Narrator: Katie Schorr
Published by Harper Audio on April 24, 2025
Length: 11 hours, 2 minutes
Source: Purchased through Audible
Sixteen-year-old Janelle Tenner is used to having a lot of responsibility. She balances working as a lifeguard in San Diego with an intense academic schedule. Janelle's mother is bipolar, and her dad is a workaholic FBI agent, which means Janelle also has to look out for her younger brother, Jared.
And that was before she died...and is brought back to life by Ben Michaels, a mysterious, alluring loner from her high school. When she discovers a strange clock that seems to be counting down to the earth's destruction, Janelle learns she has twenty-four days to figure out how to stop the clock and save the planet.
Thoughts:
I made a joke a few days ago that this review would be nothing by WTF moments, because this book starts out reasonably crazy and just escalates from there. It is all logical and makes sense, but there were so many moments that I didn’t see coming. While the pace is perfect and I loved the mystery and budding romance, my favorite part of the book is Janelle’s relationship with her brother. She’s stepped in to be his parent, like so many other teens in YA, and the book really explores what that means for them. This is the relationship that I am most looking forward to seeing in the sequel.
My only complaint with Unraveling is that there is not enough of an emotional punch. The first major death left me shocked and sad, but not devastated. The second major death, which was of a character I loved, was presented so quickly that I barely had time to react to it. This is probably because the end in general is resolved incredibly quickly. I felt that how things ended with the “bad guy” was the easy way out of a situation that could have explored a more complicated and interesting dynamic. In the end, while it wasn’t a happy ending, it did leave me satisfied and I look forward the next book in the series.
Favorite Moment: The first time Ben tells Janelle that he loves her. Their declarations of love were endearing and specific to them without ever feeling cheesy.
WTF Moment: The first death (for shock value), but really, I could have picked any moment in this book.
Overall: A fast-paced sci-fi novel that brings crazy to a whole new level.
Narrator: Katie Schorr does an excellent job of conveying the immediacy of the situation and perfectly captures Janelle’s reactions to many insane situations. It would have been easy for the narrator to be over-dramatic and I appreciate that she holds back, while still delivering an excellent performance.
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Melody says
Couldn’t agree more with this review! Took the words right out of my mouth! Great review!
This book threw me for a loop because I had no idea what is was about. I’ve started the second one and the plot really picks up.
Heather @ Buried in Books says
Okay, immediate problem with the description of the mother- she is bipolar. She is a disease? Come on people- a person with bipolar disorder or any mental disorder/disease is more than their disease. She is a mom with bipolar disorder/disease. TIRED OF THIS!
On to your review, I’m guessing the mother is so inadequate that she cannot care for her children hence Janelle’s need to parent her brother. Immediate turn off for me. Rant coming on my blog about this trend in YA on Sunday if I can write coherently about it.
This was a series I wanted to read but I’ll have to send you an email and see how this bipolar situation is treated. This is a WTF moment for me because this series came so highly recommended. I also thought it was funny. Must have been another series.
I have a question about audio books- Why does it take twice as long to listen to them as it does to read them? I mean I wouldn’t trade listening to The Infernal Devices for anything in the world. I am so in love with Will, but it still took so long. I know I could have read it much faster. Why is that do you think?
Sorry I was so off topic.
Chri @ Fathomless says
I do agree - I felt that the book ended pretty quickly, if not a little *too* quickly. And it did lack the emotional punch that was needed to make me feel devastated (though luckily none of my favorite characters died — yet). But overall I enjoyed Unraveling, and I’m glad you did, too!
Oh - and I really liked the “will you fucking marry me” (or something like that) bit xD
Chri @ Fathomless
Kate- Midnight Book Girl says
I guarantee that you will love the second book more! The first book was really good, but I lost a bit of interest towards the end, whereas the second book took hold immediately of my attention and never let go. Can’t wait until you get to it!
Jen @ YA Romantics says
Okay, we must discuss the Veronica Mars parallels. I enjoyed this one and I still need to read the second book!
Jen @ YA Romantics
Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase says
I LOVED this book. I’m so glad you enjoyed it, too! I can’t believe I haven’t read the 2nd one yet… And I totally agree with you about the deaths. The first one was a big, major moment, and the second one was like, “Wait, are they going to die? No. Oh, wait, yes. They died.” (If I’m remembering it correctly.) And it was a great character and I remember being happy that the person died (because it was realistic, I think!) but yeah, it did seem to get glossed over with all the other stuff going on. Great review, Steph!
Lauren @ Love is not a triangle says
I still need to read this sequel! But I agree that this one has lots of crazy moments. Bodies are dropping everywhere. But their romance is so sweet within all of that. I’m a sucker for a good romance. Great review.
awesome review. I need to get to this series. I keep trying to fit it in and never do.