4 stars
An entertaining 80s/90s throwback with a fun Goosebumps-vibe for a YA audience.
In 1987, Cori, Maz, and Sam are the best of friends. But after Sam goes missing, nothing is the same. Flash forward five years and Maz and Cori no longer see each other. That is until Sam comes back. Now they’ll have to band together to figure out what really happened when they were 12-years-old, where Sam has been this whole time, and why he has suddenly returned.
Nicely written. Entertaining with a nice balance of humor and horror.
Along with its fun, light horror plot, the book also works in family issues, questioning sexuality, substance abuse, and the facade we wear to hide our true selves. While it covers some heavy topics, it manages to keep a light tone, emphasizing supportive friendships, having tough conversations, and being your authentic self.
A fun, low-stakes horror read that perfectly answers the question of what would happen if a pinball machine has nefarious motives.