melf's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
3.75
very fun and kept me engaged but the end was a bit lack luster
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
chrisomeara's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Cline’s latest novel is gorgeously written but suffers from a meandering plot that always seems to deflate as tension mounts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Car accident
sineadw9's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This roving, voyeuristic novel challenges us with a self-sabotaging, emotionally detached lead but manages to get you to care about her. I enjoyed the read and the vignettes into different peoples lives through the main character’s perspective. However, I found it felt too long, too detached, and ultimately lacked payoff. It’s worth a read, and the writing style keeps you interested, but I’m a little surprised by the rave reviews.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Classism, and Sexual content
elanuruysal's review
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Drug use
kaiulanilee's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Drug use, and Drug abuse
mylangibson's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Stalking, Sexual content, and Adult/minor relationship
lcg527's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Alcohol
alanabenjamin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.0
This book was enjoyable enough.
Great one-liners. Great tension.
An extremely good character study of the various people who summer in the Hamptons and the ppl who are desperate to be there.
It's one of those books where nothing is happening but things are moving forward.
I really like an unreliable deeply flawed female protagonist but this one wasn't giving as the kids say...
I will literally rewriting plot points in my head.
Great one-liners. Great tension.
An extremely good character study of the various people who summer in the Hamptons and the ppl who are desperate to be there.
It's one of those books where nothing is happening but things are moving forward.
I really like an unreliable deeply flawed female protagonist but this one wasn't giving as the kids say...
I will literally rewriting plot points in my head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
melissa_b_67's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.75
Ok, what exactly did I just read?! This was a quick read. A beach read of sorts, but not in the traditional sense.
Alex is a 22 year old grifter and a train wreck that we just cannot look away from. We get dropped into Alex's life, which is in the process of, or has been, spiraling out of control for some time. We meet her just as her relationship with middle aged, wealthy Simon disintegrates despite her efforts to grasp hold of it.
Without giving away spoilers, here are a few things that I loved about this book. The one-week timeline worked well for me. I enjoy books that take place during a shortened, finite time period. This is the second book I read this summer where the book, unbeknownst to me when I started reading it, happened to take place during the same time period when I was reading it! The Guest takes place during the week leading up to Labor Day. I kind of love it when those types of coincidences happen during my reading.
I enjoyed Cline's writing style. Her sparse language mirrors the bleakness of this story, and keeps the reader engaged and quickly turning the pages. Cline's writing does not offer up smoking mirrors. We clearly see what Alex's life is, a mixture of lies and truth where it's difficult to distinguish the advantage of one over the other.
I love the East Coast beach setting. The summer scenes of ocean and sand and wealth, juxtaposed to a young woman who doesn't fit in, but seemingly convinces those around her that she does, was particularly compelling.
What didn't I love about this book? We are given no backstory on why Alex is the kind of person she is. We don't know much about what brought her to this fateful Labor Day week in a wealthy beach town. We can make guesses, but all Alex tells us is that she had led an ordinary life sometime prior to the beginning of this story. Without knowing more about what made Alex tick I constantly questioned what led Alex to this point, and did not receive the answers I was looking for.
The ending... I will just leave it there.
I am still pondering this story. I am glad I read it, but I am not sure what I got out of it. However, it affected me enough that I wanted to write a review about it. So there is that! I will likely read more of Emma Cline. She is a talented writer with a unique perspective.
If you are looking for a non-traditional "beach read" this might be a good one for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Car accident
nkmustdie's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Addiction, Toxic friendship, and Car accident