As children, we typically take our parents word as truth. We have no reason to question their honesty and trust them to take care of us and love us. When we first meet Phoenix, the protagonist of The Hollow Inside, her mother Nina has just asked her to break into and rob someone's house. Unfortunately, this isn't a request that surprises Phoenix. She and her mom live unconventional lives, and it seems like nothing surprises Phoenix at this point. She has learned to roll with the punches and do as her mom says--it's just easier that way.

As we move further into the story and learn more about the relationship of Phoenix and Nina, it becomes clear that their relationship isn't the typical mother-daughter bond. Nina has a complicated backstory, and throughout the book we get a glimpse at it in detailed chapters from her point of view. Phoenix knows some of her mom's history, so when they end up in her mother's hometown looking for revenge, it's not a total surprise. It quickly becomes clear that Nina has a plan and that Phoenix is going to play a big part in it.

Phoenix is a smart girl and she's had to put her quick wittedness to use a lot to keep up with her mom. Her newest plan involves finding the people who have hurt her in the past and putting them in their place, using Phoenix to get close enough so that when the time is right, Nina can strike. What she doesn't count on is her daughter getting too close, something that could make or break her complicated scheme and maybe even turn her loyal daughter against her.

I've really been enjoying the YA genre lately and this book is a terrific addition to the category that I think both boys and girls can enjoy. I look forward to reading more from Brooke Lauren Davis and was very impressed with this, her debut publication!

Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this excellent YA thriller!

Phoenix and her mom, Nina, live on the road, stealing what they need to survive, until one day, Nina decides that they are going back to her childhood home so she can get revenge on a man who she claims ruined her life. Phoenix has always gone along with her mom's schemes, and now she is at the forefront, trying to get close to this man to find some evidence of wrongdoing so Nina can expose his past. As Phoenix gets closer to the man and his family, she starts to wonder if her mom is telling the whole truth about what really happened, and discovers some secrets about her own past as well.

This is truly an excellent thriller, full of twists and turns that keep the reader on their toes the whole way through. Phoenix herself is an interesting protagonist, and all the other characters are deep and interesting as well, especially Phoenix's mom Nina. The book includes several flashback chapters that show what happened to Nina in the past, which add extra depth and layers of complexity to the story. The broken relationships between parents and children make the book feel very nuanced and real, and I very much enjoyed following the development of all the relationships as the story progressed.

Highly recommend!

#TheHollowInside #NetGalley
An excellent young adult novel that reflects the turmoil and danger of dark secrets within a young persons life. I found the line between right and wrong so thin in this novel at times, which is a real human experience. Young adult readers will find the plot intriguing and the mystery page turning until the end.

I love a good mystery/thriller.

When I read in the blurb of this that it was Sadie meets The Glass Castle, my expectations were sky high, and this totally satisfied my hunger.

The twists and turns this novel takes will have you on the edge of your chair (or bed or wherever you're reading). This is perfect for fans of Courtney Summers or Maureen Johnson's (Truly Devious).

After reading this, I too feel the hollow inside that this has left within my heart.

A mother and daughter living on the run, finally return to the mother’s hometown that she ran away from, there awaits secrets, betrayals, and a dark family history that will unravel everything. Seventeen year old Phoenix has been living on the road with her mom, Nina. They survive by stealing, coning, and swindling their way onto their next destination. One day Nina takes them back to Jesper Hollow, her hometown in hopes of getting revenge on Ellis Bowman, a man who had ruined her life and taken everything from her.

Phoenix manages to infiltrate the Bowman family and get them to take her in with a fake cover story while she tries and help her mom get revenge. But in this new home she begins to see a sweet family, except Ellis who puts on a facade of being the town’s most beloved person. Eliis is hiding secrets and Nina is going to do everything to reveal them, no matter what it costs. Phoenix begins to see that there is more to her mom’s past than she had thought and this revenge is going to cost everybody something.

I was really drawn into the mystery of the story and Nina’s past. Phoenix makes a great protagonist as she struggles between wanting to earn her mom’s love and finding comfort in this new family that take her in. All the while she is trying to unravel the dark secrets that surround her mom and Ellis. The mystery was great and the twists definitely made this a great drama. Seriously, this is a fun read! I loved the whole twists and turns, my only slight issue was the ending. I was expecting a bit more and more of an explanation of what happens next but overall it ends pretty nicely.

*Thanks Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

What a story this was!

The blurb talks about a mom and daughter on a mission for the truth. It also talks about the murkiness of right and wrong. Oh how truly little I knew going into this book and what I would feel!

Phoenix and her mom are drifters. They find what they need through stealing or doing odd jobs here and there for people. It is far from a life of luxury but it’s how they have been managing for many years. Since this is where the story starts, I was hoping to know more about how this came to be and I wasn’t disappointed when it came out. It was shocking and definitely made me wanting to keep reading on.

Reading on is what I did even when my eyes were too heavy to stay open as I read this at night.

As the plot continues we learn more about the small town of Jasper Hollow and the Bowmen family, especially because that is where Phoenix and her mom find themselves as they plot for the truth to unfold from Nina’s (her mom’s) past. As the talk about Ellis Bowmen continues, it was easy to understand what had happened between them and even though this was the case, it still didn’t stop me from devouring the book. I had to know what would happen next because the book ended up splitting into past and present.

When it came to the past, it was hard to read about sometimes because what happened to Nina happens to many girls. It literally crushes them and it’s easy to see the change in Nina. The title is a perfect resemblance of who she became.

The present is all about Phoenix and what she is doing to help her mom have the truth come out.

*Spoiler (contains content warning)*
If you are curious about the content warning, the plot does deal with sexual assault of a minor since the victim was not old enough to consent and the man is way older. The man is also seen as a good guy who has a great family and goes to church. Everyone took his word for everything and never questioned him. He even blamed his brother for it all. It honestly was sickening.

Another content warning is homophobia. It isn’t a big part of the plot but it is there.

*End of Spoilers*
Even though I guessed two plot twists, I didn’t see the others coming and was caught off-guard! The last 20% had me shocked throughout.

After reading the book, it is easy to understand why the blurb had stated murkiness of right and wrong. There are many things that Phoenix and her mom do that obviously were not good things even if the intention of doing good is there. It’s easy to feel bad for them but also question their morals, especially for Phoenix who does question what her mom is doing but also stands by her side no matter what. There is definitely a lot to think about.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read even if the content was hard at times. I still found myself not wanting to put it down. I am looking forward to seeing what else this author will write. Also, if this review doesn’t make sense I am sorry! Haha. It’s better to go in knowing not a lot so it’s hard to write down my feelings properly.

Im utterly and completely speechless. This book just hooks you in and tugs at tour heartstrings until your a complete mess with snot dripping down your face. This book is the first one this year to make me cry. I still shocked and didnt see that ending coming. Hands down one if my favorite books of the year. This book just ripped me open