snapeygan's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Leah wakes up after a sleepover to find the other beds… empty. Where are her three friends? What happened to them, and why is Leah the only one still here? Nearly twenty-five years after THE sleepover, a new documentary is in the making and Leah is not sure what to think about that. Just to add to the anniversary coming, Leah is receiving blackmail from someone who seems to know the truth…
It’s the first book I’m reading from Wilkinson, and I have to say I am positively surprised! It was well written and, unlike with other thrillers, I didn’t hate the characters!! I mean, it’s a thriller like the others, and I mean by that that there’s the stereotypical things the protagonist is hiding, and someone else knowing while blackmailing them. But even if that part was predictable, it didn’t stopped it being enjoyable to read and I couldn’t wait to turn the page, to read the other line, the other paragraph, the other chapter.
I’m so happy to know that this book will have a sequel, I cannot wait!!!
<SPOILER>Now, I hated the end. The two last chapters to be exact. I will just gaslight me to think it never happened hihihi, I liked the protagonist way too much.
It’s the first book I’m reading from Wilkinson, and I have to say I am positively surprised! It was well written and, unlike with other thrillers, I didn’t hate the characters!! I mean, it’s a thriller like the others, and I mean by that that there’s the stereotypical things the protagonist is hiding, and someone else knowing while blackmailing them. But even if that part was predictable, it didn’t stopped it being enjoyable to read and I couldn’t wait to turn the page, to read the other line, the other paragraph, the other chapter.
I’m so happy to know that this book will have a sequel, I cannot wait!!!
<SPOILER>Now, I hated the end. The two last chapters to be exact. I will just gaslight me to think it never happened hihihi, I liked the protagonist way too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Toxic relationship
lizsurber's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: Abandonment, Death, Dysphoria, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Physical abuse
monicabach's review
dark
mysterious
fast-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? No
4.0
I enjoyed this. Kept me guessing all the way through. It was a slow start for me but I was in a reading slump so it may have been that and not the book. Took me about a week to read the first half and then I finished the book in one day. I did not figure out the plot twist, I was definitely shocked. I really like Shirley’s character and would have liked to see more of her.
Content warning: very infrequent cursing (a handful of A-holes and one B word that I remember), no sexual content, there is domestic abuse but not too graphic.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
Content warning: very infrequent cursing (a handful of A-holes and one B word that I remember), no sexual content, there is domestic abuse but not too graphic.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Terminal illness
astoriareader's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
SYNOPSIS:
- Leah is a teenager, and she’s having a sleepover with her 3 best friends (Vicky, Jazz, & Harriet) at Harriet’s house. They eat pizza, watch Titanic, and sneak some vodka. When Leah wakes up in her sleeping bag the next morning, she is alone & other three girls are gone.
- Twenty years later, Leah, a single mom raising a teen son, is still living in her hometown. The town still is shrouded in mystery. What happened to the other girls? A film crew has recently shown up to make a documentary about the infamous night & look for answers. At the same time, Leah starts receiving anonymous emails from someone.
MY THOUGHTS
- Interesting premise that pulled me right in.
- I liked the author’s writing style, and I found it easy to read.
- Dual timelines (around time of sleepover vs present day).
- Tumultuous family dynamics.
- Some things were predictable, but it didn’t bother me much. I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending, even so it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book.
- The story itself was gripping & kept me turning the pages. I got through this one in two days.
- Author does a great job providing Leah’s backstory & developing her character.
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️interesting premise. kept me turning pages. quick read. finished in two days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Child death, Death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Car accident
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