Reviews

Before We Were Strangers by Brenda Novak

blackferrum's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Actual rating: 3,5

Ini kali pertama baca tulisan BN dan kesannya yah, bagus. Sekilas hampir punya vibe macam Sandra Brown, tapi BN lebih main aman dengan karakternya. Pas pertama tahu trope romansanya langsung skeptis, bakalan dibawa ke mana ini? Agak risky mengingat hubungan antara Sloane, Paige, dan Micah nggak bisa dibilang hal yang lumrah. Mau dibilang nggak enak dilihat juga nggak karena Paige dan Micah udah lama pisah, tapi dibilang oke aja juga nggak. Agak nanggung, sih, emang.

Berawal dari kematian sahabat sekaligus mentornya, Sloane bertolak ke kampung halaman yang sudah dia tinggalkan selama 10 tahun untuk mencari jejak ibunya. Kepulangannya tidak disambut dengan baik oleh ayah dan kakaknya. Sloane memercayai ibunya tidak hilang 23 tahun lalu, melainkan dibunuh oleh ayahnya sendiri. Sedangkan, kakaknya memercayai ayah mereka dan ikut menghalangi penyelidikan Sloane dengan dalih untuk melindungi reputasi ayah mereka di kota yang saat itu menjadi walikota.

Hanya satu yang menerima Sloane dan menawarkan tempat tinggal sementara untuknya, Paige, sahabatnya sejak kecil. Tidak ada masalah dengan hal tersebut, tetapi fakta bahwa Paige pernah menikah dengan Micah, mantan kekasihnya di masa SMA, dan memiliki putra membuat Sloane tidak nyaman. Bukan hanya karena dirinya bakal bertemu kembali dengan Micah, tetapi hatinya ternyata masih sangat menginginkan laki-laki itu meskipun perpisahan mereka 10 tahun lalu membuat Micah sedikit membenci Sloane.

Ketika mencoba mengorek masa lalu demi mencari keberadaan sang ibu, Sloane malah menemukan hal lain. Hal yang tidak mengira akan menjadi penyebab ibunya menghilang.

Hubungan Sloane dengan Micah bisa dibilang kurang profesional, yah, mengingat Micah itu polisi dan dia nggak segan membuka berkas penyelidikan soal ibunya Sloane. Penyelidikan yang bisa mengarah ke konflik kepentingan.

Kelakuan bapaknya Sloane bikin ngelus dada. Like, aduh gataulah, saking gilanya kurasa. Atau saking kurang belaiannya.

Bagian ending yang bikin aku agak kehilangan spark. Bukan karena kaget soal fakta tersembunyinya, tapi pace-nya mendadak jadi express. Belum lagi fakta yang dimaksudkan sebagai twist itu kayak terkesan sengaja banget dimasukkan buat menambah kagum pembaca. Jadi, sangat disayangkan harus menurunkan rating 0,3 karena hal ini.

Bagian lain memuaskan sih, apalagi konflik Paige. Kompleks banget dia dan nunjukin kalau punya sahabat yang serba sempurna juga nggak mudah kalau kita nggak bisa menyikapinya dengan baik. Paige emang terobsesi sama Micah, tapi ya siapa sih, yang nggak merasa harus memperjuangkan cintanya? Walaupun cara Paige ini salah kaprah.

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kerrjoker's review

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emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

michaelion's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-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

1.5

Small town woes. The writing is just okay. I really disliked the characters.
I liked the twist because of the fact that there wasn't a twist. Like, if the dad wasn't the killer then that would've sucked.
Everyone in this town was bad but maybe the book could've been better if all the characters were truly awful. MC (I don't care to look for her name) was an angel who could do no wrong and forgive all and everyone else around her, except her man, were all flawed. Boo!!!

Hardest thing of all this was to get me to believe the mayor/dad WASN'T racist. Killing his wife and family for money was fine but racism was where he drew the line? He's from a small town in Texas but he thought between murder and saying slurs murder was more acceptable??? Don't get me wrong I'm not endorsing either one but let's be so fuckin forreal right now!!!

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kokobean_'s review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

aburgess15's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jillyrabb101's review against another edition

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1.0

A decent read though rather typical romantic plot line. Would recommend to anyone that enjoys romance. I like a bit more description and eloquence. It seemed like this book was aimed at a younger audience, maybe 19 year olds. The mystery of what happened to the mother is what kept me going, since the romance basically follows thousands of others.

dnice51581's review against another edition

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mysterious slow-paced

3.25

aduncan13's review

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Was rating it higher until the end, as it felt rushed and parts left me feeling like some things hadn’t been explained. 

rozlev's review against another edition

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3.0

Meh... Predictable.

tmaynor's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Better than I expected