Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC

I'm gonna be honest and quick about this because despite my mixed feelings, I find I don't have a lot to say about this book.

The story basically surrounds two girls: Eva and Sophia. it alternates between "then" chapter pov's and then "now" interviews with the same characters.

Eva Flores is essentially a famous tiktoker who has a kind of rivalry with Sophia (our main character), and the book goes from that point to talking about the disappearance (and possible murder) of Eva, and how Sophia is the main suspect for the same.

For me, this book felt kind of meh.

I mean, it's not bad, but it's not a wow either. It's just alright.

I like the turns it takes and that it does make the attempt to take things at a deeper level and add depth to it's characters.

However, I also think it is way too slow paced. i can pinpoint certain points of the book where things actually happen and while some of the other chapters I found uninteresting are still NECESSARY to the plot, it doesn't make me like them more.

Also there's just questions I have about some of the concepts in this book and I'm not sure if they count as plot holes but I did want an explanation, or atleast better hints at what it could be.

Overall, it's not a bad book and it's a good enough read but i find myself craving more.

What a twist! This book kept me searching the entire time!! I loved the present day along with going into the past. It all tied together nicely with no confusion. Lots of surprises for me which I enjoy. I hate being able to predict the story so this was a treat!

"You just don't know what's inside... You don't know everyone's truth."⠀
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Jennifer Alsever, Burying Eva Flores ⠀
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Burying Eva Flores by Jennifer Alsever is such a unique book! The author skillfully weaves together text messages, emails, police statements, and character dialogue to create a rich tapestry of supernatural suspense. There was an underlying eerieness to the story that was punctuated by references to indigenous folklore and ghost stories. Eva and Sophie were equally as infuriating as they were sympathetic and I had a hard time rooting for either one but I was so pleased with the end of their character ARCs. The twists and turns of this YA thriller come hard and fast as the story progresses and kept me on the edge of my seat. The brutally honest commentary on social media, bullying, and the teenage experience is a vital part of the book and is executed with a precision that cuts to the bone.
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This New Adult novel focuses on Sophia, who is determined to get revenge on the new girl in town who seems intent on ruining Sophia's life. Eva is TikTok famous, rich, and popular, and Sophia is finished being pushed around by her. When she is gifted a journal that seems to manifest whatever she writes in it in real life, she begins to enact her plans to show everyone who Eva really is.

This book was a fun read that gave the characters a lot more depth than I first anticipated! It dealt with issues like poverty, abuse, and the pressures of social media while weaving in a bit of magic. This book really humanized not only Sophia, but Eva, demonstrating how we often don't know what someone else is going through and often things are much more complex than black and white ideas of good and evil.

I wasn't completely satisfied with the inclusion of a Native American curse as a plot point--I think horror/thriller replies on this trope and I don't find it compelling, especially with so much solid, culturally-grounded Native American horror written by Native American authors out there working against the proliferation of these tropes. In this book, the curse was a minor element (a bit of a confusing one that seemed not completely folded into the plot), but it's important to note.

Overall, this book does a great job of bridging the genre gap between YA and Adult fiction, with characters who are on the cusp of young adulthood and dealing with what that looks like. I'd recommend this to people who like thrillers with slight supernatural elements and some commentary on social media in our world today.

I really enjoyed this one. It was a fantastic murder story and I flew through most of it in one day.

I liked the characters and the plot, it was interesting, I found it different to the usual mundane murder mysteries that you normally see as there was just a dash of magic included.

Definitely recommend!

*3.75 stars on StoryGraph*

First of all, thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to the ARC version, in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book (and had access to the audiobook ARC as well so listened to the novel as I read, which was a really great experience of the book).

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and agree with others that it is very reminiscent of The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. I think the story was really interesting in the development. It definitely picked up pace as it continued, and it took me a while to get into the book. I think that, at first, it didn’t read as naturally as I think it could have done and the dialogue was slow for me. But that picked up and I did enjoy it.

I also think, re: audiobook, that the different cast was a bit confusing for me to get used to and it helped to have a text of the book to read at the same time. However, some people said they love a cast recording. I have never listened to one before, so it just took a bit of getting used to but once I recognized who was who then I started to really enjoy that aspect.

Got really excited when it started out written like interview transcripts, I've been really happy with the new influx of fiction written as non fiction. But then after awhile all the characters just got a little grating to me. Possibly just because this is for a younger crowd.

3 / 5 ⭐️‘s

This one kept my attention until the very last page.

Alsever has crafted a complex and intriguing plot that is full of unexpected twists and turns. The characters are well-drawn and multi-dimensional. The pacing is spot-on, with just the right balance of action, suspense, and character development.

Overall, this is a good YA paranormal thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.