andshe_reads's review against another edition
5.0
⚠️ Murder, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
If you enjoy a decent domestic thriller full of suspense, this is for you. The author wrote this in a way that will make you feel things and get a reaction. Her writing is good and had me wondering what was in the store ever chapter.
The story is told by multiple povs, and I thought at first it could be confusing - with the different families, but actually, it's not, and they link really well. In fact, it really kept me on my toes throughout the story and really added to that sense of who dunnit.
Not that any of the characters are particularly likeable mainly because of their flaws, but I did find myself rooting for the women in the story.
I highly enjoyed the book and wasn't surprised at the ending. In fact, I felt it was the perfect plot twist. The only downside is I thought it was quite obvious.
Overall I'd definitely recommend it
If you enjoy a decent domestic thriller full of suspense, this is for you. The author wrote this in a way that will make you feel things and get a reaction. Her writing is good and had me wondering what was in the store ever chapter.
The story is told by multiple povs, and I thought at first it could be confusing - with the different families, but actually, it's not, and they link really well. In fact, it really kept me on my toes throughout the story and really added to that sense of who dunnit.
Not that any of the characters are particularly likeable mainly because of their flaws, but I did find myself rooting for the women in the story.
I highly enjoyed the book and wasn't surprised at the ending. In fact, I felt it was the perfect plot twist. The only downside is I thought it was quite obvious.
Overall I'd definitely recommend it
bibireadthis's review against another edition
3.0
3.25 ⭐️
I love being right about the villain in these suspense thrillers. I also like this type of slow, thoughtful and ordinary writing. I did get a bit confused cause there was so many povs but I got there in the end.
I love being right about the villain in these suspense thrillers. I also like this type of slow, thoughtful and ordinary writing. I did get a bit confused cause there was so many povs but I got there in the end.
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
2.0
knew it was Izzy all along, she never once fooled me at any point, so nothing really shocked me and it got until like page 200 for the story to kick off like at all. It was just a little too boring and really had no thrills or mystery to it.
catastrojb's review
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Read in one sitting - wonderfully written, very dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Torture, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic friendship
alexxa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
justelw's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-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? No
3.5
andshe_reads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
If you enjoy a decent domestic thriller full of suspense this is for you. The author wrote this in a way that will make you feel things and to get a reaction. Her writing is good and had me wondering what was in store ever chapter.
The story is told by multiple povs and I thought at first it could be confusing - with the different families but actually it's not and they link really well. In fact it really kept me on my toes throughout the story and really added to that sense of who dunnit.
Not that any of the characters are particularly likable mainly because of their flaws but I did find myself rooting for the women in the story.
I highly enjoyed the book and wasn't surprised at the ending in fact felt it was the perfect plot twist. Only downside is I thought it was quite obvious.
Overall I'd definitely recommend it 👌
The story is told by multiple povs and I thought at first it could be confusing - with the different families but actually it's not and they link really well. In fact it really kept me on my toes throughout the story and really added to that sense of who dunnit.
Not that any of the characters are particularly likable mainly because of their flaws but I did find myself rooting for the women in the story.
I highly enjoyed the book and wasn't surprised at the ending in fact felt it was the perfect plot twist. Only downside is I thought it was quite obvious.
Overall I'd definitely recommend it 👌
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
melaniesreads's review against another edition
4.0
This book starts by introducing us to Eve who has taken a course to help her daughter Poppy who may be dyslexic. Eve inherited her large house with sprawling garden after her parents died and wants her children to have the freedom she didn’t growing up. Her mother too busy with friends and parties she was controlled by a strict nanny. Starting a small class in her home, Eve and husband Eric become friends with the other children’s parents. Melissa and Paul and Grace and Martin.
Melissa an interior designer is obsessed with looks. Having been taunted by her father about puppy fat she had two hospital admissions due to extreme starvation and exercise. Her husband Paul is an architect and wanting to be cutting edge will have only new things in the house.
Then we come to Grace and Martin. Martin a prize winning novelist is now struggling with his next book and Grace is having to work as a receptionist to make ends meet. Grace herself writes secretly at night and misses her native Zimbabwe.
Narrated from Eve, Melissa and Grace’s points of view and interspersed with the kids narrative you are drawn into the unfolding nightmare. Marital affairs, domestic abuse, violence and bullying. All the while I was reading I found myself knowing what was coming and urging the parents to wake up and see what was going on as the kids are left more and more to their own devices. But even I did not see the true horror of what was to come.
This book is dark but so very good. The characters, although not exactly likeable, they have qualities that require you to keep reading. The pacing is timed just right, slowly building the tension until it becomes palpable. With a plot that is clever and devious and led me astray down the proverbial garden path. Oh and that ending I have only just picked my jaw up off the floor. On that note I will leave you with “This be the verse” by Philip Larkin which sprung to mind on finishing the book.
They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.
Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.
Melissa an interior designer is obsessed with looks. Having been taunted by her father about puppy fat she had two hospital admissions due to extreme starvation and exercise. Her husband Paul is an architect and wanting to be cutting edge will have only new things in the house.
Then we come to Grace and Martin. Martin a prize winning novelist is now struggling with his next book and Grace is having to work as a receptionist to make ends meet. Grace herself writes secretly at night and misses her native Zimbabwe.
Narrated from Eve, Melissa and Grace’s points of view and interspersed with the kids narrative you are drawn into the unfolding nightmare. Marital affairs, domestic abuse, violence and bullying. All the while I was reading I found myself knowing what was coming and urging the parents to wake up and see what was going on as the kids are left more and more to their own devices. But even I did not see the true horror of what was to come.
This book is dark but so very good. The characters, although not exactly likeable, they have qualities that require you to keep reading. The pacing is timed just right, slowly building the tension until it becomes palpable. With a plot that is clever and devious and led me astray down the proverbial garden path. Oh and that ending I have only just picked my jaw up off the floor. On that note I will leave you with “This be the verse” by Philip Larkin which sprung to mind on finishing the book.
They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.
Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.
twiinklex's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, this book was a disappointment. The first half was slow. There were many characters (both adults and children) and while I had no problem telling them apart and remembering how they were related, I never did connect or relate to anyone nor did I care much for them. The story picked up in the second half but basically this is a very typical domestic thriller that goes exactly the way you expect it to, with elements/plot devices you find in pretty much every domestic thriller.
The whodunit was pretty obvious from the start though the story itself was compelling enough to keep me turning the pages. I was, however, shocked by one tragic event. Also, I've never loathed a child character as much as I did in this book, not even when I read Baby Teeth. Ugh. But I guess it's a good thing if a book can make you angry.
I get that maybe the author wanted to show the consequences of child negligence but personally it felt like the same old story that I've read in so many other books.
The whodunit was pretty obvious from the start though the story itself was compelling enough to keep me turning the pages. I was, however, shocked by one tragic event. Also, I've never loathed a child character as much as I did in this book, not even when I read Baby Teeth. Ugh. But I guess it's a good thing if a book can make you angry.
I get that maybe the author wanted to show the consequences of child negligence but personally it felt like the same old story that I've read in so many other books.