What do you think?
Rate this book
Ask for Andrea #1
Ask for Andrea
James Carson has gotten away with murder three times.
The only thing that might stop him from killing again? The three women he murdered.
He hunted them online, masquerading as an eligible bachelor. Then he played the perfect gentleman, a thick layer of charm and a thousand-watt smile hiding the fact that his first dates end in shallow graves.
What James doesn’t know is that his three victims have found each other. And that they're coming for him.
Brecia, Meghan, and Skye might be dead, but they’re not gone. And they won’t rest until they find a way to keep him from killing again.
The haunt is on.
The only thing that might stop him from killing again? The three women he murdered.
He hunted them online, masquerading as an eligible bachelor. Then he played the perfect gentleman, a thick layer of charm and a thousand-watt smile hiding the fact that his first dates end in shallow graves.
What James doesn’t know is that his three victims have found each other. And that they're coming for him.
Brecia, Meghan, and Skye might be dead, but they’re not gone. And they won’t rest until they find a way to keep him from killing again.
The haunt is on.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2022
About the author
Noelle W. Ihli
9 books3,270 followersNoelle’s two great passions are murder and horses (separately, never together).
She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not plotting her next thriller, she's scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).
She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not plotting her next thriller, she's scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,132 reviews
February 15, 2023
Another ghost story where I had to lay my skepticism to rest. I might even start to look for books with a supernatural angle.
This was a superb thriller. Three girls being killed by the same man, haunted by it and wanting revenge. What really impressed me, was how emotional the story was. I felt the pain of them seeing their loved ones, not able to do anything to stop the killer. They all had very distinct personalities and I liked them all.
This was a superb thriller. Three girls being killed by the same man, haunted by it and wanting revenge. What really impressed me, was how emotional the story was. I felt the pain of them seeing their loved ones, not able to do anything to stop the killer. They all had very distinct personalities and I liked them all.
December 7, 2022
Honda Civic Reliable 3.5 rounded up for the unique premise
One sentence review: An interesting social commentary take on haunting
SYNOPSIS
Three women. Three victims of a serial killer who finds his victim on a dating app. When they meet in the after life, they're determined to find a way to stop him from killing again.
MY OPINION
Thank you so much @rebby.reads for my gifted copy. Without her rec, I definitely wouldn't have picked this up. No shade, I'm just not into ghost stories.
It's always a good sign when I have limited notes as I'm reading LOL. The more notes = the saltier the review. This book is EXTREMELY bingeable. At 260ish pages, I devoured it in one sitting in my "reading sleigh". Unlike Hidden Pictures and Ghost Eaters, Ihli takes the time to – in a natural way – explain the abilities and limitations of the ghost powers. By doing so, I could focus on the plot instead of wondering why the ghostie didn't do xyz. Tbh Ihli did a fantastic job of addressing any potential plot holes and answering questions the reader might have. This was a HUGE plus as a reader who is always asking qs like the nosey hoe I am.
As I said in my one sentence review, this was a social commentary take on haunting. It explored the challenges and dangers of being a woman in the modern dating scene. Hindsight truly is 20/20. It's a good reminder to check yourself before victim blaming. Sometimes I think back on my college days and I thank my lucky stars I'm not dead in a ditch. Just something as simple as walking home from class with my headphones on could've ended me up in the back of a trunk. Scary tings. Anyways.
It was also a creative way to show how "normal" abusers can be. It's not the scary strangers in the bushes. It's the charming guy who opened the passenger side car door for you. It's the married man with the picture-perfect family and doting wife. And all of this makes sussing out the baddies even harder for a woman who just wants to enjoy her night without a cloak of paranoia.
I also liked the inclusion of the detectives. Again, another great display of how misogyny can be the difference between a family getting answers or forever wondering if their daughter really just dipped on them.
My main rich homie qualm was some parts dragged. The synopsis says the three girls link up, but this doesn't occur until the 60% mark. You spend a lot of time with each girl as they figure out their after life status and what they should do. This was interesting... to a point. The book is pretty short but I would've liked to spend more time with the girl gang.
All in all, an interesting and easy-to-devour read. The writing was straightforward. No turgid prose here. Another plus for me.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: interesting premise, straight forward no fluff writing, pander-free social commentary
Cons: dragged a bit in the second half - I would've liked more time with the girls together
One sentence review: An interesting social commentary take on haunting
SYNOPSIS
Three women. Three victims of a serial killer who finds his victim on a dating app. When they meet in the after life, they're determined to find a way to stop him from killing again.
MY OPINION
Thank you so much @rebby.reads for my gifted copy. Without her rec, I definitely wouldn't have picked this up. No shade, I'm just not into ghost stories.
It's always a good sign when I have limited notes as I'm reading LOL. The more notes = the saltier the review. This book is EXTREMELY bingeable. At 260ish pages, I devoured it in one sitting in my "reading sleigh". Unlike Hidden Pictures and Ghost Eaters, Ihli takes the time to – in a natural way – explain the abilities and limitations of the ghost powers. By doing so, I could focus on the plot instead of wondering why the ghostie didn't do xyz. Tbh Ihli did a fantastic job of addressing any potential plot holes and answering questions the reader might have. This was a HUGE plus as a reader who is always asking qs like the nosey hoe I am.
As I said in my one sentence review, this was a social commentary take on haunting. It explored the challenges and dangers of being a woman in the modern dating scene. Hindsight truly is 20/20. It's a good reminder to check yourself before victim blaming. Sometimes I think back on my college days and I thank my lucky stars I'm not dead in a ditch. Just something as simple as walking home from class with my headphones on could've ended me up in the back of a trunk. Scary tings. Anyways.
It was also a creative way to show how "normal" abusers can be. It's not the scary strangers in the bushes. It's the charming guy who opened the passenger side car door for you. It's the married man with the picture-perfect family and doting wife. And all of this makes sussing out the baddies even harder for a woman who just wants to enjoy her night without a cloak of paranoia.
I also liked the inclusion of the detectives. Again, another great display of how misogyny can be the difference between a family getting answers or forever wondering if their daughter really just dipped on them.
My main rich homie qualm was some parts dragged. The synopsis says the three girls link up, but this doesn't occur until the 60% mark. You spend a lot of time with each girl as they figure out their after life status and what they should do. This was interesting... to a point. The book is pretty short but I would've liked to spend more time with the girl gang.
All in all, an interesting and easy-to-devour read. The writing was straightforward. No turgid prose here. Another plus for me.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: interesting premise, straight forward no fluff writing, pander-free social commentary
Cons: dragged a bit in the second half - I would've liked more time with the girls together
May 2, 2024
The tension in this book was electrifying
Ask for Andrea is a unique plot following the aftermath of three girls who are k!lled by a scumbag Serial K!ller.
This one had my attention from the get go, because its not like anything i have read before. This is not your typical thriller and read more like a character driven read.
Monsters don't always appear scary. They can be handsome, charming and very convincing.
This book really highlighted how women can easily find themselves in danger to no fault of their own, and raises deep thoughts on what we can do to make ourselves more vigilant and aware in romantic settings.
⋆｡°✩ WHAT I LIKED ⋆｡°✩
➽ The even pace of the book was great
➽ Short Chapters
➽ The Trio perspectives
➽ The tension and anxiety was executed well
➽ Had me all in my feels!
➽ No over exaggeration and implausible actions.
➽ Satisfied ending
⋆｡°✩ WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ⋆｡°✩
➽ It took a long time for the girls to all meet.
➽ The naivety of the wife to all of a sudden having an epiphany, was half believable to me.
All in all i really enjoyed this book and will continue with reading this authors backlist.
3.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩ pre read ⋆｡°✩
Having read Run on Red and Gray after Dark by this author I loved both!
I obviously now need to complete her backlist right!?
The blurb on this one… 😮💨😮💨
Ask for Andrea is a unique plot following the aftermath of three girls who are k!lled by a scumbag Serial K!ller.
This one had my attention from the get go, because its not like anything i have read before. This is not your typical thriller and read more like a character driven read.
Monsters don't always appear scary. They can be handsome, charming and very convincing.
This book really highlighted how women can easily find themselves in danger to no fault of their own, and raises deep thoughts on what we can do to make ourselves more vigilant and aware in romantic settings.
⋆｡°✩ WHAT I LIKED ⋆｡°✩
➽ The even pace of the book was great
➽ Short Chapters
➽ The Trio perspectives
➽ The tension and anxiety was executed well
➽ Had me all in my feels!
➽ No over exaggeration and implausible actions.
➽ Satisfied ending
⋆｡°✩ WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ⋆｡°✩
➽ It took a long time for the girls to all meet.
➽ The naivety of the wife to all of a sudden having an epiphany, was half believable to me.
All in all i really enjoyed this book and will continue with reading this authors backlist.
3.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩ pre read ⋆｡°✩
Having read Run on Red and Gray after Dark by this author I loved both!
I obviously now need to complete her backlist right!?
The blurb on this one… 😮💨😮💨
May 5, 2024
★4 stars
✎𓂃 “On a date that isn’t going well? Ask for Andrea at the bar. We’ll make sure you get home safe.”
☆What to Expect:
Ask for Andrea is a fast-paced ghost thriller, but it’s not your average ghost story. Three young girls find themselves on a mission to catch the MatchStrike Killer (this story’s version of a dating app). The only problem is that they were all senselessly murdered by this man, and need to figure out the limits of their capabilities as ghosts. In a race against time and multiple states, Brecia, Meghan, and Skye must stop him before he takes any more lives, and anyone is fair game.
Trigger Warnings: Murder, rape, descriptions of bodily decomposition, possibility of the murder of children, date rape drugs, serial killer.
☆My Thoughts:
I desperately was in need of a quick thriller after wasting weeks of my life on a terrible series reread (Note for all: don’t be like me. DNF any book that doesn’t seem worth it!!). I’ve been eyeing this book every time it pops up in my KU feed, and finally took the plunge after seeing its high rating. It did not disappoint.
