opplecopter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Let me start off by saying this whole concept is creepy in itself because I can completely see this, along with the absolute chaos that ensues, being a possibility in the future. This is a modern day Twilight Zone tale or I suppose Black Mirror would be a better fitting comparison. We’ve got some psychological thriller/suspense with a dash of sci-fi thrown in. The story follows five people who have been “Matched.” Mandy, a divorcée who just wants to find love after heartbreak, Jade, who is angry and disappointed in her life as a whole, Nick, a man who is planning a wedding with his fiancée, Ellie, a woman of wealth and power, and Christopher, who is a serial killer (not a spoiler, you find this out immediately when he is introduced).
We cycle back and forth between the lives of each of these people, so if you prefer a book with one straightforward storyline and don’t like jumping around, then you probably won’t enjoy this. The chapters are numerous, but very short since each one focuses on one of the five people. Personally, I enjoy the short chapters, some of which are only 2-3 pages, because it helps me remember everything still going on with the other characters. I feel like if they were longer, I would’ve been constantly flipping back to reread so I could keep up. I will be honest and say a couple of the storylines started out boring while a couple seemed to grab my attention much sooner (like Christopher’s), but they all deepen and get better as you go on. Starting off, we get to know their lives and backgrounds before we watch their worlds get shaken up and flipped upside down. There were so many layers, twists, lies, secrets, and betrayals. The ending was so unexpected and changed the entire atmosphere of the book and made you question everything.
I’ve been looking for another 5 star for months, and every time I thought I found one, I was disappointed. I have zero complaints on this one.
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Torture, Murder, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Medical content, and Cursing
Minor: Pedophilia, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
ohkaereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Those are my difficulties with the book. I felt it had potential and like the mcs with their ‘matches’, I wanted to like the book more than I actually did. I, personally, love books with a message and while this novel had one, it never delivered said message gracefully. It was an enjoyable ride but not a remarkable one.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Cancer, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Medical content, Stalking, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Misogyny
Moderate: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Infertility, Ableism, Blood, Cursing, Sexism, Kidnapping, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicidal thoughts
dazzle_spider_reader_1212's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Miscarriage and Murder
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Infidelity, Blood, Body shaming, Car accident, Child death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Cancer, Medical content, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Alcohol, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
chloestansifer'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, Cancer, and Mental illness
Moderate: Cancer and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Stalking, and Domestic abuse
cady_sass's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Edited to add: this is sci-fi, and the science written here is obviously not sound. If you’ll be bothered by the scientific inaccuracies of the central element here then skip this, otherwise have fun pretending it’s real :)
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Grief, Terminal illness, Cancer, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Cursing, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Infidelity, Homophobia, Abortion, Infertility, Miscarriage, Car accident, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Vomit, Medical content, and Medical trauma
franklola's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Blood, Gaslighting, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Alcohol, Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
decembermagpie'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Terminal illness, Blood, Death, Murder, Gore, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Stalking, Child death, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Cancer, Outing, Car accident, Infertility, Medical content, Vomit, Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia
Minor: Sexual content
marchhare89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Infertility, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Grief, Mental illness, Infidelity, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Stalking
the_greywarren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Over all I think I just didn't really mesh with the writing style, so it was pretty average for me.
Also like, all the trigger warnings for this book, jesus.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Medical content, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Infidelity, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
rooroo_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Child death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Alcoholism, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy