mollyb13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Overall, I'm glad I got my curiosity around this book out of the way, but to me the book did not live up to the hype surrounding it. I will likely try one of Colleen Hoover's romance novels in the future.
Pros:
- I was too creeped out to read this in bed at night - a daytime book for me. Which is how I like my thrillers to be!
- I read it really quickly and didn't want to put it down
- There was some completely bone-chilling moments
Spoiler
VERITY STANDING AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS OMG. Verity telling Crew to hold his breath before she tipped the canoe!?
Cons:
Unfortunately the cons far outweigh the pros for me. Here are just a few things I couldn't get over:
Spoiler
I really don't like open-ended books. I get that she was trying to leave you wondering, but I don't want to wonder. I want to close a book feeling like I can leave it and move onto the next thing.- There was far to much sex in this book that didn't forward the plot at all.
Spoiler
I know Verity's letter said that one of the reasons Jeremy should have known the manuscript was fake was because there was so much sex in it. But Lowen's section had plenty as well - though I suppose it was fueled by some of what she had read in the manuscript. Also I'm tired of reading about how every leading man has a huge dick. It's unrealistic and why can't a character just have average sex for once?? Spoiler
I feel like I was meant to root for Lowen but wtf she helped Jeremy kill her at the end!? It wasn't even self defense! Just turn her in! Also she seemed to not care that Jeremy tried killing Verity previously?Spoiler
This whole team manuscript/team letter could likely be pretty well solved by just talking to that agent who Verity said gave her the journaling idea in the first place... If the agent says she never suggested anything like that then likely the manuscript is true- I purposefully avoid reading reviews of thrillers because I like to be surprised, but had seen enough praise for this book and people saying
Spoiler
'the twist was shocking!' that the twist actually fell flat for me. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but everyone had hyped it up so much that I guess I expected to be completely mind blown. I had actually wondered if Jeremy wrote the manuscript earlier on in the book and Verity was being held captive so I was not correct but close enough to not be completely surprised. - The bonus chapter, which I did not read, but read recaps of, was sus and I don't understand the point of it.
Spoiler
It sounded like Colleen Hoover was maybe trying to push readers towards team letter? Also Jeremy killed a woman because she recognized them at the beach?!?! This chapter sounded like it was unnecessary.
Graphic: Abortion, Murder, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Child death, Injury/injury detail, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Car accident, Medical content, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Chronic illness, and Pregnancy
theunmessjess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Murder, and Vomit
aim_upp's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death, Child death, Blood, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Abortion
Moderate: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body horror
emiliakajsaa_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Cursing, Death, Suicide attempt, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, and Domestic abuse
celinecra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Spoiler
I hated Lowen from the start sorry. She was awkward and shy all because she fucking broke her wrist one time? Like cmon bitch shut the fuck up. And then all of the sudden she grew balls and threatened Verity?? Like not the best character development I can’t lie.I mean I didn’t hate the plot but like, I get it, Verity liked her titties sucked and Lowen never wore a bra how many times do we have to go over this?
Anyways I don’t trust any of the narrators and I blame everyone for everything.
CoHo is crazy and has had some bonkers likes. I wrote down my favorite which is “He fed me before he fucked me” which I think says a lot about her writing style.
Overall I didn’t mind the read, the plot was gripping enough that I kept reading but I can’t lie in saying I feel unsatisfied with the ending and like the whole book was somewhat pointless.
Graphic: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
sfyqahz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Spoiler
Lowen started falling in love with a married man and got paranoid with Verity's manuscriptGraphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Vomit and Panic attacks/disorders
hannahnice's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Grief, Murder, Car accident, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
pibblemama97's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Abortion, Death, Grief, Sexual content, Child abuse, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
shels96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Infidelity, Cursing, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Child abuse, Car accident, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Medical trauma, and Death
eimii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Car accident, Child death, Violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, and Suicide attempt