The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
alindeman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The book details Geo’s life after her trial, during, and after her prison sentence while simultaneously going into the past and slowly uncovering the story of Calvin James & what really happened the night Angela died. Once she finishes her prison sentence (after the 5 year time skip) you start learning through Kaiser’s perspective about
Geo’s story is honestly so fucking sad. Part of me was so incredibly angry, I just wanted to shake her and yell “just tell the fucking truth!!” But at the end of the day, she was a victim too, and you learn more about that throughout the whole book.
Over all- excellent writing and a compelling mystery, & story about trauma
CHECK TW!
Graphic: Rape, Pregnancy, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Child death, Murder, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
jolikestoread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, Fatphobia, Addiction, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Alcoholism
ohkaereads'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
2.5
Albeit, the book had its moments. The past and present were woven well into the novel. The chapters and parts were organized rightfully. I also liked the small integration of music into the story, the lyrics toned well to the narrative beats. The story was immersive with the cinematic qualities of a lifetime movie. The exploration of an abusive relationship was decent. The “villain monologue” at the end was one of my most liked (up until the “shift/turning point”).
But I wasn't thrilled, I was disgusted. I finished the book because it was easier than not finishing it. The romance was ick, the characters were ick and the ending was ick. There were also instances of narrative fatphobia (fatness almost always linked to disgust or disliked characters) and the discussion/mentions of race left a bad taste in my mouth. ”But the woman standing in front of him is black, her skin the color of coffee with a few drops of cream,” is used as a description. I'm a black woman and that was a personal no for me. The story felt riddled with things like internalized misogyny because, for some reason, we are trying to justify why Geo deserved this and Angela deserved that and trauma porn. While it isn't exploitative, why is the reader subjected to three on-page rape scenes? Why is it one thing after another happening to Geo? And this also brings me back to the plot. It's a thriller. You would think the plot is the biggest part but that would mean the prison sequences were pointless. I get the characters needing to be humanized and solid but in hindsight, it was excessive. In the end, the book felt like a fluke. A plot so predictable it was annoying and this is coming from someone who likes linear stories (and spoilers and seeing right through stories — give me a plot, 50 or 60% in I know how it ends, how the puzzle fits). The story was not predictable in a fun way but rather in an I-can't-wait-to-be-finished-with-this-mess way. A book that might as well have been a novella. The story was a good in-between to kick me out of a slump but extremely disturbing. I spent most of the novel horrified but bemused. The novel had a tacky quality that caused me to inappropriately laugh at times. There were quite a few grammar errors as well but I wasn't too distracted by them.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Vomit
Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident, Drug abuse, Addiction, Drug use, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pedophilia, and Gun violence
The book has three on-page rape scenes (chapters 4, 22 & 24) and an on-page attempted rape (forcible incest, chapter 32 and 33). Forced institutionalization refers to the fmc's time in jail; there is no admittance to any facility based on psychiatry in the novel. Injury/injury detail refers to aspects of the murders (not considered torture since they are not prolonged) and a victim's loved one's anxious and intense fingernail biting. There is only one instance of gun usage, at the book's end, but there are a few mentions of the weapon weaved throughout the book.karipohar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
The characters are flawed and really bad people. Near the end it feels like the author tries to change the readers sympathies by making the murderer more caring. It feels very against the information we've been given up to that point.
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, and Death
creepycrawlybookworm's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Rape, Pregnancy, Child death, Murder, Violence, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Infertility, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Cancer, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Homophobia
louandlife's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
It's a good read. The book was gripping and fast paced. I managed to finish it within about 13 hours. If I didn't sleep, I could have finished it in one go. This book does jump around the timeline to tell this story. So it's not a chronological story. I wouldn't say the characters are likeable but it is more of a plot based story. The big reveal of the killer was a bit disappointing, as was the end of the story. If I liked the ending, I think this book would have been 4 stars. I'll also know I'll forget about this boon soon which is why I wouldn't rate it 4 stars. But I also appreciate this book because it was a good choice for me to read in my goal to read more books whilst I still can during this holiday.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Physical abuse, Gore, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Infertility, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Alcohol and Terminal illness
Minor: Addiction
lasanyaface's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
chloe15's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child death, Murder, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship
katybugggg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Incest, Pregnancy, Violence, Vomit, Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Bullying, Body horror, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Body shaming, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Car accident, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Abandonment
nabaraditi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I mean it has it all and there's a good twist at the end that I didn't see coming..
4.5 stars? i think!! i'm not sure yet. its definitely 4 to 4.5 stars
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Car accident, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent and Toxic friendship