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tinytike_sela's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Death of parent
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
A friend of mine once told me that you don't know if you're in a rom-co or a horror movie until you've made at least one bad decision and thats basically the concept of this book - which I enjoy! The pacing was decent. The setting was interesting. I enjoyed the isolated ranch. It could be seen as romantic or spooky. I don't hate the writing as a whole.
The problem is that this book feels like it was written by aliens or AI because PEOPLE DO NOT ACT THIS WAY. First of all, no woman would stay in an Air BNB in which the owner is also staying there the whole time sharing the space, and there's not even a lock on the room. There's no way. Bad things start happening to Grace super early on and she just brushes them off. For example, at one point she slides into a random pit onto a dead animal full of maggots and she's basically just fine with that. Theres a few scenes where she comes close to being seriously injured and she doesn't go home.
Calvin is a weirdo and no guy in real life would think the thoughts he thinks - especially not a hot guy. There's no way. He's simping for Grace immediately and he talks in so many similes and metaphors that it's just ridiculous. The amount of time he talked about Grace's "blue blue eyes" was exhausting. I think it would have been better if the book wasn't half written from Calvin's perspective. It would have maintained a but more mystery.
Also I have beef with the author because trying to create twists is silly when the book is written in first person omniscient from both Grace and Calvins perspectives. It's hard to keep secrets from us when we are in your characters heads. The ending felt cheap. Maybe it's supposed to be a like a dumb Lifetime movie but JEEZ. Wasted potential. It was low-key better when it seemed more like a romance.
Now to spoil it:
This is the second book I've read by the author and I suppose it will probably be the last because I also hated The Perfect Marriage. Someone who enjoys silly popcorn thrillers may enjoy this. Or if you just want something to read that doesn't involve any brain power.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, and Sexism
I'll tell you about the animal deaths. A deer is hit by a car, some chickens are killed via raccoon (i can't remember if they kill the raccoon?), a mountain lion is shot.gabrielle98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Car accident, and Death of parent
carmnsndiego's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Minor: Drug use