Review by smandy -- Seven at Two Past Five by Tara Basi

[MandyGardner]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Seven at Two Past Five" by Tara Basi.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Tara Basi’s absurd tale of a geriatric woman on an unexpected journey to clear her name of a mistaken case of wrongdoing is just the very best kind of preposterousness. Seven at Two Past Five takes the reader on an adventure that is wholly immersive right from the first page. From the moment we enter Abi’s tiny bunk-bed-coffin, this story is a genuine page-turner. I absolutely loved it.

I love really digging into a new book that delivers something unique and compelling from the start, and though it’s only January I dare say this stands to be the best read of 2019. I adored that first image of the bunk-bed-coffin and really appreciated how much Abi loved her meagre possessions and living space. The minimalism was so realistic despite its warped, futuristic premise, and so comfortable, that it was totally understandable how the main character clung to what she knew, versus the big, scary world outside her little home and workplace. I appreciated how the author didn’t waste time trying to explain every little thing, whether it was the physical structure of Abi’s world or the economical aspect. Those things were for me as a reader to wonder about, not for Basi to waste page space detailing.

I can’t say enough good things about Tara Basi’s work on this book. As a lifelong lover of fantastical adventure stories like Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland, I felt this was the ideal choice for others looking for an adult version of something like The Wizard of Oz. Like those classic children’s stories, Seven at Two Past Five drops us right into a world that looks familiar but doesn’t quite make sense, then drags protagonist Abi to a series of odder and odder locations to help her prove her innocence and go back to her old life making buttons – or perhaps rediscover her forgotten identity and move forward.

It’s clear this novel has been edited and proofread vigorously, as there are no mistakes of which to speak. I have no typos or grammatical errors to report, which only made for a more enjoyable experience while reading. I couldn’t – and didn’t – put it down until the very last sentence.

4 out of 4 stars!

My rating is quite simple: The book was flawless, intriguing, thought-provoking, and most importantly, extremely entertaining, therefore fully deserving of a perfect score. I’m looking forward to more by this author.

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Seven at Two Past Five
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Like smandy's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Swat3737]

I can’t wait to read this book! Your review is great, shows how unique the book is. I’m so glad it was book of the day otherwise I never would’ve noticed it.

[MandyGardner]

Awesome, Swat3737! I hope you loved it too!