Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother. No answers to 
Margot’s questions about what came before. No history to hold on to. No relative to speak of. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along.
But that’s not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And she just found the key she needs to get it: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Pointing her home. Only, when Margot gets there, it’s not what she bargained for.
Margot’s mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what’s still there?
The only thing Margot knows for sure is there’s poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she’s there, she might never escape.
This is my first reading experience with this author. I’d heard good things about her first book, Wilder Girls, so I jumped at the opportunity to read her newest release.
The reader is immediately thrust into Margot’s life – neglected and emotionally abused by her mother and without a support system. She’s basically on her own, and it’s easy to sympathize with her. The author’s writing style is descriptive without overloading the reader with details – which is always a plus for me. She paints a bleak picture of the small town setting where Margot finds her family, and the moment she arrives, you know something’s off kilter.
Other than one very odd discovery and Margot’s increasing feelings of unease, not much happens in the first half of the book. Once things get going, the pace picks up and things become very….bizarre. I’d picked up on several hints, but hoped the story would take a different direction.
This is an original plot, and although I’m usually a fan of the weird and strange, this grim story was mostly a miss for me. Looking at other reviews, I’m in the minority on this one, and it won’t keep me from reading future books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Books and Such 
Even though is was kind of a miss for you, from what you say Burn Our Bodies Down sounds like something I’d enjoy reading. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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I think you’re right, Priscilla – I could see you enjoying this one. Happy Reading!
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I agree, this sounds like one right up my alley. Plus, I love that title. Despite not exactly doing it for you, Teri, I might give it a look-see 🙂
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I bet you’d love the darker aspects of this one, Jessica. It releases in the next couple weeks I think?
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Thanks Teri – I might give it a go 🙂
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You keep making me add YA Mysteries to my TBR (maybe not this book but others by the author) – I just need to figure out how to find the ARCs on NetGalley. You make even the “misses” sound intriguing ❤️
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You should definitely add I Killed Zoe Spanos – finished it earlier this week and it was a good one.
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Sorry this one was mostly a miss for you. Like you I usually enjoy “bizarre” but it does depend to a degree on the nature of it, and how “out there” it gets!
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Sometimes it’s hit or miss with different books by the same author. I recently read one by an author who has a series I love, but I didn’t care much for that book. I’ll definitely read other books by this author in the future.
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Great review! I haven’t read any book by this author but I keep seeing this one and Wilder Girls.
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Thanks, Yesha! I haven’t read Wilder Girls, but I’ve seen some good reviews for it.
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Great review! Sad that this was not fully for you!
i’m very excited to read it!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Thanks, Evelyn! Looking at other reviews, I’m in the minority. It received mostly 4 and 5 stars.
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Sorry, it was a miss, but thanks for the review.
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Thanks for visiting, John!
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