“Real secrets weren’t sweet nothings you whispered in your arm candy’s ear.”

I am such a sucker for stories with good characterization.

I just need to say that even though I was not a fan of the plot and all at first, the characters really intrigued me and I was very much pleased with their development by the end of the book.


~ the plot did not intrigue me enough at first which I think was mainly due to the fact that I expected whose plot revolved more on, literally, "The Art of Escaping". I expected it to deal with different issues and topics and sadly, that was not what I got.

It felt like your typical modern teenage story at first. It started slow but was also able to pick itself up about halfway. It was greatly amusing though and I believe that it is something that would appeal to younger teenagers since it seems like this was the target audience the author had in mind while writing this.

I'm not saying that the actual plot wasn't good, but it was not the plot that I was looking for.


~ I love the characterization. I thought that the characters would also be following the steroetypical template. Every character had a life in them, no matter how ridiculous thir names sounded or how absurd they were acting.

Our main character, with a snarky attitude, seemed to be against the world or have the world against her and I can't help but feel sorrow for her, but not pity, which I think is a very fine line that a lot of authors forget was there in the first place.

I felt bad for her without pitying her, so she still appeared strong, in a way, to me.


~ the excerpts before each chapter was a big part of what gave the whole story depth and meaning. It tied together the story more and the chapter titles were really creative for the writer.

They honestly balanced out the ridiculousness that might have been happening in the plot itself and put the plot on the right path again. They were most certainly not random and you can understand how the author put a purpose to each one that was placed there.


~ the writing style was not bad, I just don't think it was meant to appeal to me. It had a light tone, which was unexpected, for me, because of the title. It had good morals and things to realte to, whc

I was ready for some hardcore-heart-pounding book. It is a potentionally good coming-of-age story and this is something that those along the lower end of the age range should try picking this up.

“The Art of Escaping” is such a cute and memorable YA book. I like a book with different perspectives - this is told in the perspectives of Mattie, the young girl who is learning more about the escape art, Will, a boy who enters her world by accident and becomes her assistant, and Akiko Miyake, a world-renowned escape artist. The perspective changes help you understand better the story in the eyes of each of the characters. Even though it focuses mostly on Mattie and her quest to learn how to become an escape artist (a performer, not the criminal type, just to be clear), the main purpose of the book seems to be the idea of pursuing your passion, no matter how weird and specific it might be.

Mattie is a secondary school junior who has some quite peculiar goals of turning into an escapologist. She's fixated on Houdini and so forth, yet particularly Akiko - a world class escapologist gone route before her chance. Be that as it may, Mattie is resolved to discover Akiko's girl and discover as much as she can. At the same time, no-0ne in her life knows her privileged insights or wants to wind up this extremely cool execution artist. Not her folks or her family, or even her best, dearest companion.

The story additionally has a few bits of Akikos past, the existence she drove, and the introduction of her little girl, giving you some understanding of the life of this puzzling entertainer and her similarly shut off little girl. We additionally meet Will, another with a few privileged insights, and a few other extremely cool secondary school kids who are so very much created, develop however fun. It torments me to consider how extreme secondary school was, and how hard it is for kids just to act naturally.

The art of escapology is up front, through preparing and Mattie's stage exhibitions that actually make them hold your breath! Be that as it may, the art of escape is obvious is different courses, with a great deal of avoiding reality and dread of being discovered.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good novel. I think that many YA readers will enjoy it.

I was drawn to this book for two reasons: the mention of escapology, and my love of the ‘unlikely friendship’ trope. The Art of Escaping manages to put a fresh spin on the common YA theme of escaping from your current life that feels very contemporary. The specificity of the escapology element helps with this, but I also like how this novel tries to portray high school in a more ‘realistic’ way, rather than sticking to familiar stereotypes.

The novel highlights the pressure to conform to people’s expectations in life, especially when you’re a teenager, whether you’re a high achieving student like Stella or an athlete like Will or an ‘average’ middle-of-the-class coaster like Mattie. But it also suggests that all the false fronts and personas that you project in high school don’t necessarily need to be torn down in order for you to be comfortable with who you are, because sometimes you don’t want to deal with all of the confrontations which go along with it.

I really enjoyed this book: the characters are likeable, the dialogue is snappy and funny, and there are lots of very specific references to nerd culture and people who are interested in vintage things.

I'm still thinking about the rating, it might change.

Okay, the premise was really original. I don't think I've ever read a YA about escapism, or about a teenage girl that lives a literal double life. But the execution was just... average? There was a sad backstory going on with a japanese escapist (is that how you call it lmao sorry I'm translating from spanish), but I don't think it was given enough time for me to get fully invested in it.

One of the side characters is a gay boy and has a lot of on-page time. It was a great surprise, as the gayer the merrier for me. His story was treated very respectfully, but not like the author was walking on egg shells. I wish more LGBT+ characters were treated like he was.

The acts made my anxiety S U F F E R, AND I'm claustrophobic. So maybe if you're in a extremely bad place mentally don't read this book right now, but it wasn't unbearable for me. I was just really glad I wasn't in her place.

I liked the writing!! I always appreciate a good written, easy to follow contemporary. And this was it, thankfully.

A great way of describing this book is quirky. Callahan's witty writing is to the point. Refreshingly intelligent without ever becoming preachy, soul searching but not overly sentimental. With one liners you wish you have thought of yourself, she never goes for the easy laughs but is genuinely outright funny.

Really like the chapter names in the form of Mattie vs... or Will with two Ls... and etc. Intriguing and pulling at your heart strings, are the little excerpts from the life of the famous Miyake.

The escapology lessons we're as entertaining as I hoped, but not at all as you might expect them. Full of characters with instant likeability (even those which are 'unlikeable') For me, the back and forths in the protagonists timelines were a little aggravating and maybe the tying up of loose ends at the 'finish line" a little abrupt.

This is such an honest exploration of the difference of hanging out and true friendship. Friendship that can help you grow. How we should live life to the fullest, take care of ourselves and engage in what we truly like. Be yourself, not what others think you are/should be.

The Art of Escaping: Come for the escapology, stay for the heart.

I'm torn. 
Really, it's a mixed bag of wonderful feel good moments with some of the most off-putting characters in YA. At first, I didn't understand why I couldn't relate to Mattie and even found her dreadful at times. Then it finally dawned on me that I'm not supposed to like her because she is the antithesis of a decent person. To be honest, this is a semi-accurate representation of a teenager. I admit I was like Mattie at some point of my life. Totally self-absorbed and indignant of an apathetic world to my melodramatic life.  Constantly judgmental of people who were happy being who they were simply because I was unhappy with myself. I didn't like the way I looked and there wasn't anything particularly special about me. 

Mattie faces the same issues but handles it much worse. She remarks her "mousey brown hair and under eye bags" can't be fixed (in reality there's such things as concealer and hair dye). Instead, she mocks other girls for modifying their looks to fit Western standards of beauty. That's the point though isn't it? People can decide for themselves how they should look and not be pressured one way or the other. However, Mattie obviously feels inferior and resorts to bullying as a coping mechanism. Betty (the popular girl) has glowing blonde hair and a radiant smile therefore she somehow deserves all this resentment. 

In addition, we're constantly reminded of how much Mattie likes Jazz, vintage dresses, and knickknacks. Of course, she isn't vapid as Meadow who cares about such things as makeup and current fashion trends! The horror. It is frankly pathetic that Mattie cannot realize she's putting others down in order to validate her own individuality not understanding the hypocrisy. Purposefully, alienating others so that they don't have a chance to hurt her fragile ego. Having delusions that she is better than others because she cares less. Typical high school demeanor. 

What I can't excuse is the adults who also participate in the same sort of behavior. Will's mom continuously jokes about his "Stepford-wife" girlfriend and makes vulgar comments that he should find someone else.

“Yeah. Though she’s not really my friend.”
My dad laughed. “Smart. You don’t want to get stuck in the friend zone.”
“What? No! I have a girlfriend, remember?”
“Never hurts to keep your options open,” my mom grumbled.
It's totally uncalled for and a little disgusting for adults to shit on kids when kids already get enough shit from other kids. This is a point of contention as Will's mom is prejudice of the lgbt+ community and can't fathom that they are also human beings, not a badge to prove her "coolness" or tolerance. Unfortunately, this is a B-plot pushed aside for Mattie's straight-girl problems.

On that note, due to cruel ignorance, Mattie accepts that Will's confession is "mutual assured destruction". This cannot be farther from the truth. Will may face ridicule, rejection, hatred, and fear. Friends affronted, college recruiters not wanting someone so "controversial", and his family disowning him. While Mattie might...get grounded? 

In the end, Mattie matures into a confident person. In the sense that when we find who we are, we no longer have to be jealous of those who got there before us. 

*I think what happened with Connor is technically really icky. Maybe even against the law. 

This is an advance reader's copy in exchange for a fair review thanks to NetGalley.

The age old conflict in design is finding a medium between dynamic art and legibility. While the current cover seems to be the final version, I actually like the one with the letters pulled apart. It's harder to read but I like the water effect on the hand and the letters playing with foreground and background. The author's name has a nice flow that mimics the waves The graphic shapes and gradients are nicely done. Centered text makes the cover too static but I understand that marketing is a thing too. Overall, I am enamored and impressed that for a YA book, this cover isn't slacking.

Love love love! This book captured my attention from the start, with such a different plot. I mean yes, it's kind of a coming of age story, but escapism? Cool. Maybe it's just me; I have always been fascinated with magic in all it's many forms, but something about spending a summer without ones friends but learning a skill one is passionate about is just great. I felt that the descriptions of the actual training were well done. I did find it a little hard switching between the two POV's, but not so much that I put it down.

~3.5 stars~

This was a great coming of age book. We have all these different kids who end up finding friendship in the most unlikely places/way. This book is about friendship.

Mattie is an outsider and only has one friend. She’s secretly in love with escapology but wants to do more. She has one friend, Stella, who is going away to a pre-college summer program. Since, she’s going to be alone, she decides to take things into her own hands and really get into escapology. She’s also snarky and I loved that.

Later we meet Frankie, who Stella befriends when she’s away at her pre-college program. I really liked Frankie. He was probably the most awkward but I loved how he just meshed into this group.

Will is your typical high school basketball star who has everything and a beautiful girlfriend. Except, he’s hiding a pretty big secret. He’s living a lie and really starting to unravel.

Mattie decided to go to Miyu and ask her to mentor her about escapology. It starts a bunch of actions that bring all these characters together. Will and Mattie end up making a deal but it blossoms into a friendship. This whole book is about friendship and finding yourself. I loved that there was romance but not between any of the main characters! How refreshing!! There’s a lot of different themes in this book.

Then there’s the story between Miyu and her mother Akiko. Akiko was a famous escapologist, who died at a young age, in a plane crash. Miyu is living in their house but has agoraphobia. I’m sorry but this story just crushed my soul. I don’t know if I’m in the right head space but it brought tears to my eyes. Okay, I’m definitely not in the right head space, I’m on a ton of fertility drugs. Anyways, Miyu has these journal/diary pages that kind of tell the story of her mother and herself. It was one of my favorite parts of this book.

I did have some issues with the book. There are some places where the writing wasn’t the greatest. I actually didn’t care for the dual perspective in this book. It wasn’t really needed. There were times that I would be confused about situations and find out that it was just Mattie dreaming.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and once I got into the book, I couldn’t put it down. It was fun, entertaining, yet tackled some tough issues.

I want to thank Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for giving me an e-ARC of this book for review.

Thank you to NetGalley for my free copy of this book.
First of all, I found this book thoroughly enjoying and much more entertaining than your average YA novel.
Secondly, I loved the lack of a romance storyline as that is all the YA genre usually delivers. Instead, this book focuses on interesting characters and their friendships plus the unusual add in of escapism!
The conversations between characters seemed realistic though a little stretched by Will continual use of ‘20’s slang’. However, having been a pretentious teenager myself once maybe it isn’t so unrealistic!
This is certainly the first book I’ve read about escapism (maybe by choice not chance!) however, I did find myself drawn into the drama of it all. Overall, this was an enjoyable, easy read that I would happily recommend to others.

This was great! I love how for once in a YA the two MC's don't fall in love...bc one of them is GAY. I loved watching Will and how he deals with wanting to come out. He was so adorable and I was rooting for him the entire novel.!!! Mattie was interesting to read as you really get to see into her head. I really loved the friendship dynamic they had and how you see both really be there for another and build the other up positively and be so encouraging of one another. 4 stars from me!

I really enjoyed this book. At first I thought the format was weird with the texts between Mattie and Will at the very beginning but I went back and read that part again after finishing the book so now their conversation makes a lot more sense. I really learned a lot about escapologists and escapology. I loved going on Mattie’s journey with her while she learned how to perform her escape tricks. I enjoyed the parts from the miary as they called it. I was glad she made friends with Will with two L’s. I enjoyed watching their friendship bloom and her performing giving him the courage to finally come out of the closet to his family and to his girlfriend. I would love to read a sequel about their life in college and beyond.

Just reading the premise of this book was enough to grab me, but the execution was even better than expected. Callahan has crafted a novel with a very specific adolescent voice, which radiates off the page. I felt simpatico with Mattie, because each of us is a little (or a lot) like her. Her quirky fascination with escapology actually goes much deeper than that, and her connection to Akiko, a famed escapologist who has since died in a plane crash. She creates a new persona for herself, and throws herself into the practice and death-defying reality of being an escape artist. Just when she starts to feel the most herself, those around her, including her friend Will, struggle to find their true selves amidst the drama of high school life. Again, I was amazed with Callahan's ability to capture the nuances of teenage speak, and create multi-dimensional characters that readers can relate to from the get go. I really admire this book, and hope that those intrigued by the premise and cover, like I was, delve into this coming-of-age story right quick. I received this book via NetGalley, courtesy of AmberJack Publishing, in exchange for an honest review. taylorhavenholt.com/thhbooks.html

A YA novel about two teens brought together during a difficult period the summer before their senior year. Both have a secret and need a friend, and date brings them together. Centered around Mattie learning the art of escape artistry, the novel is well constructed and drew me in quickly. A one day read

This book content and concept was really good and interesting. The characters were really fun to read and it really made me sit at the edge of my seat. I loved getting to know Mattie and Will so much and seeing their friendship come to be was just amazing. Mattie is such a relatable and funny character; definitely, a character worth spending time reading, and the same goes for Will. It was also fantastic seeing a male and female character getting involved in a totally non-romantic way at all. However, this book was a tiny difficult for me to get into but maybe that's just that my motivation wasn't at its fullest when I was reading it.

Oh, how I do NOT miss high school!

I really enjoyed this book - It is so fun, and kept me entertained throughout the whole thing! There were some seriously nail-biting moments with daredevil Mattie, and I can totally see this becoming a movie that I would go see in a second!

Mattie is a high school junior who has some pretty quirky aspirations of becoming an escapologist. She's obsessed with Houdini and the like, but especially Akiko - an elite escapologist gone way before her time. But Mattie is determined to find Akiko's daughter and find out as much as she can. All the while, no-0ne in her life knows her secrets or desires to become this really cool performance artist. Not her parents or her family, or even her best, closest friend.

The story also has some snippets of Akikos past, the life she led, and the birth of her daughter, giving you some insight of the life of this mysterious performer and her equally closed-off daughter. We also meet Will, another one with some secrets, and several other really cool high school kids who are so well-developed, mature but fun. It pains me to think of how tough high school was, and how hard it is for kids just t be themselves.

The art of escapology is front and center, through training and Mattie's stage performances that literally have you holding your breath! But the art of escape is evident is other ways, with a lot of hiding from reality and fear of being found out.

This book is such a delight and hope it gets the attention it deserves.

This book is not something I would usually pick up but I was intrigued by the premise and the talk of escapology as it's just something new that i've never really seen explored in a book before, and I really enjoyed it. It's such an original novel that explores finding your passion but more importantly, finding yourself. This book is fun. It discusses lots of topics, and there are some slightly deeper discussions going on, but overall it's just a great feel-good read that I found myself fully immersed in.

Really sorry, just havent got around to reading it yet and the formatting was a bit iffy on my kindle - the synopsis sounds great though!

I honestly didn't know how much I would like this book and it was nice to be proven wrong. I could relate on so many levels. This was a lovely light heartened read. I will definitely look for more by this author in the future.