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A review by jelkebooks
One by One by Ruth Ware
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This might be a lame review because I don't really have a whole lot to say about this book. I just felt extremely fine about it. I had a decent enough time reading this book. It's not like it did not let me go, but it was also very readable. It was a relatively quick read, and I enjoyed my time well enough.
This book is dual POV, with us getting a POV from Liz and Erin. However, I need to say that Liz's POV felt a bit unnececary to me. I don't know. Erin was a much more interesting character to follow and it felt like she played a much more active part in the plot. Everytime a chapter from Liz's POV came up I just wish we were could get back to Erin's. I do get why it was included, I guess but overall I do still think this book would have also worked without it.
The rest of the cast of characters was also quite interesting. They were an eclectic bunch, and I really liked their dynamic. It worked well for a book of this kind. There is so much underlying tension between them all that's just bubbling under the surface. It makes it so that anyone could be the perpetrator, or the next victim. They weren't all very likeable, nor all as fleshed out as others but it did still make for an interesting read.
The big reveal was also just fine. I don't know. I just kind of kept waiting for the other shoe the drop. It wasn't nececarily a bad reveal, but I just felt a bit meh about it. It definitely isn't a great one either. Because it happened relatively early on in the book, I just felt like something bigger was coming. It didn't. I get why the decision was made to reveal it so early on. It make sense with what else happens in the book but I just felt meh about it all.
This book is dual POV, with us getting a POV from Liz and Erin. However, I need to say that Liz's POV felt a bit unnececary to me. I don't know. Erin was a much more interesting character to follow and it felt like she played a much more active part in the plot. Everytime a chapter from Liz's POV came up I just wish we were could get back to Erin's. I do get why it was included, I guess but overall I do still think this book would have also worked without it.
The rest of the cast of characters was also quite interesting. They were an eclectic bunch, and I really liked their dynamic. It worked well for a book of this kind. There is so much underlying tension between them all that's just bubbling under the surface. It makes it so that anyone could be the perpetrator, or the next victim. They weren't all very likeable, nor all as fleshed out as others but it did still make for an interesting read.
The big reveal was also just fine. I don't know. I just kind of kept waiting for the other shoe the drop. It wasn't nececarily a bad reveal, but I just felt a bit meh about it. It definitely isn't a great one either. Because it happened relatively early on in the book, I just felt like something bigger was coming. It didn't. I get why the decision was made to reveal it so early on. It make sense with what else happens in the book but I just felt meh about it all.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Grief