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
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
daniellenelson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Child death, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Vomit, Abandonment, Blood, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Rape, and Sexual violence
sizzlesteaks's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Rape, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood, Physical abuse, Child death, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Cancer
Minor: Vomit, Incest, Body shaming, Pregnancy, and Pedophilia
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Sexual content, Vomit, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Child death, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Car accident, Incest, Infertility, and Body shaming
booksbytheglass'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
5.0
I had no idea what to expect from this one, except for the fact that I absolutely loved THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, and this one seems to be everyone’s favorite! and boy, was everyone right!!!!!
this book takes place in five different parts - each with its own set of POVs, flashbacks and time periods. but the transition between them was so easy to follow, and it left me totally begging for me! ✨ just one more chapter ✨ was so real in this story
MC geo has a LOT of trauma in her childhood, and if she just went to therapy after dating calvin harris, this book just wouldn’t exist 🤪 but here we are - a book full of morally grey characters!! and I had no idea who to root for and who was the true killer, until the very last chapter …
about halfway through, I had an idea of the major plot twist, but I am so pleased to report that I was so wrong! I absolutely loved being shocked by the final conclusion of this one, and while I felt it concluded all too quickly and neatly, I was still reeling from the twist so I can’t complain too much ✌🏼
hillier’s writing is so addictive, per usual, and I never wanted to put this one down! it will physically stick to your hands until you reach the last page
if you were a fan of hillier’s other books as well as psychological thrillers - definitely give this one a go!!!! 🙌🏼
rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Child abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
maryrhg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Maybe I’m the weird one but I seriously have no idea why people rate this book so highly. There is so many rape scenes in this book most of which seem to be there just to make the reader uncomfortable and don’t really ad anything to the story? (If you know, you know I’m talking about the last one). The ending is rushed, the romance is rushed and unbelievable. You could remove kai from the story and it would have basically been exactly the same. I didn’t find it thrilling or suspenseful at all just icky to read. If you’re looking for something to disturb you this might work for you, but for me this was definitely not it.
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Vomit, and Body shaming