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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Marked down as annoying cliff hanger ending
mysterious
tense
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
One seemingly perfect marriage and the perfect house to match? All is not what it seems as poor Rachel finds out when she makes the big move with her son from Manchester to Cornwall to reunite with her husband. All seems well until her greatest fears are incorporated into her dream home, what starts off as a dream quickly turns to a nightmare.
I don’t know what Sue put in this book but I ate it up! It was written so well I really did struggle to put it down to adult. Usually I can work out the twist before it happens but everytime I thought I knew, I wasn’t even close. It is my 1st five star read of 2024.
I don’t know what Sue put in this book but I ate it up! It was written so well I really did struggle to put it down to adult. Usually I can work out the twist before it happens but everytime I thought I knew, I wasn’t even close. It is my 1st five star read of 2024.
The cover (and synopsis for that matter) totally ruins and spoils the book. This story would have been much, much better if I went in without knowing there was going to be a mistress and a death. That said, because of the cover (and synopsis) I kept reading waiting for the mistress to be revealed and the murder to happen. If murder is on the cover, I shouldn't have to wait until 85% to get to the murder.
I also kept waiting for the mistress which took away many elements of the surprise reveals. I had guessed the mistress reveal long before the end. I did like the story and pacing, even though I thought the MC was a bit of a dumb dumb, I just wish it hadn't been so spoiled for me. I also noticed there were some repetitive statements, such as the MC comparing people to a limpet. The first time she said it I LOL'd and thought it was clever then she said it again and I was disappointed.
I get that in order for these "bad husband" stories to work, the wife needs to be an ostrich and/or a dumb dumb but with her being a 42yo reporter it was even harder to swallow. Reporters are curious by nature and skeptical....
SUMMARY: Rachel is terrified of all bodies of water because of a trauma in her past. You can guess the trauma but it isn't told/revealed until 95%. Lots of carrot-and-stick with that.
ANYWAY, despite Rachel's extreme fear of bodies of water, to be a nice wifey, she moves to a beach town because her husband really really really wants to live there. He's moved ahead of her to renovate their new home himself since he was made redundant at work and now Rachel and their 4y0 son have come to join him. Rachel is most excited about the house's garden, having always loved gardens and The Secret Garden was her favorite childhood book. She can't wait to see all the flowers... only her husband has installed a pool. He also used all of her inheritance to do it. Rachel actually believes her husband when he says he thought she'd like it. (See what I mean about a dumb dumb?)
Anyway... their first night, the real estate agent stops by and she is friendly to Rachel but when she leaves, hubby tells Rachel to steer clear of her. She's BAD NEWS see. He also says he used to work with her and she's a real wackado. Rachel thinks it's a little odd her husband has never mentioned knowing their realtor before but again, dumb dumb lets it go. Husband keeps acting a little strange, always has excuses of course, and Rachel keeps eating shit sandwiches. She also goes against her husband's back and becomes friends with the woman, who eventually tells Rachel omgeee I'm so sorry I had an affair with your husband but I really like you! Rachel thinks this woman is crazy a la SWF vibes and is scared. Little does she know...
Thanks netgalley for my ALC. I will look for more books by this author as I did like it, though I really think it would have been a lot better without the "spoilers"
I also kept waiting for the mistress which took away many elements of the surprise reveals. I had guessed the mistress reveal long before the end. I did like the story and pacing, even though I thought the MC was a bit of a dumb dumb, I just wish it hadn't been so spoiled for me. I also noticed there were some repetitive statements, such as the MC comparing people to a limpet. The first time she said it I LOL'd and thought it was clever then she said it again and I was disappointed.
I get that in order for these "bad husband" stories to work, the wife needs to be an ostrich and/or a dumb dumb but with her being a 42yo reporter it was even harder to swallow. Reporters are curious by nature and skeptical....
SUMMARY: Rachel is terrified of all bodies of water because of a trauma in her past. You can guess the trauma but it isn't told/revealed until 95%. Lots of carrot-and-stick with that.
ANYWAY, despite Rachel's extreme fear of bodies of water, to be a nice wifey, she moves to a beach town because her husband really really really wants to live there. He's moved ahead of her to renovate their new home himself since he was made redundant at work and now Rachel and their 4y0 son have come to join him. Rachel is most excited about the house's garden, having always loved gardens and The Secret Garden was her favorite childhood book. She can't wait to see all the flowers... only her husband has installed a pool. He also used all of her inheritance to do it. Rachel actually believes her husband when he says he thought she'd like it. (See what I mean about a dumb dumb?)
Anyway... their first night, the real estate agent stops by and she is friendly to Rachel but when she leaves, hubby tells Rachel to steer clear of her. She's BAD NEWS see. He also says he used to work with her and she's a real wackado. Rachel thinks it's a little odd her husband has never mentioned knowing their realtor before but again, dumb dumb lets it go. Husband keeps acting a little strange, always has excuses of course, and Rachel keeps eating shit sandwiches. She also goes against her husband's back and becomes friends with the woman, who eventually tells Rachel omgeee I'm so sorry I had an affair with your husband but I really like you! Rachel thinks this woman is crazy a la SWF vibes and is scared. Little does she know...
Thanks netgalley for my ALC. I will look for more books by this author as I did like it, though I really think it would have been a lot better without the "spoilers"
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
emotional
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
