deanchaudhri's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Confinement, Car accident, Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Alcoholism, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was pretty slow in the first half in my opinion, but it kept my intrigue enough to continue. I have to admit it did take me a while to get used to her writing style. The book was kind of like a slow burn with many leading plot elements. It was entertaining enough.
I love how we really got into the main character's head.
Spoiler
At one point I seriously thought she was going crazy. I'm so happy she left her no good unsupportive husband. He really got on my nerves. And I'm also glad she was able to gain a better relationship with her sister and finally understand her mother.Also, the twist (many might think it's outlandish) but I really liked it. It bumped the book a 0.5 star for me.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Violence
Minor: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, and Misogyny
jj_tj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Suicide attempt, Child abuse, and Violence
megelizabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
However - and it's a big however and potentially a little bit spoilery - there is one fairly prominent element of the book, outside of the main thriller-y storyline, that is just dealt with so, so, so fucking awfully and that I cannot in good conscience neglect to mention, and that's the way the grooming of a teenage girl is portrayed and dealt with. The way one character in particular, and one we're clearly supposed to root for, reacts to the situation is both ridiculously unbelievable and insanely infuriating. I was so mad and it ruined so much of the reading experience for me that I probably would have rated this lower had there not eventually been one whole character who finally points out how horrific what's happened is. That redeemed it just enough for me to still come away feeling like I enjoyed this overall, but this whole aspect of the book still let it down a lot for me. What makes it even worse is that plot-wise the book still would've worked absolutely fine had the grooming storyline either not been included or been included but dealt with appropriately.
I have another gripe with this book - though this one is more personal preference - and it's what happens in the epilogue. It's infuriating because in a way it's really clever and adds another haunting dimension to everything that's already happened, but it also does something that I just absolutely hate in any book that it happens in. I'm just going to pretend that the book ends at the end of the last chapter, as everything still would've made sense and I'd still have been left absolutely mind-blown.
So yeah, a mixed bag. I'm not sure whether I'll pick up anything by this author again, which is such a shame as her mind is clearly incredible and I love that I can go into her books just knowing that whatever I predict, the whole truth is going to be so much wilder than I could ever guess. But the grooming thing just so badly rubbed me up the wrong way and isn't something I can forget or brush over.
Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Blood, and Child abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
moonylovesstars'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child abuse, Murder, Stalking, Death of parent, Violence, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Death
theliteraryhooker'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
2.5
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, Stalking, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Alcohol, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Death of parent
destinyf1988's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Car accident