Rules for Vanishing

3.5 stars

YA horror is a fun genre for me. This a ghost story with teenagers. For teenagers. So going in I'm well aware of that. So I'm not going to knock off points for it not really scaring me. I'm an adult who watches and reads heavier stuff. That being said, This was a good book and I don't regret using my Bookish First points to get an ARC.

I have found that I enjoy books have transcripts ( or descriptions of videos, texts, etc etc.) included along the chapters to help bring you into the situations more. The entire book doesn't read this way so it's not too much either.

I only had two issues..they weren't enough to make me stop reading but still worth noting...There are a lot of characters in this book. There could have easily been one or two less. My other is issue that it felt like the author tried to add one of every type of teenager you could think which isn't bad at all..but in this case came across as less authentic as I think it was supposed to.

All in all a good read and I think it would definitely have it's intended reaction were a teenager to read it.

Well, friends, I think we have a new addition to my favorite books.

Told through epistolary style we discover a story about the local ghost, the missing girl trying to prove that it isn't just a story and a sister who will do everything in her power to bring her back home.

This was so much a story about friendship and family. About navigating how to show up for your friends when you don't know how. It really took me by surprise just how much I loved this. It also completely reinforced my love for epistolary style writing (I'm nosy) and has inspired me to want to pick up more horror in this style.

I hadn't really looked at the reviews before picking it up and it was the best surprise to have queer characters in it as well.