Kara's Book Cravings: Fright Night

 

This is the final Maren Stoffels book I have, and as far as I can tell, I've now read her entire catalog. I'm a little sad about that, but I'll be on the lookout for any new books she publishes. 

So, FRIGHT NIGHT is my absolutely favorite Maren Stoffels book. Another YA thriller, this one takes place in the woods during an event known as fright night. It's an event teens pay to attend that's part haunted trail and part Fear Factor. Each team has to walk through the woods at night, without the aid of any cell phones, and each member of the team has to face their greatest fears. 

Of course, as the story progresses, the fears get more intense, and then things really go horribly wrong. The bad guys show up and wreak havoc. 

This book does have some darker content that ties into everything at the end, but I can't say what because it really will spoil the twist ending. I will say that it dives a bit into child abuse, so fair warning about that. It's not graphic though, but it's very clear what's happening.  As uncomfortable as that topic is, it works very well within the context of this story and how it forms the basis for certain characters actions and motivations. 

Have you read this one yet? 

Do you know of any other books with a similar setting? 

Kara's Book Cravings: Room Service

 

Continuing with my binge read of Maren Stoffels backlist, after finishing her last book, I jumped right into ROOM SERVICE. 

This is another teen thriller, and yet another book that's contained within an enclosed setting. This time it's a hotel where the characters are celebrating a friend's birthday. 

The mystery in this book starts right from the first page with the main characters referencing something that happened a year ago, a friend getting injured or killed (it's not super clear, which I'm sure is the point, but the guilt they carry hints at something nefarious. 

There's one character in here that drove me crazy, and not in a good way. She was very annoying in a "why doesn't anyone like me" whiney sort of way. The overall mystery and thriller aspects, though, outweigh this one bad character. 

Like the rest of her books, this one ended with quite a twist! I really didn't see this one coming, which is always great, but I personally would've liked a tad more hints leading up to the big reveal. Overall, I enjoyed this book a bit more than the others, and it's a great addition to anyone who loves thrillers like I do. 

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Kara's Book Cravings: Escape Room

 

After my daughter gave me one of this author's books, I've been on a binge, reading everything she's published so far. Yes, I realize I'm reading "out of order" in terms of publishing dates, but all of these books are standalone stories that don't need to be read in order. They're also short and quick, which I like in between heavier books and series. 

Recently, I just finished ESCAPE ROOM by Maren Stoffels. This is another YA thriller, and is the author's second book involving an escape room, and while I really enjoyed it, I thought the other one I'd read (No Escape) was much better. That could be because the author has grown as a writer since then, or because I was able to easily see what the twist was in this book. Either way, I still loved the secluded setting, the fear of not being able to get out, the lies and secrets. And I really am a big fan of the author's writing style. I thought the ending of this one was a lot clearer, which made it a more satisfying read. I have two more of her books to read, and I'm excited for them. 

Have you read this book? What did you think? Do you have any good recommendations for books with secluded settings?