Though I suppose the plot gets a bit intricate as it bounces from past to present and back again, it never felt that way.

I was really hoping the book would tease these more intriguing unreliable narrator possibilities, but no. Maya has struggled with addiction since the death of her best friend, has been labeled “crazy” by doctors and even her loving mother, and is fearful that her boyfriend will leave her if he ever finds out the truth.Yes, the back and forth chapters between present day and seven years ago was a bit confusing (I had to read on, before I could say- Oh, we’re back here again…). I knew was the twist was going to be at around the 40% mark – which would maybe be good for me in a thriller since I’m a pretty good Velma myself – but unfortunately it was due to all of the filler rather than any red herrings.

The book shifts between past and present without notice, but I didn’t mind that and liked getting to know the story now and in the past. Maya has no idea the can of worms she opens will bring about more questions than answers and she must face that there were many things she can't remember about her relationship with Frank when she was a teenager and if she does confront him again it could be her life at stake this time and there won't be anyone there to save her.

It's funny, because while reading this book, I didn't feel at all that it was over the top or confusing, but trying to sum it all up in a synopsis just now. The main character struggled with very real, relatable things in her life, which made her feel close the entire time. Today Maya has a life, just moved in with her boyfriend, is about to meet his parents, when she sees a video on Youtube. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and teaches creative writing to older adults at Santa Monica College. I’ve stuck with this class longer than any other place where I’ve worked as an adjunct because I just love it.

Though she enjoys nearly every genre, her favorites are mystery/thriller and horror, because she's addicted to the twists and turns. In present day, Maya had graduated from Boston University and was living in Boston and working at a plant nursery. The House in the Pines jumped from present to past to present without any markers to orient the reader.During their last year of high school, Maya's best friend, Aubrey dropped dead while in the presence of Frank, a man they had been spending time with over the summer.