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amberwise's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
4 stars ｡･:*˚:✧｡ All of these characters were so over involved with eachother. I enjoyed this, I feel like I might forget what happened though. Fun, fast paced read. Will read more from this author
unicornheart_books's review against another edition
5.0
"Death is a clean break. There are no gray areas. No ambiguity. It’s like a blank canvas in a way."
What the hell?!
I can’t even comprehend what I just read. The experience of reading this book felt like a slow, creeping descent into knowing that something sinister was lurking just around the corner, and I could feel the tension building, page by page, until all hell broke loose. The ending completely shattered my expectations and left me questioning everything about what I had just read—wracking my brain to figure out what the actual truth was.
The audiobook was an absolute masterpiece, so well-produced and executed that it elevated the entire experience for me. The full cast brought raw emotion to the story, and the podcast element—with its realistic background sounds, music, and dialogue—made the entire thing feel like I was listening to a real true crime podcast, blended with a documentary. It was eerie, chilling, and completely immersive.
I went into this book blindly, knowing nothing about the premise, and I’m convinced that this made the story even more shocking and sinister. I devoured it in one sitting, completely hooked from start to that incredibly unsettling ending. I couldn’t put it down, and once I finished, I felt haunted by its heartbreak, its darkness, and the eerie twists.
Without a doubt, this is a five-star read that will stay with me for a long time.
It’s one of those books that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished it, and I know I’ll be haunted by it for a long time.
Without a doubt, this is a five-star read — a chilling, haunting, unforgettable and dark story. Lisa Jewell has crafted something that feels both disturbingly real and utterly captivating.
P.S. This book has made me seriously reconsider who I let into my life!
♥️
What the hell?!
I can’t even comprehend what I just read. The experience of reading this book felt like a slow, creeping descent into knowing that something sinister was lurking just around the corner, and I could feel the tension building, page by page, until all hell broke loose. The ending completely shattered my expectations and left me questioning everything about what I had just read—wracking my brain to figure out what the actual truth was.
The audiobook was an absolute masterpiece, so well-produced and executed that it elevated the entire experience for me. The full cast brought raw emotion to the story, and the podcast element—with its realistic background sounds, music, and dialogue—made the entire thing feel like I was listening to a real true crime podcast, blended with a documentary. It was eerie, chilling, and completely immersive.
I went into this book blindly, knowing nothing about the premise, and I’m convinced that this made the story even more shocking and sinister. I devoured it in one sitting, completely hooked from start to that incredibly unsettling ending. I couldn’t put it down, and once I finished, I felt haunted by its heartbreak, its darkness, and the eerie twists.
Without a doubt, this is a five-star read that will stay with me for a long time.
It’s one of those books that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished it, and I know I’ll be haunted by it for a long time.
Without a doubt, this is a five-star read — a chilling, haunting, unforgettable and dark story. Lisa Jewell has crafted something that feels both disturbingly real and utterly captivating.
P.S. This book has made me seriously reconsider who I let into my life!
♥️
kopiko's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
4.25
sydneyalexis119's review against another edition
1.0
This book could be called “None of This Is Good”
Spoilers and Ranting:
As others have pointed out, the author’s handling of child sexual abuse and grooming is gross and completely unnecessary.
We “learn” at the end that Josie has been lying about everything and nothing she’s said is true - except the fact that her husband is a pedophile who began grooming her at 14, “dating” her at 16, and taking their “relationship” public at 18.
Many of the characters who knew Josie when she was a child accuse her of being odd, strange, etc - one even goes as far as claiming that Josie “wanted [the 40 year old man] and she wanted him to want her.”
So I’m supposed to be engrossed in this fictional London that has a bunch of adult idiots walking around blaming children for their abuse?
If the whole premise of the book is that Josie is lying to Alix about everything - the author so easily could have written the truth to be that Josie started dating an older man when she was an adult, and was lying about it like everything else. Instead, we just have to go along with this gigantic ick - made worse later when Josie’s daughter informs us that her dad is actually an angel! A very good man! Just one that groomed his girlfriend’s 14-year-old daughter! Haha cooky - Josie was such a weird kid for targeting an adult man to “date”
Stop.
Speaking of adult idiots: Alix..? Josie’s foil - the “normal” one. Again, I am expected as the reader to turn off my brain and pretend it is believable that a 45 year old woman with two young kids would willingly invite a woman she knows to be off-kilter (i.e. stealing from her trash, making rash, harsh claims about Alix’s husband, etc) to stay in her home after Josie’s pedophilic husband has supposedly beat her? Alix incited Josie and her criminal husband to have dinner at her house while her kids are there?! Alix thinks about it for like five seconds: “Wait a second, did I ACTUALLY invite a crazy woman and her predator husband to spend the evening with my young son and I? Oops”
Please.
Also. This was the least thrilling story. A whole lot of nothing happens to the actual worst characters in history until something does happen but by then, the characters are so unbelievably written that it doesn’t even matter.
I read this for a book club otherwise, I would have (obviously) dnf’d. Probably in the first chapter. Instead just endured the entire thing. Make a better choice than me - read anything else.
Spoilers and Ranting:
As others have pointed out, the author’s handling of child sexual abuse and grooming is gross and completely unnecessary.
We “learn” at the end that Josie has been lying about everything and nothing she’s said is true - except the fact that her husband is a pedophile who began grooming her at 14, “dating” her at 16, and taking their “relationship” public at 18.
Many of the characters who knew Josie when she was a child accuse her of being odd, strange, etc - one even goes as far as claiming that Josie “wanted [the 40 year old man] and she wanted him to want her.”
So I’m supposed to be engrossed in this fictional London that has a bunch of adult idiots walking around blaming children for their abuse?
If the whole premise of the book is that Josie is lying to Alix about everything - the author so easily could have written the truth to be that Josie started dating an older man when she was an adult, and was lying about it like everything else. Instead, we just have to go along with this gigantic ick - made worse later when Josie’s daughter informs us that her dad is actually an angel! A very good man! Just one that groomed his girlfriend’s 14-year-old daughter! Haha cooky - Josie was such a weird kid for targeting an adult man to “date”
Stop.
Speaking of adult idiots: Alix..? Josie’s foil - the “normal” one. Again, I am expected as the reader to turn off my brain and pretend it is believable that a 45 year old woman with two young kids would willingly invite a woman she knows to be off-kilter (i.e. stealing from her trash, making rash, harsh claims about Alix’s husband, etc) to stay in her home after Josie’s pedophilic husband has supposedly beat her? Alix incited Josie and her criminal husband to have dinner at her house while her kids are there?! Alix thinks about it for like five seconds: “Wait a second, did I ACTUALLY invite a crazy woman and her predator husband to spend the evening with my young son and I? Oops”
Please.
Also. This was the least thrilling story. A whole lot of nothing happens to the actual worst characters in history until something does happen but by then, the characters are so unbelievably written that it doesn’t even matter.
I read this for a book club otherwise, I would have (obviously) dnf’d. Probably in the first chapter. Instead just endured the entire thing. Make a better choice than me - read anything else.
anudoodles's review against another edition
5.0
That kind of thriller that you take it everywhere until it finishes
princesspan's review against another edition
3.0
As a mystery and story I think it was great. But i don’t like “true crime” and hearing or thinking about these topics. I felt gross listening to it.
mattthew's review against another edition
2.0
Audiobook - was intrigued at the start but found myself sighing throughout
oliviameyerrr's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
tuti_fruti_love's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0