Gilt Hollow

July 15, 2016
Eighteen-year-old Ashton Keller has spent the last four years of his life in juvie for a murder he did not commit. He returns home looking for justice or maybe just revenge but ends up finding something else completely unexpected. Willow Lamott is the dark-haired, dark-eyed, white girl he left behind. She is thrilled when blue-eyed, olive-skinned Ashton returns to Gilt Hollow but also deeply hurt that he never responded to any of her letters. Even though their history is tumultuous, the chemistry between them is undeniable. The star-crossed lovers soon find themselves in the middle of a maelstrom of pain and anger that is certain to end only when Ashton returns to prison or someone else ends up dead. Overall, this is an unfortunate example of a promising story ruined by uneven pacing, stereotypical characters, and a predictable plot. While there is definite heat between Ashton and Willow, the repetitive descriptions of their interactions quickly wear thin. The mystery of who really murdered Daniel Turano is similarly flawed. Slow pacing through much of the story is followed by a rushed ending. Where Langdon excels is in her description of place, but the intriguing central Massachusetts small-town setting is not enough to carry the poorly constructed story. A romantic thriller that fails on both counts. (Romantic thriller. 12-16)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Langdon draws readers into a town riddled with deadly secrets and dangerous lies lurking in every corner, from the protagonists' possibly haunted attic to the bustling coffee shop downtown. Threatening messages appear, and suspicious events begin occurring upon the return of convicted killer Ashton Keller. But is he really the true danger to this society? Meanwhile, Ashton's former best friend Willow is barely piecing together a normal adolescent life following Ashton's conviction and now sudden unexpected return from juvenile detention. Torn between her longtime love and loyalty to Ashton and her interest in dating other boys, getting through high school, and keeping her family safe and happy in the wake of her father's death, Willow finds herself right in the thick of some very dark business. Filled with detailed descriptions of the characters' physical appearances, this novel would be great for teens who want to mix some elements of danger and mystery in with their love triangles. VERDICT For those who enjoy the romance and drama of Twilight but would rather skip the supernatural sparkling and packs of werewolves, this could be a good fit.-Emily Grace Le May, Providence Community Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.