DNF at page 102.

I truly gave this my best shot, but it was becoming really difficult to finish.

I'll start with the positives: the premise was fascinating and pretty unique. The main character Maya can hear the thoughts of people around her, which gives her a god-like complex (she refers to herself as god several times). She is also able to think things to other people and thus manipulate/change their perspectives on things. This is especially relevant at the start of the novel, where she helps a fellow patient at the treatment center overcome his depression.

The main perspective is Maya but every other chapter includes perspectives from other characters around her, giving more context to the characters mentioned. I liked this format, but some of the characters had very strange thoughts or were pretty irrelevant to the story.

The biggest reason I stopped reading was that I simply did not care for Maya or the plot. From the premise and the 100 pages I did read, it seems like the main conflict is Maya deciding if she can be with someone or not. She doesn't seem to struggle with her powers, as she is comfortable enough manipulating others' thoughts. She is overly confident (rightly so, but this makes her seem so unrealistic) and the other characters don't feel like real people either. This doesn't feel like a coming of age type of story, nor one where a teen has to come to terms with something big. It's simply "will Maya date this random guy or not" and I had a difficult time becoming invested.

Overall, the premise was very unique and had great potential! I just struggled to become interested in the characters and their lives.

4.3 rounded down to 4/5.

In "Mysterious Ways" by Wendy Wunder, readers are plunged into the world of seventeen-year-old Maya, who possesses an extraordinary gift—or perhaps curse—of knowing everything about everyone with just a glance. Wunder's sharp and heartfelt coming-of-age tale delves into themes of identity, mental health, and the complexities of human nature.

Maya's unique ability sets her apart from her peers, but it also burdens her with the weight of the world. Sent to the Whispering Pines Psychiatric Facility, Maya struggles to navigate her way through a new school and the challenges of forming genuine connections when she knows everything about everyone she meets. However, when she encounters a boy who sparks genuine interest, Maya is forced to confront the limits of her powers and grapple with the question of whether there is such a thing as knowing too much.

Wunder masterfully weaves together a narrative that blends real-world issues with the supernatural, touching on topics such as bullying, social awkwardness, and loss, while also exploring the intricacies of identity, insecurity, and anxiety that are inherent to the teenage experience. The characters in "Mysterious Ways" are richly drawn and memorable, each grappling with their own demons and struggles, adding depth and dimension to the story.

While Maya's abilities may seem fantastical, Wunder grounds the narrative in a relatable and authentic portrayal of adolescence, making it easy for readers to empathize with Maya's journey of self-discovery. The plot is intriguing from the start, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged until the very end.

Although some aspects of Maya's predicament may stretch the bounds of believability, the novel's thought-provoking premise encourages readers to contemplate the nature of knowledge, perception, and the human condition. "Mysterious Ways" is a quick and compelling read that will resonate with fans of contemporary YA fiction, offering a fresh perspective on the complexities of growing up in a world where knowing too much can sometimes be a burden rather than a blessing.

Mya can read minds and knows everything about everyone, which is very overwhelming and causes her a lot of stress. She tries to deal with it while pursuing a normal teen life. It was funny, had good thoughts on mental health, and was well-written.

I received an early copy through Netgalley, but all opinions are my own.

I REALLY wanted to Love this boom. The "idea" of the book really attracted me. But this book was not about what it claimed to be about. It was a pole mic against patriarchy. I read fiction to get away from politics. If I wanted political rhetoric I'll just turn the news back on.
Big ICK for me.

Maya can not only read minds, she knows everything about a person. She can mentally help heal people. Of course this is pretty overwhelming, so she finds herself in a psychiatric facility. Once she gets out, she needs to assimilate back to life and school.

Sounds like a great premise, right? Thats what I thought.

But I couldn't get into this book. I couldn't connect with Maya. And the writing felt like it was written as if an adult were trying to sound like a teenager.

I did read the entire book, which I often will not do if I can't get into it. But this held my interest just enough. But overall, I wanted to like this book more than I did. It was ok.

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

Thank you so much to St Martins Press and Netgalley for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this one was a DNF. I couldn’t connect with the main character and I was just annoyed with the writing. It felt like someone trying to sound hip with the young people but going way overboard. I don’t think teens actually talk like that.

I might just be too old for this one. Hopefully others will love it!

This book felt like a lecture. The worst kind of lecture where you already know everything the teacher is talking about, but you're forced to sit through it because you need the credits.

Off the back, this book repeatedly punches you in the face about patriarchy, girls with severe body issues, self harm, etc. Normally, I'm all for these things! Yes, delve into those issues! But this book is not subtle about it, and any of what's said purely surface level.

It seems like Wunder was trying to show off how nuanced and progressive she is with the kids, but, in reality, it just takes away from the story and characters. It's really insulting to the readers intelligence, especially to teen readers, this book's primary demographic, when the author talks down to them like this.

Anyway, I cannot for the life of me recommend this book. Save yourself the lecture and go engage with other books than this.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I will give my thoughts once SMP addresses their readers with an explanation. Until then, all my reviews will be withheld.

I loved the idea of this book but there was something about all the characters and the way the story was told that made it hard to connect. Maya, the MC, came across far older and seemed so disillusioned with the world. Her intentions were good but felt very manipulative since she was easily able to sway people. The situations she got herself into were zany and not all that realistic. It felt hard to believe the story and I found myself losing interest. I’d still suggest other check out this book but the style and story wasn’t for me. 2.5 star rounded up to 3

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Maya has just been released from the mental hospital and is trying to assimilate back into life as a teenage high school student. Maya is not mentally ill, she is able to read people’s thoughts. In her new school she decides to use her ability to try to help people as she begins to cautiously make friends. I like the premise of the story and it started ok but I didn’t have enough of a reason to finish it, I didn’t care enough about the characters and there was nothing I felt compelled to discover as I read.

Teenager Maya has a gift: She's can look at someone and know everything about them. But when she's placed in a psychiatric facility, she learns that knowing too much can be a curse. Until she's released and finds her gift can be used for good. Powerful!

"Mysterious Ways" is a coming-of-age story about a unique girl who can read people's thoughts. The characters are engaging and the plot is entertaining. Recommended for YA/teens who enjoy quirky characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I want to apologize in advance. This book just wasn't it for me. It's flat out boring and the author is doing too much and trying too hard. The idea of reading people's thought really jumped out at me, and I was eager to read this story. I just didn't like it. Maybe if it wouldn't have taken too long to get to a good part, this might be a different story.

This romance was very great. The setting was just what I wanted. I absolutely loved this book. The writing was great.

Maya is too young to be so jaded, but her extra ability results in her having strong opinions. Hearing thoughts from other people must really shape your character, though. I was a little put off by the political whining because books are my escape from the sounds of the world, and Maya is a teen that shouldn't have such strong political biases. Her strong opinions did play into her actions and expectations. This author did an excellent job of incorporating real issues such as bullying, social awkwardness, mental in stability, delusions, loss and grief - all woven into the story alongside normal teen issues such as developing identity, insecurity, social cliques, and anxiety about the future. The characters are strong and memorable, even the peripherals. One of my favorite Maya characteristic is that she makes band names out of her environment - very quirky and fun and randomly sprinkled throughout the book! Maya's progress through adolescence is characterized by authentic emotion and realistic consequences. The ending was not what I had expected or hoped. However, the story was very engaging, funny at times and evoked a lot of emotion.

This book is amazingly good. I could not put it down. Maya is one of the most unique and original characters I've come across in a long time.I don't want to give away the story, but I know this book will stay with me for a while, and I know that I will be recommending it like mad.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dnf. I enjoy a YA is why I requested it however this starts off so strongly that the world is against Gen Z. I will not be able to relate or enjoy of this book with the politics behind it. Bummed because the idea sounds good!