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Better Left Buried
*HONORABLE MENTION WINNER NEW YORK BOOK FESTIVAL 2014
Brea and Harmony are two unlikely best friends whose shared grief leaves them searching for the truth behind a disappearance that might be the town of Reston’s best kept secret.
Outcast by their peers, separated by their parents, and with one of them facing their mother’s rapid mental decline, the two look for answers, finding trouble at every turn. Arrest, therapy, and the threat of foster care keep Harmony on the run.
No stranger to a difficult lifestyle, Harmony’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, Adam, is determined to keep her from reentering the Social Services system that had previously failed them both. Only Harmony doesn’t want his help. She wants answers.
Obsessed with her family’s sordid past, Harmony returns to the wreckage of her forgotten childhood home where the repressed memories of her father’s final night returns with tragic result, proving that some secrets are better left buried.
Brea and Harmony are two unlikely best friends whose shared grief leaves them searching for the truth behind a disappearance that might be the town of Reston’s best kept secret.
Outcast by their peers, separated by their parents, and with one of them facing their mother’s rapid mental decline, the two look for answers, finding trouble at every turn. Arrest, therapy, and the threat of foster care keep Harmony on the run.
No stranger to a difficult lifestyle, Harmony’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, Adam, is determined to keep her from reentering the Social Services system that had previously failed them both. Only Harmony doesn’t want his help. She wants answers.
Obsessed with her family’s sordid past, Harmony returns to the wreckage of her forgotten childhood home where the repressed memories of her father’s final night returns with tragic result, proving that some secrets are better left buried.
386 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Belinda Frisch
14 books327 followersBelinda Frisch has worked in cosmetology, healthcare, and real estate, but her lifelong dream is of being a writer. While other kids were passing notes in class, Belinda was writing creatively. She was the only person she knew who asked for the Writer’s Market for Christmas or had any idea what a SASE was. Her journal—and usually an Anne Rice novel—were her constant companions.
She has written poetry, short stories, novels, and a textbook, and co-authored a screenplay when her novel Cure was optioned for film that one time. When Belinda isn’t writing, she is gardening, cooking, or reading one of the many books that she keeps on rotation. She lives with her beloved husband and their furkids in South Carolina, where she is hard at work on her next novel.
She has written poetry, short stories, novels, and a textbook, and co-authored a screenplay when her novel Cure was optioned for film that one time. When Belinda isn’t writing, she is gardening, cooking, or reading one of the many books that she keeps on rotation. She lives with her beloved husband and their furkids in South Carolina, where she is hard at work on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 9, 2017
Harmony Wolcott is a teenager haunted by nightmares, and her own mother who is attempting to drink and do drugs to an early grave. As her nightmares become more and more vivid, she enlists the help of her best friend, Brea. As they discover secrets they never knew about both of their families, they start to realize that some things are better left buried.
This book had me hooked from the first page. While it was a reasonably quick read, I loved finding out more about these families as secrets were unveiled. Harmony is a girl that has severe issues that become more apparent as the book progresses and her memories return to her, and I did despite myself rooting for her to get her life back on track and her past buried.
While it is marked as a horror and there is an appearance of a haunting, it is by far not the main storyline and so I would classify this more as a mystery or a thriller than horror. I was expecting a ghost story and was slightly disappointed to find out there really wasn't much of that here.
The ending was the reason this book lost stars for me. It was kind of predictable, and I kept waiting for a big twist that never came. I had figured out much of it by halfway through, and to find out that was the gist of the story was a huge let down. I felt like I could have skipped the ending and almost not not missed anything.
If you are looking for an engaging mystery/thriller pick this up. If you are looking for horror, look elsewhere.
This book had me hooked from the first page. While it was a reasonably quick read, I loved finding out more about these families as secrets were unveiled. Harmony is a girl that has severe issues that become more apparent as the book progresses and her memories return to her, and I did despite myself rooting for her to get her life back on track and her past buried.
While it is marked as a horror and there is an appearance of a haunting, it is by far not the main storyline and so I would classify this more as a mystery or a thriller than horror. I was expecting a ghost story and was slightly disappointed to find out there really wasn't much of that here.
The ending was the reason this book lost stars for me. It was kind of predictable, and I kept waiting for a big twist that never came. I had figured out much of it by halfway through, and to find out that was the gist of the story was a huge let down. I felt like I could have skipped the ending and almost not not missed anything.
If you are looking for an engaging mystery/thriller pick this up. If you are looking for horror, look elsewhere.
February 10, 2017
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
In Better Left Buried, teenager Harmony Wolcott pulled the worst card you can pull in life. She’s haunted by nightmares, her mother is an alcoholic trying to drink herself to an early grave, and pretty much everything in her life that could go wrong, has so far gone wrong. She’s a tragic character, a girl whose past forces her to make one wrong choice after another. The only bulb of light in her life would be her best friend, Brea. Brea is always there for her, she’s bright and shiny whereas everything else in Harmony’s life is dark and dull.
Harmony lives with her boyfriend Adam since her mom can’t take care of her life, and she’s constantly running about trying to make sure her mom doesn’t kill herself, and meanwhile trying to persuade social workers not to put her in a group home. Like that isn’t tough enough, Brea’s mom complains a lot about her spending time with Harmony, and their friendship goes downhill fast. And every night, Harmony is plagued by nightmares and ends up waking up at the exact same time.
