I received this book for free from Hear Our Voices Book Tours & the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury Published by Simon and Schuster on February 28, 2023
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Horror, Young Adult Fiction / Ghost Stories, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Sexual Abuse, Young Adult Fiction / Thrillers & Suspense / General
Pages: 512
Format: ARC
Source: Hear Our Voices Book Tours & the publisher
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Goodreads
The Haunting of Hill House meets Sadie in this evocative and mind-bending psychological thriller following two teen girls navigating the treacherous past of a mysterious mansion ten years apart.
Daisy sees dead people—something impossible to forget in bustling, ghost-packed Toronto. She usually manages to deal with her unwanted ability, but she’s completely unprepared to be dumped by her boyfriend. So when her mother inherits a secluded mansion in northern Ontario where she spent her childhood summers, Daisy jumps at the chance to escape. But the house is nothing like Daisy expects, and she begins to realize that her experience with the supernatural might be no match for her mother’s secrets, nor what lurks within these walls…
A decade later, Brittney is desperate to get out from under the thumb of her abusive mother, a bestselling author who claims her stay at “Miracle Mansion” allowed her to see the error of her ways. But Brittney knows that’s nothing but a sham. She decides the new season of her popular Haunted web series will uncover what happened to a young Black girl in the mansion ten years prior and finally expose her mother’s lies. But as she gets more wrapped up in the investigation, she’ll have to decide: if she can only bring one story to light, which one matters most—Daisy’s or her own?
As Brittney investigates the mansion in the present, Daisy’s story runs parallel in the past, both timelines propelling the girls to face the most dangerous monsters of all: those that hide in plain sight.
Today is my stop on the Delicious Monsters Book Tour hosted by Hear Our Voices! Check out my review below!
Review
Delicious Monsters is a well-crafted paranormal thriller that will hold you down in your seat until you finish the last page. With dual timelines and point of views, I found myself equally intrigued by the two main characters – Daisy and Brittney. This thriller/horror novel is about surviving abuse, finding truth and gaining a sense of control over one’s life. I felt that this was a medium-paced book, but so intense at parts that you appreciate the attention to the character’s stories as opposed to a sprint through multiple plot lines. At 500 + pages, it’s definitely a thicky thick book. But there was never a time I didn’t feel pulled along wanting to know more.
Horror Fans
Since it’s included in the trigger warnings it can’t be a spoiler to say…the goat don’t make it folks. If you like horror reads, you should definitely check out Delicious Monsters. If you have a weak stomach, all I’m going to say is there are a few parts where you won’t want to be snacking while reading.
Dual POV/Timelines
I thought the dual timelines were well done. Daisy’s story had layers on layers of horrifying discoveries as the plot moved forward. She can see dead people and if she isn’t careful they can hurt her. Her story begins 10 years in the past when the novel begins. It’s her experiences at her Uncle’s mansion, which is absolutely haunted, that catapult Brittney’s story into existence. Brittney and her best friend Jayden produce a web series called, Haunted. They are seeking the truth about what happened to a young Black girl (Daisy) ten years ago in the mansion. The same mansion now known as the “Miracle Mansion” courtesy of Brittany’s mother’s bestselling book. Each time the POV switches the reader gets several new pieces to the puzzle of what actually happened to Daisy 10 years ago.
The Bad Moms Club
Since I just finished reading this book, my current reaction is that the mothers in this book were all bad news. The amount of generational trauma from emotional abuse between mother and daughter was a main source of pain. If Iyanla Vanzant had those ladies in a room together, she would be slamming her hands on the table nonstop. One of the moms barely has any dialogue, but from the descriptions from her daughter, I was sad the girl never applied to be an emancipated minor. It was so much manipulation and selfishness.
Maturity
For educators looking for book recommendations for kids who like horror and thrillers. This is a good bet. But because of some of the topics covered, I would definitely recommend it for older readers. Kids should review the author’s content warnings before reading. The situation between Daisy and her ex-boyfriend is definitely an opportunity to discuss consent when it comes to sexual interactions in a romantic relationship. This book will also be triggering for some because of the sexual, physical and emotional abuse discussed and experienced by some of the characters.
You Might Like This If You Read…
If you were a fan of The Undead Truth of Us or White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson you will probably like Delicious Monsters too.
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