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Under This Red Rock
Neely’s monsters don’t always follow her rules, so when the little girl under her bed, the man in her closet, and the disembodied voice that shadows her every move become louder, she knows she’s in trouble.
With a history of mental illness in her family, and the suicide of her older brother heavy on her mind, Neely takes a job as a tour guide in the one place her monsters can’t follow—the caverns. There she can find peace. There she can pretend to be normal. There . . . she meets Mila.
Mila is everything Neely isn’t—beautiful, strong, and confident. As the two become closer, Neely’s innocent crush grows into something more. When a midnight staff party exposes Neely to drugs, she follows Mila’s lead . . . only to have her hallucinations escalate.
When Mila is found brutally murdered in the caverns, Neely has to admit that her memories of that night are vague at best. With her monsters now out in the open, and her grip on reality slipping, Neely must figure out who killed Mila . . . and face the possibility that it might have been her.
Award-winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a powerful psychological thriller, deftly exploring the dark places in the earth and the human mind, where what is real and imaginary isn’t so easily distinguishable.
With a history of mental illness in her family, and the suicide of her older brother heavy on her mind, Neely takes a job as a tour guide in the one place her monsters can’t follow—the caverns. There she can find peace. There she can pretend to be normal. There . . . she meets Mila.
Mila is everything Neely isn’t—beautiful, strong, and confident. As the two become closer, Neely’s innocent crush grows into something more. When a midnight staff party exposes Neely to drugs, she follows Mila’s lead . . . only to have her hallucinations escalate.
When Mila is found brutally murdered in the caverns, Neely has to admit that her memories of that night are vague at best. With her monsters now out in the open, and her grip on reality slipping, Neely must figure out who killed Mila . . . and face the possibility that it might have been her.
Award-winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a powerful psychological thriller, deftly exploring the dark places in the earth and the human mind, where what is real and imaginary isn’t so easily distinguishable.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2024
About the author
Mindy McGinnis
26 books4,119 followersMindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy.
While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
April 25, 2024i've soft dnf'd this at 14% - i know i know i probably didn't give it a fair shot so i'm not going to give it a rating or add it to my read shelf
₊˚⊹♡ reading log
25/04 5:46pm ୨ৎ
ok how many pages do i need to read i just this is so odd to me?
25/04 1:28pm ୨ৎ
is it a bad sign if im already wanting to dnf this? i just seem not interested at all - i am also unwell at the moment so it might be that
₊˚⊹♡ pre-reading
look at me getting through my tbr - even though this is a new release so does it really count? i'm excited to read a shorter book after reading a court of mist and fury. this is a thriller - I'm predicting a 3.5/5 - let's see how well I know my own tastes.
₊˚⊹♡ reading log
25/04 5:46pm ୨ৎ
ok how many pages do i need to read i just this is so odd to me?
25/04 1:28pm ୨ৎ
is it a bad sign if im already wanting to dnf this? i just seem not interested at all - i am also unwell at the moment so it might be that
₊˚⊹♡ pre-reading
look at me getting through my tbr - even though this is a new release so does it really count? i'm excited to read a shorter book after reading a court of mist and fury. this is a thriller - I'm predicting a 3.5/5 - let's see how well I know my own tastes.
Want to read
July 22, 2023i don't know what the f- mindy mcginnis is on but i'm into it
May 26, 2024
Under This Red Rock by Mindy McGinnis is a young adult psychological thriller novel with a slight edge of horror to it. The story in Under This Red Rock is one that contains some highly sensitive subjects such as mental illness and suicide so it may not be for everyone with such triggers.
Neely has always been different from others with the exception of her own family. Neely’s family have all had a history of mental illness right down to Neely and her brother but after the loss of her parents and her brother’s suicide Neely has learned to deal with the voices of the monsters in her head all on her own.
The one place Neely gets some relief from her troubles is down in a place known as the caverns. Neely decides to apply for a job as a tour guide through the caverns giving her hours of relief while she is working. This is where Neely meets Mila who she finds herself falling for until one night Mila is found brutally murdered in the caverns and Neely isn’t too sure she isn’t the murderer.
Mindy McGinnis is widely known for her intriguing young adult thrillers, some of which I have read and enjoyed myself in the past so I was excited to dive into Under This Red Rock. I have to say though that for me this wasn’t among the author’s best work as for one I figured things out way too early on which always puts a damper on my excitement which also made the story feel a little slow moving to me afterwards just hoping for a twist or two to come to knock me off my feet. I’m sure some will still love this one even if not my favorite though.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Neely has always been different from others with the exception of her own family. Neely’s family have all had a history of mental illness right down to Neely and her brother but after the loss of her parents and her brother’s suicide Neely has learned to deal with the voices of the monsters in her head all on her own.
The one place Neely gets some relief from her troubles is down in a place known as the caverns. Neely decides to apply for a job as a tour guide through the caverns giving her hours of relief while she is working. This is where Neely meets Mila who she finds herself falling for until one night Mila is found brutally murdered in the caverns and Neely isn’t too sure she isn’t the murderer.
Mindy McGinnis is widely known for her intriguing young adult thrillers, some of which I have read and enjoyed myself in the past so I was excited to dive into Under This Red Rock. I have to say though that for me this wasn’t among the author’s best work as for one I figured things out way too early on which always puts a damper on my excitement which also made the story feel a little slow moving to me afterwards just hoping for a twist or two to come to knock me off my feet. I’m sure some will still love this one even if not my favorite though.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 25, 2023
Mindy McGinnis stans unite
Also... FINALLY... after reading her books for like 6 years straight... the wlw UNDERTONES have become OVERTONES
Neely has had a rough one... her dad had mental illness and left, her mom died in a car accident, and her only other nuclear family member, her brother, has recently killed himself. Both she and her brother also have similar mental illnesses as their father - they either see and/or hear things that aren't there. Neely has a couple recurring characters in her life that aren't real.
She lives with her grandparents and gets a summer job at these caverns she always visits. Underground is the only place she knows for sure she won't hear her voices, plus she's good at giving the tours because she knows the place like the back of her hand.
She gets to know some of her coworkers, one of whom was her late brother's best friend, and one of whom is a girl she ends up really liking.
And well, something happens that's in the synopsis, but I didn't read the synopsis, so I was fully surprised and I hope you may allow yourself to be as well.
I think this book is a really interesting look into mental illness, the way things devolve over time when left untreated, and the way your brain keeps you from trusting yourself when you're deep in a mental health crisis. I think there are a few little twists that are really shocking and it's just generally engrossing.
I love Mindy McGinnis's writing and she always is unhinged which is what I love about her lol. This is definitely a new direction for her, but at the same time it's not, because her stuff is always pretty dark and painful lol. I don't know that this would be where I told a non-fan to start out in her body of work, but if you love her books, you'll love this one just as good.
Also... FINALLY... after reading her books for like 6 years straight... the wlw UNDERTONES have become OVERTONES
Neely has had a rough one... her dad had mental illness and left, her mom died in a car accident, and her only other nuclear family member, her brother, has recently killed himself. Both she and her brother also have similar mental illnesses as their father - they either see and/or hear things that aren't there. Neely has a couple recurring characters in her life that aren't real.
She lives with her grandparents and gets a summer job at these caverns she always visits. Underground is the only place she knows for sure she won't hear her voices, plus she's good at giving the tours because she knows the place like the back of her hand.
She gets to know some of her coworkers, one of whom was her late brother's best friend, and one of whom is a girl she ends up really liking.
And well, something happens that's in the synopsis, but I didn't read the synopsis, so I was fully surprised and I hope you may allow yourself to be as well.
I think this book is a really interesting look into mental illness, the way things devolve over time when left untreated, and the way your brain keeps you from trusting yourself when you're deep in a mental health crisis. I think there are a few little twists that are really shocking and it's just generally engrossing.
I love Mindy McGinnis's writing and she always is unhinged which is what I love about her lol. This is definitely a new direction for her, but at the same time it's not, because her stuff is always pretty dark and painful lol. I don't know that this would be where I told a non-fan to start out in her body of work, but if you love her books, you'll love this one just as good.
January 3, 2024
"Rock Bottom can make you lose your faith in humanity, strip the last bit of naivete from your life, and show you things you’ll never unsee."
Monsters lurking around every corner, dark caverns that carry secrets, and a murder that shocks the community. Mindy is ready to set the world ablaze and never look back.
I know when it comes to Mindy she never disappoints and this one is no different. She gets deep, emotional, and dark with this story and it still gives me goosebumps.
Neely is not your typical MC but she makes things interesting in this book. Her mental illness makes her see things that aren't really there at times and it throws you through a loop throughout this read. Your brain works overtime trying to figure out what truly is happening and I was loving every second of that.
I loved the buildup to the mysterious death. The friendship between two characters that were so different was one of my favorite parts but then you sit and think about what happened between them and if any of that actually took place. My brain exploded with overthinking. It made me giddy. It was perfect.
The only thing that held me back was piecing this entire thing together for that to be the result. I guessed it within the first part of the book and that always disappoints me. There was just something that stuck out that made me figure out the mystery quickly.
Under This Red Rock was a fantastic read. You'll love the uniqueness of this just as much as I did.
Monsters lurking around every corner, dark caverns that carry secrets, and a murder that shocks the community. Mindy is ready to set the world ablaze and never look back.
I know when it comes to Mindy she never disappoints and this one is no different. She gets deep, emotional, and dark with this story and it still gives me goosebumps.
Neely is not your typical MC but she makes things interesting in this book. Her mental illness makes her see things that aren't really there at times and it throws you through a loop throughout this read. Your brain works overtime trying to figure out what truly is happening and I was loving every second of that.
I loved the buildup to the mysterious death. The friendship between two characters that were so different was one of my favorite parts but then you sit and think about what happened between them and if any of that actually took place. My brain exploded with overthinking. It made me giddy. It was perfect.
The only thing that held me back was piecing this entire thing together for that to be the result. I guessed it within the first part of the book and that always disappoints me. There was just something that stuck out that made me figure out the mystery quickly.
Under This Red Rock was a fantastic read. You'll love the uniqueness of this just as much as I did.
December 29, 2023
nothing will ever top the initial insult, but this was pretty darn close.
March 20, 2024
4.5*
Sometimes, I wish Mindy McGinnis could publish multitudes of books per year, like some sort of Cyborg Author™, but then I wonder if they would not hit as hard as when we were graced with our yearly offering. I digress, but man I love her books. Under This Red Rock is no exception. Since this is a mystery, I will keep it short and sweet!
Neely is a mess. You can't help but feel for her. She lives with her grandparents after the deaths of her mother and brother (on two very different, very horrific occasions). She suffers from mental illness, but she has been told her whole life that she had to hide her inner demons, basically. And so, she tries, because she doesn't want to put her grandparents through any more awfulness. But she still hears (and talks to) people and things that are not really there. Needless to say, she's not particularly popular, and she finally finds some people to connect with when she gets a job at the local caverns, which happen to be a place she has always enjoyed.
But turns out, the staff get into some drug and alcohol infused hijinks after hours, which is bad enough for people who aren't already suffering hallucinations. Neely reacts poorly, and when someone she deeply cares about winds up dead... well, Neely wants to know how this happened, even if she has to look closely at herself, too. There is a lot of mystery and excitement, but also a lot of character growth as Neely has to confront a lot of dark information about herself, her family, her past, and her present.
Bottom Line: Couldn't put it down. Is it time for Mindy's next book yet?
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Sometimes, I wish Mindy McGinnis could publish multitudes of books per year, like some sort of Cyborg Author™, but then I wonder if they would not hit as hard as when we were graced with our yearly offering. I digress, but man I love her books. Under This Red Rock is no exception. Since this is a mystery, I will keep it short and sweet!
Neely is a mess. You can't help but feel for her. She lives with her grandparents after the deaths of her mother and brother (on two very different, very horrific occasions). She suffers from mental illness, but she has been told her whole life that she had to hide her inner demons, basically. And so, she tries, because she doesn't want to put her grandparents through any more awfulness. But she still hears (and talks to) people and things that are not really there. Needless to say, she's not particularly popular, and she finally finds some people to connect with when she gets a job at the local caverns, which happen to be a place she has always enjoyed.
But turns out, the staff get into some drug and alcohol infused hijinks after hours, which is bad enough for people who aren't already suffering hallucinations. Neely reacts poorly, and when someone she deeply cares about winds up dead... well, Neely wants to know how this happened, even if she has to look closely at herself, too. There is a lot of mystery and excitement, but also a lot of character growth as Neely has to confront a lot of dark information about herself, her family, her past, and her present.
Bottom Line: Couldn't put it down. Is it time for Mindy's next book yet?
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
April 4, 2024
Bit more suspension of disbelief is required here than what I’m used to from a McGinnis book, but I do appreciate her continuing to tackle tough themes.
Want to read
June 26, 2023I kind of wish I hadn’t read the blurb because I feel like it gives too much away… but it’s Mindy McGinnis. Auto-read for me!
August 31, 2024
This was a really well done thriller with a good twist at the end. Recommend!
May 1, 2024
Overall Rating : A
"Sometimes I am okay."
I will never not love a Mindy McGinnis book and this one made my heart hurt - but I think that was the whole point anyway.
"Sometimes I am okay."
I will never not love a Mindy McGinnis book and this one made my heart hurt - but I think that was the whole point anyway.
November 20, 2023
moving, deep, disturbing at times, but well worth the read
June 12, 2024
This was quite good. I found the main character and her state of mind while dealing with her mental health struggles really interesting to follow, and I was honestly shocked by the ending!
As always, Mindy McGinnis' writing was very good, and I liked how this book was paced with the different plot points. The caves were a very interesting setting!
I don't have that much to say about this, but I did really enjoy it, and while it's not my favorite from the author, I would still recommend it. Especially if you are interested in reading about mental health.
As always, Mindy McGinnis' writing was very good, and I liked how this book was paced with the different plot points. The caves were a very interesting setting!
I don't have that much to say about this, but I did really enjoy it, and while it's not my favorite from the author, I would still recommend it. Especially if you are interested in reading about mental health.
March 23, 2024
Mindy McGinnis DOES. NOT. FAIL. Another amazing read.
March 17, 2024
Classic Mindy McGinnis. I was weirded out from the beginning but also sucked in. Love the darkness and the twists!
April 2, 2024
Speechless, I think?
Mindy McGinnis is a weirdo and I love it. Her duology of The Initial Insult and The Last Laugh was one of the most unhinged things I read and definitely made my top 10 last year (was it last year?)
The cover designer and the narrator were back for Under This Red Rock, which pleased me. It felt very much in the same vein as All’s Well by Mona Awad (which I hated.) Red Rock falls in that category of weird, inexplicable mental illness, not everything gets explained, but in a way that made me want to keep reading rather than go ask the bookseller why the heck he would recommend this.
There is absolutely nothing lighthearted about this, and Neely’s ghosts follow her well beyond where they should. A narrator that sees and hears voices isn’t to be trusted, and most of the book I spent waffling back and forth between, “she 100% did it” and “this is a red herring.” I will say things would have been twistier if the copy was written more vaguely; I’d have loved the surprise of the murder rather than spelling it out for me in the description. That being said, there’s so much darkness in this book that maybe everyone thought it would be better coming with a warning.
I won’t give anything away, but the last 30 minutes of the audiobook really *rocked* me.
I liked it, but it was no Poe retelling and I’m ruining my average review rating by giving everything a 4 so it’s time to get serious again. 3.5 stars rounded down, and one recommendation-but-not-a-recommendation from me.
Mindy McGinnis is a weirdo and I love it. Her duology of The Initial Insult and The Last Laugh was one of the most unhinged things I read and definitely made my top 10 last year (was it last year?)
The cover designer and the narrator were back for Under This Red Rock, which pleased me. It felt very much in the same vein as All’s Well by Mona Awad (which I hated.) Red Rock falls in that category of weird, inexplicable mental illness, not everything gets explained, but in a way that made me want to keep reading rather than go ask the bookseller why the heck he would recommend this.
There is absolutely nothing lighthearted about this, and Neely’s ghosts follow her well beyond where they should. A narrator that sees and hears voices isn’t to be trusted, and most of the book I spent waffling back and forth between, “she 100% did it” and “this is a red herring.” I will say things would have been twistier if the copy was written more vaguely; I’d have loved the surprise of the murder rather than spelling it out for me in the description. That being said, there’s so much darkness in this book that maybe everyone thought it would be better coming with a warning.
I won’t give anything away, but the last 30 minutes of the audiobook really *rocked* me.
I liked it, but it was no Poe retelling and I’m ruining my average review rating by giving everything a 4 so it’s time to get serious again. 3.5 stars rounded down, and one recommendation-but-not-a-recommendation from me.
July 17, 2024
“Lastly, greatest thanks, respect, and support to all the educators, librarians, and booksellers operating on the front lines during the current onslaught of book banning. They take the brunt of the charge, and books like mine are available to read because of the personal and professional risks that they take. Solidarity, my friends.” <- if you don’t read the acknowledgments at the end of the book you’re a loser in my book, sorry! mindy speaks the truth.
read this in one day while camping and such an immediate FIVE STARS! i LOVE not seeing things coming and mindy never ever disappoints. queen of getting under my skin. so unsettling. truly such a thrilling and enjoyable read. if you want to be a bit spooked and taken for a wild ride, i highly recommend this one.
read this in one day while camping and such an immediate FIVE STARS! i LOVE not seeing things coming and mindy never ever disappoints. queen of getting under my skin. so unsettling. truly such a thrilling and enjoyable read. if you want to be a bit spooked and taken for a wild ride, i highly recommend this one.
April 20, 2024
This one was INTENSE. A lot of this can probably be very triggering. The ending was amazing. I wish it could have been explained a little on Neely’s part. I went in pretty blind and want others to too so no big long review. Just know that this deals with mental illness and someone suffering from delusions. This is my second Mindy McGinnis book and I’ll be sure to read more now.
July 5, 2024
3.5⭐️
In my opinion this is Mindy McGinnis’s darkest book with an important depiction of mental health struggles, specifically when they’re not talked about.
I think the miss for me was the lack of tension. the promise of the book is a who-done-it but the urgency isn’t there and the reveal isn’t very surprising…but maybe that’s because the character is written so spot on that I could tell from the jump that they were trash.
Content Warning: the depictions of suicide are graphic and frequent.
In my opinion this is Mindy McGinnis’s darkest book with an important depiction of mental health struggles, specifically when they’re not talked about.
I think the miss for me was the lack of tension. the promise of the book is a who-done-it but the urgency isn’t there and the reveal isn’t very surprising…but maybe that’s because the character is written so spot on that I could tell from the jump that they were trash.
Content Warning: the depictions of suicide are graphic and frequent.
March 29, 2024
4.75
Cover 4; characters 5; Plot 4; Pace 5; Intrigue 5; Logic 4; worldbuilding 4; Writing 5; Enjoyment 5; cry*
I'm not even sure I have the ability to put my thoughts about this book into words right now. Holy hell. Mindy really knows how to take some of your darkest, deepest thoughts, apply them to characters and ponder, "what if?".
CONTENT WARNING: This book deals heavily with suicide and suicidal ideation, please be in the right head space before reading. It also deals with drug use, death of a parent, mental health issues, and sexual violence against women.
It's weird to have loved such a dark book. I think our MC was so well put together. She's definitely an unreliable narrator from the point that she can hear people talking when they're not there. She has heaps of childhood trauma including the fairly recent suicide of her older brother. I would also say that the voices she hears are borderline alternate personalities due to things that we learn as the book goes on.
Mindy did a great job of putting this mystery together and though I was able to guess how things were going to come together, it was a fantastic reveal. If you can handle the subject matter of this one, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Cover 4; characters 5; Plot 4; Pace 5; Intrigue 5; Logic 4; worldbuilding 4; Writing 5; Enjoyment 5; cry*
I'm not even sure I have the ability to put my thoughts about this book into words right now. Holy hell. Mindy really knows how to take some of your darkest, deepest thoughts, apply them to characters and ponder, "what if?".
CONTENT WARNING: This book deals heavily with suicide and suicidal ideation, please be in the right head space before reading. It also deals with drug use, death of a parent, mental health issues, and sexual violence against women.
It's weird to have loved such a dark book. I think our MC was so well put together. She's definitely an unreliable narrator from the point that she can hear people talking when they're not there. She has heaps of childhood trauma including the fairly recent suicide of her older brother. I would also say that the voices she hears are borderline alternate personalities due to things that we learn as the book goes on.
