Review: Small Spaces

Here is my review for Small Spaces, I hope you enjoy it. You can find my other reviews here.

Title: Small Spaces

Author: Sarah Epstein

Rating: 5 Stars

Format: Physical copy

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Date Published: 1 April 2018

Goodreads Description: We don’t pick and choose what to be afraid of. Our fears pick us.

Tash Carmody has been traumatised since childhood when she witnessed her gruesome imaginary friend Sparrow lure young Mallory Fisher away from a carnival. At the time nobody believed Tash, and she has since come to accept that Sparrow wasn’t real. Now fifteen and mute, Mallory’s never spoken about the week she went missing. 

As disturbing memories resurface, Tash starts to see Sparrow again. And she realises Mallory is the key to unlocking the truth about a dark secret connecting them. Does Sparrow exist after all? Or is Tash more dangerous to others than she thinks?

Thank you to Pan Macmillan South Africa for the free copy of this book.

Spoiler Free

I don’t normally read thrillers, but OH BOY did I love this one. I quickly read like 30 pages when I had a break between classes and I couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the day because I was desperate to find out what happened. The writing style was flawless and immediately pulled me into the book. The characters were genuine and fleshed out and I constantly questioned their motives.

We’re introduced to a gay character from the start and I love books with good representation. Tash’ anxiety and claustrophobia are portrayed very well and we get a very real look at what anxiety attacks look like. Mental illness is not beautiful, as so many books make it out to be, and the fear and panic really hit you hard in this book.

It was a wonderful read that had me looking under my bed every five minutes to make sure Sparrow wasn’t waiting for me.

Characters

Tash is by far my favourite character of the series, along with Mallory. She deals with her anxiety and “imaginary” friend in a realistic way and tries to work through the trauma of her past and rise above it. Her fears are normal and she holds it together pretty well for someone with a deadly stalker. She’s a strong, badass character we can all look up to.

Sadie is a fun, bubbly character and Tash’s best friend. She’s also into girls. I love how she supports Tash and doesn’t immediately dismiss Tash’s fears. Sadie tries to help Tash in every way she’s capable of and the dynamic between the two of them are really good. We get a very good look at how friendships with mentally ill people normally work. There are ups and downs, but eventually, they manage to patch things up again.

Mallory is a good example of how the things that happen to us when we’re young shape us, but doesn’t necessarily define us. She’s been mute ever since her disappearance, but she still communicates through text and journals. Something horrible happened to it, but she’s trying to work through it. She’s truly one of the bravest characters I’ve ever met.

Spoilers

In the end, we discover that Sparrow is a real person and not just a figment of Tash’s imagination. The book truly had me wondering if he was real or not, and at one point I doubted Tash’s mental stability along with her. This book was a roller coaster of ups and downs but I loved every second of it. It’s a beautifully crafted thriller that has you questioning everyone’s motives.

Story and Plot

The book is fast paced and I never felt bored when reading it. I also enjoyed the time jumps, between the present and the past, and they pulled me into the book even more. Usually, time jumps pull you out, but these were done exceptionally well and added to the overall mystery.

General Thoughts

Do you like thrillers? What did you think of Small Spaces?

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