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eleanormhilde's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book is nothing like its description. It’s predictable and much more provocative than the book title, synopsis, or cover suggest. This is a weird romance novel with murder involved. Nothing more or less.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
There is a lot of description of abuse of many forms from a character’s perspective as well as outside perspectivesmarkedwithanm's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Kidnapping, Stalking, Mental illness, Vomit, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault
bookcloud's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
mpierce's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
As an Amazon First Reads selection, I didn’t hate this book. However, there was excessive domestic violence and child abuse that I don’t think was necessary. There were some great twists and turns which made it a fast pace read. I would have liked more of a heads up in the synopsis about the violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
stanleykaty's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual assault and Stalking
nyquillll's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.0
What a mind bender. This book didn’t deliver the most shocking of twists - I predicted at least half of the twists, and I think the author left a heavy dose of bread crumbs throughout the book - but it did mostly keep me interested and engaged.
Things I liked: the plot around getting divorced after being married so long and having a kid, the complexity around establishing a new sense of normal after such a life-changing event/change in identity, mother-daughter dynamics, the confusing and messy process of finding yourself and who you are when it isn’t tied to a role (mother, wife), and the importance of female friendships who will give it to you straight.
Things that were more challenging for me: (more notes in the “spoiler” section of my review, the content warnings I’ve added are also somewhat spoilers) the amount and depth in which the darker themes of this book were covered was a LOT for me. From reading the synopsis, and knowing it was a thriller, I knew there were going to be some fucked up things, but the level of detail that’s included related to some of these topics made me viscerally unwell (which I guess also means the author did a good job of describing situations accurately enough to provoke and emotional response). I found it difficult many times to read some of the darker parts - and I almost kept reading just to see if there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Though I was also quite confused with the ending because kind of open-ended and ominous? Eden was also a hard character to get invested in - because she had her positives (trying to be a good mom, working in her community, trying to encourage her ex-husband to be more expressive), she also had her flaws (pushing people too hard, engaging in an affair before the divorce was filed, bad cop/good cop parenting). Her decisions mainly made me frustrated with how much she was leading with her desires rather than logic.
That said, I don’t know that I would’ve chosen to read this book knowing the level of context and details are used for the darker parts.
I also was confused why the ending was left open a bit? And ominous?
If anything, this book did have me thinking “What’s going to happen next??” and the twist where all the storylines come together was unexpected - I literally had to cover my mouth with my hand when my jaw dropped. But also the last two chapters didn’t give as much closure as I would’ve appreciated.
Things I liked: the plot around getting divorced after being married so long and having a kid, the complexity around establishing a new sense of normal after such a life-changing event/change in identity, mother-daughter dynamics, the confusing and messy process of finding yourself and who you are when it isn’t tied to a role (mother, wife), and the importance of female friendships who will give it to you straight.
Things that were more challenging for me: (more notes in the “spoiler” section of my review, the content warnings I’ve added are also somewhat spoilers) the amount and depth in which the darker themes of this book were covered was a LOT for me. From reading the synopsis, and knowing it was a thriller, I knew there were going to be some fucked up things, but the level of detail that’s included related to some of these topics made me viscerally unwell (which I guess also means the author did a good job of describing situations accurately enough to provoke and emotional response). I found it difficult many times to read some of the darker parts - and I almost kept reading just to see if there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Though I was also quite confused with the ending because kind of open-ended and ominous? Eden was also a hard character to get invested in - because she had her positives (trying to be a good mom, working in her community, trying to encourage her ex-husband to be more expressive), she also had her flaws (pushing people too hard, engaging in an affair before the divorce was filed, bad cop/good cop parenting). Her decisions mainly made me frustrated with how much she was leading with her desires rather than logic.
That said, I don’t know that I would’ve chosen to read this book knowing the level of context and details are used for the darker parts.
I also was confused why the ending was left open a bit? And ominous?
If anything, this book did have me thinking “What’s going to happen next??” and the twist where all the storylines come together was unexpected - I literally had to cover my mouth with my hand when my jaw dropped. But also the last two chapters didn’t give as much closure as I would’ve appreciated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Stalking, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Torture, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Alcohol
Things I found challenging about the book: this book is DARK in its coverage oftoofondofbooks_'s review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
This doesn't come out for a few more days but I read it early because I'm a prime member ✨
Anyway, this was a fun read. It was kind of stupid but also really readable. I barely put it down since i started it. I honestly just kind of enjoyed the unhinged ride it took me on for what it was: a ride. I was definitely engaged with the writing even if I found myself thinking many times that these characters were very conveniently dumb as rocks. There was something about this little book that kept me going and I honestly don't know what it was exactly. Maybe I just needed something fast paced that didn't demand too much of me to help me get through the week? Who knows. if you're looking for something fast paced that isn't going to require too much critical thought, pick this one up for the vibes and vibes alone.
Anyway, this was a fun read. It was kind of stupid but also really readable. I barely put it down since i started it. I honestly just kind of enjoyed the unhinged ride it took me on for what it was: a ride. I was definitely engaged with the writing even if I found myself thinking many times that these characters were very conveniently dumb as rocks. There was something about this little book that kept me going and I honestly don't know what it was exactly. Maybe I just needed something fast paced that didn't demand too much of me to help me get through the week? Who knows. if you're looking for something fast paced that isn't going to require too much critical thought, pick this one up for the vibes and vibes alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Ableism, Stalking, Sexual content, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Car accident, Drug use, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Bullying, Confinement, Blood, Gore, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Fire/Fire injury
ulviyyask's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Car accident
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
theseniorswiftie's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Violence, Murder, Stalking, Sexual content, and Mental illness
galian84's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my Kindle FirstReads pick for February. The idea of a second chance romance gone horribly wrong intrigued me!
And I really enjoyed it. It had plenty of twists and turns and kept me reading, wanting to find out what happened next. It really makes you think that, when you meet people online, are they really who they say they are? Some characters are not likeable people, but at least I could understand why the protagonist behaved the way she did.
There is also on-page emotional and verbal abuse here, so if that kind of thing triggers you, just be aware.
4 stars because the perpetrator’s motives didn’t really make sense to me, and without revealing spoilers, some of the things that happened to make the ending possible seemed too convenient.
This author is new to me, but would check out her other books.
And I really enjoyed it. It had plenty of twists and turns and kept me reading, wanting to find out what happened next. It really makes you think that, when you meet people online, are they really who they say they are? Some characters are not likeable people, but at least I could understand why the protagonist behaved the way she did.
There is also on-page emotional and verbal abuse here, so if that kind of thing triggers you, just be aware.
4 stars because the perpetrator’s motives didn’t really make sense to me, and without revealing spoilers, some of the things that happened to make the ending possible seemed too convenient.
This author is new to me, but would check out her other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse