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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
lauren_reads_outside'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
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, 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
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
foldingthepage_kayleigh'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
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Torture
maddireads13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
killerpancake's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, and Murder
avidreaderandgeekgirl'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
3.0
I found this book fairly predictable. I know since it was a shorter book it was harder to write a more complex mystery, but still. I knew from about halfway through the book who the murderer was.
I also could have gone without the romance, though luckily it wasn't a huge part of the book.
Overall an okay thriller. I just think the story could have been a longer and better book since it had good bones to it.
Extra ratings: Fluff - 0/5 Heartfelt- 4/5 Helpful-NA Horror- 1/5 Inspiration- NA Love aka Romance-2/5 Mystery-4/5 Predictability- 4.5/5 Spice- 0/5 Suspense- 3/5 Tear 4/5 Thrill- 4/5 Humor-0.5/5
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse