Joined in 2023 
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When YouTube ghost hunters Sam and Colby head to Kauai for an annual bro trip with two childhood buddies, they’re dying for a break from paranormal investigations - instead, they find themselves at the center of their most horrifying mystery yet.
Speaking of characters, the introduction of Trey was...meh. I wish we could’ve gotten more insight on why Colby was so adamant about not liking Trey and why Nate was so gung ho to ditch their plans to go to the North side of the island for this guy they barely knew. Finding out that Colby didn’t like Trey because he said college was the only way to success was such an odd thing? Like, undoubtedly there’s been many people who would’ve said that, so does Colby also dislike everyone who’s said that or is there a more specific reason he didn’t like Trey? Just...👏🏻 more 👏🏻 inner 👏🏻 thoughts 👏🏻 please 👏🏻 and 👏🏻 thank 👏🏻 you 👏🏻 I also wasn’t a fan of how so many things plot-wise was just...told to the boys. They could’ve found some newspaper clippings or something, anything to make them put in a little bit of detective work. But for so much information to just be handed to them? It got old, and almost lazy. Fast forward to 2023, and The Handbook remains an integral part of my entrepreneurial toolkit, this time for my talent management venture, THE SOCIAL CHAMP LTD. It’s been a decade-long partnership that has seen my brand and business flourish through invaluable celebrity collaborations. Please note this is a free Business to Business service only and we regret we cannot deal with charity or media enquiries, which should be directed to the representative of the Celebrity concerned which you will find listed in The Handbook.
Just how meta the book was. Like, the quote I included at the top? I laughed for way too long when I read that. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I generally enjoy stories like this, but there were a few moments throughout the novel where things just fell a bit flat. The characters in Paradise Island are well-developed and relatable. Sam and Colby's dynamic personalities shine through, and their friendship with Trey adds depth to the narrative. The inclusion of a wealthy and eccentric widow rumored to be a witch adds an intriguing layer to the story, creating a sense of unease and mystery. The start was so calm and like any vacation would go, mostly planned. But then visiting Trey and all. That messed everything up, it all began from there, it was suspicious from the beginning, being so far from civilisation. This story proved that some go insane over something like that it so insane to think about. I feel bad for Trey, his life was wasted for something so small, I cannot even imagine what it's like. Honestly this book was something else completely, I usually read romance or such but this has actually made me see more what the world can be like. I enjoyed and would definitely recommend giving it a chance. Just give it a chance, open your mind to it.
Speaking of being arrested, there was a moment where SNC were contemplating escaping to the beach and they had a conversation if it was worth being arrested again. I really loved that, especially with how much fans joke about them inevitably being arrested again. There was a nice sense of nostalgia throughout, specifically when they brought up their YouTube channel, their Vine days, them being arrested, wining a Teen Choice Award, and Corey and the Shadowman. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and reminded me of how proud I am for how far they’ve come. If you’re in the business of connecting with the who’s who of the celebrity world, then The Handbook is nothing short of a digital Aladdin’s lamp. I’m living proof of the doors it can open. Ten years ago, as a hopeful entrepreneur with a dream to weave my brand into the fabric of high-profile fashion, I stumbled upon The Handbook. Little did I know, it would dramatically pivot my business journey. After changing their own lives drastically, Sam and Colby wished to teach other people the same life lessons that they had learned through their friendship by creating content based around humor, authenticity, and exploration. It’s been the exploration, particularly around spooky and sometimes paranormal places, that has caught on like wildfire with their audience. They’ve taken millions of fans along their journeys into the lesser known, seen, and understood spaces of our planet. While their videos cover a broad range of their experiences, there are plenty of untold stories, sometimes scary and sometimes funny, around their stranger run-ins.
The depiction of the paranormal things was really great. I feel like those parts were the ones I could get most into the story. The way Gaby wrote them was so interesting and pulled me in. I wish there was more of these moments throughout the story, because I think they really showcased who Gaby is as a writer. It really shows and depicts Sam and Colby’s friendship. Which is my favourite friendship in the existence of friendships, and if you know them you know what I’m talking about. The bond they have is impeccable. Fantastic. It is beautiful beyond words and so rare. The other big thing I made note of was that there was a lot of “tell, not show” throughout. There’s a heavy focus on dialogue to progress the story rather than seeing into the boys’ inner thoughts and using other means to find out information. (I’m not one to talk, though, since I also focus more on dialogue than description.) It sometimes made it difficult to fully get into the story. I struggled with developing a picture of what the Belle Estate looked like, or what the other characters (beside SNC, Nate, and Alex) looked like. In terms of the boys, it seemed very reliant on us knowing who Sam and Colby are and what they’re all about (which is fair, since probably 99.9% of people who bought the book are fans of them but, if they want success outside of their audience, it could’ve been more descriptive in that regard). From the moment they step foot in the mansion, a sense of foreboding hangs in the air. The author skillfully builds suspense, capturing the readers' attention as strange occurrences unfold. The eerie sway of Belle Estate's walls and the lurking presence that follows Sam and Colby keep the readers on the edge of their seats, wondering what awaits them next.
That being said, for SNC’s first book and Gaby’s first time working with the boys, it exceeded my expectations. If they were to continue writing books together, I imagine it will get better and better as they get more used to each other and potentially open up more so that their characters become a more accurate depiction of them. Gaby Triana writes some pretty scary stuff but took it up a million notches in this book. "Make the benign and beautiful terrifying" is done masterfully in this book. Had never heard of Sam & Colby (not really big on YT) but they have me hooked after this! Alex betraying the boys? So interesting! This was one of the few things that made sense in terms of them being drugged. But then when he was betrayed when Pauahi (who’s name was misspelled a few different times in the book) escaped? Ugh, amazing. We love instant karma like that. It wasn’t outstanding writing, but I enjoyed it. But then again is there the fact that I know them so I recognise their characteristics and know how to interpret actions and sayings that people who don’t know them wouldn’t. HOLY CRAP! This book is amazing! I read it all in one sitting & then had trouble falling asleep after.
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Honestly, I read it bc I'm a huge Gaby Triana/Gabrielle Keyes fan. As someone almost old enough to be Sam or Colby's mom had I made different decisions in HS (and had the pool of potentials not been little Eminem wannabes) I was skeptical about how "bro"-y this book would be. The story begins as Sam and Colby embark on what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation in Kauai with their childhood friends. Eager to take a break from their usual paranormal investigations, they expect nothing more than sun, surf, and good times. However, their plans take a dark turn when Trey, an old acquaintance, insists on a visit to the legendary Na Pali Coast and the infamous Belle Estate.
The characterization of all four of the boys is a bit 2D. Sam’s logical and wants to keep the peace, Colby’s emotional and more of a wildcard, Nate’s focused on his schoolwork and flexing his vocabulary, and Alex? Well, I couldn’t get a good read on Alex until he sells out SNC at the end of the novel and even then, he didn’t feel so much like his own character, more like someone just present to further the plot. Welcome to Hell” ⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊☾ ⥼~-✰-~⥽ ✦⤷ 𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚒 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 ⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊☾ ⥼~-✰-~⥽ So it’s taken me like what 2 years? I have had this on my shelf with their upcoming videos they do every October “hellweek” it seemed like a perfect read. Even though they haven’t discussed on what happened on their trip on YouTube I really wanna know what happened they could not explain The pacing of the book is expertly done, with the tension steadily rising as the friends are forced to stay overnight in the mansion due to unforeseen circumstances. The atmospheric descriptions transport readers to the hauntingly beautiful setting of Kauai, while the vivid portrayal of the Belle Estate heightens the sense of dread and suspense.When YouTube ghost hunters Sam and Colby head to Kauai for an annual bro trip with two childhood buddies, they’re dying for a break from paranormal investigations—instead, they find themselves at the center of their most horrifying mystery yet. Colby’s fixation on the mermaid statue of a 16-year-old was really odd. It probably wouldn’t have been as odd if Amy was aged up a bit to 18, but as a 16-year-old with the descriptions that were given? Yeah...not the vibe.
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