SYNOPSIS:
Once, Osgood and Frost were the up-and-coming stars of the burgeoning paranormal investigation TV show craze before a hoax put an end to their friendship, partnership, and television careers. Now, over a decade later, Prudence Osgood is a barely-functioning alcoholic ghosthunter for hire. Her yearning for mystery and adventure is reignited when she receives a cryptic, untraceable email. She can't resist embarking on an investigation that tugs threads winding through a sinister series of disappearances, her former partner's family, and a night twenty years ago when a semi blew a yellow light and nearly killed her. This book has so many things that I love-- ghosthunters, snarky humor, liminal spaces-- but the main standout to me are the characters, especially Osgood. She's so broken and trying so hard and I loved going on this journey with her. (Also, I cannot overstate how lovely it is to have a queer lead in a horror novel.) I can't wait to spend more time with this crew. Quotes/reactions: ((spoilers below)) -- 'How had she allowed her alcohol supply to dwindle to zilch? Oh, yes, money is required to procure alcohol.' Hey look it's me but with Ben & Jerry's. -- ...I want to go to Mary's. -- 'her place of safety where she could come and drink and not be terribly concerned about roving bands of toxic masculinity' *snerk* -- 'Before he left, he made a big production of showing her how to lock and unlock the knob lock and deadbolt.' Zack is the Sarcasm Friend and I love him -- "Yes, Osgood," said Zack. "It's terrific that the girl you took home was old enough to not put you in legal jeopardy." I agree with the sarcasm here. ((also, this is the only part of the book that initially made me a bit uncomfortable. Because while twenty is, yes, a legal adult, the age gap there made me twitchy, especially after Osgood spent much of the book trying to ghost her. It did help that the author made sure there wasn't a blatant power imbalance between them, and that Osgood finally reached a place where she could communicate with Nora honestly)) -- "I don't want to be a fraud." Os. :( -- "Maybe another time." "Maybe." Awww, Nora. -- I was NOT expecting that illustration AHHHHHHH -- "He might decry her drinking and most of the decisions she made while she did so, but he knew why she did it." <3 -- Chronic back pain is no joke (my husband lives with it). I just want to give Os a very careful hug and universal health care. Also, Zack is a sweetheart and such a good friend. -- "Whoa, fucking Angelfire?" *dead* -- The multitude of missing posters is horrifying. -- holy shit Os you should not be driving *at all* -- "Smug isn't a good look, Zack." "Neither is strung out and sleep deprived, but I still love you." These two. -- "We've cut out our eyes now we can see" AUGH -- "Tell me, is Osgood still a drunk?" "Yes?" "Are you?" "I don't drink." "How on Earth do you stand her, then?" ohhhh shit -- 'She'd forgotten the cardinal rule, hadn't she? Always make sure *all* the sex toys are put away before company comes.' pfffffft -- "C'mon," said Audrey, standing and reaching out her hands. "Let the broken help the broken." Osgood reluctantly took those hands and shakily stood.' I love them so muuuuch -- some kind of creepy subliminal messaging on the record? -- 'hipster yeti' I'm dead. That guy needed a slap or three -- poor Nora -- 'U seemed so excited about the [ghost emoji]!' An unrelated ghost, or something that could help with the case? What do you bet Os could've figured something out a lot sooner if she hadn't been so hell-bent on ghosting (ha) this poor girl? -- Do NOT go out with her, April, not until she gets her shit together. -- "It's almost a shame to open this. MIB and all." "Men in black?" asked Osgood. "Mint in box," said Zack with dismay. "Seriously, men in black?" It's okay, Os, that's where my mind went, too. -- This entire book is an indictment of the American health care/mental health system. -- "Because without the love it would've hurt less." my heart -- Oh my god these illustrations stop that (also, most horrifying nightmare ever. I cannot deal with the eye-mutilation stuff. NGH.) -- 'with a hellhound on my trail' and a band that was ridiculously successful even after a lead singer's death from an unknown cause? Are we doing a Robert Johnson deal-with-the-devil plotline?? -- "No. By a blues musician in the 30s. Robert Johnson." YESSSS -- 'She heard a pop and wondered if someone had dropped something.' oh NO -- AGAIN WITH THE EYES -- "I think I dropped my phone in Kansas." <3 -- "I seek an audience with the Lord of the Hinterlands." Audrey you badass/dumbass. -- "Sometimes knowing isn't better." Poor Caroline. And god, Audrey, how is she going to be able to live with this?? -- (all things serve the Beam) NICE -- "At least I won't be naked when I die." Prudence ilu -- 'She laughs, and the laugh draws the jawline downward, mouth opening far too broadly.' -- "I'm bored," she says, and points toward the Skylark. "So I'm going to get in that car and run you right the fuck over." LOVE ETERNAL. -- "You are able to sidestep between worlds, as I can." iiiiiiiiinteresting -- And Caroline there yelling him down, too, YES -- "Have you no mercy, child?" "None." That's my girl!!!! -- "Fuck your end." Audrey, HOLY SHIT, just when I thought I couldn't love you more -- I'm glad you guys are alive and okay and all now FIND ZACK tearful hugging later -- 'To promise never to take him for granted again. To treat him the way she always should have.' There you go. <3 -- "Did I say that out loud?" asked Osgood. "You did." *cackle* -- Yay, Nora!! And actual healthy communication, I'm so proud. -- ...HEY WAIT WTF -- so the second book is coming out tomorrow, yes?
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A WORLD WITH A BLUER SUNMy reviews are set up a little like live-tweets: I write down lines I like/impressions as I read, and then transcribe. Reviews will contain spoilers, but I'll give a warning before they start. Archives
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