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jhowland's review against another edition
- 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
2.25
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
romorel'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The pacing is steady, the tension is clear, sexual, and discomfiting. Rose offers just enough details to sustain your interest, and plants subtle seeds into the plot to keep you turning the page.
For some this will be pure fun and an engaging read, but others might find the slow progression and sudden double whammy twist dissatisfying.
Character motivation seems surface level, and the twist unearned. The seeds planted earlier in the story don’t establish strong enough roots to ever have that retrospective understanding of certain details that tie back later.
I acknowledge that may be a personal preference though, and overall found the story sexy and entertaining.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
the_true_monroe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Excrement, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Kidnapping, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
jry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
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.blackcatkai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
this is like if lifetime tried to make a hallmark romance movie but couldn't stop themselves from also trying to make a thriller. I somehow called the entire twist at the end from the first 5 pages. either im absolutely amazing, or this premise was not executed all that well.
I don't hate the overall idea of the story, but I personally feel it would've been better put together by a completely different author. there is so much cringey dialogue, inner thoughts, romance, and clichés all over.
I will give jeneva credit though: I couldn't stop reading. but more because it was like a train wreck that you simply can't tear your eyes away from. though I also couldn't stop rolling my eyes just about every few pages. so there's that, I guess....
now lemme get one SPOILER out of my head:
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AM I SUPPOSED TO BE SHOCKED THAT SHES A SERIAL KILLER WITH AN ENTIRE FAMILY? a husband and kids that love her? yeah, no fucking shit. most serial killers in real life do. this isn't abnormal or shocking in any way. most are fully involved in their community, friends, family, church, all over. but I guess if you're new to horrible people, then that could work for you.
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
ifoundcallie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexism, Torture, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Vomit, Medical content, and Grief