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alisonbee26's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to give this 3 stars, but as I started composing this review, I realized that I just can't do that. I'm with several other readers here in that while I enjoyed the storyline, it really did drag on and on. Toward the end, I admittedly started skimming Alex's chapters in the hopes that something would happen with Quinn. Turns out that was a decent approach to this novel....
I was initially drawn to this book because of its comparisons with Gillian Flynn's work. The shifting perspectives is an interesting narrative structure that seems to be trending right now, but it's not an easy style to master. Here, I felt like there were so many moments when the characters' persona didn't match the language the author supplied. For example, it seemed odd to me that Quinn, who professes to be rather dumb, remarks that her encounter with Ben on the couch was not "libidinous." Would she really use that word, especially with it being in 1st POV? Would anyone? SAT-word moments aside, Alex at one point refers to Ingrid as being "tuckered out," a phrase I don't think I've ever heard an 18-year old use. There were actually a number of similar instances in the book when I felt like the vocabulary was disconnected from the characters and I kind of wanted to go in and revise.
So I don't know...cool concept, but the execution was lacking for me.
I was initially drawn to this book because of its comparisons with Gillian Flynn's work. The shifting perspectives is an interesting narrative structure that seems to be trending right now, but it's not an easy style to master. Here, I felt like there were so many moments when the characters' persona didn't match the language the author supplied. For example, it seemed odd to me that Quinn, who professes to be rather dumb, remarks that her encounter with Ben on the couch was not "libidinous." Would she really use that word, especially with it being in 1st POV? Would anyone? SAT-word moments aside, Alex at one point refers to Ingrid as being "tuckered out," a phrase I don't think I've ever heard an 18-year old use. There were actually a number of similar instances in the book when I felt like the vocabulary was disconnected from the characters and I kind of wanted to go in and revise.
So I don't know...cool concept, but the execution was lacking for me.
christinamapes's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a while to get into this one. I was instantly hooked with Quinn's POV, but was bored and even a little irritated by Alex's at first. The story does eventually build and go somewhere, but most of the action happens at the end of the book, so you have to stick with it. I liked all of the characters and just when I thought I had something figured out, Kubica went in a different direction.
I received this book from NetGalley for review purposes.
I received this book from NetGalley for review purposes.
kiwihead71's review against another edition
3.0
Took me a while to really get interested in the storyline. I don't understand a couple of things even after reading it, but overall it was good. I didn't guess the ending, which is good because I do most of the time!
gabreadsbooks1's review against another edition
3.0
A bit disappointed with this one. The mystery moved too slowly for me to be fully immersed it in, which lessened my enjoyment. I did like the character of Quinn and the ending was great. Perhaps making the book a shorter, tighter story would have improved it for me. The ending did wrap up everything nicely with no lose ends. Overall ok but not my favorite Mary Kubica novel.
madimae10's review against another edition
4.0
I felt this book deserved a 5 star rating up until I read the last two pages. The book was solely about Esther and Genevieve "Pearl" but ends with Quinn and Ben? I'm sorry but I thought this was supposed to be a thriller rather than a romance novel. Don't get me wrong, I love my romance novels but I read this book to expand my repertoire and I'm just disappointed with the ending is all. Overall, the writing was great and I enjoyed myself while reading this book.
cvneeley's review against another edition
3.0
Good plot….but her writing style annoys me. As I am not a writer, this probably won't make sense but I NOTICE things in Kubica's writing. I have to re-read sentences, or find sentences awkward. Things don't just sail along smoothly. I prefer to sail smoothly. And she uses "thesaurus" words. Why say "oleaginous" when you could say oily? And what was the point of the heterochromatic eyes? But, a good story. Soooo much better than Pretty Baby.
heriwen's review against another edition
3.0
Nothing happens in the book until the very end. The good girl is much better
lisabee614's review against another edition
4.0
Wasn’t sure to give 3.5 or 4, so I rounded up. The very beginning was a little lackluster but then it got pretty interesting. I thought I had at least half of it figured out by the end, but turns out I only figured out a small portion. Couldn’t put it down once I got closer to the end.
I have an advanced uncorrected proof, so there were a few mistakes that I caught but overall not too distracting.
I have an advanced uncorrected proof, so there were a few mistakes that I caught but overall not too distracting.
tesslinnebank's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0