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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Kidnapping
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Check out my full review at https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/safe-place/
This book was largely enjoyable–I loved the setting on the coast of France. The author did a beautiful job of describing the scenery. I thought the atmosphere was perfect for the story.
However I feel like the ending left a lot unanswered, and the author could have done a better job of tying up the characters’ storylines. I am not sure how to say more without giving things away, but I feel like I latched onto a few things early in the story that didn’t end up coming up again, or that didn’t matter to the plot in a way that I felt they should have.
The characters weren't bad, but also didn't have me falling in love with them enough to carry the plot. Emily was a little annoying--she refused to stand up for herself with her employers (maybe she shouldn't have gone to work privately for a married guy she had a thing for in the first place?) and was horribly wishy-washy when it came to important decisions. At least she made up for it in the end.
This book was largely enjoyable–I loved the setting on the coast of France. The author did a beautiful job of describing the scenery. I thought the atmosphere was perfect for the story.
However I feel like the ending left a lot unanswered, and the author could have done a better job of tying up the characters’ storylines. I am not sure how to say more without giving things away, but I feel like I latched onto a few things early in the story that didn’t end up coming up again, or that didn’t matter to the plot in a way that I felt they should have.
The characters weren't bad, but also didn't have me falling in love with them enough to carry the plot. Emily was a little annoying--she refused to stand up for herself with her employers (maybe she shouldn't have gone to work privately for a married guy she had a thing for in the first place?) and was horribly wishy-washy when it came to important decisions. At least she made up for it in the end.
The Safe Place hooked me right away. Telling the story from Emily and Scott's perspectives really helped fuel the plot. It is a great debut book for Anna Downed and I will be on the lookout for new books written by her. I recommend The Safe Place to readers who enjoy slow burn thrillers and domestic thrillers. 4 stars
I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Enjoyed the story. Loved the Author’s Note. Thank you Anna, looking forward to your next book.
3.5 Stars
The Safe Place is page-turner from Anna Downes and one that, if you are anything like me, will have you back and forth wondering what you would do in the characters’ shoes. The book is an intense and heartbreaking family drama about marriage, parenting, friendship, love and loss. The narrative switches between Emily's and Scott’s points of view and that worked really well here. The author also throws in a bit of "before" that is supposed to be from an unknown source...but it is quite obvious who it is.
As we move along towards the end of the story, and as certain events happen to finally alert Emily to behaviors that are concerning, even issues she might have overlooked, we are offered a peek behind the scenes and learn the dark secrets that would change everything. As for being in Emily's shoes...I’m pretty sure I know what I would do. Enticing and so intense at the end...I couldn’t stop reading.
Thank you NetGalley, Affirm Press and Anna Downes for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#TheSafePlace #NetGalley
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
"The Safe Place" by Anna Downes follows Emily, an unsuccessful actress and recently fired receptionist. Emily takes a new job working as a "live-in assistant" for a rich family. Her responsibilities include helping the wife, Nina, fix up the large estate, watching and playing with the daughter, and whatever other tasks may need done. At first, this secluded home feels like a paradise, but more and more Emily has a sinking feeling that something isn't quite right.
Downes creates a magical feel with minimal details and I think in this case it almost says more. Emily is being exposed to opulence, but the reader creates it in their own mind. In this way, the heavy lifting is on the reader. This also makes the off-limits house that much more interesting. The few details are so grand, how much more grand is the space unseen?
Emily is a plain character and surprisingly clever for how I felt she was described. I imagined her as a bumbling blonde, almost childlike. In the end, she is strong and clever, but I almost feel like the first half of the book and the second half of the book don't match. Even with the drama and suspense level, it seemed like the second half was amplified and more interesting.
I love how once the tension sets in Downes uses all the reader's senses to articulate the pressing danger that Emily is in. At first the hints are subtle, but more and more things cannot be denied. I especially love the clue of the sour, almost death smell. The faint hints in the beginning make Emily's discoveries all the more intense when she reveals the cause of all the oddities.
In the end, I gave this book 3 stars. I enjoyed it, but the mismatch between the beginning half and the end half made them feel almost like two separate stories with two different Emilys.
"The Safe Place" by Anna Downes follows Emily, an unsuccessful actress and recently fired receptionist. Emily takes a new job working as a "live-in assistant" for a rich family. Her responsibilities include helping the wife, Nina, fix up the large estate, watching and playing with the daughter, and whatever other tasks may need done. At first, this secluded home feels like a paradise, but more and more Emily has a sinking feeling that something isn't quite right.
Downes creates a magical feel with minimal details and I think in this case it almost says more. Emily is being exposed to opulence, but the reader creates it in their own mind. In this way, the heavy lifting is on the reader. This also makes the off-limits house that much more interesting. The few details are so grand, how much more grand is the space unseen?
Emily is a plain character and surprisingly clever for how I felt she was described. I imagined her as a bumbling blonde, almost childlike. In the end, she is strong and clever, but I almost feel like the first half of the book and the second half of the book don't match. Even with the drama and suspense level, it seemed like the second half was amplified and more interesting.
I love how once the tension sets in Downes uses all the reader's senses to articulate the pressing danger that Emily is in. At first the hints are subtle, but more and more things cannot be denied. I especially love the clue of the sour, almost death smell. The faint hints in the beginning make Emily's discoveries all the more intense when she reveals the cause of all the oddities.
In the end, I gave this book 3 stars. I enjoyed it, but the mismatch between the beginning half and the end half made them feel almost like two separate stories with two different Emilys.
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes