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The Reading Buddy
"The good old days of teen suspense are here again!" - A. Bates, author of Party Line and Final Exam - aulinebates.com
"A delightfully twisted tale of suspense..." - John Peel, author of the Shockers series, and as Nicholas Adams, IOU and Santa Claws
ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS...OR ELSE!
A SET OF keys jangled in my hand. The keys were my lifeline. One of them would be what saved the day. I held onto them as tightly as I could. I was being followed. The man running behind me was my stepdad, Morris Heyward. He was holding an axe.
AFTER THE DEATHS of his best friend and stepdad, seventeen-year-old Blake Thomas can't escape the memories of that night...the screams...the blood...the axe. Now, Blake suffers from social anxiety and making friends at his new home seems impossible. With his therapist's suggestion, Blake joins a social media site called The Reading Buddy. It is supposed to be a way for him to slowly step back into social relationships, and it doesn't take long for him to become online friends with someone known as Charley17. Recovery seems to be within reach, but once the school year starts, three local teens quickly pull Blake into their own circle, and soon it appears that Charley17 doesn't want to share his new friend with anybody else.
The Reading Buddy is a Southern-set throwback to the teen horror and thriller novels from the 1990s and will keep you guessing until the very end!
"A delightfully twisted tale of suspense..." - John Peel, author of the Shockers series, and as Nicholas Adams, IOU and Santa Claws
ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS...OR ELSE!
A SET OF keys jangled in my hand. The keys were my lifeline. One of them would be what saved the day. I held onto them as tightly as I could. I was being followed. The man running behind me was my stepdad, Morris Heyward. He was holding an axe.
AFTER THE DEATHS of his best friend and stepdad, seventeen-year-old Blake Thomas can't escape the memories of that night...the screams...the blood...the axe. Now, Blake suffers from social anxiety and making friends at his new home seems impossible. With his therapist's suggestion, Blake joins a social media site called The Reading Buddy. It is supposed to be a way for him to slowly step back into social relationships, and it doesn't take long for him to become online friends with someone known as Charley17. Recovery seems to be within reach, but once the school year starts, three local teens quickly pull Blake into their own circle, and soon it appears that Charley17 doesn't want to share his new friend with anybody else.
The Reading Buddy is a Southern-set throwback to the teen horror and thriller novels from the 1990s and will keep you guessing until the very end!
164 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2017
14 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 3, 2018
The Reading Buddy is set up like a 90s teen horror novel, and I think a lot of fun ideas went into creating this book. I enjoyed the beginning, and I was intrigued by the mysteries. Unfortunately, the plot went in a couple different directions that I wasn't crazy about.
I feel a bit misled by the title and synopsis. There's a lot going on in this book, and the reading buddy aspect of the story didn't receive as much attention as I had expected. The Reading Buddy app is a relatable form of social media, and I liked that characters were encouraged to participate in reading and book discussion in order to improve their mental health (this is a huge part of my life, so I really liked that part).
The book is slow-paced, but it's a quick read. The Reading Buddy is YA horror, and it was easy to get invested in the story in the beginning.
Dreams and nightmares are overused in this book. It's less than 200 pages, there were at least 3-4 dreams or nightmares. It took away from the story, and I would have rather spent more time in the actual plot.
There are multiple storylines packed into a very short book, and it felt very disjointed by the end. The plot went all over the place, and I feel like some simplicity could have made things flow much better.
Thank you to the author for sending free copies to the Nightworms in exchange for reviews.
I feel a bit misled by the title and synopsis. There's a lot going on in this book, and the reading buddy aspect of the story didn't receive as much attention as I had expected. The Reading Buddy app is a relatable form of social media, and I liked that characters were encouraged to participate in reading and book discussion in order to improve their mental health (this is a huge part of my life, so I really liked that part).
The book is slow-paced, but it's a quick read. The Reading Buddy is YA horror, and it was easy to get invested in the story in the beginning.
Dreams and nightmares are overused in this book. It's less than 200 pages, there were at least 3-4 dreams or nightmares. It took away from the story, and I would have rather spent more time in the actual plot.
There are multiple storylines packed into a very short book, and it felt very disjointed by the end. The plot went all over the place, and I feel like some simplicity could have made things flow much better.
Thank you to the author for sending free copies to the Nightworms in exchange for reviews.
December 2, 2018
Thank you Bryce Gibson for sending review copies to the Night Worms for honest reviews.
This was one of the best opening chapters with a strong horror set up. I was so excited to see how everything Gibson introduced was going to play out. Without spoiling any reader discovery moments, the main character struggles with PTSD and during a therapy session, it's recommended he try to get connected with a reading buddy in order to warm up to the idea of socializing more with kids his age.
That right there needed to be the thrust of the plot but for some reason, Gibson muddies the waters with some other subplots and the narrative goes from a boiling point opener to a slow crawl into a simmer until ultimately, my interest cooled.
I admit that I actually found myself skimming a bit. I knew I was reviewing this for Night Worms, so I forced myself back to read through even though I probably should have put this down.
That would have been honest too.
But I did finish and I didn't think the ending did the beginning any favors--in fact, I think Bryce Gibson should take his first chapter and write the story of Blake Thomas having a difficult time adjusting to life after the death of his best friend and then finally trying to socialize again through a mysterious reading buddy--that is an amazing set up and I REALLY want to know what that reading buddy is capable of! Bryce Gibson is not lacking in talent, he wowed me right off the bat and captured my interest so I know that he has ability...I hope he makes another pass at this story.
This was one of the best opening chapters with a strong horror set up. I was so excited to see how everything Gibson introduced was going to play out. Without spoiling any reader discovery moments, the main character struggles with PTSD and during a therapy session, it's recommended he try to get connected with a reading buddy in order to warm up to the idea of socializing more with kids his age.
That right there needed to be the thrust of the plot but for some reason, Gibson muddies the waters with some other subplots and the narrative goes from a boiling point opener to a slow crawl into a simmer until ultimately, my interest cooled.
I admit that I actually found myself skimming a bit. I knew I was reviewing this for Night Worms, so I forced myself back to read through even though I probably should have put this down.
That would have been honest too.
But I did finish and I didn't think the ending did the beginning any favors--in fact, I think Bryce Gibson should take his first chapter and write the story of Blake Thomas having a difficult time adjusting to life after the death of his best friend and then finally trying to socialize again through a mysterious reading buddy--that is an amazing set up and I REALLY want to know what that reading buddy is capable of! Bryce Gibson is not lacking in talent, he wowed me right off the bat and captured my interest so I know that he has ability...I hope he makes another pass at this story.
November 9, 2018
If the first chapter of this book doesn't draw you in, I'm not sure what will. It is a great set-up that immediately throws you in to an action-packed slasher sequence that could be straight out of a 90s horror film.
From there, the story, told from the first person perspective of an anxiety-ridden teenager, goes on to be a very different type of story, one with lots of slow-burn buildup and not so much to show for on the payoff side of the equation.
I also thought there were too many narrative threads going on. For example, I found the title and even the back cover copy, to be confusing, as the "reading buddy" part of the story was a minimal one. Though the narrative attempted to weave in this thread more, it got stuck on all the other story threads and the "reading buddy" really got lost. Which is a shame, because as the title of the book, you sort of expect that to be what the book is about, and I personally found the misdirection off-putting.
What really took this book to 2 stars for me was the ending. To be as vague as possible, it uses a technique to explain the events that set off the novel that I really find unfair and infuriating as a reader.
What I will say for this book is that the author definitely has natural talent as a writer. I found the book to be clean and well-crafted throughout. I think its main issue is that the narrative needed some ironing out and trimming.
My thanks to the author for sending copies of his book to the Night Worms to read and review.
