1z4bella's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sara_evaney's review against another edition
4.0
This was so good! I loved the characters, especially Car ^^ I also loved how the plot resolved in the end, it seemed all very plausible. The only thing I didn't like was that the story wasn't that original, the whole I lose my memory And have to figure out what happened thing.. And I saw some of the plot twists coming..
But over all a great book, that even made me cry a little.
But over all a great book, that even made me cry a little.
alexabookish's review against another edition
3.0
this DEFINITELY had the potential for a higher rating. i was intrigued the whole time, and didn’t want to stop reading. i liked the characters and the mystery. however, the way mental health was talked about in this book just didn’t sit right with me. the amount of times the words crazy, insane, schizophrenic, psycho, and even straight jacket were thrown around with a negative connotation just left a bad taste in my mouth. “crazy” and “insane” weren’t as big of a deal, they’re definitely common words used that have been normalized (whether or not that’s good or bad). but schizophrenia and psychosis are real mental illnesses that people go through, and when they’re thrown around like a punchline of a joke, it just really makes me uncomfortable. not to mention the stigma around medication and therapy that is absolutely reinforced. i get that this was written in 2014, but i feel like there’s a way to write about a character experiencing these things without perpetuating potentially offensive stereotypes, no matter when it was written. also, i did predict part of the ending, and it felt a tad longer than it needed to be at times.
octa's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
natcommon's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
A fun mystery/thriller that keeps you guessing. Highly recommend.
A fun mystery/thriller that keeps you guessing. Highly recommend.
mikaelareads_81's review against another edition
5.0
This was a good book .. keep you on your toes. made u think with each turning page.. I didn't want this book to end.. I wish they made a second book to this one .. I didn't like the main chatter till the middle of the book . then I felt bad for her .. this is must read if you want a book to keep you on your toes.. and great mystery.. I would buy this book and re-read it again. I got it from the library ..
izzyproudfoot's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it!
I knew how it was going to end but then of course you have to keep reading to double check you're right!
I knew how it was going to end but then of course you have to keep reading to double check you're right!
zeina8's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book it was suspenseful, thrilling and had you guessing at every turn although the killer was on my short list of suspects I could never completely be sure who did it. there was another twist i did not expect. overall it was an exciting quick read that i enjoyed and i recommend it to all lovers of mysteries and thrillers.
shan_h19's review against another edition
3.0
Plot:
Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it’s one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took “mean girl” to a whole new level, and it’s clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She’s getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she’s falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash. But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn’t just buried deep inside of Sam’s memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?
My Thoughts:
The first novel that I read by Jennifer L. Armentrout was Obsidian, the first book in the Lux series. I quite enjoyed all the books until I reached the fourth novel and that’s when I realised that even though Daemon Black was beyond perfect – I couldn’t stand the protagonist ‘Katy’.
So, I began reading Don’t Look Back with some series doubts since I had previously not enjoyed Armentrout’s characterisation and lack of substance in the plot line of the lux series. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy lots of fluff - but when it’s the only thing the series is based on – I get incredibly bored. Note: Please don’t kill me! I know plenty of you love the lux series, and I did as well, there were just some parts that made me quite frustrated.
However, I had heard great things about this novel and it had quite good ratings on Goodreads, so, when I saw it at Dymocks, I quickly purchased it. Sometimes, I can be quite a vain person, sadly I usually pick up a book if it has an attractive cover, then I read the plot line. So, even though I had heard great things about this novel, I was really put out when I saw the cover. It was the Australian version – not the stunning American version, which I would have much preferred.
Don’t Look Back is about a girl by the name of Samantha who is picked up from the side of the road by a police officer. Sam had been missing for four days before she was found having been brutally attacked. However, in a fatal turn of events, Samantha is left without any memory of the incident that left her violently injured and her best friend Cassie missing, let alone anything about who she is. She can’t remember her name or her family.
Samantha is left to struggle through her life readjusting to everything and learning to love her family and her boyfriend who she feels she’s never even met before. That is until Samantha starts to receive strange notes. Could it be the killer who is sending her these ominous notes?
Having not liked Armentrout’s previous protagonist, I was happily surprised to adore the main character Samantha. Yes, she previously was an absolute bitch who was hated by many of her classmates but after her memory loss – she tried to make up for all those times she treated people horridly. Sam was quite a brave and persistent character who seemed very real to me in comparison to Katy from Obsidian.
Carson – Samantha’s love interest was also a brilliantly written character who I gradually fell in love with. He may be no Daemon Black, but he’s only a human teenage boy, so what can you expect? No bodies perfect, well, maybe except for a hot alien.
I loved this book immensely. It was fast paced and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Once I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down and I read it in around 3 hours, only stopping to relieve my bladder and get something to eat from the fridge. The end of the novel surprised me enormously. I had my theories on who the killer was, but to be honest, I definitely was not expecting who it turned out to be.
This perfect piece of literary left me constantly surprised and left me wanting more once the novel was finished. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery and thriller novels.
Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it’s one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took “mean girl” to a whole new level, and it’s clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She’s getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she’s falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash. But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn’t just buried deep inside of Sam’s memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?
My Thoughts:
The first novel that I read by Jennifer L. Armentrout was Obsidian, the first book in the Lux series. I quite enjoyed all the books until I reached the fourth novel and that’s when I realised that even though Daemon Black was beyond perfect – I couldn’t stand the protagonist ‘Katy’.
So, I began reading Don’t Look Back with some series doubts since I had previously not enjoyed Armentrout’s characterisation and lack of substance in the plot line of the lux series. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy lots of fluff - but when it’s the only thing the series is based on – I get incredibly bored. Note: Please don’t kill me! I know plenty of you love the lux series, and I did as well, there were just some parts that made me quite frustrated.
However, I had heard great things about this novel and it had quite good ratings on Goodreads, so, when I saw it at Dymocks, I quickly purchased it. Sometimes, I can be quite a vain person, sadly I usually pick up a book if it has an attractive cover, then I read the plot line. So, even though I had heard great things about this novel, I was really put out when I saw the cover. It was the Australian version – not the stunning American version, which I would have much preferred.
Don’t Look Back is about a girl by the name of Samantha who is picked up from the side of the road by a police officer. Sam had been missing for four days before she was found having been brutally attacked. However, in a fatal turn of events, Samantha is left without any memory of the incident that left her violently injured and her best friend Cassie missing, let alone anything about who she is. She can’t remember her name or her family.
Samantha is left to struggle through her life readjusting to everything and learning to love her family and her boyfriend who she feels she’s never even met before. That is until Samantha starts to receive strange notes. Could it be the killer who is sending her these ominous notes?
Having not liked Armentrout’s previous protagonist, I was happily surprised to adore the main character Samantha. Yes, she previously was an absolute bitch who was hated by many of her classmates but after her memory loss – she tried to make up for all those times she treated people horridly. Sam was quite a brave and persistent character who seemed very real to me in comparison to Katy from Obsidian.
Carson – Samantha’s love interest was also a brilliantly written character who I gradually fell in love with. He may be no Daemon Black, but he’s only a human teenage boy, so what can you expect? No bodies perfect, well, maybe except for a hot alien.
I loved this book immensely. It was fast paced and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Once I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down and I read it in around 3 hours, only stopping to relieve my bladder and get something to eat from the fridge. The end of the novel surprised me enormously. I had my theories on who the killer was, but to be honest, I definitely was not expecting who it turned out to be.
This perfect piece of literary left me constantly surprised and left me wanting more once the novel was finished. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery and thriller novels.