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erinbraun's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Suicide
Minor: Murder
wordsgirlie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
🔪 psychological thriller.
— slow-paced, dual timeline, multiple povs
— slow-paced, dual timeline, multiple povs
“we all have a happily ever after, each story just needs to pick the right time to claim it.”
i discovered this book when i was in the mood to read thriller and when i was planning to search for a book with the same concept as verity. the story follows helena ross, a successful author, who hires a ghostwriter to help her finish her final book. as secrets from the past unravel, the line between the truth and fiction blurs in this gripping tale.
first of all, this is book is definitely a page-turner. the storyline is really interesting and i loved the writing style. the chapters are also short so it will actually keep you and make you flip the page right away for the next chapter. the element of mystery is amazing and the excitement building in every chapter was out of this world. you really wouldn't take your eyes off of the book once you start reading it. the characters are also good, and i love how the fmc’s point-of-view was written—it was heartbreaking and full of emotions.
however, i think i missed some details because i skipped those long paragraphs which i thought are unnecessary. but overall, it was really a great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Suicide
nehaslibrary's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I went into this book not really expecting anything, knowing it would be enjoyable after reading The Good Lie.
I loved how not a single clue was given for how everything would unfold and the structure of the book is great, especially for parallel storylines. The only thing that I didn’t like was how quickly the book was wrapped up after the main events occurred.
I loved how not a single clue was given for how everything would unfold and the structure of the book is great, especially for parallel storylines. The only thing that I didn’t like was how quickly the book was wrapped up after the main events occurred.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
bea2001's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Murder
marik0n's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Okay people, it's official; I'm hooked.
In the spam of the last week I have read three A.R. Torre books and for a person who is working full time and doing a master's, that's a lot. Okay, I am getting off track here. Back to the review.
For the first 1/4 of the book I was really worried, because the protagonist -Helena- stoke me as a severely misanthropic and annoying character. Of course I was intrigued, but with these characters it's a hit or miss and the possibility of this book becoming really boing really quickly if it didn't pick up the pace was getting very real.
[Side note: I can excuse a variety of things. JUST TELL ME WHAT IS IT. Also, what's Helena's problem with smut?]
However, as my reading progressed, I understood how complicated of a character Helena is; she is a truly multidimensional character. Some of the aspects of her personality I understand, some annoy me and some others hit too close to home and I am afraid that we share them.
Somewhere around here, it should be noted that this book, much like Every Last Secret and The Good Lie had a lot of suspense and was truly a page turner. The only difference is that book actually caused me emotional pain at the end, to the point where I started crying. Due to the complexity of Helena's thoughts and the submerging we experience in her own thoughts and experiences it's pretty hard not to get moved by this book's ending.
Overall, it was another great book by A.R. Torre and my obsession is holding strong. I shall continue with the rest of her book. Thank God this woman writes A LOT.
As always, check the trigger warnings before reading this book. A brief list of trigger warnings; child abuse, pedophilia, violence, murder, cancer, death.
In the spam of the last week I have read three A.R. Torre books and for a person who is working full time and doing a master's, that's a lot. Okay, I am getting off track here. Back to the review.
For the first 1/4 of the book I was really worried, because the protagonist -Helena- stoke me as a severely misanthropic and annoying character. Of course I was intrigued, but with these characters it's a hit or miss and the possibility of this book becoming really boing really quickly if it didn't pick up the pace was getting very real.
[Side note: I can excuse a variety of things. JUST TELL ME WHAT IS IT. Also, what's Helena's problem with smut?]
However, as my reading progressed, I understood how complicated of a character Helena is; she is a truly multidimensional character. Some of the aspects of her personality I understand, some annoy me and some others hit too close to home and I am afraid that we share them.
Somewhere around here, it should be noted that this book, much like Every Last Secret and The Good Lie had a lot of suspense and was truly a page turner. The only difference is that book actually caused me emotional pain at the end, to the point where I started crying. Due to the complexity of Helena's thoughts and the submerging we experience in her own thoughts and experiences it's pretty hard not to get moved by this book's ending.
Overall, it was another great book by A.R. Torre and my obsession is holding strong. I shall continue with the rest of her book. Thank God this woman writes A LOT.
As always, check the trigger warnings before reading this book. A brief list of trigger warnings; child abuse, pedophilia, violence, murder, cancer, death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, and Murder
sizzlesteaks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, and Murder
pollyhall's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book reads more like a contemporary with an element of mystery rather than a mystery. You get a whisper of a mystery throughout the book but no details are revealed till the last quarter.
This story is character driven. I liked the main character Helena she is a strong woman but not perfect. At times I would have liked to shake her and ask what the hell she was thinking but I would also like to give her a medal for what she did. Mark was also a well-developed character, I liked that he was strong but also had his faults. The relationship between Helena and Mark was done extremely well. There are other minor characters that I would have liked to see get hit by a bus. This is a fast-paced book with twists that I didn't see coming. After reading the story it felt like I got hit by a bus.
This book has some serious subject matter. CW- pedophilia, child abandonment, child neglect, rape of a child, death of a child, cancer, suicide, murder.
This story is character driven. I liked the main character Helena she is a strong woman but not perfect. At times I would have liked to shake her and ask what the hell she was thinking but I would also like to give her a medal for what she did. Mark was also a well-developed character, I liked that he was strong but also had his faults. The relationship between Helena and Mark was done extremely well. There are other minor characters that I would have liked to see get hit by a bus. This is a fast-paced book with twists that I didn't see coming. After reading the story it felt like I got hit by a bus.
This book has some serious subject matter. CW- pedophilia, child abandonment, child neglect, rape of a child, death of a child, cancer, suicide, murder.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
rebecca124's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide