mollyb13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Overall, I'm glad I got my curiosity around this book out of the way, but to me the book did not live up to the hype surrounding it. I will likely try one of Colleen Hoover's romance novels in the future.
Pros:
- I was too creeped out to read this in bed at night - a daytime book for me. Which is how I like my thrillers to be!
- I read it really quickly and didn't want to put it down
- There was some completely bone-chilling moments
Spoiler
VERITY STANDING AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS OMG. Verity telling Crew to hold his breath before she tipped the canoe!?
Cons:
Unfortunately the cons far outweigh the pros for me. Here are just a few things I couldn't get over:
Spoiler
I really don't like open-ended books. I get that she was trying to leave you wondering, but I don't want to wonder. I want to close a book feeling like I can leave it and move onto the next thing.- There was far to much sex in this book that didn't forward the plot at all.
Spoiler
I know Verity's letter said that one of the reasons Jeremy should have known the manuscript was fake was because there was so much sex in it. But Lowen's section had plenty as well - though I suppose it was fueled by some of what she had read in the manuscript. I'm also tired of every leading man being an absolute sex god. Spoiler
I feel like I was meant to root for Lowen but wtf she helped Jeremy kill her at the end!? It wasn't even self defense! Just turn her in! Also she seemed to not care that Jeremy tried killing Verity previously?Spoiler
This whole team manuscript/team letter could likely be pretty well solved by just talking to that agent who Verity said gave her the journaling idea in the first place... If the agent says she never suggested anything like that then likely the manuscript is true- I purposefully avoid reading reviews of thrillers because I like to be surprised, but had seen enough praise for this book and people saying
Spoiler
'the twist was shocking!' that the twist actually fell flat for me. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but everyone had hyped it up so much that I guess I expected to be completely mind blown. I had actually wondered if Jeremy wrote the manuscript earlier on in the book and Verity was being held captive so I was not correct but close enough to not be completely surprised. - The bonus chapter, which I did not read, but read recaps of, was sus and I don't understand the point of it.
Spoiler
It sounded like Colleen Hoover was maybe trying to push readers towards team letter? Also Jeremy killed a woman because she recognized them at the beach?!?! This chapter sounded like it was unnecessary.
Graphic: Car accident, Medical content, Pregnancy, Abortion, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
natalienandez's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Abortion, and Child abuse
acogna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Spoiler
and especially writing as a tool for destructionSpoiler
That twist in the end is also quite expected, but in hindsight it was also extremely dumb. There's a lot to be said there about whether or not writing should be believed at face value, but it doesn't go into it farther than that. Also, I just think the twist is just super inconsistent with the rest of the plot. And I also think just writing fucked-up shit like that, even as a coping mechanism, should be put under lock and key forever. Why the fuck was her laptop open for that? Why the fuck was it open on something like that?Anyway, like all Hoover books I will never read, I will give it the same diagnosis: great plot, terrible execution. Her plot made me finish this in a day; her prose made me want to finish it faster, and not out of love for it.
Graphic: Infidelity, Chronic illness, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Vomit
eshiltonn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Minor: Child death, Grief, Infidelity, Chronic illness, Blood, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Abortion, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Car accident, Violence, and Murder
poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Violence, Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Death, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Vomit, and Pregnancy
readwith_le's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Drug use, Abortion, Child death, Child abuse, Violence, Pregnancy, Medical content, Death, Murder, Miscarriage, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, and Blood
gothmiku's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Car accident, Miscarriage, Abortion, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Blood, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Body horror, Fatphobia, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Animal death, and Cancer
joanacoutinho's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Car accident, Blood, and Grief
jfield351's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Vomit, Blood, Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Child death
Moderate: Mental illness, Medical trauma, Injury/injury detail, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Body horror, Blood, Abortion, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Vomit, Grief, Cursing, and Car accident
Minor: Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Cancer
tragicallyjess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Violence, Injury/injury detail, Car accident, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Vomit