From the very first page I was intrigued by Cora's story and throughout the book I kept wondering if she could really see ghosts or if it were only fragments of her imagination. Apart from the creepy and slightly horror aspects, I truly loved how the authors got me doubting the main character myself. I felt like I was inside Cora's head, not sure about what was real and what imagination. And lord, did I hate some of the other characters. Not because of how they were written, but because I felt Cora's pain and sadness. It felt real, like I was there. Like a ghost watching it all happen without being able to do a thing.

I do recommend looking up trigger warnings when it comes to this story since there is a lot of heavy content. Part of me was bugged by this. I am a bit over a lot of shocking and triggering events happening in books that have a certain horror amount. I always keep a list of content warnings to add to my reviews and at some point I thought to myself: there are only a few more triggers needed and the standard horror trigger list would be complete. Well, even those triggers came.

I do feel like some of the heavy subjects were honest and not just added to make this a horror/thriller. However on that aspect, this book wasn't super refreshing to me. It got me into this 'slump' thinking I already knew how the book would end. Just like any other horror story would... but lord was I wrong about that? I won't say too much about the ending so I won't spoil anything for anyone but I definitely liked it! I loved how I was taken by surprise and shown that one aspect of a book (or therefore a character) doesn't mean you know everything about the book (or therefore a character).

I also highly recommend reading the author's note. It's not something I do a lot, but this time I wanted to know what was behind this book. A story filled with pain and sadness, but also hope and joy. Which is a rare thing to see within this genre. This author's note brought tears to my eyes. Not everything in my and the author's lives was similar, but I too was bullied, I too turned to writing as my escape. Somehow I could sense that in this book. I think when someone is able to bring a message without explicitely writing it out in the story, the story has succeeded.

I would like to thank David W. Wright and Sean Platt for creating this story. I would also like them, Sterling & Stone and NetGalley for giving me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free, electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
“Emily’s List” is a co-written YA indie novel by authors Sean Platt and David Wright. Both authors have other indie novels under their belt, but this novel flows smoothly, and the co-writing is on point.
Sixteen year old Cora Grey is new to town, hoping to start over with her mother after the tragic death of her father. But Cora feels even more out of place than she did in her hometown of California, with the same groups of bullies who tease her for the same reasons; her OCD that causes uncontrollable tics, her anxiety and depression, the fact that she is biracial, and the fact that she is, just, Cora. Finally though, Cora meets Emily, a home-schooled goth teenager with just as many problems as Cora herself. The two are just beginning to form a friendship when Cora realizes that Emily needs her help with something sinister- Emily has a “list” and she wants Cora’s help enacting revenge on all of the people on it. Is Emily’s friendship worth Cora’s help? And what else is Emily hiding?
“Emily’s List” is a paranormal “Thirteen Reasons Why”, as Emily seeks to harm those who bullied her, seeking Cora’s understanding through Emily’s personal journals. Young Cora is the perfect teenage protagonist; full of angst, debilitating self-esteem issues and mental health struggles that, among others, cause her to have facial tics. There is an instant connection with Cora right away, and any reader, teenager or otherwise, will find their kindred spirit in the lonely and misunderstood young woman.
The story is narrated from Cora’s perspective, cleverly introducing readers to the questioning self-talk that Cora’s mental health issues present. Although it takes place in one time frame, we get snippets of Cora’s past, including the death of her father, over the course of the novel and finally, by the ending, all questions had been answered.
“List” will definitely strike a chord with teen readers, forming a sense of camaraderie amongst the lonely misfits who feel misunderstood, and the paranormal angle is a unique twist.

I liked this, I was not sure about reading a teen’s POV but it was done really well. I thought the story was perfectly paced and atmospheric. I felt strongly for Cora and her struggles.

Firstly I want to say a big thank you to NetGalley, the authors and Sterling & Stone for allowing me the opportunity to read Emily's List.
Secondly, please check your triggers. This book has heavy content. Suicide and self harming. Abuse. Pill misuse.
About 47% in there appeared to be an almost rape. Talks about rape and underage photographs being taken.
Racism. Bullying.
The writing is very young adult, however, because of the heavy content, I would not recommend anyone under 18 reading it.
This book follows Cora who suffers from anxiety and depression. She also displays OCD tics such as constant blinking, which is something she is bullied for. Cora has dark skin which is mentioned a couple of times in the book to highlight racism and bullying that she experiences.
In this book, the authors did a good job of showing what it's like to be an anxious teenager. As someone who has suffered anxiety myself, I felt her pain. Cora uses her inner voice a lot to showcase how her anxiety affects her, which is spot on.
What I was going to rate this book went up and down for me. First it was 5 star, then 4 star, then 3 star now 4 star.
There were a fair bit of unnecessary scenarios in the book that did have me a little bored but it eventually picked up again.
I would have loved to see more done with Emily's actual list and I actually would have loved to read more about Alice's character. I felt like she could have been such a good character to read about which seems like a missed opportunity.

In summary, the book was good and touched on what the authors intentions were for the book. The ending was also interesting and I did like it.
Thank you again

I was expecting a bit more of a spooky/thriller vibe and this was more coming of age with ghosts, but it was a good book! Cora was very realistically depicted as a sufferer of anxiety, depression, OCD, etc. Unfortunately, her bullies were realistically portrayed as well. I actually really liked Emily, I got why she did what she did, even if it was the wrong decision. That's why things like good and bad are never so easy to pick out. The one thing I wish is that we got to see more of Lilith and she was more of a villain in that aspect, but in the end Cora's villain was herself and that was well done. I enjoyed reading this fast-paced, brutally honest, ghostly book!
Warning: many triggers in this book, check them out accordingly.

This was another good book to read to kick off Halloween season. This isn’t just another young adult supernatural thriller, it delves into deeper topics such as suicide, self harm, bullying, racism, child abuse, murder and sexual assault. I would be interested in reading more by these authors. Thanks NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It touched upon many subjects, including friendship, love, grief, mental health, racism, and bullying. Cora, the main character, is struggling after the death of her father. We get to see how her life plays out, after moving to a new town and school. The book is also coupled with paranormal activity. It is not scary. The book is more or less a book about the aforementioned concepts in my first sentence, sprinkled with some mystery. The author did a great job tackling these issues. If you're a fan of Thirteen Reasons Why, you will definitely love this book!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Sterling & Stone for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

⚠️ SUICIDE, SELF-HARM, OCD, MENTAL HEALTH IN GENERAL, LOSING A PARENT ⚠️

Okay, now that that's out of the way, this was a YA horror novel so it wasn't too scary (which I appreciate because I'm a baby sometimes lol!) The descriptions of mental health and self harm and negative self talk was so painfully accurate that I had to go a little slower reading this because I needed my own mental health breaks.

I really enjoyed this read. Gave me "Thirteen Reasons Why" vibes. Very satisfied with the ending!

After the death of her dad Cora and her mom moved from California to Washington. She is nervous about the move because she suffered from OCD and has obvious ticks not to mention she is biracial and moving to a town with only white people. She is hopeful though because it can’t be as bad as it was at her previous school. She was bullied and only had one true friend name Chris. When she starts school she meet'sthe popular girls Cassie, Amber and Alice at first she is excited but in the end Cassie will take the place of the bullies Cora left behind. She also meets a girl named Emily while walking in the woods behind her home and finds she is a lot in common with her but nothing makes her happier than when she meets Alex her next-door neighbor Cora has always been able to see spirits but she is still surprised when she finds out that Emily used to live in her home and she killed her self and her parents. Being friends with Emily will come to effect her in negative ways can she figure it out before it’s too late? I thought this was a really good book I am 49 and although this is a teen thriller I still found the twist profound and so worth reading. It has paranormal aspects but they seem authentic to the story and although Cora was friends with a ghost I didn’t roll my eyes one time it was that authentic that great of a book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. I want what those thinking of reading this book that they have self-injury and sexual abuse triggers and also physical abuse. If you can stomach that it is a great read! I want to thank the author and net Galley for this review copy but I am leaving my review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of Emily’s List by David W. Wright in return for my honest review. The book is categorized as YA suspense, but be prepared, the story is dark and disturbing, and wasn’t for me. There are many possible triggers in this novel; topics addressed are depression, OCD, self-harm, bullying and revenge. Please judge for yourself, as I don’t believe that I am the target audience for this novel.

Emily’s List is another good novel about a teenager, Cora, who moves to a new town and deals with bullying. Cora meets a girl named Emily who has a list of people she wants revenge on.

