A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares is one of the funniest and most emotionally-charged books that I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year. It was an absolute pleasure getting to see Esther Solar conquer her list of worst nightmares, and I’m thrilled to have author Krystal Sutherland on the blog today to share some of her own biggest fears! Check them out below and be sure to enter the giveaway!
About the Book
Title: A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares
Author: Krystal Sutherland
Pub. Date: September 5, 2017
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Pages: 256
From the author of Our Chemical Hearts comes the hilarious, reality-bending tale of two outsiders facing their greatest fears about life and love—one debilitating phobia at a time
Ever since Esther Solar’s grandfather was cursed by Death, everyone in her family has been doomed to suffer one great fear in their lifetime. Esther’s father is agoraphobic and hasn’t left the basement in six years, her twin brother can’t be in the dark without a light on, and her mother is terrified of bad luck.
The Solars are consumed by their fears and, according to the legend of the curse, destined to die from them.
Esther doesn’t know what her great fear is yet (nor does she want to), a feat achieved by avoiding pretty much everything. Elevators, small spaces and crowds are all off-limits. So are haircuts, spiders, dolls, mirrors and three dozen other phobias she keeps a record of in her semi-definitive list of worst nightmares.
Then Esther is pickpocketed by Jonah Smallwood, an old elementary school classmate. Along with her phone, money and a fruit roll-up she’d been saving, Jonah also steals her list of fears. Despite the theft, Esther and Jonah become friends, and he sets a challenge for them: in an effort to break the curse that has crippled her family, they will meet every Sunday of senior year to work their way through the list, facing one terrifying fear at a time, including one that Esther hadn’t counted on: love.
Krystal Sutherland’s List of Biggest Fears
- Heights. Put me on anything higher than a second story balcony, and I’m immediately paralysed.
- Frogs. Some people think toads are scarier, but those people are wrong. Toads jump away from you; frogs jump toward you. Specifically, toward your face. True story.
- Caves… especially caves with flesh eating humanoid monsters in them, like in The Decent. Caves are not to be trusted.
- The dark. There’s a reason horror movies are usually set at night. Serial killers, vampires, aliens – they all prefer to come for you once the sun has set.
- Vengeful spirits. (Peaceful spirits are okay.)
- Sleep paralysis. Apparently you can feel like you’re being dragged out of bed and even hallucinate a creature sitting on your chest, suffocating you. So, uh… no thank you.
- Basements/cellars/crawlspaces. Nothing good ever happens in basements, or cellars, or crawlspaces. Why do we keep building them when they are clearly hotbeds of evil?!
- The Handmaid’s Tale coming true. No explanation needed.
- Sharks in swimming pools. Even as an adult, whenever I’m in a swimming pool, I always worry that maybe, just maybe, a shark will suddenly appear in the deep end.
- The sea. I grew up in the north of Australia, where everything in the sea wants to kill and/or eat you. Sharks included.
About the Author
Krystal Sutherland was born and raised in Townsville, Australia—an inhospitable land where crocodiles, snakes, and jellyfish are always on the prowl. She grew up living directly across the road from the local library and spent almost every day after school (and weekends, too) having adventures between the pages of books (mainly because it was too dangerous to go outside).
She moved to Sydney for college (and safety), where she cut her writing teeth as the editor of the student magazine at the University of New South Wales. She kept gathering tales as an exchange student in Hong Kong and as a foreign correspondent in Amsterdam. Her first book, Our Chemical Hearts, was released in 2016, and was published in over twenty countries.
Her three greatest fears are heights, dark caves . . . and (perhaps worst of all) frogs.
Enter the Giveaway!
Follow the Blog Tour
Thanks so much to Penguin Teen for hosting this blog tour! Be sure to check out all the amazing blog posts along the way!
September 5 – Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Chase Away the Nightmares: A Playlist
September 6 – Arctic Books – Reviews
September 7 – YA Wednesdays – Favorite Quotes
September 8 – Feed Your Fiction Addiction – Author Guest Post: Krystal’s Top 10 AddictionsWeek Two:
September 12 – Twinning for Books
September 13 – Love is Not a Triangle – Author Guest Post: Would You Rather? With the Cast of ASDLOWN
September 14 – Forever Young Adult – Review
September 15 – Adventures of a Book Junkie – Author Q&AWeek Three:
September 18 – Xpresso Reads – Review & My Top 5 Fears/Phobias
September 19 – Chasing Faerytales – Review
September 20 – Boricuan Bookworms – Review
September 21 – YA and Wine – Author Guest Post: Krystal’s Biggest Fears
September 22 – A Book and a Cup of Coffee – Psychology of Phobias
Have you picked up a copy of A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares yet? What are some of your favorite books of the year so far?
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This sounds like a great book. I love funny! And don’t even get me started on phobias. I’m scared of practically everything lol (tornadoes are one of my worst, especially since I’ve been in one, but I’ve been scared of everything since I was 5 or 6 years old… my main three, even at that young age, were always tornadoes, war, and cancer. And being homeless which, incidentally, I have also been in my lifetime. Thanks for hosting!
I’m the same way! Tornadoes are in my top three too, and I live in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. LOL. Fear knows no logic.
I’m excited to read this book as I love the topic as well as the promised humor as comic relief from the heavier subjects.
It’s really a wonderful book. I hope you love it!
I thought I was the only one who freaked out about sharks everywhere, including pools. It’s not so bad anymore, but I had a huge fear growing up after watching Jaws.
LOL. You are not alone!
Sounds so interesting!
It really, REALLY is!
This book sounds super interesting and I can’t wait to dive in. Is it as humorous as it seems to be? I’m also so with Krystal’s fears there. XD
It really is so funny. I was laughing so much when I was reading, but it also has some serious feels and tackles some big issues. It’s amazing! And SAME about the fears!
I may have to check this one out. I have seen some mixed reviews, and they have me intrigued, lol.
Oh really?! I haven’t seen anything but glowing reviews on this one yet. I haven’t really strolled through GR though.
I have read 2 negative reviews about the content I believe. Can’t really remember who and what because negative reviews don’t stay with me long, lol.
LOL. Same here. Well, I’d definitely recommend reading it. It’s one of the most unique books I’ve read this year. 🙂
It seems unique so it is definitely on my list! <3
Yep I’m scared of heights to- really liked reading Krystal’s fears there!
Same here. I think I’m scared of everything on her list though, plus lots more. LOL.
Hi! It sounds like this is a funny read. I love funny! And I am deathly afraid of sharks. Though, I don’t worry about them being in pools haha. I am afraid of giant waves. The movie The Perfect Storm freaks me out! 🙂
Leslie
It is funny! I laughed out loud so many times. It’s really got some substance to it to though, so it’s s great balance. ☺️