Any book that uses images to assist in telling the story I find interesting, as it creates a unique fusion of visual and textual storytelling that captivates readers’ imaginations. Ghoster piqued my interest with its innovative use of text messages to help bring the story to life, making the experience feel modern and relatable.
It sat on my shelf for a while, its intriguing cover constantly drawing my attention, before I finally pulled it out for a read, eager to see if it lived up to my expectations. It’s not a long read, despite the high page count, but I appreciated how the clever formatting allowed for a quick yet engaging experience. The story overall seemed like it’d be fun, filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing, and I was excited to see how the combination of words and images would unfold the narrative in unexpected ways.
Synopsis
Kate Collins has been ghosted.
She was supposed to be moving in with her new boyfriend Scott, but all she finds after relocating to Brighton is an empty apartment. Scott has vanished. His possessions have all disappeared.
Except for his mobile phone.
Kate knows she shouldn’t hack into Scott’s phone. She shouldn’t look at his Tinder, his calls, his social media. But she can’t quite help herself.
That’s when the trouble starts. Strange, whispering phone calls from numbers she doesn’t recognise. Scratch marks on the walls that she can’t explain. And the growing feeling that she’s being watched.
Kate refuses to leave the apartment – she’s not going anywhere until she’s discovered what happened to Scott. But the deeper she dives into Scott’s digital history the more Kate realises just how little she really knows about the man she loves.
Buy now on Amazon
Review
It’s boring. Predictable. Kate is the least likable protagonist that I’ve ever encountered in my reading experiences, and despite the interesting premise, I found myself struggling to care about her journey. Throughout the story, I couldn’t find myself hoping for her to find Scott or believing that she was even a good girlfriend, which made the emotional stakes feel incredibly low.
Her character came across as selfish in a way that felt unrealistic and unrelatable, and instead of rooting for her growth or redemption, I often found myself wishing for a more compelling lead. This lack of depth not only diminished my engagement with the plot but also left me disappointed in what could have been a captivating exploration of relationships and personal growth. In the end, I closed the book feeling unsatisfied and longing for a protagonist who had more complexity and authenticity.
Even though there was a level of comedy throughout the book that did elicit a few genuine laughs from me, I think some of it was only amusing because it veered into the realm of the ridiculous. Kate works as a paramedic, a role that inherently requires dedication and teamwork, yet she seems to care very little about excelling at her job or even collaborating effectively with her partner.
Instead, she becomes completely fixated on the fact that her boyfriend has gone missing, but her emotional response to such a serious situation felt oddly misplaced. It’s puzzling how a person can be so consumed by one aspect of their life while neglecting their professional responsibilities.
As the story unfolds, she finds herself learning a lot about Scott, but honestly, the big reveal regarding what his problem was turned out to be a massive letdown. There were moments that built tension and intensity, and I will admit that the buildup worked effectively in some sections. However, for the most part, I found myself foreseeing many of the plot developments long before they occurred, right up until the very end. Can’t say I could have predicted THAT ending at all, which was a surprising twist but came too little too late.
My rating for this book is 3 and a half stars. The story had so much potential, with intriguing plotlines and potentially compelling characters that initially drew me in. There were elements that I did enjoy enough to finish the book. However, I found that some parts were underdeveloped and left me wanting more depth and resolution.
I wish I could say that I loved this book, but the best I can offer is that it was okay. I wouldn’t read it again, nor can I confidently say that I’d recommend it to anyone. Ultimately, my experience with this book was merely lukewarm. Yet, I understand that everyone reacts differently to literature, so feel free to take this one for a ride and see where it takes you! You might find aspects that resonate with you in ways they didn’t for me.
Leave a Reply