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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my actual God?
If I hear the phrase “Russian doll” one more freaking time.
Honestly, that's ALL I COULD THINK when I was finished this book. Doll. Doll. Doll. Doll. Russian Doll. Dolls. DoLl. dOLL. doLl. RusSiAn dOlL. DOLLLLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
This book talks a lot about dolls, did you hear. Okay, let me try to be coherent, because this novel drove me a little crazy. I really loved B.A. Paris' first novel, Behind Closed Doors. It was sick and creepy and juicy and evil. The writing was taut and riveting, and the book left me feeling like I'd been put through the wringer, in the best possible way. Her second, The Breakdown was less good, but I still enjoyed it, and still wanted to know what happened.
With Bring Me Back, by the end, I honestly could not have cared less what happened to any of these people. I wanted to toss them all into a pit of Russian dolls and seal it up with the salt of my tears of rage and frustration. I mean, the EDITING GOD THE EDITING. Couldn't SOMEONE have taken the time to trim this down? Taken out one doll reference? Pointed out that the writing was smarmy and amateurish and cringe-worthy?
*long piercing exhalation*
Here's the story. Finn - the narrator - was once in a romantic relationship with Layla, but during a vacation in France, she disappeared. Now, 10 years later, he's engaged to her sister Ellen and living in a tiny village outside Cheltenham, England. Then... DUN DUN DUN... a 'Russian doll' appears outside their house. It's symbolic nature to Ellen seems to point to only one thing ... could Layla have put it there? Could she be back from 'the dead'?
OMGJHIHLIUH!!!!
Sounds exciting, right? Wrong. The narrative dissolves into one long, cheesy and boring ode to Russian dolls, and the whackadoodle people who leave them places to f*ck with other people. I also guessed the huge 'twist' about 1/3rd of a way through the book.
Please, B.A. Paris, take a break and reread your first book. Head back to the drawing board. I KNOW you're a good writer. Let this have been a one-off lesson about the dangers of rushing ish out to please the masses.
Oh my actual God?
If I hear the phrase “Russian doll” one more freaking time.
Honestly, that's ALL I COULD THINK when I was finished this book. Doll. Doll. Doll. Doll. Russian Doll. Dolls. DoLl. dOLL. doLl. RusSiAn dOlL. DOLLLLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
This book talks a lot about dolls, did you hear. Okay, let me try to be coherent, because this novel drove me a little crazy. I really loved B.A. Paris' first novel, Behind Closed Doors. It was sick and creepy and juicy and evil. The writing was taut and riveting, and the book left me feeling like I'd been put through the wringer, in the best possible way. Her second, The Breakdown was less good, but I still enjoyed it, and still wanted to know what happened.
With Bring Me Back, by the end, I honestly could not have cared less what happened to any of these people. I wanted to toss them all into a pit of Russian dolls and seal it up with the salt of my tears of rage and frustration. I mean, the EDITING GOD THE EDITING. Couldn't SOMEONE have taken the time to trim this down? Taken out one doll reference? Pointed out that the writing was smarmy and amateurish and cringe-worthy?
*long piercing exhalation*
Here's the story. Finn - the narrator - was once in a romantic relationship with Layla, but during a vacation in France, she disappeared. Now, 10 years later, he's engaged to her sister Ellen and living in a tiny village outside Cheltenham, England. Then... DUN DUN DUN... a 'Russian doll' appears outside their house. It's symbolic nature to Ellen seems to point to only one thing ... could Layla have put it there? Could she be back from 'the dead'?
OMGJHIHLIUH!!!!
Sounds exciting, right? Wrong. The narrative dissolves into one long, cheesy and boring ode to Russian dolls, and the whackadoodle people who leave them places to f*ck with other people. I also guessed the huge 'twist' about 1/3rd of a way through the book.
Please, B.A. Paris, take a break and reread your first book. Head back to the drawing board. I KNOW you're a good writer. Let this have been a one-off lesson about the dangers of rushing ish out to please the masses.
Very compelling, twist and turny.
I spent most of the book wondering why Finn kept hiding from Ellen, it created all the issues. Also the Russian dolls was probably overused- but I really enjoyed it and would recommend.
I spent most of the book wondering why Finn kept hiding from Ellen, it created all the issues. Also the Russian dolls was probably overused- but I really enjoyed it and would recommend.
این چهارمین کتابیه که از پاریس میخونم و حالا بعد از پشت درهای بسته بهترین کتابیه که نوشته به نظر من.
