lilywearden's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
stormlightreader's review against another edition
4.0
"Ugliness exists only where humans have altered the landscape"
I added Exquisite to my GoodReads TBR when I first joined in 2015/2016 and just never got around to it.
It was a well paced psychological thriller, focusing on an unhinged woman (or two?). Nothing groundbreaking, but I did get pissed off with Bo and Alice was quite easily taken in. Overall, a quick, entertaining read.
I added Exquisite to my GoodReads TBR when I first joined in 2015/2016 and just never got around to it.
It was a well paced psychological thriller, focusing on an unhinged woman (or two?). Nothing groundbreaking, but I did get pissed off with Bo and Alice was quite easily taken in. Overall, a quick, entertaining read.
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
Not all the love stories have a beautiful ending, that's what we will learn with this tragic story between Bo and Alice. Which is the line between love and obsession? Sometimes this line is blurred and we don't know how to turn back, or maybe we don't want to?
This book talks about obsession, love, lust and suffering; how your childhood, good or bad can influence on your decisions, but never, never, can be the excuse to your behaviour, you always have the chance to decide what you really want. Your past could be your defence, but it's never the real reason of your actions!
Exquisite is not just a story, it has so many sub-plots that at the end you will want to re-read the book to catch and understand everything.
Exquisite is the word I would use to describe this psychological thriller, in which via a beautiful prose we become captivated with these two characters, teacher and alumni, lovers... that on the end they are simply human and just want and need to be loved.
I would love to read more about Alice and Bo's story, will their paths cross again? Will they ever be able to be friends? So many questions but no answers...
Take a breath and start reading Exquisite, it will surprise you!
Have you ever dreamed being a writer?
This book talks about obsession, love, lust and suffering; how your childhood, good or bad can influence on your decisions, but never, never, can be the excuse to your behaviour, you always have the chance to decide what you really want. Your past could be your defence, but it's never the real reason of your actions!
Exquisite is not just a story, it has so many sub-plots that at the end you will want to re-read the book to catch and understand everything.
Exquisite is the word I would use to describe this psychological thriller, in which via a beautiful prose we become captivated with these two characters, teacher and alumni, lovers... that on the end they are simply human and just want and need to be loved.
I would love to read more about Alice and Bo's story, will their paths cross again? Will they ever be able to be friends? So many questions but no answers...
Take a breath and start reading Exquisite, it will surprise you!
Have you ever dreamed being a writer?
sjj169's review against another edition
3.0
Opening up with a character talking to you from a woman's prison? You realize that maybe she isn't quite right? I got so excited I about peed my pants.
I've been on a total worship of Netflixing Wentworth and was hoping for some good evil woman stuff going on.
(Kelly, I will shut up one day about this show so get your finger off that unfriend button)
I shoulda realized that NO ONE tops Ferguson.
Anyways, this story is about an author who is teaching a writer's retreat. On the retreat she meets a young girl who catches her eye. Alice is free spirited with some mommy issues.
After the retreat is over-the author (Bo) wants to stay in contact to 'help' Alice with her writing.
Alice is so flattered and giddy that the great Bo Luxton wants to help her.
Then some crap goes down.
I'm not telling what. Because spoilers.
You really do need to walk into this book sorta blind to enjoy it. So there is that. Sorry to get you all excited for some juicy details.
I will say that I think one of the characters wasn't as fleshed out as the other one. BECAUSE if you are doing an evil woman I want some fleshed out.
The storyline also went predictably. So points were deducted. 2.5 stars.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
I've been on a total worship of Netflixing Wentworth and was hoping for some good evil woman stuff going on.
(Kelly, I will shut up one day about this show so get your finger off that unfriend button)
I shoulda realized that NO ONE tops Ferguson.
Anyways, this story is about an author who is teaching a writer's retreat. On the retreat she meets a young girl who catches her eye. Alice is free spirited with some mommy issues.
After the retreat is over-the author (Bo) wants to stay in contact to 'help' Alice with her writing.
Alice is so flattered and giddy that the great Bo Luxton wants to help her.
Then some crap goes down.
I'm not telling what. Because spoilers.
You really do need to walk into this book sorta blind to enjoy it. So there is that. Sorry to get you all excited for some juicy details.
I will say that I think one of the characters wasn't as fleshed out as the other one. BECAUSE if you are doing an evil woman I want some fleshed out.
The storyline also went predictably. So points were deducted. 2.5 stars.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
nizzzzzzzi's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
michbella17's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 huge stars!! This book has been getting stellar reviews so I was definitely very excited to read this book. Instantly, the title and cover attracted me to this book. The novel begins with one of the characters in prison serving an eighteen month sentence. Then the novel continues alternating between Bo and Alice's point of views and portrays their dark and obsessive relationship with each other. Stovell's writing is superb, a delicious combo of unreliable narration and beautifully dark descriptions. Bo and Alice are both authors and the literary theme throughout the novel was done perfectly.
Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
jen_robins87's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! 'Exquisite' was certainly exquisite. Kept me wondering til the very end. Every time I thought I had it figured out, a new twist would appear. I would highly recommend this dark, enthralling thriller.
libraryfiend21's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
noveldeelights's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes the psychological thriller and suspense genre leaves me sighing in disappointment and vowing to leave it behind in favour of other genres. And then, something like this comes along and my faith is restored.
It’s very hard to write a review about Exquisite without giving anything away. Suffice to say the plot thickens when Bo and Alice meet and life will never be the same again.
Bo and Alice are both incredibly unlikeable characters, one more so than the other, each with their own share of flaws and baggage. Sometimes unlikeable characters completely put me off as I tend to have this need to be able to connect somehow. Not this time though and it’s all due to the author, as at times it almost felt like she put a spell on me.
There is something quite, wait for it, exquisite (you knew that was coming at some point, didn’t you?) about Sarah Stovell’s writing. Almost magical, it carries you away to lands unknown like a balloon caught up in a gentle breeze in summer and it’s absolutely and blissfully mesmerising.
Exquisite is a novel with all the ingredients of a domestic noir, and yet different. Even when I thought I knew what was going on, nothing would have stopped me from continuing this almost lyrical novel. And that is what makes it stand out from the crowd.
It’s very hard to write a review about Exquisite without giving anything away. Suffice to say the plot thickens when Bo and Alice meet and life will never be the same again.
Bo and Alice are both incredibly unlikeable characters, one more so than the other, each with their own share of flaws and baggage. Sometimes unlikeable characters completely put me off as I tend to have this need to be able to connect somehow. Not this time though and it’s all due to the author, as at times it almost felt like she put a spell on me.
There is something quite, wait for it, exquisite (you knew that was coming at some point, didn’t you?) about Sarah Stovell’s writing. Almost magical, it carries you away to lands unknown like a balloon caught up in a gentle breeze in summer and it’s absolutely and blissfully mesmerising.
Exquisite is a novel with all the ingredients of a domestic noir, and yet different. Even when I thought I knew what was going on, nothing would have stopped me from continuing this almost lyrical novel. And that is what makes it stand out from the crowd.
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
4.5
Finished reading: January 24th 2019
“The future isn't written in stone because of your past. You can change it.”
I've had this story on my TBR for almost two years and I'm still not sure why it took me this long to finally read it. It wasn't that I wasn't excited about Exquisite; I mean, who wouldn't be after reading so many wonderful reviews? I guess it's just one of those titles that slipped between the cracks of my enormous TBR mountain, but I managed to rescue it in the end. I'm kicking myself for waiting this long now, because this book was most definitely brilliant. Or like the title already suggests: exquisite. It's the story about two vulnerable women with a terrible past, one a successful writer and one a budding talent. In a way their lives are so so different, but they are also more alike than they realize... It was fascinating to see how their lives collide and sets both on a path that will change their lives forever. I loved that in the beginning you are completely unaware of the type of story you are about to read, only learning about the full extension of it all when things are already spinning out of control. The plot development and execution of plot twists and suspense are both sublime. Even though neither Bo nor Alice are exactly likeable, I found myself on the edge of my seat as I kept turning pages to find out what would happen to them. Exquisite is an excellent psychological thriller that will give you all the feels and will most definitely manage to shock you before you reach the final page. Simply exquisite and absolutely worth the read if you enjoy the genre!