Hi all!

Welcome back to the bookclub! In November, we read Wonderland by Jennifer Hillier for The You’ll Read Too Bookclub! Spoilers ahead!

Quick Reminder: This month we are reading ‘The Last House On Needless Street’ by Catriona Ward.

Today I’m going to give a quick plot summary, plus my overall star/scare-factor ratings. Then I will share the discussion topics and trivia questions. Please include all of your answers and opinions down below. I want to know exactly what you thought. I’ll also leave the answers to the trivia questions at the very bottom of the post. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

WONDERLAND by JENNIFER HILLIER – NOVEMBER 2021 

PLOT SUMMARY 

Welcome to Wonderland. By day, it’s a magical place, boasting a certain retro charm. But before daybreak, an eerie feeling descends. Maybe it’s the Clown Museum, home to creepy wax replicas of movie stars, and a massive collection of antique porcelain dolls. Or maybe it’s the terrifyingly real House of Horrors. Or, maybe, it’s the dead, decaying body left in the midway for all the Wonder Workers to see.

OVERALL STAR RATING

I love a creepy, amusement park setting. This thriller/horror did not disappoint. I gave it 5/5 stars. I enjoyed this so much. There were many layers and different stories at play. It was so well structured and paced. I was very impressed at how the multiple plot points weaved together seamlessly, without becoming convoluted. I did guess the killer early on, but there were many other reveals that shook me. I highly recommend it.

OVERALL SCARE-FACTOR RATING

I gave it a scare-factor rating of 3/5 stars. The opening scene with the Ferris Wheel really got under my skin. This story focuses on real-life horrors, over supernatural scares. The violence, abuse and sexual assault, will make you more uncomfortable than the actual Clown Museum.

DISCUSSION TOPICS

1.)  What were your theories regarding the identity of the serial killer?

As mentioned above, I did guess the killer early on. All of the initial suspects were way too obvious, to be the actual murderers. The culprit felt off from the beginning.

2.) What were your opinions on Vanessa as a protagonist? Was she a bad person/parent?

I don’t think Vanessa was a bad person or mother. However, she was deeply flawed. I love troubled protagonists. They are real and relatable. She harboured dark secrets, relying heavily on vices, instead of focusing on her children. She definitely came through for them in the end, but was far from perfect. She definitely needed intensive therapy to process her past.

3.) Wonderland was home to years of corruption, crime and sexual assault. Why was it so beloved by workers and the town?

I honestly cannot answer this question. I am baffled as to why Wonderland was so revered by the townspeople, when its history of corruption, crime and sexual assault was well known by the public. I can understand the nostalgia – and obviously, it was a huge source of income for Seaside – but it still had a terrible reputation. Please tell me your thoughts.

TRIVIA QUESTIONS

Easy: What is the type of guy Bianca goes for?

Medium: What horror movie is referenced frequently in the book?

Large: How many ID cards showed up at Hovey’s place?

I hope you enjoyed the book club discussion. As mentioned above, share all of your thoughts in the comments below! If you have any feedback/suggestions to improve the bookclub, please let me know. I look forward to talking to you all next month! Thanks for reading!

Peace & Love xoxo

TRIVIA ANSWERS: Easy: Blond, 18 and handsome. Medium: Candyman. Hard: 19.