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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I admit I'm a little surprised by the number of good reviews so far. The story started off all right, but the writing seemed very unfocused and the author spent a lot of time throwing in pop culture references that didn't add anything to the story. I'd hoped it would improve the the first twist came (which I had anticipated), but the rest I read was pretty lackluster. I got halfway through, and decided not to continue with the rest. I'm glad other people enjoyed this, but it was not for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
mysterious
slow-paced
Clunky. That's the word that comes to mind after reading this book. The paragraphs were clunky, the POVs were clunky, the timeline was clunky. One second you're reading about one person at one place and the next sentence (same paragraph) it's a different person at a different place. I almost felt like I was going insane reading it. Overall, a predictable and typical "missing kid returns" trope.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-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
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 4/5 | Ending: 4/5
SYNOPSIS
12 years after being snatched off the street, Jenny Kristal has returned home... or has she?
MY OPINION
OOOHHWEEEE!!!! If you've watched the documentary The Imposter, you NEED to read this. The Imposter is my fave documentary of all time because it's one of those stories where you're like... this can't be real. But it is. You know what they say, sometimes reality IS stranger than fiction.
Some people may think this beggars belief but the fact that this basically happened IRL is what makes the book so compelling. Side note: how is this not rated higher? I really don't understand what is missing from this book compared to the uber popular (trashola) books of today? This was a quick read that will keep you engaged from beginning to end. And there's some dark moments too if you're a lil sicko like I am. IMO this is a true thriller.
I don't want to say too much and give it away but... read it. Yes, this is quirky male writing. And yes, the MC is a flawed protagonist and you may dislike her, but that's the point. The only thing I didn't like was the VERY end... nah bro.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: keeps you flipping the pages, truly a thriller, funny at times, fictionalized version of the best doc to ever exist: The Imposter
Cons: very end didn't sit well with me
____
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
SYNOPSIS
12 years after being snatched off the street, Jenny Kristal has returned home... or has she?
MY OPINION
OOOHHWEEEE!!!! If you've watched the documentary The Imposter, you NEED to read this. The Imposter is my fave documentary of all time because it's one of those stories where you're like... this can't be real. But it is. You know what they say, sometimes reality IS stranger than fiction.
Some people may think this beggars belief but the fact that this basically happened IRL is what makes the book so compelling. Side note: how is this not rated higher? I really don't understand what is missing from this book compared to the uber popular (trashola) books of today? This was a quick read that will keep you engaged from beginning to end. And there's some dark moments too if you're a lil sicko like I am. IMO this is a true thriller.
I don't want to say too much and give it away but... read it. Yes, this is quirky male writing. And yes, the MC is a flawed protagonist and you may dislike her, but that's the point. The only thing I didn't like was the VERY end... nah bro.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: keeps you flipping the pages, truly a thriller, funny at times, fictionalized version of the best doc to ever exist: The Imposter
Cons: very end didn't sit well with me
____
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
My Rating: 3.5 rounded down to 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ really well written, and it was good just lost me in a few places!!!
Your child goes missing… she was only six years old when she disappeared.
Posters go up… the police investigate and no one can find her…
Now, twelve years later, she’s back… you’re so happy to see her. But soon you start to wonder why she can’t answer your questions.
Where has she been? How did she find her way home? Who is she??
Big shoutout to GirlWithThePinkSkiMask for this rec, I didn’t love it as much as you did Pink but I did enjoy it.
Firstly, the writing was excellent, very engaging and creepy. I loved the inner monologue in this one where there a snippets of flash backs for the young girl who has returned…. That was probably my favourite bit… there is almost a story in a story as this unfolds.
I really enjoyed the friendship that she forms with the girl at the library… that was also one of the best parts for me, these two girls who randomly meet and forge a friendship and a bond quite quickly… I liked that and I liked where that storyline went.
This has a dark undertone… so mind your TWs here… the internal flashbacks are a little rough not too graphic though. But enough to turn your stomach. The way this was written really gave it a kick along… it was a less is more kind of book in my opinion.
It was also really creepy in parts… where you are thinking surely… something is going to jump scare me at any minute.
The bits I didn’t love so much was that it was quite repetitive… we had a lot of what goes on in the Kristal house, A LOT of Ben being a stoner… I mean I don’t need to hear about the kind of weed this guy does every time he’s in the book… and there was a little too much oooh that was lucky … moments at the end… the ending really let this book down if I am completely honest.
I would have liked a bit more on the backstory of the MC, I know we got a bit but that was actually by far the most interesting part for me… if that was a story on its own (because I am a sick MF that loves a trapped storyline) would have been a definite read.
Overall, I did really like it but the ending and the repetition let me down on this one… I think most of the big stuff happened after 75% and there was truly enough going on that it could have been spread out a little more evenly. But I do not discourage people from reading this one… it just may not be for everyone. I don’t regret reading it at all… it was enjoyable but if I compare to other books I have loved lately… this was a slight notch below.
Your child goes missing… she was only six years old when she disappeared.
Posters go up… the police investigate and no one can find her…
Now, twelve years later, she’s back… you’re so happy to see her. But soon you start to wonder why she can’t answer your questions.
Where has she been? How did she find her way home? Who is she??
Big shoutout to GirlWithThePinkSkiMask for this rec, I didn’t love it as much as you did Pink but I did enjoy it.
Firstly, the writing was excellent, very engaging and creepy. I loved the inner monologue in this one where there a snippets of flash backs for the young girl who has returned…. That was probably my favourite bit… there is almost a story in a story as this unfolds.
I really enjoyed the friendship that she forms with the girl at the library… that was also one of the best parts for me, these two girls who randomly meet and forge a friendship and a bond quite quickly… I liked that and I liked where that storyline went.
This has a dark undertone… so mind your TWs here… the internal flashbacks are a little rough not too graphic though. But enough to turn your stomach. The way this was written really gave it a kick along… it was a less is more kind of book in my opinion.
It was also really creepy in parts… where you are thinking surely… something is going to jump scare me at any minute.
The bits I didn’t love so much was that it was quite repetitive… we had a lot of what goes on in the Kristal house, A LOT of Ben being a stoner… I mean I don’t need to hear about the kind of weed this guy does every time he’s in the book… and there was a little too much oooh that was lucky … moments at the end… the ending really let this book down if I am completely honest.
I would have liked a bit more on the backstory of the MC, I know we got a bit but that was actually by far the most interesting part for me… if that was a story on its own (because I am a sick MF that loves a trapped storyline) would have been a definite read.
Overall, I did really like it but the ending and the repetition let me down on this one… I think most of the big stuff happened after 75% and there was truly enough going on that it could have been spread out a little more evenly. But I do not discourage people from reading this one… it just may not be for everyone. I don’t regret reading it at all… it was enjoyable but if I compare to other books I have loved lately… this was a slight notch below.
Jenny goes missing and then she turns up. Is she who she says she is? If not why would she lie? And more importantly is she safe. A great story, full of twists and turns. Keeps you guessing and gripped to the very end. My first read by this author and I loved it!
challenging
dark
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I like the beginning and the premise of this book, so much more than the end. It’s a difficult subject matter to write about, especially when it’s happening multiple times throughout the book. I don’t know if I really like how the book ended, but it felt like it was the only way for the story to end in order for the main character to get closure.
fast-paced