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geauxgetlit's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Darling Rose Gold and had this one on my radar when I initially heard about it’s release.
This Might Hurt opens with a dark disturbing scene that held me captive throughout. Told from a place called Wisewood, where it brings all the “troubled/problem” people to hide outside of the grid.
Told from unreliable povs, sickening abuse, a cult and a family with hidden secrets…this is a book for the unscathed thriller junkie reader.
It’s not for everyone and if you require trigger warnings…well here is your warning lol.
This Might Hurt opens with a dark disturbing scene that held me captive throughout. Told from a place called Wisewood, where it brings all the “troubled/problem” people to hide outside of the grid.
Told from unreliable povs, sickening abuse, a cult and a family with hidden secrets…this is a book for the unscathed thriller junkie reader.
It’s not for everyone and if you require trigger warnings…well here is your warning lol.
vacantbones's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, I get why This Might Hurt is so polarizing now that I've finished. What a doozy.
I said the other day in a review for another book that I'm getting cult fatigue. This book feels so unique and different, totally working around that exhaustion I feel. I really admire how it approaches self-improvement, and the voice of Teacher is pretty damn convincing. There were also quite a few turns that I just did not see coming and, as a result, I apparently enjoyed this read much more than the average bear. And the ending? Oh man.
Probably my least favorite part is how this one is formatted. Every other chapter is from the POV of a character who isn't revealed until a ways into the book and, while I understand this creative decision, it really started to take away from my reading experience to have to try and keep these timelines straight without knowing who I was reading about.
Side note: love the cover and its connection to the story.
I said the other day in a review for another book that I'm getting cult fatigue. This book feels so unique and different, totally working around that exhaustion I feel. I really admire how it approaches self-improvement, and the voice of Teacher is pretty damn convincing. There were also quite a few turns that I just did not see coming and, as a result, I apparently enjoyed this read much more than the average bear. And the ending? Oh man.
Probably my least favorite part is how this one is formatted. Every other chapter is from the POV of a character who isn't revealed until a ways into the book and, while I understand this creative decision, it really started to take away from my reading experience to have to try and keep these timelines straight without knowing who I was reading about.
Side note: love the cover and its connection to the story.
barbiegirl1993's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
horsley123's review against another edition
3.0
It is not often that a book makes me feel sick before I get to the end of the first page - but this one takes that accolade. There are a few, quite frankly, weird sadomasochistic moments sandwiched between stodgy, relentless, rather protracted scene setting. The timeframe is spread over a number of years and the narrator also changes. I confused myself by assuming that the nameless Madam Fearless was also the elder sister - she isn't, just in case you get sucked into that rabbit hole.
It seemed to be very long - as I read it on Kindle I can't verify that by looking at an actual book, but it did go on and on, and not really get anywhere. I finished it but it wasn't a wholly enjoyable experience. If you want a spooky spa story I would recommend 'Nine Perfect Strangers'.
It seemed to be very long - as I read it on Kindle I can't verify that by looking at an actual book, but it did go on and on, and not really get anywhere. I finished it but it wasn't a wholly enjoyable experience. If you want a spooky spa story I would recommend 'Nine Perfect Strangers'.
filemanager's review
3.0
I just finished this book, and I'm not sure I understand the very end, but maybe it's up to the reader to decide for themselves what happened? I would have liked more clarity. (And why didn't Rebecca's chapters have her name at the beginning, like Natalie and Kit's did?)
I liked the way the story unfolded, and Rebecca's history was interesting (and kind of creepy). Even though this book is fiction, it was an interesting look at the mentality behind cults, and how they could be formed, etc. It was also interesting, the perspective on fear, and being strong, enduring, etc.
Overall an interesting and enjoyable read, and the first few chapters will definitely get you hooked!
I liked the way the story unfolded, and Rebecca's history was interesting (and kind of creepy). Even though this book is fiction, it was an interesting look at the mentality behind cults, and how they could be formed, etc. It was also interesting, the perspective on fear, and being strong, enduring, etc.
Overall an interesting and enjoyable read, and the first few chapters will definitely get you hooked!
ihateprozac's review against another edition
4.0
I looooove me a cult thriller - and particularly one that has a woman at the helm!
Unfortunately this story suffers from being lopsided: it has multiple timelines/POVs and one is far stronger than the other. I was far more invested in the cult leader’s backstory and I honestly couldn’t care less about the present-day sisters and why they fell out.
If this had purely focused on the cult leader it could’ve easily been 5 stars. As it is, this was a 3.5 star for me.
Unfortunately this story suffers from being lopsided: it has multiple timelines/POVs and one is far stronger than the other. I was far more invested in the cult leader’s backstory and I honestly couldn’t care less about the present-day sisters and why they fell out.
If this had purely focused on the cult leader it could’ve easily been 5 stars. As it is, this was a 3.5 star for me.
southernbibliomom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book centers around two sisters who have had a difficult upbringing. One so consumed by guilt she runs off to join a cult led by The Teacher. The other so consumed by a need to save she chases after in order to save her sister. Told in both sisters POV as well as through a mysterious flashback POV. This thriller kept me wondering who is the third pov? Who exactly is the teacher? I felt for the older sister, Nat. Throughout her childhood she stood in the gap left by her parents so her sister could have as normal a childhood as possible. She really did become the parent. This led her to live an extremely controlled life where her sister is her only real concern. But, she was still a child herself so she does act out in a childish way when they were kids. Instead of growing up herself, Kit gives Nat all the blame and none of the credit. I just wanted to shake her. Then watching what the teacher does and how she gets the isolation and odd devotion cults are known for is fascinating. And the ending …
aguattery's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.5
I thought the first half was stellar, but it ended up leading nowhere. I don't know exactly how to explain it but the things that the author focused on for each POV felt like they weren't the right things to push the narrative along to the ending we got. Probably one of the most unsatisfying endings I've read in a long time.
nikman34's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5