3.75 stars
I LOVED Thoman's I'll Stop The World last year and have been waiting with baited breath for her next book to come out. Thank you Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of You Shouldn't Be Here, which publishes this summer.

When I started reading this book, I was immediately hooked by the prologue- I literally wrote down "Amazing! This is how it's done!" LOL, a very promising start! My enthusiasm did fade a little bit as I was reading. Unfortunately the characters did not resonate with me in a meaningful way like they did in I'll Stop The World. I found Madelyn and Alex to be too impulsive and oblivious for their ages (young twenties). ISTW featured teenage characters, and it was understandable for them to act like teenagers- not so with this book. I enjoyed Angie's POVs much more, and if you've read this book, you'll understand the issue with that.

There were also some logistical plot holes throughout the story that made it just a tad too unbelievable. I was not terribly surprised by any twists in the book. Some scenes could have used more/different editing, in my opinion. I also want to mention that this book is NOT a YA/Coming of Age story. Even NA would be a stretch. There are several on-page very violent scenes that may not be appropriate for all ages- I would reserve this book for 18+ readers.

My biggest complaint is that the epigraphs really set the book up to have a big quantum-physical sci-fi aspect about the space-time continuum. This was a factor in the story, but not as big as I was expecting it to be, and it was not really explained in any meaningful way.

Despite that, I still liked this book and generally recommend it to other readers.

An engaging thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Perfectly paced and easy to read, I devoured it within a single seating. (Round off rating at 3.5 stars).

You Shouldn't Be Here truly intrigued me from that premise, unfortunately the execution fell flat for me. It was very slow for anything to start and I didn't find myself intrigued enough to continue reading. I had to DNF this one.

This book surprised me. I wamted to step out of my comfort zone and try new things ajd so i requested this one. I loved it!! I couldnt put it down and it really wasn't anything like I expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lauren Thoman for the eARC.

I hate to say, but I couldn't finish the book. After about 25% through, the hot button topics were just too much for me. I read for enjoyment and a bit of escape into a story to take my mind off the divisiveness in the US, and this one just didn't do it for me. I believe and respect differing opinions - everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course, but I'd rather read apolitical books for my leisure time. I'm sure there are plenty of readers that will enjoy this story, and I did like the premise! I really do my best to stick with a book and give it a fair shot but I just couldn't do it this time.

Maybe spoilers

Pros:
Quick read, very entertaining. The second half was un-put downable! I love the ending and how everything was nicely tied up, and how the bad guy got his comeuppance.

Cons:
What did Ralph have to do with this story? Why was there a not ghost ghost? Those parts were maybe unnecessary and just didn’t add much.

Overall B-/3.5 stars

Mystery thriller with a bit of sci-fi? Yes please! You Shouldn’t Be Here has great twists, diverse characters and an unexpected paranormal/ supernatural element. The FMC is relatable, well-written, and prone to making bad decisions. The antagonist is a bargain-basement Donald Trump- thoroughly unlikeable from start to finish. Themes of friendship, injustice, misogyny and the power of money are explored throughout the book and the writing is both humorous and suspenseful. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC!

LOVED THIS BOOK! I could visualize the characters and wanted to be friends with them. It also had a number of plot twists that I was never expecting which made me laugh and yell out loud. For anyone who has encountered and gone up against a powerful, narcissistic person, you’ll enjoy this book even more.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of You Shouldn't Be Here by Lauren Thoman.
This is an example where dual POV's work. Started off a little slow for me, but the ending made up for it. it did come off as a more of a YA, but i am not too mad about that, considering i like a YA every now and then.

4/5⭐️

Loved it!

Twisty, twisty! This book follows the conjunction of sixteen year old Angie who starts experiencing spooky occurrences at her home and Madelyn who is on the quest for the truth about the disappearance of her cousin.

The way the author has woven the two characters into this plotline was flawless. The plot and concept were good and I enjoyed the author's writing style as well. There were also layers of romance and paranormal happenings, all of which kept me guessing throughout.
In the beginning, it was a bit slow as the story took time to unfold and develop but then it picks up pace pretty quickly culminating in an ending that I just did not see coming!

Overall, a very engaging and interesting read, discovered a new favorite author. Will definitely pick up the other book by Lauren Thoman as well. A must read if you like your thrillers to take you on a wild ride.

