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minimicropup's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
We follow our MC trying to find out what happened to their child, who was kidnapped one night from their crib. We see how it affects their health, relationships, and how they navigate sharing the case under the judgemental eye of true crime consumers. We also get their memories from when they were a child and what happened to their little sister, who they were close to.ย
๐ง Narration was enjoyable to listen to and easy to follow. The narrator did well with the "then" chapters for little kid voices, and being expressive without it sounding overdone or cheesy.ย
๐บ๐ Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags:ย
๐The unhinged/unreliable-ness was well done. I swayed back and forth for most of the book wondering if Ben is a total jerk and that's why Isabel is doubting herself. Or is he kind of the victim and Isabel is the troublesome person causing her own misfortune?ย
๐ I liked the narrative and how there was a lot happening, but not in an overwhelming way. We get switches between the past when Isabel is 8 years old, and moments from before she had her son, how she met Ben, through to what happened and how things are going now. It flowed well for me without being fragmented or disconnecting. Single first person narration for the audio definitely helps.ย
๐ I liked the portrayal of what it's like to be on the other side of the true crime entertainment industry and how it can be helpful and harmful for victims families.ย
๐ Clues as to what happened are gradually unravelled in a natural way, parallel with suspense created from the plot development and situations Isabel gets in to. Even though some may be able to figure it out with successive reveals, there are several outcomes possible. The ending had some slightly convenient moments but didn't ruin it for me.
Mood Reading Match Up:ย
- Unreliable narrator because of exhaustion, lack of sleep
- Clues, puzzling, red herrings about who did it and what happened
- True crime missing child plot with commentary about the true crime genre and what it's like to be on the other side of the stories
- Podcaster elements (navigating being on a podcast)
Content Heads-Up: Infidelity (suspected, emotional affairs). Missing child. Sleep disorders (sleepwalking, insomnia, passing out). Postpartum psychosis. Emotional abuse (withdrawing affection, gaslighting). Lying about birth control. Miscarriage (memories, discussed). Death of a child. Misogyny (medical, mental health).
Format: Audible
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Kidnapping
Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
feralbookwife'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: Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Vomit, Blood, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Murder, Trafficking, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship
funofme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Infidelity, and Infertility
emmehooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Pregnancy
kimveach'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
4.0
Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Blood, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, and Sexual content
catieohjoy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Child death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infertility