Fear can protect us from danger, but does that make it good? This was one of the questions at the heart of The Girl Behind the Red Rope, and while it creates an interesting premise, I was hoping for something just a little more unique and unpredictable than what this book ultimately delivered.

Ever read a book that had no fantasy elements but somehow was still a magical experience? That was exactly how I felt reading “The Words Between Us” by Erin Bartels. I was drawn into Robin’s story from nearly the first pages—and the emotions and challenges of this novel, as well as the use of books throughout, had me absorbed until the very end.