I received an ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed I'll Stop the World, so I was stoked to get a copy of this book. It didn't quite work for me though. Even though it's Adult Fiction and the story feels Adult, it read as YA to me. I can't put my finger on exactly why. The book moved along so quickly, and I couldn't put it down a lot of the time, but the resolutions felt way too out there and wild for me. The villain felt a bit comic book villain vibes. Just not for me, but I'll definitely read her next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!

Madelyn moves to another state, in an attempt to find her missing cousin, who she only knew for a couple of months. Not only does she have limited information about her cousin, but no one else seems to care that she’s missing.

Angie, a teenager with a single dad, is investigating what she thinks to be a ghost in, her house. While also trying to convince her best friend Bas, that she isn’t crazy.

Two stories of strangers who seemingly have no connection to one another, find a way of weaving together. A thrilling story with many secrets and a vile villian!

The story was fast paced with a very intriguing plot. I was not expecting all the twists, they kept me turning the pages! I liked how the author intertwined genres. There’s thriller/suspense, paranormal and even a little romcom! The characters were fun (especially Sygyzy and Potato) and I absolutely loved the diversity❤️

It was a good read and I definitely recommend reading it when it’s released!!

I don't know what it says about me but ghosty thrillers set in boring towns is just the thing I love to read.

This book follows 16 year old Angie Stewart and she heard a ghost!... but why?! Angie and teacher Madelyn Zhao go looking for her missing cousin that no one wants to talk about. I really like how the author kept me in the story with little twists and the final dark place. I just goosebumped re-thinking about the ending.

I don’t even know where to start! Let’s just say it’s after 1 am and I am still awake because I could not rest until I finished this book!

This book has it all. Suspense, mystery, romance, ghosts, secrets, humor. Whew, what a read.

Madelyn moves to a new town in search for a family member who has gone missing, and uncovers all types of things! Meanwhile another girl goes missing and Madelyn is determined to find out how/if the two cases are related.

One of the twists literally had me sit up straight and say WHAT?!

This is a thriller you absolutely will want to leave. Highly recommend!!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my advanced copy!!

You Shouldn’t Be Here is a great slow burn. A thriller/mystery with a dash of romcom and paranormal. Relatable characters that you can’t help but to root for in the end.

Thank Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

When I read the synopsis, I wasn't sure what to expect. I really liked the writing and the story line. It was fast paced enough that it kept me engaged. I liked that the story was different than any other mystery I've read. I did not see the plot twists coming and those definitely took me by surprise. The author made the characters relatable, which I liked. Looking back, the way it ended was kind of predictable but over all I really enjoyed this book. I would read more from this author again and I would definitely recommend this book.

"You Shouldn't Be Here" grabs readers from the start with its eerie premise and unexpected twists. Thoman expertly weaves Angie's haunting experiences with Madelyn's investigation, delivering a gripping read filled with mystery and suspense.

Despite a slow start, the gradual tension buildup leads to an unputdownable narrative. Thoman's clever writing and well-developed characters, including a despicable yet intriguing villain, add depth to the story.

While the dual POVs and timelines may initially confuse, they ultimately enhance the plot. With surprises that will leave readers gasping, laughing, and on the edge of their seats, "You Shouldn't Be Here" is a must-read for mystery fans craving unexpected twists.

I seem to be an outlier but I could not get into this book. I read quite a few chapters but finally DNFed it because I was dreading picking it up each time. I could not believe any of the actions of the main characters and they all seemed very cliched.

I read a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.

At first I wasn’t so sure about this book. I thought it was just your average run of the mill thriller. But then the twists started and wooo doggie! This was unlike any supernatural thriller I have ever read and it was refreshing! It’s gotta be hard to write a thriller these days, I feel like everything’s been done at least ten times. But You Shouldn’t Be Here is completely new territory and I loved it.

The characters are likable, sure they make a couple questionable decisions, but that’s par for the course with a thriller. The twists were all surprising and new. I think what I liked most about this book is the Eastern PA setting though, because it’s where I grew up and I love to see the word “hoagie” in a book. I’m kidding, kinda. This book had a lot to like, including strong female characters, an annoying yet lovable dog, and some romance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC. You Shouldn’t Be Here releases in July 2024!

Two families seeking answers come together to solve a mystery. With a slow start, things do get interesting as Madelyn continues to question what happened to her cousin. Lauren Thoman creates a thick plot that unravels little by little with subtle clues intertwined. The characters are very likable and intriguing. A nice mystery that was easy to read and very enjoyable.