Mindy did a great job of putting this mystery together and though I was able to guess how things were going to come together, it was a fantastic reveal. If you can handle the subject matter of this one, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
July 3, 2024
Love McGinnis, my favorite yet!!!
April 12, 2024
girly pops have i not mentioned yet how much i fucking love mindy mcginnis??? because i do, with all my soul
her stories are ugly and dirty and i love everything about them. her charaters and stories are so achingly real and raw. also the small town feels ✨✨✨
her stories are ugly and dirty and i love everything about them. her charaters and stories are so achingly real and raw. also the small town feels ✨✨✨
March 26, 2024
I finished this two nights ago and I am still thinking about it. It has everything a Mindy McGinnis book has to offer. All cards on the table. Truth bared. Teeth out. It gripped me from the beginning and didn't stop squeezing until the last sentence. I'm already suggesting it to people. And already anxiously awaiting what her mind has to offer us next.
If I'm being honest, it's probably more 4.5 stars, but I'm rounding up. The imagery, the honest take on all things, and the not shying away from controversial topics led me up the path to 5.
If I'm being honest, it's probably more 4.5 stars, but I'm rounding up. The imagery, the honest take on all things, and the not shying away from controversial topics led me up the path to 5.
November 30, 2023
Mindy McGinnis is an auto-read favorite of mine -- she's the master of balancing on a knife's edge between disturbing and disgusting and I LOVE IT. She writes f-ed up, rage-filled teenage girls better than anyone, and our girl Neely is capital-F f-ed up. Her dad was mentally unstable and bolted when she was a kid, her mom died in front of her in a car crash, and her brother recently died, gruesomely. Oh, and she sees monsters/ghosts who harass her -- telling her lies, incessantly asking for water, and making her yell "shitbird" multiple times a day. The only place she gets any peace is deep underground in her town's tourist attraction cave. Unfortunately, trouble follows her into the cave and she loses yet another person.
This book was weirdly funny, deeply sad, and kind of all over the place. I never quite felt like I understood what was going on, so this wasn't my favorite by McGinnis. That said I will be first in line to get my grubby hands on whatever she writes next because she's amazing.
* thanks to HarperCollins Childrens Books & Katherine Tegen Books for the NetGalley review copy. UNDER THIS RED ROCK publishes March 19, 2024.
This book was weirdly funny, deeply sad, and kind of all over the place. I never quite felt like I understood what was going on, so this wasn't my favorite by McGinnis. That said I will be first in line to get my grubby hands on whatever she writes next because she's amazing.
* thanks to HarperCollins Childrens Books & Katherine Tegen Books for the NetGalley review copy. UNDER THIS RED ROCK publishes March 19, 2024.
February 5, 2024
If you've never read anything by Mindy McGinnis, then make sure to prepare yourself! Under This Red Rock does NOT shy away from tough topics and addresses mental health and suicide head on. With that said, I thought this book was an excellent read. The story starts out a little slow, but that is necessary while readers get to know the characters, gain necessary backstory, and witness the relationships between characters developing. About midway through the book, the story picks up and is a wild ride from that point on! This book is a true psychological thriller in that I never knew what was real or what to believe until the very end. After I finished reading, I definitely had some strong feelings and for me, that is a true sign of a great read.
This book is considered Young Adult and I will definitely be adding it to my high school library, but it's one that I think adult thriller readers will enjoy too.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the opportunity to review this title.
This book is considered Young Adult and I will definitely be adding it to my high school library, but it's one that I think adult thriller readers will enjoy too.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the opportunity to review this title.
March 31, 2024
Ugh this is the first book I haven't loved by McGinnis 😭 I just couldn't connect with the MC...
June 26, 2024
I look forward to absolutely everything that Mindy McGinnis puts out. She is one of those authors that people love or hate. She writes about the subject matter that everyone else is afraid to touch and then she creates a story that makes you see things from a perspective that you never considered. I love how dark she can get and it makes me wonder where these stories come from in her brain. With every book, I know that I am going to get a deeply dark and emotional story with characters that will become like family to me. I am addicted to her writing style and get easily sucked into her stories. She has such a poetic way of stringing words together that gives every story a cadence that is so easy to get lost in. This one is no different.
