A review by jedore
The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

dark fast-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? It's complicated

2.0

“Money is wasted on the rich.”

This is a short story by Gillian Flynn, the mastermind behind Gone Girl (one of my all-time favorite books!). This main character of this 64-page quick read is a young woman who fakes reading auras and fortunes. Things get creepy when a wealthy client, Susan Burke, asks for help with her supposedly haunted house. As the narrator dives deeper, she gets caught in a whirlwind of spooky events and psychological twists that make you question what's real.

I'm not usually into short stories, but because I loved Gone Girl so much, I gave this one a go. Honestly, it just confirmed that short stories aren’t my thing. Flynn’s sharp writing and twisted plots are there, but the story felt too off and brief to be satisfying.

It started off pretty good, drawing me in with its intriguing setup and dark humor. But, it got weird—fast. The mix of supernatural and psychological stuff got confusing, and the story ended so abruptly I was left thinking, "WTH???".

Gone Girl is on my all-time favorites list. Sharp Objects was solid too, getting 3.75 stars from me. This was a big step down for me. I hope the next book I read by her reverses the downward trend so I don't have to reconsider my fandom!

Even if you like short stories, this one has had mixed reviews. Some people appreciate the clever twistiness, while others (like me) found it lacking. If you’re a big Flynn fan, it’s worth a quick read for her signature style, but if you’re iffy on short stories or looking for something meatier, this one might not do it for you.