From there, the story, told from the first person perspective of an anxiety-ridden teenager, goes on to be a very different type of story, one with lots of slow-burn buildup and not so much to show for on the payoff side of the equation.
I also thought there were too many narrative threads going on. For example, I found the title and even the back cover copy, to be confusing, as the "reading buddy" part of the story was a minimal one. Though the narrative attempted to weave in this thread more, it got stuck on all the other story threads and the "reading buddy" really got lost. Which is a shame, because as the title of the book, you sort of expect that to be what the book is about, and I personally found the misdirection off-putting.
What really took this book to 2 stars for me was the ending. To be as vague as possible, it uses a technique to explain the events that set off the novel that I really find unfair and infuriating as a reader.
What I will say for this book is that the author definitely has natural talent as a writer. I found the book to be clean and well-crafted throughout. I think its main issue is that the narrative needed some ironing out and trimming.
My thanks to the author for sending copies of his book to the Night Worms to read and review.
November 22, 2018
The Reading Buddy starts off strong. Gibson has a tension filled opening that sets up the rest of the story, and I was immediately pulled in. Then the connection to the title is revealed, and the book slows down a bit, but you expect things to get seriously creepy. And Gibson starts off with a good premise.
Blake Thomas is haunted by his best friend's murder. He goes to live with his father in Georgia after the events of his friend's death leave him with PTSD. He has also developed intense social anxiety, so his therapist recommends that he try a social media site called The Reading Buddy. The goal is to make a friend online to read books with in order to give him the confidence he needs to begin making friends again in the real world. I'm still intrigued at this point. As an avid reader, and knowing this is a horror novel, I was ready for some serious psycho reading buddy action. Instead, Gibson veers off in a totally different direction with the story that left me scratching my head and wishing he had continued with the original story thread.
At this point the story becomes rather convoluted and a bit messy. If you think too hard about everything that happens once you finish the book, quite a bit of it doesn't really add up. And I was really bummed over the ending. I mean, by this point the story had almost totally abandoned the original plot line, but then I was even more disappointed. If Gibson had left out the new plot direction entirely, and focused more on the reading buddy storyline, I think this could have been quite good. Instead, it loses its focus and starts to wander into an odd territory.
I think Gibson has some really good ideas here, but they kind of got lost in the shuffle.
Blake Thomas is haunted by his best friend's murder. He goes to live with his father in Georgia after the events of his friend's death leave him with PTSD. He has also developed intense social anxiety, so his therapist recommends that he try a social media site called The Reading Buddy. The goal is to make a friend online to read books with in order to give him the confidence he needs to begin making friends again in the real world. I'm still intrigued at this point. As an avid reader, and knowing this is a horror novel, I was ready for some serious psycho reading buddy action. Instead, Gibson veers off in a totally different direction with the story that left me scratching my head and wishing he had continued with the original story thread.
At this point the story becomes rather convoluted and a bit messy. If you think too hard about everything that happens once you finish the book, quite a bit of it doesn't really add up. And I was really bummed over the ending. I mean, by this point the story had almost totally abandoned the original plot line, but then I was even more disappointed. If Gibson had left out the new plot direction entirely, and focused more on the reading buddy storyline, I think this could have been quite good. Instead, it loses its focus and starts to wander into an odd territory.
I think Gibson has some really good ideas here, but they kind of got lost in the shuffle.
August 6, 2017
Really, I'd rate this 3.5 stars.
In short, I loved the first ¾ of the book, but found the ending badly paced, with whiplash characterisation. The book itself is very slowly paced, which is something I actually love, particularly in horror stories where the writing establishes the characters very well. That doesn’t not really happen here, but I still enjoyed the slow pace for a long time, until it finally because too slow, with too little happening. Spent a great deal of time adoring the main character and at least one of the side characters. Mostly handles mental health very well, until it veers sharply off track.
I think it’s a fun, entertaining read, but it makes a lot of style choices that I think you’ll either love or loathe, with very little in between. Like I said, it is slow, and at times almost seems to be leaning heavily into southern Gothic, but it never quite makes it. In the end, I think that’s my biggest problem with the book (except for the moment where Wing Goes Boom finally over mental illness); it starts to be a lot of things, and starts to have a lot of things, like strong characters and great relationships, but it never quite gets there. There’s a lot of build up for very little payoff (and I don’t mean in the plot, necessarily, but more in the writing style itself); it feels very surface level at times, when it was leading into a deep, profound setting and character-driven story.
I wanted more from it, and though I really did enjoy reading it, I’m also left unsatisfied and wanting more depth, more description, more characterization, more transitions — just more.
Per the marketing campaign from the publisher, it is being targeted to readers of retro teen horror — so, you know, us — and I can see why. It doesn’t quite feel the same as Point Horror or Fear Street or Nightmare Hall or Christopher Pike, etc. In some ways, it’s better. In some ways, though, it feels even more surface-level than they do. It certainly did invoke a ton of nostalgia in me, but not a lot related to the 80s and 90s teen horror. Mostly, small towns and high school football and marching band and werewolves. (You’ll see.)
I liked it. I’m glad I read it. I’ll reread it. But I am left not quite satisfied, and since the early part of the book was great enough it set my expectations high, that is even more frustrating than if it had been bad from the beginning.
You can find the spoilery recap and review here: http://www.pointhorror.com/2017/08/03...
In short, I loved the first ¾ of the book, but found the ending badly paced, with whiplash characterisation. The book itself is very slowly paced, which is something I actually love, particularly in horror stories where the writing establishes the characters very well. That doesn’t not really happen here, but I still enjoyed the slow pace for a long time, until it finally because too slow, with too little happening. Spent a great deal of time adoring the main character and at least one of the side characters. Mostly handles mental health very well, until it veers sharply off track.
I think it’s a fun, entertaining read, but it makes a lot of style choices that I think you’ll either love or loathe, with very little in between. Like I said, it is slow, and at times almost seems to be leaning heavily into southern Gothic, but it never quite makes it. In the end, I think that’s my biggest problem with the book (except for the moment where Wing Goes Boom finally over mental illness); it starts to be a lot of things, and starts to have a lot of things, like strong characters and great relationships, but it never quite gets there. There’s a lot of build up for very little payoff (and I don’t mean in the plot, necessarily, but more in the writing style itself); it feels very surface level at times, when it was leading into a deep, profound setting and character-driven story.
I wanted more from it, and though I really did enjoy reading it, I’m also left unsatisfied and wanting more depth, more description, more characterization, more transitions — just more.
Per the marketing campaign from the publisher, it is being targeted to readers of retro teen horror — so, you know, us — and I can see why. It doesn’t quite feel the same as Point Horror or Fear Street or Nightmare Hall or Christopher Pike, etc. In some ways, it’s better. In some ways, though, it feels even more surface-level than they do. It certainly did invoke a ton of nostalgia in me, but not a lot related to the 80s and 90s teen horror. Mostly, small towns and high school football and marching band and werewolves. (You’ll see.)
I liked it. I’m glad I read it. I’ll reread it. But I am left not quite satisfied, and since the early part of the book was great enough it set my expectations high, that is even more frustrating than if it had been bad from the beginning.
You can find the spoilery recap and review here: http://www.pointhorror.com/2017/08/03...
November 27, 2018
The Reading Buddy begins with a horrific tragedy and the death of two people. The survivor of the tragedy becomes riddled with social anxiety and his therapist encourages him to join a social media platform called The Reading Buddy to ease back into two things he used to enjoy: reading and being a normal kid with friends and relationships.
I loved the premise of this social media platform, The Reading Buddy, because I feel like it is a large part of who we are as active bookstagrammers! I was extremely enticed by the idea of something sinister behind it all - and thought it could hit closer to home and scare me a little more since it was something close to my daily activity. The downside? There's really not much about The Reading Buddy in the book, despite the title and the synopsis. So I definitely wanted more of that.
The ending left me slightly disappointed because just when the book started really gaining in momentum and hinting at wrapping up the mystery, we are hit in the face with the threat/villain of the story is and then it just basically stops. There is not too much of an explanation other than a sentence or two to help us with the motive. I wanted more there, too.
But I think the author did a good job in writing a book that felt like one I would have read growing up. At times I felt like this could have been a book I would enjoy reading after I Know What You Did Last Summer, Stranger With My Face, etc. I enjoyed the nostalgic vibe of it all for sure. This is a book I would recommend someone if they were not sure if this pre-horror/YA-mystery genre was for them or not.
In the end, I enjoyed what was present in the book, but I wanted more (as mentioned above). 3 stars for this one from me - and many thanks to the author for sending copies to the Night Worms in exchange for an honest review!
I loved the premise of this social media platform, The Reading Buddy, because I feel like it is a large part of who we are as active bookstagrammers! I was extremely enticed by the idea of something sinister behind it all - and thought it could hit closer to home and scare me a little more since it was something close to my daily activity. The downside? There's really not much about The Reading Buddy in the book, despite the title and the synopsis. So I definitely wanted more of that.
The ending left me slightly disappointed because just when the book started really gaining in momentum and hinting at wrapping up the mystery, we are hit in the face with the threat/villain of the story is and then it just basically stops. There is not too much of an explanation other than a sentence or two to help us with the motive. I wanted more there, too.
But I think the author did a good job in writing a book that felt like one I would have read growing up. At times I felt like this could have been a book I would enjoy reading after I Know What You Did Last Summer, Stranger With My Face, etc. I enjoyed the nostalgic vibe of it all for sure. This is a book I would recommend someone if they were not sure if this pre-horror/YA-mystery genre was for them or not.
In the end, I enjoyed what was present in the book, but I wanted more (as mentioned above). 3 stars for this one from me - and many thanks to the author for sending copies to the Night Worms in exchange for an honest review!
December 22, 2020
Thank you, Bryce Gibson for sending the Night Worms free copies in exchange for an honest review.
The Reading Buddy starts off interesting. Theres a lot going on and I really wanted to know what was going to happen. However it quickly became a story with way too many things going on. I felt like what I thought was going to be a big part of the story... wasn't. The story has a lot of potential, unfortunately it just fell flat for me.
The Reading Buddy starts off interesting. Theres a lot going on and I really wanted to know what was going to happen. However it quickly became a story with way too many things going on. I felt like what I thought was going to be a big part of the story... wasn't. The story has a lot of potential, unfortunately it just fell flat for me.
December 9, 2024
I am really enjoying this new author I found! He has been writing for a while now and I love the writing style and stories. This is the third book I have read and will be going to my other TBR books but will continue to complete his published books as well. I took a whim when I ordered a four book deal from County Line Horror series ad on facebook and am not disappointed.
August 4, 2017
Very readable, immersive YA horror in the style of Point Horror/Fear Street/etc. This is definitely one for fans of classic YA horror
Full review here: https://necromommycon.com/2017/08/04/...
Full review here: https://necromommycon.com/2017/08/04/...
July 30, 2020
There was not enough about the Reading Buddy app and the interaction on it to:
1. Justify the title
2. Justify the obsession
1. Justify the title
2. Justify the obsession
January 2, 2021
Bryce Gibson is here to resurrect the YA horror fiction of my youth. I’ve read a couple of his books now, and I appreciate the throwbacks to Point Horror fiction of the 90s. There’s a cold open, twists and turns, and a mental health aspect to this story that I felt gave the story heart.
Gibson has crafted a world here that feels very much so alive. The interwoven aspects of modern technology and modern sentiments about mental health helped liven the story. I felt connected to the main character, feeling his pain and growth throughout which made the plot hit home all the harder.
Gibson’s writing flows well, making for a quick read. This was something I loved about those 90s YA horror books: I could sit down and read one of those books in an afternoon, feeling like I lived through a slasher. The Reading Buddy does just that. The plot is intricate, yet easy to follow, filled with blood, and fun.
The Reading Buddy reads like a mystery, and one that some may be familiar with. Not only is there mystery evident in the plot, the murder and violence, and identities of characters, but there is also mystery in piecing together the personality of the main character, as well as past events and memory. This, too, helps keep the plot quick and intriguing.
I recommend The Reading Buddy to give you quite a few tingles up and down that spine.
*Copy provided by the author in exchange for a review. Thank you!
Gibson has crafted a world here that feels very much so alive. The interwoven aspects of modern technology and modern sentiments about mental health helped liven the story. I felt connected to the main character, feeling his pain and growth throughout which made the plot hit home all the harder.
Gibson’s writing flows well, making for a quick read. This was something I loved about those 90s YA horror books: I could sit down and read one of those books in an afternoon, feeling like I lived through a slasher. The Reading Buddy does just that. The plot is intricate, yet easy to follow, filled with blood, and fun.
The Reading Buddy reads like a mystery, and one that some may be familiar with. Not only is there mystery evident in the plot, the murder and violence, and identities of characters, but there is also mystery in piecing together the personality of the main character, as well as past events and memory. This, too, helps keep the plot quick and intriguing.
I recommend The Reading Buddy to give you quite a few tingles up and down that spine.
*Copy provided by the author in exchange for a review. Thank you!
April 4, 2021
This is a fun read, arguably more thriller than horror, but sure to entertain audiences of both of these related genres. Though it's certainly intended for a juvenile audience, it nevertheless has some appeal even to adult readers. It's simplistic (occasionally bordering on over-simplistic) prose belies the depth of character explored in some of the chapters. However, that depth seems to come and go as the book occasionally struggles to find its place.
The biggest issue I had is that I kept expecting the titular "reading buddy" to play a more central role in the story, but the actual plot ultimately has little to do with that character. There's nothing wrong with the story as it is, but the introduction of the "reading buddy" social media platform as a subplot doesn't really add much and serves mostly just to distract the reader. I also struggled a bit to decide whether I found the ending satisfying. It certainly wasn't what I expected, so it gets points for surprising me (and doing so without seeming entirely out of left field), but it didn't deliver quite as much of an emotional impact as I think it could have.
That having been said, the story nevertheless manages to keep the reader thoroughly entertained throughout this short novel. And while it's unlikely to be one of those books that haunts you for years after you read it, a few hours between its pages will be time well spent.
The biggest issue I had is that I kept expecting the titular "reading buddy" to play a more central role in the story, but the actual plot ultimately has little to do with that character. There's nothing wrong with the story as it is, but the introduction of the "reading buddy" social media platform as a subplot doesn't really add much and serves mostly just to distract the reader. I also struggled a bit to decide whether I found the ending satisfying. It certainly wasn't what I expected, so it gets points for surprising me (and doing so without seeming entirely out of left field), but it didn't deliver quite as much of an emotional impact as I think it could have.
That having been said, the story nevertheless manages to keep the reader thoroughly entertained throughout this short novel. And while it's unlikely to be one of those books that haunts you for years after you read it, a few hours between its pages will be time well spent.
September 4, 2017
Social anxiety? Blake can tell you all about it. A devastating tragedy befell Blake that led to his social anxiety problem. Through therapy, Blake developed a checklist of sorts to help deal with his Social Anxiety issue. One of those was to make new friends. And that he did. The first of which was Charley17, a reading buddy with whom he would share reading progress on books they were reading concurrently. Blake seems to be getting better before a series of events pull him back to the tragedy of his recent past. A tragedy that resurfaces as fractured images in his mind. How does his reading buddy play into this? His new friends?
