Cover Image: The Message on the 13th Floor

The Message on the 13th Floor

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Member Reviews

I received this as an ARC in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

It’s taken me a while to figure out how I want to review this book. There were parts I loved and parts I disliked.

The writing was really good & made it an easy read for the most part. The first section of the book that focuses on Meghan’s life I adored. It tackled difficult subjects like mental illness & substance abuse well, & it made it believable that Meghan & her sisters still loved their mother even with all that going on & that their mother still loved them.

But then the paranormal stuff started to happen & unfortunately, I just wasn’t into it. It felt rushed at points which was a shame as the rest of the book was paced so well.

Admittedly, I’m really fussy with anything paranormal in books, so don’t write this off until you’ve read it yourself. These are just my own views.

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I didn’t enjoy this one, unfortunately I couldn’t get into it and really didn’t like the way this story developed.

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I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was intrigued by the cover and descriptions and felt like it would be a great read. As the story progressed, the plot started to feel like it was lacking. The paranormal parts just weren't as interesting enough for me as I thought it would be. I wish that there were more paranormal aspects. I am glad that the main character found answers to what happened with her mom.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Fire & Ice for this ARC.
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I was interested in the title and premise of this book. In the long run, it was a good book. I enjoyed it, but thought that there were parts that could be better.

I liked that it had both paranormal and societal problems that the main character had to deal with.

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I have DNF'd this book at (apparently) 52% of the way in. at 52% of the way, we haven't even come remotely close to any building with 13+ floors, and I'm kind of bored. It's a struggle to keep reading, as it's quite slow. I wonder if maybe some of the world-building/character building could have been removed or moved? I just don't have any desire to keep reading something that I am having to fight to pick up.

That said, the writing is really good so I'm giving it 3 stars, it's just not for me.

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A good YA book that uses an urban myth to explore family dynamics.

The plot explores a teenaged girl's life as stand in mom and authority figure for her younger siblings.

Meg negotiates her last year of high school with many complications - crushing on the cute boy, counting the days to escape her small town, resenting her irresponsible mother, racing toward the stability of a military life after graduation.

Meg's life is derailed by her desperate search for her missing mother.

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Such a great YA thriller! I've already got a copy on order for my 7th grade classroom, as I know my horror-obsessed middle schoolers will LOVE this one! I thought I had it all figured out, but was pleasantly surprised to find out I had no idea what was actually happening! I loved the supernatural vibes, and can't wait to hand this off to some spooky-loving readers!

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5/5⭐️ and 1/5⭐️
Yes, it’s as confusing as it sounds

This book is about an almost-18 year old girl named Meghan. Her mother is a bit of a… mess. With her fair shares of mental illnesses and substance abuse. All the pressure of being a mother is being put on Meghan. But when her mother disappears, her troubles only worsen.

So simply put, i loved, loved, loooved the first 40% where nothing paranormal happens. Just a girl taking care of her family and looking after clues to find her mother. God, this was fun to read! 5/5⭐️ no doubt.

But then the paranormal stuff happens… It’s disappointing, boring and simply put: it didn’t do the first half justice.

I’m gonna give it 3 stars just for the beginning and because i think others could like it—since i’ve seen other reviews, and they really like it. I would definitely recommend to read those and just keep this in mind. Don’t let it ruin the book for you.

This is just a little part of my review. If you want to read my full, honest Goodreads review, it’s linked here… somewhere.

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'The Message on the 13th Floor' is a nice book in my opinion. I enjoyed reading it, the pace was good, and the characters were likable. It started great even in showing Meghan's life and making it very believable that even with a mother like hers, she and her sisters still loved their mom (like practically all kids do, even with bad parents), and that their mom loved them despite making the wrong decisions.

Of course there were some bits that could have been better. It would've been better without the instalove, and I would have loved the paranormal activities and spookiness to be paced out better. Now it felt more hurried in the end, as if the thought 'oh right, I started something with that, now I have to finish that storyline' appeared around 85% in. The bits of paranormal and spookiness that were in there were great though, and more of that would have been nice.

This would be a great read in the holiday season, either in a hotel (duh) or at the porch next to a lake.

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“I love you M &M.”

I wanted to read this book since I read the title and see the cover. The synopsis of this book seemed quite interesting to me: an irresponsible and disappearing mother, suddenly disappears for real and her daughter decides to look for her after receiving mysterious messages about where she possibly is.

The first part of the book had a good pace. I liked the way they showed the dynamics of the home and the reality of what it affects to be the daughters of an irresponsible mother. The first mystery messages seemed interesting to me and I was pleased to see how despite coming from an unstable home, the Meghan was able to succeed.

I think the problem was that they kept the same pace from start to finish. I would have liked to see more messages, not only in quantity but in variety. The elements of the elevator and the story behind it seemed somewhat convenient and bizarre. what was the possibility that everything will happen with the ex-girlfriend of the hotel worker? I got a little confused in that part

I would have liked to see a little more depth in the characters. Meghan's love interest was very empty in terms of personality: we did not know much about his relationships with others, hobbies, his activities outside the hotel, etc. I know that he tells Meghan and that she knows but unfortunately we are not Meghan and we do not get to know him as she did.

The last moment between the mother and Meghan seemed emotional to me although I could never fully understand how it ended in that situation. Also, I didn't like the final plotwist very much, I never imagined that that would happen and i know that's a plotwist but i was a bit surprised. I would have liked the culprit to pay for the crime but unfortunately we do not see it happen, so it was a bittersweet ending for me.

I thank NetGalley for this book and giving me the opportunity to read it. My final rate: 3.75/5

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