The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

The Sun Down Motel

by Simone St. James

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Something hasn’t been right at the roadside Sun Down Motel for a very long time, and Carly Kirk is about to find out why in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.

Upstate New York, 1982. Viv Delaney wants to move to New York City, and to help pay for it she takes a job as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York. But something isnʼt right at the motel, something haunting and scary.

Upstate New York, 2017. Carly Kirk has never been able to let go of the story of her aunt Viv, who mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down before she was born. She decides to move to Fell and visit the motel, where she quickly learns that nothing has changed since 1982. And she soon finds herself ensnared in the same mysteries that claimed her aunt.

Reviewed by bestmessever on

2 of 5 stars

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This could have been a strong four star if it wasn't for the homphobia and racism. I can't believe this book got through an editor especially since to my memory there was nothing of the kind in The Broken Girls. This stuff shouldn't be flying in 2020. I'm even more shocked by how few people actually are catching these things.

There are two instances of homophobia. Once is when Viv roommate is asking about the kind of things she sees working the night shift at the hotel. She literally asks, "Have you seen any homos? Oh wait they probably go to the park still seems to be a rough place to work," Dude seriously what the fuck?

Then we get a scene in the present where Carly is taking to Heather her roommate. They are talking about boys and Heather tries to confide in her saying that guys aren't really her thing. Which Carly seems to take in a weird almost panic way since Heather very quickly follows with, "Oh no not that, I really just don't like anyone at all touching me." So basically Carly panic because she thought Heather might be into girls but this also seems acephobic to me. Because Carly just nods and says she gets it and Heather seems to be ready to tell her something deeper but decides not to. Probably cause she realized Carly wouldn't understand and would be an asshole about it. This whole scene is just frustrating in general.

Now the racism is when Viv is meeting with the P.I. who happens to be black and they are meeting in the diner. Basically the author makes a big point on how weird it is that a white and black lady would be sitting in public together and Viv is also very shocked that a black woman could be a P.I.

Anyways I just wanted to cite the instances since a lot of people have been giving this book pretty high ratings and like I said I have only seen a couple of reviews that actually touch on these issues. Also if anyone starts reading it like I did and going Wtf? Is that what I think it is or am I just overreacting? You're not overreacting it is really there and you don't have to finish the book.

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