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erikajay's review against another edition
1.0
This was an extremely slow moving book with horrible dialogue and horrible characters.
I hate the whole “but they’re family!” excuse to allow people to treat you like crap. Robin, especially as a therapist, should know better. I just wanted her to stand up for herself and tell her sister to shut up!
The more I found out about her family, the less and less I cared about anybody. The only redeeming character was Blake.
I hate the whole “but they’re family!” excuse to allow people to treat you like crap. Robin, especially as a therapist, should know better. I just wanted her to stand up for herself and tell her sister to shut up!
The more I found out about her family, the less and less I cared about anybody. The only redeeming character was Blake.
litwithleigh's review against another edition
3.0
THE PLOT
Robin and her sister Melanie are not besties, but they're "reunited" after their father and his new family are brutally attacked in their house. As Robin tries to stomach being in her hometown, she's simultaneously getting her Nancy Drew on and trying to figure out why this happened.
MY OPINNI
I actually enjoyed this book. Maybe it was because the other Joy Fielding novel I read, [b:All the Wrong Places|40712004|All the Wrong Places|Joy Fielding|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532458006l/40712004._SY75_.jpg|63239689] was SO bad and my expectations were SO low, that anything a notch above was going to impress me. Since this book was published before the dumpster fire of "All the Wrong Places", I really have to wonder what was going on with the author. Anyways, let me get back to the book at hand.
I guessed the ending before it came together, but it was kinda juicy. It wasn't totally unbelievable; I've read similar stores in the news. There was decent character development. All in all, an easy breezy read but not particularly memorable.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: Writing quality isn't distracting, good character development
Cons: Nothing made it POP
Robin and her sister Melanie are not besties, but they're "reunited" after their father and his new family are brutally attacked in their house. As Robin tries to stomach being in her hometown, she's simultaneously getting her Nancy Drew on and trying to figure out why this happened.
MY OPINNI
I actually enjoyed this book. Maybe it was because the other Joy Fielding novel I read, [b:All the Wrong Places|40712004|All the Wrong Places|Joy Fielding|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532458006l/40712004._SY75_.jpg|63239689] was SO bad and my expectations were SO low, that anything a notch above was going to impress me. Since this book was published before the dumpster fire of "All the Wrong Places", I really have to wonder what was going on with the author. Anyways, let me get back to the book at hand.
I guessed the ending before it came together, but it was kinda juicy. It wasn't totally unbelievable; I've read similar stores in the news. There was decent character development. All in all, an easy breezy read but not particularly memorable.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: Writing quality isn't distracting, good character development
Cons: Nothing made it POP
michelareads's review against another edition
2.0
I am SO disappointed by this book. I am giving it 2 stars simply because it was an easy read, and it kept me entertained for a few hours, but at the same time I am FUMING.
First of all, it's extremely predictable: the fact that I could easily deduce who is responsible of the murders halfway through the book is not great. I hoped I was wrong, I was waiting for a big plot twist... there was none.
And then the second half of the book has SO MANY REPETITIONS. The narrator has clues right in front of her nose, she points them out but she is unable to make 2+2. She made my blood boil.
Not a very nice or articulated review, I am well aware, but I am just too disappointed to focus on what I enjoyed about this book, which I believe says enough.
First of all, it's extremely predictable: the fact that I could easily deduce who is responsible of the murders halfway through the book is not great. I hoped I was wrong, I was waiting for a big plot twist... there was none.
And then the second half of the book has SO MANY REPETITIONS. The narrator has clues right in front of her nose, she points them out but she is unable to make 2+2. She made my blood boil.
Not a very nice or articulated review, I am well aware, but I am just too disappointed to focus on what I enjoyed about this book, which I believe says enough.
namitakhanna's review against another edition
3.0
Robin returns home after she gets a phone call from her estranged sister informing her that their dad , his wife Tara and her daughter Cassidy has been shot in a home invasion . Soon they realize that it was more of a personal attack and with no lack of suspects Robin and the Sheriff have their work cut out for them
A fast paced mystery with a dysfunctional family full of lies and secrets. It was easy to guess early on who the killer was but still an enjoyable read due to the compelling characters
I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
A fast paced mystery with a dysfunctional family full of lies and secrets. It was easy to guess early on who the killer was but still an enjoyable read due to the compelling characters
I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
1.0
Well, I think this one was a bad fit for me. I've heard such great things about this author's other books, so I do encourage readers (and I plan to do so myself) to explore some of her other work. In a prolific career, not every book will work for every reader.
Robin is a therapist who is estranged from her sister Melanie. But when Melanie starts calling her, she sets off panic attacks that Robin hasn't experienced for many years. However, Melanie called to tell her something has happened to their father and Robin knows she must go home, though she has never forgiven her father for things he has done. But can Robin ever hope to make amends with this family after all that happened in the past?
After thinking about it, my main problem was that I just didn't connect with the characters or their story. They were unlikeable--which sometimes works--but in a sort of dull way. I didn't love-to-hate them. Another reviewer also mentioned that it may have worked better without the crime elements, and when I read that I completely agreed! It could have been about the dysfunctional family and the secrets and damage they all harbor.
Robin is a therapist who is estranged from her sister Melanie. But when Melanie starts calling her, she sets off panic attacks that Robin hasn't experienced for many years. However, Melanie called to tell her something has happened to their father and Robin knows she must go home, though she has never forgiven her father for things he has done. But can Robin ever hope to make amends with this family after all that happened in the past?
After thinking about it, my main problem was that I just didn't connect with the characters or their story. They were unlikeable--which sometimes works--but in a sort of dull way. I didn't love-to-hate them. Another reviewer also mentioned that it may have worked better without the crime elements, and when I read that I completely agreed! It could have been about the dysfunctional family and the secrets and damage they all harbor.
booklifter's review against another edition
medium-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? It's complicated
2.0
gedankenseglerin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rmarcin's review against another edition
3.0
The title gave this one away for me. This is a story about a botched murder attempt, the victims, and their families. Robin, a therapist living in Los Angeles, with her fiance, Blake, is having panic attacks. They only get worse when Robin's sister, Melanie, calls to tell her that their father has been shot and is clinging to life. It turns out that his new wife, Tara, and her 12 year-old daughter, Cassidy, have also been shot.
The novel tries to unravel the circumstances behind the shootings, and when the stories are pulled apart, family dynamics come into play.
#TheBadDaughter #JoyFielding
The novel tries to unravel the circumstances behind the shootings, and when the stories are pulled apart, family dynamics come into play.
#TheBadDaughter #JoyFielding
kbrazel's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-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
4.5