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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Life seems idyllic for an American family living in Sweden, enjoying all the summer sun and isolated island life has to offer. But when an old friend comes to visit, cracks in their life start to emerge.
I read this cross between a Nordic noir and domestic psychological thriller in one go. There was just enough creepiness to keep me from being able to put it down--and that's even though every character is awful and toxic. Still, I needed to know what happened. Told in alternating POVs and short, snappy chapters, it was dark and claustrophobic (despite its sunny Midsommer setting) and disturbing, but I was absorbed in it.
TW: child abuse, violence, lack of quotation marks
I read this cross between a Nordic noir and domestic psychological thriller in one go. There was just enough creepiness to keep me from being able to put it down--and that's even though every character is awful and toxic. Still, I needed to know what happened. Told in alternating POVs and short, snappy chapters, it was dark and claustrophobic (despite its sunny Midsommer setting) and disturbing, but I was absorbed in it.
TW: child abuse, violence, lack of quotation marks
dark
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence
I really liked her writing style. It made the book creepier than it really was. I would have liked more of an ending though. I didn’t find it very satisfying.
What a twisted and horrifying book with despicable characters. There was not a single thing to like about any of them. I'm all for domestic thrillers, but having to read through countless passages of child abuse was exhausting. Would not recommend to anyone.
This was such a hard read. It draws you in and rips your heart apart. It has lots of trigger warnings and some are almost too much to handle. All of these characters are so messed up and it went sideways more than once. I couldn’t give it 5 stars because of the sadness factor.
I don't think that I have ever read a book with characters as hateful as these. No redeeming qualities for any of them. I liked the writing style