Review: Creep: A Love Story, Lygia Day Peñaflor

A little while ago, I read and fell for All of This is True, by Lygia Day Peñaflor. It was such a unique, incredible read and is still, to this day, one of my favorite reads.

When I first heard about Creep, I thought: here’s another strange, intriguing book. I’m in.

Obviously, I had some expectations going into this book, but I also, in another way, did not know what to expect. This is a book about obsession, after all… and it’s a very weird book to try and review, but I’ll do my best.

Creep: A Love Story by Lygia Day Peñaflor
Published by Clarion Books on September 27, 2022
Genres: contemporary, young adult
Format: ARC
Source: Clarion Books
Buy on Amazon, Book Depository, Bookshop, Blackwell's
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You meets To All the Boys I've Loved Before in this twisted, tragic love story that follows Holy Family High School's cutest couple--as told through the eyes of the classmate who's stalking them.
Laney Villanueva and Nico Fiore are the perfect couple: beautiful, popular, talented, and hopelessly in love. Everyone looks up to them at Holy Family High School.
But Rafi doesn't just admire them. She watches them. She's drawn to them.
Intent on becoming their closest friend, Rafi weaves her way into their lives. She starts small: taking photos of the senior class for the yearbook, joining Laney's club, and babysitting Nico's little sister. And it works--soon they invite her to parties, take her on joyrides, and ask her for favors. Rafi's actions quickly turn invasive, delving deeper and deeper until she's consumed by their most intimate secrets.
When tragedy strikes the young lovers, Rafi's obsession spirals, and she will do anything to keep the perfect couple together. Anything . . .

I received this book for free from Clarion Books in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

☂️ TRIGGER WARNINGS:

stalking, blood depiction, miscarriage, accident, death, absentee parents, teenage pregnancy.

There are no spoilers in this review.

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I ENJOYED…

☂️

• I really think that one of the strongest suits of Creep: A Love Story is also what will make everyone either love, or hate this book. Let me explain: this is one little weird, really weird, unsettling, uncomfortable kind of read and, while even I personally, sometimes, felt a bit weird reading this, I also admire it, in a way. It’s certainly a book that’s one of a kind.
• The story is told by Rafi, a teenager, a deeply troubled protagonist with a not so easy history. She’s complex, she’s observant, she gets so deeply into everyone else’s psyche and especially the couple she is obsessed with, trying to understand them, to get them, to live with them in depth. This creates an uncomfortable narrative, at times, because you can’t help but wonder. Does she know that what she’s doing, the way she’s thinking, isn’t right? Why doesn’t she see it? Rafi has such unhealthy obsessions, you can’t help but feel creeped out a bit and yet. The author manages to create a three-dimensional character with a past that explains her behaviour, even though it does not justify it. I didn’t quite root for Rafi, but she pulled me into the story, that’s for sure.

• Creep: A Love Story manages to be intense, even when it’s not all ups and downs and drama-filled at all times. Even the most mundane moments in high school give off a little creepy, almost atmospheric vibe. Like you’re standing on the edge of a cliff, wondering when you’re going to fall, knowing that, at some point, you’re going to fall. Waiting. Wishing. Hoping you can step away from it, even if deep down, you know you can’t. Honestly, I think that’s what I appreciated most about the book, in a strange way?

I HAD A HARD TIME WITH…

☂️

• I felt like some past events, with Rafi’s teacher and her former friend, weren’t given enough time on page. I would have loved to know more about these, about what happened, to get an even deeper insight into Rafi’s mind and understand all the shapes that made her, her.

OVERALL

☂️

I honestly am having a hard time rating Creep: A Love Story, it was such an unsettling, complex read that I don’t even know whether I enjoyed it or whether it made me feel deeply uncomfortable. I think it’s a little bit of both. If you’re looking for a twisted, unique YA read, I’d recommend trying this one though!

FINAL RATING : 3,5 stars!

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Did you read Creep: A Love Story, or do you want to? What’s the last book you read that made you feel a little unsettled? Let me know in comments!

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