Bryce does a great job with the setup, slapping you in the face with a frenetic chase before settling in to the events of the aftermath. I'm not one for spoilers in a review so I will just say that you will read this and think you have it figured out about three quarters of the way through only to be completely surprised by the satisfying conclusion. Great job, Bryce.
Bryce does a great job with the setup, slapping you in the face with a frenetic chase before settling in to the events of the aftermath. I'm not one for spoilers in a review so I will just say that you will read this and think you have it figured out about three quarters of the way through only to be completely surprised by the satisfying conclusion. Great job, Bryce.
August 29, 2018
This is the second book in Bryce Gibson’s County Line Horror series. As with the first story, I am surprisingly pleased. Some would say the length of these stories make them “short stories” that should be in a collection of sorts. I disagree about this book in particular. Yes, it is a quick read, but the depth in which Gibson tells the story is phenomenal.
I will say, parts of The Reading Buddy we’re a bit confusing at first. Honestly I was confused as to how the title itself connected to the story in general. But, like I said, that was “at first”. Without giving anything away, Bryce Gibson absolutely brought everything around full-circle. I would definitely recommend The Reading Buddy to anyone looking for a short book that can honestly be read in a single day. It’s just that intriguing.
I will say, parts of The Reading Buddy we’re a bit confusing at first. Honestly I was confused as to how the title itself connected to the story in general. But, like I said, that was “at first”. Without giving anything away, Bryce Gibson absolutely brought everything around full-circle. I would definitely recommend The Reading Buddy to anyone looking for a short book that can honestly be read in a single day. It’s just that intriguing.
August 13, 2024
Way to much going on , made no sense
I was very confused through 90 percent of this book and once I got to the end I still had questions . this book had a whole lot of stuff going on , it went one way then another , then another . honestly half of this book doesn't even make sense or go with the title of this.book . there is like three different plot lines going on and it just doesn't go together . I also hated how most of the chapters ended , they ended without much information sometimes and just went on to the next day . I feel like the author had a goal in mind but as he was writing he kept coming up with new ideas and that's where it doesn't make sense . I gave this a three star only because I couldn't give it a two in half stars
I was very confused through 90 percent of this book and once I got to the end I still had questions . this book had a whole lot of stuff going on , it went one way then another , then another . honestly half of this book doesn't even make sense or go with the title of this.book . there is like three different plot lines going on and it just doesn't go together . I also hated how most of the chapters ended , they ended without much information sometimes and just went on to the next day . I feel like the author had a goal in mind but as he was writing he kept coming up with new ideas and that's where it doesn't make sense . I gave this a three star only because I couldn't give it a two in half stars
September 26, 2017
Suspenseful, full of twists and turns
Nothing (and no one) is quite like it seems in this novel. The characters are well-developed, and I love the familiar southern setting. The finely crafted plot kept me guessing until the end. Social anxiety is something a lot of us can identify with, and I think the problems it brings are presented well, with compassion and understanding. My daughter also read my Kindle copy and she gives 5 stars too. She's only recently begun reading books and she loved this one.
Nothing (and no one) is quite like it seems in this novel. The characters are well-developed, and I love the familiar southern setting. The finely crafted plot kept me guessing until the end. Social anxiety is something a lot of us can identify with, and I think the problems it brings are presented well, with compassion and understanding. My daughter also read my Kindle copy and she gives 5 stars too. She's only recently begun reading books and she loved this one.
March 21, 2018
Thanks to Bryce Gibson for THE READING BUDDY for the pdf download of THE READING BUDDY wow this story was so amazing it was like I was reading a fear street or a point horror book , your an amazing writer this story had so much going on a real thriller with lot's of twist and turns on every page I could not put my device down a lot of surprises and a very good twist at the end just like R.L. Stine I was surprised with how the story ended I would recommend this story to my friends and family LAURA8759 .
