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notyourmomsshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Stalking
morethanmylupus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
In the end, this had a lot of potential and I would consider picking up another book by this author, but this simply wasn't a favorite.
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gaslighting
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
alisonfaith426's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
adriapeters'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
2.5
Graphic: Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Stalking, and Murder
c100's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
3.5
“I know how you can miss something that's right in front of you.”
I mainly picked up this story because I needed an author starting with 'U' to complete the ABC Author challenge, but I tend to enjoy Lisa Unger's writing so it was by no means a chore to do so. I thought Christmas Presents was also quite fitting since we are currently in the holiday season... This turned out to be quite a quick and not that long read, and I would have probably finished it in an afternoon if I hadn't started a new crochet project and got distracted. I have a weak spot for stories with a podcast angle, so that was definitely a bonus here. I was also very much intrigued by the mystery around that night and the two girls still missing all those years later... The flashbacks to the teenage years weren't my favorite: I much preferred spending time in the present, although I do understand why these flashbacks were incorporated. What really put a damper on things though was that I guessed the truth about the disappearance of the two sisters and who was behind it very early on. The supposedly red herring was just too easy to guess, which was truly a shame. I could have done without the cheating, love triangle vibe and teen angst as well... But as a whole Christmas Presents was still entertaining enough and especially the second half is quite eventful. Just don't expect a complicated or nailbiting mystery, because the answers are mostly quite easy to guess. It's a good pick if you want to get in the holiday spirit and don't like reading Christmas romances though.
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
brookey8888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
soobooksalot'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
4.0
Bookstore owner Maddie Martin has seen her share of trauma. She's the sole survivor of an attack as a teenager that left one friend dead and two others missing and presumed murdered. Maddie has a vicious scar across her face as a reminder.
When true crime novelist/podcaster Harley Granger comes to Maddie's bookstore just before Christmas, he's wanting to delve into the case.
The murderer is in prison, but women have recently gone missing in the town - was the man convicted not acting alone?
Christmas Presents is my first Lisa Unger book, and high on my anticipated read list for the season. It did not disappoint! As can happen with a novella, I might have liked a little more time with the story/characters.
But overall - recommended!
Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
boats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol