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meeklovestoread's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I don't even know how to start with this review. The book was fine. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it by any means. Due to personal reasons, it took me DAYS to complete it. Even though I was preoccupied with other things, I still didn't find this book compelling in the slightest. It started off well with the first chapter and then (in my opinion) didn't really pick up till the 70% mark. It was such a basic thriller. Something you'd recommend to someone who's never read a thriller before yet wants to dip their toe into it without having to commit to anything that's too dark or anxiety-inducing. A lot of the time it was just a mystery rather than a thriller. And I know I mentioned that it doesn't really get thrilling till the 70% mark, it's not that things don't happen, but I feel like the plot and the way the author told the story was too rudimentary for me to care. This trope of a woman kidnapped isn't new and although certain elements of the story were unique like the mom accidentally killing her previous child who's the same age as the child she's being held captive with noew there still wasn't anything that made this story more compelling than the others I've read.
I felt like certain characters provided no purpose. Like the father (John) and the son (Evan) could ve been taken out of the story and the book would've been roughly the same. I think one of the reasons I didn't find the story that compelling was how predictable everything was and I felt like a lot of the plot threads were conveyed lackadaisically. Like how Nicole found out who it was or the introduction of Daisy Hollander. Nicole starts looking into her just because she just happens to be another missing woman in the town. In my opinion, I don't think that's enough to go out of your way to find out about someone. And don't get me started on how much this story relies on happenstance coincidences and police incompetence. Now to mention this book was so SLOW! And the ending; don't get me started on the ending. So choppy! Just so choppy! I felt like it was there for shock value lowkey. Also, I really wish the author would've done a better job at distinguishing whose POV we were in. I read the book through audio while having the physical copy in hand and I think the narrator did a decent job in distinguishing the male and female voices however I still do think it can be a little confusing to know which POV you're in. In addition, another grievance I have with this book is how repetitive a lot of the story arcs were. I kid you, not you could play a drinking game on the number of times the author mentioned thatMolly "killed" her child or how Nicole can't stop getting men into her bed. Like WE GET IT!
All in all, I don't think it's the worst thriller I've read by any means, however, I don't think it's anything special either.fun fact: I did not know apple seeds contained cyanide and with enough, it could make you sick or potentially kill you (depending on height, weight, how much ingested, etc). That's so cool yet so freaky!
I felt like certain characters provided no purpose. Like the father (John) and the son (Evan) could ve been taken out of the story and the book would've been roughly the same. I think one of the reasons I didn't find the story that compelling was how predictable everything was and I felt like a lot of the plot threads were conveyed lackadaisically. Like how Nicole found out who it was or the introduction of Daisy Hollander. Nicole starts looking into her just because she just happens to be another missing woman in the town. In my opinion, I don't think that's enough to go out of your way to find out about someone. And don't get me started on how much this story relies on happenstance coincidences and police incompetence. Now to mention this book was so SLOW! And the ending; don't get me started on the ending. So choppy! Just so choppy! I felt like it was there for shock value lowkey. Also, I really wish the author would've done a better job at distinguishing whose POV we were in. I read the book through audio while having the physical copy in hand and I think the narrator did a decent job in distinguishing the male and female voices however I still do think it can be a little confusing to know which POV you're in. In addition, another grievance I have with this book is how repetitive a lot of the story arcs were. I kid you, not you could play a drinking game on the number of times the author mentioned that
All in all, I don't think it's the worst thriller I've read by any means, however, I don't think it's anything special either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, and Alcohol
aas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
simranpahwa's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Quick read but pretty predictable. The ending was a twist but it felt overdone. My reaction was literally “really… yeah okay lol”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Car accident
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Alcohol
jackyreadss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
elisalasater's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder
trycerabel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
readswithnatalieb's review
4.5
Looking for a read to get you out of a slump? Or are you in the mood to binge something? Because this is what you needed.
Gripping, twisty, and psychological, are just a few words I’d use to this book.
The story also includes my favorite kind of chapter swapping: alternate POVs. We see the world through Molly, and her daughter’s eyes. We witness Molly’s life and events leading up to her disappearance, after she was reported missing, only for her daughter to uncover what actually happen.
With it being a thriller, the pacing is expected to be quick! But sometimes, you hit a little snag. For Don’t Look For Me, I found the pacing to be absolutely perfect. I never once thought it was dragging on mainly because the creepy vibe Walker includes in her writing. It wasn’t too much, just enough to keep you guessing what was coming next.
Ultimately, I really liked the resolution. Even more so, I really appreciated how each family member was written, experiencing their own feelings while managing their individual grief. Walker definitely humanizes these characters in a clever way and I will for sure be reading her next book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity
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