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rachelellyn's review against another edition
3.0
A nice little psychological thriller, yet I feel it droned on a bit to long about 3/4th the way into the story. It's a fast read with a good twist.
signsitive's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Sort of slow paced and a little unclear but the last 50 or so pages had my jaw dropped the whole time! Interesting idea. Weirdly sexualized the literal 3 year old tho which was notttttt cool.
vandermeer's review against another edition
3.0
Unterhaltsam, aber mit Längen. Es war ziemlich Schema F. Das Paar hat Probleme. Die alte Dame ist der Bösewicht. Oh und es hat mich überall gejuckt beim Lesen und ich liege im Bett einer Ferienwohnung und bin nun tatsächlich etwas paranoid.
pekoegal's review against another edition
4.0
Grabs your attention and doesn't let it go until you've finished. But, man, does it make you itchy to read....
audreychamaine's review against another edition
2.0
Susan is dying to move into a bigger place in Brooklyn, but doesn’t know if she and her husband will be able to afford it since she’s recently quit her lawyer job to take up painting. Then, the perfect apartment becomes available, and with such a low price, they move in immediately. Everything seems wonderful, except for the room Susan has chosen to be her studio. As her concerns with the apartment grow, so does the strain on their relationship and domestic situation. And Susan is also waking up with mysterious bites. Bedbugs are running rampant, but it seems that she is the only one who can see them or is getting bitten. Susan is left to question whether they are really bedbugs, or something more demonic.
I wanted to like this book. It had all the trappings of a fun psychological thriller, with dark tones and was capitalizing on a recent American fear. Who hasn’t heard the sensationalist stories of bed bugs in New York hotels? Plus, many people are very afraid of insects, so the thought of tiny creepy crawlies can result in the kind of book you don’t want to read at night.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting through it. The main character, Susan, was really annoying to me. She’s always complaining about something, yet she doesn’t work and doesn’t ever paint, even though they’re paying a nanny to watch her daughter during the day to free her up for making her art. And even though they’re struggling to make ends meet on her husband’s salary, she’s constantly going out to eat and even goes to the salon for a manicure, pedicure, and wax. I just kept feeling like this is an example of what is wrong with America. The book would have worked much better for me if she would have been a person I could root for, instead of against.
There was also repeated mention of something that happened at the beginning of the book (not a spoiler). She notes that a mother pushed her twin babies off of a rooftop, killing them. I kept expecting the story to cycle back to this, to tie it in in some way, but it didn’t. It was just there, maybe meant to flavor the novel? I couldn’t tell, but it irked me that it never was worked into the larger plot.
Things got better about 2/3 of the way through. It seemed that the book was really going to go the psychological route, which pleased me greatly. The tension increased, and Susan began having “issues.” Then, the entire spirit of the book did a big 180. I don’t know why he did it, but the bedbugs ended up being something entirely different than the story was working them up to be, and it didn’t work for me. The ending left me feeling absolutely incredulous, and very unhappy that I had invested so much time for such a poor payout.
I think this book will find its audience, but that audience was not me. I also think that Winters writes well, and the idea for the story was really good. It came down to characterization and ending for me, which bummed me out. Still, there were some nice moments of creepiness, and I felt itchy when going to sleep after putting the book down.
I wanted to like this book. It had all the trappings of a fun psychological thriller, with dark tones and was capitalizing on a recent American fear. Who hasn’t heard the sensationalist stories of bed bugs in New York hotels? Plus, many people are very afraid of insects, so the thought of tiny creepy crawlies can result in the kind of book you don’t want to read at night.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting through it. The main character, Susan, was really annoying to me. She’s always complaining about something, yet she doesn’t work and doesn’t ever paint, even though they’re paying a nanny to watch her daughter during the day to free her up for making her art. And even though they’re struggling to make ends meet on her husband’s salary, she’s constantly going out to eat and even goes to the salon for a manicure, pedicure, and wax. I just kept feeling like this is an example of what is wrong with America. The book would have worked much better for me if she would have been a person I could root for, instead of against.
There was also repeated mention of something that happened at the beginning of the book (not a spoiler). She notes that a mother pushed her twin babies off of a rooftop, killing them. I kept expecting the story to cycle back to this, to tie it in in some way, but it didn’t. It was just there, maybe meant to flavor the novel? I couldn’t tell, but it irked me that it never was worked into the larger plot.
Things got better about 2/3 of the way through. It seemed that the book was really going to go the psychological route, which pleased me greatly. The tension increased, and Susan began having “issues.” Then, the entire spirit of the book did a big 180. I don’t know why he did it, but the bedbugs ended up being something entirely different than the story was working them up to be, and it didn’t work for me. The ending left me feeling absolutely incredulous, and very unhappy that I had invested so much time for such a poor payout.
I think this book will find its audience, but that audience was not me. I also think that Winters writes well, and the idea for the story was really good. It came down to characterization and ending for me, which bummed me out. Still, there were some nice moments of creepiness, and I felt itchy when going to sleep after putting the book down.
hldonavant's review against another edition
5.0
Such a good read. I expected it to be a bit corny but the story read pretty well. A bit creepy. Good ending!
suebee135's review against another edition
3.0
Susan and Alex Wendt, along with their young daughter Emma, have just moved to a newly renovated Brooklyn brownstone. But is it their dream apartment or will it become their worst nightmare?
When Susan awakes one morning with three red welts on her arm, she is sure they have bedbugs in their beautiful new home. Though the exterminator she calls in to inspect the apartment declares it free from bugs, Susan cannot shake the feeling they have an infestation. Paranoia soon sets in as Susan begins to feel she is being targeted by these intruders while Alex and Emma remain untouched.
Susan’s physical and mental health begin to deteriorate and she spends her days scouring the internet for information about bedbugs, and about the young couple who lived in the apartment before them. When she comes across a reference to a book entitled “Shadow Species”, she finds that what she may be dealing with are “badbugs”. Unlike bedbugs that drink blood, “badbugs feast on body and soul”. Yikes.
Most people who know me know that I am slightly obsessed with bedbugs, or more accurately, with avoiding bedbugs. So it is no surprise that I found this book to be pretty creepy. After you read this you may find yourself checking your bedding every night before you go to bed. But hey, better to be safe than sorry…
When Susan awakes one morning with three red welts on her arm, she is sure they have bedbugs in their beautiful new home. Though the exterminator she calls in to inspect the apartment declares it free from bugs, Susan cannot shake the feeling they have an infestation. Paranoia soon sets in as Susan begins to feel she is being targeted by these intruders while Alex and Emma remain untouched.
Susan’s physical and mental health begin to deteriorate and she spends her days scouring the internet for information about bedbugs, and about the young couple who lived in the apartment before them. When she comes across a reference to a book entitled “Shadow Species”, she finds that what she may be dealing with are “badbugs”. Unlike bedbugs that drink blood, “badbugs feast on body and soul”. Yikes.
Most people who know me know that I am slightly obsessed with bedbugs, or more accurately, with avoiding bedbugs. So it is no surprise that I found this book to be pretty creepy. After you read this you may find yourself checking your bedding every night before you go to bed. But hey, better to be safe than sorry…
carolpk's review against another edition
3.0
Not for the squeamish or anyone with paranoia regarding bedbugs; this creepy, crawly, quick read is is just the ticket for the week leading up to Halloween. Don't know how well I'll sleep tonight. Itchy!
christajls's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally posted at Christa's Hooked on Books
Susan and Alex have just moved into their dream home. Sure it has a few quirks, what place doesn't, but it's beautiful, has lots of space, and even an extra room for Susan to do her painting in. The landlady is a little eccentric but she seems dedicated to the place. What more could they reasonably ask for?
After a couple of days at the new place, however, Susan realizes it may have more problems then they expected. She is convinced that the place is infested with bedbugs. She sees them out of the corner of her eye, she wakes up in the morning with fresh bites. They must be there somewhere. Her situation becomes more and more desperate, however, when no one else can see the bugs and no one else is getting bitten. Unable to sleep, eat, paint or function at all like a normal person, Susan (and everyone around her) is convinced she is going mad. There is one thing she knows for certain – the bugs are there and they have her trapped in her own personal hell.
Considering that I just moved to a big city and that bedbugs are a growing problem all over at the moment, I don't think there could have been a more disturbing book for me to pick up and read before bed. I mean I expected it to be creepy – it is after all called Bedbugs. But I did not expect to be up half the night finishing it and then spend the second half of the night wide awake staring at the ceiling.
The pacing in this novel is perfect. Everything is unraveled slowly and methodically. It really gives you the feeling of dread that just grows and grows as the story continues. It really says something about the writing when a novel can keep the same level of dread/anxiety throughout the entire work. There was not a single point during this book that I got bored, or that my mind wandered or that I even thought about putting it down.
Ben H. Winters weaves together a plot that is full of twists and turns. It will have you biting your nails in suspense. Bedbugs is dark, creepy and it will keep you guessing. As freaked out as I was I really enjoyed reading this book. It's like watching a horror movie – it scares you but you keep coming back for more. I recommend this book to all who are looking for a good scare every once and awhile.
Susan and Alex have just moved into their dream home. Sure it has a few quirks, what place doesn't, but it's beautiful, has lots of space, and even an extra room for Susan to do her painting in. The landlady is a little eccentric but she seems dedicated to the place. What more could they reasonably ask for?
After a couple of days at the new place, however, Susan realizes it may have more problems then they expected. She is convinced that the place is infested with bedbugs. She sees them out of the corner of her eye, she wakes up in the morning with fresh bites. They must be there somewhere. Her situation becomes more and more desperate, however, when no one else can see the bugs and no one else is getting bitten. Unable to sleep, eat, paint or function at all like a normal person, Susan (and everyone around her) is convinced she is going mad. There is one thing she knows for certain – the bugs are there and they have her trapped in her own personal hell.
Considering that I just moved to a big city and that bedbugs are a growing problem all over at the moment, I don't think there could have been a more disturbing book for me to pick up and read before bed. I mean I expected it to be creepy – it is after all called Bedbugs. But I did not expect to be up half the night finishing it and then spend the second half of the night wide awake staring at the ceiling.
The pacing in this novel is perfect. Everything is unraveled slowly and methodically. It really gives you the feeling of dread that just grows and grows as the story continues. It really says something about the writing when a novel can keep the same level of dread/anxiety throughout the entire work. There was not a single point during this book that I got bored, or that my mind wandered or that I even thought about putting it down.
Ben H. Winters weaves together a plot that is full of twists and turns. It will have you biting your nails in suspense. Bedbugs is dark, creepy and it will keep you guessing. As freaked out as I was I really enjoyed reading this book. It's like watching a horror movie – it scares you but you keep coming back for more. I recommend this book to all who are looking for a good scare every once and awhile.
machadofam8's review against another edition
2.0
It was okay. Good and tense early on but then just got silly.