The Children on the Hill

This was an interesting idea, a tribute to Frankenstein combined with a story about kids trying to solve a mystery at a mental institution where their beloved grandmother works as a doctor. It was unfortunately combined with a less compelling story about two of the kids as adults, one as a podcaster/monster hunter and the other as a “monster.”

I did like the bit with the kids at first; I love stories where young people have to be self-reliant and get themselves into and out of trouble. That part did feel like a YA novel though, and that's not how this is marketed.

A big problem is that most of the story is built on twists—entirely predictable twists—and melodrama. Dear lord, the melodrama. Showing people having temper tantrums and crying fits leaves the reader out of the emotional moment; it doesn't pull them into it.

There are way too many things packed into the book and none of them are done well. There's a missing persons mystery, evils of eugenics, feminist empowerment, romantic attraction (out of nowhere I might add), memory and identity issues, the entire who's-your-Monster theme, and so on. All of this in a loosely strung, gimmicky plot. I would have liked a little more storytelling, a little less concept.

I loved The Winter People, but this one was just fine. I considered not finishing it a few times but wanted to get to the big twist that I've heard of. I will say the ending took me by surprise and I enjoyed the outcome. However, I found it too slow to get there. Much of the middle felt unnecessary and could have been edited out. I felt like the last 100 pages or so had more action than the whole book. 

I was shocked by the first twist and then I was shocked again by the second twist. I loved the way she moved back and forth through time and we got to hear from the different books and characters. We are slowly uncovering a tangled dangerous history from several different sources. This is exactly the kind of thriller I love!

Not sure how to feel about this one. If you're looking for a story that's dark and has some creepy isolated home and creepy basement vibes, give this one a shot. Also a HUGE emphasis on monsters and the way that people can have monstrous & evil sides to them.

I was intrigued to figure out what happened in the house and to learn how the past events led us to what was happening in the present. I was much more interested in the past timeline than I was in the present timeline, and I just wasn't very satisfied with the ending of the book in the present day. I also liked the monster club journal entries and the snippets of a book about the house woven throughout.

4.75*

This was such an amazing book! The atmosphere, the vibes, the two timelines OMG! I devoured this book in one whole day!

This was my second Jennifer McMahon book and I'm happy to say that she is definitely a new favorite author. I absolutely loved the atmosphere of this book. I think that is something that Jennifer McMahon does really well. I also loved the two timelines. I found myself eager to read both timelines and really liked them equally. I had no idea who to believe while reading this, I found myself not trusting anyone. The one thing that I struggled with was the pacing. I felt that at some points the pacing was off but other than that I adored everything else.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

The children on the hill is the story of 2 children who live with their psychiatrist Grandmother after losing their parents. Their lives are unusual in the sense they are home schooled with above average intelligence learning the ways of the world through the assignments from the grandmother and having very little to do with the real world. They have a club, the monster club. The story really takes a twist when their grandmother brings home one of the children from her work, a place called the Inn. A place for people with mental health issues and a criminal background. A place that is like a halfway house with Gran at the helm. The child who doesn't talk and doesn't remember anything is integrated into their family as a sibling.... It's up to Vi to keep an eye on her.

The book follows 2 time periods and excerpts from a book which tells us a little of the in-between time. 13 year old Vi is our narrator for the past and Lizzy in 2019. It's brilliantly executed and seamless in the transitions between both times. I couldn't put the book down. I literally thought my eye were going to start bleeding.

The twists in this book gave me whiplash so hard I am surprised I am not in hospital. I did not see them coming.
The suspense had me gripped so tight I had to remind myself to breathe.
You need to read this book, yes I am talking to you.

If you love a book with twists so hard you can feel the earth move then this is the book for you. I wish I could give it more stars.

My only regret was reading it so early in the year, what book will come close to this one now?

The way this book has an absolute chokehold on my mind! I'm still thinking about it MONTHS after reading it.

Synopsis:
Back in 1978, Dr. Helen Hildreth is a well known psychiatrist in Vermont who is praised for her work with her patients. When she's at home with her grand kids, Violet and Eric, she's the typical grandmother. One day she brings home a little girl named Iris. She's skittish and shy, but Vi takes her under her wing and lets her join their Monster Club where they document different monsters in their special book.

In 2019, Lizzy Shelley, a popular monster podcast host travels to that town in Vermont where a girl has recently gone missing in the hoped of solving the question of what happened to this girl. The people of the town claim it was a monster that abducted her, but Lizzy isn't so sure. She knows better than anyone people can be monsters. Especially since her very own sister is one.

Review:
When I tell you I was in my own little world, staying up until 3am to finish this... I was FULLY immersed. Something about the writing style, the characters, and the interesting plot was so unlike anything I've read. I didn't see the twists coming AT ALL and my jaw was on the floor for the last 20ish pages. I loved the ending and the message shared. Not to mention the gothic vibes I was getting. That could just be me but I honestly imagined a creepy mansion and it did not disappoint. If you're looking for a read that's a great time with an empowering message, I highly recommend. I honestly wish I remember more. Even though this is 5 stars, I read it in June and already don't remember much because I flew through it. I seriously went into another world with this one.