The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
nniamhh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
*2.5 stars*
being a HUGE fan of the AGGGTM series i was so excited to read this and let me tell you the dissapointment i feel,,,,,,
i am not a fan in general of stories that take place over the one night,, especially one thatâs almost 400 pages. the story was so dragged out that i remember saying multiple times to my flatmates that the sniper can kill all of them for all i care. it was a struggle to finish which is so sad bc the climax was fun to read <//3Â
SPOILERS AHEADÂ
the whole plot at the start of the book is so unnecessary. the whole âoh no we have a flat and donât know why!!â doesnât work when the reader knows why they have a flat. like many parts in this book,, this was wayyyy too long for what it was,, the thriller plot didnât even start till about 100 pages in. i know thĂ© purpose was to show the group dynamics and set the scene but it could have been done in a much more concise manner.Â
the characters all fell flat. red is infuriatingly passive,, renya had one arc and then so little importance,, why was simon even there and oliver was just annoying for the sake of being annoying. one thing i will say is i love arthur but thatâs to be expected from me.Â
the whole mafia plot like felt so out of place. it was obviously gonna be a bigger plot point as it was mentioned repeatedly which completely killed any suspence around it. it was also very obviously going to be tied to reds mums death,, which was also played to death [no joke meant]. i just think that if you take a group of six teenagers,, thereâs not gonna be: one murdered,, someone thatâs helping them cover up a murder,, a mafia member etcÂ
hereâs my main issues from my real time notes page rants:
- after the couple is shot,, why are they not more horrified that someone would rather kill two people than reveal whatever secret they had??Â
- it took 215 pages for thr to actually introduce some sort of secretÂ
- if i see thirty one feet one more time i will snap [edit: IT WASNT EVEN IMPORANT???? WHAT WAS THE POINT IN THE CURTAIN THING ASWELL LMAOOO]Â
- red being insistent that arthur doesnât like her makes sense to an extent - but him not looking at her while she strips and she thinks thatâs bc he doesnât like her????? he is very obvious characterised,, at least up to that point,, to be a morally good guy,, why would he now change and ogle at her when she takes her top off!?Â
- maddy and red are supposed to be friends but we have literally no proof of that. maddy doesnât seem caring about red AT ALL despite all the exposition weâre given,, i donât beleive it
- the sniper saying âiâll start shooting around random if i donât get my secret soonâ like no you wonât????? you need the person who knows the secret alive bc you want the secret so bad to KILL,, you would not endanger that perosn - why are none of them figuring that out????
- arthur being involved somehow makes complete sense for her stories - he was too perfect to not be hiding something big??Â
- after such a long winded mystery,, arthurâs letter was not sufficient enough an ending for me. did red meet him?? does she forgive him?? i understand what holly jackson was going do but us having the whole book from reds POV then just not knowing the end from her POV?? jarring
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Injury/Injury detail
goldyyy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism
laurenevlyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Holly Jackson has quickly risen on the list of my favorite authors with the agggtm and now this. I love the way everything thatâs been building up comes together at the end, even though thereâs so much. Other authors struggle with plot twists whenâs thereâs more than a few in a row, but I think it was done wonderfully here. Even though itâs a standalone, I find myself wanting more of Red and Arthurâs story. Also great job making the most insufferable character Iâve ever read (on purpose I know), and keeping his, and the other charactersâ flaws consistent throughout. All in all a wonderful read, although it seemed a bit drawn out at times. Great first book of the year!
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
Minor: Stalking, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Addiction, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical trauma
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