Messenger

Hoo boy, I knew I was in for it when, around the 17th chapter I was going to DNF and I thought “let me check Goodreads”. Dudes, this book is getting 4 or 5 stars OR 1 star. People are either digging it or hating it. I did both, so I'm going to land smack in the middle. Let me begin by saying this is not a good read. It has elements that reminded me of good reads. The women coming into their special powers at a certain age and then learning to deal with said power. Can we say [b:Savvy 2133795 Savvy (Savvy, #1) Ingrid Law https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1440107238s/2133795.jpg 2596626]Savvy? Or how about the recently released (and amazing) [b:Labyrinth Lost 27969081 Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas, #1) Zoraida Córdova https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456428801s/27969081.jpg 42472829]Labyrinth Lost? Still, I was on board with Aunt Odie. I wanted this to work out. I kept reading. But then....things! Things started to happen that annoyed the shit out of me. First, everyone's vernacular pops in and out willy nilly (finally, at the end of the book I discovered they only have accents on two words in this part of Florida, apparently). Second, no one talks to anyone else. Half of the book is Evie begging people to tell her things. And they will not. Not until it's too late and heavy handed! Finally, can I get an amen, is the character of Buddy not the most stalkery, future rapist 15 year old you have ever read in your entire life? EVERY interaction with him is him saying “Hi, Evie” and then trying to put his mouth on hers. He is outside her window or on her front porch in the dark. Apparently, he has been with every girl in school (they are 15) but Evie doesn't care because he only has eyes for her. Just, you know, all of the time. Well, folks. I'm charmed, I don't know about you. If you need more convincing, how about this bit from page 189:” ‘You look so pretty breathing like that,'“Buddy said. I tilted my head. “I always breathe like this,” I said. He nodded. “I know.”‘Wow. Sexy. I was more afraid for Evie that she found THIS to be exciting and “love” then the fact thatshe was being visited by dead people. The reality is, for an 11 year old this is a super mild supernatural story. It does not belong in YA, as Evie is 15 but acts waaaaaaay younger than that. It sort of positively shows a blended family, I liked the Paulie character, I like Aunt Odie, and I liked Evie. I just thought she was really immature. What I didn't like is a pretty long list. I already covered my top 3. I can say I'm super sad because I have read Williams before and her other work is of much higher quality than this.