Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. The title name caught my attention. But unfortunately, it is just not the type of book I would normally read. That does not mean it is a bad book though. I just think I wasn't in the right mindset to enjoy it.

2 stars

Though I rarely request arcs post-publication, I went for this one - and was grateful to get it - because I was interested in the cover, and it was in the "Reader Recommended" category on NetGalley. Further, I love YA, and I especially dig a YA romance. Paranormal can really work for me, too. While this novel includes all of those features, it also made me so uncomfortable. This one just did not work for me.

Emmy, the main character, is one of the most bizarre individuals I have ever read. She's 18 but has the emotional maturity and gumption of a much younger child. When she returns to a town where she once lived, she is somehow shocked by what she considers to be a criminal element and has NO idea how to interact with these folks. Some of this awkwardness is on the culture of the school and town, as apparently it's totally fine for groups of young boys to corner young girls in school hallways. The oddest part of all of this isn't even the behavior; it's the way Emmy and other characters talk.

These characters read like they are at least two generations older than they are. While it seems like there might be some greater purpose behind that later in the novel, I seriously felt like I was reading historical fiction that was set in the present day. Somehow, the cast of _The Outsiders_ fled to South Carolina to terrorize a community in modern times. I could write an entire article on the odd use of language alone (and the editing needs to be stronger here - some of that odd language is just on repeat).

The paranormal element is so strange. Emmy, who struggles with the most basic tasks, becomes a sudden savant in this area. The twists are strange and also GROSS. While she acknowledges one of the disturbing parts, I think I'm more traumatized by it than she is.

I'm always glad to be able to read a new YA novel, but this was truly one of the strangest I've read in a long time. The portrayal of heterosexual high school relationships feels like it rolls out of the '50s along with some of the other bizarre elements: far from neato.

Just when Emmy Russo knows what to expect, everything changes. Coming home after the summer break, Emmy discovers mom has a boyfriend. Talk about awkward. Her best friend, Keir, wants to be more than friends. Then there’s Charlie, the new kid at school who she’s drawn to. He’s a Rockabilly gang leader who makes her think sexy thoughts and turns her insides to jelly with his fiery gaze. She’s attracted to both guys and she’s torn between the good boy and the rebel bad boy. One night, disaster strikes on Thunder Road. Suddenly, odd things start happening and somehow Emmy is in the midst of it all. She’s determined to discover the truth, no matter the consequences. Her life hangs in the balance…

It Happened on Thunder Road is a young adult fantasy romance with paranormal elements I read in one sitting. Between the captivating narration, the intriguing characters, and the fast-moving plot, I had to keep reading to see what would happen next. Who needs sleep when you have this book? I connected with Emmy right away. She’s such an engaging main character, I found it easy to slip into her POV. It Happened on Thunder Road has a classic love triangle but there’s an interesting twist Susan Antony adds which makes it different from other books. I know very little about the Rockabilly lifestyle prior to reading this book but thanks to Susan Antony’s gift for detail, I’m fully versed in this part of American culture now. Susan Antony’s writing style immerses the reader into the story, so much so, the reader becomes part of the story. Well-written, perfectly paced, It Happened on Thunder Road is a must-read for all readers. Highly recommend it, for sure!

My Rating: 5+ stars

The cover was what really got my attention, and I'm happy it did. "It happened on Thunder Road" tells us the story of Emmy, who returns to high school after a summer away, and yet things aren't quite the same. No, this is not a cute teen contemporary romance and drama book, although it may look like it for the first 50%.

At first I was afraid we were supposed to like Charlie, but I'm happy that in the end the book shows us that, while he may have been "bad boy charming" we was also very toxic. Out of this world toxic!

What I loved: the writing; the way the characters were deep and well-built and most showed development; the supernatural element wasn't too "fake" and exaggerated; the romance was overall good.
What I didn't like as much: I think the explaining of the supernatural was a bit too rushed; I wished the story behind it was a bit more explored and I hoped we could even get access to some flashbacks - the whole explaining and closure seemed a tad bit rushed.

Overall, I really like the book even though I'm not the biggest fan of the supernatural. I would say this is a solid 8,5 /10, so I'm giving it 4 stars.

Sadly, I could just not get into this book. The writing wasn't horrible, and the characters weren't bad but overall it just wasn't my kind of book as another reviewer had also said I'm going to give it a decent review just because I don't like it doesn't mean it was a bad book....

I'm very sorry, but I won't be reviewing It Happened on Thunder Road. It's not my style of book and I didn't finish it, and I don’t want to leave a negative review since it was good, just not something I'd normally read.