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Prelude for Lost Souls #2
The Promise of Lost Things: A Novel
Three characters with their own agendas converge in a town filled with mediums, where most residents make their living speaking to the dead...and there's no such thing as resting in peace.
Russ Griffin has always wanted to be a fantastic medium. Growing up in the town of St. Hilaire, where most residents make their living by speaking to the dead, means there's a lot of competition, and he's always held his own. But Russ knows the town he loves is corrupt, and he's determined to save it before the sinister ruling body, The Guild, ruins all he's ever wanted.
Willow Rodgers is St. Hilaire royalty. An orphan, raised by The Guild, she's powerful and mysterious. But she has secrets that might change everyone's fate. She's done with St. Hilaire, done with helping desperate customers who think mediums work for them. She wants to end the cycle for good and rid the town of ghosts, even if that means destroying the only home she's ever known.
Asher Mullen lost his sister, and his parents can't get over her death. They sought answers in St. Hilaire and were left brokenhearted. Now they want to expose St. Hilaire as a fraud. Asher is tasked with infiltrating the town, and he does that by getting to know Russ. The only problem is, he might be falling for him, which will make betraying Russ that much harder.
Russ, Willow, and Asher all have their own agendas for St. Hilaire, but one thing's for certain, no one will be resting in peace.
Russ Griffin has always wanted to be a fantastic medium. Growing up in the town of St. Hilaire, where most residents make their living by speaking to the dead, means there's a lot of competition, and he's always held his own. But Russ knows the town he loves is corrupt, and he's determined to save it before the sinister ruling body, The Guild, ruins all he's ever wanted.
Willow Rodgers is St. Hilaire royalty. An orphan, raised by The Guild, she's powerful and mysterious. But she has secrets that might change everyone's fate. She's done with St. Hilaire, done with helping desperate customers who think mediums work for them. She wants to end the cycle for good and rid the town of ghosts, even if that means destroying the only home she's ever known.
Asher Mullen lost his sister, and his parents can't get over her death. They sought answers in St. Hilaire and were left brokenhearted. Now they want to expose St. Hilaire as a fraud. Asher is tasked with infiltrating the town, and he does that by getting to know Russ. The only problem is, he might be falling for him, which will make betraying Russ that much harder.
Russ, Willow, and Asher all have their own agendas for St. Hilaire, but one thing's for certain, no one will be resting in peace.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published July 5, 2022
22 people are currently reading
2875 people want to read
About the author
Helene Dunbar
9 books297 followersCalled the "queen of heartbreaking prose" by Paste Magazine, Helene Dunbar is the author of WE ARE LOST AND FOUND (Sourcebooks, September 2019), PRELUDE FOR LOST SOULS (August, 2020), and THE PROMISE OF LOST THINGS (2022), as well as BOOMERANG, THESE GENTLE WOUNDS, and WHAT REMAINS. Over the years, she's worked as a drama critic, journalist, and marketing manager, and has written on topics as diverse as traditional Irish music, court cases, and theater. She lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 22, 2022
I wondered if maybe I didn’t like this book because I’m too old for it — but no, that’s not it. I do expect a bit of a different feel from Young Adult fiction, but I’ve read quite a few excellent offerings that appeal to my older self without reservations, so I know it’s not the genre itself that didn’t work for me. In fact, I really liked Helene Dunbar’s We Are Lost and Found, which is why I was curious to try this book. But whatever magic the other one held for me was absent here, sadly.
By 50% in I was bored and irritated, and by the end I was simply disappointed. It wasn’t awful — it was just mediocre and completely forgettable, with very simplistic motivations for both good and bad guys and rather cardboard characters who have to overtly state their reasons and motivations since there’s little subtlety and minimal development. The protagonist is great and lovable because other characters tell us so; his ghost boyfriend is a fiery restless living-on-the-edge (pre-death) person since we are explicitly told so; the potential love interest might as well have worn a name tag identifying him as such; and the villain of the piece spells out out her evil motivations so loud and clear to us so that we have no doubt neither of the villainy nor of its justifications. It’s not just simple but simplistic.
And really, there’s not much interesting happening in the plot itself, and not enough stakes established to make me actually care about the outcome one way or another. The way the big climax of the book occurs is not just anticlimactic but again plainly uninteresting - a whimper of a resolution. And nothing really happened to make me care about the fate of a weird town filled with mediums and facing some vague threat from myth busters — nothing besides the author telling me that it should be saved. But there were no connections formed, nothing to make me root for anything in particular.
Yes, it reads easy enough, and that’s a plus, but it still dragged a lot. Good thing it’s short and while completely lackluster at least not entirely horrible.
2 stars. I’d advise reading Dunbar’s We Are Lost and Found instead.
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Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Also posted on my blog.
By 50% in I was bored and irritated, and by the end I was simply disappointed. It wasn’t awful — it was just mediocre and completely forgettable, with very simplistic motivations for both good and bad guys and rather cardboard characters who have to overtly state their reasons and motivations since there’s little subtlety and minimal development. The protagonist is great and lovable because other characters tell us so; his ghost boyfriend is a fiery restless living-on-the-edge (pre-death) person since we are explicitly told so; the potential love interest might as well have worn a name tag identifying him as such; and the villain of the piece spells out out her evil motivations so loud and clear to us so that we have no doubt neither of the villainy nor of its justifications. It’s not just simple but simplistic.
And really, there’s not much interesting happening in the plot itself, and not enough stakes established to make me actually care about the outcome one way or another. The way the big climax of the book occurs is not just anticlimactic but again plainly uninteresting - a whimper of a resolution. And nothing really happened to make me care about the fate of a weird town filled with mediums and facing some vague threat from myth busters — nothing besides the author telling me that it should be saved. But there were no connections formed, nothing to make me root for anything in particular.
Yes, it reads easy enough, and that’s a plus, but it still dragged a lot. Good thing it’s short and while completely lackluster at least not entirely horrible.
2 stars. I’d advise reading Dunbar’s We Are Lost and Found instead.
—————
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Also posted on my blog.
September 14, 2022
I enjoyed this book. This was a somewhat atmospheric story. The idea of a town full of mediums and ghosts and people who sometimes have other slightly strange abilities is intriguing. The writing was nice and flowed well. The characters weren't too perfect. There was mystery and romance.
However, I feel like this wasn't as emotional as it could've been. The book didn't explore the emotions, didn't delve into them enough. I knew I should be feeling things, and I wanted to, and I felt bad for the characters, but I didn't really feel what they were feeling. Not completely lacking, just not reaching its full potential.
Also, there were things Russ kept sort of referring to, and I didn't understand, I wanted more explanation. There's nothing in the description or on the Goodreads or Amazon page to indicate this is part of a series or connected to another book (at the time of my review, at least), so I didn't realize until I finished that this author has another book set in this town that takes place before this one (Prelude for Lost Souls), mostly about Russ's best friend, but it also includes Russ's POV. I decided to read that one before posting this, in case it explained some things. It doesn't show or explain what Russ and Ian's relationship was like before he died, and it doesn't even touch upon Willow and how she did what she did (I have a lot of questions there). But it does explain some out-of-nowhere thing Ian says about a ghost that was haunting him, and it does answer why Russ stopped talking to Ian a year before he died (in case you want to know without reading that whole book, Ian and Deck didn't get along, and Russ felt like a relationship with Ian was something that had to be all or nothing). And I got to know Russ more, got to see a bit more of what the relationship between him and Ian was like now, and got a bit of background on some events that went down. My conclusion is that this book is readable even without reading Prelude or having answers to the questions I had---I wouldn't say I was confused, more just curious---but it really does connect to this one, and I might've felt more of that emotion I mentioned above if I'd read Prelude first and known Russ better.
Now, about the characters! Russ had a lot on his plate and had at this point essentially lost his mother (who abandoned him), his sorta not-really ex (who died), and his best friend (who left town). He was ambitious with ultimately good end goals but sometimes did risky things for reasons that seemed both right and wrong. Ian was confident and cocky and charismatic, but also sort of manipulative or perhaps just overwhelming, and now shady and mysterious with whatever ghostly stuff he was up to. Asher was sweet and lonely and a good person despite being trapped under his parents' thumb. Willow is another story---not exactly likeable, and, as far as I can tell, not meant to be.
The audiobook narration was nice. I thought all three narrators (Mark Sanderlin for Asher, Alex Boyles for Russ, Chelsea Stephens for Willow) sounded natural and pleasant enough to listen to. I can't actually recall how differently they voiced characters (to differentiate who was speaking), but I never had trouble figuring out who was speaking, so it must've been fine. Strange choice to use a different narrator for Russ than the person who narrated him in Prelude, but *shrug*
Overall, though I do think some things could've been clearer and explored more in-depth, I still enjoyed the flawed but mostly good characters, the idea of an insular little town full of mediums, and the atmospheric story.
*Note: This is connected to another book (Prelude for Lost Souls), and though I think reading that one first may make this one more enjoyable, you don't need to read it to understand this story.*
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Audiobook*
Recommended For:
Fans of Helene Dunbar's Prelude for Lost Souls. Anyone who likes mediums and ghosts, atmospheric books, YA, queer rep, and the "I got close to you for sneaky reasons but oops now I have real feelings" trope.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
However, I feel like this wasn't as emotional as it could've been. The book didn't explore the emotions, didn't delve into them enough. I knew I should be feeling things, and I wanted to, and I felt bad for the characters, but I didn't really feel what they were feeling. Not completely lacking, just not reaching its full potential.
Also, there were things Russ kept sort of referring to, and I didn't understand, I wanted more explanation. There's nothing in the description or on the Goodreads or Amazon page to indicate this is part of a series or connected to another book (at the time of my review, at least), so I didn't realize until I finished that this author has another book set in this town that takes place before this one (Prelude for Lost Souls), mostly about Russ's best friend, but it also includes Russ's POV. I decided to read that one before posting this, in case it explained some things. It doesn't show or explain what Russ and Ian's relationship was like before he died, and it doesn't even touch upon Willow and how she did what she did (I have a lot of questions there). But it does explain some out-of-nowhere thing Ian says about a ghost that was haunting him, and it does answer why Russ stopped talking to Ian a year before he died (in case you want to know without reading that whole book, Ian and Deck didn't get along, and Russ felt like a relationship with Ian was something that had to be all or nothing). And I got to know Russ more, got to see a bit more of what the relationship between him and Ian was like now, and got a bit of background on some events that went down. My conclusion is that this book is readable even without reading Prelude or having answers to the questions I had---I wouldn't say I was confused, more just curious---but it really does connect to this one, and I might've felt more of that emotion I mentioned above if I'd read Prelude first and known Russ better.
Now, about the characters! Russ had a lot on his plate and had at this point essentially lost his mother (who abandoned him), his sorta not-really ex (who died), and his best friend (who left town). He was ambitious with ultimately good end goals but sometimes did risky things for reasons that seemed both right and wrong. Ian was confident and cocky and charismatic, but also sort of manipulative or perhaps just overwhelming, and now shady and mysterious with whatever ghostly stuff he was up to. Asher was sweet and lonely and a good person despite being trapped under his parents' thumb. Willow is another story---not exactly likeable, and, as far as I can tell, not meant to be.
The audiobook narration was nice. I thought all three narrators (Mark Sanderlin for Asher, Alex Boyles for Russ, Chelsea Stephens for Willow) sounded natural and pleasant enough to listen to. I can't actually recall how differently they voiced characters (to differentiate who was speaking), but I never had trouble figuring out who was speaking, so it must've been fine. Strange choice to use a different narrator for Russ than the person who narrated him in Prelude, but *shrug*
Overall, though I do think some things could've been clearer and explored more in-depth, I still enjoyed the flawed but mostly good characters, the idea of an insular little town full of mediums, and the atmospheric story.
*Note: This is connected to another book (Prelude for Lost Souls), and though I think reading that one first may make this one more enjoyable, you don't need to read it to understand this story.*
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Audiobook*
Recommended For:
Fans of Helene Dunbar's Prelude for Lost Souls. Anyone who likes mediums and ghosts, atmospheric books, YA, queer rep, and the "I got close to you for sneaky reasons but oops now I have real feelings" trope.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
did-not-finish
July 9, 2022EDIT: Wait, is this book part of a series? I see other reviews mentioning that this book is a continuation of Prelude for Lost Souls, which I haven’t read. Maybe that’s why I struggled to get into this one. To be fair, if this is a sequel, it’s not stated anywhere in the book’s marketing that I can see.
DNF @ roughly 50%. I really, really wanted to like this book. But of the three POV characters, only one felt well-rounded. Another fell into my pet peeve trope of “dispassionate smart teen who thinks all emotions are a plague.” I went to a high school for nerd kids and can assure you that smart teenagers are just as emotional as everyone else. The head and the heart are not mutually exclusive.
Aside from that, I just had a hard time…caring? I’m not sure why. In theory, this book should work. The three main characters have goals that sometimes conflict, sometimes converge, which causes them to connect and cross paths in a variety of ways. Maybe I struggled with the writing style, which is heavy on telling and light on showing. Almost everything is stated outright, which makes it hard for me to feel invested.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing an ARC.
DNF @ roughly 50%. I really, really wanted to like this book. But of the three POV characters, only one felt well-rounded. Another fell into my pet peeve trope of “dispassionate smart teen who thinks all emotions are a plague.” I went to a high school for nerd kids and can assure you that smart teenagers are just as emotional as everyone else. The head and the heart are not mutually exclusive.
Aside from that, I just had a hard time…caring? I’m not sure why. In theory, this book should work. The three main characters have goals that sometimes conflict, sometimes converge, which causes them to connect and cross paths in a variety of ways. Maybe I struggled with the writing style, which is heavy on telling and light on showing. Almost everything is stated outright, which makes it hard for me to feel invested.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing an ARC.
July 17, 2022
5 stars and a heavy recommendation for The Promise of Lost Things. Thank you to the Publisher for providing a widget via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The town of St. Hilaire has a strict policy about its residents, at least one family member must possess the abilities of a medium. Russ Griffin is a senior in high school and essentially interning at the town guild, a job that has been made harder by the ghost of his former fling lingering around. When a TV series claiming to bust open fraudulent hauntings/mediums how will Russ help the town handle the threats these newcomers pose to him home, or will he find corruption runs even deeper than original thought?
This story has three main characters, all three of which play a massive role in the events that unfold throughout the novel. Willow, a strong headed powerful medium, has different ideas of what St. Hilaire should be and how spirits should be handled. She is someone who keeps you guessing to what lengths she is truly willing to go in order to see her ideas come to light. Asher, the son of the hosts of the TV series Ghost Killers, has been tasked to find an in for the show in St. Hilaire. This poor kid has a lot of responsibility thrust upon him by his grieving parents, it's almost criminal how his parents treat him. Russ himself is skating down a dangerous path of possible addiction which was a nice change of pace for a main. Often in novels we see close friends or relatives dealing with addiction, but to feel it through the main and his struggle with what he felt was right makes him super relatable.
5 stars for this reading(see what I did there?!). Recommended for ages 13+ as some mature themes are present, but nothing graphic or inappropriate. Pick this one up if you love a good ghost story, medium story, if you're a fan of Ghost Adventures, or if you're in the mood for a quick read that will keep you turning pages.
The town of St. Hilaire has a strict policy about its residents, at least one family member must possess the abilities of a medium. Russ Griffin is a senior in high school and essentially interning at the town guild, a job that has been made harder by the ghost of his former fling lingering around. When a TV series claiming to bust open fraudulent hauntings/mediums how will Russ help the town handle the threats these newcomers pose to him home, or will he find corruption runs even deeper than original thought?
This story has three main characters, all three of which play a massive role in the events that unfold throughout the novel. Willow, a strong headed powerful medium, has different ideas of what St. Hilaire should be and how spirits should be handled. She is someone who keeps you guessing to what lengths she is truly willing to go in order to see her ideas come to light. Asher, the son of the hosts of the TV series Ghost Killers, has been tasked to find an in for the show in St. Hilaire. This poor kid has a lot of responsibility thrust upon him by his grieving parents, it's almost criminal how his parents treat him. Russ himself is skating down a dangerous path of possible addiction which was a nice change of pace for a main. Often in novels we see close friends or relatives dealing with addiction, but to feel it through the main and his struggle with what he felt was right makes him super relatable.
5 stars for this reading(see what I did there?!). Recommended for ages 13+ as some mature themes are present, but nothing graphic or inappropriate. Pick this one up if you love a good ghost story, medium story, if you're a fan of Ghost Adventures, or if you're in the mood for a quick read that will keep you turning pages.
July 4, 2022
I've been so looking forward to this book, ever since reading Prelude for Lost Souls in 2020- that was one of my gems of the year.
While some things carry over/continue from Prelude for Lost Souls, The Promise of Lost Things could stand on its own- although I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to read Prelude for Lost Souls first- I think it would add even more meaning to this story.
This was a little more twisty-turny than I expected, with multiple storylines all kind of converging at the end.
Russ was such an endearing character, I just wanted to give him hugs and tell him things would be okay. I felt like he had such a weight on his shoulders for one so young and it made my heart hurt for him. He really seemed to love St. Hilaire, wanting what was best for it while trying to figure out just what that was, with the help of Ian Mackenzie, the golden boy who died too soon.
I liked that we finally got the answer to what exactly happened to Ian, and I have to say that was quite surprising. There were a few surprises to this book, that kept me on the edge of my seat for most of it.
I did end up shedding a few tears, which I guess isn't that surprising for me!
While The Promise of Lost Things seems to have wrapped up the story for St. Hilaire, I can always hope for more!
While some things carry over/continue from Prelude for Lost Souls, The Promise of Lost Things could stand on its own- although I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to read Prelude for Lost Souls first- I think it would add even more meaning to this story.
This was a little more twisty-turny than I expected, with multiple storylines all kind of converging at the end.
Russ was such an endearing character, I just wanted to give him hugs and tell him things would be okay. I felt like he had such a weight on his shoulders for one so young and it made my heart hurt for him. He really seemed to love St. Hilaire, wanting what was best for it while trying to figure out just what that was, with the help of Ian Mackenzie, the golden boy who died too soon.
I liked that we finally got the answer to what exactly happened to Ian, and I have to say that was quite surprising. There were a few surprises to this book, that kept me on the edge of my seat for most of it.
I did end up shedding a few tears, which I guess isn't that surprising for me!
While The Promise of Lost Things seems to have wrapped up the story for St. Hilaire, I can always hope for more!
September 3, 2022
solid book, characters were nice.
hit close home because beat up chevys and ghosts remind me of supernatural (&I'm currently watching) so yea fun stuff<3
hit close home because beat up chevys and ghosts remind me of supernatural (&I'm currently watching) so yea fun stuff<3
July 27, 2022
No one rests in peace here...
Welcome to St. Hilaire, a town where the dead never rests. In a town full of mediums, ghosts are called upon on a daily basis. Mediumship has become the main source of income for the town, pitting the residents against each other as they compete for business. Russ longs to be a good medium, and wants to make a good living while truly helping people. The is run by The Guild, a corrupt organization that trains young mediums and places special focus on the most promising students. Willow is one of the most powerful students among them, but she's tires of being a medium and wants to purge St. Hilaire of all ghosts, even if it leaves her town in financial ruin. Asher is grieving his sister's death, and is devastated when he and his parents have no luck with a medium in St. Hilaire. His parents are furious and ask Asher to help get dirt on the town, so he strikes up a friendship with Russ. When Asher begins to develop feelings for Russ, he's no longer sure he wants to go through with his parents' plan to take St. Hilaire down. As Russ, Willow, and Asher's intentions for the town intertwine into one big flurry of high emotions and severed bonds, could this be the end of the town after all?
This ghost story was very interesting and grabbed my attention right away. There were a lot of shady things happening in St. Hilaire and I was living for the drama. I couldn't wait to find out how everything would turn out at the end. I listened to the audiobook as well, and I really enjoyed the different narrators and I felt they portrayed their respective characters perfectly. I honestly shipped Russ and Asher despite the way their friendship started. I would recommend this YA novel to anyone who loves dramatic fiction with a touch of romance!
Welcome to St. Hilaire, a town where the dead never rests. In a town full of mediums, ghosts are called upon on a daily basis. Mediumship has become the main source of income for the town, pitting the residents against each other as they compete for business. Russ longs to be a good medium, and wants to make a good living while truly helping people. The is run by The Guild, a corrupt organization that trains young mediums and places special focus on the most promising students. Willow is one of the most powerful students among them, but she's tires of being a medium and wants to purge St. Hilaire of all ghosts, even if it leaves her town in financial ruin. Asher is grieving his sister's death, and is devastated when he and his parents have no luck with a medium in St. Hilaire. His parents are furious and ask Asher to help get dirt on the town, so he strikes up a friendship with Russ. When Asher begins to develop feelings for Russ, he's no longer sure he wants to go through with his parents' plan to take St. Hilaire down. As Russ, Willow, and Asher's intentions for the town intertwine into one big flurry of high emotions and severed bonds, could this be the end of the town after all?
This ghost story was very interesting and grabbed my attention right away. There were a lot of shady things happening in St. Hilaire and I was living for the drama. I couldn't wait to find out how everything would turn out at the end. I listened to the audiobook as well, and I really enjoyed the different narrators and I felt they portrayed their respective characters perfectly. I honestly shipped Russ and Asher despite the way their friendship started. I would recommend this YA novel to anyone who loves dramatic fiction with a touch of romance!
September 28, 2022
Okay. I’m really glad that I continued on to read the next book. I laughed, I cried, I felt the pain and hope and confusion the characters felt. That was not at all what I expected but it was beautifully written. It was still written with the connected mysteries of people, plans, and life, but it was so much better.
And I was so happy to see Russ getting better at the end. I’m a little sad Dec wasn’t in it more, and I wish that would’ve been explored more. Seemed like their friendship was hardly a friendship, and I was hoping Dec came back after everything had happened. Oh well, maybe a third one with some more romantic tension???? Who knows, either way, all I want is Russ Griffin to be happy, healthy, and heal. That emo boy has my HEART.
And I was so happy to see Russ getting better at the end. I’m a little sad Dec wasn’t in it more, and I wish that would’ve been explored more. Seemed like their friendship was hardly a friendship, and I was hoping Dec came back after everything had happened. Oh well, maybe a third one with some more romantic tension???? Who knows, either way, all I want is Russ Griffin to be happy, healthy, and heal. That emo boy has my HEART.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive a copy from netgalley for this review
Upon reading the blurb, the thing that interested me most about this book was that I got a feeling that it reminded me slightly of the Witch Eyes series by Scott Tracey. That immediately drew me to the book because I love the Witch Eyes trilogy, but I wasn't sure if the feeling would carry over to the book proper.
I'm happy to say that it did, slightly at least. I love books that are set in weird small towns filled with magic and a dark underbelly, which is exactly what St. Hilaire is. I enjoyed the dichotomy of the two towns and the sort of class warfare between certain aspects of both.
I really enjoyed Russ, he was a very good, sympathetic character as our eyes into St. Hilaire and someone who wants desperately to change it. Willow was OK, though I felt she was a bit of a typical version of her character archetype.
The standout for me though was Asher, I loved him and his conflicted motivations and the way his backstory played into everything he did.
I'm not sure if this is being set up as a series, as I felt the ending was pretty well tied up, but if it does I'll certainly be interested in the next one.
Upon reading the blurb, the thing that interested me most about this book was that I got a feeling that it reminded me slightly of the Witch Eyes series by Scott Tracey. That immediately drew me to the book because I love the Witch Eyes trilogy, but I wasn't sure if the feeling would carry over to the book proper.
I'm happy to say that it did, slightly at least. I love books that are set in weird small towns filled with magic and a dark underbelly, which is exactly what St. Hilaire is. I enjoyed the dichotomy of the two towns and the sort of class warfare between certain aspects of both.
I really enjoyed Russ, he was a very good, sympathetic character as our eyes into St. Hilaire and someone who wants desperately to change it. Willow was OK, though I felt she was a bit of a typical version of her character archetype.
The standout for me though was Asher, I loved him and his conflicted motivations and the way his backstory played into everything he did.
I'm not sure if this is being set up as a series, as I felt the ending was pretty well tied up, but if it does I'll certainly be interested in the next one.
June 21, 2024
This review is just to help me remember key points about the book. If you find it helpful or relatable that's cool too.
Pride Month Edition 🏳️🌈
"I'd never realized before that it was as easy — easier maybe — to be haunted by people who were still living, than it was by those who had died."
3 Stars ⭐️
A nice easy read. It did what it said on the tin. I don't particularly understand the relevance of the title but I'm sure it's clever.
Pride Month Edition 🏳️🌈
"I'd never realized before that it was as easy — easier maybe — to be haunted by people who were still living, than it was by those who had died."
3 Stars ⭐️
A nice easy read. It did what it said on the tin. I don't particularly understand the relevance of the title but I'm sure it's clever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2023
Hard to follow in the beginning and I think the multiple perspectives didn't help the story. 2.75/5 stars
January 25, 2023
The book that got me into reading again
August 1, 2024
i’m sobbing in my office no one look at me
March 31, 2022
So a big thank you to netgalley.com and the publisher for the pre-published copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Russ Griffin is a Medium living in a town full of Mediums. They all talk to the dead. His boyfriend, Ian, died last year and Russ is the only one that can summon Ian, much to the chagrin of Willow, one of the most powerful mediums in town, who was friends with Ian and who is now Russ’ teacher. Willow has plans for the future of their town of St. Hilaire, but so does Ian. Russ is just along for the ride, but when he answers an ad for a used car, Russ meets Asher. Asher’s parents are out to debunk all those that prey on the week minded and claim that ghosts are real. They created a show long ago called Ghost Killers. But Asher really only wants to get close to Russ, even if his parents want him to discover more about the town of Mediums. But these teens are in for a world of crazy when they hold a séance to introduce Ian to the world.
Straight up I had no clue this was going to end the way it did. The first part of the book took me a while to get into it, but by the end I actually said, what did I just read? I enjoyed the book, even with all the typos I caught through the pre-pub copy. This had me thinking of the tv show supernatural, if the show weren't so scary. All in all a book that made me sit down and think after it all came to a conclusion, and boy did it take me where I never saw coming. Ian is really good at secrets. But I will say this, I wish I knew more about the events that lead up to Ian’s death in the beginning of the book. I think that would have helped a lot with the slow start.
Russ Griffin is a Medium living in a town full of Mediums. They all talk to the dead. His boyfriend, Ian, died last year and Russ is the only one that can summon Ian, much to the chagrin of Willow, one of the most powerful mediums in town, who was friends with Ian and who is now Russ’ teacher. Willow has plans for the future of their town of St. Hilaire, but so does Ian. Russ is just along for the ride, but when he answers an ad for a used car, Russ meets Asher. Asher’s parents are out to debunk all those that prey on the week minded and claim that ghosts are real. They created a show long ago called Ghost Killers. But Asher really only wants to get close to Russ, even if his parents want him to discover more about the town of Mediums. But these teens are in for a world of crazy when they hold a séance to introduce Ian to the world.
Straight up I had no clue this was going to end the way it did. The first part of the book took me a while to get into it, but by the end I actually said, what did I just read? I enjoyed the book, even with all the typos I caught through the pre-pub copy. This had me thinking of the tv show supernatural, if the show weren't so scary. All in all a book that made me sit down and think after it all came to a conclusion, and boy did it take me where I never saw coming. Ian is really good at secrets. But I will say this, I wish I knew more about the events that lead up to Ian’s death in the beginning of the book. I think that would have helped a lot with the slow start.
March 24, 2022
I was really looking forward to reading this because I'd liked Prelude for Lost Souls, so I'm very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this arc for my review.
I'd say this was an alright addition to the story of St. Hillaire that started in Prelude for Lost Souls. I wasn't wowed, but I had a good time reading nonetheless. I'll admit that the multiple POVs kind of drove me away at first because I couldn't really remember the plot of Prelude, but I started to remember some things about a third of the way through. Russ deserved to have more character development, though. So did Ian. If the entire purpose of Russ's plan was to change the town for the better, show us that. The I just wanted more out of it I guess. I'm not disappointed to have read this, but I don't think I'll remember much of it.
I'd say this was an alright addition to the story of St. Hillaire that started in Prelude for Lost Souls. I wasn't wowed, but I had a good time reading nonetheless. I'll admit that the multiple POVs kind of drove me away at first because I couldn't really remember the plot of Prelude, but I started to remember some things about a third of the way through. Russ deserved to have more character development, though. So did Ian. If the entire purpose of Russ's plan was to change the town for the better, show us that. The I just wanted more out of it I guess. I'm not disappointed to have read this, but I don't think I'll remember much of it.
March 16, 2022
I seem to be picking up a lot of books with ghosts in them lately (not literally) and it's been a bit hit and miss. This one just scrapes in at a three out of five for me. It has some redeeming features such as examining the motives behind why each of the characters carried out certain actions and creating two main characters who both had faults but were still likeable. But for me the pace wasn't fast enough and there was a lot of introspection. I found the concept of a ghost who can touch people too far from the usual portrayal of ghosts. Then there was the use of "serums" and herbs which was all too similar to intravenous drug use for my liking.
A lot of teens may enjoy this, probably around the 14 or 15 age bracket, but it just didn't work for me.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
A lot of teens may enjoy this, probably around the 14 or 15 age bracket, but it just didn't work for me.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 5, 2023
I loved it. Review TBA.
August 22, 2022
After finishing The Promise of Lost Things, I realised it continued the story started in Prelude for Lost Souls (2020) but I didn’t feel like I had missed anything which held the story back and the novel read fine as a standalone story. The setting was outstanding, a strange small town called St. Hilaire, where everybody living there are Mediums and make their money contacting the dead for tourists in holiday season. However, the town has its own weird rules, rituals and lives in its own bubble and has an odd relationship with the outside world. Some believe the mediums are authentic, whilst others think they are fake, whilst the town likes to play both sides against each other. But in the background there is a powerful Guild which pulls the strings and early on we are introduced to the ‘Rules of Conduct for Mediums’ and quickly we realise ghosts are indeed real as the main character spends most of his time with one! The Promise of Lost Things obviously provides more depth to a cleverly drawn setting in the previous novel.
Although it was a very entertaining novel and has a very clever plot it lacked scares and considering the number of ghosts in the book it could have had more chills. It also has a convincing LGBTQ+ story which develops as things move on, but never particularly dominates which was a nice touch. The story is told from three points of view, Russ, Asher and Willow. Russ is a Medium of average power who sees the ghost of his dead boyfriend Ian (a powerful Medium), Asher an outsider who is trying to understand the truth of the town and Willow a powerful Medium who is a member of the Guild and has her own agenda. In the background the parents of Asher are television personalities who debunk the supernatural and are hoping to dish the dirt on the town of St. Hilaire, should they find a way it. The novel twists around these various plotlines and although it was enjoyable I thought it could still have had a stronger central story than the television thread. Considering the central characters did not spend much time together the friendship of Russ and Asher moved along nicely, with Asher plotting in the background. AGE RANGE 13+
Although it was a very entertaining novel and has a very clever plot it lacked scares and considering the number of ghosts in the book it could have had more chills. It also has a convincing LGBTQ+ story which develops as things move on, but never particularly dominates which was a nice touch. The story is told from three points of view, Russ, Asher and Willow. Russ is a Medium of average power who sees the ghost of his dead boyfriend Ian (a powerful Medium), Asher an outsider who is trying to understand the truth of the town and Willow a powerful Medium who is a member of the Guild and has her own agenda. In the background the parents of Asher are television personalities who debunk the supernatural and are hoping to dish the dirt on the town of St. Hilaire, should they find a way it. The novel twists around these various plotlines and although it was enjoyable I thought it could still have had a stronger central story than the television thread. Considering the central characters did not spend much time together the friendship of Russ and Asher moved along nicely, with Asher plotting in the background. AGE RANGE 13+
July 5, 2022
This book has the same setting and many of the same characters as Prelude for Lost Souls, but is more of a companion novel and can easily be read as a standalone. Still, I’d recommend reading Prelude first.
