Patterson is no stranger to the young adult market and this foray into Dystopian drama is typical of what to expect from this publishing powerhouse.

Loved loved loved it!
Completely thrilling. Twisted. Gripping.
Everything I expect from the author and MORE!
Will be recommending to everyone!

I will be honest and say that when it comes to books such as the Alex Cross and Bennett series I consider myself a Patterson fan. However, I HAVE had a few books which I have really not liked by him. Sadly this is one of them! I am aware this is a YA book and is different from the usual Patterson style of writing. However, once again it calls into question just how much input he had and whether this was more a book written by Gabrielle Charbonnet and just maybe contributed to by Patterson.


The story itself is okay, but even that as a description is maybe stretching it a little. Having said that it takes skill to even write a book, let alone make it amazing! I don't want to re-hash the storyline to pad out a review because the general synopsis can be found in many places. What I will say is I didn't particularly like the characters, and this mirrored the Hunger Games too much for my liking. Some of the dialogue was cringe-worthy and I just found myself completely un-interested in what would happen. I completed the book out of sheer will rather than anything else and although there is a follow up book I don't care too much about it that I want to read any more. Not recommended by me I am afraid!

Okay, I was so so so hooked on this book! The plot lines had me gripped and it was just a gigantic rollercoaster ride. There is so much going on in this book, twists and turns and I'd highly recommend it!

Becca Greenfield is missing. Her goody-two-shoes twin sister Cassie is desperately trying to find the family rebel Becca, only to realize that nobody in their cell (village) really cares. Maybe Nathaniel, the local municipality head's son? But Nathaniel has always hated the two of them!
Meanwhile, Becca finds herself in the cruel prison for kids. She is beaten, terrorized and made to fight - and there are no explanations from her stern warden Strepp.
When the sisters finally meet, will they be broken or strenghtened?

Dystopian YA thriller that can not escape the comparison to The Hunger Games series.
In my opinion the both series have their own strengths, but The Hunger Games win, as I find that the internal logic behind all the dystopian world is much better built and I like the spirit.
In Crazy House series the environment and the logic behind it goes unexplained most of the time (and the explanations we are given are unsatisfactory to me).
To use the twins as heroines feel fresh and I have enjoyed their POVs. I like the heroines for their fighting and independent spirit, yet they do not differ from other "tough as nails" heroines. The guys'character unfortunately lack their own identities (they are hot and all, but they feel secondary as they do not have their own strengths really). To be honest, the writing saves the day here, as it is fact-paced and you are on the edge of your seat most of the time, which is great and makes for a catchy escape from the everyday troubles.

A star goes out for the jabs towards the religion and for the way the rape is addressed here. To explain: as a reader, I do not protest in using the rape (as a literary prop) when it feels organic to the story, it is addressed as an evil act and the suffering and trauma of the victim/survivor is honored. Here I find the rape misused (the story could go without it) and there is no mention of a trauma, which offers a false picture.

Having said that, I find this novel a fine escape literature. Even if I mentioned all the critique above and I stand behind my opinion, I still can not deny the fast-paced energy of this ride.

Normally a James Patterson fan but silly me did not realise this was a YA, thank goodness I didn't buy it! Fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent etc. will enjoy it but I got a little bored. I also got bored watching those films so guess that says it all really.
I was sent an ARC in return for an honest review.

The synopsis of Crazy House sounded fantastically intriguing. The book lived up to expectations. The plot was really good and had me hooked. The writing was good and the story well-developed.
I enjoyed reading Crazy House and I know this was intended to be a stand-alone book but I really hope there’s a second to explain what exactly is happening and why!

Thanks to NetGalley, James Patterson and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be honest, I hadn't read the description just requested for the author. What a surprise this book was; Patterson does dystopia and does it well! The story built to a dramatic and unexpected crescendo. If you like Dust or Divergent or Hunger Games, you'll love this!

Another brilliant James Patterson read that doesn't disappoint at all. The book grabs you from beginning and leaves you exhausted at the end. Worth your time and effort.

James Patterson turns to young adult fiction in this thriller aimed at teenagers. I should have read the blurb more closely. Quite slow to engage and didn't really grab me. Will appeal best to teenagers as it features young protagonists and teen gangs, pretty violent and not really my cup of tea.

I found this too derivative of other teen literature and media in concept.
Usually I am a great fan of James Patterson, but his co-authors often change the ‘flavour’ of his writing too much, and I don’t think Gabrielle Charbonnet has brought him many adult fans.
However, I can’t speak for a teen audience.

I could not get into this book. DNF-ed asit was slow and quite boring. Really wanted to love this one!

I'm a big JP fan but honestly wasn't sure what to expect from a James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet mashup. What I found is a mystery, dystopian, teen drama with a lot of action and some romance thrown into the mix.

In this twisted dystopian world you follow the rules or face the consequences. Becca breaks the rules and finds herself imprisoned in the 'crazy house'. Her twin sister Cassie faces a desperate mission to find and save her.

