Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena

8 reviews

bookishchaos's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I don't think this book deserves all the negative reviews it got. Like yes the second half got really slow and not a whole lot happened, but I was still invested all the way up until 75% and then I just skipped to the end to see who the killer was lol. It was exactly who I thought it was but I read a lot of thrillers. It was a nice read for a rainy afternoon. Not too long but not too short. I personally wouldn't recommend this though. It wasn't terrible, it was just alright.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, and Blood

Moderate: Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Terminal illness

em_gauts's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Murder

Moderate: Suicide and Mental illness

Minor: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Classism, and Emotional abuse

chloe_may's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness

hollymich's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• 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

3.0

Overall, a decent read. Shari Lapena did a good job at developing the motives of the various suspects and shifting who the reader thinks is guilty. However, I didn't really care who did it because I didn't come to care for any of the characters. The conclusion felt rather rushed and unsatisfying. 

Ellen Archer was a fantastic narrator for this story. If you are interested in this story, I recommend listening to the audiobook.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, and Blood

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Terminal illness, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, Cancer, and Infertility

julienicole1106's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Stalking

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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

3.0

This murder mystery is fast paced and interesting. It’s easy to read and the author makes you change your mind about who the killer is repeatedly. Deep down I knew who it was from about the middle of the book but the story telling was engaging enough to keep me second guessing.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Terminal illness, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Murder, Stalking, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, and Violence

rachelwierick's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, and Stalking

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Terminal illness

emily842752's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Infertility, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Stalking, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness