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Yesternight
From the author of The Uninvited comes a haunting historical novel with a compelling mystery at its core. A young child psychologist steps off a train, her destination a foggy seaside town. There, she begins a journey causing her to question everything she believes about life, death, memories, and reincarnation.
In 1925, Alice Lind steps off a train in the rain-soaked coastal hamlet of Gordon Bay, Oregon. There, she expects to do nothing more difficult than administer IQ tests to a group of rural schoolchildren. A trained psychologist, Alice believes mysteries of the mind can be unlocked scientifically, but now her views are about to be challenged by one curious child.
Seven-year-old Janie O’Daire is a mathematical genius, which is surprising. But what is disturbing are the stories she tells: that her name was once Violet, she grew up in Kansas decades earlier, and she drowned at age nineteen. Alice delves into these stories, at first believing they’re no more than the product of the girl’s vast imagination. But, slowly, Alice comes to the realization that Janie might indeed be telling a strange truth.
Alice knows the investigation may endanger her already shaky professional reputation, and as a woman in a field dominated by men she has no room for mistakes. But she is unprepared for the ways it will illuminate terrifying mysteries within her own past, and in the process, irrevocably change her life.
In 1925, Alice Lind steps off a train in the rain-soaked coastal hamlet of Gordon Bay, Oregon. There, she expects to do nothing more difficult than administer IQ tests to a group of rural schoolchildren. A trained psychologist, Alice believes mysteries of the mind can be unlocked scientifically, but now her views are about to be challenged by one curious child.
Seven-year-old Janie O’Daire is a mathematical genius, which is surprising. But what is disturbing are the stories she tells: that her name was once Violet, she grew up in Kansas decades earlier, and she drowned at age nineteen. Alice delves into these stories, at first believing they’re no more than the product of the girl’s vast imagination. But, slowly, Alice comes to the realization that Janie might indeed be telling a strange truth.
Alice knows the investigation may endanger her already shaky professional reputation, and as a woman in a field dominated by men she has no room for mistakes. But she is unprepared for the ways it will illuminate terrifying mysteries within her own past, and in the process, irrevocably change her life.
374 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2016
64 people are currently reading
4576 people want to read
About the author
Cat Winters
9 books1,556 followersCat Winters is a critically acclaimed, award-winning author of five novels for teens: IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS, THE CURE FOR DREAMING, THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY, ODD & TRUE, and THE RAVEN'S TALE. She has been named a Morris Award finalist, a Bram Stoker Award nominee, and an Oregon Spirit Book Award winner, and her young adult novels have appeared on Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist best-of-the-year lists, as well as numerous state lists. She is also the author of two novels for adults, THE UNINVITED and YESTERNIGHT, and she contributed to the young adult horror anthology SLASHER GIRLS & MONSTER BOYS. Her debut picture book, CUT!: HOW LOTTE REINIGER AND A PAIR OF SCISSORS REVOLUTIONIZED ANIMATION, written as C.E. Winters, will release from Greenwillow Books in Winter 2023.
Winters lives in Oregon. Visit her online at www.catwinters.com.
Winters lives in Oregon. Visit her online at www.catwinters.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 412 reviews
October 6, 2016
Just as haunting and eerie as the others... yet, despite enjoying myself, not my favorite of her novels.
As usual, Miss Winter's writing paints a vivid picture of the setting of the story... so rich and electric, you can practically taste and see everything surrounding the people, and yourself in a way. It draws you in, sitting patiently with you as you devour and savor each page.
The reincarnation aspect hooked me instantly, it's a concept that has always fascinated me and had me wondering what my past life/lives could have been (a few answers my friends have contributed: a librarian, a queen (apparently I have that 'bearing') ). Imagine if you were remembering things from a completely different life... and finding those connections did exist.
Mind boggling isn't it?
We see everything through Alice's eyes. She seems to keep us all at a distance, as if we are sitting in the same room as her but she;s presenting everything like a lecture for a classroom or something.
Bad explanation but close enough.
Given a certain event that happened in her past, you can't really blame her for it. Desperately trying to remake herself into who she wants to be.
Janie was an adorable child, her father I didn't care one way or the other at first and he didn't really grow on me or feel as alive as the men from her other novels. Her poor mother and Tillie I just wanted to hug...
Maybe I expected too much and built it all up in my head... while the end results of what happened with Janie and finding the details of Violet were fascinating, it wasn't as spectacular as I expected. Tragic and beautiful in a sad way though.
With Alice going to find her own answers, that was more fascinating. She still kept us at arm's length but some of the pieces fell into place.
Was she who she thought was in another life? Did what she discovered near the end mean she wasn't, or she is after all and she was meant to find that book then Janie and in turn find out the answers to what she went through?
What happened in Holy crap! At first
The twist at the end... THAT had goosebumps traveling up my arms. Creepy creepy creepy!
Fitting in a way, considering... makes you think.
3.5 stars, despite my quibbles with it I would recommend... a very good book, just not the best of the bunch.
Quotes:
"Once I gathered my wits enough to realize that gale force winds, and not a bull, were to blame, I rolled onto my hands and knees and pushed myself to my feet. Another blast of cold air smacked me in the face, and the burgundy wool cloche I bought when I first signed on with the Department of Education shot off my head. The poor hat sailed into the distance without ever touching the ground-- a stain of red swallowed up by a palette of gray. My short hair slapped at my cheeks and stung my eyes.
"You don't believe in ghosts or demons yourself, then?"
"No." I smiled. "I don't. In my experience, supernatural entities say more about the people believing in them than they do about the mysteries of the afterlife. Haunted people are far more predominant--more interesting--than genuine haunted houses, despite what the recent fashion for seances might suggest."
"Not more than a quarter mile farther, in an empty field of mud-matted grass, stood our destination: a white-washed schoolhouse that looked like dozens of other schoolhouses I had already visited in my brief career as a traveling test administrator. A bell tower with a pointed peak stretched high above a set of doors, reached by wooden steps in desperate need of sanding and painting."
"Rain pinged against the windowpane; the hearth-fire glowed and shimmied with satisfying little pops of the logs. Down below my window, in the blackness of night, waves splashed against the shore, and over the rumpus of the sea, I heard automobiles rumbling to a stop in gravel.
"A few feet ahead of us, the red awning of a bicycle rental shop rippled with a wind that whistled across the rooftops. I pulled my coat tighter around myself and, again, strands of my hair flappd against my cheeks. To our right, the sky squirmed with menacing black clouds that looked like they didn't give a damn about anyone stepping out for exercise. "
"Neither of my former lovers shivered on a schoolhouse floor, worrying about what to do about a seven-year-old dead girl who claimed to be a dead woman,or the father desperate to save her. "
----
As usual, Miss Winter's writing paints a vivid picture of the setting of the story... so rich and electric, you can practically taste and see everything surrounding the people, and yourself in a way. It draws you in, sitting patiently with you as you devour and savor each page.
The reincarnation aspect hooked me instantly, it's a concept that has always fascinated me and had me wondering what my past life/lives could have been (a few answers my friends have contributed: a librarian, a queen (apparently I have that 'bearing') ). Imagine if you were remembering things from a completely different life... and finding those connections did exist.
Mind boggling isn't it?
We see everything through Alice's eyes. She seems to keep us all at a distance, as if we are sitting in the same room as her but she;s presenting everything like a lecture for a classroom or something.
Bad explanation but close enough.
Given a certain event that happened in her past, you can't really blame her for it. Desperately trying to remake herself into who she wants to be.
Janie was an adorable child, her father I didn't care one way or the other at first and he didn't really grow on me or feel as alive as the men from her other novels. Her poor mother and Tillie I just wanted to hug...
Maybe I expected too much and built it all up in my head... while the end results of what happened with Janie and finding the details of Violet were fascinating, it wasn't as spectacular as I expected. Tragic and beautiful in a sad way though.
With Alice going to find her own answers, that was more fascinating. She still kept us at arm's length but some of the pieces fell into place.
Was she who she thought was in another life? Did what she discovered near the end mean she wasn't, or she is after all and she was meant to find that book then Janie and in turn find out the answers to what she went through?
What happened in Holy crap! At first
The twist at the end... THAT had goosebumps traveling up my arms. Creepy creepy creepy!
Fitting in a way, considering... makes you think.
3.5 stars, despite my quibbles with it I would recommend... a very good book, just not the best of the bunch.
Quotes:
"Once I gathered my wits enough to realize that gale force winds, and not a bull, were to blame, I rolled onto my hands and knees and pushed myself to my feet. Another blast of cold air smacked me in the face, and the burgundy wool cloche I bought when I first signed on with the Department of Education shot off my head. The poor hat sailed into the distance without ever touching the ground-- a stain of red swallowed up by a palette of gray. My short hair slapped at my cheeks and stung my eyes.
"You don't believe in ghosts or demons yourself, then?"
"No." I smiled. "I don't. In my experience, supernatural entities say more about the people believing in them than they do about the mysteries of the afterlife. Haunted people are far more predominant--more interesting--than genuine haunted houses, despite what the recent fashion for seances might suggest."
"Not more than a quarter mile farther, in an empty field of mud-matted grass, stood our destination: a white-washed schoolhouse that looked like dozens of other schoolhouses I had already visited in my brief career as a traveling test administrator. A bell tower with a pointed peak stretched high above a set of doors, reached by wooden steps in desperate need of sanding and painting."
"Rain pinged against the windowpane; the hearth-fire glowed and shimmied with satisfying little pops of the logs. Down below my window, in the blackness of night, waves splashed against the shore, and over the rumpus of the sea, I heard automobiles rumbling to a stop in gravel.
"A few feet ahead of us, the red awning of a bicycle rental shop rippled with a wind that whistled across the rooftops. I pulled my coat tighter around myself and, again, strands of my hair flappd against my cheeks. To our right, the sky squirmed with menacing black clouds that looked like they didn't give a damn about anyone stepping out for exercise. "
"Neither of my former lovers shivered on a schoolhouse floor, worrying about what to do about a seven-year-old dead girl who claimed to be a dead woman,or the father desperate to save her. "
----
November 17, 2016
Miss Simpkin drew another long puff and blew smoke out of the right side of her mouth. “Do you believe in past lives, Miss Lind?”
4 1/2 stars. Goodness, I just love Cat Winters. Historical fiction set in Oregon (my hometown), mysteries, and elements of the paranormal? It's like she custom wrote a book just for me.
Each of her books so far have been right up my alley and Yesternight was no exception. If anything, with each new book she releases, her writing only gets better and better. And it's about time more people started taking notice of her.
Cat Winters has published not just one, but two amazing books in 2016. I was floored by The Steep & Thorny Way that came out earlier this year following a girl trying to solve her father's murder. Yesternight is another mystery of sorts, but it takes Winters' usual ghostly paranormal plots to another level and focuses on reincarnation.
Alice Lind is a young psychologist, struggling to make it in a field that, during the 1920s, was largely dominated by men. A lot of people won't even take her seriously once they realize she is female. When Alice comes to Gordon Bay to administer IQ tests to school children, one child captures her interest. Seven year old Janie O'Daire claims she was Violet Sunday in a past life and lived in Kansas before her violent death.
The atmosphere in this book was the perfect amount of creepy, full of rainy Oregon nights and Alice's befuddlement as she, a believer of science, wondered, Could reincarnation be real? Her questions spiraled her into a dark place as she remembered events of her past. Soon she was too caught up in the O'Daire mystery to escape.
I love how Winters' books can be read by both adults and teens. Her young adult novels don't hold any of the usual overdone themes found in the genre, and her adult books, like this one and The Uninvited, are light on adult content with only a bit more language and sexual content, so they can also be read by younger readers.
A hint of romance, an abundance of suspense, and delicious historical details, Yesternight couldn't have been more perfect. I know I went to bed the night I finished it with shivers up my spine and a lingering sense of dread.
November 18, 2017
Absolutely loved this book. Cat Winters is becoming a solidly dependable author for me. She's 2/2 in my book enjoyment so far. I love how she sets her books during the post war timeframe and tackles issues such as PTSD, soldiers attempting to integrate back to civilian life, feminism, spiritualism, prewar vs postwar views on the roles of women, and elements of the paranormal. Though in this book, she discusses reincarnation. Absolutely fascinating. I also love how she will keep you guessing on the plot throughout most of the book. No plot is sacred and will change on a dime. Stellar read.
April 29, 2022
If anyone doubts me when I say that a dodgy ending can ruin an otherwise good book, I’ll give them this book and let it proves its point. I have no idea how to convey the extent to which I am crushed by this book’s ending. It started so well! From the very first page, I was drawn in by the writing style. The deliciously gloomy atmosphere was so palpable you could feel the stormy weather seeping off the pages. It gave me the chills! Normally, I would mock a movie that relied on conveniently timed rainstorms to create tension but Winters? She knew how to weave the weather into the story without it being too purposeful.
I became quickly attached to our main character, Alice Lind, and her struggle to gain acceptance in the male-dominated field of psychology. It was really interesting to see how the story focused on the general public’s apprehension toward psychologists and the idea of therapy. I was rooting for Alice as she faced down all the obstacles that came in the way of her dream job. How was I meant to resist such a feminist story?
... but that’s when things started going downhill.
Janie, a seven-year-old mathematical genius, is introduced in the opening chapters. Alice is sent to help Janie's teacher extend her schooling but it turns out there's a lot more to the story. Since the age of two, Janie has been speaking about her ‘before life’. She claims to have chosen to be born again, that she is a reincarnation of a drowning victim named Violet Sunday. Creepy, right? You would think this story would go one of two ways from here: either the gloomy atmospheric writing style was setting us up for one hell of a horror story or it was going to keep its psychological theme and explore the treatment of mental illness in the 1920s. Unfortunately, it went neither of those two ways... and that’s where all of my problems stem from.
Yesternight’s storyline became a detective story instead. Alice investigated the possibility of Violet Sunday being a real person, not a figment of Janie’s imagination. I wish I could sum up how unnatural this turn of events felt within the story. You know how nails on a blackboard make you feel edgy and uncomfortable? It was kind of like that. There was no consistency and it was so… boring?
The last quarter of the book was the icing on the cake. It was so weird and unnecessary! Alice made decisions that seemed to go against her core personality and the whole thing had a distinct lack of realism and logic. The epilogue did nothing but infuriate me. You know when you get so angry that you actually get physically sick to the stomach? That? Yeah, that’s what happened to me. I was so darn furious. I hate when stories do things like that and it… it honestly made me Hulk rage.
After finishing the book and letting myself stew in my misery, I also realised that while the writing was certainly atmospheric, it never really captured the 1920s period quite right. Everyone knows that this is such a rich period of history but somehow Winters missed the mark. The characters and dialogue felt too modern. There were few attempts at slang and hints at Prohibition and WWI but they were never organically incorporated into the story. It’s like the author had to remind us when this book was set because it wasn’t obvious otherwise.
I did love that time was spent exploring women’s sexual and reproductive rights during this time period but it wasn’t enough to bring the 1920s to life in my opinion.
I was also annoyed by Janie’s lack of character development. For someone so central to the storyline, she had literally no personality.
Overall?
If you couldn’t tell, I was completely disappointed with Yesternight. For such a strong beginning, this story’s plotline and the ending were just dull. While the writing was definitely atmospheric, I didn’t think that it captured the time period well. I have heard fantastic things about Winters' other books so I may give her a second chance in the future.
➸ Trigger warnings for .
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Twitter • Instagram
I became quickly attached to our main character, Alice Lind, and her struggle to gain acceptance in the male-dominated field of psychology. It was really interesting to see how the story focused on the general public’s apprehension toward psychologists and the idea of therapy. I was rooting for Alice as she faced down all the obstacles that came in the way of her dream job. How was I meant to resist such a feminist story?
... but that’s when things started going downhill.
Janie, a seven-year-old mathematical genius, is introduced in the opening chapters. Alice is sent to help Janie's teacher extend her schooling but it turns out there's a lot more to the story. Since the age of two, Janie has been speaking about her ‘before life’. She claims to have chosen to be born again, that she is a reincarnation of a drowning victim named Violet Sunday. Creepy, right? You would think this story would go one of two ways from here: either the gloomy atmospheric writing style was setting us up for one hell of a horror story or it was going to keep its psychological theme and explore the treatment of mental illness in the 1920s. Unfortunately, it went neither of those two ways... and that’s where all of my problems stem from.
Yesternight’s storyline became a detective story instead. Alice investigated the possibility of Violet Sunday being a real person, not a figment of Janie’s imagination. I wish I could sum up how unnatural this turn of events felt within the story. You know how nails on a blackboard make you feel edgy and uncomfortable? It was kind of like that. There was no consistency and it was so… boring?
The last quarter of the book was the icing on the cake. It was so weird and unnecessary! Alice made decisions that seemed to go against her core personality and the whole thing had a distinct lack of realism and logic. The epilogue did nothing but infuriate me. You know when you get so angry that you actually get physically sick to the stomach? That? Yeah, that’s what happened to me. I was so darn furious. I hate when stories do things like that and it… it honestly made me Hulk rage.
After finishing the book and letting myself stew in my misery, I also realised that while the writing was certainly atmospheric, it never really captured the 1920s period quite right. Everyone knows that this is such a rich period of history but somehow Winters missed the mark. The characters and dialogue felt too modern. There were few attempts at slang and hints at Prohibition and WWI but they were never organically incorporated into the story. It’s like the author had to remind us when this book was set because it wasn’t obvious otherwise.
I did love that time was spent exploring women’s sexual and reproductive rights during this time period but it wasn’t enough to bring the 1920s to life in my opinion.
I was also annoyed by Janie’s lack of character development. For someone so central to the storyline, she had literally no personality.
Overall?
If you couldn’t tell, I was completely disappointed with Yesternight. For such a strong beginning, this story’s plotline and the ending were just dull. While the writing was definitely atmospheric, I didn’t think that it captured the time period well. I have heard fantastic things about Winters' other books so I may give her a second chance in the future.
➸ Trigger warnings for .
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Twitter • Instagram
September 24, 2016
That ending! *shudders* Review to come closer to release date.
Edited to add review:
Cat Winter's has quickly become one of my favorite authors when I want a good well written historical read with the touch of something other.
Yesternight does not disappoint.
Alice is the type of girl Winters has become known for, tough, brave, and not at all conventional for the time period she lives in, but Alice also has a dark side, one she tries to keep hidden from all those around her, even her family.
I don't want to go into too much detail but I will say this, Winter's take on reincarnation was fabulously done. This was eery at times and filled with unexpected twists and turns I just didn't see coming. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and the ending left me both chilled and delighted.
Another fabulous, suspense filled read from Winters.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Edited to add review:
Cat Winter's has quickly become one of my favorite authors when I want a good well written historical read with the touch of something other.
Yesternight does not disappoint.
Alice is the type of girl Winters has become known for, tough, brave, and not at all conventional for the time period she lives in, but Alice also has a dark side, one she tries to keep hidden from all those around her, even her family.
I don't want to go into too much detail but I will say this, Winter's take on reincarnation was fabulously done. This was eery at times and filled with unexpected twists and turns I just didn't see coming. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and the ending left me both chilled and delighted.
Another fabulous, suspense filled read from Winters.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
December 30, 2016
Very similar to Sharon Guskin's The Forgetting Time...or maybe The Forgetting Time is very similar to this one. I don't know which one was written first. I may take a few minutes later on to research it a bit more. Regardless, Yesternight was an engaging, mysterious, and thrilling story about the idea of reincarnation. Unfortunately, because of my exposure to The Forgetting Time, Yesternight was nothing I haven't read before but I very much enjoyed the mystery element and especially the twists and turns near the end. It added a haunting feel to an already haunting thought. Check it out!
My favorite quote:
"Sometimes traumatic memories like to keep the doors to their chambers wide open so that their victims never stop hearing, seeing and sensing the horrors of their past. The memories roared and clawed and sank sharp teeth into a person's brain. As hard as the sufferer tried, she could never slam the door shut without someone, someone like a trained psychologist to help. In fact shutting the door wasn't even the solution. The memories themselves needed to be weakened, tamed, shrunken down to minuscule granules of dust that could no longer clamp down and destroy a person's life. Other memories however preferred to hide behind closed doors with thick metal locks. From behind the wood they snarled, they growled, they pounded their fists against the barrier and threatened to kick the door wide open to reveal their monstrous faces when their sufferers least wanted to see them. And yet the remained a frustrating mystery. Unconquerable until viewed and faced."
Update 12/30/16:: So I researched the publication dates and although The Forgetting Time was officially published first, both publication dates are close enough to theorize that the authors were writing their books around the same time. Unfortunately, I could not locate any online interviews with Cat Winters to gain insight into her inspiration. Although the main topics are eerily similar, there are societal themes and historical factors that indeed set these two stories apart. Both are lovely reads that I would recommend.
The Forgetting Time: Published February 2016
Yesternight: Published October 2016
My favorite quote:
"Sometimes traumatic memories like to keep the doors to their chambers wide open so that their victims never stop hearing, seeing and sensing the horrors of their past. The memories roared and clawed and sank sharp teeth into a person's brain. As hard as the sufferer tried, she could never slam the door shut without someone, someone like a trained psychologist to help. In fact shutting the door wasn't even the solution. The memories themselves needed to be weakened, tamed, shrunken down to minuscule granules of dust that could no longer clamp down and destroy a person's life. Other memories however preferred to hide behind closed doors with thick metal locks. From behind the wood they snarled, they growled, they pounded their fists against the barrier and threatened to kick the door wide open to reveal their monstrous faces when their sufferers least wanted to see them. And yet the remained a frustrating mystery. Unconquerable until viewed and faced."
Update 12/30/16:: So I researched the publication dates and although The Forgetting Time was officially published first, both publication dates are close enough to theorize that the authors were writing their books around the same time. Unfortunately, I could not locate any online interviews with Cat Winters to gain insight into her inspiration. Although the main topics are eerily similar, there are societal themes and historical factors that indeed set these two stories apart. Both are lovely reads that I would recommend.
The Forgetting Time: Published February 2016
Yesternight: Published October 2016
June 6, 2019
After reading The Uninvited a while back, was I eager to read more from Cat Winters and getting a chance to read Yesternight her new novel made me very happy. So, happy that I moved it up quickly in my TBR mountain. The idea of the book sounded fantastic, with a young woman, Alice Lind, arriving on a little coastal hamlet to test children's IQ. And, there she finds a mystery, a child that may be a reincarnation of a woman that died some years before. But, could this really be the truth? And, why does this spark a feeling of familiarity in Alice Lind?
I think this book started off great, I loved the idea of a little girl that could be the reincarnation of a woman that died years ago. And, I was curious to see how it all would turn out. Would Alice find out the truth, and also would she herself find out what really sparked an event from when she was a child and hurt some other children?
As much as I enjoyed reading this book did it not engross me as much as The Uninvited had done. Somewhere along the way the story just turned in a direction I was not nearly interested in reading about as the mystery with the little girl, Janie O'Daire, and the question of reincarnation. One can say that when the story took the turn and I found out what Yesternight meant was the turning point to where I found the book didn't interest me as much as it had before. However, it was still good, it just felt like the whole Janie O'Daire story was dropped and suddenly it was all about Alice Lind and her memories. And, I just didn't find that as intriguing to read about. The ending was interesting, but I can't help feeling that it was a bit obvious in a way, and I also felt that I never really got a good closer to the Janie O'Daire mystery. I mean, what happened next with her? I was more curious to find out about her and what would happen next for her than Alice Lind's problem. But, I guess that's just me.
So, this was not as good as the Uninvited. But, still a pretty interesting book!
I want to thank William Morrow for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
I think this book started off great, I loved the idea of a little girl that could be the reincarnation of a woman that died years ago. And, I was curious to see how it all would turn out. Would Alice find out the truth, and also would she herself find out what really sparked an event from when she was a child and hurt some other children?
As much as I enjoyed reading this book did it not engross me as much as The Uninvited had done. Somewhere along the way the story just turned in a direction I was not nearly interested in reading about as the mystery with the little girl, Janie O'Daire, and the question of reincarnation. One can say that when the story took the turn and I found out what Yesternight meant was the turning point to where I found the book didn't interest me as much as it had before. However, it was still good, it just felt like the whole Janie O'Daire story was dropped and suddenly it was all about Alice Lind and her memories. And, I just didn't find that as intriguing to read about. The ending was interesting, but I can't help feeling that it was a bit obvious in a way, and I also felt that I never really got a good closer to the Janie O'Daire mystery. I mean, what happened next with her? I was more curious to find out about her and what would happen next for her than Alice Lind's problem. But, I guess that's just me.
So, this was not as good as the Uninvited. But, still a pretty interesting book!
I want to thank William Morrow for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
April 13, 2022
Perfect book for a rainy spring day. Engaging paranormal story about a young girl who has memories of drowning and can do strange things for a seven year old child.
Is it her imagination or could she have had another life in another time?
Haunting story.
Is it her imagination or could she have had another life in another time?
Haunting story.
April 15, 2020
I have enjoyed some books by this author in the past but I don't think I will read any more books by her. I've enjoyed her historical books that a slightly eerie and atmospheric vibe on the border of fantasy, and this book seemed like it would be off to a good start. It was so atmospheric and interesting, and seemed like it would delve into some commentary about mental health in the 1920s with a feminist vibe. I will say that compared to her other books, the historical setting was sloppier. The book felt more modern, with the historical mentions feeling more like they were there to remind us that it was a historical read rather than to make it seem more genuine.
I started to not like it around the time that it turned into a detective story. It's hard to describe what happened exactly since I usually like historical mysteries, but it was like this book was trying to do too much at once and it completely contradicted what it had tried to set up. Then it just got absurd, and just kept getting more and more absurd. I started skimming it and laughed so hard at the end that I told my friend the plot twist and she said she couldn't take the book seriously based on that. About sums it up. Imagine an M. Night Shyamalan level twist.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless you want to laugh at a plot twist, but at least it made me laugh too much to be truly pissed off.
I started to not like it around the time that it turned into a detective story. It's hard to describe what happened exactly since I usually like historical mysteries, but it was like this book was trying to do too much at once and it completely contradicted what it had tried to set up. Then it just got absurd, and just kept getting more and more absurd. I started skimming it and laughed so hard at the end that I told my friend the plot twist and she said she couldn't take the book seriously based on that. About sums it up. Imagine an M. Night Shyamalan level twist.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless you want to laugh at a plot twist, but at least it made me laugh too much to be truly pissed off.
June 19, 2017
I almost didn’t read this book. I’ve read all of Cat Winters’s novels and enjoyed them all for the most part. Her other books hover around a 3.8 rating average, but this one remained at a steady 3.5, which indicated to me that this likely wouldn’t be her strongest work.
Oddly enough, this is my favorite of her novels by far.
Alice Lind is a trained psychologist attempting break into her male dominated field in the 1920s. She has been traveling to different Oregon towns, administering IQ tests, when she becomes tangled up in a very strange case.
A seven year old girl, Janie, claims to be the reincarnation of Violet Sunday, a 19 year old girl who died of drowning in Kansas, a place Janie has never been. The young girl knows complex math and has horrible nightmares of drowning.
Alice doesn’t believe in reincarnation, but she is determined to solve this mystery and help Janie in any way she can, and even begins to uncover her own mysterious past along the way.
First of all, I loved the incorporation of psychology. Maybe it’s because I mostly read YA, where characters often don’t know what they’re going to do professionally, but I always find it refreshing when a main character has a passion, or is involved in some kind of professional field. As someone who has some personal interest in psychology, specifically from a writing standpoint, I loved reading from the perspective of a psychologist.
I also thought this story was so atmospheric. We have this rural Oregon town, this young girl claiming to be reincarnated, the mystery of who Violet Sunday was, as well as the mystery of Alice herself. The story felt so vivid.
It’s even a bit creepy. The way Alice’s inner darkness is dealt with, along with the complex family dynamic of the O’Daires, Janie’s family, were so intriguing. I love seeing Alice become more and more invested in the family.
The supernatural bits, the reincarnation, were very interesting. I’m not a hardcore fantasy person, but I love stories that incorporate supernatural elements on a smaller scale. I always find those to be much more believable.
It seems like a lot of the low ratings are due to the ending. It’s a very odd ending, one I did not see coming at all. While I am still sorting out how I feel about it, I don’t think I minded it.
It’s not a perfect book, but if you like Cat Winters I still think you would enjoy this one. The story was intriguing enough that even if the ending isn’t your thing it’s still an interesting read. Definitely recommended!
Oddly enough, this is my favorite of her novels by far.
Alice Lind is a trained psychologist attempting break into her male dominated field in the 1920s. She has been traveling to different Oregon towns, administering IQ tests, when she becomes tangled up in a very strange case.
A seven year old girl, Janie, claims to be the reincarnation of Violet Sunday, a 19 year old girl who died of drowning in Kansas, a place Janie has never been. The young girl knows complex math and has horrible nightmares of drowning.
Alice doesn’t believe in reincarnation, but she is determined to solve this mystery and help Janie in any way she can, and even begins to uncover her own mysterious past along the way.
First of all, I loved the incorporation of psychology. Maybe it’s because I mostly read YA, where characters often don’t know what they’re going to do professionally, but I always find it refreshing when a main character has a passion, or is involved in some kind of professional field. As someone who has some personal interest in psychology, specifically from a writing standpoint, I loved reading from the perspective of a psychologist.
I also thought this story was so atmospheric. We have this rural Oregon town, this young girl claiming to be reincarnated, the mystery of who Violet Sunday was, as well as the mystery of Alice herself. The story felt so vivid.
It’s even a bit creepy. The way Alice’s inner darkness is dealt with, along with the complex family dynamic of the O’Daires, Janie’s family, were so intriguing. I love seeing Alice become more and more invested in the family.
The supernatural bits, the reincarnation, were very interesting. I’m not a hardcore fantasy person, but I love stories that incorporate supernatural elements on a smaller scale. I always find those to be much more believable.
It seems like a lot of the low ratings are due to the ending. It’s a very odd ending, one I did not see coming at all. While I am still sorting out how I feel about it, I don’t think I minded it.
It’s not a perfect book, but if you like Cat Winters I still think you would enjoy this one. The story was intriguing enough that even if the ending isn’t your thing it’s still an interesting read. Definitely recommended!
August 20, 2017
This book was a fast read, all the plot happens very quick and suddenly. That's not a bad thing but the progression feels rushed at some points of the story . This felt like a b rated horror story, and I don't even know wether this was a horror book, it felt more like a suspense movie ...but i digress... the story is about reincarnation and how much the main character is willing to risk (her career, her reputation, her sanity) to allow herself to see beyond her training as a psychologist when confronted with occurrences that could prove that reincarnation is real or the elaborate con of a broken family in order to give their daughter a shot at celebrity. This is what the main character faces at the beginning, as the story continues she will have to face the question of what is real and along the way she will found out stuff about herself that lay dormant on her .... the ending feels a little predictable but if you are looking for an easy read (beach , train or vacation book to bring along) , this book fills the bill for that.
September 23, 2016
*I received an e-arc copy through Edelweiss from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
3.5
I'd been wanting to read more Cat Winters since I tried, and really enjoyed, The Cure for Dreaming. I have In The Shadow of Blackbirds on my shelf (table actually, for my parents' joy #runoutofspace) but then I was approved for an arc of Yesternight, and decided to try it before that one. Well, first because it appealed to me more, and also because...Yesternight is adult fiction, and I wanted to form an opinion about her adult books too.
Well, I guess I gathered some thoughts about her work in general, even if I've just read two of her books:
- Cat Winters is a refined writer. I feel like her work is extremely classy and...elegant, I guess? She definitely can write.
- Her novels are usually centered around human psyche and feminism. Which is awesome imo. And she does know how to they need to be dealt with.
- Her novels are, sadly, a bit...rushed? It defenitely happened to me with TCfD and Yesternight both. Both novels would benefit from having 40-50 pages more.
In my opinion Yesternight is a good book. I enjoyed The Cure for Dreaming more, but I can't say I wasn't hooked by this one too. The theme really appealed to me and the plot flowed really well. It was creepy, but in a clever way, and not too disquieting for my taste.
I do think that in the long run I'd also like Winters to tackle different themes, because she definitely has the abilities to do so, but as of now I appreciate how she develops variations of the same themes. For example, The Cure for Dreaming is a feminist YA with a touch of hypnotism, while Yesternight deals with memory and has a subtle storyline about girls' education. And both books work and are interesting and meaningful in their own way.
Overall, Yesternight was engaging and cleverly plotted. The ending was even quite chilling to be honest. It does have some flaws though, at least in my opinion. The second half was a bit rushed for example and I really hoped it would be a happier ending I think. I do recommend Yesternight to her fans, because I'm quite sure they'd like it, but if you want to start reading her books I think I'd start from a different one. I'm sure I'm becoming a fan myself though!
3.5
I'd been wanting to read more Cat Winters since I tried, and really enjoyed, The Cure for Dreaming. I have In The Shadow of Blackbirds on my shelf (table actually, for my parents' joy #runoutofspace) but then I was approved for an arc of Yesternight, and decided to try it before that one. Well, first because it appealed to me more, and also because...Yesternight is adult fiction, and I wanted to form an opinion about her adult books too.
Well, I guess I gathered some thoughts about her work in general, even if I've just read two of her books:
- Cat Winters is a refined writer. I feel like her work is extremely classy and...elegant, I guess? She definitely can write.
- Her novels are usually centered around human psyche and feminism. Which is awesome imo. And she does know how to they need to be dealt with.
- Her novels are, sadly, a bit...rushed? It defenitely happened to me with TCfD and Yesternight both. Both novels would benefit from having 40-50 pages more.
In my opinion Yesternight is a good book. I enjoyed The Cure for Dreaming more, but I can't say I wasn't hooked by this one too. The theme really appealed to me and the plot flowed really well. It was creepy, but in a clever way, and not too disquieting for my taste.
I do think that in the long run I'd also like Winters to tackle different themes, because she definitely has the abilities to do so, but as of now I appreciate how she develops variations of the same themes. For example, The Cure for Dreaming is a feminist YA with a touch of hypnotism, while Yesternight deals with memory and has a subtle storyline about girls' education. And both books work and are interesting and meaningful in their own way.
Overall, Yesternight was engaging and cleverly plotted. The ending was even quite chilling to be honest. It does have some flaws though, at least in my opinion. The second half was a bit rushed for example and I really hoped it would be a happier ending I think. I do recommend Yesternight to her fans, because I'm quite sure they'd like it, but if you want to start reading her books I think I'd start from a different one. I'm sure I'm becoming a fan myself though!
dnf
June 2, 2017DNF @ 10%
I’d say that I simply picked this up at the wrong time, mood-wise, except I tried to read this book a handful of times on different occasions and never got past 10%. The pacing was the hardest for me because from the very beginning it’s a slow-build and simply didn’t grab my attention in that 10% enough that I felt the need to keep going. The main character, Alice, was also strangely distant and she never quite captured my interest. Cat Winters is typically a favorite of mine but this one just didn’t do it for me.
I received this book for free from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I’d say that I simply picked this up at the wrong time, mood-wise, except I tried to read this book a handful of times on different occasions and never got past 10%. The pacing was the hardest for me because from the very beginning it’s a slow-build and simply didn’t grab my attention in that 10% enough that I felt the need to keep going. The main character, Alice, was also strangely distant and she never quite captured my interest. Cat Winters is typically a favorite of mine but this one just didn’t do it for me.
I received this book for free from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
October 12, 2016
Find my full review at http://aliteraryvacation.blogspot.com
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book I knew I had to read it! My undergrad degree is in psychology and I've always found the subject matter fascinating. I've also always found the paranormal interesting, so the combination of the very grounded and measurable study of psychology and this wild and unpredictable investigation of reincarnation was too delicious to pass up. It seemed to promise to be dark and eerie and thought-provoking, and Yesternight comes through on all of those promises.
My first two thoughts when I started reading Yesternight were 1) This tossed and stormy setting is PERFECT for a creepy story! and 2) How cool is Alice Lind, a smart, determined woman pushing her way through a man's field and refusing to back down! The author did a great job of showing how hard Alice had to work to be taken seriously as a psychologist as well as the double standards she faced when it came to her sexuality. A good amount of time was spent on her sexuality and the fact that her needs were considered obscene for the times, while we know now those needs would just be considered normal. I have to say that this aspect of the story was my least favorite as it drew away from the much more interesting (in my opinion) past lives aspects, however I understand it served a point that becomes a little more evident towards the end of the story.
My very favorite aspect of the story was the exploration of the past lives a few of our characters (not only Janie) experienced, and how those past lives bled into their present, affecting them in some interesting and disturbing ways. The ending was absolutely chilling to me and the whole discussion really made me think about how much I believe in reincarnation and, if it is true, how many traits (both bad and good) someone could bring over to their new life. It was really interesting to watch the characters grapple with the frustration, fear, and confusion they inevitably felt trying to figure out what truly was happening to them...and what had already happened that they couldn't remember! Some of the actions of the characters were really horrific and went quite a way to make me dislike them as a whole, however the process they all went through was really fun to read about.
Yesternight definitely gave me that creep-factor I want this time of year and in novels dealing with this subject matter. It took some turns that I didn't expect (and some that I didn't necessarily enjoy) but all in all it was a well written story that made me think long and hard about the possibilities it presented. I'm excited to read the author's first novel, The Uninvited, and look forward to what she comes out with next.
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book I knew I had to read it! My undergrad degree is in psychology and I've always found the subject matter fascinating. I've also always found the paranormal interesting, so the combination of the very grounded and measurable study of psychology and this wild and unpredictable investigation of reincarnation was too delicious to pass up. It seemed to promise to be dark and eerie and thought-provoking, and Yesternight comes through on all of those promises.
My first two thoughts when I started reading Yesternight were 1) This tossed and stormy setting is PERFECT for a creepy story! and 2) How cool is Alice Lind, a smart, determined woman pushing her way through a man's field and refusing to back down! The author did a great job of showing how hard Alice had to work to be taken seriously as a psychologist as well as the double standards she faced when it came to her sexuality. A good amount of time was spent on her sexuality and the fact that her needs were considered obscene for the times, while we know now those needs would just be considered normal. I have to say that this aspect of the story was my least favorite as it drew away from the much more interesting (in my opinion) past lives aspects, however I understand it served a point that becomes a little more evident towards the end of the story.
My very favorite aspect of the story was the exploration of the past lives a few of our characters (not only Janie) experienced, and how those past lives bled into their present, affecting them in some interesting and disturbing ways. The ending was absolutely chilling to me and the whole discussion really made me think about how much I believe in reincarnation and, if it is true, how many traits (both bad and good) someone could bring over to their new life. It was really interesting to watch the characters grapple with the frustration, fear, and confusion they inevitably felt trying to figure out what truly was happening to them...and what had already happened that they couldn't remember! Some of the actions of the characters were really horrific and went quite a way to make me dislike them as a whole, however the process they all went through was really fun to read about.
Yesternight definitely gave me that creep-factor I want this time of year and in novels dealing with this subject matter. It took some turns that I didn't expect (and some that I didn't necessarily enjoy) but all in all it was a well written story that made me think long and hard about the possibilities it presented. I'm excited to read the author's first novel, The Uninvited, and look forward to what she comes out with next.
May 2, 2024
That was rather a lot of work for very little reward... RTC.
March 26, 2023
I hope I do t think this is a perfect book, I do think this story is perfect for me and so I can easily give it five stars though sometimes the pacing felt a little off for my liking. I’ll be honest about that up front though, because of the rise and fall of the way this story is told that pacing had to happen that way, didn’t make it the best but I overall wasn’t mad at it. That aside tho?
This story did it for me. This roaring 20’s peek at women’s lives post war, and the spiritualism that was rampant at the time. Reincarnation is a topic that I love to discuss endlessly, and so that being the focal point here was awesome. Some of the story laid out exactly as expected, and it was a sad very melancholy tale to see play out. And then for me it got a little more spooky, a lot more creepy, and completely turned everything on it’s head.
This author is quickly becoming a favorite. I can’t wait to dive into another of her works.
This story did it for me. This roaring 20’s peek at women’s lives post war, and the spiritualism that was rampant at the time. Reincarnation is a topic that I love to discuss endlessly, and so that being the focal point here was awesome. Some of the story laid out exactly as expected, and it was a sad very melancholy tale to see play out. And then for me it got a little more spooky, a lot more creepy, and completely turned everything on it’s head.
This author is quickly becoming a favorite. I can’t wait to dive into another of her works.
September 7, 2025
An unexpected story about a theme I never thought I could stomach. In fact even after choosing to read this piece after the GR initial introduction I felt I would end up DNF. I realised how wrong I was.
This story was so gripping despite its simplicity in in its fantasy. And such a convincing argument about why the reader should read it to the end ( ?? what was that … well … that’s how I felt ).
A concept like reincarnation is definitely unfathomably eerie - and unverifiable too. You just read for yourself. And only if the story and characters show up as believable ( as much as you accord them veracity).
The setting was rural Kansas and some towns created to suit the story. The characters were well drawn out and taught me a few things about myself.
Highly recommended.
This story was so gripping despite its simplicity in in its fantasy. And such a convincing argument about why the reader should read it to the end ( ?? what was that … well … that’s how I felt ).
A concept like reincarnation is definitely unfathomably eerie - and unverifiable too. You just read for yourself. And only if the story and characters show up as believable ( as much as you accord them veracity).
The setting was rural Kansas and some towns created to suit the story. The characters were well drawn out and taught me a few things about myself.
Highly recommended.
February 22, 2019
Cat Winters has quickly become one of my favorite historical fantasy authors for both YA and adult audiences. Her writing is always outstanding, and the historical detail, and atmosphere are always incredibly compelling. It's no different with Yesternight which hooked me right from the beginning. My only complaint is that as much as I enjoyed spending time with the characters and unraveling the mystery at the heart of the story, I wish it were just a little bit shorter. I can't wait to read The Steep and Thorny Way, Odd & True, and The Raven's Tale in the future.
October 13, 2016
Three and a half stars: A book that is interesting, entertaining and filled with suspense, but it fell off the tracks with the final third and the ending.
Alice steps off the train in Gordon Bay, Oregon, to a horrendous rain storm. In an instant, she is soaked and hatless. Thankfully, Michael O' Daire is there to pick her up. During the drive, Michael reveals he has an ulterior motive for retrieving Alice. He has a daughter, Janie, whom he thinks Alice can help. Alice is a trained psychologist, fighting to find her way in a man's world. Since she can't get into the Ph.D program, and jobs are scarce for women, she travels around the country, testing school children for psychological problems. When Alice finally encounters Janie O'Daire, she is forced to abandon all she has ever learned in her schooling. Is it possible that Janie is a reincarnated soul? Can Alice solve the mystery?
What I Liked:
*Ms. Winters has become one of those go to authors for me. I love that her books are usually set in the early twentieth century, that they are on the West Coast, mostly in Oregon, and that they always have a touch of supernaturalism. Yesternight delivers a strange tale of reincarnation set in 1925 on the Oregon Coast. I was immediately hooked by this eerie and fascinating story.
*I loved exploring the whole concept of reincarnation. The story surrounding young Janie was interesting, and I was itching to get to the bottom of it. I enjoyed the journey, and I liked seeing Alice open her mind to new possibilities.
*I enjoyed the setting. I live in Oregon, so I am always thrilled to read a book set in my state. I loved going back in time to see what it was like to live in coastal Oregon early in the twentieth century. I thought Ms. Winters did a fantastic job with the setting, and the stormy coastal town of Gordon Bay added to the suspense.
*Even though I had some issues with Alice, I liked that she was an unconventional woman scrabbling to find her way in a male dominated field. I appreciated that she was driven and that she wanted to succeed.
*The mystery and the suspense in this one are excellent. I was immediately drawn in by Janie's strange story, and I liked that I was forced to accept the possibility of something supernatural. I was completely hooked by the story.
And The Not So Much:
*Sigh.... I loved this book so much up until the final third of the story. At that point, I felt like the book fell off the tracks as it shifts gears and takes up a secondary story line that was only briefly discussed along the way. I did not like this shift in the plot, and I hated the way things progressed. It all leads up to a shocking ending that didn't work for me. I know many people will like the twist at the end, but it wasn't for me. The book could have ended after the visit to Kansas as far as I am concerned, the rest it of it was just a mess.
*I was so disappointed in the ending. It left me with so many questions regarding the main story, I especially wanted to know what happened to Janie. It was a let down to follow her story the whole way, and then have it abandoned for the ridiculousness that was the end.
*I was so excited to finally get to Kansas so I could get the final piece to the puzzle, and then to have Alice walk away during some of the most critical moments was a big fizzle. I wanted to experience it all, and I wished that more time had been devoted to this portion of the story.
*Finally, even though I appreciated Alice fighting to find her way in a male dominated society, I didn't like her. I can't put my finger on what it was, but I just couldn't connect with her. She came across as a bit judgmental, especially when it came to Michael O'Daire. I also couldn't figure out what her sexual orientation was. There are some hints that she might be a lesbian, but that goes nowhere, and *I was left wondering why all of that was even put in there, perhaps to further show that she was an unconventional woman when it came to sex as well? When Alice goes on her wild goose chase at the end, I lost all patience with her. The character that I did like was her sister, Bea, and I wished that she had a larger role in the book.
Yesternight was a book that I was loving and devouring right up until the final portion. At that point, the story shifts in a new direction, abandoning the original plot line all together. I hated the ridiculousness of the final chapters, and I could have done without the twist at the end. Some people will like it, but for me it was a complete miss. This is so unfortunate because up until that point in the book, the story was excellent. This is a book I would like to recommend because I mostly loved it, but I was so put off by the ending, that I can't. This is a book you should try because it is fascinating and it features a touch of supernatural. However, I would recommend borrowing it from the library.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Alice steps off the train in Gordon Bay, Oregon, to a horrendous rain storm. In an instant, she is soaked and hatless. Thankfully, Michael O' Daire is there to pick her up. During the drive, Michael reveals he has an ulterior motive for retrieving Alice. He has a daughter, Janie, whom he thinks Alice can help. Alice is a trained psychologist, fighting to find her way in a man's world. Since she can't get into the Ph.D program, and jobs are scarce for women, she travels around the country, testing school children for psychological problems. When Alice finally encounters Janie O'Daire, she is forced to abandon all she has ever learned in her schooling. Is it possible that Janie is a reincarnated soul? Can Alice solve the mystery?
What I Liked:
*Ms. Winters has become one of those go to authors for me. I love that her books are usually set in the early twentieth century, that they are on the West Coast, mostly in Oregon, and that they always have a touch of supernaturalism. Yesternight delivers a strange tale of reincarnation set in 1925 on the Oregon Coast. I was immediately hooked by this eerie and fascinating story.
*I loved exploring the whole concept of reincarnation. The story surrounding young Janie was interesting, and I was itching to get to the bottom of it. I enjoyed the journey, and I liked seeing Alice open her mind to new possibilities.
*I enjoyed the setting. I live in Oregon, so I am always thrilled to read a book set in my state. I loved going back in time to see what it was like to live in coastal Oregon early in the twentieth century. I thought Ms. Winters did a fantastic job with the setting, and the stormy coastal town of Gordon Bay added to the suspense.
*Even though I had some issues with Alice, I liked that she was an unconventional woman scrabbling to find her way in a male dominated field. I appreciated that she was driven and that she wanted to succeed.
*The mystery and the suspense in this one are excellent. I was immediately drawn in by Janie's strange story, and I liked that I was forced to accept the possibility of something supernatural. I was completely hooked by the story.
And The Not So Much:
*Sigh.... I loved this book so much up until the final third of the story. At that point, I felt like the book fell off the tracks as it shifts gears and takes up a secondary story line that was only briefly discussed along the way. I did not like this shift in the plot, and I hated the way things progressed. It all leads up to a shocking ending that didn't work for me. I know many people will like the twist at the end, but it wasn't for me. The book could have ended after the visit to Kansas as far as I am concerned, the rest it of it was just a mess.
*I was so disappointed in the ending. It left me with so many questions regarding the main story, I especially wanted to know what happened to Janie. It was a let down to follow her story the whole way, and then have it abandoned for the ridiculousness that was the end.
*I was so excited to finally get to Kansas so I could get the final piece to the puzzle, and then to have Alice walk away during some of the most critical moments was a big fizzle. I wanted to experience it all, and I wished that more time had been devoted to this portion of the story.
*Finally, even though I appreciated Alice fighting to find her way in a male dominated society, I didn't like her. I can't put my finger on what it was, but I just couldn't connect with her. She came across as a bit judgmental, especially when it came to Michael O'Daire. I also couldn't figure out what her sexual orientation was. There are some hints that she might be a lesbian, but that goes nowhere, and *I was left wondering why all of that was even put in there, perhaps to further show that she was an unconventional woman when it came to sex as well? When Alice goes on her wild goose chase at the end, I lost all patience with her. The character that I did like was her sister, Bea, and I wished that she had a larger role in the book.
Yesternight was a book that I was loving and devouring right up until the final portion. At that point, the story shifts in a new direction, abandoning the original plot line all together. I hated the ridiculousness of the final chapters, and I could have done without the twist at the end. Some people will like it, but for me it was a complete miss. This is so unfortunate because up until that point in the book, the story was excellent. This is a book I would like to recommend because I mostly loved it, but I was so put off by the ending, that I can't. This is a book you should try because it is fascinating and it features a touch of supernatural. However, I would recommend borrowing it from the library.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
August 31, 2025
I picked this up while frantically spending my Audible credits before cancelling my subscription. Back then I didn’t think audiobooks were for me (this was pre-baby, before nursery runs transformed my habits). Fast-forward to 2025, the child is three years old and I’ve now worked through most of that hoarded collection (and topped it up with the free monthly audiobook allowance from Spotify).
