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_corrin's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death
katy_bee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Definitely a page turner, Cadence's voice was a bit grating at first but I got used to it.
The teen romance didn't irritate me as it usually does, perhaps because it was so clearly treated as a teen crush rather than a deep love between soulmates.
The unraveling mystery of grandfather interested me a little more than the main mystery but overall a well handled modern gothic with a touch of social commentary
The teen romance didn't irritate me as it usually does, perhaps because it was so clearly treated as a teen crush rather than a deep love between soulmates.
The unraveling mystery of grandfather interested me a little more than the main mystery but overall a well handled modern gothic with a touch of social commentary
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Mental illness, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Dementia, and Alcoholism
emilyzzzzzzzz's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
I felt too mean to give it 0/5 but WHAT THE ACTUAL FU-
I really tried to like this, but the thought of his book alone angers me. I read this about a year ago and I'm yet to find a book I hate with the same amount of passion as I do with this book.
Summary of the plot (my memory is a little hazy so I cant remeber the names):
There's the main character (Cadence) visits the family island every summer with the 'liars' (they're literally just her cousins). Anyway, you get this whole background but the big mystery: she can't remember the last summer with the liars/cousins. Her family also won't tell her and the liars haven't been in contact with her, so the book follows her summer and shows her trying to piece together the previous summer.
So why is it shit???
Just because there is a plot twist, doesn't mean its good. I read it and just thought WTF but not in a good way. I just regretted wasting hours of my life on this book.
Whenever I've mentioned disliking this book, the fans always say "You just didn't understand it". So what, I'm stupid because I didn't like it?! Like girl, do you hear yourself?! Sorry to break it to you darling, but I did understand it and I still hated it. If you like it, then love that for you, but I didn't.
It gave the same vibe as "I woke up and it was all a dream". I hate that.
A main focus is the family, but there SO unlikeable. They were racist towards one of the characters and the family just didn't get on. There was also lots of unnecessary character with ridiculous names. Every time a character was with Cadence, I had to go back to the family tree to figure out who she was talking to. Some of it was just pointless.
I felt like the author wanted us to sympathise for family, and I did after the plot twist, but girl you're family are billionaires with a private island. Sure, you haven't spoken to the liars/cousins for a couple months, and I get that the mystery of last summer looms over her, but until the end, I couldn't give any less of a shit.
The liars apparently caused trouble, but they really didn't.
It wasn't until the last 15 pages that it finally made sense, so you just had to read the entire thing confused with no real answers, then BAM! It was like "Then this happend, and that caused that, and thats why that happend, and remeber that thing, oh yeah, this is why". Honey, take a breath, let me process. I had to take a moment to just think and consume what I was just bombarded with, so that's a slight positive I guess.
There is a slight romance between Cadence and this guy (can't remeber his name so we'll call him Dave). But why is this bad you ask? Dave is treated as part of the family since he's not quite, but might as well be, one of the cousins adopted brother. Dave's uncle is dating Cadence's Aunt or something, but he's almost treated as one of the cousins and part of the family. This might seem fine for some, but personally, it felt like she wanted to date a step/adopted cousin. Are they related? No. But it feels like they were. I felt the same vibes as step sibling dating. Personally, not a fan of the incest-like-trope were there technically not related, but it's set up to seem like they are (Sorry that was really poorly described).
It wasn't all bad. I did enjoy the writing style and the techniques used, such as fairytales to describe characters and personifying emotions, but I just didn't enjoy the execution of it.
To sum up, I expect E. Lockhart to refund me, as well as 20% interest for everyday since I finished the book. A tree should be planted for every waste of paper that the publishers used to print this. I also expect therapy. My lawyers will be in touch. X
I really tried to like this, but the thought of his book alone angers me. I read this about a year ago and I'm yet to find a book I hate with the same amount of passion as I do with this book.
Summary of the plot (my memory is a little hazy so I cant remeber the names):
There's the main character (Cadence) visits the family island every summer with the 'liars' (they're literally just her cousins). Anyway, you get this whole background but the big mystery: she can't remember the last summer with the liars/cousins. Her family also won't tell her and the liars haven't been in contact with her, so the book follows her summer and shows her trying to piece together the previous summer.
So why is it shit???
Just because there is a plot twist, doesn't mean its good. I read it and just thought WTF but not in a good way. I just regretted wasting hours of my life on this book.
Whenever I've mentioned disliking this book, the fans always say "You just didn't understand it". So what, I'm stupid because I didn't like it?! Like girl, do you hear yourself?! Sorry to break it to you darling, but I did understand it and I still hated it. If you like it, then love that for you, but I didn't.
It gave the same vibe as "I woke up and it was all a dream". I hate that.
A main focus is the family, but there SO unlikeable. They were racist towards one of the characters and the family just didn't get on. There was also lots of unnecessary character with ridiculous names. Every time a character was with Cadence, I had to go back to the family tree to figure out who she was talking to. Some of it was just pointless.
I felt like the author wanted us to sympathise for family, and I did after the plot twist, but girl you're family are billionaires with a private island. Sure, you haven't spoken to the liars/cousins for a couple months, and I get that the mystery of last summer looms over her, but until the end, I couldn't give any less of a shit.
The liars apparently caused trouble, but they really didn't.
It wasn't until the last 15 pages that it finally made sense, so you just had to read the entire thing confused with no real answers, then BAM! It was like "Then this happend, and that caused that, and thats why that happend, and remeber that thing, oh yeah, this is why". Honey, take a breath, let me process. I had to take a moment to just think and consume what I was just bombarded with, so that's a slight positive I guess.
It wasn't all bad. I did enjoy the writing style and the techniques used, such as fairytales to describe characters and personifying emotions, but I just didn't enjoy the execution of it.
To sum up, I expect E. Lockhart to refund me, as well as 20% interest for everyday since I finished the book. A tree should be planted for every waste of paper that the publishers used to print this. I also expect therapy. My lawyers will be in touch. X
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Death
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Fire/Fire injury
pianoplayer279's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Definitely not one of my favourite books but it was very mysterious and I definitely didn’t see the plot twist coming. Age 14+
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Grief, Death, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury
misty_nightmare's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Child death
Moderate: Classism, Animal death, and Alcohol
fcksnotfound's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Grief, Drug use, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Dementia and Death
Minor: Racism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Animal death
warlockdorian's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
twoesplease's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
Beautiful summers, old money habits, and heartbreaking loss
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Animal death and Child death
Minor: Racism
kiran__'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I expected the book to be pretty bad but it did exceed my expectations. It's not my usual genre, but for what it is I think it's okay. The ending was quite interesting but sad. I like the use of a cyclical structure with its double meaning, as well as the range of metaphors and language techniques. However, I find the characters and the storyline to be a bit one dimensional and it wasn't the most exciting books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Animal death
Moderate: Racism and Chronic illness
Minor: Self harm
cristine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Just no! The writing in this novel is terrible. Up until 80% of the book nothing meaningful happens. The author’s horrendous use of metaphors to describe migraines is beyond ridiculously annoying and drawn out. The “plot twist” was pretty obvious once the forgotten event is revealed. Summary- obnoxious rich teens are bored and do something beyond stupid. Once suffers migraines and amnesia and spends her 17th summer suddenly remembering things. Bla bla bla - she’s a horrible person as are all of the adults and ps spoiler alert - the dogs die so don’t read this if it pisses you off as much as it does me when authors need to make this part of a novel. Like just stick to people if you must. My eyes are bleeding from reading this - kinda like the unnecessary, exaggerations of how many times Cady was “bleeding”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Animal death, and Grief