I wanted to love this book. I really really did.

And I didn't hate it.

The writing was great, I really enjoyed the alternating point of view between the day that Marley died, and the days of the Adventure. It flowed well. But the present day point of view almost made parts of the throwback chapters redundant, it answered your questions too early I feel, which potentially made the book drag along a little. The ending was suspected. It made it hard to read and follow the flow. But the author really does have a lovely way with words, there were so many sections of this book I found myself taking note of and highlighting along the way because they encapsulate the process of grief so well.

Grief is a really difficult topic to write about, especially grief from bereavement. How do you put loss in to words? Morrissey does it very well and the sections that spoke on grief were poignant and raw. They sat with you through the story and you can really feel what the main characters are expressing.

That being said however, one reason this book isn't rated higher is the main characters. Ollie and Nick were the youngest two of the group and the two that were there when Marley died, Nick pulled the trigger and Ollie watched as Marley was killed by a gun that wasn't supposed to be loaded. That type of trauma is bound to mess anyone up, especially eleven year olds. But something about Ollie didn't sit well with me, I found her character reckless for the sake of being reckless and her unhealthy obsession with Marley was kind of unsettling in places. Particularly when she dresses as Marley to go to her memorial every year. That in particular made me feel a little weird. Ollie's voice is the narrator in this book, she's followed by the spirit of Marley, this presence of Marley was nice but I felt like it could have been developed further.

I wanted a bit more from that aspect of the book.

Now looking at Nick, he was a good character. But in terms of him and Ollie and their budding romance, it didn't seem like it was something that was for the best. It seemed too predictable and too cliche for the book, and in my opinion, Ollie forgave him way too fast for not talking to her in five years.

Something that was unprecedented from this book were the conversations about mental health and whether Marley knew the gun was loaded when she told Nick to pull the trigger. It was a conversation that fit well into the story and made it even more harrowing than before.

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars, this book didn't fully hit the mark with me, but it was also a good read. I wouldn't call it a favourite but I don't hate it.

This book definitely has an audience among teens, especially those grappling with the who's and what's of themselves. Even outside the context of loss. That aspect of the protagonist's story just adds layers to an already complex issue.

I really enjoyed When the Lights Went Out by Bridget Morrissey it was such a thrilling read I honestly couldn’t put this book down I loved every minute of it!

What an emotional roller coaster ride! I love this book. A moving tale of love, loss, family and friends.

This book was well written and fast paced, and the writing style kept me not able to put the book down. I think what I love the most about this book is that the 'mystery' never truly gets solved.

I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley.

This book will be easily relatable for young adults/teens who have experienced a loss of a friend. Without giving away too much, the group of friends lost Marley five years ago and have bonded through that time.

This was an easy YA read, and I’d definitely recommend it to others.

While I did not enjoy this book much, I believe young people who have gone through a tough loss of a loved one will.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-arc copy of this novel.
A novel about finding friendship through sadness and how we have to grow up when we don't want to change. Young people will relate well to the characters and the realistic circumstances of the plot.

I have to say, I'm not a fan of this book. The plot was really messed up and the book was very redundant, which made it drag on.

Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and Bridget Morrissey for an advanced e-book copy of this novel in an exchange for an honest review!
"When your locked in a room with no door, rearrange the furniture"

This is a story of seven friends still dealing with the aftermath of the trauma of losing their friend Marley 5 years ago. It starts at Marley's yearly memorial and an unexpected guest shows up. I liked the bonding of growing up together and how the neighbourhood shapes bonds between the characters. Girls who are too pointed, too much and sometimes written off as being too much. Which is what we are encouraged not to be. There was gun safety discussions and suicide discussions and moving past trauma that affects friends. The story alternates between present time and 5 years ago, when Marley was still alive.
The bond between Olivia and Aidy was interesting and watching them play power games with each other and eventually work their way through things. I really liked the quote at the top, that showed how to look at something different.
I really liked the novel, it was complex and well written in terms of grief and the difficult topics in the book.
4/5
I'd recommend this to anyone who likes YA novels or someone looking to read a difficult book.

I really enjoyed this book and the story behind it when all the pieces of the puzzle started to make sense. Anyone who has suffered an unexpected loss, especially at a young age, I think would really enjoy this.
The book follows a group of neighborhood kids who grew up together, and suffered the unexpected loss of one of their "gang" when some of them were playing with a gun they didn't realize was loaded. The two of them Ollie, and Nick were the most damaged by the loss as they were in the room when their friend Marley died. The book really follows Ollie AKA Olivia as she is the youngest, and the one who appears to be having a relapse of her grief five years after the incident at the town's memorial for Marley. Although, as we find out throughout the book, and as it is in "real life," things aren't always what they appear to be.
As I said I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read, with a great storyline, which is the perfect combination!

This book did nothing for me from the very beginning, I wasn't invested in any of the characters, nor did I really care about the plot.

There was so much I loved about this book. Rather than the murder mystery it seemed based on the synopsis, it was an in-depth look at childhood best friends as they grapple with their grief. There were so many poignant and striking moments, and the writing style was beautiful. There were moments when I wish we could've gotten a closer look at some of the supporting characters, mostly Bigs, Teeny and Ruby. I felt like a lot more time was spent with Aidy, Harrison and Nick, and the other three suffered in development because of it. Besides this, I very much enjoyed this close look at how your memories can be skewed over time and proximity. I think there's a lot of great discussion that can come from this subject matter. Allowing teens to process their feelings and heal at their own pace, discussing how others view you and how this relates to your own opinion of yourself, meeting the expectations of others and what you expect of yourself. This story reminded me a bit of We Are Okay by Nina LaCour, in that it's a quiet book. It's more of a reflection, a meditation. That's not to say it doesn't have twists and drama, but it's less about the typical teen angst/drama, and more about the journey of self-discovery and healing.
4.5/5 stars, I will definitely be recommending this book!
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the ebook for an honest review!

Sad, sweet, hopeful, and beautifully written! It’s a wonderful mix of coming of age, mystery, family fiction, and a love story. Great plot with well-thought-out characters. I cannot wait to booktalk this one with my students.

This is a poignant tale of friendship, loss and coping. Th author did a wonderful job recognizing the turbulent teenage angst in a way that doesn't trivialize the characters feelings.

When the Light Went Out had me hooked from the beginning. I really enjoyed the concept of this book but half through it fizzled out and I just lost interest.

I requested this book, not knowing anything about it, as there was no description under the title. However I am so glad that my love for the cover was enough to make me want to read it.

What an incredibly emotional ride. I love this book about its secluded street and the teens that live in it. What a moving tale of love, loss, family and friends. Of forgiveness and finding yourself and having the strength to let others help you when you need it.
To begin with I definitely felt some Pretty Little Liars or Broken Things (Lauren Oliver) vibes, but towards the middle, this book took on a life all of its own.
Well written and fast paced, the writing style kept me on my toes and the pages turning faster than I expected..I think what I love the most about this book is that the 'mystery' never truly gets solved. We never find out if Marley knew that the gun was loaded. We never find out if she knew what she would be doing to Nick, to Olivia. But that is the beauty of this book. It makes you thijnk, constantly.

A great little read!

I usually love this type of book, except that the writing felt so juvenile to me.

The tone of the book was on the boring side and while the subject matter was difficult to read, it could have made for a much more interesting book.

This is a pass to me.

"When you're locked in a room with no exit, rearrange the furniture."

Alternating between the day Marley died and five years later at her memorial, the group of friends reunite to finish the Adventure, a scavenger hunt Marley loved to organize. Getting together and finishing what Marley started does not only stir up questions but also incomplete mourning.

Morissey explores the impact of childhood friendships and one's identity, how grief is needed in order to heal. Her storytelling is absolutely compelling. I was hooked immediately after finishing the first two chapters. And though I thought that this was some sort of murder mystery, it surprisingly is not. It is devastating but powerful and shows characters with pure emotions. It makes you keep reading, revealing fears and secrets while hoping for closure. Wonderful imagery and great writing.

"Things that are lost are not gone."

Surprising ~ Sad ~ Triggering

tl; dr: five years after an accidental shooting, the friends are still dealing with the grief.

Bridget Morrisey's story of tragic death and the ramifications of loss is surprising. I thought this might be a murder mystery, and there are surprises that come out. But, this book is more a meditation on loss at a young age. When seen as a literary YA, the power of the book is easier to understand. Many teens lose someone, usually tragically. This book pulls no punches. The emotions of loss are describing with poetic, and heart-breaking, truthfulness. This book, while powerful, might be too challenging for some readers. Note: suicide is discussed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.