3.5 stars

3.5 stars

As a teenager, change often seems hard and possibly insurmountable, but for Cora, a young girl about to start over in a new school, she has hopes and dreams that this change will be different. Reeling from the death of her author father, a man who wrote macabre tales, she and her mother, move to a new town.

However, sadly the same things she met in her old school will crop up here as Cora becomes the butt of jokes, the receiver of a slew of mean girls taunts, and the unhappiness begins once again. Cora and her father both suffer from OCD and the facial tics and blinking open up Cora once again to ridicule.

Life seems better when she meets a girl named Emily, who suffers from being in a family that abuses her. Emily takes Cora into he confidence and makes her aware of a list she has constructed in which the people who hurt her will be punished. Cora is tempted to follow the list especially because many of the names on the list are the very same people who are persecuting her.

Things become weird and mysterious, as a twist of who Emily really is is introduced. The question is will Cora fall prey to Emily and her desire for revenge or will Cora fight for herself and emerge a better person?

Thank you to Sean Platt and David W. Wright, Sterling and Sons, and NetGalley for a copy of this appealing book that really was able to surprise me with it story line.

Psychological thriller, but also a bit like Thirteen Reasons with the teen drama, ghosts, depression, and teen suicide. It was a slow start, but worth the read. The ending... sad yet feels right. I would recommend this to young adults who have ever felt bullied.
Not my usual story, but the preview sounded good and I couldn't put it down. You'll want to know what happens to Cora and what happened to Emily.

This was a great story, a slow start but worth the read.

Cora and her mother are just starting out in a new town after the passing of her father. Cora is hiding that she can see the ghost of her father and she is experiencing OCD patterns and depression. Being in a new town and trying to make friends Cora doesn't want others from school to know she has spent time in a Mental Hospital. Being the new girl in school isn't always easy and Cora finds that out the hard way. Bullys are always around making someone's life hard, until Cora meets Emily. Can Emily convince Cora to seek out some revenge?

story line: 4/5
character building: 4/5
world building: 4/5
writing style 4/5
genre YA: 5/5
Trigger warnings: depression, teen suicide, bullying, rape, self-harm, mental illness.

This was a book that caught my attention and kept it. The kind of writing style that makes you want to read more and didn't want it to end. Characters were relatable. This is the kind of book I will be recommending to others.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

This was a really great book I went in blind and didn't know what to expect but I was surprised and this was a first by these author's and I plan on checking out more from them in the future

While this was a bit too YA for me, I found myself thinking that it would be too heavy for many young adults. Lots of trigger warnings needed- depression, teen suicide, bullying, rape.

With all that being said, I couldn't put this book down. I found myself wondering what could possibly happen next. I feel like it could have done less with some of the bullying and more of the spooky story, but again, still a great read. Would definitely recommend to others. Thanks Netgalley for this ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for this book. I received an advanced reader copy and could not put it down. I assumed from the name the main character would be Emily. You must read it to discover who she is and what part she plays in this spine-tingling story. Cora is trying to start over after the "accident." How can she when the ghosts of the past will not let her? Perfect fall read! Check it out and see if you can figure everything out.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read this book. Let’s be honest, I don’t think I would have picked it up had it not been on NetGalley. This is a ghost story, and a story about a girl, Cora, who is bullied, has OCD, and some tics. She also killed her father. When Cora meets Emily, they are in a tree house. Cora is a mess. They become friends and it isn’t long before Cora figures out that Emily is a ghost and she wants revenge. This isn’t a book for an early teen, and it’s not exactly YA. I liked it, I think I will think about the themes for a while. Read this with your kid. Talk about the stuff that happens in school.

Love horror for this time of year this book is just what I was looking for will be looking for more from the author thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

Thank you to the publisher Sterling & Stone and @netgalley for the gifted copy. Available now!

This is a paranormal YA book with triggers of self harm, depression, OCD, and Bullying. Pretty decent read, if not a little too YA for me.

Cora and her mother are starting over in a new town after the death of her father. Cora is hiding the fact that she can see the ghost of her father, and that she has OCD and depression. She also doesn't want anyone to know she has spent time in the mental hospital. At her new school, the other students begin to bully her. Then Cora meets Emily, who has a list of people that have wronged her, and those people are the same ones that are bullying her too. Can Emily coax Cora into getting revenge on these people?!

There are some twists and secrets revealed throughout, I read this pretty fast, and if you enjoy dark YA suspense, you should check this out.