twiinklex's review against another edition
4.0
Not a bad book but the most overrated one ever. Not sure if all the rave reviews are from Colleen Hoover's fans who are used to her usual romances and therefore find this so different and shocking, but I don't see how this can blow thriller fanatics away.
It was certainly gripping and a page-turner (mostly thanks to the chapters with Verity's POV) because I fought to keep my eyes open while reading this at 3am. Partly because I was dying to know what big twist had generated such a hoo-ha. Alas, I was disappointed.
Firstly, it was obvious from the beginning what was going on with Verity since the author dropped many clues and the protagonist witnessed many signs. There was no big twist to dispute this. I want to be clear that I have no problem with the ambiguous ending and I totally get that it's up to our interpretation, that this was the author's ultimate goal yada yada yada. The point is there was no huge, shocking or mindblowing twist.
Also, Lowen is a deplorable character who makes excuses for herself LOL why is no one talking about this?! She and Jeremy probably deserve each other. She doesn't even do anything much other than read Verity's diaries so there's no badass protagonist or action either.
And come on, that opening scene was obviously just for shock effect / to suck readers in and had nothing much to do with the main plot.
Still, I won't deny that the story is nevertheless quite different and creative.
It was certainly gripping and a page-turner (mostly thanks to the chapters with Verity's POV) because I fought to keep my eyes open while reading this at 3am. Partly because I was dying to know what big twist had generated such a hoo-ha. Alas, I was disappointed.
Firstly, it was obvious from the beginning what was going on with Verity since the author dropped many clues and the protagonist witnessed many signs. There was no big twist to dispute this. I want to be clear that I have no problem with the ambiguous ending and I totally get that it's up to our interpretation, that this was the author's ultimate goal yada yada yada. The point is there was no huge, shocking or mindblowing twist.
Also, Lowen is a deplorable character who makes excuses for herself LOL why is no one talking about this?! She and Jeremy probably deserve each other. She doesn't even do anything much other than read Verity's diaries so there's no badass protagonist or action either.
And come on, that opening scene was obviously just for shock effect / to suck readers in and had nothing much to do with the main plot.
Still, I won't deny that the story is nevertheless quite different and creative.
michaellafaaita's review against another edition
5.0
Love love love this book. I’m team manuscript all the way, Verity is seriously a wacko. Dylan McDermott was all I could picture as Jeremy, the gone girl lady as Verity + Dakota Johnson as Lohan lol. Finished this book in one sitting + I’d defs recommend it to everyone. The only thing that had me laughing my ass off is when Lohan starting biting the headboard like?????
alanawhitley's review against another edition
2.0
my first and last colleen hoover book. it was extremely underwhelming and i don’t see the hype around this book. the reviews and response to this book were so well received and I expected to love it. i’ve gotten more psychological thriller from mystery books than i did here. i’m very disappointed with this book and didn’t really enjoy reading it.
aldente_pasta's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
wattacukor's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 3,5 stars
Song: Mikky Ekko - Who Are You, Really
This was the book that would decide if I ever read any more Colleen Hoover books. Surprisingly I enjoyed this one, a lot more than I enjoyed It Ends With Us, my first ever Colleen Hoover book. Maybe because I knew less about this, maybe because I didn't expect the romance to be the focus, but it was a fine book.
SPOILERS FROM HERE
Colleen's dual narrative served well in this one, to contrast the past and the now. The story itself was okay, heavy on trauma, and deaths, but after the other books, I expected it. The only sour thing is the pregnancy. Thankfully, it wasn't as big as in It End With Us, but still, as she "put a pillow under her so everything would remain inside" I wanted to put down the book.
The main plot of Verity faking, and her writing that journal that is antagonizing on purpose was fine. I wished there were more clues on that, but maybe that would have ruined the reveal.
But Low. I did not like her. It felt like, she had just stolen Verity's life. A writer, just fitting into her mould, having a baby after nearly being together, writing her books. Not telling Jemery about the letter. I get it that there is suspense, that they killed her, and what if they were mistaken, and probably this was done this was so that we see that Low isn't perfect, and can fall into the same lying narratives that Verity describes in her journal.
It was a fast, (if I don't count the trigger warnings) easy read. I saw in the author's note that this isn't her typical book, so I am scared about reading another one. We will see if I become a Colleen Hoover girly, or after 3 books realise her writing is not for me.
Song: Mikky Ekko - Who Are You, Really
This was the book that would decide if I ever read any more Colleen Hoover books. Surprisingly I enjoyed this one, a lot more than I enjoyed It Ends With Us, my first ever Colleen Hoover book. Maybe because I knew less about this, maybe because I didn't expect the romance to be the focus, but it was a fine book.
SPOILERS FROM HERE
Colleen's dual narrative served well in this one, to contrast the past and the now. The story itself was okay, heavy on trauma, and deaths, but after the other books, I expected it. The only sour thing is the pregnancy. Thankfully, it wasn't as big as in It End With Us, but still, as she "put a pillow under her so everything would remain inside" I wanted to put down the book.
The main plot of Verity faking, and her writing that journal that is antagonizing on purpose was fine. I wished there were more clues on that, but maybe that would have ruined the reveal.
But Low. I did not like her. It felt like, she had just stolen Verity's life. A writer, just fitting into her mould, having a baby after nearly being together, writing her books. Not telling Jemery about the letter. I get it that there is suspense, that they killed her, and what if they were mistaken, and probably this was done this was so that we see that Low isn't perfect, and can fall into the same lying narratives that Verity describes in her journal.
It was a fast, (if I don't count the trigger warnings) easy read. I saw in the author's note that this isn't her typical book, so I am scared about reading another one. We will see if I become a Colleen Hoover girly, or after 3 books realise her writing is not for me.
frozenchn's review against another edition
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
2.0
yeah this was not it
trashmagic's review against another edition
2.0
now that i think abt it this book wasn’t that surprising the plot twist were very obvious and literally everyone in the book had some type of issues like everyone needed help
literallyanhthfjgn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5