ARC Review: Come Find Me by Megan Miranda

Come Find Me by Megan Miranda
Publisher: Crown Books For Young Readers
Release Date: January 29, 2019
Book Format: ARC
# of Pages: 336
Synopsis: After surviving an infamous family tragedy, sixteen-year-old Kennedy Jones has made it her mission to keep her brother's search through the cosmos alive. But then something disturbs the frequency on his radio telescope--a pattern registering where no signal should transmit.

In a neighboring county, seventeen-year-old Nolan Chandler is determined to find out what really happened to his brother, who disappeared the day after Nolan had an eerie premonition. There hasn't been a single lead for two years, until Nolan picks up an odd signal--a pattern coming from his brother's bedroom.

Drawn together by these strange signals--and their family tragedies--Kennedy and Nolan search for the origin of the mysterious frequency. But the more they uncover, the more they believe that everything's connected--even their pasts--as it appears the signal is meant for them alone, sharing a message that only they can understand. Is something coming for them? Or is the frequency warning them about something that's already here?

My Thoughts 

Megan Miranda is one of my all time favorite writers. I have been reading her since her first young adult debut a few years back. Come Find Me happens to be her newest young adult release.

The book is a little confusing in the beginning being that it switches back and forth between two characters, Kennedy and Nolan. We’re unsure of what happened to Kennedy and her family and why she no longer lives in her family home but instead with who we assume is her uncle Joe in a tiny apartment. But Nolan on the other hand reveals his background early in which we find out his older brother Liam had gone missing two years back and they had yet to find him alive or any evidence of his death.

Since his brothers disappearance Nolans parents have made it their mission to bring justice to all missing children. He does his best to steer clear of this organization and stays true to finding his brother no matter what it takes. Kennedy on the other hand is determined to not let Joe sell her family home either because its her home or because it is her last tie to her brothers work and what really happened in that house 6 months ago.

As usual with books that alternate between character these two end up coming together in a stranger but interesting way and thus their stories begin to intertwine in ways they probably could have never imagined. Together they begin their quest to not only decode a message that will lead them to figure out not only what truly happened in Kennedy’s house but also what happened to Nolan’s brother.

Many young adult novels include a lot of instalove which in some situations is desirable but here given everything at stake and what these two were trying to do together, the instalove would have just gotten in the way. Come Find Me, had the perfect amount of character bonding that didn’t get in the way of the rest of the story line. As a reader I was able to really sink myself into the story and not have to worry about any relationship issues which made for a great mystery/thriller.

Something that Megan Miranda is phenomenal at is flashbacks. Almost all of her novels include some kind of character flashback to give the reader background on the current character and or situation. This kind of writing can be hard because it is super easy to get confused between the past and the present, but Miranda has managed to successfully give her readers background knowledge without leaving us confused.

Not only does Miranda provide her quality content in young adult books but she also plays her hand in adult fiction as well which more than impresses me. I can’t wait to get my hands on her other works. 

Review: The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda

The Perfect Stranger by Megan Mirana
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: April 11, 2017
Book Format: Hardcover
# of Pages: 337
Synopsis: Confronted by a restraining order and the threat of a lawsuit, failed journalist Leah Stevens needs to get out of Boston when she runs into an old friend, Emmy Grey, who has just left a troubled relationship. Emmy proposes they move to rural Pennsylvania, where Leah can get a teaching position and both women can start again. But their new start is threatened when a woman with an eerie resemblance to Leah is assaulted by the lake, and Emmy disappears days later.

Determined to find Emmy, Leah cooperates with Kyle Donovan, a handsome young police officer on the case. As they investigate her friend’s life for clues, Leah begins to wonder: did she ever really know Emmy at all? With no friends, family, or a digital footprint, the police begin to suspect that there is no Emmy Grey. Soon Leah’s credibility is at stake, and she is forced to revisit her past: the article that ruined her career. To save herself, Leah must uncover the truth about Emmy Grey—and along the way, confront her old demons, find out who she can really trust, and clear her own name.

Everyone in this rural Pennsylvanian town has something to hide—including Leah herself. How do you uncover the truth when you are busy hiding your own?

My Thoughts: 

Megan Miranda has done it again with her most recent adult fiction publication known as The Perfect Strangers. It follows to young girls who decide to up and leave everything behind and rent a cute little cabin together in a small town. As time goes on Leah starts to notice some odd things about her roommate Emmy, and it all gets worse once she goes missing.

The beginning is interesting because us as readers don’t get to know much about either character. In true Miranda fashion, we get flashbacks every now and again that gives us a little background on the characters, but we are kept in the dark enough to get to know the characters in an exciting way as we read through the novel.

The premise of this reminds me a lot of Stephen King’s newest novel, The Outsider in which a well known/liked school coach is convicted of murder. It’s a little different here because coach Cobb is only being charged with assault for a part of the book, but just the reminisce of an author I loved made me happy.

This is the type of mystery that had me yelling at the book at some points, and that is how you know you are reading something good. Miranda took her time to flesh out each character and bring them together in such ways that were surprising as well as satisfying. The relationship between main character Leah and the lead detective on the case Kyle is forbidden, but that doesn’t stop the two from getting to know each other.

Leah not only is having a hard time figuring out what is going on with her missing roommate but she is afraid to even be in her house in fear that someone is watching her closely and is trying to hurt her somehow. As readers we get to see her grapple with everything that is going on in her life--juggling her students at her new job, assault issues, her missing roommate, a new romance and her past following her around is a lot to handle for this young women.

The book is pretty small, so I was apprehensive about Miranda’s ability to wrap up the plethora of loose ends. But just like any other good mystery, she did a great job giving us so many different puzzles to pay attention to, and she was able to wrap each one of them up nicely without leaving her readers unsatisfied.

My favorite part of this novel was the inclusion of a small relationship between Kyle and Leah. Although romance is to be expected the two who were involved in this romance had a lot going on in both of their lives which is why it was peaceful to read those moments between them almost as a quick and much-needed break to all the fear and mystery going on in their town.

  

Review: Survive The Night by Danielle Vega

Survive The Night by Danielle Vega
Publisher: Razorbill
Publish Date: July 7, 2015
Book Format: Paperback
# of Pages: 288
Synopsis: Stephen King meets Pretty Little Liars in this pulse-pounding novel from the author of The Merciless

Just back from rehab, Casey regrets letting her friends Shana, Julie, and Aya talk her into coming to Survive the Night, an all-night, underground rave in a New York City subway tunnel. Surrounded by frightening drugs and menacing strangers, Casey doesn’t think Survive the Night could get any worse...

...until she comes across Julie’s mutilated body in a dank, black subway tunnel, red-eyed rats nibbling at her fingers. Casey thought she was just off with some guy—no one could hear her getting torn apart over the sound of pulsing music. And by the time they get back to the party, everyone is gone.

Desperate for help, Casey and her friends find themselves running through the putrid subway tunnels, searching for a way out. But every manhole is sealed shut, and every noise echoes eerily in the dark, reminding them they’re not alone.

They’re being hunted.

Trapped underground with someone—or something—out to get them, Casey can’t help but listen to Aya’s terrified refrain: “We’re all gonna die down here.”

My Review:  

I have heard many good things about Danielle Vega and her recent publications. She has been well known for her horror infused stories including Survive The Night which is a standalone compared to her popular Merciless series which is up to four books currently.

Survive The Night tells the story of a high school aged girl named Casey who is fresh out of rehab from a pill addiction. Her parents are wanting to keep a close eye on her which means they only allow her to spend time with her “safe friends” even though she doesn’t feel like she fits in with them any longer. Shana rescues her from this uncomfortable situation and off she goes with the crew that got her in trouble in the first place.

Shana reveals herself as a bad ass with her old buick and maniacal driving. She is interested in hearing all about Casey’s rehab stint even if it bothers her to speak of her time there. In the back seat are Shana’s tagalongs, Aya and Julie whom are busy sharing a joint and painting each others toenails for a good portion of the beginning chapters. Casey is excited to see these three girls at first as it has always given her a rush hanging out with them, that feeling is back and full force especially when Shana begins their adventure by bringing them to a club featuring a band extremely familiar to Casey.

Before even stepping into the club Casey recognizes the music and instantly wants to leave. Before rehab the love of her life broke her heart and this just “happens” to be his band playing. Everything turns out well though once he notices her watching him play. It might be a little mix of relief that she’s home and pain because they are no longer together. Now a group of six, they head off in search of a popular underground rave that nobody can stop talking about, even if the rumors of murder down there are pretty creepy.

Sam--the ex boyfriend--and Casey find themselves awful close and forced to talk about the events leading up to their break up and rehab stint. This brings on a lot of emotion and tears but ends with kissing and groping. The couple seem to have made up for now anyways. Not long after this magical moment does the terror start. A body is found ripped open with intestines spilling out and soon after the--now five--of them realized they are trapped underground with no way out. The candles are starting to dim, their phones are dying and they have no idea who--or what--is down there with them.

As you can imagine only some of them make it out of the underground subway alive and the trek to find an exit is a dark and wet one for this group of teenagers. They encounter homeless men, starving rats, and a tentacled monster that nobody really understands. Who comes out alive is the big question: all, none or some?