Russ was my favorite character in Prelude for Lost Souls, so I was thrilled to see him return. He’s feeling the stress in this story – trying to covertly take down The Guild, missing best friend Dec, dealing with his boyfriend/ghost Ian, and carrying the responsibilities of youth counsel leader. Abandoned by his mother a few years ago, Russ and his father are also struggling to make ends meet. Although he may not make the best choices sometimes, Russ’s intentions are pure, and he and Ian only want to save St. Hilaire from the corrupt Guild. When alive, Ian was a powerful medium who enjoyed being the center of attention and maybe flaunted his power occasionally. The Guild is still intent on using him to their advantage, and Russ is now the only person who can summon him.
Asher’s situation broke my heart, and I wanted to reach through the pages and just hug him. After losing his sister in a tragic accident, he’s still grieving and is all but ignored by his parents. With the family moving so often because of his parents’ jobs, he has no friends and is excited at the thought of making one after he meets Russ. Asher’s parents are the hosts of a Ghost Hunters-type show and intent on proving the town of mediums are frauds. Willow is an ambitious girl who has plans for her future and St. Hilaire, and her motives are always suspect.
POVs alternate between Russ, Asher, and Willow, and Ian also has his say in one very revealing chapter. Conflicting agendas, misunderstandings, and story lines converge at an unexpected and somewhat bittersweet ending, but it’s perfect and hopeful. If you’re a supernatural/paranormal fan, I’d recommend both books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Russ was my favorite character in Prelude for Lost Souls, so I was thrilled to see him return. He’s feeling the stress in this story – trying to covertly take down The Guild, missing best friend Dec, dealing with his boyfriend/ghost Ian, and carrying the responsibilities of youth counsel leader. Abandoned by his mother a few years ago, Russ and his father are also struggling to make ends meet. Although he may not make the best choices sometimes, Russ’s intentions are pure, and he and Ian only want to save St. Hilaire from the corrupt Guild. When alive, Ian was a powerful medium who enjoyed being the center of attention and maybe flaunted his power occasionally. The Guild is still intent on using him to their advantage, and Russ is now the only person who can summon him.
Asher’s situation broke my heart, and I wanted to reach through the pages and just hug him. After losing his sister in a tragic accident, he’s still grieving and is all but ignored by his parents. With the family moving so often because of his parents’ jobs, he has no friends and is excited at the thought of making one after he meets Russ. Asher’s parents are the hosts of a Ghost Hunters-type show and intent on proving the town of mediums are frauds. Willow is an ambitious girl who has plans for her future and St. Hilaire, and her motives are always suspect.
POVs alternate between Russ, Asher, and Willow, and Ian also has his say in one very revealing chapter. Conflicting agendas, misunderstandings, and story lines converge at an unexpected and somewhat bittersweet ending, but it’s perfect and hopeful. If you’re a supernatural/paranormal fan, I’d recommend both books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Read
September 22, 2022I'm not sure why this isn't being marketed as a companion novel or series continuation to Prelude for Lost Souls, but it needs to be. While I'm sure this could be read as a standalone, it is certainly much better after having read Prelude.
Prelude introduces you to St. Hilaire and the Guild and even our main MC, Russ. I definitely liked this one a bit more than the Prelude. It's still a bit stilted at time, but as a whole, it's a good spooky queer book that has a ghost boyfriend in it.
Basically, Russ lives in St. Hilaire, a town full of mediums who contact the dead. He is the leader of the youth group of mediums that every high school senior is required to join. Russ is trying to change the framework of the Guild, the governing body of the town and his ghost boyfriend is gonna help him do it.
Then we have Willow, who is the daughter of the leader of the guild. She is radical and wants to do the opposite is Russ and Ian. She's determined to "take back her town" and will stop at nothing, not even a pesky ghost or two.
Lastly, we have Asher, the son of parents who create a show dedicated to discrediting ghost stories. After the sudden and unexpected death of his sister, Asher's parent's view about ghosts takes a turn. They still want to discredit St.Hilaire but they also are desperate to speak to their daughter again.
I mostly just wish this was a bit longer. I wanted them all to have more time to develop and get readers invested. I definitely recommend reading Prelude for Lost Souls which features a famous Russian pianist, a kid with dead parents who wants to leave St. hilaire at any cost, and the ghost that has been his "imaginary" friend for ever. Not to mention a haunted piano and piece of music.
Both Russ and Asher are queer but it's not specified on page an exact label for either.
Prelude introduces you to St. Hilaire and the Guild and even our main MC, Russ. I definitely liked this one a bit more than the Prelude. It's still a bit stilted at time, but as a whole, it's a good spooky queer book that has a ghost boyfriend in it.
Basically, Russ lives in St. Hilaire, a town full of mediums who contact the dead. He is the leader of the youth group of mediums that every high school senior is required to join. Russ is trying to change the framework of the Guild, the governing body of the town and his ghost boyfriend is gonna help him do it.
Then we have Willow, who is the daughter of the leader of the guild. She is radical and wants to do the opposite is Russ and Ian. She's determined to "take back her town" and will stop at nothing, not even a pesky ghost or two.
Lastly, we have Asher, the son of parents who create a show dedicated to discrediting ghost stories. After the sudden and unexpected death of his sister, Asher's parent's view about ghosts takes a turn. They still want to discredit St.Hilaire but they also are desperate to speak to their daughter again.
I mostly just wish this was a bit longer. I wanted them all to have more time to develop and get readers invested. I definitely recommend reading Prelude for Lost Souls which features a famous Russian pianist, a kid with dead parents who wants to leave St. hilaire at any cost, and the ghost that has been his "imaginary" friend for ever. Not to mention a haunted piano and piece of music.
Both Russ and Asher are queer but it's not specified on page an exact label for either.
June 23, 2022
I read this ARC via Netgalley.
Russ has the ability to see ghosts, but he lives in St. Hilaire, a town where almost everyone has this ability. The closed-knit town has a long history and complicated governance, and he's being trained by recent graduate Willow as head of the student psychic council. Russ also has the unique ability to see Ian, a rising star among St. Hilaire's mediums who died recently... mostly because Ian and Russ had a relationship. When a pair of ghost hunters arrives and wants to discredit the town, Russ finds himself in the middle between feelings for the son of the ghost hunting team, Asher, Willow's drive for power, both wanting to protect the town and change its archaic ways, and his feelings for Ian.
Last year I read and absolutely loved We Are Lost and Found. I keep meaning to read the author's other books, so when I saw this on Netgalley I snapped it up. While I didn't love the writing as much as I did in We Are Lost and Found, there were some lovely moments and I loved Russ's relationships with both Ian and Asher. The idea of a town of psychic mediums was really intriguing and I would have loved a bit more worldbuilding around that as much of the story is focused on the relationships. Willow's point of view didn't do much for me, especially since her voice seemed to disappear at the end when I would have expected more fight from her at the climax. Honestly, there was a lot going on in this story and I also would have liked the ghosthunter angle to be played up a bit more as well, with some closure around Mari, but overall I enjoyed it.
Russ has the ability to see ghosts, but he lives in St. Hilaire, a town where almost everyone has this ability. The closed-knit town has a long history and complicated governance, and he's being trained by recent graduate Willow as head of the student psychic council. Russ also has the unique ability to see Ian, a rising star among St. Hilaire's mediums who died recently... mostly because Ian and Russ had a relationship. When a pair of ghost hunters arrives and wants to discredit the town, Russ finds himself in the middle between feelings for the son of the ghost hunting team, Asher, Willow's drive for power, both wanting to protect the town and change its archaic ways, and his feelings for Ian.
Last year I read and absolutely loved We Are Lost and Found. I keep meaning to read the author's other books, so when I saw this on Netgalley I snapped it up. While I didn't love the writing as much as I did in We Are Lost and Found, there were some lovely moments and I loved Russ's relationships with both Ian and Asher. The idea of a town of psychic mediums was really intriguing and I would have loved a bit more worldbuilding around that as much of the story is focused on the relationships. Willow's point of view didn't do much for me, especially since her voice seemed to disappear at the end when I would have expected more fight from her at the climax. Honestly, there was a lot going on in this story and I also would have liked the ghosthunter angle to be played up a bit more as well, with some closure around Mari, but overall I enjoyed it.
May 26, 2022
I had really high hopes for this book. I mean, a town full of mediums and people with ulterior motives? Sounds perfect!
But I think the execution was anything but.
I really loved "We're Lost And Found" by Helene Dunbar and was expecting the same from this novel which I got, in terms of writing but unfortunately, not in other things like storytelling and characters or the plot.
I found out there was another book by the author with the same setting and one of the MCs, "Prelude for Lost Souls" and even though I didn't love the plot of that one either, I was hoping this one will be great.
You don't really have to read that one before reading this one though, I didn't feel there was anything readers ought to know before this one.
It was also sort of disappointing that even though Russ and Dec are supposed to be best friends and Russ even had feelings for Dec in the first book, he doesn't show up much in this book as Russ seems to have completely moved on in favor of Ian and Asher.
It also didn't help that most of this book seemed to just be in the characters' heads with little contact with other people. I would've DNFed it if I didn't enjoy the writing style and the first 50-60 pages.
I think people looking for one-time reads with ghost town settings might still enjoy this book.
But I think the execution was anything but.
I really loved "We're Lost And Found" by Helene Dunbar and was expecting the same from this novel which I got, in terms of writing but unfortunately, not in other things like storytelling and characters or the plot.
I found out there was another book by the author with the same setting and one of the MCs, "Prelude for Lost Souls" and even though I didn't love the plot of that one either, I was hoping this one will be great.
You don't really have to read that one before reading this one though, I didn't feel there was anything readers ought to know before this one.
It was also sort of disappointing that even though Russ and Dec are supposed to be best friends and Russ even had feelings for Dec in the first book, he doesn't show up much in this book as Russ seems to have completely moved on in favor of Ian and Asher.
It also didn't help that most of this book seemed to just be in the characters' heads with little contact with other people. I would've DNFed it if I didn't enjoy the writing style and the first 50-60 pages.
I think people looking for one-time reads with ghost town settings might still enjoy this book.
June 27, 2022
Netgalley provided me a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am always excited to see another Helene Dunbar release, and I'm even more excited when I can get my hands on an ARC. Her stories are always full of heart and emotion and leave me feeling like I've taken a journey.
This one is missing a little of that spark. I'm not sure if it's the supernatural elements (which I wasn't expecting but which I grew to like more and more as the story went on) or the multiple perspectives (I feel like Willow's nefarious plans would have had more impact if we hadn't learned about them along the way). I also didn't particularly feel the spark between Asher and Russ and felt like their scenes together dragged the story down--though that might be how much I adored Ian.
While I was satisfied wit how this one wrapped up, I also felt the ending was rushed--particularly considering there was so much build up to the confrontation with the Ghost Killers crew and then the whole thing lasted only a few paragraphs. I think I just needed a little more of everything: more Ian, more explanation/background regarding the Guild and St. Hilaire, and more excitement overall.
I am always excited to see another Helene Dunbar release, and I'm even more excited when I can get my hands on an ARC. Her stories are always full of heart and emotion and leave me feeling like I've taken a journey.
This one is missing a little of that spark. I'm not sure if it's the supernatural elements (which I wasn't expecting but which I grew to like more and more as the story went on) or the multiple perspectives (I feel like Willow's nefarious plans would have had more impact if we hadn't learned about them along the way). I also didn't particularly feel the spark between Asher and Russ and felt like their scenes together dragged the story down--though that might be how much I adored Ian.
While I was satisfied wit how this one wrapped up, I also felt the ending was rushed--particularly considering there was so much build up to the confrontation with the Ghost Killers crew and then the whole thing lasted only a few paragraphs. I think I just needed a little more of everything: more Ian, more explanation/background regarding the Guild and St. Hilaire, and more excitement overall.
August 23, 2022
it was an okay read! i did actually shed a few tears at the end at some of the dialogue between a few characters, which kind of caught me off guard because, overall, i did find the characters to be pretty one dimensional.
i'm usually fine with alternating povs between chapters, but i did find this one a bit odd because it set me up to suspect that but that didn't happen. maybe i would have known that had i read the book that preceded this one: a prelude to lost souls.
i did really like asher, but—again—relatively flat as far as characters go. another reviewer made a good point in noting that it felt as though ... very little actually happened and the stakes were too low to really care too deeply about how things panned out. i also found the whole passage of time kind of murky and unclear.
regardless, it was still a decent read, and my mouth did actually fall open a bit when the concept itself was fairly interesting, and i'd be interested to see how the author's style and character work grows in any future releases (st. hilaire related or not).
i'm usually fine with alternating povs between chapters, but i did find this one a bit odd because it set me up to suspect that but that didn't happen. maybe i would have known that had i read the book that preceded this one: a prelude to lost souls.
i did really like asher, but—again—relatively flat as far as characters go. another reviewer made a good point in noting that it felt as though ... very little actually happened and the stakes were too low to really care too deeply about how things panned out. i also found the whole passage of time kind of murky and unclear.
regardless, it was still a decent read, and my mouth did actually fall open a bit when the concept itself was fairly interesting, and i'd be interested to see how the author's style and character work grows in any future releases (st. hilaire related or not).
done-with
June 16, 2022Okay I really don't like when authors and / or NetGalley don't tell you that a book is a part of a series or companion novel. Despite the mention of Saint Hilaire, I did not make the connection to Prelude for Lost Souls based on the description alone (I read it on here when it came out). I was immediately drawn to the premise of that one, as to the premise of this one, but found the execution not quite what I expected and not as satisfying as I'd hoped - which is ultimately where The Promise of Lost Things netted out for me as well.
When I started this one things felt familiar in a way that I couldn't put my finger on until I looked up the author and realized this is a companion novel to Prelude, at which point I immediately recognized the familiarity - and groaned. Challenges I felt with the earlier novel were, for me, repeated here. I couldn't connect to the characters. The premise felt forced, as did the plot direction and resolution. This is just not a world for me...
There is nothing inherently wrong or that I can put my finger on as being the problem - for some reason this universe just doesn't resonate with me.
When I started this one things felt familiar in a way that I couldn't put my finger on until I looked up the author and realized this is a companion novel to Prelude, at which point I immediately recognized the familiarity - and groaned. Challenges I felt with the earlier novel were, for me, repeated here. I couldn't connect to the characters. The premise felt forced, as did the plot direction and resolution. This is just not a world for me...
There is nothing inherently wrong or that I can put my finger on as being the problem - for some reason this universe just doesn't resonate with me.
June 6, 2022
A mix of paranormal and teen angst finds its way in a squabble between believers and non-believers united in loss. A small town governed by its own and led by a powerful guild exists to service nearby communities in a need to communicate with the dead. Russ is caught in a power struggle between his now dead boyfriend Ian who is haunting him and no one else and the Guild who demand strict adherence to their rules in the town. The town's income depends on the services of mediums so when a ghost debunking tv show wants to film there it creates havoc. Some in town want to show that they are real and the income won't hurt but others feel that it is a bad idea and they have to insure that Ian as a ghost will cooperate. Russ gets further pulled in when he befriends a guy from the next town over whose family is none other than the ghost debunker show hosts. Politics , ghosts, revenge and teens trying to find their way in life and love all play a major role. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
March 12, 2025
The Promise of Lost Things, by Helene Dunbar, is the second book in the Prelude for Lost Souls series, the first of which is Prelude for Lost Souls. Being a medium is a large part of Russ's life, and he's excited to take on more of a leadership role in his community. But he starts falling for outsider Asher, not knowing that Asher is there to help create an expose on the whole community. And there's more going on in the community's politics than is first apparent. When typing up this review just now, I discovered this was the second book in the series. This would have been good to know and likely helps explain why the worldbuilding seemed a little underbaked. I also would have appreciated more fleshing out of Willow's history, perspective, and motivations. But if you're looking for an Achillic paranoramal romance that includes overthrowing the corrupt authority, this will work perfectly well--but maybe start with Book 1.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this book...
The good things are : I love the vibes! Haunted town, haunted boy and a new mysterious guy in town, plus curious girl. Each three has their own agenda. Four, if you included the (ex)boyfriend ghost. I enjoyed these characters and their personalities. My fav is Asher! I just love him, such poor soul. The aesthetic of dark, mysterious, eerie, haunted town is spot on.
The bad things are : The story started of rather strongly. First few chapters was great, but then things are somewhat patchy. I am the type of reader who enjoys a lot of POVs, but sometimes several POV didn't work out, like in this case. It was confusing at times, and I think it's one of the reason this book somewhat fails to deliver it's beautiful original idea perfectly. Such shame!
Overall, it was a decent read. Such great aesthetic and promising start, but the middle part just didn't cut it for me.
The good things are : I love the vibes! Haunted town, haunted boy and a new mysterious guy in town, plus curious girl. Each three has their own agenda. Four, if you included the (ex)boyfriend ghost. I enjoyed these characters and their personalities. My fav is Asher! I just love him, such poor soul. The aesthetic of dark, mysterious, eerie, haunted town is spot on.
The bad things are : The story started of rather strongly. First few chapters was great, but then things are somewhat patchy. I am the type of reader who enjoys a lot of POVs, but sometimes several POV didn't work out, like in this case. It was confusing at times, and I think it's one of the reason this book somewhat fails to deliver it's beautiful original idea perfectly. Such shame!
Overall, it was a decent read. Such great aesthetic and promising start, but the middle part just didn't cut it for me.
July 11, 2023
Do you believe in ghosts? Do they have emotional feelings?
This book was a good but not great read....it could have been a great read but the ending was so rushed! I was all into the story of the town of St. Hellaire New York, where everone that lives there is a medium....yes, they can see, and speak to the dead. With the town having it's reputation of 'This is where you go to have THE reading of your life!' I found the townspeople were very interesting. When a high school boy who recently moves there meets and falls in love with another boy his age, he realizes that this relationship is unlike one he has ever had before.
I will recommend this to someone who is NOT into being scared when they read a good book, however I can't give the writing any higher than a 3.
3 👻👻👻
This book was a good but not great read....it could have been a great read but the ending was so rushed! I was all into the story of the town of St. Hellaire New York, where everone that lives there is a medium....yes, they can see, and speak to the dead. With the town having it's reputation of 'This is where you go to have THE reading of your life!' I found the townspeople were very interesting. When a high school boy who recently moves there meets and falls in love with another boy his age, he realizes that this relationship is unlike one he has ever had before.
I will recommend this to someone who is NOT into being scared when they read a good book, however I can't give the writing any higher than a 3.
3 👻👻👻
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