A review by thebigemmt505
Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Read this story was I was 13/14, and I re-listened to it now at age 23. It’s such a strange experience to be hit by all the same visualizations I had back then, all the same despair, but with a new perspective. Given I’m older, I’ve had to look back on events in my life the same way, things I didn’t understand that turned out to be tragic. Super well written, genuinely creepy, and captivating. My 5-stars is likely influenced by a bit of nostalgia but… eh, you know. 

God, fuck this story though. Brutal.
The map thing will never leave me dude.