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shakeela's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
celtic67's review against another edition
2.0
This novel didn't really work for me. What started off with a lot of promise , lost its way and went downhill fast. Just wasn't for me and hence the generous 2 stars.
yy71's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
suzy06's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bookwormbecky12's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure, how I feel about this book. It wasnt what I was expecting yet I was gripped.
It is rather graphic in places and it was VERY dark.
I love books that hop back in time and to present day, you can piece the story together as you read and the ending was great!
The characters where hard to like too which makes it difficult. I suppose the only likeable character is Stephen.
Anyway a good book, but very very dark.
It is rather graphic in places and it was VERY dark.
I love books that hop back in time and to present day, you can piece the story together as you read and the ending was great!
The characters where hard to like too which makes it difficult. I suppose the only likeable character is Stephen.
Anyway a good book, but very very dark.
readwithanna's review against another edition
3.5
Bonkers plot. Kind of wish it was shorter because I think it would have packed a punch.
o_max16's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
mpr2000's review against another edition
3.0
This had been a slow paced story, full of descriptive characters and let me tell you the truth, not really charming at all, but it makes sense in the story they told you, you don't have to like them, on the contrary, you should hate them, and page after page the hatred will grow... Because this is not a beautiful story, is a horrible story, in which you will hate and dislike, but that it has to be told; maybe if we read it enough times we will start making a better world for our children.
The story is told between the past (1990), where a young Holly is starting the university at one of the most prestigious of the world, Oxford. Sadly her new friends will not be what she will be expecting and their friendship will get darker and darker till a fateful night where her life will change forever.
And the present, 2019, where the happy wife (Julianne) of a very successful man discovers a secret that will change her and her family forever.
Of course both stories are related, but we will discover it after a few pages, when we will be glued to the story and there's not return of it, because as much as we like Holly and Julianne their lives were connected a long time ago and now is time to face the consequences, even if they will put the lives of their loved ones in danger.
I have to say that it was a little slow for my taste, it seemed that nothing happened till more than half of the book and then the story resolved in less than 50 pages. It is not that I didn't like it, but maybe I would prefer more confrontation and more explanation about the ending...
This is a story to read and digest, think and talk, it will not delight you, it will infuriate you and make you angry, but I am sure this is the idea of the author, because if we don't act against abuse, no one will.
There's always different versions of the truth, but you should always listen to all of them, not only the nice one. Ready?
The story is told between the past (1990), where a young Holly is starting the university at one of the most prestigious of the world, Oxford. Sadly her new friends will not be what she will be expecting and their friendship will get darker and darker till a fateful night where her life will change forever.
And the present, 2019, where the happy wife (Julianne) of a very successful man discovers a secret that will change her and her family forever.
Of course both stories are related, but we will discover it after a few pages, when we will be glued to the story and there's not return of it, because as much as we like Holly and Julianne their lives were connected a long time ago and now is time to face the consequences, even if they will put the lives of their loved ones in danger.
I have to say that it was a little slow for my taste, it seemed that nothing happened till more than half of the book and then the story resolved in less than 50 pages. It is not that I didn't like it, but maybe I would prefer more confrontation and more explanation about the ending...
This is a story to read and digest, think and talk, it will not delight you, it will infuriate you and make you angry, but I am sure this is the idea of the author, because if we don't act against abuse, no one will.
There's always different versions of the truth, but you should always listen to all of them, not only the nice one. Ready?
lorrette's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
3.75
I think this book had a solid idea but it could have used a lot more work and the pacing could have been way better. But it did a good job of portraying the tense, claustrophobic feeling the main character felt while the story was going on that made it interesting to read.