Ash Parsons
Author of Girls Save the World in This One
Works by Ash Parsons
The Haunting of Beatrix Greene Episode 1 (The Haunting Of Beatrix Greene, #0.1) (2020) — Author — 24 copies, 1 review
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A deliciously clever romp through Instagram influencer culture.
When Plum intercepts an invitation to the exclusive Pyre Festival, intended for her half-sister, Instagram influencer Peach, she thinks its her chance to have a spring break to remember. She convinces her two best friends to tell their parents they're headed to a beach in Florida, leaving out the private island in the Caribbean part. But when they arrive, there's only a few other Instagram influencers there. It soon becomes show more apparent that someone wants them all dead, and they just might be trapped with a serial killer.
This book is wickedly amusing, mocking the influencers and their "thing" that made each of them go viral. But it also takes a more serious dive into influencer culture, including how people exploit others for likes and how some of them can make into a very successful, lucrative job.
Plum, Marlowe and Sofia are lovable as three fashion-forward teens who aren't supposed to be there. But as the body count stacks up on the private island, it brings their own secrets to light, including feelings that some of them have for each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the advance review copy of this book. show less
When Plum intercepts an invitation to the exclusive Pyre Festival, intended for her half-sister, Instagram influencer Peach, she thinks its her chance to have a spring break to remember. She convinces her two best friends to tell their parents they're headed to a beach in Florida, leaving out the private island in the Caribbean part. But when they arrive, there's only a few other Instagram influencers there. It soon becomes show more apparent that someone wants them all dead, and they just might be trapped with a serial killer.
This book is wickedly amusing, mocking the influencers and their "thing" that made each of them go viral. But it also takes a more serious dive into influencer culture, including how people exploit others for likes and how some of them can make into a very successful, lucrative job.
Plum, Marlowe and Sofia are lovable as three fashion-forward teens who aren't supposed to be there. But as the body count stacks up on the private island, it brings their own secrets to light, including feelings that some of them have for each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the advance review copy of this book. show less
Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Yes
Level: High School
I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but man was it an enjoyable ride. I'm always down for feminist ideas and strong female friendships, and this book had both in large quantities. This book also featured a diverse cast, as well as a main character who is extremely relatable in many ways. While it is in no way high art, it was an incredibly enjoyable book, and I'm really glad I gave it a show more shot.
Girls Save the World in this One opens with a girl named June Blue, who has been planning to attend a zombie convention with her best friends for months. For June and her friends, ZombieCon will be a day they can remember fondly, and a day they don't have to worry about college acceptance letters, SAT scores, or the future. The only thing putting a damper on this day is Blair, June's ex-best friend who betrayed her by dating a boy June liked behind her back. Thankfully for June, her friends Siggy and Imani totally took her side in the ordeal, and the three are looking to forget their worries for a little bit to enjoy this convention together. What they don't realize, however, is that their friendship, grit, and courage is about to be tested in a big way. Turns out a real zombie virus has broken out at the convention, and it's up to these besties to band together and save the world.
The first thing I have to comment on in this book is the convention setting. I don't know this for sure, but I feel like Ash Parsons has to be familiar with the fandom and convention scene, as she captured every element of it perfectly. From the excitement and joy that being in a collective fandom brings, to the sheer nervous energy that envelops you while waiting in line to meet a celebrity you look up to, everything about the convention in this book (up until the zombie apocalypse, at least) feels true to life. Parsons described the experience so well that it actively made me miss conventions, as COVID has made them impossible for the time being. It made me really happy to be able to live vicariously through June and her friends for a little bit, as conventions are my absolute favorite way to spend my free time.
Another thing I really appreciated was how accessible and relatable June was as a protagonist. At only three pages in, I realized quickly that I had a ton in common with June. We're both horrid at math, full of anxiety, and fiercely loyal friends. We also both have a tendency to overthink, spewing random, almost nonsensical thoughts from our minds at the worst times. There were moments when the group would be running for their lives from zombies, and June would pause to think, "Huh. This would make a really great book title!" While others might be annoyed by June's internal monologue, I understood it completely, as nervous minds tend to run a mile a minute and deflect with humor in stressful situations.
The relationships in this book were also on point, from the dynamic friendships between the four main girls, to the father/son relationship that Hunter and James share. In her author's note, Parsons states that her main goal was to highlight strong female friendships, and I think she did a great job of highlighting the differences between these girls, and specifically how those differences made them stronger as a group. For example, Imani has book smarts, Siggy is insanely positive and full of determination, and June is a quick thinker and determined to motivate the group and keep them together. Even Blair, who only rejoins the group near the end, contributes to the group dynamic, while also showing the importance of forgiveness, growth, and the willingness to change. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Janet and June, as Janet proved to be a matronly older figure who encouraged June to keep trying and never doubt her abilities. While this book is primarily a comedy, there was a lot of good, healthy stuff to be found within this book.
One can't comment on this book without talking about the feminist slant, so I'll speak a bit on that subject next. While this book never tackles the idea of feminism in a profound or life-altering way, it does show very feminist elements through the lens of a fun horror movie. At the very beginning, June remarks on how she looks up to Janet for her willingness to push the boundaries of the horror genre in one of the first zombie films to feature a female lead. The book also spends a lot of time focusing on the friendships between the four girls, who build one another up and push each other to do better. Though none of the antagonistic side characters are particularly strong, there is a message to be found through Cuellar, the outspoken "tough guy" who has to learn the value of listening to his female cohorts instead of dismissing them. There is also a message to be found in Scott, the boy who drove a wedge between Blair and June in the first place. By the end of the novel, they realize that no boy is worth sacrificing their friendship over, especially not one as self-centered as Scott turns out to be. Nothing is ever explored in-depth, but there are definite notes of feminism sprinkled throughout, and I really appreciated the "girl power" message Parsons was going for.
Speaking of characters, there were a lot of them to be found in this book. While none of the side character deaths ever made me tear up or cry, I did appreciate (as I do with many books) the actual stakes in this book. Because it starts off as a light-hearted comedy, you don't really expect that named characters are actually going to die, but Parsons does not pull her punches here. Three or four of the characters introduced to the reader by name actually die in this book, and while it wasn't enough to elicit a strong emotional reaction from me, it made the story feel all the more suspenseful when I didn't know who was going to make it out and who wasn't. Many of the characters (Cuellar and Annie in particular) change as the book progresses, becoming less shallow or argumentative. As with the feminism, nothing is ever in-depth, but there are little moments here and there that let the reader know what the author's intentions are. As I read, I found myself really enjoying the actor characters, as well as the kickass camera woman and the agent. Even the random cosplay couple are a ton of fun, using their cosplay to blend in with the crowd of zombies to survive.
Lastly, I thought the romance between Hunter and June was really sweet and genuine, as they both turned out to be massive dorks with a ton of chemistry. Even though they don't meet up until over halfway through the book, I still felt like they had a strong connection, and loved their playful banter back and forth. Along with knowing how to accurately represent a convention, it seems that Parsons is also really good at giving her characters realistic chemistry, something I always appreciate in a fictional romance. The differences between Hunter and Scott are also highlighted really well, as Hunter is more caring towards others while Scott is very self-absorbed. In the end, meeting Hunter is what makes June realize that Scott wasn't worth all the fuss, and I loved that June was able to love herself a little more in the end.
Like I said before, this book is by no means high art. The writing is very conversational, making it feel more like a movie script or June's diary than a novel. Her inner thoughts are very muddled, and the writing really reflects that, but I honestly think it makes this book even more fun. Nobody goes into a horror comedy novel expecting high art, but they do expect to be entertained, and this novel did just that incredibly well. It felt a lot like Warm Bodies or Zombieland, a "zom rom com" that doesn't take itself too seriously. At the same time, it has a great deal of heart, and I found myself really caring about and rooting for these characters as the story progressed. It was easy to read, had a diverse cast, and was a heck of a lot of fun from beginning to end. I could see any fan of horror, romance, or comedy really enjoying this book, and would gladly recommend it to any high schooler with an interest in zombies or conventions. It was a blast from beginning to end, and I'm really glad it ended up in my review pile. show less
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Yes
Level: High School
I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but man was it an enjoyable ride. I'm always down for feminist ideas and strong female friendships, and this book had both in large quantities. This book also featured a diverse cast, as well as a main character who is extremely relatable in many ways. While it is in no way high art, it was an incredibly enjoyable book, and I'm really glad I gave it a show more shot.
Girls Save the World in this One opens with a girl named June Blue, who has been planning to attend a zombie convention with her best friends for months. For June and her friends, ZombieCon will be a day they can remember fondly, and a day they don't have to worry about college acceptance letters, SAT scores, or the future. The only thing putting a damper on this day is Blair, June's ex-best friend who betrayed her by dating a boy June liked behind her back. Thankfully for June, her friends Siggy and Imani totally took her side in the ordeal, and the three are looking to forget their worries for a little bit to enjoy this convention together. What they don't realize, however, is that their friendship, grit, and courage is about to be tested in a big way. Turns out a real zombie virus has broken out at the convention, and it's up to these besties to band together and save the world.
The first thing I have to comment on in this book is the convention setting. I don't know this for sure, but I feel like Ash Parsons has to be familiar with the fandom and convention scene, as she captured every element of it perfectly. From the excitement and joy that being in a collective fandom brings, to the sheer nervous energy that envelops you while waiting in line to meet a celebrity you look up to, everything about the convention in this book (up until the zombie apocalypse, at least) feels true to life. Parsons described the experience so well that it actively made me miss conventions, as COVID has made them impossible for the time being. It made me really happy to be able to live vicariously through June and her friends for a little bit, as conventions are my absolute favorite way to spend my free time.
Another thing I really appreciated was how accessible and relatable June was as a protagonist. At only three pages in, I realized quickly that I had a ton in common with June. We're both horrid at math, full of anxiety, and fiercely loyal friends. We also both have a tendency to overthink, spewing random, almost nonsensical thoughts from our minds at the worst times. There were moments when the group would be running for their lives from zombies, and June would pause to think, "Huh. This would make a really great book title!" While others might be annoyed by June's internal monologue, I understood it completely, as nervous minds tend to run a mile a minute and deflect with humor in stressful situations.
The relationships in this book were also on point, from the dynamic friendships between the four main girls, to the father/son relationship that Hunter and James share. In her author's note, Parsons states that her main goal was to highlight strong female friendships, and I think she did a great job of highlighting the differences between these girls, and specifically how those differences made them stronger as a group. For example, Imani has book smarts, Siggy is insanely positive and full of determination, and June is a quick thinker and determined to motivate the group and keep them together. Even Blair, who only rejoins the group near the end, contributes to the group dynamic, while also showing the importance of forgiveness, growth, and the willingness to change. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Janet and June, as Janet proved to be a matronly older figure who encouraged June to keep trying and never doubt her abilities. While this book is primarily a comedy, there was a lot of good, healthy stuff to be found within this book.
One can't comment on this book without talking about the feminist slant, so I'll speak a bit on that subject next. While this book never tackles the idea of feminism in a profound or life-altering way, it does show very feminist elements through the lens of a fun horror movie. At the very beginning, June remarks on how she looks up to Janet for her willingness to push the boundaries of the horror genre in one of the first zombie films to feature a female lead. The book also spends a lot of time focusing on the friendships between the four girls, who build one another up and push each other to do better. Though none of the antagonistic side characters are particularly strong, there is a message to be found through Cuellar, the outspoken "tough guy" who has to learn the value of listening to his female cohorts instead of dismissing them. There is also a message to be found in Scott, the boy who drove a wedge between Blair and June in the first place. By the end of the novel, they realize that no boy is worth sacrificing their friendship over, especially not one as self-centered as Scott turns out to be. Nothing is ever explored in-depth, but there are definite notes of feminism sprinkled throughout, and I really appreciated the "girl power" message Parsons was going for.
Speaking of characters, there were a lot of them to be found in this book. While none of the side character deaths ever made me tear up or cry, I did appreciate (as I do with many books) the actual stakes in this book. Because it starts off as a light-hearted comedy, you don't really expect that named characters are actually going to die, but Parsons does not pull her punches here. Three or four of the characters introduced to the reader by name actually die in this book, and while it wasn't enough to elicit a strong emotional reaction from me, it made the story feel all the more suspenseful when I didn't know who was going to make it out and who wasn't. Many of the characters (Cuellar and Annie in particular) change as the book progresses, becoming less shallow or argumentative. As with the feminism, nothing is ever in-depth, but there are little moments here and there that let the reader know what the author's intentions are. As I read, I found myself really enjoying the actor characters, as well as the kickass camera woman and the agent. Even the random cosplay couple are a ton of fun, using their cosplay to blend in with the crowd of zombies to survive.
Lastly, I thought the romance between Hunter and June was really sweet and genuine, as they both turned out to be massive dorks with a ton of chemistry. Even though they don't meet up until over halfway through the book, I still felt like they had a strong connection, and loved their playful banter back and forth. Along with knowing how to accurately represent a convention, it seems that Parsons is also really good at giving her characters realistic chemistry, something I always appreciate in a fictional romance. The differences between Hunter and Scott are also highlighted really well, as Hunter is more caring towards others while Scott is very self-absorbed. In the end, meeting Hunter is what makes June realize that Scott wasn't worth all the fuss, and I loved that June was able to love herself a little more in the end.
Like I said before, this book is by no means high art. The writing is very conversational, making it feel more like a movie script or June's diary than a novel. Her inner thoughts are very muddled, and the writing really reflects that, but I honestly think it makes this book even more fun. Nobody goes into a horror comedy novel expecting high art, but they do expect to be entertained, and this novel did just that incredibly well. It felt a lot like Warm Bodies or Zombieland, a "zom rom com" that doesn't take itself too seriously. At the same time, it has a great deal of heart, and I found myself really caring about and rooting for these characters as the story progressed. It was easy to read, had a diverse cast, and was a heck of a lot of fun from beginning to end. I could see any fan of horror, romance, or comedy really enjoying this book, and would gladly recommend it to any high schooler with an interest in zombies or conventions. It was a blast from beginning to end, and I'm really glad it ended up in my review pile. show less
A deliciously clever romp through Instagram influencer culture.
When Plum intercepts an invitation to the exclusive Pyre Festival, intended for her half-sister, Instagram influencer Peach, she thinks its her chance to have a spring break to remember. She convinces her two best friends to tell their parents they're headed to a beach in Florida, leaving out the private island in the Caribbean part. But when they arrive, there's only a few other Instagram influencers there. It soon becomes show more apparent that someone wants them all dead, and they just might be trapped with a serial killer.
This book is wickedly amusing, mocking the influencers and their "thing" that made each of them go viral. But it also takes a more serious dive into influencer culture, including how people exploit others for likes and how some of them can make into a very successful, lucrative job.
Plum, Marlowe and Sofia are lovable as three fashion-forward teens who aren't supposed to be there. But as the body count stacks up on the private island, it brings their own secrets to light, including feelings that some of them have for each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. show less
When Plum intercepts an invitation to the exclusive Pyre Festival, intended for her half-sister, Instagram influencer Peach, she thinks its her chance to have a spring break to remember. She convinces her two best friends to tell their parents they're headed to a beach in Florida, leaving out the private island in the Caribbean part. But when they arrive, there's only a few other Instagram influencers there. It soon becomes show more apparent that someone wants them all dead, and they just might be trapped with a serial killer.
This book is wickedly amusing, mocking the influencers and their "thing" that made each of them go viral. But it also takes a more serious dive into influencer culture, including how people exploit others for likes and how some of them can make into a very successful, lucrative job.
Plum, Marlowe and Sofia are lovable as three fashion-forward teens who aren't supposed to be there. But as the body count stacks up on the private island, it brings their own secrets to light, including feelings that some of them have for each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. show less
4.5 stars.
An absolutely haunting tale of abuse and manipulation, Still Waters is a stunning debut novel by Ash Parsons. Dark and violent, this young adult story is a mesmerizing psychological thriller with a compelling storyline and an unlikely hero.
Jason Roberts is no stranger to violence and he is fiercely protective of his younger sister, Janie. He meticulously plans every minute of his day with one goal in mind: stay out of the reach of his violent, ex-con and petty criminal father. show more Jason and Janie have devised a plan to escape their abusive father so when Michael Springfield, a popular student from a wealthy family, approaches him with a rather vague description of a well-paying job, Jason pushes aside his doubts and accepts his offer. What begins as a simple plan with Jason hanging out with Michael and his circle of friends soon spirals into one dangerous situation after another. Certain he has everything under control, Jason cannot resist the increasingly higher payoffs for each "job" but as he soon discovers, nothing is as simple as it appears and he is completely blindsided when he realizes the truth.
Jason is street smart and wise beyond his years due to his abusive home life. He has a well-earned tough guy reputation and no one messes with him, his sister or his best friend, Clay. He is a smart, loyal champion of the underdog and while he is extremely good at reading people, he seriously underestimates what he is getting into with Michael.
Michael is a well liked jock from an affluent, well respected family. With very little parental supervision, he is free to do just about whatever he wants and this has led him right into a problem with the wrong people. He concocts a rather brilliant scheme to reel Jason into his world and Michael then easily maneuvers the rest of his friends into carrying out his seemingly innocuous plans.
Jason glimpses the sometimes cruel streak Michael hides behind his mostly cheerful facade and he remains distrustful of Michael's motive for hiring him. In order to dispel Jason's suspicions, Michael tells a fairly believable story, but Jason is still pretty wary. Michael exploits Jason's vulnerabilities and Jason unknowingly does exactly what Michael wants. By the time Jason realizes that he is in way over his head, will it be too late for him to escape the diabolical scheme that is waiting for him?
Still Waters is truly remarkable young adult story that offers a heartbreaking and realistic portrayal of a desperate attempt to escape a violent childhood. Jason and Janie are finely crafted, multi-dimensional and devastatingly sympathetic characters. The plot is well-developed and engaging with plenty of action to keep the pages turning at a blistering pace. The story is full of unexpected plot twists and Ash Parsons brings this phenomenal novel to an absolutely spectacular, action filled conclusion.
An utterly outstanding psychological thriller I highly recommend to readers of all ages. show less
An absolutely haunting tale of abuse and manipulation, Still Waters is a stunning debut novel by Ash Parsons. Dark and violent, this young adult story is a mesmerizing psychological thriller with a compelling storyline and an unlikely hero.
Jason Roberts is no stranger to violence and he is fiercely protective of his younger sister, Janie. He meticulously plans every minute of his day with one goal in mind: stay out of the reach of his violent, ex-con and petty criminal father. show more Jason and Janie have devised a plan to escape their abusive father so when Michael Springfield, a popular student from a wealthy family, approaches him with a rather vague description of a well-paying job, Jason pushes aside his doubts and accepts his offer. What begins as a simple plan with Jason hanging out with Michael and his circle of friends soon spirals into one dangerous situation after another. Certain he has everything under control, Jason cannot resist the increasingly higher payoffs for each "job" but as he soon discovers, nothing is as simple as it appears and he is completely blindsided when he realizes the truth.
Jason is street smart and wise beyond his years due to his abusive home life. He has a well-earned tough guy reputation and no one messes with him, his sister or his best friend, Clay. He is a smart, loyal champion of the underdog and while he is extremely good at reading people, he seriously underestimates what he is getting into with Michael.
Michael is a well liked jock from an affluent, well respected family. With very little parental supervision, he is free to do just about whatever he wants and this has led him right into a problem with the wrong people. He concocts a rather brilliant scheme to reel Jason into his world and Michael then easily maneuvers the rest of his friends into carrying out his seemingly innocuous plans.
Jason glimpses the sometimes cruel streak Michael hides behind his mostly cheerful facade and he remains distrustful of Michael's motive for hiring him. In order to dispel Jason's suspicions, Michael tells a fairly believable story, but Jason is still pretty wary. Michael exploits Jason's vulnerabilities and Jason unknowingly does exactly what Michael wants. By the time Jason realizes that he is in way over his head, will it be too late for him to escape the diabolical scheme that is waiting for him?
Still Waters is truly remarkable young adult story that offers a heartbreaking and realistic portrayal of a desperate attempt to escape a violent childhood. Jason and Janie are finely crafted, multi-dimensional and devastatingly sympathetic characters. The plot is well-developed and engaging with plenty of action to keep the pages turning at a blistering pace. The story is full of unexpected plot twists and Ash Parsons brings this phenomenal novel to an absolutely spectacular, action filled conclusion.
An utterly outstanding psychological thriller I highly recommend to readers of all ages. show less
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