Tag Archives: Thriller

Review | Charlie, Presumed Dead

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Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anna Heltzelfour stars

Hold on to your pants with this one. (I’m not exactly sure what that phrase means, but you should probably do that when reading this book anyway because it’s 100% CRAY-ZAY.)

Seriously. Charlie, Presumed Dead is a definite thriller. I’m not exactly sure what this book is labeled under. I’m assuming that it is a YA title because the main characters are both teens, but it could definitely be a crossover.

Anyway, you should probably read the synopsis (which you can find here) to better know what I’m rambling about.

The Good.

Okay, first things first. This cover is gorgeous. It’s what first attracted me to the book (yes, I judge a book by its cover) and it didn’t let me down.

The writing is a bit juvenile, but the twists and deception is so great you really won’t care. I was looking at a few reviews that stated the book was “slow”…”uneventful”…”boring”…don’t listen to them because I’m pretty sure they read the wrong book. I flew through this because the mystery and the “CRAY-ZAY-NESS” was so intense that I had to know more. The overall plot is fantastic and unexpectedly dark. There were a few times I blurted “WHAT IS THIS BOOK?!” during the craziest of parts (My mother can testify). It’s definitely one of those reads you want to talk about with another person when you finish the last page–so make sure you read it with a friend so you can freak out together.

The Bad.

The reviews have been a bit negative for this one, and when I say a bit, I mean really. Which I believe stem from the poor structure of the book. The characters do have depth, but they are a bit stereotypical. You have Aubrey, the good and clean Midwest gal, and then you have Lena, who is the mega rich, slightly snobby, city-slicker. Also, the realism of this book is so far off, which I could see being a huge turn off when you have an overall realistic setting but then the details are out in left field. Also, (slight spoiler alert, but not really) for anyone who has read this—did you not think that Lena and Aubrey were going to fall in love with one another? I’m pretty sure the only thing they thought about during their “trip” (besides Charlie) was how great the other one was. Did anyone else find this to be really odd?

Overall, it’s definitely a book to pick up if you are looking for a thrill ride. I hate to make major comparisons, but if you liked Gone Girl, Charlie, Presumed Dead is for you.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. 

Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

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All opinions are my own and are not sponsored or affiliated with any company or organization. 

Review | The Girl on the Train

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****/5

Who do you trust? The stranger? The mistress? The ex? Yourself? One of them knows, but who is it? 

Paula Hawkins’, The Girl on the Train, deserves every praised review that is currently floating out in cyber space. With that being said, Hawkins, here is one more to add on to your ever-growing pile.

Perfectly paced and cleverly written this is a novel that will keep you on your toes until the end. I guessed and guessed and guessed and every assumption was wrong. Hawkins has the ability to steer you in directions and shift your mind in an ingenious way. She writes with psychological purpose, she knows her readers’ minds, and this is why this book is already becoming a best seller.

The Girl on the Train, has been heavily associated with Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. Yes, it is a physiological thriller. Yes, someone goes missing. But that is not the only similarity. There is a special reserve for authors who are able to create entrancing stories that keep you reading while making you hate all of their characters. That (and the fact that both Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins are phenomenal story-tellers) is why Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train have been mentioned in the same sentence. These are the stories that rip open your mind (and eyes) to the world around you. They bleed in to your every day life and make you wonder. Their power is 100% certifiably terrifying, but you can’t help but be intrigued.

With that I will say no more, because I do not want to ruin a page of this novel for you. (Even though I fear I may already have.)

Go read it if you want a thrill ride. This one brings everything to the table.

For full synopsis click here.

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All opinions are my own and are not endorsed or affiliated with any company or organization.