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Gardenia
Seventeen-year-old Ivy Erickson has one month, twenty-seven days, four hours, fifty-nine minutes, and two seconds to live.
Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been able to see countdown clocks over everyone's heads indicating how long before they will die. She can't do anything about anyone else’s, nor can she do anything about her own, which will hit the zero hour before she even graduates high school.
A life cut short is tragic, but Ivy does her best to make the most of it. She struggles emotionally with her deep love for on-again, off-again boyfriend Myers Patripski. She struggles financially, working outside of school to help her mom and her sister. And she struggles to cope with the murder of her best friend, another life she couldn't save. Vanessa Donovan was killed in the woods, and everyone in town believes Ivy had something to do with it.
Then more girls start disappearing. Ivy tries to put her own life in order as she pieces together the truth of who ended Vanessa's. To save lives and for her own sanity.
The clock is always ticking. And Ivy's only hope is to expose the truth before it runs out completely.
Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been able to see countdown clocks over everyone's heads indicating how long before they will die. She can't do anything about anyone else’s, nor can she do anything about her own, which will hit the zero hour before she even graduates high school.
A life cut short is tragic, but Ivy does her best to make the most of it. She struggles emotionally with her deep love for on-again, off-again boyfriend Myers Patripski. She struggles financially, working outside of school to help her mom and her sister. And she struggles to cope with the murder of her best friend, another life she couldn't save. Vanessa Donovan was killed in the woods, and everyone in town believes Ivy had something to do with it.
Then more girls start disappearing. Ivy tries to put her own life in order as she pieces together the truth of who ended Vanessa's. To save lives and for her own sanity.
The clock is always ticking. And Ivy's only hope is to expose the truth before it runs out completely.
260 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2017
About the author
Kelsey Sutton
6 books520 followersKelsey Sutton is a young adult and middle grade author. She lives in Minnesota, where she received a dual bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Bemidji State University. She recently earned a master's degree from Hamline University. Her work has received an Independent Publisher Book Award, an IndieFab Award, and was selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013. When not writing, Kelsey can be found watching too much Netflix or napping with her rescue dogs. You can visit her online at www.kelseysuttonbooks.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter or Instagram. Kelsey also writes adult books under the pen name K.J. Sutton.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
February 17, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to Diversion Books and NetGalley.)
This was a YA mystery story featuring a girl who could see when people would die.
Ivy was an okay character, and I could only imagine how difficult it would be for her to see numbers over everybody's heads, and not being able to do anything about it. I also felt quite sorry for her in how she didn't seem to have any friends, and how people blamed her for her best friend's death.
The storyline in this was about Ivy's best friend Vanessa being murdered, and Ivy wanting desperately to work out who did it before her own death, which was fast approaching. I didn't find the idea of knowing when people would die to be all that unique though, as I'm pretty sure I've read a book with a similar plot before - When. I did like the mystery aspect of the book, although I did find the pace dragged a little at points.
The ending to this was pretty good, and I liked the way that things worked out.
6.5 out of 10
"I need to know what happened. I need to find the murderer. I need to find out the truth. Not just for Vanessa. Not just for her family. For me.
Because everybody in Kennedy thinks I know who killed her."
This was a YA mystery story featuring a girl who could see when people would die.
Ivy was an okay character, and I could only imagine how difficult it would be for her to see numbers over everybody's heads, and not being able to do anything about it. I also felt quite sorry for her in how she didn't seem to have any friends, and how people blamed her for her best friend's death.
The storyline in this was about Ivy's best friend Vanessa being murdered, and Ivy wanting desperately to work out who did it before her own death, which was fast approaching. I didn't find the idea of knowing when people would die to be all that unique though, as I'm pretty sure I've read a book with a similar plot before - When. I did like the mystery aspect of the book, although I did find the pace dragged a little at points.
The ending to this was pretty good, and I liked the way that things worked out.
6.5 out of 10
February 26, 2017
Seventeen-year-old Ivy Erickson has one month, twenty-seven days, four hours, fifty-nine minutes, and two seconds to live.
When Ivy was a child she learned that only she can see the numbers above others heads that count down until the exact moment that they will die. Ivy's grandmother had suffered a heart attack right in front of young Ivy as her numbers counted down to zero and that was Ivy's first experience with this deadly phenomena.
Ivy learned over the years there was nothing she could do to stop what was fated to happen with those around her or her own countdown which would expire before Ivy even graduates high school. Struggling with getting close to those around her she has an on again, off again relationship with Myers Patripski to deal with but for Ivy the most important thing to do before her time is up is to find the murderer who had claimed the life of Ivy's best friend.
Gardenia had a new to me concept involved in the fact that Ivy can see when everyone will die, including herself. It's my understanding there's other books out there with this concept but being the first I've read it certainly had me thinking all throughout reading about just how horrible this must be for the main character to live with. How could you deal with knowing when those around you will go or just how many days you have left yourself?? This alone fascinated me with where the story would take a reader just knowing that Ivy knows her days are numbered so she could throw caution to the wind with chasing a killer knowing that it wasn't her time yet.
The book is a bit of a mixed bag of genres involved in it with a lot of focus on the contemporary side of the story with Ivy's family and relationships. As much as it's nice to get to know a character and their lives I think the story lost a bit of focus on the mystery/thriller side to it which would have made it just that more intense of a read. I did think the story wrapped up rather nicely as far as the killer and ending but it seemed to be one that was concluded kind of suddenly instead of leading a reader to it a bit more.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
When Ivy was a child she learned that only she can see the numbers above others heads that count down until the exact moment that they will die. Ivy's grandmother had suffered a heart attack right in front of young Ivy as her numbers counted down to zero and that was Ivy's first experience with this deadly phenomena.
Ivy learned over the years there was nothing she could do to stop what was fated to happen with those around her or her own countdown which would expire before Ivy even graduates high school. Struggling with getting close to those around her she has an on again, off again relationship with Myers Patripski to deal with but for Ivy the most important thing to do before her time is up is to find the murderer who had claimed the life of Ivy's best friend.
Gardenia had a new to me concept involved in the fact that Ivy can see when everyone will die, including herself. It's my understanding there's other books out there with this concept but being the first I've read it certainly had me thinking all throughout reading about just how horrible this must be for the main character to live with. How could you deal with knowing when those around you will go or just how many days you have left yourself?? This alone fascinated me with where the story would take a reader just knowing that Ivy knows her days are numbered so she could throw caution to the wind with chasing a killer knowing that it wasn't her time yet.
The book is a bit of a mixed bag of genres involved in it with a lot of focus on the contemporary side of the story with Ivy's family and relationships. As much as it's nice to get to know a character and their lives I think the story lost a bit of focus on the mystery/thriller side to it which would have made it just that more intense of a read. I did think the story wrapped up rather nicely as far as the killer and ending but it seemed to be one that was concluded kind of suddenly instead of leading a reader to it a bit more.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
March 8, 2017
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher, Diversion Publishing, via NetGalley for an honest review.
Opinion:
AHHHHH! THIS book! THIS FREAKING BOOK!
You are probably thinking to yourself Wow, WHAT about this book. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS BOOK! I have been searching high and low for a specific genre of story to read for WEEKS now. A story that will make my heart hurt and my stomach flip due to eloquent and depressing sentences. You know the kind of story I am talking about. The sort of tale that doesn’t just make you sorrowful, but a story that makes you MAKE yourself sorrowful because you don’t want to stop feeling what the characters feel.
Well, this story comes pretty close to that.
Call it a gift or a curse, but ever since Ivy was a child she knew when the people around her were going to die. The ability to see a countdown of each person’s remaining time over their heads has proved to be most difficult for Ivy, especially when her own death has been approaching quickly over the past few months. After the murder of her best friend, Ivy falls into a downward spiral as she realizes that she can’t save the people she loves. But the need to find out the truth about what happened begins to consume her, and soon Ivy finds herself on the trail to figuring out who the murderer is. As Ivy’s last weeks begin to draw near, she fights to live her final days instead of just watching them tick by.
I can’t express enough how much I loved the concept for this story. Ivy is forced to watch the people around her die as their life clock comes to an end, while feeling helpless the entire time because she has no way to save them. I felt like I had a truly strong connection to this character. She is a loner at school and made to feel like an outcast because of events from her past, but she has a snarky attitude and is quick to fire off amazing zingers. When first introduced to Ivy, the reader quickly learns that there is a sense that she has already given up in life. With the death of her best friend being so recent and her own clock only being a few months before ending, Ivy has an overwhelming sense of despair and sorrow engulfing her. She has nobody close to her that she can talk to, and her family is very distant and wrapped up in their own lives.
As the story progresses, Ivy starts to become obsessed with finding out who killed her friend and why. In regards to the mystery aspect of this story, I was pretty surprised to figure out who it was. I had about one or two main suspects that I thought had definitely done it, but I was pleasantly surprised to have been wrong. The point where this story starts to get truly heart wrenching, apart from the already depressing events, is when the reader learns about Myers. Myers is the ex-boyfriend of Ivy, and let’s just say that relationship ended horribly on a night when everything else shattered Ivy’s world. I found that this author EXCELS when she is describing a sorrowful or dark moment. Not many authors know how to capture a feeling in words, and I thought Kelsey Sutton did a great job of it. This story is riddled with amazing descriptions of sadness and regret, and I adored every single minute of it.
“Even after he’s gone I let my fingers linger on the glass, until the cold creeps under my skin and into my bones. Maybe if it goes deep enough, it will numb everything.
As numb as death.”
- Ivy
Overall, this was a TRULY wonderful read. I was hooked the entire time and felt connected to the characters and the story throughout the read. I am excited to see what else this author has done. If her writing is as good as this in all of her stories, then she is going to become a favorite of mine quickly. I recommend his to all ages, but primarily Teen and YA readers. It has a strong message of finding acceptance and living your life to the fullest, which I think anyone can relate to.
To see more reviews, head over to my blog: Jenacidebybibliophile.wordpress.com
Opinion:
AHHHHH! THIS book! THIS FREAKING BOOK!
You are probably thinking to yourself Wow, WHAT about this book. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS BOOK! I have been searching high and low for a specific genre of story to read for WEEKS now. A story that will make my heart hurt and my stomach flip due to eloquent and depressing sentences. You know the kind of story I am talking about. The sort of tale that doesn’t just make you sorrowful, but a story that makes you MAKE yourself sorrowful because you don’t want to stop feeling what the characters feel.
Well, this story comes pretty close to that.
Call it a gift or a curse, but ever since Ivy was a child she knew when the people around her were going to die. The ability to see a countdown of each person’s remaining time over their heads has proved to be most difficult for Ivy, especially when her own death has been approaching quickly over the past few months. After the murder of her best friend, Ivy falls into a downward spiral as she realizes that she can’t save the people she loves. But the need to find out the truth about what happened begins to consume her, and soon Ivy finds herself on the trail to figuring out who the murderer is. As Ivy’s last weeks begin to draw near, she fights to live her final days instead of just watching them tick by.
I can’t express enough how much I loved the concept for this story. Ivy is forced to watch the people around her die as their life clock comes to an end, while feeling helpless the entire time because she has no way to save them. I felt like I had a truly strong connection to this character. She is a loner at school and made to feel like an outcast because of events from her past, but she has a snarky attitude and is quick to fire off amazing zingers. When first introduced to Ivy, the reader quickly learns that there is a sense that she has already given up in life. With the death of her best friend being so recent and her own clock only being a few months before ending, Ivy has an overwhelming sense of despair and sorrow engulfing her. She has nobody close to her that she can talk to, and her family is very distant and wrapped up in their own lives.
As the story progresses, Ivy starts to become obsessed with finding out who killed her friend and why. In regards to the mystery aspect of this story, I was pretty surprised to figure out who it was. I had about one or two main suspects that I thought had definitely done it, but I was pleasantly surprised to have been wrong. The point where this story starts to get truly heart wrenching, apart from the already depressing events, is when the reader learns about Myers. Myers is the ex-boyfriend of Ivy, and let’s just say that relationship ended horribly on a night when everything else shattered Ivy’s world. I found that this author EXCELS when she is describing a sorrowful or dark moment. Not many authors know how to capture a feeling in words, and I thought Kelsey Sutton did a great job of it. This story is riddled with amazing descriptions of sadness and regret, and I adored every single minute of it.
“Even after he’s gone I let my fingers linger on the glass, until the cold creeps under my skin and into my bones. Maybe if it goes deep enough, it will numb everything.
As numb as death.”
- Ivy
Overall, this was a TRULY wonderful read. I was hooked the entire time and felt connected to the characters and the story throughout the read. I am excited to see what else this author has done. If her writing is as good as this in all of her stories, then she is going to become a favorite of mine quickly. I recommend his to all ages, but primarily Teen and YA readers. It has a strong message of finding acceptance and living your life to the fullest, which I think anyone can relate to.
To see more reviews, head over to my blog: Jenacidebybibliophile.wordpress.com
December 2, 2017
I thought the concept of this story was fascinating and the synopsis pulled me right in.
Imagine seeing countdown clocks above peoples heads to when they will die so only you know, the sheer frustration & helplessness it would leave you in well that's what our protagonist faces but she also knows when she will die too!. Not only that though, Ivy has the murder of her best friend to deal with and knowing people suspect she had a part to play in it, the financial issues within her family and rocky relationship with her boyfriend.
This was a great read that I enjoyed, very descriptive and the author portrayed the dark moments brilliantly the underlying message about living your life to the max is thought provoking.
My thanks go to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this Arc.
Imagine seeing countdown clocks above peoples heads to when they will die so only you know, the sheer frustration & helplessness it would leave you in well that's what our protagonist faces but she also knows when she will die too!. Not only that though, Ivy has the murder of her best friend to deal with and knowing people suspect she had a part to play in it, the financial issues within her family and rocky relationship with her boyfriend.
This was a great read that I enjoyed, very descriptive and the author portrayed the dark moments brilliantly the underlying message about living your life to the max is thought provoking.
My thanks go to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this Arc.
February 28, 2017
I really liked the concept of this book (it was very similar to a book I read in 2010, Numbers by Rachel Ward) and I thought the writing was really great. The writing was actually my favorite part about Gardenia. I liked Ivy and even though I wasn’t emotionally invested in her story, I was still interested to see what was going to happen. I believe this is a standalone, so I really liked that aspect as well. I’m a big fan of standalones so if you’re looking for a good mystery but you don’t want to get caught up a long series, Gardenia would be a good one to pick up.
July 18, 2017
Can't wait to read!
I've seen this story idea posted on Tumblr for quite some time and I cannot wait to see how this author tackles it.
Edit: 7-17-17
Pros:
•The writing.
Dang. I can't tell if she was born with words in her soul, but this author can write. I truly enjoyed each mini cliffhanger in each chapter ending. That was a vital point that made me want to read on. And so I did. There was a point in every line and that is when you know you are writing an amazing thriller (or any story, really)!
•The philosophy.
I loved the philosophical talk about what is life vs existence and how would one live it to the fullest or would one of they knew how long they had. Would there be enough time or would most of it be spend worrying about the time one didn't have?
When I was younger, I used to pretend I could tell the future. I'd count from 10 or something and then do something stupid when I reached zero. (I was a weird kid. I'm still weird, but less so? Hahah maybe).
My point is that it's not important how much of the future you have left. It's important how you use what time (and resources) you have.
•That twist. Dang girl!
Cons:
•The extra bits.
There was wonderfully entertaining writing, but sometimes I felt like it lingered a little too long on some things and not enough on others.
For example: when there was a multitude of instances when Ivy could have told someone (Myers was an option, but not an only one) of more information she had. Maybe just Myers or Amanda (maybe) of what ability she had or just told me what she was doing.
Then the romance with Myers seemed like it had a little too much angst. (Doesn't mean I wasn't rooting for them). It just seems that they spend more than half their time together bickering about why they shouldn't spend time together (even though Ivy does realize the importance of time and people you care about). *Cough* *cough*
•The mystery.
I loved the thrilling parts of who-did-it/who-dun-it , but the end result made me a little sad. Not because the person was someone I cared about or didn't guess, but because there weren't really any clues (that I saw. Though, to be fair, I'm a little blind sometimes) of why or who the person was. As a result, the big reveal at the end wasn't very big, or revealing.
Overall:
I enjoyed this story and absolutely cannot wait to see what else Kelsey has in store for writing.
I've seen this story idea posted on Tumblr for quite some time and I cannot wait to see how this author tackles it.
Edit: 7-17-17
Pros:
•The writing.
Dang. I can't tell if she was born with words in her soul, but this author can write. I truly enjoyed each mini cliffhanger in each chapter ending. That was a vital point that made me want to read on. And so I did. There was a point in every line and that is when you know you are writing an amazing thriller (or any story, really)!
•The philosophy.
I loved the philosophical talk about what is life vs existence and how would one live it to the fullest or would one of they knew how long they had. Would there be enough time or would most of it be spend worrying about the time one didn't have?
When I was younger, I used to pretend I could tell the future. I'd count from 10 or something and then do something stupid when I reached zero. (I was a weird kid. I'm still weird, but less so? Hahah maybe).
My point is that it's not important how much of the future you have left. It's important how you use what time (and resources) you have.
•That twist. Dang girl!
Cons:
•The extra bits.
There was wonderfully entertaining writing, but sometimes I felt like it lingered a little too long on some things and not enough on others.
For example: when there was a multitude of instances when Ivy could have told someone (Myers was an option, but not an only one) of more information she had. Maybe just Myers or Amanda (maybe) of what ability she had or just told me what she was doing.
Then the romance with Myers seemed like it had a little too much angst. (Doesn't mean I wasn't rooting for them). It just seems that they spend more than half their time together bickering about why they shouldn't spend time together (even though Ivy does realize the importance of time and people you care about). *Cough* *cough*
•The mystery.
I loved the thrilling parts of who-did-it/who-dun-it , but the end result made me a little sad. Not because the person was someone I cared about or didn't guess, but because there weren't really any clues (that I saw. Though, to be fair, I'm a little blind sometimes) of why or who the person was. As a result, the big reveal at the end wasn't very big, or revealing.
Overall:
I enjoyed this story and absolutely cannot wait to see what else Kelsey has in store for writing.
August 2, 2020
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this wonderful title by Kelsey Sutton! Wow, I really enjoyed "Gardenia"! I think what stayed with me most of all as I was reading, was how mature Ivy was, and how collected she managed to be, despite knowing what was going to happen when her clock ran out. It's a story about science fiction, sure, but it's something that translates poignantly I think to so many other topics because there's a lot of other teens out there who may be facing a grim diagnosis, or may have a family member in a similar position... that death isn't always a far off idea isn't something that's discussed often enough. Ivy always thought so much outside of herself, even when she had those inner concerns of what the future would hold for her after her time on Earth was done. Just really well written.
And I also liked the exploration of her friendship with Vanessa and Ivy's other female friends, as well as her various relationships with the three boys. Very delicate and confusing blend of emotions there (trying not to give away any spoilers) that was well handled. Will definitely look for more by this author in the future.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
And I also liked the exploration of her friendship with Vanessa and Ivy's other female friends, as well as her various relationships with the three boys. Very delicate and confusing blend of emotions there (trying not to give away any spoilers) that was well handled. Will definitely look for more by this author in the future.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
February 24, 2017
Like a time bomb counting down the seconds to explosion, everyone has a finite amount of time to live. It is a mercy that we do not know when we will die, but Ivy doesn’t have the luxury of not knowing. Ivy sees the exact moment a person will die. It is in a counter that looms over them and only she can see them. Ivy even knows when her death will be and there is nothing she can do about it, but make sure those around her are prepared to go on without her, prepared to make the most of the time they have left.
Can you imagine knowing your best friend will die and not being able to stop it? What if, on that very day, only moments before, your shattered your friendship with her, betrayed the one boy you will always love and never got the chance to say I’m sorry? Vanessa is gone, killed in the woods and now Ivy is determined to find out who did it before she dies in less than two months, all without telling people what she sees and what she knows.
Kelsey Sutton’s GARDENIA is a young adult paranormal suspense tale with a “killer” ending. Ivy is mature far beyond her years, and for some reason no one knows about her “gift.” Ivy is in love, but she foolishly shattered her boyfriend with one drunken mistake. Now someone is out to warn her off from investigating who killed her best friend. Her list of suspects is long, she endures cruel and quite frankly illegal assaults on her person and I am disappointed that she never did more than take it. NO MATTER THE REASON she was attacked and abandoned to die. Not sure I could hold it together as she did knowing she wouldn’t even live long enough to graduate. Truly a tale with huge highs and a concept that is both intriguing and terrifying.
I received an ARC edition from Diversion Books in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Diversion Books (February 28, 2017)
Publication Date: February 28, 2017
Genre: YA Paranormal
Print Length: 260 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Can you imagine knowing your best friend will die and not being able to stop it? What if, on that very day, only moments before, your shattered your friendship with her, betrayed the one boy you will always love and never got the chance to say I’m sorry? Vanessa is gone, killed in the woods and now Ivy is determined to find out who did it before she dies in less than two months, all without telling people what she sees and what she knows.
Kelsey Sutton’s GARDENIA is a young adult paranormal suspense tale with a “killer” ending. Ivy is mature far beyond her years, and for some reason no one knows about her “gift.” Ivy is in love, but she foolishly shattered her boyfriend with one drunken mistake. Now someone is out to warn her off from investigating who killed her best friend. Her list of suspects is long, she endures cruel and quite frankly illegal assaults on her person and I am disappointed that she never did more than take it. NO MATTER THE REASON she was attacked and abandoned to die. Not sure I could hold it together as she did knowing she wouldn’t even live long enough to graduate. Truly a tale with huge highs and a concept that is both intriguing and terrifying.
I received an ARC edition from Diversion Books in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Diversion Books (February 28, 2017)
Publication Date: February 28, 2017
Genre: YA Paranormal
Print Length: 260 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
March 17, 2017
Teenager Ivy Erickson has a unique “gift”. When she looks at people, she sees a countdown clock ticking off the time until their death. She even knows exactly when she will die and the time is quickly approaching.
Ivy’s life has not been easy. Her father abandoned the family when she was very young, and Ivy struggles to help her mother pay the bills. Ivy has a best friend, Vanessa, whose time is also running out. When her friend is found murdered, many people believe that Ivy had something to do with it. But then several more girls disappear….
This fast paced, suspenseful novel is full of twists and turns as Ivy attempts to put her own life in order while at the same time frantically seeking to find Vanessa’s killer before her own life ends. It will keep the reader guessing until the final, unexpected conclusion.
Ivy’s life has not been easy. Her father abandoned the family when she was very young, and Ivy struggles to help her mother pay the bills. Ivy has a best friend, Vanessa, whose time is also running out. When her friend is found murdered, many people believe that Ivy had something to do with it. But then several more girls disappear….
This fast paced, suspenseful novel is full of twists and turns as Ivy attempts to put her own life in order while at the same time frantically seeking to find Vanessa’s killer before her own life ends. It will keep the reader guessing until the final, unexpected conclusion.
September 13, 2017
After reading and loving Some Quiet Place I bought two more books by Kelsey Sutton. Of the two I first picked up Gardenia.
And this is a cool read.
Some Quiet Place was a book that was both suspenseful and atmospheric. Gardenia isn't as atmospheric, but the suspense it racked up high. Ivy can see how long people have left to live and can see her own time running out.
I mostly liked Ivy. She's trying to deal with her coming death, her guilt over the death of her best friend, and on top of that a killer might be on the loose. It's her misguided notion she has to show her family how to live their lives that irked me though. But that aside, I was hooked from the start and had to keep reading to find out if Ivy would solve the murder of her best friend and if she could beat the clock.
All in all this is a well written, suspenseful, and cool read. I will pick up another book by Sutton soon.
And this is a cool read.
Some Quiet Place was a book that was both suspenseful and atmospheric. Gardenia isn't as atmospheric, but the suspense it racked up high. Ivy can see how long people have left to live and can see her own time running out.
I mostly liked Ivy. She's trying to deal with her coming death, her guilt over the death of her best friend, and on top of that a killer might be on the loose. It's her misguided notion she has to show her family how to live their lives that irked me though. But that aside, I was hooked from the start and had to keep reading to find out if Ivy would solve the murder of her best friend and if she could beat the clock.
All in all this is a well written, suspenseful, and cool read. I will pick up another book by Sutton soon.
April 9, 2017
Ivy is a very compelling character, one you end up rooting for. Good amount of humor, sadness, and suspense. Hard to put down.
August 15, 2017
I'd like to thank the publisher who sent me this book for review via Netgalley.
This book was an amazing surprise for me! I went in knowing nothing about the book except the brief synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Ivy Erickson has one month, twenty-seven days, four hours, fifty-nine minutes, and two seconds to live.
This book was quite short, which I loved, because when books have a mystery or something to be solved I get very impatient wanting to know the answer! I liked the way the story was solved, although I wish there was a little more detail regarding the mystery. I would have liked more explanation on the numbers she sees, but honestly if it was explained I probably wouldn't have liked the explanation! It's tricky with books that have this kind of concept to get the level of explanation right - I suppose it's better to have an element of mystery.
I really need to read more of this genre! I was hooked for the entire book. I loved to see Ivy's relationships with her family and people at school, how people react to her after Vanessa's murder and how it changed her. I cried, too, so this book had everything for me!
I would definitely recommend this book for a quick and immersing read! I gave this book 4.5/5 stars.
This book was an amazing surprise for me! I went in knowing nothing about the book except the brief synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Ivy Erickson has one month, twenty-seven days, four hours, fifty-nine minutes, and two seconds to live.
This book was quite short, which I loved, because when books have a mystery or something to be solved I get very impatient wanting to know the answer! I liked the way the story was solved, although I wish there was a little more detail regarding the mystery. I would have liked more explanation on the numbers she sees, but honestly if it was explained I probably wouldn't have liked the explanation! It's tricky with books that have this kind of concept to get the level of explanation right - I suppose it's better to have an element of mystery.
I really need to read more of this genre! I was hooked for the entire book. I loved to see Ivy's relationships with her family and people at school, how people react to her after Vanessa's murder and how it changed her. I cried, too, so this book had everything for me!
I would definitely recommend this book for a quick and immersing read! I gave this book 4.5/5 stars.
February 3, 2017
Update: 2/3/17
*An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The science-fiction part of the premise of Gardenia may sound strikingly similar to those of Numbers, When, even Denton’s Little Deathdate if you want to go that far. I haven’t read those three, so I cannot say if Gardenia is original enough, but I can say that it’s definitely more invested in the emotional elements that come with this concept. It’s not too unique, but the overall writing and character writing kept me on the edge of my seat, making it a very pleasing story.
First off, I loved the setting. The story takes place in a very small town named Kennedy, a place that you either stay in forever or escape when you get the chance. It’s underdeveloped and the people residing in it are more or less bleak and stagnant in their lives. Ivy herself struggles financially, as she lives with her mother and sister in a trailer out in the woods, working for her uncle in his restaurant to survive. Sutton painted such an easily-understandable picture, every detail popped out the page effortlessly.
The writing was my favorite part of the book. It carried such an emotional and loving nature to it which fit right in with Ivy’s story. It’s a short, fast book, but the way the book muses on about life, death, and making the best out of a situation is so relatable and important. It’s not forced or pretentious but told in a rather realistic and brutally honest way, that might depress you to an extent, but you’ll love it because it’s so well-done. It’s kind of how I felt with reading All The Rage, it hurts, but it hurts so good.
The characters were also an integral part of shaping the story’s emotional depth. Ivy was a pretty realistic character, there was carefree, cynical side to her as well as a vulnerable side. Her thoughts about dying, using her gift for something useful, and finding solace in the fact that she has a short time to live were heartbreaking but reassuring as well. I developed a great liking for her throughout the book, and the countdown to the day she dies had me pretty emotional. I also loved her family and her relationship with them, as the story progresses, Ivy seeks to inspire her mother and sister, specifically her sister, to go out and live her life as passionately as possible. Their familial love is realistic and heartwarming, and it was great to see a family aspect explored more than a romance. Ivy and Myers’ complicated relationship was also one of my favorite parts of the book, it was so messy and frustrating but I loved those aspects because it made their romance so much more real.
My only complaint was the lackluster thriller/mystery plot line going on. It was hardly fleshed out and was not consistent with the rest of the story. The “seeing the death date” aspect was actually well-described and relevant to Ivy and her mission but her quest to find Vanessa’s killer fluctuated constantly throughout the book. Meaning, there wasn’t enough “mystery” to match with the contemporary concepts in the story. And while I’m satisfied with the contemporary takeover, I came into this book thinking it was a thriller/mystery. It wasn’t nearly as chilling as I wanted it to be and the final reveal of the killer and the motive behind the murder was a bit disjointed and random. The reveal wasn’t completely surprising either, as there are only so many characters we’ve been acquainted with, and the fact that some are easily ruled out as the book goes on makes the finale even more predictable. I like the idea of the death dates as it opens up many themes surrounding life and death, but I think Gardenia should have been marketed as a contemporary instead. It definitely excels in that department.
Overall, Gardenia is a solid read, that is excellent in its contemporary themes but lacking in development of the mystery/suspense story line I was expecting. Nevertheless, I would recommend to anyone looking for an engaging plot and well-written characters, as well as an interesting take on the “I can see death dates” concept.
This review can also be found on Musings And Books.
1/31/17
I was expecting a clearer delivery on the thriller/mystery plot of the book, but I thought the story overall was brimming with life and emotion. Not the best mystery novel but engaging nonetheless. Review to come.
*An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The science-fiction part of the premise of Gardenia may sound strikingly similar to those of Numbers, When, even Denton’s Little Deathdate if you want to go that far. I haven’t read those three, so I cannot say if Gardenia is original enough, but I can say that it’s definitely more invested in the emotional elements that come with this concept. It’s not too unique, but the overall writing and character writing kept me on the edge of my seat, making it a very pleasing story.
First off, I loved the setting. The story takes place in a very small town named Kennedy, a place that you either stay in forever or escape when you get the chance. It’s underdeveloped and the people residing in it are more or less bleak and stagnant in their lives. Ivy herself struggles financially, as she lives with her mother and sister in a trailer out in the woods, working for her uncle in his restaurant to survive. Sutton painted such an easily-understandable picture, every detail popped out the page effortlessly.
The writing was my favorite part of the book. It carried such an emotional and loving nature to it which fit right in with Ivy’s story. It’s a short, fast book, but the way the book muses on about life, death, and making the best out of a situation is so relatable and important. It’s not forced or pretentious but told in a rather realistic and brutally honest way, that might depress you to an extent, but you’ll love it because it’s so well-done. It’s kind of how I felt with reading All The Rage, it hurts, but it hurts so good.
The characters were also an integral part of shaping the story’s emotional depth. Ivy was a pretty realistic character, there was carefree, cynical side to her as well as a vulnerable side. Her thoughts about dying, using her gift for something useful, and finding solace in the fact that she has a short time to live were heartbreaking but reassuring as well. I developed a great liking for her throughout the book, and the countdown to the day she dies had me pretty emotional. I also loved her family and her relationship with them, as the story progresses, Ivy seeks to inspire her mother and sister, specifically her sister, to go out and live her life as passionately as possible. Their familial love is realistic and heartwarming, and it was great to see a family aspect explored more than a romance. Ivy and Myers’ complicated relationship was also one of my favorite parts of the book, it was so messy and frustrating but I loved those aspects because it made their romance so much more real.
My only complaint was the lackluster thriller/mystery plot line going on. It was hardly fleshed out and was not consistent with the rest of the story. The “seeing the death date” aspect was actually well-described and relevant to Ivy and her mission but her quest to find Vanessa’s killer fluctuated constantly throughout the book. Meaning, there wasn’t enough “mystery” to match with the contemporary concepts in the story. And while I’m satisfied with the contemporary takeover, I came into this book thinking it was a thriller/mystery. It wasn’t nearly as chilling as I wanted it to be and the final reveal of the killer and the motive behind the murder was a bit disjointed and random. The reveal wasn’t completely surprising either, as there are only so many characters we’ve been acquainted with, and the fact that some are easily ruled out as the book goes on makes the finale even more predictable. I like the idea of the death dates as it opens up many themes surrounding life and death, but I think Gardenia should have been marketed as a contemporary instead. It definitely excels in that department.
Overall, Gardenia is a solid read, that is excellent in its contemporary themes but lacking in development of the mystery/suspense story line I was expecting. Nevertheless, I would recommend to anyone looking for an engaging plot and well-written characters, as well as an interesting take on the “I can see death dates” concept.
This review can also be found on Musings And Books.
1/31/17
I was expecting a clearer delivery on the thriller/mystery plot of the book, but I thought the story overall was brimming with life and emotion. Not the best mystery novel but engaging nonetheless. Review to come.
February 28, 2017
This is a teen read featuring seventeen-year-old, Ivy who can see a running countdown to the exact moment everyone around her, including herself, will die. It was this premise that drew me to the book initially but there are a few different genres at play within the story. Adding to the paranormal aspect there is also a mystery regarding the death of Ivy's best friend and a strong focus on Contemporary Fiction involving family and romantic relationships.
A lot of page time was spent with Ivy's relationships with her family and Myers, her ex-boyfriend to whom she's still quite attached. Sutton delves into the various themes of life and death well and I liked how Ivy uses her paranormal knowledge to help those around her as her death draws nearer.
But with so much focus on Ivy's relationships the mystery wasn't nearly as engaging. It lost focus in a few spots and never took up the reigns, remaining on the fringe of the story. There are some tense moments towards the end of the book but, in the end, I'd call this more of a contemporary teen read with a side of mystery.
As a main character, Ivy is hardworking and the strongest force in her small family but she's lonely and has a bleak feel to her as she continues to mourn the loss of her one and only friend Vanessa. Her ability to see the countdown above each person is interesting but I would have liked to have known why she has this ability. It also didn't play enough of a role in the book, mainly being used to influence Ivy's relationships with others and not as a major part of the mystery.
While the suspense aspect was weaker than expected, this is a good contemporary read that makes you think about how you'll make the most out of the time you have left.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Diversion Books at NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A lot of page time was spent with Ivy's relationships with her family and Myers, her ex-boyfriend to whom she's still quite attached. Sutton delves into the various themes of life and death well and I liked how Ivy uses her paranormal knowledge to help those around her as her death draws nearer.
But with so much focus on Ivy's relationships the mystery wasn't nearly as engaging. It lost focus in a few spots and never took up the reigns, remaining on the fringe of the story. There are some tense moments towards the end of the book but, in the end, I'd call this more of a contemporary teen read with a side of mystery.
As a main character, Ivy is hardworking and the strongest force in her small family but she's lonely and has a bleak feel to her as she continues to mourn the loss of her one and only friend Vanessa. Her ability to see the countdown above each person is interesting but I would have liked to have known why she has this ability. It also didn't play enough of a role in the book, mainly being used to influence Ivy's relationships with others and not as a major part of the mystery.
While the suspense aspect was weaker than expected, this is a good contemporary read that makes you think about how you'll make the most out of the time you have left.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Diversion Books at NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 9, 2017
I wish there were an easy way to describe this book but as always with Kelsey, it isn't.
Maybe I can put it this way: I admired Elisabeth from Some Quiet Place, wanted to slap Alexandra from Where Silence Gathers (you know, in a good way, like you would slap a friend and tell her to get something moving). But all I wanted to do with Ivy is to hug her, hold her and tell her I was here.
To be honest, I've always thought that books with people (especially young girls) who know they will die soon where stupid. Making lists, taking drugs, sleeping with strange guys... Is that really what you would do? I wouldn't be so brave and neither was Ivy. She was human: Knowing the inevitable but always denying. What she did, for her family and friends, making her passing easier for them and their future lives better was so incredibly brave and thoughtful, I never knew if I wanted to cry or laugh out loud. In the end, it was a strange mixture of both and I loved every second of it.
Kelsey, once again I want to thank you for another wonderful book. I wish there was a way I could put my feelings in a bubble and send it to you because what I feel is so much and so strong. Once again you have managed to capture humanity better than any other author I've ever known, woven a story that captured my heart so much I put it to my chest sometimes and just thought about the last sentences. It's Miranda and Myers and Brent and everyone, they're so real, like I could reach out to them anytime.
I hope you can see how much your books mean to me and how I wish that everyone would read them. They help to realise who you are as a person and what your role in the universe is.
Thanks again. I just hope you'll never stop writing books because I would even buy one-page stories you wrote, just to see a little through your eyes.
Maybe I can put it this way: I admired Elisabeth from Some Quiet Place, wanted to slap Alexandra from Where Silence Gathers (you know, in a good way, like you would slap a friend and tell her to get something moving). But all I wanted to do with Ivy is to hug her, hold her and tell her I was here.
To be honest, I've always thought that books with people (especially young girls) who know they will die soon where stupid. Making lists, taking drugs, sleeping with strange guys... Is that really what you would do? I wouldn't be so brave and neither was Ivy. She was human: Knowing the inevitable but always denying. What she did, for her family and friends, making her passing easier for them and their future lives better was so incredibly brave and thoughtful, I never knew if I wanted to cry or laugh out loud. In the end, it was a strange mixture of both and I loved every second of it.
Kelsey, once again I want to thank you for another wonderful book. I wish there was a way I could put my feelings in a bubble and send it to you because what I feel is so much and so strong. Once again you have managed to capture humanity better than any other author I've ever known, woven a story that captured my heart so much I put it to my chest sometimes and just thought about the last sentences. It's Miranda and Myers and Brent and everyone, they're so real, like I could reach out to them anytime.
I hope you can see how much your books mean to me and how I wish that everyone would read them. They help to realise who you are as a person and what your role in the universe is.
Thanks again. I just hope you'll never stop writing books because I would even buy one-page stories you wrote, just to see a little through your eyes.
May 27, 2017
Ivy has become accustomed to seeing the numbers above people's heads. Their individual countdowns mean Ivy knows the precise moment at which someone is going to die.
In some ways this reminded me of Numbers by Rachel Ward, but in Gardenia we have a little more going on. Ivy's best friend was murdered and people in her town are convinced she knows something. When more girls disappear, Ivy realises she has to do something. Only, time is running out and every moment counts.
The character of Ivy was quite sane for someone living with such a terrible burden. I liked how part of this focused on her coming to terms with things and how she interacts with people.
I was gripped by this, but I confess to only giving 4 stars as the ending was rather rushed. I also don't feel we got any attempt to satisfy our curiosity about exactly what was going on with the numbers.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this in advance of publication.
In some ways this reminded me of Numbers by Rachel Ward, but in Gardenia we have a little more going on. Ivy's best friend was murdered and people in her town are convinced she knows something. When more girls disappear, Ivy realises she has to do something. Only, time is running out and every moment counts.
The character of Ivy was quite sane for someone living with such a terrible burden. I liked how part of this focused on her coming to terms with things and how she interacts with people.
I was gripped by this, but I confess to only giving 4 stars as the ending was rather rushed. I also don't feel we got any attempt to satisfy our curiosity about exactly what was going on with the numbers.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this in advance of publication.
June 23, 2017
I got this book through NetGalley to review. This was a well done book about a girl, Ivy, who sees numbers over everyone's head that tell her how long that person has before they die. Ivy also sees when her own death is going to occur and it is soon.
Ivy becomes determined to solve the mystery behind the murder of her best friend before she dies. This gives her a purpose to help her fight the looming depression of her own imminent death.
I enjoyed this story; it was a creative premise and the characters were interesting. Towards the end things get very predictable, but I liked mystery leading up to most of that. The writing flows well and this is an easy read.
Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend to those who enjoy murder mysteries with a paranormal bent to them.
Ivy becomes determined to solve the mystery behind the murder of her best friend before she dies. This gives her a purpose to help her fight the looming depression of her own imminent death.
I enjoyed this story; it was a creative premise and the characters were interesting. Towards the end things get very predictable, but I liked mystery leading up to most of that. The writing flows well and this is an easy read.
Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend to those who enjoy murder mysteries with a paranormal bent to them.
April 8, 2017
This is the first book I have read by Kelsey Sutton and I enjoyed it so much I cannot wait to read her others.
This book totally consumed me, I read it in two days because I just had to know how it was going to end. It brings back the age old question "Would you want to know the exact moment you were going to die?", after reading this book, I would have to answer No. It was a fast paced read and very original to me, I have never read another book quite like this one.
I won this book as part of the giveaways at Goodreads.
This book totally consumed me, I read it in two days because I just had to know how it was going to end. It brings back the age old question "Would you want to know the exact moment you were going to die?", after reading this book, I would have to answer No. It was a fast paced read and very original to me, I have never read another book quite like this one.
I won this book as part of the giveaways at Goodreads.
January 11, 2018
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Ivy can see glowing countdowns. She knows exactly how long everyone has until they die, including herself, which is one month, twenty-seven days, four hours, fifty-nine minutes, and two seconds from now, much shorter than she would like it to be. She's already missed saving her best friend from her countdown and a misjudgment doomed another girl. Is it possible to save anyone from what will happen? If she can't save herself then she's bound and determined to set what she can aright before she passes on.
This is a slow burn, you aren't even sure anything is really happening until suddenly you are at 50% and you realize you are loving it. The premise is not a unique one, but who cares I say... many ideas have been thought up before... the real question is was the premise well used in the story? Yes! Ivy seeing the countdowns is integral to her being able to move forward confidently to solve the murders but also to heal her own life and her loved ones. I saw the countdowns as a really strong metaphor for the confidence and boldness we need to approach life. I really loved how the theme worked it's way so well around the mystery as well as Ivy's own life.
What made this work so well for me was how real Ivy was. She wasn't obnoxious about being a teenager and living a hard life. It was what it was and she was trying to deal with it. Yes, she had sex with her boyfriend but it wasn't waved around like a flag of triumph because there was sex in a YA book but because it was pertinent to her relationship with Myers. The details were incredibly well layered into her day to day life. She would run to Hallett and sit with the old people. She tagged the night train to spread her art. She was in theater because her best friend was a star. She worked at a diner because her mom couldn't do it alone. She watched her ex from behind a tree because she missed him. Her life was incredibly rich and full! You really cared what happened to this chick and not because I thought she was a perfect person but because you want someone who tries so hard in life to live.
I really loved the mystery. I'm not a fan of modern thriller stories that are just for thrills and giggles. I like the true blue mystery mysteries where the point is the puzzle. I liked the subtle touch of a few thriller parts mixed with the clues and the waiting for the pieces to come together. It may feel obvious when you learn who the serial killer is but I don't think it was obvious for a second. The layers were so well laid that by the time Ivy ruled out her suspects she learned the vital piece of evidence. It fell into place just how it would fall into place if you lived in a small town where you knew everyone but everyone still has secrets to hide. There wasn't a ton of clue tracking which gets tedious when a teenager is doing the tracking, but just enough for her to piece together what she needed to know to figure it out.
Probably my favorite aspects of the book was her wacky relationships. Her flipped mother daughter roles. Her totally opposite sister. The hurt ex-boyfriend she can't stay away from. The boy who has a crush on her but realizes it way too late. The uncle and his diner workers. The new girl who becomes a friend. The teacher who tapped into your pain through a play. The cop who won't believe you. The old people who confide in you what it means to be at the end of your life. The crazy brother who wanted to punish her for not dying with his sister. And the best friend who died when you weren't there for her. Subtle, nuanced and well developed they layer and build up to a picture of a world where one life was allowed to live.
The end though was the cherry on top. I loved how everything was filtered through saying goodbye. Knowing her time was close and that she wouldn't be there to have a second change Ivy went out and did what she could. She put what was important first and let go of what didn't matter. May we all learn to do the same!
BOTTOM LINE: A perfect blend of mystery, contemporary romance and coming of age.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
October 2, 2017
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Ivy Erickson has one month, twenty-seven days, four hours, fifty-nine minutes, and two seconds to live.
Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been able to see countdown clocks over everyone's heads indicating how long before they will die. She can't do anything about anyone else’s, nor can she do anything about her own, which will hit the zero hour before she even graduates high school.
A life cut short is tragic, but Ivy does her best to make the most of it. She struggles emotionally with her deep love for on-again, off-again boyfriend Myers Patripski. She struggles financially, working outside of school to help her mom and her sister. And she struggles to cope with the murder of her best friend, another life she couldn't save. Vanessa Donovan was killed in the woods, and everyone in town believes Ivy had something to do with it.
Then more girls start disappearing. Ivy tries to put her own life in order as she pieces together the truth of who ended Vanessa's. To save lives and for her own sanity.
The clock is always ticking. And Ivy's only hope is to expose the truth before it runs out completely.
My review: This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I love a good suspense/thriller/mystery. I did enjoy it, and it was a pretty quick read. I like the style of writing that the author used to convey feelings and the passing of time. It grabbed me and made me want to keep reading it, and I love that about a book. The ending is satisfactory and will leave you with a sense of closure. I think fans of ya mystery will enjoy this book. Language and themes are appropriate for mature high school readers.
Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been able to see countdown clocks over everyone's heads indicating how long before they will die. She can't do anything about anyone else’s, nor can she do anything about her own, which will hit the zero hour before she even graduates high school.
A life cut short is tragic, but Ivy does her best to make the most of it. She struggles emotionally with her deep love for on-again, off-again boyfriend Myers Patripski. She struggles financially, working outside of school to help her mom and her sister. And she struggles to cope with the murder of her best friend, another life she couldn't save. Vanessa Donovan was killed in the woods, and everyone in town believes Ivy had something to do with it.
Then more girls start disappearing. Ivy tries to put her own life in order as she pieces together the truth of who ended Vanessa's. To save lives and for her own sanity.
The clock is always ticking. And Ivy's only hope is to expose the truth before it runs out completely.
My review: This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I love a good suspense/thriller/mystery. I did enjoy it, and it was a pretty quick read. I like the style of writing that the author used to convey feelings and the passing of time. It grabbed me and made me want to keep reading it, and I love that about a book. The ending is satisfactory and will leave you with a sense of closure. I think fans of ya mystery will enjoy this book. Language and themes are appropriate for mature high school readers.
January 8, 2018
Kelsey, my dear friend, just keeps getting better and better. This is the type of suspense novel that I love - where you are left guessing until the end. Well done, Kels, well done! ❤
March 10, 2017
I am not often drawn to reading books that fall into the suspense/thriller genre but after reading this book's synopsis, I had to find out what Gardenia was all about.
Gardenia by Kelsey Sutton is beautifully written and full of characters that moved my heart. A plot full of bittersweet memories, poignant emotions, supernatural gifts and suspenseful moments that kept me on the edge of my seat! I also enjoyed the bit of romance thrown in as well.
To sum it up? Teenage angst at it's very best! I truly enjoyed reading this Gardenia and I can't wait to read Ms. Sutton's next book.
I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Diversion Publishing, Ms. Sutton and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Gardenia by Kelsey Sutton is beautifully written and full of characters that moved my heart. A plot full of bittersweet memories, poignant emotions, supernatural gifts and suspenseful moments that kept me on the edge of my seat! I also enjoyed the bit of romance thrown in as well.
To sum it up? Teenage angst at it's very best! I truly enjoyed reading this Gardenia and I can't wait to read Ms. Sutton's next book.
I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Diversion Publishing, Ms. Sutton and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 10, 2017
4 Stars! Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book! This is the third book I've read from Kelsey Sutton and I absolutely loved Gardenia and the mystery surrounding Ivy who could see the countdown to a person's death. Although the synopsis reminded me of another book, When– it was a completely different story with some similarities in relation to the death part. I did not see that ending till it was at 95%! This one really made my heart race!
4 Stars for great pacing and for keeping me up past midnight finishing this book!
4 Stars for great pacing and for keeping me up past midnight finishing this book!
April 18, 2017
So close to being 5 stars, and it would have been if it answered the question "why?"
I read Gardenia in one day. It was thoroughly entertaining. The pieces fell together very well at the end, and I didn't see that ending coming. I had lots of feels, most depressing. I felt as though I was in the story.
I get angry at books that don't explain everything, and not explaining the point of a book is a dagger through the heart. So, so close to a 5...but why, why, why???
I would like to read more by this author.
I read Gardenia in one day. It was thoroughly entertaining. The pieces fell together very well at the end, and I didn't see that ending coming. I had lots of feels, most depressing. I felt as though I was in the story.
I get angry at books that don't explain everything, and not explaining the point of a book is a dagger through the heart. So, so close to a 5...but why, why, why???
I would like to read more by this author.
February 28, 2017
What an engrossing suspense read! There are so many possible suspects and so many red herrings that I found it impossible to even take a good guess at the killer's identity. To be fair, I'm not sure the clues are there until the big reveal, which can be a pet peeve of mine, but I didn't mind in this case. What was even more surprising was how satisfying the narrator's development is in the midst of the mystery. I love the fact that she makes a tough decision about facing her short future, and it is really heartwarming (something I can't often say about a book in this genre). It definitely made the ending more rewarding. I also really like how the narrator is a believable character. She is a blend of selfish and self-sacrificing that really allowed me to feel she was genuine, and it was easy to be sympathetic to her situation. I did find it hard to keep all the male characters straight - a couple had names that started with "M," and that made it more difficult. It wasn't a perfect read, but I thought it was a really good one. There is just enough creepiness to really draw my high school students in, and enough depth to keep them reading. I know my mystery and suspense readers will find it as hard to put down as I did, so this is definitely going on my classroom library wish list. Language and situations are appropriate for grades 9+. I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, though this in no way impacted my review.
February 3, 2018
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
Rating: 4 Stars
Gardenia is one of those books that left me without much to say, mainly because I was left so satisfied and in love. This book was both thrilling and meaningful, and probably a book I'll come to re-read.
Ivy Erickson is a normal seventeen year old. That is, if you overlook that fact she can see how long people have to live, and the fact that she knows she'll die in a less than two months. The story follows her as she traces what led to her best friend's death, while trying to give happy endings to others' lives.
In a YA, a common thing I shake my head at is when authors focuses only on the main character's romance and friends, while family, which should also play a role, is shunned. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how everything was executed—the author paints the lively dynamics of Ivy's sharp tongued but loving mother, her sister who's too afraid to step out, and even Spencer the parrot, who yells motivation messages as they pass. Myles melted my heart as well as Amanda, and even the old folk she visited all found their way into my heart.
As for the mystery, the book kept me guessing until the end. I was quite happy that an obvious path was not taken. However, I must say that the reveal had me thinking really? It wasn't unacceptable, per say, but a little cliché and sudden. And I have to admit, Myles' utter devotion, the way too fitting lessons and subject of play slotted in was a little too much at times. But why I still loved this book so much was that aside from creating a thrilling mystery, a deeper meaning was driven behind it. You see Ivy struggling to make use of her remaining days and realising how precious life is. You see her struggles as well as others', and how they try to tie it up as nicely as they can when they have to leave. This book broke my heart a little, and the ending is not well explained. But I admittedly am usually more concerned about characters and their dynamics versus action, so this was fine to me.
What could be done to improve this book? A sequel...?
Okay, seriously though. I feel like explaining Ivy's ability, and how the ending was what it was would be better.
If you're looking for a mystery which may be slightly slower paced, but takes time to focus on a deeper meaning, this might be for you.
Rating: 4 Stars
Gardenia is one of those books that left me without much to say, mainly because I was left so satisfied and in love. This book was both thrilling and meaningful, and probably a book I'll come to re-read.
Ivy Erickson is a normal seventeen year old. That is, if you overlook that fact she can see how long people have to live, and the fact that she knows she'll die in a less than two months. The story follows her as she traces what led to her best friend's death, while trying to give happy endings to others' lives.
In a YA, a common thing I shake my head at is when authors focuses only on the main character's romance and friends, while family, which should also play a role, is shunned. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how everything was executed—the author paints the lively dynamics of Ivy's sharp tongued but loving mother, her sister who's too afraid to step out, and even Spencer the parrot, who yells motivation messages as they pass. Myles melted my heart as well as Amanda, and even the old folk she visited all found their way into my heart.
