Review: The Leaf Reader by Emily Arsenault

Author: Emily Arsenault
Publisher: Soho Teen
Date of publication: June 2017

Marnie Wells knows that she creeps people out. It’s not really her fault; her brother is always in trouble, and her grandmother, who’s been their guardian since Mom took off is…eccentric. So no one even bats an eye when Marnie finds an old book about reading tea leaves and starts telling fortunes. The ceremony and symbols are weirdly soothing, but she knows—and hopes everyone else does too—that none of it’s real.

Then basketball star Matt Cotrell asks for a reading. He’s been getting emails from someone claiming to be his best friend, Andrea Quinley, who disappeared and is presumed dead. And while they’d always denied they were romantically involved, a cloud of suspicion now hangs over Matt. But Marnie sees a kindred spirit: someone who, like her, is damaged by association.

Suddenly the readings seem real. And, despite the fact that they’re telling Marnie things about Matt that make him seem increasingly dangerous, she can’t shake her initial attraction to him. In fact, it’s getting stronger. And that could turn out to be deadly.

The Leaf Reader was another random pick from my library that I ended up being pleasantly surprised with.  There is nothing like a book that keeps you guessing until the very end.  I did not call this one at all!  I haven't read a book in a while that has had me guessing for so long.  The characters were interesting, especially Marnie.  The story was well written.  Thankfully, there was no insta-love.  

It's a hard book to talk about without giving away key plot points.   Marnie and her brother live with their grandmother, G Clara.  On a whim, Marnie picked up a book about reading tea leaves.  Ever since then, she has read tea leaves for fellow students.  Some of them swear by her. Marnie isn't convinced she can really read anything in the leaves.  When a fellow student disappears, Marnie begins to see things in the leaves that may be connected.  That's all I am going to say other than to go read it.  I highly recommend it!