nikolelotton's review against another edition
4.0
Gutierrez’s novel gave me so much more than I expected. Inside, you’ll find beautiful and thoughtful examinations of motherhood, marriage, and the ethics of true-crime journalism-all while an intricate and thrilling mystery unravels. As a true-crime lover, and a fan of literary prose, this novel is one of my new favorites, and a definite recommendation to anyone looking for a deep story to get lost in.
katiez624's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so engaging and brimming with clever plot points, with a great premise that got fully fleshed out and developed. The setups are realistic and compelling, and the pacing never lags. Cassie was not my favorite character, but her role as the journalist with her own complicated past was fulfilled.
I appreciated the sprinkling of Spanish words without the rote translation immediately after. It shows that the author believes the reader can either figure out the meaning through context or look up the words. They added a feeling of authenticity and a strong sense of place, both in Laredo and Mexico City. It paralleled Lore's own circumstances of straddling two lives and identities.
Although I started to feel the length of the book towards the last third, but I did appreciate the thoroughness with which the story was told, and there were unexpected discoveries up until the very end. This story was the perfect combination of family drama, crime, mystery, and suspense.
I appreciated the sprinkling of Spanish words without the rote translation immediately after. It shows that the author believes the reader can either figure out the meaning through context or look up the words. They added a feeling of authenticity and a strong sense of place, both in Laredo and Mexico City. It paralleled Lore's own circumstances of straddling two lives and identities.
Although I started to feel the length of the book towards the last third, but I did appreciate the thoroughness with which the story was told, and there were unexpected discoveries up until the very end. This story was the perfect combination of family drama, crime, mystery, and suspense.
brooketaylor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sundeviljewels's review against another edition
3.0
431 pages. The author’s debut novel. A Good Morning America book choice. It didn’t get going until around page 287. Why can I not abandon books?
itzela's review against another edition
2.0
The ending was predictable, but I liked the storyline and the past/present timelines!
moosetash's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kastnc's review against another edition
1.0
Couldn’t do it, way too slow for me. So many books and too little time. DNF’ing more in 2023!
vale_10's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0