2025 End of Year Survey

December 31, 2025

My wrap up and then The Perpetual Page-Turner‘s survey.

Challenges in which I participated:

Goodreads Challenge: 54/80
What’s in a Name?: 5/6
Book Bingo:  14/24
Alphabet Soup: 18/26
Alphabet Soup Author Edition: 23/26
R.I.P.: Completed

# of books read:

54



Previous years:

75 in 2024
80 in 2023
65 in 2022
57 in 2021
59 in 2020
53 in 2019
81 in 2018
61 in 2017
35 in 2016
52 in 2015
58 in 2014
60 in 2013
75 in 2012
39 in 2011
30 in 2010
28 in 2009
48 in 2008
81 in 2007

Favorites (in order read):

The Briar Club by: Kate Quinn
This Great Hemisphere by: Mateo Askaripour
Harrow the Ninth by: Tamsyn Muir
Nona the Ninth by: Tamsyn Muir
The Familiar by: Leigh Bardugo
I Who Have Never Known Men by: Jacqueline Harpman
The Light Pirate by: Lily Brooks-Dalton
The Sirens by: Emilia Hart
The Amalfi Curse by: Sarah Penner
Magyk by: Angie Sage

Least favorite:

None this year!

# of non-fiction:

4

Repeated authors:

Elin Hilderbrand (2) (Nantucket)
Sarah J. Maas (2) (Court of Thorns and Roses)
Blake Crouch (3) (Wayward Pines)
Tamsyn Muir (3) (The Locked Tomb)
Liz Moore (2)

**2025 READING STATS**

Number Of Books You Read: 54
Number of Re-Reads: 0
Genre You Read The Most From: Fiction, Horror

best-YA-books-2014

1. Best Book You Read In 2025?

The Light Pirate by: Lily Brooks-Dalton

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

We Need to Talk About Kevin by: Lionel Shriver (I thought it would be more like Defending Jacob, but this was a lot heavier, being in the direct mind of Kevin’s mom, who wasn’t very nice herself.)

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

Magyk by: Angie Sage (In a good way! I thought it would be more childish and not as well written, but it was a great story with very clever writing and fun characters.)

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

The Lost Story by: Meg Shaffer
We Used to Live Here by: Marcus Kliewer
(I’m not sure if these were read, but I did recommend these to a friend!)

 5. Best series you started in 2025? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender of 2025?

Best Series: The Locked Tomb by: Tamsyn Muir
Best Sequel: Harrow the Ninth by: Tamsyn Muir
Best Ender: Nona the Ninth by: Tamsyn Muir

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2025?

Tamsyn Muir

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by: Michelle McNamara (non-fiction)

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

We Used to Live Here by: Marcus Kliewer

 9. Book You Read In 2025 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

The Familiar by: Leigh Bardugo

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2025?

11. Most memorable character of 2025?

Harrow from The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2025?

Where Wolves Don’t Die by: Anton Treuer

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2025?

This Great Hemisphere by: Mateo Askaripour

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2025 to finally read? 

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by: Michelle McNamara

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2025?

‘The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.’

A Discovery of Witches by: Deborah Harkness

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2025?

Shortest: The Willows by: Algernon Blackwood (105 pages)
Longest: A Court of Silver Flames by: Sarah J. Maas (757 pages)

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

The entire The Locked Tomb series was full of twists and surprises.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Nora & Xavier from The Briar Club by: Kate Quinn
-also-
Emily & Wendell – again! – from the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett

Emily & Wendell : Art by Mayhaps Posting Art

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Ezra and his grandfather in Where Wolves Don’t Die by: Anton Treuer

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2025 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Sunrise on the Reaping by: Suzanne Collins

21. Best Book You Read In 2025 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:

The Man From the Train by: Bill James (recommended by the podcast My Favorite Murder)

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2025?

Gideon from Gideon the Ninth by: Tamsyn Muir

23. Best 2025 debut you read?

I don’t think I read a 2025 debut this year

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

That’s a hard one… The Locked Tomb, Emily Wilde, and Magyk were all amazing worlds.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Strange Sally Diamond by: Liz Nugent

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2025?

Where Wolves Don’t Die by: Anton Treuer

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Light Pirate by: Lily Brooks-Dalton

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

?

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2025?

This Great Hemisphere by: Mateo Askaripour
Olivetti by: Allie Millington
The Three-Body Problem by: Liu Cixin

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Intensity by: Dean Koontz because the antagonist is horrible.
In the Likely Event by: Rebecca Yarros because I was getting annoyed at the two main characters for not getting together already!

R.I.P. XX

September 6, 2025

It’s that time of year!! I’m excited to participate in R.I.P. XX, hosted by @perilreaders on Instagram.

The rules are simple, pick how many and what type of media to imbibe between September 1 and October 31! I always choose Peril of the Fiction Read and try to read at least 8 fiction books. I also try to participate in Peril of the Short Story by reading at least one short story or collection of short stories, Peril of the Real by reading one non-fiction book, and Peril on the Screen by watching a movie or TV show.

The purpose of the R.I.P. Challenge is to enjoy books that could be classified as:

Mystery.

Suspense.

Thriller.

Dark Fantasy.

Gothic.

Horror.

Supernatural.

The emphasis is never on the word challenge, instead it is about coming together as a community and embracing the autumnal mood, whether the weather is cooperative where you live or not.

The goals are simple. 

1. Have fun reading.

2. Share that fun with others.

This year’s list:

Peril of the Fiction Read
1. All the Missing Girls by: Megan Miranda
2. Old Country by: Matt Query & Harrison Query
3. The Good Sister by: Sally Hepworth
4. Shiver by: Allie Reynolds
5. Long Bright River by: Liz Moore
6. Rock Paper Scissors by: Alice Feeney
7. We Used to Live Here by: Marcus Kliewer
8. What the Night Knows by: Dean Koontz
9. Last Days Adam L.G. Nevill
10. The Stand by: Stephen King

Peril of the Real
1.

Peril of the Screen
1. The Haunting of Bly Manor (mini series)

Peril of the Short Story
1. The Willows by: Algernon Blackwood

Strange Sally Diamond

May 13, 2025

Strange Sally Diamond

By: Liz Nugent
Published: 2023
# of pages: 384
Challenges: What’s in a Name? (first & last name)

Sally Diamond cannot understand why what she did was so strange. She was only doing what her father told her to do, to put him out with the rubbish when he died.

Now Sally is the centre of attention, not only from the hungry media and worried police, but also a sinister voice from a past she has no memory of. As she begins to discover the horrors of her childhood, recluse Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends, finding independence, and learning that people don’t always mean what they say.

But when messages start arriving from a stranger who knows far more about her past than she knows herself, Sally’s life will be thrown into chaos once again . . .

Goodreads

I read this back in January, so I’m reaching back through my memory to create a post for my What’s in a Name challenge category for First & Last Names. This was a good read and worthy of posting about, but as anyone following this blog knows, I’m not on top of things!

Strange Sally Diamond is about a woman named, you guessed it, Sally Diamond. Sally is a little “different” and the book starts off with a bang when she throws her dad out with the trash. She’s a well-written character that readers connect with, feel for, and root for throughout the book. I found myself frustrated for her and wanting to protect her while I was reading. Perhaps my history as a foster parent contributed to my feelings, but I think all readers would feel the same. Overall, Sally stays true to herself while also testing her limits and allowing herself to change.

The story is interesting, has a good pace, and original plot. I recommend for anyone who enjoys fiction with a central character concentrating on development.

Where Wolves Don’t Die

March 22, 2025

Where Wolves Don’t Die

By: Anton Treuer
Published: 2024
# of pages: 256
Challenges: Book Bingo (BIPOC author)
Quote: “Ezra, some people think growth only happens in the spring. Plants grow in the spring. People grow in the spring of their lives. But growth is more than a springtime flood, it’s a dance. Dance in all your seasons, my boy, and play the music loud.”

Ezra Cloud hates living in Northeast Minneapolis. His father is a professor of their language, Ojibwe, at a local college, so they have to be there. But Ezra hates the dirty, polluted snow around them. He hates being away from the rez at Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation. And he hates the local bully in his neighborhood, Matt Schroeder, who terrorizes Ezra and his friend Nora George.

Ezra gets into a terrible fight with Matt at school defending Nora, and that same night, Matt’s house burns down. Instantly, Ezra becomes a prime suspect. Knowing he won’t get a fair deal, and knowing his innocence, Ezra’s family sends him away to run traplines with his grandfather in a remote part of Canada, while the investigation is ongoing. But the Schroeders are looking for him. . .

Goodreads

Now that I’m reading the description of this book, I don’t think it does the story justice! I saw this book listed in the BookPage magazine a few months back and was intrigued and I’m so glad I decided to check it out.

