I requested this one from Sourcebooks Fire because the blurb had me hooked. Who doesn’t want to see how a bunch of teens in the face of their secrets exposed?
I hadn’t read Nijkamp before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The cast of characters is inclusive, and while I think there’s good representation, at times, it felt forced. The first half was tedious for me, and a book I thought I would knock out quickly, turned into days of reading. It was interesting in that the kids were there to roleplay, and while that was present, the dynamics between the friends pushed the roleplay into the background. Exhaustive turmoil, recounting the past and their mistakes, or repeatedly explaining a person’s character is what slowed the book down.
But at the halfway mark, the action started, and that’s where I got drawn in. That you’re stuck in a cabin that can literally lock you inside is a great setting for things to go awry, and Nijkamp knocked the atmosphere out of the park in that. Because the storyline and pacing took such a drastic turn into exciting, I’ve pushed the rating to 4-stars. It doesn’t matter if you see who’s at fault well in advance because it’s a fun journey to get there. Overall, a fun read with a bit to like for everyone.
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Even if We Break is available on Amazon for $9.99.
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