November 29, 2021
I always want to support local talent. This book drew me in because it's based where I grew up, which was really awesome. My biggest draw back was the title/synopsis/plot of the book. The reading buddy was a very tiny part of the story, the cult aspect, the stalkers/obsession/friends to enemies...falling in love in like a week, meeting the family and talking about college and future plans. It was just too many things trying to happen and it made the book feel extremely choppy.
With that being said, I still want to read more by Gibson because of the locations of everything.
With that being said, I still want to read more by Gibson because of the locations of everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2025
Honestly, this is close to a 4.5.
Twisty, suspense with an authentic southern rural backdrop. I can smell the scuppernongs.
I appreciate a book that can surprise me in the end, and this one truly did. But as fun as the final twists and turns were, they felt a little shallow. I wanted just a bit more depth and explanation, and in particular there was one piece I felt needed to be tied together better...
But overall, a fun and quick read.
Twisty, suspense with an authentic southern rural backdrop. I can smell the scuppernongs.
I appreciate a book that can surprise me in the end, and this one truly did. But as fun as the final twists and turns were, they felt a little shallow. I wanted just a bit more depth and explanation, and in particular there was one piece I felt needed to be tied together better...
But overall, a fun and quick read.
April 15, 2020
My Reading Buddy was a fun, little story. A book that is not what it seems—unless you really look at the clues that Gibson leaves right in front of you. You may think one thing, but it will be something else entirely. It’s a tale with many twists and turns. You won’t figure this one out (at least I didn’t). Loved the ending. High-five, Mr. Gibson.
July 31, 2024
This was a very short story & a very quick read.
I do love the whole concept of the story, especially the beginning, but I just feel like there was way too much going on/ way too much he wanted to do concept wise towards the end for such a short story.
This was a gift from a friend so I’m not familiar with this author, but I’d probably give one of his other books a shot.
I do love the whole concept of the story, especially the beginning, but I just feel like there was way too much going on/ way too much he wanted to do concept wise towards the end for such a short story.
This was a gift from a friend so I’m not familiar with this author, but I’d probably give one of his other books a shot.
March 21, 2020
Don't let this nice book cover fool you - this book is TERRIBLE.
1. The synopsis is misleading;
2. The protagonist is a jerk;
3. The plot is a huge mess. Too many things going on, there are some plot holes and contradictions.
1. The synopsis is misleading;
2. The protagonist is a jerk;
3. The plot is a huge mess. Too many things going on, there are some plot holes and contradictions.
July 23, 2020
The storyline is very fast paced and captivating from the very beginning. It dives into mental illness all while intertwining a thrilling surprise of events. I highly recommend this book to all readers.
April 28, 2022
I was expecting this to be a slasher horror novel; it was actually more of a thriller with horror elements. There were a lot of twists and turns that kept me on my toes, and I especially liked the ending.
February 22, 2024
Good story line, only thing is the reading buddy wasn’t mentioned a ton. I never learned how the reading buddy had anything to do with the rest of the story or how he was “stalking” Blake. The main story line was good, just wish it discussed the reading buddy more.
May 31, 2024
I did enjoy the story and I would have given it 5 starts but I felt like there could have been a little more detail involving the reading buddy app. It was only mentioned a little bit and I didn’t really see where it tied into the story much.
December 27, 2024
It was a good story concept which I liked a lot going on and doesn’t come together till the end. PTSD is the main issues and ok good but the dreams or nightmares were a bit fetched great twist. Overall would recommend. I like his books quick reads
April 16, 2025
Too many dreams and flashbacks. The beginning was hooking, but after that I just kinda lost interest and listened to the text-to-speech narrator finish the book. not a good intro to this author. hoping his other books are more exciting
April 5, 2018
The characters in The Reading Buddy are well developed and the story itself reminded me a bit of the Fear Street novels by R. L. Stine, which I read quite a few of WAY BACK. So if you loved those books by R. L. Stine, it's a fair chance you'll like this one. Something else that I liked about the book was the portrayal of social anxiety.
December 31, 2019
What the what was that ending? I definitely didn't expect that. Also, I thought
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