The plot is seemingly simple, as the Goodreads description conveys. However, there’s so much more to the story of Ezra and the trouble he finds in the city he is forced to call home. The trouble leads to his dreams coming true, being able to work traplines in the remote wilderness of Canada. He learns about the job of trapping, but more importantly, he learns wisdom from his grandfather, both ancestral and personal.

I loved the descriptions of the settings, the characters and how realistic they all were, the symbolism that can be found throughout the book, and the overall message of forgiveness, strength, and leaning on family.

Blood on Their Hands

March 20, 2025

Blood on Their Hands: Murder, Corruption, and the Fall of the Murdaugh Dynasty

By: Mandy Matney
Published: 2023
# of pages: 272
Challenges: Alphabet Soup, Alphabet Soup Author Edition, Book Bingo (memoir), What’s in a Name? (crime), Cover Lovers (no people)

Years before the name Alex Murdaugh was splashed across every major media outlet in America, local South Carolina journalist Mandy Matney had an instinct that something wasn’t right in the Lowcountry. The powerful Murdaugh dynasty had dominated rural South Carolina for generations. No one dared to cross them. When Mandy and her reporting partner Liz Farrell looked closer at a fatal boat crash involving the storied family’s teenage son Paul, they began to uncover a web of mysteries surrounding the deaths of the Murdaughs’ long-time housekeeper and a young man found slain years earlier on a backcountry road.

Just as their investigations were unfolding, the brutal double murder of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh rocketed Alex Murdaugh onto the international stage. From the newsroom to the courtroom, Blood on Their Hands is a propulsive true crime saga, an empathetic work of investigative journalism, and an excoriation of the “good old boy” systems that enabled a network of criminals.

Goodreads

Back in 2021-2023 I followed the Murdaugh case closely, mostly by listening to Mandy Matney’s podcast The Murdaugh Murders. I lived in Colleton County for a short time as a child, my grandparents lived there all their lives, and my ancestors were established there since the late 1700s. It was mindblowing to see those little towns in the national news. I was angry at the entrenched corruption and exploitation of hardworking everyday people by those in power.

Matney’s book about the case and her media coverage of it has been on my TBR list since it was published, and I finally got my hands on it after receiving it as a Christmas gift. My only “complaint” is that this is not necessarily a book about the Murdaugh crimes, it’s more about Matney’s coverage of the crimes. The book goes into detail about Matney’s history up to her discovery of corruption in the Lowcountry. The reader gains understanding of Matney’s feelings and personal life throughout that time period. I love that, and as someone who already knows a lot about the Murdaugh crimes, I didn’t need a book solely about that. It was neat getting to know Mandy Matney better! However, I think the title and description of the book are a little misleading.

Therefore, if you want an in depth account of the Murdaugh family’s crimes and the trial that followed, this will not give you all the details. However, It will give you an overview and an insight into what investigating those crimes was like for Matney. I love that she stood up to the Murdaughs and others who were abusing power, that she’s enabled others to do the same, and I hope to see more books from her in the future! I took a break from her podcast for a while, but now I’m back to listening to it since it’s changed names to True Sunlight and she’s covering another South Carolina case that’s been in the media lately.

2024 End of Year Survey

January 16, 2025

My wrap up and then The Perpetual Page-Turner‘s survey.

Challenges in which I participated:

Goodreads Challenge: 75/80
What’s in a Name?: 5/6
Book Bingo: 17/24 – Completed 2 lines of Bingo
Alphabet Soup: 20/26
Alphabet Soup Author Edition: 21/26
R.I.P.: Completed

# of books read:

75

Previous years:

80 in 2023
65 in 2022
57 in 2021
59 in 2020
53 in 2019
81 in 2018
61 in 2017
35 in 2016
52 in 2015
58 in 2014
60 in 2013
75 in 2012
39 in 2011
30 in 2010
28 in 2009
48 in 2008
81 in 2007

Favorites (in order read):

Mortal Engines by: Philip Reeve
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by: Kim Michele Richardson
Divine Rivals by: Rebecca Ross
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by: Heather Fawcett
The Martian Chronicles by: Ray Bradbury
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by: Heather Fawcett
The Frozen River by: Ariel Lawhon
The Mermaid of Black Conch by: Monique Roffey
Island Witch by: Amanda Jayatissa
Lovecraft Country by: Matt Ruff
A Crane Among Wolves by: June Hur
Shades of Grey by: Jasper Fforde
Dreadful by: Caitlin Rozakis
Indian Burial Ground by: Nick Medina
Don’t Look Now by: Daphne du Maurier
Someone Else’s Shoes by: Jojo Moyes

Least favorite:

The Girl in the Storm by: Annabelle Fogerty

# of non-fiction:

2

Repeated authors:

Kaiu Shirai (20) (The Promised Neverland)
Rebecca Ross (2) (Letters of Enchantment)
Heather Fawcett (2) (Emily Wilde)
Matt Ruff (2) (Lovecraft Country)
Jasper Fforde (2) (Shades of Grey)
C.J. Cooke (2)
Riley Sager (2)
John Marrs (2)
Margaret Atwood (2) (MaddAddam)

**2024 READING STATS** By The Perpetual Page Turner

Number Of Books You Read: 75
Number of Re-Reads: 3
Genre You Read The Most From: Fiction

best-YA-books-2014

1. Best Book You Read In 2024?

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by: Heather Fawcett

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Ruthless Vows by: Rebecca Ross

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

A Crane Among Wolves by: June Hur – I expected it to be a typically written fantasy, same old, same old. But I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and it ended up being one of my favorite books this year.

 

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

None

5. Best series you started in 2024? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender of 2024?

Started: Emily Wilde
Sequel: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
Ender: The Promised Neverland, Vol. 20 by: Kaiu Shirai

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2024?

Heather Fawcett

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Empire of Pain by: Patrick Radden Keefe – non-fiction, biography. I highly recommend!

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

The Passengers by: John Marrs

 9. Book You Read In 2024 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Mortal Engines by: Philip Reeve – because it’s already faded from my memory and I want to watch the movie and read the others in the series.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2024?

Enlightenment by: Sarah Perry

Version 1.0.0

11. Most memorable character of 2024?

Jimmy from the MaddAddam series by: Margaret Atwood, probably just because the reader spends A LOT of time in his thoughts in book 1 and he’s a pretty unique character, likeable and unlikeable at the same time.

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2024?

The Mermaid of Black Conch by: Monique Roffey

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2024?

Empire of Pain by: Patrick Radden Keefe

and

The Martian Chronicles by: Ray Bradbury

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2024 to finally read? 

The Stranger Beside Me by: Ann Rule – It’s been on my TBR for years and I’ve heard of Bundy from so many other sources, I can’t believe I waited so long to read this true crime classic!

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2024?

It’s the steps themselves that make a path, instead of the other way round. We are creating even as we believe we are following.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by: Emma Törz

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2024?

Shortest: The Martian Chronicles by: Ray Bradbury (182 pages)
Longest: The Stranger Beside Me by: Ann Rule (596 pages)

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

More of Us to the West by: Trinity Dunn – that ending!

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Emily & Wendell from the Emily Wilde series

Art by Mayhaps Posting Art

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Emma & Ray in The Promised Neverland series.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2024 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Someone Else’s Shoes by: Jojo Moyes

21. Best Book You Read In 2024 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:

Divine Rivals by: Rebecca Ross

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2024?

Wendell in the Emily Wilde series

23. Best 2024 debut you read?

Malas by: Marcela Fuentes was the only debut that I read. It was okay.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

The Emily Wilde series
The Promised Neverland series

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Dreadful by: Caitlin Rozakis

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2024?

None come to mind.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Mermaid of Black Conch by: Monique Roffey

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Parts of Indian Burial Ground by: Nick Medina

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2024?

Slewfoot by: Brom (anti-heroine)
The Mermaid of Black Conch by: Monique Roffey (characters, culture)
Shades of Grey by: Jasper Fforde (worldbuilding)

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Definitely Empire of Pain by: Patrick Radden Keefe because of the subject matter, it exposes the family (and their corrupt practices) behind the opiod crisis that is a huge part of modern society.

looking-ahead-books-2015

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2024 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2025?

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by: Michelle McNamara – It’s been on my TBR list for years and I received a copy for Christmas.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2025 (non-debut)?

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by: Heather Fawcett – expected February 2025

3. 2025 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I don’t keep up with future debuts.

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2025?

Emily Wilde #3

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2025?

Write more posts!!!! Interact more with my WIAN challengers!

6. A 2025 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

N/A

What’s in a Name? 2025 Sign Up

December 26, 2024

Welcome to the 18th annual What’s in a Name reading challenge!

In years past, this challenge was hosted by Charlie at The Worm Hole. I took over in 2019 and I’m excited to host again this year!

The challenge runs from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. You can sign up any time, but only count books that you read between those dates.

Read a book in any format (hard copy, ebook, audio) with a title that fits into each category.

Don’t use the same book for more than one category.

Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed, it’s encouraged!

You can choose your books as you go or make a list ahead of time.

Sign up using the Mr Linky below with a link to your WIAN challenge page/post, not your main blog URL. Feel free to save and use the graphic at the top of the page! Also, link back to this sign up page in your challenge post so others can join too.

The categories below are links to each category sign up link.  Add your book review for each category so we can see what you’ve read and discover ideas as needed.

In 2025, choose 6 books that have titles that contain:
(Click on the links for more examples and info)

Click the Mister Linky graphic above to enter your name and/or blog name (many people use this format: Andrea @ Carolina Book Nook) and the URL to your challenge post.  If you have any issues, email me through the contact menu at the top of my blog and I’ll manually sign you up.

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions!  Thanks and happy reading!

#wian2025 on Instagram!

Future of What’s in a Name?

December 14, 2024

Would anyone be interested in taking over the What’s in a Name challenge? Every year I feel guilty that I don’t interact with participants more or do more to advertise the challenge to gain more participants.

If it’s something you would be interested in, let me know through the contact option!

If no one is able, I will carry on as usual! Keep an eye out in the following couple of weeks for an update.

R.I.P. XIX

August 29, 2024

It’s time! Something wicked this way comes! R.I.P. is on Instagram this year. The rules are simple, pick how many and what type of media to imbibe between September 1 and October 31! I always choose Peril of the Fiction Read and try to read at least 8 fiction books. I also try to participate in Peril of the Short Story by reading at least one short story or collection of short stories, Peril of the Real by reading one non-fiction book, and Peril on the Screen by watching a movie or TV show.

The purpose of the R.I.P. Challenge is to enjoy books that could be classified as:

Mystery.

Suspense.

Thriller.

Dark Fantasy.

Gothic.

Horror.

Supernatural.

The emphasis is never on the word challenge, instead it is about coming together as a community and embracing the autumnal mood, whether the weather is cooperative where you live or not.

The goals are simple. 

1. Have fun reading.

2. Share that fun with others.

This year’s list:

Peril of the Fiction Read
1. Stay Awake by: Megan Goldin
2. Indian Burial Ground by: Nick Medina
3. Within These Walls by: Ania Ahlborn
4. A Haunting in the Arctic by: C.J. Cooke
5. Middle of the Night by: Riley Sager
6. When We Were Silent by: Fiona McPhillips
7. Lock Every Door by: Riley Sager
8. The Moonlight Child by: Karen McQuestion

Peril of the Real

Peril of the Screen
1. The Haunting of Hill House (2018 TV series)

Peril of the Short Story
1. The Willows by: Algernon Blackwood
2. The Birds by: Daphne du Maurier

Empire of Pain + Netflix’s House of Usher

April 29, 2024

I’ve been obsessing about this ever since reading Empire of Pain and then in hindsight realizing the Netflix miniseries Fall of the House of Usher was about the same family! Mind blown!

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty documents the real life story of a family who made their sordid fortune by agressively selling controversial pharmaceuticals in any way possible, including deceiving the entire world with countless underhanded methods spanning over three generations.

Netflix’s 2023 miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher combines several of Poe’s short stories into one saga about a family who made their sordid fortune by agressively selling controversial pharmaceuticals in any way possible…including literally selling their souls.

Most chilling part of the show: When Verna tells Roderick:
“You know, I’ve worked with a lot of truly influential people over the years
but when it comes to sheer body count, you’re in my top five.
Take a look.
Those are your bodies.
They’d each be alive today if it weren’t for you.
New one every five minutes.”

It’s entertaining when it’s TV, but chilling when it’s real.

**Don’t read on if you don’t want to see any spoilers!**

Some random parallels between the show and the book:

  • The infamous family is large (siblings started the company) and one family member in particular remarrying multiple times and having several children.
  • Creating an addictive drug and officially claiming it isn’t addicting.
  • Aggressively marketing said drug.
  • Secrets, secrets, secrets.
  • Convincing someone close to take the drug for chronic pain only for that person to become addicted (book- a secretary, show- Juno).
  • Directly blaming the consumers for their addiction.
  • $$$
  • A lawyer who helps cover up for the family (show- Arthur Pym).

I could go on, but it’s time to wrap this up with the recommendation of both the book and the show! The show is definitely creepy and disturbing (just like Poe’s stories), and there are a few jump scares. It isn’t especially gory, but there is some. I appreciated that it is more subtle than a lot of horror movies/shows, which is how it should be because that’s how Poe wrote his stories! So even if you aren’t a fan of horror, you may still be able to watch the series.