[Review] Monday's Not Coming - Tiffany D. Jackson

Summary: Everyone in Tenney’s Harbor, Maine, knows about the Garrison tragedy. How an unexplained fire ravaged their house, killing four of the five family members. But what people don’t know is who did it. All fingers point at Pearl Haskins’s father, the town drunk, who was the caretaker of the property, but she just can’t believe it. Leave it to a town of rich people to blame “the help.”

With her disgraced father now trying to find work in between booze benders, Pearl’s future doesn’t hold much more than waiting tables at the local country club, where the wealthy come to flaunt their money and spread their gossip. This year, Tristan, the last surviving Garrison, and his group of affluent and arrogant friends have made a point of sitting in Pearl’s section. Though she’s repulsed by most of them, Tristan’s quiet sadness and somber demeanor have her rethinking her judgments. Befriending the boys could mean getting closer to the truth, clearing her father’s name, and giving Tristan the closure he seems to be searching for. But it could also trap Pearl in a sinister web of secrets, lies, and betrayals that, once untangled, will leave no life unchanged . . . if it doesn’t take hers first. (Pub Date: May 1st, 2018)

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

This book has so many great aspects! The theme, the voice, the narration, the characters! But I'm hurting too much to decide on my favorite.

4.5.

Claudia is looking for her friend Monday. They haven't spoken since Claudia had to spend the summer with her grandmother and now she's back Monday is nowhere to be found. And while some people just gave up without even a try, others even seem glad she's gone. But Monday was her best friend, her entire world, and Claudia won't stop searching for her.

The timeline here is a little confusing as the chapters intercalate scenes from when Monday was still around with when Claudia goes after her. I guess I'll have to read this book again sometime to fully understand what's happened but not even a million reads will have me prepared, I can assure you.

As I read, I'd feel frustrated with how little effort people put in finding Monday, at other times, I'd wonder if she was really missing and would ally with the others against Claudia. This was the book's trump, I think. In the beginning, Claudia warns us of how people didn't care about the disappearance and I went, "How can that be possible?", but the author proves the point and it stang.

I also mentioned the voice. I'm no expertise in literature but I have read so many YA's and yet not many with a voice so well constructed. I don't remember whether they ever tell you Claudia is black—it's not even a point of the plot—, but you simply know it. I love how prejudice is a theme, but it's hidden somewhere among the many layers.

Oh, why is it not a five-star? As I said before, the timeline was confusing and also this book didn't need to be so long. Even though I still read it unbelievably fast, something shorter would have been the ideal. 

But I don't want to discuss further. I think you should just go and read this. This book is just so beautiful, I'd love it if I could present it to everyone I know. Claudia's search had me glued to it, and Monday's story dried me of all my tears. I can't say hard enough how much I recommend it.

Rating: 4 out of 5.