kiirsttyb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, Bullying, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Death, Domestic abuse, and Infertility
knunderb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this book. It's suspenseful without being scary, and it really examines the complexity of relationships. I also very much enjoyed the narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Death
Minor: Car accident and Fatphobia
coleerexx's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Loved this! It took a while for me to get into it because there are soooo many characters, but once I did I was hooked. I thought Moriarty did a great job handling sensitive subjects and complex feelings, and while I suspected something similar to the incident, I was still very surprised. I really want to watch the HBO show now because of the cat!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Minor: Bullying, Rape, Trafficking, and Body shaming
kimfabienne's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
emfield's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Murder
hmogie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Eating disorder
claireswale's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down and I really liked the characters. Their stories were unique and I audibly gasped at a twist at the end. Would definitely recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Moderate: Child abuse
voldycat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Rape
Moderate: Mental illness, Eating disorder, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Minor: Abandonment
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
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
5.0
This book is filled with playground politics and motherhood cliques at their very best (and worst).
The little police interview sections that are interspersed throughout are brilliantly done; they manage to add humour and a simmering sense of tension at the same time. They show the damage that can be done from judging the little we see of other people's lives. I found them less funny and more frustrating as we got to the conclusion; the humour was still there but I was also just angry with the way so much was purposely misconstrued to suit people's own narratives.
I found the searing honesty about motherhood so relatable. The way Madeline, Celeste and Jane all struggled with different doubts and uncertainties about how they might fail their kids, all while envying each other in different ways, rang so true. Their emotions were laid completely bare for the reader even while they were keeping them from each other.
I'd watched the series a few years ago so knew what to expect at the end, but I was absolutely riveted about how we got there (and I appreciated some of the slight differences). From about half way through it became a "just one more chapter" book, until I'd finished it in a day. The build up delivers and I thought it was really clever.
Ultimately, this is a great story of resilience, survival and friendship and I was surprised how much I loved it.
The little police interview sections that are interspersed throughout are brilliantly done; they manage to add humour and a simmering sense of tension at the same time. They show the damage that can be done from judging the little we see of other people's lives. I found them less funny and more frustrating as we got to the conclusion; the humour was still there but I was also just angry with the way so much was purposely misconstrued to suit people's own narratives.
I found the searing honesty about motherhood so relatable. The way Madeline, Celeste and Jane all struggled with different doubts and uncertainties about how they might fail their kids, all while envying each other in different ways, rang so true. Their emotions were laid completely bare for the reader even while they were keeping them from each other.
I'd watched the series a few years ago so knew what to expect at the end, but I was absolutely riveted about how we got there (and I appreciated some of the slight differences). From about half way through it became a "just one more chapter" book, until I'd finished it in a day. The build up delivers and I thought it was really clever.
Ultimately, this is a great story of resilience, survival and friendship and I was surprised how much I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Bullying
Moderate: Infidelity and Rape
nataliem_98's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
This was a nice quick read, an intriguing plot which kept the mystery throughout! I also audibly gasped at one particular point!
It was also an interesting look at bullying, school politics, domestic violence and friendship! Some deep themes for an overall lighthearted book!
It was also an interesting look at bullying, school politics, domestic violence and friendship! Some deep themes for an overall lighthearted book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault