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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Really slow start, it took almost 150 pages to really get into the story. Only reason I didn’t DNF was because I desperately wanted to know the secrets 😅
The writing style was a little overly descriptive for my taste, with more telling than showing. All the characters are unlikeable and most are annoying 😅 but they’re interesting nonetheless, and I did like that none of them are trustworthy or reliable so you can never pinpoint their secrets or “guilt.”
The twists were completely unexpected and I was happy that all of my predictions were wrong! Sadly though the ending and twists felt way too rushed, all of the twists were in the last 20-30 pages which just left me with an unsatisfying ending. There was also one part towards the end that I found completely unbelievable, and a bit of a cop out. Portia threatening Beth with a psych ward was a weak attempt at blackmail compared to her threat to Eddie. Unless the journal showed clear threats to herself or others (which in my opinion it did not), you legally can’t put someone in a psych ward especially if you’re not a spouse/legal guardian.
Overall it was an entertaining and unpredictable thriller! I really enjoyed the unreliable narrator aspect and split timelines but even the unpredictability couldn’t save the book from being a bit disappointing. But the ending really ruined it for me and just because I was surprised doesn’t make it good 🫣 If you’re looking to read a psychological thriller from Downing, I’d recommend The Lovely Wife instead!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Minor: Gaslighting and Cancer
ambient's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
brenxbee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Gun violence
kimveach's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Dark and creepy but not the satisfying thriller I expected it to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Confinement, Gaslighting, Stalking, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Physical abuse
brookey8888's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Bye that ending was literally crazy.
The first part of this like nothing really happened and you don’t know like anything so I kept wanting to know what was going on. Then slowly things I didn’t see coming started happening and then everything happened and I saw non of it coming. If you don’t like unlikable characters this one is t for you. But I low key kinda of liked Beth in the beginning.
The first part of this like nothing really happened and you don’t know like anything so I kept wanting to know what was going on. Then slowly things I didn’t see coming started happening and then everything happened and I saw non of it coming. If you don’t like unlikable characters this one is t for you. But I low key kinda of liked Beth in the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
pplydm's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Never thought I'd be reading He Started It by Samantha Downing. This book turned out to be the book I'd want to delve into.
Eddie, Beth and Portia recreated a childhood road trip experience around the U.S. Only now, their Grandpa who previously supervised their journey, died, cremated into ashes in an urn placed together near the suitcases. The only way to fathom the Morgan family is to be a part of it. They apparently don't comprehend themselves either, hence they betray and lie to each other. This was written comically despite of the sinister character personalities. A rating of 4/5 star because the story ending was utter disappointment for me. I suggest the author can redeem my frustration if she writes a separate novel dedicated to Nikki.
<i>Arguing about every little thing is what makes people hate you, especially when it comes to family.
Eddie, Beth and Portia recreated a childhood road trip experience around the U.S. Only now, their Grandpa who previously supervised their journey, died, cremated into ashes in an urn placed together near the suitcases. The only way to fathom the Morgan family is to be a part of it. They apparently don't comprehend themselves either, hence they betray and lie to each other. This was written comically despite of the sinister character personalities. A rating of 4/5 star because the story ending was utter disappointment for me. I suggest the author can redeem my frustration if she writes a separate novel dedicated to Nikki.
<i>Arguing about every little thing is what makes people hate you, especially when it comes to family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
kamin8882's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a 3.5 star book for me. I loved the whole story- 3 siblings on a road trip as a requirement to get their grandfathers inheritance—- huge one !! This story shows all the messed up things that happened on the first road trip with their grandfather and all the crazy things that keep happening during this current one. All the twist and turns were great, the secrets were shocking but the ending sucked !!! With thrillers feel like you’re supposed to be shocked at the end when all things are revealed and may things were except one thing and I NEED to know what happened !!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, and Domestic abuse
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