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A review by breezie_reads
We Lie Here by Rachel Howzell Hall
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
I really wanted to like this more than I did. The premise sounded really intriguing despite how overdone it is. I just felt like it didn't live up to the expectation I went in with. Especially since I saw part of the twist coming from the beginning.
First of all, this was really slow for a thriller. It dragged on and on, and the constant reminder of Yara's asthma dragged it down even more. The constant reminder of how much she couldn't stand her family and how much they couldn't stand her also seemed to drag everything down, especially since the quarrels were out of nowhere and overexaggerated.
The characters were awful and unbearable, and not just because they were written to be obnoxious. They all seemed so one-dimensional and there wasn't any character growth.
First of all, this was really slow for a thriller. It dragged on and on, and the constant reminder of Yara's asthma dragged it down even more. The constant reminder of how much she couldn't stand her family and how much they couldn't stand her also seemed to drag everything down, especially since the quarrels were out of nowhere and overexaggerated.
The characters were awful and unbearable, and not just because they were written to be obnoxious. They all seemed so one-dimensional and there wasn't any character growth.
- Yara was extremely self-centered and constantly forgot that her father is a person who deserves recognition while also catering to her bitch of a mother. She also kept directing scenes in her head about scenarios she knew nothing about it and it got real annoying real fast.
- Dom argued with Yara constantly and made snide comments just to make her sister feel bad and instigated arguments between Barbara and Yara to cause problems. Yeah, she's only 19, but she let that "favorite child" thing go to her head.
- Barbara was a bitch for absolutely no reason. She hated Yara and made it no secret, she manipulated every situation and centered herself. She was a horrible wife and a horrible mother.
- Rob was a push-over who obviously felt bad for how his oldest daughter was being treated by Barbara but he didn't do anything.
- Shane existing in this story wasn't really necessary beyond giving Yara more information she never should have had access to. It seemed like the author tried to add some dimension to the plot but it just wasn't executed properly.
I understand the characters weren't supposed to be likable - I can get behind unlikable characters, especially since there are plenty of unlikable people irl - but the fact that they were shallowly written made everything worse. The language used in this book was also really outdated and I have never met someone my age who unironically uses the slang that is used in this book. Which is also just a personal pet peeve of mine - using excessive slang in books where it isn't needed.
The family drama Yara uncovered after going home was also so exaggerated it was unbelievable and borderline hilarious. I mean, really.You're going to get pissed off because a man you were in love with was with someone else? You're pissed off because she's prettier than you and a dancer and got the lead rolls in the plays? Babe. It isn't that serious.
This is also just another personal pet peeve of mine and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the rating, but I never got behind the whole "ordinary ass person trying to solve a crime and butting their nose into business that isn't theirs because they're completely unqualified" trope. Especially since Yara's whole reasoning for doing what she's doing is because she writes for a crime show. Girl please. That isn't qualification for anything. But Yara is so self-centered and full of herself that she genuinely believes she's qualified for what she's doing. And the fact that people just let her is even crazier to me.
I listened to the audiobook of this and was put off somewhat by how the narrator pronounced some words and her inflections throughout the novel. It was difficult to follow, especially when the chapters switched to the stalker's POV.
This isn't the first Rachel Howzell Hall book I've read. I read These Toxic Things and loved it. I was expecting the same with this one, but hopefully her others will live up to my expectations.
The family drama Yara uncovered after going home was also so exaggerated it was unbelievable and borderline hilarious. I mean, really.
This is also just another personal pet peeve of mine and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the rating, but I never got behind the whole "ordinary ass person trying to solve a crime and butting their nose into business that isn't theirs because they're completely unqualified" trope. Especially since Yara's whole reasoning for doing what she's doing is because she writes for a crime show. Girl please. That isn't qualification for anything. But Yara is so self-centered and full of herself that she genuinely believes she's qualified for what she's doing. And the fact that people just let her is even crazier to me.
I listened to the audiobook of this and was put off somewhat by how the narrator pronounced some words and her inflections throughout the novel. It was difficult to follow, especially when the chapters switched to the stalker's POV.
This isn't the first Rachel Howzell Hall book I've read. I read These Toxic Things and loved it. I was expecting the same with this one, but hopefully her others will live up to my expectations.