"This Thing Between Us" by Gus Moreno - Book Review

 

WARNING: This review may contain spoilers, please skip this if you plan on reading the book!

    I want to start by saying that you shouldn't read the synopsis for this book because it basically states exactly what happens during the first half of the book. Thankfully, I went into this book blind, so I wasn't affected by it, and didn't hinder my enjoyment. However, going back and actually reading the synopsis after completing the book, I understand why the community surrounding this book is kind of lacking. If I started this book after reading the synopsis, I probably would've stopped reading after Part One. Moreno's writing adds nothing to what was already stated in the synopsis and leaves Part One pretty much redundant because you already know what Thiago's next move is after Part One. It also means that the book doesn't actually start until halfway through which is absurd. I also was under the assumption that this book was going to be about Vera's death and the events leading up to it but was kind of disappointed when those events were just glossed over in the beginning. 

    Besides that though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was very tempted to DNF this because of my disappointment, but after I gave it a second chance it redeemed itself quite quickly!

    I'm a huge sucker for oddball horror and just absurd books in general and this book checked every box for me! On top of that, I also love books that explore the effects of grief and topics that surround death, and yet again, this book was fantastic at everything it set out to do! If you enjoyed Twin Peaks and Hereditary, you're going to have to get your hands on a copy of This Thing Between Us. 

    The way that Gus Moreno set the reader up inside Thiago's mind and his thoughts while grieving his wife was phenomenal to read. On top of that, the way that Moreno separated each part of the book highlighted Thiago's grieving process in such a unique way. Part 1 was written as though Thiago is talking directly to Vera and as you continue through each part, Thiago stops talking to her and solely focuses on what's actually happening to him in the moment. It was a little jolting for me to read because I'm so used to reading books with clearly indicated chapters, but this book is definitely an exception for me. 

    I also want to highlight the "entity" that Thiago has to deal with throughout the book. Although, yes, there were a ton of cliches throughout the story, I still felt as though there were some incredibly unique elements that added to the overall horror feel. I loved the little hints of the entity thrown at the beginning of the book, loosely showcasing how Thiago was being watched and targeted from the very beginning. I also adored how all the horror elements that Moreno used built up over time. Reading the scene after Thiago leaves the diner and seeing the description of a humanoid figure running after him on his hands and feet was horrifying, but in no way matched what was to come. It felt as though Moreno was trying to one-up himself throughout this book and was very successful at it!

    The only thing I hated about this book was the fact that Grimley died. I know it had to happen to progress the story and was a well-used plot device to get Thiago into a headspace where it was believable for him to start hallucinating and going crazy, but it still didn't make that whole ordeal any less gut-wrenching. 

    Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed This Thing Between Us and highly recommend that you check it out or at least add it to your TBR!