The Illusion of a Boy

By: LeeAnn Werner

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

The Illusion of a Boy

Award Winner - BookFest First Place Award, Young Adult > Thrillers & Suspense

The much-anticipated sequel to the unsettling psychological thriller The Illusion of a Girl.

A few months ago, Jessie Taylor’s father was found dead in the woods, and as far as she’s concerned, good riddance.

With his absence, she and her brother Brian can unwind and take a much-needed emotional break. Sadly, the reprieve is short-lived due to their mother’s destructive behavior.

Now Jessie is afraid the very thing that allowed them to survive her father’s cruelty threatens her life and the lives of everyone she loves.

Can Jessie pull together the pieces of her fractured mind to find herself and the courage for one last battle? She’ll come to know the dead are not gone but linger on in your mind.

Editorial Review

"This paranormal sequel revolves around a teenager’s struggle after the ghost of her abusive father continues to torment her.
It has been months since Jessie Taylor’s violent, alcoholic father was found dead in the woods, but she and her family are still trying to put his demise behind them. Her mother’s failed suicide attempt and Jessie’s subsequent attack on a doctor at a hospital shine a spotlight on the teen’s underlying issues.

After counseling sessions with a psychiatrist, Jessie is diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, which stems from her childhood trauma. With her mother on the mend and surrounded by a network of loving people—Jessie’s love interest, Will; her grandmother; and the teen’s older brother, Brian, and his girlfriend, Tracey—the protagonist begins to make strides with her mental health.

But when her father’s ghost begins appearing in her dreams and his supernatural attacks manifest themselves in the real world, Jessie realizes her battle with him is far from over. Powered by Werner’s clean and focused writing style, the tale evokes the works of Stephen King and Gillian Flynn.

The small Ohio town of Stanton comes alive in the pages. Werner’s rich descriptions—particularly regarding sensory details—make for an immersive read from start to finish. (The police station, for example, smells like “spicy salami sandwiches and fresh hot coffee.”)

But it’s the deeply portrayed characters that are the novel’s real strength. Jessie’s complicated situation—as a child growing up in a dysfunctional, abusive household and as a teen struggling to deal with a mental health issue—is explored with insight and compassion. Fans of creepy, dark thrillers should enjoy this story of a young woman’s journey of self-discovery—and, ultimately, salvation.

A highly appealing fusion of psychological thriller and supernatural horror story."
- Kirkus Reviews