A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw (Adult Fiction Book Review)

A History of Wild Places
by Shea Ernshaw
Published by Atria Books
on December 7, 2021
Genre: Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 368 pages

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Synopsis:
Travis Wren has an unusual talent for locating missing people. Hired by families as a last resort, he requires only a single object to find the person who has vanished. When he takes on the case of Maggie St. James--a well-known author of dark, macabre children's books--he's led to a place many believed to be only a legend. 

Called "Pastoral," this reclusive community was  founded in the 1970's by like-minded people searching for a simpler way of life. By all accounts, the commune shouldn't exist anymore and soon after Travis stumbles upon it... he disappears. Just like Maggie St. James. 

Years later, Theo, a lifelong member of Pastoral, discovers Travis's abandoned truck beyond the border of the community. No one is allowed in or out, not when there's a risk of bringing a disease--rot--into Pastoral.
Unraveling the mystery of what happened reveals secrets that Theo, his wife, Calla, and her sister Bee, keep from one another. Secrets that prove perfect, isolated world isn't as safe as they believed. 



My Thoughts:

Travis Wren has the special ability to see a person's life and history when touching an object that belongs to them. With this ability, he is able to help find missing persons from time to time, which is how he ended up on the case of Maggie St. James, a missing children's book author that disappeared. Armed with only a few clues of where she was last seen before disappearing, Travis Wren sets off to find Maggie, dead or alive. 

And then the story switches to the isolated, secret community of Pastoral nestled deep in the wilderness, where the people believe the outside world is infected with 'rot' so no one ever leaves. One community member, Theo, who has been defying the leaders' rule about not traveling down the 'road' that would take him out of Pastoral, finds Travis Wren's truck and clues that he was headed for their community, which prompts Theo and his wife, Calla, to question the communities existence altogether. 

A History of Wild Places is a darkly mysterious read with lots of plot twists that I definitely did not see coming. The community of Pastoral is very cult-like, with a leader that promotes the threat of a terrible sickness if anyone leaves. 

The beginning of this book really drew me in. It starts like a true crime mystery with the possibility of a hint of horror, with Travis Wren and his ability headed deep into the woods following subtle signs that lead the way.
But then it completely switched characters, setting, etc, to give us the story from inside the reclusive community of Pastoral. I lost interest a little bit at that point and had to switch to audio to keep it going but once Theo and his wife start to catch on to the mystery of Travis Wren visiting their community, everything comes together splendidly.
I'm glad I didn't give up on it because that twist ending blew me away! 

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Hidden Bodies (You #2) by Caroline Kepnes (Adult Book Review)

Hidden Bodies
by Caroline Kepnes
(You #2)
Published by Atria/Emily Bestler
on February 23, 2016

Genre: Adult, Thriller

Length: 439 pages

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Synopsis:

Joe Goldberg is no stranger to hiding bodies. In the past ten years, this thirty-something has buried four of them, collateral damage in his quest for love. Now he's heading west to Los Angeles, the city of second chances, determined to put his past behind him. 

In Hollywood, Joe blends in effortlessly with the other young upstarts. He eats guac, works in a bookstore, and flirts with a journalist neighbor. But while others seem fixated on their own reflections, Joe can't stop looking over his shoulder. The problem with hidden bodies is that they don't always stay that way. They re-emerge, like dark thoughts, multiplying and threatening to destroy what Joe wants most: true love. And when he finds it in a darkened room in Soho House, he's more desperate than ever to keep his secrets buried. He doesn't want to hurt his new girlfriend--he wants to be with her forever. But if she ever finds out what he's done, he may not have a choice. 

My Thoughts:

If you're not familiar with or haven't read the first book in this series, You, which is now a hit show on Netflix, you might want to avoid this sequel review because there may be some spoilers.

At the end of You, Joe Goldberg was ready to move on and get over Beck with the brand new Amy, but just when everything seemed absolutely perfect she took off for LA to be an actress.

Not willing to let her go, he upends to the West Coast on a mission to track Amy down. Once there, he works his way into the lives of his neighbors, creating a network of eyes that might help him find who he's looking for. But he's so caught up in this new world that he starts creating a new life without Amy and that's when he meets Love Quinn. He's convinced she's the one and he wants to spend the rest of his life with her, but his past keeps coming back to haunt him.

I enjoyed being back in Joe's headspace, even though it's a pretty disconcerting place to be. Hidden Bodies was just as good writing-wise, but I did kind of feel like the plot was all over the place for a while and not as intense as You. Likewise, I didn't love the setting and it didn't make a lot of sense to me for Joe to get caught up in the lives of celebrities, but by the end, I was okay with where it went and really just hope we get another one!

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You by Caroline Kepnes (Adult Book Review)

Title: You

Series: You #1

Author: Caroline Kepnes

Publisher: Atria / Emily Bestler Books

Publication date: September 25, 2014

Genre: Adult, Thriller

Length: 424 pages

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Synopsis:

When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card. 

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she'll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight--the perfect place for a "chance" meeting. 

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck's life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself waiting in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck's perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way--even if it means murder. 

My Thoughts:

I feel like I need to shake this one off and pretend I never read it but at the same time I know I won't get it out of my head easily. 

This was one of the most disturbing books I've ever read and how fitting that it mentions American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis in it. You is on a different level but it definitely left me feeling similarly unsettled. 

Joe Goldman runs a bookstore where he meets Guinevere Beck for the first time. He stalks her on social media, quickly inserts himself into her life, and does everything he can to stay there. 

You is written in the second person, meaning the main character, Joe, is talking to you, about you; you being Beck. I haven't encountered this point of view often so it was a bit refreshing. It was executed very well and I couldn't help but get pulled into the mind of Joe, oddly sympathizing with him when things don't go his way, all the while knowing from the beginning that Joe is a predator. A dangerous one. Being in his mind was no light thing. 

We learn up front just what Joe will do to get into Beck's good graces, and once he's there, he will do anything to keep her attention. If the writing and pov weren't so gripping, I probably wouldn't have continued with this book. The subject matter is out of my comfort zone (and boy did it make me uncomfortable at times!) and not my usual genre either, but I couldn't give up on Joe or Beck no matter how unnerving their 'relationship' was. 
I also enjoyed that I never knew what was going to happen next. I kept trying to figure it out but was always surprised (but perhaps I just don't read enough books like this for it to be predictable).

I hear there's a sequel and I'm honestly kind of torn on whether or not to read it. I think I've had quite enough of Joe Goldberg for a while but maybe I'll be in the mood for a thriller again in the future. 
I'm also unsure if I'll watch the tv series adaptation right away. I did watch the pilot episode when it aired and that was the reason I gave the book a chance! 

Content Warning: Lots of adult language, mentions of sex, masturbation, and more. 

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