Choker

By Elizabeth Woods

Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has always been a loner, even more so since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, a few years ago. Cara mostly spends her time avoiding the popular girls who call her 'choker' after a humiliating incident in the cafeteria, and watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing he would finally notice her.

Then one day Cara comes home and finds Zoe waiting for her. Zoe's on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With Zoe back, Cara's life changes overnight. Zoe gives her a new look and new confidence, and before she can blink, Cara is flirting with Ethan and getting invited to parties. And best of all, she has her best friend to confide in again.

But just as quickly as Cara's life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everyone is a suspect ~ including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving very strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day when she's at school. You're supposed to be able to trust your best friend no matter what, but what if she turns into a total stranger?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Mar 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9780857072870

Elizabeth Woods

Elizabeth Woods lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Choker is her debut novel.

Reviews for Choker

[shahnareads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought I had predicted the ending to this, and I totally didn't. I'm glad I had it wrong. The ending was perfect. Not what I was expecting at all. Very well done.

I love this. A little mix of crazy, long lost best friend and murder! Throw all that in together and you have the makings of a very big adventure.

[strongpieces · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.Choker is one of those novels I've been longing to read ever since reading the summary of it (and I absolutely love that cover, it's a gorgeous color scheme, with the ring of trees bearing down as if to choke the reader), and I was ecstatic when I finally noticed it (totally by accident!) at my library. It was the first of my picks to read, and I breezed through it in a day.I was a tiny bit disappointed in the novel itself, but it's actually a pretty damn decent addition to the mystery/thriller area of YA fiction.The novel focuses on Cara, who lives one of those awful teen lives as the butt of many jokes from the bitchy, popular girls. And honestly, she has nothing in her life that would make her stand out as a YA heroine. Yes, the story is about her, but there's so little to Cara as a person that we could have been reading about anyone else and the story would probably have progressed in the same manner. I wish there'd been a little bit more to her, that she could have stood up for herself once or twice. I did like that she slowly began to connect with school friends and developed a nice sort of budding romance with Ethan, her crush.The addition of Zoe in Cara's life leads to a bit of a pick me up for Cara, but more importantly, Zoe added a bit of a kick to the plot. Once she was in the picture things took a turn for the interesting, and I spent half the time I was reading boggling at her crazy behavior and wondering if my own thoughts on whodunit were right.(I was wrong, by the way. I can usually figure out the answer to the mystery before I'm done reading, but the reveal kicked me in the face and then laughed about it.)In the end, Choker is a well done mystery with a character I would have liked a little more color from, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

[alcarinqa_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Choker isn't Speculative Fiction like I usually review, but I received a copy from the publisher and decided to read it based on the synopsis. It sounds creepy but good, and that's exactly what it is.The book starts by introducing the friendship of Zoe and Cara, and immediately we can see that Zoe is a bad influence and Cara is a bit of a pushover. Fast forward many years, and Cara's family has moved away from Zoe's and she has never really fit in anywhere ever since. Her parents are neglectful but loving, her friends are few, and she is generally pathetic but likeable. Zoe. Zoe creeped me out from the first page and it only got worse. This is one of those books where you think you have it all figured out and then suddenly everything shifts and you don't really know what's going to happen anymore. The climax was amazing - I literally couldn't stop reading for the last 50 or so pages. I really enjoyed Choker and would love to read some more of Elizabeth Woods' work. This is her debut novel and she has certainly demonstrated that she can write exceptionally well! If you're looking for something short and packed full of awesome, try Choker!You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.

[heatherlinc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is quite a good little thriller about a toxic friendship. Cara is a loner whose best friend, Zoe, has just returned after a five year absence, but things aren't quite the same. Cara is the victim of peer bullying and even though I feel sorry for her, there are also times when I want to shake her, especially when she is around Ethan. I don't know why, but many YA authors make their female characters drooling simpletons as soon as their love interests come within a few hundred metres of them and Cara is no exception and I found this frustrating. Despite this, overall, I found "Choker" to be an engaging read.

[angelacinva · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My teen book group wanted a creepy read for October. They got their wish in this book. It's not a great book, but was a quick, entertaining read.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

[serenity_tigerlily · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

One of the most poorly written clichéd books I’ve read in a long time. Even the “surprise” ending couldn’t save it. I’m so glad it was a short read and didn’t waste any more time than necessary on this book.

