In a somewhat unusual move for how I currently write reviews, I'm typing out my Goodreads one first and a later, more expansive one on Dreamwidth. (Note 11/18/2018: I didn't get around to doing this, and the previous sentence is code for "the DW ones are longer and more in-depth because I think something that I'm not comfortable putting on Goodreads.) I took notes while I was reading, so this may appear disjointed. The cover for this book was beautiful, and the title made me tilt my head a bit. So, from the library I went. The concept was so interesting! The execution was -awful.- My irritation quickly gave way to mind-numbing boredom and I wanted the book to be over by page fifty or so. I flipped through most of it, -willing- it to be interesting and close to its summary. Multiple concepts are introduced out of nowhere and quickly crushed into boredom concentrate. There is no setup, buildup, or real payoff for a lot of things the author tries to do. I felt bad for her and wanted it to be different. Piper was a horrible monster in so many different ways. I just finished another YA that had a bully for a sister but -not- -like- -this.- The English teacher openly dealt drugs and preyed on the female half of the entire student body, But It's Okay Since He's Hot and Young and With My Sister Who's Basically Eighteen. The sister is in fact sixteen and the teacher twenty-one. Author, why is this in here? There were too many subplots to keep track of, that would be really interesting on their own. I wanted so much for the author to try those again, in more depth. Song titles from the 80s are mentioned for no apparent reason, mostly new wave and pop ones. There are frequently different violent events for no reason. The lack of reason is probably due to poor world-building. I found the flashback chapters pointless, and I just realized they're a chunk of the book. What a disappointment. There was a lot of second-person writing, "you," in this book, which I hate. This really was not the book for me. ( )

After reading Another Little Piece, with all its twisty goodness, I vowed to read anything else that Kate Karyus Quinn put her name on. When (Don't You) Forget About Me came out, I was lucky enough to be granted an ARC. Sadly, I never got to this book back then. I've remedied that, and I'm happy to say that I was fairly impressed. This wasn't quite as twisty as I'd hoped, but it was definitely interesting.

Imagine a place where no ever gets sick. No one dies. People age at a snail's pace. Sound too good to be true? We all know that nothing comes for free. All magic comes with a price. In the town of Gardnerville, that price is a steep one. Quinn slowly creates a place filled with a dark kind of magic. The kind of place where secrets hide around every corner, and bad things happen to good people. I'll admit, I was intrigued to see where things went. If nothing else, this book is hard to put down. It's a little slow at points, but you'll want to know what happens next.

I think the one thing that makes this book a bit difficult to fall completely in love with, is the fact that it's just plain confusing at times. While the basic premise of the town of Gardnerville makes sense, there's a lot wrapped up in this one place. Skylar's mind was an odd place to be. She was as unreliable a narrator as they come, and trying to figure out the jumble of thoughts coming out of her mind was difficult. See, Skylar's sister Piper is the main fixation of this story. The one person who she knows, more than anything, that she needs to find. It's just a very convoluted process.

I know, this is a very vague review. If I say anything else, I'll spoil something. I will say that if you're looking for something a bit dark and twisty, something mysterious, this is a read that you might enjoy. Kate Karyus Quinn has a knack for writing the unexpected. ( )

This book was really enjoyable. I loved the writing style, and I loved the pace. I tend to like slower paced novels, so that's probably why. I thought the whole plot of this book was just so .. fascinating. Sky's sister is missing, either at the reformatory or dead, and she's too drugged up to remember what she needs to. Also, the whole concept of the powers and the 'fourth year' is just so gripping to me! You get all these gifts and eternal life, yet every four years this force takes over anyone emotionally vulnerable and makes them do these terrible things. No real character development took place, so it was really just a plot driven book.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

I was on board with this book all the way up until Sky got emitted into the reformatory. We find out that Piper wasn't really a person, just this thing made up of magic. And Piper wanted to leave, so she jumped in front of the train and let it hit her. I was perfectly fine with that. Very heartbroken, but I felt it went well with the story. However, I was just super annoyed when we found out that Piper wasn't ACTUALLY gone, she was in the reformatory and the rats ended up corrupting her somehow. I just wasn't a fan of that part. The actual ending was a win for me. I shipped Sky and Foote hardcore, so I'm glad they were at least leaving the place together. I'm also glad Sky finally accepted her brother more.

So yeah, this was a good read for me. :) ( )

I tried. I really tried. I saw all the awesome reviews on GR and just knew this book would be awesome. Unforunately, I can't make it any further than pg100. I hate not finishing a book, but sorry book, I'm breaking up with you.

For my full review check out my blog ( )

This is the second book I have read by this author. I am seeing a pattern in these books. The author likes to draw out little bits and pieces of the character and story she is telling and have the reader follow her on a journey as she slowly reveals the final product of the puzzle. Only this book had me on the fence about it. On the one hand I liked the uniqueness of Gardnerville and was intrigued by all of the secrets it held. Like the fact that every four years people go missing. Thus the town has lost it's fun appeal. It no longer holds its annual parade as there is nothing to celebrate. Skylar's older sister, Piper is one of those people who went missing. Skylar can not stop thinking about Piper and where she might have disappeared to. She is on a mission to find her. This is where things should have gotten interesting and the story should have picked up some. It did not really pick up or maybe it was just me and I did not get it. The uniqueness wore off on me. I would be reading and go "ok that was alright" or " yeah that was fine" but nothing like "Yes, I really liked that" or "Did I just read that". Again because I thought it was just me. I had walked away from the book for a while and came back and randomly flashed forward and read for a bit and then skipped forward again to the ending and was like nope it was not me. I just did not like this book. ( )