Be careful who you ask for help

It's 1987. Micah has been having an extremely rough time coping with his mother's death, and has been distancing himself from his wife, Lynn, and two sons in the few years since her passing, his temper flaring easily when he gets upset. Lynn sees a coupon in the newspaper for a cheap weekend at Disney Land (reminding me that this book is set in 1987), and although they'll be scraping pennies together to do it, he decides it's worth it to try and set their family on the right path again.

All goes well. The trip reminds Micah of how things used to be, of times when they were a happy family. But a flat tire on the way home threatens that nostalgia. After realizing that their recently purchased vehicle is without a spare, Micah leaves his family to walk and find help. He finds Clyde, a large, burly car mechanic, who takes him back to his shop to try and find a spare tire that will work.

Micah gets suspicious of Clyde's intentions as time passes, and as the day goes on, he realizes that he and his family are in grave danger. What he doesn't realize is exactly what that danger may be.

Although I was thoroughly confused at parts, and still remain confused at certain aspects by the very end, I thought this was an interesting story that kept me hooked the entire time. It's a wild ride for sure, definitely a situation I would never want to be in with my children, ESPECIALLY in a time without cell phones.

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Twists, Tension, and One Infuriating Husband

You know a book is good when the characters evoke strong emotions, and Exit 202 did just that. I really wanted to strangle Micah. Seriously.

In a last-ditch effort to save his marriage, Micah takes his family to Disneyland. But their trip home takes a terrifying turn when a flat tire leaves them stranded—without a spare. After waiting for hours, Micah sets off to find help and stumbles across a mountain man willing to assist. Sounds like a lucky break, right? Not exactly.

What starts as an inconvenience quickly turns into something far more sinister. As delay after delay piles up, and the family’s situation grows more dire, it becomes clear they’re not just fighting to get home… they’re fighting to survive.

Micah, for all his flaws (and trust me, so many flaws), becomes more complex as we learn about his past. Just when I’d start to feel sympathy for him, he’d lash out again and remind me why I was so mad in the first place. This book kept me on edge with every chapter, balancing slow-burn dread with pulse-pounding action. And the twists? More intense than a roller coaster drop.

If you love psychological thrillers that slowly tighten their grip before completely knocking the wind out of you, Exit 202 is a must-read.

Brad Bennett does it again! He brings the tension to life with his performance, making the unease feel all too real. His voice work adds an extra layer of suspense, pulling you deeper into the nightmare.

Five stars. Highly recommend. Just be prepared for some serious frustration with Micah. 😤

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The narrator added such depth to the story.

I loved reading this in PB, but the audiobook is so much better. The narrator does such a great job of capturing and conveying the emotion of the text and creating a realistic atmosphere.

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Adrenaline Fuel

Another homeowner by J.B. Arnold. This book grabs you from the brining and doesn't let you go until it's haunting conclusion. How far would you go for your family? What would you do if you felt your mind slipping while being hunted by psychopaths? What is real and what isn't
This was a heart pumping book that will leave you questioning what really happened.

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1 person found this helpful

what a ride!

this was a fun one! loved the story line, the setting, and the character development. I was invested in the story from the start. the audio narration was spot on and fit perfectly with the story. great work!

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1 person found this helpful

amazing

I had already read Exit 202, J.B. has a way with writing. listening to the audiobook brought a new life to a book that I already loved.

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Exit 202

This was an intense book! Micah and his family are returning home after a fun-filled Disney weekend. Then, the unexpected happens....a flat tire and no spare! Micah is determined to salvage their trip and not revert to his anger at life by finding help.

Enter Clyde, a behemoth of a man who stops to help. But, things start to get strange and Micah, his wife, Lynn, and two boys begin to feel anything but safe. The book moves at a quick pace and the author has done a great job at creating dread, fear, and madness in the characters. One thing that always manages to scare me is the thought of being lost or running from something (or someone) in the woods and a large part of the book showcases this situation.

The narrator of the audiobook does a great job and his performance adds to the horrors of the book. This is the second book that I have read by this author and I will definitely continue reading whatever he writes. This is a great way to spend a few hours of terror!

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