A review by bleaksalad
Run Time by Catherine Ryan Howard

dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

As someone who has read many thriller/horror/mystery books, I thought Run Time was a breath of fresh air. Even though the concept isn’t exactly original, I was pleasantly surprised by how the author made it feel new and captured my interest. 

One of my favorite features of this book is that there is a story within a story WITHIN a story. Though it can be a little confusing, I thought that this triple layer of storytelling that’s dispersed throughout the pages was genius. Trying to figure out how the pages of the movie script foreshadows what’s going to happen in the main plot was super fun. 

The issue that kept Run Time from being a full 5 star read for me is that it felt like something bigger was going on for 75% of the book.  Honestly I was a little disappointed when everything was revealed. The way Adele talks about what happened on her last movie set was hyped up so much just for it to be way less exciting. But, in retrospect that might be intentional for the ultimate reveal?

Overall, I really liked Run Time. If you’re looking for a creepy, atmospheric read with some Hollywood flair this book is definitely worth your time. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings