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hazelgirl21's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Rape
Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Addiction
dalmavatai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction, Dementia, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt
haleysversion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Violence
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
And just a heads up, there’s a huge focus on detailed child abuse and trauma, which I was not expecting from this book, and I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up if I had known that. As well, the mystery seemed to have just been figured out about halfway through, and then just when the tension started rising again, everything just sort of resolved itself, so it just left me feeling like everything wrapped up way too quickly, which was unsatisfying.
I did enjoy Hillier’s writing style though and I’d definitely still be willing to check out more by this author—if you’ve read anything else by her, let me know another of hers that I should pick up.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books & Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this one!
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Self harm, Murder, Classism, Incest, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol and Drug use
amandasbookreview's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“She wasn’t afraid of the dark anymore. There was nothing the dark could do to her that it hadn’t already done.”
As I said, the beginning is so strong, but then it got repetitive. The book is broken up into several parts and changes points of view. Honestly, Drew’s section was extremely dull and he tries to figure out what happened to his friend Joey, who was murdered years before. The ending started to pick up as all the loose ends began to unfold. I did find the finale a bit anti-climatic as well.
However, this book is labeled as a thriller. There are several moments that give off that vibe. But I wouldn’t say the whole book is a thriller. It is mainly about a young girl coming of age in the midst of severe child abuse and trauma and her struggle to run away and be free of her past. The abuse and trauma are HEARTBREAKING and extremely descriptive, so be prepared. It is difficult to read. Overall, it was an intense book about murder and doing whatever it takes to survive.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
alilbitofmonica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence
neniacorcoran's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Grief, Incest, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Cursing, Dementia, Fatphobia, Racism, and Suicide attempt
litstyleguide's review against another edition
3.0
The story has two timelines - what’s happening in life now with her husband dead and what life was like for someone else growing up. Things started to go south for me about halfway through. I figured out Paris’s deal well before it was revealed. And while I was surprised at who done it, this ultimately fell flat for me. There was a lot of focus on backstory, and this was another I didn’t really feel any connection with the characters, themes, etc. Liked this one enough, but didn’t love it, y’all.
TW: addiction; suicide attempt; child abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual); death
Graphic: Child abuse and Death
Minor: Suicide attempt and Addiction
jennifer_bush_73's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
And intergenerational trauma.
The story opens with Paris, the beautiful, yoga instructor, younger wife of a wildly beloved older comedian and former sitcom star who’s making his comeback, in the bathroom, next to her dead husband, covered in his blood and holding the razor that caused his death. It looks very bad for Paris and she’s immediately arrested.
Two things become immediately clear: (1) Paris didn’t kill Jimmy, and (2) Paris is keeping a pretty big secret. The crux of the story is about Paris’ past. Jimmy’s death quickly takes back seat Paris’ story.
This is a book about overcoming a difficult (which a huge understatement) childhood and reinvention oneself masquerading as murder mystery.
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Book of the Monthkaseymkelley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Suicide, Sexual assault, Blood, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Rape and Racism