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velsbooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
2.75
I liked this one but it felt very flat. I enjoyed following Helen through her pregnancy and it reminded me of my own. The milestones you reach and the excitement that grows with every week. Rachel made me very uncomfortable at times. She was very intrusive and Helen couldn't say no to her which led to some unpleasant moments.
I was about 70% in when it began to feel like a thriller. The end felt rushed and I would have like to have more time for certain events to unfold.
I wish it would have gripped me more!
I was about 70% in when it began to feel like a thriller. The end felt rushed and I would have like to have more time for certain events to unfold.
I wish it would have gripped me more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, and Murder
beca_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a book that just kept on giving. This isn't the fastest paced thriller I have read, but it keeps you wanting more; the short chapters definitely worked in the books favour. The characters were all well crafted, and I really felt for the main character Helen. Parts of the plot were slightly predictable, which I actually think this worked in the books favour, as it made the more shocking twists pack a bigger punch. The only thing I would say is that this book could have been shorter, and still have been just as great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
greatestheights's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Death
A tense, well-written read that I finished in a day — I had to know what happened next! The author also sensitively handled some really tough topics without pulling punches about the reality of living through them. The ending was also really satisfying.amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
themorbidlycuriousbookclub's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
HOLY SMOKES BATMAN CHECK THOSE TW —
I don’t feel like I should’ve enjoyed this. It had many elements I typically despise in a thriller. Truthfully, the audiobook narrator sold it for me. She did such an incredible job I was hooked. Objectively, this book says a lot and I don’t think it shines proper light on heavy subjects… I think it was handled well, but the outcome is a bit grim and catastrophic. With that being said though, similar to some of the other thrillers I’ve given 5 stars, the *very* last line is what brought it home for me. I sat here in complete silence after finishing this with my jaw hanging open. I was relieved. Surly they wouldn’t end it on the note it was ending on…. Thankfully it ended the way it should have. Man I was relieved. This was a stunning debut.
I don’t feel like I should’ve enjoyed this. It had many elements I typically despise in a thriller. Truthfully, the audiobook narrator sold it for me. She did such an incredible job I was hooked. Objectively, this book says a lot and I don’t think it shines proper light on heavy subjects… I think it was handled well, but the outcome is a bit grim and catastrophic. With that being said though, similar to some of the other thrillers I’ve given 5 stars, the *very* last line is what brought it home for me. I sat here in complete silence after finishing this with my jaw hanging open. I was relieved. Surly they wouldn’t end it on the note it was ending on…. Thankfully it ended the way it should have. Man I was relieved. This was a stunning debut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
This is a very graphic and descriptive book on the trigger warnings listed. Very graphic.thereadhersrecap's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
Helen has a picture-perfect life. A handsome husband, a beautiful Victorian home in the park, and a new baby on the way. Everything changes when she attends her first prenatal class and meets the wine drinking, cigarette smoking, mysterious Rachel Wells. What Helen really needed at that moment was a friend, and Rachel had perfect timing.
“It occurs to me how grateful I have been for Rachel’s companionship. I find myself admiring her. She is so upbeat about it all.”
But Rachel is not what she seems. She is unstable, unpredictable, and unsettling. Helen starts to become wary when she discovers missing items amongst Rachel’s things. It’s apparent that Rachel is harboring secrets, and Helen is determined to uncover them.
So I haven’t read a thriller in a whiiiile.
This one did not disappoint. The storyline follows Helen’s pregnancy from 24 weeks at the start of her prenatal classes. It's told from three different perspectives. I think it adds to the mystery because you don’t know who is telling the true story. It’s very easy to follow. The scenes were descriptive and I was able to guess the ending but I thought the author did a great job with detailing the chain of events.
I don’t want to give away too much, but this is a must-read for anyone who enjoys crime and thriller novels. I also think it's really good for anyone who wants to get into thrillers but can’t stomach the graphic details on death and dying.
“It occurs to me how grateful I have been for Rachel’s companionship. I find myself admiring her. She is so upbeat about it all.”
But Rachel is not what she seems. She is unstable, unpredictable, and unsettling. Helen starts to become wary when she discovers missing items amongst Rachel’s things. It’s apparent that Rachel is harboring secrets, and Helen is determined to uncover them.
So I haven’t read a thriller in a whiiiile.
This one did not disappoint. The storyline follows Helen’s pregnancy from 24 weeks at the start of her prenatal classes. It's told from three different perspectives. I think it adds to the mystery because you don’t know who is telling the true story. It’s very easy to follow. The scenes were descriptive and I was able to guess the ending but I thought the author did a great job with detailing the chain of events.
I don’t want to give away too much, but this is a must-read for anyone who enjoys crime and thriller novels. I also think it's really good for anyone who wants to get into thrillers but can’t stomach the graphic details on death and dying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying and Violence
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