Author Archives: Ellie B.

You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston

Posted on by
2

This novel tells the story of a college student named Lylah. Lylah’s parents died unexpectedly on Valentine’s Day two years ago. Lylah still decided to go to college and had made a great group of friends. One night as Lylah and her friends were getting ready for a party, they hear their doorbell ring. No one was outside but they had left a note. The note said “roses are red, violets are blue, watch your back, I’m coming for you”. They all believe it is a prank and laugh it off. Except the next morning, one of them is missing and a new note arrived saying “your turn”. After discovering their friend dead, Lylah and her friends become terrified that one of them was going to end up dead next.

This novel tells a captivating story and is a quick read. I found myself interested throughout the entire story. You will be frightened for the characters and also just as desperate to figure out who was the killer. The ending is a surprise and is definitely worth reading the entire book. I enjoyed following Lylah’s journey. I definitely suggest reading this novel if you enjoy reading a thriller and would like a book that is not too long.

-Ellie B.

You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.

The Cellar by Natasha Preston

Posted on by
6

The Cellar by Natasha Preston is a novel about a teenage girl who is abducted by a man with psychological issues. The girl’s name is Summer; she has a great life with a loving boyfriend. One night, she was out walking alone when she was captured by the man who called himself Clover. Clover had an obsession with flowers and women. He spent much of his life after his mother died trying to “collect” his pure flowers. He would abduct young girls and force them to live in a cellar and call them his flowers. The girls who lived in the cellar had been there for years or months. They were giving up on escaping. Summer who became Lily was confident her boyfriend would come to find her. However as days turned into months, she felt her identity as Summer slip away and had lost all hope.

This novel is a fantastic read; it keeps you on your toes the entire time. I find that the backstory for Clover is fascinating and shows how he ended up becoming a monster. His underlying insecurities from his mother’s treatment of him as a child prove how people often learn their behavior from others. This novel also brings to light the importance of friendship, family, and courage. It shows how women can come together in the roughest of times and support each other. Despite the dark story behind Clover, it still highlights the goodness we have in this world.

Overall, I recommend this novel to people who enjoy stories related to mystery, psychology, and friendship.

-Ellie B.

The Cellar by Natasha Preston is available as a free download from Overdrive.

In 27 Days by Alison Gervais

Posted on by
4

The novel is about a young teenager who goes back 27 days in time to save a classmate from committing suicide. The teenage girl named Hadley never knew the boy named Archer who took his own life but felt compelled to help save his life. She goes through a lot in order to get closer to this boy. She uncovers secrets about him and learns more about herself.

I love this novel for multiple reasons. The first is that the story is very compelling and the characters are relatable. Many people have been through traumatic experiences and would probably feel the pain Archer was going through. People are lonely all of the time and no one seems to notice. I relate to Hadley, the girl who tries to stop the boy from committing suicide. She is a very compassionate character who goes out of her way to help this classmate that was a stranger not too long ago. I truly felt like I understood her feeling of emptiness when he was gone, guilt for not trying to talk to his freshman year and dedication to saving him from taking his own life where people cared about him and needed him.

The second reason is because suicide is a prevalent issue that needs to be addressed in 2020. This novel shows the importance of looking for suicidal signs and the possible ways people can help prevent others from taking their own life. Many people are very lonely and need to have someone to talk to. I think that this novel is an example of what could happen if we as a society were more inclusive.

-Ellie B.

If you or someone you know has discussed or thought about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.