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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Edelweiss, Minotaur Books, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
Review: This book was entirely not what I was expecting, but I don't know if that was a bad thing. *shrugs*
I was invested from the get-go, and I really liked the multiple POVs that we got - I thought it kept you hooked while providing just enough information to keep you guessing. Sort of piggy-backing on what I said above, this thriller was nothing like what I expected so there were a lot of times I was surprised until I understood the direction we were going and then it was a bit easier to see what was coming next.
Overall Rating: ★★★★ / 4.13
Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★
Plot ★★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★★
Pacing ★★★★
Dialogue ★★★★
★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay
#mystery
#netgalley published 5/28
I almost forgot to write this review! I finished it on 5/31. LOL.
#mystery
#netgalley published 5/28
I almost forgot to write this review! I finished it on 5/31. LOL.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
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:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
No
mysterious
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my first Alex Finlay book and boy have I been missing out! This was a fast paced wild ride and I was actually shocked when I saw how far into the book I had gotten without realizing it because I was sucked in. I could never have predicted the twists and turns and I enjoyed it so much. The characters were great and even though it was action packed, I feel like we got such a good connection with them all. Now I need to go back and read all of his other books.
The audiobook is so well done with the different narrators and definitely the way to go!1
The audiobook is so well done with the different narrators and definitely the way to go!1
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
very intriguing mystery! i really enjoyed the different chapters showcasing different sides of this mystery through some pretty well-done POV switches. once i sat down to dive in, i had to make myself close the book at around the halfway mark or i was going to stay up way past my bedtime -- basically, the pacing was amazing and it really kept my attention!
there are definitely some dark pieces here, so i wouldn't say this is a lighthearted or cozy mystery book in the slightest. the characters felt well-developed, and i was glad there was an epilogue to wrap up loose ends and show us where everyone ended up after the book's events.
my one criticism of this book would be that there were, at times, some goofy lines. for example, when Ryan "Michael Jordan jumped" onto someone else. it felt so out of place to read that in the context of that situation. however, that does not take away from how captivating i found this mystery book to be. all in all, really enjoyed this one and i look forward to future books from this author.
there are definitely some dark pieces here, so i wouldn't say this is a lighthearted or cozy mystery book in the slightest. the characters felt well-developed, and i was glad there was an epilogue to wrap up loose ends and show us where everyone ended up after the book's events.
my one criticism of this book would be that there were, at times, some goofy lines. for example, when Ryan "Michael Jordan jumped" onto someone else. it felt so out of place to read that in the context of that situation. however, that does not take away from how captivating i found this mystery book to be. all in all, really enjoyed this one and i look forward to future books from this author.
Teenagers Ryan and Ali are at a secluded romantic spot when their car door suddenly flies open, Ryan is hit on the head, and Ali (and her car) disappears — for good. Ryan remembers only one detail from the incident: the hands of the man who yanked him from the car. While the police have no evidence to convict Ryan, he's presumed guilty in the court of public opinion. Trying to escape this stigma, he moves and changes his name, hoping he's put this trauma to rest. It seems he was successful, until years later, when Ali's car is found at the bottom of the lake, along with two dead men and an envelope that says "if something happens to me" in her handwriting. Inside is a mysterious code, one that sends Ryan on an international adventure.
"If Something Happens to Me" is fast-paced, with short chapters that make it easy to keep reading just that little bit more. This book will best appeal to those who like action-packed thrillers, and will likely appeal a little less to those who prefer psychological ones. There's a lot going on, with quite a few characters and a couple overlapping themes. I didn't predict the twist, which is always a win, but I did find it a bit underwhelming, and I found the "why" behind it all a bit over the top. Because the twist came somewhset early, midway through the book, I felt the pacing sag as we waited out the inevitable resolution. Still, it was an entertaining read and a quick way to pass the time, and I'm glad to see that many are enjoying it. The audiobook production was done very well and the narration was just about flawless.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Finlay, and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy of my honest review.
"If Something Happens to Me" is fast-paced, with short chapters that make it easy to keep reading just that little bit more. This book will best appeal to those who like action-packed thrillers, and will likely appeal a little less to those who prefer psychological ones. There's a lot going on, with quite a few characters and a couple overlapping themes. I didn't predict the twist, which is always a win, but I did find it a bit underwhelming, and I found the "why" behind it all a bit over the top. Because the twist came somewhset early, midway through the book, I felt the pacing sag as we waited out the inevitable resolution. Still, it was an entertaining read and a quick way to pass the time, and I'm glad to see that many are enjoying it. The audiobook production was done very well and the narration was just about flawless.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Finlay, and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy of my honest review.