Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

A great YA read full of diverse characters. I really like how author Jen Ferguson explores issues that are real and how they do not shy away from speaking up.

In her novel Those Pink Mountain Nights, Ferguson creates a gripping, heartbreaking, urgent story that's critical for students and adults alike. By narrating the story through the lens of indigenous characters, she gives voice to teenagers not often represented in literature and our modern culture at large. And while shining a bright light on often ignored social issues including violence against indigenous women, mental illness, and culturally embedded racism, Ferguson manages to handle each issue with careful, deft, deft hands, providing a gorgeous exploration into what it is to be a disenfranchised teen. Highly recommend.

This book was fine, but ultimately didn’t really stay with me. I loved the portrayal of different messy teenagers though and would love to see more by this author!

This book, woah, I devoured it! I read Jen Ferguson’s debut then immediately picked up THOSE PINK MOUNTAIN NIGHTS, and even across the two books her growth as a writer is evident. This book gave me so many feelings and broke my heart in so many little ways, but in the end it is a story of hope, of community, and the power of being open to changing your mind about the people around you. Jessie, Berlin, and Cam are all such flawed characters, but they are doing their best with the tools at their disposal, and seeing their individual and collective growth over the course of a week fills my heart so much.

I did not have time to download and read this book before it was archived, so I'm unable to leave a review.

I shared this book at NCTE and ALAN, and I've been including it on my best books of the year lists and presentations to teachers. I love it so much.

I absolutely adored The Summer of Bitter and Sweet so I had the highest hopes for Those Pink Mountain Nights - and they were spot on. This sophomore novel from Ferguson retains what I loved about the first - these tender character developments and portrayals - all while telling a story that has equal parts of mystery and friendship. With a sense of history before page one, Those Pink Mountain Nights drops us into the midst of a story which feels big - this kind of sinister mystery of where Kiki is - and this daily life story about pizzas and new friends.

Those Pink Mountain Nights offers a captivating narrative with well-developed characters that breathe life into the story. Each character feels vital, contributing depth and nuance to the unfolding plot. The mystery woven into the narrative serves as an intriguing background, enhancing the overall storytelling experience. The delicate balance between character development and the enigmatic backdrop creates a compelling synergy that keeps the reader engaged. Against the mesmerizing backdrop of pink mountain nights, the story unfolds with a perfect blend of suspense and emotional resonance, making it a memorable and enjoyable read.

Full review published at https://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/4710/those-pink-mountain-nights.

This was such a cute little love story with fun and interesting characters that I wanted to befriend. There was so much heart in this story and really felt like how teenagers act. I can’t wait to read more by Jen Ferguson.

Jen Ferguson has proven she’s a writer to watch. Like her award-winning debut, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, this is a hard-hitting heavy story. Please read the trigger warnings. It makes the best new books list because of its cathartic and empowering message. Especially as it relates to Indigenous people in Canada (Jen is biracial–Metis and Canadian settler).

THIS BOOK!!! THIS AUTHOR!!! Y'all it's so hard writing a book with more than one point-of-view character, and Jen Ferguson does this brilliantly in TPMN. Each story has its own role to play, and the three weave together so well in an effortless way.

We need more stories like this that shed light on Indigenous girls/women being kidnapped. It's horrific how these stories are hidden and ignored, and Ferguson does a great job of making these issues known. While this is a major part of the book, there's also so much hope and love (love of family, of friends, of place (the pizza parlor), etc.) I wish I could catch up with these kids in 10 years and see what they're up to, but for now I'll settle with my own hopes and dreams for them.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of the novel (delayed review). 3.75ish/5 stars.

I liked this one a lot more than Ferguson's other novel, but I also did enjoy the other one too. What I like most about Ferguson's books are the BIPOC (especially Indigenous rep) without it explicitly being the main plot point. The characters simply ARE BIPOC rather than it being one of the main points and parts of the plot. Yes, it influences the plot (as it should), but it's not tokenism or the main focus -- normalizing the experiences.

I liked all the different characters in this one, and for being multiple POVs, I didn't mind the switching in the chapters. The plot was interesting since it involved saving the pizza place they all worked at while also trying to solve the mystery of Kiki, a missing indigenous friend and cousin of the characters. There were some anxious elements, but it wasn't the main plot. I also enjoyed the different queer and mental representations.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review*

Oh. My. God. This is in the top runners for my favourite book of the year. I LOVED THIS. The prose? The message behind the story? The POEMS? 10/10 YES YES YES.

As someone who lives in Alberta (near Edmonton) and has visited Canmore a few times, I loved this. There’s not many books set in Alberta, and this was a nice change. And the message behind the story about MMIWG2S is one that needs to be in books more. MMIWG2S is something that every Canadian, and to be honest every person, should know about and understand *why* it’s such a big problem. The Canadian Government may seem like it’s less racist than our neighbours the USA, but trust me and this book that the government is better at hiding its racism. Lots of people that aren’t Canadian don’t know about Residential Schools and the history of how the government treats Indigenous people of Canada. And I think Those Pink Mountain Nights is a book that SHOULD be talked about more because it brings awareness to MMIWG2S and the racism Indigenous people face here.

