itsmebecca's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Drug use, Gun violence, and Suicide
hayleyvharrington's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Cancer, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Self harm, and Suicide
gemin1reader's review against another edition
3.5
Spoiler
because it just ended in a mass shootout essentially, with no real justice served.Graphic: Cancer, Gun violence, Suicide, Blood, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Death, Drug abuse, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
taivassaari's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Suicide, Gun violence, Death, Bullying, Alcoholism, Murder, Mental illness, and Stalking
Moderate: Animal death and Animal cruelty
melmertsis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Suicide, Addiction, Torture, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Cancer, and Drug use
taelights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
However, it kind of lost me in the second half. The first half focused on the topics I liked. It had great pacing and tension, moments that had me on the edge of my seat, and so many intriguing characters and choices.
The second half had potential because exploring the aftermath of the trauma could have been super interesting but it went in a totally different direction than what I wanted. I thought what the author decided to go with was super unrealistic and overdramatic. Also the characterization of the person running the Chain was just so bad lol.
Also, I thought the ending was
Spoiler
way too happy? Like I love happy endings, don't get me wrong, but this one was unrealistically happy. The characters expierence so much trauma in the book yet seemed to fully get over it super fast. Also the "babies ever after" trope was really unnecessary in this book. Honestly the romance to begin with was unnecessary but the baby especially. Like ah yes what an on and off cancer patient and her drug addict boyfriend who she's only with due to a trauma bond definitely need a baby.Anyways this could have been a 5 star read but unfortunately the second half of the book knocked it down to a 4 star for me.
Graphic: Gun violence, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Confinement, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug use, Cancer, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicide, Child death, and Drug abuse
Minor: Pregnancy
katrinal9567's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Kidnapping and Gun violence
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Suicide
madlain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Child death
Moderate: Child abuse
mpurdy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Drug use and Kidnapping
Moderate: Cancer, Addiction, Alcohol, and Blood
Minor: Medical content, Murder, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Self harm
scottienicole_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I feel that a lot of the times I can pick out things the author forgot to tell us (or, maybe just did not want to). However, I cannot think of think of one thing McKinty could have forgotten. He hits every point — the story, the why, the when, the future and more. This is a true original — we have all read books that sound like they just start to repeat the same plot (like most whodunnits).
WARNING: You will not be able to put this book down starting at Chapter 1. The story and its characters develop quickly (which I love).
The story has two parts — the first part is where most authors would end this story, but McKinty writes the second part to answer every unanswered question and every unanswered question I didn’t know I had.
I literally do not have the words to describe how well written this was.
“And to live at all is miracle enough.”
Moderate: Drug abuse and Death
Minor: Suicide