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Guided
Emma Smith's debut young adult novel, perfect for fans of Cat Clarke and Alice Oseman.
She knows. I know she knows. She knows I know exactly what happened to Lexie...
When left in charge of a group of girl guides, seventeen-year-old Macey is only thinking of making it through the weekend. But when an innocent camp ends in tragedy, everything in her perfect life starts to spiral out of control.
If losing her friends, boyfriend and status isn't enough, the guilt is eating her up inside, becoming too much to bear. People are asking questions, pointing the finger of blame.
Nobody knows what happened that night.
Nobody but Macey.
A young adult contemporary novel with a mystery at its heart, tackling first love, bullying, and the challenges and pressures of growing up.
She knows. I know she knows. She knows I know exactly what happened to Lexie...
When left in charge of a group of girl guides, seventeen-year-old Macey is only thinking of making it through the weekend. But when an innocent camp ends in tragedy, everything in her perfect life starts to spiral out of control.
If losing her friends, boyfriend and status isn't enough, the guilt is eating her up inside, becoming too much to bear. People are asking questions, pointing the finger of blame.
Nobody knows what happened that night.
Nobody but Macey.
A young adult contemporary novel with a mystery at its heart, tackling first love, bullying, and the challenges and pressures of growing up.
346 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2022
46 people are currently reading
1800 people want to read
About the author
Emma Smith
14 books563 followersEmma Smith is a young adult and children's author from Yorkshire. She wrote and illustrated her first “book” when she was seven years old and hasn’t stopped writing since. When she’s not walking on the beach or drinking an iced coffee with a crumpet and some chocolate, you’ll probably find her reading something dark and mysterious… and most certainly YA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
June 12, 2024
As the author, I feel like I'm pretty justified to give my book its first five star review. Not because I think it's the best thing ever, but because I'm so, so proud of it, and of myself for writing and continuing with the journey to self-publish even though it was SUCH a challenge. Macey's story is so important to me, and I hope it has the same effect on someone else, somewhere... and that it's beneficial to all the Lexies of this world :)
August 2, 2022
I picked this one up because I know the author on Wattpad and have read a couple of snippets of her work but not anything all the way through. I always love to see writers on Wattpad and other places move into publishing, either self or indie or trad!
As a debut novel, this is brilliant! I really enjoyed the plotline of it – it is full of mystery and this palpable sense of dread all the way through as more and more of Macey Collins' involvement in the death of twelve-year-old Lexie McCoy at Girl Guides comes to light. Macey is a really interesting lead protagonist – she frustrated me so much at times because there are countless opportunities she could have stepped in and helped Lexie (who is being bullied horribly by the other girls), but that felt totally realistic as well. So often bullying and nasty behaviour is ignored until it becomes too much. And reading the book from Macey's perspective is such an emotionally draining (in a good way!) ride. She is nuanced and guilt-stricken and very rounded.
The other characters make a great supporting cast as well: Macey's friends who come and go, her kinda toxic boyfriend, her new 'weirdo' friend who is probably the nicest out of all of them, and Macey's dysfunctional family. I really loved the sibling dynamic between Macey and Jenna, and their mother always surprised me (again in a good way), sometimes evasive and ignorant of their troubles and other times seeming to have a deep care for them.
I really liked the prose style too. It has a British YA vibe in the way of Jacqueline Wilson (who I love!) and there are tons of British pop culture and food and location references. Not going to lie, I get a bit tired of seeing so much YA based around American high schools so it was nice to see a British sixth form and our education system haha. Beyond those references, the writing style is lovely too – grounded and gritty at times but also very whimsical at others which suited Macey's mindset throughout the story. The choice to have the narrative go back and forth between her 'current' life (guilt after Lexie's death and trying to get on with her life) and seeing the actual event unveil in almost slow-motion was really good and kept the sense of mystery all the way through. I kept reading and reading, needing to find out what really happened to Lexie that night!
The only only reason I didn't give a full five stars was because of the ending which I didn't entirely vibe with and I felt there were some loose ends BUT I guess that was kind of the point of it. And well, I'll have to read the sequel when it comes out hehe ;)
As a debut novel, this is brilliant! I really enjoyed the plotline of it – it is full of mystery and this palpable sense of dread all the way through as more and more of Macey Collins' involvement in the death of twelve-year-old Lexie McCoy at Girl Guides comes to light. Macey is a really interesting lead protagonist – she frustrated me so much at times because there are countless opportunities she could have stepped in and helped Lexie (who is being bullied horribly by the other girls), but that felt totally realistic as well. So often bullying and nasty behaviour is ignored until it becomes too much. And reading the book from Macey's perspective is such an emotionally draining (in a good way!) ride. She is nuanced and guilt-stricken and very rounded.
The other characters make a great supporting cast as well: Macey's friends who come and go, her kinda toxic boyfriend, her new 'weirdo' friend who is probably the nicest out of all of them, and Macey's dysfunctional family. I really loved the sibling dynamic between Macey and Jenna, and their mother always surprised me (again in a good way), sometimes evasive and ignorant of their troubles and other times seeming to have a deep care for them.
I really liked the prose style too. It has a British YA vibe in the way of Jacqueline Wilson (who I love!) and there are tons of British pop culture and food and location references. Not going to lie, I get a bit tired of seeing so much YA based around American high schools so it was nice to see a British sixth form and our education system haha. Beyond those references, the writing style is lovely too – grounded and gritty at times but also very whimsical at others which suited Macey's mindset throughout the story. The choice to have the narrative go back and forth between her 'current' life (guilt after Lexie's death and trying to get on with her life) and seeing the actual event unveil in almost slow-motion was really good and kept the sense of mystery all the way through. I kept reading and reading, needing to find out what really happened to Lexie that night!
The only only reason I didn't give a full five stars was because of the ending which I didn't entirely vibe with and I felt there were some loose ends BUT I guess that was kind of the point of it. And well, I'll have to read the sequel when it comes out hehe ;)
July 24, 2022
This book had me hooked completely it was such an emotional rollercoaster and I could put the book down💗
April 7, 2024
First off, I just wanna say this is an insanely impressive debut novel! Thank you so much to Emma for reaching out to me about reading her book in exchange for a review 💜
Guided is a young adult mystery that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Despite having a lot going on at the moment, I found myself absolutely devouring this book in a few days!
Macey is a 17 yr old “Guided” counselor, which I assume is the equivalent of a Girl Scouts leader in the US. When an innocent camping trip ends in tragedy, Macey finds herself dealing with guilt and grief, while feeling completely lost. I felt like this was an amazing portrayal of how a 17 yr old would handle something like what Macey has gone through, and I found myself sympathizing with her character so much. The way this book bounced back and forth between past and present timelines makes it a fast-paced read that never stops dropping new crazy information.
The ending left me wanting a little more, but I almost liked it? I love feeling a little haunted by the end of a book and like I will never really get all the answers, as long as it is done well. I will absolutely be picking up book 2 in the future! I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed books like AGGGTM, Truly Devious or any dark and mysterious YA books!
Guided is a young adult mystery that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Despite having a lot going on at the moment, I found myself absolutely devouring this book in a few days!
Macey is a 17 yr old “Guided” counselor, which I assume is the equivalent of a Girl Scouts leader in the US. When an innocent camping trip ends in tragedy, Macey finds herself dealing with guilt and grief, while feeling completely lost. I felt like this was an amazing portrayal of how a 17 yr old would handle something like what Macey has gone through, and I found myself sympathizing with her character so much. The way this book bounced back and forth between past and present timelines makes it a fast-paced read that never stops dropping new crazy information.
The ending left me wanting a little more, but I almost liked it? I love feeling a little haunted by the end of a book and like I will never really get all the answers, as long as it is done well. I will absolutely be picking up book 2 in the future! I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed books like AGGGTM, Truly Devious or any dark and mysterious YA books!
April 16, 2024
A great read through and through! I loved that it was set in the UK (where I am based) and that it tackled certain aspects of teenage life so well. The mystery plot was amaze too and kept me guessing until the very end!
October 15, 2023
I loved this book so much, I honestly couldn't stop reading at some points!
Macey's character felt so real, I was quickly able to submerge myself in her world, desperate to know the whole story. I thought there was the perfect mix of classic mystery elements and general YA drama, with flashbacks placed throughout that build up to the ending perfectly.
This book tackled some huge problems, such as bullying and toxic relationships, really well, while also having a diverse selection of characters, which I loved. The writing was dark at points, but always engaging, and the ending was definitely unexpected and so well written.
I absolutely loved the few diary entries - especially at the end, they were what really brought everything to life for me. I also really enjoyed the way both the younger girls and older girls were written, as they felt like relatable teenager characters clearly created by someone who knew exactly what they were talking about, and the book didn't overuse texting or social media as a plot device - where it was used, it felt necessary and very realistic.
Overall, I would have to give Guided 5 stars because it was a really exciting read, and had me completely hooked from the first page. I will definitely be reading anything else Emma Smith releases in the future, as I absolutely loved her style of writing!
Macey's character felt so real, I was quickly able to submerge myself in her world, desperate to know the whole story. I thought there was the perfect mix of classic mystery elements and general YA drama, with flashbacks placed throughout that build up to the ending perfectly.
This book tackled some huge problems, such as bullying and toxic relationships, really well, while also having a diverse selection of characters, which I loved. The writing was dark at points, but always engaging, and the ending was definitely unexpected and so well written.
I absolutely loved the few diary entries - especially at the end, they were what really brought everything to life for me. I also really enjoyed the way both the younger girls and older girls were written, as they felt like relatable teenager characters clearly created by someone who knew exactly what they were talking about, and the book didn't overuse texting or social media as a plot device - where it was used, it felt necessary and very realistic.
Overall, I would have to give Guided 5 stars because it was a really exciting read, and had me completely hooked from the first page. I will definitely be reading anything else Emma Smith releases in the future, as I absolutely loved her style of writing!
August 10, 2022
I have obstinately avoided buying novels for many years now, for fear that they would simply end up a waste of money and indefinitely forgotten on a bookshelf or in some drawer. Not at all because a certain novel was necessarily boring or poorly written, but because my attention span when it comes to reading novels is shamefully abysmal. So, when Guided fell on my doorstep one afternoon, I initially thought, “OK, if I convince myself to read, say, forty pages per day, then I’ll have read it in just over a week. That’s not so bad. I’ll do that.”
Calling that a prejudicial way of thinking about reading this novel is a gross understatement. By that day’s end I had almost read a third of it, easily the most I’ve read in a single day for years. By noon the following day I had read half. By the time I went to sleep that night, I had finished it. The incredible way in which Guided has been written that just draws you in, making you unable to put the book down at the end of one chapter, as if it is absolutely crucial to learn how the mysterious, gripping tale of Macey and Lexie will develop. I just wanted more and more. Make no mistake, Guided did not disappoint. It has changed the way I think about reading. That it need not be tedious; that it can and does bring joy.
Calling that a prejudicial way of thinking about reading this novel is a gross understatement. By that day’s end I had almost read a third of it, easily the most I’ve read in a single day for years. By noon the following day I had read half. By the time I went to sleep that night, I had finished it. The incredible way in which Guided has been written that just draws you in, making you unable to put the book down at the end of one chapter, as if it is absolutely crucial to learn how the mysterious, gripping tale of Macey and Lexie will develop. I just wanted more and more. Make no mistake, Guided did not disappoint. It has changed the way I think about reading. That it need not be tedious; that it can and does bring joy.
February 6, 2024
In Guided, we follow Macey who struggles with feelings of guilt when a guide camp ends in tragedy. I saw on Amazon that this is categorized as young adult but I would recommend it for people under the age of 18 maybe.
For me, Guided was a quick and enjoyable read but nothing spectacular. I kept hoping for a big moment in the book or a wow effect but I just didn't feel it (except maybe the last two/three pages, damn). While the story is easy to follow and it's a very smooth read, I felt like sometimes the story was a bit all over the place. The bullying, Nima, the uncle, ... it all made sense in theory but I just didn't quite feel it. It's hard to explain but it all felt a little random somehow? Like the idea was there but the execution maybe should've been different.
Now, I found Emma's writing style very good and I'm convinced she has a bright future in writing. This is her first book and also the first book I've read of her so I'm excited to see how her writing evolves in the future. She definitely shows promise so keep an eye out!
For me, Guided was a quick and enjoyable read but nothing spectacular. I kept hoping for a big moment in the book or a wow effect but I just didn't feel it (except maybe the last two/three pages, damn). While the story is easy to follow and it's a very smooth read, I felt like sometimes the story was a bit all over the place. The bullying, Nima, the uncle, ... it all made sense in theory but I just didn't quite feel it. It's hard to explain but it all felt a little random somehow? Like the idea was there but the execution maybe should've been different.
Now, I found Emma's writing style very good and I'm convinced she has a bright future in writing. This is her first book and also the first book I've read of her so I'm excited to see how her writing evolves in the future. She definitely shows promise so keep an eye out!
January 15, 2024
This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading. The mystery, the tension and the stress Macey was feeling all felt so real. This is such an excellent book, I can’t wait to read the sequel!
August 2, 2022
5/5 stars. I couldn’t have given it any less. For a debut novel, Guided demonstrates everything you want to see from new and upcoming young adult authors: diverse and relatable characters, intense scenes, impeccable writing style. Combining mystery, girl-guiding and the UK paves way for a unique and interesting setting. The story tugs you in, engrosses you, captures you in the mystery. As it builds, you’ll find yourself racing for the last page — and then you flip right back to the start for a reread.
It is not a happy book. It is raw, real and intense, portraying young life and bullying without any sugar coating. It is a powerful and gripping tale, suitable for teens and all ages upwards, and I 100% recommend giving it a read. You won’t regret it!
It is not a happy book. It is raw, real and intense, portraying young life and bullying without any sugar coating. It is a powerful and gripping tale, suitable for teens and all ages upwards, and I 100% recommend giving it a read. You won’t regret it!
July 29, 2022
If you are looking for a sweet story that ends with "happily ever after," then this book is not for you. Given my age (old), I am saddened to think that this is an accurate portrayal of the life of today's teenager. How can any of them navigate this maze of confusion and darkness, stand up to peer pressure, and survive the bullying tactics? And where are the adults who are supposed to keep watch? The story stayed with me for days after I finished the book. Macey, oh Macey! Emma Smith is an amazing writer with a natural talent that is somehow already developed well beyond that of many career authors twice her age. Remember her name because I believe we'll be hearing about her accomplishments in the months and years to come.
September 11, 2022
This story is written very thoughtfully and tackles difficult topics with a lot of grace. The author shows so much maturity in her writing style and her characters. I loved the emotional craft of this story; it is poignant and heart-wrenching. A gritty story about loss, guilt, and grief, it really stuck with me and will surely have a resonant effect on most of its readers. A story about a girl who is navigating loss in a world full of people who just aren't listening, Macey's journey is compelling and realistic. Emma does a great job with this and it's very strong for a debut. Please support this new author so that she can continue workshopping her craft and producing great stories such as this one.
February 14, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
i really really liked this book! it was different from what i usually read but it surprised me in a very positive way. it had me hooked the whole time and i really really LOVED british vibes in this book (if u don’t know i’m england’s no. 1 fan) the ending literally threw me off guard. i really recommend this book it’s such an easy BUT soo interesting read that will have you hooked the whole time.
i just want to thank the author for sending me her book 🫶🎀💌 and omg pls u all should read this book <3
i really really liked this book! it was different from what i usually read but it surprised me in a very positive way. it had me hooked the whole time and i really really LOVED british vibes in this book (if u don’t know i’m england’s no. 1 fan) the ending literally threw me off guard. i really recommend this book it’s such an easy BUT soo interesting read that will have you hooked the whole time.
i just want to thank the author for sending me her book 🫶🎀💌 and omg pls u all should read this book <3
January 5, 2023
4.5⭐️ this book was incredible. the ending literally had me gasp out loud. i NEED to know what happend next. 🙏🙏
January 26, 2024
If there’s one word I would use to describe Guided it would be haunting, but not in bad ‘I was terrified’ kind of way. In the sense that, even days after finishing the book, I’m still thinking about it. If you’ve read the book, I’m sure you know the exact moment that left me feeling like this.
Though I found the first part a little slow, looking back I don’t think this was a bad thing. Rather, it was a metaphor almost reflective of Macey Collins’ mindset, trapped by the death of Lexie. The second half, where her story starts to unravel is where, for me, the pace picked up. I think the fact I stayed up till midnight speaks volumes about how gripped I was in the last third. The story couldn’t have been executed better in my eyes. The constant back and forth between past and present was once again a perfect metaphor for Macey’s state of mind. There was no way for her to move on from the tragic death, hence the constant reminder of Lexie.
The nostalgia interleaved throughout was a feature I enjoyed: the descriptions of Macey’s days at sixth form (bacon buttys to be specific) and the memories of the seaside. Possibly my favourite part of the book though (if you can say that about a book about death), was the theme of girl guiding throughout. I was in girl guiding for 10 years, and despite the dark nature of these scenes, they were somewhat comforting. I had gone to the weekly meetings and been the 11 year old girl sat around a camp fire once too; trying new camp foods and braving the activities. Guided reminded me of horror story we’d tell around those camp fires - oddly nostalgic. Guided is not without a pivotal message either, something I think is essential in any book. Yet completely unrelated from the story line, I could not conclude this review without mentioning it. Rosie’s take on university is something I deeply related too and I think she is deserving of her own novella. It’s quotes like this I live for in books.
Rosie - “I don’t need twenty-seven thousands pounds of debt to have good experiences, Mace.”
Guided is the perfect option for young adult readers. It’s diverse and realistic but offers the out of the ordinary story that we all search for when reading.
Though I found the first part a little slow, looking back I don’t think this was a bad thing. Rather, it was a metaphor almost reflective of Macey Collins’ mindset, trapped by the death of Lexie. The second half, where her story starts to unravel is where, for me, the pace picked up. I think the fact I stayed up till midnight speaks volumes about how gripped I was in the last third. The story couldn’t have been executed better in my eyes. The constant back and forth between past and present was once again a perfect metaphor for Macey’s state of mind. There was no way for her to move on from the tragic death, hence the constant reminder of Lexie.
The nostalgia interleaved throughout was a feature I enjoyed: the descriptions of Macey’s days at sixth form (bacon buttys to be specific) and the memories of the seaside. Possibly my favourite part of the book though (if you can say that about a book about death), was the theme of girl guiding throughout. I was in girl guiding for 10 years, and despite the dark nature of these scenes, they were somewhat comforting. I had gone to the weekly meetings and been the 11 year old girl sat around a camp fire once too; trying new camp foods and braving the activities. Guided reminded me of horror story we’d tell around those camp fires - oddly nostalgic. Guided is not without a pivotal message either, something I think is essential in any book. Yet completely unrelated from the story line, I could not conclude this review without mentioning it. Rosie’s take on university is something I deeply related too and I think she is deserving of her own novella. It’s quotes like this I live for in books.
Rosie - “I don’t need twenty-seven thousands pounds of debt to have good experiences, Mace.”
Guided is the perfect option for young adult readers. It’s diverse and realistic but offers the out of the ordinary story that we all search for when reading.
August 18, 2022
I just finished reading this book because my friend told me about it.
It's very good. The end was everything but what I expected (loved it). It got me through so many emotions, from sadness to fear to happiness and anger. I could really connect to the characters and see them through their actions, I really loved how well they were depicted.
I was very thrilled to read it when I bought my copy and was not disappointed!
It's very good. The end was everything but what I expected (loved it). It got me through so many emotions, from sadness to fear to happiness and anger. I could really connect to the characters and see them through their actions, I really loved how well they were depicted.
I was very thrilled to read it when I bought my copy and was not disappointed!
August 19, 2022
I saw her post about this book on Facebook and I love supporting new authors. To be as young as she is, she is a great writer! I couldn't stop reading! The main character had my heart strings pulled, but then she also made me mad. This story is about bullying and a lot of us know about being bullied all too well. I thought she did an awesome job showing how it could affect someone, and what could eventually happen. I hope to read more from her soon!
July 22, 2022
4.25/5
This book.
Talk abt book hangover. This story was thrilling, relatable, heartbreaking, and emotional. It surpassed my every expectation, I commend the author on this amazing debut novel. There were a couple English things that went over my head as an American but I loved the world-building, it was very captivating.
And the ending!!!!
This book.
Talk abt book hangover. This story was thrilling, relatable, heartbreaking, and emotional. It surpassed my every expectation, I commend the author on this amazing debut novel. There were a couple English things that went over my head as an American but I loved the world-building, it was very captivating.
And the ending!!!!
September 3, 2022
This is probably one of my favourite books that I've ever read. The characters are all so well developed and interesting and the plot was so well done. The twists and turns keep you reading and I finished this in only a couple of days. If you are on the fence about reading this book, I would 100 percent recommend it. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next books from Emma.
February 8, 2023
Absolutely loved this book. The story had be hooked from the very beginning and the characters were written so well, especially the mean ones. The last few chapters had me gobsmacked! If you like a good mystery thriller, I can’t recommend this book enough!!
July 23, 2022
Not usual my style of reading but this book was fantastic from beginning to end.
Emma is truly one talented author! Can’t wait to read more of her stuff
Emma is truly one talented author! Can’t wait to read more of her stuff
January 8, 2023
Have not out it down. Really enjoyed this book.
January 28, 2024
╰┈➤ 3 stars
August 5, 2025
It was a fun read! I love the writing style, its all just very easy to follow. It started a bit slow, but how longer I read the more I wanted to know how it would end. I did expect more of the mystery, I felt like it was a bit flat in that aspect. I kept waiting for some kind of plottwist. But overall I enjoyed it: 3.5 🌟
December 13, 2022
This book was truly gripping from start to finish! Macey’s heartbreaking and shocking story hooked my heart and mind right at the very beginning, and I couldn’t have anticipated the ending. An excellent novel by an excellent author. A must read!
September 4, 2022
Oml this book! I just couldn't put it down. The author leaves the reader on so many cliffhangers and so many wtf and omg and plot twisting moments it's addictive!!! This book is so worth it and this author is so amazing ((:
September 20, 2022
Fantastic read!
Kept me wanting more!
Great work Emma ♥️
Kept me wanting more!
Great work Emma ♥️
April 8, 2024
I haven’t stopped thinking about Guided since I finished it. Emma Smiths writing is ADDICTIVE. I read this book alarmingly fast for my reading speed. This story is about Macey and how she deals with the loss of a girl that she saw as her little sister. It’s a heartbreaking story about grief and bullying. It explores the guilt she felt after the tragic weekend where her friend was lost and how it changed her. The story switches between the buildup and accident to Macey present day. I know a lot of people like to compare small authors murder mystery books to Holly Jackson but I wouldn’t call this exactly like that. While Holly focuses on the mystery aspect. Emma Smith has mastered how she writes characters. Macey felt like a real person which I know as a reader is a really rare thing to see with authors. But, one similarity between Emma Smith and Holly Jackson is that the plot is constantly twisting and turning. I can’t even put into this review how much this book happily surprised me after I heard about it on TikTok. After reading this I’m shocked her book isn’t more widely talked about but I know it won’t stay that way for long. I would highly suggest reading this if you think that you might enjoy it from my review, others, or the description. If there was any book I’ve read that I think deserves my first good reads review it would absolutely be this one.
Read
May 14, 2024Guided is the debut of indie author Emma Smith. It’s a British YA mystery with themes of bullying and guilt.
On a after-school trip with Macey, four younger girls and their camp-leader something goes horribly wrong and ends with a one of the girls dying. No one knows what really happened that night except for Macey and the grief and guilt is eating her up. How can she keep up the fasade in front of her friends, boyfriend and family? What if someone figures out what really happened.
The book opens with a boom. I was hooked from the first line and excited to see how the story would progress. The story switches between past and present, everything leading up to the death and after the death. I like these kinds of timelines, but sometimes I got confused because there was nothing that marked what was the present or the past. Nontheless I liked seeing the backstory and how everything unfolded.
The story depicts the brutality of bullying and it’s hard to read about. Especially when everything is so clear afterwards and the guilt of not stepping in is raw and heartfelt.
I was kept guessing what actually happened that night and I have to admit that Emma surprised me. I constantly thought, “no that’s not it, that’s not what happened”, so great job! Unfortunately I didn’t like the ending. Nothing to say about the mystery, but a decision made by Macey in the end didn’t sit well with me for personal reasons. I thought the build up was poor and left me feeling annoyed at the main character. Otherwise I thought it was a good debut.
On a after-school trip with Macey, four younger girls and their camp-leader something goes horribly wrong and ends with a one of the girls dying. No one knows what really happened that night except for Macey and the grief and guilt is eating her up. How can she keep up the fasade in front of her friends, boyfriend and family? What if someone figures out what really happened.
The book opens with a boom. I was hooked from the first line and excited to see how the story would progress. The story switches between past and present, everything leading up to the death and after the death. I like these kinds of timelines, but sometimes I got confused because there was nothing that marked what was the present or the past. Nontheless I liked seeing the backstory and how everything unfolded.
The story depicts the brutality of bullying and it’s hard to read about. Especially when everything is so clear afterwards and the guilt of not stepping in is raw and heartfelt.
I was kept guessing what actually happened that night and I have to admit that Emma surprised me. I constantly thought, “no that’s not it, that’s not what happened”, so great job! Unfortunately I didn’t like the ending. Nothing to say about the mystery, but a decision made by Macey in the end didn’t sit well with me for personal reasons. I thought the build up was poor and left me feeling annoyed at the main character. Otherwise I thought it was a good debut.
August 25, 2023
emma smith is going places, oh my god.
as a debut, this is insane. as a novel, this is an accomplishment. emma's prose is practiced and well-aimed, hitting every mark and lifting the bar every chapter. her pacing is sublime, masterful, and kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. the end had me literally holding my breath, and every word served to heighten the tension, build anticipation and then, finally, lead to an explosive third act that just kept serving and serving. i am incredibly excited to read the rest of emma's books, and "Guided" absolutely takes the cake as one of my all time favourites.
as a debut, this is insane. as a novel, this is an accomplishment. emma's prose is practiced and well-aimed, hitting every mark and lifting the bar every chapter. her pacing is sublime, masterful, and kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. the end had me literally holding my breath, and every word served to heighten the tension, build anticipation and then, finally, lead to an explosive third act that just kept serving and serving. i am incredibly excited to read the rest of emma's books, and "Guided" absolutely takes the cake as one of my all time favourites.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews