It’s time to play “guess that book” and also watch our TBRs weep.

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and is all about the first line of a current/upcoming read. Friday 56 is a meme hosted by Freda’s Voice, where you turn to page 56 (or 56%) in what you’re reading a find a snippet that jumps out at you.

Click To Reveal The Book

A young boy and girl who must protect their small town from otherworldly forces threatening to destroy it.

Rae’s father vanished without a trace—and Rae knows what happened to him. But no one believes her when she says that her father didn’t run off, that he was actually taken. Now, a year of therapy later, Rae’s mother decides they need a fresh start, and so they move to a new town in the hope that life can return to normal.

The problem is, there is nothing normal about the town of Whispering Pines.

No one knows this better than Caden. He’s lived in Whispering Pines his entire life, and he’s seen more than his fair share of weird—starting with his own family, as the town is the perfect home base for his mother’s ghost hunting business.

When several kids go missing and then show up like zombies with their eyes removed, many locals brush it off. Just another day in Whispering Pines. But Caden has a dark secret, one that may explain why someone is stealing eyes. And Rae, who knows how it feels to not be believed, may be just the person Caden needs to help him put things right.

✿ Super creepy and chilling opening.
✿ All the best MG scary monster tropes rolled into one book filled with spooky goodness.
✿ Compelling mystery that you’ll want to solve.
✿ But also not want to get too close because what if it comes for you?!
✿ Talk of paranormal and aliens and auras and conspiracy theories.
✿ Slightly outcast kids finding their place and finding each other.
✿ Creepy shenanigans involving spooky woods (because duh).
✿ … did I mention the eye-snatching?!

This is a weekly meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook meant to take place on Mondays, but since Fridays tend to be my TBR-focused post, I’ve decided to combine them here. Next Monday’s prompt is: red cover.

I love cover prompts, because I am 100% That Shallow Reader who will totally judge a book by its cover and drop it like it’s hot if it’s ugly. xD I know it sounds horrible, and it probably is, but while a cover may not make or break whether I pick up a book, it definitely plays a factor in whether it catches my eye among all its other lovely brethren!

               

Even though it’s not a genre I would normally read, I’ve heard such wonderful things about Darius the Great is Not Okay that I definitely plan on checking it out!

Dystopia is a thing I enjoy lately, so of course This Mortal Coil fits nicely in that. Plus, I’m also up for reading about horrifying plagues. Why not? Gene-hacking sounds pretty cool, too.

I mean … Shusterman. You know I have to read Dry. Of course, if I’m being honest, I’m not sure why I haven’t read it yet? I got it for Christmas aaaaages ago and it’s just sat on my shelf, looking like its fabulous self. I do want to read this soon, though!

I read book one of the Under the Northern Sky series years ago and really enjoyed it, but I never did get around to read The Spider when it came out. Not sure why. I’d like to, though.

I’ve heard such conflicting things about Nocturna, but it sounds really interesting, either way, so I definitely want to give it a try.