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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
Maybe it’s me but how is this the same author of Behind Closed Doors? The plot was seriously ridiculous in my opinion. I’m kind of bummed I spent so much time on this read and didn’t get anything out of it.
Wow, the twist in this story is so improbable, I could not buy it and I even felt a bit hoodwinked. Some readers might find it satisfying so I might recommend it to avid suspense fans.
First half was really good, the unreliable narrator was giving me big Gone Girl vibes... which unfortunately made the second half and ending a bit of a disappointment. Still interesting but couldn't help but wish for something else (and then picked up Gone Girl to scratch the itch anyway).
This book drew me in and kept me interested. I didn’t guess the ending, but also the ending didn’t really make any sense to me.
This book was aggressively unrealistic. I loved Behind Closed Doors, so I really had high hopes for this book. The ending did indeed have a twist, but that is only because it was so absurdly unrealistic that my logical brain could not even comprehend such an ending. It just did not make any sense at all. Honestly, giving it two stars is pretty generous. My advice is to go read Behind Closed Doors and steer clear of this mess.
Finn loves Layla – Layla goes missing – Finn gets engaged to Layla’s sister – Layla comes back (?) – Shit hits the fan. Ultimately, this is the story of a man living with the choices that will end in his psychological demise. When Layla disappears, Finn finds refuge in her sister, Ellen. Together, they forge a semblance of love that leaves much to be desired. Finn may have accepted that Layla is never coming back, but Ellen could never replace her. She simply cannot compare to the woman whom he gave his full heart, no matter how much he may try to convince himself otherwise. When mysterious phone calls begin and Russian dolls appear (a personal icon for the characters), Finn has no choice but to question whether Layla is back. Enter psychological turmoil! Finn is racked with the decision to take Layla back or stay with the person to whom he’s proposed. Finn goes back and forth, weighing all options. In the meantime, we get a closer look at the puzzle from Layla’s perspective. In her eyes, Finn is hers and she will do anything to get him back, even (hypothetically) kill. It all comes down to Finn’s choice in the end.
[SPOILER ALERT]
While I’ll admit that I was engaged in this book from the very start (I couldn’t put it down after the first few chapters), the ending has me scratching my head. We find out that Layla is actually Ellen, who was Layla at first, then Ellen, now Layla again. It’s confusing, but she’s all messed up in the head. That’s a given. What I didn’t enjoy about this plot twist was that, while I can get behind this ending, I have a hard time believing the characters. Let’s face it, they’re pretty one-dimensional.
Layla – the love who is potentially mentally impaired.
Finn – the boyfriend with anger issues.
Ellen – the boring fiancée and sister.
Let’s start with Finn and Ellen’s relationship: I understand the moral/ethical ties preventing Finn from going back to Layla immediately. After all, he has made a promise to Ellen. However, I don’t see what is keeping them together. They don’t really fit. Other than their tie to Layla, they seem to have nothing in common. Finn and Layla: Lovers until the day Layla disappears. When she comes back, he seems to recall what drove her away. Was she kidnapped? Did she simply flee? He was kind of an asshole. So, why should I really care about these characters? When the twist is revealed, we’ve come to understand that Layla may be a little off. She is, after all, hearing “the voice” and setting ultimatums that come off as death threats. If Finn does choose Layla, is he succumbing to his true emotions or the manipulation? Overall, I’m torn. I truly enjoyed this book up until the last few pages, thus my 4 out of 5 stars review. I expected a little more from this author, but I can’t deny that they are pretty great. I was thoroughly engaged throughout the entire novel. I cannot fault the author for their stylistic choices, even if I don’t necessarily agree with the ending. If you’re looking for psychological suspense with several loops and turns, this might be for you! Take a grain of salt with all of the poor reviews. This novel is still a winner in my eyes.
[SPOILER ALERT]
While I’ll admit that I was engaged in this book from the very start (I couldn’t put it down after the first few chapters), the ending has me scratching my head. We find out that Layla is actually Ellen, who was Layla at first, then Ellen, now Layla again. It’s confusing, but she’s all messed up in the head. That’s a given. What I didn’t enjoy about this plot twist was that, while I can get behind this ending, I have a hard time believing the characters. Let’s face it, they’re pretty one-dimensional.
Layla – the love who is potentially mentally impaired.
Finn – the boyfriend with anger issues.
Ellen – the boring fiancée and sister.
Let’s start with Finn and Ellen’s relationship: I understand the moral/ethical ties preventing Finn from going back to Layla immediately. After all, he has made a promise to Ellen. However, I don’t see what is keeping them together. They don’t really fit. Other than their tie to Layla, they seem to have nothing in common. Finn and Layla: Lovers until the day Layla disappears. When she comes back, he seems to recall what drove her away. Was she kidnapped? Did she simply flee? He was kind of an asshole. So, why should I really care about these characters? When the twist is revealed, we’ve come to understand that Layla may be a little off. She is, after all, hearing “the voice” and setting ultimatums that come off as death threats. If Finn does choose Layla, is he succumbing to his true emotions or the manipulation? Overall, I’m torn. I truly enjoyed this book up until the last few pages, thus my 4 out of 5 stars review. I expected a little more from this author, but I can’t deny that they are pretty great. I was thoroughly engaged throughout the entire novel. I cannot fault the author for their stylistic choices, even if I don’t necessarily agree with the ending. If you’re looking for psychological suspense with several loops and turns, this might be for you! Take a grain of salt with all of the poor reviews. This novel is still a winner in my eyes.
I enjoyed this read, but I felt like some parts fell flat for me. I wasn't invested in truly finding out what the big mystery was throughout it. I just kind of wanted to finish the book and move on. I think the actual twist was rushed, and not thought out by the author.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received this arc the other day and ripped through it pretty quickly. It was an easy read, but I’m giving it 3.5 stars. Behind Closed Doors was 4 stars and the two books definitely weren’t on the same level for me. Enjoyable read!
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free copy for review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up for Goodreads.
This is my second B.A. Paris book and I’m officially a fan. I read Behind Closed Doors in 2016 and enjoyed it, although I found it a tad predictable. Bring Me Back is far from predictable. I had so many theories along the way and not one of them was true.
Her books are fast-paced and addicting. #bringmeback storyline alternates between now and before and introduces another narrator later in the story. The alternating POV/storylines combined with the short chapters helps move this book along at warp speed.
Finn and Layla are in love and after a quick ski trip pit stop, Layla goes missing. Flash forward 12 years, Finn has moved on but it appears Layla is back.
I did NOT see that ending coming. Believable? I’ll leave that up to you to decide. I love when a book is both addictive and surprising. At just over 200 pages this little book packs a punch. A perfect summer read for those that are trying to get their reading life back. Pick this one up on June 19th.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up for Goodreads.
This is my second B.A. Paris book and I’m officially a fan. I read Behind Closed Doors in 2016 and enjoyed it, although I found it a tad predictable. Bring Me Back is far from predictable. I had so many theories along the way and not one of them was true.
Her books are fast-paced and addicting. #bringmeback storyline alternates between now and before and introduces another narrator later in the story. The alternating POV/storylines combined with the short chapters helps move this book along at warp speed.
Finn and Layla are in love and after a quick ski trip pit stop, Layla goes missing. Flash forward 12 years, Finn has moved on but it appears Layla is back.
I did NOT see that ending coming. Believable? I’ll leave that up to you to decide. I love when a book is both addictive and surprising. At just over 200 pages this little book packs a punch. A perfect summer read for those that are trying to get their reading life back. Pick this one up on June 19th.