Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards

Book: Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Yasmin, Grade 12

Five Total Strangers is a sinister young adult adventure that will keep you guessing. After Mira’s aunt’s death destroyed her mother, Mira was the one who helped her mother through her grief, despite struggling with her own. Mira still feels responsible for her mother, and when a blizzard and a canceled flight prevent her from getting home to her mother for her aunt’s death-anniversary, Mira’s becomes desperate to find her way home by any means necessary. Her only hope is Harper, a college student she met on the plane, and the ragtag group of five other college students that are heading the same way in a rented car. Despite seeming like a reckless and extreme option, when she discovers that her mom recently divorced her step dad and is truly alone back home, Mira takes Harper up on her offer. But, the seemingly harmless six hour ride home quickly takes a turn for the worse, as road conditions grow more and more deadly, not to mention that Mira’s car-mates are all a little strange. When belongings start to go missing and accusations begin to fly, her discomfort only grows, and she can’t help but feel that she is being watched and someone in the car is lying. This book was an extremely enjoyable read, as it kept me on my toes with the plot and had me trying to crack the mystery along with the main character. The book does a good job of incorporating small unsettling moments to add tension and emphasize the creepy mood of the book. I would highly recommend this book to fans of One of Us is Lying as it has a similar mysterious and ominous atmosphere that will keep you on the edge of your seat.