miranda_is_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is pretty violent and descriptive of gory scenes, so if you’re sensitive to topics I don’t suggest reading.
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Drug abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Mental illness, Child abuse, Cursing, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Addiction, Cancer, Medical content, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Self harm
Minor: Dementia, Grief, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Transphobia, Outing, and Incest
bekahluvsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Didn’t LOVE Andrea, she (and Jane) made some stupid mistakes along the way that could’ve prevented some of the things that happened later but whatever it was stressful I might’ve made the same mistakes. Except probably not bc sometimes she was really dumb. I don’t really want to get into specifics bc it will spoil some things but you get it.
It was insane reading about Nick and seeing just how manipulative he was on every single page. I liked the Jane/nick/Andrew story so much more than anything involving Andrea.
Overall it was a page turner for sure and I would recommend it.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Gun violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Abortion and Violence
Minor: Incest and Sexual assault
jerica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
There is an immense amount of detail, creativity, and care that went into writing this book. The only things keeping it from a 5-star rating are 1) there was one detail I read that didn't make sense and wasn't addressed again and 2) Andy and Laura made some really dumb decisions that made me want to scream. These decisions make the characters human though. We all say stupid things and make mistakes that, in hindsight, we should have known would backfire. Although it wasn't terribly easy to relate to the characters in many ways due to the unique storyline, they were very well-developed.
I am usually someone who can predict everything that will happen. While I did predict quite a few things in this book, there was one point where my jaw literally fell open and I verbalized my disbelief aloud. I think that a majority of readers will find this story to be a rollercoaster with surprises at every turn! I also appreciated that, although this book addresses very dark topics, it does so in a way that (at least for me) does not create a trauma reaction for the reader.
As usual, my review is an aimless rambling. Long story short: I highly recommend this book!
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Torture
Minor: Incest, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Excrement, Body shaming, Dementia, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Drug abuse, Rape, Vomit, and Sexual assault
rinne94'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
3.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Addiction and Incest
bleepbloop's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Homophobia and Torture
Minor: Incest and Rape
cady_sass'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
3.75
I’m a sucker for a good true crime/cult vibe and this is the perfect mixture. The story is told between two perspectives, present day Andrea and her mother Laura in the wake of a horrific public shooting they found themselves in the middle of, and the story of Jane and a group of friends in the early 80s unwittingly recruited into a extremist activist group that spirals out of control in the wake of one of their members acting impulsively off-plan. The two stories slowly weave their way closer to each other and converge, with many twists and turns along the way.
As with every Karin Slaughter novel, the list of trigger warnings is EXTENSIVE so be mindful before picking it up.
Edited to add: I had no idea that the author was choosing to continue Andrea’s story in her upcoming novel, which I had already unknowingly ordered in my BOTM! Can’t wait to see how this story continues
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Cursing, Blood, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Medical content, Torture, Sexual assault, Incest, Grief, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy
abbs15norm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Blood, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Terminal illness, Body horror, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Cursing, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Miscarriage, Addiction, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual content, Incest, and Outing
jeannine6'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Gore, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Incest
jesscoast's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This story has it all - conspiracy, cults, cons, corruption. It starts with a bang and just keeps unraveling into spirals of back story with very long threads. It didn't lose me with too many characters or double agents though. A clear storyline unfolds and a bigger picture is drawn, and that's the skill Slaughter has mastered.
As with Pretty Girls, I love how the female driven plots drag the women through hell and back to find out what will happen. They're all problem solvers, independent, fierce, and not without their own issues. By not playing into tropes, Slaughter keeps surprises hidden up her sleeve for those who underestimate her characters or think anyone can't turn their life around and reinvent themselves completely. The main character, Andy, was by far the least interesting character however. I won't remember her for long but I'll keep Laura and Clara and Paula in my mind.
The book is a lot to digest and I won't say that she's a genius at dialogue or being concise, but to me it's worth it.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia, Incest, and Rape
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Dementia, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Cancer, Incest, Medical content, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness