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emmehooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Murder and Infidelity
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Child death, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Drug use, Alcohol, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy, Abortion, Terminal illness, Suicide, Sexual content, Miscarriage, and Panic attacks/disorders
frenchvanillapowdercreamer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Toxic relationship, Murder, Infidelity, Child death, Death, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, Violence, Pregnancy, and Chronic illness
Minor: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, and Suicide
katymat18's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Child death and Miscarriage
ajpotz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Suicide, and Death
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Cancer and Abortion
poisoned_icecream's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Miscarriage
itsheyfay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Violence, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Addiction, Drug use, Child death, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Miscarriage and Vomit
minimicropup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
We follow characters from two timepoints - the '70s and present day. Both timePOVs are set in a Villa on the outskirts of Orvieto, Italy. The present day characters (a cozy mystery author and wellness influencer) are working on their slightly estranged friendship and are enticed by the history of the villa. In the 1970s a platinum album was composed and a classic horror novel written at the villa.
Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags πΊπ:
- I liked the depth of character development and how the hint of campiness slowly escalated through a realistic slow burn mystery
- Bit of grown-up Goosebumps energy with discovering the history of the Villa and what went down by decoding hints in the author's horror novel
- The setting was immersive and kind of evolved into its own entity in the story
- If you're in this just for the sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll you may be disappointed. It's in the plot, but isn't the main focus. I liked how it was worked into the plot naturally and seemed realistic.
Cred Rating π: Realistic with just a touch of campy
- Friendship and sibling dramas with bits of 'cattiness', jealousy, scheming, and competition + heartwarming and empathetic moments
- Slowly unraveling murder mysteries and blackmail
- Elements of "good for her" revenge
- Summer vacation vibes, nostalgic 1970s vibes
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Murder, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child death, Death, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Sexual harassment
Sexual content is with consent. Adult/minor relationship is early 20s with 15-16 year olds running away from family together.vanella's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death, and Cursing
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Vomit
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
allielippe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death, Bullying, Child death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Infertility, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
luverbyrd's review against another edition
- 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? No
2.0
I found the past story more interesting than the present. I despised the "friendship" Chess and Emily had from the start. I didn't really like any of the characters, past or present.
I enjoyed the inserts of fake news articles and podcasts to bring the history of the villa to the reader. It was a nice touch.
This book just wasn't what I expected and wasn't the right fit for my tastes.
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Murder, and Sexism
Minor: Abortion