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gabalodon's review
3.0
(TW in the book for sexual and familial abuse, self-harm)
I spent most of the first half of the book feeling lukewarm about this one. I was initially irritated by the shifts between close third person past and first person present, but once the reason for that was made clear I was more on board. I thought the way the author wove the different aspects together and the way fact and fiction blur together was really interesting and I believe she did a lot of research and is a clinical psychologist herself, so presumably the psychological and mental health aspects were handled accurately, which is good. But ultimately I wanted to know what happened but I didn't NEED to know what happened until the very end, and then mostly I just really wanted to know whether or not she was alive. And the ending was just kind of a bummer with not much real closure.
I spent most of the first half of the book feeling lukewarm about this one. I was initially irritated by the shifts between close third person past and first person present, but once the reason for that was made clear I was more on board. I thought the way the author wove the different aspects together and the way fact and fiction blur together was really interesting and I believe she did a lot of research and is a clinical psychologist herself, so presumably the psychological and mental health aspects were handled accurately, which is good. But ultimately I wanted to know what happened but I didn't NEED to know what happened until the very end, and then mostly I just really wanted to know whether or not she was alive. And the ending was just kind of a bummer with not much real closure.
kiminindy's review
5.0
So, I didn't know if I would like this but I have to say it was excellent! I loved the way the author transitioned us to the twist. Great read.
skinnerj1267's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
shelbyanoel's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lotus_elise092's review
3.0
3.5 Stars Good mystery and kept hope alive. Similar vibes to The Perfect Marriage in the beginning, but then it ebbed out. It allowed you to keep hope alive. Once I met the homosexual neighbors it was obvious that the story, within the story, was true, for the most part. I did think it was suspicious when the neighbor of the parents was in the hospital for “life threatening” food poisoning. Once the draft was proven true, it was easy to connect the dots. Sad in the end and slightly forgettable (like today, writing a review a day after reading it and I cannot remember the characters names for the life of me).
bendlou67's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Slow at first but once you realize why there’s a dual pov it picks up; tragic story
libraryjo62's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is an edge-of-your seat-page-turner that kept me up late one night! Mina, a writer, disappears. Her bewildered husband goes searching for answers and discovers a wife and a woman he does not really know. This is a sad tale of trying to make peace with trauma. The ending is surprising.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence