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lesemaresi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
fairylightreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Self harm
Minor: Eating disorder, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
sarahmae531's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The ending was set up perfectly. I was so sure I knew what was going to happen because it all seemed so obvious, but then I was proven SO wrong. The true ending was also well explained and you weren’t left wondering “how does that all add up??”
The book also did an amazing job of not breaking the fourth wall. Editor, publisher, and author notes included in the book are all fiction. There is a character in the book that’s shares the name and title of a debut novel as the author. Emails, photos, and even a Facebook post are included. It was very impressive.
I will say, check content warnings before reading, this has almost every traumatizing thing you can think of.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
milliep's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction and Death
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
amichreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
novabooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
amym84's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
But as Joseph immerses himself within Zoe's story, the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur.
I really enjoyed the idea of breaking the fourth wall so to speak. Joseph Knox blurs the lines between truth and fiction and brings the reader along for the ride. It's really clever and drives the story forward. I think it's a perfect commentary on our near-obsession with true crime with the number of docuseries and podcasts around, almost anyone can reach the status of armchair detective. Joseph Knox plays upon this excellently.
I really like the oral history format of the story. It really enhances the idea of the supposed reality of the story. I've read other books that have utilized this technique and it's one that makes me want to listen to the audiobook as I feel like that's the closest way to really convey the idea of someone being interviewed.
The story itself unfolds at a languid pace. I liked how with all the different characters putting in their own version of events you don't know what, or who, to trust. Everyone has secrets and reasons for keeping or telling those secrets. It's just interesting to see the narrative changes as the various twists and turns are revealed. I think my only complaint is, at a certain point, I did feel like there were certain points where I felt like the information was being recycled over and over again without any forward momentum, but once we'd hit on a piece of information it would almost be like looking at the story again with a fresh set of eyes.
Without giving anything away, I also feel like Joseph Knox gives a satisfying ending. He clearly knows in True Crime Stories of any kind it's the resolution that people want to see, the answers. I don't think this one disappoints.
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Alcohol