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The Valley and the Flood
"A tense and beautiful tale about the monsters we make and the memories that haunt us." —Kate Alice Marshall, author of I Am Still Alive and Rules for Vanishing
Rose Colter is almost home, but she can't go back there yet. When her car breaks down in the Nevada desert, the silence of the night is broken by a radio broadcast of a voicemail message from her best friend, Gaby. A message Rose has listened to countless times over the past year. The last one Gaby left before she died.
So Rose follows the lights from the closest radio tower to Lotus Valley, a small town where prophets are a dime a dozen, secrets lurk in every shadow, and the diner pie is legendary. And according to Cassie Cyrene, the town's third most accurate prophet, they've been waiting for her. Because Rose's arrival is part of a looming prophecy, one that says a flood will destroy Lotus Valley in just three days' time.
Rose believes if the prophecy comes true then it will confirm her worst fear—the PTSD she was diagnosed with after Gaby's death has changed her in ways she can't face. So with help from new friends, Rose sets out to stop the flood, but her connection to it, and to this strange little town, runs deeper than she could've imagined.
Debut author Rebecca Mahoney delivers an immersive and captivating novel about magical places, found family, the power of grief and memory, and the journey toward reconciling who you think you've become with the person you've been all along.
Rose Colter is almost home, but she can't go back there yet. When her car breaks down in the Nevada desert, the silence of the night is broken by a radio broadcast of a voicemail message from her best friend, Gaby. A message Rose has listened to countless times over the past year. The last one Gaby left before she died.
So Rose follows the lights from the closest radio tower to Lotus Valley, a small town where prophets are a dime a dozen, secrets lurk in every shadow, and the diner pie is legendary. And according to Cassie Cyrene, the town's third most accurate prophet, they've been waiting for her. Because Rose's arrival is part of a looming prophecy, one that says a flood will destroy Lotus Valley in just three days' time.
Rose believes if the prophecy comes true then it will confirm her worst fear—the PTSD she was diagnosed with after Gaby's death has changed her in ways she can't face. So with help from new friends, Rose sets out to stop the flood, but her connection to it, and to this strange little town, runs deeper than she could've imagined.
Debut author Rebecca Mahoney delivers an immersive and captivating novel about magical places, found family, the power of grief and memory, and the journey toward reconciling who you think you've become with the person you've been all along.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2021
44 people are currently reading
5856 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Mahoney
8 books112 followersNOTE FROM REBECCA: Hey friends, thanks so much for your interest in my books! I'm not planning to be active much on here, so if you have any questions, the best place to reach me is on Twitter at @cafecliche, or by asking a question on my website: https://www.rebeccamahoneybooks.com/c...
Rebecca Mahoney is a young adult and middle grade writer, and the co-creator of audio drama serial The Bridge Podcast. She's a strong believer in the cathartic power of all things fantastical and creepy in children's literature--and she knows firsthand that ghosts, monsters, and the unknown can give you the language you need to understand yourself. She was raised in Windham, New Hampshire, currently resides in Somerville, Massachusetts, and spends her spare time watching horror movies, collecting cloche hats, and cursing sailors at sea. She can be found on Twitter @cafecliche.
Rebecca Mahoney is a young adult and middle grade writer, and the co-creator of audio drama serial The Bridge Podcast. She's a strong believer in the cathartic power of all things fantastical and creepy in children's literature--and she knows firsthand that ghosts, monsters, and the unknown can give you the language you need to understand yourself. She was raised in Windham, New Hampshire, currently resides in Somerville, Massachusetts, and spends her spare time watching horror movies, collecting cloche hats, and cursing sailors at sea. She can be found on Twitter @cafecliche.
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August 15, 2023DNF/Skim Finish
Absolutely beautiful cover! Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into it after the first chapter. The book started out so good, I thought it was be a great love for me ….Nope.
One thing I’ve started to do with a few books with cool covers is turn them into a journal. I press flowers, add stickers, make bookmarks out of pages (tear them out)…. I also might do some weird paintings and add envelopes with notes to myself. Whatever I want to do. This will only be the third book I’m working on as I do want to either trade my stuff in for cash or trade credit at our McKay’s Used Book and many things store. Anyhoo, I look forward to start on this one and my others ones more at some point.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Absolutely beautiful cover! Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into it after the first chapter. The book started out so good, I thought it was be a great love for me ….Nope.
One thing I’ve started to do with a few books with cool covers is turn them into a journal. I press flowers, add stickers, make bookmarks out of pages (tear them out)…. I also might do some weird paintings and add envelopes with notes to myself. Whatever I want to do. This will only be the third book I’m working on as I do want to either trade my stuff in for cash or trade credit at our McKay’s Used Book and many things store. Anyhoo, I look forward to start on this one and my others ones more at some point.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
March 16, 2021
✦ YA Magical Realism ✦
THE VALLEY AND THE FLOOD was a strange book. It was like a weird dream that sometimes makes sense and other times you can't figure out what's going on.
Since her best friend Gaby's death, Rose has suffered from PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks. Driving through the Nevada desert one night, Rose's car breaks down, and she hears a familiar voicemail messages playing over the radio. This leads Rose to a town called Lotus Valley, where she finds out from the quirky locals that her arrival is part of a prophecy about a flood that will destroy everything.
I appreciate how the author presented Rose's struggles with PTSD and her grief over Gaby's death, both realistically and through magical realism. The beginning of the book hooked me right away, but it wasn't until 70% or so that things started making sense and the pieces of the puzzle clicked together. Up until that point, some of it was downright confusing and frustrating. This is an emotional journey for Rose, who ultimately just wants to make it home, but she has to face the prophecy first.
✦ Borrowed from the library ✦
THE VALLEY AND THE FLOOD was a strange book. It was like a weird dream that sometimes makes sense and other times you can't figure out what's going on.
Since her best friend Gaby's death, Rose has suffered from PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks. Driving through the Nevada desert one night, Rose's car breaks down, and she hears a familiar voicemail messages playing over the radio. This leads Rose to a town called Lotus Valley, where she finds out from the quirky locals that her arrival is part of a prophecy about a flood that will destroy everything.
I appreciate how the author presented Rose's struggles with PTSD and her grief over Gaby's death, both realistically and through magical realism. The beginning of the book hooked me right away, but it wasn't until 70% or so that things started making sense and the pieces of the puzzle clicked together. Up until that point, some of it was downright confusing and frustrating. This is an emotional journey for Rose, who ultimately just wants to make it home, but she has to face the prophecy first.
✦ Borrowed from the library ✦
October 21, 2020
ONE MORE UPDATE 10/21/20: Release date is now 2/23/21! Update your calendars!
UPDATE 8/28/20: VALLEY's release date has changed to 12/8/20! The release date should be updated here shortly, but just a heads-up!
Hi friends! Thank you so much for your interest in THE VALLEY AND THE FLOOD! If you'd like to read an excerpt, you can find one here: http://www.penguinteen.com/cover-reve...
Second of all, just a note on content: non-spoilery, but if you'd like to go in without expectations, avert your eyes now!
VALLEY is, first and foremost, a story about trauma's effect on both your memory and your sense of self. My protagonist, Rose, has PTSD, and multiple characters contend with trauma in one way or another. My #1 goal when writing just about anything is to portray my characters' mental health in a way that's both honest and gentle.
Both galley and finished copies will have the following content note in the copyright page: THE VALLEY AND THE FLOOD contains depictions of anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder, including several scenes of panic attacks and a brief description of violent intrusive thoughts.
That said, I know triggers are very personal, and that you may have questions before going in! I now have questions turned on, and you are welcome to either ask me there, or head to my contact form at https://www.rebeccamahoneybooks.com/c.... My goal is to make myself scarce here, but I'll check questions at least once a week!
Thank you so much again, and I hope you enjoy your stay in Lotus Valley!
UPDATE 8/28/20: VALLEY's release date has changed to 12/8/20! The release date should be updated here shortly, but just a heads-up!
Hi friends! Thank you so much for your interest in THE VALLEY AND THE FLOOD! If you'd like to read an excerpt, you can find one here: http://www.penguinteen.com/cover-reve...
Second of all, just a note on content: non-spoilery, but if you'd like to go in without expectations, avert your eyes now!
VALLEY is, first and foremost, a story about trauma's effect on both your memory and your sense of self. My protagonist, Rose, has PTSD, and multiple characters contend with trauma in one way or another. My #1 goal when writing just about anything is to portray my characters' mental health in a way that's both honest and gentle.
Both galley and finished copies will have the following content note in the copyright page: THE VALLEY AND THE FLOOD contains depictions of anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder, including several scenes of panic attacks and a brief description of violent intrusive thoughts.
That said, I know triggers are very personal, and that you may have questions before going in! I now have questions turned on, and you are welcome to either ask me there, or head to my contact form at https://www.rebeccamahoneybooks.com/c.... My goal is to make myself scarce here, but I'll check questions at least once a week!
Thank you so much again, and I hope you enjoy your stay in Lotus Valley!
February 20, 2021
Thank you PenguinTeen and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
First off, have you ever seen such a beautiful and unique cover?? That is what immediately drew me in to this book and I wanted to know what it was about. I really loved how the author used magical realism to explore PTSD and trauma. I did enjoy the story, but it was quite weird. The author embraced the weirdness and made it work.
I loved how beautiful the writing was and almost put me in a trance if that makes sense. I had to really focus and get totally immersed in the book to understand everything that was happening because we get flashbacks and just so many weird points as well. This book had me feeling all the emotions because I felt for the main character and her trauma from losing her best friend.
I just really really loved the unique plot of a girl who lost her best friend, getting stranded in the desert, finding a random town and finding out that she is like a prophet and the town is going to have a flood and they have been expecting her. I don't really want to say anything else because I went into it knowing hardly anything and it made it really beautiful and lovely.
The only thing I have to say is while I loved it, at the end I wasn't attached to any of the characters. It did make me feel sadness and I loved the premise, but not totally in love with it.
First off, have you ever seen such a beautiful and unique cover?? That is what immediately drew me in to this book and I wanted to know what it was about. I really loved how the author used magical realism to explore PTSD and trauma. I did enjoy the story, but it was quite weird. The author embraced the weirdness and made it work.
I loved how beautiful the writing was and almost put me in a trance if that makes sense. I had to really focus and get totally immersed in the book to understand everything that was happening because we get flashbacks and just so many weird points as well. This book had me feeling all the emotions because I felt for the main character and her trauma from losing her best friend.
I just really really loved the unique plot of a girl who lost her best friend, getting stranded in the desert, finding a random town and finding out that she is like a prophet and the town is going to have a flood and they have been expecting her. I don't really want to say anything else because I went into it knowing hardly anything and it made it really beautiful and lovely.
The only thing I have to say is while I loved it, at the end I wasn't attached to any of the characters. It did make me feel sadness and I loved the premise, but not totally in love with it.
August 1, 2021
This book was so intense yet so bizarre. I love Magical Realism and the concept of using it to deal with PTSD and Mental Health issues so I was instantly drawn to this. But the weirdness of the story and not understanding what was really going on most of the time annoyed the hell out of me.
Rose is drowning in sadness since her best friend died a year ago. She’s on the road at night in a desert area of Nevada after an unpleasant visit to her friend Gaby’s Mom when her car breaks down. On the side of the road she hears the voice of her deceased friend over the radio’s air waves, “Gaby’s” voice leads her to a weird little town called Lotus Valley. This strange and unique town has prophets as well as other magical beings that have prophesied that Rose will bring about a flood in 3 days time which will destroy the whole town.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I didn’t understand what the hell was going on until almost the end. And it was just weird. Period.
The writing in itself was beautiful. I felt Rose’s sadness at losing her best friend Gaby and the anger at how she died. And I felt like it took a whole lot of extra time and weird filler to finally get to the explanation of the flood, Roses feelings and why she was called to Lotus Valley to begin with.
If the synopsis calls to you I definitely say give it a chance. Some readers seem to appreciate the uniqueness of the story. I unfortunately just wasn’t one of them.
Rose is drowning in sadness since her best friend died a year ago. She’s on the road at night in a desert area of Nevada after an unpleasant visit to her friend Gaby’s Mom when her car breaks down. On the side of the road she hears the voice of her deceased friend over the radio’s air waves, “Gaby’s” voice leads her to a weird little town called Lotus Valley. This strange and unique town has prophets as well as other magical beings that have prophesied that Rose will bring about a flood in 3 days time which will destroy the whole town.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I didn’t understand what the hell was going on until almost the end. And it was just weird. Period.
The writing in itself was beautiful. I felt Rose’s sadness at losing her best friend Gaby and the anger at how she died. And I felt like it took a whole lot of extra time and weird filler to finally get to the explanation of the flood, Roses feelings and why she was called to Lotus Valley to begin with.
If the synopsis calls to you I definitely say give it a chance. Some readers seem to appreciate the uniqueness of the story. I unfortunately just wasn’t one of them.
March 5, 2021
The Valley and the Flood
By Rebecca Mahoney
I enjoyed this wonderful story about the effects of a death of a best friend in your life and the trauma you feel as you get past those emotions to try to move on without forgetting and honoring the memories. PTSD can manifest in many ways and I felt that this story through fantastic and magical realism did just that. The story is centered on Rose, who is just trying to get home to San Diego but end up in a small town in Nevada - Lotus Valley. There, new friends are formed and a flood to contend with.
Through a beautiful story with prophecy and a very unique plot, we are taken on a journey through that point in life where recovery and moving on from traumatic events happen.
Such a wonderful story I enjoyed.
By Rebecca Mahoney
I enjoyed this wonderful story about the effects of a death of a best friend in your life and the trauma you feel as you get past those emotions to try to move on without forgetting and honoring the memories. PTSD can manifest in many ways and I felt that this story through fantastic and magical realism did just that. The story is centered on Rose, who is just trying to get home to San Diego but end up in a small town in Nevada - Lotus Valley. There, new friends are formed and a flood to contend with.
Through a beautiful story with prophecy and a very unique plot, we are taken on a journey through that point in life where recovery and moving on from traumatic events happen.
Such a wonderful story I enjoyed.
February 1, 2021
The Valley and the Flood uses magical realism and metaphor as a way of exploring grief and PTSD. It's an interesting idea and I like a lot of what the book is doing, although I was never able to fully connect with the narrative and some of the turns it took later in the book were a little strange to me.
Rose Colter is on the run, grieving the death of her best friend a year ago, struggling with sever anxiety and PTSD. Her car dies in the desert and a mysterious recording leads her to a strange small town filled with prophecies of a coming flood, humans with difficult stories, and beings that aren't human but are born of change and destruction. Rose is the subject of a prophecy that a flood will follow her and destroy the town.
The book often has a dreamlike quality with flashbacks and other things involving memory. It's decidedly pro-therapy and I love that it's dealing with the aftermath of trauma in such a tangible way. However, when we get some revelations at the end it really didn't go the direction I was expecting given all of the buildup, which made it feel a little anticlimactic. I can't talk much about that without getting into spoilers, but throughout the book I felt more detached emotionally than I would want to be from this sort of story. I hoped that the ending would really click that into place, but it kind of had the opposite effect? I'm sorry if that's vague but it's a difficult book to talk about without spoiling it, not to mention the dreamlike quality.
I did really like the characters in the town. They were interesting and unexpected and the narrative is gentle with the pain people experience. Which was lovely. The case of characters is diverse and the overall story is one of hope and healing. Not what I was expecting or quite what I was hoping for, but still a pretty good book. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings include depictions of grief, panic attacks, anxiety etc.
Rose Colter is on the run, grieving the death of her best friend a year ago, struggling with sever anxiety and PTSD. Her car dies in the desert and a mysterious recording leads her to a strange small town filled with prophecies of a coming flood, humans with difficult stories, and beings that aren't human but are born of change and destruction. Rose is the subject of a prophecy that a flood will follow her and destroy the town.
The book often has a dreamlike quality with flashbacks and other things involving memory. It's decidedly pro-therapy and I love that it's dealing with the aftermath of trauma in such a tangible way. However, when we get some revelations at the end it really didn't go the direction I was expecting given all of the buildup, which made it feel a little anticlimactic. I can't talk much about that without getting into spoilers, but throughout the book I felt more detached emotionally than I would want to be from this sort of story. I hoped that the ending would really click that into place, but it kind of had the opposite effect? I'm sorry if that's vague but it's a difficult book to talk about without spoiling it, not to mention the dreamlike quality.
I did really like the characters in the town. They were interesting and unexpected and the narrative is gentle with the pain people experience. Which was lovely. The case of characters is diverse and the overall story is one of hope and healing. Not what I was expecting or quite what I was hoping for, but still a pretty good book. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings include depictions of grief, panic attacks, anxiety etc.
November 29, 2019
Official comments: Refreshingly, wholly original, THE VALLEY AND THE FLOOD will haunt you long after you turn the final page. A beautiful triumph of a debut.
Unofficial comments: This completely blew me away. There's some A+ queer rep in here (incl. gay and nonbinary) and every page simmers with emotion. As for the plot? It was all new to me, not predictable in the slightest. I couldn't put this book down, and I feel certain this is a reading experience I'll never forget. I can't wait for whatever Rebecca writes next!!!
Unofficial comments: This completely blew me away. There's some A+ queer rep in here (incl. gay and nonbinary) and every page simmers with emotion. As for the plot? It was all new to me, not predictable in the slightest. I couldn't put this book down, and I feel certain this is a reading experience I'll never forget. I can't wait for whatever Rebecca writes next!!!
February 5, 2023
Could you confront your worst memories and trauma if it'd save the world*?
*the strange and magical town your car broke down in after a hasty solo road trip to get away from feelings you're coping badly with after a tragedy?
This book was an unexpected joy, and a total glitch on my radar, probably making it even better – I had it on my list because I follow the author in fandom twitter. I did my usual pulling from my To Read list and compared it to what was available on audio at the library, for a listen at work…And regret nothing. It read like a weighted blanket for me, deep enough to mean something but really soothing and healing to read through with the main character. This hit me during a rough week for mental health, and it was just what I needed.
The bones of the story:
The Valley and The Flood is a first-person POV young adult fantasy story about confronting your own guilt and trauma in a healthy way. The main moral here was that if you don’t give yourself time and space to cope properly, to face things head-on, you can start to endanger yourself and those around you. I absolutely loved that this was woven into a world of almost magical realism, the story reminiscent of Welcome to Night Vale meets the old trope of a stranger in a new town to get away from their problems, and a healthy dose of young adult angst. At times things feel like a bit of a dreamscape, with a little potentially unreliable narration; but this fits what the author is trying to do, I felt. You might not be sure what’s happening, but it mimics exactly the feelings of anxiety, overwhelming emotions, panic attacks.
The writing was also entirely relatable: "I think the living embodiment of human memory just left us on Read.”
The parts that combined to make a whole:
Then there are the odd bits of plot and style that really made this a well-rounded, enjoyable listen for me. It’s hard to explain the comfort this book lent, with warm, approachable prose, and such a relatable protagonist, fleeing emotional problems via a cross-state drive in the dead of night. There were several queer characters spread throughout in an organic manner, and the town in the story also boasts several women in positions of power and authority. The book’s length, a ten-hour listen on normal audio speed but only about five for me, was perfect and doable. Lastly, that gorgeous teal cover aesthetic and the art – this was well worth the read, from the first glance at the cover to the back of the book.
I highly recommend this, a full 5 Bon stars.
*the strange and magical town your car broke down in after a hasty solo road trip to get away from feelings you're coping badly with after a tragedy?
This book was an unexpected joy, and a total glitch on my radar, probably making it even better – I had it on my list because I follow the author in fandom twitter. I did my usual pulling from my To Read list and compared it to what was available on audio at the library, for a listen at work…And regret nothing. It read like a weighted blanket for me, deep enough to mean something but really soothing and healing to read through with the main character. This hit me during a rough week for mental health, and it was just what I needed.
The bones of the story:
The Valley and The Flood is a first-person POV young adult fantasy story about confronting your own guilt and trauma in a healthy way. The main moral here was that if you don’t give yourself time and space to cope properly, to face things head-on, you can start to endanger yourself and those around you. I absolutely loved that this was woven into a world of almost magical realism, the story reminiscent of Welcome to Night Vale meets the old trope of a stranger in a new town to get away from their problems, and a healthy dose of young adult angst. At times things feel like a bit of a dreamscape, with a little potentially unreliable narration; but this fits what the author is trying to do, I felt. You might not be sure what’s happening, but it mimics exactly the feelings of anxiety, overwhelming emotions, panic attacks.
The writing was also entirely relatable: "I think the living embodiment of human memory just left us on Read.”
The parts that combined to make a whole:
Then there are the odd bits of plot and style that really made this a well-rounded, enjoyable listen for me. It’s hard to explain the comfort this book lent, with warm, approachable prose, and such a relatable protagonist, fleeing emotional problems via a cross-state drive in the dead of night. There were several queer characters spread throughout in an organic manner, and the town in the story also boasts several women in positions of power and authority. The book’s length, a ten-hour listen on normal audio speed but only about five for me, was perfect and doable. Lastly, that gorgeous teal cover aesthetic and the art – this was well worth the read, from the first glance at the cover to the back of the book.
I highly recommend this, a full 5 Bon stars.
August 24, 2020
FULL DISCLOSURE Rebecca is a friend of mine (though I got this ARC from NetGalley) and I was a little nervous to read this book because what if I didn't like it and I'd just have to pretend like I never got around to reading it I guess?!
But luckily that was NOT the case. It got off to a little bit of a slow start for me but once Rose gets to Lotus Valley I was captivated. This is such a beautiful, magical exploration of grief and trauma. It reminded me a little of Night Vale but like...less quirky or whatever.
Gorgeous and surprising.
But luckily that was NOT the case. It got off to a little bit of a slow start for me but once Rose gets to Lotus Valley I was captivated. This is such a beautiful, magical exploration of grief and trauma. It reminded me a little of Night Vale but like...less quirky or whatever.
Gorgeous and surprising.
May 5, 2021
Best mental health rep I've come across so far.
August 14, 2022
Grief and PTSD explored through atmospheric and moving magical realism. Beautifully done, and allowed a truly human and honest look at the experience of PTSD, as well as some incredible lessons along the way.
It’s a bit weird, and not always straight forward… but I think that mirrors the complexities of PTSD really well.
I loved that this wasn’t not a story of magically getting over trauma, instead it’s about learning to move through big feelings and traumatic memories. Despite the heavy topic, it felt quite gentle, and deftly challenged stigma, both the external and the internalised.
A unique and important YA that I highly recommend.
Content: death of a loved one, emotional labour, flash backs, panic attacks, car accident, injury, intrusive thoughts
Hear me talk more about this book in this video:
https://youtu.be/dkp1zuP0sZk
It’s a bit weird, and not always straight forward… but I think that mirrors the complexities of PTSD really well.
I loved that this wasn’t not a story of magically getting over trauma, instead it’s about learning to move through big feelings and traumatic memories. Despite the heavy topic, it felt quite gentle, and deftly challenged stigma, both the external and the internalised.
A unique and important YA that I highly recommend.
Content: death of a loved one, emotional labour, flash backs, panic attacks, car accident, injury, intrusive thoughts
Hear me talk more about this book in this video:
https://youtu.be/dkp1zuP0sZk
March 1, 2021
I loved The Valley and the Flood. It was quite interesting.
January 26, 2021
First off, I want to thank Penguinteen for sending me this book through NetGalley for review!
This book explored the depths of trauma, painful memories, grief, and PTSD. This was a book that I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to like, but it pleasantly took me by surprise. This book brought lose, but it also brought the ideas of hope as well. Even though this book had fantastical elements in it, the emotions and message of the book were so real and deep.
The characters in this book were so deep and intricate, and I found myself feeling connected to a lot of the characters found in this story. I am glad I gave this story a chance, and I highly recommend picking this book up! Make sure to mark your calendars for February 22, 2021 for when this book releases!
Final Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️
This book explored the depths of trauma, painful memories, grief, and PTSD. This was a book that I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to like, but it pleasantly took me by surprise. This book brought lose, but it also brought the ideas of hope as well. Even though this book had fantastical elements in it, the emotions and message of the book were so real and deep.
The characters in this book were so deep and intricate, and I found myself feeling connected to a lot of the characters found in this story. I am glad I gave this story a chance, and I highly recommend picking this book up! Make sure to mark your calendars for February 22, 2021 for when this book releases!
Final Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️
January 23, 2024
The explorations of mental health, honesty, and communication are important, especially for teens. Here, unfortunately, the resolutions are delivered ungracefully. Each of the neighbors (magical beings) “feed” on something, and in several cases they literally demand the characters sort out their own emotional problems to feed the neighbors. Deus ex neighbor, I guess. It feels heavy-handed AND these entities are still ungrounded with the range of their abilities still unclear. Many of the human characters sound the same, especially at the outset. I love the representation of many different queer characters and the black sherif, but I didn’t actually CARE about any of the characters. Members of the main cast feel extraneous, and there are so many named townspeople we only meet once that it becomes hard to follow. Finally, the story hinges on an information reveal—what happened to Rose and Gabby—but the information flow is mismanaged in such a way that I was frustrated about what I did and didn’t know rather than it unfolding neatly.
The concept is interesting, and some of the images are thought-provoking. It just doesn’t stand up to other books from this year.
The concept is interesting, and some of the images are thought-provoking. It just doesn’t stand up to other books from this year.
May 18, 2022
If (Courtney Summers's) Sadie wandered into Night Vale, i think it would have looked a little something like this.
I loved this book the whole time i was reading it. Not once was i like, "okay book, let's move on from this scene" and that's RARE for me.
This book is beautiful and heart-shattering, it's weird and a little spooky at times, it is a novel with a point - and it makes it very clear. The book is all around a wonderful narrative on grief, life, and living through the eyes of a teenager who has already seen too much, as she beholds a town like no other and begins to understand herself.
It's also a novel that manages to be LGBTQIA2+ without also containing a protag romance, so that was fantastic.
It's also a novel that manages to discuss the trauma of a young girl without incorporating scenes or mentions of sexual assault. This was...so refreshing? I don't really know how else to elaborate on that, but it didn't feel like the novel was using shock value to force reader empathy - which seems to be the case in some "trauma media".
Definitely recommended!
I read the ARC of this book, and do not know of the changes that may have been made upon publication.
I loved this book the whole time i was reading it. Not once was i like, "okay book, let's move on from this scene" and that's RARE for me.
This book is beautiful and heart-shattering, it's weird and a little spooky at times, it is a novel with a point - and it makes it very clear. The book is all around a wonderful narrative on grief, life, and living through the eyes of a teenager who has already seen too much, as she beholds a town like no other and begins to understand herself.
It's also a novel that manages to be LGBTQIA2+ without also containing a protag romance, so that was fantastic.
It's also a novel that manages to discuss the trauma of a young girl without incorporating scenes or mentions of sexual assault. This was...so refreshing? I don't really know how else to elaborate on that, but it didn't feel like the novel was using shock value to force reader empathy - which seems to be the case in some "trauma media".
Definitely recommended!
I read the ARC of this book, and do not know of the changes that may have been made upon publication.
Want to read
May 3, 2021dnf @50
This was so fascinating at the beginning. But then I started getting bored. And I didn't care what happened. So here we are.
This was a buddy read with Akshita!!
This was so fascinating at the beginning. But then I started getting bored. And I didn't care what happened. So here we are.
This was a buddy read with Akshita!!
February 24, 2021
3.5/5 stars
First off, I want to thank Penguin Teen for sending me this book through NetGalley for review!
This book surprised me.
It's hard to give a summary but think prophecies, memories, shadow(?) creatures, and lot's of dealing with trauma. Of course like the name of the title there is a flood that threatens the valley but I don't wanna say much more than that because I'm sure the blurbs for this book are better than anything I could have written.
Please look at trigger warnings before reading this book.
When I started it I was really thrown and had a hard time telling up from down but I think it's meant to be written like that to make us feel how our main character Rose Feels. I had a hard time getting into this book just because couldn't grasp what was going on and there was past and present moments that melted together. Obviously some is intentional and well done but some are just confusing. I also had a difficult time with knowing the characters until much later in the story. I thought Flora was Rose's friend until like 1/2 of the book had gone by. While the beginning was a little rough for me it really started to get good in the middle and I was fascinated by what was happening and what would happen next. This book made me quite emotional as we watch Rose deal with feelings of guilt, regret, and her past trauma. I think the concept for this book is really unique and although not exactly like "We Were Liars" I think if you liked that book you might like this. That being said I personally enjoyed this book more and thought it packed more of an emotional punch.
My one critique is that while the magical realism is cool it leaves the story very confusing. A lot of things aren't exactly explained and I really didn't get what was happening until maybe 65% into the book. It was hard to keep track of the many different aspects of this book and I don't really think things came together until later.
Overall, 3.5/5 stars and I would still recommend this book.
First off, I want to thank Penguin Teen for sending me this book through NetGalley for review!
This book surprised me.
It's hard to give a summary but think prophecies, memories, shadow(?) creatures, and lot's of dealing with trauma. Of course like the name of the title there is a flood that threatens the valley but I don't wanna say much more than that because I'm sure the blurbs for this book are better than anything I could have written.
Please look at trigger warnings before reading this book.
When I started it I was really thrown and had a hard time telling up from down but I think it's meant to be written like that to make us feel how our main character Rose Feels. I had a hard time getting into this book just because couldn't grasp what was going on and there was past and present moments that melted together. Obviously some is intentional and well done but some are just confusing. I also had a difficult time with knowing the characters until much later in the story. I thought Flora was Rose's friend until like 1/2 of the book had gone by. While the beginning was a little rough for me it really started to get good in the middle and I was fascinated by what was happening and what would happen next. This book made me quite emotional as we watch Rose deal with feelings of guilt, regret, and her past trauma. I think the concept for this book is really unique and although not exactly like "We Were Liars" I think if you liked that book you might like this. That being said I personally enjoyed this book more and thought it packed more of an emotional punch.
My one critique is that while the magical realism is cool it leaves the story very confusing. A lot of things aren't exactly explained and I really didn't get what was happening until maybe 65% into the book. It was hard to keep track of the many different aspects of this book and I don't really think things came together until later.
Overall, 3.5/5 stars and I would still recommend this book.
August 31, 2021
Mini blurb: A girl suffering from PTSD after the death of her best friend is drawn to a small town, where she learns she's fated to fulfill a prophecy of destruction about the town itself which turns out to be tied to her grief and anger.
***
Rated 4.5 really.
A fascinating, often spellbinding, at times confusing, but utterly original exploration of trauma, grief, guilt feelings/intrusive thoughts, memory and loss, with a likeable cast and on the backdrop of a doomed small town that comes alive. Bonus points for the honest, non-romanticised (though lyrical) depiction of PTSD and the positive (if a little simplistic) outlook on therapy.
Full review to come.
***
Rated 4.5 really.
A fascinating, often spellbinding, at times confusing, but utterly original exploration of trauma, grief, guilt feelings/intrusive thoughts, memory and loss, with a likeable cast and on the backdrop of a doomed small town that comes alive. Bonus points for the honest, non-romanticised (though lyrical) depiction of PTSD and the positive (if a little simplistic) outlook on therapy.
Full review to come.
Read
March 10, 2023
Trigger & Content Warnings
Anxiety & anxiety attacks
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Intrusive thoughts
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a father
Death of a friend
Car accident
Anxiety & anxiety attacks
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Intrusive thoughts
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a father
Death of a friend
Car accident
February 7, 2021
Thank you so much to the publisher, Penguin Teen, for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really really enjoyed this book and am still thinking about it after I've finished it!I will leave content warnings below if you would like to know before reading this book. I love that the author put content warnings in the beginning of the book, so helpful!
CW: anxiety, PTSD, scenes of panic attacks and brief description of violent, intrusive thoughts that the MC has
This book is one of the most unique YA contemporary / magical realism books that I have ever read. I love how the author explores grief and trauma through this "flood of memories" that the main character Rose goes through. It's so unique and I really enjoyed it. I appreciate that the book is very pro-therapists which is awesome to see in YA. I think more teens need to know this message and know that it is completely okay to go to a therapist if you need someone to talk to for any reason at all. There were some aspects of this book that I felt were not fully explained that I would have liked to have known more about but I still enjoyed this book regardless of those unexplained aspects.
If you enjoy reading magical realism books that explore some darker topics such as grief and trauma, I would highly recommend this book. The writing is beautiful, the story itself is different and done really well and the characters are fun and entertaining to follow.
I really really enjoyed this book and am still thinking about it after I've finished it!I will leave content warnings below if you would like to know before reading this book. I love that the author put content warnings in the beginning of the book, so helpful!
CW: anxiety, PTSD, scenes of panic attacks and brief description of violent, intrusive thoughts that the MC has
This book is one of the most unique YA contemporary / magical realism books that I have ever read. I love how the author explores grief and trauma through this "flood of memories" that the main character Rose goes through. It's so unique and I really enjoyed it. I appreciate that the book is very pro-therapists which is awesome to see in YA. I think more teens need to know this message and know that it is completely okay to go to a therapist if you need someone to talk to for any reason at all. There were some aspects of this book that I felt were not fully explained that I would have liked to have known more about but I still enjoyed this book regardless of those unexplained aspects.
If you enjoy reading magical realism books that explore some darker topics such as grief and trauma, I would highly recommend this book. The writing is beautiful, the story itself is different and done really well and the characters are fun and entertaining to follow.
April 27, 2021
3.5 stars but rounding up.
November 16, 2021
This was the first book I ever read that someone else chose for me and I was not disappointed! Thank you Starr for taking me out of my routine and allowing me to open up my old brain a bit. It was a challenge for me, as I don't have a very good imagination...very worth sticking with it! 3 1/2 stars!
October 8, 2021
Review to come!
August 14, 2025
words were read but comprehension? no. i have no idea what happened in this book. vibe was chill tho
September 11, 2022
"Some of us don't know yet what our particular strangeness is."
This a lovely, strange book with the main character suffering from PTSD. There is a dream-like quality to the story which I loved, although there times where I just didn't know what was going on.
I loved the neighbors living at the cinema! They were my favourite but it's not until the end that I realised how complex the Flood was. I also liked John Jonas (2nd best prophet in Lotus Valley). He was hilarious!
This a lovely, strange book with the main character suffering from PTSD. There is a dream-like quality to the story which I loved, although there times where I just didn't know what was going on.
I loved the neighbors living at the cinema! They were my favourite but it's not until the end that I realised how complex the Flood was. I also liked John Jonas (2nd best prophet in Lotus Valley). He was hilarious!
August 6, 2020
The story: Escaping a painful encounter, Rose is driving from Las Vegas to LA when a breakdown leaves her stranded in the desert, with only the thinnest hope of rescue: a radio tower that somehow, chillingly, is repeating the final message her best friend Gaby left on Rose's phone before her death. Striking out for the unknown village of Lotus Valley, Rose arrives only to learn she is the subject of a prophecy that spells doom for the entire town. Along with the regular townsfolk, "neighbors" live in dark places and abandoned buildings; Rose learns that these beings are formed when an event occurs in someone's life that changes it forever. As the population of "neighbors" grows, so does their menace. And Rose, with her inability to deal with the changes in her own life, finds it nearly impossible to shoulder the burden of saving the town...along with her own sanity.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language R; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG-13; GLBT content PG; adult themes PG-13 (grief, death of a close friend, unresolved trauma) PG-13; overall rating PG-13 (but the requirement for thinking intuitively makes this a better choice for grades 9-up).
Liz's comments: Debut author Mahoney deals with themes of grief and loss in a Twilight-Zone setting where regular citizens accept the presence of spirit "neighbors" as part of their town's commitment to hospitality. She carefully ratchets up the tension: will Rose be able to accept the pain and shame of her own life-changing event and serve as a conduit to deflect destruction away from the good citizens of Lotus Valley, or will they literally drown beneath the weight of their shared experiences? In addition to Rose, interesting characters (not least The Flood, a conglomeration of past experiences riding the spirit of an ancient ocean, now long gone) abound here, including a collection of "prophets" who all hold a different piece of the puzzle...if they can be persuaded to share it, rather than holding on to their own self interest. VERDICT: Part mystery, part thriller, part horror-lite, this genre-bending story will be popular with many an older teen reader.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language R; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG-13; GLBT content PG; adult themes PG-13 (grief, death of a close friend, unresolved trauma) PG-13; overall rating PG-13 (but the requirement for thinking intuitively makes this a better choice for grades 9-up).
Liz's comments: Debut author Mahoney deals with themes of grief and loss in a Twilight-Zone setting where regular citizens accept the presence of spirit "neighbors" as part of their town's commitment to hospitality. She carefully ratchets up the tension: will Rose be able to accept the pain and shame of her own life-changing event and serve as a conduit to deflect destruction away from the good citizens of Lotus Valley, or will they literally drown beneath the weight of their shared experiences? In addition to Rose, interesting characters (not least The Flood, a conglomeration of past experiences riding the spirit of an ancient ocean, now long gone) abound here, including a collection of "prophets" who all hold a different piece of the puzzle...if they can be persuaded to share it, rather than holding on to their own self interest. VERDICT: Part mystery, part thriller, part horror-lite, this genre-bending story will be popular with many an older teen reader.
