Katie Ganshert

Wow . . . Just wow. Ganshert pens yet another emotionally moving, grippingly-real story. I can honestly say I have never read another book quite like No One Ever Asked.

Split between the point of views of three different women in vastly different worlds, this book kept me engrossed in the story throughout every page. Each character is so incredibly realistic you can't help but empathize with and relate to them. I think Jen's storyline was probably my favorite, as adoption is a subject very show more close to my heart, but I also very much enjoyed Anaya's and Camille's stories.

Ganshert deals with a very real and touchy subject - racism. And while she definitely doesn't shy away from the nitty-gritty details, she handles them with incredible tact and grace without downplaying or excusing them. This book is far from painless, yet I am incredibly glad I read it. It opened my eyes to so much and gave me an even greater understanding of racism and the other issues touched upon in this book.

All in all, No One Ever Asked is an incredible novel to add to your library. Highly recommended!

CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 18 due to mature themes, such as racism and violence pertaining to racism, mentions of intimacy, divorce, and drugs. Plus very emotion-heavy details on adoption and racism. show less

"Death has become a storm cloud hovering above us. And yet, I've never felt more alive than I do right now."

Oh, I've missed K.E. Ganshert's stunning creativity and gift of bringing stories to life. This is more than a YA fantasy book. It combines the supernatural with suspense and mystery and throws in a dash of romance and angst to create a reading journey worthy of a theme park in excitement and thrill. I loved Selah's wicked sense of humor, wit, loyalty, and tenacity. Her first person show more voice was raw, curious, compassionate, tender and relatable. Though the book was exclusively from Selah's point of view, we got to know Jude pretty well. Underneath his tortured, aloof exterior lay a passionate, intelligent and thoughtful soul begging to be understood and loved. I was completely engrossed and invested in their journey to find answers to several mysteries at Vandenberg Manor. And the plot twists! I totally did not see any of those coming and was floored when the pieces started coming together. This book should be made into a movie!

I can't wait for the next book in the series. Though the cold cases presented at the beginning of the story are solved now, I think the second book will delve into a different mystery altogether involving a peripheral character introduced in this book.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of the author and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own. show less

While I have read adult novels by K. E. Ganshert (writing as Katie Ganshert), I have never read any of her YA offerings. At sixty-something, I am definitely not her target audience. 😉 But there was something so intriguing about the description of Wicked Is The Hollow, that I gave it a chance. This book is a speculative (paranormal)/romance/thriller with all the great spooky October vibes. I really liked it! The story centers on Selah, a high schooler with baggage from a missing mother and show more a penchant for all things uncanny and weird. Living in Fog Hollow, WV helps keep her interests piqued, and she and her best friend Twig are on the case of all the mysterious happenings of their home town. But they get a lot more than they bargained for when the Vandenberg family returns. This novel will keep its readers on their toes while making their fingers turn the pages furiously. The ebook is 500+ pages, but is a surprisingly fast read. I loved all the twists and turns! I also loved that this clean romance is never morally ambiguous. The bad guys are truly bad, and for those looking for truth, evil never is attractive. Do some fall for the temptations? Sure, but that is real life. For a fun reading experience, grab a YA friend or loved-one for a buddy-read. This novel will make you want to talk!

Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: YA (16 year old-ish+) and adults.

(I borrowed this book from KU. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less

Wow, wow, wow. I became a fan of KE Ganshert's YA novels after reading The Contest but this new book brings YA, romance, and sci-fi to a whole new level. I loved the broader third person perspective from Eden and Cassian. The supporting cast was phenomenal and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each character. Eden's world is very similar to ours and feels comfortable and familiar enough, though more technologically advanced and recovering from a nuclear civil war. The plot is fast-paced, show more adrenaline-filled, and brimming with suspense as Eden tries to figure out why strange things are happening to her. The author will definitely have you guessing who's the good guy and who's the bad guy as the story unfolds with surprises upon surprises.

And Cassian..... you've got to love a brooding hero with a terribly tragic and ugly past, right? Especially when he's filled with regret and tries so hard to find redemption. Eden feels regret and self-recrimination, too, though she's less battle-scarred and more innocent. Their chemistry is combustible and their deep understanding of each other is one of a kind.

This is one of my favorite YA novels of 2022! If you enjoy dystopian YA books with incredible plot and characters, then this book is perfect for your next read. But it does end on a cliff-hanger.... but the sequel, rest assured, will release before the end of the year. I can't wait to see where Eden and Cassian are headed!

I received the book from the author and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own. show less