great book and I enjoyed the characters growth. Loved the friends and how this all worked out. I enjoyed the characters journey to finding oneself and others. I hope to read more by this author again.

This novel was slow moving and took quite some time to get to the point. The relationship between the two characters seemed a little forced. The story has a decent plot but there was not a lot of meaningful development.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of I’M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE DARK!

Rating: 3/5 stars

Brief synopsis: Aria can see ghosts. Kind of. Everything’s been weird since she started drinking a special tea, twice a day, for the past few years. She dreams of them, but can’t really see them anymore. When an old rose bush, planted there for decades, suddenly dies, Aria knows something paranormal is going on, and she knows it’s something to do with ghosts.

I had a hard time with this book. With the stilted writing style and molasses-slow plot, I was uninterested most of the time, even with the concept being as intriguing as it is. The writing style felt super dull with not a lot of variety in sentence lengths, which leads to the stilted feel. The way it was told was confusing, often having anecdotes run on for a little too long or that weren’t explained enough for me to understand. I think I started understanding it around the 45% mark. The only thing I found super interesting was that descriptions of the “grey”, the ghost land Aria begins to see when she stops taking her tea. The beauty of the wisterias shined through the rest of the average writing.

This book should’ve ended at Chapter 57, where everything was tied up nicely and felt complete. But no, we had one or two more chapters and an epilogue that felt thrown in for dramatic effect only. It was a subpar ending and a horrible addition to the rest of the book. It opened the book up for a sequel, but honestly I would’ve been happier with this being a standalone and having some things unanswered.

The romance between Aria and Derek felt super forced. Like, yes Aria helped Derek out when he was facing certain death, but I was hoping that they would just become best friends again. Them dating by the end didn’t feel right with how the plot progressed, even with Aria’s romantic feelings pre-possession and pre-friend breakup.

If a sequel does come for this book, I’m not sure if I’ll read it. The negatives outweigh the positives, and I’m just not interested in reading more than I already have.

If you want to try a unique paranormal YA book, give it a shot. Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley!

When I first saw this cover I was hella excited. I really enjoyed Neilson’s first novel even though there was some triggering stuff in there for me, so I was super excited to see her second book come out. I enjoyed this one as well. Her writing style just always sucks me in!

Ok so this one was a lot weirder than her first novel. That one also deals with a ghost, but it was more so just weird things happening and there was some possession. This one also had possession it was more present? Idk. It just seemed like in this novel she let her ghost go and be crazy when before it was kind of guarded. I mention this because this time was actually really scare. The two personalities of the person he possessed and the kid were different enough that it was actually really creepy when it started going back and forth. I say that was the weirdest, but really it was the coolest lol

The writing style of this one was a little weird tho. It immediately opens on her denying her tea that her mother’s been forcing her to drink. She doesn’t explain why she’s having reservations or why she’s decided she’s done. And then all these things that she’s started seeing that no one else sees and it’s like we were just thrown in there? I wasn’t a huge fan of that. I would have liked a bit more back story first and then went into that scene.

The part of her writing style that drew me in tho was the descriptions of things. Like the rose bushes and the trees and the way Derek was acting and all that. I just got lost in the descriptions. It was like watching a movie. I could smell the tea and everything. She just has really pretty writing. It just needs to be molded in a different way? I don’t know how to explain it.

The rest of it was the mystery, but I don’t want to say anything to spoil it. It didn’t actually feel like a mystery tho. It was a bit repetitive in that department actually. I wish there had been more red herrings or other clues rather than just having the same ones about Derek or her “gift” over and over. Especially since she doesn’t even know what it means. It wasn’t exactly boring, but it wasn’t my favorite part of this book either tho.

This was my favorite of her books, but it still wasn’t my favorite in this genre. I’ll still mostly definitely be recommending this, but it just wasn’t my favorite. Just because it wasn’t my favorite, I’m not going to deny it being someone else’s! Neilson is super nice and so are her books! Give them a try!

I really wanted to love this one. Sadly, the pacing was off and I felt it was a tad to slow. I look forward to the next book from this author as the writing is still very beautifully done.

I’m Not Supposed To Be In The Dark is a beautifully written book. Two former teenage friends who are both struggling through their own grief and finding themselves.

Aria’s family has hidden something that they know about her for her entire life. But as she’s gotten older it’s harder to hide it and she knows she can see the dead. Aria’s ex best friend Derek has been acting weirder than he usually has. Although they’re not friends anymore, she still watched him. When Derek suddenly starts being friendly again with her one minute and then back cold the next Aria believes something is wrong with him. Something is wrong because Derek’s is possessed by a young man who died but can’t pass over. Can Aria use her power of seeing the dead to help get the spirit that it possessing Derek to its resting place.

This is the first paranormal book I’ve read in a while and my first read by Riss M. Neilson and it did not disappoint. Did you see the gorgeous cover? That’s truly what sucked me in without even knowing that the book was about. It was spooky and page turning. I couldn’t put it down. Family secrets, working the grief of the death of a parent as a teenager, learning who you really are, friendships and found family were important spacers in this book. In my opinion, it was just enough romance for a YA book. I enjoyed the book and cannot wait to read more from this author. (Please check trigger warnings before reading)

This was such a beautiful, mesmerizing, and haunting paranormal YA romance. I finished it a few days ago and I’m still thinking about it. The ending gave me goosebumps. And the cover??? Too good.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

I’m Not Supposed to Be in the Dark is a supernatural dark YA novel with a hint of romance and self-discovery. Aria is entering her senior year in high school and a lot is changing for her. Being able to see into the spirit world she notices some odd happenings in her neighborhood. A rose bush mysteriously dissolves to ashes, her ex best friend is sneaking around, and her grandfather is being incredibly secretive. Upon noticing, Aria decided to make her own path and goes on a journey of self-discovery and helping others.
I found I’m Not Supposed to Be in The Dark to be a page turner. I became fully invested in cast of characters, and enjoyed the dynamics between Aria, Derek and Bri. There is a fair bit of angst but not overwhelming it fits with the typical dynamics with in the characters age range. It does talk about parties and underage drinking, however, again well with in the scope of the setting. It stays true to the high school experience. Over all I enjoyed it quite a bit and would recommend it to my own children.

I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley and am leaving this review of my own volition.

I'm Not Supposed to Be in the Dark was eerie and thrilling, with the perfect amount of slow-burn romance. Aria's story was interesting, and I enjoyed figuring out the mystery of who she is with her. Both Marcus and Derek stole my heart, and the ending was a definite tear-jerker. Although it took me a while to warm up to Bri, she absolutely pulled through at the end, and I was rooting for her and Val the entire time.

My only complaint is it felt slow at times, the middle of the book especially. Other than that I loved the characters and the mystery.

4/5 stars

I love books set in my hometown qnd this one is even better because it brings magic to Providence!💙 Aria knows something is different about her qnd that the tea her family makes her drink is supposed to “help” her but when she stops drinking it and a whole other world begins to come into focus she realizes there may be more to her and the world than she understands. Then when her ex best friend/crush starts to act strangely, or one might say possessed, she realizes she is going to have to tap into her powers and her emotions to solve their problems. A beautiful book about the magic around us and the dead’s desire for rest, I love this author and look forward to her next book!

- I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE DARK is a little bit creepy and a little bit romantic, and set in a fantastic world of old secrets and beautifully described magic.
- The writing in this book is lovely - great descriptions of the paranormal elements and also the complicated emotions Aria feels throughout.
- For me, the kids took a little too long to take the problems to the adults who clearly had all the answers. But the ending makes it seem like there might be a sequel on the way, and I'll definitely be checking it out.

THIS BOOK WAS SOOOO GOOD! Definitely recommend it!

It is about 17 year old Aria who can feel and see ghosts, but due to a special tea she's been drinking for years her connection to the spiritual world is severed.
One day, the rosebush of her neighbor (& old bff, Derek's) house dies suddenly, after thriving for decades. It rots and leaves a dying smell but the same day that happens Derek begins to talk to her, after not talking to her for about a year.
Derek's behavior is super weird and Aria discovers he is possessed. Aria is determined to help Derek. as this ghost is killing him slowly. But in saving Derek, what will this mean for Aria?

So, I usually don't like YA fantasy novels but this did not feel like that at all. There's a bit of romance and suspense mixed in so it all blended into the perfect mixture.
I liked how Aria took control of her body and just the whole story in general.
This felt like realistic fantasy (which doesn't make sense!) but it was fantastical in the fact it dealt with ghosts and the spiritual world but felt like it could be something that occurs every day.

I definitely suggest adding this to your TBR list.

Thank you to the publishers for this ARC as well as an amazing beautiful finished copy,
It was nice having the finished copy to compare it to the ARC.

I had high for this book, but it didn't work in my favor at all. I found the story to be slow and the pacing was off as well.

I'm Not Supposed to Be in the Dark was certainly an interesting read. I liked the idea of tea helping to block Aria out from the spirit world and her trying to reconnect with her Lolo at his eccentric shop. When the story was focusing on that I really enjoyed it. I felt like the pacing was really slow and sometimes the story felt jumbled and that it took quite awhile into the story before anything super interesting happened. This made it really hard to read for me. Overall I think readers who don't mind a slow paced supernatural read will enjoy this one but it just wasn't for me.

I read this is nearly one sitting, I didn't want to put it down. There are so many things to love but my favorites were how magic was an inherent part of culture and life, the friendship between Aria and Bri and how even when things grew tense between them, they found a way back together and then forward, and how much love there was in the family dynamics even when Aria learned the truth and chose a different path than what her family wanted for her. I appreciated that I didn't immediately know what drove Aria and Derek apart and it was worked up to. We got a chance to know these characters now and see who they were before and it made knowing so much more heartbreaking. It was so satisfying watching Aria and Derek working their way back to each other. Watching Aria reach others and empathize with them, especially Marcus, nearly had me in tears. I wish I could make myself forget this book so I can have the experience of reading it again for the first time.

Description
Seventeen-year-old Aria Cayetano dreams of ghosts. She used to see them too, but thanks to a special tea brewed by her grandfather, Aria’s connection to the spirit world has been severed. Until a decades old rosebush suddenly dies across the street, convincing Aria that something supernatural is happening in her neighborhood.

She aches to investigate it, but the rosebush sits on her ex-best friend Derek Johnson’s front lawn, and she can't question him because he hates her now. Aria doesn't know what drove them apart years ago, but she does know Derek's been acting strange for weeks, sneaking out in the dead of night to who knows where.

Then, days after the rosebush dies, Derek begins speaking to her again. At least Aria thinks it’s him. Until she discovers there’s a ghost inside of Derek that will take his life if it doesn’t find what it’s searching for. As Aria and Derek race to uncover the mystery, another kind of magic takes them by surprise: love. But Aria has to decide how far she’s willing to go to save Derek, especially when helping the ghost means tapping into whatever the tea has buried inside of her.

Bone-chilling and spellbinding, I’m Not Supposed to Be in the Dark is an alluring ghost story that’s about exorcising the past to find a future to believe in.

My Review
Layers on layers on layers on layers. Add this one to your reading list and enjoy.

Aria has a daily tea ritual at the insistence of her mother and grandfather to keep away the spirits but she doesn't understand her full connection to the dead. One day she notices a rosebush burning across the street at her childhood friend Derek's home. That same night she experiences strange visions and has questions she can't answer. Though she and Derek had a falling out he suddenly starts talking to her again and she decides to stop drinking the tea as she tries to piece together forgotten memories. When she discovers he's possessed, she has to figure out how to send the ghost to it's finally resting place.

One of Riss M Neilson's strong points is definitely imagery and she includes beautiful descriptions that even a less visual reader such as myself can appreciate. It made the world feel more realized and real.

While I liked Aria and Derek's friendship and appreciated their connection at times it felt like the romance aspect was a little forced. And with the ghost in the middle of their relationship and constantly switching in and out during intimate moments it was a little awkward at times. Since this was marketed as a paranormal romance I thought it would be more like the paranormal romance of the early 2010s where the romance starts sooner and is more at the forefront.

It was nice to get a YA where the family is present on page and the main character isn't weathering the storm completely alone. Aria's mother works a lot but she still checks in with her, she still raises concerns when she needs to and even though she doesn't have magic she still tries to protect her. She is also very close with her grandfather and we see them not only working together on herbal work but also cooking together. This is a story where the main character is multiracial but the story doesn't center around how hard it is to be apart of different worlds.

Seventeen-year-old Aria Cayetano dreams of ghosts. She used to see them too, but thanks to a special tea brewed by her grandfather, Aria’s connection to the spirit world has been severed. Until a decades old rosebush suddenly dies across the street, convincing Aria that something supernatural is happening in her neighborhood.

I'm torn on where to start my review. I guess I should start with all the positives. The blurb definitely hooked me, even though this isn't my usual genre that I read. The friendships in the story are beautiful and amazing to read about. The ending was wrapped up nicely and even gives us a little to work with for more in a series, if such a thing happens. There is a little romance mixed in, but it's not the point of the book.

My biggest thing was that it was very hard to get into the story in the beginning. I haven't read any other books from Riss, so her writing style wasn't easy for me to warm up to. It took several chapters for me to finally get used to it and start to get into the story. I don't think the pacing helped. By the time, I was fully invested in the plot and how it would end, over half the book had been read. So, I would recommend that you not give up early on this because the payout will be worth it. I would absolutely read more about Aria, her gift, and her world.

INSTBITD follows Aria Cayetano, a seventeen-year-old girl who can see ghosts. Many details of her ability are common knowledge to everyone in her family, except for Aria herself. The special tea blend her Lolo (grandfather) has been making for her since she was young is a staple of her daily routine, but she finds that it’s made her connection to the spiritual world, and to herself, more difficult to cultivate. Aria goes on an adventurous, and, at times, harrowing journey to learn more about herself and the merging of reality and her dream world through helping her ex-best friend and neighbor, Derek Johnson, handle the ghost that has taken over his body and life.

This novel taps into a wide variety of themes and topics that arise as Aria races against the clock to get to the bottom of her friend’s possession and the confusion she’s always felt about her dreams. Aria deals with the grief from both the loss of a parent and the comfort of a dear friendship; complex relationships with blood and found family; a severed connection to an intense spiritual connection; and the usual pains that come along with being a teenager who is struggling to gain more agency and direction in their life.

It’s been a while since a book has outright made me cry - and I mean like tears hitting my page/screen in my feelings cry - and this book managed to do it more than once! Neilson writes about loss, grief, and spirituality with an intense tenderness and care that radiates off the page. I also really love the progression of the youthful romance in the story. Nothing about it feels forced or too sudden, and the characters genuinely love one another as friends first, so it makes it all the more sweet.

This was an attention-gripping read that had me on a rollercoaster of emotions from the first page. The horror and paranormal aspects of the story are also well done and left me wanting to know so much more. The book ends with an intriguing cliffhanger that I think will lead itself nicely to a sequel. This was my first Neilson read, and certainly won’t be my last. An enthusiastic 4.25🌟

The premise of this book seems really interesting, it reminds me a lot of "The Dead and the Dark" by Courtney Gould, so fans of that one should definitely check this one out. I requested this because I thought I might still be in my YA paranormal thriller era, and unfortunately I think I may have grown out of that phase. The writing felt really clunky and I didn't feel much of an urge to keep reading.