What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lockwood Trilogy #1
Control
For Natalie Covington and Henry Thorne, only one thing is certain: things are about to get out of control.
18-year-old Natalie has big ambitions but very little control over her situation. She’s trapped at an elite boarding school on a private island, where cell phones are forbidden, militant guards line the iron gates, and her practically prearranged boyfriend has eyes for another girl.
Everything changes when a mysterious new student arrives named Henry Thorne. Henry is a “precog”—a hidden society of people who can see the future, and who are forbidden to reveal their powers. When Henry has a grisly vision of Natalie being murdered, he ultimately decides to save her and face the consequences. But the consequences of changing the future are more dangerous than Henry imagined, unlocking a wide conspiracy among his kind that’s linked to Natalie’s past, and a desire that threatens to consume them.
CONTROL is the first installment in The Lockwood Trilogy. This fast-paced Upper YA/New Adult Paranormal Romance is filled with thrilling turns, self-discovery, spicy language, light steam, and a cliffhanger ending that will leave you obsessing for more.
18-year-old Natalie has big ambitions but very little control over her situation. She’s trapped at an elite boarding school on a private island, where cell phones are forbidden, militant guards line the iron gates, and her practically prearranged boyfriend has eyes for another girl.
Everything changes when a mysterious new student arrives named Henry Thorne. Henry is a “precog”—a hidden society of people who can see the future, and who are forbidden to reveal their powers. When Henry has a grisly vision of Natalie being murdered, he ultimately decides to save her and face the consequences. But the consequences of changing the future are more dangerous than Henry imagined, unlocking a wide conspiracy among his kind that’s linked to Natalie’s past, and a desire that threatens to consume them.
CONTROL is the first installment in The Lockwood Trilogy. This fast-paced Upper YA/New Adult Paranormal Romance is filled with thrilling turns, self-discovery, spicy language, light steam, and a cliffhanger ending that will leave you obsessing for more.
313 pages, Paperback
Published March 28, 2023
76 people are currently reading
2074 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Cassera
9 books118 followersObsessed with angsty, messy teen characters, soapy twists & turns, and shocking cliffhangers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
March 10, 2023
in the beginning, Natalie’s personality was giving a rip off of Avery Grambs, but later in the story I ended up liking her.
Henry was o-kay. I actually didn’t enjoy his character as much, his character was very…bland??
The story and plot were well thought out and well written which is what raised my rating to a 2. Overall it was good, but only if you want to read something where you don’t have to think too much.
<3
I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
—
buddy reading with my irl bookish besties joanna (hyacinth (taylor’s version)) and mudita (just your classic bookworm) AND sardonyx ! <3
update: actually maybe just sardonyx bc the other two haven’t started yet apparently 🫢
Henry was o-kay. I actually didn’t enjoy his character as much, his character was very…bland??
The story and plot were well thought out and well written which is what raised my rating to a 2. Overall it was good, but only if you want to read something where you don’t have to think too much.
<3
I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
—
buddy reading with my irl bookish besties joanna (hyacinth (taylor’s version)) and mudita (just your classic bookworm) AND sardonyx ! <3
update: actually maybe just sardonyx bc the other two haven’t started yet apparently 🫢
April 9, 2023
Control is a fast paced upper YA paranormal romance combined with a thrilling and mysterious atmosphere. It reminded me of the Wake trilogy which I loved so much as a teen!🙌🏻
We follow Natalie, a student at an elite private school who seems to have her no control over her life, everything is decided for her. Even her boyfriend has been decided since she was a child. After an unexpected encounter with a mysterious student, Natalie notices something is off, and feels attracted to this stranger.
Henry has visions. He is part of a hidden society of people who can see the future, however, they cannot by any means change it. When Henry starts having visions of Natalie’s death, things take a thrilling turn and we are left gasping for answers. Prepare for lots of twists and a captivating suspense! I can’t wait for the next book in the series 👀
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review!
We follow Natalie, a student at an elite private school who seems to have her no control over her life, everything is decided for her. Even her boyfriend has been decided since she was a child. After an unexpected encounter with a mysterious student, Natalie notices something is off, and feels attracted to this stranger.
Henry has visions. He is part of a hidden society of people who can see the future, however, they cannot by any means change it. When Henry starts having visions of Natalie’s death, things take a thrilling turn and we are left gasping for answers. Prepare for lots of twists and a captivating suspense! I can’t wait for the next book in the series 👀
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review!
April 2, 2023
I loved this book!
It felt like a cross between Truly Devious (with the elite prep school vibes) and x-men…which was a combo I wouldn’t have thought I’d love, but oh my gosh the author pulled it off so well. I went into this book completely blind having not read the back cover and I’m really glad I did! I found myself discovering things alongside the FMC, which was a lot of fun.
Probably the biggest unexpected plot element for me was the precogs! This is where I felt the x-men similarities came into play. I LOVED Henry and always looked forward to his pieces of the story.
This book is perfect for fans of secret societies, prep school settings, thriller mysteries, and steamy (not smutty) romance. I felt like it really hit the sweet spot between YA and NA and truly believe it will be enjoyed by both YA readers and NA readers alike.
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It felt like a cross between Truly Devious (with the elite prep school vibes) and x-men…which was a combo I wouldn’t have thought I’d love, but oh my gosh the author pulled it off so well. I went into this book completely blind having not read the back cover and I’m really glad I did! I found myself discovering things alongside the FMC, which was a lot of fun.
Probably the biggest unexpected plot element for me was the precogs! This is where I felt the x-men similarities came into play. I LOVED Henry and always looked forward to his pieces of the story.
This book is perfect for fans of secret societies, prep school settings, thriller mysteries, and steamy (not smutty) romance. I felt like it really hit the sweet spot between YA and NA and truly believe it will be enjoyed by both YA readers and NA readers alike.
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 24, 2023
Henry & Natalie are pupils at an exclusive campus where the elite get to complete their final year of high school. It costs $100K for the year at this finishing school set on a remote, isolated island, but Henry is there on scholarship. Having been raised by a guardian following the deaths of his parents, Henry just wants to get through the year & leave, but he has the ability to see the future. He is a precog & he starts to see visions of classmate, Natalie Covington, being abducted & killed. Precogs are not supposed to interfere with what they see, but Henry meets up with another precog student (what are the chances!), Wes, who convinces him to warn Natalie.
Natalie Covington, girlfriend of class president (cute but boring & who has a thing for another girl) Jack. Natalie has felt adrift since the death of her mother in a car accident. Her relationship with Jack has practically been mandated by their rich fathers but after she tries to help Henry when he has a panic attack during a vision, Natalie finds herself becoming attracted to him. There then follows the usual on/off of love/hate relationship, following each other around, & falling out instead of talking to one another, culminating in Henry being kidnapped from campus, & Natalie now being with Wes instead. Huh?!
This was a strange book, maybe I'm officially too old for this genre now. It seems to fall in a no-mans-land between YA & NA - there's swearing (bad language) & a couple of sexually charged scenes, but also a heavy dose of insta-love (one of my pet hates) & the whole plot line just doesn't feel developed enough. Towards the end, the revelations come thick & fast & it all gets a bit "Oprah Winfrey" ("You get a power, & you get a power. Everyone gets a power".) It has potential but the jury is still out as to whether I would read a sequel.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Mogul Scarf Productions, Inc, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
*UK publication date 28th March 2023*
Natalie Covington, girlfriend of class president (cute but boring & who has a thing for another girl) Jack. Natalie has felt adrift since the death of her mother in a car accident. Her relationship with Jack has practically been mandated by their rich fathers but after she tries to help Henry when he has a panic attack during a vision, Natalie finds herself becoming attracted to him. There then follows the usual on/off of love/hate relationship, following each other around, & falling out instead of talking to one another, culminating in Henry being kidnapped from campus, & Natalie now being with Wes instead. Huh?!
This was a strange book, maybe I'm officially too old for this genre now. It seems to fall in a no-mans-land between YA & NA - there's swearing (bad language) & a couple of sexually charged scenes, but also a heavy dose of insta-love (one of my pet hates) & the whole plot line just doesn't feel developed enough. Towards the end, the revelations come thick & fast & it all gets a bit "Oprah Winfrey" ("You get a power, & you get a power. Everyone gets a power".) It has potential but the jury is still out as to whether I would read a sequel.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Mogul Scarf Productions, Inc, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
*UK publication date 28th March 2023*
March 30, 2023
NOT ME FINISHING THIS BOOK IN ONE SINGLE AFTERNOON 🤯 This author has such a compelling writing style—a super soapy, fast-paced plotline with addictive angsty drama and, my fave, back-and-forth dual POV of both the FMC and male LI🙌 Also I am SUCH a sucker for an elite, isolated prep school setting and all those nostalgic upper YA/new adult paranormal romance vibes!! AND THE ENDING😩Can’t even begin to tell y’all how much I’m looking forward to this sequel. Team #Hatalie FOREVER!!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
March 31, 2023
CONTROL is a New Adult fantasy that’s a little bit X-Men and a little bit 2010 teen drama—which were 100% my cup of tea, and still are to this day! If you love feisty FMCs, broody love interests and dual POV romance books, definitely check this one out!
The setup of the story is very interesting, and one I could definitely see adapted into an addicting TV show: an elite boarding school setting, all the romantic drama (complete with cheating boyfriend), family secrets, a touch of the supernatural to keep things interesting and a hot new guy who defies all the rules to save your life? Sign me up, please. The precogs—people like the MMC, Henry, who have premonitions of the future—were extremely interesting to read about. I was curious to find out more about the reasons why Henry had a vision of Natalie to begin with, and I have the feeling that there’s a lot more to the relationship between these two that still needs to be uncovered!
While I did enjoy the banter between Natalie and Henry and they had many great scenes, I do wish we’d gotten a little bit more buildup between them. I adore a good attraction at first sight, but I feel like things moved too quickly into romance and feelings, which made their scenes a bit less believable, especially when Natalie was already developing an attraction for another character around the end of the book. Things do leave off on a very interesting note, though, and I’m looking forward to see what drama unfolds in the sequel, both in terms of plot and romance!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
The setup of the story is very interesting, and one I could definitely see adapted into an addicting TV show: an elite boarding school setting, all the romantic drama (complete with cheating boyfriend), family secrets, a touch of the supernatural to keep things interesting and a hot new guy who defies all the rules to save your life? Sign me up, please. The precogs—people like the MMC, Henry, who have premonitions of the future—were extremely interesting to read about. I was curious to find out more about the reasons why Henry had a vision of Natalie to begin with, and I have the feeling that there’s a lot more to the relationship between these two that still needs to be uncovered!
While I did enjoy the banter between Natalie and Henry and they had many great scenes, I do wish we’d gotten a little bit more buildup between them. I adore a good attraction at first sight, but I feel like things moved too quickly into romance and feelings, which made their scenes a bit less believable, especially when Natalie was already developing an attraction for another character around the end of the book. Things do leave off on a very interesting note, though, and I’m looking forward to see what drama unfolds in the sequel, both in terms of plot and romance!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
March 28, 2023
An elite school on a private island with magical elements, sign me up!
If you locked the authors of Minority Report (Philip K. Dick) and Gossip Girl (Cecily von Ziegesar) in a room and told them to collab on a project, I believe this book is what you would get.
It has an insta love type story which is not really my thing, but works with the plot.
Much love to Melissa Cassera and BookSirens for my DRC.
If you locked the authors of Minority Report (Philip K. Dick) and Gossip Girl (Cecily von Ziegesar) in a room and told them to collab on a project, I believe this book is what you would get.
It has an insta love type story which is not really my thing, but works with the plot.
Much love to Melissa Cassera and BookSirens for my DRC.
June 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this book.
I LOVED this book. I could not put it down and it has fallen into the category of: books I still think about, even though it has been s9me time since I originally read them. I love a good boarding school setting and this book did not disappoint, The two main characters were so interesting: I am so excited to see what happens next.
I LOVED this book. I could not put it down and it has fallen into the category of: books I still think about, even though it has been s9me time since I originally read them. I love a good boarding school setting and this book did not disappoint, The two main characters were so interesting: I am so excited to see what happens next.
January 29, 2023
Shatter me meets Sophie Lark is the best way I can describe this amazing book. If you love enemies to lovers and friends to lovers this is the book for you.
Thank you to booksirens and Melissa Cassera for the arc of this book.
I saw that this was her debut novel and that Cassera is a screenwriter which made me feel confident that this would be a well written novel. I’m devastated I’ll have to wait until November to get my hands on the second book in the series because I’m on the tip of my toes to get to keep reading.
I was drawn to this book since it will be released on my birthday and obviously the blurb too ;).
We have almost a love triangle situation between the strong willed Natalia, The mysterious Wes and Charming Henry. They attend a prestigious school on an island in Washington. (Love reading books from an area I’m familiar with). However… Wes and Henry have some secrets of their own.
I honestly haven’t found a book I haven’t been able to guess the plot twists right away in a long time and was pleasantly surprised that I was still guessing up until the end of this book.
I know who I’m rooting for currently but there’s so much that needs to be uncovered for me to truly make my final prediction.
All characters seem to be battling their own demons and hope that Cassera will expand on that in the next book.
Tbh the book didn’t have a lot of spice :( but there were some cute scenes that had me smiling to myself. I think that Cassera is alluding to some better romantic scenes in the following books and I cannot wait to get into that. Even if she chooses not to include some intense spice I will still be adding her releases to the top of my tbr because I still enjoyed it greatly without the spice. There was so much passion and chemistry it’s hard not to.
Such an exciting and all around enjoyable book everyone should give a try.
Thank you to booksirens and Melissa Cassera for the arc of this book.
I saw that this was her debut novel and that Cassera is a screenwriter which made me feel confident that this would be a well written novel. I’m devastated I’ll have to wait until November to get my hands on the second book in the series because I’m on the tip of my toes to get to keep reading.
I was drawn to this book since it will be released on my birthday and obviously the blurb too ;).
We have almost a love triangle situation between the strong willed Natalia, The mysterious Wes and Charming Henry. They attend a prestigious school on an island in Washington. (Love reading books from an area I’m familiar with). However… Wes and Henry have some secrets of their own.
I honestly haven’t found a book I haven’t been able to guess the plot twists right away in a long time and was pleasantly surprised that I was still guessing up until the end of this book.
I know who I’m rooting for currently but there’s so much that needs to be uncovered for me to truly make my final prediction.
All characters seem to be battling their own demons and hope that Cassera will expand on that in the next book.
Tbh the book didn’t have a lot of spice :( but there were some cute scenes that had me smiling to myself. I think that Cassera is alluding to some better romantic scenes in the following books and I cannot wait to get into that. Even if she chooses not to include some intense spice I will still be adding her releases to the top of my tbr because I still enjoyed it greatly without the spice. There was so much passion and chemistry it’s hard not to.
Such an exciting and all around enjoyable book everyone should give a try.
March 13, 2023
Oh, this was fun. Kicking off a new series by new-to-me author Melissa Cassera is Control. A book that introduces us to a young Natalie Covington and her life at an elite boarding school. Control is very much a PNR but it comes across in subtle ways. I wish we got to luxuriate with more intimate details of the characters' thoughts and feelings. At times I wanted more insights and a deeper connection with these characters. That being said, Control is a fun read and I'm excited to see where this is headed. Warning: we are left on a cliffhanger but also with a happy surprise.
~Tanja
*Thank you to @Inkslingpr for sharing this title with me
Follow me on
Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿Pinterest✿TikTok
~Tanja
*Thank you to @Inkslingpr for sharing this title with me
Follow me on
Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿Pinterest✿TikTok
March 30, 2023
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC on netgalley to read and review.
CWs: fire, kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, death, death of a parent
This was not it for me. I wanted to like this book so much, but it just didn’t work for me at all. I didn’t like the characters, I rolled my eyes at every plot twist, I found it predictable and also very confusing, and I just was not happy while reading this. The only reason I finished it was because it read pretty quickly.
Natalie annoyed the heck out of me. She started off with some major not-like-other-girls vibes and she was a doormat. She let her boyfriend walk all over her and disrespect her, and she didn’t do anything about it. She got a little better as the story went on, but she still annoyed me. She was hot-and-cold with everything and didn’t feel consistent in her emotions or thoughts.
Henry was an ass for most of the book and he was also condescending at times. He seemed like he was explaining things at times but would then just dance around it even in his own mind in his POV chapters. I didn’t buy any kind of relationship between him and Natalie. They had some kind of connection, but the immediacy of the word love being thrown around was jarring.
I felt like the plot started out one way, and then it quickly deviated to something filled with outrageous twists and ridiculous events. The lack of information learned by any of the characters was frustrating, and what they did learn seemed too easy.
This one was a miss overall for me. I think it had a lot of potential, and other readers could love it.
August 18, 2023
This YA mystery explores the messy chaos of teenage years (broken hearts, ambitions, first loves and family drama) against an elite prep school backdrop, in a world of secret magic where seeing the future is only the beginning.
The pacing is relentless and the chapters are short and punchy, making this a novel you can easily devour in a single sitting. It reads like a drama or a soap, over the top at times but no less entertaining for it.
The characters are flawed and often confused, struggling to understand the truths about themselves that are beginning to rise to the surface. This often leads to questionable decisions, but you can understand why they might go a little crazy in such unusual circumstances.
The mystery element is deftly written, with clues, twists and turns in pretty much every chapter and a slow reveal of information that keeps you intrigued. I'm eager to learn more about how Natalie and Henry are personally connected to the wider world and magic system, so will definitely pick up the second book in the series, Unravel, when it comes out in September.
I recommend this to those who loved quick-to-read supernatural/paranormal romance books in their teens and return to them as a not-so-guilty pleasure genre.
Thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing is relentless and the chapters are short and punchy, making this a novel you can easily devour in a single sitting. It reads like a drama or a soap, over the top at times but no less entertaining for it.
The characters are flawed and often confused, struggling to understand the truths about themselves that are beginning to rise to the surface. This often leads to questionable decisions, but you can understand why they might go a little crazy in such unusual circumstances.
The mystery element is deftly written, with clues, twists and turns in pretty much every chapter and a slow reveal of information that keeps you intrigued. I'm eager to learn more about how Natalie and Henry are personally connected to the wider world and magic system, so will definitely pick up the second book in the series, Unravel, when it comes out in September.
I recommend this to those who loved quick-to-read supernatural/paranormal romance books in their teens and return to them as a not-so-guilty pleasure genre.
Thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2023
Always love a good paranormal romance! I devoured this one!
This story takes place in an elite prep school, perfect for fans of the thriller genre plus angsty teen drama. I enjoyed the brooding characters and the different types of powers they carried within. This reminded me of my teen years of watching many teen dramas but with a twist. Definitely reminded me of the events in the xmen boarding house! Which I'm a huge fan of.
The plot kept me hooked, I loved the pacing in which the author laid out the story. Natalie was so fun to read and learn about. And can we talk about Henry, I cant wait to learn more about him.. he was definitely my favorite! There has got to be more to this buildup for sure, cant wait to see how their relationship continues to evolve.
Huge thanks to the author for gifting me a gorgeous copy. All opinions are my own.
This story takes place in an elite prep school, perfect for fans of the thriller genre plus angsty teen drama. I enjoyed the brooding characters and the different types of powers they carried within. This reminded me of my teen years of watching many teen dramas but with a twist. Definitely reminded me of the events in the xmen boarding house! Which I'm a huge fan of.
The plot kept me hooked, I loved the pacing in which the author laid out the story. Natalie was so fun to read and learn about. And can we talk about Henry, I cant wait to learn more about him.. he was definitely my favorite! There has got to be more to this buildup for sure, cant wait to see how their relationship continues to evolve.
Huge thanks to the author for gifting me a gorgeous copy. All opinions are my own.
May 23, 2023
ja u 3 ujutro s 10 godina dok pišem poglavlja za justin bieber fanfiction
Wtf was this 🤠
Wtf was this 🤠
March 30, 2023
Reading Control felt like watching beloved teen dramas from 2010. This is a very easy to read book, with the right amount of mystery and romantic drama to keep you hooked on the pages.
Ever since the very first interaction between Natalie and Henry, I was curious to see the unfolding of their relationship. The first half of the book focuses more on the development of their romance and introducing the reader to the “precogs”, which are people who have premonitions of the future, who however cannot interfere with their visions—which of course is not what happens in this case. I would have liked to have a slower burn between Natalie and Henry, but I loved the evolution of their relationship regardless! Henry is exactly the type of brooding man with a secret good heart that I easily fall in love with. It’s no wonder that Natalie fell for him as well!
The second part of the book, however, dives deeper into the plot, and this was the part that had me hooked most of all. I had a feeling that there was more to the precogs than met the eye, and that Natalie was somehow tied into this…and I was right! I had made some theories of my own throughout the book, but some of the twists took me completely by surprise. I can’t wait to see how all of this evolves in the next book.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Ever since the very first interaction between Natalie and Henry, I was curious to see the unfolding of their relationship. The first half of the book focuses more on the development of their romance and introducing the reader to the “precogs”, which are people who have premonitions of the future, who however cannot interfere with their visions—which of course is not what happens in this case. I would have liked to have a slower burn between Natalie and Henry, but I loved the evolution of their relationship regardless! Henry is exactly the type of brooding man with a secret good heart that I easily fall in love with. It’s no wonder that Natalie fell for him as well!
The second part of the book, however, dives deeper into the plot, and this was the part that had me hooked most of all. I had a feeling that there was more to the precogs than met the eye, and that Natalie was somehow tied into this…and I was right! I had made some theories of my own throughout the book, but some of the twists took me completely by surprise. I can’t wait to see how all of this evolves in the next book.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
March 9, 2023
Dear readers,
I received an advanced reader copy and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I gave this book 3 stars it wasn’t a BAD book it just wasn’t that good. In my opinion, the plot and the entire concept of this book was well thought out but it went wrong for a couple of reasons:
1. The first half of the book was just Natalie and Henry going back and forth with no development in their relationship whatsoever. This was just a bit frustrating because in one chapter they would be fully in love and in the next they would pretty much hate each other.
2. The second half of the book was WAY too fast - I mean the majority of the action happened in the last 30% of the book. So, in the first 70% of the book, it was just Natalie and Henry kissing and fighting and then that story is completely ditched - Natalie moves onto Wes (whom she doesn’t even like) and so much happens. It was just a bit confusing and a bit too much for me.
Thank you BookSirens and Melissa Cassera for giving me a chance to read this book,
Thank you for reading this review,
Yours Truly,
Sardonyx
I received an advanced reader copy and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I gave this book 3 stars it wasn’t a BAD book it just wasn’t that good. In my opinion, the plot and the entire concept of this book was well thought out but it went wrong for a couple of reasons:
1. The first half of the book was just Natalie and Henry going back and forth with no development in their relationship whatsoever. This was just a bit frustrating because in one chapter they would be fully in love and in the next they would pretty much hate each other.
2. The second half of the book was WAY too fast - I mean the majority of the action happened in the last 30% of the book. So, in the first 70% of the book, it was just Natalie and Henry kissing and fighting and then that story is completely ditched - Natalie moves onto Wes (whom she doesn’t even like) and so much happens. It was just a bit confusing and a bit too much for me.
Thank you BookSirens and Melissa Cassera for giving me a chance to read this book,
Thank you for reading this review,
Yours Truly,
Sardonyx
February 2, 2023
Oh wow! Now, this book took a little while to get going, but once it did, it was like a freight train! Cleverly constructed characters guided me through a journey of discovery, which i think will neatly lead to the sequel to this book. My only niggle was the pace of the book for the last two thirds. At times, It raced and was a little hard to keep up with. It's not enough of a problem to stop me from wanting more! I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 27, 2023
Good Idea
I enjoyed this book, but the messed up grammar and lack of editing kept driving me out of my read while I tried to figure out what the author was trying to say. I will probably read the next one!
I enjoyed this book, but the messed up grammar and lack of editing kept driving me out of my read while I tried to figure out what the author was trying to say. I will probably read the next one!
Want to read
January 26, 2023i wanna read this one sooooo bad
April 23, 2023
You guys know I love angst. This book. So many twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat. Secret societies. Dual pov. Cliffhanger so be prepared to be dying for book two.
August 14, 2023
I am so into this!
This book feels like if Supernatural and Gossip Girl had a baby and I ate up every single angsty, overprivileged, sarcastic, dramatic second of it. I am obsessed. I want the next book in my hands now. I want to don a school uniform and hang out with all the characters and be awesome and badass and mysterious.
Just read it, seriously. It made a very specific part of my brain so incredibly happy and I can't wait to read more by this author.
This book feels like if Supernatural and Gossip Girl had a baby and I ate up every single angsty, overprivileged, sarcastic, dramatic second of it. I am obsessed. I want the next book in my hands now. I want to don a school uniform and hang out with all the characters and be awesome and badass and mysterious.
Just read it, seriously. It made a very specific part of my brain so incredibly happy and I can't wait to read more by this author.
February 28, 2023
Control by Melissa Cassera was the craziest book I’ve read in months!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
She had me reading this book until 2am, because I needed answers, I got some.. but ALREADY starving for the next book in this trilogy😭
This book was filled with drama, suspense, twists & turns with a sprinkle of spice that will leave your brain dripping out of your ears. Melissa did an amazing job dropping all the details needed to make the twists ACTUALLY work and make sense {the drama that is gonna be in this next book 🤯} !! The writing was concise, which made the book super fast paced and easy to read! Though this book is in a contemporary setting it was bursting with Paranormal romance; so we got ALL the vibes! Fantasy, thriller, romance & mystery, upper YA 😈; it will leave you NEEDING ANWERS!!
I went in basically blind, it’s one of my favorite ways to read books & I highly recommend because it makes the story unravelling even more addicting
BUT if you want a synopsis this to you from me; a bunch of rich kids live are going to school on a island. They aren’t allowed to leave, no phones and cameras watching them. Our FMC is Natalie, she is trying to survive Jack and living in this hell hole. The light at the end of the tunnel seems to be this scholarship kid named Henry? Well stud muffin has been having these visions that are scary as hell… about Natalie. If you love a misunderstood, foul mouth MC & a FMC who takes charge you gotta check this book in March!!
4.5/5⭐️ my only wish is that there was a little more relationship building between some of characters & scenarios, But overall it didn’t take away from this incredible mind blowing & unique story!!
Release date: March 28th, 2023!!
You can pre-order the book on Amazon, Barns and Nobels, Apple Books & Kobo💚
#controlnovel #netgalley
She had me reading this book until 2am, because I needed answers, I got some.. but ALREADY starving for the next book in this trilogy😭
This book was filled with drama, suspense, twists & turns with a sprinkle of spice that will leave your brain dripping out of your ears. Melissa did an amazing job dropping all the details needed to make the twists ACTUALLY work and make sense {the drama that is gonna be in this next book 🤯} !! The writing was concise, which made the book super fast paced and easy to read! Though this book is in a contemporary setting it was bursting with Paranormal romance; so we got ALL the vibes! Fantasy, thriller, romance & mystery, upper YA 😈; it will leave you NEEDING ANWERS!!
I went in basically blind, it’s one of my favorite ways to read books & I highly recommend because it makes the story unravelling even more addicting
BUT if you want a synopsis this to you from me; a bunch of rich kids live are going to school on a island. They aren’t allowed to leave, no phones and cameras watching them. Our FMC is Natalie, she is trying to survive Jack and living in this hell hole. The light at the end of the tunnel seems to be this scholarship kid named Henry? Well stud muffin has been having these visions that are scary as hell… about Natalie. If you love a misunderstood, foul mouth MC & a FMC who takes charge you gotta check this book in March!!
4.5/5⭐️ my only wish is that there was a little more relationship building between some of characters & scenarios, But overall it didn’t take away from this incredible mind blowing & unique story!!
Release date: March 28th, 2023!!
You can pre-order the book on Amazon, Barns and Nobels, Apple Books & Kobo💚
#controlnovel #netgalley
September 3, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ACR Review:
I received this book as an ARC read, however these are my true opinions.
The story centers around our FMC Natalie and our MMC Henry.
The story takes place at a prestigious and rich private and secluded high school, think Gossip girl meets Gilmore Girl Chilton vibes.
FMC Natalie is a very insecure and obedient Senior who is dating the “it” guy of the school. Things start to change for Natalie when she meets MMC Henry.
Henry is just trying to be normal and blend in with everyone but he has a secret. Henry is a precog (he gets visions of the future). When Henry keeps getting vision of Natalie dying he is conflicted, should he help or just ignore the visions like he is taught to do. The main rule of being a precog is never change a vision and second never tell anyone.
Constantly being thrown in Natalie’s path the guilt starts to eat at him till he is forced to make a decision, leave and forget Natalie exists or save her and risk everything.
This story is a fast-paced YA/New Adult paranormal romance. I would definitely recommend this book and will be reading the next one in the series.
ACR Review:
I received this book as an ARC read, however these are my true opinions.
The story centers around our FMC Natalie and our MMC Henry.
The story takes place at a prestigious and rich private and secluded high school, think Gossip girl meets Gilmore Girl Chilton vibes.
FMC Natalie is a very insecure and obedient Senior who is dating the “it” guy of the school. Things start to change for Natalie when she meets MMC Henry.
Henry is just trying to be normal and blend in with everyone but he has a secret. Henry is a precog (he gets visions of the future). When Henry keeps getting vision of Natalie dying he is conflicted, should he help or just ignore the visions like he is taught to do. The main rule of being a precog is never change a vision and second never tell anyone.
Constantly being thrown in Natalie’s path the guilt starts to eat at him till he is forced to make a decision, leave and forget Natalie exists or save her and risk everything.
This story is a fast-paced YA/New Adult paranormal romance. I would definitely recommend this book and will be reading the next one in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2025
This book was…wow!
Natalie has her life planned out for her- even though none of it is what she wants.
Henry can see the future and just so happens to see Natalie’s death and can’t decide if he will break the rules and save her.
You guys, this book would be a regular boy saves girl, but no there are twists that you don’t see coming and secrets try to be uncovered!
Such a good book!
Natalie has her life planned out for her- even though none of it is what she wants.
Henry can see the future and just so happens to see Natalie’s death and can’t decide if he will break the rules and save her.
You guys, this book would be a regular boy saves girl, but no there are twists that you don’t see coming and secrets try to be uncovered!
Such a good book!
September 4, 2023
Natalie has a normal life in a prestigious boarding school where she is dating the most popular guy because her father wants to keep his father happy. Very normal. Until Henry shows up. Henry is different, but she doesn't know why. Something keeps attracting her to him.
Little does Natalie know that Henry is a pre-cog, someone with psychic abilities who has had a vision of her death. The pre-cogs have one rule, do not mess with a vision. Henry has never met Natalie before but he knows that he cannot let her die.
But there are consequences for changing a vision. And Henry is just about to discover a wide conspiracy tied to Natalie's past.
At first I wasn't really into the book, the start was a little weird for me, i don't know why but I was hesitant to continue. Once I did I was immersed in a twisty, soap-opera-y, paranormal romance story.
I found the concept of the plot to be very interesting, where there's people with special psychic ability. At first I was very confused how it would all work but a little bit was revealed at the end and it was supposed to be one of the mysteries so I did question it. These people with psychic abilities are called Precogs and the first thought I had about them was that it seemed like some creepy religious cult thing... you'll have to read the book to see if I was right about that.
The setting of the story also suited the plot although was only used for an introduction of characters it kept me interested it was set in a private boarding school on a lonely island, where the only way to get to the school is by a ferry. There is also a big gate, security guards and cameras everywhere that don't work... or do they?
One thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the romance between the main characters. It has the insta-love/attraction and it just felt way too fast for me. They make eye contact and they’re obsessed with each other. I also didn't like the love triangle, one character was just thrown in there to shake things up and didn't really make that much sense.
Overall, I recommend this for someone who is looking for a fast-paced paranormal romance thriller with messy characters and plenty of secrets.
Thanks to the author and BookOfMatchesMedia for an eArc copy of the book for my honest review. All thoughts are my own and were not impacted by this.
Little does Natalie know that Henry is a pre-cog, someone with psychic abilities who has had a vision of her death. The pre-cogs have one rule, do not mess with a vision. Henry has never met Natalie before but he knows that he cannot let her die.
But there are consequences for changing a vision. And Henry is just about to discover a wide conspiracy tied to Natalie's past.
At first I wasn't really into the book, the start was a little weird for me, i don't know why but I was hesitant to continue. Once I did I was immersed in a twisty, soap-opera-y, paranormal romance story.
I found the concept of the plot to be very interesting, where there's people with special psychic ability. At first I was very confused how it would all work but a little bit was revealed at the end and it was supposed to be one of the mysteries so I did question it. These people with psychic abilities are called Precogs and the first thought I had about them was that it seemed like some creepy religious cult thing... you'll have to read the book to see if I was right about that.
The setting of the story also suited the plot although was only used for an introduction of characters it kept me interested it was set in a private boarding school on a lonely island, where the only way to get to the school is by a ferry. There is also a big gate, security guards and cameras everywhere that don't work... or do they?
One thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the romance between the main characters. It has the insta-love/attraction and it just felt way too fast for me. They make eye contact and they’re obsessed with each other. I also didn't like the love triangle, one character was just thrown in there to shake things up and didn't really make that much sense.
Overall, I recommend this for someone who is looking for a fast-paced paranormal romance thriller with messy characters and plenty of secrets.
Thanks to the author and BookOfMatchesMedia for an eArc copy of the book for my honest review. All thoughts are my own and were not impacted by this.
September 12, 2023
I read Control by Melissa Cassera for a review tour hosted by the author and Hidden Hollow Book Tours. They had me at Paranormal Romance. Thank you to both for inviting me along and for the gifted book.
I’ve never read a story that had precog characters before. I’ve seen it in movies so I knew what it was, but the way the author wrote those “precog” moments made it intense and creepy. I would not want to have this ability and not be able to do anything about what I’ve seen.
Natalie just wants to go to school and than get on to her future goals. She wants to help people the way her mom did. But her dad doesn’t talk about what she wants, only what she must do. He sends her to an exclusive boarding school and sets her up in an arranged relationship with a boy, who has his sights on someone else, all to further his own agenda. Natalie battles anxiety but is more powerful in her situation than she knows. If she can survive, that is.
Henry is a loner with precog abilities. He can see the future but is forbidden to interfere in any event he sees. It’s a brutal ability to have if there’s nothing you can do about the situations you’re given insight into. Henry seems to be struggling with this, especially after he meets the subject of his most recent visions: Natalie. Natalie is going to be murdered and there’s nothing Henry is allowed to do about it. When he decides he can’t just let her die, and goes against everything he’s ever been taught, all hell breaks loose.
There are so many twists, turns, and secrets in this story that you don’t know who you can trust. There are some intense scenes. My heart was racing more than once. When secrets start being revealed, things get super creepy. The author isn’t heavy on description, which sometimes makes it even creepier because your imagination fills in the blanks. That really works in this book.
Because of all the twists and turns I mentioned, you don’t really know who the actual villains are until the last few chapters. I had my suspicions about one character in particular but was totally surprised by tow others. The ending, while no one of the worst cliffhangers I’ve read, leaves you read for the next book. I am excited for it!
I thoroughly enjoyed Control and recommend it to fans of paranormal fantasy, ya paranormal romance, unique paranormal abilities, secret societies, and troubled characters.
I’ve never read a story that had precog characters before. I’ve seen it in movies so I knew what it was, but the way the author wrote those “precog” moments made it intense and creepy. I would not want to have this ability and not be able to do anything about what I’ve seen.
Natalie just wants to go to school and than get on to her future goals. She wants to help people the way her mom did. But her dad doesn’t talk about what she wants, only what she must do. He sends her to an exclusive boarding school and sets her up in an arranged relationship with a boy, who has his sights on someone else, all to further his own agenda. Natalie battles anxiety but is more powerful in her situation than she knows. If she can survive, that is.
Henry is a loner with precog abilities. He can see the future but is forbidden to interfere in any event he sees. It’s a brutal ability to have if there’s nothing you can do about the situations you’re given insight into. Henry seems to be struggling with this, especially after he meets the subject of his most recent visions: Natalie. Natalie is going to be murdered and there’s nothing Henry is allowed to do about it. When he decides he can’t just let her die, and goes against everything he’s ever been taught, all hell breaks loose.
There are so many twists, turns, and secrets in this story that you don’t know who you can trust. There are some intense scenes. My heart was racing more than once. When secrets start being revealed, things get super creepy. The author isn’t heavy on description, which sometimes makes it even creepier because your imagination fills in the blanks. That really works in this book.
Because of all the twists and turns I mentioned, you don’t really know who the actual villains are until the last few chapters. I had my suspicions about one character in particular but was totally surprised by tow others. The ending, while no one of the worst cliffhangers I’ve read, leaves you read for the next book. I am excited for it!
I thoroughly enjoyed Control and recommend it to fans of paranormal fantasy, ya paranormal romance, unique paranormal abilities, secret societies, and troubled characters.
May 24, 2023
I liked the idea of the story and found the plot to be well thought out but it just didn't grip as much as I hoped it would. I enjoyed this take on psychic abilities and with the elite school setting I was feeling old school x-men cartoon vibes, I loved watching those as a kid.
I couldn't really connect with the main character Natalie for quite a few of her chapters, I found her to be quite annoying and bratty at times but eventually she did grow on me. I LOVED Henry immediately and found myself wanting to rush through Natalie's chapters just to get to his POV. Once Natalie started to grow on me I found myself enjoying the interactions between her and Henry, but I would have liked to see more of a build up to their relationship. I'm not a huge fan of "insta-love".
Wes I didn't like at all, something about him just didn't sit well with me since the first introduction
Although I did end up enjoying the overall story I did find myself drifting a few times throughout, and was close to dnf-ing at one point but thankfully the story did pull me back in. (I hate to DNF a book) While it's not something that I'd go out of my way to pick up and reread again, it's highly likely I will pick up the next installment just for that cliffhanger alone (and Henry, cant forget Henry). I do see a lot of potential in this series and hope the next book has what I feel is missing in this one.
Huge thanks to StoryOrigin and Melissa Cassera for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review
I couldn't really connect with the main character Natalie for quite a few of her chapters, I found her to be quite annoying and bratty at times but eventually she did grow on me. I LOVED Henry immediately and found myself wanting to rush through Natalie's chapters just to get to his POV. Once Natalie started to grow on me I found myself enjoying the interactions between her and Henry, but I would have liked to see more of a build up to their relationship. I'm not a huge fan of "insta-love".
Wes I didn't like at all, something about him just didn't sit well with me since the first introduction
Although I did end up enjoying the overall story I did find myself drifting a few times throughout, and was close to dnf-ing at one point but thankfully the story did pull me back in. (I hate to DNF a book) While it's not something that I'd go out of my way to pick up and reread again, it's highly likely I will pick up the next installment just for that cliffhanger alone (and Henry, cant forget Henry). I do see a lot of potential in this series and hope the next book has what I feel is missing in this one.
Huge thanks to StoryOrigin and Melissa Cassera for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Read
February 27, 2023tl;dr
Messy soapy teen drama with a paranormal twist. Hits a few of my personal peeves, including jealous boyfriend and miscommunication.
About
The author's notes at the end describe this book as a guilty pleasure soapy read, and I can see why. It's packed with messy teens, high drama, jealousy, dark family secrets, and a big paranormal twist partway through that almost seems to shift the genre. Unfortunately, it turns out guilty pleasures and soap are not my thing. Some of my least favorite storytelling flourishes are in here. He grabs her to keep from walking away when she wants to leave. He secretly follows her back to her room for her own safety. Sometimes he gets violent when other guys get too close. He just can't help himself. I don't vibe with that. Also, everyone jumps to a lot of conclusions. Both POV characters become wildly jealous seeing the other merely hanging out with someone. Misunderstandings propel a lot of the drama. I found myself yelling "what if you just talked to each other?" I'm just not clicking with the leads and their relationship, it seems. If you are unlike me and you enjoy the things I listed, feel free to get excited, because it's all in there. There're also some well-telegraphed paranormal twists and a lot of dark family mysteries hinted at, with a cliffhanger that promises even more drama in the next installment.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mogul Scarf Productions for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Messy soapy teen drama with a paranormal twist. Hits a few of my personal peeves, including jealous boyfriend and miscommunication.
About
The author's notes at the end describe this book as a guilty pleasure soapy read, and I can see why. It's packed with messy teens, high drama, jealousy, dark family secrets, and a big paranormal twist partway through that almost seems to shift the genre. Unfortunately, it turns out guilty pleasures and soap are not my thing. Some of my least favorite storytelling flourishes are in here. He grabs her to keep from walking away when she wants to leave. He secretly follows her back to her room for her own safety. Sometimes he gets violent when other guys get too close. He just can't help himself. I don't vibe with that. Also, everyone jumps to a lot of conclusions. Both POV characters become wildly jealous seeing the other merely hanging out with someone. Misunderstandings propel a lot of the drama. I found myself yelling "what if you just talked to each other?" I'm just not clicking with the leads and their relationship, it seems. If you are unlike me and you enjoy the things I listed, feel free to get excited, because it's all in there. There're also some well-telegraphed paranormal twists and a lot of dark family mysteries hinted at, with a cliffhanger that promises even more drama in the next installment.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mogul Scarf Productions for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
February 12, 2023
I had the opportunity to be an ARC reader through BookSirens for Melissa Cassera's book Control. What first lured me in was the synopsis of her book and I'm here to tell you, the rest did not disappoint. Her writing style reminded me so much of Pittacus Lore (Frey and Hughes) of the Lorien Legacies. My attention was immediately grabbed by the main character Natalie and her relationship with Henry. Then the whole storyline leads you into something deeper and just when you think you've solved the mystery, she hits you with another shocking twist. My mind was blown! I could not put this book down (read it in a day, it was that good). I love the development of the main characters and the secrets that they hold onto throughout their journey. If you're into paranormal books, you must get your hands on this series!
May 6, 2023
Rating - 2.5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Control is a twisty fantasy thriller set in an elite boarding school. The story follows Natalie, a student at the school who has no control over her life. A chance encounter with the mysterious scholarship kid is the turning point in her life. Henry is a precog who has visions of the future, and he starts having visions of Natalie's murder. They try to understand how their lives are intertwined, with each of them trying to uncover secrets. It was really an interesting premise, but it had a poor execution. The first half was a slog to read, and there was little chemistry between them. A lot of the plot twists felt over the top and predictable. The characters were bland, and it was hard to root for any of them. It was a quick and easy read, but I wouldn't be reading the next book.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Control is a twisty fantasy thriller set in an elite boarding school. The story follows Natalie, a student at the school who has no control over her life. A chance encounter with the mysterious scholarship kid is the turning point in her life. Henry is a precog who has visions of the future, and he starts having visions of Natalie's murder. They try to understand how their lives are intertwined, with each of them trying to uncover secrets. It was really an interesting premise, but it had a poor execution. The first half was a slog to read, and there was little chemistry between them. A lot of the plot twists felt over the top and predictable. The characters were bland, and it was hard to root for any of them. It was a quick and easy read, but I wouldn't be reading the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews