Lukavics, consistently excels at creepy mood. Her books are complex and a lot unpack in the best way.

This was an unsettling read, which I suppose is the point. I sped through it, but with a knot in my stomach. Lukavics created the tension and unease very well. I did find the ending... a bit too much, which is the only reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5.

So.. I had to sit over this book for a day... because I was THAT confused. I'm not exactly sure what I just read?

I've heard fantastic things about Amy Lukavics and her horror novels. BUT, wow... this was NOT horror at all. I don't even know what I would categorize this as?..... Sci-fi ish/Science fictionish?

This book had SUCH potential to be an epic read... but damn was I completely lost on all accounts.

June Hardie is struggling to make something of herself in a typical suburban town. Yikes.. typical gender roles/norms here... with women cooking/cleaning and men being the primary breadwinners. However, June has found her love of writing and becomes obsessed with her story. Her family of course doesn't support her writing and thinks she's ridiculous. A mysterious event happens and June lands herself in an asylum.

June beings to realize that there is something very creepy going on in the asylum. Girls start disappearing and June has her work cut out to figure out what the hell is going on.

The story alternates between June being in the asylum and the event leading up to the asylum with her family and how awful she is treated by them.

I don't even know where the author was trying to go with this one. I was completely lost at the end of this one and was thinking wtf?

The only thing that I really liked about this book was the cover. Ugh.. major disappointment. I don't think I will be trying another book by this author.

2 stars for this one.

Thank you so much to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Expected publication date: 10/1/18
Published to GR: 7/22/18.

This is a tough one for me to review because although I found it compelling to read and finished it within a day, there were some things about it that I did not enjoy but will probably suit other readers perfectly. It starts out as a confusing and creepy horror story set in a 1950s mental institution with flashbacks to June's life just as she was graduating from high school before being admitted to the institution. In those flashbacks, she felt forced into becoming a perfect homemaker by her parents while at the same time dreaming of escaping that life to become a writer. Often it is hard to know what is real and what is not as her experiences muddled by drugs/medication in the institution blend together with a science fiction story she was writing in the flashbacks. Then in addition to the creepiness and confusion, things get a bit gory. In the end, it all comes together a little too quickly and in a way that just didn't quite work with my initial expectations.

Also, I would consider this a mature YA with a couple sexual scenes (one in the first few pages) that will keep it off of my middle school shelf.

While horror is not normally a genre I seek out or even enjoy, I was pulled in by the strange and gruesome world of Amy Lucavics' heroine June Hardie. June, an unhappy 17-year-old, wakes up one morning to discover her parents have seemingly been replaced with duplicates, and only she sees it. She winds up involuntarily committed to a mental institution, where it becomes increasingly clear that something sinister is going on.

I enjoyed most of the book, but to be honest, would have preferred that the epilogue be omitted. I felt its sudden change in mood was jarring and undermined the climactic final chapters, which were otherwise breathtaking.

Okay, so uh. Wow. There's a lot to unpack in this dear book.
This book is really mysterious and eerie to begin with, but as the story progresses and more information is revealed as to how June ended up in the institution, it gets even more confusing from there. I actually liked this, normally I wouldn't be so happy about being confused for most of an entire book, but with this one, I think that it worked really well. As I've finished the book, I can now look back at what I read and recall all of the little clues that were present throughout hinting at the events toward the ending, but I think that these were concealed nicely and fairly difficult to figure out because of the way of the storytelling and gradual reveal of past details, yet the reader can clue in enough to know these things are somehow odd, but just not quite sure how they fit into the story. I spent this entire book in suspense and I really enjoyed it.
I normally have a difficult time with horror novels, because I find I have a hard time being scared or at the very least unsettled like I can be with horror movies, I find the visuals are missing, and most horror novels that I've encountered don't make me feel suspenseful and at the edge of my seat with the writing. But this book I found very unsettling, and I'm glad that this book wasn't a let-down for me, I'm pretty grateful for that, in fact.
One thing I really enjoyed was the relationship between June and Eleanor. I was picking up some more-than-friends vibes very early on, but usually this is just a false hope that is not developed in the writing, however, I was more than pleased to read on that this vibe I was getting was indeed leading to a relationship more than platonic between the two. The presence of a queer relationship of course always impacts my over-all enjoyment of a book, and this was no exception, I felt a mix of joy and unease while reading, but I really liked the mix of the two.
This book really reminded me of American Horror Story season two. It takes place in an institution, a mental-hospital of sorts, taking place in the 1950s (a mental institution in the 1950s is always a great setting for horror media), this seems like a horror-tastic tale until you get to the end and realize that the entire story was centred around aliens all along. I was super let down by this, just as I was watching AHS. I automatically like a story less when the entire plot is revealed to have been the result of aliens. When horror is involved, I feel like a plot centred around aliens is a cop-out, aliens just don't do the trick for me as far as horror goes. Basically, I felt supremely underwhelmed by the time the end of the story rolled around. Not only this, but I found the end to be a little confusing, however, I did like the violence and gore that came with the climactic end, I think that it made the experience just a bit better for me in the midsts of my disappointment.

This is a YA horror novel that takes many twists and turns. The heroine is not crazy-or is she?? Her family only has her best interests at heart. Or do they? Read and find out. This book does take a turn I definitely did NOT see coming!

June is admitted to a psychiatric hospital after she wakes up and finds that her parents have been "replaced." Told from differing timelines, the before-the-institution and in-the-institution, June tries to figure out what kind of a hospital has these kinds of nurses and doctors... and all other strange things. June must figure out if her mind is playing tricks on her, if her family is playing tricks on her, if the nurses are playing tricks on her...

Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. I was creeped out (I get scared VERY easily), and I just wanted to know what was going on! Then.. I found out.. and it was a bit of a let down. I agree with other reviewers; the end was rushed and confusing and not well thought out. The first 3/4 get 4 stars.. then the end brought it down to 3. 3.5 stars total!

I finished this book just before bed and afterwards I lay awake because I could not stop thinking about it! It's a very involved story, but it sucks the reader in. The narrator is not reliable, but there is definitely a sense of injustice at the norms and expectations of the 1950's. The medical profession at the time was also a little creepy, with lobotomies being an acceptable and almost casual practice.
I had a little issue with the narrator's current jargon, for instance referring to a boy that she should have "kicked to the curb" and other seemingly out-of-era-language, but overall I really enjoyed the book. It was a good reminder that when you write your own stories, anything can happen.

OK so the scariest thing about this story? The gender roles that existed in the 50s. YIKES. From making the perfect meatloaf to bringing the men in the house a drink BEFORE they ask, Nightingale is a terrifying tale for women everywhere.

But for those of you who are looking for things that go bump in the night in their terror tales, Nightingale has got you covered! With the brilliant imagery reminiscent of a Stephen King novel, set against a classic setting of a mental hospital, we got ourselves a drug-induced terrifying romp through the subconscious that will tickle any horror-fans fright fancy! Top it all off with a sci-fi flair, and an empowering message of "girl power!", this novel is / will be a delight for readers of all genres.

Check it out, cheer your heart out, and hide under the covers crypt-kiddies! Nightingale is here and she is ready to take over!

I've read two other books by Amy Lukavics and have really liked both of them. I think that Amy does really good horror stories in the YA genre.

Overall though, I was a bit disappointed in Nightingale. I just don't think that this was her strongest work. I think I didn't enjoy it as much because I just couldn't understand it most of the time. June is a very unreliable narrator, which wasn't a problem for me, but I just could not understand what was going on. However, not being able to figure out what was going on made me want to keep reading the book and made me think about what would happen when I wasn't reading it.

I do think that Nightingale veered more towards the sci-fi genre rather than the horror genre. Even though I didn't love reading Nightingale, I still plan on reading whatever Amy comes up with next.

*Book received through Netgalley*

I was totally with this until the end and then I was right back with it the last few pages. I don't know I'm having a hard time with this one. The story was so creepy and fantastic, but when the big reveal happened the author lost me. It took me quite a few pages to buy into the whole alien thing and even then I don't know it just didn't fit. The author could have made it fit I think, but I needed more groundwork. We have June's story and that was help for sure, but for me the aliens came out of nowhere and I didn't understand what in the world they wanted and where did they even come from?? Maybe a small chapter in the beginning talking about the alien lore or something I don't know I just needed something to help me connect the dots.

I liked the final ending because it was true to the creepiness, but when I really think about it I can't help but still question things. Like it's weird she's walking around with a see through head right??! I think if the author would have spent a few chapters tying all this in I would have loved this, but as it stands I'm a bit disappointed and let down. At first when the reveal happened I thought for sure she was hallucinating. I couldn't believe there were actual aliens! Like WHAT!!?? They were creepy which was great I just didn't buy it.

I know my review is all over the place, but I just can't seem to put it any other way. I loved the asylum, I loved the crazy doctors and lobotomy loving nurses, and the patients were great! I could have done without the aliens. I wish the author would have stuck with the asylum and just left the aliens out of it.

You do know me, You just don't like me

A NetGalley read!

Nightingale wasn't quite the story I expected based on the synopsis. The idea was rather interesting and intriguing. The story was atmospheric. And I think Lukavics did a good job incorporating elements that were popular back in the 1950's like mental institutes and aliens. But this was kind of a miss for me.

June was a girl growing up in the 50's man's world. She likes science fiction, aliens and non-typical lady hobbies like writing. These interest lead her down a weird path into a mental institution. As June begins treatment and doctor visits she starts discovering that nothing is what it seems. Shocker for a mental institute story. But it truly does take a unique sort of twist, sort of.

My biggest issue was I lost interest on and off through out the story quite a lot. Especially with the Past Days chapters. Those chapters were kind of painful and slow. I get it, Lukavics was building on the whole 1950's deprived, undervalued woman thing. But it got incredibly repetitive and boring. Unfortunately, the whole repetitive thing didn't apply to the underprivileged woman deal either. Other areas were constantly repeated in various ways, but essentially the same content.

Overall, I really got into some aspects of the story. But more often, I found myself checking to see how much of the story was left. I think this is going to be a pretty average read for most readers. And I think it is because the synopsis isn't as intuitive as it should be. Science Fictions elements aren't necessarily appealing to all audiences and it seems to be marketed as a horror, thriller type deal.

Nightingale was an interesting book. I expected - and wanted - horror. I got Sci-fi. In the end, it was just an alright read for my personal tastes. I've a feeling some people would love this whole storyline though.



June is an interesting character, and you get to know her quite well. I really feel for her, wanting more than just to be a 1950's housewife. She wants to read, write, and travel. Her family is rigid in it's roles, and June wants no part of it. I can't say I blame her.

But one wrong step lands her in an institution. I really expected something different from what I got here. Things were definitely creepy and sinister, and all of that was good.

But where it went wrong for me was the end of the book. It veered off the plot that I was enjoying and went far left. It wasn't like I was caught unaware, there were hints along the way. I had hoped that they would be explained some other way, but that just wasn't the case.

The writing in this book was good. I didn't find myself skipping passages or pages. The world was vivid, and I felt like I was there in the mental institution with June. If you aren't expecting horror, or even thriller, then this might be a good book for you.

Set in 1951, seventeen years old June Hardie dreams to be a writer, a career path that is against her parents' wishes. Her mother is more concern in grooming her to be a good housekeeper and wife while her father pressures her to marry his business partner's domineering son. So when June is accepted for a writing program in New York under a full scholarship, she sees it as an opportunity to escape from her suffocating life. However, a cruel twist of fate not only shatters her dream but landed her in Burrow Place Asylum - an institution with dire living conditions & horrifying medical staff that practices gruesome medical treatments. The institution seems to be searching for something in the patients and when her friends begin to disappear, she must find a way out. Will she be able to escape when the lines between reality and hallucinations are increasingly blurred?

This is one of those books that started off with such a promising and intriguing plot but failed to deliver in the end. It has everything - suspense, spine-chilling mystery, endearing characters, magnetic writing, good story build-up and engaging storytelling. I enjoyed the storytelling immensely as it was really engaging. Lukavics has a way to pull you into her story and make it impossible to put down the book. The story is told back and forth between June's time at the asylum and flashbacks of events which led to her admission into the asylum - and all this was done flawlessly without a dull moment. Every page seems to be glazed with layers and layers of mystery and heart-pounding suspense.

That being said, unfortunately in the end the story fell flat and came out short, and it was rather disappointing. Three quarter into the story, the plot began to spiral downhill into something that did not make sense anymore. The mellifluous plot is lost and it seems that Lukavics was struggling to continue with the story. Everything after this point felt like an afterthought and rushed, and this eventually led to an early demise of the story. In the end, all I could say was what did I just read??

Overall, this book left me feeling perplexed and ambivalent. The good points were hampered by the unsatisfying and incompleteness of the story in the end. There is so much potential in the story. In my humble opinion, a meticulously planned ending would render Nightingale to be one of the best horror/paranormal story out there. Will I read another book by Lukavics? I can't quite decide yet.


***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Harlequin TEEN through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***

I personally didn't enjoy this as much as I had hoped to. The premise was really interesting to me, a girl in a psychiatric hospital who doesn't think she should be there and is sure that there is something sinister going on. Turns out there was, but it the reveal and ending felt a bit rushed and not really "fleshed" out, and somewhat inconsistent.

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

I enjoyed the book, but found it hard to believe in the story line.

So, um, THAT happened. I really have no idea what the hell it was I just read. I was expecting a novel about gender roles and the horrific treatment of mental illness in the 1950s. Instead, this takes a sharp turn into sci-fi and horror territory with a liberal dose of random blood and gore thrown in. Gore isn't really my thing, but I don't mind it when I'm expecting it. My problem with this book is that it was a complete 180 from the novel I was expecting it to be. I'm still not even sure if I liked it, but I'm leanings towards probably not. The first third is the more interesting part but it quickly goes off the rails and balls out crazy by the end. I will say though, this was certainly...different.

It's hard to describe the craft in this book and everything that was right about it; not only its originality, but also the *ahem* unexpected romance, the ending, the parallel stories without spoiling it and ruining the surprise. It kept me guessing, but halfway into the book I decided to stop speculating and let Amy surprise me.
This book is made of win, and I couldn't give it any less than 5 stars. Also, Amy Lukavics is becoming one of my favorite authors. I read all her books, which I liked, but this one is, so far, her masterpiece.

Tried to like it but gave up on it about 1/3 through. Someone who likes the creepier or Twilight Zone type stories might love this. I'm just not one of them.