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worldsunlikeourown's review against another edition
4.0
Read more reviews on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
This book was a last minute addition to my TBR after I saw a couple of great reviews for it. The concept was so fascinating that I couldn’t help but pick it up. It was an entertaining read and the buildup of the tension was very well done, and the air of mystery maintained throughout. I was continuously wondering what exactly Poppy’s parents were hiding and why they lived the strange life they did. It was a thriller of course, but it was also a coming of age novel for Poppy as she begins to unearth long hidden family secrets and starts to wonder who she is outside the isolated life she has led with her parents and sister.
The part that didn’t work for me however, was that it felt rather unrealistic that Poppy didn’t think about digging into her family’s past for some answers way before this. I also thought that the big reveal fell a little flat in proportion to the buildup – it could have been so much more dramatic.
This book actually has a lot of scope for a sequel and it’s something I’d definitely be interested in reading. Despite this book having wrapped up the major plot points, there are still a lot of questions that could be answered. Overall, this was a pretty good read and I would recommend it for fans of thrillers!
This book was a last minute addition to my TBR after I saw a couple of great reviews for it. The concept was so fascinating that I couldn’t help but pick it up. It was an entertaining read and the buildup of the tension was very well done, and the air of mystery maintained throughout. I was continuously wondering what exactly Poppy’s parents were hiding and why they lived the strange life they did. It was a thriller of course, but it was also a coming of age novel for Poppy as she begins to unearth long hidden family secrets and starts to wonder who she is outside the isolated life she has led with her parents and sister.
The part that didn’t work for me however, was that it felt rather unrealistic that Poppy didn’t think about digging into her family’s past for some answers way before this. I also thought that the big reveal fell a little flat in proportion to the buildup – it could have been so much more dramatic.
This book actually has a lot of scope for a sequel and it’s something I’d definitely be interested in reading. Despite this book having wrapped up the major plot points, there are still a lot of questions that could be answered. Overall, this was a pretty good read and I would recommend it for fans of thrillers!
nelly005's review against another edition
4.0
4.25
- i’m so happy for poppy and hardy but her sister
- i’m so happy for poppy and hardy but her sister
notwarriors's review against another edition
5.0
4 1/2 stars rounded up & has secured marit weisenberg as one of my new fav authors
onlylonelystars's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.75
The inevitable reveal wasn't as drastic as I'd hoped, though Weisenberg delivered on the drama. I think I'd have preferred if the ending wasn't as open. Overall it's pretty good. The narrator did a good job with all the voices.
cinder00239's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bibliosteph's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
thebookberrie's review against another edition
I'm not saying I could have made up a more interesting backstory but I'm not NOT saying that...
This Golden State is about a girl named Poppy who has always been on the run with her family. They have a strict set of rules to stay under the radar that they have managed to follow Poppy's entire life. She has no idea why they are running only that this is her life and her future is uncertain. When a move to California exposes a crack in her parents' planning, Poppy is determined to find out the truth. She mails in a home DNA test and just as she starts to settle in her new life, the results come in and crash her back to reality.
This was okay, I guess. I only vibed for a little bit because it reminded me of Black Widow's family in her solo movie so my brain said yeah lets make this more interesting but the actual answer wasn't that good lol. The reason they are on the run is left open for so long that the entire time I was just thinking of the most wild, crazy reasons so when we get the actual reason I was just like, oh well okay. I'm not gonna spoil but just think of the most interesting reason they could be on the run and throw it away because it isn't the reason.
This is probably blending with the last book I read that had a similar romance as in... (mostly) basic nice boy is helpful and they fall in love. Like that's cool and all but I literally cannot remember his name and I just finished the book oops.
Poppy was pretty dumb for a smart girl and her parents were the same. The entire book is just based around this mystery and it was frustrating in how long it took only to be completely unsatisfying. Audiobook was quick though!!
This Golden State is about a girl named Poppy who has always been on the run with her family. They have a strict set of rules to stay under the radar that they have managed to follow Poppy's entire life. She has no idea why they are running only that this is her life and her future is uncertain. When a move to California exposes a crack in her parents' planning, Poppy is determined to find out the truth. She mails in a home DNA test and just as she starts to settle in her new life, the results come in and crash her back to reality.
This was okay, I guess. I only vibed for a little bit because it reminded me of Black Widow's family in her solo movie so my brain said yeah lets make this more interesting but the actual answer wasn't that good lol. The reason they are on the run is left open for so long that the entire time I was just thinking of the most wild, crazy reasons so when we get the actual reason I was just like, oh well okay. I'm not gonna spoil but just think of the most interesting reason they could be on the run and throw it away because it isn't the reason.
This is probably blending with the last book I read that had a similar romance as in... (mostly) basic nice boy is helpful and they fall in love. Like that's cool and all but I literally cannot remember his name and I just finished the book oops.
Poppy was pretty dumb for a smart girl and her parents were the same. The entire book is just based around this mystery and it was frustrating in how long it took only to be completely unsatisfying. Audiobook was quick though!!
shabbyisreading's review against another edition
2.0
I started this book wanting to read a mystery/thriller, and what did I get? A whole ton of romance with a hint of mystery. I feel like the author took a very interesting plot and ruined it by adding way too much romance.
Also, the ending was not satisfying whatsoever. It left me with a lot of questions and it felt super rushed. I was also expecting some major plot twist but never got it. It doesn’t take a genius to connect the dot about who her parents really were.
My major problem with books that I give a bad rating to is that they don’t have good character description. This doesn’t help me visualize the scene or the characters. This book didn’t have any good character description and I had to imagine blank faces.
I also didn’t like how the setting never changed. We were given three settings and that was it.
I was really dissatisfied and disappointed.
Also, the ending was not satisfying whatsoever. It left me with a lot of questions and it felt super rushed. I was also expecting some major plot twist but never got it. It doesn’t take a genius to connect the dot about who her parents really were.
My major problem with books that I give a bad rating to is that they don’t have good character description. This doesn’t help me visualize the scene or the characters. This book didn’t have any good character description and I had to imagine blank faces.
I also didn’t like how the setting never changed. We were given three settings and that was it.
I was really dissatisfied and disappointed.
orangeowl55's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual content and Abandonment
almamaravillas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.25