read_by_eveline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Exciting plot, but it was very slow burning at the beginning. Took me a while (5 months) to really get into it...but in the end I read the last 200 pages all within 3 days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
librosconcafe's review against another edition
3.0
I’d probably rate it 3.5 stars. I liked the mystery and how parts were unknown throughout. I also like the themes the author deals with in this book.
girlwiththepinkskimask's review against another edition
3.0
My b but I ruined the buddy read with Karly and SabiReads by binging the entire book in one night LOL.
SYNOPSIS
At the center of this complex web is the Fours family: Cate (Mom), Roan (Dad), Jack (Son), Georgia (Daughter). Then we have the creepy neighbour across the street, Owen Prick, who gets lost in the incel sauce for a hot minute. Next we have Saffyre (or Saffron as she's known in our group chat) who was a patient of Roan and now just stalks him on the reg. When Saffyre goes missing, everyone's stories collide.
MY OPINION
This is my first Lisa Jewell novel I've read to completion. I tried [b:The Family Remains|58855185|The Family Remains (The Family Upstairs, #2)|Lisa Jewell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1636568994l/58855185._SY75_.jpg|90282275] but I didn't read book #1 (big dummy energy) so I got mad confused and gave up. I will circle back though.
I have to say I like the writing. It is unique and flowing. Even those super long ass run on sentence (paragraphs more like). It's something different than the formulaic crappola being pumped out en masse. I was a little concerned by that dear diary ass opening, but she found her way with the prose. Unfortunately, she couldn't locate what she wanted this book to be.
The first third of the book was rolling. A lot unfolds in those early chapters. You're like okkkurrr we've got some movement. Then Owen dips his toe in the incel pond and SKKKRRRTTTT suddenly this book switches from plot-driven to character-driven.
The next 60% of the book or so focuses on the inner thoughts of all the characters, from Owen's am I too good to be an incel, to Saffyre justifying her stalking, and to Jack—the creepily adored son who isn't everything his mom chocks him up to be. I don't mind a character-driven novel, but the characterizations were all over the place. Except for Roan. I wanted to whoop his ass from beginning to end.
The book tried to tackle many hot button issues; the entitlement of incels, SA, gaslighting, etc. This could've been strong but each thread was hastily taped together, resulting in a forced and frankly unbelievable ending. I'm giving this three stars because I think it had lots of potential and the writing style stood out to me in a positive way.
SPOILERS SO SCROLL AGGRESSIVELY AHEAD
I didn't like who the bad guy was. It's too convenient. Saffrye just chillin at Roan's mistresses house was laughable. She literally had the police scrambling and damn near had Owen locked up on some nonsense just because what... she wanted to sit back and see how it all played out? The epitome of selfishness. Oh and during her epilogue when she's like "I got over my claustrophobia" LOL what ??? Just like that?? Must be nice.
Why did Owen get such a happy ending? He made inappropriate comments at students and groped them, but all he had to do was write an apology note and take some boo boo ass one week course to get his job back? What school would hire a guy who was accused of sexual misconduct not only within the school but arrested on kidnapping/murder/rape/everything else charges!??? PLUS he gets the girl at the end? PLZ. I feel bad Owen was locked up for something he didn't do; but he did creep on his students (more than once, too) so he shouldn't be allowed back in the classroom.
The "maybe Roan is a rapist" cliffhanger was... le sigh.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: unique writing, short chapters, well-paced, good insights into the psychology of incels
Cons: book was severely disjointed: part thriller, part YA, part character driven, ending was straight up ass
SYNOPSIS
At the center of this complex web is the Fours family: Cate (Mom), Roan (Dad), Jack (Son), Georgia (Daughter). Then we have the creepy neighbour across the street, Owen Prick, who gets lost in the incel sauce for a hot minute. Next we have Saffyre (or Saffron as she's known in our group chat) who was a patient of Roan and now just stalks him on the reg. When Saffyre goes missing, everyone's stories collide.
MY OPINION
This is my first Lisa Jewell novel I've read to completion. I tried [b:The Family Remains|58855185|The Family Remains (The Family Upstairs, #2)|Lisa Jewell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1636568994l/58855185._SY75_.jpg|90282275] but I didn't read book #1 (big dummy energy) so I got mad confused and gave up. I will circle back though.
I have to say I like the writing. It is unique and flowing. Even those super long ass run on sentence (paragraphs more like). It's something different than the formulaic crappola being pumped out en masse. I was a little concerned by that dear diary ass opening, but she found her way with the prose. Unfortunately, she couldn't locate what she wanted this book to be.
The first third of the book was rolling. A lot unfolds in those early chapters. You're like okkkurrr we've got some movement. Then Owen dips his toe in the incel pond and SKKKRRRTTTT suddenly this book switches from plot-driven to character-driven.
The next 60% of the book or so focuses on the inner thoughts of all the characters, from Owen's am I too good to be an incel, to Saffyre justifying her stalking, and to Jack—the creepily adored son who isn't everything his mom chocks him up to be. I don't mind a character-driven novel, but the characterizations were all over the place. Except for Roan. I wanted to whoop his ass from beginning to end.
The book tried to tackle many hot button issues; the entitlement of incels, SA, gaslighting, etc. This could've been strong but each thread was hastily taped together, resulting in a forced and frankly unbelievable ending. I'm giving this three stars because I think it had lots of potential and the writing style stood out to me in a positive way.
SPOILERS SO SCROLL AGGRESSIVELY AHEAD
I didn't like who the bad guy was. It's too convenient. Saffrye just chillin at Roan's mistresses house was laughable. She literally had the police scrambling and damn near had Owen locked up on some nonsense just because what... she wanted to sit back and see how it all played out? The epitome of selfishness. Oh and during her epilogue when she's like "I got over my claustrophobia" LOL what ??? Just like that?? Must be nice.
Why did Owen get such a happy ending? He made inappropriate comments at students and groped them, but all he had to do was write an apology note and take some boo boo ass one week course to get his job back? What school would hire a guy who was accused of sexual misconduct not only within the school but arrested on kidnapping/murder/rape/everything else charges!??? PLUS he gets the girl at the end? PLZ. I feel bad Owen was locked up for something he didn't do; but he did creep on his students (more than once, too) so he shouldn't be allowed back in the classroom.
The "maybe Roan is a rapist" cliffhanger was... le sigh.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: unique writing, short chapters, well-paced, good insights into the psychology of incels
Cons: book was severely disjointed: part thriller, part YA, part character driven, ending was straight up ass
air92302's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
alexblackreads's review against another edition
4.0
I was kind of on the fence between three and four stars, but eh I liked it might as well go with four. This was a lot better for me than The Family Upstairs because it felt a lot more down to earth. I don't necessarily think it was a better book or better written, I just vibed with it more.
I do really understand why people like Lisa Jewell so much. Her writing style flows really well and is just really engaging overall. It draws you in even when sometimes I don't care quite as much as I should. Her writing makes up for some of the smaller flaws that might bug me more in other books.
Also it kept me guessing. This book wasn't entirely unsurprising, but I don't think there was any point before the end where I could logically lay out the twists and turns that were coming up and I appreciate that. It kept me on my toes a bit and I kept wanting to know more.
I struggled with two basic things. The first was the POV changes. It follows three different characters; a teenage girl who has gone missing, the wife of the girl's therapist, and a wannabe incel dude who is arrested for her abduction. I only really liked two of those perspectives and every time it switched to the third, I kind of sighed and had to get along with it. I don't think the third character was worse written, I was just less interested in their plot line and it always made the POV switches kind of disappointing.
I also didn't love the end. Not the conclusion to the mystery element, but the overall ending of the book. It felt a little too much like it was trying to teach a lesson and I just didn't care. That's not what I'm reading a thriller for. I'd rather have interesting characters living out their own stories for better or worse than get some kind of moral lecturing at the end. I didn't disagree with anything, it was more just that I found it tedious overall.
But this was solid. I was always wanting to pick it up and get back to it, even though it was my ebook which I'm supposed to only use when I have no access to physical books. But I cheated a few times and read this book instead. It's good. I'd recommend it.
I do really understand why people like Lisa Jewell so much. Her writing style flows really well and is just really engaging overall. It draws you in even when sometimes I don't care quite as much as I should. Her writing makes up for some of the smaller flaws that might bug me more in other books.
Also it kept me guessing. This book wasn't entirely unsurprising, but I don't think there was any point before the end where I could logically lay out the twists and turns that were coming up and I appreciate that. It kept me on my toes a bit and I kept wanting to know more.
I struggled with two basic things. The first was the POV changes. It follows three different characters; a teenage girl who has gone missing, the wife of the girl's therapist, and a wannabe incel dude who is arrested for her abduction. I only really liked two of those perspectives and every time it switched to the third, I kind of sighed and had to get along with it. I don't think the third character was worse written, I was just less interested in their plot line and it always made the POV switches kind of disappointing.
I also didn't love the end. Not the conclusion to the mystery element, but the overall ending of the book. It felt a little too much like it was trying to teach a lesson and I just didn't care. That's not what I'm reading a thriller for. I'd rather have interesting characters living out their own stories for better or worse than get some kind of moral lecturing at the end. I didn't disagree with anything, it was more just that I found it tedious overall.
But this was solid. I was always wanting to pick it up and get back to it, even though it was my ebook which I'm supposed to only use when I have no access to physical books. But I cheated a few times and read this book instead. It's good. I'd recommend it.
ddellis08's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
angellie17's review against another edition
3.0
3.75
I really thought I would like this one more than I did! My last two reads by LJ were 5⭐️, so I expected nothing less. I was confused throughout the whole book until 75% I haven't read a thriller in a while, but I know the difference between a plot twist and the book just being plain confusing
I really thought I would like this one more than I did! My last two reads by LJ were 5⭐️, so I expected nothing less. I was confused throughout the whole book until 75% I haven't read a thriller in a while, but I know the difference between a plot twist and the book just being plain confusing
magsreadingjourney's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
matthewdafoe's review against another edition
4.0
Lisa Jewell is easily one of my favourite authors - and this was a very enjoyable, suspenseful read! I really enjoyed this one. I'm sticking with 4.5 stars.
Writing: 5/5 - Plot: 4/5 - Ending: 4.5/5
I just love Lisa's writing, so atmospheric and crisp. She is truly so good at creating suspense that gives you a feeling of "Nothing good will happen" and just overall dread. I love that. I loved the alternating POVs here, was never confused, and felt they all worked well together. Lisa just knows how to get you to care for her characters and she makes them feel so real.
The plot here was quite bleak, in the sense of, I found little happiness within this book. it got darker than I anticipated and felt there was a lot of social commentary going on here, especially with the "Incel" plot going on, but I found it very interesting and was thoroughly engaged throughout. Some parts were slower than others but I was never bored.
I loved how it all wrapped up and tied it all together, and while the ending was maybe predictable for me, it didn't lessen any of my enjoyment. I loved the final sentence. I won't spoil anything here though!
TW:
Rape, Pedophilia, Molestation
Writing: 5/5 - Plot: 4/5 - Ending: 4.5/5
I just love Lisa's writing, so atmospheric and crisp. She is truly so good at creating suspense that gives you a feeling of "Nothing good will happen" and just overall dread. I love that. I loved the alternating POVs here, was never confused, and felt they all worked well together. Lisa just knows how to get you to care for her characters and she makes them feel so real.
The plot here was quite bleak, in the sense of, I found little happiness within this book. it got darker than I anticipated and felt there was a lot of social commentary going on here, especially with the "Incel" plot going on, but I found it very interesting and was thoroughly engaged throughout. Some parts were slower than others but I was never bored.
I loved how it all wrapped up and tied it all together, and while the ending was maybe predictable for me, it didn't lessen any of my enjoyment. I loved the final sentence. I won't spoil anything here though!
TW:
Rape, Pedophilia, Molestation