As for the mystery, the book kept me guessing until the end. I was quite happy that an obvious path was not taken. However, I must say that the reveal had me thinking really? It wasn't unacceptable, per say, but a little cliché and sudden. And I have to admit, Myles' utter devotion, the way too fitting lessons and subject of play slotted in was a little too much at times. But why I still loved this book so much was that aside from creating a thrilling mystery, a deeper meaning was driven behind it. You see Ivy struggling to make use of her remaining days and realising how precious life is. You see her struggles as well as others', and how they try to tie it up as nicely as they can when they have to leave. This book broke my heart a little, and the ending is not well explained. But I admittedly am usually more concerned about characters and their dynamics versus action, so this was fine to me.
What could be done to improve this book? A sequel...?
Okay, seriously though. I feel like explaining Ivy's ability, and how the ending was what it was would be better.
If you're looking for a mystery which may be slightly slower paced, but takes time to focus on a deeper meaning, this might be for you.
February 16, 2017
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
I didn't love the main character in this, but she was okay. I felt quite sorry for her at points.
This was an alright read, but it did struggle to keep my interest at points unfortunately. It felt like a pretty quick read, so it didn't drag at any point for me, it just didn't grip me like I hoped it would.
Overall, An okay read.
I didn't love the main character in this, but she was okay. I felt quite sorry for her at points.
This was an alright read, but it did struggle to keep my interest at points unfortunately. It felt like a pretty quick read, so it didn't drag at any point for me, it just didn't grip me like I hoped it would.
Overall, An okay read.
November 25, 2017
Compelling characters, inventive premise, but both the dialogue and the prose go clunk, clunk, clunk. Then clunk, clunk, clunk some more. Plus, ain't nobody sent gardenias to NObody since the 1950s.
February 3, 2017
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley in return for an un-biased review.
Life really sucks for Ivy Erickson. Not only does she have a short time to live, but she knows it. Ivy can see a digital clock ticking above every persons head, including her own. Slowly the time counts down to the moment that person will die. As if that wasn’t bad enough, young girls, starting with her own best friend, are being murdered in Ivy’s town and she feels compelled to solve those murders before her own clock reaches zero.
For me, the mystery part of this book is secondary to the larger dilemma. How would it feel to know when the people around you are going to die? Time would be present in a way that normally we don’t understand. Seconds, minutes and hours usually slide by so quickly, we hardly notice. Worse yet, we trade our time away. We waste the moment we are in right now because we are impatiently waiting for the weekend, or for our favorite tv show to start, or something else equally unimportant.
I recognize this more since I’ve become a parent. It seems like just yesterday that my boy Jay, was a 6 year old little boy who I was dropping off at elementary school. He was wearing holes through the toes of his shoes at an alarming rate and it drove me nuts. I couldn’t wait for him to grow out of that habit. I couldn’t wait until he was old enough to play video games with me. Until he was big enough to get on the big rides at Disneyland. Until a million different things. Suddenly, he’s 16 and all that time is gone. All too soon he’ll be out of school and making his own life. I can see that without a clock above his head telling me exactly when he will become old enough to move on. If I could see it, would that make the intervening minutes more important, or less?
Ivy is greatly affected by seeing The Clock. She is constantly aware of how many seconds it takes to walk through a room, or for a person to respond to a question, and of how quickly the lives of people around her is passing by. I liked that about the book. Being a teenager she didn’t always respond in a healthy way, but that’s completely understandable. It made for an interesting approach to her character and to her interactions with others.
Don’t let me and my ruminations scare you away though. This is not a deep, existential novel. It’s a fun and interesting YA mystery. Not too heavy for consumption, but can still provide enough texture to let your mind chew on. I enjoyed it.
Song for this book: What Time Do You Call This – Elbow
Life really sucks for Ivy Erickson. Not only does she have a short time to live, but she knows it. Ivy can see a digital clock ticking above every persons head, including her own. Slowly the time counts down to the moment that person will die. As if that wasn’t bad enough, young girls, starting with her own best friend, are being murdered in Ivy’s town and she feels compelled to solve those murders before her own clock reaches zero.
For me, the mystery part of this book is secondary to the larger dilemma. How would it feel to know when the people around you are going to die? Time would be present in a way that normally we don’t understand. Seconds, minutes and hours usually slide by so quickly, we hardly notice. Worse yet, we trade our time away. We waste the moment we are in right now because we are impatiently waiting for the weekend, or for our favorite tv show to start, or something else equally unimportant.
I recognize this more since I’ve become a parent. It seems like just yesterday that my boy Jay, was a 6 year old little boy who I was dropping off at elementary school. He was wearing holes through the toes of his shoes at an alarming rate and it drove me nuts. I couldn’t wait for him to grow out of that habit. I couldn’t wait until he was old enough to play video games with me. Until he was big enough to get on the big rides at Disneyland. Until a million different things. Suddenly, he’s 16 and all that time is gone. All too soon he’ll be out of school and making his own life. I can see that without a clock above his head telling me exactly when he will become old enough to move on. If I could see it, would that make the intervening minutes more important, or less?
Ivy is greatly affected by seeing The Clock. She is constantly aware of how many seconds it takes to walk through a room, or for a person to respond to a question, and of how quickly the lives of people around her is passing by. I liked that about the book. Being a teenager she didn’t always respond in a healthy way, but that’s completely understandable. It made for an interesting approach to her character and to her interactions with others.
Don’t let me and my ruminations scare you away though. This is not a deep, existential novel. It’s a fun and interesting YA mystery. Not too heavy for consumption, but can still provide enough texture to let your mind chew on. I enjoyed it.
Song for this book: What Time Do You Call This – Elbow
April 15, 2017
DNF at 22%
The idea of a countdown of numbers showing above people's heads to their death date and time is not new. It was done in the show Medium one episode, a Nickleback music video and of course in another book called Numbers. Now just because it's been done doesn't mean it can't work again. Gardenia looks to be an intriguing take on this concept at first when you find out that our lead teen can't stop the numbers, or presumably she would have saved her best friend from death; and that her own numbers are going to run out prematurely by societies standard of length of life.
Unfortunately the first 22% of this book is very dull. There is maybe ten sentences worth of plot that show up and the rest is just a boring narrative about the internal battle the lead gal has over the lose of her friend and her family situation. Maybe I'm a cold hearted bitch but I just didn't feel any emotion for anyone involved, nor did I feel like they could've been real people.
There's just nothing here to attract my attention or keep it. In no way did I feel for any character in this book. You'd hope that by the 40 page point you at least can remember a couple characters names and start to see plot unfolding that you want to know the answers to. I just couldn't and didn't care to try any longer. And so that is why I DNF this book.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review. Don't believe me? Check out the other books I've had eARCs for that I gave great reviews to. I always give my opinion whether good or bad.
The idea of a countdown of numbers showing above people's heads to their death date and time is not new. It was done in the show Medium one episode, a Nickleback music video and of course in another book called Numbers. Now just because it's been done doesn't mean it can't work again. Gardenia looks to be an intriguing take on this concept at first when you find out that our lead teen can't stop the numbers, or presumably she would have saved her best friend from death; and that her own numbers are going to run out prematurely by societies standard of length of life.
Unfortunately the first 22% of this book is very dull. There is maybe ten sentences worth of plot that show up and the rest is just a boring narrative about the internal battle the lead gal has over the lose of her friend and her family situation. Maybe I'm a cold hearted bitch but I just didn't feel any emotion for anyone involved, nor did I feel like they could've been real people.
There's just nothing here to attract my attention or keep it. In no way did I feel for any character in this book. You'd hope that by the 40 page point you at least can remember a couple characters names and start to see plot unfolding that you want to know the answers to. I just couldn't and didn't care to try any longer. And so that is why I DNF this book.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review. Don't believe me? Check out the other books I've had eARCs for that I gave great reviews to. I always give my opinion whether good or bad.
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