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A review by bringmybooks
The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Thank you to Edelweiss, Harper Paperbacks, & HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: First things first, this seems to be a super unpopular opinion. Second things second, if you liked Laura Dave's The Last Thing He Told Me, I think you'd enjoy this novel.
Now for my thoughts -> *hides behind hands*
This one is difficult - I think it could have made a really decent movie where you got to see chemistry between Ariel and Drew, but I didn't really feel connected to their romance, and, unfortunately, the majority of the plot hinges on you feeling that theirs was an absolutely impossible and once in a lifetime love.
The ending would also have worked better in a movie, because I think it's easier to suspend disbelief when you're watching a film than when reading (too much time to go "uhhhhh would that happen though? really?" as opposed to just going with the flow!).
The middle was the strongest part for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed Zain's parts in the story
I will say I liked the writing / characterization / dialogue well enough, and I would read another from Sarina Bowen - just hoping the plot & romance feels stronger in the next one.
Overall Rating: ★★★ / 2.88
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★
Plot ★★
Intrigue ★★
Logic ★★
Enjoyment ★★
Pacing ★★★
Dialogue ★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy