samantha_121234's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Drug use, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Grief
cassie_amberger's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Gun violence, and Medical trauma
Minor: Eating disorder, Death, and Violence
taryn_g's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Suicide attempt, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Infidelity, Confinement, Sexual content, Torture, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, and Medical content
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
rosaasena's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm, Mental illness, Medical content, and Eating disorder
paperbackprincess19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Eating disorder, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Gun violence
texas_reznikoff's review
- 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
meeklovestoread's review
- 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
layla_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Gun violence, Sexual content, Death, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
erica_reads_things's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Mental illness, Gaslighting, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Sexual content
Minor: Eating disorder and Blood
aliciachauhan_'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
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Cursing, Death, and Medical trauma