Review of Unsound

[Maggie Johnson 2]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Unsound" by Ash Finley.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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After Holly is arrested, she finds herself shipped off to a boarding school for troubled teenagers in a remote part of Washington State. Rainier High School not only aims to provide students with an education but also to help them overcome their pasts and build a better future. At first, Holly is reluctant to give the school and the students in her group a chance. It might be better than staying on the streets, but Holly isn’t convinced that a program like this can really make a difference in her life after all she has been through. But the more time Holly spends at Rainier, the more the place and the people begin to rub off on her.

Unsound by Ash Finley follows Holly and her fellow Mountain Climbers as they attempt to let go of their pasts and reclaim their futures.

I enjoyed the characters in this book. There were eight characters in the Mountain Climbers group, and each of them had a unique personality and backstory. The book focused primarily on Holly and Jon, but a few of the other characters had sections that were told from their perspectives. Every character was well developed. Even the characters that the reader didn’t have direct insight into through first-person narration still felt real. I enjoyed following the different characters and watching them grow as they struggled to overcome their obstacles and demons.

Another aspect of the book that I liked was the tone. All of the characters had a dark past. They dealt with issues such as addiction, abuse, and self-harm. Even when a character’s issues were not front and center, it was clear that their past still haunted them. Yet, despite the heavy topics covered in this book, it was not a depressing read. I thought the author did an excellent job balancing emotional moments with more lighthearted ones.

There were, however, a few things about this book that I didn’t particularly enjoy. First of all, a few of the characters were all but forgotten later in the book. These characters had a fairly significant role in the beginning but were barely even mentioned later in the story, even though they were still physically present. Another part of the story I didn’t care for was Jon’s infatuation with Holly when told from Jon’s perspective. The author would go into great detail about the effect Holly had on Jon every time he saw her. After a while, it became repetitive, and I began to dread Jon’s sections of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The characters were excellent, and I enjoyed the author’s writing style. However, I wish the author had spent a little less time describing how just a glimpse of Holly made Jon feel and a little more time on some of the other characters later in the story. Also, while I thought the book was well written, it was not professionally edited. For these reasons, I would give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars.

I would recommend this book to mature readers who enjoy character-focused stories. This book is classified as a romance. However, while there is quite a bit of romance throughout the story, it is not the sole focus of the book. Even though the characters in this book are teenagers, I think this book can be enjoyed by both older teens and adults.

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Unsound
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[Waliyat_24]

I wish a place like this exists in real life, where people with troubled past go for help. Thanks for an honest review!

[EVERLASTING 22]

I'd like to follow all of the characters in the novel, particularly Holly. Oh, and her name is adorable. I'm inclined to give this book a shot.

[Maliha Naveed]

Though it sounds like a very common story having cliched characters, the way you have reviewed it is very interesting. Keep it up!

[Wildflowertheorist]

Patience is key. Any kind of change requires it. Well, Holly may have found her smile. Lovely review!

[Stephanie Cameron]

Is there anything special about this place? Or is it just a standard story of a getaway camp for troubled teens? I would be interested if there was some secret plot about the boarding school that the teens uncover. It mentions the mountains climbers group so it makes me think of it more like a camp scene than a school. It was a nicely written review.

[Maggie Johnson 2]

Is there anything special about this place? Or is it just a standard story of a getaway camp for troubled teens? I would be interested if there was some secret plot about the boarding school that the teens uncover. It mentions the mountains climbers group so it makes me think of it more like a camp scene than a school. It was a nicely written review.

Thanks! The school is kind of a cross between school, camp, and rehab. There isn't any sort of secret plot going on. The story is focused on the characters and their personal journeys, as well as their relationships with each other.