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Good Neighbors
Good Neighbors: A Novel | Sarah Langan
45 posts | 38 read | 39 to read
A modern-day Crucible.Beneath the surface of a suburban utopia, madness lurks. Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish Sarah Langan is a phenomenal talent with a wicked sense of wry humor. Good Neighbors knocked me out. Like Shirley Jackson, Langans work blends a bleak streak with an underlying sense of the humane that wrung my heart. Victor LaValle, author of The Changeling Celeste Ngs enthralling dissection of suburbia meets Shirley Jacksons creeping dread in this propulsive literary noir, when a sudden tragedy exposes the depths of deception and damage in a Long Island suburbpitting neighbor against neighbor and putting one family in terrible danger. Welcome to Maple Street, a picture-perfect slice of suburban Long Island, its residents bound by their children, their work, and their illusion of safety in a rapidly changing world. Arlo Wilde, a gruff has-been rock star whos got nothing to show for his fame but track marks, is always two steps behind the other dads. His wife, beautiful ex-pageant queen Gertie, feels socially ostracized and adrift. Spunky preteen Julie curses like a sailor and her kid brother Larry is called Robot Boy by the kids on the block. Their next-door neighbor and Maple Streets Queen Bee, Rhea Schroedera lonely community college professor repressing her own dark pastwelcomes Gertie and family into the fold. Then, during one spritzer-fueled summer evening, the new best friends share too much, too soon. As tensions mount, a sinkhole opens in a nearby park, and Rheas daughter Shelly falls inside. The search for Shelly brings a shocking accusation against the Wildes that spins out of control. Suddenly, it is one moms word against the others in a court of public opinion that can end only in blood. A riveting and ruthless portrayal of American suburbia, Good Neighbors excavates the perils and betrayals of motherhood and friendships and the dangerous clash between social hierarchy, childhood trauma, and fear.
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Cortg
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Mehso-so

I liked the weirdness of this one but it dragged on and I struggled a bit trying to keep up with who is in what family. #Booked2023 ~Featuring neighbors

Cinfhen I‘ve seen lots of mixed reviews for this book. It‘s still on my #TBR just haven‘t felt like reading it yet🤷🏼‍♀️ 1y
35 likes1 comment
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LeslieO
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Score! I thought I wouldn‘t find any good stuff on the second last day of the AAUW book sale. But I was wrong! (I usually go the first day but I was out of town) I found THREE Brookners I didn‘t own!! Plus the Julia Child autobiography that I‘ve been looking for. And a bunch of other great books that were on my radar. Also pictured: 4 library holds that came in while I was gone. #BookHaul #SoManyBooksSoLittleTime

julieclair Wow, some great finds! 1y
ChaoticMissAdventures I read My Life In France last year and it blew me away! I don't enjoy cooking at all, but I now adore Julia Child. I hope you like it too! 1y
LeahBergen Nice haul! 👏 1y
jlhammar Great haul! Loved News of the World, When the Emperor Was Divine and Gilead. I'm hoping to try my first Brookner by the end of the year. Been meaning to for ages! 1y
Tamra Yay!! 🎰 1y
43 likes5 comments
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Amie
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Pickpick

This was disturbing and kind of weird, but I mostly liked it. It was a bit too long. I don't know if I would have stuck with it in print, but the audiobook was compelling and the narrator was excellent.

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she.hearts.horror
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Mehso-so

Too disturbed to type 😭 my thoughts on this one

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melissajayne
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Pickpick

3.5⭐️ Thought the book was good; there were some aspects that I liked more than others. It definitely was a strange read and reminded me of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. It definitely was an unnerving read. #2022 #literaryfiction #fiction #bookreview #bookstagram #mystery #thriller

30 likes1 stack add
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melissajayne
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1) Jane Eyre, The Nightingale
2) Creepy

#two4tuesday

TheSpineView Jane Eyre😍 Thanks for playing 2y
15 likes1 comment
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TamTracy
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Pickpick

This one makes me more thankful for my awful neighbors. Really gets to the core of how words can hurt and rumors can turn into mob mentality. I loved to hate most of the characters and the ending got wild! Loved it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ICantImReading I loved this one! 2y
59 likes1 comment
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anniebannanie
Pickpick

Wooooow. Would not want to move into this neighborhood.

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ashleyn
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2021

4 likes1 stack add
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DarkMina
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Pickpick

#140 of 2021. Day 3 book 2 of #SuperSeptember. When a accident happens in a Long Island neighborhood, the accusations start. At the center of the accusations is the family in the neighborhood that doesn‘t fit in. Wow! This was so messed up! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#readathon

Tera66 Right?! So messed up! I was on edge the whole time. 3y
EadieB @DarkMina Congrats on finishing your 2nd book! That book looks interesting 3y
DarkMina @Tera66 Totally agree! 3y
19 likes3 comments
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Tera66
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#Littensdressesinblood #Disturbia
@MidnightBookGirl 🌚
THIS BOOK! Man, it had me stressed out while reading it.

WJCintron I just added it to my TBR! Thanks for sharing!! 😃 👍 3y
Tera66 @WJCintron I hope you still thank me when you finish, it caused me anxiety. 3y
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ElvinaGB
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This is becoming un-put-downable.

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Tera66
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LeslieO The reaction I keep hearing on book podcasts is “I‘m not sure how I feel about it” 3y
LeslieO Which makes me want to read it. 3y
Eggs Sounds like a great story 🏡 3y
Tera66 @LeslieO I liked it, but it's definitely a "tense" book. I was anxious the whole time, and then end is definitely intense. 3y
40 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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AudiobookingWithLeah
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Pickpick

Overall Rating 4¼⭐ | Narration😕=Should‘ve had more narrators
Good Neighbors is Disturbia at its finest...a classic example of what might happen when people stop being nice and start being real. Is it the sinkhole that has opened up, is it emitting gasses that are messing with their minds? Or...is it the days on end temperatures of 120°? Maybe, it‘s both. Something is making the neighbors in this Long Island suburb lose their ever-loving minds. ⬇⬇

AudiobookingWithLeah This was a rather diabolical thriller that flirted with being horror; portentous of a world altered by climate change, prejudice, and outright lies. But...I would have loved for it to have additional narrators for the additional POVs. 3y
Twainy 👍🏼 3y
23 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Jerdencon
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Love a map in a book especially when it has places I‘ve actually been too. We have good friends who live in the town this takes place in and have been to the town pool. It‘s only about 5 miles from where I live! Can‘t wait to start this one!

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Well-ReadNeck
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Panpan

Yikes! Definitely not for me. A dark, dark novel. Good narration on #audiobook and if u like a dark book, you‘ll love this, but it was way too much for me.

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jenreads7
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Pickpick

I could NOT put this book down. I got serious “Lord of the Flies” vibes the deeper I got into this story. And that sinkhole? Let‘s talk about symbolism after you‘ve finished the story. This book is deeply disturbing yet completely engrossing. I have to get up at 3:25 AM for work, and it‘s after 10:00 PM now. I HAD to finish.

kyraleseberg Yesssss, this was so good!! I had major Shirley Jackson vibes with this one. 4y
jenreads7 @kyraleseberg Absolutely! Such a good book. Looking at reviews, though, I think this is one people either love or hate! 🙃 4y
32 likes2 comments
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MicheleinPhilly
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Bailedbailed

If you have read this, spoil it for me in the comments so I don‘t have to finish it. Please and thank you. Don‘t forget the spoiler tags!

Ugh. This is a hot mess.

vivastory Spoiler: The neighbor wasn't good. 😝 4y
TrishB I wish I had so I could! 4y
See All 15 Comments
vivastory I am planning on reading it at some point. I'd heard good things about it. Will manage my expectations a little more now though 4y
MicheleinPhilly @vivastory I‘m hoping it works for you. I‘ve never been a big bailer but in the past year I‘ve done it a bunch. I feel like that meme: “Ain‘t nobody got time for that!” 4y
Prairiegirl_reading @MicheleinPhilly I‘ve been an unapologetic bailer since I was in book club with a woman who had breast cancer and had the rule of if I‘m not into by page 50 I‘m moving on because life is too short. Sounded like good advice to me!! 4y
MicheleinPhilly @Prairiegirl_reading That is EXCELLENT advice. 4y
Crazeedi Too many books, too little time to slog through one that just doesn't hold ones interest 4y
Reviewsbylola Lolol let me gather my thoughts and I‘ll spoil tf out of this for you. 😂😂 I kind of wish I‘d bailed. Three stars was generous imo. I think the author has so much potential but this just was a bit off. 4y
Reviewsbylola Ok, so the kids in the neighborhood decided to go in the sinkhole and find Shelly themselves. Which they did, in some type of cavern. The walls were layered with tar and as such, the bodies of tons of animals and insects were trapped, glued to the walls. Cicadas were screaming. They dragged Shelly‘s body out and then Rhea shot her whole family dead in the street in front of everyone and then ate a bullet herself. 😶 4y
MicheleinPhilly @Reviewsbylola 😂😂😂 OMG, that‘s even worse than I thought it would be! Thanks doll! 4y
Reviewsbylola It‘s pretty bad. 😂 I just wanted to finish it and then that ending . . . 4y
vivastory @Reviewsbylola This ending made me literally say Fuck this book when I finished it just now 4y
Reviewsbylola Yeah, it was pretty bad. 😂 @vivastory 4y
54 likes15 comments
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ICantImReading
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This isn‘t just another suburban drama. An original and biting social commentary, it absolutely exudes darkness and murk like the sinkhole that opens in the neighborhood. I wish I could say it wasn‘t believable, but it was all the more terrifying because of its plausibility. Such a brilliant and unsettling look at human behavior. I couldn‘t put it down and I can‘t get it out of my mind! #authenticbooks

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TheNerdyProfessor
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Mehso-so

Saturday morning reading.

In the midst of a heatwave, a sinkhole opens in the suburbs of Long Island. What ensues is an examination of how individuals can form a mob to mistreat others and perpetuate falsehoods even in the face of contradicting evidence. A perfect fable for our times where fake news and conspiracy theories abound. I enjoyed the novelty, but I wasn't completely sucked in and felt like I needed to finish rather than wanting to.

Tera66 1. I love your bedding 2. I felt like I wanted to get through this book as fast as I could because of the anxiety of what was coming. I enjoyed it, but from what others have been saying its not for everyone. 4y
82 likes1 stack add1 comment
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ICantImReading
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My February #authenticbooks box came today!! I think I‘m going to dive into this book next! I‘ve heard it‘s really good, and I also can‘t wait to start using all of these fun things! 😍 #bookmailisthebestmail

BennettBookworm Yayyyy! 4y
11 likes1 comment
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Graciouswarriorprincess
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Book 31/150. #bnbookclub

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TheNerdyProfessor
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FEEDBACK NEEDED.
I'm 100 pages in and not quite sure what I'm reading. I like the use of news stories and archival information to help set the plot but at times I feel like I don't quite know what is going on. The author share key information in a subtle way so I've had to reread a few parts ... Did anyone else read this? Were your experiences similar?

Tracyantoon I have not read this one but it is on my TBR. Having second thoughts after seeing your post though. For me personally-if I was feeling that way at 100 pages in, I would dnf and not look back. 4y
Tera66 I read the ARC, it's worth sticking through to the end. But they don't let you know what exactly the "incident" the articles are talking about is until the end. Anything else I can tell you without spoiling it? 4y
TheNerdyProfessor @Tracyantoon I'm not quite ready to give up yet! I think the storyline is bizarre enough that it's interesting. I think there just might be certain turns of phrase that the author uses that feel odd to me. I do want to know what happens but again her style seems to be a bit on the subtle side. 4y
TheNerdyProfessor @Tera66 thank you for your feedback! This book was on a lot of lists last year. I like the premise, I just find the authors style a bit odd sometimes. Also, there are a lot of characters! 4y
Tera66 @TheNerdyProfessor I think I had a little more context because the ARC had a little note at the beginning from the publisher that told the outcome of the incident, that made the whole reading time more stressful. But the ending was still a surprise and a shock. Can't wait to hear what you think when you are done! 4y
49 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Graciouswarriorprincess
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Finally getting back to this book for the #bn bookclub discussion tomorrow night.

47 likes1 stack add
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

Simmering tensions in a wealthy Long Island neighborhood explode when a sinkhole opens and tragedy strikes. This is a story of the dangers of convincing yourself of what you want to believe and allowing your echo chamber to reflect that “truth.” I did struggle a little to keep some of these characters straight in my head, but enjoyed this quite a bit overall.

44 likes1 stack add
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Graciouswarriorprincess
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My current read. #bnbookclub

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rachelm
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Mehso-so

This is a definitely slow build domestic thriller situation here. I liked a lot of elements of it, but I didn‘t understand why it had to be said in the future and that kept throwing me off. Not sure if that was enough of a distraction for other people to get annoyed with parts of this, but otherwise I thought it was a pretty good book

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Kimbono
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Reading with a view.

25 likes1 stack add
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Tera66
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Pickpick

Holy smokes! This book left me so anxious the whole time. I think I was obsessed about reading it all week because I just needed to finish it. It made me so nervous, but it was still so enjoyable. I could just feel the tension in Sarah Langan‘s writing, she did such an amazing job of giving you the toxic vibe in the neighborhood in the story. It is such a great book, but could not be for everyone, it‘s dark friends. Giving it four stars. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Reggie I can‘t wait to read this. 4y
Tera66 @Reggie Its so good. Just plan on getting sucked in. It was hard to put down. 4y
Nute This is the B&N pick for this month. I‘m gonna go pick it up tonight before our next snowstorm settles in. 4y
Tera66 @Nute Ill be watching for your review🤩 No one I know has read it yet. 4y
23 likes1 stack add4 comments
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ScrappyMags
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Hugging my neighbors... even THAT one!

Shortest Summary Ever: There‘s a group of neighbors on Long Island. A queen bee named Rhea. A giant sink hole. A child falls in. And the neighbors lose their minds. This book is the big WHAT IF. what if you were with THE world‘s worst neighbors, in a neighborhood that‘s literally and figuratively being swallowed by blackness and depravity. The book isn‘t for Ev1 but full review ScrappyMags.com

Tera66 I just finished this. I haven't had the words to.review it yet. So dark.🖤 4y
ScrappyMags @Tera66 yep... you have to be in the mood for dark, but it‘s done Sooooo well. 4y
Tera66 @ScrappyMags I could hardly put it down, agreed, dark done really well. 4y
53 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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LatrelWhite
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#Barnes&Noble February Book club pick. Enjoying the weirdness🙃

18 likes2 stack adds
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Godpants
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January Round Up 2: Good Neighbors is going to stick with me for awhile. Most of this was good, and weirdly enough the biggest disappointment for me was the new Gardner thriller.

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abookishbutterfly
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Five stars
~Good Neighbors
~Bunnicula
~Hold Back the Tide
~Whisper Down the Lane
~Glimmers of Grace

Four stars
~Finlay Donovan is Killing It
~Furiously Happy
~Growing Things and Other Stories 🎧 (I do have a physical copy so I can reread some of the stories)
~Somewhere in the Dark 🎧

Three stars
~Bear Necessity 🎧
~Pretty Little Wife

What did you read in January? Any new favorites for you?

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Graciouswarriorprincess
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Who wants to join me in February #bookishfirst bingo?

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Godpants
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Pickpick

Is it too early to say that this is going to be one of the best books I‘ll read in 2021? This domestic thriller was so tense it made me squirm the whole way through.

14 likes1 stack add
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Godpants
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Comparisons to Shirley Jackson and Celeste Ng? Yes please!

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abookishbutterfly
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Pickpick

This book had me raging against adult responsibility and arguing with my need for sleep. I did not want to put it down. The propulsive narrative was terrifying and thought-provoking. I will not be surprised if Good Neighbors ends up on my top five favorites list for the year when 2021 comes to a close!

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3529301893

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LibraryCin
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Pickpick

This built -- but the end – I didn‘t see coming! Holy crap – that mob mentality! I was angry at so many of those people! I feel like this is a slightly different take on the current thriller fad. It did remind me a bit of “Big Little Lies” with the articles and interviews (from 2042) that were interspersed, but it was still quite different from others out there (in my opinion).

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abookishbutterfly

“People in your life can just go away and you never had the chance to say goodbye. I‘m sad now but I won‘t be forever. I‘ll forget her. That‘s the worst thing. We all just move on, until we‘re dead, and then everyone moves on.”

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abookishbutterfly

“There are certain prisons from which other people can provide no solace.”

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abookishbutterfly

“Directed at the wrong person, violence assumes a will of its own. It wants to continue to hurt that person, as if to right the wrong, as if, in some way, to provoke violence in kind, thereby coercing its own legitimacy.”

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abookishbutterfly
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Hardback
With a drink
Print book
Mood
Fiction
Action
Night

@Annie1215

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Reggie
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Because knowing that this book comes out in February 2021 and is from the author who wrote one of my new all time favorite horror books, The Missing, the most Stephen Kingsian book that Stephen King did not write, that is all it takes to bring the enthusiasm of the reader that I am to an all time high! Thanks for the tag, @vivastory and @Annie1215 !Anybody who wants to play please do! #litfortunecookie

KVanRead Ha! The enthusiasm of a reader for a highly anticipated book is the very best kind of enthusiasm! Thanks for playing 😂 4y
Cathythoughts Yay ! Yay for the enthusiasm of the reader ! Nice one Reggie 👍🏻❤️ 4y
vivastory I love this! You 💯 sold me with the King comparison. I just found a cheap copy online, couldnt resist 4y
See All 9 Comments
Reggie @vivastory I hope you like it, Scott. She has his small town relationships down. 4y
Reggie @Cathythoughts 😊❤️Thanks, Cathy! 4y
LeahBergen Oooo, I need to check this author out! 4y
saresmoore This collage is great! 😆 4y
Reggie @LeahBergen she‘s so good!!! 4y
Reggie @saresmoore lol, thanks. The lady is a character from SNL, surprise Sue, she‘s hilarious. 4y
56 likes2 stack adds9 comments