Cassie's hunt leads her to the rebel group known as the 'outsiders' and of course Nate. On paper Nate is the towns favourite son but in reality he hates everything his controlling father and the corrupt society stands for.

Becca also gets a romantic nod in the story in the form of Tim. Well sort of. I was expecting more to develop here but perhaps next time...

I kept thinking it's only a matter of time before Cassie ends up in the crazy house too. Come on, it's in the title! Does she? Ha! As if I'd tell you that!

The story ends on a cliffy with several unresolved issues so I cannot see how there won't be a sequel. I'm not really sure how I feel about the book as I did find it a difficult read at times but found their story intriguing.

3 Stars in my Sky!

I received a copy from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review!

Like most of James Patterson's teen books, this is fast-paced with little room to look around and admire the scenery. The action engine starts up pretty much from the first page, but it does stutter and stall a few times.
This is a futuristic, dystopian novel, but nothing is explained and you're left floundering and making up your own view of this new world.
There is some romance and I have to say the characters were drawn quite well, if not favourably.
I had a real issue with some of the 'violence', much of which seemed gratuitous and the reasons behind her treatment when she is first brought to the cell just made it even more ridiculous.
I shan't read any sequels as neither the world-view, nor the primary protagonists hit a strong enough note.

Interesting dystopian novel - liked the concept, but expected more action in the novel (possibly just personal preference really). The story is well-written, but I wasn't hooked enough to be looking forward to the sequel. All in all a quick summer read for a train journey.

Becca and Cassie are twins who live in an area known as a 'cell', which is part of the United. Other cells exist but citizens are not allowed to cross over. Each cell is governed by a provost and rules must be obeyed. Every aspect of life is controlled. It's the way things have always been. Children mysteriously disappear and never return. Becca becomes one of the disappeared is and placed on Death Row in a prison full of kids. The regime is brutal and executions are part of everyday life. Despite the odds, Cassie is determined to find her twin and bring her back home.

I'm not a big fan of Teen and Young Adult literature but when I saw the main author was none other than the celebrated writer of countless adult thrillers, James Patterson, I jumped at the opportunity. Wow, what a pleasant surprise! I thought it was excellent and really enjoyed it. I'm also not hugely into dystopian novels but the world created in Crazy House sucked me in and had me totally hooked. The ending was left open but didn't feel unfinished. It had the feeling of 'one door closing and another about to open'. Let's hope there are future books planned because it has the potential to be a really special series.

Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone Digital, Arrow (Young) and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Are you missing the Dystopian genre since it seems to have faded away lately from the YA trend? James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet have banded together to present teens a new YA dystopian series. Crazy House I first thought would be a mystery novel, a bit of a serial killer type that James Patterson is often famous for but then I noticed his co-author as she normally helps write his romance novels. In Crazy House, some suburbs have been cornered off, and everyone must follow the rules to survive. For twins Becca and Cassie Greenfield, they have been busy trying to keep things under control as their mum was removed years ago for a mood adjustment and their father tried to kill himself and now is in a hospice waiting to die. Becca goes joyriding one night and ends up kidnapped and transported to a place known as the "Crazy House" where the only way out is death by execution. Cassie being the good twin decides to search for her sister and save her. During her search, she will discover that her sister was part of the Outsiders which include of course the son of the leader of their dystopian society - cliched I know as the son always ends up being a rebel. Cassie will eventually land herself in the Crazy House too, but can she with Becca's and her newfound friends find a way out of the house alive? Find out in Book #1 Crazy House by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet. A Good start to a new Dystopian series.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I requested Crazy House because I've always wanted to read a James Patterson book and I quite enjoy novels with a dystopian setting. The premise is simple: Becca Greenfield is thrown into prison known as the Crazy House where she's told that she's on death row. In the meantime her twin, Cassie, is trying to find her. A fight for survival begins.

The writing is nothing spectacular, in fact I found it quite juvenile in places, but the world building is intriguing and the story is fast paced and I ended up reading it in one sitting. The novel comes with a few decent twists and turns and kept me guessing until the end. The characters are well developed and believable teenagers.

Recommended for fans of dystopian YA, but do not expect anything groundbreaking or special.

I didn't realise this was a young adult novel - having just seen this, it all makes sense! However, as an older adult, I still found it compelling reading. Not my usual kind of thing, but I decided to persevere, and found the story kept my interest, kept me guessing and I did enjoy it. For a teenage audience I imagine it would hold much appeal. I'm going to pass it to my niece now!

Crazy House by James Patterson (May 2017)

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Twins Carrie and Becca are completely different. Becca is fiery and out of control, Cassie is an A* student, reliable and focused. However, with their mother taken away for a 'mood-adjustment' and their father attempting to commit suicide the girls are vulnerable and struggling to upkeep their farm on their own. then Becca goes missing and Cassie searched high and low for her twin only to discover that The Cell (town) they live in is not what it seems and neither are the people who live there. This is a Dystopian novel that explores strength and acceptance and love and dedication. It is thrilling and disturbing in equal measure. I must say i enjoyed this more than some of James Patterson's recent adult novels. An excellent read!