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The Drowning Kind
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Invited and The Winter People comes a chilling new novel about a woman who returns to the old family home after her sister mysteriously drowns in its swimming poolbut shes not the pools only victim. Be careful what you wish for. When social worker Jax receives nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, she assumes that its just another one of her sisters episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmothers estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sisters things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined. In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives. A haunting, twisty, and compulsively readable thrill ride from the author who Chris Bohjalian has dubbed the literary descendant of Shirley Jackson, The Drowning Kind is a modern-day ghost story that illuminates how the past, though sometimes forgotten, is never really far behind us.
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Born.A.Reader
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Eggs Beautiful 💙💜🩵 3mo
monkeygirlsmama Gotta love a pretty cover! 3mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty 💜 3mo
26 likes3 comments
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itsjustme40something
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

While I do love a good story spun from an existing tale I tend to be highly critical of anything scary, spooky and suspenseful. I'm downright difficult to please, but I've been lucking out and finding some great creepy books...and this is tale fights right on that list. I'd easily give it all the stars

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LaurenMags
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

Very creepy novel. I really enjoyed it. A magical water spring that grants wishes but then takes something from you. #horror

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C.M.Jones_Artist
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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C.M.Jones_Artist
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

Great read! Chilling story about two sisters who make wishes with an enchanted or cursed spring at their grandmothers mysterious home. Locals swear that it gives miracles but you pay for them dearly.

This was one of those books that I couldn‘t put down. It gives a dark look into mania and mental health trauma.

A cautionary tale…Be very careful what you wish for.

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DavidDiamond
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

"Miracles are not without their price, my darling."
Another creepy page turner from Jennifer McMahon!
A story with dual timelines (1929/ 2019) set in a secluded area in Vermont, centering around two sisters with a complicated relationship, a mysterious house with an eerie pool that may or may not be haunted and a few drownings.
Aside from a couple of unresolved plot points, this beautiful, haunting and nostalgic tale is definitely worth reading!

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Tera66
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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#Alphabetgame
#LetterD
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Post a favorite book with the letter "D", and tag some friends. @DarkMina got a good pick for D?

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks On my shelf!! 2y
DarkMina Good one! 2y
31 likes2 comments
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Kappadeemom
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks I liked this one! 2y
34 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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carlthecattt
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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#LMPBC is heading your way @Kappadeemom
Tracking has it arriving on Monday through Priority.

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Bec_lectic
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

The past and present collide in this creepy story about a pool that grants wishes but when it gives it also takes! Is your wish really worth the consequences of what it may want back? Definitely a good original summer read…just maybe not right next to the pool!

44 likes3 stack adds
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Rissa1
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

Jennifer McMahon doesn't disappoint. She has become a favorite author of mine. 4 ⭐️

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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

Atmospheric, suspenseful, and creepy as hell. McMahon brings something deeply unsettling to the otherwise common “woman returns home to deal with a family tragedy” trope. She is able to weave two timelines together seamlessly, while also creating vulnerable characters and realistic portrayals of family dynamics and trauma. Oh, and I will definitely be steering clear of dark pools for basically the rest of my life. Shudder. 4⭐️

Nute This author has a talent for creepy stories!😱 2y
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Nute Excited to read more of her! 2y
28 likes2 comments
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Andrea4
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Mehso-so

This is probably somewhere between a pick and so so. I was pretty captured for the first little while and then I just really wanted "to know". But the end fell flat for me. The climax seemed to just pass by & then I was disappointed with it. Tbh I really thought there was some sub plot going on with Deckland that 110% I was there for! Lol I'm sure you could read that in a number of ways given the way the author made Jax unreliable.

night_shift Your glasses are cute and so is your doggo! 2y
Andrea4 @night_shift oh thank you! One of my oldest pairs that I love so much! And yes he is extremely cute...and he knows it 😜 2y
night_shift You're welcome! Something about those nice worn in ones. Looks like a sweet cuddlebug! 2y
30 likes3 comments
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BookBosomed1
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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This is how Fred feels about me being delayed in sending my #lmpbc Rd 14 books. 😬😳 March just whooshed on by for me with some unexpected challenges along the way! @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks I‘m sending the tagged book via priority to you today. @Readergrrl I am sending the magical realism book via priority to you today. @Kappadeemom @carlthecattt @sprainedbrain @julieclair

julieclair Fred! That face! Too funny. 😂. This is my first #LMPBC, and I'm having so much fun with it. Looking forward to seeing what @Readergrrl will be sending me for April! I've been out of town for the past 10 days, so it might even be in my held mail when I get home tomorrow night. 😃 2y
BookBosomed1 @julieclair His nickname is “Mr. Judgy McJudgerson.” 😳🤦‍♀️ I‘m glad you are having fun! This month just got away from me. I‘ll pull it together for next month. 🤣 2y
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks No problem at all! I am in the same position. 😂 2y
See All 8 Comments
BookBosomed1 @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks I sent on Friday. It should be there by Monday. 2y
Readergrrl No worries here! March was 🤪🤪🤪🤪!! 2y
BookBosomed1 @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks Did you get the book? Just want to make sure you aren‘t still waiting. 2y
18 likes8 comments
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FlowerFairy
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
Panpan

This was a DNF for me. In the past I‘ve enjoyed Jennifer McMahon‘s books but this one just didn‘t work for me. I tried to stick it out but reached a point where I no longer cared about the characters or what happened to them. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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keithlafo
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

Haunting and sometimes bleak, but not without its beauty. This waterlogged horror book, which toys with gothic structure, really captured me. Definitely recommended.

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keithlafo
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Spooky mornings and spooky books. Loving this waterlogged piece of gothic horror from the great Jennifer McMahon.

BarbaraBB Great pic! 2y
9 likes1 comment
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therubberduckninja
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this one. It‘s creepy and I enjoyed the back and forth between the present and 1929. I wasn‘t a huge fan of the ending, but I did still enjoy the book.

HollyBolly I really liked this one too, but also not a fan of the ending. Very sad instead of creepy. My favorites of hers are The Winter People and Don't Breathe a Word. 2y
therubberduckninja @HollyBolly I‘d been thinking about checking out another of her books, so thanks for the tip! 😁 2y
10 likes2 comments
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ImperfectCJ
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Mehso-so

Enjoyable, spooky, but it seems a little precarious, like the premise isn't holding the story together as tightly as it ought to. And I'm not sure I'm a fan of the ending, but I rarely hold that against books because I'm rarely pleased with endings.

Librarygal08 I agree I wanted more of the mystery to be answered , all this about her sister looking into it and measuring the pool so it sort of let me down with that . 2y
60 likes1 comment
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ImperfectCJ
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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I don't have an appropriate photo to accompany this comment, so I'm just using a curled-up kitty. I am listening to the tagged book on audio, and the narrator is voicing a 56-year-old aunt like a curmudgeonly octogenarian, and it's kind of making my eyelid twitch.

Bklover As a 62 year old reader, I think that would make my eye twitch too! 2y
56 likes1 comment
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Callemarie
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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(Post 2 of 2) I started a new position this week and my goal this time around is to just focus on separating work/home life and when I‘m off work I‘m off work. I don‘t think I mentioned on here— we are currently expecting our first child in April and I know I don‘t know everything about parenting the one thing I do know is I want him to have a love for reading. So my goal of 2022 is to get back to it. Hopefully y‘all will see more of me this year.

MaureenMc Congratulations! 2y
AmyG Wow! Congrats 🎈🍾 2y
Singout That‘s a great goal! Working till you‘re exhausted at the end of the day every day really takes a lot out of you. 2y
See All 36 Comments
Dragon Great news! Congratulations 🎉 2y
julesG Congratulations! 2y
squirrelbrain Congratulations! 🎉 2y
sprainedbrain Congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉 2y
Mollyanna Congratulations! 🥳 2y
LiteraryinLawrence Exciting changes for you!! 2y
JackOBotts Congratulations!!!💜 2y
Julsmarshall Congratulations on all your new adventures! 2y
Soubhiville Yay! Congratulations! 2y
Chelsea.Poole Congratulations! I had both of my babies in April and it is a perfect month to welcome new life 👶 2y
Amor4Libros Congratulations!!!! 2y
Bookwormjillk Congratulations 🎉 2y
maich Congratulations!!🍼🍼 2y
Avanders Congratulations!!! 🎉🍾🎊🎉🍾🎊🍾 2y
Tera66 Yay! Congratulations 👶 🍼 💛💕💕 2y
Bookpearl Congratulations! 2y
Bookzombie Congratulations!!! 2y
DaveGreen7777 Awww! Congratulations on all your good news! 😀 2y
Reggie Congrats!!! 2y
BethM Congrats friend!! Little boys are the best. Just read to him from an infant on- it‘s what I do with Wes :) 2y
BethM Also give yourself grace with the slump. The pandemic has messed with all of us and pregnancy/new mom-ing is no joke. 2y
BethM This one alleviated my pregnancy fears about a lot of my choices (formula etc) 2y
Callemarie @BethM OOOOOOOOOOOO thank you so much for the recs!!!!! 2y
Avanders @BethM ☺️😘 I‘m glad it‘s helped you too! I know it doesn‘t work for everyone, but I found it to be such a relief… even just understanding! 🤓 2y
Bklover Once that sweet baby is here I think you will find it easier to separate work from home. Enjoy!!! 2y
BethM @Bklover is correct! 2y
BookBabe Congratulations! I had my first child a little over a year ago, and every day my heart overflows more with love 💕 May God bless your delivery and you and your sweet baby! 2y
Callemarie Thank you so much @BookBabe ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
BethM Don‘t forget to post when he arrives! (You know bc clearly you won‘t be busy with anything else lol) 2y
Callemarie @BethM haha I promise I will! Induction day today. It‘s go time!!! 2y
BethM Good luck! You got this!!! 2y
BethM Thinking about you mama! The first two weeks are the absolute hardest! 2y
95 likes36 comments
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Callemarie
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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(Post 1 of 2) I feel like I hold the Guinness book of world records for longest reading slump 🥴🥴🥴 these past two-three years have been rough with my consistency for reading. The last 5 months especially have been hard. I log off of work and just kinda stare numbly at the tv because I was so mentally exhausted from work.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Don't be hard on yourself. You've been living through a global pandemic these last couple years, plus who knows what else. There's a lot going on, it makes it hard to focus on reading, and that's ok. If you want to tho read a magazine, a graphic novel, an audio book, or some easy kid novels if that's all you handle. Or nothing at all, there is no wrong way to be a reader. 💗💗 2y
Avanders 👆🏽👆🏽 That too! ♥️ 2y
69 likes2 comments
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Suelizbeth
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

This is not my usual genre, but it wasn‘t as scary as I was worried it would be. I was and wasn‘t prepared for that ending. I liked the back and forth from past to present, from the two different narrators. It is a cliché, but be careful what you wish for. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

56 likes1 stack add
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FantasyChick
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed this. Probably my favourite from the author so far. Altogether creepy, unsettling, sad and desperate. The dual timelines were an excellent choice here!

#NYWD2022 #aestheticallymatched #bookspinbingo #jumpstart2022 #20in4
@monalyisha @MaleficentBookDragon @Clwojick @Lizpixie @Andrew65 @TheAromaofBooks

Clwojick Ooooh. Yes. I love this match! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
MaleficentBookDragon Yay!!! You are booking through my list. 2y
Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 2y
42 likes4 comments
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Bamazin
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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What‘s the difference, I wondered, between a ghost and a memory?

Book 5 of 2022

I‘ve read a few of this authors books and I really enjoyed what I read. It‘s not the greatest thing I‘ve ever read but keeps me interested and a little spook is never a bad thing.

7 likes1 stack add
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FantasyChick
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Kitchen cleaned, bookshelves organized (somewhat) now a bit of relax time before bed.

#diamondart #audiobook #audiocrafting #wildsaturdaynights

LoverOfLearning Have fun!! 2y
49 likes1 comment
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HeatherBlue
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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I‘m reading in Talia‘s favorite chair. You can see how pleased she is about this 😹😹😹
#catsoflitsy

Bookwormjillk Not very pleased 😁 2y
ravenlee Excuse me, human, there seems to be some mistake. You are occupying my preferred place of laziness. This situation must be rectified or I will be forced to contact the management. 2y
Booknerd2 I listened to this as an audiobook. Not my usual genre but very much enjoyed it. Love your kitty! 🥰 2y
See All 11 Comments
Soubhiville @ravenlee 🤣 you nailed the look exactly! 2y
KellyK She‘s very pretty! 😍 2y
cariashley 😹 2y
HeatherBlue @ravenlee EXACTLY!!! 😂 😂 😂 2y
HeatherBlue Thank you, @KellyK ❤️ 2y
HeatherBlue Yes!! This was such a creepy and entertaining read @Booknerd2 Thank you 😽 she‘s a mess 😆 (edited) 2y
BookNAround How rude of you to take her chair! Don‘t you know she‘s the one in charge? 😂 2y
HeatherBlue @BookNAround I know—I‘m the worst 😂 😂 😂 2y
52 likes1 stack add11 comments
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HeatherBlue
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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😳😳😳

Soubhiville Yeah that‘s pretty much how I feel. Love swimming in natural water, but if I can‘t see the bottom I‘m always a little concerned there‘s something lurking… 😬 2y
47 likes1 comment
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swishandflick
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

One of the things I love about Libby is that I can virtually "browse the stacks" for available library e-books. This one wasn't on my radar, but something about it drew me in, not entirely unlike the mysterious spring water within its pages. For generations, the water has seemed to hold magical healing powers... that comes with a price. The dual timelines worked well, and I enjoyed seeing them merge in an eery paranormal (but not too scary) way.

86 likes1 stack add
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FantasyChick
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Got my #BookspinBingo list all ready for 2022! A mix between #NewYearWhoDis and some newer books that look like I want to read them as well as the first installment of my #ReadKing challenge

It's going to be a good year!

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
24 likes1 comment
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Gaylagal2
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Happy Sunday littens!
Yes, I've been missing for awhile and I'm sorry for that. Life has me sidetracked a bit (upcoming divorce, covid-19) but I'm better 🤙
The tornado & storms from Friday really makes you think how I really have no complaints 🤓Friday was spent in my bathtub with Maggie because the alarms went off 4 times...so scary!
PS: My swaps will be delivered via Amazon Prime 😁
@bookish_wookish
@MaleficentBookDragon
@teebe

TrishB Hope things improve! 2y
teebe What a time! Hope things are getting better! Let me know once it is sent and I can let your match know to keep an eye out for mysterious Amazon boxes lol 2y
27 likes2 comments
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Gaylagal2
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Happy Thanksgiving to all my litten family! 🦃
Pictured above is my living room and Maggie (gray couch/chaise is new) in my new place. LOVE ❤️ I also got ambitious and put up my little tree. Kind of weird being alone today, but I'm really enjoying it🤓 Bobby is coming by later to bring me some food. Until then, I'm chilling out and reading.
How are you all spending today? Enjoy!🥰

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rsteve388
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

Wow what a great ghost story. McManhon never disappoints me. That ending was wild. I didn't see it coming it was great! Wild wild story. Great read, thoroughly engaging. 5 stars.

16pts
5pts for Crime Junkie Podcast that I listened to on the way home.
#TeamSlaughter

CherMoreBooks I enjoyed this one, too! I also didn‘t see the ending coming. McMahon is amazing. 2y
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
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rsteve388
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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#TeamSlaugter #Scarathlon2021 Total Points Week 3:
Outstanding October: 170
Dewey Readathon: 150
Books Read: 34 pts including participation points
I also Got Bingo for #BookSpinBingo so 20 pts.

Total points: 374 total for week three

@Clwojick

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rsteve388
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Amie
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Mehso-so

Just the right amount of creepy (not scary) for me, but I'm not a big fan of dual timelines and a side plot wasn't fully explained or resolved.

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CherMoreBooks
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

I was incredibly drawn in by the story, I could hardly put it down. The way Jennifer McMahon writes characters feels intimate. They‘re not perfect people, but they‘re real. It alternates perspectives between the past and present to tell a story. I love this way this one is written. It urges you to keep reading. It‘s really well written, I only took 1 star off because I didn‘t love the end.
#thriller #ghoststory #horror #mystery

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TamTracy
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

Absolutely loved this book. I was all in from the beginning. I love a good ghost story and this author hasn‘t let me down yet! She‘s quickly becoming one of my favs. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

53 likes1 stack add
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stonedbookworm
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Copwithabook
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

I have been in a terrible reading rut. But I picked this one up from the library and hopefully have broken the drought! I could not stop reading. I raced through the pages with a sense of urgency and NEEDED to know the ending. Y‘all, it was so good!

26 likes1 stack add
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Roxanareads
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Current audiobook

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alecia3dixie
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

I really liked this book.It was very interesting and kept me wanting more. I was so intrigued by everything that was going on and what was going to happen next. Would defienfly recommend. It was so creepy too, especially since I have a fear of water I can't see threw myself. I am knocking a star because it felt long and rambled a lot and could have been shortened. And I feel like the ending should have been explained better. I'm still confused.4/5

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erank58
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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Mehso-so

Ugh, another one bites the dust 😪 Seriously, what's up with all my hyped-up 2021 reads?

Normally I love this author, but this one felt so....tame? Meh? Flat? Light? Her books usually have some bite to them, but this felt so watered-down, like it was written for a more mainstream audience instead of horror fans. The story wasn't even that compelling, and the writing was so different than her other books. Hoping her next one isn't like this!

Reggie Ya know, that‘s how I felt about The Invited. I was curious about this one after listening to an interview with her on a podcast but maybe not so much now. 3y
erank58 @Reggie If you weren't a fan of The Invited, I would def skip this one! At least The Invited was atmospheric. This one didn't really have anything going for it! 3y
Clare-Dragonfly It‘s so disappointing when a book is hyped and you expect to love it and then you just… don‘t. 😢 3y
erank58 @Clare-Dragonfly this is the third or fourth one off my 2021 pre-order/highly anticipated list that flopped! Hoping for some gems in the second half of the year 😂 3y
49 likes4 comments
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Karmapen
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
Mehso-so

This was definitely gripping and readable, but several plot points felt like dead ends, and it played into my least favorite trope, which is the estranged beloved sibling / parent / family member dying but all the person‘s recollections of them make them seem awful? I did not feel bad for Lexie.

2 likes1 stack add
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Hana321
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
Pickpick

So this is a story that makes the most out of setting and creepy tone. The author is very effective at providing all the ingredients to severely creep you out. The story essentially follows a family who has ties to a creepy, old spring that is located on the family estate, and the spring has a body count. A long history of accidental drownings are its hallmark. I didn‘t love the ending as it kinda just made me really sad.

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Suet624
The Drowning Kind | Jennifer McMahon
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I had no idea Jennifer McMahon is a Vermonter. I have to start a list of the many Vermont authors.... including @The_Penniless_Author #Vermont

“I live in Vermont (in a creepy old Victorian on a hill) with my partner, Drea, and our daughter, Zella. When I‘m not writing, I spend a lot of time exploring the dark Vermont woods and seeking out haunted places, real and imagined.“

https://jennifer-mcmahon.com/bio/

AmyG I didn‘t know that either. 3y
The_Penniless_Author Hmm, that's cool. I wonder which town. 3y
Suet624 @The_Penniless_Author I believe she moved from Barre to Montpelier. 3y
56 likes1 stack add3 comments