Scan barcode
chelsea_shelves's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There were things I really liked about this book and things I didn’t. It was tough for me because I found the premise so promising and engaging, but the story lacking. I loved the focus on the stepmother-stepdaughter relationship. I liked the protagonist’s backstory and how it all tied back in with the decision she makes at the end. But, I don’t love her decision and am not convinced it was necessary. We don’t get enough in my opinion to believe that there is real danger. It doesn’t work for me. I loved the last line though. That touched me and brought tears to my eyes. Having said that I think throughout the book there was too much moralizing and explaining. The characterization was good and I would have had even more emotional response just hearing their story without the excessive reflection. Why can’t we just let a story speak for itself? The mystery and search kept me rapt though. It was good. The resolution just didn’t match up to me. Maybe we needed more details or just a different way to come to the same conclusion.
Also I realized while reading this that I just don’t like 1st person present tense narrative. It grates on me. Past tense feels more natural and third person even more so. But that’s just my preference.
Also I realized while reading this that I just don’t like 1st person present tense narrative. It grates on me. Past tense feels more natural and third person even more so. But that’s just my preference.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent and Murder
bookwitch's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Solid thriller. One of the fastest reads of the year for me, so much so I was able to squeeze in TWO extra "just for me" reads between my "required" reading.
Generally speaking, I had a perfectly fine time with this, but it was a book club read, so hashing it out with the group changed my opinion by just a little bit (that and watching the show immediately after finishing it). I don't think the story was super predictable, I was curious the whole time where it was going to go (and at no point did I really have THAT as the reason) BUT, there were some weaker parts too; the characters were not particularly loveable, I wasn't "rooting" for them per say, just more curious what the heck was going on. And the book club and I agreed that the ending was kind of unrealistic, and a bit of a copout. But regardless, not the worst thing I've read this year.
Generally speaking, I had a perfectly fine time with this, but it was a book club read, so hashing it out with the group changed my opinion by just a little bit (that and watching the show immediately after finishing it). I don't think the story was super predictable, I was curious the whole time where it was going to go (and at no point did I really have THAT as the reason) BUT, there were some weaker parts too; the characters were not particularly loveable, I wasn't "rooting" for them per say, just more curious what the heck was going on. And the book club and I agreed that the ending was kind of unrealistic, and a bit of a copout. But regardless, not the worst thing I've read this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Car accident
_ingrah's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Murder, and Abandonment
ju_harue's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Eu estava curiosa para ler, já que fez parte do clube da Reese Whiterspoon e ganhou o Goodreads de 2021 de Mistério e Thriller. Porém não foi uma leitura que me ganhou. Não consegui me conectar com os personagens, parecia que o tempo todo eu ia entendê-los mais, mas isso não ocorreu. O enredo em si, até achei interessante, mas o desenrolar me pareceu meio raso, até o final. Ainda assim, não é um livro péssimo, mas definitivamente não foi pra mim... ainda quero assistir a adaptação da série.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Death, Grief, and Car accident
squintyfarmer's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
yoursam's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.0
a good read, the does what it says on the tin kind.
i like it when a book doesn't waste time to get to the plot. i know a nice, slow start has its time and place but for stories like this one the hit the ground running approach fits so much better.
there's a bit of a quirk to dave's writing that sometimes works, and sometimes doesn't. a sort of repetition that i don't mind overall but that seems slightly overused in this particular book, it didn't take away my enjoyment but it does get old in some spots, i won't lie. that being said, in general i did like her writing style! i think it lends itself well to the story she has chosen to tell here
i do think maybe there could have been a couple less scenes of hannah getting a lightbulb moment all on her own, where you're sort of left being dragged along by her because she's got something or someone figured out and you don't seem to have all the elements she does to make the connection with her BUT honestly everything flows well enough in terms of plot points and i would consider this almost nitpicky, i'm only including it because it's my review and i do what i want.
as a last thought: wouldn't have minded more bailey!
i like it when a book doesn't waste time to get to the plot. i know a nice, slow start has its time and place but for stories like this one the hit the ground running approach fits so much better.
there's a bit of a quirk to dave's writing that sometimes works, and sometimes doesn't. a sort of repetition that i don't mind overall but that seems slightly overused in this particular book, it didn't take away my enjoyment but it does get old in some spots, i won't lie. that being said, in general i did like her writing style! i think it lends itself well to the story she has chosen to tell here
i do think maybe there could have been a couple less scenes of hannah getting a lightbulb moment all on her own, where you're sort of left being dragged along by her because she's got something or someone figured out and you don't seem to have all the elements she does to make the connection with her BUT honestly everything flows well enough in terms of plot points and i would consider this almost nitpicky, i'm only including it because it's my review and i do what i want.
as a last thought: wouldn't have minded more bailey!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
jessthemess8112's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a fun weekend read. The pivots and twists were unexpected and fun to read. I found the ending to have a high self importance of self for the main character that wasn’t justified by the characters past.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, and Murder
leenzreadz's review against another edition
mysterious
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
Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Murder
paige_reads89's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book was super engaging and fast-paced until the last quarter or so, as the big plot twist was… cheesy? Yes, unexpected, but in a way that turned you off the adrenaline of the story?? It felt like I missed something, like it was a red herring for the “real” twist, but that “real” twist never came. So I was just disappointed really in the resolution. The ending became rather flat to me.
In general, none of the characters have much personality. Which isn’t uncommon for a mystery novel, but made the plot a little stale. It’s hard to believe a character doing unthinkable things for another character when neither are fleshed out so much to show true reasoning behind their actions. Although this is a story about protecting those you love, I found little detailed emotion in the pages aside from literally stating said emotions.
And what modern 16-year-old girl calls their dad by “father”?? I found Bailey’s use of it so off-putting. Her dialogue didn’t give off the teenager voice to me.
Also, chapters do not need to have titles unless it’s intended for someone under the age of 11. End of.
In general, none of the characters have much personality. Which isn’t uncommon for a mystery novel, but made the plot a little stale. It’s hard to believe a character doing unthinkable things for another character when neither are fleshed out so much to show true reasoning behind their actions. Although this is a story about protecting those you love, I found little detailed emotion in the pages aside from literally stating said emotions.
And what modern 16-year-old girl calls their dad by “father”?? I found Bailey’s use of it so off-putting. Her dialogue didn’t give off the teenager voice to me.
Also, chapters do not need to have titles unless it’s intended for someone under the age of 11. End of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol