The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight

Warning this book contains disturbing images as well as alcohol, drug use, sex references, and bad language.

 

 The Outliers: Released 3 May 2016

* I  received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review. #indigoemployee *

 

Wylie's life is spiralling out of control. Being left desperately broken after the death of her mother, it doesn't help that she's also fighting with her off and on best friend, Cassie. Just when Wylie thinks her relationship with Cassie is over for good, she gets an alarming text: Please Wylie, I need your help. Upon Cassie's request, Wylie must put her trust in Jasper, the guy who just might have gotten Cassie involved in whatever trouble she's in. As Cassie sends them bits and pieces of information, clues via text, Wylie and Jasper begin to question how deep into this mess they can get before they become targets. "Don't call my mom or the police. These people will kill me if you do."

Once I started The Outliers, I couldn't put it down. I love reading triller mysteries and this book was exactly what I love to read. My heart was racing, I was so nervous for the characters lives and my mind was spinning trying to figure out what was going on. I was on the right track to discovering what happened to Cassie, but at the same time was so totally wrong. This book was a roller coaster right up until the exciting ending.

 

 

Wylie is such a complicated character. Her anxiety seems to be extremely out of control and in charge of her life. She is also so incredibly brave when she needs to be. We meet Wylie at such an emotionally devastating time in her life after the death of her mother, Hope. Afterwards she feels so disconnected from her family and has had a falling out with her best friend Cassie. But when Cassie texts Wylie that she needs her help, Wylie jumps at the chance to save her. I felt a strong connection with Wylie because I can understand the anxiety that clouds her life. Constantly throughout the novel I really wish I could have hugged her.

 

Cassie was a wild card that I didn't care for much. Her insecurities often caused her to fall short of being a best friend to Wylie. I felt myself being upset with her a lot of the time for whatever she did to land herself in this situation and getting Wylie involved in her danger.

 

Jasper was such a positive and refreshing character. I love how desperate he was to save Cassie and the bickering relationship he has with Wylie. Jasper developed into a character I did not expect to love and I hope to see his relationship with Wylie develop more in the books to follow. I know he is Cassie's boyfriend, but I would love to see him end up with Wylie. They seem to need each other and bring out the strength in each other. They don't always get along but their loyalty to each other is the only thing I could trust in this book.

 

The setting for the book was in unfamiliar territory for the characters. Leaving Boston to track Cassie in the woods in Maine. The unfamiliarity of the setting made the book seem more creepy. There was no where that was safe for them, in the dark, thick, woods.

 

As Jasper and Wylie team up to find Cassie, they get deeper and deeper into her mess. As the situation gets more dangerous, they realize there is no one they can trust.

 

The Outliers Series
Book 2: The Scattering
Book 3: The Collide 

 

My Rating: 4.5 /5 Stars