The plot is very unique. You live inside Neely’s head. You know the story from her point of view but she is one of the most unreliable narrators I have ever read. Her mental illness, her delusions, her auditory hallucinations have you questioning everything you think you know. Several times I thought I knew who did what, but I was wrong. The end of the story (the last hour or so) is a whirlwind so pay attention. You learn a lot in a short period of time. My only beef with the whole book (but I still give it 5 stars) is that the ending left me with a few questions about exactly how the truth played out. There is so little that can be said about this plot without giving away too much. I feel like to get the most effect from this one, you need to go in blind.
These characters are amazing, as usual. Mindy’s characters are always deep, dark, and disturbed but in a way that makes you want to love and protect them. Her content is always heavy with topics that most would find difficult to talk about and some would probably find triggering. She focuses a lot on mental health and suicide in this one so if those topics are difficult for you as a reader, you will definitely need think hard about whether you want to pick this one up. Neely’s trauma is heavy. She is a hot mess and I seriously feel for the girl. The supporting characters each had their own unique personalities and you either liked them or you didn’t.
If you aren’t easily triggered and you like emotionally dark stories, then I highly recommend this one (and every other book written by Mindy).
The plot is very unique. You live inside Neely’s head. You know the story from her point of view but she is one of the most unreliable narrators I have ever read. Her mental illness, her delusions, her auditory hallucinations have you questioning everything you think you know. Several times I thought I knew who did what, but I was wrong. The end of the story (the last hour or so) is a whirlwind so pay attention. You learn a lot in a short period of time. My only beef with the whole book (but I still give it 5 stars) is that the ending left me with a few questions about exactly how the truth played out. There is so little that can be said about this plot without giving away too much. I feel like to get the most effect from this one, you need to go in blind.
These characters are amazing, as usual. Mindy’s characters are always deep, dark, and disturbed but in a way that makes you want to love and protect them. Her content is always heavy with topics that most would find difficult to talk about and some would probably find triggering. She focuses a lot on mental health and suicide in this one so if those topics are difficult for you as a reader, you will definitely need think hard about whether you want to pick this one up. Neely’s trauma is heavy. She is a hot mess and I seriously feel for the girl. The supporting characters each had their own unique personalities and you either liked them or you didn’t.
If you aren’t easily triggered and you like emotionally dark stories, then I highly recommend this one (and every other book written by Mindy).
April 30, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC, all opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This story is unique in that it doesn’t shy away from the grim reality of mental illness and the struggles the can overtake a person experiencing it. It’s important that books like this one are written because it helps to open conversation surrounding mental health and removes some stigma. It also allows more people to gain empathy for someone experiencing this while also providing validity to anyone reading who may be going through or has gone through something similar.
Neely felt like such a real person as the reader. I felt so much heartbreak for her reading about her experiences and understanding the depth of what she was feeling. It was difficult to read but in a good, thought provoking way that allows the reader to truly put themselves in Neely’s shoes. My only hope is that readers who cannot relate to Neely’s feelings or experiences can still have empathy and reserve judgement for her strange coping mechanisms or thoughts.
As a person who has my own mental health struggles, family that also struggles with significant mental illness, and a past filled with immense loss, I saw a lot of myself and my own experiences in Neely’s story. It was devastating at times and I wanted to comfort Neely, which in turn sort of helped me process my own experiences and apply that compassion to my inner child.
I only docked a star because I felt the ending could have had a bigger impact. It felt abrupt in a way and I think more details could have helped me understand and connect the events that led up to the ending with where we find Neely in the end of the story. It sort of left me questioning why did x,y,z need to happen to get to this point? That’s just me.
I’d recommend this novel to anyone, but especially those who like mysteries and plots focused on mental health. But I suggest reading the trigger warnings because this is not an easy story to digest though it’s an important one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This story is unique in that it doesn’t shy away from the grim reality of mental illness and the struggles the can overtake a person experiencing it. It’s important that books like this one are written because it helps to open conversation surrounding mental health and removes some stigma. It also allows more people to gain empathy for someone experiencing this while also providing validity to anyone reading who may be going through or has gone through something similar.
Neely felt like such a real person as the reader. I felt so much heartbreak for her reading about her experiences and understanding the depth of what she was feeling. It was difficult to read but in a good, thought provoking way that allows the reader to truly put themselves in Neely’s shoes. My only hope is that readers who cannot relate to Neely’s feelings or experiences can still have empathy and reserve judgement for her strange coping mechanisms or thoughts.
