vibinqvio'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
2.0
The hair scene… WHAT💀 the gaslighting, the infidelity… hell nah💀 the twists were alright, not phenomenal. Wouldn’t recommend😍
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Kidnapping, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder
skygray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Despite being advertised as a “paranormal thriller,” there is nothing remotely thrilling or scary about Layla. Thanks to Hoover’s bare-bone descriptions, the setting and mood lack any sort of character that might lend itself to a spooky atmosphere. And speaking of character...our “hero,” Leeds Gabriel is flat, uninteresting, and unsympathetic. Leeds did so many horrible things in this book, and despite the fact that he recognized what he was doing was wrong (in many repetitive internal monologues), he never took action or changed his ways. All his bad decisions are brushed away at the end by cop-out plot twists that “justify” him. Meanwhile, our titular character, Layla, is a superficially-written manic pixie dream girl. None of the other side characters were remotely interesting, and the plot twists were predictable and quite frankly laughable. I only read this book because I challenged myself to read the lowest and highest-rated Colleen Hoover books on Goodreads; if not for that, I wouldn’t have finished it. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but It Ends With Us was an infinitely better novel.
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Eating disorder
texas_reznikoff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Infidelity, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Cursing, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Blood, Confinement, Gun violence, and Mental illness
ioanabooks's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Torture, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
meeklovestoread'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? No
2.75
This story is told through alternating time perspectives in which Colleen shifts from Leeds (the main character) telling the events that lead them here then shifts to the regular chapters where he explains to the "detective" what has transpired. So basically we're in his thoughts the whole book.
Okay so first Leeds starts to explain how he and Layla (the love interest) met. And honestly to me I wasn't really feeling their relationship. It just consumed of them making lovey-dovey comments and having sex. It felt very one-dimensional/surface level. I felt pretty indifferent towards their initial encounter too. It was pretty insta-lovey as most of her books are. My only problem with insta-love is that we don't really don't get the lore of why a character is attracted to that specific person. Like I'm feeling their connection.
Anyways afterwards we started getting the plot of the story and the crazy things that were happening. And then about 85% we just get twist after twist after twist.
Spoiler
We find out that Willow is actually Sable, and that she took over Layla's body in the moments in which the two souls were in a state of limbo I guess. Because not only did Layla get shot by Sable, but Leeds also shot Sable when defending Layla . But oh wait, nope turns out Willow isn't Sable. And apparently Willow is Layla and Sable is occupying Layla's body which is actually Willow's body because Willow is Layla.Also, the "big twist" of the book was NOT GOOD! It felt like she was trying to justify Leeds actions. Like finding out
Spoiler
that Willow is in fact Layla and not Sable. That Sable took over Layla's body and Layla's just been walking in a state of limbo for the past several months. And because of that it just explains why Leeds felt such a strong connection towards Willow, the ghost, because Willow is actually Layla. And their love is so strong that he was able to "find her". And because we now know this that just justifies him almost drugging "Layla", cheating on her, depriving her of her sleep, tying her up and holding her captive, GASLIGHTING her, and most infamously him letting "Willow" take over her body without her consent.She does know how to romanticize abuse. Honestly I just felt like those "big twists" towards the end fell flat because Leeds and Layla's relationship wasn't this soulmate type relationship that the author was leading us to believe. Overall this book was okay, but I'm not saying I'd recommend it though.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Infidelity
Moderate: Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Medical content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
sarah2438's review
1.0
Graphic: Gaslighting and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Eating disorder
charhollyx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A few grammar errors which happens on kindle unlimited but I didn’t mind that one bit. Great story!
Moderate: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
anniehendricks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Torture, Eating disorder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Murder, Medical trauma, Death, Mental illness, Infidelity, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
avelyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, and Confinement
Moderate: Grief, Eating disorder, and Chronic illness
sierranorgan's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, and Stalking