A review by nebulous07
The Anniversary by Stephanie Bishop
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.0
The Anniversary is intriguing, complex and overwhelming.
I'll start with overwhelming. The writing style took me ages to get into as I needed to revise my expectations (more centred around the mystery and circumstances that led to Patrick (J.B's husband) disappearing. For the first 50%, I felt like a headless chook trying to decipher if it was J.B. or Lucie (the protagonist's personal name), as the lines between fiction and non-fiction are blurred. However, the emotional response of numbness, wanting to escape and dissociativeness shone through.
When I hit the 60% mark, the book had my full attention as it was intriguing and complex. However, I've realised that this book is targeted at readers who appreciate the art of writing and love unreliable narration. I would advise readers to adjust their expectations as this story is about a woman spiralling about her choices and decisions before the anniversary cruise. In conclusion, it is a well-written psychological thriller with a hit-and-miss in keeping the readers wholly engaged.
Thank you, NetGalley & Grove Atlantic, for providing this e-ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.
I'll start with overwhelming. The writing style took me ages to get into as I needed to revise my expectations (more centred around the mystery and circumstances that led to Patrick (J.B's husband) disappearing. For the first 50%, I felt like a headless chook trying to decipher if it was J.B. or Lucie (the protagonist's personal name), as the lines between fiction and non-fiction are blurred. However, the emotional response of numbness, wanting to escape and dissociativeness shone through.
When I hit the 60% mark, the book had my full attention as it was intriguing and complex. However, I've realised that this book is targeted at readers who appreciate the art of writing and love unreliable narration. I would advise readers to adjust their expectations as this story is about a woman spiralling about her choices and decisions before the anniversary cruise. In conclusion, it is a well-written psychological thriller with a hit-and-miss in keeping the readers wholly engaged.
Thank you, NetGalley & Grove Atlantic, for providing this e-ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.