YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Tess Matheson only wants three things: time to practice her cello, for her sister to be happy, and for everyone else to leave her alone.

Instead, Tess finds herself working all summer at her boarding school library, shelving books and dealing with the intolerable patrons. The worst of them is Eliot Birch: snide, privileged, and constantly requesting forbidden grimoires. After a bargain with Eliot leads to the discovery of an ancient book in the library's grimoire collection, the pair accidentally unleash a book-bound demon.

The demon will stop at nothing to stay free, manipulating ink to threaten those Tess loves and dismantling Eliot’s strange magic. Tess is plagued by terrible dreams of the devil and haunting memories of a boy who wears Eliot's face. All she knows is to stay free, the demon needs her... and he'll have her, dead or alive.

Im going to try to join this one...

Ch 1-6 (view spoiler)[ I feel bad for Tess, she had to give up her dream of music school to go to this other school that she hates.
The sticky notes were pretty funny though (hide spoiler)]

Ch 7-12 (view spoiler)[ The fire thing was crazy! Already this book is giving me creepy, don't open ever vibes. (hide spoiler)]

Yay Cinthia! I'm reading 6 chapters a day

I gotta get to my phone and get some updates done on this book. I enjoyed reading it.

Aly wrote: "Ch 1-6 I feel bad for Tess, she had to give up her dream of music school to go to this other school that she hates.
The sticky notes were pretty funny though "

Yea that kinda sucked (view spoiler)[ the things people do for family. I hope her sister appreciates it. I didn't like how her aunt manipulated her to attend this school or else her sister can't get in. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 7-12 [spoilers removed]

Yay Cinthia! I'm reading 6 chapters a day"

Grimoires should never be opened.... (view spoiler)[ but do we listen? That was crazy... She is just imagining all those things, Thank Goodness Elliot was fine. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 13-24 (view spoiler)[ I wonder if Tess's aunt knows more about the spooky grimoire? I feel like she may have some hidden knowledge. If she does, she better tell Tess instead of letting her go through this on her own.

Elliot is socially awkward and it's kind of endearing, but I get Tess turning him down for a date. It was an odd time to ask. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 25-36 (view spoiler)[ I like getting Truth's point of view, it's creepy and interesting. I don't think he likes Tess, he just wants her body because she's the perfect vessel or whatever.

These dreams about death are scary and Truth making her cut her wrist was horrible. This is getting really dangerous. (hide spoiler)]

26.0% "End of ch 11: (view spoiler)[ well then, this sure feels a little scary!! I like Tess even grumpy as she is. I also like Elliot. I can never resist a British entitled handsome accented guy! I enjoyed the part with the FU notes, that was funny. I didn't like the whole set on fire part umm that book sounds super dangerous! Put it back!!! I like Ana the roommate, but not the aunt so much or Dr. Birch we will see. (hide spoiler)]

46.0% "End of ch 25: (view spoiler)[ aww poor Elliot is heart broken, he is trying not to be a dick for tess turning him down but he just comes off that way. I like the aunt now! She paid for Nats tuition. I am not liking Tess's dreams or should I say nightmares about the devil and why does he have to wear Elliot face? Creepy. I like Lucille, she is trying with Elliot. Tess needs to tell Elliot about the nightmares! (hide spoiler)]

67.0% "End of ch 41: (view spoiler)[ What the heck? What happened to Regina? That devil killed her and possesed her! Agh that dinner with Elliots dad sure did not help Elliot with his request. Poor Lucille caught in the middle. Ellis dad should let him go to England and be with his mom, she is dying. I like the magic but not the devils. How powerful is Tess that he wants her? (hide spoiler)]

88.0% "End of ch 57: (view spoiler)[ Don't do it Tess!!! Read the book! Kill the devil! Save Elliot! Where is he anyways?? He can't be dead! (hide spoiler)]"

Finished... "Wait what??? What that last line meant for me?? Creepy. I loved that Elliot had to put his own books back lol." I like that Elliot saved Nat, I also felt bad because the whole time the research he was doing was to save his mom but in the end he understood that he couldn't save her.

Aly wrote: "Ch 7-12 [spoilers removed]

Yay Cinthia! I'm reading 6 chapters a day"

But if it was us would we still open it?? probably lol. I know I would.

Aly wrote: "Ch 13-24 I wonder if Tess's aunt knows more about the spooky grimoire? I feel like she may have some hidden knowledge. If she does, she better tell Tess instead of letting her go through this on h..."

I felt so bad for him, but she has so much on her plate. (view spoiler)[ they would make a cute couple though. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 25-36 I like getting Truth's point of view, it's creepy and interesting. I don't think he likes Tess, he just wants her body because she's the perfect vessel or whatever.

These dreams about d..."

Stil... I am not liking him. (view spoiler)[ Why does he want her so bad? what kind of magic does she posses? (hide spoiler)]

Finally started this…..
33% (view spoiler)[sucks that she was the one so against going down there and now she’s the one the demon/is attached to. I knew as soon as she started reading…. Don’t these people ever learn, you never read aloud from ‘The Book’ lol (hide spoiler)]

@crystal. right! it's not fair.

65% (view spoiler)[Wow, OK so his dads a d*** 🤐 I completely get why Elliot can’t can’t accept Lucille, regardless what a good person she is, she’s still the other woman. The other woman with a man whose wife is dying of a brain tumor 😐 So yeah as far as I’m concerned, dads gotta go lol (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 13-24 I wonder if Tess's aunt knows more about the spooky grimoire? I feel like she may have some hidden knowledge. If she does, she better tell Tess instead of letting her go through this on h..."

I have a feeling (view spoiler)[her aunt knows a lot more than she’s letting on. It was especially odd how she always turns up when they go into the hidden part of the library. Like she’s the guardian of the evil books or something lol (hide spoiler)]

Cinthia wrote: "26.0% "End of ch 11: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[The fire part really was scary. Though it’s almost worse how they keep seeing things that aren’t there but also feel it as if they’re actually burning. (hide spoiler)]

Cinthia wrote: "46.0% "End of ch 25: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah (view spoiler)[She needs to come completely clean with him. Maybe you know, let him know the demon is wearing Elliott’s face lol. It’d also maybe help his fractured heart, and serve as a more reasonable excuse why she turned him down 🤷🏼‍♀️ (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[It’s only decapitation, sure, no big deal lol (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[I almost had a heart attack when her sister was dead. I’m glad Elliot was able to help. Still feel bad about her aunt though and not only because she was helping the two girls. Wish Elliot's dad had an accident or something and I’m not even sorry lol. Good book, liked the creepy vibes and the audiobook was pretty great. (hide spoiler)]

oooh. a little dark crystal. but yeah I feel you. thank goodness Elliot was there to draw the ink out of nat!

Cinthia wrote: "oooh. a little dark crystal. but yeah I feel you. thank goodness Elliot was there to draw the ink out of nat!"

I’m still cringing (view spoiler)[Over her having to cut off his tattoo 🤭😵😵 (hide spoiler)]

Ch 37-48 (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure if only Tess and Elliot can see Truth and the dead girl or not. Are these things actually happening?

Poor little Elliot with a piece of shit father. I'm glad he didn't keep his dad's secret (hide spoiler)]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Aly wrote: "Ch 13-24 I wonder if Tess's aunt knows more about the spooky grimoire? I feel like she may have some hidden knowledge. If she does, she better tell Tess instead of letting her go throug..."

Yes exactly!

Ch 49-54 (view spoiler)[ Now her aunt is dead?! I hope they can figure out a way to stop Truth soon before Anna or Nat or anyone else dies. (hide spoiler)]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "75% [spoilers removed]"

Haha right?

Cinthia wrote: "67.0% "End of ch 41: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, Elliot's dad is the worst

Ch 55-end (view spoiler)[ I really thought Elliot wasn't going to make it and I'm so happy he did. I like the ending that leaves some speculation and possibly room for a follow up (hide spoiler)]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I was super worried too! (view spoiler)[ then I thought Elliot would die saving Nat ah! I also wish his dad had gotten hurt or something (hide spoiler)]