Rapid Review: "Sour Candy" by Kealan Patrick Burke

Okay, first of all, here's a warning: Minor spoilers ahead. I won't spoil the book and the experience for you, but there will be a few key aspects I want to talk about.

This book was easily one of my favorites this year. With its 84 pages, it made me feel a very specific feeling that I don't think I've ever felt. In the story, we follow Phil, a regular guy, who doesn't want children. One day, he wants to have fun with his girlfriend so he heads to a supermarket to grab some sweets, chocolate, and such. He encounters a weird little boy with a worn-down-looking woman, seemingly his mother. The kid gives Phil a piece of candy, and he accepts it. That's when things start to fall apart.

That specific feeling I mentioned before came from the character of the creepy little boy, Adam. Somehow, the things he said and the way everything was presented made me feel sorry for the boy and afraid of him at the same time. If you read it, I think you'll know what I mean. It was a very strange experience for me. 

I won't spoil anything else, but the book goes in directions I haven't expected it to. It's short and fast-paced, with so many great and unique ideas, that it was really hard for me to put it down before bed. Actually, I couldn't so that night I didn't have the best sleep of my life. Highly recommended read, I'm absolutely going to buy more books from Kealan.

My rating: ★★★★☆ (4,5)