As a reader, you can’t help but root for Harmony. While she makes one wrong choice after another, you keep on hoping that she’ll somehow get back up and put her life back together. The writing is excellent and pulls you in from the first page.
Now, why the book lost a stars. It was marketed as a horror book (messages from the beyond, the nightmare taking a paranormal twist) so I expected a ghost. Imagine my dissapointment when the main storyline didn’t focus on the paranormal at all. If anything, the book is more like a mystery or a dark contemporary YA. I wouldn’t classify it as horror at all.
If you go in expecting horror…well, you’ll be dissapointed. If you don’t go in expecting a horror story, or something paranormal, you’ll find an interesting read with a slightly predictable ending, but with enjoyable characters and an interesting dynamic between them.
In Better Left Buried, teenager Harmony Wolcott pulled the worst card you can pull in life. She’s haunted by nightmares, her mother is an alcoholic trying to drink herself to an early grave, and pretty much everything in her life that could go wrong, has so far gone wrong. She’s a tragic character, a girl whose past forces her to make one wrong choice after another. The only bulb of light in her life would be her best friend, Brea. Brea is always there for her, she’s bright and shiny whereas everything else in Harmony’s life is dark and dull.
Harmony lives with her boyfriend Adam since her mom can’t take care of her life, and she’s constantly running about trying to make sure her mom doesn’t kill herself, and meanwhile trying to persuade social workers not to put her in a group home. Like that isn’t tough enough, Brea’s mom complains a lot about her spending time with Harmony, and their friendship goes downhill fast. And every night, Harmony is plagued by nightmares and ends up waking up at the exact same time.
As a reader, you can’t help but root for Harmony. While she makes one wrong choice after another, you keep on hoping that she’ll somehow get back up and put her life back together. The writing is excellent and pulls you in from the first page.
Now, why the book lost a stars. It was marketed as a horror book (messages from the beyond, the nightmare taking a paranormal twist) so I expected a ghost. Imagine my dissapointment when the main storyline didn’t focus on the paranormal at all. If anything, the book is more like a mystery or a dark contemporary YA. I wouldn’t classify it as horror at all.
If you go in expecting horror…well, you’ll be dissapointed. If you don’t go in expecting a horror story, or something paranormal, you’ll find an interesting read with a slightly predictable ending, but with enjoyable characters and an interesting dynamic between them.
February 7, 2017
***I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
Harmony is walking a fine line between ending up in a group home and being able to maintain residence with her boyfriend Adam. Her mother is walking a fine line between life and death with the help of drugs, alcohol and violent men. Brea, Harmony’s best friend is walking her own fine line. Dating a jock and trying to keep it secret from Harmony and trying to keep her own mother from knowing how much time she spends with Harmony.
Harmony is plagued by nightmares every night at 2:34. Most of them start with what seems to be a memory of some sort turning violent and waking her up terrified.Harmony has become convinced there is something paranormal going on with her visions so she convinces Brea to cut class and Harmony produces a spirit board. The girls make contact with the entity that has been tormenting Harmony and learn few details before Brea freaks out and leaves.
This book was amazing written, well researched and the visual descriptions made for a thrilling read. When I first decided to read this I as fully prepared for a paranormal story and this lived up to the expectation. However what hooked me even more was it moved towards a mystery that had to be solved. So many questions had to be answered. Who was the entity plaguing Harmony? Why did Brea's mother despise Harmony and her mother so much? So many things just didn't add up and right at the middle was this poor young girl who had nothing to cling to. I couldn't put it down till I finished and all my questions were answered. However I would only recommend this to mature readers (at least 16 and up) because of some mature content.
But I am so glad to have had the chance to read this.
Harmony is walking a fine line between ending up in a group home and being able to maintain residence with her boyfriend Adam. Her mother is walking a fine line between life and death with the help of drugs, alcohol and violent men. Brea, Harmony’s best friend is walking her own fine line. Dating a jock and trying to keep it secret from Harmony and trying to keep her own mother from knowing how much time she spends with Harmony.
Harmony is plagued by nightmares every night at 2:34. Most of them start with what seems to be a memory of some sort turning violent and waking her up terrified.Harmony has become convinced there is something paranormal going on with her visions so she convinces Brea to cut class and Harmony produces a spirit board. The girls make contact with the entity that has been tormenting Harmony and learn few details before Brea freaks out and leaves.
This book was amazing written, well researched and the visual descriptions made for a thrilling read. When I first decided to read this I as fully prepared for a paranormal story and this lived up to the expectation. However what hooked me even more was it moved towards a mystery that had to be solved. So many questions had to be answered. Who was the entity plaguing Harmony? Why did Brea's mother despise Harmony and her mother so much? So many things just didn't add up and right at the middle was this poor young girl who had nothing to cling to. I couldn't put it down till I finished and all my questions were answered. However I would only recommend this to mature readers (at least 16 and up) because of some mature content.
But I am so glad to have had the chance to read this.
