I received an e-arc from NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review.
The book description is a bit misleading since the story focuses on three other characters besides Rose, each one following a different format. Emily writes blog posts, Aaron: internet forums, Damien: letters and Rose writes in a journal. I felt like most of the action happened outside the pages and what was actually written was the characters reaction to certain events. It’s important to have listened to The Bright Sessions podcast since it adds far more context to the story told here. Although I don’t think it’s necessary to read the prior books since I didn’t, and I understood the story; I felt that if I’ve had read Damien’s novel his story would’ve been clearer in this one.
It was an entertaining read that distracted me from finals, but it felt like it was missing something. I felt annoyed every time Rose’s journal entries began with a summary of the main event and then said “It all started…” as it dragged the reader to the beginning of the story. I don’t think I would’ve noticed if it wasn’t as constant. The main plot is driven by miscommunication by the protagonist and most of the recurring characters. Rose felt like a very plain and passive character, which is discussed at the end of the novel. I did like the story, but ultimately, I felt like it could’ve been way more. Maybe I had very high expectations since The Bright Sessions was one of my favorite podcasts in 2020. Still, I can’t wait for what Lauren Shippen releases next.
Here's a playlist I made on Spotify based on the book: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5zXjJqDwD2EFpadReG2UqW?si=JFLQTj12Tca-1GiJ2K69BQ&utm_source=copy-link