katndrsn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Bullying
Minor: Blood and Mass/school shootings
emilypalah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit and Alcoholism
Minor: Mass/school shootings
thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Roach works at Spines and is more than obsessed with true crime, where the killers are more fun to think about than the actual victims.
When Laura joins the bookstore, Roach feels like there is a special bond between them. First, when Laura performs her dark poem at a recital, which Roach obsesses over. Next, when a drunken Laura openly admits her mother was killed, which spurs Roach into a dark plan with her goth rock boyfriend.
We follow Roach down that dark path, ensuring Laura knows how special their friendship is until lines are crossed.
This is a novel so well written that it could be true, a scenario so lifelike and characters that you can find in any workplace, all combined with a story that will leave you spooked.
Graphic: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, and Stalking
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Animal death
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
sarahsbookss's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Gaslighting, Excrement, Grief, Infidelity, Death, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol, Blood, Stalking, Alcoholism, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
linguaphile412's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Vomit, Alcohol, Stalking, Gaslighting, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Drug use
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Self harm
norwegianforestreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Stalking, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Animal cruelty
readwithloz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Minor: Toxic friendship, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Violence, and Death
itsalina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Stalking
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Vomit, Bullying, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Addiction, Death, Grief, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
nanc_282's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The story switches narrative voices between the two protagonists. Which works well in this context. It creates sense of a run down part of London well but as most scenes are in the bookshop or bars, the location feels less significant.
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Stalking, Alcohol, Grief, and Murder
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Vomit and Death of parent
Minor: Murder and Blood