The American Girl by Kate Horsley
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Although this story is cleverly structured, unfortunately it did not “captivate” me, as the quote on the front cover suggests it would. I didn’t take to the writing style (obviously this is only personal preference) and the book really dragged for me during the middle. Rather than feeling gradually drawn into a creepy mystery, I just felt miserable and grubby – everyone is described as unpleasant, sadistic, a liar, high and/or sweaty! And the smoking! Oh my days – how many descriptions of smoking – craving cigarettes, lighting cigarettes, stubbing out cigarettes, leaning out of windows to smoke cigarettes – do we need?
The early plot, Quinn’s mysterious texts and snapchats and the last few chapters were exciting but, for me, there was too much despair – and it seemed to drown out the mystery.
With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the ARC of The American Girl.