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k8gr8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse
sareeta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infidelity, Dementia, and Stalking
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
saffiyahk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
beckyjayson'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
acbauter's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
taras2's review
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse
jomerl's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
doodlebeanz'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
1.5
This book was about two women at the lowest points of their life and you can't even feel badly for them. They made every wrong choice. I facepalmed at least once a chapter at the stupidity of these two women. Normally in domestic thrillers like this, you're rooting for the women to get away from the man, but in this instance, I was just hoping one of them would grow a brain and make a right choice for once.
The writing was also just... not good. I don't want to say horrendous, but close to. It was so juvenile, it had no flow and it didn't feel natural. It was so cold and lackluster, like I was reading a text book or something, I can't even explain it. I didn't feel any connection to any character; no one was flushed out, no one had any depth to them, everything was rushed, everything was hinted at before it happened, there were some twists but honestly, it was just exhausting. The author threw in SO many twists that it just became repetitive and unrealistic and exhausting for the reader. So many times I had to say 'wait, what?' and go back and re-read a sentence but it still didn't make a whole lot of sense, it almost felt like Harding forgot what she was writing too. Everyone had the same tone, if that makes sense. The main characters (Lee, Jesse, Hazel, Benjamin) all had the same tone as all the lawyers, Jesse's brother, the receptionist at a salon (characters who were just there for a scene or two). It was just so... flat. No affect. Just completely void of creativity.
The only reason this book gets a star and a half is because I did consume it very quickly. I was obsessed with finishing it and wondering what the hell was going on. It was a disappointing read and definitely a hate read. I hated how much I wanted to know, how I kept turning the pages and staying up far past my bed time to get to the end/the point. Sadly, I never got to the point but I did luckily get to the end.
This book got so much praise on GoodReads and maybe I am just being harsh, but this was a bad book. I would not recommend this to anyone. I will not be grabbing anther one of Harding's book off the shelf anytime soon. Disappointing.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident
mollieweitzman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Murder
jblum4's review against another edition
2.5
I think there are a few things that annoyed me about the book. The writing style was pretty "tell not show". The plot seemed fairly unbelievable - the all-powerful evil husband who has no motive nor reason behind his cruelty - and seemed to rely heavily on the shock factor to keep readers engaged. I also don't enjoy when female audiobook narrators think that the way to voice male characters is by speaking in a weirdly low and raspy tone to sound masculine.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt