Virginia
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I was attracted by the dystopian element of the book (well, the cover got my attention first). The story intrigued me right away, and I quickly found myself rooting for the brother and sister. The portrayal of poverty and suppression is vivid and detailed, creating a setting that really pulls you in. The book intertwines themes of identity, heritage, and environmental challenges, offering us readers a lot to think about. However, I found myself wanting a bit more depth on some of these topics—especially the history behind the oppression faced by the Cascabeles. While pieces of the backstory were scattered here and there, they didn't always give enough context to fully grasp what happened. Additionally, some characters showed intriguing complexity but felt absent from the story until specific plot points required them.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thought-provoking dystopian stories with relevant and important themes.
Good Dirt is beautifully written, with a fluid and captivating style that immediately drew me in. Her prose is immersive, making it easy to connect with the story from the very first page. While I don't usually enjoy books with multiple points of view, I found that they added richness and complexity to the narrative. However, they also slowed the pacing at times, which made certain sections feel a bit drawn out. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the story—its themes, characters, and emotional depth kept me engaged until the very end. Wilkerson has crafted a compelling and thought-provoking read that lingers long after finishing.
Thanks to the publisher for the e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is a perfect “beach read”. The story was light and enjoyable and it provided great escapism.
It felt a bit slow at the beginning, then it picked up the pace in the central part of the story becoming a page-turner. I truly enjoyed the honeymoon part and it was so well-structured. Plus, there were some funny scenes that made me giggle a lot. However, the last part of the book was less captivating and I got a bit frustrated with the main character, Annie.
Overall, I liked Annie's development from being a people pleaser to a more independent person that is finally able to say what she wants.
I recommend the book to anyone looking for an easy read that allows you to immerse yourself in a dreamy holiday in Australia.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and was in no way, shape, or form convinced or coerced into writing a positive review. These are my honest thoughts.
I enjoyed reading it and I recommend it to people that want a feel-good story that is perfect to read during summer break.
Notes:
Weston and Tessa are at the center of the story, with chapters divided equally to represent each side. I liked the fact that we could read about Weston's past, but what about Tessa's? I believe her character was way less developed. I would have liked a bit more depth of her story, with flashbacks that would have given some insights of her own past experiences to balance the flow of the dual POVs.
I was drawn to this book for the mystery aspect of the story, but it was not the main theme of the book. I enjoyed the book to some extent, but I found some parts a bit too clichè for me. I believe many will enjoy this book very much, but I think I wasn't its ideal target reader.
I would recommend this book for whoever enjoys YA with some paranormal elements.
Thank you to Netgalley and Beacon Press Limited for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.