[pdbkwm-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Here's a funny story. Once upon a time a delightful young girl named pdbkwm was looked up books. She read one called "Living Dead Girl" and was blown away by the novel. She decided that she wanted to read more from the author, so she searched for more books. There was only one problem. She forgot the author’s last name. Instead of searching her library's history, she decided to guess and well, to make a long story short, she stumbled onto Choker and thought, "Hey, this is a different author, but the premise sounds just as delightful. I think I'm going to have to read this."

-~.~-

Moral of the story, sometimes you mess up the author’s name and stumble onto some awesome finds.

Anywho! I mentioned all that because I’m on the fence.

Choker has a lot of good things going for it. It's a fairly well written debut from Elizabeth Woods, it has a plot that is very different from the usual YA novels that I read, and it has a beautiful cover.

But while I found the novel entertaining, I also felt like once you figure out the plot (which happened early on) the book kind of loses its appeal. Many of the reviewers (good and bad) have mentioned that the book is creepy, but I didn't feel the same way. In fact, some things were kind of predictable.

Did I like it? Yes.

Did I get sucked into the mystery? No.

Did I continue reading? Yes.

And that's why I'm torn. Yes, it was predictable, and yes the mystery is incredibly obvious, but I kept reading just to see what Woods would do.

The Good:

This is the debut novel of Elizabeth Woods and I think she has a bright future ahead of her. The writing was well done and I never got bored or felt like the story dragged on. It was face paced where it needed to be and it slowed down when it was on an important scene. There are some problems here and there, but it's easy to look over that. The writing is simple, yet it has an air of tension throughout. I enjoyed it.

This might be because I haven't read many books lately, but I liked that this was different from the other YA novels that I usually read. It’s not original, but it is different and I liked that. It kind of makes me want to go out and find more books like this. Well not exactly like this, but the same sort of genre. We need more YA thrillers out there.

The Okay:

If you don't know what's going to happen, this will be a great book. But if you figured it out, and you might because the clues start dropping early on, then the suspense and creepiness factor really go down. This won't make you stop reading, because you'll want to know what happens next, but it does take away some of the appeal and punch of the novel.

The Bad:

There's a good amount of characters in this novel, and yet, there isn't. The story is mostly about Cara and Zoe's friendship, but I felt like other than those two, everyone was very one note. Alexis and Sydney, Cara's bullies, were the typical clichéd popular girls who torment those underneath them. Ethan, Alexis' boyfriend and Cara's crush, was perfect and sweet. There are girls in the track team, but we don't really know much about them and they're kind of interchangeable.

Zoe and Cara, despite their importance in the novel, also suffer from this too. Not as bad as everyone else, but I did want them to be fleshed out some more.

Normally, the third person style wouldn't bother me, but I think if this was written in first person I wouldn’t have felt such a disconnect from Cara. When she would go on about her school and life and Ethan and Zoe and her bullying and whatever, there was a distant between us that never really got solved even after I finished the novel.

I realize that I praised the writing earlier so this might sound like a weird complaint, but regardless of whether this written in first or third person, I just wanted to get a better sense of Cara. And at the end of the day, that is the most important thing.

Overall:

I'm still on the fence. I'm still torn. And I'm still undecided on whether I should give this 4 stars for keeping me entertained or 3 stars because it was predictable and the characters were lacking.

Hmmmm.....

ah....um.....

Let's just give it 3.5 stars. I think that works.

3.5 stars out of 5

[thehidingspot · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Whoa. CHOKER is a mere 233 pages, but each and every page contributes to a conclusion that left me completely speechless.Elizabeth Woods makes her debut with CHOKER which, at first, seems like a fairly routine story about a girl reunited with her evil, homocidal best friend. Much to my surprise, there is waaaay more going on than I ever would have guessed... Unfortunately, it's impossible to give details without spoiling the novel, so I suppose that means that you'll just have to read it for yourself!CHOKER is one of the creepiest novels I've ever read. I'm not much for scary stories, especially when they involve realistic murders and killings that could actually happen. Woods kept the gore and gruesome detail to a minimum, for which I was grateful. There was just enough description to cause a few goosebumps and I didn't have to sleep with the light on after finishing.I highly suggest picking up CHOKER and, if it all possible, refrain from reading spoilery reviews... CHOKER is one of those novels that packs the most punch when you have no idea what's going to happen next!

[mrsboswellbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a very difficult review to write without being spoilery. I initially came across something that said this was a psychological thriller, which intrigued me. It was a step outside of the genres I typically stick to but I thought I would give it a try.Cara Lange has only ever had one true friend her entire life, Zoe. During the fifth grade, Cara's family moves to another town and Cara is suddenly friendless. Middle school is a disaster without her friend by her side. Now that she is in high school, things don't seem much better. Cara is a loner and outcast.One day when Cara accidentally chokes on a carrot during lunch, in the middle of the cafeteria and in front of everyone, she is dubbed "Choker". Putting her head down and keeping to herself, Cara feels her life could never get better. That night, Cara finds a surprise in her own home... Zoe. Something bad happened back at home and Zoe is now on the run. Cara offers her sanctuary in her room.Everything seems so much better with her best friend back, like being invited to parties and getting the attention of the one boy that she wants, but Cara couldn't be more wrong. For starters, Zoe begins acting strange... even more strange than her usual self. Then Cara's next-door-neighbor, who also happened to be one of the girls who ruthlessly made fun of "Choker", is found dead in her pool. Shortly after that, another teenage girl goes missing. Could Zoe's return have anything to do with these occurrences? Should Cara even care? After all, with these girls out of the way she now can make her move on Ethan Gray.I felt sad for Cara at times, what with her parents being utterly absorbed in their work and giving her hardly any attention. I wish they had paid more attention to what was going on in Cara's life. I also felt bad for her being bullied by the girls in her school, and also for having to deal with Zoe at times. Zoe creeped me out. I couldn't quite understand how Cara could just let some of the things she did slide. I hoped she would take a stand and question the things Zoe did and the ways she acted. This book was a little creepy. The ending completely threw me for a loop. I admit, I didn't see that coming. I believe Choker was written as a standalone book, but I felt like the ending left room to possibly write a sequel. I feel like more could be done with this story.

[jonilee73 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I first became aware of this book when I ran across it on a blog and it sounded amazing. Basically, Cara moved away from her best friend Zoe in the fifth grade and she is bullied constantly at her new school. Then Zoe shows up at her house unexpectedly one night and suddenly everything changes. Cara starts getting invited to parties and she starts getting attention from Ethan, the boy she has been crushing on for years. But girls from school start dying and Zoe starts acting odd. Cara starts to wonder why her best friend ran away from home and what she does all day while Cara is in school. She wants to trust her best friend but soon she comes to fear her instead.Sounds great right? I thought so too. Then I opened the book and I figured out the entire story line and mystery before the prologue was even finished. This book was like knowing there was no wizard before you even started following the yellow brick road. The story line is brilliant but it is written so that the “mystery” is so obvious that I found myself getting bored and I finally skipped to the end just so I could read what would have been a climax of the book had I not known the secret already. Maybe it’s because I watch Criminal Minds too much though. For those of you out there who are interested in a mysterious read, go ahead and try this. But if you watch a lot of CSI type shows I bet you figure out the secret as fast as I did. This was a letdown. I thought it would be a great book and it truly isn’t bad. I feel the type of disappointment with this book as I did when people started telling me all the secrets to the last Harry Potter movie. I still saw the movie but there were no surprises anymore. Regardless, the story stuck with me and my mind has been drifting back to it every so often. Not a terrible book, but I don’t think it qualifies as a mystery either.

[sensitivemuse · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The book started out all right. I hated what the other girls did to Cara. They were awful and despicable. So, I did sympathize with her. For a while. Then she just got to me. She just seemed so, weak and a pushover at times. You couldn’t help but get frustrated at her sometimes. When Zoe comes in, she does take an interesting personality change and Zoe is partly responsible for that. However, as the plot wore on, I rather guessed what was going on, and the underlying secret. I am not sure if the big secret was obvious to other readers who have read this book, but I did figure it out when Zoe starts to have a more prominent place in the story.Although it started off rather interesting, I could not help but lose interest. It was predictable, and Cara as a character just did improve and I stopped liking her. I felt sorry for her, but she didn’t make herself likable at all. It came to the point where you can’t feel sorry for her anymore she just became so...pathetic. She did manage to grow a spine, but it would shrink rapidly as well. Another thing I did not take kindly to was the animal cruelty mentioned in the book. It was horrible to read and to me, unnecessary. It was already evident that Zoe and Cara aren’t really all “there” so I don’t see why there had to be any mentioning of any animals being killed. The ending, well it was predictable, therefore it wasn’t that exciting or a complete revelation to read. I thought there could have been more to the book.It’s not a book I would recommend, I would say take it or leave it. I’ve read much better than this. It’s predictable, and by the time you finished the book you find it lacking in something, perhaps a new twist should have been brought in, or something that would have brought the plot to a more interesting level.

[krystal_osmond_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My Review:In this debut novel, we get a good look into highschool bullying, what it's like to be a loner and get teased and picked on. Cara, a young girl in high school is the one who is teased and bullied and when her best friend Zoe shows up in her room one day after years apart, things start looking up. Though after some deaths and disappearances, Cara starts to question whether her friend coming back was such a good idea. Woods is a able to paint a clear picture from the very first sentence, to the last. I could see the whole story play out like a movie. The characters are well thought of. And it's easy to feel bad and to relate to Cara in Choker. For me, I hated high school, and I was a loner. I hated the drama, and the whole time felt like one big popularity contest. The kids walked around thinking they were better than everyone else. Thankfully I didn't get the bullying, and teasing, but I did see it happen, and Woods portrays it perfectly in her novel.Elizabeth Woods debut thriller is a great book, I read it in 2 sittings and couldn't put it down. She knows how to draw you in, and she'll take you on twists and turns. I highly recommend this book and I'm definitely anticipating any upcoming novels from Woods.

[absconditas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow. Where to start? I picked this up thinking that it would be a light, engaging read but I was so, so wrong. This is probably by far the creepiest book I’ve read in a really long time. Unexpected twists and turns made this a pretty solid read. Zoe scared the bejesus out of me. My God. Some of the things Zoe did were terrifying and disgusting, and their friendship was almost disturbing. Cara was weak and accomodating, and actually really irritated me, but as nother reviewer suggests, had she been any other way the story wouldn’t have panned out as beautifully as it did.

[krissy724 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First off, let’s start by discussing how gorgeous the cover is. It’s what drew me to the book in the first place. I loved the colors and the way the title was written I kept outlining it with my finger. I also really loved the design on the first page of each chapter. Choker is a very beautifully designed book.Ok, now to the actual book review. Cara is your typical teenage outcast. She’s invisible, lonely, and misses her best friend, Zoe, who she hasn’t seen in years. I would say that Cara and Zoe’s friendship wasn’t a healthy one, both being kind of obsessed with the other. One day at lunch, Cara chokes on a carrot, earning the nickname, “choker”, but also getting the attention of popular boy, Ethan. Cara doesn’t think her life could get any worse. Then one day, her childhood best friend, Zoe, is in her room and asks to stay for a few days. Cara is so happy to have her friend back and Zoe helps her in becoming more confident. She starts flirting and hanging out with Ethan, she dresses better, makes friends, and does really well at her track meet. Things are not peachy though, because the popular girls, the girls who gave Cara her nickname, are being murdered.This was a fast read for me. At 233 pages, it only took me a little over an hour. The ending definitely surprised me, and I was not expecting it. The characters bothered me a little though. Zoe was just insane, Cara annoyed me and was really stupid when it came to her friendship with Zoe, and the popular girls were so typical that there was nothing surprising about them. I enjoyed Ethan’s character though. He wasn’t a jerk, and at first I thought he was only being nice to Cara because his on-again/off-again girlfriend, Alexis (could also be credited as Popular girl # 1/Mean girl #1), wanted him to, but that wasn’t the case. Ethan was just a really nice guy who liked Cara and wanted to get to know her.

[mrsteemae · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ok, WOW! I gave this book 5 stars because it freaked me the hell out! I loved the whole book. The story at the beginning reminded me of Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers and a little bit of Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard. Then as the story went on, I kept on trying to guess what was going on. I really thought I knew, but I was so wrong. Don't read this book at night when you are alone, especially if you're a scaredy cat like me. I couldn't fall asleep after reading this.This book is one that I will definitely read again, it was just freakin INSANE and I loved it! Kudos to Elizabeth Woods on her debut book, and keep em' coming!!

[ayleeargh · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In short: Choker by Elizabeth Woods is a creeptastic read but unfortunately, I was able to guess the surprise reveal much too easily to be truly satisfied.My original plan when writing this review was to avoid using the word "creepy" when describing this book because pretty much every other review I read for Choker made a point to mention it. But I think it's pretty much unavoidable: this book was utterly creeptastic. Do not be fooled by the pretty-in-pink book cover. Some events that occurred in this book were truly disturbing and I have to congratulate Elizabeth Woods on that success. Normally I would have enjoyed such a freaky plot a lot more except for one thing: the mystery was way too obvious, in my opinion. This is coming from someone who admits to being pretty daft the majority of the time when it comes to figuring out mysteries. And yet I figured this one out after about fifty pages when Cara's old best friend, Zoe, comes back into her life. The reveal was very cliched; it's been done before. I can think of quite a few books and movies that had the same end reveal.Despite this disappointment, there are a few things Elizabeth Woods does well: she created a relatable main character and a fast paced read. I'm sure that for the people who are unable to guess the ending right away, the big reveal would actually be quite impressive as the clues placed throughout the book were well done. Ultimately for me though, I was unable to find the book satisfying. When a book's ultimate success depends on a big reveal and it fails to deliver that surprise, it's a big disappointment.

[theepicrat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow. Just WOW. choker filled me with an unexpected yet delightful horror that I am still reeling from the shocking - just SHOCKING - ending! Holy fudge sundae, I get to know a book for the first 2/3 of the story, only to get sucker-punched with no real warning! Not cool - and yet I loved it! :)I could totally relate to Cara with my fair share of humiliating high school memories, although I never had to endure any Mean Girls treatment (thank goodness!). No, but I can sympathize with Cara's feelings of loneliness and feeling like an outsider who can never quite fit into anywhere. Not to mention the major crushing on the cutest boy in school who is seven-leagues away from ever noticing a quiet mouse of a girl Zoe, on the other hand, was just plain weird - and Cara never really got into figuring out why. She simply rolled with it. Zoe stole her mom's zombie pills and dares Cara to take some? Okay. Zoe has run away and wants to stay with Cara? Okay. Zoe doesn't want Cara's parents to know she's back? Okay. Zoe smells dirty and has yellowed teeth, but seems fine with it? Okay. Zoe had poisoned the old neighbor's dog when they were kids? Okay. Zoe persuades Cara to kiss her to "practice" for the real making-out with Ethan? Okay.o_O <--my face as I want to shake some sense into Cara. Just thinking about Zoe makes me shiver still.choker will definitely thrill and chill as the incredibly creepy story unfolds, and I admit the truth seems so obvious that it really blindsides you. I almost cried for Cara at the end when everything finally came out in the open! Not to mention her crush Ethan - poor, poor guy - I can't imagine how messed up he will be for the years to follow.If you love to torture yourself with horror movies (i.e. nearly pee your pants as you jump in your chair and then laugh at your reaction afterward), I can see how choker might be a perfect addition to the bookshelf. It is definitely different from the usual pop-and-sparkle that I tend to read - this is one for the broad daylights, dear Readers, or under the bedsheets with a flashlight if you feel dramatic.

[iceybooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Never judge a book by its cover. That phrase has never been truer. Choker was absolutely creepy. On her blog, Good Books and Good Wine, April said it was creepy too. But as I was reading Choker, I kept wondering why she said it was so. Until I reached the end. I finished it around 11 o'clock, at night. I kept hearing sounds everytime my eyes were about to close. Yes, it was *that* creepy. To me, anyway. Cara Lange moved away from her best friend Zoe when she was in fifth grade. Middle school was horrible and now, high school is pretty much the same for seventeen year old Cara. Especially after she chokes on a baby carrot during lunch. From then on, Alexis (your typical high school meanie) and her best friend (who happens to be Cara's neighbor), Sydney, start calling Cara, Choker. It gets on her nerves, but she doesn't say anything, she usually just keeps to herself. When she gets steps out of the shower in the evening, she nearly screams when she sees Zoe sitting on her bed. It seems Zoe did something bad at home, so she came to Cara, who has to hide her without telling her parents. Cara is overflowing with happiness, Zoe always knows when to show up, when Cara needs help. Then things start to go wrong. Sydney is found the next morning, floating dead in her pool. A few days later, someone else turns up missing. Who is doing this to them? Cara can't help but think its Zoe, but is it? You have to read it to find out. I was very impressed with the way Elizabeth Woods was able to describe her characters and plot in depth with only 233 pages. I kept thinking back to Cryer's Cross as I read Choker, maybe it was the length, or because it was narrated in the third person. But Choker had more depth to it than Cryer's Cross. I found myself relating to Cara in many situations, and the plot was clearly written. As I read through, I kept thinking: I know how this is going to end. Boy was I wrong! Nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for the ending. I have to say the ending is unique and nothing like I expected, but I was a little disappointed at the way things ended. But it was definitely a good read all in all!-Would I recommend this to anyone? Probably ages 11 and up-Is there a second book? I doubt it-Will I be looking forward to book two? Definitely!I LOVE the cover. Though it is a contrast to the creepiness inside, I love how the cover doesn't betray what the book holds.

