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Resurrection Girls
Olivia Foster hasn’t felt alive since her little brother drowned in the backyard pool three years ago. Then Kara Hallas moves in across the street with her mother and grandmother, and Olivia is immediately drawn to these three generations of women. Kara is particularly intoxicating, so much so that Olivia not only comes to accept Kara's morbid habit of writing to men on death row, she helps her do it. They sign their letters as the Resurrection Girls.
But as Kara’s friendship pulls Olivia out of the dark fog she’s been living in, Olivia realizes that a different kind of darkness taints the otherwise lively Hallas women—an impulse that is strange, magical, and possibly deadly.
But as Kara’s friendship pulls Olivia out of the dark fog she’s been living in, Olivia realizes that a different kind of darkness taints the otherwise lively Hallas women—an impulse that is strange, magical, and possibly deadly.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2019
16 people are currently reading
5234 people want to read
About the author
Ava Morgyn
5 books516 followersAva Morgyn grew up falling in love with all the wrong characters in all the wrong stories, then studied English Writing & Rhetoric at St. Edward’s University. She is a lover of witchcraft, tarot, and powerful women with bad reputations, and she currently resides in Houston, surrounded by antiques and dog hair. When not at her laptop spinning darkly hypnotic tales, she writes for her blog on child loss (forloveofevelyn.com), hunts for vintage treasures, and reads the darkest books she can find.
She is the author of YA novels Resurrection Girls and The Salt in Our Blood, and paranormal women's fiction The Witches of Bone Hill, from St. Martin's Griffin.
She is the author of YA novels Resurrection Girls and The Salt in Our Blood, and paranormal women's fiction The Witches of Bone Hill, from St. Martin's Griffin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
September 22, 2020
No! No! Hell No! Take my 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 just for the beautiful cover and go somewhere else! I need to find another gothic, disturbing book for sake of my darkest taste!
Intriguing, chilling cover: Check!
Capturing, interesting, riveting blurb: Check!
Being a die-hard fan of magical realism and creepy, spooky stories: Check!
Introduction of Olivia’s story, drowned little brother, absent mother, drug induced ghostly mother and a new neighbors’ moving to next door (creepy grandma, creepier daughter, creepiest granddaughter, witchy women from three generation): Check!
But SOMETHING went wrong! I’m correcting EVERYTHING SEEMED WRONG! As I resumed my reading question marks on my mind getting bigger, bolder and they finally turned into thought balloons screaming at me: “DNF this one! It’s not good for your intellectual soul and taste of creepy thrillers!”
Writing style of this book: DATTTT Failed!
Number of likable characters: DATTT None!
Slapping urge to worse characters: DATTT!! Author already killed my itching instinct so I hit to the gym for punching my trainers!!!
Ending of the story: DATTT! Not satisfying!
SUMMARY: Nanananana! FULL FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT!
Of course I liked to read more works of this author because the plot was good but progression and development didn’t work for me this time!
Thanks to Netgalley and AW Teen for sharing this intriguing ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.
Intriguing, chilling cover: Check!
Capturing, interesting, riveting blurb: Check!
Being a die-hard fan of magical realism and creepy, spooky stories: Check!
Introduction of Olivia’s story, drowned little brother, absent mother, drug induced ghostly mother and a new neighbors’ moving to next door (creepy grandma, creepier daughter, creepiest granddaughter, witchy women from three generation): Check!
But SOMETHING went wrong! I’m correcting EVERYTHING SEEMED WRONG! As I resumed my reading question marks on my mind getting bigger, bolder and they finally turned into thought balloons screaming at me: “DNF this one! It’s not good for your intellectual soul and taste of creepy thrillers!”
Writing style of this book: DATTTT Failed!
Number of likable characters: DATTT None!
Slapping urge to worse characters: DATTT!! Author already killed my itching instinct so I hit to the gym for punching my trainers!!!
Ending of the story: DATTT! Not satisfying!
SUMMARY: Nanananana! FULL FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT!
Of course I liked to read more works of this author because the plot was good but progression and development didn’t work for me this time!
Thanks to Netgalley and AW Teen for sharing this intriguing ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.
September 17, 2019
4.5 stars
I was death's sister.
She was murderer's daughter.
Olivia Foster, a high school student and the main character in this novel has lost her little brother in a drowning accident in the family pool three years earlier. Ever since she hasn't left the house much and the backyard has been off-limits.
In the working-class town where the Fosters live, everyone knows everyone and they all know that Olivia's mom stopped working and now relies on opiates to cope, that her dad is a workaholic and hardly ever is home and that across the street from the Fosters a man committed suicide and hung himself from the rafters.
Family dinners and tv nights are a thing of the past in the Foster home. Take out food and solemn quiet grief of palpable thickness have crept and settled in. Best not to talk at all to avoid any triggers. Certain words are off-limits and communication is about dead.
Out of nowhere, new neighbors move in across the street into the house of the rafters suicide. Purely by social necessity, Olivia is sent across the street to welcome the new family, a peculiar bunch of three women of three generations.
Kara Hallas is around Olivia's age but unabashedly different from her. They actually couldn't be more different, from their physique on the outside to the unseen on the inside. Yet, a friendship develops that keeps challenging Olivia to inch completely out of her comfort zone. Every moment with Kara is an adventure of some sort or a challenge of integrity and trust. As Olivia joins Kara in writing letters to death row inmates, they call themselves the Resurrection Girls.
Prescott, a childhood friend of Olivia's enters the picture early on as well in their adventures. The three of them make a pretty good team, yet some tensions are rising. Things are fine until Kara misuses Olivia's trust and it puts her back into a hole after the trio just solved a mystery together.
Edging closer and closer to trouble, a dangerous situation is about to jeopardize their lives and friendship until one of them makes a brave move.
***
Hair raising! This novel was amazingly engaging and one of my favorites of the year. Recommended for ages 13+, it delves into themes of family, friendships, depression, substance abuse, promiscuity and the experience of loss.
You may think it to be a dull read, but it absolutely was the opposite of it. What made this exceptional novel so readable was the author’s use of magical realism to guide the main character along, hence awakening her senses by inserting Kara's bewitching character alongside Olivia.
The grieving process after loss to the experience of joy and love again isn't' easy or a speedy one. There are stages at which one stumbles, falls, gives up, hides out, etc before getting any better. Everyone grieves differently too, which is another point this novel shows very clearly in the case of Olivia's parents.
The message though is clear: under all the layers of grief, there still is hope, love, and unity that can be found, rescued and tended too.
Kara's character was the driving force for Olivia to move on and acknowledge that her entire family is broken by loss. In several passages, the author's ability to draw from the toolbox inventory to describe loss rendered me speechless. It was right on and I could not have put any of it into words.
This novel is rated for ages 13+ though I'd say it's suited for a mature teenager. I am being cautiously conservative with that.
If you have the chance to read this novel, go for it. It is really, really good, fast-paced, engaging and heartfelt.
I received a physical copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much, Ava Morgyn. All opinions are my own.
I was death's sister.
She was murderer's daughter.
Olivia Foster, a high school student and the main character in this novel has lost her little brother in a drowning accident in the family pool three years earlier. Ever since she hasn't left the house much and the backyard has been off-limits.
In the working-class town where the Fosters live, everyone knows everyone and they all know that Olivia's mom stopped working and now relies on opiates to cope, that her dad is a workaholic and hardly ever is home and that across the street from the Fosters a man committed suicide and hung himself from the rafters.
Family dinners and tv nights are a thing of the past in the Foster home. Take out food and solemn quiet grief of palpable thickness have crept and settled in. Best not to talk at all to avoid any triggers. Certain words are off-limits and communication is about dead.
Out of nowhere, new neighbors move in across the street into the house of the rafters suicide. Purely by social necessity, Olivia is sent across the street to welcome the new family, a peculiar bunch of three women of three generations.
Kara Hallas is around Olivia's age but unabashedly different from her. They actually couldn't be more different, from their physique on the outside to the unseen on the inside. Yet, a friendship develops that keeps challenging Olivia to inch completely out of her comfort zone. Every moment with Kara is an adventure of some sort or a challenge of integrity and trust. As Olivia joins Kara in writing letters to death row inmates, they call themselves the Resurrection Girls.
Prescott, a childhood friend of Olivia's enters the picture early on as well in their adventures. The three of them make a pretty good team, yet some tensions are rising. Things are fine until Kara misuses Olivia's trust and it puts her back into a hole after the trio just solved a mystery together.
Edging closer and closer to trouble, a dangerous situation is about to jeopardize their lives and friendship until one of them makes a brave move.
***
Hair raising! This novel was amazingly engaging and one of my favorites of the year. Recommended for ages 13+, it delves into themes of family, friendships, depression, substance abuse, promiscuity and the experience of loss.
You may think it to be a dull read, but it absolutely was the opposite of it. What made this exceptional novel so readable was the author’s use of magical realism to guide the main character along, hence awakening her senses by inserting Kara's bewitching character alongside Olivia.
The grieving process after loss to the experience of joy and love again isn't' easy or a speedy one. There are stages at which one stumbles, falls, gives up, hides out, etc before getting any better. Everyone grieves differently too, which is another point this novel shows very clearly in the case of Olivia's parents.
The message though is clear: under all the layers of grief, there still is hope, love, and unity that can be found, rescued and tended too.
Kara's character was the driving force for Olivia to move on and acknowledge that her entire family is broken by loss. In several passages, the author's ability to draw from the toolbox inventory to describe loss rendered me speechless. It was right on and I could not have put any of it into words.
This novel is rated for ages 13+ though I'd say it's suited for a mature teenager. I am being cautiously conservative with that.
If you have the chance to read this novel, go for it. It is really, really good, fast-paced, engaging and heartfelt.
I received a physical copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much, Ava Morgyn. All opinions are my own.
July 19, 2020
ok i feel really dumb for not understanding this ending. there was a lot of creepy build up (and i really liked the creepy build up) for the ending to just fall flat.
i just.......i just don't understand what happened?? my three brain cells are screaming, someone explaIN
questions:
i just.......i just don't understand what happened?? my three brain cells are screaming, someone explaIN
questions:
October 8, 2019
“You know when you’re awake really early in the morning and it’s just before dawn? And for a few moments, everything gets really, really still and really, really quiet, like the whole world is holding its breath for the sunrise? It was like that. Only the sun never rose.”
📖 Buy This Book: Amazon || Book Depository 📖
📚 Series: No.
📚 Genre: YA Paranormal-ish Fantasy.
📚 POV: First person.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Content Warnings: Grief. Death of a family member with graphic descriptions. Serial killers. Drug Use and Alcohol Use by Minors.
⚠ Read if: you are looking for a read that will interest you, then confuse you.
I have to admit this: I am a cover judger and that is the main reason why I requested to get an eARC of this read. There's no denying that the blurb looked so interesting, too. Two girls who write to men on death row? Well, isn't that a little unusual?
But let's talk about what really happened.
The first few pages of the book was amazing. Setting the mood and the ambiance was such a delight. I was creeped out and I was taken aback with how this book looked at grief and how heavy a death could be for a family. The main character, Olivia, is faced with an almost-absent father and a mother who is too intoxicated to function, and her guilt over her younger brother's death.
Then, we are also introduced to the creepy family that is moving in next door. A family of three women - a grandmother, a mother, and daughter, who are all creepy yet weirdly interesting.
When I was at the first 25 percent of this book, I was so sure that I am in for a crazy ride and a journey to a five star read. But now that I have finished this read, I am just wondering where did we go wrong? It was like I went to a roller coaster with an amazing build up and then spiraled downward to a confusing disconnect.
I know that this book talks about dealing with grief and the journey of letting go. Those things are what I really did feel throughout reading this book. But there were missing components of the plot that made me feel surrounded by lots of question marks because I just felt lost. The side plots were okay, like her relationship with Kara and her relationship with Prescott, but most of these side plots just left me with even more questions.
On the plus side, I have to commend the author for so many heartfelt lines scattered all around this book. My Kindle copy ended up so colorful because of the lines that spoke to me.
All in all, this was a good debut from the author and I am still looking forward to more of her works.
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Other Lead Character: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Thrill Factor: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.25/5 ☁
Much thanks to Edelweiss and AW Teen for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may or may not appear in the final published copy.
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September 21, 2019
2.75 stars
Magical realism mixed with grief and a dose of darkness, but ultimately not the read for me.
Atmosphere: ★★★★
Pacing: ★★★
Writing: ★★
Resurrection Girls is a study in grief and how it removes its subject from reality. With a dash of dark atmosphere mixed in.
Olivia Foster watches her life pass by with ambivalence. Her younger brother drowned several years ago, and the Foster family has never been the same since. Her dad is absent, her mother is addicted to prescription drugs, and Olivia tells the story of her life to herself as a way to stay grounded.
On the anniversary of her brother's death, a new family moves in across the street. It's a grandmother, a mother, and her daughter—and there is something off about them. Olivia finds herself drawn in to their secrets and sway, and finds herself getting closer and closer to the daughter, Kara. Kara is entrancing. She shoplifts, she entices Olivia's old crush, and she pokes Olivia into a sense of life.
A little bit ghostly, a little bit surreal, and a whole lot of grief exploration, Resurrection Girls was an interesting read. Personally, I found the writing to be its biggest drawback—I kept finding myself stumbling over the writing and sentence flow. This might simply be a difference in writing preferences, or it could have been an attempt to convey Olivia's sense of displacement in her world. Either way, it didn't work for me.
I also wanted more from the story. Each chapter left me with more questions than answers, and when coupled with the writing style, I ended Resurrection Girls with a sense of puzzled frustration as opposed to completion. I'll also admit to skimming a few of the chapters in the first half as they didn't seem interesting or relevant to the larger plot.
I would be interested to read the next novel by Ava Morgyn, but ultimately would have to give this one a pass. Darn you, spooky and beautiful cover! Definitely go into this one with your expectations managed.
Thank you to Albert Whitman & Company for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Magical realism mixed with grief and a dose of darkness, but ultimately not the read for me.
Atmosphere: ★★★★
Pacing: ★★★
Writing: ★★
Resurrection Girls is a study in grief and how it removes its subject from reality. With a dash of dark atmosphere mixed in.
Olivia Foster watches her life pass by with ambivalence. Her younger brother drowned several years ago, and the Foster family has never been the same since. Her dad is absent, her mother is addicted to prescription drugs, and Olivia tells the story of her life to herself as a way to stay grounded.
On the anniversary of her brother's death, a new family moves in across the street. It's a grandmother, a mother, and her daughter—and there is something off about them. Olivia finds herself drawn in to their secrets and sway, and finds herself getting closer and closer to the daughter, Kara. Kara is entrancing. She shoplifts, she entices Olivia's old crush, and she pokes Olivia into a sense of life.
A little bit ghostly, a little bit surreal, and a whole lot of grief exploration, Resurrection Girls was an interesting read. Personally, I found the writing to be its biggest drawback—I kept finding myself stumbling over the writing and sentence flow. This might simply be a difference in writing preferences, or it could have been an attempt to convey Olivia's sense of displacement in her world. Either way, it didn't work for me.
I also wanted more from the story. Each chapter left me with more questions than answers, and when coupled with the writing style, I ended Resurrection Girls with a sense of puzzled frustration as opposed to completion. I'll also admit to skimming a few of the chapters in the first half as they didn't seem interesting or relevant to the larger plot.
I would be interested to read the next novel by Ava Morgyn, but ultimately would have to give this one a pass. Darn you, spooky and beautiful cover! Definitely go into this one with your expectations managed.
