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greatexpectations77's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
This was quite creepy, and I appreciated all of the tension and mystery that Ms. Ware built up over the course of the book. But I didn't feel like the resolution was fully satisfying. It was like a friend telling you how incredibly delicious a restaurant is for lots of hours, and then you show up there and all they have is toast. Like, does this technically fulfill the need? Yeah, but you feel disappointed that the build-up didn't lead to a huge ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
pershie13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Let me start off by saying this: Oh. My. Gosh. I read The Woman in Cabin 10 a few years ago and still remember some of the uneasy feelings it gave me as a read, but this book took that to another level. I was questioning everyone and everything along with the main character, and I felt such deep emotions of unease and confusion as I tried to solve the mystery as I was reading. I don't think I have ever read a book that stirred up so many different emotions from start to finish, and I am not in the least bit surprised by how much I liked this book. The creepiness of the tech and surveillance was relatable as someone who tends to be afraid of the dark side of technology, and I found myself telling the main character to get the heck out of there pretty much from the start. The plot twist in the last hundred pages was truly shocking, and I love how Ruth Ware brought the whole book together in the end. The last couple pages definitely left me asking questions, and I did not expect the book to end the way it did. This is one of the best books I have read this year - or even ever - and definitely one of the most thrilling! An automatic 5-star read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Gore, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
minimicropup's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Unsettling, pragmatic, well-rounded.
We are following our MC who works in childcare. They find the opportunity of their lifetime in a posting for a live-in nanny for three young girls. But why has this seemingly normal family had such a revolving door of past nannies...π€
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Set in an isolated Scottish Victorian house renovated into a smart house by architects.
π§ Ruth Ware + Imogen Church = Perfection. The intonation, expressiveness, and emotion is conveyed so well, it's like actually being read a story. Imogen Church manages such on point voicing of males, females, teens, and children. π
Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags πΊπ:
-π I have enjoyed all of Ruth Ware's books to date, but they do tend to be on the long side with too much thought-monolog sometimes. THIS one was justified in length. It felt fast-paced once it got going and I didn't want to put it down.
-π€·ββοΈ There are no chapter numbers, so it's hard to sync audio to text if you are reading both
-π There are no chapter numbers because the entire novel is technically a letter to a lawyer written by our MC. I didn't mind because if someone has that much time on their hands, I can imagine writing a letter that evolves into an entire novel!
-ππ€― Did not predict the double-twists! Lots of realistic red herrings but not annoyingly so, and the clues are all there for the reader to piece together if especially astute.
-ππ° I am not a kid person so the suspense was especially relatable to me. To be trapped alone with kids...having to always keep mental space for their needs, the unpredictability and uncontrollability of every thing they do and say...shudder. Like, even though the intentions may be different, most kids behave exactly like little sociopaths. These kids are creepy in that way all kids are, with the roller coaster of heartwarming and aggravating moments to go with it.
-ππ I love tech and have a "smart" home ...if you have ever had to sleep with your lights on because "computer says no"....very relatable struggles here!
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Creepy, isolated, Victorian settings
-Realistic locked-room mysteries with red herrings consisting of people, tech, and the paranormal
-Realistic annoying "creepy" kids and suspense from being responsible for three of them + one teenager (nope nope nope)
-Settings as characters: both the house and the tech are relatable characters in the story
Content Heads-Up: Parental rejection. Child death. Infidelity. Sexual harassment.
Format: Paperback and Audible
We are following our MC who works in childcare. They find the opportunity of their lifetime in a posting for a live-in nanny for three young girls. But why has this seemingly normal family had such a revolving door of past nannies...π€
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Set in an isolated Scottish Victorian house renovated into a smart house by architects.
π§ Ruth Ware + Imogen Church = Perfection. The intonation, expressiveness, and emotion is conveyed so well, it's like actually being read a story. Imogen Church manages such on point voicing of males, females, teens, and children. π
Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags πΊπ:
-π I have enjoyed all of Ruth Ware's books to date, but they do tend to be on the long side with too much thought-monolog sometimes. THIS one was justified in length. It felt fast-paced once it got going and I didn't want to put it down.
-π€·ββοΈ There are no chapter numbers, so it's hard to sync audio to text if you are reading both
-π There are no chapter numbers because the entire novel is technically a letter to a lawyer written by our MC. I didn't mind because if someone has that much time on their hands, I can imagine writing a letter that evolves into an entire novel!
-ππ€― Did not predict the double-twists! Lots of realistic red herrings but not annoyingly so, and the clues are all there for the reader to piece together if especially astute.
-ππ° I am not a kid person so the suspense was especially relatable to me. To be trapped alone with kids...having to always keep mental space for their needs, the unpredictability and uncontrollability of every thing they do and say...shudder. Like, even though the intentions may be different, most kids behave exactly like little sociopaths. These kids are creepy in that way all kids are, with the roller coaster of heartwarming and aggravating moments to go with it.
-ππ I love tech and have a "smart" home ...if you have ever had to sleep with your lights on because "computer says no"....very relatable struggles here!
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Creepy, isolated, Victorian settings
-Realistic locked-room mysteries with red herrings consisting of people, tech, and the paranormal
-Realistic annoying "creepy" kids and suspense from being responsible for three of them + one teenager (nope nope nope)
-Settings as characters: both the house and the tech are relatable characters in the story
Content Heads-Up: Parental rejection. Child death. Infidelity. Sexual harassment.
Format: Paperback and Audible
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content
sparetimebibliophile's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
This was a thrilling read and more than once my heart was racing. Itβs been a while since thatβs happened to me with a thriller! I loved the twist in this and thought it was beautifully done, although I felt the ending was very abrupt. It leaves you with an open question at the end that will likely haunt me for a while!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Blood and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.75
The futuristic gothic novel I didnβt know I needed. Every moment was infused with stress and dread, I could not put it down. The red herrings kept me guessing and I had no idea how it would end even up to the last page. This is my 5th Ruth Ware book and probably my favourite. All I can say is WOWEE and smart homes are an absolute no for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Alcohol
ameliaflint's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Really good thriller! An excellent suspenseful read that had me on the edge of my seat. The only thing was, there were a few things that weren't quite explained in full about the happenings. I definitely couldn't have predicted the ending. A great one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Cursing
Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Self harm, Sexual content, and Murder
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Stalking, and Classism
louisegraveyard's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death
meegreads's review against another edition
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content
nxclx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
This book confirmed that I do not want children ever. It was okay, until the last few pages, and then I was like 'hm.. alright then'. And then the book was over. Interesting, but subpar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, and Murder