January 28, 2017
Harmony is living with her boyfriend Adam, since her mom is an alcoholic and abusive. She is trying to live her life as best she can but its hard! She runs around making sure her mother doesn't kill herself, while trying to keep out of the spotlight so social services doesn't make her go to a home. She also seems to be plagues with nightmares at the exact same time every night. The one good thing in her life is her friend Brea. But Brea is finding it hard to help Harmony when it seems that she is on a path of destruction. Also Breas mother doesn't want her near Harmony! Can Harmony figure out what her nightmares mean before it's too late??
This was one heck of an intense read. was really torn about Harmony. Despite rooting for her, she was a hard character to like. I felt sorry for her and just wanted to wrap her up in a cuddle with all she went through, but she was self centered, and toxic to Brea! Harmonys life has been far from easy but some of the decisions she made just had me liking her less and less! Saying that now, she is still an extremely well written and fleshed out character.
Brea is one of the good ones, a friend who is always there no matter what. I loved that she tried with Harmony though was glad in a way that she woke up and saw Harmony for who she was. I'm also glad that she was there for Harmony though when nobody else was. I wanted her to try to wake Harmony up yet also wake up herself!!
The plot was fast paced though predictable. I was expecting a bit more scary and for some reason thought there was a paranormal element but what I got was a slightly dark mystery. I was a little disappointed with that but didn't let it detract from the story.
In all I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's an intense and emotional read and one I devoured. Don't go into it expecting horror and I think you may enjoy it more.
I enjoyed Julia Farmer narrating the story. She was clear and concise and pulled me into the book.
This was one heck of an intense read. was really torn about Harmony. Despite rooting for her, she was a hard character to like. I felt sorry for her and just wanted to wrap her up in a cuddle with all she went through, but she was self centered, and toxic to Brea! Harmonys life has been far from easy but some of the decisions she made just had me liking her less and less! Saying that now, she is still an extremely well written and fleshed out character.
Brea is one of the good ones, a friend who is always there no matter what. I loved that she tried with Harmony though was glad in a way that she woke up and saw Harmony for who she was. I'm also glad that she was there for Harmony though when nobody else was. I wanted her to try to wake Harmony up yet also wake up herself!!
The plot was fast paced though predictable. I was expecting a bit more scary and for some reason thought there was a paranormal element but what I got was a slightly dark mystery. I was a little disappointed with that but didn't let it detract from the story.
In all I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's an intense and emotional read and one I devoured. Don't go into it expecting horror and I think you may enjoy it more.
I enjoyed Julia Farmer narrating the story. She was clear and concise and pulled me into the book.
February 10, 2017
This is kind of a difficult book to judge properly. The book itself is well written from a grammatical standpoint. It is thoughtful and intelligent and crafted by an author who pays attention to even minute detail so there are no issues with consistency in the story.
Still, I was somewhat disappointed that this novel was not the frightening tale that I had expected it to be. From the cover I expected this to be outright horror and instead it was a slow and gradual build up that was more psychological than anything else.
The expected paranormal aspects of this story did not jump off the page and grab me as I thought they would, but somehow the story still remained interesting to the end. Perhaps it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, but it was still a good read. I liked that the author detailed the past history of her main character through her own introspection rather than just through her character being told or learning about events that happened to her.
This book is recommended for those who like well thought-out plots and interesting characters that have deep histories.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Still, I was somewhat disappointed that this novel was not the frightening tale that I had expected it to be. From the cover I expected this to be outright horror and instead it was a slow and gradual build up that was more psychological than anything else.
The expected paranormal aspects of this story did not jump off the page and grab me as I thought they would, but somehow the story still remained interesting to the end. Perhaps it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, but it was still a good read. I liked that the author detailed the past history of her main character through her own introspection rather than just through her character being told or learning about events that happened to her.
This book is recommended for those who like well thought-out plots and interesting characters that have deep histories.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
September 12, 2015
This book was one that managed to grab my attention from the very first page- a young teenager that’s living with her boyfriend, who is a pariah in her society, and has a drugged up/drunken mother and is on the edge of being put in the system just 6 months out from her 18th birthday. You can’t help but feel for Harmony with the harsh deck that she’s been dealt.
The book was pretty well-written; it had bits of foreshadowing that kind of pointed you in the direction of the mystery. (I’d say it had more of a creepy mystery feel than a horror feel.) I couldn’t help but be enthralled by the creepy dreams that plagued Harmony’s sleep. And I definitely couldn’t stop rooting for Harmony through all of her bad decisions.
Full review on blog: https://szczepjbooks.wordpress.com/?p...
The book was pretty well-written; it had bits of foreshadowing that kind of pointed you in the direction of the mystery. (I’d say it had more of a creepy mystery feel than a horror feel.) I couldn’t help but be enthralled by the creepy dreams that plagued Harmony’s sleep. And I definitely couldn’t stop rooting for Harmony through all of her bad decisions.
Full review on blog: https://szczepjbooks.wordpress.com/?p...
March 25, 2015
A YA mystery with a twist of paranormal where the two protagonists will grab your attention. Harmony, the bad luck girl with an alcoholic Mother and Brea, who has everything have been BFR since childhood. Both their fathers are missing. The fathers disappeared at the same time. Harmony has nightmares occurring at the same time everynight. Brea is being bully at school. I recommend this book.
Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from the author through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from the author through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
February 4, 2017
A coming of age story with a twist! This well written story of Harmony, a teen with a troubled past, a strung out mom, and a secret she can't quite remember will haunt your memory long after you finish the book. The well developed and true to life characters nearly leap off the page and in your face.
I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary copy to review.
I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary copy to review.
February 2, 2017
I enjoyed this book.Bree and Harmony are friends,sometimes,although their parents want them to have nothing to do with each other.Long ago these two families were friends,then horrible things happened and lives were torn apart.It is a gut wrenching book,narrated wonderfully by Julia Farmer.I was given this book free for an honest review.
December 11, 2015
I received this book free for an honest review. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I must say Well Done. I really enjoyed the storyline. Even shed a few tears. I got so far through the book and just couldn't put it down and had to finish it.
February 2, 2017
Very touching
I've known young people who have been forced to life this way based on the mistakes of their parents. I guess everyone has to do it to a certain extent. This story resonated with me on so many levels, it made me cry. Thank you.
I've known young people who have been forced to life this way based on the mistakes of their parents. I guess everyone has to do it to a certain extent. This story resonated with me on so many levels, it made me cry. Thank you.
May 19, 2014
Another great story from Belinda!! I couldn't put it down until I finished it!! Highly recommend this one :)
May 30, 2014
this book was so good I couldn't put it down
February 2, 2017
http://reading-is-dreaming-with-open-...
Digital copy was provided through Netgalley for an honest review.
First off let me clarify that despite Better Left Buried is categorised as horror on Goodreads I don't think that's appropriate. While there was a ghost in the book and there were some scary(ish) parts I think this is more of a mystery thriller than anything else. That said I wasn't satisfied with the mystery, it fell flat and wasn't exciting at all. Next to that it was predictable and at some parts simply boring. It was annoying to know all the answers before the main characters did.
I love deep friendships in YA, like the one Sloane and Emily had in Since You've Been Gone so I was really looking forward to these two best friends solving a mystery together. I was sad to see that the friendship of Harmony and Brea was unhealthy on pretty much every level. It's one thing when your friend is bossy or pushy but when she forces you to do things you really don't want to do, or are afraid to do that's not okay, and no book should tell me this is okay:
"Please? I'll get you back in time, I promise. I don't know how much longer I have left before they send me away. I skipped out on my appointment with Bennett and they're looking for me. "
"All right. One hour, but that's it." Brea regretted it as soon as she said it.
Harmony went as far as throwing a fit when she realised who Brea's boyfriend is. She pretty much judged him without trying to get to know him or hear Brea out. Their friendship didn't feel real, it felt forced and clingy. It was interesting how quickly Brea could forget about Harmony and move on with her life.
I wasn't completely satisfied with the characters and on more than one occasion I found them completely unrealistic. Brea was probably my favorite from the cast. She was pretty much a normal shy girl who despite her problems had to deal with her best friend's problems too. I felt for her on many occasions but I still couldn't connect to her at all. The thing about Harmony was that even though I could understand some of the things she did I still found all the characteristics in her that I usually hate. However, I thought she was realistically screwed up, which sounds strange but was oh-so-true and you'll understand it if you read the book.
The guys were an entirely different category. Jaxon was pretty much the popular guy who was tamed by a shy and nice girl so yeah, he was a cliché. But next to being the biggest cliché in the book he was extremely kind and patient with Brea and he supported her even when his friends wanted him to dump her. Adam was a wonderful character, he was supportive, patient, with just the right amount of protectiveness. Unfortunately, after a while his character took a turn into another direction, he became controlling with a violent strike. I'm sad to say that he wasn't well-written enough to pull off an enormous character change like that.
Brea's mom despised Harmony and would have done anything to make Brea hate her too. What I don't get is why she didn't try to help. She wasn't such a horrible person and it wouldn't have costed her anything to be kind to Harmony and simply be a parental figure in her life who she could look up to. Maybe things would have turned out completely differently if she only had cared enough to do something.
After all of that I really don't know who I'd recommend the book. I'll only say: read it if you're intrigued by the synopsis and then come back and share with me your thoughts.
The story idea: 3/5
The realization of the story: 2/5
The characters: 3/5
The cover: 3/5
Enjoy factor: 3/5
Final rating: 3/5
Digital copy was provided through Netgalley for an honest review.
First off let me clarify that despite Better Left Buried is categorised as horror on Goodreads I don't think that's appropriate. While there was a ghost in the book and there were some scary(ish) parts I think this is more of a mystery thriller than anything else. That said I wasn't satisfied with the mystery, it fell flat and wasn't exciting at all. Next to that it was predictable and at some parts simply boring. It was annoying to know all the answers before the main characters did.
I love deep friendships in YA, like the one Sloane and Emily had in Since You've Been Gone so I was really looking forward to these two best friends solving a mystery together. I was sad to see that the friendship of Harmony and Brea was unhealthy on pretty much every level. It's one thing when your friend is bossy or pushy but when she forces you to do things you really don't want to do, or are afraid to do that's not okay, and no book should tell me this is okay:
"Please? I'll get you back in time, I promise. I don't know how much longer I have left before they send me away. I skipped out on my appointment with Bennett and they're looking for me. "
"All right. One hour, but that's it." Brea regretted it as soon as she said it.
Harmony went as far as throwing a fit when she realised who Brea's boyfriend is. She pretty much judged him without trying to get to know him or hear Brea out. Their friendship didn't feel real, it felt forced and clingy. It was interesting how quickly Brea could forget about Harmony and move on with her life.
I wasn't completely satisfied with the characters and on more than one occasion I found them completely unrealistic. Brea was probably my favorite from the cast. She was pretty much a normal shy girl who despite her problems had to deal with her best friend's problems too. I felt for her on many occasions but I still couldn't connect to her at all. The thing about Harmony was that even though I could understand some of the things she did I still found all the characteristics in her that I usually hate. However, I thought she was realistically screwed up, which sounds strange but was oh-so-true and you'll understand it if you read the book.
The guys were an entirely different category. Jaxon was pretty much the popular guy who was tamed by a shy and nice girl so yeah, he was a cliché. But next to being the biggest cliché in the book he was extremely kind and patient with Brea and he supported her even when his friends wanted him to dump her. Adam was a wonderful character, he was supportive, patient, with just the right amount of protectiveness. Unfortunately, after a while his character took a turn into another direction, he became controlling with a violent strike. I'm sad to say that he wasn't well-written enough to pull off an enormous character change like that.
Brea's mom despised Harmony and would have done anything to make Brea hate her too. What I don't get is why she didn't try to help. She wasn't such a horrible person and it wouldn't have costed her anything to be kind to Harmony and simply be a parental figure in her life who she could look up to. Maybe things would have turned out completely differently if she only had cared enough to do something.
After all of that I really don't know who I'd recommend the book. I'll only say: read it if you're intrigued by the synopsis and then come back and share with me your thoughts.
The story idea: 3/5
The realization of the story: 2/5
The characters: 3/5
The cover: 3/5
Enjoy factor: 3/5
Final rating: 3/5
March 3, 2015
That was depressing. I’m left in this sort of funk that I’m not sure how to come out of. I’m not sure how to really rate this story either. I did not like it at all. But at the same time the mystery part of the story did keep me a little intrigued. Unfortunately the story line and characters overshadowed the little bit of goodness it had and just left me unsatisfied and unhappy. Then again it could be my fault for picking this type of story out, when clearly the blurb didn’t make it out to be happy or have a HEA.
Harmony comes from the wrong side of the tracks. Train wreck, trouble maker, druggie, and freak are just some of the words people like to describe her as. She’s had a completely shitty life and honestly things don’t get better for her. The little piece of normalcy that she has carved out for herself is being threatened in more ways than one. Threatened to be taken away by human and inhuman entities alike.
Brea has always been Harmony’s best friend and if Brea is honest with herself, has always used Harmony as a security blanket. Labeled a freak just like Harmony doesn’t mean that Brea gets to be shunned and left alone, oh no, she is bullied and can’t seem to find a way out of it. Until a white knight comes to her rescue but, is he or is he not playing her? Dealing with her mother, Harmony, inhuman entities, and now a new Romeo things just got a whole hell of a lot more complicated.
This story has a paranormal aspect that is tied into the thriller part of it. Unfortunately that is all this story had going for itself in the redeeming qualities column. I couldn’t help it but I hated, hated, hated, all of the characters. The only one I hated less than everyone else was probably Harmony. She was pretty scrappy and I liked her loyalty to Brea and the fact that she tried her damnedest to make the best out of her situations, for the most part.
I couldn’t connected with any of them. I hated both of the moms; one was so far removed from the situation she could’ve been a thousand miles away and the other was so entrenched in the situation that I wanted her to just get her own life. I hated both of the boyfriends; one was controlling and abusive while the other one I just couldn’t figure out. In the end I still felt like he was playing with her. The heroines...honestly Brea could’ve been taken out of the story for all the good she did. I kind of felt like she was just a filler. A pretty crappy best friend along with a poor me mentality did not win her any votes with me.
The story was told in dual points of view from Harmony and Brea. I was definitely left confused for the majority of the book. There just seemed like more and more questions and less and less satisfying answers. The switching back and forth between Brea and Harmony was a bit jarring at times. I found myself wanting to skip Brea’s parts since the meat of the story, in my opinion, happened in Harmony’s parts. Honestly the story is pretty much about Harmony and everyone else is a side character.
Ultimately this was an okay thriller/mystery story. Just don’t expect any unicorns pooping rainbows or ground breaking characters. In my opinion there isn’t a happily ever after so if that is all you’re into I would say stay clear of this tale and save yourself from the funky after feel you get left with.
This review and many more can be found here: http://butterfly-o-meter.com/
Harmony comes from the wrong side of the tracks. Train wreck, trouble maker, druggie, and freak are just some of the words people like to describe her as. She’s had a completely shitty life and honestly things don’t get better for her. The little piece of normalcy that she has carved out for herself is being threatened in more ways than one. Threatened to be taken away by human and inhuman entities alike.
Brea has always been Harmony’s best friend and if Brea is honest with herself, has always used Harmony as a security blanket. Labeled a freak just like Harmony doesn’t mean that Brea gets to be shunned and left alone, oh no, she is bullied and can’t seem to find a way out of it. Until a white knight comes to her rescue but, is he or is he not playing her? Dealing with her mother, Harmony, inhuman entities, and now a new Romeo things just got a whole hell of a lot more complicated.
This story has a paranormal aspect that is tied into the thriller part of it. Unfortunately that is all this story had going for itself in the redeeming qualities column. I couldn’t help it but I hated, hated, hated, all of the characters. The only one I hated less than everyone else was probably Harmony. She was pretty scrappy and I liked her loyalty to Brea and the fact that she tried her damnedest to make the best out of her situations, for the most part.
I couldn’t connected with any of them. I hated both of the moms; one was so far removed from the situation she could’ve been a thousand miles away and the other was so entrenched in the situation that I wanted her to just get her own life. I hated both of the boyfriends; one was controlling and abusive while the other one I just couldn’t figure out. In the end I still felt like he was playing with her. The heroines...honestly Brea could’ve been taken out of the story for all the good she did. I kind of felt like she was just a filler. A pretty crappy best friend along with a poor me mentality did not win her any votes with me.
The story was told in dual points of view from Harmony and Brea. I was definitely left confused for the majority of the book. There just seemed like more and more questions and less and less satisfying answers. The switching back and forth between Brea and Harmony was a bit jarring at times. I found myself wanting to skip Brea’s parts since the meat of the story, in my opinion, happened in Harmony’s parts. Honestly the story is pretty much about Harmony and everyone else is a side character.
Ultimately this was an okay thriller/mystery story. Just don’t expect any unicorns pooping rainbows or ground breaking characters. In my opinion there isn’t a happily ever after so if that is all you’re into I would say stay clear of this tale and save yourself from the funky after feel you get left with.
This review and many more can be found here: http://butterfly-o-meter.com/
January 29, 2017
Harmony Wolcott isn't your average teenager. Wild, untamed, and troubled, she's spent most of her life on the outside looking in. Her mother is a promiscuous mess, child protective services are an ominous cloud looming over her, and she suffers from a haunting, recurring dream. But is it really a dream? Or is it a message from the grave attempting to rouse memories from her childhood she's long kept under lock and key?
Better Left Buried is a horror story, but it's more than that. It's the story about two teenaged best friends, Harmony and Brea, both outcasts in a world in which they're not comfortable. It's the story about two families with stronger ties than they want to admit. It's about lies and secrets and how they can come back to haunt you. In this case, literally.
The cast is as interesting as it is diverse, the two mains in particular. First, there's Harmony. I wouldn't call her 'likeable'. As the story progresses she does things that made me want to throttle her. BUT, she is deeply troubled and there are reasons she does what she does. Love her or hate her, you WILL feel something for her, and when all is said and done, you'll understand why she is the way she is. Juxtaposed with Harmony is Brea. She's the complete opposite of Harmony. Where Harmony is reckless, Brea is reserved, where Harmony is in your face, Brea is introverted. It's in their vastly different natures where this book truly shines. This is the type of relationship most of us have had growing up. Theirs is a fantastic balance of dark and light, which is used to great effect. Too much of one and the book would have read like a depressing dirge, too much of the other and it wouldn't have had as much emotional pull. As with the main characters, the supporting cast is well drawn, each with their own interesting back story. Adam, Harmony's boyfriend, is doing what he can to love someone who's beyond repair. Harmony's mother is a ball of bad decisions and regret. Brea's mother is the control freak who tries to hold on too strong and keep her daughter from being hurt in the big bad world.
The plot is intricate, well conceived and executed, and is told in a rapid fire pace that consists of descriptive scenes, great dialogue, and short chapters that make you want to know what happens next. While the book does deal with mature themes, it's never gratuitous. I call it a breath of fresh air in a YA genre filled with novels that go out of their way to be edgy or shocking 'just because they can', and even without the horror element, you'd be left with an engrossing coming of age story.
Great characters, vivid plot, colorful writing. What more could you ask? And why are you wasting your time reading this? Your time would be much better spent reading the book! This one gets five stars and my highest recommendation without reservation.
Better Left Buried is a horror story, but it's more than that. It's the story about two teenaged best friends, Harmony and Brea, both outcasts in a world in which they're not comfortable. It's the story about two families with stronger ties than they want to admit. It's about lies and secrets and how they can come back to haunt you. In this case, literally.
The cast is as interesting as it is diverse, the two mains in particular. First, there's Harmony. I wouldn't call her 'likeable'. As the story progresses she does things that made me want to throttle her. BUT, she is deeply troubled and there are reasons she does what she does. Love her or hate her, you WILL feel something for her, and when all is said and done, you'll understand why she is the way she is. Juxtaposed with Harmony is Brea. She's the complete opposite of Harmony. Where Harmony is reckless, Brea is reserved, where Harmony is in your face, Brea is introverted. It's in their vastly different natures where this book truly shines. This is the type of relationship most of us have had growing up. Theirs is a fantastic balance of dark and light, which is used to great effect. Too much of one and the book would have read like a depressing dirge, too much of the other and it wouldn't have had as much emotional pull. As with the main characters, the supporting cast is well drawn, each with their own interesting back story. Adam, Harmony's boyfriend, is doing what he can to love someone who's beyond repair. Harmony's mother is a ball of bad decisions and regret. Brea's mother is the control freak who tries to hold on too strong and keep her daughter from being hurt in the big bad world.