March 22, 2021
(Realistic rating: if I'm nitpicking, I'd say it's closer to a 4.5 -- really solid and wonderful and deeply moving and enjoyable, but not a book I wouldn't change ANYTHING about, if given the chance, because there are almost always ways to make something more tailored to my ideal! But really, like I said, that's nitpicking for nitpicking's sake. This is unquestionably a five-star read in my heart.)
Full disclosure: the author of this book is a friend of mine. Even fuller disclosure: I wasn't originally planning on buying this book, because I honestly didn't know if it would be My Thing. I figured I'd enjoy it to some degree, because I don't have a single friend who writes badly or even mediocrely -- but I had no guarantee it was going to be a book that would speak to me enough to earn a place on my shelf. I was already anticipating the potential of having to hedge the review, to some extent -- to speak highly of the parts I enjoyed and soften any criticism or any way in which the story didn't work for me. (This is what I do, you see, even months before the possibility would even come around. I prepare! Just in case!)
I preface with all of this to say that, fortunately for my basic sense of honesty and dedication to accurate book reviews, this book is really, really fucking good. It's SO ridiculously good. I'm blown away by every aspect of it -- the writing, the setting, the characters, the story arc, the very metaphor at the heart of its existence, both the idea and the execution. I think that it'll resonate especially with anyone who has PTSD, or anyone who's ever experienced a trauma -- but more broadly, I think it'll resonate with anyone who's ever been hurt. With anyone who's ever experienced loss. With anyone who's ever been terrified to share what they believe to be the worst of themselves with someone else for fear that that belief will be validated. It's such a visceral acknowledgment of those feelings, followed by an equally visceral (if much more comforting) reassurance: it's okay. Your feelings are valid, but the thing you're afraid of isn't true. You're okay. I love books that are engaging and entertaining and creative and enjoyable to read, but even more, I love books that achieve all of that, and also achieve a real, genuine, cathartic emotional reaction, one that resonates beyond the characters themselves and to my own feelings and experiences. One that makes me set it down, sit back, and set a hand to my heart because I feel it so viscerally! And boy, does this deliver on every level.
That particular aspect of the book was what blew me away most -- it's so well crafted! It resonates so deeply! It's so thoughtfully executed and so thoroughly interwoven through every aspect of the book! -- but there are so many other aspects of this book to love. It's very hard, I think, for modern-era books to strike a balance between writing that's genuinely lovely and dialogue that feels authentic and true to how people actually speak -- in fact, I just read a book that I feel did not do this very well at all! -- but this one absolutely nails it. The teenagers read like teenagers, and the adults read like adults, and the first-person narration is STILL beautiful and lyrical and enjoyable while still feeling true to character! The setting hovers perfectly in the intersection between lowkey horror and slightly unsettling small town and desert oasis; the mood is unsettling and urgent without feeling too rushed or unbalanced, building slowly and creepily until the action just overflows. The story unfolds at the perfect pace, building slow and steady and leaving plenty of space to breathe after all the action is done.
And, of course, the characters are wonderful. I would happily die for Alex and Felix, my PERFECT BOYS; I love all of the interconnected webs of history and relationships between all of the adults in the town. Cassie is utterly flawless, and Rose is a genuinely magnificent protagonist -- so relatable, with such a strong voice, reading so realistic to her age but also so clearly affected by what she's been through. (Her little note-to-self flashbacks!! So good!!) (Also, I LOVE RUDY SO MUCH. A GOOD MONSTER!!) (Also also, no spoilers, but the Flood is SO FUCKING FASCINATING, both as a concept and as a metaphor and as a character. [That's three things, but I DON'T CARE.]) I also just love that Rose has a family who loves her, and that her issues with them are clearly just a mix of typical teen stuff and also trauma-related, and that she acknowledges that and is vocally appreciative of them!! SO rare in YA stories involving families, and it's so, so good here.
And in the interest of continued full disclosure, and lest anyone think I am being dishonest or excessive in any of my praise, I'll go ahead and nitpick the honestly pretty minor things I'd say are flaws of this book. First, just based on the sheer nature of the kind of story this is, there are spots where the writing feels a little abstracted, a little too intangible, and it makes it hard to follow what's actually happening in terms of the concrete story and plot, and makes several parts feel just a tad unmoored and rootless (though it always reorients itself pretty quickly and I never really felt like I was missing anything from those moments). Second, while I did think the story was mostly paced exactly the way it should be, there were probably some tweaks I would have ideally made -- a couple spots where events unfolded a bit too quickly, a couple spots where things dragged just a bit. And finally, this is less a criticism and more of a personal preference: I wanted to see SO MUCH MORE of most of the side characters!! There was so much rich potential with all of the residents of the town, and I desperately wanted to see more of them -- more of their interactions, more of their backstories, just more. If there ever were to be a sequel, or a prequel, or a series of loosely connected short stories set in Lotus Valley exploring these characters in more depth -- ahem, hint hint -- I would preorder it yesterday and absolutely devour it.
But, honestly -- as I said, those are pretty minor things. They didn't detract from my overall enjoyment or my very strong feelings about this book's quality -- both of which are very high! I really, really loved this book, and I would firmly recommend it to just about anybody. It's amazing in its scope and its execution, and I am so happy that I have a copy that I can treasure forever, and reread over and over again, and lend to everyone I know once I'm able to see people again. And I'm even happier to know the incredible human with the incredible brain responsible for creating it! <3
Full disclosure: the author of this book is a friend of mine. Even fuller disclosure: I wasn't originally planning on buying this book, because I honestly didn't know if it would be My Thing. I figured I'd enjoy it to some degree, because I don't have a single friend who writes badly or even mediocrely -- but I had no guarantee it was going to be a book that would speak to me enough to earn a place on my shelf. I was already anticipating the potential of having to hedge the review, to some extent -- to speak highly of the parts I enjoyed and soften any criticism or any way in which the story didn't work for me. (This is what I do, you see, even months before the possibility would even come around. I prepare! Just in case!)
