rhea11's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
laurieperry's review against another edition
2.0
Lots of flashing back and forth between the present day and the past. Reminded me of Gone Girl, but done poorly.
I found the main character impossible to empathize with. She was just this deluded "but everything is perfect!" kinda mom. Just irritating.
And the ending was unsatisfying. It just stopped. I suppose you could say that the mystery is resolved, but rather abruptly. You're left feeling like there should have been one more chapter.
And I found some paragraphs to just be filler. Like the author was told the book was too short, so she added pages and pages describing the house, breakfast, the weather, the woods, the color and texture of EGG SHELLS, etc. Yes, details paint a picture for the reader, but describing a spider climbing down a wall and skittering into a crack added nothing to the story.
I found the main character impossible to empathize with. She was just this deluded "but everything is perfect!" kinda mom. Just irritating.
And the ending was unsatisfying. It just stopped. I suppose you could say that the mystery is resolved, but rather abruptly. You're left feeling like there should have been one more chapter.
And I found some paragraphs to just be filler. Like the author was told the book was too short, so she added pages and pages describing the house, breakfast, the weather, the woods, the color and texture of EGG SHELLS, etc. Yes, details paint a picture for the reader, but describing a spider climbing down a wall and skittering into a crack added nothing to the story.
cmccolgan11's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
sarahlong213's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
dr_manuela_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I still find it difficult to believe that as parents you would lend a cottage to 15 year olds to be there all on their own and that you see your 15 year old leave in a skimpy dress without asking more questions. Or that you come home to find your 17 year old at home from school in the middle of the day and you don't ask more questions. What in the world is wrong with a little doubt! This is what made this book a stretch. The mom is neglectful and I found this irritating. I truly hated the interactions between mother and children. I found the way they spoke to her unacceptable. I found the lack of interaction she had with them unacceptable.
The story was dragged out and the ending was horrible. Why drag us thru that story only for that ending. In some regards the ending was true to the interactions throughout. Why would the daughter behave that way? Was her life that terrible? No!
The story was dragged out and the ending was horrible. Why drag us thru that story only for that ending. In some regards the ending was true to the interactions throughout. Why would the daughter behave that way? Was her life that terrible? No!
mare2006's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
aliafelicity's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first review of a book. I was sceptical of it as the reviews weren't the best. This book brought me to tears. It was hauntingly beautiful. This is a tragic love story. A love of a young teen discovering who she is, the love of a mother, the love of siblings. So typical of teens who just have no idea how their actions affect the one around them who love them. I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely more of a tragic love story than a thriller in my opinion. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
mandimartin's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the first 50 pages of this book and the last 20 pages of this book. The 300 in between droned on and on without accomplishing much. I don't think this book was as well thought out as it should have been. Not all the characters were well developed. The author could have told the story and done it well by chopping off 100 pages or so. I appreciate long books when length is necessary and adds to the book, but this book wasn't complex enough or brilliant enough to warrant that many pages. I can see understand that the author wanted to give the reader a thorough grasp of her grieving and the impact it had on her family. That takes time to do, but not 300 pages of time. I did enjoy this book, but I finished it frustrated and not with the feeling of awe a good book inspires.
evadis's review against another edition
3.0
Weinig bijzondere schrijfstijl, wel een leuk plot en best interessante thematiek. Leest lekker weg.
rachiebeeee's review against another edition
4.0
A very good portrait of a womans life after tragedy. Very interesting how she is blamed for everything but her husband is not. Brings up the question can people have it all?