Honestly, I read it bc I'm a huge Gaby Triana/Gabrielle Keyes fan. As someone almost old enough to be Sam or Colby's mom had I made different decisions in HS (and had the pool of potentials not been little Eminem wannabes) I was skeptical about how "bro"-y this book would be. Does this guy have a personal vendetta against us? Sam lowered his window. Hey there, sir, have we done something to upset you? As the plane made its final approach into Lihue Airport, Sam Golbach stared out the window. Azure waves hugged the towering emerald peaks and sandy white beaches of Hawaii’s fourth-largest island. Like a crystal blue embrace, he thought. He couldn’t wait to get this vacation started. Even though they loved being ghost hunters and entertaining millions on YouTube, they’d been abandoned, stranded, cursed, haunted, and yes, even arrested for trespassing (thanks, Florida!).

It really shows and depicts Sam and Colby’s friendship. Which is my favourite friendship in the existence of friendships, and if you know them you know what I’m talking about. The bond they have is impeccable. Fantastic. It is beautiful beyond words and so rare. The trip goes from enchanting to weird, to deadly when the boys take a detour to the legendary Na Pali Coast where they find themselves at the infamous Belle Estate, which is owned by a wealthy and eccentric widow—who locals believe is a witch. When an unfavorable change of plans forces them to stay overnight at the eerie estate, Sam and Colby are in for the most terrifying encounter of their lives. There was a nice sense of nostalgia throughout, specifically when they brought up their YouTube channel, their Vine days, them being arrested, wining a Teen Choice Award, and Corey and the Shadowman. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and reminded me of how proud I am for how far they’ve come. After a few miles blasting the playlist Alex had curated specially for this trip, Sam noticed headlights about a half mile behind him. They crept closer, illuminating Sam’s blue eyes in the rearview mirror. Is that car going to pass me? The roads looked normal, as far as Sam could tell. He wondered if there just hadn’t been any good cars left and the rental car lady didn’t want to admit it. Two hours later, they arrived in the southern town of Koloa, turning into a side street under light rain. Heading down the narrow trail, they finally arrived at a two-story cottage nestled deep in the trees.

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They may not always agree, and they’d had plenty of ups and downs over the years, but these guys were brothers—end of story. No matter who came and went from their lives, through marching band, through the Vine days, through breakups, and now their ghost hunter phase, these were the guys that Sam could always count on since day 1. This trip was as much a celebration of that friendship as anything else. Impressive, Alex said, and for one quiet moment, they all stood there, soaking in the welcoming energy of the place. Sam cut the engine. They all stepped out, pulling out phones to take photos. Guys, how many bars do you have? Nate asked.

What way? Aside from throwing coconuts and playing music in the car, they’d hardly done anything disruptive at all. They bustled through the airport with their bags, heading to the rental car facility, a charged excitement buzzing through Sam’s veins.From the moment they step foot in the mansion, a sense of foreboding hangs in the air. The author skillfully builds suspense, capturing the readers' attention as strange occurrences unfold. The eerie sway of Belle Estate's walls and the lurking presence that follows Sam and Colby keep the readers on the edge of their seats, wondering what awaits them next. In Kauai, Colby felt like he was a part of something exponentially bigger. Connected to nature. A tiny part of this infinite universe. This was why he’d insisted they spend their next day hiking different trails, searching for the perfect waterfall, because it wasn’t until they were on those vine-laced paths, underneath a canopy of trees, discovering hidden coves and jumping into green lagoons that he felt like he truly belonged somewhere. If he could, he would move to Kauai in a heartbeat. Just then, the driver’s high beams flashed. Seriously? What is this guy’s problem? Sam clenched his fists on the steering wheel.

HOLY CRAP! This book is amazing! I read it all in one sitting & then had trouble falling asleep after. The pacing of the book is expertly done, with the tension steadily rising as the friends are forced to stay overnight in the mansion due to unforeseen circumstances. The atmospheric descriptions transport readers to the hauntingly beautiful setting of Kauai, while the vivid portrayal of the Belle Estate heightens the sense of dread and suspense. More like all play and zero work this time, brother," Sam said, shaking his head. At LAX airport and throughout the flight, Nate had plugged away on his iPad, writing short stories for his college writing class. Sure, Sam was all about hard work, but he hoped Nate would disconnect long enough to enjoy the trip, too. It wasn’t outstanding writing, but I enjoyed it. But then again is there the fact that I know them so I recognise their characteristics and know how to interpret actions and sayings that people who don’t know them wouldn’t.

The other big thing I made note of was that there was a lot of “tell, not show” throughout. There’s a heavy focus on dialogue to progress the story rather than seeing into the boys’ inner thoughts and using other means to find out information. (I’m not one to talk, though, since I also focus more on dialogue than description.) It sometimes made it difficult to fully get into the story. I struggled with developing a picture of what the Belle Estate looked like, or what the other characters (beside SNC, Nate, and Alex) looked like. In terms of the boys, it seemed very reliant on us knowing who Sam and Colby are and what they’re all about (which is fair, since probably 99.9% of people who bought the book are fans of them but, if they want success outside of their audience, it could’ve been more descriptive in that regard).