“The only thing they in common is the Fear. That’s what he calls it, anyway. Because it’s big enough and scary enough to be set apart from any old fear with a lowercase f. They’ve always been afraid-the both of them. Inexplicably. Afraid of losing. Afraid of being left behind. Going back to the way things were. Isn’t that how all brothers and sisters go? Different every which way and yet so very, very much the same.”

The central story of Emily Ruth Verona’s “Midnight on Beacon Street” takes place at the Mazinski household on Friday, 10/15/1993 to minutes into Saturday, 10/16/1993 and changes perspectives between Amy, who is babysitting Eleanor’s children, and Ben, who is the youngest child and Mira’s little brother. Amy is babysitting Eleanor’s children while she’s out on a date. Eleanor and her children recently escaped an abusive household so they are very close knit. Amy exhibits extreme anxiety and Ben does too, although his is early and Amy sees a lot of herself in him. Mira is a bit more closed off and very protective of her brother, even if she tries not to show it. The secondary story takes place in 6 years ago when Amy herself is being babysat by Sadie. It’s during this time that Amy’s anxiety gets stronger and Sadie gives her advice on how to deal with it.

I was totally surprised by the suspense in this book. It really is a page turner in the sense that you think you know what’s going to happen, but in takes an extreme turn. You want to keep reading. Ruth Verona does an incredible job at giving me the chills. Especially during the 18 minutes before midnight. Of all the things that could’ve happened, I did not see that coming.

I can def see this becoming a movie.