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courtnoodles's review
funny
mysterious
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
3.0
It could have been so much...more.
2.5
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Alcohol, and Cursing
potatogrr's review
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
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Medical content, Infidelity, Murder, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Trafficking, and Gore
stuckinatimeloop's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
The plot idea is great, but the writing...not so much. I guess that's okay since this was a debut, but still. Some editing would have been nice. The dialogue sounds like it's written by a 13 year old and made me cringe many times. The writing is really rushed and maybe this story would've been better as a duology or trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
destdest's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
2.0
Very promising beginning before it fizzles out. The ending gets a little cheesy and violent. The story pokes fun at obvious YA tropes while wrapped in a spy theme until the blandness of the characters collapses underneath its weight. Ain’t nobody really interesting in this book. Juliet was pretty run-of-the-mill. She’s supposed to be quirky and awkward, a little bratty too. I forgot she was supposed to be a super genius. Caden himself wasn’t interesting but his circumstances were.
Overall, this is a unique story that would’ve benefited from a dual pov. I wanted to know what Dylan was thinking. He was too real for LIC. I wouldn’t have minded learning a bit more about M and D too.
About that Trevor mess: While I was upset with Caden glossing over Natalie’s valid hurt (especially since he was understandably torn up from the floor up when he saw Dyl making out with Juliet), that was a nice plot twist. I’m not even going to play with you. I didn’t see it coming.
Y’know, being upset over someone cheating is not irrational or unreasonable. TV shows are not indoctrinating no one on that, kay. Like, what type of dusty logic???
Also, the reporter was a grown woman. “Y’all are going to jail! Period!”
Another thing, I don’t know if Dyl was lying to Caden to save face or to hurt him so he wouldn’t mourn after his death, but that totally came out of left field. Sir, you are full of lies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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