I had SUCH high hopes for this. Unfortunately, I could not make it through the book. It was a DNF for me.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my early arc copy of this!

The author really paints the portrait of the world. After the 1st chapter, I could visualize this as a limited TV series in my mind's eye.

I thought, at first, that there was way too much detail on the little things. Then I realized how incorrect I was. Sometimes authors can get lost in the details of the minutiae. I worried that Brandon Jones was falling into that trap. I was proven wrong within a few pages. It really did setup the opening scenes to flow/"getcha" into the mystery of the situation, once things started to morph into the meat of the story.

It was an amazing establishing shot, illustrated by the Narrator (Main Character). The love that the Main Character has always had for Whirly World could be felt through the words.

I hesitate to say anything else, since I'm not one to spoil major plot points for others. Haha! I will just leave it with: Brandon James has me hooked for any future novels in this genre, by illustrating the world with his words, while also having an engaging story.

The story left me feeling meh. The premise of the story was very promising.
The mc wasn't an interesting character to me, and neither were the other characters.

In the end, this just wasn't a story for me.

I have to admit I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, it had a very heartwarming feel to reading it.
Jason is a Whirly World enthusiast who loved nothing more than spending as much time as he can in the park. Until one day he wakes up in the park and there's no one around. His idea of Heaven. The park all to himself, with no lines and no crowds. Unfortunately, he's dead.

As Jason navigates this ghostly Whirly World he meets the other residents of the park who have also died on the grounds making them forever coworkers (Heaven or hell? You decide there). It was quite emotional at points, hearing from everyone about their untimely demise and how they felt about being trapped in the park but also what that meant for the living family and friends. For Jason, he slowly began to realize how much of his life he dedicated to the park over his real-life relationships and how he can never change that.

I spotted another review for this book that it was reminiscent of Matt Haig's The Midnight Library and I believe this to be why I enjoyed it so much as that book has been one of my top 5 for a good few years now. There's just something about a ghost story that pulls me in! Jason's conversations with the fellow dead got me really invested in them as characters. I do wish it touched on them more individually as some of them started to get a little forgotten towards the end.

My only other critique is I think it could have been a bit longer as he was only there for 2 days and I think the concept is a lot of fun and I would have loved to have seen a bit more exploration of the actual park and the rides. But overall I enjoyed the read and would recommend it to anyone who loves a nice ghost story

Out of courtesy I am giving this book 2 stars instead of one, but I really did not enjoy it. The story is utterly bizarre. An amusement park Purgatory? A weird demon at the end who takes on different shapes and tricks and harasses the handful of ghosts who are bound to this place? I just did not see the point of the plot. I cannot fathom who the audience would be. A dystopian audience? An atheist? Teens?

I was glad to be done.

5 stars
This book has a very cool premise, and it is an easy read to get through. The main protagonist starts off being dead in his favourite theme park and the whole thing only gets weirder from there (not actually a spoiler). I enjoyed getting to know all the characters around the park, and how everyone and everything tie together throughout the story in profound and unexpected ways. Honestly the park itself even feels like a character that you get to know through the story as well.
All told, I found the ending as believable as it could be for such an unusual premise. It was a good resolution, slightly vague but still tying up most loose ends. But the whole story is a cool take on the afterlife and what it might mean to be gone but not forgotten.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Brandon Jones, and Emet Studios for the digital readers copy. All opinions are my own.

"Whirly World" by Brandon Jones is a thrilling and imaginative novel that takes readers on an unforgettable ride through the eerie afterlife of a beloved theme park. The story follows theme-park blogger Jason Green, who finds himself trapped as a spirit in Whirly World, his favorite place on earth. What initially seems like a dream come true quickly devolves into an abstract nightmare as Jason faces malevolent forces determined to keep him imprisoned.

Desperate to escape, Jason must forge alliances with the ten other ghosts haunting Whirly World. From a disgruntled hostess who met her end under a revolving stage to a security guard stuck in the year 1983, each spirit brings their own unique powers and perspectives. Together, they must unravel the park’s enigmatic past to find a way out.

Jones masterfully blends elements of horror, mystery, and dark humor, creating a richly layered narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The eclectic cast of characters adds depth and charm to the story, while the spooky yet nostalgic setting of Whirly World is brought to life with vivid detail.

"Whirly World" is a captivating tale of camaraderie, courage, and the power of uncovering hidden truths. Brandon Jones delivers a standout novel that will delight fans of supernatural fiction and theme park enthusiasts alike. This is a must-read for anyone seeking a unique and exhilarating literary adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

I want to thank the publishers for approving my request to read this arc. 🙏 Im not sure where to start....As much as I was ready for the idea that was presented, I didn't feel as though the story was executed very well. The world building was fantastic, hands down. Just not what I was hoping for. It fell flat for me.

First off...DISCLAIMER: this title was up for grabs on NetGalley (in the Read Now section). Thanks to Emet Studios (Brandon Jones) for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.

FUN FAIR

Afterlife meets theme park with a side of superpowers and time loops, all wrapped in a mystery: a recipe for fun, though peppered with some emotional moments (what with the characters being, you know, dead). For one, the premise is creative and intriguing: eleven employees or patrons of a famous amusement park who died on its grounds find themselves trapped in a ghostly version of the same park. Among them is Jason, a theme-park blogger who in life was probably the biggest Whirly World fan, but isn't necessarily thrilled not to be able to leave the place for mysterious reasons - not to mention, he can't even remember how he died. He sets on exploring the surroundings (which leads to a series of frustrating discoveries - frustrating for him, but again, making for lots of fun on the reader's part), and one by one he runs into his fellow resident ghosts, which creates some amusing dynamics (since Jason has written about their deaths in his blog, and coming face to face with some of them brings out the fanboy in him, if for a moment.

WILD RIDE

I don't know if the author modeled Whirly World after one or more existing theme parks, but the different areas and the attractions they contain feel both familiar and exciting (not only because of the supernatural forces at play), and Jones, via his main character, paints a vivid image of the setting in all its nooks and crannies (it does help that the book comes with a map of the park, which you can also access from here; however, it mostly serves the purpose of giving you the lay of the land, and of course it doesn't include the interiors). Jason is the only ghost at Whirly World who questions the status quo, also because he's the only one able to see past the park's facade; at the same time, his love for the place is genuine and infectious, for reasons that have their roots in his childhood - and it's clear that such love, far from being a hindrance, is actually a catalyst for his gift. The more Jason questions the place and its limits - and the more he brings his fellow ghosts along for the ride (no pun intended) - the crazier things become, until the gang has to face their antagonist in an epic showdown. And even then, the surprises are not over...

GHOST TRAIN

This novel comes with a massive cast of side characters, which is at the same time one of its best assets and a potential weakness. There's no space for each and every one of them to get fleshed out, or for them as a whole to become your average "found family" (though at any rate, I don't think the author was going for that - which is refreshing in a way, though I love found families as the next person). But they have very distinct personalities, and each of their gifts has an affinity with their nature or real-life abilities, which is really cool (the gifts/powers are, too). My only gripe is that, along with the different ethnicities, it would have been neat to see some LGBTQIA+ representation. Anyhow, without giving too much away, I can say that most characters' arcs, either on a personal level or in relation to one another, are satisfying (especially Jason's), or at least make sense - except maybe for a certain romance that comes out of the blue...literally...but that at least makes for a fun role reversal. And if the ending borrows from the Christian idea of the afterlife, it's open enough not to feel dogmatic, and to suggest the possibility that you get a say in where you end up - or when. Inventive, captivating, funny, yet emotional and profound at times, Whirly World is a brilliant debut that's sure to quench all my fellow afterlife aficionados' thirst for beyond-the-veil stories with bite and, ultimately, a sweet core.

Note: I noticed a couple of typos ("one IN the same" -> "AND the same"; "RIGHT of passage" -> "RITE"), but this is becoming increasingly common in traditionally published books as well lately...

I love a good fairground yarn so I was really keen to dive into this but this story just isn’t working for me and I’m DNFing at the 20% mark.

I’m the spirit of providing helpful feedback and context around why I’m not continuing with the book, here’s what I’m noticing as I’m reading:

* I’m really struggling to engage with the writing style: it feels simplistic and dry in its language choices, lacks flair or oomph, yet the overall structure feels quite waffley. As a result, I’m not getting a sense of atmosphere. The presentation style also isn’t engaging me as most of the narrative, so far, is relayed via an exhausting stream of consciousness from the main character.

* Which leads me to my second issue: I’m finding the main character incredibly irritating and one dimensional. He’s utterly obsessed with the theme park - to the point of tedium - and he presents as cocky and childish. I don’t enjoy spending time with him and don’t want to spend the rest of this 280 page book trapped in his head. He’s not likeable, compelling, or interesting to me as a reader.

This book might appeal to people who can relate to super-fans or don’t mind going into the mind of someone obsessive about a fairground.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to try the ARC via NetGalley.

Fun and inventive mystery-fantasy story! Strong characters, engaging plot, highly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley and Emet Studios for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Imagine spending your entire life loving a place, calling it heaven on earth, then pass away and fine yourself seemingly destined to live there for eternity. GREAT right? WRONG!

Jason Green has discovered that he is deceased at his favorite theme park Whirly World. It is not as amazing as he remembered and he is not alone. The park is teaming with the ghosts of other patrons and ex-employees all trapped in their version of the park and unless they come together they will be trapped there forever. This was a very detailed, sort of creepy, very emotional and thought provoking read.

I enjoyed myself reading this but I think I will pass on visiting this park!

I quite liked this book. I read it during work when the day got slow. It had that Monkeybone feel to it. I love any book that has that “living in the afterlife” concept going on. It’s always interesting to see what people’s takes are on the topic. I loved the characters and their unique backstories. The only thing I’d change really is the book cover. I feel it doesn’t do the story justice. I’d recommend this book to anyone. I loved the ending and I loved the pace of the book. It kept me enthralled all day!

I liked it but I wanted to like it more. I found it quite slow in parts and wasn’t really sure where the story was going at times. However the author’s writing style was great and this is what redeemed the novel for me

This just feels unfinished.
The world building was great.
I loved all the characters and their unique stories, but someone about the story within the story feels incomplete.
I want to relay that if you’re someone who hates on Disney Adults, this may not be for you. The protagonist Jason Green is a blogger obsessed with this amusement park, Whirly World. In fact it’s all he ever wants to be. So when he meets an untimely end, and is sent to spend his afterlife there, why does he try so hard to escape?!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC

3 ⭐️

I read this book on a whim and I’m really glad I did. This was a nice palette cleanser between my typical horror but was still such an interesting book. The entire purgatory aspect was fascinating to me. As a tried and true atheist it’s hard for me to imagine any form of afterlife, but I love the various concepts of them that are out there.

There are definitely some malevolent forces in this book which give it more depth. I enjoyed the characters and found them to be distinct enough. There were some really sweet moments mixed in that made this book enjoyable.

I would consider this maybe horror-lite fantasy? Definitely recommend for those interested in those post death possibilities.

Brandon Jones is definitely an author to keep an eye out for.

I’ve got a lot to say about this book. What do I say other than this book took me for a loop (very little pun intended).

The plot of this book makes me feel as though I’m in an insane asylum, nothing is what you would believe it to be. Our main character is dead, after being a life long Whirly World fan and theme park blogger, he has succumb to the park. At least that’s what we as readers are lead to believe at the beginning of the book. Our main character thinks it is any other day in the theme park, he sees an ice cream vendor that he’s known for years and has small talk. A child who runs away from him, who he thinks must be lost. However, it’s when he runs into someone who died a famous Whirly World Death, that he thinks he’s dreaming and later realizes he is dead.

He runs into many people who have died in the amusement park, that HE has written about dying in the park, yet he runs into one individual that he had never heard of passing on park property. This book takes on so many undertones and journeys.

I must say this book is wonderfully written, the storytelling, the imagery, the insanity. However, the only reason I give this book a 4/5 stars is the opening paragraph. It’s the most poorly written opening paragraph I’ve read in ages, and if I went off that alone, I would’ve never continued on with the rest of the book which would’ve been a shame because the book in whole was fantastic!

Thank you to Brandon Jones and NetGalley for providing me with an EGalley of this book in exchange for my thoughts on it!

This book had an interesting premise, but I found myself struggling to engage fully with it simply because I had an incredibly hard time sympathizing with the protagonist. Throughout the novel he demonstrated a level of self centeredness that I kept waiting for him to work though in a meaningful way but he simply didn't. There would be brief flashes of insight where he realized that he exclusively prioritized his own desires to the detriment of his loved ones, but even as he felt them he would be absolved of his selfishness through it actually being an asset that would help to save the inhabitants of the park.

I also simply didn't follow the ending- it's not that I didn't understand what was going on, it just didn't seem to be narratively cohesive.

The main antagonist made a deal to get out from under the mountain in exchange for becoming... a park mascot? whose job was seemingly to keep anyone that died in this space trapped for eternity. Despite this, he was defeated not by anyone escaping the park, but by releasing another, different guy from under the mountain? If it was about keeping that miner trapped, what was the impetus for trapping everyone else? I was also a bit lost on how everyone knew that the protagonist's ability was to see through the park's glamour. If he was so enlightened, why was there so much hesitation in aiding him, or at the very least validating his concern? He was consistently met with dismissal from Reagan who was insistent that he couldn't have figured everything out in a day, while knowing full well that he had the ability to do so.

I think the story itself has a lot of potential, but needed some additional work to really make the plot more consistent and fleshed out.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An overall good book. A purgatory theme park keeps the souls that died in the real park stuck in an alternate, spirit world version of the park. This mismatched bunch of characters try to get along well enough to figure out why they are there.

The explanation of the events unfolding is somewhat confusing and unclear at times, but this helps you feel what the characters are experiencing throughout the plot. My biggest complaint is that the ending was quite sudden and felt like more could have been squeezed from it. This was, however, a good, quick read with moments of sadness and happiness that balance each other well.

Thanks Netgalley for the arc!
I wanted to love this book but I found it to be really corny and cliche to the point where I predicted everything that happened. I will say the best part about this book was the writing, the author certainly is skilled.