From the Publisher
[A] fast-paced psychological thriller” — Kirkus Reviews
“Rafi’s matter-of-fact narration efficiently encapsulates her self-deception, boundless obsession, and increasingly delusional stalking, making for a compulsive read.” — Publishers Weekly
“Both heart-pounding and troubling, this story is hard to put down and hard to shake.” — Booklist
“Quick-paced and suspenseful.” — School Library Journal
“An interesting, thought-provoking character case study à la The Talented Mr. Ripley…This is a book that will haunt [readers] for some time.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Kirkus Reviews
2022-06-22
A love story between two teens, narrated by their stalker.
The cutest couple at Holy Family High School is definitely Laney Villanueva and Nico Fiore. They are popular, gorgeous seniors living a beautiful romance—and the target of sophomore Rafaela Wickham, the sole focus of her obsessive love. Drawn to them like a moth to the light, Rafi slowly but surely gets closer to Laney and Nico, conniving and manipulating events to ingratiate herself and find a way into every aspect of their lives. Her aim is to become one with them—one of their closest friends and the person they will turn to in their hour of need. And when challenges arrive, she does everything she can to help them stay together. It is, after all, the least she can do. This fast-paced psychological thriller is a disturbing, uncomfortable, heartbreaking journey into the mind of a young person who clearly needs help and attention; the text emphasizes this by showing the emotional fallout of her parents’ abandonment, including an alarming incident involving a beloved teacher. But this aspect is mostly bypassed in favor of creepy thrills, leaving a story that is often repetitive in its emotional beats and likely to leave readers craving more depth. Fans of stalker narratives may appreciate that element enough to enjoy the ride. Laney is Filipino American; Nico and Rafi are assumed White.
A creepy but hollow thriller. (Thriller. 14-18)
