Reviews tagging 'Pandemic/Epidemic'

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

119 reviews

pastryghost's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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? Yes

3.0

5 star audio adaptation, 3 star storyline. I was absolutely hooked by the way the story was structured, with excellent voice acting and podcast/documentary-like audio production. The thriller mystery itself was compelling (certainly, since I devoured it in 2 days), and unfolds expertly in the narration, but ultimately the story itself fell flat for me. Also, it was really dang sad at the end there.

I highly recommend the full-cast recording version. I usually stay away from background noise in my audiobooks, but this was done expertly and I think it is the best way to read this novel.

Heavy content warnings: domenstic abuse, grooming, alcoholism, obsession, emotional abuse, physical abuse, kidnapping, murder. It doesn't get ""graphic"" in descriptions but the story and the traumas are very potent and harrowing. Please see list of CW.

I'd recommend this to fans of The Silent Patient and The Maidens by Alex Michaelides.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

elsreads's review

dark mysterious tense 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

3.75

Very very gripping 
Was hooked throughout and absolutely LOVED the structure of the book with the mix of differing POVs and the use of mixed media (podcasts, interviews etc)

Knocked a few stars due to the

completely lax was the dealt with Walter being a paedophile. They can paint josie as being a bad person and doing bad things while also acknowledging that Walter did something majorly wrong and him being a good dad does not erase this. Thought ignoring this was a strange move considering how much feminism was spoken about throughout the book.

Also haven’t 100% decided how I feel about the ending, rating may increase with reflection. Thought it was a cool take that leaves space for thought but maybe leaves too much space for thought? Feel like it needed to be either more or less conclusive for that ending to work if that makes sense.

Really good book none the less and definitely has got me back to reading thrillers so very happy about that! Was a good holiday read :) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Pedophilia, and Murder

Moderate: Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

khowick24's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• 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

4.75

Let me preface this with the fact that I listened to the audiobook version which was 10/10 amazingly done. Sounded just like a podcast. So that may have something to do with my review, unclear. But I think the book was really good regardless. Psychologically thrilling, multiple viewpoints, right up my alley. I only wish there was more lol or a follow up second book, either after the events, or even prior, into Josie’s past. A well done book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

choy77's review against another edition

dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

gaymoonreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Excrement

Minor: Drug use and Pandemic/Epidemic

kashby's review against another edition

i liked the first two acts but when the theme went from being about how people who experience trauma sometimes gain the capability to harm others into how this girl is cray cray 😝 and forced an old man to date her i was kind of over it. the writing was really good but i just didn’t really fw the ending or how walter’s character was handled.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Eating disorder, Gore, Infidelity, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Pandemic/Epidemic

craigpwmoroney's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book keeps you guessing until the end. It's narrative is told by multiple people each one, unreliable in some degree. It is hard hitting, but a very good read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Grief and Pandemic/Epidemic

wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

When it comes to ambiguous open endings, I usually don't mind because I can imagine what I want to follow as an epilogue.  That requires having a good foundation though and this book lacked that in spades.  When the title is the book, you question everything.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

eveling_99's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

kerryamchugh's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

A wild twist on the unreliable narrator. Definitely recommend the audio, which is fully sound edited to sound like the podcast/documentary series at the center of this story, with a full cast. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic