Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

133 reviews

bertrandlm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, and Murder

gemloukay's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• 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

3.5

Lenora Hope is most famous for being the girl that got away with murder if her whole family in the 1920s. She now lives, mute and paralysed but for the use of her left hand, in one room of her mansion. Over 50 years have passed but the town hasn’t forgotten. When Kit McDeere finds herself with no other option than to take the job as her caregiver, the 2 form a bond seemingly over being wrongly accused. Typing very slowly on a typewriter, Lenora starts to explain what happened the night of the murders. But with the previous caregiver having disappeared, strange noises in the house every night, and the house itself gradually sliding over the edge of the cliff, will she finish telling Kit her story before outside influences prevent her from doing so? And if she does, will she ultimately just admit she did it after all? 

This is a twisty mystery with a gothic feel despite being set in the 1980s. It’s pacy, but the last 50-100 or so pages felt a little too unbelievable for me, particularly with reveal after reveal of twists, many of which you just can’t ever predict as you were given no clues to. That being said it was an enjoyable, easy read with plenty of guessing to be had. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cancer and Suicide

han_pear's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

katndrsn's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Infidelity, Blood, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying

lmcclel's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

The first 80% of the novel was really good! The plot progressed nicely, it was intriguing, and atmospheric. The issues began as the twists (multiple) were revealed. Some of those I saw coming, but that was not that big of a deal - the one's I don't think anyone could see coming were because they were SO out of left field, eye-rollingly so. Then there was the FINAL reveal which was so ridiculous. 
I would rate the first 80% of the book at 4.5 stars and the last 20% of the book at 1 star (a half of a star even). 
My overall rating of 3 stars is due to my enjoyment of the majority of the novel.

A non-spoiler flaw throughout the book was that the amazing house was not explored in full, we only got to "visit" about 10% of Hope's End.

A possible spoilerish enhancement of the book was that

there was nothing supernatural or ghosty going on, though at times it seemed like that could be a possibility

Regarding the content warnings I chose, if you've read the book description, you know what is coming, for the most part. None of the content is overly graphic.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

someone in the book is forced to to give a child up for adoption; though this can also be thought of as kidnapping

badgerceereads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Fate. Cowardice. Love. Betrayal. Heartbreak. 

The sins of the father runs strong in this one

this was a rollercoaster ride especially the end. I had many theories and conspiracies partially true but not quite complete that’s how twisty it is even when you have a guess or the right answer you don’t. For me five stars because it accomplishes what a good book should, made me emotional kept me engaged and I needed to know the full story and how it ended no matter what theory was proved right I need to have the ending the author intended. It was a wild ride and honestly I was pretty bleh on Kit but she wasn’t bad as the whole.

Kit made me angry a few times where I felt myself yelling at the page. I had a feeling about Mrs baker. I think one has to really read this book and enjoy it for what it is. Enjoy the ride no matter how frustrating but mad I wish I read this with a buddy cause the drama n the mess. Old money problems a stolen baby mistaken identity and situation. Prideful person full of shame and guilt has it all. If you think Mrs baker is evil you’re not far off if you guess she’s the sister you also wouldn’t be off but let me tell you. Even if you guess that and guess that maybe kits dad is a love child or lover or maybe you guess someone does you’ll be close but still far from the truth. That’s how twist go in the end the family solves it’s own Mystery and all is well just know Virginia’s not dead and if you read this spoiler damn and you still won’t know it all the twist just kept coming this beat don’t make no sense lol

it truly was full of twist that was no exaggeration. This is a example and reflection of

sibling rivalry and animosity, young love going wrong, self righteous, self centered, a war of classes and everything done in the dark always comes to light type of tale. I was not expecting Archie to not be in love with Virginia and I didn’t expect Lenora to be so different than how she was described i definitely didn’t expect kits dad to have worked there but by the end it all makes sense

I really enjoyed my rollercoaster ride but woow

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Murder

Minor: Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Vomit, and War

Secrets never stay secrets for long

gillzzzo's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I had heard such good things about this book that it was inevitably not going to quite live up to the hype. 

Pros - Interesting plot, lots of twists with the main one being very good. Didn’t see it coming. Easy to read. Entertaining 

Con’s- the writing felt repetitive and a bit trite at times. She often pointed out really obvious things and tried to make them sound deep. I kind of struggled with the unprofessional nature of the carer meddling in her patient’s no doubt very painful past (though I work in healthcare so maybe this is specific to me). It didn’t make sense that people just confessed things to her so quickly after having kept them secret for years for no reason other than her asking. The whole backstory with her mum and that whole investigation didn’t make much sense to me either. Plus her interactions with Detective Vick were annoying and overly dramatic (“IF YOU JUST DID YOUR DAMN JOB” -what job? Investigating a closed case murder with no witnesses, that was already investigated at the time???? What do you want from him kit???) 

Anyways. That’s my rant. Still worth a read but I wouldn’t say it’s the best thriller of all times 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Pregnancy

stellahadz's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

I was intrigued by the premise of this book, and I had it on hold at the library for AGES, so apparently I wasn't the only one. The atmosphere (spooky mansion on the edge of a cliff) was set up perfectly, as was the characterization, although some of the characters seemed a bit caricature-ish, specifically Mrs. Baker. The story was intriguing, and I couldn't wait to see where it went. That being said, while all the reveals at the end were shocking (as in, I didn't see any of them coming, and what I *thought* would be the big reveal turned out to be a total non-starter) -

I just felt like there were too many. It ended up being a lot to keep track of, and it feels like cheap writing to have to stuff the ending with as many plot twists as possible instead of just having one or two really excellent, chilling reveals.

The writing also veered into r/TwoSentenceHorror territory at times, specifically at the end of chapters. (Short sentences. 
And line breaks. 
Were used WAY too frequently. 
For dramatic effect.)

Overall, it's a great story with a lot of potential, but the writing leaves something to be desired. It's good for what it is - a twisty, somewhat soapy Gothic story - but it's far from the best thriller I've read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Classism

clare072's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

spellbindingtomes's review

dark mysterious medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship