Paradise Island: A Sam and Colby Story

Product Information

The trip goes from enchanting to weird, to deadly when the boys take a detour to the legendary Na Pali Coast where they find themselves at the infamous Belle Estate, which is owned by a wealthy and eccentric widow—who locals believe is a witch. When an unfavorable change of plans forces them to stay overnight at the eerie estate, Sam and Colby are in for the most terrifying encounter of their lives. Unfortunately, people saw what they wanted to see, and Sam knew this better than anybody. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder if maybe they should’ve gone to Vegas instead where rowdiness wasn’t just acceptable, it was expected. Too late—here they were, and here they’d remain for the next six days.

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 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. Just how meta the book was. Like, the quote I included at the top? I laughed for way too long when I read that. 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

Customer reviews

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. 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. More like all play and zero work this time, brother," Sam said, shaking his head. At LAX airport and throughout the flight, Nate had plugged away on his iPad, writing short stories for his college writing class. Sure, Sam was all about hard work, but he hoped Nate would disconnect long enough to enjoy the trip, too.

The thing was, Colby’s transition from high school graduate to YouTube ghost hunter hadn’t come easy. His parents hadn’t been happy about his move to Los Angeles with Sam. They’d told him the same stuff all concerned parents told their kids: Find your digital copy of Paradise Island here: permutedpress.com/book/paradise-island-a-sam-and-colby-story As the plane made its final approach into Lihue Airport, Sam Golbach stared out the window. Azure waves hugged the towering emerald peaks and sandy white beaches of Hawaii’s fourth-largest island. Like a crystal blue embrace, he thought. He couldn’t wait to get this vacation started. Even though they loved being ghost hunters and entertaining millions on YouTube, they’d been abandoned, stranded, cursed, haunted, and yes, even arrested for trespassing (thanks, Florida!). 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.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. 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.