Reviews

A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell

huajin23's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed the movie and the book was pretty similar but I didn’t like the ending.

courtneys_reading's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

3.5

I think the movie adaptation is pretty good for this. I mean who doesn't enjoy Anna Kendrik and Blake Lively?

The actual story is interesting but I feel like it doesn't give me enough. Like all that stuff about Stephanie and her brother, what is the point? I feel like it's just added to give her character something interesting but eh. Adds nothing realistically.

Would have preferred a lot more information about Emily and her 'demons' but alas that's not what we got.

Still, if anything reading this made me wanna watch the movie again lol

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infinite_kay's review against another edition

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3.0

This book was a bit over the top, yet quite entertaining as an audiobook. I didn't mind the unlikable characters but the twists were a bit much. I've seen other readers compare it to Gone Girl in terms of plot (not writing), and I can see some elements that do remind me of it, but the story and the characters didn't come close in terms of complexity and depth. I'll want to see the movie for sure!

julianam's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

nicole_marissa's review against another edition

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3.0

I didn’t like this book but since it kept me reading it, it wasn’t fair to give it less than 3 stars.

My biggest issue is that this book was so unrealistic I could not get into it. No mother is going to leave her kid for 6 months and let him think she’s dead for $2 million. Now to be clear that’s a lot of money to me but I’d NEVER leave my kids and psychologically damage them for $2 million. No twin is going to kill the sister she “loves” for $2 million. No one is as stupid as Stephanie is to be able to flip flop THAT much that she could easily believe Emily’s lies, not just go with her but BELIEVE it.

This is not the new Gone Girl. To say that would be an insult to Gillian Flynn’s ability to write a story that is insane but credible. Darcey Bell wrote an okay book but she’s nowhere in the realm of Gillian Flynn.

quackerzfarm's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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morggladescott's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

4.25

mcbibliotecaria's review against another edition

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3.0

Fun little mystery.

humatariq's review against another edition

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4.0

I have been amazed by how many new authors I have been reading lately and how amazing their writing is in spite of being their debut book. This is another first novel by the new author Darcey Bell that I loved reading.

Full disclosure though, I had never heard of this book until I saw the movie promotions. I generally prefer to read the book first, but I couldn't wait as I am a fan of Anna Kendrick's work. But I liked the movie enough to order the book immediately after and I just finished reading the book today.

There are quite a few differences between the book and the movie, though the tone is quite the same. For starters,
Spoiler (or for for dessert to be more accurate!), the ending is quite different. I would have preferred the book's ending, but I did enjoy the dramatic movie ending so I am not really complaining.
For real starters now, Stephanie is a blogger mom whereas they have shown her as a vlogger mom in the movie. But again I am not angry about this change as her being a vlogger is more suitable for a movie.

I am also happy they did not change so many plot points that I felt that I the movie and book were two different entities entirely; like I felt in the case of Nerve and Ready Player One.

Coming back to the book, I enjoyed reading it even after watching the movie.

ariii983's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5