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schausjk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This took me a little while to get into, mostly because I find books about authors/writing irritating. However, as the story went on and the purpose of the little editorial bits became apparent I enjoyed it a lot more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Stalking and Death of parent
readingwithcoffee's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Torture, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, and Sexism
ireadinbed's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Honestly i thought halfway through this book was a five. A really fun premise, characters i liked a lot, set in an interesting place i havebt read about before.
I think the story within a story and how symbiotic they were really gives it an extra edge.
Unfortunately the letter story kind of ended up not feeling resolved and obviously that bled into the main story at the end. Just knicked the ending off enough to leave me feeling disappointed. But still a really good read.
I think the story within a story and how symbiotic they were really gives it an extra edge.
Unfortunately the letter story kind of ended up not feeling resolved and obviously that bled into the main story at the end. Just knicked the ending off enough to leave me feeling disappointed. But still a really good read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Racism
j_emerson18's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
What a great book to start the year. It was inspirational and well written. I love the plot twists near the end. The writing style was super intriguing. I loved the story with the four unlikely friends in the midst of a murder. **spoiler warning**
I am honestly a little upset by the lack of depth or detail about the secondary story between two writers in which one is a serial killer. I would have loved more information about the two of them.
I am honestly a little upset by the lack of depth or detail about the secondary story between two writers in which one is a serial killer. I would have loved more information about the two of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Grief
trippyotter's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely love all the layers to this story! Once you have an idea of what's happening, a new detail is added, and you're left wondering what will happen next. This was my first book written by Sulari Gentill, and I can't wait to read her other books.
The story begins in the reading room of the Boston Public Library, where our strangers hear a scream, a scream that will terrify and unite them in their curiosity to unravel the mystery. A mystery that has no simple answer and will test their newly developed friendship.
As the secrets unravel and their bonds are tested, ties will strengthen between the couples that will begin to divide their loyalties to each other.
Over the course of several weeks, as details are discovered, you'll begin to question the agenda of several of the strangers. Was the chance encounter between them, on that fateful day, just happenstance or was it orchestrated?
As the mystery starts to unravel, will their friendship survive the truth of what happened?
Will they survive the truth?
I'd also like to mention that besides loving the story, the foodie in me couldn't get enough of the food tour of Boston, real or fake!
But, I think my only complaint, if any, would be how little time is actually spent in the library. After the murder, there's very little time spent in the library, majority of the time will be spent in Freddy's apartment, local eateries, or walking about the city. It all meshes wonderfully with the story, but I do wish more time was spent in the library.
The story begins in the reading room of the Boston Public Library, where our strangers hear a scream, a scream that will terrify and unite them in their curiosity to unravel the mystery. A mystery that has no simple answer and will test their newly developed friendship.
As the secrets unravel and their bonds are tested, ties will strengthen between the couples that will begin to divide their loyalties to each other.
Over the course of several weeks, as details are discovered, you'll begin to question the agenda of several of the strangers. Was the chance encounter between them, on that fateful day, just happenstance or was it orchestrated?
As the mystery starts to unravel, will their friendship survive the truth of what happened?
Will they survive the truth?
I'd also like to mention that besides loving the story, the foodie in me couldn't get enough of the food tour of Boston, real or fake!
But, I think my only complaint, if any, would be how little time is actually spent in the library. After the murder, there's very little time spent in the library, majority of the time will be spent in Freddy's apartment, local eateries, or walking about the city. It all meshes wonderfully with the story, but I do wish more time was spent in the library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
e_flah's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
2.0
The Woman in the Library had a lot of different things happening in one fairly short book. For the most part, I found the layers of mysteries entertaining though I was disappointed with how brief the whodunit wrap-up at the end was. My biggest complaint was the lack of character development. All of the main characters felt a bit flat and didn't do much to keep me invested in the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
tamara_joy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Stalking, and Murder
ckraney's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars. I loved the format of this book—the book within a book. I thought the crimes and clues were well plotted and I was prepared for a masterful reveal. I was disappointed by the twist at the end and it felt like it cheapened all of the previous work. Such crimes seemed more intricate than how they were tied up in the end. (It’s hard to explain without spoilers!) I wish the ending had been as well thought out and crafted as the rest of the story. It would have been a 4 star book in that case.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Stalking, and Murder
linneak's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
cwerber's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
One of the characters really made me roll my eyes. Seriously, you've been a stalker sweetheart. It's not loyalty or concern. It's stalking. And then to turn around and accuse the narrator of sleeping with the person you're stalking? Ugh. Sorry, Marigold, you're a bit too much for me.
And Leo (Freddie's friend or whatever), no. Nope. You're much too good to be true.
The info we found out about Whit came a little too late. He was also much too charming and I didn't like him at all. But then again, I don't think I like many people at all so that could be me.
The reader is made to believe that Cain is the murderer from almost the get-go. Shady past; time spent in jail; living on the streets, etc. But Marigold and Whit seem too eager to pin it on him very quickly.
I guess it brings me to Freddie, our main character and narrator of the story, an Australian living in Boston on a scholarship to write her book for a year. She seemed determined to want to fall in love with Cain. I could see tantalizing glimpses of her life - a dead sister whose death Freddie witnessed - but they were glimpses.
I take that back, each character could have done with fleshed-out backstories. But there you have it. I should have stopped when I struggled but I finished.
This book, obviously, wasn't for me. A reverse locked room mystery set in Boston with questionable or naive characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Blood
Moderate: Murder