This Golden State

"My heart was full of I want." ~ 22%

Bonnie + Clyde + 2 daughters = The Winslow family. There are five principles to live by:

1. No using your real name.
2. No staying in one place too long.
3. If something's weird, take one thing and run to the meeting spot.
4. Keeping our family together is everything.
5. Don't ask about the past. For your own safety.

Poppy and her family has been on the run in all her seventeen years. So whatever happened was eighteen years ago. To this point, it's been new locations every few months, new social security numbers and names, new schools and cash-under-the-table jobs. The only constant is family poker night with Poppy, her little sister and parents. She's now restless and begins searching for the truth, starting with a DNA test. Soon her parent's real identities become clear. Unraveling the truth has dire consequences.

The best way to describe This Golden State is a slow burn. It starts off really slow and is dull in the middle. I wanted to stop reading a few times but then a chapter comes along just in time for me to continue reading. It really didn't get interesting until Chapter Thirty-Eight (38). With only 30% left in the book, I finally got to a point where I read nonstop. A little background story upfront would have helped tremendously!

Far as YA thrillers, This Golden State fits the genre perfectly. I just wish it was written in a different style to grab my attention early on. Less mundane details, more suspense building. The romance was a nice surprise along with an open ending. I almost missed out on what became a good read.

Happy Pub Day, Marit Weisenberg! This Golden State is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: This Golden State
Author: Marit Weisenberg
Published: March 2022
Pages: 400
Edition: Galley

Genre: Young Adult Thriller
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