Penpal

I picked this up because I wanted something unsettling, and it definitely delivered. It was a short, fast read, but beneath the quick pacing was a surprisingly heavy exploration of guilt, grief, innocence, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. The story creates this constant feeling of unease, not just because of what happens, but because of the way it blurs the line between protection and harm. I did get a little confused toward the end with all the jumping around in the timeline, but I think that disorientation also added to the book’s dreamlike, unsettling atmosphere.

The mom was trying so hard to protect her son … What makes it so tragic is that her intentions may have come from love, but love alone cannot always shield someone from the consequences of fear, secrecy, and denial. Sometimes trying to preserve someone’s innocence only leaves them more vulnerable in the end. Idk man… this book was unsettling in more ways than one. It made me think about how easily people can become trapped by the stories they tell themselves, especially when facing something they cannot emotionally accept.

Overall, a good, creepy read with more emotional weight than I expected.

maybe I’m missing something but the description says this book is 252 pages yet when downloaded it’s actually only 164. this book came to an abrupt end as is, but I really kind of wanted this extra 90 pages too lol
overall felt this book would have made a better short story — parts were a bit slow and mundane. I also wish the background/context of his childhood was a bit more developed, it would have added a bit more depth to the main character.

The way it keeps you consistently interested in just the story even without horror aspects is a great thing about this book. The terrifying moments truly have you pausing, jaw dropped, trying to process what you are reading. I’m so sad it’s over and so sad at the ending in general. 10/10