Penpal by Dathan Auerbach is about a young man who is trying to gather what happened to him when he was younger, and who learns that life was not as it seemed.

During a class project in Kindergarten, the narrator learns that their penpal experiment is more than it seems. The entire class sends a balloon with a letter attached off to the ether, hoping that someone will write them back with a picture of where they live. After a long while the narrator receives a letter, and a picture, but the picture doesn't make any sense. This continues and the narrators mother becomes frightened. The reader learns throughout the story that his neighbor might have been murdered, and several other horrifying things that probably happened throughout the years as he grew up. Finally, his mother tells him the whole truth, ending with the disappearance of his best friend.

There are quite a few people who don't like this book due to the writing style or the storytelling, but I enjoyed this novel. Well, enjoyed may be a strong word for it as I did become annoyed at times, but the length the story went through to keep things from me was fantastic. It had a creepy factor that I haven't really received from many books in the past few years. Most novels didn't have me checking the locks on my doors, or making sure all of my windows were shut properly. Most novels don't have me looking around at my surroundings as I wonder who might be watching me.

There was something about this novel that made me want to keep reading to learn what really happened, who was the bad guy, how was it all going to end? There were times that I felt the story was too much, and the main character was too annoying - both in negative ways. I wanted more from the book, I wanted more details. It was a fast read, but the ending didn't satisfy me as much as I would have liked.

I wanted to know the who and the why, but maybe there wasn't an answer to that because maybe there aren't always answers. Either way, it was a good book, and I do recommend it. You might not want to read it at night, alone in your house, with most of the lights off.

I wanted to apologize to anyone who reads this blog. I have not been posting, and honestly I haven't missed a month since I started this blog. I have a million excuses - I work two full time jobs, I am tired all of the time, one job has been unbearable, the other is fine, I ma making life choices, and I have to plan a book release so I am ready for Phoenix Fan Fusion in May. I don't have time to write, relax, or even think.

I promise to get back to my normal posts, but not until next month. I am tired, but I think a lot of us are.

I know I am tired because of this pandemic. I am vaccinated, and wear my masks constantly, but I am exhausted. I am emotionally exhausted. I am physically exhausted. I am in the same place as so many of you out there in internet land.

So, I am going to get back to it next month. After the holidays I hope to be better.

Life choices are being made. Life choices.