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a_libraryghost's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I started this book wanting a twisty but easy to read thriller after being in a reading slump, and that’s exactly what I got. In some ways it exceeded my expectations, mostly it met them and in a couple ways I was disappointed.
As others have pointed out there are a lot of twists though despite this most of them are pretty predictable. There was one twist I was surprised it took so long to reveal because it seemed very obvious very quickly. Though I will say while I was right about almost everything, I was made to second guess my assumptions. The two major twists directly linked to Emma were the ones I didn’t see coming and definitely were the most compelling.
In fact, Emma in general was the best part of this story. So often when reading or watching horror you do not care whether the character lives or dies, or you might want them to die for being so stupid, but I was rooting for Emma (and Laika!) the whole time and she is really what kept me reading.
I had two big issues with the book. One was the invincibility of the characters likeHoward is hit by a van, has his hand struck by a hammer, and is stabbed in the chest with a katana…AND CAN STILL WALK?! and the other is the laughably stereotypically the way the villain is depicted. Like the author pulled him straight from a reddit meme
Neckbeard? ✅
Fedora? ✅
Literally says “I guess nice guys do finish last”? ✅
A FUCKING KATANA?! ✅
I think Adams tried to subvert it a bit and give him some more depth but it when the nice guy line came I just had to laugh and it felt a bit like I was reading something straight on reddit.
I do agree the ending dragged on but I liked it and was pretty happy with the outcome.
As others have pointed out there are a lot of twists though despite this most of them are pretty predictable. There was one twist I was surprised it took so long to reveal because it seemed very obvious very quickly. Though I will say while I was right about almost everything, I was made to second guess my assumptions. The two major twists directly linked to Emma were the ones I didn’t see coming and definitely were the most compelling.
In fact, Emma in general was the best part of this story. So often when reading or watching horror you do not care whether the character lives or dies, or you might want them to die for being so stupid, but I was rooting for Emma (and Laika!) the whole time and she is really what kept me reading.
I had two big issues with the book. One was the invincibility of the characters like
Neckbeard? ✅
Fedora? ✅
Literally says “I guess nice guys do finish last”? ✅
A FUCKING KATANA?! ✅
I think Adams tried to subvert it a bit and give him some more depth but it when the nice guy line came I just had to laugh and it felt a bit like I was reading something straight on reddit.
I do agree the ending dragged on but I liked it and was pretty happy with the outcome.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Car accident, Child death, Animal cruelty, and Infertility
Minor: Mass/school shootings
stacylaughs's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, and Child death
angiebradley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Murder
veronikar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child death, and Suicidal thoughts
mia_faller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
The implications about topics like self publishing, particularly in thepirate's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Child death, and Vomit
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcoholism, Medical content, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Confinement
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.25
This book made me realize I'm not a dog person (sometimes) bc by the fourth near-miss with Laika I was so over it, I was rooting for her d3ath, ok. A dizzying, maybe overstayed story. It was a propulsive read but I didn't care much for Emma bc she felt too surface level and I was kinda annoyed by her. And there were a lot of cringe moments here: the author intruder being a neckbeard, alt-right, Andrew Tate listening, 4chan incel caricature; Taylor Adams describing Jules hair as "Karen haircut" (?), and the damn dog stuff that kept diminishing my enjoyment but it wasn't a terrible experience and it was sorta fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infertility, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death
Minor: Death of parent
kenziewol's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Will I ever give a 1 star book review again?…probably not
Seriously though this book had me going wtf multiple times, I thought I knew but I was wrong, but then also kinda right???? But not really? And I was genuinely getting mad at the end and was even kinda scared at some moments (I feel so blessed I don’t live alone because I’d be terrified to sleep at night for fear of being watched 😅) — I listened to the audiobook version and would definitely recommend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Grief, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Child death and Car accident
delilahlovett'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Torture
lilydoyle6's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
this was a WILD ride. every time you thought it was resolved it kept going and got crazier. the serial killer/main killer/writers were very michael meyers-esque.
this book concept is GREAT. honestly, the thought that writing a 1 star review for a book can cause someone to hunt you down to kill you is chilling and makes me think twice...
but it was a thrilling ride, with great characterization, action, and motives. it was entertaining and you definitely kept reading to see wtf was going to happen.
the audiobook was a nice touch with the other narrator for the male characters.
this book concept is GREAT. honestly, the thought that writing a 1 star review for a book can cause someone to hunt you down to kill you is chilling and makes me think twice...
but it was a thrilling ride, with great characterization, action, and motives. it was entertaining and you definitely kept reading to see wtf was going to happen.
the audiobook was a nice touch with the other narrator for the male characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Child death