As a person who has my own mental health struggles, family that also struggles with significant mental illness, and a past filled with immense loss, I saw a lot of myself and my own experiences in Neely’s story. It was devastating at times and I wanted to comfort Neely, which in turn sort of helped me process my own experiences and apply that compassion to my inner child.
I only docked a star because I felt the ending could have had a bigger impact. It felt abrupt in a way and I think more details could have helped me understand and connect the events that led up to the ending with where we find Neely in the end of the story. It sort of left me questioning why did x,y,z need to happen to get to this point? That’s just me.
I’d recommend this novel to anyone, but especially those who like mysteries and plots focused on mental health. But I suggest reading the trigger warnings because this is not an easy story to digest though it’s an important one.
June 11, 2024
Neely knows she's mentally unwell. Her brother recently committed suicide, her parents left her to the care of her grandparents, and she also has active hallucinations. But she just got a job giving tours of a local cave system, which is the only place her hallucinations can't follow - until Margaret, one of long-dead women who helped explore the caves, shows up. Then Neely goes to a party with some coworkers and ends up by herself in the caves with Mila, a girl she likes. Now Mila is missing and Neely doesn't know what happened, and she can't help but suspect herself.
This was another great thriller from Mindy McGinnis. At first I thought this story might be set in an adjacent world to The Initial Insult as it feels a bit similar, and since I really enjoyed that world I didn't so much mind. Her books always feel very gritty and real and don't shy away from the edge. There was a solid twist at the end and some reveals that explained a lot of Neely's hallucinations. The caves themselves felt almost like a character.
Content advisory: Mentions of suicide, drug use, rape (not graphically shown), strong language.
This was another great thriller from Mindy McGinnis. At first I thought this story might be set in an adjacent world to The Initial Insult as it feels a bit similar, and since I really enjoyed that world I didn't so much mind. Her books always feel very gritty and real and don't shy away from the edge. There was a solid twist at the end and some reveals that explained a lot of Neely's hallucinations. The caves themselves felt almost like a character.
Content advisory: Mentions of suicide, drug use, rape (not graphically shown), strong language.
July 29, 2024
Yo, one of my favorite parts about Mindy McGinnis is she is not afraid to write gruesome and gritty stories, and all that stuff that we think as humans, but never actually say. I never know where her books will take me and it's one of the reason why I get sucked in and white knuckle my way through her novels.
Set in small-town Ohio (like most of Mindy's books), Neely lives with her Grandma and Grandpa. Her father abandoned her family when she was young, her mom died horribly in a car crash, and her brother killed himself... oh! And they all suffered from pretty severe mental illnesses that created illusions in their head. What's real and what's not real? Neely knows the man in her closet who tells her that she is a pilot or other lies is not real. She knows that the little girl under her bed always asking for water is not real. But she has learned to deal with them.
Trying to live a "normal" life, Neely gets a job at the local caverns (the actual Ohio Caverns in West Liberty btw). These caverns are the only place she can hide from her monsters and the one place she knows better than even herself. When she meets Mila, she even thinks she might be able to have a friend- or something more.
But when Neely goes to a party and gets a little high, she's even more confused about what's real and what's imaginary- including the blood under her nails, and the visions of Mila.
Set in small-town Ohio (like most of Mindy's books), Neely lives with her Grandma and Grandpa. Her father abandoned her family when she was young, her mom died horribly in a car crash, and her brother killed himself... oh! And they all suffered from pretty severe mental illnesses that created illusions in their head. What's real and what's not real? Neely knows the man in her closet who tells her that she is a pilot or other lies is not real. She knows that the little girl under her bed always asking for water is not real. But she has learned to deal with them.
Trying to live a "normal" life, Neely gets a job at the local caverns (the actual Ohio Caverns in West Liberty btw). These caverns are the only place she can hide from her monsters and the one place she knows better than even herself. When she meets Mila, she even thinks she might be able to have a friend- or something more.
But when Neely goes to a party and gets a little high, she's even more confused about what's real and what's imaginary- including the blood under her nails, and the visions of Mila.
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