Thank you to Albert Whitman & Company for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2019
This was one of the hardest books I’ve read in a long time and I really don’t know how I managed to get through it without crying but every other line broke my heart and I felt the tragedy for the characters in a way that I don’t think I’ll be able to shake off for a long time.
Resurrection Girls is about loss. It’s about family trauma and how the aftermath permanently fractures relationships to the point that people blind themselves with pills and with magic potions so they do not have to feel, or exist in the real world. If there was a medication or shot to stop simply feeling I’m sure most if not all of us would readily take it.
Olivia is three years past the tragic drowning of her 3 year old brother Robby and her family still lives in a haze. Olivia herself goes through life monotonously and it is only when new neighbors move in that that monotony ends. The Hallas family are 3 generations of women - grandmother, mother, daughter and right away they stand out. Kara is Olivia’s age and it is pretty much instantaneous when they begin to hang out. This is when the Resurrection Girls comes to play. The writing of prison pen pal letters sealed away with candy kissed hearts and illicit intention.
The writing in this book is stunning, Ava Morgyn is a fantastic writer and draws you into the story and doesn’t relinquish you until the very bitter end. The characters are realistic and alluring. There are many instances where I absolutely hated one character but also sympathized so much.
The plot is easy to follow but there are a few hiccups particularly the very end, I was left wondering out loud if that was really it but it did not ruin my love for this book. It’s well done and hauntingly beautiful. It is the perfect read for the start of autumn when it is expected to come out. A truly witchy, magical book that forces you to look death and grief in the face and take both head on.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher all opinions are my own.
Resurrection Girls is about loss. It’s about family trauma and how the aftermath permanently fractures relationships to the point that people blind themselves with pills and with magic potions so they do not have to feel, or exist in the real world. If there was a medication or shot to stop simply feeling I’m sure most if not all of us would readily take it.
Olivia is three years past the tragic drowning of her 3 year old brother Robby and her family still lives in a haze. Olivia herself goes through life monotonously and it is only when new neighbors move in that that monotony ends. The Hallas family are 3 generations of women - grandmother, mother, daughter and right away they stand out. Kara is Olivia’s age and it is pretty much instantaneous when they begin to hang out. This is when the Resurrection Girls comes to play. The writing of prison pen pal letters sealed away with candy kissed hearts and illicit intention.
The writing in this book is stunning, Ava Morgyn is a fantastic writer and draws you into the story and doesn’t relinquish you until the very bitter end. The characters are realistic and alluring. There are many instances where I absolutely hated one character but also sympathized so much.
The plot is easy to follow but there are a few hiccups particularly the very end, I was left wondering out loud if that was really it but it did not ruin my love for this book. It’s well done and hauntingly beautiful. It is the perfect read for the start of autumn when it is expected to come out. A truly witchy, magical book that forces you to look death and grief in the face and take both head on.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher all opinions are my own.
September 23, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an odd and very dissatisfying book. The cover is spooky and beautiful and lured me in, but I am highly disappointed. The Resurrection Girls follows Olivia who is basically a shell of who she used to be since her little brother drowned in their backyard pool. Olivia’s parents both are grief stricken even years later and the whole family is just a thousand fractured pieces of what it used to be. A family moves in across the street on Olivia’s brother’s death date and she befriends the new neighbor’s daughter Kara.
Honestly, I am pretty ticked with this whole book, the synopsis is so promising and writing to people on death row? Sounds pretty different and intriguing, but that was like 15% of what this book was about. I still don’t really know what I just read.
Let’s start off with Kara and her family. Meeting the new neighbors was a weird encounter and I was excited to see where the “magic” would lead us, because the family is a little off and it sounds like they have a little magic in their blood, but I have no idea what their magic is or where it came from. They are just a strange family, who I do not care about in the least. Kara is one of the worst characters I have read, she just does not care about Olivia’s grief at all. She just wants Olivia to move on, which easier said than done. Another huge turn off was Kara notices how Olivia has some feelings for her neighbor and childhood best friend and then flirts with him? Uh what? I just wanted to punch Kara honestly from the moment she met Olivia.
Next, we have the letters going to the men on death row. Was it weird? Yes. Was I anticipating such a fantastic and unique book focused on these letters? Yes. I did not get that, instead I got about 20 pages altogether talking about these letters and that was it, I feel like these letters had absolutely nothing to do with the story. I am confused as to why the synopsis of this book focuses on them, when they had so little to do with the actual plot of this book.
Lastly, we have Olivia’s mom and dad who honestly, I understood and cared for the most. They lost their son in a horrific accident and they are both dealing with grief. The mother is addicted to pain pills, and is drugged up 95% of the time to deal with the grief and the dad is never home. I actually wish this had more to do with Olivia’s family overcoming their grief and depression and being a family again, because those parts I had emotion and wanted them all to get better.
All in all, this was not for me and I don’t know if I read it the wrong way or I didn’t get what the message of this book was supposed to be, but it just was not for me. I just thought this was such a bizarre book and I don’t really know what the point of it was, nor do I know what the ending even was.
This was an odd and very dissatisfying book. The cover is spooky and beautiful and lured me in, but I am highly disappointed. The Resurrection Girls follows Olivia who is basically a shell of who she used to be since her little brother drowned in their backyard pool. Olivia’s parents both are grief stricken even years later and the whole family is just a thousand fractured pieces of what it used to be. A family moves in across the street on Olivia’s brother’s death date and she befriends the new neighbor’s daughter Kara.
Honestly, I am pretty ticked with this whole book, the synopsis is so promising and writing to people on death row? Sounds pretty different and intriguing, but that was like 15% of what this book was about. I still don’t really know what I just read.
Let’s start off with Kara and her family. Meeting the new neighbors was a weird encounter and I was excited to see where the “magic” would lead us, because the family is a little off and it sounds like they have a little magic in their blood, but I have no idea what their magic is or where it came from. They are just a strange family, who I do not care about in the least. Kara is one of the worst characters I have read, she just does not care about Olivia’s grief at all. She just wants Olivia to move on, which easier said than done. Another huge turn off was Kara notices how Olivia has some feelings for her neighbor and childhood best friend and then flirts with him? Uh what? I just wanted to punch Kara honestly from the moment she met Olivia.
Next, we have the letters going to the men on death row. Was it weird? Yes. Was I anticipating such a fantastic and unique book focused on these letters? Yes. I did not get that, instead I got about 20 pages altogether talking about these letters and that was it, I feel like these letters had absolutely nothing to do with the story. I am confused as to why the synopsis of this book focuses on them, when they had so little to do with the actual plot of this book.
Lastly, we have Olivia’s mom and dad who honestly, I understood and cared for the most. They lost their son in a horrific accident and they are both dealing with grief. The mother is addicted to pain pills, and is drugged up 95% of the time to deal with the grief and the dad is never home. I actually wish this had more to do with Olivia’s family overcoming their grief and depression and being a family again, because those parts I had emotion and wanted them all to get better.
All in all, this was not for me and I don’t know if I read it the wrong way or I didn’t get what the message of this book was supposed to be, but it just was not for me. I just thought this was such a bizarre book and I don’t really know what the point of it was, nor do I know what the ending even was.
October 15, 2019
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
I feel like everyone is sleeping on this book, and frankly, it's time to wake up. This is one of the most lovely, heart-wrenching books I have read in a long time. There were tears, but there was also hope and healing.
Olivia is losing herself in the grief and guilt over her little brother's death. This was hard for me to read about, I won't lie. Kids dying in books guts me, and this was no different. Especially seeing Olivia's clear love for her brother, and how this is just destroying her made my heart ache even more. Really, her whole family is so completely buried in grief that I couldn't help but wonder if they'd ever be able to find their way out. (Crap I am actually crying while typing this, that is how much this book impacted me.)
I think my preconceived notions about this book were very different than what I got, but in a really good way. I expected some quirky, creepy, morbid friendship. I got that, sure, but there is so much more to the book, frankly. There's other characters who I really grew to care about. There's family dynamics out the wazoo. There is a lot of work to learn to live with the grief. And there is even hope.
Yes, there is also that very unique friendship. Kara's not your typical new neighbor, but something about her pulls Olivia out of her self-imposed exile from life just in time. Olivia starts to venture out again, and sure, not always in the healthiest ways. But she's living again, and facing things she's been all too easily not facing.
This is definitely not a plot-heavy book, but neither is it boring; the story just focuses much more heavily on relationships, characters, and the process of healing and finding oneself once more.
Bottom Line: Incredibly moving, Resurrection Girls won me over completely with its thoughtfulness and heart.
I feel like everyone is sleeping on this book, and frankly, it's time to wake up. This is one of the most lovely, heart-wrenching books I have read in a long time. There were tears, but there was also hope and healing.
Olivia is losing herself in the grief and guilt over her little brother's death. This was hard for me to read about, I won't lie. Kids dying in books guts me, and this was no different. Especially seeing Olivia's clear love for her brother, and how this is just destroying her made my heart ache even more. Really, her whole family is so completely buried in grief that I couldn't help but wonder if they'd ever be able to find their way out. (Crap I am actually crying while typing this, that is how much this book impacted me.)
I think my preconceived notions about this book were very different than what I got, but in a really good way. I expected some quirky, creepy, morbid friendship. I got that, sure, but there is so much more to the book, frankly. There's other characters who I really grew to care about. There's family dynamics out the wazoo. There is a lot of work to learn to live with the grief. And there is even hope.
Yes, there is also that very unique friendship. Kara's not your typical new neighbor, but something about her pulls Olivia out of her self-imposed exile from life just in time. Olivia starts to venture out again, and sure, not always in the healthiest ways. But she's living again, and facing things she's been all too easily not facing.
This is definitely not a plot-heavy book, but neither is it boring; the story just focuses much more heavily on relationships, characters, and the process of healing and finding oneself once more.
Bottom Line: Incredibly moving, Resurrection Girls won me over completely with its thoughtfulness and heart.
October 2, 2019
1/5 stars!
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm still not exactly sure what I read, but I know it was not for me. Resurrection Girls was all over the place, with so many unlikeable characters and plot points that made me want to scream.
I was so frustrated by just the premise of the book. I requested it with genuine curiosity to the reason these high school girls may be writing to prisoners on Death Row. From the reviews, I expected to get the unexpected and really enjoy the route it took, but not I got the unexpected in the worst possible way.
Non-spoiler things I can say is this writing needed some more rounds of edits, even for an ARC. Things happened so fast. I had to go back and read paragraphs a few times to pin point when this new plot point happened and how I missed it. I think this came from the overuse of abstract language and metaphors. A story like this needs to have more concrete writing to pair with the crazy things happening in the plot. Most things I hated about this book I cannot put into a non-spoiler review, but just know the plot of this book was absolutely absurd and disgusting at times. I was sending a friend screenshots and we were both screaming. I have just never been more shocked by a plot, in a bad way.
One more note: The lgbt themes and other romantic relationships in this....whew.
Overall, I would not recommend this book unless your into really unrealistic contemporary plots with some questionable morals and literally the worst characters I've ever read about.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm still not exactly sure what I read, but I know it was not for me. Resurrection Girls was all over the place, with so many unlikeable characters and plot points that made me want to scream.
I was so frustrated by just the premise of the book. I requested it with genuine curiosity to the reason these high school girls may be writing to prisoners on Death Row. From the reviews, I expected to get the unexpected and really enjoy the route it took, but not I got the unexpected in the worst possible way.
Non-spoiler things I can say is this writing needed some more rounds of edits, even for an ARC. Things happened so fast. I had to go back and read paragraphs a few times to pin point when this new plot point happened and how I missed it. I think this came from the overuse of abstract language and metaphors. A story like this needs to have more concrete writing to pair with the crazy things happening in the plot. Most things I hated about this book I cannot put into a non-spoiler review, but just know the plot of this book was absolutely absurd and disgusting at times. I was sending a friend screenshots and we were both screaming. I have just never been more shocked by a plot, in a bad way.
One more note: The lgbt themes and other romantic relationships in this....whew.
Overall, I would not recommend this book unless your into really unrealistic contemporary plots with some questionable morals and literally the worst characters I've ever read about.
October 9, 2019
Not what I expected. This was dark and depressing. The story was simple, but it held the possibility to dive deeper, be more raw and vulnerable.
October 1, 2019
I took one look at this book’s cover and was immediately pulled in. It embodies a sort of whimsical horror that is perfect in time for Halloween. Then we have the title- Resurrection Girls. I was expecting some kind of duo or squad who goes spirit-hunting. Even the somewhat heavier-sounding description of this title didn’t phase me into imagining this book as anything other than a light paranormal romp.
So anyway, this book is nothing like any of those above descriptions. Not even 5% of it is anywhere approaching such assumptions. (Maybe 3% gives off some paranormal vibes though.) The plot centers around loss and how it affects a once-stable family. After a few years of unhealthy coping mechanisms, each family member is left adrift and detached in big ways from each other. This may seem heavy and depressing to read about, but the disintegration is conveyed with a plainly-laid realism that is effective. The characters are not very endearing. Some are straight up unlikable and hard to sympathize with- and in a grittier and honest sort of way, they leave a stronger impression. The effect reminds me a bit of Ordinary People by Judith Guest or Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake.
The central character is Olivia, a sixteen year-old girl left aimless and isolated by the death of her little brother, Robby. Dealing with self-blame and inattentive parents, she navigates the world not unlike how one might imagine a ghost doing so- floating and unattached. Also of note is Prescott, Olivia’s childhood friend. She distanced herself from him since Robby’s death.
Our story begins with a family of three moving in nearby. We meet Kara, her grandmother, and mother. Though Olivia tries to avoid Kara, the two become friends before long. They start to work together on a bit of an odd project- Resurrection Girls, a duo shrouded in anonymity who correspond with people on death row and collect replies and info about the circumstances that led to their convictions. Very little of the story is focused on this subject and there’s no enduring mystery therein. The main focus is on Olivia slowly working her way back into a healthier state of mind and becoming empowered to confront her family about the distance that’s grown between them. I really liked Kara, she is a figure who pushes Olivia toward new experiences and taking much-needed steps that lead to growth and healing. But she’s a partner rather than a mentor, and the two relate on levels that are more than meets the eye. Their activities veer toward the older end of YA. There are definitely some bad behaviors, but the one that struck me most was addressed in the storyline and met with consequences.
While I feel confident in stating there is no romance in this title, Olivia has romantic tension and chemistry with both Kara and Prescott. The three of them end up hanging out often and there is a sort of complex tension there. While I wouldn’t call this book bi rep, I thought very quickly and initially that Olivia’s inner feelings approach that. Many of the loveliest lines in this book have to do with Olivia’s little thoughts about both of these characters. Her childhood memories and earlier sort of puppy love feelings for Prescott, and a sort of awe-inspired attraction to Kara. There were more than a few lines where I was just thinking ‘Olivia, you’re clearly attracted to Kara as more than just friends.’ But to reiterate, this is not a focal point of the novel though and its development is limited.
The writing style drew me in quickly. Fast and smoothly readable, the pages flow briskly and with a consistent contemporary feel until we get toward the climax and ending.
The plot showed some cracks toward that point. The sequence of events went from banging me over the head with contemporary realism to throwing the cast off the deep end into magical realism/fantasy. I was left scratching my head, wondering if (no spoilers) certain things that happen really happened or I just dreamed them. On the bright side, this is one of those endings that might get people discussing and interpreting the meaning of it in unique ways. I feel like steps could have been taken to make it less abrupt and confounding though. Perhaps a higher page count? More exposition? Nonetheless, taken as a whole, this was a solid read.
Why You Should Try It – A gritty, realistic depiction of loss and unhealthy coping mechanisms that can result. Olivia’s inner voice has some poignant thoughts and touching realizations about the people surrounding her. Unconventional chemistry between Olivia, Prescott, and Kara. At 272 pages, this is a good short read, fast-paced and highly readable. Surprisingly so for its point of focus and muddled later plotting.
Why You Might Not Like It – The focus on loss and Olivia’s fixation can be repetitive. I had full compassion for Olivia but her parents were often hard to sympathize with. The last 30% or so of the book struggles with its footing and the events get kind of out there. The end is abrupt.
Note : I received an e-ARC of this title from Netgalley and A&W Teen for review.
So anyway, this book is nothing like any of those above descriptions. Not even 5% of it is anywhere approaching such assumptions. (Maybe 3% gives off some paranormal vibes though.) The plot centers around loss and how it affects a once-stable family. After a few years of unhealthy coping mechanisms, each family member is left adrift and detached in big ways from each other. This may seem heavy and depressing to read about, but the disintegration is conveyed with a plainly-laid realism that is effective. The characters are not very endearing. Some are straight up unlikable and hard to sympathize with- and in a grittier and honest sort of way, they leave a stronger impression. The effect reminds me a bit of Ordinary People by Judith Guest or Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake.
The central character is Olivia, a sixteen year-old girl left aimless and isolated by the death of her little brother, Robby. Dealing with self-blame and inattentive parents, she navigates the world not unlike how one might imagine a ghost doing so- floating and unattached. Also of note is Prescott, Olivia’s childhood friend. She distanced herself from him since Robby’s death.
Our story begins with a family of three moving in nearby. We meet Kara, her grandmother, and mother. Though Olivia tries to avoid Kara, the two become friends before long. They start to work together on a bit of an odd project- Resurrection Girls, a duo shrouded in anonymity who correspond with people on death row and collect replies and info about the circumstances that led to their convictions. Very little of the story is focused on this subject and there’s no enduring mystery therein. The main focus is on Olivia slowly working her way back into a healthier state of mind and becoming empowered to confront her family about the distance that’s grown between them. I really liked Kara, she is a figure who pushes Olivia toward new experiences and taking much-needed steps that lead to growth and healing. But she’s a partner rather than a mentor, and the two relate on levels that are more than meets the eye. Their activities veer toward the older end of YA. There are definitely some bad behaviors, but the one that struck me most was addressed in the storyline and met with consequences.
While I feel confident in stating there is no romance in this title, Olivia has romantic tension and chemistry with both Kara and Prescott. The three of them end up hanging out often and there is a sort of complex tension there. While I wouldn’t call this book bi rep, I thought very quickly and initially that Olivia’s inner feelings approach that. Many of the loveliest lines in this book have to do with Olivia’s little thoughts about both of these characters. Her childhood memories and earlier sort of puppy love feelings for Prescott, and a sort of awe-inspired attraction to Kara. There were more than a few lines where I was just thinking ‘Olivia, you’re clearly attracted to Kara as more than just friends.’ But to reiterate, this is not a focal point of the novel though and its development is limited.
The writing style drew me in quickly. Fast and smoothly readable, the pages flow briskly and with a consistent contemporary feel until we get toward the climax and ending.
The plot showed some cracks toward that point. The sequence of events went from banging me over the head with contemporary realism to throwing the cast off the deep end into magical realism/fantasy. I was left scratching my head, wondering if (no spoilers) certain things that happen really happened or I just dreamed them. On the bright side, this is one of those endings that might get people discussing and interpreting the meaning of it in unique ways. I feel like steps could have been taken to make it less abrupt and confounding though. Perhaps a higher page count? More exposition? Nonetheless, taken as a whole, this was a solid read.
Why You Should Try It – A gritty, realistic depiction of loss and unhealthy coping mechanisms that can result. Olivia’s inner voice has some poignant thoughts and touching realizations about the people surrounding her. Unconventional chemistry between Olivia, Prescott, and Kara. At 272 pages, this is a good short read, fast-paced and highly readable. Surprisingly so for its point of focus and muddled later plotting.
Why You Might Not Like It – The focus on loss and Olivia’s fixation can be repetitive. I had full compassion for Olivia but her parents were often hard to sympathize with. The last 30% or so of the book struggles with its footing and the events get kind of out there. The end is abrupt.
Note : I received an e-ARC of this title from Netgalley and A&W Teen for review.
October 21, 2019
"It’s no longer the the loss of the person you mourn, but the loss of the haunt. And the absence is all that is left when you reach for your pain."
This brought up some memories from my past that I kind of forgot about. Kara and I had something in common and death wasn’t it. I’ve always wanted to write to certain people in prison. Well, mostly Manson but I could never bring myself to do so. (I know I’m weird, don’t judge) This brought back some of my teenage years and it was kind of bizarre, just like parts of this book.
Olivia and her parents lives changed horrifically three years ago and nothing has even been the same since. Olivia took her eyes away from her brother for a few minutes to talk to her neighbor, Prescott and the unthinkable happened. Her brother, Robby wandered outside and drowned in the family pool.
Olivia became an outcast after this incident, her Dad started working longer hours, and her Mom became so closed off that the only way she can function during the day is to medicate. All of their lives took a backseat after losing Robby. But something is about to change.
The house across the street sells and three generations of women move in. Grandmother, Sybil is legally blind but sees more than anyone else, Mother, Rhea, and the daughter, Kara. There’s something odd about them but Olivia is drawn to Kara.
Kara and Olivia start hanging out and they even bring Prescott into their lives. Kara gets Olivia out more often and gets her to open herself up more. Her family even starts to communicate again, facing their issues head-on.
Strange occurrences start to happen and Olivia knows that is has to do with the new neighbors. Could the darkness surrounding the new neighbors be a blessing in disguise?
This book was awesome. I finished it in a day because I couldn’t stop myself from reading. It was heavy and dark with deep friendships. The author bared her soul to us and it was beautiful.
Resurrection Girls was such a heartfelt and engaging book. Let the cover draw you in because you’ll really love Olivia’s story of loss and recovery. Just remember that there’s a light at the end of every dark tunnel. You just have to be strong enough to find it.
This brought up some memories from my past that I kind of forgot about. Kara and I had something in common and death wasn’t it. I’ve always wanted to write to certain people in prison. Well, mostly Manson but I could never bring myself to do so. (I know I’m weird, don’t judge) This brought back some of my teenage years and it was kind of bizarre, just like parts of this book.
Olivia and her parents lives changed horrifically three years ago and nothing has even been the same since. Olivia took her eyes away from her brother for a few minutes to talk to her neighbor, Prescott and the unthinkable happened. Her brother, Robby wandered outside and drowned in the family pool.
Olivia became an outcast after this incident, her Dad started working longer hours, and her Mom became so closed off that the only way she can function during the day is to medicate. All of their lives took a backseat after losing Robby. But something is about to change.
The house across the street sells and three generations of women move in. Grandmother, Sybil is legally blind but sees more than anyone else, Mother, Rhea, and the daughter, Kara. There’s something odd about them but Olivia is drawn to Kara.
Kara and Olivia start hanging out and they even bring Prescott into their lives. Kara gets Olivia out more often and gets her to open herself up more. Her family even starts to communicate again, facing their issues head-on.
Strange occurrences start to happen and Olivia knows that is has to do with the new neighbors. Could the darkness surrounding the new neighbors be a blessing in disguise?
This book was awesome. I finished it in a day because I couldn’t stop myself from reading. It was heavy and dark with deep friendships. The author bared her soul to us and it was beautiful.
Resurrection Girls was such a heartfelt and engaging book. Let the cover draw you in because you’ll really love Olivia’s story of loss and recovery. Just remember that there’s a light at the end of every dark tunnel. You just have to be strong enough to find it.
October 6, 2019
** I was sent this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
I feel like the synopsis for this book is somewhat misleading, but in a great way. I thought I was just going into a book about writing to serial killers and dealing with grief. But that only scratched the surface for this book. In fact, there were times I forgot that was even part of the plot.
The writing was captivating and gave me chills. I felt uneasy at times, even when I wasn’t reading it. There were many twists and turns and I felt like I never truly knew what was coming next. You could have given me 50 chances to guess the ending and I probably wouldn’t.
This isn’t normally something I’d pick up, but I’m really glad I did. This was a great, fast read. Perfect for spooky season.
I feel like the synopsis for this book is somewhat misleading, but in a great way. I thought I was just going into a book about writing to serial killers and dealing with grief. But that only scratched the surface for this book. In fact, there were times I forgot that was even part of the plot.
The writing was captivating and gave me chills. I felt uneasy at times, even when I wasn’t reading it. There were many twists and turns and I felt like I never truly knew what was coming next. You could have given me 50 chances to guess the ending and I probably wouldn’t.
This isn’t normally something I’d pick up, but I’m really glad I did. This was a great, fast read. Perfect for spooky season.
December 21, 2019
(4.5 stars) Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review also found here at Booked J.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Phew. This book, you guys. C.G. Drews said it best in her review: Resurrection Girls is truly an aching story. I don't think I could ever pick a better word than aching when it comes to describing this one. Aching.
The only runner up descriptive would be: Gothic. It feels like the perfect combination of classic Gothic literature and modern fiction.
There's a lot that can be said about this book, most of which is rooted in the word 'chilling', but it's in its exploration of depression and grief where it is its strongest. Resurrection Girls has this intensity to it that is somehow sharp and dull all at once. Which makes it impossible to look away from--Ava Morgyn's writing is classic in its generally bleak atmosphere and it toys with us in a way that leaves us feeling uneasy at times.
For me, I could feel my heart beating constantly whilst reading this one. This is due, in part, to the way that Morgyn writes grief and this hazy fog that comes with it. You feel deeply what has taken place. You feel deeply for our main character. You just feel deeply. On many occasions, did I feel my eyes well up with tears and that alone should tell you how deeply personal this novel may feel.
Resurrection Girls taps into its strengths early on. It leads readers on an emotionally potent journey that you won't soon forget. There were many times when my heart felt heavy and my mind swam with this unsettling feeling of being in someone else's mind. The emotional aspects of this story were a lot to sort out--you can tell that so much of Morgyn's soul was poured into this novel and it makes the heart of it all the more present.
Ultimately, this novel made me feel a world of emotions. Pain. Fear. Love. Loss. It chilled me to the very bone and lingered at the back of my mind upon its final pages. For me, Resurrection Girls felt like one of the most real explorations of loss. It was dark, yet vibrant. Magical, yet real-to-life. This novel is best read by the light of a fire, or under the covers in bed, in the dead of night.
All and all, Resurrection Girls it is one of the highlights of my year. Armed with magical realism and human complexities, Morgyn's writing is every bit as chilling and uneasy as the cover leads you to believe. The way that she explores loss, coping mechanisms, is a gift that readers will be able to walk away with.
Due to its writing, use of magical realism, and all that it tackles, Resurrection Girls won't be for everybody. For me, though, it was an emotional read that left me feeling like I'd just read something unforgettable--and I had.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Phew. This book, you guys. C.G. Drews said it best in her review: Resurrection Girls is truly an aching story. I don't think I could ever pick a better word than aching when it comes to describing this one. Aching.
The only runner up descriptive would be: Gothic. It feels like the perfect combination of classic Gothic literature and modern fiction.
There's a lot that can be said about this book, most of which is rooted in the word 'chilling', but it's in its exploration of depression and grief where it is its strongest. Resurrection Girls has this intensity to it that is somehow sharp and dull all at once. Which makes it impossible to look away from--Ava Morgyn's writing is classic in its generally bleak atmosphere and it toys with us in a way that leaves us feeling uneasy at times.
For me, I could feel my heart beating constantly whilst reading this one. This is due, in part, to the way that Morgyn writes grief and this hazy fog that comes with it. You feel deeply what has taken place. You feel deeply for our main character. You just feel deeply. On many occasions, did I feel my eyes well up with tears and that alone should tell you how deeply personal this novel may feel.
Resurrection Girls taps into its strengths early on. It leads readers on an emotionally potent journey that you won't soon forget. There were many times when my heart felt heavy and my mind swam with this unsettling feeling of being in someone else's mind. The emotional aspects of this story were a lot to sort out--you can tell that so much of Morgyn's soul was poured into this novel and it makes the heart of it all the more present.
Ultimately, this novel made me feel a world of emotions. Pain. Fear. Love. Loss. It chilled me to the very bone and lingered at the back of my mind upon its final pages. For me, Resurrection Girls felt like one of the most real explorations of loss. It was dark, yet vibrant. Magical, yet real-to-life. This novel is best read by the light of a fire, or under the covers in bed, in the dead of night.
All and all, Resurrection Girls it is one of the highlights of my year. Armed with magical realism and human complexities, Morgyn's writing is every bit as chilling and uneasy as the cover leads you to believe. The way that she explores loss, coping mechanisms, is a gift that readers will be able to walk away with.
Due to its writing, use of magical realism, and all that it tackles, Resurrection Girls won't be for everybody. For me, though, it was an emotional read that left me feeling like I'd just read something unforgettable--and I had.
July 11, 2019
Do you know the feeling when your world goes off of its axis? Things don't feel right. The sky doesn't look as blue. People talking sounds like it's muffled underwater. The wind is all wrong. That is how I felt after reading this book. I felt destroyed.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the chance to review this title ahead of its release date.
This book seeps in grief. It follows Olivia and her parents three years after the accidental drowning of her three-year-old brother. We see them coping in their ways, her mother keeps herself drugged enough to numb the pain, and her father is just...absent. When a new neighbor moves in across the street, Olivia begins to come out of the cave she's banished herself to. The new neighbors consist of only women, a daughter her age, a mother, and an elderly blind grandmother. Olivia is drawn to Kara and her outgoing ways that ultimately reunite Olivia with her former best friend, whom she distanced herself form after Robby's death.
Slowly, Olivia begins to feel alive, more than she has in years. In this journey, we find out what happened to Robby and the part that Olivia played in it. This is where the book goes from heart-breaking to completely obliterating. Olivia blames herself. Her mother once blamed her. In Kara, she sees the Olivia she used to be. Even when Kara reveals her unusual hobby of writing death row inmates. Eventually, things come to a crescendo and everyone begins to realize to take a step back and care for the living, and not dwelling on those who were gone.
This book hit me particularly hard because I have lost not one, not two, but three pregnancies. I could feel the grief in Ava's words, and as I read, my mind kept going to my now four-year-old miracle child and how...oh I don't even want to think about it anymore. I will die.
Anyhow, this book navigates the stages of grief and how Olivia and her family needed each other to get through it. The supernatural aspect of Kara and her family drew me in. Honestly, I thought it was strange at first,but quickly realized how well it fit into the topic of death and new life.
This book is unlike anything I have ever read. And it breaks me to know the author has also dealt with child loss. I hope she finds sunshine in the darkness. It's there, and sometimes it takes longer to see it. But it's there.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the chance to review this title ahead of its release date.
This book seeps in grief. It follows Olivia and her parents three years after the accidental drowning of her three-year-old brother. We see them coping in their ways, her mother keeps herself drugged enough to numb the pain, and her father is just...absent. When a new neighbor moves in across the street, Olivia begins to come out of the cave she's banished herself to. The new neighbors consist of only women, a daughter her age, a mother, and an elderly blind grandmother. Olivia is drawn to Kara and her outgoing ways that ultimately reunite Olivia with her former best friend, whom she distanced herself form after Robby's death.
Slowly, Olivia begins to feel alive, more than she has in years. In this journey, we find out what happened to Robby and the part that Olivia played in it. This is where the book goes from heart-breaking to completely obliterating. Olivia blames herself. Her mother once blamed her. In Kara, she sees the Olivia she used to be. Even when Kara reveals her unusual hobby of writing death row inmates. Eventually, things come to a crescendo and everyone begins to realize to take a step back and care for the living, and not dwelling on those who were gone.
This book hit me particularly hard because I have lost not one, not two, but three pregnancies. I could feel the grief in Ava's words, and as I read, my mind kept going to my now four-year-old miracle child and how...oh I don't even want to think about it anymore. I will die.
Anyhow, this book navigates the stages of grief and how Olivia and her family needed each other to get through it. The supernatural aspect of Kara and her family drew me in. Honestly, I thought it was strange at first,but quickly realized how well it fit into the topic of death and new life.
This book is unlike anything I have ever read. And it breaks me to know the author has also dealt with child loss. I hope she finds sunshine in the darkness. It's there, and sometimes it takes longer to see it. But it's there.
August 1, 2019
An odd blend of slight magical realism serving as an overarching metaphor for grief and moving on. Sometimes the writing read as a bit forced, but it's mostly impressive for a debut. Though I was unsatisfied with a few choices in terms of where the story went, Morgyn writes about loss in a heartfelt, reflective way that elevates the contents of the novel. An intriguing debut - 3 1/2 stars!
August 24, 2024
Magical realism in books always had this way about it that leaves me feeling empty but changed; I’m left to understand that we’re not meant to understand all of what’s happened. This wasn’t a perfect book—the pacing went very off toward the last 50 pages or so. But I can’t help to feel that maybe it was part of the point.
We know Olivia as a dead girl, and Kara brings her back. It’s a slow, stubborn drag out from the grave, and then life catches Olivia by the throat and seizes her in ways entirely out of her control—a defibrillator, a jump-start back to everything painful, wonderful, and feeling.
It wasn’t perfect. But then again, healing never is.
We know Olivia as a dead girl, and Kara brings her back. It’s a slow, stubborn drag out from the grave, and then life catches Olivia by the throat and seizes her in ways entirely out of her control—a defibrillator, a jump-start back to everything painful, wonderful, and feeling.
It wasn’t perfect. But then again, healing never is.
May 27, 2019
Thanks so much to Edelweiss for the eARC of this book! I had expected a spooky read, but instead found a supernatural dissection of grief. It deals with very heavy subject matter in a respectful and real way; after reading the book I did some research on the author and found that she had lost one of her children, and she states in the afterword that she did not start this book as a victim of such loss, but she unfortunately found herself in its midst by the end. This is evident in the heart-wrenching truth you can feel from these characters. All shades of grief are represented here, and the journey to a place of well-being is not rushed or candy coated.
We are introduced to Olivia, who had lost her brother some three months prior. Despite the time that has passed, she and her family are prisoners to their sadness: she barely leaves her home, her father is always at work, and her mother is drugged out of her mind. Through the fog of her pain, Olivia sees a group of women moving in to the vacant house across from hers. She is automatically drawn to this grandmother, mother, and daughter, and does not waste time getting a closer look. She is greeted by first Sybil, the blind grandmother who claims to see her better than anyone else ever could, then Rhea, the charming and bright mother. The family feels off, but in an intriguing way. So when Kara, the daughter, seeks Olivia out for a walk together, she does not refuse.
Thus begins a friendship that changes something in Olivia. The more time she spends with Kara, the more alive she feels. She starts to talk about her brother, Robby, again and stands up to their parents as they continue to try and live in their stupor. She assists Kara as she writes letters to inmates at prisons far and wide, dubbing themselves the Resurrection Girls because they aspire to be a beacon of hope for these men with the promise of death looming in the distance. Kara ends up going too far, and Olivia breaks, causing her family to take a step back and remember that they did not die with Robby. A piece of them did, but they can let that piece go like a rotten appendage and grapple their way out of the darkness.
I love that Ava takes us by the hand and leads us through these stages of grief that are showcased by different characters. We see depression, we see rage, we even see the bliss of rebirth. These people are all touched by death, and they have to each find their way out of it. We have some that ask for help, others that have a scare of their own that wakes them up, and by the end of the novel you can begin to see the sun as it begins to rise after a nighttime that has lasted for ages. The families were all so compelling in their own way, but I have a special place in my heart for the Hallas. I hope we meet them again someday.
We are introduced to Olivia, who had lost her brother some three months prior. Despite the time that has passed, she and her family are prisoners to their sadness: she barely leaves her home, her father is always at work, and her mother is drugged out of her mind. Through the fog of her pain, Olivia sees a group of women moving in to the vacant house across from hers. She is automatically drawn to this grandmother, mother, and daughter, and does not waste time getting a closer look. She is greeted by first Sybil, the blind grandmother who claims to see her better than anyone else ever could, then Rhea, the charming and bright mother. The family feels off, but in an intriguing way. So when Kara, the daughter, seeks Olivia out for a walk together, she does not refuse.
Thus begins a friendship that changes something in Olivia. The more time she spends with Kara, the more alive she feels. She starts to talk about her brother, Robby, again and stands up to their parents as they continue to try and live in their stupor. She assists Kara as she writes letters to inmates at prisons far and wide, dubbing themselves the Resurrection Girls because they aspire to be a beacon of hope for these men with the promise of death looming in the distance. Kara ends up going too far, and Olivia breaks, causing her family to take a step back and remember that they did not die with Robby. A piece of them did, but they can let that piece go like a rotten appendage and grapple their way out of the darkness.
I love that Ava takes us by the hand and leads us through these stages of grief that are showcased by different characters. We see depression, we see rage, we even see the bliss of rebirth. These people are all touched by death, and they have to each find their way out of it. We have some that ask for help, others that have a scare of their own that wakes them up, and by the end of the novel you can begin to see the sun as it begins to rise after a nighttime that has lasted for ages. The families were all so compelling in their own way, but I have a special place in my heart for the Hallas. I hope we meet them again someday.
August 28, 2019
This book was definitely different from books I've read before and I was intrigued from the beginning. A family suffers a tragedy and stops living, consumed by their grief. That alone was enough to make me curious, but then a mysterious family made up only of women moves in across the street and I was hooked. There were a lot of questions and strange things going on in the book. Why are there no men in Kara's family? Why does Kara feel compelled to write to men on death row? I also enjoyed seeing Olivia break out of her grief and remember what it's like to live again. I feel like the real point of the book was how to move past something terrible and keep going.
There could have been much more in the supernatural side of things and I was kind of disappointed when we got a bare bones explanation and that's it. Still a fun read!
There could have been much more in the supernatural side of things and I was kind of disappointed when we got a bare bones explanation and that's it. Still a fun read!
September 12, 2019
This was beautifully written and utterly heartbreaking. It's all about grief and healing and it felt so personal to look into the lives of the people within this book. Though it was really hard to read, just because the subject matter is so dark, I couldn't put it down and I read the majority of it in one sitting.
The ending felt really rushed and I wish that the story behind Olivia's friend Kara and her family would have been explained at least a little. Things were easy to imply but I felt like there were gaps in my understanding that I wish could have been filled.
This book was so much more than what I was expecting and I highly recommend it.
The ending felt really rushed and I wish that the story behind Olivia's friend Kara and her family would have been explained at least a little. Things were easy to imply but I felt like there were gaps in my understanding that I wish could have been filled.
This book was so much more than what I was expecting and I highly recommend it.
October 21, 2019
This is a powerful book that is poignant, brings tears to the eyes and tells a tale that will reach a younger reader, all at the same time.
Already this author has been commended by others for the accurate portrayal of grief. I want to add something more to this.
The author does more than portray grief. Grief is portrayed in the complicated way that grief is. There is no one way a person is to grieve, and no person grieves the same way. Some choose to ignore the pain, some try to drown it in alcohol or cloud it with drugs. Some choose to try to believe it never happened. And for fun, those are but a few of the ways people try to deal. More fun is people are allowed to mix and match and do as many as there are minutes in a day.
The portrayal of the family dealing with Robby's death was heart wrenching, painful, difficult to read at times, shocking, even offensive, but throughout simply honest.
Along with this important message is a story of teen angst, growth and relationship ennui not seen since Joey climbed out of Dawson's room because Jen just moved in next door. There were times I thought this book reminded me of Dawson's Creek, then of Charmed. Finally, I believe this book's teen story line is Dawson's Creek meets Charmed with Charmed having evil witches.
The book is a hard read but a very rewarding one. I can recommend it to anyone who has ever dealt with grief or knows someone who has been impacted by grief. Top it off it is also good for people who like the complications of teen romance.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...
Already this author has been commended by others for the accurate portrayal of grief. I want to add something more to this.
The author does more than portray grief. Grief is portrayed in the complicated way that grief is. There is no one way a person is to grieve, and no person grieves the same way. Some choose to ignore the pain, some try to drown it in alcohol or cloud it with drugs. Some choose to try to believe it never happened. And for fun, those are but a few of the ways people try to deal. More fun is people are allowed to mix and match and do as many as there are minutes in a day.
The portrayal of the family dealing with Robby's death was heart wrenching, painful, difficult to read at times, shocking, even offensive, but throughout simply honest.
Along with this important message is a story of teen angst, growth and relationship ennui not seen since Joey climbed out of Dawson's room because Jen just moved in next door. There were times I thought this book reminded me of Dawson's Creek, then of Charmed. Finally, I believe this book's teen story line is Dawson's Creek meets Charmed with Charmed having evil witches.
The book is a hard read but a very rewarding one. I can recommend it to anyone who has ever dealt with grief or knows someone who has been impacted by grief. Top it off it is also good for people who like the complications of teen romance.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si...
February 8, 2021
Олівія переживає складні часи: три роки тому в неї помер маленький брат і вся сім'я наче поставила себе на паузу і не живе (мама ковтає купу таблеток, тато працює і працює, Олівія просто на автопілоті). І тут внізапна в старий будинок навпроти в'їжджає сім'я з трьох жінок Ми швидко здогадуємося, що то якісь міфічні істоти, але містична складова майже весь роман відсутня, а наприкінці несподівано вистрілює дивакуватим способом, залишаючи тебе кліпати очима і думати WTF.
Загалом весь роман присвячено темі переживання втрати і як Олівія долає її завдяки новій подружці Карі. Кара тут виступає спасителькою, що приходить зовні і робить всьо ок (і це трохи дратує). Роман радше виграв би, якби там не було містичної складової.
Дуже легка англійська, читається просто.
Загалом весь роман присвячено темі переживання втрати і як Олівія долає її завдяки новій подружці Карі. Кара тут виступає спасителькою, що приходить зовні і робить всьо ок (і це трохи дратує). Роман радше виграв би, якби там не було містичної складової.
Дуже легка англійська, читається просто.
February 16, 2021
Everything about this was really, really weird, but I was kind of obsessed with it in this indescribable way which I feel like might have been the point giving the protagonist's relationship with Kara. It's definitely a lot and I could see it not working for a lot of people, but I really enjoyed Resurrection Girls.
September 15, 2019
"Resurrection Girls" is a heartbreaking tale about a family grieving the loss of their son and brother, and what led them to spiral out of control. The author was able to write the realism of death and what transpires after the fact, and that left me wanting more. To be honest I think I would've enjoyed the novel more if it was primarily focused on Olivia and and Kara (as a minor character obviously because she did irk me more times than I could count) story, and Prescott out of the equation. Otherwise a worthwhile read.
December 29, 2019
Well, this was disappointing. It could have been a very good story, but unfortunately nothing worked for me. My first issue was the writing style, which is very personal for every reader and obviously worked very well for many others who loved this book. My second issue is that I didn't care as much as I should have about the terrible grief Olivia and her parents are going through. I was reading the story, but I wasn't "in" the story, I couldn't feel the emotions I'm expected to feel when dealing with such a traumatic event. My third issue is with Kara, the daughter of the new neighbors, who was a character I couldn't stand. She was terrible with Olivia, and it's called a friendship?
Then, we have the men on death row. When you read the summary, you think it's gonna play a big part in the story. But when I got to that part, I was actually wondering what it had to do with the plot. It's actually a very little part of the story and I wonder why it's even mentioned in the summary. So if you were thinking about reading this book because that part made it look original, you can forget it.
Now, considering all the readers who liked this book, this could totally be a "me thing", and you might enjoy it.
Then, we have the men on death row. When you read the summary, you think it's gonna play a big part in the story. But when I got to that part, I was actually wondering what it had to do with the plot. It's actually a very little part of the story and I wonder why it's even mentioned in the summary. So if you were thinking about reading this book because that part made it look original, you can forget it.
Now, considering all the readers who liked this book, this could totally be a "me thing", and you might enjoy it.
Read
August 19, 2020DNF 40%
I was provided an e-arc via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Resurrection Girls is just one of those books I could not connect with whatsoever.
I don't think there is anything wrong with this book (hence the no rating) but
that it just was not for me.
I was provided an e-arc via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Resurrection Girls is just one of those books I could not connect with whatsoever.
I don't think there is anything wrong with this book (hence the no rating) but
that it just was not for me.
October 10, 2019
This story is about losing and moving forward. The main character, Olivia is just trying to move forward after the death of her baby brother. It’s pretty much a slow process of how her and her family move forward and how they all grieve differently. It’s sad and also fascinating on how Olivia befriends with a girl who she then helps the new girl, Kara, write letter to men on death row. Pretty morbid if you ask me yet that’s one of the main things that got me so interested from the book.
I found it easy to like Olivia. She seems like down to earth girl who you can easily become friends with. Kara on the other hand, she was hard to figure out. Can’t quite out my finger on 🤔
There were some things that got me confused and wanna know what’s up. But I cannot say for it will spoil the just left me with why and how. I did enjoy reading this book. I was intrigued and in awed in the end.
I give this book 3.5 stars. It’s a fast pace book and easy to read and understand. Would recommend this if you wanna read something easy. I would have given it 4 stars but like I said, it left me with some unanswered questions on how and why.
I found it easy to like Olivia. She seems like down to earth girl who you can easily become friends with. Kara on the other hand, she was hard to figure out. Can’t quite out my finger on 🤔
There were some things that got me confused and wanna know what’s up. But I cannot say for it will spoil the just left me with why and how. I did enjoy reading this book. I was intrigued and in awed in the end.
I give this book 3.5 stars. It’s a fast pace book and easy to read and understand. Would recommend this if you wanna read something easy. I would have given it 4 stars but like I said, it left me with some unanswered questions on how and why.
September 17, 2019
In Resurrection Girls, we visit the Foster family and their all encompassing grief. A shake up of Kara and her matriarchal family moving in starts to awaken Olivia from her stupor. The Hallas women push Olivia head first into processing her trauma. This book made me sob and cut me to my soul. The emotions were palpable throughout the entirety. I wish the magical elements had been a bit more prominent as they don't really come up till the last act, but considering how much I enjoyed this book the compliant feels nit picky at best. I can not wait to see what other stories Ava Morgyn tells.
September 21, 2019
This was such an interesting and unique story. There were a lot of elements that felt a little unnecessary, but over all it was enjoyable. Though it is a very sad book, it also shows that there can be life after loss. Not only does it show the absolute struggle of losing a sibling and a child, but it showed the characters clawing their way out of that horribly dark place, and that's so important. I definitely think this book is worth reading.
October 7, 2019
What a weird yet beautiful book. Review coming soon.
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