holsarmstrong's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t really know what I expected from this book but what I got wasn’t it. I felt from the title & premise this book was going in a completely different direction than it took and I’m not sure how I feel about.
- Of course, Lisa’s writing never fails and I always enjoy her books regardless. In terms of the plot, I think I was expecting a string of dead bodies not an attack.
- Leo was just creepy. Period.
- The Tyler angle felt so predictable and forced and I kind of wished we got a better reveal.
- I liked Adele a lot and kind of wished the entire book was narrated by her.
- The ending was ominous but kind of a let down. I wanted some closure but we didn’t get any answers.
Overall a decent read. This isn’t one of Lisa’s bests but a good book.
- Of course, Lisa’s writing never fails and I always enjoy her books regardless. In terms of the plot, I think I was expecting a string of dead bodies not an attack.
- Leo was just creepy. Period.
- The Tyler angle felt so predictable and forced and I kind of wished we got a better reveal.
- I liked Adele a lot and kind of wished the entire book was narrated by her.
- The ending was ominous but kind of a let down. I wanted some closure but we didn’t get any answers.
Overall a decent read. This isn’t one of Lisa’s bests but a good book.
a_alves00's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Drug use, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Murder, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Sexual content
librosconcafe's review against another edition
2.0
This was a disappointing read. I have enjoyed the author’s other work, but not this one at all. It felt like it dragged on, although I still finished it in 5 days. It doesn’t deserve to be labeled as a thriller. And to think, there were 8 others waiting on me to return it on Libby. If only I could stop them from reading it.
gtrue21's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
1.5
All the characters annoyed me and the resolution to the mystery was so boring.
baechelll's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
The amount of characters was confusing at times, and the climax was disappointing.
thain's review against another edition
4.0
Intriguing neighborhood drama with multiple suspects when a girl is found unconscious in a communal garden where another teenager was murdered.
sephora_ariean's review against another edition
3.0
I’ll say some good things before I tackle the stuff I didn’t like.
- that COVER. Absolute cover porn. Give whoever designed that a raise
- there were a few really interesting characters in this large mix. Pip, oh sweet Pip, she is my absolute favourite person. She’s so smart and intuitive and positive. I don’t care that she’s 11/12 I wanna be her best friend. Willow is wild, and endeared me from the few moments she’s on the page. Rhea is a diva, I love her. Leo, man he’s a cool guy really— no wonder everyone has their hands on him all the time. I didn’t know if I could trust Adele for most of the book but she’s actually a great and giving person.
- I’ve never lived in living arrangements like the one in this book, and so it was fascinating to read about. It was great window into seeing what a life like that would be like.
Now onto the things I didn’t much care for.
I don’t hate this book but I was terribly indifferent. It’s very slow paced and not at all thrilling. The big inciting moment of the mystery happens in chapter one and then after that is all backstory leading up to that moment but it was excruciatingly slow.
And I don’t actually care for Grace so I don’t actually care that this bad thing happened to her. I actually kind of hate her (terrible of me to say, I know). Her character is just so empty and she comes off so rude to Pip. It doesn’t even seem like she respects her mother either.
I kinda hate her mother Clare too. Wtf is wrong with some people? You can’t raise your kids right to the point that they’re 13 and think they can give a boy a blowjob? And as the mother you still let your kid and that boy see each other. THEYRE. STILL. KIDS. And she honestly didn’t come across as worried enough when she finds out her daughter is hurt. She’s just... there. Ugh Pip doesn’t deserve these stupid ppl.
I was kinda confused at the kids Bec often times they were so articulate and I had to stop and think, Is this how 12 and 13 year olds think and talk? What was I like at that age? And then I remember that I was always a late bloomer so even tho I was a new teen, my likes and mentality was still like that of a 9-10 year old’s. I was really sheltered by my parents growing up. And when I Remember other ppl in my class— yea the kids in this book were actually realistic 😅
I think what I despise the most was the fact that I already guessed Tyler was the culprit as soon as the ‘mystery’ began so I felt very cheated. It’s nice that Adele took her in, but that girl need serious therapy and counselling as well. Because if she can do something like that right now who’s to say she can do it again in the future, if she ever is fixated on something enough to be extremely jealous about it.
The ending of this book was so rushed. It was so Luke warm. And I honestly don’t think anyone got justice. Like Adele already guessed at the crime that Cecilia did so many years ago but is she facing any sort of justice for that, no she isn’t. Cecilia sstill works as a social worker, and I don’t really think she should be working at this job considering that she killed her own sister.
This is one of Jewell’s earlier books so I’ll won’t let this stop me from her other books. But this book belongs to #WasteMyTime2018. At least for me.
- that COVER. Absolute cover porn. Give whoever designed that a raise
- there were a few really interesting characters in this large mix. Pip, oh sweet Pip, she is my absolute favourite person. She’s so smart and intuitive and positive. I don’t care that she’s 11/12 I wanna be her best friend. Willow is wild, and endeared me from the few moments she’s on the page. Rhea is a diva, I love her. Leo, man he’s a cool guy really— no wonder everyone has their hands on him all the time. I didn’t know if I could trust Adele for most of the book but she’s actually a great and giving person.
- I’ve never lived in living arrangements like the one in this book, and so it was fascinating to read about. It was great window into seeing what a life like that would be like.
Now onto the things I didn’t much care for.
I don’t hate this book but I was terribly indifferent. It’s very slow paced and not at all thrilling. The big inciting moment of the mystery happens in chapter one and then after that is all backstory leading up to that moment but it was excruciatingly slow.
And I don’t actually care for Grace so I don’t actually care that this bad thing happened to her. I actually kind of hate her (terrible of me to say, I know). Her character is just so empty and she comes off so rude to Pip. It doesn’t even seem like she respects her mother either.
I kinda hate her mother Clare too. Wtf is wrong with some people? You can’t raise your kids right to the point that they’re 13 and think they can give a boy a blowjob? And as the mother you still let your kid and that boy see each other. THEYRE. STILL. KIDS. And she honestly didn’t come across as worried enough when she finds out her daughter is hurt. She’s just... there. Ugh Pip doesn’t deserve these stupid ppl.
I was kinda confused at the kids Bec often times they were so articulate and I had to stop and think, Is this how 12 and 13 year olds think and talk? What was I like at that age? And then I remember that I was always a late bloomer so even tho I was a new teen, my likes and mentality was still like that of a 9-10 year old’s. I was really sheltered by my parents growing up. And when I Remember other ppl in my class— yea the kids in this book were actually realistic 😅
I think what I despise the most was the fact that I already guessed Tyler was the culprit as soon as the ‘mystery’ began so I felt very cheated. It’s nice that Adele took her in, but that girl need serious therapy and counselling as well. Because if she can do something like that right now who’s to say she can do it again in the future, if she ever is fixated on something enough to be extremely jealous about it.
The ending of this book was so rushed. It was so Luke warm. And I honestly don’t think anyone got justice. Like Adele already guessed at the crime that Cecilia did so many years ago but is she facing any sort of justice for that, no she isn’t. Cecilia sstill works as a social worker, and I don’t really think she should be working at this job considering that she killed her own sister.
This is one of Jewell’s earlier books so I’ll won’t let this stop me from her other books. But this book belongs to #WasteMyTime2018. At least for me.