Scan barcode
willow_witch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism
alewo27's review against another edition
Okay, this one is my fault.....fool me once and all that. B.A. Paris writes disgusting trauma porn masquerading as thrillers to glorify domestic abuse.
After DNFing Behind Closed Doors very early on due to gross comments on weight, female autonomy, and abortion.....why the HELL did I attempt this book? Something about the synopsis was very intriguing to me and I hoped it would be better. Even my sister, who is far more tolerant a reader than I am, told me not to bother. So I really had this coming. I asked for this trash.
I should have DNF'd even earlier when our protagonist, a douchecannoe of epic proportions, Finn talks about how his new girlfriend, Ellen, (who is the missing girl's sister) is so much lighter and easier to pick up than her missing and presumed dead sister Layla. F*cking disgusting.
Even the origin of Finn and Layla is textbook grooming. Layla is 18, in a new city by herself with nowhere to stay and Finn, 26, spots her and immediately coerces her to stay with him and his roommate Harry. Layla being the doe-eyed child she is just goes along with him.
I read a spoiler review of the rest of the plot and I cannot BEGIN to tell you how ridiculously stupid and impossibly unrealistic the twist is. Paris, you insult our intelligence with this BS.
I'm so fed up with white women thriller authors feeding all of these negative stereotypes of women and relationships. It's disheartening to me that male thriller authors seem to have much more creativity for the genre and don't just rely on DA, SA, Infidelity, etc for their plots. I really need smarter female authors to emerge.
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Fatphobia
ehamlett's review
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
canascorner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Murder
infjkiki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
el_le's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Child abuse
jesshart8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder
funofme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder
melissareading'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
1.5
After reading Behind Closed Doors and feeling like the odd ball out on that one, I decided to give this authors work another go, so I picked up Bring Me Back. And unfortunately, this went even worse.
Bring Me Back is filled with one dimensional, flat, annoying characters. You root for no one, and roll your eyes at everyone. The main plot point was interesting, but the “twist” was so beyond unrealistic that it took all the enjoyment out of the reading experience.
I think a big issue of mine with this authors writing is her telling instead of showing for a lot of things and then the repetitive nature of it is well. For a 300 page book we got the explanation in the beginning of the main character believing his missing ex girlfriend is back after 12 years and then we watch them dance around each other for the entire book. It makes what should be a fast paced book feel drawn out and repetitive.
I really wish I had liked this more but I guess you can’t win them all. 🤷♀️
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
aliteracja's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Violence