niestein's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
michellegodardricher's review
5.0
This story grabs you from the beginning and takes you on a wild ride all the way to the end. The main character Petal is flawed but likeable. She struggles to deal with her past and move on which gives her that realistic quality you want in a character. All the while, the cast of secondary characters surrounding her may not be who they seem, and it's impossible as a reader to know who she can trust. Overall, a wonderful and engaging psychological thriller.
ranjkrish88's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
books_in_badgerland's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This was my first audio/physical combo reading experience. I loved the narration by Hillary Huber and the voice she gave to Petta (Petal), the FMC, as this book is quite character driven.
Petta is a flawed, snarky, (as Cayce says, “cantankerous”) woman. Some folks might struggle with her, but I love rooting a woman who is unapologetically herself.
The plot is creative and unlike anything I’ve read before. Readers start alongside Petta at a comically awkward OBGYN appointment where she’s told about a book in which a character is given her exact name. How many Petal Woznewskis are there? How many have witnessed the death of their best friend? Petta sets out to find the author and face the past she left behind.
Thanks to @cayceosbornewriter for joining our discussion last night! It was so fun and the most well-behaved I’ve seen our rowdy group! 😂🤩 I’m excited to discuss it again in September with the @thrillersbythebookclub.msn crew!
⭐️RATING⭐️: I really liked it! The familiar setting sparked my interest, but Petta’s story kept me hooked. AND it’s less than 300 pages. 👏🏼 (4⭐️)
Petta is a flawed, snarky, (as Cayce says, “cantankerous”) woman. Some folks might struggle with her, but I love rooting a woman who is unapologetically herself.
The plot is creative and unlike anything I’ve read before. Readers start alongside Petta at a comically awkward OBGYN appointment where she’s told about a book in which a character is given her exact name. How many Petal Woznewskis are there? How many have witnessed the death of their best friend? Petta sets out to find the author and face the past she left behind.
Thanks to @cayceosbornewriter for joining our discussion last night! It was so fun and the most well-behaved I’ve seen our rowdy group! 😂🤩 I’m excited to discuss it again in September with the @thrillersbythebookclub.msn crew!
⭐️RATING⭐️: I really liked it! The familiar setting sparked my interest, but Petta’s story kept me hooked. AND it’s less than 300 pages. 👏🏼 (4⭐️)
ladyalireadsalot's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
pbagel22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
trishapowell's review against another edition
3.0
Petal (Petta) Woznewski has had a lot of loss in her life. As a teenager, her parents committed suicide and then soon after, her best friend, Megan, also dies in a horrific accident. Petta and Jenny were there the night she died and swore each other to secrecy.
30 years later, while at the gynecologist, Petta is informed that her full name is being used in a best selling book about a teenager’s murder. The names of Jenny and Megan are changed, but Petta’s is not. The book blames her for Megan’s untimely death. Since there were only two survivors from that night, that means there are only two people that should know what happened, since Petta and Jenny swore each other to secrecy. Petta and Jenny no longer speak. Is Jenny the author? The book is written by ME Littleton, an assumed pen name.
Petta goes back to Madison to try to uncover the identity of the author. While she’s there, strange things start happening, and it becomes evident that this is what the author wanted. But why?
I enjoyed this debut novel by Cayce Osborne. I did figure out the “twist” very early on. I did find the format of the book. Very interesting. It alternated between Petta’s point of view and then chapters from “No One Suspected.” I have not read a book with that type of POV before, so that was a nice surprise.
What I liked:
- The book within a book format
-A limited number of characters making it easier to know who people are.
- References to pop-culture
- The pacing of the book was decent, I read it in about a day.
What I didn’t like:
- Petta I was a little bit annoying, and immature
- Easy to figure out plot twist
- The ending felt too abrupt
Again, this is the author’s debut novel, so I give her a lot of credit for having a solid first book. I will absolutely read more of her work in the future, as it becomes available, and hopes that her riding evolves as she grows as an author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lame Books for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
30 years later, while at the gynecologist, Petta is informed that her full name is being used in a best selling book about a teenager’s murder. The names of Jenny and Megan are changed, but Petta’s is not. The book blames her for Megan’s untimely death. Since there were only two survivors from that night, that means there are only two people that should know what happened, since Petta and Jenny swore each other to secrecy. Petta and Jenny no longer speak. Is Jenny the author? The book is written by ME Littleton, an assumed pen name.
Petta goes back to Madison to try to uncover the identity of the author. While she’s there, strange things start happening, and it becomes evident that this is what the author wanted. But why?
I enjoyed this debut novel by Cayce Osborne. I did figure out the “twist” very early on. I did find the format of the book. Very interesting. It alternated between Petta’s point of view and then chapters from “No One Suspected.” I have not read a book with that type of POV before, so that was a nice surprise.
What I liked:
- The book within a book format
-A limited number of characters making it easier to know who people are.
- References to pop-culture
- The pacing of the book was decent, I read it in about a day.
What I didn’t like:
- Petta I was a little bit annoying, and immature
- Easy to figure out plot twist
- The ending felt too abrupt
Again, this is the author’s debut novel, so I give her a lot of credit for having a solid first book. I will absolutely read more of her work in the future, as it becomes available, and hopes that her riding evolves as she grows as an author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lame Books for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
jmeslener's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
sheeinax's review
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
3.0
Un Thriller, con una premisa interesante, una buena narrativa, y un giro de trama bastante predecible…
Aún así, una lectura entretenida.
Aún así, una lectura entretenida.