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siobhanward's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? No
3.0
NYT Notable Books 2020: 18/100
This was a cool idea but it felt like it lacked in execution. The murder and set up were interesting, and I found the first couple chapters were great, but as the story continued and moved through more POVs, it started to get muddled and confusing. I appreciate what Onda was going for, but it felt like the multiple POVs just made things feel confusing, especially as things moved back and forth through time. Some of this is definitely personal preference, since I don't love multi-POVs or time jumps, but the premise was solid, which makes me want to read more from Onda.
This was a cool idea but it felt like it lacked in execution. The murder and set up were interesting, and I found the first couple chapters were great, but as the story continued and moved through more POVs, it started to get muddled and confusing. I appreciate what Onda was going for, but it felt like the multiple POVs just made things feel confusing, especially as things moved back and forth through time. Some of this is definitely personal preference, since I don't love multi-POVs or time jumps, but the premise was solid, which makes me want to read more from Onda.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Suicide
idesofmarch's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Vomit, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Mental illness and Misogyny
bookonarooftop's review against another edition
2.0
i wish i could say good things about this book but sadly, I can't.
Nothing happened and everything happened.
When you are trying to write a thriller book, mystery novel, whatever, you need to give readers clues and hints, so that at the end of the book they have some kind of answer. I am all in for open endings but when book is over and you have more questions than you had at first, it's stupid.
Like, let's say we don't know who committed murders but so many things happen that make no sense and all other deaths happen that also ruin everything.
There were also so many jumps in timeline and so many descriptions of the places.
I didn't understand why that girl wrote the book; i think she herself didn't understand it.
Another thing - okay mom was crazy ( we saw that coming with the hints we got about her and her identity and about that room) but still, is that a reason to poison whole house? yeah, i don't think so.
as a result this book was big waste of my time
Nothing happened and everything happened.
When you are trying to write a thriller book, mystery novel, whatever, you need to give readers clues and hints, so that at the end of the book they have some kind of answer. I am all in for open endings but when book is over and you have more questions than you had at first, it's stupid.
Like, let's say we don't know who committed murders but so many things happen that make no sense and all other deaths happen that also ruin everything.
There were also so many jumps in timeline and so many descriptions of the places.
I didn't understand why that girl wrote the book; i think she herself didn't understand it.
Another thing - okay mom was crazy ( we saw that coming with the hints we got about her and her identity and about that room) but still, is that a reason to poison whole house? yeah, i don't think so.
as a result this book was big waste of my time
estareading's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
liezellenhart's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
dhaosvoz's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
sbertolonesmith's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
sakisakisaki's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
zoer03's review against another edition
5.0
Wow this is a chilling and haunting and brilliant novel on how a perfect family can hide so many secrets, that even though a tragic event has happened and no real motive for the tragedy is obvious as you go through the novel you see a vague outline. This definitely reads like in cold blood and also has a modern feel of well she wanted to do she did. And yet did she really? Or is this all a fevered imagination on behalf of people desperately wanting answers. I love how at the end you feel you know but not sure. Loved this book and would highly recommend it.