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aimlessaugust's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cheyrohm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Hey hey first read of the year!
I loved "Penpal" so was very excited to pick up this second book by Dathan Auerbach.
The good:
- some genuinely creepy parts!
- the setting/atmosphere is very well done
The in-between:
- it's sloooow paced, on the verge of being too slow. it unfolds more like a mystery than a scary book. this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes I did find myself wishing it would pick up.
The bad:
- despite the pace and length, the ending feels very rushed and, unfortunately, this is where it loses major points for me. It didn't feel satisfactory after all the time spent together with these characters and this plot.
I loved "Penpal" so was very excited to pick up this second book by Dathan Auerbach.
The good:
- some genuinely creepy parts!
- the setting/atmosphere is very well done
The in-between:
- it's sloooow paced, on the verge of being too slow. it unfolds more like a mystery than a scary book. this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes I did find myself wishing it would pick up.
The bad:
- despite the pace and length, the ending feels very rushed and, unfortunately, this is where it loses major points for me. It didn't feel satisfactory after all the time spent together with these characters and this plot.
wellroundedreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Holy god, Dathan Auerbach is good at writing endings that punch you in the stomach, kick you in the chest, and then steal your lunch money. Bad Man was a slower read than Pen Pal but it was another ending I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
nataliac14's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
walzkiddo's review
5.0
This book is unreservedly frightening in a way that is hopeless and hopeful in the same stroke. Its horror is human and desperate in a way that King or Simmons or Barker have not to my knowledge ever reached. Auerbach is a true master of his craft and deserves to be recognized as such.
mcourtright4's review
3.0
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good. I honestly am still not 100% sure what actually happened lol
burning_boats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
essipneztak's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dathan Auerbach’s Bad Man is absolutely fantastic.
The story centers around Ben, who lost his 3-year old brother in a supermarket when he was a teenager. 5 years later, through a whole set of effects, he finds himself working in the same supermarket as a young adult, becoming more determined than ever to find his brother.
The book explores family dynamics, friendships, trust, mental health, life in a small town that grew too quickly, a complex father-son relationship and more.
Ben’s feelings of guilt, of being the kid left behind, of chronic pain due to an accident when he was younger, of having to prove himself constantly - and probably mostly to himself, are so strong in Auerbach’s writing.
The biggest impact for me were the moments in which Ben is forced to question reality. This didn’t really happen. Did it? Am I not the person I thought I was? Is what I am seeing real? Am I remembering right? Why is nobody helping? and probably the most pervasive one, when Ben finally has a friend: why would anyone care?
The ending is just absolutely heart-breaking, and I would be curious to learn more about the golden-haired boy, Beverly, Reggie and Blackwater - but maybe it’s a good parable for not always getting to know everything.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
More by Auerbach is going on my TBR.
The story centers around Ben, who lost his 3-year old brother in a supermarket when he was a teenager. 5 years later, through a whole set of effects, he finds himself working in the same supermarket as a young adult, becoming more determined than ever to find his brother.
The book explores family dynamics, friendships, trust, mental health, life in a small town that grew too quickly, a complex father-son relationship and more.
Ben’s feelings of guilt, of being the kid left behind, of chronic pain due to an accident when he was younger, of having to prove himself constantly - and probably mostly to himself, are so strong in Auerbach’s writing.
The biggest impact for me were the moments in which Ben is forced to question reality. This didn’t really happen. Did it? Am I not the person I thought I was? Is what I am seeing real? Am I remembering right? Why is nobody helping? and probably the most pervasive one, when Ben finally has a friend: why would anyone care?
The ending is just absolutely heart-breaking, and I would be curious to learn more about the golden-haired boy, Beverly, Reggie and Blackwater - but maybe it’s a good parable for not always getting to know everything.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
More by Auerbach is going on my TBR.
whtlander's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0