izzymc's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Spoiler
the plot twist in this book are big and I wish Arthur and Red got a better relationship, but I am happy Oliver and Catherine died with all the harm they brought to people.Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Cursing
hannah_lilli's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Murder
stripy_gloves's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Death, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood and Medical content
mollymoo1234's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
⚠️spoiler ⚠️* If Oliver hadn’t died I would have killed him myself I HATED him ⚠️spoiler ⚠️
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Gore, Toxic friendship, and Violence
colleen4090's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I knew what Oliver's secret was because of Oliver. He was just evil, soulless, and totally unlikable. The rest of the characters were fairly likable. Though Simon was iffy on the likable scale.
Spoiler
I'm so relieved that Oliver was the one to die! He's the one who I hoped would be the only one not to survive because he was an evil jackass, and clearly a sociopath like his mother.I cried at the end but still liked the ending. It was a very emotional book with lots of grief and guilt.
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Car accident, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Death, Classism, Cursing, Gun violence, Confinement, Violence, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Medical content and Infidelity
Minor: Gaslighting and Alcoholism
saraavowlerr's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Sexism, Stalking, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Cursing, Gore, Grief, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
itsmeleanne_x's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Gore
cepbreed's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Spoiler
(I say 99% because I ended up liking Arthur and his relationship with Red only after the letter we're given from him. Which I have SO much to say about. First of all when I said everyone fit archetypes that means I immediately clocked Arthur as "the nice guy" and in thrillers you can NEVER trust those types. It's always a mask, a wolf in sheep's clothing type deal, so I was weary of him. I'm glad to know he turned out to be a morally sound guy which led me to appreciate that whole thing Jackson had going on between him and Red. As much as I loved them I really feel like they were developed enough. Like they’ve known each other for what, ballpark 6 months and he is willing to divert his organized crime plan for her? That’s insane devotion. And all of that just to get some longing glances and touches held for seconds too long?! Man didn’t even get a kiss. Which leads me to the DAMN cliffhanger. Holly Jackson took everything unsatisfying and painful about As Good As Dead and decided to do it all again. Can't this woman figure out a new way to end a work? I noticed all of these flaws and I still fell for Red and Arthur hook line and sinker. I am going to need an additional epilogue immediately of ANYTHING. Their meeting, them on the run, or even them just hanging out I literally would not care and I would eat up any little tidbit. Holly Jackson this is my formal plea for more content.)All this talk about tropes isn't really natural to me. This is the second book for a small book club I'm in and it's not exactly full of sustained discussion material, so I've been grasping at straws to find stuff the entire time I was reading. That grasping was fruitful hence the trope discussion and the extensive list in my notes app of themes including morality and accountability.
NO ONE KILL ME FOR THIS CONTROVERSIAL TAKE but Holly Jackson easily could’ve had a romance plot line and added depth to Maddy’s character if she was in love with red. I’m sorry but it’s true. Maddy’s devotion to her and to taking care of her. Plus imagine the tension of Red discovering Maddy’s been hiding
Spoiler
that she knew about what her mother had done the whole time.Song:
- Roll Call - The Neighbourhood
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Blood, Death, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Mental illness
megwilli's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Gore
Moderate: Death of parent and Blood