The plot is intricate, well conceived and executed, and is told in a rapid fire pace that consists of descriptive scenes, great dialogue, and short chapters that make you want to know what happens next. While the book does deal with mature themes, it's never gratuitous. I call it a breath of fresh air in a YA genre filled with novels that go out of their way to be edgy or shocking 'just because they can', and even without the horror element, you'd be left with an engrossing coming of age story.
Great characters, vivid plot, colorful writing. What more could you ask? And why are you wasting your time reading this? Your time would be much better spent reading the book! This one gets five stars and my highest recommendation without reservation.
February 7, 2017
With the Synopsis of the book you would expect a great mystery, a thrilling novel to keep your spine tingling. With the title you would expect something to do with the dead, you would expect horror. Yet most of this novel focuses on the Drama of Harmonies' and Breas' life.
Even the mystery of 6 Maple Ave wasn't all that engaging. I expected more. With the spirit board, sleepwalking/suicide, creepy callings for help. It could have been developed into something more freaky as the title depicts. But, it was all about that drama.
Drama about having a sucky mother. About her boyfriend being too controlling. About hiding a romance from your best friend. About how all she wanted to do was to kill her self. About the two best friends whose relationship is disapproved by their own family. This book is a drama, not a Mystery Thriller.
Harmony was an egocentric girl. Caring about her needs. She focuses on herself too much, and she is such a problem. She doesn't accept the care for when she needs it, because she is so full of herself. She is just weak and arrogant. She finds out the truth of what her brain and the public buried and kills herself? Really?
The only positive about Harmony is how she loved Brea in a BFF kind of way. Harmony was pretty risk taking, since she "had nothing to lose". They had a deep relationship. A really sweet one. They were the best of friends. Harmony also created/caused most of the drama, so if she wouldn't be so bad of a character, there would be no story.
Brea was a scaredy cat, but there were times when she broke out of that. She was swell. Not really a special one. She was well developed through the story, she was one i came to like.
It was a cheesy mystery drama for teen girls. I liked it, but its not as you think it would be from the synopsis. It was a quick, easy read which kept me entertained. Just, improperly categorized.
Writing was good. It was well researched. I could see it all, feel it all. Grammatically it flowed by, there was only one error in the review copy where it was written "You mom..." when in context it should have been "Your mom...".
I was kinda disappointed by the ending. It was too predictable and there was no plot twist you would expect in a thriller novel. There was potential for a greater thriller from what we received in the first fifty pages.. then it was lost.
Even the mystery of 6 Maple Ave wasn't all that engaging. I expected more. With the spirit board, sleepwalking/suicide, creepy callings for help. It could have been developed into something more freaky as the title depicts. But, it was all about that drama.
Drama about having a sucky mother. About her boyfriend being too controlling. About hiding a romance from your best friend. About how all she wanted to do was to kill her self. About the two best friends whose relationship is disapproved by their own family. This book is a drama, not a Mystery Thriller.
Harmony was an egocentric girl. Caring about her needs. She focuses on herself too much, and she is such a problem. She doesn't accept the care for when she needs it, because she is so full of herself. She is just weak and arrogant. She finds out the truth of what her brain and the public buried and kills herself? Really?
The only positive about Harmony is how she loved Brea in a BFF kind of way. Harmony was pretty risk taking, since she "had nothing to lose". They had a deep relationship. A really sweet one. They were the best of friends. Harmony also created/caused most of the drama, so if she wouldn't be so bad of a character, there would be no story.
Brea was a scaredy cat, but there were times when she broke out of that. She was swell. Not really a special one. She was well developed through the story, she was one i came to like.
It was a cheesy mystery drama for teen girls. I liked it, but its not as you think it would be from the synopsis. It was a quick, easy read which kept me entertained. Just, improperly categorized.
Writing was good. It was well researched. I could see it all, feel it all. Grammatically it flowed by, there was only one error in the review copy where it was written "You mom..." when in context it should have been "Your mom...".
I was kinda disappointed by the ending. It was too predictable and there was no plot twist you would expect in a thriller novel. There was potential for a greater thriller from what we received in the first fifty pages.. then it was lost.
November 14, 2017
I loved the cover of this book; it looked so creepy and then as I read the book and discovered they were using a spirit board, yeah…count me in. This book led me on a mystery that all began with Brea whose life was totally messed up. Her mom, if that is what you could call her, was a disaster. A drunk, a punching bag and not one you could count one; her mother lived in a trailer that Harmony walked away from so that she could live with her boyfriend. Harmony having nightmares memories every night at 2:34, these shattered pieces that she needs to put together to fully understand their significance. Her best friend Brea gets invited in to help her work a spirit board, Harmony and Brea calling upon the voice that wakens Brea at night. It’s more than just movement on the board that scares the duo, the girls senses are fully awaken now. Brea and Harmony’s friendship is put to the test after this encounter. It’s not a novel that had me scared, but one that had me flipping the pages as the anticipation and excitement put me on edge. The secrecy of the words unwritten and words unspoken had me wondering exactly what was left to be discovered. There is something uniting the two girls as they keep talking about their past yet nothing is said about how their families came to part. The two teens are best friends yet their families are divided and I felt that something big caused this separation. I thought it was fascinating that as I read, my mind drifted to all these horrible thoughts of how these families could have separated years ago. As Harmony discovers what she labels as “literally Pandora’s Box”, my mind wandered as to what she would actually find in that container before she actually opened it. I found myself stopping, pausing before I read the next section and thinking about what she might find. I predicted the most horrifying things. Then as she opened the box, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was bad but my mind had thought so much worse, I’m such a terrible person. I enjoyed the story, it was captivating and it pulled me forward at an alarming pace.
I received a copy of this book from Belinda Frisch and NetGalley in exchange for an honest
I received a copy of this book from Belinda Frisch and NetGalley in exchange for an honest
May 9, 2014
Better Left Behind is going to be a book I will not be forgetting for some time to come! Belinda Frisch created the most realistic cast of characters woven together in the most mysterious plot! I found myself half-way through the novel before I even knew it, and each time I picked it up I have to be forced to put it down. Belinda's writing made it very difficult to stop at the end of each chapter, she kept putting clues or a new piece of the mystery in each.
Even though I thought I figured out the circumstances that brought two families to break apart, I would be wrong in some manner. This allowed the ending to be thrilling as the truth was finally told. The whole story was very realistic, this could easily be any family, any best friends, anyone's life. That is why I think it became such a gripping tale. This is a book that I would recommend to anyone that loves mysteries. The ending while sad-also showed a tad bit of happiness, as Harmony finally ended up where she wanted to be {maybe?} The next time you look at an abandoned house, you will always wonder what the history really is of the house, especially after reading this book.
Even though I thought I figured out the circumstances that brought two families to break apart, I would be wrong in some manner. This allowed the ending to be thrilling as the truth was finally told. The whole story was very realistic, this could easily be any family, any best friends, anyone's life. That is why I think it became such a gripping tale. This is a book that I would recommend to anyone that loves mysteries. The ending while sad-also showed a tad bit of happiness, as Harmony finally ended up where she wanted to be {maybe?} The next time you look at an abandoned house, you will always wonder what the history really is of the house, especially after reading this book.
January 26, 2017
Harmony is haunted by a dream that turns into a nightmare every night at the same time. She tries to avoid the dream by staying up past that time. She calls her best friend Brea to talk to every night. Harmony tries to remember her past only to find more mystery even after consulting a spirit board with Brea's help. Brea sees a ghost and won't use the spirit board anymore. Will Harmony be able to remember her past? Will Harmony see the ghost Brea saw? Brea's father disappears at the same time harmony's father did. Brea wants to know why her father disappeared. A tragic experience has Harmony wishing she had left the past stay buried.
The writing is vivid and suspenseful. The characters are believable. I never knew what was going to happen from one moment to the next. This is a story about a gal wanting love and not able to get it.
Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from the publisher from NetGalley. I was not obliged to write a favourable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The writing is vivid and suspenseful. The characters are believable. I never knew what was going to happen from one moment to the next. This is a story about a gal wanting love and not able to get it.
Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from the publisher from NetGalley. I was not obliged to write a favourable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
March 30, 2016
*Got this audio book for free with the intent of an honest review.*
The title did appeal to me and I'm sure I would bought it, after reading the synopsis.
I was prepared for paranormal, I wasn't prepared to be involved in to solving a mystery though... that made it more interesting, engaging... lived up to the expectation, it sure did. :)
It's such a shame and unfortunately so sad that so many young people have been forced to life in this sick way, based on their parents mistakes... I was so worried about this girl...
So many questions had to be answered and right at the middle was this poor young girl who had nothing, no one... such a tragic character...
Talking about characters it was enjoyable to meet them and the author did a good job with the dynamic between them.
Although the story was kind of predictable, I was waiting for a big twist ... it never came... well not that it had to be big... just more suitable to my personal taste.
This is not horror, but mystery/ thriller...ish
If you like mystery and a quick read, go for it!
The title did appeal to me and I'm sure I would bought it, after reading the synopsis.
I was prepared for paranormal, I wasn't prepared to be involved in to solving a mystery though... that made it more interesting, engaging... lived up to the expectation, it sure did. :)
It's such a shame and unfortunately so sad that so many young people have been forced to life in this sick way, based on their parents mistakes... I was so worried about this girl...
So many questions had to be answered and right at the middle was this poor young girl who had nothing, no one... such a tragic character...
Talking about characters it was enjoyable to meet them and the author did a good job with the dynamic between them.
Although the story was kind of predictable, I was waiting for a big twist ... it never came... well not that it had to be big... just more suitable to my personal taste.
This is not horror, but mystery/ thriller...ish
If you like mystery and a quick read, go for it!
February 6, 2017
Not the true ghost story I was looking for but a decent quick read that was drawn out in the middle. The climax was actually anti climatic and not as shocking as I hoped. It's more a teen angst abuse story than an actual creepy atmospheric ghost story.
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