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toris_in_her_own_world's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
2.0
They spent the entire book talking about "that one summer," and trying to keep it a secret. The main character sucked at acting like it hadn't happened though since every other page she was mentioning it again. It didn't really make any sense to me that this whole thing was because a girl was accidentally knocked into the fire when she was a kid. Like is that really worth killing people over???It also just made no sense to me that the two main girls couldn't tell anyone for like, YEARS. I'm pretty sure they would have been forgiven for a mistake they made in a panic when they were kids. The ending was honestly not very good. It was a twist, but it only created more problems, instead of fixing any. I have not disliked a book this much in a long time. However, if you like mysteries with ambiguous endings and don't mind a little gore, you might like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
alysyn's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kimblah's review against another edition
5.0
I really really enjoyed this book. The plot had me sucked in & I could not put this book down! I was on the edge of my seat as it all unfolded. This was the first book by Natasha Preston I have read in a long time (I think I read the Cellar a looooong loooong time ago), & it ensured I will continue to read more!
k_seidl's review against another edition
4.0
For being a YA book… IT WAS SO GOOD. Like definitely made me nervous and freaked out
katie_holder's review against another edition
1.0
I cannot believe I read this entire book. As I was reading, I thought this is mildly entertaining although these characters are flat and I don't really care what happens.
Then the ending - just dumb. Now I know why I haven't read a book by this Author and they are always discounted in the bookstore.
Then the ending - just dumb. Now I know why I haven't read a book by this Author and they are always discounted in the bookstore.
spookyc365's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
lenamackey's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i have no words except that the ending of this book will literally leave you in shock!!
it’s kind of slow at first but, once you get into it more you will not want to put this book down!
it’s kind of slow at first but, once you get into it more you will not want to put this book down!
peachsprouts's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
b_is_for_bibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
Full disclosure: I did know that Natasha Preston started as a Wattpad writer, and that might have influenced how I took some of her intro to this book. In the beginning, it did read like something I would have read in middle school, especially those Y/N, Y/E/C.... types of stories. (IYKYK).
Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable read. A very light thriller, I'd say, even with the particular scenes with the deer. There wasn't any particular scene that really startled me, though having any character walk slowly through the woods while they're freaking out does make for some tense moments. The beginning of the book is relatively slow, and it doesn't really start to pick up until the last few chapters when the writing style moves from crawling to sprinting within a few pages.
I remember thinking in the beginning how silly the two girls were for being so nervous about a fire, but as the story progressed and more details just continued to be added onto the story, it really shows how much people keep to themselves in order to keep themselves and their friends and family safe. The addition of more characters with their parts in the story was interesting as well, and I can honestly say I didn't see the ending coming. Seems all of Lillian's planning had a goal after all, though it does seem a little far fetched to think that she'd actually get away with this when there are other testimonies that would poke holes in her plan. Either way, great read, and I look forward to trying other stories by Natasha.
Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable read. A very light thriller, I'd say, even with the particular scenes with the deer. There wasn't any particular scene that really startled me, though having any character walk slowly through the woods while they're freaking out does make for some tense moments. The beginning of the book is relatively slow, and it doesn't really start to pick up until the last few chapters when the writing style moves from crawling to sprinting within a few pages.
I remember thinking in the beginning how silly the two girls were for being so nervous about a fire, but as the story progressed and more details just continued to be added onto the story, it really shows how much people keep to themselves in order to keep themselves and their friends and family safe. The addition of more characters with their parts in the story was interesting as well, and I can honestly say I didn't see the ending coming. Seems all of Lillian's planning had a goal after all, though it does seem a little far fetched to think that she'd actually get away with this when there are other testimonies that would poke holes in her plan. Either way, great read, and I look forward to trying other stories by Natasha.