Reviews with content warning for Sexism - No Exit

The suspense in this book starts immediately with the MC, Darby, realizing she forgot her phone charger, had no signal, and was caught in a blizzard and it doesn’t slow down from there. Having no cell signal in a room full of strangers on a terribly cold night is one thing, but that phone having only about 4% battery is the cherry on top of this anxiety inducing realization. The racial slurs were completely unnecessary. There are better ways to sue that your bad guy is a bad guy than using a racial slur, especially as a white author. I also think that the way the POV’s switched so abruptly was a bit confusing. I’m not a huge fan of men writing thrillers because of the way that their stories have the most awful, stomach churning, and sadistic things happening to their characters. I will say that the constant plot twists were incredibly exhausting. The first couple were so creepy and bamboozling but after the third and fourth it became a mind boggling enigma. That’s something I didn’t enjoy about it. There was so much that happened that I couldn’t fully take in because of the plot twist after plot twist writing Adams displayed in this story. I did enjoy it, I read it in about 4 hours so it was a very quick read. It had me holding my breath and biting my nails from the suspense. all in all I think it deserves a 3.5/5 star rating.

POSSIBLE TRIGGERS:

Death of a parent

cancer

body horror

blood

ableist slurs

racial slurs

attempted suffocation

confinement

vomit

kidnapping

implied sexual assault

implied human trafficking

implied pedophilia

violence against women

dark inner monologue about women

sadism

snow storm

freezing

gun violence

amputation

vomit

medical trauma

medical needs not able to be met

Content Warnings

libraryofdoe's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

While snowed in at a rest stop, a woman sees a child’s handprint on a van window and upon further inspection realises there might be a child trafficker among the friendly faces trapped with her.

I really enjoyed this. While I was initially mildly upset that the twists were clunky and easy to foresee, the last fifth of the book really surprised and intrigued me and the plot was gripping.

On the whole I highly recommend, especially if you enjoy tense thrillers with relatable leads. Darby Thorne, you have my whole heart.

Content Warnings

mollitorm's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Content Warnings

subtlebookish's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

Content Warnings

_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Ok wow this book was fantastic!! Didn't think it would surpass my expectations. I was not expecting much from it (especially bc I was noticing some problematic stuff) but it blew me away in the end. It carries you off into a blood curling, anxious adventure, psychological intrigue, and a study of circumstance and choices and actions. Gripping pace and narrative. My only one big issue is with the overdone trope of disabled people being dangerous and criminals and having terrible outcomes. The character and Lars' background doesn't sit right with me. He was obviously abused and used by his psychopath brother and though I'm not justifying his behavior, I feel like he really didn't know better throughout and he too was a victim of his brother. It honestly made me uncomfortable that the way he's described perpetuates nasty stereotypes of disabled people. I think the story would've been compelling without this, regardless. Another thing that although it didn't divert much attention away from Darby and the plot, I feel like we really didn't gain anything from the little look into that cop's life. Unless it kinda was to show that cops who shoot people almost always come from disintegrated homes?? I don't know but it was unnecessary. And although I think this book was fascinatingly written there is a a few content warnings: the N-word is used once in this book, as is derogatory language against women and the Chinese. I obviously understand the context those were employed but it's a little dampening nonetheless. Characters wise, Darby Thorne was a great, and I think, realistic mc. Though she was ageist with poor Ed and that cost her and she was hard to get stuff like come on. But the bonding she forms with little Jay is absolutely cute and sweet and fed my found family needs. Ashley Garver was so annoying and hateful and just a cathartic villain. I honestly do love these kinds of villains that are so easy to hate and I can pour all my hatred and horrible thoughts on them. Love the feeling of elation I get when they finally get their punishment. Yeah, morally ambiguous villains with complicated motives are great, but sometimes I just wanna hate someone so despicable beyond redemption with all my guts. The ending made me tear up bc I thought my girl Darby had d worded. she doesn't. So I really liked how it all concluded in a bittersweet way.

Content Warnings

marxnchill's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Although the story kept me reading, it gets two stars instead of three due to fat phobia, sexism, racism, ableism, sexual assault as a plot device, you name it. Also we get it, the lead character is short and tiny and not like other girls.

Content Warnings

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