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A review by kirkland433
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Lord. That was a shit show if ever I read one. Lets just start with Trigger Warnings: murder, assault, sexual assault, pedophilia, gaslighting.... that should cover the big stuff.
Thing I hated most: The writing style. Bartz need to over describe scenes and objects and use phrases and words just for the sake of using them. It didn't flow. It continually made me question what I even just read. Just overall not a fan.
Second thing I hated most: I don't know if this is Bartz feelings that she is trying to project onto her readers or if this is just her character Emily's feelings, but the way that she wrote about assault made me feel gross. She made blanket assumptions about situations and groups of people based on bad stereotypes that we continue to perpetuate in society. I hated it so so much. It's like she was trying to connect on a level of "we are victims, we all should feel the same way about this" and that's not true at all. We all handle things differently. That's what being a human is. Also her other blanket statement of majority of men are terrible was a big woof. No thank you.
The twists were messy and predictable. Nothing is ever resolved. Things are introduced for some nonsense reason but don't actually move the characters or the plot along. None of the characters are likeable (not that they are really meant to be but like.. you want to keep reading for a reason right?). And the ending was absurd. Like am I really supposed to believe that Aaron is also not stable? Seems are far stretch. That's all.
Thing I hated most: The writing style. Bartz need to over describe scenes and objects and use phrases and words just for the sake of using them. It didn't flow. It continually made me question what I even just read. Just overall not a fan.
Second thing I hated most: I don't know if this is Bartz feelings that she is trying to project onto her readers or if this is just her character Emily's feelings, but the way that she wrote about assault made me feel gross. She made blanket assumptions about situations and groups of people based on bad stereotypes that we continue to perpetuate in society. I hated it so so much. It's like she was trying to connect on a level of "we are victims, we all should feel the same way about this" and that's not true at all. We all handle things differently. That's what being a human is. Also her other blanket statement of majority of men are terrible was a big woof. No thank you.
The twists were messy and predictable. Nothing is ever resolved. Things are introduced for some nonsense reason but don't actually move the characters or the plot along. None of the characters are likeable (not that they are really meant to be but like.. you want to keep reading for a reason right?). And the ending was absurd. Like am I really supposed to believe that Aaron is also not stable? Seems are far stretch. That's all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual assault, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia