Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
Evokes the trauma of graduate programs in the humanities but the characters were all so unpleasant.
This is my favorite of Gentry's works so far. I went in expecting a thriller but ended up getting so much more. I love this genre of fiction so much, but I do often find myself wanting more from the plots and the characters than the formulaic sameness that is too often all that's on offer. But this book is so grounded in the often toxic world of academia that it feels very organic. Characters navigating the world of the book are shaped and sometimes warped by this arena they're all contending in. There are also many passages in the book focused on the narrator's childhood and a particular close female friendship from this childhood. Gentry beautifully captures how all-encompassing and passionate and co-dependent these friendships can be. Another complaint I often have about thrillers is the predictable twists toward the end, but I can say that I definitely didn't see this one coming. Such an enjoyable read. So nice to get everything I want out of a book marketed as a thriller (that is really so much more).
dark
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
An unusual read, but one that kept me guessing and kept the pages turning. Hard to categorise, not sure it's truly a "novel of suspense" as billed, more a reflection on personality flaws
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
This was a decent page turner and I liked it overall. This was probably my favourite of Amy Gentry’s books that I’ve read.
The jumps back and forth in time were fun and kept me engaged because it constantly kept me wanting to know more about each timeline. And while I do enjoy a story about female friendships, I thought that when the story became more and more about the girls’ relationships with the professors at their school, my interest waned.
I thought the story was at its strongest when exploring the push and pull between Mac and Gwen. Recommended.
Kept me up past my bedtime. Great read, lots of lovely twists, and yes, grad school is an absolute horror.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced