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rrylyn's review against another edition
2.0
Probably 2.5 stars. I would not classify this book as a thriller and was honestly pretty bored by the plot. It didn’t keep me on the edge of my toes until the last few chapters. I think the big twist was very confusingly written which was disappointing. I wouldn’t recommend this book but I don’t regret reading it.
tazzington's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.75
ainlovesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
michellec13's review against another edition
Unlikable characters making terrible decisions and now a dog is missing. No thanks.
kdela's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
elliesjenna's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chonkydud's review against another edition
1.0
I don’t know how people could possibly give this anything above 3 stars. The ending annoyed me so much and while I found myself curious the more things escalated I cannot in good conscience say that this was a worthwhile book. I will start however by saying the only likeable characters in this situation was Jamie and Zain. Everyone else, all grown ass adults, had moments that felt over the top and slightly deranged in some cases.
Of course in the case of Salma I could sympathise because she was at the mercy of everyone else. She didn’t have the full story so why would it be beyond her to put all the blame on the only person who had been outwardly antagonistic to her. And one of the most frustrating things you can ever experience in life is a person (or multiple) downplaying a situation because they either do not see it from your point of view or can’t read into the intention or undertone in the way someone implies things. It’s utterly frustrating and reading the escalation had me full of anger at the fact that no one, not even her husband, could see where she was coming from.
Her husband was compliant in a lot of things and that didn’t make me angry per se. People are bound to react to this differently and it’s a delicate situation. You aren’t ever certain if “retaliation” could lead to someone you care for being harmed or you yourself. But the fact that he downplayed Salma’s worries so much and basically asked if she was imagining things irked me.
Then there’s Willa and Tom who I will be mentioning together because for most of the book while they act alone they feel like a combined force. Tom is clearly the type of person to act before thinking. He’ll shout and pant and do things and later realise that maybe he shouldn’t have. Willa on the other hand is the scheming type. Who will fester and connive, plot something that she knows will have an impact and whether she had the intention to do evil in the first place if a cruel plan unfolds in her lap she’ll go through with it. They’re both dicks just different types.
Zain and Jamie won’t be criticised from me. Zain had a momentary lapse in judgment but both of them kept their silliness in check and figured it out between themselves. All would’ve been well if outer forces weren’t involved. They’re practically the saving grace of this situation.
As for the ending. Wtf. The gasp I did when Bilal picked up the phone. I was shocked to say the least. But then it also turned out he’s the reason that Rich, the asshole squatter, was in Tom’s house and had pushed Zain off the balcony? Uhmmm sure okay I’m with you so far. THEN he ends up hiding this kid in Zain’s bathroom after said kid lobbed his son off a high platform because I guess he doesn’t care. Maybe he didn’t realise at the time how serious it was?? The insanity sets in however when you think about how he did all this and still managed to sneak the dude out of the house while a man he despises helps his son next door. After that he finally calls his wife to come home and has the gall to act shocked and aloof on top of things…oh! can’t forget he’s also a murderer.
And just when you think it’s over it’s revealed Willa actually did all that shit that Tom was meant to have done. She didn’t paint the window or knock the plant signs over but she did key the car and steal the dog and sent the squatters to the restaurant. Obviously she got their house SWATTED too. She admits all this to Salma while Salma is on a hospital bed after getting into a scuffle trying to protect Jamie (Willa’s son) from her psycho husband and when she gets told rightly to fuck off instead of leaving in a cordial way she gets the nurses to sedate Salma…WTF?! Absolute insanity.
Finally we reach the last chapter. Salma visits her husband, brushes him off, goes home to see her son, prepares to walk Molly and during this bumps into new neighbours. Turns out Willa and James have moved. Makes sense. She greets them and goes on her way but then realises she forgot the doggie bags and goes back. Only when she returns she notices the new neighbours have a St. George’s cross stuck in their plant pot. And as though the past 5 hours of me reading this book hadn’t occurred. As if the very serious shit she just experienced hadn’t happened. She walks up to this stupid plant pot and tosses that cross onto the lawn. Be so for real Salma. I wasted 5 hours of my life for this.
Previous Rating: 2
Of course in the case of Salma I could sympathise because she was at the mercy of everyone else. She didn’t have the full story so why would it be beyond her to put all the blame on the only person who had been outwardly antagonistic to her. And one of the most frustrating things you can ever experience in life is a person (or multiple) downplaying a situation because they either do not see it from your point of view or can’t read into the intention or undertone in the way someone implies things. It’s utterly frustrating and reading the escalation had me full of anger at the fact that no one, not even her husband, could see where she was coming from.
Her husband was compliant in a lot of things and that didn’t make me angry per se. People are bound to react to this differently and it’s a delicate situation. You aren’t ever certain if “retaliation” could lead to someone you care for being harmed or you yourself. But the fact that he downplayed Salma’s worries so much and basically asked if she was imagining things irked me.
Then there’s Willa and Tom who I will be mentioning together because for most of the book while they act alone they feel like a combined force. Tom is clearly the type of person to act before thinking. He’ll shout and pant and do things and later realise that maybe he shouldn’t have. Willa on the other hand is the scheming type. Who will fester and connive, plot something that she knows will have an impact and whether she had the intention to do evil in the first place if a cruel plan unfolds in her lap she’ll go through with it. They’re both dicks just different types.
Zain and Jamie won’t be criticised from me. Zain had a momentary lapse in judgment but both of them kept their silliness in check and figured it out between themselves. All would’ve been well if outer forces weren’t involved. They’re practically the saving grace of this situation.
As for the ending. Wtf. The gasp I did when Bilal picked up the phone. I was shocked to say the least. But then it also turned out he’s the reason that Rich, the asshole squatter, was in Tom’s house and had pushed Zain off the balcony? Uhmmm sure okay I’m with you so far. THEN he ends up hiding this kid in Zain’s bathroom after said kid lobbed his son off a high platform because I guess he doesn’t care. Maybe he didn’t realise at the time how serious it was?? The insanity sets in however when you think about how he did all this and still managed to sneak the dude out of the house while a man he despises helps his son next door. After that he finally calls his wife to come home and has the gall to act shocked and aloof on top of things…oh! can’t forget he’s also a murderer.
And just when you think it’s over it’s revealed Willa actually did all that shit that Tom was meant to have done. She didn’t paint the window or knock the plant signs over but she did key the car and steal the dog and sent the squatters to the restaurant. Obviously she got their house SWATTED too. She admits all this to Salma while Salma is on a hospital bed after getting into a scuffle trying to protect Jamie (Willa’s son) from her psycho husband and when she gets told rightly to fuck off instead of leaving in a cordial way she gets the nurses to sedate Salma…WTF?! Absolute insanity.
Finally we reach the last chapter. Salma visits her husband, brushes him off, goes home to see her son, prepares to walk Molly and during this bumps into new neighbours. Turns out Willa and James have moved. Makes sense. She greets them and goes on her way but then realises she forgot the doggie bags and goes back. Only when she returns she notices the new neighbours have a St. George’s cross stuck in their plant pot. And as though the past 5 hours of me reading this book hadn’t occurred. As if the very serious shit she just experienced hadn’t happened. She walks up to this stupid plant pot and tosses that cross onto the lawn. Be so for real Salma. I wasted 5 hours of my life for this.
Previous Rating: 2
annaonthepage's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Hate crime, Racism, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, and Medical trauma
Minor: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
laurapoulosky's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Wow, was this book intense! It's a strong indictment of racism and how quickly problems can escalate when people don't respect each other fully and communicate openly.