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A review by ashleybrianne08
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
As much as I wanted to like this book, it just wasn’t doing it for me. It did have a few elements that I liked, such as the switching of characters before versus after the kidnapping took place. I did like the character Gabe, a police officer that did feel like a trope of your stereotypical cop at times. The Mother had her moments, and the relationship between the two of them was fine.
On the other hand, as you read, the author introduces a romantic relationship between the kidnapper, Owen ( Collin), and Mia, the woman he kidnapped. In the beginning when he kidnaps her he is agressive and abusive. At one point he shoves a gun into her forehead while she cries. He threatens to kill her multiple times, as well as the cat she forms a relationship with at the remote cabin he takes her to. Then as it progresses she finds out he’s trying to “protect” her from the man who hired him to kidnap and deliver her to him, Delmar, and she falls in love with him. The relationship is Stockholm Syndrome and toxic. At no point did the relationship come across as anything other than manipulative.
Another issue with the book that I’ve seen pop up in reviews is the description of minorities. There’s racism towards any black characters that are in the book. At one point there is a comparison between a persons skin and a tire. Not okay and not even needed in the description of his character.
Lastly, the twist ending in the epilogue was unnecessary, and felt shoehorned in to help justify the relationship between Mia and Collin. It turns out Mia is the one who hired Delmar to kidnap her… because she wants to blackmail her father.
This book could have been amazing. The premise was promising but it was not the book It advertised itself as. There should have been a content warning somewhere about the nature of the relationship. Nowhere did it say that this had romance elements.
On the other hand, as you read, the author introduces a romantic relationship between the kidnapper, Owen ( Collin), and Mia, the woman he kidnapped. In the beginning when he kidnaps her he is agressive and abusive. At one point he shoves a gun into her forehead while she cries. He threatens to kill her multiple times, as well as the cat she forms a relationship with at the remote cabin he takes her to. Then as it progresses she finds out he’s trying to “protect” her from the man who hired him to kidnap and deliver her to him, Delmar, and she falls in love with him. The relationship is Stockholm Syndrome and toxic. At no point did the relationship come across as anything other than manipulative.
Another issue with the book that I’ve seen pop up in reviews is the description of minorities. There’s racism towards any black characters that are in the book. At one point there is a comparison between a persons skin and a tire. Not okay and not even needed in the description of his character.
This book could have been amazing. The premise was promising but it was not the book It advertised itself as. There should have been a content warning somewhere about the nature of the relationship. Nowhere did it say that this had romance elements.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racism and Suicidal thoughts