As a child, Angelina spent years in counseling learning that Josie, her imaginary friend, wasn't real, but it turns out her childhood friend wasn't imaginary after all.
Now Angelina has to accept she's either (A) crazy or (B) able to see ghosts. Wanting to believe in her sanity, she chooses (B) and welcomes Josie back into her life. But even Josie can't help her deal with Shelly, the spirit of a confused teenager, and things go very, very wrong.
When Angelina finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, she faces a choice: she can spend the rest of her life pretending to be someone she isn't, or she can embrace who she is and take a chance that she may never get to go home. ~ From GoodReads
Angelina's Secret is the story of a seemingly normal girl, with a big secret. Angelina has premonitions, and sees ghosts. As a child, she was forced to think that the ghost who visited her was an imaginary friend. But when the ghost, Josie, shows up, along with a few others, she is forced to confront her biggest fear: Is she crazy or is she right? Either answer is a scary thought.
Angelina's Secret was a book, I'm sad to say, that I just couldn't get in to. The opening was confusing. It opens in the midst of a premonition, Angelina envisioning herself in a situation, and I didn't know what was going on. Once I realized what was happening, the reading became easier. But still, I felt a bit disjointed as I was reading this.
I felt a lack of connection or empathy to each character. I know that I was supposed to be frightened or worried for the state of Angelina's mental health, but I didn't. Maybe because she didn't have strong reactions to the situations she faced. She would simply go along with whatever was happening. Her friend Daphne was so off-putting in manners and speech, I tried to get through her dialogue as quickly as possible. But I guess you could say that I had feelings about one character, Angelina's mother. What an awful woman! Each time Angelina went to her for help or comfort, she would act as if Angelina was attacking her. She would cut Angelina off and shut down. I literally wanted to reach into my book and smack her.
As for the ghosts, they weren't scary at all, but they were a bit comical. I don't know if that was intended or not. Being as some of them had been dead for many years, they experienced a lot of confusion with popular slang. There were a lot of mix-ups and misunderstandings in the conversations, which was kind of cute. In the end, it's a situation a lot like the movie Beetlejuice, with the ghosts and the family living together, happily ever after.
Overall, I would say the biggest issue with the book, for me, was confusion. When I read the synopsis, the story seemed like a creepy thriller. Is Angelina crazy? There was never any question for me. So that left me with a girl, her ghosts, and the struggle to make her family understand.
For an alternate point of view, I have included a link to this positive review I found on GoodReads.
Paperback, 186 pages
Expected publication: February 1st 2012 by Spencer Hill Press
You can purchase Angelina's Secret at:
*I received an ARC of Angelina's Secret from Spencer Hill Press, in exchange for an honest review.*
Very nice review, even if the book wasn't your cup of tea. Sometimes, we book bloggers just have to suck up to honestly and give negative reviews. You're so nice about it, so you're the perfect neg reviewer!
ReplyDeleteIt really sounds like an interesting book, though. I'm intrigued by the premise and the comical ghosts. Reminds me of The Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland, lol.
The premise sounds good, but it's a shame you didn't enjoy it. The characters don't really sound appealing and characters for me, are really important - if I don't like them I can't continue reading a book. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds interesting, but also like it wouldn't be for me. I need the characters to draw me in. It's a shame you didn't like it. I always feel sad when I don't like a book. Thanks for the wonderful review as always! :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen this one before but it doesn't look like something I would get into in the first place. I want a creepy ghost story, I never really dug Beetlejuice. Oh, and Andrea, you should click this link here.
ReplyDeleteI kinda nominated you for a blog award.
;]
ShawnaLeAnn
Dreaming In The Pages ∫ Enter My Giveaway
I like ghost stories--I think I will like this. :) Great review.
ReplyDeleteSo basically you were not very connected to the story or characters? That sucks! I don't think I would have finished it. And to think that the only character you had emotions toward is an awful character...that just plain sucks.
ReplyDeleteI love your honesty. :)
I haven't heard much about this book but just by reading the premise I can tell that it's not for me and your review confirms that. The fact that it's confusing and hard to connect too is a real bummer. Also it's a ghost story and I'm not a big fan of all those creepy reads. Well great review Andrea and thanks for being so honest :)I really appreciate it!!!
ReplyDeleteJaskirat~SeeitORreadit