mollyb13's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Overall, I'm glad I got my curiosity around this book out of the way, but to me the book did not live up to the hype surrounding it. I will likely try one of Colleen Hoover's romance novels in the future.
Pros:
- I was too creeped out to read this in bed at night - a daytime book for me. Which is how I like my thrillers to be!
- I read it really quickly and didn't want to put it down
- There was some completely bone-chilling moments
Spoiler
VERITY STANDING AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS OMG. Verity telling Crew to hold his breath before she tipped the canoe!?
Cons:
Unfortunately the cons far outweigh the pros for me. Here are just a few things I couldn't get over:
Spoiler
I really don't like open-ended books. I get that she was trying to leave you wondering, but I don't want to wonder. I want to close a book feeling like I can leave it and move onto the next thing.- There was far to much sex in this book that didn't forward the plot at all.
Spoiler
I know Verity's letter said that one of the reasons Jeremy should have known the manuscript was fake was because there was so much sex in it. But Lowen's section had plenty as well - though I suppose it was fueled by some of what she had read in the manuscript. I'm also tired of every leading man being an absolute sex god. Spoiler
I feel like I was meant to root for Lowen but wtf she helped Jeremy kill her at the end!? It wasn't even self defense! Just turn her in! Also she seemed to not care that Jeremy tried killing Verity previously?Spoiler
This whole team manuscript/team letter could likely be pretty well solved by just talking to that agent who Verity said gave her the journaling idea in the first place... If the agent says she never suggested anything like that then likely the manuscript is true- I purposefully avoid reading reviews of thrillers because I like to be surprised, but had seen enough praise for this book and people saying
Spoiler
'the twist was shocking!' that the twist actually fell flat for me. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but everyone had hyped it up so much that I guess I expected to be completely mind blown. I had actually wondered if Jeremy wrote the manuscript earlier on in the book and Verity was being held captive so I was not correct but close enough to not be completely surprised. - The bonus chapter, which I did not read, but read recaps of, was sus and I don't understand the point of it.
Spoiler
It sounded like Colleen Hoover was maybe trying to push readers towards team letter? Also Jeremy killed a woman because she recognized them at the beach?!?! This chapter sounded like it was unnecessary.
Graphic: Car accident, Medical content, Pregnancy, Abortion, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
biddy_mackenzie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Injury/injury detail, Death of parent, Car accident, Child abuse, Blood, Abortion, Suicide, Murder, and Grief
coyotes_tiptoe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Child death, Child abuse, Abortion, Miscarriage, Death, Injury/injury detail, and Infidelity
Minor: Fatphobia
sabrinajoelle's review
- 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? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Vomit, Abortion, Sexual content, Child death, Death, Grief, Murder, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Kidnapping, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
lauren717's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Blood, Pregnancy, Grief, Abortion, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Abortion, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Car accident, and Child abuse
outsideturningpages's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Murder, Injury/injury detail, Grief, and Miscarriage
chaniesgirl's review
- 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
5.0
This was beautifully written and I read it so fast it just flew by.
I really enjoyed the encounter of the characters and how the plot dvped.
The end was perfect
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Car accident, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Death of parent, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Injury/injury detail, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
readwith_le's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Drug use, Abortion, Child death, Child abuse, Violence, Pregnancy, Medical content, Death, Murder, Miscarriage, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, and Blood
lindsayel's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Injury/injury detail
nadiamarjolein's review
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Blood, Abortion, Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, and Vomit