anneduff's review against another edition
1.0
Incredibly unrealistic! The whole story depends on the main character (who is whiney, self pitying and stupid beyond belief) accepting a Facebook friend request from someone she knows is dead - like you do! She doesn't question the strangeness of the request. She doesn't check the profile of the person who sent it. She doesn't unfriend the person. She doesn't go to the police when she should. She just goes about her daily business of feeling sorry for herself. The only reason I ploughed through this book to the end was because I was so bloody angry with her, plus the high number of rave reviews made me wonder if the ending would excuse all that had gone on before - it didn't! This is the worst book I've ever read!
jdye6529's review against another edition
4.0
Such an interesting and captivating book. Kept me on my toes from beginning until end. The main character narrates the book and you get a good sense of her feelings and emotions through out. The flash backs give just enough detail through out to keep you interested. The climax is truly shocking and had me freaking out in more ways than one.
jan_gaunt's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.5
tonimeter's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
The first half of the book was like OMG, WTF. Later everything has slowly faded away.
The first half of the book was like OMG, WTF. Later everything has slowly faded away.
ivathetrash's review against another edition
2.0
I swear to God I hated the first 250 pages of this book simply because it was boring and nothing happened the whole time. The characters were all so unlikable and I felt no sympathy for the main character (beside all the sexual harrasment from her ex-husband, that was fucked up). There were only two characters I liked and one of them (Maria) is dead.
To sum it up it was boring as hell, but the story picked up at the end, and it was a somewhat satisfying ending so it's a 2/5 stars for me.
To sum it up it was boring as hell, but the story picked up at the end, and it was a somewhat satisfying ending so it's a 2/5 stars for me.
abartley73's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve noticed since I’ve come back to reading that I’m more critical of books now than I ever have been. It takes me longer to read a book now and I want something that I know is worth my time. This one seemed like it would be.
Here’s my main issue. I’m really into thrillers and mysteries. I read them for that jaw dropping moment when the big twist is finally revealed and you just get shocked as a reader. I didn’t get that with this one at all.
So with this book, it started out great for me. It was an easy read that kept me intrigued. Simple writing to where I didn’t have to think much as a reader and could just plow through parts of it when I had the time. It wasn’t amazing, but I looked forward to picking it up and it kept my interest when I was reading. By the end of it, though, I was ready for it to be over and for that big shocking twist that I just knew it was leading up to. I just feel like the author could have done more with the ending. She wrapped it all up in a tiny bow with an easy twist and moved on. That’s really my main issue with this book. Didn’t hate it. Didn’t love it. Onto the next one!
Here’s my main issue. I’m really into thrillers and mysteries. I read them for that jaw dropping moment when the big twist is finally revealed and you just get shocked as a reader. I didn’t get that with this one at all.
So with this book, it started out great for me. It was an easy read that kept me intrigued. Simple writing to where I didn’t have to think much as a reader and could just plow through parts of it when I had the time. It wasn’t amazing, but I looked forward to picking it up and it kept my interest when I was reading. By the end of it, though, I was ready for it to be over and for that big shocking twist that I just knew it was leading up to. I just feel like the author could have done more with the ending. She wrapped it all up in a tiny bow with an easy twist and moved on. That’s really my main issue with this book. Didn’t hate it. Didn’t love it. Onto the next one!
caslater83's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know about you, but I think I'd be creeped out if someone from the grave sent me a friend request! That whole "scenario" stays with you for quite a bit, doesn't it? It leaves you reminiscing the good, the bad, and the ugly. And boy, does the past get ugly. Racked with regret and guilt and full of questions about "what if."
People change over time. They either get better or they get worse, but they never truly stay the same. That's why high school reunions can either be great or terrible.
Laura Marshall did a great job writing this debut. She was able to keep the insights of 1989 at a teenage viewpoint and flip back to 2016 as an adult without difficulty. That's not easy to do. When I was reading the 2016 chapters, I didn't always view Louise as this middle-aged woman. She still felt "young" to me, but maybe it's because she's never really allowed herself to move on from the past.
Warning: I had difficulty getting into the book, but I kept plodding on. By the time I was at the half-way mark, I felt that Laura Marshall had built up the stakes enough to keep going and I WANTED to know how this would go down! If you feel unsure, try to make it through to the half-way point in case you change your mind. I really feel that it gets better as the story moves on. Enjoy this read!
People change over time. They either get better or they get worse, but they never truly stay the same. That's why high school reunions can either be great or terrible.
Laura Marshall did a great job writing this debut. She was able to keep the insights of 1989 at a teenage viewpoint and flip back to 2016 as an adult without difficulty. That's not easy to do. When I was reading the 2016 chapters, I didn't always view Louise as this middle-aged woman. She still felt "young" to me, but maybe it's because she's never really allowed herself to move on from the past.
Warning: I had difficulty getting into the book, but I kept plodding on. By the time I was at the half-way mark, I felt that Laura Marshall had built up the stakes enough to keep going and I WANTED to know how this would go down! If you feel unsure, try to make it through to the half-way point in case you change your mind. I really feel that it gets better as the story moves on. Enjoy this read!