A haunting read with a fantastic OMG ending!

A book I have had on my Kindle since June, and finally in November I was in the mood to read it. And boy, I was like, why didn’t I just try it sooner, because this book? This was just awesome. A rollercoaster.

Meet Summer, our MC. She and her sister Joy are reuniting to clean out their grandparents house. It is a forced reunion. Neither of them have spoken to the other in years. But the house has to be cleaned. Because their grandparents got murdered and their mom did that along with dying. Yup. Why not hire a professional? I mean, I am sorry, but I would have definitely not been able to do that. Maybe it helps for the sisterly duo that they haven’t had the best of the relationships with their grandparents, but still. I would have just asked someone else. But I guess, as we find out after a while, one of the two sisters had a reason to not do that and given everything that happens and happened I don’t entirely blame her.

From the start there is something going on. There is something in the air. There are whispers. The community just feels weird and strange and a bit too jolly and happy and sparkly and shiny. Summer swears she sees something watching her from the tree line behind her grandparents house. And as the book continues and we find more and more about this community, about the family, things really get creepier and creepier and quite soon things go south fast. It makes you just want to get the heck out. Really, if this was me? I would have left or rather, I would have probably not even gone. Haha, fuck that.

And when things go fucked up and belly up? Well, be in for a ride because it is going to get gruesome and terrifying and I was on the edge of my seat. Things get dangerous. I don’t want to spoil anything, this is one book you will have to discover it yourself. But a lesson for everyone in this book, sometimes you should leave the past just be. Don’t touch it. Don’t get close. Stay away.

Summer was a good protagonist, but at times I just wanted to yeet her in that lake filled with alligators. I am sorry that you and your hubby don’t have the best relationship anymore. That you actually don’t want to be with him. But you are still married. DON’T flirt with a guy from your past and even do THAT with him or even THINK of that. Girl. Seriously. Just break it up first. I hate cheating. It is disgusting.

Joy wasn’t always my favourite, at times she annoyed me. Not just because we saw her through the biased eyes of Summer, but also of what we learn as the story continues.

The ending, OK, well, I kinda thought something would happen but that? Heck no. Now I am curious what will happen after that. Oh boy.

All in all, a terrifying and awesome read and I hope that Wendy Dalrymple will write many more epic novellas like this one!