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annainthedark's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.5
I did not find this to be an interesting book. There was about 10 mins at the end where it got a bit more interesting, but the previous 9 hour 50 mins were dull.
Pretty much every character in it sucks, and none of them even suck in an interesting way. There is a brief glimmer in those final 10 minutes but that is it!
Maybe this is a more interesting book if you have not a lot of knowledge about abuse? But Adam's abuse is absolutely textbook paint by numbers, it's like the diary scenes documenting it were done off a checklist. Those scenes were a bit difficult to listen to, but mostly incredibly dull. Maybe the intention is for it to come across as shocking or building up the tension, but the I feel that's a little bit defeated by us already knowing the outcome of the abuse.
The treatment of Victoria as a disabled character at the start especially is quite unpleasant to get through. As is the treatment of Eva, who if I'm remembering correctly is the only character of colour in a book that is at least partially set in New York city? She's one of the few characters in the right, and yet completely absent from the resolution.
All in all, I did not gel with this book or this author, this was not an enjoyable way to spend 10 hours of my life.
Pretty much every character in it sucks, and none of them even suck in an interesting way. There is a brief glimmer in those final 10 minutes but that is it!
The treatment of Victoria as a disabled character at the start especially is quite unpleasant to get through. As is the treatment of Eva, who if I'm remembering correctly is the only character of colour in a book that is at least partially set in New York city? She's one of the few characters in the right, and yet completely absent from the resolution.
All in all, I did not gel with this book or this author, this was not an enjoyable way to spend 10 hours of my life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Domestic abuse
Minor: Racism
booksbytheglass's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
oh god this was a twisty turny ride! 🫡 I buddy read this with my pal jordan and we were screaming at the characters the entire time
I just can’t believe the stupidity of these characters, especially the female MCs vicky and sylvie! like they see all of the 🚩🚩🚩 and just … talk themselves out of it? I was so frustrated all the dang time
by like the fourth chapter, I just accepted that these women were going to get whatever was coming to them 🤷🏼♀️ how the heck are you going to realize that you’re living with a psycho, get an offer from an outside human to leave, and then just … say … no thanks?
all of the idiocy aside, I did enjoy the back and forth between past and present and figure out just who the unreliable narrators were! I got so many verity vibes!!!
and that ending epilogue? I just knew freida had to throw in one last plot twist 💀
this is a very bingeable read and I’d highly recommend it to those who love a good psychological thriller!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: baden pinot noir
I just can’t believe the stupidity of these characters, especially the female MCs vicky and sylvie! like they see all of the 🚩🚩🚩 and just … talk themselves out of it? I was so frustrated all the dang time
by like the fourth chapter, I just accepted that these women were going to get whatever was coming to them 🤷🏼♀️ how the heck are you going to realize that you’re living with a psycho, get an offer from an outside human to leave, and then just … say … no thanks?
all of the idiocy aside, I did enjoy the back and forth between past and present and figure out just who the unreliable narrators were! I got so many verity vibes!!!
and that ending epilogue? I just knew freida had to throw in one last plot twist 💀
this is a very bingeable read and I’d highly recommend it to those who love a good psychological thriller!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: baden pinot noir
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Gaslighting
morethanmylupus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
I think this could have been a 4 star book for me but there were too many parallels to Verity by Colleen Hoover it kind of ruined it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Ableism, and Murder
oneofmymanyflaws'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? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, and Ableism
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