k3ls33's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
mollysparkles's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault
siobhanward's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
There are definitely some things I'm conflicted about after reading this book. It definitely was better than a lot of the thrillers I read this year, but it still wasn't great. As another reviewer pointed out, almost nothing happens for the first 80% of the book. We hear bits and pieces of Belle's adventures on a yacht and hear tales of her "best friend" being mean to her. While I know that some of the intention was to build up Belle's isolation/loneliness/uncertainty, it wasn't super effective. I definitely found myself bored and waiting for something to happen apart from Summer being mad at Belle.
Even the plotline in the past was boring for the first bit - Belle works shitty jobs while we learn about Summer's past. Again, I understand why this was done and it could have been effective, but it just went on for too long.
However, the last 50 or so pages of the book were a saving grace. While there were some plot elements that I figured out early, or partially figured out, there were some that took my by surprise entirely. This was a book where I found myself flipping back to see what I had missed. I really like that! I've read too many thrillers this year where the ending was a twist that was impossible to see coming because it was based on information that you were not privy too until the end. I get that I'm not supposed to be able to predict every ending, but it also frustrates me when it's an impossible twist (e.g. the bad guy was some character mentioned a single time in a very off-hand way but here's all this info you didn't know that makes them the bad guy).
Anyway, this would be a solid poolside read. Or a book club read. Maybe not the best read for an expensive yacht trip.
Even the plotline in the past was boring for the first bit - Belle works shitty jobs while we learn about Summer's past. Again, I understand why this was done and it could have been effective, but it just went on for too long.
However, the last 50 or so pages of the book were a saving grace. While there were some plot elements that I figured out early, or partially figured out, there were some that took my by surprise entirely. This was a book where I found myself flipping back to see what I had missed. I really like that! I've read too many thrillers this year where the ending was a twist that was impossible to see coming because it was based on information that you were not privy too until the end. I get that I'm not supposed to be able to predict every ending, but it also frustrates me when it's an impossible twist (e.g. the bad guy was some character mentioned a single time in a very off-hand way but here's all this info you didn't know that makes them the bad guy).
Anyway, this would be a solid poolside read. Or a book club read. Maybe not the best read for an expensive yacht trip.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
ashleynewman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of my favorite books of the year and SO underrated. Why haven’t I heard more about this book?? Literally impossible to put down. A yacht in the south of France, a vacation turned sinister, old white billionaires being taken down by millennial women…I’ll take it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
emilylovesgoodbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death and Infidelity
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
collinsd'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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual content, Death, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault
shaziareads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Rape, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
readingonthehudson's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Sexual assault, and Drug use
kyriannaj's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK!!!
This book is a bit complicated. The ending plot twists help explain the main character's actions throughout, but without knowing them it seems as if the main character has no issue with the things happening to her and around her. It does an amazing job slowly delving more and more into the past giving you just enough information each time to understand another piece of the puzzle without fully knowing everything. However, the way the book deals with certain triggering topics comes across as very casual and with no regard for the severity of them. Additionally, the traumatic events are never fully dealt with in the book and simply exist in the background before eventually disappearing, or in one case are used to villify a character. There was a lot of potential with this book but I felt it missed the mark at almost every point.
This book is a bit complicated. The ending plot twists help explain the main character's actions throughout, but without knowing them it seems as if the main character has no issue with the things happening to her and around her. It does an amazing job slowly delving more and more into the past giving you just enough information each time to understand another piece of the puzzle without fully knowing everything. However, the way the book deals with certain triggering topics comes across as very casual and with no regard for the severity of them. Additionally, the traumatic events are never fully dealt with in the book and simply exist in the background before eventually disappearing, or in one case are used to villify a character. There was a lot of potential with this book but I felt it missed the mark at almost every point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Violence
hannahrose25's review
I didn't finish because I realized I figured out all the plot twists. On the whole quite a predictable book and I found my attention wandering as I read it. While reading I didn't get the chilled feeling I was looking for. I never attached myself to the characters and found myself reading because I wanted to have an excuse to not be around my family. Overall I would give this a 2.5 out of 5 stars from what I read. I don't think this is a bad book, just not the right book for me at that time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment