Reviews

When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff

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erinj254's review

3.0

I have mixed feelings about this one. It's worth 3 1/2 stars but I'm not willing to round up. Overall, it was a good BOTM pick and introduced me to an author I probably wouldn't have read otherwise.

awhisson's review

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dark fast-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

4.0

kat_caledonia's review

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dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

blaroche's review

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challenging dark emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

I got this as a free audiobook from BOTM. Thank god. If I were reading this with my eyes I don't think I would have been able to finish this book. Cassie spends the entire time gaslighting herself, only to then hit us with an unnecessary plot twist. For a story about her brother and his wrongdoings, we sure spent a whole lot of time in Cassie's head, obsessing about her romantic relationships. I'm just so exhausted of stories about rich people getting away with being terrible people. And like the incestuous relationship dynamics with Cassie and almost every male character "related" to her is just obnoxious. The court-drama mystery aspect of this book was good, and I didn't mind the characters aside from them being so disgustingly wealthy, it was just not relatable; I mean unless you want to self-identify as a needy, clingy, man-dependent woman.

marymnelsonn's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

rrickman33's review

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3.0

This is a big no for me personally

Two stars for the writing bc that was beautiful and one star for the fact that my book club had so much to talk about and digest

jerzgrl626's review

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4.0

This was my first time reading a book by Jillian Medoff and it was a book that completely caught me by surprise! Medoff wove an intricate story that, on the surface, seemed very straightforward but, as you read more and more, it dove deep into a dark storyline filled with questions, betrayals, heartbreak, and a rollercoaster of emotions. The complex relationships encompassed in the Quinn family were equal parts disturbing yet oddly engaging. While the main topic is whether or not the Quinn's son, Billy, committed a crime, that question takes an immediate back seat with a plot twist that I never saw coming.

This book was enthralling with a level of suspense that I had yet to experience in any of my 2022 reads. It was part thriller part family/courtroom drama and, as the drama continued to unfold, I read faster and faster. Reading it reminded me of books like Verity by Colleen Hoover and The Push by Ashley Audrain. I absolutely could not put this book down.

This book is going to haunt my thoughts for awhile!