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dlrosebyh's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
3.0
If this novel had a warning, it would be, “Never trust anyone with a J name”.
Yes, we hear that warning almost everywhere— whether in social media or in our friend groups, however this novel rather takes that warning quite literally.
Magpie follows three characters: Jake, Marisa, and Kate. Despite only having known Jake for a few months, Marisa has never felt quite this confident in a person. She knows she has at last found the unwavering love and support she has been searching for her entire life when he asks her to move in with him and they begin trying for a child. However, when they take in Kate as a lodger, who seems to have little regard for personal boundaries and shows an unsettling interest in both Jake and the unborn child they are hoping to have, their relationship is put to the test.
With the plot given, I didn’t really know what to expect in this novel. I mean, I’ll be honest: I’ve never really liked thrillers or mysteries like the vast majority. With that given, let’s just say that I found this book rather mid. If you know me, you know that if I like a book, especially if I’m reading it digitally, I finish it quickly. Well, while, yes, I did finish this book in like three days, I can’t help but compare it to my experience with other thriller or mystery novels that I’ve finished in one sitting. For me, one of the most important aspects in a thriller novel is for it to be gripping. I don’t want to read a thriller novel to be read slowly, I want to be intrigued; I want to be with the characters. And unfortunately for Magpie, I didn’t really feel that.
I do know that I am not the target audience for this novel. I’ll admit it. I lack knowledge when it comes to marriage, adulthood, surrogation— and I don’t know if it’s because I’m used to fantasy novels, but I wished that some parts were explained more profoundly. And what’s even more annoying is that some parts felt like dragged. And that for me, is a turn-off.
Overall, I think this book is just alright. It’s what you think of when you hear of a three-star-read. While I didn’t enjoy the book as much as other people, I do believe that it is an outstanding book on its own. So if you think this book is for you, then why not give it a shot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Rape and Gaslighting
gracetiblem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The plot twist is PHENOMENAL. It absolutely got me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, and Mental illness
Moderate: Infidelity
bumble_abi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
you can tell I'm not having a great time with my mental health because I'm reading mass market thrillers again
this is blurbed as 'the most mind-blowing book of the year' which is the kind of hyperbole that can only set a book up for a fall. Marisa and her lovely boyfriend move in together and try to start a family, but Marisa is increasingly disturbed by the behaviour of their solicitous and overfamiliar lodger, Kate. There's a decent twist in this but it occurs only about a third of the way into the book, and then the rest is the long unraveling of how we got to that point, followed by a slightly too tidy ending.
This truly did feel like a book of two halves - the first half is great, tense and confusing and addictive, but it peaks too early and doesn't leave enough meat for the second half. There's not enough depth to any of it to justify its ultimate meandering. There's a (not graphic - the narrative voice just tells you it happened) rape scene which didn't have very much of a purpose in the plot except as a shortcut to creating a character who is unstable, which felt unnecessary and distasteful. I enjoyed it well enough but wouldn't rush to recommend.
this is blurbed as 'the most mind-blowing book of the year' which is the kind of hyperbole that can only set a book up for a fall. Marisa and her lovely boyfriend move in together and try to start a family, but Marisa is increasingly disturbed by the behaviour of their solicitous and overfamiliar lodger, Kate. There's a decent twist in this but it occurs only about a third of the way into the book, and then the rest is the long unraveling of how we got to that point, followed by a slightly too tidy ending.
This truly did feel like a book of two halves - the first half is great, tense and confusing and addictive, but it peaks too early and doesn't leave enough meat for the second half. There's not enough depth to any of it to justify its ultimate meandering. There's a (not graphic - the narrative voice just tells you it happened) rape scene which didn't have very much of a purpose in the plot except as a shortcut to creating a character who is unstable, which felt unnecessary and distasteful. I enjoyed it well enough but wouldn't rush to recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Infertility, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
Moderate: Rape and Violence
stagasaurus's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Infertility, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Miscarriage
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Gaslighting
tessalort's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Rape, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
velvet_young's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Infertility, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Minor: Stalking
hollymileham's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
such an interesting exploration of all the different complexities of motherhood, the twists in this blew my mind. defo lying if you say you predicted any part of this
rating 4 stars tho bc i feel like the ending was a bit optimistic for such an intense book
rating 4 stars tho bc i feel like the ending was a bit optimistic for such an intense book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Infertility, and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment and Suicidal thoughts
curlydanreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Grief
kaylareads247's review against another edition
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It was very easy to figure out the twists
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility and Rape
extraggie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
I read a lot of thriller/mystery and the likes so I'm not suprised by a story that often. However, this book managed to do it ! It was sad and dark but not unbelievable, more in a tragic things of real life way. Anyway a really really good book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape