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ambergamgee's review against another edition
5.0
TW: mentions sexual assault several times, describes it once. Alcoholism and addiction (one of the narrators is an alcoholic with a dead daughter from drug OD). Child abuse (described as someone’s memories). Self harm (described mostly vaguely). The description of the murder isn’t terribly violent or descriptive. Another reviewer put a TW for an animal getting hurt, but it’s brief and the animal is Ok (side note; the dog getting its leg hurt was more triggering than murder or r*pe for them? …ok)
I absolutely tore through this book. I figured out the end about halfway through but still really enjoyed the ride. Rich people behaving badly and getting away with it by being rich and white. Women either becoming strong and empowered by what broke them, or meek and agreeable. If you liked Little Fires Everywhere, this has some similar themes and characters.
I absolutely tore through this book. I figured out the end about halfway through but still really enjoyed the ride. Rich people behaving badly and getting away with it by being rich and white. Women either becoming strong and empowered by what broke them, or meek and agreeable. If you liked Little Fires Everywhere, this has some similar themes and characters.
calmcelebration9888's review against another edition
1.0
This book was just meh. It wasn’t that interesting and the writing was a little weird. Who calls a pizza pocket a carcass? It doesn’t even make sense. The story is about kids at a small gathering where one of the ladies ends up dead. There is a boy, Christopher, and his friends Hannah and Jack who were also there that night.
One big issue I had was with race being brought into this story. Emerson is supposedly a very wealthy town so it seems that anyone who is not white is a possible victim for Jack. It literally makes no sense. I really didn’t like how race was brought into it. Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior. It would be weird to think your girlfriend is white so I won’t beat her, but here is this POC, it’s fine to rape and beat her.
The second issue I had with the book was the affair between Alice and Michel. Who cares? I mean really. Jack’s parents cook up those ruse to himuliate Alice and Michel thinking someone this will make Alice shut up? This is murder versus and affair. It makes no sense at all. Alice even said she didn’t care of Michel disclosed to the lawyer that they were hooking up so obviously she didn’t care that much.
The third issue I had with this book was Patrick. I just felt like he was thrown in there and he didn’t serve much of a purpose. Was there a need for Patrick and Danielle to form a relationship? Danielle’s daughter died. Again, it just didn’t make any sense. If my daughter died, I probably wouldn’t be eating or sleeping. I would be talking to the police, not following a witness.
The biggest problem with this book is that it is unbearably slow. It’s so boring.
One big issue I had was with race being brought into this story. Emerson is supposedly a very wealthy town so it seems that anyone who is not white is a possible victim for Jack. It literally makes no sense. I really didn’t like how race was brought into it. Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior. It would be weird to think your girlfriend is white so I won’t beat her, but here is this POC, it’s fine to rape and beat her.
The second issue I had with the book was the affair between Alice and Michel. Who cares? I mean really. Jack’s parents cook up those ruse to himuliate Alice and Michel thinking someone this will make Alice shut up? This is murder versus and affair. It makes no sense at all. Alice even said she didn’t care of Michel disclosed to the lawyer that they were hooking up so obviously she didn’t care that much.
The third issue I had with this book was Patrick. I just felt like he was thrown in there and he didn’t serve much of a purpose. Was there a need for Patrick and Danielle to form a relationship? Danielle’s daughter died. Again, it just didn’t make any sense. If my daughter died, I probably wouldn’t be eating or sleeping. I would be talking to the police, not following a witness.
The biggest problem with this book is that it is unbearably slow. It’s so boring.
mollycarter7's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
I found this really engrossing, but, then, it's exactly the kind of book I like: character-driven, with a plot twist that made sense to me given what I knew about the characters. It was refreshing to read a mystery/thriller that focuses on creating characters who feel like real humans so that when plot stuff happens, it has real impact, rather than plot-driven "pageturners" where the characters only do what they do because the plot demands it.
For once, I didn't see the plot twist coming--and I don't think this is because I'm necessarily good at spotting plot twists, but because so many mysteries and thrillers rely on utterly predictable plot twists. I also felt like this book trusted me enough that it didn't need to belabor its clues, a habit many thrillers and mysteries have that I find extremely annoying and condescending.
For once, I didn't see the plot twist coming--and I don't think this is because I'm necessarily good at spotting plot twists, but because so many mysteries and thrillers rely on utterly predictable plot twists. I also felt like this book trusted me enough that it didn't need to belabor its clues, a habit many thrillers and mysteries have that I find extremely annoying and condescending.
jsanchez11153's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aliviafaye's review against another edition
3.0
i like the ending and it wasn’t exactly who i expected.
calistaandrechek's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
This was not at all what I thought it was going to be, but it did have some great writing. I did hate that chapters were so long and the page breaks with the different characters perspectives wasn’t quite enough for me. Just made it hard to read this when I only had a few moments