had in store for me. I thought it was a pretty slow burn, especially for the length (almost 12 hours on audio and 337 pages), but Gould did a wonderful job making the setting of Backravel both creepy and atmospheric. Beck and Riley are the sisters at the heart of this book, but I thought it mostly focused on Beck grieving the death of her mother and trying to find answers in the town. Granted, I don't want to take anything away from the sister's relationship but that's more of what I got out of it personally. I enjoyed the addition of Beck with Avery (hello queer representation!), and I was surprised when I found out where the climax was leading.
The audiobook is quite good as well, and I really liked the way Isabella Star LaBlanc narrated the story. She was great as the voice of Beck, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her. Where Echoes Die has some very unique twists along the way and paired with the eerie feeling, dash of romance, and the incorporation of some sci-fi/fantasy, it was able to keep me completely engaged. I started it at night one day and hung out with a friend the next, so I couldn't finish right away, and I am not lying when I say I was still thinking about it. This is a very distinctive and interesting read, but I would make sure to check triggers before approaching it. I will definitely be checking out Gould's debut now as well, and I think I might have just found myself a new auto-buy YA author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The audiobook is quite good as well, and I really liked the way Isabella Star LaBlanc narrated the story. She was great as the voice of Beck, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her. Where Echoes Die has some very unique twists along the way and paired with the eerie feeling, dash of romance, and the incorporation of some sci-fi/fantasy, it was able to keep me completely engaged. I started it at night one day and hung out with a friend the next, so I couldn't finish right away, and I am not lying when I say I was still thinking about it. This is a very distinctive and interesting read, but I would make sure to check triggers before approaching it. I will definitely be checking out Gould's debut now as well, and I think I might have just found myself a new auto-buy YA author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 21, 2022
3.5/5
I am so happy to have received an e-ARC of Courtney Gould’s new book! Having read ‘The Dead and the Dark,’ by her last year, and liking it, I was really excited to read her next book. This is an intriguing YA horror novel, with some sci fi ish elements as well. I think this book really fell a bit flat in said sci fi elements. They weren’t explained as well as they could have been. Another issue (one I find common with books that involve situations where it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not) is that since our MC is confused nearly the whole book, the reader is as well. The explanations aren’t easy to comprehend and the last few chapters I honestly wasn’t sure what was going on.
I also felt annoyed with Beck for most of the book, and I didn’t really connect with her much either. I much preferred Riley, and I wish the book had been dual POV between the sisters.
The romance between Beck and Avery was very underdeveloped and quite forgettable to me as well. I wish they had more depth. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between them.
That being said, the book itself is fast paced, has a pleasant writing style, and is creepy enough to keep you wanting to keep reading.
I’m a bit underwhelmed, but I think Courtney has lots of potential as an author, and I’m very excited to see what she writes next!
I am so happy to have received an e-ARC of Courtney Gould’s new book! Having read ‘The Dead and the Dark,’ by her last year, and liking it, I was really excited to read her next book. This is an intriguing YA horror novel, with some sci fi ish elements as well. I think this book really fell a bit flat in said sci fi elements. They weren’t explained as well as they could have been. Another issue (one I find common with books that involve situations where it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not) is that since our MC is confused nearly the whole book, the reader is as well. The explanations aren’t easy to comprehend and the last few chapters I honestly wasn’t sure what was going on.
I also felt annoyed with Beck for most of the book, and I didn’t really connect with her much either. I much preferred Riley, and I wish the book had been dual POV between the sisters.
The romance between Beck and Avery was very underdeveloped and quite forgettable to me as well. I wish they had more depth. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between them.
That being said, the book itself is fast paced, has a pleasant writing style, and is creepy enough to keep you wanting to keep reading.
I’m a bit underwhelmed, but I think Courtney has lots of potential as an author, and I’m very excited to see what she writes next!
July 3, 2023
Wow, I absolutely loved this one. It was so suspenseful and truly kept me intrigued. I felt like the first few chapters could be boring to people, but it really sets the back story up. Every chapter forward just kept getting more intense and suspenseful, that build up truly had me staying up late to finish it! And I love how it ended!
I won this ARC from a Goodreads Giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I won this ARC from a Goodreads Giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
June 19, 2023
Backravel is one strange town. People don't know when they arrived. This book has themes of dealing with grief, the relationship of sisters, the relationship of mother and daughter, and the dream of living forever.
Description:
Beck Birsching has been adrift since the death of her mother, a brilliant but troubled investigative reporter. She finds herself unable to stop herself from slipping into memories of happier days, clamoring for a time when things were normal. So when a mysterious letter in her mother’s handwriting arrives in the mail with the words Come and find me, pointing to a town called Backravel, Beck hopes that it may hold the answers.
But when Beck and her sister Riley arrive in Backravel, Arizona it’s clear that there’s something off about the town. There are no cars, no cemeteries, no churches. The town is a mix of dilapidated military structures and new, shiny buildings, all overseen by the town’s gleaming treatment center high on a plateau. No one seems to remember when they got there, and the only people who seem to know more than they’re letting on is the town’s enigmatic leader and his daughter, Avery.
As the sisters search for answers about their mother, Beck and Avery become more drawn together, and their unexpected connection brings up emotions Beck has buried since her mother’s death. Beck is desperate to hold onto the way things used to be, and when she starts losing herself in Backravel and its connection to her mother, will there be a way for Beck to pull herself out?
My thoughts:
The people and the town are definitely strange. They are warned not to take their car into town. Everyone walks or rides bikes. There are no churches or graveyards. Everyone seems to have to go for "treatments". It just gave me kind of a creepy feeling. The writing was good and gave you a sense of place and I liked that. There was some tension building. The book did seem slow at times and I didn't get attached to any of the characters. It's a worthwhile read and I'm giving it three stars.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on June 20, 2023.
Description:
Beck Birsching has been adrift since the death of her mother, a brilliant but troubled investigative reporter. She finds herself unable to stop herself from slipping into memories of happier days, clamoring for a time when things were normal. So when a mysterious letter in her mother’s handwriting arrives in the mail with the words Come and find me, pointing to a town called Backravel, Beck hopes that it may hold the answers.
But when Beck and her sister Riley arrive in Backravel, Arizona it’s clear that there’s something off about the town. There are no cars, no cemeteries, no churches. The town is a mix of dilapidated military structures and new, shiny buildings, all overseen by the town’s gleaming treatment center high on a plateau. No one seems to remember when they got there, and the only people who seem to know more than they’re letting on is the town’s enigmatic leader and his daughter, Avery.
As the sisters search for answers about their mother, Beck and Avery become more drawn together, and their unexpected connection brings up emotions Beck has buried since her mother’s death. Beck is desperate to hold onto the way things used to be, and when she starts losing herself in Backravel and its connection to her mother, will there be a way for Beck to pull herself out?
My thoughts:
The people and the town are definitely strange. They are warned not to take their car into town. Everyone walks or rides bikes. There are no churches or graveyards. Everyone seems to have to go for "treatments". It just gave me kind of a creepy feeling. The writing was good and gave you a sense of place and I liked that. There was some tension building. The book did seem slow at times and I didn't get attached to any of the characters. It's a worthwhile read and I'm giving it three stars.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on June 20, 2023.
June 26, 2023
This review is probably going to be one of the harder ones I’ve had to write. And that’s not because the book was bad…it’s because Courtney Gould was able to take emotions & thoughts I’ve had about losing my mom, and put them in a creepy-mysterious horror story that was just so good. Horror and grief aren’t things we typically pair together, but Gould did & did it well. And it’s hard for me to even begin to explain just how well she made this story embody what it’s like to experience grief. You want so badly to go back to when that person you lost was still here that if you’re not careful, time and reality can slip away from you. I won’t go on rambling about how amazing this book was and all the things it made me feel, but trust me! If this sounds remotely like something you might enjoy, read it!
Want to read
January 28, 2022OBSESSED WITH THIS COVER
June 13, 2023
Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould
Narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc
There is a lot happening within this novel that I found engaging, however, the pace is incredibly slow. If it had been more of a slow burn my rating overall would have been higher. There were also so many plot threads that flitted around for a long time before solidifying into a connection.
Beck and Riley are grieving the recent loss of their mother as they travel from the Pacific Northwest to their father’s home in Texas. Unbeknownst to their father they take what was meant as a short detour in Backravel, Arizona. Backravel remains important to Beck as the place she lost her mother to before her illness.
Upon their arrival the residents seem an odd bunch and not exactly welcoming. Beck has various encounters before meeting Avery and attempting to get some solid answers to questions she has about the town. Questions like: why are there no cars or cemeteries and why are there weird outdated military complexes and libraries that use microfiche instead of the internet? Avery isn’t very forthcoming until it is deemed that Beck should meet the town treatment guru, her father Ricky.
This is where the plot lost me a bit with memory loss and slow connections. Example is the woman in the desert. I knew who she was in the beginning and taking the entire book to reveal her relationship was an unnecessary waste of time. The unspooling was a bit mind boggling…I’ll admit I still feel a bit unspooled after finishing.
Overall, the topic was interesting and there were parts that held my attention. The narrator does a good job as the primary voice of Beck as well. Unfortunately, there really is no twist or if there was it was incredibly predictable. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in return for an honest review.
Narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc
There is a lot happening within this novel that I found engaging, however, the pace is incredibly slow. If it had been more of a slow burn my rating overall would have been higher. There were also so many plot threads that flitted around for a long time before solidifying into a connection.
Beck and Riley are grieving the recent loss of their mother as they travel from the Pacific Northwest to their father’s home in Texas. Unbeknownst to their father they take what was meant as a short detour in Backravel, Arizona. Backravel remains important to Beck as the place she lost her mother to before her illness.
Upon their arrival the residents seem an odd bunch and not exactly welcoming. Beck has various encounters before meeting Avery and attempting to get some solid answers to questions she has about the town. Questions like: why are there no cars or cemeteries and why are there weird outdated military complexes and libraries that use microfiche instead of the internet? Avery isn’t very forthcoming until it is deemed that Beck should meet the town treatment guru, her father Ricky.
This is where the plot lost me a bit with memory loss and slow connections. Example is the woman in the desert. I knew who she was in the beginning and taking the entire book to reveal her relationship was an unnecessary waste of time. The unspooling was a bit mind boggling…I’ll admit I still feel a bit unspooled after finishing.
Overall, the topic was interesting and there were parts that held my attention. The narrator does a good job as the primary voice of Beck as well. Unfortunately, there really is no twist or if there was it was incredibly predictable. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in return for an honest review.
January 3, 2025
I absolutely love Courtney Gould’s writing, and her first novel quickly became one of my favourites. This book is still well written, but the premise just wasn’t my cup of tea. I never felt fully invested in the characters and found the town odd, but never thrilling. However, I should mention that the ideas in this book are incredibly original, which I did appreciate.
While the love interest and her relationship to the MC weren’t the focus, I still wish they could have been fleshed out a little more. Everyone besides Beck felt a little flat, but that could have been because the story didn’t pull me in.
I did feel for Beck, and her grief was portrayed really well. Despite my feelings towards the plot, one scene towards the end did make me tear up - which goes to show how talented the author is at writing emotional moments.
Overall, it really is more of a personal taste issue than anything else, and I think people who like this type of premise will enjoy the book a lot!
I’m also still really looking forward to the author’s next novel. 😊
While the love interest and her relationship to the MC weren’t the focus, I still wish they could have been fleshed out a little more. Everyone besides Beck felt a little flat, but that could have been because the story didn’t pull me in.
I did feel for Beck, and her grief was portrayed really well. Despite my feelings towards the plot, one scene towards the end did make me tear up - which goes to show how talented the author is at writing emotional moments.
Overall, it really is more of a personal taste issue than anything else, and I think people who like this type of premise will enjoy the book a lot!
I’m also still really looking forward to the author’s next novel. 😊
June 19, 2023
TW at start of book: "Much of the thematic material in Where Echoes Die involves, grief, loss of a family member, and emotional abuse at the hands of family. This book also involves intense descriptions of mental illness, PTSD, and memory loss. For a more detailed description of sensitive content, please visit gouldbooks.com/books/wed."
Where Echoes Die was a very atmospheric and haunting story about two sisters who are searching for information about a town that kept drawing their mother to it during the last years of her life. Well- one sister is, the other sister is kind of tagging along because she is a good sister. Beck is deadset on figuring out why their mom was so enamored with the small, seemingly random town of Backravel, Arizona. Honestly even the name suggests you needn't pay it a visit, right? But since their mother's passing, they have to go live with their father in Texas, so they take a little side trip on their way there. They lie to Dear Ol' Dad, of course, but it still feels like incredibly irresponsible parenting to let your teen girls deal with the death of their mother (and only involved parent, from the sound of things) and then drive themselves across the country. Even if they lied about the stop (something about hanging out with a friend's relative at the beach)... Dad sucks, is what I am saying.
So on one hand, it's a wee bit Parent-In-YA-Syndrome, but on the other, it certainly explains why Beck is going to be more concerned about her dead mother's secrets than getting to dad's place. I'll allow it. Of course, nothing in this town is as it seems, and people seem... off. Everyone seems suspicious of Beck and Riley stopping by, which in itself is strange. There is only one place available to stay in the town (a very janky Airbnb, which is basically an RV on some rando's property, seems totally legit and not at all terrifying for two teenage girls). Anyway, point is, maybe the girls should just head to the beach with Fake Grandma?
But they don't, obviously, or this would be a dull story! No, instead Beck dives right into her search, consequences be damned, and what she finds will definitely not be what she expects. And I will leave you at that, because what fun would it be if I said any more? During the story though, Beck will form some relationships, and have to figure out her relationship with her sister, and of course, come to terms with what happened to their mother. So it is definitely emotive, and certainly mysterious!
Bottom Line: A solid sophomore offering from Courtney Gould. I felt quite invested in this creepy town as well as Beck's journey. Can't wait for more from this author!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
October 3, 2023
Eh.
Let me start by saying Courtney Gould is a talented writer, amazing at creating atmospheric tales set in creepy small towns.
I was immediately sucked into this story, just like I was when reading her previous novel “The Dead and the Dark”, but further the story went, the less I liked it.
It wasn’t for me.
As soon as the mystery started unraveling I knew I wouldn’t like it.
I wasn’t buying it.
And yes, it actually made more sense than her debut book, but I found it so…bland and underwhelming.
The ending tried to be action packed (and emotional?), but I was pretty bored and ready to get over with it.
Let me start by saying Courtney Gould is a talented writer, amazing at creating atmospheric tales set in creepy small towns.
I was immediately sucked into this story, just like I was when reading her previous novel “The Dead and the Dark”, but further the story went, the less I liked it.
It wasn’t for me.
As soon as the mystery started unraveling I knew I wouldn’t like it.
I wasn’t buying it.
And yes, it actually made more sense than her debut book, but I found it so…bland and underwhelming.
The ending tried to be action packed (and emotional?), but I was pretty bored and ready to get over with it.
June 30, 2023
i’m so sad because i LOVE the dead & the dark with a burning passion (gave it 5 stars), but unfortunately this one just didn’t do it for me…😞
i was very bored throughout this book and just couldn’t get attached to the story, the characters nor the ship… i also felt like the plot was quite predictable at times, for example who the Desert Woman is or what is actually happening to everyone, and everything developed very slow, to the point i just didn’t couldn’t get invested.
the ending also felt rather rushed and left me with questions that weren’t answered.☹️
my favourite character was a dead person that was only mentioned occasionally and didn’t appear in the flesh😭so yeah idk
the writing however is still amazing. i adore courtney gould and i’m truly looking forward to more books by hers, even if didn’t quite enjoy this one!🤍
i was very bored throughout this book and just couldn’t get attached to the story, the characters nor the ship… i also felt like the plot was quite predictable at times, for example who the Desert Woman is or what is actually happening to everyone, and everything developed very slow, to the point i just didn’t couldn’t get invested.
the ending also felt rather rushed and left me with questions that weren’t answered.☹️
my favourite character was a dead person that was only mentioned occasionally and didn’t appear in the flesh😭so yeah idk
the writing however is still amazing. i adore courtney gould and i’m truly looking forward to more books by hers, even if didn’t quite enjoy this one!🤍
September 2, 2023
This was a really solid YA mystery/horror. I was intrigued from the very beginning and the book kept me guessing through the end. The small town, claustrophobic setting definitely added a lot to the story. I enjoyed reading about these characters and I always love a romance plot line so I really liked the small bit of romance we got in this story. This was ultimately about family, loss and grief and what ends people will go to for their loved ones.
This was a quick read and I liked it even though horror and mystery aren’t my normal genres.
This was a quick read and I liked it even though horror and mystery aren’t my normal genres.
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