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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
SAFE started off a little slow for me. It didn't really get going for me until about 60% into the book, but then holy moly what a ride!
When Jenny Kristal was 6 years old, she walked down the street to visit a friends house, but never made it there. After being missing for 12 years, Jenny has escaped, and has finally come home. She is now 18. and it's a shock to her family, the community, but most of all her brother Ben. Who has some suspicions.
I had some suspicions myself of where it was going to end up, and I ended up being right about most of them. I didn't love the rushed ending, and it felt a little too tied up - but it was fun read nonetheless and I'm glad I read it!
When Jenny Kristal was 6 years old, she walked down the street to visit a friends house, but never made it there. After being missing for 12 years, Jenny has escaped, and has finally come home. She is now 18. and it's a shock to her family, the community, but most of all her brother Ben. Who has some suspicions.
I had some suspicions myself of where it was going to end up, and I ended up being right about most of them. I didn't love the rushed ending, and it felt a little too tied up - but it was fun read nonetheless and I'm glad I read it!
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The plot is the reason for the four stars. It is obvious from the tag line what the first twist is in this plot. Each new change is a little less obvious than the previous one, all the way to the coup de grace. The book does a great job of pacing out the story so that the ending is a clear evolution of the interactions of the present, so that the plot remains plausible even though that same plot is extraordinary.
The structure of the book is largely single-narrator (the returning teenager). Certain chapters expose the viewpoint of other family members. Those help to create deeper characters, especially the brother. The chapters themselves are very short: 52 and there's an epilogue and an after too, all in only 319 pages. That structure keeps the brisk pace of the plot; any exposition has to finish somewhat quickly. It's as if everyone's mind is racing the entire time with no break.
As for the writing style it's terse and filled with references. I thought it was OK. There isn't much elevation, but everything is clear. The scenes themselves aren't that vivid, and the psychology isn't that interesting. But that's OK. This story isn't meant to be told in a deep literary style. The story is meant to take you from event to event to event, so you're aware from the onset that you should be going through this book in two or three sittings.
Other books like this I usually give two or three stars, but the journey of this plot is why this is a four star book. I recommend this book, and I recommend that you finish the book in three sittings maximum. One if you're an avid reader.
The structure of the book is largely single-narrator (the returning teenager). Certain chapters expose the viewpoint of other family members. Those help to create deeper characters, especially the brother. The chapters themselves are very short: 52 and there's an epilogue and an after too, all in only 319 pages. That structure keeps the brisk pace of the plot; any exposition has to finish somewhat quickly. It's as if everyone's mind is racing the entire time with no break.
As for the writing style it's terse and filled with references. I thought it was OK. There isn't much elevation, but everything is clear. The scenes themselves aren't that vivid, and the psychology isn't that interesting. But that's OK. This story isn't meant to be told in a deep literary style. The story is meant to take you from event to event to event, so you're aware from the onset that you should be going through this book in two or three sittings.
Other books like this I usually give two or three stars, but the journey of this plot is why this is a four star book. I recommend this book, and I recommend that you finish the book in three sittings maximum. One if you're an avid reader.
Read Completed 10/27/23 | 3.75 stars
SAFE was an interesting read! I wasn't sure what to expect and this had some good little twists. The book seems straight-forward at first and then we find out there's more to everyone's story after missing girl Jenny returns from being missing/kidnapped after over a decade.
I don't want to say too much about it because there are some good little surprises that the reader should find out for themselves, but there was plenty to keep discovering as the book went along. I really liked finding out more about the families and our main character.
SAFE was an interesting read! I wasn't sure what to expect and this had some good little twists. The book seems straight-forward at first and then we find out there's more to everyone's story after missing girl Jenny returns from being missing/kidnapped after over a decade.
I don't want to say too much about it because there are some good little surprises that the reader should find out for themselves, but there was plenty to keep discovering as the book went along. I really liked finding out more about the families and our main character.
Thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss, Penguin, and Dutton for providing me the e-book to review.
Safe by S.K. Barnett is a fast-paced thriller about Jenny, who was kidnapped at age 6 and has now returned home 12 years later. Although you'd think she would feel much safer being back in her childhood home with her family, it quickly becomes clear that both Jenny and her parents have something to hide.
Safe has a gripping, unique plot that makes it hard to put down. I love a thriller with a twisty ending, and this one definitely delivered! Although Jenny was an interesting, well-developed character, her family and friends were a little flat. There were some parts to the story that were a little too unbelievable but overall I enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to fans of thrillers with big twists.
Safe by S.K. Barnett is a fast-paced thriller about Jenny, who was kidnapped at age 6 and has now returned home 12 years later. Although you'd think she would feel much safer being back in her childhood home with her family, it quickly becomes clear that both Jenny and her parents have something to hide.
Safe has a gripping, unique plot that makes it hard to put down. I love a thriller with a twisty ending, and this one definitely delivered! Although Jenny was an interesting, well-developed character, her family and friends were a little flat. There were some parts to the story that were a little too unbelievable but overall I enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to fans of thrillers with big twists.
challenging
dark
relaxing
The word pageturner to describe a book can be thrown around a lot - but for me that’s the best way to describe Safe.
Jenny Kristal went missing when she was 6 years old - she was allowed to walk by herself to a friend’s house just a few doors down but she never made it. Twelve years later an 18 year old arrives in town and says she’s Jenny - she’s managed to escape her captors and wants to return to her parents.
At first - this felt similar to other books I’ve read and I thought I knew right where it was headed - and then it took a sharp turn. From that point on, I couldn’t put it down and read the rest in one sitting. I think you’ll be hearing a lot about Safe this summer!
Content Warning: there are some very difficult scenes involving abuse of children - mental, physical and sexual.
Jenny Kristal went missing when she was 6 years old - she was allowed to walk by herself to a friend’s house just a few doors down but she never made it. Twelve years later an 18 year old arrives in town and says she’s Jenny - she’s managed to escape her captors and wants to return to her parents.
At first - this felt similar to other books I’ve read and I thought I knew right where it was headed - and then it took a sharp turn. From that point on, I couldn’t put it down and read the rest in one sitting. I think you’ll be hearing a lot about Safe this summer!
Content Warning: there are some very difficult scenes involving abuse of children - mental, physical and sexual.
This one fell short for me.
It's not an overly long book, but I felt like the buildup was too long and the climax barely a blink in the story. It was fine, but not great.
It's not an overly long book, but I felt like the buildup was too long and the climax barely a blink in the story. It was fine, but not great.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Pedophilia, Abandonment
Moderate: Rape, Forced institutionalization, Murder
Minor: Fatphobia