Two strangers search for the truth behind bizarre occurrences no one else dares to discuss—only to discover that they’re connected by secrets that could destroy them both. A thrilling and twisty novel by the acclaimed author of the Mindy’s Book Studio pick I’ll Stop the World.

When sixteen-year-old Angie Stewart starts hearing a mysterious voice in her house, she’s thrilled at the possibility of a ghost. Finally, something interesting is happening in her boring hometown of East Henderson, Pennsylvania. But why is she the only one who can hear it? And what does it want from her?

Meanwhile, first-year teacher Madelyn Zhao just got the keys to her new home, which is located close to her job, within walking distance of a dog park—and, most importantly, in the town where her cousin went missing several years ago. No one in East Henderson wants to talk about what happened, but Madelyn is determined to find answers.

As the two strangers search for clues, their investigations begin to point toward the same dark place. But by the time they realize that the truth could be deadly, it’s too late to turn back. And someone out there will stop at nothing to make sure their secrets stay buried.

You Shouldn’t Be Here, Lauren Thoman
Pub Date: 09 July 2024

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Growing up near and now working in Philadelphia, PA, I was excited while reading You Shouldn’t Be Here by Lauren Thoman because I saw words like Wawa, jimmies, and Entenmann’s and knew exactly what they were without any explanation. I felt at home and automatically connected to the characters because of the lingo and references that normally get me questioning looks from people who are not from around here, but I also think the author does a great job diversifying the characters while giving the reader qualities they can connect to. 

For instance, Angie, the teenager plagued by a ghost only she can hear, makes her feelings well-known about her mother abandoning her and her father, she’s a believer in the paranormal and a lover of horror films. Madelyn, the newcomer to town and teacher at the local high school, is inquisitive, anxiety-ridden, and enjoys video games as a stress reliever. 

I really enjoyed these characters and loved getting to know them, and I can say the same for most of the other characters in the book. 

The pacing of the book was average. It didn’t feel slow or too fast. In fact, it felt nice to see the characters’ interactions with each other as each chapter moved the plot along. 

The plot started out as any other thriller or paranormal book. Angie is investigating her haunted house and trying to find solid proof to tell her dad, Cameron, and best friend, Bas, that she isn’t crazy, but nothing works. Not the video recorder, not the audio recorder, not the Ouija board, all signs point to Angie needing professional help. Until the audio recorder picks up a real-life mystery that she feels the need to investigate. 

Madelyn corresponds with her cousin Piper and plans to meet up with her. They both are excited as they find each other thanks to DNA testing. As the time draws nearer for Madelyn to finally meet the only other family member she knows of, besides her mom, Piper suddenly stops corresponding. Madelyn suspects more of the story and wants answers. 

However, the two major twists of the book are ones that I am struggling with. I won’t spoil anything but the reveal of Angie’s ghost, although fresh and something I didn’t expect at all, is a bit confusing and somewhat disappointing. I personally missed some things that explained it and had to go back to reread to fully understand what was going on. I enjoyed the reveal because it was different and something I had not read before in a paranormal story, but I also didn’t enjoy it because it felt like it went in a whole different direction than where the author was leading. 

There’s also a dark twist that the epilogue completely butchered. And I can’t go any further without spoiling it, so I will just say, the book would have been 4 stars for me if the epilogue was not in it. I enjoyed seeing where the characters ended up and how it all worked out for them, but it created way more questions for the twist than I had when I thought the book was finished. And not in a good way. It’s more of a “This makes no sense now and needs to be clarified or reviewed more closely by an editor” type of way. 

Overall, I really did enjoy the book up until the epilogue. I loved feeling that the characters were people I could possibly meet in my daily life, the way the timelines and stories intertwined, and the fact that I could sit down and cover a good portion of the book without realizing how much time had passed. I would definitely read another book this author wrote as long as the synopsis caught my attention again.

I would recommend that you pick up You Shouldn’t Be Here and give it a go. I’m interested in seeing more reviews and how others feel.