I preface with all of this to say that, fortunately for my basic sense of honesty and dedication to accurate book reviews, this book is really, really fucking good. It's SO ridiculously good. I'm blown away by every aspect of it -- the writing, the setting, the characters, the story arc, the very metaphor at the heart of its existence, both the idea and the execution. I think that it'll resonate especially with anyone who has PTSD, or anyone who's ever experienced a trauma -- but more broadly, I think it'll resonate with anyone who's ever been hurt. With anyone who's ever experienced loss. With anyone who's ever been terrified to share what they believe to be the worst of themselves with someone else for fear that that belief will be validated. It's such a visceral acknowledgment of those feelings, followed by an equally visceral (if much more comforting) reassurance: it's okay. Your feelings are valid, but the thing you're afraid of isn't true. You're okay. I love books that are engaging and entertaining and creative and enjoyable to read, but even more, I love books that achieve all of that, and also achieve a real, genuine, cathartic emotional reaction, one that resonates beyond the characters themselves and to my own feelings and experiences. One that makes me set it down, sit back, and set a hand to my heart because I feel it so viscerally! And boy, does this deliver on every level.
That particular aspect of the book was what blew me away most -- it's so well crafted! It resonates so deeply! It's so thoughtfully executed and so thoroughly interwoven through every aspect of the book! -- but there are so many other aspects of this book to love. It's very hard, I think, for modern-era books to strike a balance between writing that's genuinely lovely and dialogue that feels authentic and true to how people actually speak -- in fact, I just read a book that I feel did not do this very well at all! -- but this one absolutely nails it. The teenagers read like teenagers, and the adults read like adults, and the first-person narration is STILL beautiful and lyrical and enjoyable while still feeling true to character! The setting hovers perfectly in the intersection between lowkey horror and slightly unsettling small town and desert oasis; the mood is unsettling and urgent without feeling too rushed or unbalanced, building slowly and creepily until the action just overflows. The story unfolds at the perfect pace, building slow and steady and leaving plenty of space to breathe after all the action is done.
And, of course, the characters are wonderful. I would happily die for Alex and Felix, my PERFECT BOYS; I love all of the interconnected webs of history and relationships between all of the adults in the town. Cassie is utterly flawless, and Rose is a genuinely magnificent protagonist -- so relatable, with such a strong voice, reading so realistic to her age but also so clearly affected by what she's been through. (Her little note-to-self flashbacks!! So good!!) (Also, I LOVE RUDY SO MUCH. A GOOD MONSTER!!) (Also also, no spoilers, but the Flood is SO FUCKING FASCINATING, both as a concept and as a metaphor and as a character. [That's three things, but I DON'T CARE.]) I also just love that Rose has a family who loves her, and that her issues with them are clearly just a mix of typical teen stuff and also trauma-related, and that she acknowledges that and is vocally appreciative of them!! SO rare in YA stories involving families, and it's so, so good here.
And in the interest of continued full disclosure, and lest anyone think I am being dishonest or excessive in any of my praise, I'll go ahead and nitpick the honestly pretty minor things I'd say are flaws of this book. First, just based on the sheer nature of the kind of story this is, there are spots where the writing feels a little abstracted, a little too intangible, and it makes it hard to follow what's actually happening in terms of the concrete story and plot, and makes several parts feel just a tad unmoored and rootless (though it always reorients itself pretty quickly and I never really felt like I was missing anything from those moments). Second, while I did think the story was mostly paced exactly the way it should be, there were probably some tweaks I would have ideally made -- a couple spots where events unfolded a bit too quickly, a couple spots where things dragged just a bit. And finally, this is less a criticism and more of a personal preference: I wanted to see SO MUCH MORE of most of the side characters!! There was so much rich potential with all of the residents of the town, and I desperately wanted to see more of them -- more of their interactions, more of their backstories, just more. If there ever were to be a sequel, or a prequel, or a series of loosely connected short stories set in Lotus Valley exploring these characters in more depth -- ahem, hint hint -- I would preorder it yesterday and absolutely devour it.
But, honestly -- as I said, those are pretty minor things. They didn't detract from my overall enjoyment or my very strong feelings about this book's quality -- both of which are very high! I really, really loved this book, and I would firmly recommend it to just about anybody. It's amazing in its scope and its execution, and I am so happy that I have a copy that I can treasure forever, and reread over and over again, and lend to everyone I know once I'm able to see people again. And I'm even happier to know the incredible human with the incredible brain responsible for creating it! <3
August 9, 2020
First and foremost, this story is about the effects of trauma and painful memories. The author portrays grief as a sentient thing, bringing our protagonist face to face with the pain she's been suppressing. Trigger warning for panic attacks, grief, violent episodes, and car accidents.
Rose's car breaks down in the desert on her way from Nevada to LA and then she hears something on the radio that sounds oddly like the voice of her recently deceased best friend. She ends up in Lotus Valley where she confronts strange happenings which include a prophecy that foretells her arrival and the inevitable destruction of the town. But as she tries to save Lotus Valley, she begins to see what she's kept on lock and key-the the monumental grief that takes the form of monstrous things skulking in the shadows of her mind.
This is built on a foundation of loss and takes you through Rose's trauma until it finally comes to a head. At first, I did not know where the book was heading. But the more I read, the more I understood what the author was going for and that made it all the more intriguing. This took me some of my own painful memories of being in a car accident that left me scarred for life. Although this book did not trigger me (I was in the second grade when it happened) it may affect others.
Thank you Edelweiss and Razorbill for the e-arc
Rose's car breaks down in the desert on her way from Nevada to LA and then she hears something on the radio that sounds oddly like the voice of her recently deceased best friend. She ends up in Lotus Valley where she confronts strange happenings which include a prophecy that foretells her arrival and the inevitable destruction of the town. But as she tries to save Lotus Valley, she begins to see what she's kept on lock and key-the the monumental grief that takes the form of monstrous things skulking in the shadows of her mind.
This is built on a foundation of loss and takes you through Rose's trauma until it finally comes to a head. At first, I did not know where the book was heading. But the more I read, the more I understood what the author was going for and that made it all the more intriguing. This took me some of my own painful memories of being in a car accident that left me scarred for life. Although this book did not trigger me (I was in the second grade when it happened) it may affect others.
Thank you Edelweiss and Razorbill for the e-arc
March 31, 2021
This is Rebecca Mahoney’s debut novel: a Young Adult tale dipped in magical realism, exploring themes such as PTSD, guilt and grief.
I can’t say i enjoyed it that much. The characters remain flat throughout and I didn’t really get to love any of them.
Only near the end does the story come together, but most of the time everything’s just plain confusing, and not in a good “this-is-magical-realism-it’s-supposed-to-be-confusing” way. I only really got into the story on page 332 (the novel has 357 pages....). Such a shame because I really liked the premise of the story.
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