[mistique0130 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This quick read was a real page turner. I thought I had it all figured out and found out I was wrong--I finally did guess what was going on about 2/3rd's of the way through the book. There was a twist in the story that kept me wanting to find out how it would play out. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.

[kherbrand_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

About the Book: Ever since moving after the fifth grade, Cara has had a hard time making friends. She had left behind Zoe, the only friend she had ever really had. She and Zoe had done everything together - and had gotten into some trouble, too. Cara was now 16 and didn't feel like she belonged with any of the groups in her high school. She sort of hung out with a group of track girls, but only because she was on the track team - she really didn't feel like she was friends with them. Her current crush, Ethan, was also on the track team, but he was Alexis' boyfriend - blonde, beautiful (and bitchy) Alexis. The one who was never nice to Cara. This situation became worse when Cara choked on a carrot at lunch and Ethan saved her with the Heimlich. Alexis started calling her Choker in a pretty derogatory manner, as did Alexis' friends. Cara was missing her friend Zoe more than ever.Cara spent much of her time at home alone as well. Her parents were both busy lawyers and worked 70 hour weeks, so when Zoe shows up one day and hides in Cara's bedroom, they are not even aware that she is around. Zoe tells Cara that her stepfather is still abusing her and that she has run away and needs some place to hide. Cara is ecstatic as she hasn't seen Zoe in years. She just knows that now things are going to be better. It isn't long before she finds that she has more confidence around others and she is even speaking to Ethan. However, it seems that bad things follow Zoe also.Sydney, Alexis' best friend and Cara's next door neighbor, drowns in her backyard pool and the day of the funeral, Alexis goes missing. Cara is so caught up with her new friendship with Ethan and some of the girls on the track team that she starts to despise Zoe and the fact that she has to keep her hidden in her bedroom. My thoughts: I really enjoyed reading this one and had it finished within a day. I felt sorry for Cara as it seemed like her parents were more invested in their work than in her, so when Zoe showed up I was glad for her - even if Zoe did appear a little quirky. This was a very quick moving psychological thriller and even though the end was predictable, it was still a fun read!

[renkellym · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Choker is probably the creepiest YA book I’ve read in a while. The build-up of suspense is incredible. It really reminded me of a horror movie in that I kept screaming (metaphorically; I didn’t actually scream at my book, thankfully) at the heroine to hurry up and TELL SOMEONE about the scary girl living in her room! It was really, really difficult to put the book down.If you’re not a fan of scary stories, don’t write off Choker just yet. It begins with themes very familiar to most contemporary YA—bullying and inattentive parents. Cara demonstrates traits that most girls can still relate to, like being an outcast. When Zoe shows up, things get weird (girls are murdered, and Zoe herself seems to have an odd hold over Cara), but the focus is still on Cara trying to fit in with her peers. The latter part of the book does up the creep-factor, but I don’t think that the scary elements go overboard—even if you hate scary movies, you probably won’t be scared away by Choker.I wasn’t a big fan of Cara to begin with—she seemed so weak and things got under her skin too easily. After finishing the book, though, it’s easier to understand why Cara is the way she is. I’d even go so far as to call her character deep! I loved that Elizabeth Woods made her main character seem one way to begin with, only to find out that she was hiding many layers of secrets. That kind of thing really keeps you guessing, and it made Cara much more interesting than she originally seemed.I’ve seen enough scary movie trailers to quickly guess the “twist” that would come at the end of Choker. Though it was predictable, the many pages before the big reveal were chilling enough to keep me sold on the story.I’d recommend Choker to people who love psychological thrillers, because Choker definitely is one. It was fun, shiver-inducing, and impossible to put down.

[chrystalm_7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd like to start off by saying that this book is so creepy and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I had no idea where this book was headed nor that it was a thriller. As you start off you learn the story of Cara who is kind of an outcast at school and get bullied a lot. You feel sorry for her as her peers tease her and call her names like Choker after having choked on food in the cafeteria. It is that relentless bullying that makes you feel for Cara and wish she had her best friend with her again.Then enter Zoe, her long lost best friend from her childhood. Almost like magic when she needs her best friend she appears. It's the perfect timing and Zoe helps her through some tough times. I immediately did not like Zoe - I loved her character because she was so off the wall, but I had a bad feeling about her. She was trouble with a capital T, but Cara only sees her best friend from fifth grade. Zoe is the complete opposite of Cara in looks, attitude and personality. Zoe seems to be very possessive of Cara like a stalker almost and that is the part that started creeping me out. She would be her cheery best friend one minute and then super freaky stalker girl the next.Cara starts off being this shy, meek and quiet character who I kind of actually disliked. She didn't stand up for herself or speak up. It frustrated me so much. Then after her best friend arrives she has the courage to be more outspoken, take chances on being friends with her peers and even talking to boys. She is a much more outgoing person once she knows she has her friend there to help pick up the pieces should she fall down along the way. I like her better as the more confident Cara.There is a great plot twist that will leave you shocked. I love a good mystery or thriller and am always trying to figure out what happened and who did it, but I didn't quite have the whole thing figured out. I was so certain I was right and I am happy to say that the book did not disappoint in completely throwing me off course.

[fredamans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

At the end of this book I am trying to come up with all the right words to describe how I feel, but I don't want to give anything away.I loved it!That's the conclusion.The writing itself flowed beautifully, and for a first time novelist, well done!The characters were so real, you felt every emotion they had along with them.Definitely a book that is going to be vivid in my mind for some time.

[bookswithbite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Everyone has their limits. Some people can take more than others. But what happens when you push someone to the limit that even they don't recognize? What happens when you can't separate your mind anymore? What's real? Who's real? What if you can't even see what you are doing? Cara has been picked on immensely by her peers. Never have they left her alone. It is always something or someone making fun of her. After choking incident at lunch time instead of consoling her they ridicule her, making a joke of her choking. Cara is repressed and alone. Only to find peace in her best friend Zoe, who she finds one day in her room. Cara hides Zoe from her parents because they abused her. All the while Cara school mates, the ones that makes fun of her start to disappear. They find them, dead.O.M.G. This book was the bomb. It totally messed with my head and left me reeling. I mean seriously, I can't get over it. It was just so, awesome. Let me tell you, if you want a good, intensifying book read this. I have never read anything like it and was blown away. My mind is still messed up from reading it. There is a big secret, once figured out towards the end that left me gasping. Believe, you won't be disappointed.Throughout the book we see everything in Cara's point of view. This book was just great in the mystery area. It left things hanging so you kept reading but it never gave to much away. It left you turning page after page just wanting to know whats happening. Zoe was a friend who pressured Cara to change herself. And her love for Cara is one that I'd call obsessive.Seriously read this book. It is a good psychological thriller that will leave you wanting more. This book will make such an awesome movie! I can only hope that one day it will be one. So seriously, if you want a book that will really mess with your head, read it!!

[missyreadsreviews · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'll get the bad out of the way first. In retrospect, I think that I would have enjoyed this novel a little more if I wouldn't have guessed the plot within the first 75 pages of reading. Sometimes, when I do that, everything that leads up to the "big reveal" seems oh so very obvious. I also felt as though Cara was channeling her inner Bella Swan with her constantly convenient clumsiness. By that I mean she was too clumsy, but only when it seemed convenient in the story for her to be clumsy.With that being said, let's move onto the things that I did like. The cover is absolutely stunning and I am in love with it. And looking past the obviousness for me, there were some very good plot twists and more darkness to the novel than I thought there would be. Zoe was a crazy character and I found myself spooked by her on more than one occasion. Clumsiness aside, I was also very sympathetic of Cara - even up to the bitter end. However, my absolute favorite character by far was Ethan ... and that boy went through entirely too much in this novel!Elizabeth Woods is an amazing writer and I cannot give enough praise for how well-written and detailed this book is. She does an incredible job at fleshing out all of her characters, down to Cara's mom's cat - who I found to be a lot like my own spoiled fat cat. Like I said, I enjoyed this read ... I just guessed the plot too soon and it kind of spoiled it for me. This, however, is no cut toward the author - who's work I will follow because she's such a talented writer.

[jackieblem · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

9781442412330 YA thriller out this monthCara is a loner who exists at the edges of her high school. She eats lunch with the track team, but no one talks to her. She pines for a boy who doesn't notice her at all. And she's the brunt of some ugly teasing from the popular girls. But things change when Zoe, Cara's best friend from early childhood whom she lost touch with after Cara's family moved away, shows up one day in her bedroom. She's run away after doing "something bad", and she asks Cara to hide her for awhile. Cara, overjoyed to see her only friend on earth, of course says yes. And for awhile it's great--Zoe is on Cara's side on everything, and helps bolster her with sympathy and a makeover, and maybe some other things that Cara begins to suspect but doesn't know, or want to know, much about. While Zoe hides in the house all day, Cara goes to school and practice and is suddenly noticed and included. But Zoe gets jealous, and "bad" things start to happen. There are interesting twists and turns to this story that keep the pages turning quickly. This is a very impressive first novel from Woods.

[highvoltagegrrl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Who knew choking on a carrot could have such repercussions? Elizabeth Woods’ new book, Choker, follows Cara and her best friend Zoe through Cara’s high school torment and Zoe’s drastic attempts at avenging her. When Cara’s enemies begin disappearing, she starts to question Zoe’s whereabouts and uncovers a dark side to her friend that she never knew existed.Woods threw me for a loop with Choker. The premise of the book certainly grabbed my attention, but once you get past the establishment of all the characters, the chapters drag on a bit because the events seem completely foreseeable. That’s where Woods gets you, though… the events in the book aren’t as predictable as they initially appear to be - there are definitely a few layers of surprise, so be patient. In retrospect, Choker was an excellent read, but you have to finish it to realize it.Overall, Woods does a wonderful job bringing her characters to life. I’m not typically a fan of such intricate detail in books, but I’ll make an exception for Elizabeth Woods’ style of writing. This book was an extremely quick read and I definitely recommend picking it up.Book Rating: 4/5Book Received From: Simon & Schuster for ReviewReviewer: Brittany

[callmecayce · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A surprisingly gripping young adult novel. About halfway through, I suspected a plot twist, but dismissed it a few pages later, only to have my mind neatly blown at the end of the book. Choker is both lovely and sweet, as well as heartbreaking and achingly sad. The ending was almost too neat, but I really liked the very last few scenes. I hope to read more from Elizabeth Woods.

[brandileigh2003 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first chapter sets up the high school world as I remember it perfectly. Nearly hellish. My heart went out to Cara as she is a loner, and there are bullies who thrive on her pain. It is sad to read about her absent parents and even though it is a trend in YA, it is also a reality. I hate seeing the resigned acceptance, it is almost worse than the acting out for attention. The tagline had me questioning everything that happened, just wanting to figure out what is going on. I am horrible at mysteries, but I like to read them. Choker is dark at times and it really explores depression/ low self esteem. It is a different take- rather than a jealous and possessive boyfriend, it is a best friend. This is something that I haven't seen explored very much, but I know can happen. I really like that even though the love interest is popular, he has flaws, and he has a past that is not picture perfect. He is shown as having emotions, of making mistakes, and being vulnerable. I really appreciate that sort of honesty and reality in books. And oh my GOSH. I never saw the end coming, it completely blew me away.

[karen813 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Choker is all about Cara, a girl who lives on the fringes and Zoe, her best friend. Cara is shy and awkward, clearly not comfortable in her own skin, while Zoe is wild and daring. When Cara is younger her parents decide to move and she has to leave Zoe behind. One day after enduring another day of relentless bullying from the mean girls at her school, Cara comes home to find Zoe waiting for her. Claiming she ran away from home Zoe asks if she can stay for awhile and Cara happily agrees. At first everything is great, Zoe gives Cara the confidence she lacks and Cara starts making friends and even attracts the attention of her longtime crush. The happier Cara becomes the more possesive Zoe becomes and then bad things start to happen and Cara is afraid Zoe is to blame.I really enjoyed Choker, it was suspenseful and more than a little creepy. There is a twist at the end and while I could see it coming it was still exciting. Cara's character was well developed and I felt bad for her throughout the story. The development of her relationship with Zoe was well done and I could easily feel the confusion and fear surrounding them throughout the book. I a looking forward to reading more by this author in the future. I was given a copy of Choker by the publisher, Simon and Schuster through their GalleyGrab program.