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amberjackonski's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Murder
ricareviews's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
1.0
this book was not a good experience for me. the alternating between the two POVs was confusing, especially in the first few chapters. i listened to the audiobook and, at some points, i couldn't figure out who was talking. the story was not what i expected (i don't mean that as a compliment) and it was hard to follow. i didn't feel any thrill while reading so i wouldn't call this a 'thriller'. there is an element of mystery, yes, but nothing thrilling happens in this 300-pages novel. furthermore, i didn't feel any connection to these characters and i blame that on the writing. these characters aren't given any justice, especially alexa. the final plot twist was not good, it made me dislike the book even more. read this if you want to start screaming about plot holes and non-existent characterization. otherwise, i suggest skipping it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Sexual content, Stalking, and Abandonment
melissathereadingnerd's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-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
4.5
I was looking through the 'Listen Now' category on Netgalley and found this thriller available. The cover is ugly yet something drew me to it. Then I read the synopsis of the book and I was all in!
Bro though! This book is currently my top favorite I've read this year. The twist comes at about 70% and then it gets more wild from there. But wild-good, not wild-ridiculous-and-not-believable. I am not sure how this book hasn't been talked about more, because it's honestly a quick story, very fast paced.
If you're into great thriller type books, please pick this book up this year. This is J.C. Bidonde's debut book but it feels like it's written by a seasoned pro.
If you're into great thriller type books, please pick this book up this year. This is J.C. Bidonde's debut book but it feels like it's written by a seasoned pro.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder
mortiffa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
1.0
DO YOU FOLLOW is a psychological thriller debut that follows twin sisters who share a secret past, after one of those sisters starts her life over in NYC.
Damn. This book fell off. You hate to see it.*
My review does contain spoilers.
I was with this book from the beginning. The plot is intriguing, the pacing is done very well, and it started off on a promising foot.
However, I had major issues with the "twist" in this novel. I'm more than okay with "~she's been dead the whole time~" twists in books when they feel earned or executed well. This book does neither of those things.
Furthermore, this book makes an egregious attempt at turning a real mental health diagnosis into a dramatic plot twist and I'm not about that. It's absolutely irresponsible.
There are also certain things that don't go anywhere (a whole storyline with the mom? the diary?) and I'm not sure why they're even there.
A more surface level complaint: I'm fine with pop culture references in books, and I'm fine with current events being included, but allll of the COVID-19 pandemic references were just too much for me.
That said, the positives... The book is engaging, and did keep me reading until the end (bc I did have to know what tf was going on, just not for the Right Reasons).
Bidonde has an enjoyable writing style, and I do look forward to their future work... I just hope to see less of this "mental illness for shock value" then.
On another note, I also listened to the book on audio and absolutely loved the narrator. 5 stars to the narrator.
Thank you to Greenleaf Book Club and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this book!
*Thank you to Val.
Damn. This book fell off. You hate to see it.*
My review does contain spoilers.
I was with this book from the beginning. The plot is intriguing, the pacing is done very well, and it started off on a promising foot.
However, I had major issues with the "twist" in this novel. I'm more than okay with "~she's been dead the whole time~" twists in books when they feel earned or executed well. This book does neither of those things.
Furthermore, this book makes an egregious attempt at turning a real mental health diagnosis into a dramatic plot twist and I'm not about that. It's absolutely irresponsible.
There are also certain things that don't go anywhere (a whole storyline with the mom? the diary?) and I'm not sure why they're even there.
A more surface level complaint: I'm fine with pop culture references in books, and I'm fine with current events being included, but allll of the COVID-19 pandemic references were just too much for me.
That said, the positives... The book is engaging, and did keep me reading until the end (bc I did have to know what tf was going on, just not for the Right Reasons).
Bidonde has an enjoyable writing style, and I do look forward to their future work... I just hope to see less of this "mental illness for shock value" then.
On another note, I also listened to the book on audio and absolutely loved the narrator. 5 stars to the narrator.
Thank you to Greenleaf Book Club and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this book!
*Thank you to Val.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Violence and Murder
starsaligned's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
3.0
I got an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This book is not a bad book. It's actually really interesting in it's concept.
However, the writing throws me a little bit in that it can feel very basic. It's almost monotone at some points. It takes me out of the story sometimes which can be really annoying especially with a book like this.
In regards to the characters, I think they were well-developed. They were developed too the point to at one point or another I sometimes found them extremely annoying. But only in the way that human beings are.
My favorite part of the story is hoe Beth and Curt kind of are wrapped up. Beth's story ends in a place that makes sense not only for her, but for Alexa and the way her story ended as well. I think that Curt ultimately being who he was made sense for a lot of the things he did and said even if I didn't realize it at first.
I think another thing for me was that the ending was a little predictable which I think worked for and against this book. I think it worked against it because it takes the shock out the ending and leaves me disappointed because of the predictability. In terns of how it works for it, I think considering the context it is very satisfying and works very well for the story it was part of.
However, the writing throws me a little bit in that it can feel very basic. It's almost monotone at some points. It takes me out of the story sometimes which can be really annoying especially with a book like this.
In regards to the characters, I think they were well-developed. They were developed too the point to at one point or another I sometimes found them extremely annoying. But only in the way that human beings are.
My favorite part of the story is hoe Beth and Curt kind of are wrapped up. Beth's story ends in a place that makes sense not only for her, but for Alexa and the way her story ended as well. I think that Curt ultimately being who he was made sense for a lot of the things he did and said even if I didn't realize it at first.
I think another thing for me was that the ending was a little predictable which I think worked for and against this book. I think it worked against it because it takes the shock out the ending and leaves me disappointed because of the predictability. In terns of how it works for it, I think considering the context it is very satisfying and works very well for the story it was part of.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Murder
bookish_78bookieluvr's review
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
✺Very Eerie Vibes✺
(I got this book in exchange for an honest review)
This is a thriller told in the perspective of two sisters along side of a few other side characters occasionally. What I sort of couldn't believe right away was how I easily could relate to certain things from both of the twins. I loved how Alexa said to herself that she was excited not scared when her heart would pound. I liked that part particularly because that is something that I'd tell myself in a situation that I shouldn't be scared in. I loved how Beth called herself selfish
Though when Alexa said that she was never the object of anyone's love, ect.. I was mad that she had low standards and was honestly settling for the bare minimum in a man like Curt. The way Alexa talked to herself like the girl had no self respect for herself I was confused how she could think so lowly of herself, but then I read about how she was treated as a kid and I figured out that that was why she had a low self-esteem.
The cover is interesting and looks pretty cool. It also relates to the plot as to how the story goes down in a similar manner after you find out the earth shattering secrets.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
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