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The Winter People
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
The New York Times bestselling author of Promise Not to Tell returns with a simmering literary thriller about ghostly secrets, dark choices, and the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters . . . sometimes too unbreakable. West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister, Fawn. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that suddenly proves perilous when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished without a trace. Searching for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked deeper into the mystery of Sara's fate, she discovers that she's not the only person who's desperately looking for someone that they've lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.
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Gissy
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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#BookScavengerHunt prompt -cold 15 pts
#BookRecommendation 30 pts

#HauntingShelf #FreightClub team @Jadams89

980 pts (previous) + 45 pts (current) = 1,025 pts

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AshRob22
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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After the LONGEST. WORK. DAY, I came home and RIPPED into my #HauntedHollowSwap! OMG. @BookishMadHatter I‘m obsessed with the books. The Winter People, already has me shaking in my boots💀. The stickers, the treats, the tote and the sweetest little trinkets, THANK YOU, I feel so so soo grateful. Also, stoked to have more of your socks 🎃🎃. HAPPY HALLOWEEN @wanderinglynn as always, you‘re the best, thank you for letting me be a part of this 👻

ShelleyBooksie Awesome package!! I've heard a lot about The Haunted Road Atlas and look forward to your review 2mo
wanderinglynn Fantastic! 🧡🎃🖤👻 2mo
BookishMadHatter So happy you like it. Hope you have a fantastic Halloween 🎃 2mo
19 likes1 stack add3 comments
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wanderinglynn
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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#firstlinefridays

“My beloved aunt, Sara Harrison Shea, was brutally murdered in the winter of 1908.”

This is my first #trappedinaspookyhouse read for the month. I started reading it last night & the creepy vibes definitely sunk into my dreams as I had to wake myself up to escape. 😳

ShyBookOwl Yikes! 3mo
janeycanuck I‘m living vicariously through you on this one! It sounded interesting but I just can‘t handle anything remotely horror-y! Hope it‘s good!! 3mo
wanderinglynn @janeycanuck it‘s not so horror as just creepy. But I‘m definitely not going to read it before bedtime again. 😆 3mo
janeycanuck @wanderinglynn Good plan. Creepy before bed never results in a good sleep! 3mo
PageShifter Sounds like an awesome creepy read 😄 2mo
46 likes5 comments
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Breanne1
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this creepy book about “sleepers”. It really underscores the lengths people would go in their grief. Excited to talk about this one at book club. I realized I started this awhile back and never finished it but book club helped me dive back in and I am so glad I did.
Book 22 of 2024

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intothehallofbooks
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

I blew thru this one today. Really enjoyed it. It was creepy and wintry and I felt a lot of dread, particularly as the end neared. There are three POV‘s in a past time and in present time, and once they finally started to come together, the story was quite propulsive. The ending is sort of open. I know some people don‘t love open ended stories-I prefer more resolution but 🤷🏻‍♀️. This was my first McMahon book and I can‘t wait to read more.

36 likes1 stack add
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intothehallofbooks
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Saturday morning #currentlyreading ☕️ My first by Jennifer McMahon

32 likes1 stack add
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Robotswithpersonality
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

Quality chills, excellent pacing, alternation of POV, the rare instance where separating the narrative into two timelines was engrossing rather than frustrating. Did not see the twist coming. Pet Sematary vibes: both trying to bring loved ones back from the dead and questionable indigenous rep elements 🫤. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? There are a couple character decisions that really don't seem very reasonable unless you take into consideration it's necessary for the plot but I'm kind of used to the easy road showing up occasionally in the kind of horror I prefer. I like that the original reason why the Devil's Hand land is cursed, why it is a portal for raising sleepers isn't really explained, some mystery is left. 11mo
Robotswithpersonality 3/? I rarely achieve synchronicity in matching calendar timing with book themes but reading this in January added a little something to the experience.
Between this and what I remember of The Invited, seems clear McMahon strongly identifies with mother/daughter, mother/child relationships, loss/grief and unique/powerful/magical women as social outcast/outsiders often defined by the mores of a bygone era, as themes.
11mo
Robotswithpersonality 4/4 This also helps solidify a thought on my reading taste: I'm a lot more into historical fiction when it's a genre mashup, historical horror, historical mystery, etc.
I'd warm off those with claustrophobia from reading this.
⚠️Child death, suicide, animal death, period typical attitudes/treatment of possible mental health concerns
11mo
3 likes3 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Happy Winter Solstice! ❄️

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TheSpineView
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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38 likes1 stack add
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mcctrish
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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#naturalitsy #midwintersolace this is the first book I thought of with this prompt. I can‘t find my copy anywhere, I‘m not usually a fan of scary books but I love Jennifer McMahon and Simone St James

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Emilymdxn
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

This was a good book that I definitely enjoyed reading- maybe the reviews sold me a more surreal story than we ended up getting, but I can‘t really say I‘m disappointed. It was very atmospheric and the ending was a great pay off which is rare in horror novels.

#wintergames #snowangels

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Gabbymags123
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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First time reading this author and enjoying it very much

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Areader2
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Mehso-so

Set in Vermont this is a creepy story with dual time lines from early 1900 to current time, a mystery that unravels a story about a woman and a diary that alters lives in the past and present. It was just ok for me

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Yuki_Onna
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Eggs Sounds thrilling 😱 2y
19 likes1 comment
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Djspens
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I enjoyed this creepy read!

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Blueberry
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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BiblioLitten In the summer I was planning to read this the next winter. I should get to it but then I think oh winter‘s going to be here till May. 😅🇨🇦 2y
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Gissy
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

From @Sharread pick books list
This is an interesting book because it is a slow pace, more character driven I would say, mild creepy, mild gory. People that come from the dead from a forbidden wood, but why, since when. You need to read it. This is the first book I read by this author and I think I want to read more. I already own like 3 of her books. 3.8⭐️

Gissy January 2023 #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaAofBooks
#Sharreadathon In memory of @Sharead (3 books read during this Readathon)
GR #ATY2023 promot #42
#OwlCrateReadingChallenge
#20in4 Readathon book one @Andrew65
2y
TheBookHippie ♥️ 2y
wanderinglynn This is my February #roll100. 2y
Gissy @wanderinglynn I hope you like it. Sad in some parts. It was in my tbr for a long time. 2y
Andrew65 That‘s great, well done 👏👏👏 2y
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Coleen
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

I have quite a few of McMahon‘s books on my TBR pile, but this is only the 2nd one I‘ve read. After feeling lukewarm about a previous one of hers, I loved this one! Sort of thriller/mystery/horror with some supernatural thrown in, but also not really truly fitting in to any of those categories accurately. Regardless, this one really pulled me in.

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TheSpineView
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🥶 📚 ❄️ 2y
Eggs Well done ❄️💙❄️ 2y
51 likes2 comments
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ShelleyBooksie
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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@BeeMagical - Thank you so much for my wonderful #HHS package! I love everything. I'm excited to wear the pumpkin scarf to work tomorrow and I can't wait to start my new books. ♡♡♡
@wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Fantastic! 🎃 2y
BeeMagical So glad you like everything!!💕💕💕 2y
31 likes2 comments
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ShelleyBooksie
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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@TheLudicReader - Thank you for the AMAZING Litsylove fall swap package!! I LOVE the wall hanging! I cannot wait to start all of the books! The soap and hand cream smell so yummy! The tea towels and notepad are beautiful! I'm excited to try some cards from the craft book! You are so
thoughtful ♡♡♡♡

@Bookgoil , @Deblovestoread

Deblovestoread Lovely box! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome gifts!! 2y
AmyG Lovely package. And some good books! 2y
Bookgoil Amazing gifts! So lovely! 🍁 2y
TheLudicReader I am just about to open yours! I am glad you are happy with everything. 😘 2y
33 likes5 comments
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TheHungryBookworms
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Mehso-so

I was under the impression this book was horror. Everyone I talked to or every review I read was talking about how amazing this book was but for me it was just a little flat. It irked me that it didn't get interesting until 71% into the book. 😩😩I only kept reading trying to find the amazing story I was promised. But it just felt a bit flat to me.

TheHungryBookworms ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2y
16 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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This was a creepy book I gave 4⭐.

#Ghost #OminousOctober

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 👻 2y
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bibliobliss
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Interesting choice for summer eh lol. Creepy. Have no idea where it's heading & I like that...

#currentlyreading

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Kshakal
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Eggs Perfect 🤩 on my TBR 3y
28 likes1 comment
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bookaholic1
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Mehso-so

#16
Weird

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alecia3dixie
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

I really liked this book! I thought it was attention grabbing, had a great story that keeps you intrigued and interested the whole time. But I have one thing that bugged me the ENTIRE book. So the book had two timelines, which I don't mind, but at the end of almost every timeline, it would end on a cliff hanger! Which then made me mad at whatever timeline was next because I was so caught up with the first timeline! Other then that, good book! 4/5

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Victoriahoperose
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

I really liked the alternating timelines in this between the history of the town and the people who lived there. The secrets that were revealed about the last were so creepy and I always enjoy books that bring things together in an unexpected way. The ghost story mixed well with the mystery element and it was definitely a good supernatural book with a chilling story behind it.

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BeeMagical
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

Book 4🎧
Love this one! An amazing story told from 2 different time lines, was different than I had anticipate but in the best way!

Sleepers walk for 7 days, and Auntie knows just how to awaken them. But there are worse things than death… especially in these woods🌲🦊

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kplovesbooks
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Mehso-so

⭐⭐ Was it creepy? Yes. Was it interesting? Yes. Was it a good book? Nope! ...parts of it just didn't sit right with me. There's something deeply disturbing to my soul about people wanting to bring the dead back to life and thinking there won't be consequences.

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kplovesbooks
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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(I hate when the best quote in the book is said by a character you didn't like or had some problem with. If they say something good, I'm like should I even like it now?? 😂 But it's still a good quote so oh well!!)

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kplovesbooks
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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60% ....and in case there was any doubt about this, if something knocks from inside your closet, don't try to open the freaking door. 🤦🤷

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BookBosomed1
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Mehso-so

2.5-3⭐️. If you enjoy classic ghost stories with dual timelines, you‘ll likely enjoy this 📖. This is the second 📕I have read from this author; this ending also felt too predictable & forced - as if the author wasn‘t sure how it was going to end while writing it. However, for a supernatural tale, this 📖 follows a familiar pattern so it‘s like to be a satisfying read if you‘re looking for a semi-suspenseful, atmospheric tale.

kplovesbooks I'm reading this now, almost halfway through. It's super interesting but I already know it's not going to be more than a 3⭐ for sure. 3y
BookBosomed1 @kplovesbooks Yes. Based on the two I‘ve read, her books are too formulaic for my taste. The first part of the books seem tightly written/interesting and then they fizzle. 3y
kplovesbooks @BookBosomed1 This is my first by her, and I wasn't sure what to expect going in. I'll be getting to the fizzle then soon in this one, as I'm almost halfway. 3y
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kplovesbooks
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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I wasn't in the mood for the book I was supposed to be reading, a historical novel, and was instead feeling like diving into something creepy.... So here I am 45% into my first Jennifer McMahon, and yes, it is definitely creepy! 😱

wanderinglynn This is on my TBR. 3y
kplovesbooks @wanderinglynn It's very interesting. Hard to put down! 3y
41 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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BookBosomed1
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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After six hours in the emergency animal hospital with my cat on Saturday, Henry was diagnosed with either vestibular disease or having had a stroke. It‘s been a rough few days. He is still in recovery, but he at least will now rest beside me as I read. I‘m very grateful for small improvements every day and that he is still on this Earth with me. ❤️

kplovesbooks 💔 3y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Oh no. Poor kitty & poor you. ❤ 3y
wanderinglynn Poor baby! 💚 Sending lots of hugs. 3y
See All 8 Comments
BookBosomed1 @wanderinglynn Thank you! He yelled at me this morning for food, which was a beautiful sound. :) 3y
BookBosomed1 @kplovesbooks 🥺😓❤️ 3y
sharread I'm so sorry. Hope all is well soon. ❤ 3y
BookwormM Glad he is making a recovery 3y
16 likes8 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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UPDATE: WE HAVE OUR 4TH!

We need one more person for #GroupW #Round13 of the #LMPBC.
We are reading winter based books in horror, mystery, or thriller.

Here are the 4 I'm putting up to the group for review. @mklong @avanders

Litsy Markup Postal Book Club (Round 013)“ page for Group W https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080444aead2ca0ff2-litsy13

@suvata

Gissy Let me know if you still the person. I can sign up but I don‘t know if you have someone already. I love thrillers and some horrors (edited) 3y
carlthecattt Just signed up for the spot :) I haven‘t read any of these, they all look great! 3y
mklong I haven‘t read any of these either and would be happy with any of them 😊 3y
Avanders Sweet!! Ditto 👆🏽👆🏽 3y
44 likes4 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Since I am such a mood reader, every round I say that I‘m not signing up for the next #LMPBC.
Every time I cannot resist; especially when #GroupW is available. Who‘s interested in a winter set/themed mystery, horror, or thriller for #round13?

I just signed up on the “Litsy Markup Postal Book Club (Round 013)“ page for Group W https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080444aead2ca0ff2-litsy13

bibliobard Right?! Once I put off signing up and had to sit out around and it really bummed me out. So I learned my lesson I am at least going to control myself and only do one group this time though. 3y
Chrissyreadit I‘m always interested in so many- like yours- and @BethM I love seasonal- but find I struggle to keep up when I sign up for more then one. The pain is real!!! 3y
BethM @Chrissyreadit same! More than one is too much for me! 3y
See All 8 Comments
mklong That sounds like fun! I‘m in. 3y
Avanders I‘m going to do it this round 😁 (been trying to avoid overcommitment, but I think I can handle 1 of these, this time 😜) 3y
MaleficentBookDragon @Avanders YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! 3y
Avanders 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽 3y
52 likes8 comments
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Lauren890
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a pretty solid pick and it kept me turning the pages. I found it pretty fast paced and unsettling, but not too creepy. There were supernatural elements which I really liked. Overall I recommend it!

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DrLReads
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
Pickpick

This is a spooky and atmospheric read. The ending felt a bit disjointed, but a solid pick regardless.

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TheDaysGoBy
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Mehso-so

Finally finished my #bookspin from April. It got off to a slow start but I think I‘ve finally got a routine back for reading which helped.

The story was good. There was a mystery that spanned across a couple different timelines and a question as to whether or not the undead truly exist. Wasn‘t my usual pick but I‘m not sorry I stuck it out. Held my interest for sure

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
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Drnkpnkprincess
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
Pickpick

Picked this up the other day and couldn‘t put it down. Even though it‘s 450 pages it was a quick read and wasn‘t super scary horror, but unsettling none the less. The story is broken up with two timelines hundreds of years apart, but the way they are intertwined... superb!

rachaich Totally agree 4y
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KatieDid927
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Pickpick

I liked this! It was fast paced, which I liked, but it did take me a minute to keep track of all the characters in the beginning because of the timeline hopping. Once I found my groove, I was on board! I was surprised by some of the twists and it was sufficiently spooky.

rsteve388 I loved winter people. I am.looking forward to reading The Night Sisters. 4y
60 likes1 stack add1 comment
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InkintheMargins
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Thank you so much @charlene1321! My region is forecasting accumulating snow off and on this week. This will be the perfect mystery to add to the atmospheric chill. ❄ I'm excited about the book and love 💘 the chocolate goodies! Happy Valentine's Day! 💝 @candority #bookcupidswap

rsteve388 I lived Winter People. I thought it was a great Jennifer McMahon book 4y
rsteve388 Loved* 4y
candority Happy Valentine‘s Day! 💘 4y
InkintheMargins @rsteve388 I'm pretty sure I stacked it from you! 😊 4y
41 likes4 comments
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Avanders
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Wow! This is a huge reading month for me, lately. 😊 Helped along with audio books, and maybe a couple were rather visual, but a win nonetheless! 💃🏽💃🏽

The Vanishing Half and The Winter People were my favorites of this bunch, with the Winter People winning on tear-through-it-ness and enjoyment and The Vanishing Half winning on overall-so-good-ness.

#JanuaryWrapUp

BethM I‘ve paused The Ickabog- just not loving it. 4y
Avanders @BethM yeah. It‘s not a book I would necessarily recommend... a little too simple for more advanced readers, and too dark for the younger readers, and just hits a weird tone and loses the potential it did have. So. I mean, it wasn‘t terrible, but I thought it was meh. 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Email me when you have time!! I need to ask you a question ❤️ 4y
91 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Avanders
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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Decided to take the morning off for some much needed R&R. It‘s going pretty well so far.... 😊

mabell How cozy! 4y
SeaToSkyes Looks like a perfect morning! 4y
Jessieleah I love your mug ☺️ 4y
See All 12 Comments
Cupcake12 Hope you had a nice morning xx 📖 4y
ErikasMindfulShelf I remember reading The Winter People. Couldn‘t put it down. 4y
MaleficentBookDragon I LOVED that book. It is one of my favorites of hers. 4y
Gissy Nice mug, nice spot-comfy, nice book...you are set🏠📖☕️👌❤️❤️❤️ 4y
Avanders @ErikasMindfulShelf @MaleficentBookDragon it was such a great, fast, satisfying read!! 🤍🖤 4y
Avanders @Jessieleah Thanks! It‘s part of Cara Kozik‘s Harry Potter series 😍🥰 4y
ErikasMindfulShelf Glad you liked it! 4y
BethM That looks amazing and the mug is beautiful! 4y
115 likes12 comments
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TheDaysGoBy
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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@IheartYA Patty thanks so much for everything! Can‘t wait to read the books and the wristband/headband are cute! The lamp bookmark will come in handy and those little cards you threw in were neat!

Thanks again! Here‘s hoping 2021 is a better year! 🙂

Caroline2 I really enjoyed The Winter People. A cracking read. 👍 4y
IheartYA Glad it arrived. 😃 The Russell Stover truffle Santa is my favorite! 4y
47 likes2 comments
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Avanders
The Winter People: A Novel | Jennifer McMahon
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🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

All the thank yous @MaleficentBookDragon !! I‘m excited about all the books — and the audiobook will be the perfect start to 2021! And all the extra goodies were perfect additions to my Christmas Day, and so much appreciated 🙏🏽💖🙏🏽💖🙏🏽 Also, that bookmark 🤣🤣 Thank you again!!!

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

ShelleyBooksie Amazing bookmark! 4y
Callemarie I LOVED the winter people!!! You‘ll have to let me know what you think! 4y
91 likes2 comments