Cover Image: Emily's List

Emily's List

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Member Reviews

"Emily's List" by Sean Platt and David W. Wright exceeded my expectations for a spooky October read. While I initially picked it up for some thrills and chills, I was pleasantly surprised to find a deeper story about acceptance, mental health, and the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship. The authors masterfully weave together elements of horror with thought-provoking themes, leaving me both entertained and introspective. Despite its young adult label, "Emily's List" delves into mature topics that will resonate with readers of all ages. Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions, spine-tingling suspense, and a lingering sense of paranoia long after you've finished reading. Overall, I highly recommend "Emily's List" for those seeking a captivating and thought-provoking spooky read.

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I really enjoyed this book & will definitely hunt down further books by this author! Was very impressed with this story!

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Sean Platt and David Wright are a dynamite combination when it comes to creeping you out.

I thought this would be a good scary book for October reading... It was more than I thought it would be. It was a story about being different, being mentally ill and struggling for acceptance, not from others but from yourself.
It is also about the mother/daughter relationship and how it can be rocky but the love is still there.
That is what I took from it.

Is it a good book for spooky reading? Definitely. I enjoyed it. It gave me a lot to think about too.

Emily's List may appear to be a young adult novel but every word will make you question your thoughts, beliefs, mental health and spirituality.

Not the least of which, Emily's List will leave the hair on the back of your neck standing straight up, your heart pounding and leave you completely paranoid about random noises in your darkened house at night.

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I enjoyed this book. It’s funny how it was able to stick with me. I started reading this book Back in May, got away from reading for quite some time yet I still had this book with me when I picked it back up to finish it.

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EMILY’S LIST – by Sean Platt & David W. Wright – My Heart!

‘After the tragic loss of her horror writer father, Cora is starting over in a new town, at a new school where nobody knows her. Nobody knows about her OCD tics. Nobody knows about her time in a mental hospital. Nobody knows she sees her father’s ghost.’

‘But her new start is shattered when she fails to suppress her OCD tics in class. She finds herself targeted by bullies again. New town, same loneliness and shame.’

After just now finishing EMILY’S LIST, a few minutes after Midnight, my heart and mind are filled with so many emotions.

Sixteen-year-old Cora Gray, the main character, is so relatable throughout this book; the many quirks she has made her more endearing to me as I reflect on what my life was like at that age so many moons ago.

I decided to include a snippet from The Authors Note at the end of the book, which sums up my feelings about this novel perfectly:

EMILY’S LIST – ‘It’s a quieter standalone novel. I wanted to write something that made me feel how Let The Right One In made me feel. Something about friendship, feeling alone, but also about family. It’s the kind of story we love to tell, because these are the sorts of stories that helped me (Dave) through some rough school years. Helped me realize that no matter how much of a freak I felt like, how much I was bullied, I wasn’t alone.

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Sterling & Stone Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of EMILY’S LIST at the request of an honest review.

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This book was very well written but there were quite a few trigger warnings. I was expecting your typical ghost story when diving into this book but I got so much more than that. Sean Platt and David W Wright know what they’re doing when they write a book. The touched on subjects that so many people can relate to and bring attention to important aspects of mental illnesses such as medication that a lot of books that mention mental illness do not do. They made it real. The twist in this book was just wonderful and fully worth the read. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys YA thrillers and horror.

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"Emily's List" is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that delves into the complexities of revenge and the darkness that can consume us. With its compelling characters and twisted revelations, this book keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The story centers around Cora, a girl seeking a fresh start after the tragic loss of her father. Plagued by OCD tics and haunted by her father's ghost, Cora tries to navigate a new school and conceal her struggles. However, when her tics are exposed, she becomes a target for bullies once again. The authors adeptly explore Cora's feelings of loneliness, shame, and the fear of reaching out for help. Her vulnerability and relatability make her a compelling protagonist.

The introduction of Emily, a homeschooled girl with a traumatic past and a list of people who have hurt her, adds a dark twist to the narrative. As Emily enlists Cora's help in seeking revenge on her bullies, the story takes a chilling turn. The authors masterfully build tension, keeping readers guessing about the consequences of Cora's choices and the depths to which revenge can lead.

Platt and Wright excel at character development, crafting multidimensional and flawed characters that come alive on the page. Cora's internal struggles with her mental health and the conflicts she faces as she contemplates taking revenge are portrayed with authenticity and empathy. The complex relationship between Cora and Emily adds depth to the story, as they navigate the blurred lines between justice and darkness.

The pacing of the story is well-executed, propelling the reader forward with its continuous twists and revelations. The authors skillfully weave together elements of suspense and supernatural occurrences, keeping the suspense alive until the very end. The dark secrets and shocking revelations that unfold throughout the story add layers of intrigue and make it difficult to put the book down.

While the book successfully captivates with its suspenseful plot and well-crafted characters, there are moments where the narrative feels slightly predictable. Some of the twists and turns can be anticipated, which lessens the impact of certain revelations. Additionally, a few secondary characters could have been further developed to enhance the overall depth of the story.

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Thank you to Sterling and Stone, Sean Platt, David Wright, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book and opportunity to review.
Emily's list captured my attention from the beginning. I binge read this book in less than a day! I think the authors did a great job of making the main character, Cora, relatable and interesting. In this book we follow Cora, who moved to Washington following the death of her father. This story takes you through Cora's struggles and the struggles and need for revenge of her friend, Emily. I loved everything about this book until I got to the end. If there would have been a different ending, maybe I would've given it the full 5 stars, but instead, I give this book 4/5 stars. Even though I did not care for the ending, I would still recommend this book to friends who are looking for their next good read! Like I said, the rest of the book gripped me from the beginning.

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You know what I find mind blowing?

They call it "Sunday Funday", but what is so fun about having the weekend come to an end and have to go back to work tomorrow? The only thing I enjoy about Sundays is reading and relaxing before the "Manic Monday" sets in.

Well, this morning I was sun burned and had no motivation to get out of bed, so I scrolled through my Netgalley shelf and found this hidden gem, Emily's List.

There is something really special about having two different authors behind one book, you can see the difference insight in both authors thoughts and how they come together to give us a blockbuster hit. Sean Platt and David W. Wright did a remarkable job bringing their ideas together to give us one of the best books I have read in a long time.

Emily's List is dark, character driven and extremely fluid. The writing style played out like a movie right before my eyes. I could literally see and taste everything being described. My emotions were running rampant and I flew through this book. As each secret was exposed, I lost my breath more and more.

This book is going to be well loved and I am so here for it.

check out this little teaser:

All Cora wants is a new start. But when your problems come back to haunt you, how far will you go to exorcise them?

After the tragic loss of her horror writer father, Cora is starting over in a new town, at a new school where nobody knows her. Nobody knows about her OCD tics. Nobody knows about her time in a mental hospital. Nobody knows she sees her father’s ghost.

But her new start is shattered when she fails to suppress her OCD tics in class. She finds herself targeted by bullies again. New town, same loneliness and shame. She’s afraid to turn to her overworked mother, who is already worried about her mental health.

Then Cora meets Emily, the only person who gets her. Homeschooled Emily has suffered serious abuse, and she has a list. A list of people who have hurt her. A list of people that includes Cora’s bullies. And Emily wants Cora’s help in getting revenge.

Can Cora find a normal life by striking back at her tormentors? Or is she being lured into a darkness that will consume the sanity she’s desperately clinging to?

Emily’s List is a character-driven suspense thriller full of dark secrets and twisted revelations, perfect for fans of Thirteen Reasons Why and The Haunting of Hill House.

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Cora and her mother are moving from Las Orillas in California to a small town in Washington after the death of her horror novelist, father.
It’s a small town, far from Las Orillas where you could get [hit by a car or a stray bullet.] Her mom assures her that this will be a good start for both of them, that Cora will like it here. But Cora knows that can’t be true. Her worst fears are confirmed when Kaycee, the prettiest girl in school, and her clique, begin to mock and tease Cora inside and outside class. Cora befriends Alen, her next door neighbour, but he lies to her and hangs out with Kaycee and her friends. Cora has no friends at all until she meets Emily, a home-schooled girl of her age, in a treehouse in the woods behind her house.
Cora’s problems are slowly gaining steam. Best friend Kris, back home in Las Orillas, is back in a relationship with bad boy Tyler, and has no time for Cora. Then Cora comes to know that Emily has been dead over a year and that she killed her parents before killing herself.

The novel is written in the first person present tense PoV of Cora Gray. Right away, we know that Cora is a complicated character. She suffers from OCDs and tics, and is biracial in a town of white folk. She gets back OCD thoughts which she feels compelled to unthink four times, while blinking. She takes a lot of pills, for depression, anxiety, hallucinations and for OCD. And she can see and talk to ghosts. She’s also done time in a mental health institution, after her mum feared that she might harm herself, which she does. She cuts and burns herself. She also has a secret, something her mother might hate her for, if she only knew.

Cora’s inner voice, now supportive, now provocative and belittling, but always emphatic in all-caps was a delight to read, as were her thoughts in italics.

There was a delicious air of the paranormal about this book. It was never outright scary, but it was suggestive enough for middle-grade children.

I didn’t like Alex. He struck me as fake, lying too often and hobnobbing with Kaycee and her friends.

The sections of the narrative that deal with the events in school are described well.

The writing was good. Here’s a sample:
We can’t always see people’s damage. Even the most perfect lives can be facades.

The book could be a trigger for vulnerable individuals on the issue of rape, sexual assault and self-harm.

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Emily's List was an enjoyable read, it explored a mix of issues including bullying, mental health and the paranormal. Cora moved to a new town she was grieving, adjusting to a new town, struggling with her mental health. At times was an unreliable narrator as you tried to unpick whether what was happening was her mental health breaking or paranormal influences. An enjoyable read. I would be interested in reading more from the authors.

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All Cora wants is a new start. But when your problems come back to haunt you, how far will you go to exorcise them?
After the tragic loss of her horror writer father, Cora is starting over in a new town, at a new school where nobody knows her. Nobody knows about her OCD tics. Nobody knows about her time in a mental hospital. Nobody knows she sees her father’s ghost.
But her new start is shattered when she fails to suppress her OCD tics in class. She finds herself targeted by bullies again. New town, same loneliness and shame. She’s afraid to turn to her overworked mother, who is already worried about her mental health.
Then Cora meets Emily, the only person who gets her. Homeschooled Emily has suffered serious abuse, and she has a list. A list of people who have hurt her. A list of people that includes Cora’s bullies. And Emily wants Cora’s help in getting revenge.
Can Cora find a normal life by striking back at her tormentors? Or is she being lured into a darkness that will consume the sanity she’s desperately clinging to?

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

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Cora and her mom move to a new town after her father’s death. Cora feels responsible for his death. Why? At her new school, she hopes that she won’t be bullied as she was in her old school. Cora has OCD, depression, and anxiety. Unfortunately, Cora’s OCD expresses itself by Cora having facial tics. Her classmates sees it and the bullies come out “from the woodwork.” She tries to remain positive when asked to go shopping with the popular girls group at the mall but is stood up. They do appear in the mall where Cora is waiting but act as if they don’t see her. She’s not happy but goes shopping and then calls her mom to pick her up. She doesn’t tell what happened at the mall. She decides Togo for a walk in the forest when she sees a treehouse and decides to go in it to be by herself. When she is going into the treehouse, she discovers a girl all dressed in black like a “goth.” Her name is Emily. Eventually Emily and Cora becomes friends. She finds out about the house that Emily lived in is her house. Emily is a ghost. Emily killed her family and then herself. Why? Cora is upset to discover Emily is a ghost but glad to have her as a friend. When she discovers Emily wants revenge on Cora’s classmate, she doesn’t know what to think. Emily tells Cora that she wants her help in getting her revenge on her classmates. Even though she doesn’t like them, Cora doesn’t want to hurt people. Will Cora help Emily get revenge?

The authors have written aa excellent horror novel that I truly enjoyed! I read it in one night. It is a novel of thrilling mysterious horror with a paranormal twist to it. It has a discussion about mental illness disorders included in the story that gives one a different view of it. It also discusses the importance of taking your medication and what can happen if one doesn’t. This is advertised as a young adult book but I also think it’s a great book for adults to read. Mental illness disorders are really talked about in society. It’s something that needs to be discussed as I think it would bring more understanding of how it is affects mentally ill people.

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This book is so much more than you would expect. I went in thinking I was getting a ghost story and I did to an extent but it was that and so much more. It touched on so many hard hitting subjects and the mental illness rep was done amazing. The story was heartbreaking and inspiring and scary as hell. Gave me the creeps and I will remember this for a long while

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All Cora wants is a new start. But when your problems come back to haunt you, how far will you go to exorcise them?

After the tragic loss of her horror writer father, Cora is starting over in a new town, at a new school where nobody knows her. Nobody knows about her OCD tics. Nobody knows about her time in a mental hospital. Nobody knows she sees her father’s ghost.

But her new start is shattered when she fails to suppress her OCD tics in class. She finds herself targeted by bullies again. New town, same loneliness, and shame. She’s afraid to turn to her overworked mother, who is already worried about her mental health.

Then Cora meets Emily, the only person who gets her. Homeschooled Emily has suffered serious abuse, and she has a list. A list of people who have hurt her. A list of people that includes Cora’s bullies. And Emily wants Cora’s help in getting revenge.

Can Cora find a normal life by striking back at her tormentors? Or is she being lured into a darkness that will consume the sanity she’s desperately clinging to?

Emily’s List is a character-driven suspense thriller full of dark secrets and twisted revelations, perfect for fans of Thirteen Reasons Why and The Haunting of Hill House.

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More teen angst than thriller

Amazon promises a character-driven suspense thriller, but to me, that's a double no. This very much reads like a book targeted at teens and young adults, with only tame suspense and a protagonist that feels not nearly fleshed-out enough to carry the story.

In Cora, we have a main character who suffers from severe OCD, with tics that take a real toll on her life. This is something she shares with one of the authors, David W. Wright, which is most likely why this part of the story reads as convincing and authentic as it does. However, while I do appreciate the mental health rep, I found Cora's non-stop negative self-talk grueling and increasingly difficult to read.

Yes, she has been bullied relentlessly. Yes, she has had a very rough couple of years. So it does make sense that she would have very low self-esteem or even ptsd, but her thoughts are extremely repetitive and we see very little character growth in this regard, up until an ending that suddenly has her change rapidly.

Also, I do not like that this is yet another YA book that seems to demonize medication, at least for large parts of the book. It's portrayed as Cora having only two options: feel horribly depressed without meds, or feel nothing at all with them. While I do believe that overmedication is an important issue, I wish the book would acknowledge that they can also be a literal life-saver BEFORE we get to the very end.

The other characters are a mixed bag. Some are walking clichees, like the mean girls who torment Cora, others are promising but do not seem to fulfill that promise. Like Alex, the boy Cora has a crush on: Some things said about him seem contradictory, others hint at a deeper meaning, only to fizzle out with no further explanation.

The most interesting character is probably Emily, who basically plans her own »13 Reasons Why« with more dire consequences. For much of the book, she seems to be the one pulling the strings in the background, while readers are left to wonder if she is Cora's ally or uses the girl's insecurities against her.

Towards the end, though, a character unimportant thus far suddenly takes center-stage, which to me felt like a cop-out, a way to hastily tie up some lose ends and shift blame. The pacing seems off, too. It's very slow for most of the book, only to feel rushed in the last 10% or so.

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Finished ✔️ Emily’s List by Sean Platt and really enjoyed this one! 🥰

4.5 ⭐️’s
It’s hard to get a new start in life when all your problems come back to haunt you, how far are you willing to go to exorcise them?
Talks about the loss of her horror writer father
Talks about Cora’s time in a mental hospital.
Talks about starting in a new town where no one knows her or the fact she has OCD tics.
Talks about how Cora sees her her fathers ghost.
2 POV
Talks about Emily’s abuse
Talks about Emily being homeschooled
Talks about Emily’s hit list of those who have hurt her.
Subjects in the book can be very triggering so please check trigger warnings
Yes, I’d recommend this book

#DeesReading #DeesRecs #DeesBookRecommendations #BookNerds #BookNerdProblems #BooksNerdsUnited #BookProblems #BookProblems101 #BookNerds101 #Bookworms #BookwormProblems #BooksOfFacebook #DeeTheBookReviewer #BookReviewer #NewToMeAuthor #ReadOfTheDay #BookOfTheDay #SeanPlatt #MysteriesAndThrillers #Mysteries #Thrillers #SuspenseThrillers #EmilysList #NetGalley

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Oh my depressing as all hell trigger fest, Batman. Wow.

How could this book simultaneously entertain me and give me the need for antidepressants and therapy?

Well written and full of emotion, Emily's List is a paranormal drama filled with abuse, mental illness and loss. Some seemed to drag and I stopped reading due to extreme sadness more than once. I did, however, finish it and am glad I did. Great book, albeit a difficult read.

Triggers: child abuse, self harm, mental illness, SA, parental loss, severe bullying and lots more.

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First I love the cover. Second, the story overall was interesting. BUT there are some triggers that may not be suitable for some readers. I would say read with caution.

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This was a good read about a teen wanting a new start. Typical trials and tribulations you go through as a teen with a spooky ghostly twist. I enjoyed this one.

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