Grown-Up Gabby – She is a little girl in curls with the habit of pretending she is an adult. Gabby is willing to act as grown-up as possible, like putting on makeup (as shown in her book), wearing her mum's attire (like her mum's hat, dress and high heels), and even disapproving of things she claims are childish. Brodeur delivers another lively and lyrical tale, filled with vivid descriptions of Cape Cod and sea life & a return to a bittersweet pre-Trump time rich with longing for a feminist future. Loved it! But drill down a little and there are unresolved traumas that must be healed and secrets that must come out. These fully-realized characters are each on the cusp of singing their own songs – much like the whales that Adam studies – and grasping control of their own destinies. The writing is confident with sharp narrative tension and sharply observed episodes that lead to growth and understanding as the book proceeds. In particular, therapy sessions between Ken and his psychoanalyst, George, are beautifully illuminated. There is rarely a time that I’m not absorbed in a book, listening as I take walks, or reading before bed. That said, I’m unable to point to a specific book that inspired Little Monsters, rather I feel indebted to all writers who’ve ever ignited my imagination and empathy, as cumulatively, they encouraged me to join the conversation. As for music, I can be very specific—every morning as I sit down to write, I put on headsets and listen to whale songs. There is something so profoundly moving about these ancient-sounding ballads that I’m almost instantly transported into a perfect state of openness to write. Older brother Ken, a successful businessman is focused on a future in politics. He already has a seemingly perfect family in his wife Jenny, and twin daughters. It's all part of his grandiose plan.

The girls decide to sneak into the barn on the red lady's property and have a seance. It all goes wrong. The diary entries were helpful and sent chills. Like so creepy. I do have to get the author credit for writing these girls as twisty and nasty as she did. The ending was very bitter sweet and left me in chills (again).Sometimes Kacey prefers to spend quiet nights at home, but Bailey and Jade are usually fairly insistent that she join them on nights out. WOW! This book went beyond my expectations. Kara Thomas SLAYED Little Monsters. I am so glad I decided to give it a chance because I didn't much like her first novel, The Darkest Corners. Anyway, this book is perfect for fans of young adult mysteries and thrillers. This one gives us a juicy look at jealousies that go on in high school and how such jealousies can lead to murder! Kacey has recently moved in with her father and stepmother after leaving her abusive mother. She has a new stepbrother and half-sister, as well, although her relationship with the whole family is good and not something she takes for granted after having such a tumultuous childhood. She also has two friends named Jade and Bailey, although their relationship, in the way of most teen girl relationships, is tense and fraught with tension. Ken and Abby Gardner lost their mother when they were small and they have been haunted by her absence ever since. Their father, Adam, a brilliant oceanographer, raised them mostly on his own in his remote home on Cape Cod, where the attachment between Ken and Abby deepened into something complicated—and as adults their relationship is strained. Now, years later, the siblings' lives are still deeply entwined. Ken is a successful businessman with political ambitions and a picture-perfect family and Abby is a talented visual artist who depends on her brother's goodwill, in part because he owns the studio where she lives and works.

A familial drama with alternating POV’s that traverses their lives but doesn’t really seem to go anywhere.

Little Monsters

With this intricate story, Brodeur reaches the heights scaled in her nonfiction work." — Publisher's Weekly (starred review) Thomas' suspenseful and accessible writing style formatted in easily digestible, short chapters makes Monsters a light and fun read. What highlights the building tension of the novel is Thomas' masterful craft of chapter-making, showcasing her deliberate control over dropping significant plot points through the exchange over two perspectives: from first-person Kacey to first-person Bailey through her journal. David is a more minor character, despite his intense and long-held connections to both Ken and Abby. What do you think of him, especially as another third point in a relationship triangle in which Ken and Abby find themselves★ Do you think he and Abby will end up together in the end, or will they have a less conventional arrangement★ Bipolar Adam is spinning from “I have one more discovery left” to depression leading up to his 70th birthday bash.

Tantrum Tabitha – She is a naughty, little blonde girl who always throws a fit. Tabitha has a terrible habit of causing a scene. Whenever things do not go her way, Tabitha will always throw a fit, especially when it comes to stuff she hates, whether it be going on public transport, going shopping, or having to wear a bobble hat. Somewhat slow, antagonizing, and gripping, Little Monsters was a very surprising read for me. This was my second read from Kara Thomas, and I believe it was the better of the two, comparing it to her other book, The Darkest Corners. They get up to the typical high school girl things like sneaking out, trespassing and trying to summon spirits in abandoned buildings. You know, the usual. There is some minor tension amongst the girls, of course, but that's normal too. Kara Thomas is skilled at showing the effects of violence on a small community. Of ripping open old wounds and creating new ones. She never bandaids her characters. Refuses to throw a hasty remedy to ensure a happily ever after. Kara Thomas allows darkness to linger. To settle. She forces characters (and the reader) to wallow in those dank places. It’s both realistic and makes for a more powerful story. I can’t wait to see what she does next.The enigmatic Steph is a competent police officer vacationing in Provincetown, with her partner, Toni. Newly the birth mother of Jonah, Steph wants to connect with the Gardner family, now that a recently revealed secret has come crashing to the fore, but how to best proceed?