تا فصل آخر حدسم هرجایی میرفت جز موضوعی که باید ولی اوایل فصل آخر به این نتیجه رسیده بودم که لایلا کیه و حدسم درست بود.
ولی بازم انتظار نداشتم آخرش اینطوری تمام بشه.
چقدر این کتاب درحالیکه خوب بود همونقدرم آزارم داد
تا فصل آخر حدسم هرجایی میرفت جز موضوعی که باید ولی اوایل فصل آخر به این نتیجه رسیده بودم که لایلا کیه و حدسم درست بود.
ولی بازم انتظار نداشتم آخرش اینطوری تمام بشه.
چقدر این کتاب درحالیکه خوب بود همونقدرم آزارم داد
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
Predictable but still had the power to keep you reading.
I can't give it two stars even though it deserves two because the time I spent reading this (when I should have been studying) makes me, at least, give it 3 stars and not to make me think I have wasted time for nothing.
I can't give it two stars even though it deserves two because the time I spent reading this (when I should have been studying) makes me, at least, give it 3 stars and not to make me think I have wasted time for nothing.
I was enjoying this book. Twisty turns etc. Not the best I ever read, not awful either. I was so exciting to finish so I could give to my mom to read. I finished this on a bus to NYC. The ending was so awful, I left the book on top of a garbage can. Give me a BREAK, I'm sorry but there's no way he wouldn't have recognized her. Awful.
What is it you want Layla?
...
YOU
1 1/2 stars. I swear I gave it my best shot. I really wanted to love this book. Paris' [b:Behind Closed Doors|29437949|Behind Closed Doors|B.A. Paris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458854462s/29437949.jpg|45981530] kept me on the edge of my seat, but her sophomore novel [b:The Breakdown|31450633|The Breakdown|B.A. Paris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492234495s/31450633.jpg|49326982] bored me, so I figured two out of three ain't bad, right? Sorry, it's a Meat Loaf kinda morning.
But this book is so CHEESY.
I'll give it an extra half star for keeping me reading despite rolling my eyes every few pages, but that's the most enthusiasm I can muster for it. The twist/reveal of the book may be shocking to new mystery readers, but it's actually been used by too many authors for me not to see it coming at this point. And many of those authors have made it more convincing than Paris managed here.
[b:Bring Me Back|35857495|Bring Me Back|B.A. Paris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508201081s/35857495.jpg|57371442] alternates between the past, in which Finn (the narrator) and his girlfriend Layla take a holiday in France and she disappears; the present, in which we find ourselves ten years later with Finn about to marry Layla's sister Ellen; and first person accounts from Layla, where she mostly talks like a comic book villain, figuratively twirling her mustache. Muahaha.
Most of the book takes place in the present. Despite believing Layla is gone for good, signs start popping up that she may be alive. Her beloved Russian dolls start appearing everywhere, and when Finn receives emails from a mysterious source who seems to know too much, it becomes obvious something nefarious is going on.
Problem is, it's all a bit like a slightly comical (though unintentionally so) B-movie. Every chapter ends with some really cheesy line that is supposed to be ominous. Like:
"I don't ever want you to be scared of me," I say.
Not like Layla was, that night, I silently add.
***
So I log on to my emails and find one from Layla.
YOU HAVE TEN DAYS
It was just so ridiculous I wanted to laugh. The narrative reminds me of the criminologist from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, raising his eyebrow at the camera and saying "Or had they?"
And it was difficult to become invested in any of the characters' stories. Finn seems like a dick from the get-go (and a dumbass - why would he go meet someone he suspects is a kidnapper?), Ellen and the secondary characters are bland and one-dimensional, and don't even get me started on Layla. There was no hook; no exciting questions. The middle dragged as I was forced to ponder what exactly I was supposed to be caring about - are we supposed to be afraid of Layla? Are we supposed to care about the romantic relationships and who Finn will choose?
In general, I prefer more carefully-crafted plots with more complex characters than Paris offers up here, but I can definitely enjoy pulpy, nasty thrillers like her [b:Behind Closed Doors|29437949|Behind Closed Doors|B.A. Paris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458854462s/29437949.jpg|45981530]. Unfortunately, though, I don't think this book was particularly clever OR fast-paced and enjoyable. I guess her first book might have been a one-off for me.
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What an excellent twist ending! Great read and definitely a page turner.
Weird weird ending - girl becomes sister to keep abusive husband?
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:
Yes