Hello Bookworms!

How are you doing? There’s been a lot of crazy wintry weather going on lately, so I hope you’re staying safe and warm at home, especially with the COVID craziness.

I’ll admit, I’ve been having a really rough time this week with accepting things (and my life situation) as they are, but all we can do is soldier on, right? Luckily, books are the perfect escape, and I just finished reading another one.

This time I read This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno.

This was on my radar back when it first came out in October. That optical cover is stunning! Also, a demented version of Alexa? All for it!

Once this baby became available at my library,  I jumped on it!

Did this novel stack up to its rave reviews? Keep on reading to find out!

Blurb

It was Vera’s idea to buy the Itza. The “world’s most advanced smart speaker!” didn’t interest Thiago, but Vera thought it would be a bit of fun for them amidst all the strange occurrences happening in the condo. It made things worse. The cold spots and scratching in the walls were weird enough, but peculiar packages started showing up at the house—who ordered industrial lye? Then there was the eerie music at odd hours, Thiago waking up to Itza projecting light shows in an empty room.

It was funny and strange right up until Vera was killed, and Thiago’s world became unbearable. Pundits and politicians all looking to turn his wife’s death into a symbol for their own agendas. A barrage of texts from her well-meaning friends about letting go and moving on. Waking to the sound of Itza talking softly to someone in the living room…

The only thing left to do was get far away from Chicago. Away from everything and everyone. A secluded cabin in Colorado seemed like the perfect place to hole up with his crushing grief. But soon Thiago realizes there is no escape—not from his guilt, not from his simmering rage, and not from the evil hunting him, feeding on his grief, determined to make its way into this world.

GoodReads

Amazon

***Brief disclosure***

I am an Amazon affiliate and earn a tiny commission for purchases made through the Amazon links in this post at no cost to you. It’s a great way to help me keep things running on my blog if you’re already intrigued enough to make a purchase. 

The Review

I have to say, I’m a little disappointed in this book. Based on the awesome trippy cover and promises of an evil version of Alexa, I didn’t quite get what I was expecting, though it was entertaining.

This book is about this guy Thiago and his wife Vera. They’re excited about their new Itza, a variation of Alexa, when strange things start to happen. Soon after, Vera dies and Thiago is left to pick up the shredded pieces of his life. But is whatever was haunting them done, or has it only begun?

For me, this book was something of a conundrum. On one hand, you have some good elements and things that make it unique, but other things dragged it down a bit.

The cover and premise really resonated with me as a lover of anything creepy. I also really loved how Thiago’s grief was presented throughout. It was very believable that he lost a huge piece of himself with her. Overall he’s a good character.

Some things that made this book unique:

There weren’t really any chapters. There are four parts, and besides small breaks between paragraphs, there aren’t any other dividers.

The POV is second person, with Thiago addressing Vera the entire time.

I didn’t mind the no-chapter element, but the POV felt confusing at times and didn’t completely work for me throughout, especially at the beginning before we can truly comprehend what happened/is happening.

The plot had a lot of chills and thrills along the way, though the execution left something to be desired. There was a range of creepy events, some terrifying, some just downright strange, but at times I was confused trying to piece things together. Obviously, you’re going to want that to a certain extent with any story, but for me it was too much smoke and mirrors and not quite enough explained.

I also really didn’t like the ending. It felt like a cop out to me.

All this being said, I can’t really say one way or the other if this book is worth pursuing. I think if you like more of a  mystery or psychological edge with your horror then sure, give it a try. If not, maybe sample the beginning to get a feel. Either way, happy reading!

That’s A Wrap!

Well that’s it for this book review. I hope you enjoyed it!

Have you read this book? Are there other similar books you’ve read that you simply have to gush about? Feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to start a conversation!

Have a great day!

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