I went in thinking Yesternight was going to be a kind of historical romance/women’s fiction hybrid. When the paranormal/reincarnation elements appeared, I was still on board, even though the audio narrator drove me up the wall (I'd call her delivery 'pretentious mumbling').
For about 80% of the book I was enjoying myself: strong characters, eerie atmosphere, 1920s Oregon setting, feminist undertones, unresolved trauma, a touch of PTSD. And then… SPOILER ALERT: what on earth happened in the final 20%?
What worked: the characters, the atmosphere, the setting, the initial hook.
What didn’t: the climax and the sequence of events - uneven, chaotic, and unsatisfying.
I went in thinking Yesternight was going to be a kind of historical romance/women’s fiction hybrid. When the paranormal/reincarnation elements appeared, I was still on board, even though the audio narrator drove me up the wall (I'd call her delivery 'pretentious mumbling').
For about 80% of the book I was enjoying myself: strong characters, eerie atmosphere, 1920s Oregon setting, feminist undertones, unresolved trauma, a touch of PTSD. And then… SPOILER ALERT: what on earth happened in the final 20%?
What worked: the characters, the atmosphere, the setting, the initial hook.
What didn’t: the climax and the sequence of events - uneven, chaotic, and unsatisfying.
September 2, 2016
I have wanted to read this book for so long. Because I adore Cat Winters. And I have read and loved all her four books so far. And so I was so excited about this one. Because it looks gorgeous. And sounds so interesting. I have had the eARC for two months, ack, because I have been a bit nervous about starting this one.
But now I have finally gotten to read it. And oh. I just feel so, so heartbroken. Because I didn't like it much at all. Which makes me so sad. Because I adore Cat. And I really wanted to love this newest book of hers. But it was simply not for me at all. Sigh. I'm giving it two stars. I shall try my best to explain why. Hopefully.
Yesternight tells the story of Alice. A young woman in her mid-twenties, I'm pretty sure. This book is set in 1925. And I simply love how Cat writes all her book around that time, which is just awesome. Gah. How I wish I had loved this book. Sigh. But it was not to be. I found the writing to be pretty awesome, though I had trouble with it at times, but thinking that is because my troubles were with Alice. Hmph. I just didn't love this woman at all. I really wanted to like her. She was interesting to read about. Sort of. I was curious about her life and her past. But I just didn't care. I didn't really like her at all. I liked her family more than I liked her. Ack. And we barely see them. But yeah. She was interesting. Her past sort of exciting. I just did not like her.
I'm not sure where to begin with this book. I had such high hopes about loving it, despite being nervous. I don't usually read adult books. But I loved the other adult book by Cat. But this one was so very different. Which might be why I didn't enjoy it. I'm not sure. I just. There was nothing that I hated about this book. I just found most of it to be boring. I didn't care for most of what happened. I disliked the small romance so much. And a bunch of the characters were just awful. I didn't like that. Though some were sort of nice.
What I did like, however, was the story of the seven year old girl, Janie. I loved reading about her. And I wish more about the book had been about her. I liked how she seems to have had a second life before being born. I liked how she talked about it all, how she remembered so much. It was pretty interesting. But it also didn't make me love the book any. Sigh. Because this book focus more on her father and his relationship with Alice. Hmph. There is also so much drama with his ex-wife and her sister. I did not like.
Sadly, I found most of this book to be pretty boring. I wish the plot had been more exciting. But I didn't think it was. I didn't think any of it was scary or anything like that. I thought figuring out how the past Janie had died would end up being awesome, but it was not. Aw. I didn't even really like the mystery of it all. Sad face. Most of the book is about Alice figuring out who she is and who she was. Sort of. And learning about her past. Which I liked a bit in the beginning, but then I got bored of it all. Which just sucks. Hmph.
I wish I had loved Alice. I wish I had felt sorry for her at times. But I didn't like her past. She was a bit brutal. And I didn't like all of her choices. Sigh. But I still thought she was a sweet woman and I did like reading about her. Just didn't love her at all. Or care for her. Ugh. And then she does this thing at the end of the book. It didn't really make sense to me. I'm not sure why she did it. And I feel like I wanted to know more about that. Why she was that way. And just. Yeah. It was awful, yet interesting too. Liked reading it.
I can't help but mention the romance in this. Sigh. I was not a fan. Alice works as a child psychologist, and she travels to schools in different towns. She just arrived in a new one. A man picks her up; he owns a hotel where she stays. He is Janie's father. And he really wants her to figure out what is going on with Janie. He has been divorced from her mother for two years. And he and Alice starts flirting right away. Sigh. I didn't see why at all. I didn't like Michael at all. I didn't think he was kind either. Just very annoying.
I just don't know what to say about this book. The romance was weird. As I said, I didn't like Michael. He seemed to only want to sleep with everyone. And I didn't get why Alice seemed to like him. Shrugs. I just found this book to be weird at times. Which makes me so sad. I liked parts of the plot, but not most of it. But yeah. I still adore Cat. And cannot wait to read what she reads next. I just found Yesternight to be very disappointing. But oh, I am so curious to know what others think of it. So please read it. I must know.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2016/0...
But now I have finally gotten to read it. And oh. I just feel so, so heartbroken. Because I didn't like it much at all. Which makes me so sad. Because I adore Cat. And I really wanted to love this newest book of hers. But it was simply not for me at all. Sigh. I'm giving it two stars. I shall try my best to explain why. Hopefully.
Yesternight tells the story of Alice. A young woman in her mid-twenties, I'm pretty sure. This book is set in 1925. And I simply love how Cat writes all her book around that time, which is just awesome. Gah. How I wish I had loved this book. Sigh. But it was not to be. I found the writing to be pretty awesome, though I had trouble with it at times, but thinking that is because my troubles were with Alice. Hmph. I just didn't love this woman at all. I really wanted to like her. She was interesting to read about. Sort of. I was curious about her life and her past. But I just didn't care. I didn't really like her at all. I liked her family more than I liked her. Ack. And we barely see them. But yeah. She was interesting. Her past sort of exciting. I just did not like her.
I'm not sure where to begin with this book. I had such high hopes about loving it, despite being nervous. I don't usually read adult books. But I loved the other adult book by Cat. But this one was so very different. Which might be why I didn't enjoy it. I'm not sure. I just. There was nothing that I hated about this book. I just found most of it to be boring. I didn't care for most of what happened. I disliked the small romance so much. And a bunch of the characters were just awful. I didn't like that. Though some were sort of nice.
What I did like, however, was the story of the seven year old girl, Janie. I loved reading about her. And I wish more about the book had been about her. I liked how she seems to have had a second life before being born. I liked how she talked about it all, how she remembered so much. It was pretty interesting. But it also didn't make me love the book any. Sigh. Because this book focus more on her father and his relationship with Alice. Hmph. There is also so much drama with his ex-wife and her sister. I did not like.
Sadly, I found most of this book to be pretty boring. I wish the plot had been more exciting. But I didn't think it was. I didn't think any of it was scary or anything like that. I thought figuring out how the past Janie had died would end up being awesome, but it was not. Aw. I didn't even really like the mystery of it all. Sad face. Most of the book is about Alice figuring out who she is and who she was. Sort of. And learning about her past. Which I liked a bit in the beginning, but then I got bored of it all. Which just sucks. Hmph.
I wish I had loved Alice. I wish I had felt sorry for her at times. But I didn't like her past. She was a bit brutal. And I didn't like all of her choices. Sigh. But I still thought she was a sweet woman and I did like reading about her. Just didn't love her at all. Or care for her. Ugh. And then she does this thing at the end of the book. It didn't really make sense to me. I'm not sure why she did it. And I feel like I wanted to know more about that. Why she was that way. And just. Yeah. It was awful, yet interesting too. Liked reading it.
I can't help but mention the romance in this. Sigh. I was not a fan. Alice works as a child psychologist, and she travels to schools in different towns. She just arrived in a new one. A man picks her up; he owns a hotel where she stays. He is Janie's father. And he really wants her to figure out what is going on with Janie. He has been divorced from her mother for two years. And he and Alice starts flirting right away. Sigh. I didn't see why at all. I didn't like Michael at all. I didn't think he was kind either. Just very annoying.
I just don't know what to say about this book. The romance was weird. As I said, I didn't like Michael. He seemed to only want to sleep with everyone. And I didn't get why Alice seemed to like him. Shrugs. I just found this book to be weird at times. Which makes me so sad. I liked parts of the plot, but not most of it. But yeah. I still adore Cat. And cannot wait to read what she reads next. I just found Yesternight to be very disappointing. But oh, I am so curious to know what others think of it. So please read it. I must know.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2016/0...
October 13, 2016
The items that drew me towards this book were two-fold. First off, I have a deep fascination with stories that center around children who glimpse things that adults don't. The possibilty that there are things I'm not privy to, hidden in the world I walk through every day, is intriguing. Cat Winters also wrapped the concept of reincarnation into this story, which fully sealed my need to read it. I sincerely hoped for something with gothic tones, and a deep simmering sense of tension.
Which is actually what I was given a fair amount of throughout the first half of this book. Alice's arrival, heralded by a storm of massive proportions, started things out excellently. As she began to navigate the small town of Gordon Bay, and meet the rather interesting inhabitants, I was enraptured. Small towns tend to hold interesting secrets, and when Alice met Janie I felt sure that I was correct in assuming that was coming around the bend. With characters that were generally not at all agreeable, I felt sure there was something hiding beneath it all.
Then, the second half of the book began. Let me just say, I spend the first two chapters of this part flipping back and forth with confusion. It was as if this was a whole new book, although I knew it wasn't because Alice was still present. In fact, Alice is the main focus of this portion of the book and, quite honestly, the reason things started to unravel. Suddenly I was reading a story focused on rage, and an uncomfortable discussion of sexual agression. I missed Janie's story, and wanted to go back to it.
From that point on, things just got weirder and weirder. Alice's story felt cobbled together, and spiraled toward an ending that had me shaking my head in disbelief. I'm definitely not one to turn away from a surprise twist, or unexpected ending. In this case, it felt more misplaced than anything. It's not that I expected a happy ending, not at all! It's more that I couldn't comprehend the reasoning behind the particular ending that Yesternight offered up to me.
I'm on the fence, regarding this book. Yesternight showed me a lot of the parts of Cat Winters' writing that I love, but it just didn't live up to what I hoped for. I think if the second half of the story had felt as polished as the first portion, I would have been head over heels in love. Winters has made me crave more about Janie, and her past lives. That, in itself, is impressive! So I'll offer up three stars for this book, and a warning that the ending might not be quite what you expect it to be.
Which is actually what I was given a fair amount of throughout the first half of this book. Alice's arrival, heralded by a storm of massive proportions, started things out excellently. As she began to navigate the small town of Gordon Bay, and meet the rather interesting inhabitants, I was enraptured. Small towns tend to hold interesting secrets, and when Alice met Janie I felt sure that I was correct in assuming that was coming around the bend. With characters that were generally not at all agreeable, I felt sure there was something hiding beneath it all.
Then, the second half of the book began. Let me just say, I spend the first two chapters of this part flipping back and forth with confusion. It was as if this was a whole new book, although I knew it wasn't because Alice was still present. In fact, Alice is the main focus of this portion of the book and, quite honestly, the reason things started to unravel. Suddenly I was reading a story focused on rage, and an uncomfortable discussion of sexual agression. I missed Janie's story, and wanted to go back to it.
From that point on, things just got weirder and weirder. Alice's story felt cobbled together, and spiraled toward an ending that had me shaking my head in disbelief. I'm definitely not one to turn away from a surprise twist, or unexpected ending. In this case, it felt more misplaced than anything. It's not that I expected a happy ending, not at all! It's more that I couldn't comprehend the reasoning behind the particular ending that Yesternight offered up to me.
I'm on the fence, regarding this book. Yesternight showed me a lot of the parts of Cat Winters' writing that I love, but it just didn't live up to what I hoped for. I think if the second half of the story had felt as polished as the first portion, I would have been head over heels in love. Winters has made me crave more about Janie, and her past lives. That, in itself, is impressive! So I'll offer up three stars for this book, and a warning that the ending might not be quite what you expect it to be.
July 31, 2017
Yesternight by Cat Winters
5★'s
What's It About?
A young child psychologist steps off a train, her destination a foggy seaside town. There, she begins a journey causing her to question everything she believes about life, death, memories, and reincarnation.
In 1925, Alice Lind steps off a train in the rain-soaked coastal hamlet of Gordon Bay, Oregon. There, she expects to do nothing more difficult than administer IQ tests to a group of rural schoolchildren. A trained psychologist, Alice believes mysteries of the mind can be unlocked scientifically, but now her views are about to be challenged by one curious child.
Seven-year-old Janie O’Daire is a mathematical genius, which is surprising. But what is disturbing are the stories she tells: that her name was once Violet, she grew up in Kansas decades earlier, and she drowned at age nineteen. Alice delves into these stories, at first believing they’re no more than the product of the girl’s vast imagination. But, slowly, Alice comes to the realization that Janie might indeed be telling a strange truth.
Alice knows the investigation may endanger her already shaky professional reputation, and as a woman in a field dominated by men she has no room for mistakes. But she is unprepared for the ways it will illuminate terrifying mysteries within her own past, and in the process, irrevocably change her life.
What Did I Think?
How many lives can and do we live? It was a book that you just couldn't put down. Cat Winters weaves this story of a family with a seven year old daughter that is at times old beyond her years, and a school physiologist that struggles to believe that what she suspects isn't happening. Alice Lind tells herself that what she is doing is to help Janie O'Daire and her estranged mother and father but the deeper she digs the more her own troubled past seems to be catching up to overpower her. You hoped that everything would turn out okay but you knew that at some point their world was going to collapse around their ears.
Even though there is a supernatural flavor...not of ghostly hauntings but of reincarnation.... throughout the story line it is also a story of how society viewed the roles of males and females during the flapper era and how thankful we should be that those attitudes are past...but it seems that nothing may really remain in the past. Historical and paranormal fans will love the book.
5★'s
What's It About?
A young child psychologist steps off a train, her destination a foggy seaside town. There, she begins a journey causing her to question everything she believes about life, death, memories, and reincarnation.
In 1925, Alice Lind steps off a train in the rain-soaked coastal hamlet of Gordon Bay, Oregon. There, she expects to do nothing more difficult than administer IQ tests to a group of rural schoolchildren. A trained psychologist, Alice believes mysteries of the mind can be unlocked scientifically, but now her views are about to be challenged by one curious child.
Seven-year-old Janie O’Daire is a mathematical genius, which is surprising. But what is disturbing are the stories she tells: that her name was once Violet, she grew up in Kansas decades earlier, and she drowned at age nineteen. Alice delves into these stories, at first believing they’re no more than the product of the girl’s vast imagination. But, slowly, Alice comes to the realization that Janie might indeed be telling a strange truth.
Alice knows the investigation may endanger her already shaky professional reputation, and as a woman in a field dominated by men she has no room for mistakes. But she is unprepared for the ways it will illuminate terrifying mysteries within her own past, and in the process, irrevocably change her life.
What Did I Think?
How many lives can and do we live? It was a book that you just couldn't put down. Cat Winters weaves this story of a family with a seven year old daughter that is at times old beyond her years, and a school physiologist that struggles to believe that what she suspects isn't happening. Alice Lind tells herself that what she is doing is to help Janie O'Daire and her estranged mother and father but the deeper she digs the more her own troubled past seems to be catching up to overpower her. You hoped that everything would turn out okay but you knew that at some point their world was going to collapse around their ears.
Even though there is a supernatural flavor...not of ghostly hauntings but of reincarnation.... throughout the story line it is also a story of how society viewed the roles of males and females during the flapper era and how thankful we should be that those attitudes are past...but it seems that nothing may really remain in the past. Historical and paranormal fans will love the book.
July 30, 2017
3.5 stars. Haunting, it got quite interesting, and had a hint of dark and twisted by the end.
The plot takes place in 1925. A child psychologist, who we learn has a troubled past of her own, enters a small weather beleaguered town to do intelligence testing. There she meets Janie O'Daire and the O'Daire family, who are dealing with a child who is haunted by current memories and nightmares of a past life. The story unravels and develops from there, and we meet Janie's entire family, and grow to learn a lot about the central character, Alice Lind.
A few notes: For one, I read it in a day. I always like when i have the rare opportunity for a quick and easy read, where the story doesn't linger. I followed it fast pace, and I wonder if that increased my liking of it.
Note two: I picked this book up because I was drawn to the beauty and elegance of the cover. The plot intrigued me enough, but, I rarely choose a book for this reason. So it was interesting to me to note that.
Note three: a personal peeve I have, that thankfully did not last too long in the novel, is when the main character refuses to accept the "paranormal" or the odd adventure that has happened to them, and spends chapter after chapter, and page after page, coming up with poor fitting explanations to deny their new reality. I have said before, that I have never been in a situation of time travel, past life re-emergence or alien transportation. But I'd like to think that if I were put into a situation, I'd get with the program pretty darn quickly. I really hate it when characters refuse to accept what is right before them, think everything is a figment of their imagination, or that someone is playing a crass joke, or major conspiracy. Thankfully, this kind of situation did not last too too long, and that allowed the story to progress.
Note four - I just finished it this morning, but do indeed feel a little haunted by it. This was different than my usual fare, and I think I like a little different.
Speaking of a little different (for me), now starting Red Rising. Its hard to pass judgement so quickly, but dare I say Space Opera is likely not to turn into my new favorite genre.
The plot takes place in 1925. A child psychologist, who we learn has a troubled past of her own, enters a small weather beleaguered town to do intelligence testing. There she meets Janie O'Daire and the O'Daire family, who are dealing with a child who is haunted by current memories and nightmares of a past life. The story unravels and develops from there, and we meet Janie's entire family, and grow to learn a lot about the central character, Alice Lind.
A few notes: For one, I read it in a day. I always like when i have the rare opportunity for a quick and easy read, where the story doesn't linger. I followed it fast pace, and I wonder if that increased my liking of it.
Note two: I picked this book up because I was drawn to the beauty and elegance of the cover. The plot intrigued me enough, but, I rarely choose a book for this reason. So it was interesting to me to note that.
Note three: a personal peeve I have, that thankfully did not last too long in the novel, is when the main character refuses to accept the "paranormal" or the odd adventure that has happened to them, and spends chapter after chapter, and page after page, coming up with poor fitting explanations to deny their new reality. I have said before, that I have never been in a situation of time travel, past life re-emergence or alien transportation. But I'd like to think that if I were put into a situation, I'd get with the program pretty darn quickly. I really hate it when characters refuse to accept what is right before them, think everything is a figment of their imagination, or that someone is playing a crass joke, or major conspiracy. Thankfully, this kind of situation did not last too too long, and that allowed the story to progress.
Note four - I just finished it this morning, but do indeed feel a little haunted by it. This was different than my usual fare, and I think I like a little different.
Speaking of a little different (for me), now starting Red Rising. Its hard to pass judgement so quickly, but dare I say Space Opera is likely not to turn into my new favorite genre.
August 20, 2017
I was going through a horrible rating slumps where I was continuously reading books I wasn't a fan of or simply couldn't get through. Something about Yesternight just called to me, and I knew Winters would totally deliver me a fascinating, creepy book that would break a slump - and goodness did she ever. Thank you, book gods, for hearing my pleas!
Winters is simply a master with suspense, setting, and atmosphere. This book was deliciously creepy. This is the ultimate book to curl up on a rainy night in September and devour it in one setting. I can't even begin to explain the setting, but it was gorgeously done and as always, I'm so sold on picking up any book by Winters.
The mystery was so engrossing as well. I literally kept yelling at myself, "no, you have other things to do. Stop reading this." However, the book wouldn't listen to me, and I was so intrigued to see where this was going, what was going to happen next, and what creepy thing awaited me. I did have to stop reading this at one point at night because creepy children are not a happy thing in this Book Princess's dreams and she didn't want that to happen.
This story really showcases the plot and the setting. The characters were pretty detailed, but the premise and the creepiness of the story is so engrossing that kind of anyone could be doing the things and it would have been interesting. But the characters were quite interesting, and Winters does do a good job with the psychology behind them.
However, my only gripe with this story is the characterization toward the end of the story. It got, well, a little wacky and it seemed to be that way in order to have a big twist - which Winters always does. This one, thought, didn't seem to fit as well, and I kind of just had a perpetual eyebrow raise since I didn't believe it so much.
If you're looking for an intriguing, creepy story that totally needs to be on your September and October TBR, this is definitely a book for you. It has an engrossing mystery, fantastic supernatural-but-is-it-really? elements, fascinating characters with a fierce heroine, and a historical fiction setting that was both haunting and beautiful. The ending got a little too unbelievable for me, but overall, such a solid book. Four crowns and an Ariel rating!
Winters is simply a master with suspense, setting, and atmosphere. This book was deliciously creepy. This is the ultimate book to curl up on a rainy night in September and devour it in one setting. I can't even begin to explain the setting, but it was gorgeously done and as always, I'm so sold on picking up any book by Winters.
The mystery was so engrossing as well. I literally kept yelling at myself, "no, you have other things to do. Stop reading this." However, the book wouldn't listen to me, and I was so intrigued to see where this was going, what was going to happen next, and what creepy thing awaited me. I did have to stop reading this at one point at night because creepy children are not a happy thing in this Book Princess's dreams and she didn't want that to happen.
This story really showcases the plot and the setting. The characters were pretty detailed, but the premise and the creepiness of the story is so engrossing that kind of anyone could be doing the things and it would have been interesting. But the characters were quite interesting, and Winters does do a good job with the psychology behind them.
However, my only gripe with this story is the characterization toward the end of the story. It got, well, a little wacky and it seemed to be that way in order to have a big twist - which Winters always does. This one, thought, didn't seem to fit as well, and I kind of just had a perpetual eyebrow raise since I didn't believe it so much.
If you're looking for an intriguing, creepy story that totally needs to be on your September and October TBR, this is definitely a book for you. It has an engrossing mystery, fantastic supernatural-but-is-it-really? elements, fascinating characters with a fierce heroine, and a historical fiction setting that was both haunting and beautiful. The ending got a little too unbelievable for me, but overall, such a solid book. Four crowns and an Ariel rating!
November 22, 2016
This book was entertaining but the ending was disappointing. Not only was it incredibly creepy but it really made the whole thing feel like a giant waste of my time. The ending alone docked 1.5 stars off of my star rating for this piece. Its like the author couldn't figure out how she wanted it to end so she threw together a rancid and poorly executed opening for a second book of which I wouldn't ever read. The ending she did come up with was much too blunt and mashed together, like she just wanted to finish it quickly since the climax had already happened.
The story was captivating and it did hold my interest for the most part. Writing style was fluid and natural and the voice was creative and individual.
There were a few plot line holes that bothered me, things mentioned that shone light on the fact our author was not from the 1900's. A brief mention of a boy scout campfire was one of the few.. now, if I'm not mistaken Boy Scouts didn't begin until 1910 and even then they were definitely not well-known enough to be paired with camp fires and ghost stories just yet.
These are the questions that plague me now; what did our heroine accomplish? Nothing. What did she discover that changed her overall thoughts on life and life after death? Nothing. What was the point or moral of this book? Nothing. What can I take away from reading this that would encourage me to read the next? Nothing.
Overall; although the story did keep my interest and was a mostly enjoyable read I wouldn't recommend to anyone because of the seemingly unfinished ending. It ruined the whole thing and left a sour taste in my mouth.
The story was captivating and it did hold my interest for the most part. Writing style was fluid and natural and the voice was creative and individual.
There were a few plot line holes that bothered me, things mentioned that shone light on the fact our author was not from the 1900's. A brief mention of a boy scout campfire was one of the few.. now, if I'm not mistaken Boy Scouts didn't begin until 1910 and even then they were definitely not well-known enough to be paired with camp fires and ghost stories just yet.
These are the questions that plague me now; what did our heroine accomplish? Nothing. What did she discover that changed her overall thoughts on life and life after death? Nothing. What was the point or moral of this book? Nothing. What can I take away from reading this that would encourage me to read the next? Nothing.
Overall; although the story did keep my interest and was a mostly enjoyable read I wouldn't recommend to anyone because of the seemingly unfinished ending. It ruined the whole thing and left a sour taste in my mouth.
September 30, 2016
Alice Lind,As expected Yesternight is another marvelous read from Cat Winters.
Alice Lind,
Took a stick and beat her friend.
Should she die?
Should she live?
How many beatings did she give?
Having loved her first adult novel - and her YA's - I had high hopes for this and it did not disappoint.
The writing was phenomenal and the overall story was eerie and atmospheric. I had an incredibly hard time putting it down.
Alice Lind is a child psychologist who travels from town to town administering IQ tests. When she arrives in Gordon Bay, Oregon the last thing she expects is to encounter a child who forces her to question her beliefs about life and death.
Seven-year-old Janie O'Daire is a mathematical genius who claims to have been a woman named Violet Sunday in a past life. Alice struggles to accept the idea of reincarnation as doing so could jeopardize her career but it doesn't take long before she finds herself swept up in solving the mystery of Violet Sunday. Her entanglement with the O'Daires eventually leads to some unsettling suspicions about her own past and an old inn called Yesternight.
A twisty plot and chilling ending certainly make Yesternight one heck of a page-turner and a definite must read!
*ARC provided by HarperCollins/Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2017
I would like to thank Edelweiss, William Morrow, and Cat Winters for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. It's 1925 and Alice Lind, a trained psychologist, travels from town to town administering IQ tests but when she meets a 7 year old math genius who questions life, death and believes in reincarnation, her own path begins to change. This story had great potential but the ending fell short for me. Although I enjoy similar stories by Kay Hooper and Heather Graham, this one was just okay.
September 9, 2016
I'm a bit disappointed with the ending of this book. I've loved the previous titles I've read by Cat Winters. This one, however, was lacking. It still featured a strong female character, with many strong supporting characters. BUT. The ending seemed forced, rushed, and sloppy.
October 26, 2017
In 1925, Alice Lind steps off a train in the rain-soaked coastal hamlet of Gordon Bay, Oregon. There, she expects to do nothing more difficult than administer IQ tests to a group of rural schoolchildren. A trained psychologist, Alice believes mysteries of the mind can be unlocked scientifically, but now her views are about to be challenged by one curious child.
Yesternight starts off when Alice Lind arrives at a small coastal town in Oregon to administer IQ tests to the students at the local school, but she is soon swept up in the mystery surrounding one of the students, Janey O'Daire. Janie's father is convinced she lived a past life as someone else. There is all kinds of evidence to support it, but Alice, a trained psychologist believes there must be some other explanation. As she delves into the mystery surrounding Janie, Alice begins to believe that her past may be similar and maybe even related to Janie's. Meanwhile there is a growing attraction between Alice and Janie's father, Michael. That's all I'm going to say about the plot so that I don't spoil anything.
I thought this book started off really good, but the more I read the less I liked it. I ended up not liking any of the characters. Alice never learned from her past mistakes. She just kept making unwise choices and lamenting that certain things were unfair for women. Well that may be, but don't be an idiot about it. As for Michael, on one hand I felt like he was a nice guy who really cared about her, then on the other hand he seemed manipulative. I was never really sure which he was, maybe a little of both. He was certainly selfish, and in the end he ended up being not likable.
The thing that ruined this book for me the most was the ending. I couldn't stop thinking about how horribly this book ended, and how terrible the characters ended up being in the end. In all honesty, the last quarter of the book had a completely different feel than the rest of the book and it just didn't fit well with the rest of the story. The thing that bothered me the most I'm going to put under a spoiler here. I really wonder if the author even thought of that when she made things end up that way.
Yesternight is the first book I've read by Cat Winters. I have two other books by this author on my to-read list, but after reading this, I'm wondering if I really want to read them. I'll probably give the YA book a try, but I'm not sure about the other one.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
Yesternight starts off when Alice Lind arrives at a small coastal town in Oregon to administer IQ tests to the students at the local school, but she is soon swept up in the mystery surrounding one of the students, Janey O'Daire. Janie's father is convinced she lived a past life as someone else. There is all kinds of evidence to support it, but Alice, a trained psychologist believes there must be some other explanation. As she delves into the mystery surrounding Janie, Alice begins to believe that her past may be similar and maybe even related to Janie's. Meanwhile there is a growing attraction between Alice and Janie's father, Michael. That's all I'm going to say about the plot so that I don't spoil anything.
I thought this book started off really good, but the more I read the less I liked it. I ended up not liking any of the characters. Alice never learned from her past mistakes. She just kept making unwise choices and lamenting that certain things were unfair for women. Well that may be, but don't be an idiot about it. As for Michael, on one hand I felt like he was a nice guy who really cared about her, then on the other hand he seemed manipulative. I was never really sure which he was, maybe a little of both. He was certainly selfish, and in the end he ended up being not likable.
The thing that ruined this book for me the most was the ending. I couldn't stop thinking about how horribly this book ended, and how terrible the characters ended up being in the end. In all honesty, the last quarter of the book had a completely different feel than the rest of the book and it just didn't fit well with the rest of the story. The thing that bothered me the most I'm going to put under a spoiler here. I really wonder if the author even thought of that when she made things end up that way.
Yesternight is the first book I've read by Cat Winters. I have two other books by this author on my to-read list, but after reading this, I'm wondering if I really want to read them. I'll probably give the YA book a try, but I'm not sure about the other one.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
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