notesonbookmarks's review against another edition
3.0
super quick read, kept me guessing, but no giant sororities that had me gasping. I feel like this is Lapena's sophomore slump, and it's moot a terrible one, so I'm definitely looking forward to whatever is next from her! Karen is in an accident after driving recklessly (so unusual for her), and cannot remember what led her to ruin the red light while speeding due to amnesia. her husband Tom is worried about her and concerned she might be keeping secrets. Not a super compelling premise, but the short chapters kept me turning the pages and I breezed through this one in about 24 hours.
highitsanais's review against another edition
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mackbooked's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
katy_zeng's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
2.0
Escuché el audiolibro de este libro ya que desde hace mucho quería entrar a esto de los audiolibros y los libros de suspenso se veían como la mejor opción, debido a que tengo problemas de concentracion y no me equivoqué.
A diferencia de los libros físicos o en digital, los audiolibros los puedo escuchar incluso cuando estoy descansando la vista y, a pesar de que hubo partes en donde tuve que retroceder un poco la historia (porque mi concentración se iba), me lo terminé bastante rápido.
La historia engancha bastante y te mantiene con el suspenso durante todo el libro, sin embargo, la trama es predecible. A pesar de eso, disfruté la primera parte del libro y también me sorprendió bastante el plot twist ya para el final del libro.
A diferencia de los libros físicos o en digital, los audiolibros los puedo escuchar incluso cuando estoy descansando la vista y, a pesar de que hubo partes en donde tuve que retroceder un poco la historia (porque mi concentración se iba), me lo terminé bastante rápido.
La historia engancha bastante y te mantiene con el suspenso durante todo el libro, sin embargo, la trama es predecible. A pesar de eso, disfruté la primera parte del libro y también me sorprendió bastante el plot twist ya para el final del libro.
jackierobinson's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't love it, but I didn't dislike it either.
Karen Krupp wakes up in hospital to find that she's had a serious car crash in the worst part of town. Things aren't adding up, and someone has turned up dead... What's going on?
It's a classic crime thriller. I found the characters lacked depth and I didn't actually like anyone in this book. Brigid was stupid, Tom was spineless, and Karen was just plain annoying.
It wasn't terribly hard to read, but I didn't feel that pull when I put the book down to immediately pick it back up and devour the pages. That's always a little bit sad.
After Shari Lapena's first book I was expecting big things. I was a little disappointed but overall it wasn't a terrible book. The Couple Next Door will remain her best book so far.
Karen Krupp wakes up in hospital to find that she's had a serious car crash in the worst part of town. Things aren't adding up, and someone has turned up dead... What's going on?
It's a classic crime thriller. I found the characters lacked depth and I didn't actually like anyone in this book. Brigid was stupid, Tom was spineless, and Karen was just plain annoying.
It wasn't terribly hard to read, but I didn't feel that pull when I put the book down to immediately pick it back up and devour the pages. That's always a little bit sad.
After Shari Lapena's first book I was expecting big things. I was a little disappointed but overall it wasn't a terrible book. The Couple Next Door will remain her best book so far.
yoteach87's review against another edition
2.0
A Stranger in the House revisits the commonly occurring trope of the lead female protagonist's affliction with amnesia and nearly every other cliche that follows: an accident, a murder, a marriage thrown into chaos. While the mysterious Karen Krupp awaits her memory to return to her, and it always happens near the climax, the story flounders for action. But while the husband is often the bain of the wife’s existence, the trope is sidestepped in favor of a neighbor, Brigid, Karen’s friend from across the street. Hijinks ensue while the three leads attempt to juggle the murder in light of a set of completely unreliable narrators.
There's not much new ground here. The three leads move in and out of believability. Tom Krupp, Karen’s husband, is far too eager to call everything into question when the police question him about his wife’s accident. Before the accident, we learn that Tom and Karen’s marriage (of two years) has been perfect. Then, suddenly, one strange act by Karen (driving erratically and getting into an accident) makes Tom pause. Why the sudden change of heart? Is it because they’ve only been married for two years and, for the sake of the story, Tom decided he didn’t need to know anything about his wife or her past before marrying her? Many choices had to be made, mostly by Tom, for this story and its predictable path to be followed.
What especially inscenced me was the ending. Obvious spoilers ahead, so skip this paragraph to avoid the ending. The ending can be divided into two parts: Karen’s reflection and Brigid’s brooding. Karen’s reflection is the twist ending the reader had waited for but never got. Here she reflects on how she is a survivor, and that essentially her backstory (which is relayed several times by supporting characters through much of the story) was false. While not terribly believable, I was willing to suspend my belief to accept her truth. However, Brigid’s brooding was unnecessary fodder for, what I am guessing is, a sequel. Why the Krupp’s need to go on another adventure seems like an asinine trip for the reader to take. What more is there to say? How many more trials can their shaky marriage take before breaking apart completely? Why can’t they just move away to a new state? It’s not like Tom needed that accounting job.
Author Shari Lapena's second novel comes from the same idea-factory that continually pumps out Girl on the Train clones, hoping to capitalize on its success. While an entertaining read at best, at worst this will be a forgettable story that, months from now, I realize that keeping a record of a review is the only way I remembered I've read it.
There's not much new ground here. The three leads move in and out of believability. Tom Krupp, Karen’s husband, is far too eager to call everything into question when the police question him about his wife’s accident. Before the accident, we learn that Tom and Karen’s marriage (of two years) has been perfect. Then, suddenly, one strange act by Karen (driving erratically and getting into an accident) makes Tom pause. Why the sudden change of heart? Is it because they’ve only been married for two years and, for the sake of the story, Tom decided he didn’t need to know anything about his wife or her past before marrying her? Many choices had to be made, mostly by Tom, for this story and its predictable path to be followed.
What especially inscenced me was the ending. Obvious spoilers ahead, so skip this paragraph to avoid the ending. The ending can be divided into two parts: Karen’s reflection and Brigid’s brooding. Karen’s reflection is the twist ending the reader had waited for but never got. Here she reflects on how she is a survivor, and that essentially her backstory (which is relayed several times by supporting characters through much of the story) was false. While not terribly believable, I was willing to suspend my belief to accept her truth. However, Brigid’s brooding was unnecessary fodder for, what I am guessing is, a sequel. Why the Krupp’s need to go on another adventure seems like an asinine trip for the reader to take. What more is there to say? How many more trials can their shaky marriage take before breaking apart completely? Why can’t they just move away to a new state? It’s not like Tom needed that accounting job.
Author Shari Lapena's second novel comes from the same idea-factory that continually pumps out Girl on the Train clones, hoping to capitalize on its success. While an entertaining read at best, at worst this will be a forgettable story that, months from now, I realize that keeping a record of a review is the only way I remembered I've read it.
katerb12's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
readmore0304's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0