Ask for Andrea cycles between the first-person POV of each of the ghosts: Brecia, Meghan, and Skye, from their initial deaths, to their discovery of their ghostly abilities, and to the very final outcome. Each chapter is short–no more than maybe 5 minutes–making this an extremely digestible novel (minus, obviously, the unsavory parts).
This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, needing to know how the killer would be caught. Overall, I enjoyed the 3 person POV approach, being in the minds of each of the ghosts, as it felt like a fresher take on the typical murder mystery. Seeing how each character went about their hauntings was interesting and heightened the need for revenge and justice. My biggest issue was that each character’s voice unfortunately read the exact same, which made it harder to separate one girl from the next. While each POV is labeled at the start of the chapter, I often found myself going back to see who was actually speaking.
I would, however, recommend this story for anyone in need of an exciting thriller–something to break up reading monotony or to eliminate a slump.
✎𓂃“There were foxes, and there were hounds. And then there were the animals who didn’t fit into the natural order of things at all. Who meant the hurt they caused every time.”
✎𓂃 “On a date that isn’t going well? Ask for Andrea at the bar. We’ll make sure you get home safe.”
☆What to Expect:
Ask for Andrea is a fast-paced ghost thriller, but it’s not your average ghost story. Three young girls find themselves on a mission to catch the MatchStrike Killer (this story’s version of a dating app). The only problem is that they were all senselessly murdered by this man, and need to figure out the limits of their capabilities as ghosts. In a race against time and multiple states, Brecia, Meghan, and Skye must stop him before he takes any more lives, and anyone is fair game.
Trigger Warnings: Murder, rape, descriptions of bodily decomposition, possibility of the murder of children, date rape drugs, serial killer.
☆My Thoughts:
I desperately was in need of a quick thriller after wasting weeks of my life on a terrible series reread (Note for all: don’t be like me. DNF any book that doesn’t seem worth it!!). I’ve been eyeing this book every time it pops up in my KU feed, and finally took the plunge after seeing its high rating. It did not disappoint.
Ask for Andrea cycles between the first-person POV of each of the ghosts: Brecia, Meghan, and Skye, from their initial deaths, to their discovery of their ghostly abilities, and to the very final outcome. Each chapter is short–no more than maybe 5 minutes–making this an extremely digestible novel (minus, obviously, the unsavory parts).
This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, needing to know how the killer would be caught. Overall, I enjoyed the 3 person POV approach, being in the minds of each of the ghosts, as it felt like a fresher take on the typical murder mystery. Seeing how each character went about their hauntings was interesting and heightened the need for revenge and justice. My biggest issue was that each character’s voice unfortunately read the exact same, which made it harder to separate one girl from the next. While each POV is labeled at the start of the chapter, I often found myself going back to see who was actually speaking.
I would, however, recommend this story for anyone in need of an exciting thriller–something to break up reading monotony or to eliminate a slump.
✎𓂃“There were foxes, and there were hounds. And then there were the animals who didn’t fit into the natural order of things at all. Who meant the hurt they caused every time.”
April 2, 2022
A unique twist on a haunting! This book was so fun! I flew through it! I loved the premise and the writing style. I like the alternating chapters with the different girls.
James Carson hunts for his victims online pretending to be the perfect guy. He would wine and dine them and then kill them on their first date. He murdered three women so far. What’s stopping him from continuing? The three women he murdered.
Brecia, Meghan, and Skye found each other and together they plan on stopping James from killing again.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
James Carson hunts for his victims online pretending to be the perfect guy. He would wine and dine them and then kill them on their first date. He murdered three women so far. What’s stopping him from continuing? The three women he murdered.
Brecia, Meghan, and Skye found each other and together they plan on stopping James from killing again.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
January 22, 2023
4.5* this was damn near perfect and I have so many feelings I don’t even know where to begin. RTC
July 16, 2022
3.5
Fun thriller! My biggest complaint was the three girl's voices sounded identical, and it was difficult to tell them apart. Other than that, it was a very engaging and quick read.
Fun thriller! My biggest complaint was the three girl's voices sounded identical, and it was difficult to tell them apart. Other than that, it was a very engaging and quick read.
August 8, 2022
I think I’m in the minority but I did not like this one. The story of three young women that are killed by a serial killer. The story follows the ghosts of the women that are trying to make sure their killer is convicted. I found the storyline predictable and slow.
March 15, 2022
Okay, this was fun!
I’m always a little hesitant when your main characters are dead ones. It normally removes a little bit of the suspense for me…normally. Not in this case. This is incredibly suspenseful!
Our victims are strong and determined and I simply loved them! As for our killer? Ooh…I wanted very bad things to happen to him.
The storytelling is good here – the author does an excellent job of drawing out the tension, even in some scenes where you *know* what’s about to happen.
An excellent thriller!
*ARC via Publisher
I’m always a little hesitant when your main characters are dead ones. It normally removes a little bit of the suspense for me…normally. Not in this case. This is incredibly suspenseful!
Our victims are strong and determined and I simply loved them! As for our killer? Ooh…I wanted very bad things to happen to him.