I LOVED her debut, The summer of bitter and sweet and think her latest is equally as good (if not better!). This story follows a group of Indigenous teens who work at their local Pizza Parlor and are worried about the disappearance of one of their friends.

Tackling some heavy topics, including violence against Indigenous women, sexual assault, teen pregnancy and more. I enjoyed that this story revolved as much around the break up and reconciliation of platonic relationships as it did romantic ones.

Full of found family, queer teens that care and a relatable diverse cast of characters. This is another standout YA story that was also great on audio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

No worries about a Sophomore slump for this latest from Canadian YA author Jen Ferguson!!

I LOVED her debut, The summer of bitter and sweet and think her latest is equally as good (if not better!). This story follows a group of Indigenous teens who work at their local Pizza Parlor and are worried about the disappearance of one of their friends.

Tackling some heavy topics, including violence against Indigenous women, sexual assault, teen pregnancy and more. I enjoyed that this story revolved as much around the break up and reconciliation of platonic relationships as it did romantic ones.

Full of found family, teens that care and relatable characters. This is another standout YA story that was also great on audio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

I’ve been anxiously awaiting Jen Ferguson’s second novel since I finished reading the author’s note of her debut. I know I’m prone to exaggeration, but that’s the truth!

Ferguson has this innate quality of making readers feel safe. This shines through every aspect of her writing, from her note at the beginning of the novel to the words each character says to the final page.

That safe feeling is part of what makes reading her books feel like such a full experience. It isn’t just reading– it’s a deeply felt experience. I don’t know that it’s possible to read her work and walk away having not felt something deeply. Those Pink Mountain Nights is no exception– the breadth and depth of emotional resonance hits home just as much as The Summer of Bitter and Sweet.

Ferguson thoughtfully handles numerous tough storylines, including MMIWG2S, racism, mental health, friendship breakups, dissenting against family, and more. She takes time to address the intersectionality between these areas, showing how often the issues teens face overlap and feed into one another.

As always, Ferguson balances the heavier plot lines with witty banter, fun characters, and mouth-wateringly good food descriptions– this time, pizza. Warning: you will crave pizza a lot while reading this book! (But in the best way, obviously!)

The story is exquisitely crafted, told from four perspectives.

Berlin: animal rescuer, Indigenous activist, perfectionist.

Cameron: high school dropout, expert pizza crafter, holding his family together after his cousin’s disappearance.

Jessie: childhood cancer survivor, daughter of a wealthy conglomerate, should probably stop smoking.

Kiki: daughter of a MMIWG2S, now missing as well. Kiki’s poems offer clue and insights into her story, before she went missing more than six months prior to the opening.

Each perspective gives insight into these thoroughly developed, relatably flawed characters. You can’t help but hope for Berlin to overcome her stoic perfectionism, Cam to find peace, Jessie to get to pursue her dreams, and for Kiki to be found, safe.

The heart of this novel is the characters. The alternating perspectives each have their own voice. Each character has their own flaws to work through in their own way, and where they intersect and help each other grow is beautiful because the reader understands both sides. Backstories and personal histories are brush-stroked in to give the reader knowledge on what has shaped this character without slowing the plot. As always, its delightful to see Native characters depicted in all their complexities, joys, mistakes, and growth.

Those Pink Mountain Nights is unforgettable and impossible to put down.

Wado, thank you, to the author, Heartdrum, and NetGalley for an e-ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.

Loved this book.

Each character was developed so well and played an important yet separate role in the story. The mystery is unraveled so well and keeps you guessing. This is a wild ride that brings characters together and gives them purpose in this small community.

Thank you NetGalley and and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an e-ARC of this book!

Can I give this book 10 stars? It's a STUNNER. The prose is beautiful and poetic (literally at times) and the story is complex while also being gripping in the best way. The characters are imperfect, messy, and I love them all. Those Pink Mountain Nights tackles very serious issues like mental health, missing Indigenous women, and the negative consequences of capitalism, but in a way that never feels preachy or heavy handed. They are woven into the story in such a way that you can't imagine it without them, and the characters react to and deal with things like a friend/relative going missing in a way that feels authentic to teens. I also really liked how the author incorporated unconscious anti-Blackness into the story, and had the main characters grapple with the realization that despite their best intentions, their actions were also harmful. I loved this book and will absolutely be purchasing a copy for my classroom library. The only thing I can see deterring teen readers from settling into this book is the chapter structure. They are long, though broken up into different POVs. It did not bother me at all, but I know some of my students prefer shorter chapters.