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sharanya'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? Yes
4.0
Holly Jackson continues to be the Queen of Excellent Plotting with this one — maybe a little bit too excellent? Like, the clues were so well laid out that the plot “twists” felt less like twists & more like puzzle pieces slotting neatly into place. I could’ve used a little more surprise, maybe.
TBH, I should’ve guessed earlier that Holly would’ve written another “f*** all the men” mystery novel. That’s her typical MO so again, I was not very surprised when it turned out that, in fact, nearly all the men in the book are kidnappers & murderers. & lol, how mad am I about that, really?
That said, I LOVED Bel & her take-no-shit attitude, & her relationship with her sister Carter was so tender & real. The pacing of Bel uncovering each piece of the mystery was ✨PERFECTION✨ bc, as I said, Holly is the Queen of plotting. The eventual answer to the mystery was well put together and felt pretty satisfying.
My ONLY final caveat is — is Bel gonna get some therapy? Bc she seems remarkably okay with the fact that she spent 16 years fiercely loving & defending a man for exactly the crime that he pretty much committed. Like. A) that seemed WAY too easily wrapped up and b) how is she so okay? Pls.
Despite my quibbles, this is EXACTLY the kind of mystery thriller that pulls you in & does not let go until the last page. A keeper for sure!
Moderate: Murder, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, and Stalking
Minor: Body shaming
stellabyproxy's review
- 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
4.0
Rachel Price has been missing for sixteen year and suddenly makes a reappearance, just as her daughter, Annabel Price — known as Bel — and family are filming a documentary about her disappearance. this reappearance brings with it many emotions of anger, sadness, joy and grief from Bel, who was abandoned in a car at only 2 years old on the day her mother was kidnapped. the shadows of family secrets and mysteries is a difficult place to grow up in, and as the lights (camera, bitch smile) are shone on this family, what seems to be a happy conclusion is only the beginning.
i enjoyed every second of seeing Bel messily navigate having her mother back, the scepticism surrounding her return, and the drama that came with it. from the shadows, she found her light, and beautifully blossomed. and her sleuthing similarities to Pip (AGGGTM) were nothing like i’d expected and more than i could’ve hoped for.
as a gnostic theist, i rarely bring religious lore into things, however to truly sum up this novel:
Luke 8:17
“For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”
Graphic: Abandonment, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Dementia, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Minor: Stalking, Infertility, Mental illness, and Pregnancy
persephonefoxx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Murder
Minor: Pregnancy and Stalking
amalauna's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Dementia, Abandonment, Confinement, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
ghostsversion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Confinement, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
lailajm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Dementia, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
hal00alex'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
4.0
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Stalking, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Dementia, Infertility, Vomit, Violence, and Murder
biapoweer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death, Violence, and Abandonment
amypt46's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Bullying
undercover_booklover's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Body shaming, Cursing, Dementia, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Stalking