The storytelling is good here – the author does an excellent job of drawing out the tension, even in some scenes where you *know* what’s about to happen.
An excellent thriller!
*ARC via Publisher
May 2, 2024
MAsk For Andrea has been talked about in my Facebook newsfeed constantly, I keep seeing it all over my Goodreads and it has been recommended quite a few times by my friends in the past and for some reason, I kept ignoring it.
Probably because of the paranormal driven plot which I am not a fan of but I realised that if it's about ghosts and restless spirits haunting a serial killer, then you definitely have my attention.
I LOVED IT. Kicking myself because I've slept on this book for a while and when I started reading it, I couldn't stop. The idea of having a note "Ask for Andrea" in every bar dominated by men and creeps is truly something for us Women, like, having someone who cares is absolutely what the world needs right now.
Brilliant. If you're reading my review and still not flipping the pages of this book, you're wasting a good minute of your time. Haha.
Probably because of the paranormal driven plot which I am not a fan of but I realised that if it's about ghosts and restless spirits haunting a serial killer, then you definitely have my attention.
I LOVED IT. Kicking myself because I've slept on this book for a while and when I started reading it, I couldn't stop. The idea of having a note "Ask for Andrea" in every bar dominated by men and creeps is truly something for us Women, like, having someone who cares is absolutely what the world needs right now.
Brilliant. If you're reading my review and still not flipping the pages of this book, you're wasting a good minute of your time. Haha.
April 10, 2024
3.5 stars. reading vlog: https://youtu.be/AwSamy3fHIM
an absolutely UNPUTDOWNABLE ending with such pace and tension! loved the themes of this but unfortunately the split timelines didn't work for me, and I didn't feel like the different perspectives had distinctive enough voices
an absolutely UNPUTDOWNABLE ending with such pace and tension! loved the themes of this but unfortunately the split timelines didn't work for me, and I didn't feel like the different perspectives had distinctive enough voices
January 21, 2024
Ask for Andrea follows the ghosts of three dead girls who have fallen victim to the same seemingly charming serial killer over separate timeframes.
They all have a reason for sticking around, one wants to make sure her body is found, one wants to make sure her parents find out what happened to her, and one is determined to stop him from hurting anybody else ever again.
Whatever their reasons, their motives become one and the same when they realize that there are 3 soon to be victims that need their help and protection.
What I liked about it:
This book is definitely unlike anything I’ve read before. The plot was very unique and the writing felt like it had weight to it, like the story was important somehow. It almost came across like true crime because of how realistic it all felt.
I really rooted for the three main characters and found myself emotionally attached to them. Going on this journey was definitely a wild ride of emotions.
What I didn’t like:
I’d love to give this a five stars, but despite this being an awesome plot, some parts of the story just felt like it went on forever. For a relatively short book it felt like it was taking me ages to get through it. I’m not sure why, maybe because I was in a rush to get to the end to make sure everything turned out okay, but it has the sensation of being drawn out.
It was still a phenomenal read and I highly recommend
They all have a reason for sticking around, one wants to make sure her body is found, one wants to make sure her parents find out what happened to her, and one is determined to stop him from hurting anybody else ever again.
Whatever their reasons, their motives become one and the same when they realize that there are 3 soon to be victims that need their help and protection.
What I liked about it:
This book is definitely unlike anything I’ve read before. The plot was very unique and the writing felt like it had weight to it, like the story was important somehow. It almost came across like true crime because of how realistic it all felt.
I really rooted for the three main characters and found myself emotionally attached to them. Going on this journey was definitely a wild ride of emotions.
What I didn’t like:
I’d love to give this a five stars, but despite this being an awesome plot, some parts of the story just felt like it went on forever. For a relatively short book it felt like it was taking me ages to get through it. I’m not sure why, maybe because I was in a rush to get to the end to make sure everything turned out okay, but it has the sensation of being drawn out.
It was still a phenomenal read and I highly recommend
December 3, 2022
Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli (5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
The book is free on Kindle Unlimited.
Audiobook narrated by: Allison Delaney
Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins
Mystery & Thriller
My thoughts:
Ask for Andrea is available on Kindle Unlimited. I listened to the audio while reading the book. The story is amazing, baffling, and suspenseful. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I highly recommend this book/audiobook. You don't want to miss it!
Blurb:
"James Carson has gotten away with murder three times.
The only thing that might stop him from killing again? The three women he murdered.
He hunted them online, masquerading as an eligible bachelor. Then he played the perfect gentleman, a thick layer of charm and a thousand-watt smile hiding the fact that his first dates end in shallow graves.
What James doesn’t know is that his three victims have found each other. And that they're coming for him.
Brecia, Meghan, and Skye might be dead, but they’re not gone. And they won’t rest until they find a way to keep him from killing again.
The haunt is on."
#AskforAndrea #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audiobook #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
The book is free on Kindle Unlimited.
Audiobook narrated by: Allison Delaney
Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins
Mystery & Thriller
My thoughts:
Ask for Andrea is available on Kindle Unlimited. I listened to the audio while reading the book. The story is amazing, baffling, and suspenseful. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I highly recommend this book/audiobook. You don't want to miss it!
Blurb:
"James Carson has gotten away with murder three times.
The only thing that might stop him from killing again? The three women he murdered.
He hunted them online, masquerading as an eligible bachelor. Then he played the perfect gentleman, a thick layer of charm and a thousand-watt smile hiding the fact that his first dates end in shallow graves.
What James doesn’t know is that his three victims have found each other. And that they're coming for him.
Brecia, Meghan, and Skye might be dead, but they’re not gone. And they won’t rest until they find a way to keep him from killing again.
The haunt is on."
#AskforAndrea #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audiobook #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
January 23, 2024
I really don’t know how this book has a 4+ rating. The story was so basic and not thrilling at all. The characters were all over the place resharing their stories and it was pretty repetitive at times.
April 16, 2022
I saw this one on netgalley and thought it sounded interesting. I love books with a paranormal aspect, or told from the ghosts POV. This was a fun, quick read with short chapters and I was definitely into it.
We have 3 victims, Brecia, Skye and Meghan, who are the victims of serial killer James Carson. They want revenge, and want to stop him from murdering again! You get each girls POV of the murder, what happened after, the investigation and how each of them come together for the revenge. I'd say this is more of a character driven book. Some parts were on the slower side, but it didn't stop me from enjoying it. The ending was really good. If you like paranormal thrillers, you should definitely check this out!.
Thank you to the publisher, author and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
We have 3 victims, Brecia, Skye and Meghan, who are the victims of serial killer James Carson. They want revenge, and want to stop him from murdering again! You get each girls POV of the murder, what happened after, the investigation and how each of them come together for the revenge. I'd say this is more of a character driven book. Some parts were on the slower side, but it didn't stop me from enjoying it. The ending was really good. If you like paranormal thrillers, you should definitely check this out!.
Thank you to the publisher, author and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
February 27, 2024
4.5 - this was a unique perspective for me!
February 22, 2023
“Ask for Andrea” was a long anticipated read for me, which looked to have the type of drama and suspense I seek when I’m really looking to get out of my own world and immerse myself into another. What’s more is, it was my distraction immediately following my unexplained seizure and it did pretty well for that. I guess in a sense, due to its proximity to me in times of strife, it’ll always hold a good amount of memories to it.
I can’t always review with my emotions, though. And if it weren’t connected to that period of time, I would have to say this book is pretty much…. Mediocre. I loved the concept of three scorned women uniting in the afterlife against one common enemy- their murderer. And though this was executed exactly as you’d expect it to be, and the writing was simple and sharp, it just felt so generic to me. Skye, Brecia, and Meghan were not especially loaded with personality. I mean I could tell them apart, but who these ladies are both in their corporeal life and their spiritual afterlife seems to escape me.
Side note- James? Jamie? Whatever you want to call him…. He is a regular Ted Bundy. Now, I understand that you cannot rationalize everyone’s actions, let alone a psychopathic serial killer who is a danger to the entire world including his own family, but the lack of motive or explanation becomes a burden of sorts. We know what he did, but nothing about why he did it, or where this behavior originated from. Although I suppose that he himself quite possibly doesn’t even know.
Was this a bad book? No. Not by any means. But in my opinion, it was a basic one. I’ve been reading horror and thriller for most of my life. It could be that perhaps I’m just a jaded reader, who is bound to see a lot of the same concepts repeated over and over. But my emotional connection to most of the story just wasn’t there. I love the themes of girl power and survival, even in the face of death, but I know that we could’ve gone a little bit deeper and I think it would’ve suited the story well.
I’ll be sure to give “Run on Red” a try too. I’m hoping to have a better experience with that one!
I can’t always review with my emotions, though. And if it weren’t connected to that period of time, I would have to say this book is pretty much…. Mediocre. I loved the concept of three scorned women uniting in the afterlife against one common enemy- their murderer. And though this was executed exactly as you’d expect it to be, and the writing was simple and sharp, it just felt so generic to me. Skye, Brecia, and Meghan were not especially loaded with personality. I mean I could tell them apart, but who these ladies are both in their corporeal life and their spiritual afterlife seems to escape me.
Side note- James? Jamie? Whatever you want to call him…. He is a regular Ted Bundy. Now, I understand that you cannot rationalize everyone’s actions, let alone a psychopathic serial killer who is a danger to the entire world including his own family, but the lack of motive or explanation becomes a burden of sorts. We know what he did, but nothing about why he did it, or where this behavior originated from. Although I suppose that he himself quite possibly doesn’t even know.
Was this a bad book? No. Not by any means. But in my opinion, it was a basic one. I’ve been reading horror and thriller for most of my life. It could be that perhaps I’m just a jaded reader, who is bound to see a lot of the same concepts repeated over and over. But my emotional connection to most of the story just wasn’t there. I love the themes of girl power and survival, even in the face of death, but I know that we could’ve gone a little bit deeper and I think it would’ve suited the story well.
I’ll be sure to give “Run on Red” a try too. I’m hoping to have a better experience with that one!
April 25, 2022
"He was the kind of beautiful that drew you in before you even considered the fact that beautiful things can be poisonous."
I stayed up several hours after my bedtime reading this; I could not put it down. It was so good. A completely unique and original story. A fresh and engulfing spin on the serial killer thriller. The characters quickly became friends with one common enemy. I wanted him caught and punished as much as they did and the suspense in that gripped me. The writing was superb. The ending was excellent.
Among the suspense, there was also beauty, emotion, and deep character developmental that will stick with me long after I finished this. It's hope in an otherwise macabre, cold-blooded, and tragic situation. But I also want to warn readers: if you've lost a loved one in mysterious and/or tragic circumstances, missing or found, this will trigger you. If you've been raped or sexually assaulted, this will trigger you.
I stayed up several hours after my bedtime reading this; I could not put it down. It was so good. A completely unique and original story. A fresh and engulfing spin on the serial killer thriller. The characters quickly became friends with one common enemy. I wanted him caught and punished as much as they did and the suspense in that gripped me. The writing was superb. The ending was excellent.
Among the suspense, there was also beauty, emotion, and deep character developmental that will stick with me long after I finished this. It's hope in an otherwise macabre, cold-blooded, and tragic situation. But I also want to warn readers: if you've lost a loved one in mysterious and/or tragic circumstances, missing or found, this will trigger you. If you've been raped or sexually assaulted, this will trigger you.
March 15, 2024
3.75-4 stars. Really enjoyed
April 27, 2023
I thought about him a lot. About how warm and kind his eyes had been while we were talking at Gracie's. About how cold and angry they looked, flashing in the moonlight as I regained consciousness in the dark, in the woods, in the spot I had never gotten up from.
He'd either carried or dragged me quite a way from the car. The spot where my body lay was at least 100 yards from the edge of the dirt road. It would have been impossible to park in the rocky, tree-tied terrain. Even if another car did come up the dirt road, they weren't going to see anything unless they wandered to the right spot and noticed the bones that were becoming just another part of the landscape, more and more every day.
Ask for Andrea was a great read that felt like it took no time at all. Were I doing an objective review I might have placed it closer to a 3-star read - but here we are on Goodreads where I can rate just based on my own taste, and so it's a 4.
Think The Lovely Bones, but told by multiple victims of a man who (like so many do) flies right under everyone's radar. But while these women are dead, they're far from gone, and determined to do everything they can to keep their number from growing.
The writing is straightforward; nothing especially lyrical, which is the biggest reason I thought about a 3, but it was a storytelling style that was really easy to read. Each of the women we heard from felt like she had her own voice and her own story; and this version of the afterlife I thought was a fantastic idea, one I've never heard anything even vaguely like. Some parts of the story could have used a little more fleshing-out, but overall there was a good balance between past, present, and each characters part of the story.
I enjoyed this, and given I'm having my first run-in with Covid (booooo), it turned out to be exactly the entertaining and relatively short read I needed. Definitely one I'd recommend.
He'd either carried or dragged me quite a way from the car. The spot where my body lay was at least 100 yards from the edge of the dirt road. It would have been impossible to park in the rocky, tree-tied terrain. Even if another car did come up the dirt road, they weren't going to see anything unless they wandered to the right spot and noticed the bones that were becoming just another part of the landscape, more and more every day.
Ask for Andrea was a great read that felt like it took no time at all. Were I doing an objective review I might have placed it closer to a 3-star read - but here we are on Goodreads where I can rate just based on my own taste, and so it's a 4.
Think The Lovely Bones, but told by multiple victims of a man who (like so many do) flies right under everyone's radar. But while these women are dead, they're far from gone, and determined to do everything they can to keep their number from growing.
The writing is straightforward; nothing especially lyrical, which is the biggest reason I thought about a 3, but it was a storytelling style that was really easy to read. Each of the women we heard from felt like she had her own voice and her own story; and this version of the afterlife I thought was a fantastic idea, one I've never heard anything even vaguely like. Some parts of the story could have used a little more fleshing-out, but overall there was a good balance between past, present, and each characters part of the story.
I enjoyed this, and given I'm having my first run-in with Covid (booooo), it turned out to be exactly the entertaining and relatively short read I needed. Definitely one I'd recommend.
February 24, 2023
Audio - 3.5 Stars
Story 2 Stars
Story 2 Stars
May 7, 2024
This was a great story! I just can’t give it more than 3 stars! I honestly kept wondering why the book was titled this. I know at the end I guess tied it in well but I feel like the book was more about the other girls that’s actually died and the killer.
May 17, 2024
Wow such a great read! I've read another by Noelle W. Ilhi so I thought I'd give more of her books a read. I'm so glad I did as this one did not disappoint! So much suspense and twists. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the story. Such a deep story but the ending made it all worthwhile. Loved this!
April 29, 2024
This is why women choose the bear.
May 11, 2024
I have been putting off reading this book for so long, and now I'm questioning why I did that?! This book was fucking good! There is a paranormal element to it and it was suspenseful. I was hooked from the first page.
Plot:
This story follows the POVs of three women all murdered by the same serial killer, James Carson. Despite their recent deaths, Brecia, Meghan, and Skye find themselves lingering as spirits in this world and they are angry. If James wants to keep killing unsuspecting women, he'll have to do it over their dead bodies.💀
Characters:
I thought that the character development in this book was phenomenal. The story was written from three POVs (each of the three murdered women). You truly get to see into each of their minds and they each have different mindsets when it comes to how they view their murder and how they approach it afterwards.👻 I also loved Detective Domanska and April. Even how the villain, James, is written is well done. He is an evil bastard and made my skin crawl the entire book. I never want to online date ever again.
💫"There were foxes, and there were hounds. And then there were the animals who didn’t fit into the natural order of things at all. Who meant the hurt they caused every time."
Overall Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a crime thriller.🕵🏼♀️ The only thing that was disappointing was how the three ghosts couldn't do a whole lot other than control air/electricity. I wanted to read about some cool poltergeist shit, but alas! That was not to be. This was still a great story and I ate up every word. It was suspenseful, especially the last 70 pages or so. Very well done.
💫"He was the kind of beautiful that drew you in before you even considered the fact that beautiful things can be poisonous."
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Plot:
This story follows the POVs of three women all murdered by the same serial killer, James Carson. Despite their recent deaths, Brecia, Meghan, and Skye find themselves lingering as spirits in this world and they are angry. If James wants to keep killing unsuspecting women, he'll have to do it over their dead bodies.💀
Characters:
I thought that the character development in this book was phenomenal. The story was written from three POVs (each of the three murdered women). You truly get to see into each of their minds and they each have different mindsets when it comes to how they view their murder and how they approach it afterwards.👻 I also loved Detective Domanska and April. Even how the villain, James, is written is well done. He is an evil bastard and made my skin crawl the entire book. I never want to online date ever again.
💫"There were foxes, and there were hounds. And then there were the animals who didn’t fit into the natural order of things at all. Who meant the hurt they caused every time."
Overall Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a crime thriller.🕵🏼♀️ The only thing that was disappointing was how the three ghosts couldn't do a whole lot other than control air/electricity. I wanted to read about some cool poltergeist shit, but alas! That was not to be. This was still a great story and I ate up every word. It was suspenseful, especially the last 70 pages or so. Very well done.
💫"He was the kind of beautiful that drew you in before you even considered the fact that beautiful things can be poisonous."
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
November 11, 2022
It was such a good book. I read a lot of thrillers, so it's pretty hard at this point to give me something that I haven't seen before but this book right from the beginning gives you a trope that I have never seen before so.
In this book, you are following a man who is a serial killer, and he is strangling these young women that he meets on a dating site. And that part isn't new, right? We've seen that 100 times. But what is new is what happens to the girls after they die. They become and continue to be a part of the story and kind of lend their hand into him finally getting caught and you guys, it was so good, started listening to it at my tattoo appointment And I could not stop. Like I could not wait to get home yesterday so I could keep reading. I finished it in two days. The character development is great. You really develop a relationship with these girls that he has murdered throughout the whole book so that by the end you feel like you know you have such a connection with them and you're really sad to See what's going to happen. You also really, genuinely end up loathing this man. It was just so good. By the end of the book I had kind of like my heart was racing and couldn't wait to see how it was going to finish. But I also was like really sad for it, and because I didn't want to lose all these characters that, like, I really got invested in. It was it was just really good, just definitely something different. If you've read a lot of thrillers and you're kind of getting bored, I highly recommend picking this up, I don't think it's talked about enough and I definitely think you're going to be in for a really different kind of unique treat in the thriller world.
In this book, you are following a man who is a serial killer, and he is strangling these young women that he meets on a dating site. And that part isn't new, right? We've seen that 100 times. But what is new is what happens to the girls after they die. They become and continue to be a part of the story and kind of lend their hand into him finally getting caught and you guys, it was so good, started listening to it at my tattoo appointment And I could not stop. Like I could not wait to get home yesterday so I could keep reading. I finished it in two days. The character development is great. You really develop a relationship with these girls that he has murdered throughout the whole book so that by the end you feel like you know you have such a connection with them and you're really sad to See what's going to happen. You also really, genuinely end up loathing this man. It was just so good. By the end of the book I had kind of like my heart was racing and couldn't wait to see how it was going to finish. But I also was like really sad for it, and because I didn't want to lose all these characters that, like, I really got invested in. It was it was just really good, just definitely something different. If you've read a lot of thrillers and you're kind of getting bored, I highly recommend picking this up, I don't think it's talked about enough and I definitely think you're going to be in for a really different kind of unique treat in the thriller world.
August 23, 2022
Thank you to the author for gifting me a complimentary copy of this book.
This was purely a “Bookstagram made me do it” book. I read stellar after stellar review that this is a must-read book, and it definitely lived up to the hype.
Ask For Andrea is the most unique story I have read, as it is based on three DEAD women: Brecia, Meghan and Skye who are now ghosts, who individually want to avenge their single mortal enemy, James, who murdered them. The three ghosts know that James will not stop murdering women he finds via a dating service, who are unaware of his true intentions.
What’s even more distinctive about this story is that the 3 ghosts - unlikes ghosts portrayed in literature - are powerless to get through to human beings in our mortal world. This aspect is what really kept me intrigued and turning the pages. Overall, I actually found this book very sad because it portrayed the 3 victims very realistically - women whose dreams and aspirations were forcibly stripped away from a cold-hearted serial killer. However even though the women seemed powerless in life and afterlife, they never gave up, and never relented, and their maternal instincts were prominent even after death.
I cannot describe in words how moved I am by this book. It gave me all the feels, pulling my heartstrings in every which way. There are some themes on afterlife discussed in the book though not the focus, and it really makes you think if you’re inclined to occult/parapsychology topics. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough but please keep a box of tissues handy when reading it.
This was purely a “Bookstagram made me do it” book. I read stellar after stellar review that this is a must-read book, and it definitely lived up to the hype.
Ask For Andrea is the most unique story I have read, as it is based on three DEAD women: Brecia, Meghan and Skye who are now ghosts, who individually want to avenge their single mortal enemy, James, who murdered them. The three ghosts know that James will not stop murdering women he finds via a dating service, who are unaware of his true intentions.
What’s even more distinctive about this story is that the 3 ghosts - unlikes ghosts portrayed in literature - are powerless to get through to human beings in our mortal world. This aspect is what really kept me intrigued and turning the pages. Overall, I actually found this book very sad because it portrayed the 3 victims very realistically - women whose dreams and aspirations were forcibly stripped away from a cold-hearted serial killer. However even though the women seemed powerless in life and afterlife, they never gave up, and never relented, and their maternal instincts were prominent even after death.
I cannot describe in words how moved I am by this book. It gave me all the feels, pulling my heartstrings in every which way. There are some themes on afterlife discussed in the book though not the focus, and it really makes you think if you’re inclined to occult/parapsychology topics. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough but please keep a box of tissues handy when reading it.
March 18, 2022
I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review - thank you!
I really wanted to love this book because the idea is brilliant, honestly. I was thrilled about the ghost stuff and I really liked how we got to experience the different facets of grief and the murder. But it was poorly executed and terribly repetitive.
Also the pacing and timing were off since the author senselessly jumped between timelines and accidentally told things twice. That was annoying for me as reader because I really just wanted the story to carry on.
The problem with the ghost aspect for me was, that they knew everything but couldn’t tell anyone. I liked that in the beginning but as it carried on it got very frustrating to read and at around 50% I just wanted to get it over with. I was promised a “gripping psychological thriller” but well … I wasn’t served one. We knew everything from the very beginning and just worked it up until the end and meh, that was not it. I really hoped there would come a new shocking reveal along the way that would turn the story around but nope, it never came.
All in all I’m really sad to say that this was a very mediocre thriller. Very good idea but wasted in bad execution.
Also huge TW for sexual assault, rape and drugging
I really wanted to love this book because the idea is brilliant, honestly. I was thrilled about the ghost stuff and I really liked how we got to experience the different facets of grief and the murder. But it was poorly executed and terribly repetitive.
Also the pacing and timing were off since the author senselessly jumped between timelines and accidentally told things twice. That was annoying for me as reader because I really just wanted the story to carry on.
The problem with the ghost aspect for me was, that they knew everything but couldn’t tell anyone. I liked that in the beginning but as it carried on it got very frustrating to read and at around 50% I just wanted to get it over with. I was promised a “gripping psychological thriller” but well … I wasn’t served one. We knew everything from the very beginning and just worked it up until the end and meh, that was not it. I really hoped there would come a new shocking reveal along the way that would turn the story around but nope, it never came.
All in all I’m really sad to say that this was a very mediocre thriller. Very good idea but wasted in bad execution.
Also huge TW for sexual assault, rape and drugging
March 5, 2024
I was hesitant to read this book because I usually avoid anything related to the paranormal, but if Freida recommends it, I have to read it...and I am so glad I gave this book a chance!
I was pleasantly surprised by the author's incredible approach to the subject matter. It was truly remarkable. Noelle seamlessly wove together a thrilling, darker plotline with a beautiful outlook on the supernatural. The various perspectives presented throughout the book added depth and richness to the story, which kept me completely engrossed. I loved the multiple POVs.
I enjoyed the unique twist on "haunting" that this book took. Despite the topic, it was a fun read that kept me on the edge of my seat—a great thriller. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining read. I would give it 4-4.5 stars!
I was pleasantly surprised by the author's incredible approach to the subject matter. It was truly remarkable. Noelle seamlessly wove together a thrilling, darker plotline with a beautiful outlook on the supernatural. The various perspectives presented throughout the book added depth and richness to the story, which kept me completely engrossed. I loved the multiple POVs.
I enjoyed the unique twist on "haunting" that this book took. Despite the topic, it was a fun read that kept me on the edge of my seat—a great thriller. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining read. I would give it 4-4.5 stars!
June 2, 2024
i wish the girlies met sooner & omg i was so nervous for the little babies 🥺
Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,132 reviews