Title: Famous Last Words
Author: Katie Alender
Genre: YA, Thriller, Paranormal
First published: September 30th 2014
Finished reading: April 2nd 2016
Pages: 320
“Maybe it’s human nature to be drawn to the things that have hurt us the most.”
I’ve had quite a few of Katie Alender‘s books on my TBR for a long time, but somehow I never actually read any of them so far. I decided to pick up Famous Last Words on whim since I was in the mood for a good thriller/horror read, and it sure didn’t disappoint! I really enjoyed this horror/ghost story and would have given it an even higher rating if it weren’t for the annoying love triangle. Yes, while the story started out delightfully creepy and had a lot of potential, it was slightly ruined by the existence of an annoying love triangle… Why o why does every YA novel seem to have one?! Because otherwise Famous Last Words was pretty much a perfect read. Fast-paced, an intriguing plot with just the right amount of creepiness, interesting Hollywood and movie references… This novel has it all and more. I liked Willa’s character even though she has her issues and her paranormal ‘gift’ makes this book into an entertaining read with some spine-chilling moments. Without doubt recommended if you like the genre and I will be looking forward to read more of Katie Alender‘s work soon!
After her father died mysteriously Willa has been looking for a way to find answers. It turns out she has been opening doors that she shouldn’t have, because strange things have been happening ever since… And her moving into her stepfather’s mansion in LA doesn’t seem to solve the problem. It seems like Willa is seeing things. A dead body in her swimming pool, frantic messages on her walls… It’s almost as if someone is trying to send her a message. Willa is afraid to tell anyone since they will most likely think she is is crazy… But with a killer on the loose in LA, she is not so sure what to think of it anymore. Could Willa’s strange visions have anything to do with the unsolved murders? And who can she confide in in the first place? Willa will have to be careful, because she might lose her mind as she is trying to figure everything out… or even her life.
Famous Last Words was everything that the blurb promised and more. I needed a proper thriller to change around genres a little and this book is without doubt almost perfect. The story has a fast pace, a prose that is easy to read and the plot is really intriguing and has just the right dose of creepiness. The only minor setback was the love triangle and it was also the only reason I didn’t give Famous Last Words the highest rating. If you are looking for a good paranormal thriller/horror story, make sure to try this one!
